Junior Spring Meeting 2010

The MCLGA Junior Spring Meeting will be held on Tuesday 6th April 2010 at Swanston New Golf Club. The girls with handicaps will play the main course where the course record is up for grabs - currently 79, held by none other than Noreen Fenton! The non-handicap girls will enjoy 12 holes round the Templar course followed by a putting competition. We are grateful to Swanston New Golf Club for giving us courtesy of the course for the Spring Meeting.

The tee-time draws have now been made and are as follows:

Main Swanston New Golf Course

10.00 Rachael Watton & Gabrielle Macdonald
10.07 Gillian Simpson & Kate McIntosh
10:14 Hannah Scott & Kirsty Simpson
10:21 Heather Laing & Katherine Fisher
10.28 Jane Finlay & Carla Maran
10.35 Emma Morrison & Eilidh MacKinnon


Templar Course

10:30 Kim Naysmith & Anna Massey
10.37 Catriona MacKinnon & Anna Maran
10.44 Alexandra Massey & Heather Kynoch
10.51 Lisa Macpherson & Madalaine Wallace


Please be ready on the 1st tee 10 min before your tee-off time.

Please note that the usual dress rules apply both on and off the golf course.

Please bring proof of handicap.

If you need to call off or ask any questions regarding the Junior Spring Meeting, please contact Joan Simpson either by e-mail before the 6th April or by caling 07982 188634 on the day.

Finally, please note that MCLGA does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) in ANY of their competitions and, as such, these devices are not permitted for use in any MCLGA competition, tie or match regardless of whether there is a local rule permitting their use or not. Breach of this rule will lead to disqualification.

MCLGA County Championship

Just a reminder to all those members in handicap categories 1 and 2. The MCLGA County Championship is being held on the week beginning the 26th April 2010 at Prestonfield Golf Club. The 36-hole stroke play qualifying competition will be on the Monday, with the top 16 scratch scores going through to the match play stages on Friday 30th April and Sunday 2nd May. There's still time to get your entries in, with the closing date being on Friday 9th April.

Please note that the Championship qualifier for members with handicaps in Categories 3 and 4 will be at the Spring Meeting and the match play stages will be at Prestonfield Golf Club, along with the main Championship, on Friday 30th April and Sunday 2nd May.

Scottish Ladies' Amateur Championship 2010

I have been asked to bring the Scottish Ladies' Amateur Championship 2010 to your attention. This is being held at Craigielaw Golf Club, East Lothian from 18-22 May.

Although this is primarily a scratch competition, it is open to ALL Scottish female amateur golfers, who fulfill the entry qualifications. There are plenty of prizes on offer during the qualifying rounds including:
- individual scratch and handicap prizes for the 2 individual rounds and aggregate totals
- nett and gross prizes for club teams of 2 players
- prizes for County teams of 3 players
(Club and County teams must be entered on separate entry forms which have been sent to your Clubs and Counties)

At an entry fee of £35, it is a great opportunity to play at least three rounds on Craigielaw Golf Course at very little cost. With a practice round on the 17th May, the 2 rounds of qualifying stroke play are played on the 18th and 19th May. The lowest 32 aggregate scratch scores qualify for the main match play championship and the next 16 scratch scores qualify for the 2nd flight, the Clark Rosebowl.

The Scottish gives a great social week of golf, the chance to meet friends both 'old' and 'new' and offers the chance to see some of the Country's top amateurs do battle or even to take them on yourself. On top of all that, there is the Friday night annual party, which is Legendary!

To find out more about this Championship links course or the excellent practice and clubhouse facilities, visit http://www.craigielawgolfclub.com/. To get more infomration on the Championship as well as entry forms, please see the SLGA website (http://www.slga.co.uk/).

The closing date for entries is 12 noon on Monday 19th April.

Why not give it a go? It's more or less on home soil! Next year, once you've got the bug, you'll be off to tee up on Machrihanish Golf Club (17-21 May 2011) and then Tain Golf Club (22-26 May 2012).

Junior Social Night

With the golf season looming, the MCLGA Juniors took themselves down to Fountain Park for a pre-season fun and friendly night out tenpin bowling on Wednesday. With 22 girls (and two spectators) taking part, it wasn't long before the noise level increased and the celebrations started as the girls hit strikes. There was the odd down cast face as the bowls failed to hit a pin but the next delivery ensured that the smiles were back. Stopping, briefly, to tuck into their chicken nuggets and chips, the fun continued, the jumping around and celebratory dancing was non-stop.

In the end, with an average score of 148, the Strikers finished in 5th position. On 155.6 the No Namers were in 4th. With 156.6 the Perfect Pins were 3rd. The Cheating Cheetahs finished in Cadbury Button Egg position with 160.5 and the aptly names Groovy Golfers won the top placed Smartie Egg position with a score of 173.4. Out with the winning teams, Eilidh Mackinnon returned a score of 176 but with a great score of 190, Heather Laing got first individual prize.

But nobody went away empty handed as the cadbury cream eggs came into view to finish off a fantastic evening!

