October Princes Course

Even although it is half-term, five girls turned out for the monthly 9 holes at the Princes Course. It was ideal conditions, although a little chilly and the wind did blow a little towards the end. Congratulations to Emma Morrison who won the handicap with a 2 over par net 33, playing off her newly acquired CONGU handicap of 36. Second was Heather Laing with a net 39, playing off her recently cut handicap of 24. Rumour has it that Heather it on the hunt for a new foursomes partner after her dad did not come up trumps at the recent SLGA Adult/Junior Foursomes competition at Arbroath!

In the non-handicap section, Caitlin Turner, fresh from a fabulous victory over her mum at Baberton yesterday, won with 67. Second was new member Heather Kynoch with a 73 while third was Lisa Macpherson with a 75, furious at just missing out on her best ever score.

Tomorrow sees some of the juniors heading to North Berwick's Children's Course for the Girls' in Golf Fun Team competition. There was much excitement at the Princes Course today with thoughts of meeting Catriona Matthews tomorrow who is turning out to not only watch the girls but also to present the prizes. I hope you all enjoy the day and have fun meeting Catriona.

A quick reminder that November sees a 9-hole adult/junior competition at the Princes Course. This will be on Sunday 15th November with the first tee time being 10.30 am. If anyone has not yet entered but would like to, there is stil time! Please e-mail Tracy with details of name, partner's name and handicaps. Please note that you do not need a handicap to enter and you do not even need a partner. Let me know and I will find someone for you.

Donald Ross Junior International

The Donald Ross Junior International has been played at Royal Dornoch Golf Club over the last coupe of days. Being held over both of the courses, Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) finished 3rd in the handicap girls section with a score of 150.

Janice Moodie Trophy

This competition, originally planned for the 3rd July, was rearranged and finally played at Windyhill Golf Club ysterday. Many congratulations to Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) who finished second overall with a net 71, two shots behind the 13-year-old winner. Rachael picked up the 15-21 age group prize by 3 shots. Gabrielle Macdonald finished in a tie for 4th place with a net 75.

P.S. Thanks to the avid reader for picking up on my spelling mistakes and omissions!

SLGA news

The SLGA Order of Merit Tables have now reached a conclusion. The final standings for MCLGA members are as follows:

Ladies' Order of Merit:
7th Jane Turner; 11th Rachael Watton; 14th Claire Hargan; 18th Claire MacDonald; 24th Gabrielle Macdoanld; 27th Louise Fraser; 58th Wendy Nicholson; 75th Noreen Fenton; 81st Karen Marshall; 87th Fiona de Vries; 105th Kirsten Balckwood

Girls' Order of Merit:
2nd Rachael Watton; 8th Gabrielle Macdonald; 39th Gillian Simpson


The SLGA has also announced its training squads for 2009/2010. For MCLGA members, they are as follows:

SLGA National Performance Squad: Jane Turner (Craigielaw)
SLGA National Performance Squad B: Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall)
Scottish Golf Academy Programme: Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe)

Girls in Golf Fun Team Competition

Laura Rushby from Club Golf Scotland has asked me to let you know about a Girls in Golf Fun Team Competition which is being held on Monday 19th October at North Berwick’s Children Course, in East Lothian (next to the MacDonald Marine Hotel in North Berwick) between 10am-12.30pm.

They have organised for a very special guest to come along to see you all in action and to present the prizes. It is none other than 2009 Women's British Open Champion, Catriona Matthew who is a strong supporter of clubgolf and has very kindly agreed to support this event during her busy schedule.

This is a fun competition and is just for girls and all abilities are welcome (beginners, non-handicappers, handicappers etc etc). They would love to see as many of the girls at this event as possible, to meet Catriona, and show her that the East of Scotland has lots of girls in golf!

The details are:

Girls in Golf Team Competition
Venue: North Berwick’s Children’s Course (next to the Marine Hotel)
Date: Monday 19th October
Drop off: 1000
Pick up: 1230
Format: Teams of 3 or 4 will participate in a team scramble
Teams will be organised based on age and ability
Depending on how many handicap/non handicap players enter will dictate the final format
Entry fee: £2 (to be paid at registration on the day)

To book a place please complete the entry form by clicking on the link below and email it to:
Kate Green – Golf Development Officer (East Lothian)
Tel: 01875 619071
Email: kgreen@eastlothian.gov.uk

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you have any questions please contact either Laura or Kate

ENTRY%20FORM%20FUN%20COMP%2009.doc

Winter Foursomes

Due to popular demand (i.e. there has been a number of requests!) the first round of the Winter Foursomes has been extended to Sunday 8th November. Please note that the rest of the "play-by" dates will remain as they are. We hope that this will give you enough time to arrange your ties.

