The Alex Dowers Invitational

N.A.M.E.S. Golf Society

The Alex Dowers Invitational

The golf event of the year in the names callander.An invitational event numbers limited by how many can fit into Alex's holiday cabin. It is played over the best courses in the north of Scotland for the following Trophies.

The Friday Open for the Scott Claret Jug 18 holes Strokeplay
The Dowers Invitational Boat Trophy 36 holes Strokeplay
The Sunday Stapleford for the Parker Rosebowl 18 holes Stapleford
72 holes Strokeplay Gross
72 holes Strokeplay Net for the Dowers quaich

2007

Year of the Buggy

Some old and some new courses . At Boat of Garten on a cool but dry evening a great net 67 by Craig Stirling won the New Friday Open Trophy . We dont know if the help received from his mobile phone constituted outside influence on either him or his apponents.

Saturday saw a new couse on the rota with the newly opened championship length and standard "Spey Valley Golf and Country Club at Aviemore.

A chilly morning with a cutting wind but again dry welcomed us to a superb course but 100 balls on the driving range before tee off on a totally empty golf course was obviously too much for us as the mornings golf was to say the least dire.

Any golf ball manufactures watching must have been rubbing there hands as ball after ball vanished into the heather .

The only consolation being that its less tiring going all over the course in the compulsory buggies .

The standard improved for most in the afternoon although not by much with Craig again coming out winner of the Boat trophy.

Sunday morning and a yet again dry day at Kingussie as we all try to stop Craig having a clean sweep of this years prizes . Some fine golf was played by all with a very close result Alex and Stewart both had 35 stapleford points with Stewart winning on count back .

If only Alex could have found his lost ball at the 18th . are you listening Robert ???

2005

The Grand Slam

On a weekend of great weather the first ever grand slam of trophies was won by our host Alex Dowers.

On Friday at Dunkeld some intersting golf was played by everyone on a tricky course but when the scores were added up Alex was the clear winner after all the others all dropped shots at the last 3 holes.

On Saturday at Boat of Garten scores of all sorts were returned . The match was still close after the morning round but some very steady golf in the afternoon by Alex saw him win again with 141 net .

On Sunday at Taymouth Castle Alex was put ander early pressure and was 1 point behind at the turn but kept his nerve and finished again the winner .

Not only did he win all three days which also meant he won the 72 hole handicap prize but also won the 72 scratch prize

Having won every trophy possible he is now the holder of the first ever Alex Dowers invitational

GRAND SLAM

All he has to do now is buy a trophy .

2004 Results

This was the year of strong wind and showers and results which turned into the Stirling Family benefit weekend.

Friday evening at Boat of Garten produced a great performance from Craig Stirling with a gross 77 , net 70 with Stewart in Second place .

On Saturday it was Nairn Dunbar off the back tees , a sobering experience for all who took part. Robert looked hot favourite after a great morning round ,but steady play by Douglas saw him coming through the field to take the trophy with a net total of 149 . Scott was in second place only one shot behind .

On Sunday it was of to Newtonmore ,where ,not only was there wind ,but for 5 holes a tropical rain storm . Some great scores were returned under the circumstances with Craig Stirling one point ahead of Stewart at the end of the day.

The 72 hole gross trophy was won by Craig as was the 72 hole net ,a great performance off his handicap of 7. Stewart 2nd place Parker was 2nd in both.

Alex Dowers our host won the Friday night sweep on the Olympic 10,000 meters ,but was obviously saving his good golf for the Tuesday medal when he returned to Bishopbriggs. Well done Alex in getting some more decimal points off your handicap.

Craig the 2004 superstar with 72 hole trophy

Douglas displaying his winning style

2003

Friday Boat of Garten

Played on a parched and bouncy boat of garten course in a rising wind with heavy showers of rain . no one could compete with the form of Robert who won by miles

Saturday Hopeman

Played in similar weather conditions to Friday with a similar result . no matter what anyone tried Roberts rounds of 68,66 were well ahead of any other scores

Sunday Newtonmore

A bright morning with no more than a light breeze greated the tired golfers from boat , but David with 39 stapleford points did not seem affected by tiredness .

The 72 holes gross and net scores were both won by Robert a spectacular feat of a 17 handicap.

