Quaich Rota Announced

The schedule of courses for Quaich 2014 was announced this morning by Scottish Team Captain Ross "Rosco" MacCallum.  The site selection committee seems determined to build the rota around the strengths of Team Scotland.  It'll be links, gorse and revetted bunkers in 2014!  Captain MacCallum will not repeat the mistake of featuring an American-style course like Archerfield (Quaich 2010) in his line-up.  There will be no Budweisers on ice for Sheets at the halfway house at any of these courses.

Thursday, June 12 - Practice Round

Inverness Golf Club

http://www.invernessgolfclub.co.uk/

Friday, June 13 - Round 1

Castle Stuart

http://www.castlestuartgolf.com/

Saturday, June 14 - Rounds 2 & 3

Moray Golf Club - Old and New Courses

http://www.moraygolf.co.uk/

Sunday, June 15 - Singles

Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
http://www.nairndunbar.com/

Get ready for some action, golf fans --- it's going to be epic!

Team USA Prepare for Quaich Matches in Austin, TX

Team USA Captain Eric "Swayze" Silagy ordered his team to Austin, Texas on October 25 - 27 for a weekend of training.  Swayze plans to bring the most prepared team possible to Scotland in June of 2014.  On the course, Swayze experimented with several new player combinations to determine whether there was some new chemistry to be found.  In a bold move, he paired Chris "Cudman" Van Horne with Chris "Guv'na" Hughes in an afternoon fourball match.  The team started strong, winning it's first seven holes, only to completely collapse on the back nine amidst ugly bickering and finger-pointing.  Will we see this pairing in Scotland?  Doubtful.

Off the course, Team USA enjoyed great Texas barbecue and bonded in the bars up and down 6th Street in downtown Austin.  Austin is being floated as a possible venue for Quaich 2016.      

Quaich 2014 Dates Announced

Rosco and H beside the 18th hole at Moray Golf Club

Quaich 2014 will be held June 13 - 15th in the Highlands of Scotland.  After completing a comprehensive site visit to the area around Inverness earlier this summer, Scottish Captain Ross "Rosco" MacCallum and Vice Captain Kevin "The Riddler" Riddle believe they have found the ideal venue at which to host the biannual Quaich golf matches.  Courses and formats will be announced shortly.

2014 Quaich to be held in Scottish Highlands

Earlier today, Scottish Team Captain Ross MacCallum announced preliminary plans for Quaich 2014.  Next year's edition of this long-standing golf tradition will be held in the Highlands of Scotland in and around Inverness. The preliminary plans include playing some of the best links in the world such as Castle Stuart, Nairn and Lossiemouth.  The Scottish team, which hasn't tasted Quaich victory since 2006, will be leveraging the Highland location for a much-need lift in performance.  Team Scotland will need to channel the spirits of great Highlanders like William Wallace, Rob Roy MacGregor, Bonnie Price Charlie and Connor MacLeod in order to prevent Team USA from winning an unprecedented four in a row. The specific dates of Quaich 2014 will be announced shortly.

Rosco Shuffles Scottish Line-up

In his first major decision as Scottish team Captain, Ross "Rosco" MacCallum sacked 2012 Quaich rookie Douglas "Slicer" Brown and replaced him with veteran Michael "Wee Mikey P" Peyrebrune.  Rosco is determined to lead his team to victory in 2014 and is apparently playing the odds. In a prepared statement, Rosco said that "Wee Mikey P. has the highest winning percentage of any Scottish player in Quaich history, and we're delighted to have him back on the team."




Mikey P celebrating his return to Scottish line-up



 Slicer, who managed a respectable 2 points in Palm Beach Gardens including a final day singles drubbing of Chris "Guvna" Hughes, was notified via text that he would not be participating in next year's Quaich.  "I cannae believe it," said Slicer when reached by phone at his home in St. Andrews. "Rosco is a f***in' wee sqeef!" 

Game On, Bobby George!

British darts legend Bobby George has been named Honorary Captain of the 2014 Scottish team.  Although his busy schedule with prevent him from making an appearance at the 2014 Quaich matches, Bobby George is already motivating the Scottish team through a series of motivational messages send via e-mail.  "Remember lads," said George in an e-mail sent in February, "throw where you're looking and look where you're throwing."  Game on!

Captains Courageous

Quaich success often comes down to strategy and negotiation.  For this, both teams will be reliant on their captains.  Eric "Swayze" Silagy, the U.S. captain, proved himself a highly capable leader in directing his team to a 11.5 to 8.5 victory over Scotland in the 2012 Quaich.  Swayze knows when—and how—to get tough.  "I won't coddle my team," said Swayze in a candid interview.  "I believe in being direct about issues.  I tell my team what I expect of them, and they respond."  The U.S. players agree that Swayze is a force of nature when he wants something.  "When he gets that intense look on his face with the crease on the forehead between his eyes," said one U.S. player who asked to remain anonymous, "he scares the shit of me."





Swayze blasting out of a bunker at The Bear's Club in 2012





The 2014 Quaich will be Rosco's first captaincy, but his style will be decidely different from that of his American counterpart.  He will lead by leveraging his contagious enthusiasm.  "Your attitude is a choice," said Rosco, sounding very much like a man who has been through some form of counseling.  "And my team will be a mirror of my attitude."  The Scottish team seems eager to rally around it's new leader.  "Is Ross captain?" asked one member of the Scottish team who prefers to remain anonymous. "Ah dinnae know tha'"







Rosco showing good form at The Bear's Club in 2012



Scottish Conundrum