SLGA Champion of Champions

Well done to Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) who narrowly missed out by 1 shot on becoming the 2009 SLGA Champion of Champions. On a wind swept Glasgow Gailes, Claire shot an 81, which was 1 over the day's CSS, to Kylie Walker's (Dunbartonshire & Argyll Champion) 80. Unfortunately Claire lost out to two others on the better inward half to push her into 4th place.

Gabrielle wins Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters

Many congratulations to Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) who today won the girls Dunfermline Building Society Junior Masters. Having made it through the Regional Finals at Lothianburn at the beginning of August, Gabrielle teed up in the Grand Final at the Queen's Course in Gleneagles. She scored a magnificent level par in windy conditions which gave her 39 stableford points and the championship title by 2 points. It was third time lucky for Gabrielle as this was the third year in a row where she had qualified for the final and her four birides at the 3rd, 4th, 13th and 16th certainly helped her on her way.

Many congratulations Gabrielle.

SLGA Championship Manager

Fiona Farquharson has decided to retire from her Championship Manager's job at the SLGA next year and the SLGA has asked us to display the following advertisement for her replacement on our website. Further details, including the job description can be viewed via the SLGA's own website at http://www.slga.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=440&Itemid=30

Scottish Ladies' Golfing

Association Limited

The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Limited is the governing body for ladies’ and girls’ amateur golf in Scotland. Applications are invited for the following position which will be based in Perth.

CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER
(Full Time)

Applicants must have an excellent knowledge of competitive golf. They should be self motivated but able to work as part of a team, and have strong communication and organisational skills. IT literate and fully conversant with Microsoft Office, the person appointed will be responsible for the administration for, and delivery of, the Association’s Championships and Competitions. Attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines are imperative. A full clean driving licence and willingness to work unsocial hours and away from home are essential.

Salary and benefits package will be commensurate with experience.

Applications, in writing, accompanied by a curriculum vitae should be sent to:
Dr S E Hartley, The Company Secretary, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Limited, The Den, 2 Dundee Road, Perth PH2 7DW
marking the envelope Ref:CM Private & Confidential.
Email: sheila@slga.co.uk
Closing date for applications: 2 November 2009

2009 Greensomes Competition

The final result from the 2009 greensomes competition has now been received. Congratulations to Ravelston Golf Club who has won this year's league with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss, to give a total of 7 match points. In second place is Ratho Park with 3 wins, 2 losses and 6 match points. The final results table can be seen by clicking on "Greensomes" on the left hand side of this page.

Thank you to Phyl Early (Glencorse) who kindly acted as recorder for this competition this year.

SLGA Champion of Champions

Good luck to Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) and Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies') who play in the SLGA Champion of Champions competiton at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club. The girls qualified through winning the MCLGA County Championship and the East of Scotland Championship respectively and will take part in the one round stroke play competiton on Sunday, the final SLGA event of 2009.

2009-2010 Winter Foursomes

Fifty couples have entered this year's Winter Foursomes competition and the draw is now available on the website - click on the "Winter Foursomes" heading down the left handside of the page. I hope you all enjoy your matches and the snow does not interfere with play it way it did last year!

Good luck to you all.

East of Scotland Championship

An excellent field of 47 players took part in the East of Scotland Championship held today at Mortonhall Golf Club. After the dreadful gales of yesterday, the organising Committee were delighted that fantastic calm conditions prevailed today - although it was a bit chilly standing on the first tee seeing everyone off this morning! The course was reported to be in great condition with the Midlothian players appearing to cope the best!

Claire MacDonald (Gullane) put her putting woes behind her to record a great score of 72 against the day's CSS of 74 and to become the 2009 East of Scotland Champion. It was a great round in which Claire reached the turn in 39 (2 over par) before turning for home and really putting on the style. After hitting the ball wide at the 11th, she managed to get back onto the fairway before slotting her chip for a birdie 3. This was followed with another birdie at 12 and yet another at 14. Claire won by 2 strokes from both Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) and Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), with Rachael pipping Gabrielle to take second place by virtue of a better inward 9 holes.

The handicap section saw the only non-Midlothian winner of the day with Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus and Fife) claiming 1st place with a net 71. Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) took second place with a net 72, while home player, Carol Brown finished third with a net 73.

In the team event where 3 scores from the 4 nominated players count towards the trophy, again Midlothian came up trumps for the third year running. The team of Claire Hargan (Mortonhall), Claire MacDonald, Rachael Watton and Jane Turner (Craigielaw) returned an aggregate score of 221, winning by 12 shots from Fife. Stirling were third and East Lothian fourth.

Many congratulations to all of the girls and many thanks to Mortonhall Golf Club for kindly agreeing to us using their course for this event and for all the help they and their Council gave to us in getting the day organised.

