Welcome

The Midland Scratch League is a summer competition played between clubs from affiliated counties (Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire). 

Matches are eight a side singles playing off scratch on a home and away basis. 

The league was formed in 1975 by Bill Blake of Handsworth golf club and John Shaw and initially started with seven clubs (Great Barr, Handsworth, Maxstoke Park, Olton, Robin Hood, Sandwell Park & Sutton Coldfield).  In 2023, forty five clubs will compete in eight divisions  

Scratch League News

Midland Scratch Golf League 50 year Celebration Dinner

Presiding : Mr John Shaw – Founder MSGL

At Sandwell Park GC Friday 25th Oct 6.45 for 7.15pm

After Dinner Speaker: Mr Peter McEvoy OBE
Peter was the low amateur at The Open Championship in 1978 and 1979, and
was the first British amateur golfer to make the cut at the US Masters in 1978
Peter has been kind enough to donate a prize for the MSGL50 dinner.
Three MSGL players will be Peter’s guests for a round at Royal Troon GC!
There will be a raffle for guests at the dinner and a lucky Golf Club will have
three of their single figure golfers at The Open Championship venue for 2024.
Raffle tickets will be £10 each, when paid for with the dinner at £36 each for
a three course meal to include a glass of wine and coffee.

Dress Code: Jackets, yes please. Ties Optional
Payments to Midland Scratch Golf League Sort Code 40-11-47 Acct. 11224999

Midland Scratch League Annual Meeting. 
Sutton Coldfield GC  -  B74 3ER Thursday 10th October, start at 7pm    
Scratch Team Captains or their representatives (plus one guest)are encouraged to participate in a free 18 hole competition at Sutton Coldfield GC in the afternoon prior to the meeting. There will be gross and net prizes on offer. Golf starting times in three balls immediately from 12.44pm to 1.32pm. The Annual Meeting will start at 7.00pm. One course meal at £15 will be available until 6.30pm. Essential that this is booked when arranging the golf tee off time. Sutton Coldfield GC look forward to welcoming Scratch League Captains and their Guests.   Your contact at SCGC to confirm a starting time and food will be Paul Garratt; e mail, paulgarratt@ blueyonder.co.uk mobile,07737420742

Scratch League – Team format change proposal draft. 3rd September 2024
 
Having played in the Scratch League for well over 40 years, it still holds my excitement and desire to compete however, times change, and it is becoming continually clear that there are problems occurring now on a regular basis in relation to teams fulfilling fixtures and raising teams for matches.
This year to date, there have been 3 club withdrawals from separate Divisions, and there have so far been 5 walk over matches.  The disruption to the Divisions is increasing.
Speaking with many fellow Captains it’s clear to me that trying to get 8 players is becoming the main challenge.  Additionally, getting 8 tee time slots is becoming an increasing challenge.
This issue seems mostly to effect teams in Divisions 5, 6 and 7 however, there are now potentially related incidents within the top four Divisions.
I believe the problem is less of an issue in the top 4 Divisions because you have a greater concentration of, let me say, prestigious clubs with a greater pool of low handicap players to pick from, plus the added incentive of playing similar clubs.  I don’t see that selecting a team of 8 poses such a problem here.
The problem seems more prolific in Divisions 5 to 7, and unless we consider action now, I could anticipate the League reducing with more clubs withdrawing as it becomes harder to get Captains to take on the challenge.
I have had occasion just this year to contact up to 25 people to raise a team, and then even fulfilled a fixture with only 7.  We have also received opponents with reduced numbers.   It’s very deflating and does nothing to raise the moral and enthusiasm of teammates.
Therefore, my proposal is:
• to reduce the size of a team from 8 to 6 players in Divisions 5, 6 and 7.
• Divisions 1 to 4 remain unchanged.
• Promotion and relegation remain the same and so teams promoted from Division 5 into Division 4 will revert to a team of 8 players the following season.  The hope here is that to be able to mix it with the bigger clubs will be a motivation to more players.
 
Thanks to John for allowing this proposal to be published and thereby reaching more of you. Unfortunately, low attendance at the AGM will not necessarily reflect the opinion of us all.
 
Many thanks for your consideration.
 
Darron Henn
Team Captain
Gaudet Luce GC

Dear John 
I hope this letter finds you well.
I write in response to the proposed new format for next season. I believe that cutting the team from 8 to 6 in divs 5 and lower would completely kill any interest in participation. The camaraderie of the team is vital in maintaining enthusiasm, curbing fringe player’s involvement would decimate moral. Some captains  have long argued their difficulties in fielding a side; however, we are over subscribed with players who want to play in the scratch league.
My proposal is different; this year we have faced a couple of 9 hole courses, by their nature it is impossible for them to book 8 tee times twice. Instead they play in fourballs with the scratch game keeping order. I.e number 1 will keep turn in their match before number 2 players on the tee etc throughout the match. 
This format has been found to be thoroughly enjoyable by all teams in Div 6 this season. Great golf is played in the company of likeminded individuals (let’s face it the new handicap system is not kind to scratch golfers) and stronger bonds are formed between clubs. By our nature scratch golfers are competitive people so none of the fierce competition is lost by having a fourball. It eases the chances of being paired against a player who wants to say nothing all round though, if you have another 2 players you can chat with down the fairways. Many of us only get to play once or twice a week and the idea of playing scratch golf against a Nick Faldo wannabe is probably putting players off in other divisions.
If you gave your blessing for teams in div 3 and below to choose to play in fourballs, I truly believe there will be a resurgence in the amount of participation. Clubs will be happier to allocate 4 tee times making organization easier, and catering will be easier for the clubs to serve food afterwards. 
I will happily construct an official counter proposal if you think this idea has merit. I know I would get the backing of a lot of clubs. 
This is your league John , many of us are happy with current format. I just worry that a couple of loud voices at the AGM will cause unnecessary changes which would cause a lot of unhappiness for a lot of players.
My very best wishes to you both,
Steve McQueen, 
Edgbaston GC