In a change of format this year, three single rounds were played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday all counting towards the final eclectic score. At the end of the first round, Willy Clark had powered ahead with 33 Stableford points, although this was equalled by Alan Jago, aided by a generous handicap.

Not far behind was Douglas Sparks on 31 points, and then the irrepressible Billy Wilson, notching up a healthy 29 points despite a rather crippling handicap. But a former champ, Ken Maxwell, returned to the tournament this year to show them all how it was done, carding an incredible 35 points in far from ideal conditions.

So, as they say…everything still to play for. Coming back to Peebles on Friday evening to the Tontine Hotel, we found a town in full swing celebrating the Beltane Festival - quite an experience!
Beltane Festival is a festival of local legend, history and tradition. It marks the return of summer with the lighting of fires, where people could burn their winter bedding and floor coverings, ready to be replaced afresh.

Referred to as a Gaelic ceremony, this type of festival has been celebrated for thousands of years throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Our hotel was at the centre of the action, so the atmosphere was electric.

Leaving the hotel the next morning at 9am, there were people standing outside the pubs with pints in their hand, presumably carrying on from the previous night.