The presentation of the Names golf Society summer Matchplay championship also took place with Doubles being won by

Alex Dowers & Stewart Parker

Singles

Stewart Parker

The Names golfers would of course like to thank Dr and Mrs Dowers for the use of the Dowers Country estate accomodation.

The Dowers Country Estate

Home of the Alex Dowers Invitational

The Friday Open was played at Boat of Garten in torrential rain , which made the golf interesting for all concearned . Only 4 brave souls took part David, Douglas, Alex & Stewart. It was not long till everybody was soaked to the skin and with slippy clubs balls were flying in all directions . Alex got off to a good start then fell away . Stewart got off to a poor start and then got better . David and Douglas were going blow for blow all the way round with Douglas winning with a net 71. Alex and Douglas were playing against David and Stewart . Alex & Douglas were one up at the turn but lost on the 17th.

The Sun shone on a full turn out at Forres although a strong wind was blowing which got stronger as the day went on . All the morning scores were in the 70's (net) but only five shots seperated the players at lunch , a good performance from all in the wind . In the afternoon some good rounds were returned in the low 70's but by the time David took his 23 handicap off after playing some very steady golf and holding up under preasure coming down the finishing straight , we were all trailing in his wake.

Shot of the day was when david hit his ball out of bounds at the first in the afternoon , only to see it hit a wall a road and bounce back in to play just short of the green . he then chipped and putted for a par. We all knew then it was his day.

A beautiful morning again as some sore heads teed off at Kingussie at 8.30 am for the Sunday stapleford . Not surprinsingly not a lot of points were scored as aching heads and wilting bodies were dragged round the 18 holes. Amongst all the dross some birdies were scored and the most impressive was by the man of the weekend David who finished with a birdie 3 at the last to win the Rose bowl.

Not surprisingly David won the 72 hole net finishing 2nd frid. First Sat. First Sunday.

Alex won the best 72 hole gross score he was probably surprised David did not win that as well.

The evening entertainment was Everybodys golf for the play station and the doubles was won by DAVID and ALISTAIR .

And the singles were won by ALISTAIR who proved to be a natural play station golfer.

Boat of Garten

Venue for the Friday open

Results

2002

Friday Open Boat of Garten , Winner Douglas Stirling

The Boat Trophy Forres,Winner David Harley 74 & 70

Sunday Stableford Kingussie , Winner David Harley

72 Hole Gross Alex Dowers

72 Hole Net David Harley

2001
Friday Open, Auchterarder, Winner Robert Clark
The Boat Trophy, Boat of Garten, Winner Alex Dowers 71 & 74
Sunday Stapleford, Pitlochry, David Harley
72 hole Gross, Craig Stirling
72 Hole Net, Alex Dowers

2000
Friday Open, Boat of Garten, Stewart Parker
Boat Trophy ,Spey Bay, Joe McCartney 67 & 69
Sunday Stapleford, Kingussie, Stewart Parker
72 Hole Gross , Stewart Parker
72 Hole Net , Stewart Parker

1999
Friday Open ,Boat of Garten ,
Boat Trophy, Hopeman, Alex Dowers, 67 & 64
Sunday Stapleford, Granton ?
72 Hole Gross Alex Dowers
72 Hole Net Alex Dowers

1998
Friday Open , Boat of Garten,
Boat Trophy, Lossiemouth, Alistair Scott, 71 & 72
Sunday Stapleford, Pitlochrie
72 Hole Gross
72 Hole Net

1997

Friday Open Boat of Garten Stewart Parker

The Boat Trophy Granton on Spey, Winner, Robert Clark 63 & 66

Sunday Stapleford Kingussie

72 Hole Gross

72 Hole Net

1996

Friday Open

The Boat Trophy Granton on Spey , Winner Alex dowers 71 & 63

Sunday Stapleford

72 hole Gross

72 Holes Net

1995

Friday Open

The Boat Trophy Robert Clark 77 (reduced to 18 holes )

Sunday Stapleford

Best Gross

Best Net

1994

Friday Open

The Boat Trophy , Granton on spey, Douglas Stirling 73 & 71

Sunday Stapleford

72 hole Gross

72 hole Net

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