Merrilees International Golf Tournaments

The Merrilees Golf Tournament was played on Sunday June 17th at 6:30 AM at the Salt Creek Golf course in Itasca, IL about a mile away from the Gathering venue. It was beautiful morning at our 6:30 tee time but the day would be quite hot by 10:00 AM. The competitors include;
       - Jack Merrilees, Buffalo, NY
       - Larry Merilees, Calgary, Canada
       - Darryl Merilees, Saskatoon
       - Randy Merilees, Saskatoon
       - Mike Mirrilees, Clan Chief
Congrulations to our tournament winner Randy Merilees of Saskatoon.
Randy’s brother Darryl won the Tournament at Chatham, Ontario previously and it was a tie between them once on the putting green of the 18th hole. Darryl missed his putt opening the door for Randy to take the victory. The photo below shows the presentation of the Bob Merrilees Claret Jug, so named in honor of former Clan Chief and Chieftain of England, Bob Merrilees formerly of London and now of Spain being award to Randy Merilees by Mike Mirrilees, Clan Chief. The Merrilees Golf Society Tournament was followed by a barbeque at the home of Mike & Bunny Mirrilees where the presention took place.

The 4th Merrilees Golf Open was held in conjunction with the Canada reunion of MFA branch #19 held in Leamington, Ontario in August 2010.
Dale Wieringa (right) won the Bob Merrilees Cup from a field of 25 golfers.
This Canadian family calls itself the 'rednecks' and they spell their name with one 'r' (Merilees). They are all descendants of Charlie and Edna Merilees, whose parents emigrated from Scotland in 1870.
First held in 1975 this was the family's 9th gathering with more than 100 members attending from Canada and the USA.

New Zealander, John Cornelius, won the 3rd International Merrilees Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the 3rd International Gathering in Dunedin in 2008. The competition was played over 18 holes with a shotgun start at the picturesque Chisholm Park Golf links bordering the Pacific Ocean. The day was fine and hot but very windy conditions proved a real challenge for the field of 17.
John is seen (right) receiving the impressive trophy from Bob Merrilees

The international field of golfers is pictured above:
Back: Ailsa Cornelius (NZ), 1st John Cornelius (NZ), Larry Merilees (Can), Brian Merrilees (Can), Don Merrylees (UK), Rob Merrilees (NZ)
Middle: Graeme Merrilees (NZ), Jason Dworman (US), Phil Merilees (Can), Chief Mike Mirrilees (US), Harry Ponga (NZ)
Front: Randy Merilees (Can), Carl Pascoe (NZ), 2nd Bob Merrilees (UK), 3rd Roxanne Merilees (Can), Mervyn Merrilees (NZ), David Blair (NZ)

Gary Barnes of Toronto, Canada won the 2nd International Merrilees Golf Tournament on July 2nd beating some very able contenders in Brian Merrilees of Toronto, Bob Merrilees of Chingford, (England), the current title-holder Darryl Merilees and his brothers Larry & Randy from Saskatoon.
Gary is seen (right) after receiving the Claret Jug trophy from Bob Merrilees.

Run in conjunction with the 2nd International Gathering was the inaugural Merrilees International Golf Open held on Monday 11th August 2003 at the Broomieknowe Golf Course at Bonnyrigg, just south of Edinburgh.
Ten keen participants from the USA, Scotland, England and Canada teed off including the organiser Bob Merrilees, Clan Chief Mike Mirrilees and the only woman competitor Carol Gerber.
The eventual winner was Darryl Merilees from Saskatoon, Canada, who was presented with the impressive trophy cup by the clan chief.
A luncheon followed in the clubhouse.

Merrilees' golfers line-up for the camera