The organisers of the Aberdeen links championship have opened the tournament to other north-east clubs in a bid to breathe life into the 113-year-old competition.
For the first time, the tournament will not be restricted to the three Kings Links clubs – the Bon Accord, the Caledonian and the Northern.
The competition will now be open to members of all the other Aberdeen Pennant League clubs – Auchmill, Banchory, Craibstone, Deeside, Hazlehead, Murcar Links, Nigg Bay, Peterculter, Portlethen, Newmachar, Royal Aberdeen and Stonehaven.
There will also be one stroke play qualifying round rather than two with the match play stages completed within eight days rather than a fortnight.
The scratch and handicap finals will also take place on a Sunday rather than the traditional Friday evening.
Lewis B. Robb of the now defunct Victoria club (the predecessor of the Broadhill Bar) was the competition’s first winner in 1904.
Caledonian’s Barry Reid is the current champion, having denied Bon Accord’s Barrie Edmond the chance of claiming a record-equalling fifth Aberdeen links championship last June.
Derek Johnstone, captain of the Northern Golf Club, hopes the new format will lead to increased interest in this year’s competition.
He said: “The change has been down to the lack of numbers.
“The number of entrants has decreased alarmingly over the last few years and something had to be done.
“We asked for people’s views after last year’s links championship and the feedback we received was to shorten the event and to invite the Pennant League clubs to join.
“I am secretary of the Aberdeen Pennant League so I raised the matter at the annual meeting and the response was really positive.
“Hopefully it will make a difference.
“All three of the links clubs were right behind the changes.
“There are two representatives from each club on the links championship committee and it was a unanimous decision.”
Johnstone hopes moving the finals to Sunday will encourage more spectators to watch. He added: “There used to be huge crowds for the final of the Aberdeen links championship.
“Hopefully this change will encourage the leading north-east district players to come along and play in the event.
“It would be great if the amount of people coming out to watch increased because at the moment we are only getting 100 to 150 for the final when it used to be many more.
“The lack of entrants is certainly not down to the course because it has been in great condition and has been getting so many compliments recently.”
KEY DATES. Friday, June 9 Saturday, June 10 Sunday, June 11 Wednesday, June 14 Friday, June 16 Sunday, June 18