The results were:

1st scratch: Claire MacDonald (Gullane Ladies & Midlothian) 72

2nd scratch: Rachael Watton (Mortonhall & Midlothian) 74 (BIH)

3rd scratch: Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw & Midlothian) 74

1st handicap: Rachel Hanlon (St Regulus & Fife)

2nd handicap: Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe & Midlothian)

3rd handicap: Carol Brown (Mortonhall & Midlothian)

Team prize:

1st: Mortonhall (Claire Hargan, Claire MacDonald, Rachael Watton, Jane Turner) 221

2nd: Fife (Dorothy Ford, Rachel Hanlon, Elaine Moffat, Ashleigh Wilton) 233

3rd Strling & Clackmannan (Linda Allan, Alison Davidson, Alison Goodwin, Louise MacGregor) 246

4th East Lothian (Elinor Blair, Linda Grieve, Clara Young, Dawn Young) 260

ESGGA Order of Merit

The East of Scotland Girls' Golfing Association (ESGGA) today announced their 2009 Order of Merit title winner. The girls gain points for their scratch scores at the ESGGA Spring and Autumn Meetings as well as their Championship and the relevant Junior County Championships. This year's title went to Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) with 65 points, winning by 17 points from Rachel Hanlon from Fife. In third place was Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), with Alison Goodwin (Stirling and Clackmannan) fourth.

Many congratulations to Kate, who is pictured below with Rachel and Alison.

Scottish Seniors stop the curse!

After the Ladies' Team succombed on the final day of the Home Internationals at Irvine and MCLGA lost out, by the narrowest of margins, on a countback in the County Finals at Baberton, Pamela Williamson's team, which included MCLGA members, Fiona de Vries, Noreen Fenton and Fiona Hunter, with Janet Wake as Manager, held on, in style, at Newport Golf Club, Wales to maintain their 100% record and win the Senior Women's Home International Matches and the Sue Johnson Trophy for the first time in the 6 year history of the competition.

On Day 1, Scotland met Ireland and, having reached lunch 2-1 up after the morning foursomes, continued their great display in the afternoon, taking the match by 5.5-2.5. Fiona Hunter, who lost her morning foursomes, sat out the afternoon singles along with Noreen Fenton who, with Fiona de Vries, had recorded a 3&2 victory. Fiona kept up her 100% record in the afternoon with another 3&2 victory in the singles.

Day 2 brought Scotland against England, a team they had never beaten at this level before, but more of the same was to follow. Again a 2-1 lead was set at lunchtime with Fiona Hunter narrowly losing her foursomes, by virtue of the opposition holing from 10ft on the final green, and the successful duo of Noreen Fenton and Fiona de Vries bringing home a point with another 3&2 victory. In a very tight, nail biting afternoon, the singles matches were shared 2.5-2.5, giving Scotland the overall lead of 4.5-3.5 which they were looking for. With birdies and eagles flying around everywhere (16 birdies and 1 eagle were recorded between the two teams), Scotland lost the first singles match but moved ahead again after recording victories in the second and third matches, with Fiona de Vries again posting an ever popular 3&2 victory. The fourth match was lost with the final game being halved but not before Moira Thomson (East Lothian) put up a great fight, winning the 15th and 16th to square her match and halving 17 and 18 to keep it that way and give Scotland the necessary win.

So all was set. The hard work almost done. Scotland had 2 wins out of 2 and all that was needed was to face defending Champions, Wales, on their home soil and record a halved match! Sound familiar?

The morning foursomes started the excitement. Fiona Hunter holed from a bunker at the 16th to level their match before halving the 17th and 18th holes and give Scotland their first half point of the day. In the final foursomes, Noreen Fenton and Fiona de Vries, by now fed up with 3&2 victories, increased their winning margin and recorded a 4&2 victory to give Scotland a 2.5-0.5 lead at lunchtime. Scotland were left needing 1.5 points from the singles line up for a draw and 2 points for a win, both outcomes securing them the Sue Johnson Trophy. Having won the first of the singles matches, the Scots lost the second match before Fiona de Vries, playing in the third game, came to the fore. Her Welsh opponent was not sure what had hit her as Fiona went 6 up after 11 holes. She then lost the the 14th to a birdie but that left her dormie 4 up and one more hole was all that was needed. Again making her 3&2 score lines redundant, Fiona won the 15th and the match by 5&3, maintaining her unbeaten run. Scotland then secured the 4th game but lost the 5th to make the overall score 5.5-2.5.

Many congratulations to Pamela Williamson, Janet Wake and the whole of the Scotland Senior Womens' Home International Team. A fantastic result to not only win the Sue Johnson Trophy for the first time in the six year history but to win it in such style. The gremlins are now, hopefully, well and truely buried in Scotland!

East of Scotland Championship

The starting list and times for the East of Scotland Championship has been changed slightly. Please click below to see the revised version.

2009EOSdraw.doc