Category: Golf

General, Golf, Historical3 Comments

Dispatch Trophy 1890

Change Therapy

THE BIRTH OF ‘THE BRAIDS’ AND THE DISPATCH TROPHY **Johnny Jones discovers some photographic golfing treasures** A few years ago, while leafing through some old photograph albums piled up on a battered chair in an antique shop, three pages of sepia photographs, showing crowds of people watching golfers, caught the author’s eye. The photographs were all quarter-plate size and apart from the pencilled date of 1890 there were no other identifying marks. However, I did recognise the distinctive clubhouse at the Braid Hills Golf Course, Edinburgh, Scotland and given the number of spectators, it was obvious these photos had been … Continue reading Dispatch Trophy 1890

A Storm in Any Port, Golf, Historical3 Comments

Update

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

No rest for me in this part of the world! The plan was to take things a wee bit easier and enjoy watching the seasons go by from our balcony, while enjoying the simple things in life, like daytime TV and trying to complete the newspaper crossword. Over the past few years, I have been encouraged by my wife, Ann, to tidy out the cupboard which houses hundreds of old photographs, which have been passed to me over the last 80 odd years, and some of these photos have been shared with Peter Bourhill, who owns Edinburgh’s premier magazine, the … Continue reading Update

Golf, Scotland4 Comments

I’ve given up Golf – 4 of 4

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Now that I have accepted that my last chance of getting a hole in one has gone, all that is left for me to do is clear out my locker, hand in the key and make way for one of the younger, fitter members. However my playing partners and I have managed to spend a good portion of this last year out in the fresh air enjoying the camaraderie of playing the game that has, for so many years, been an important part of our lives. As a non-playing member I can still meet up with and enjoy the company … Continue reading I’ve given up Golf – 4 of 4

Golf, Scotland1 Comment

I’ve given up Golf – 2 of 4

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Most golf books are written with the intention of helping players to get to the top of their game, but here from personal experience I can now reveal what happens to golfers who have gone over their peak, slid down the slippery slope and arrived at the bottom. In thinking back to our decision, we must have felt then that the writing was already on the wall as, during this past year, our gradual descent from grace has become more and more apparent. In some ways our decline was exacerbated by the course closures brought about by Covid, and we … Continue reading I’ve given up Golf – 2 of 4

Golf, Scotland1 Comment

I’ve given up Golf – 3 of 4

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

I, like my partners, now find that staying on an even keel to play a shot has – bit by bit – become a lottery. Our stance has narrowed significantly, a shoulder turn is almost non-existent, keeping the left arm straight is a no go position, with the inevitable result that we have lost our confidence to strike the ball cleanly. Consequently, the ball no longer flies as far as it once did, to the embarrassing extent that, any of the ground-staff working more than 150 yards ahead of us, now know that our tee shots offer no threat to … Continue reading I’ve given up Golf – 3 of 4

Golf, Scotland4 Comments

I’ve given up Golf – 1 of 4

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

For my two regular playing partners and myself, with a combined age of somewhere in excess of 260 years, the 31st of December last year was a momentous day. Exactly one year before that we had agreed to hang up our clubs at the end of the season and transfer to non-playing membership of the world’s 4th oldest golf club – the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society in Edinburgh. And on balance, it has turned out to be a decision that has proved to have been made just in time! A few years ago our group numbered around a dozen but … Continue reading I’ve given up Golf – 1 of 4

Charity, Golf, Scotland5 Comments

Donors raise £1200 for charity

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The last few months have been hectic, with the launch of my 3rd book, A Storm On Any Course. To celebrate the launch of the final book in the Zander Trilogy, and my retiral from writing, we put out an offer to not only purchase a copy, but to also have their names printed at the rear of the book, under the title of Donors. All money received would be donated to our nominated charity, Get2gether. (They arrange social activities for people with disabilities in safe and friendly places in Edinburgh and the Lothians). With very limited access available, due … Continue reading Donors raise £1200 for charity

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy20 Comments

Is it finally time to relax?

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Well, it has been a long time in coming, but I have finally received copies of my final book in paperback, this week. A wee bit of panic when one box went missing from the delivery van, however it is all sorted out, but I could have done without the drama. A Storm On Any Course has finally arrived, and will be getting distributed shortly, as the date for publication is the 11th November 2021. I recently created an initiative to allow people to have their name printed in the book, in exchange for a donation to my chosen charity. … Continue reading Is it finally time to relax?

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Zander Trilogy7 Comments

A Penalty Drop  –  Liberton

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

A few days later, Zander and Grunt had a second encounter with the local “ball boys”. A group of elderly visitors were playing immediately ahead of them. No one had thought to tell them about the problem posed by the local children and blissfully unaware of this on-course hazard, they had started out. Zander and Grunt hung around the starter’s box until the last group had teed off, then followed them out onto the course. They played the long downhill first without incident, then as they teed up on the short par-four second –  which runs parallel to and in … Continue reading A Penalty Drop  –  Liberton

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy2 Comments

Background to the Sample story

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

I wanted to share some background to the sample story from my upcoming book, A Storm On Any Course. The main two components of this Sample story happened in other and quite different places. 1     The collapse of the motor bike line happened during a parade day in Rome. The riders, all policemen, had parked their bikes just as described and gone off to act as crowd marshals. I did not see what started it, however I did witness the spectacular and noisy domino effect of the bikes falling down! 2     The seagull was hit by a lone … Continue reading Background to the Sample story

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy1 Comment

Sample story

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Taken from my upcoming book A Storm On Any Course, the final chapter of Zander’s Trilogy. A Birdie  – Melville Golf Centre Zander’s leg was improving by the day, but wasn’t yet strong enough to let him walk out to the practice areas in the middle of the course, let alone get all the way round and, with the club’s driving range out of commission for at least another two weeks, how was he going to hold his game together? Then he thought about going to a public driving range and heard someone talking about, The Melville Golf Centre on the … Continue reading Sample story

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland1 Comment

Have your name in my book – limited offer date closes 16th September

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

A Storm on Any Course -the 3rd and final book of Zander’s Trilogy. BUY MY BOOK AND HAVE YOUR NAME PRINTED INSIDE IT ALL PROCEEDS TO CHARITY To celebrate the completion of the Zander Trilogy I –  Johnny Jones, an 86year old Edinburgh author – will be donating the profits from a special limited edition of its third and final book, A Storm on Any Course, to the charity get2gether (SC043027). This is a small group of dedicated volunteers who provide a vital service to the communities of Edinburgh and The Lothians by helping Disabled Adults to find friendship and … Continue reading Have your name in my book – limited offer date closes 16th September

General, Golf, Zander Trilogy7 Comments

Change of Book Title!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Late in the day I know, but something wasn’t sitting right for me in connection with the Title of my 3rd book, therefore I have decided to change it from A Storm in a Tin Cup to A Storm on any Course. My wife and I have been reading and re-reading until the cows come home, so we are at a stage that should see the book sent off ready for printing, finally this summer. As many of you know, each time we read the stories, we find ‘things’ to change and then end up changing them back again! Easy … Continue reading Change of Book Title!