Latest news with #JamesBraid
The Hill
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Republicans advance Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill' in unusual late-night vote
Republican deficit hawks allowed President Trump's bill of legislative priorities to advance out of the House Budget Committee in an unusual late-night vote on Sunday, marking a key hurdle cleared for House GOP leaders and a sign of progress for warring Republican factions After gaveling in at 10 p.m. on Sunday, the committee voted 17-16 to advance the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' which would extend Trump's tax cuts and boost his border funding priorities while reforming Medicaid and food assistance programs. Four Republicans voted 'present.' In a sign of the high-stakes nature of the vote, the Speaker as well as White House Legislative Affairs Director James Braid made appearances at the late night Budget Committee affair. The next stop is the House Rules Committee, which is set to take up the legislation later this week and make last-minute changes to the bill to reflect any compromises and demands between deficit hawks and moderates in high-tax states. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had expressed optimism about the bill's prospects in an appearance earlier in the day on 'Fox News Sunday,' saying the plan was to have the legislation clear the next hurdle of the House Rules Committee before having the House pass the legislation and send it to the Senate by Memorial Day. The vote comes after four hardline conservatives on the committee tanked a vote on the legislation Friday, saying the cost-cutting measures in the bill did not go far enough. Those fiscal hawks — to include Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) — said new Medicaid work requirements on 'able-bodied' single adults and repeal of green energy incentives do not kick in soon enough, causing them to worry that the savings that are back-loaded on the overall 10-year cost of the package will not actually be realized. But on the other end of the Republican conference, moderates in high-tax states are demanding an increase to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, currently written as $30,000 — a figure that amounts to three times the current level, but that moderates says is not acceptable to win their votes for the sprawling package. Making changes to appease those members will require tweaks to the bill elsewhere.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
The hidden gem golf course where PGA Tour star Robert MacIntyre grew up playing
Glencruitten Golf Club in Oban is known for its fun, eccentric layout despite being a tough walk. Tucked away on the outskirts of Oban and overlooking the breathtaking Argyll and Bute coastline lies Glencruitten Golf Club, a compact, character-filled course that helped forge the career of PGA Tour star Robert MacIntyre. The 27-year-old, who is competing in this week's PGA Championship, grew up playing on Glencruitten's hilly fairways. And while it may be under the radar compared to the famous names in Scottish golf, the course is far from ordinary. At less than 4,500 yards and with a par of just 62, Glencruitten might sound short on paper, but visitors quickly learn it is anything but a pushover. Packed with blind tee shots, dramatic elevation changes and what some call 'big dipper fairways', the course is regularly described as one of the most unique in the country. According to the golf review site Top100Courses, it's 'one of the most unique 18-hole layouts you will play anywhere'. The site goes on to say that calling Glencruitten 'hilly parkland' or 'eccentric and sporting' fails to capture its full character. 'As unique golfing venues go, this is up there with the very best and not to be missed if you like your golf to be both entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable,' the review adds. Designed by five-time Open champion James Braid, Glencruitten proudly refers to itself as a 'hidden gem', and it certainly lives up to the label. While it may not carry the fame of the Old Course at St Andrews or Gleneagles, its links to the top levels of the sport make it a must-visit for anyone keen to walk in the footsteps of legends without breaking the bank. With green fees generally quoted at around £60, Glencruitten offers a rare chance to play a truly distinctive Scottish course at an affordable price. The club boasts a strong TripAdvisor rating of 4.2, with glowing reviews highlighting both the challenge and charm of the layout. One golfer called it the 'best course in the west of Scotland', while another wrote: 'Great short course, if you carry your bag take as little as possible, or use electric buggy, very hilly but great Course some tricky short uphill and some tricky downhill par 3s very scenic. Staff are really friendly'. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Even if your golf is off-form, the sweeping views across Oban Bay are enough to lift the spirits. And the immaculate condition of the course owes much to MacIntyre's father, Dougie, who works as Glencruitten's head greenkeeper. Dougie famously caddied for his son when he secured his first PGA Tour title at the 2023 Canadian Open. Glencruitten is open to visitors and, while green fees are not listed on its website, the quality and quirkiness of the course make it one of Scotland's best-kept golfing secrets, and an unforgettable experience for anyone willing to take on its slopes.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Fury as 136-year-old Scots golf course ripped up by yobs on e-bikes
'ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING' Fury as 136-year-old Scots golf course ripped up by yobs on e-bikes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GREENKEEPERS at an Edinburgh golf course have been left heartbroken after yobs on e-bikes wreaked havoc on the property. Over a dozen thugs were filmed riding roughshod over the fairways and greens of Braid Hills Golf Course in the Morningside area of the capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Braid Hills Golf Course in Edinburgh was ripped up by the bikers 4 The greens will now need weeks if not months of work 4 The greenkeepers have shared their despair at the damage And the footage has prompted outrage on social media, with some urging the course to install cameras to capture them if they commit the act again and others calling for a change to the laws on e-bikes. Braid Hills was designed by famed course architect and former Open Championship winner James Braid and is 136 years old. We also named Braid Hills as one of the best courses you can play for under £45 in July last year. It is a public course run by the council via Edinburgh Leisure and its south Edinburgh location makes it popular with visiting golfers to Scotland. Greenkeeper at the course, Gary Rodger, posted a video of the damage being done on Twitter (X). It showed several bikers driving across a fairway in the distance, with two golfers looking on in shock. Other pictures showed the devastation that they left behind. Rodger said: "Absolutely heartbreaking, we've been working flat with only 50 per cent staff for last three weeks trying our best to keep the standards high only come in to this, dreading more damage this week." He expanded in an interview with the Daily Record, exposing his fears that the problem will only get worse. Rodger said: "One of our boys made a video of the young boys coming over a fairway and you could count around 15 of them against the skyline. "It was a grim sight, when you know what was going to happen next. I don't know if they are setting out to cause the damage or whether they just like the hills and contours, which cause natural ramps for them. Wild man of golf John Daly hits a drive off a glamorous woman's bum "But they are ripping up all our good work and it's soul destroying for us." He added: "We are literally dreading this going on and on. "My first thought is to appeal to the better nature of those responsible in the hope they can accept that what they are doping might be having consequences way beyond what they ever intended. But we really just need it to stop." Councillor Marie-Clair Munro of the Morningside ward in Edinburgh called out the "anti-social" behaviour on her Facebook account. She posted: "Anti-social dirt bike behaviour at the Braid Hills Golf Club. "Hope the greens aren't too damaged." People from far and wide shared their horror at the images in response to the video post. One said: "Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I am done with e-bikes. There needs to be an age limit to ride them." Another said: "Felonious! Straight to jail! Right away!" A third wrote: "Sorry to hear and see this. Kids doing this don't realise the work and effort that goes into taking care of the course. Hopefully you can find them, I would post pictures and utilise local social media. Having them come back and fix it or work the summer is the best life lesson." Another observer said: "Deer cameras work wonders. Surprised you haven't already done that. A course near me had similar issues and put up the cameras and caught the kids in less than two weeks." A fifth asked: "Awful. Why would they do that?" Before a sixth said: "That's heartbreaking Gary, every greenkeeper's worst nightmare." One man said the shocking footage convinced him to make sure he pays the course a visit to play it when he's next in the area. He said: "Disgusting. Next time I'm up in Edinburgh I will make sure I come a play this course. Best of luck with the repairs." And one man went further, who said he'd patrol the course for the greenkeepers. He wrote: "I'll fly to Scotland to help with the repairs or just patrol the course throughout the night like Paul Blart. Dead serious. This is devastating." Nearby club Craigmillar Park have offered their services after seeing the video. The course manager there posted in reply to Rodgers: "Nightmare mate! Let me know if you need a hand! We are Just down the road!" 4 The bikers can be seen off in the background here Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Daily Record
'27-hole golf course' runs 20 miles through Scotland's most spectacular scenery
If you want to explore three of the best nine-hole courses in the country, you can find them on one 20-mile stretch of road. The golf season is underway, and Scottish players are eager to tee off on new courses across the nation. Not all enthusiasts can dedicate nearly four hours for a full 18 holes, though. Fortunately, Scotland boasts a selection of nine-hole courses that offer a swift golfing session in less than two hours. For many, their passion for the sport was kindled on these shorter courses, which continue to be a splendid test for golfers at any skill level. For those yearning to experience three of the top nine-hole courses in Scotland, they're nestled within a 20-mile drive through some of the most beautiful and untouched landscapes available. While Perthshire might rank just after Fife as the home of golf in Scotland, featuring the prestigious Gleneagles, further exploration reveals three lesser-known delights. These hidden gems provide double the enjoyment with half the number of holes, or for those seeking an extended adventure, all three can be played in one day, transforming this stretch into a 27-hole marvel spanning 20 miles. Leading the way is Comrie Golf Club in the vibrantly-named village, often referred to as 'shacky toun' due to its slight but frequent seismic shakes. Situated conveniently off the A85, connecting Perth to Oban, Comrie has earned high praise as "one of the finest and most scenic nine-hole courses in the UK", according to Bunkered magazine. Flaunting a heathland course, it's heralded for its "classic James Braid design that makes full use of the natural topography," notes the club's website. Comrie, a par 35 course stretching 3,008 yards from the back tees, is often praised for its diverse range of holes, reports the Scottish Daily Express. The two par 3s are notably challenging, but even if your golfing skills aren't top-notch, the stunning surrounding countryside and tree-lined fairways, home to red squirrels, mistle thrush, woodpeckers and roe deer, makeup for it. Just under six miles west, near Loch Earn's banks, lies St Fillans, a course highly favoured by two-time major champion Sandy Lyle, who dubbed it his favourite inland course in the country. Despite being encircled by towering mountains, St Fillans maintains a relatively flat terrain, with each hole presenting a unique challenge. St Fillans, a par 36 course measuring 3,008 yards from the back tees, was established in 1903. It's no surprise that Lyle, known to play the course with hickory clubs, holds the 18-hole course record of 66. Golf enthusiasts can then journey along the A85 on Loch Earn's north shore before heading north towards Killen. A brief detour off the A85 is required to reach this secluded village near Loch Tay's western shore, where you'll discover the third in this series of exceptional courses. Killen is another contender for Scotland's most picturesque nine-hole course - and it could easily rival many 18-hole courses too. Each hole offers breathtaking views, and with 14 different tees, those staying for 18 holes can enjoy a slightly varied challenge. All three courses have been recognised by Bunkered as some of the top nine-hole facilities in Scotland. It would be quite feasible to play all three in a single day, with the journey from Comrie to Killen taking less than 40 minutes. The green fees for nine holes are usually £20 at Comrie, £18 at St Fillans, and £20 at Killen, which means playing all three would cost a mere £58.
Washington Post
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump's hill enforcer aided GOP rebels. Now he must keep them in line
Donald Trump's new point man on the Hill, James Braid, built his career fighting on behalf of the unruly, ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, whose members often stood in the way of Republican leaders' plans. Now, the 35-year-old ex-Hill staffer is tasked with reining them in. Braid's ability to manage ties between the fractious Republican conference and a demanding president as the new White House legislative affairs director will have profound implications for Trump's second term.