Many thanks, not only to all the helpers and especially to Karen Marshall for kindly organising the evening, but also to all the Juniors who came along to take part and enjoy themselves. The bowls will be replaced in a couple of weeks time with smaller golf balls as the Junior's head the Midlothian season with their Spring Meeting at Swanston New Gold Course.

Scottish Universities Women's Championship

Good luck to Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and Arlene McGarty (Harburn) who travel to Lossiemouth this weekend to take part in the Scottish Universities Women's Championship. This is being held over both the Moray Golf Club Old and New Courses and starts on Sunday 28th March.

Bronze Summer Singles Knockout

The draw for the Bronze Division Summer Singles Knockout has now been made and is published on the website. This can be viewed by clicking on the "Bonze Summer Knockout" link on the left hand side of this page. The first round has to be played by the 16th May.

Please note that MCLGA does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) in ANY of their competitions and, as such, these devices are not permitted for use in any MCLGA competition, tie or match at any club regardless of whether there is a local rule permitting their use or not.

MCLGA Spring Meeting & 'B' Championship Qualifying

The Spring Meeting and 'B' Championship Qualifier is to be held at Murrayfield Golf Club on Wednesday 21st April 2010. Please note that entries close on Friday 26th March. If you would like to enter, there is still time. Please either send your entry off to Agnes or let her know by e-mail or telephone on 0131 445 2411.

Remember, entries close this coming Friday, 26th March.

Scottish Junior Champion of Champions

The 2009 Scottish Junior Champion of Champions, postponed from November, took place on Sunday at The Duke's Course in St Andrews. Midlothian was represented by Midlothian Junior Champion Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) and Scottish Junior Cap, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall). Rachael finished in second place, losing out by 1 shot, while Kate was in 10th equal. Well done to both girls.

March visit to the Hermitage

The juniors paid their second visit to the Hermitage Golf Course today and yet again, some great golf was seen. We welcomed 2 newcomers to the 12 holes, Ellie Ferguson and Ella Marshall. Ellie, playing on a golf course for the first time ever, played 4 holes while Ella played all 12.

Congratulations to Jane Finlay who won the handicap with a net 1 over par 48 and to Caitlin Turner who won the non-handicap with a 69. Thanks, as ever, to May Hardy and, this month, to Louise Fraser who kindly turned out to help.

The results were:

Handicap:
1st Jane Finlay - net 48

Non-handicap:
1st Caitlin Turner - 69
2nd Holly Gordon - 71
3rd Kim Naysmith - 76

In the running competition, Caitlin leads the non-handicap section with 8 points, with Kim Naysmith 2nd on 5 points while in the handicap section Jane and Carla Maran lead on 3 points each.

Can I also take this opportunity to remind all juniors of the Junior Spring Meeting which is being held on Tuesday 6th April at Swanston Golf Club. This event is open to girls both with and without handicaps. If you would like to enter, please e-mail Joan Simpson.

Website disruption

We had a slight technical hitch last night when the website host was changed from 1&1 to Google.
Disregard any references to finding this website at news.mclga.com
It's still at the old address www.mclga.com   (or www.mclga.co.uk whichever you prefer)
Everything seems to be back to normal but email me gill@gilliankirkwood.com if you spot any problems.
Gill

Website maintenance

Under construction.... woman at work!

Just a note to say that I'll be working on the website today (Friday 19th March)
Hopefully you won't notice any difference... but things could go pear-shaped so I thought you should be warned.

Best wishes
Gill

Scottish Universities Stroke Play

Congratulations to Jane Turner who finished 2nd in the recently held Scottish Universities Stroke Play event held, over 3 rounds, at Cardrona Hotel and Golf Resort near Peebles.

Silver Summer Singles Knockout

The draw for the Silver Division Summer Singles Knockout has now been made and is published on the website. This can be viewed by clicking on the "Silver Summer Knockout" link on the left hand side of this page. The preliminary round has to be played by the 18th April.

Please note that MCLGA does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) in ANY of their competitions and, as such, these devices are not permitted for use in any MCLGA competition, tie or match at any club regardless of whether there is a local rule permitting their use or not.

Midlothian v Borders

On a lovely day, the Midlothian County Team's practice matches started on a high. Meeting the Borders at Newbattle Golf Club today, the main team came away with a 4-o win while the juniors recorded a 1-1 draw. Despite the snow, Newbattle Golf Course was in great order and it was a pleasure to be given courtesy to play our match. Both the main and Junior Squads played greensomes, with the juniors playing off handicaps and Midlothian giving 9 shots in each match.

Louise Fraser & Claire MacDonald beat Liz Campbell & Isla Craigie 5&4
Wendy Nicholson & Gabrielle Macdonald beat Judith Anderson & Tara Mactaggart 5&3
Karen Marshall & Gillian Simpson beat Sheila Cuthbertson & Wendy Wells 4&3
Kate McIntosh & Noreen Fenton beat Lynne Douglas & Denise Richards 5&3

Hannah Scott & Heather Laing beat Laura Mathewson & Katherine Fisher 1 hole
Kirsty Simpson & Heather Tumblety lost to Danielle Ker & Leanne Wilson 4&3

Well done to all the girls and thank you all for playing and to Katherine Fisher for standing in and playing for the Borders.

SLGA Teams

Many congratulations to Jane Turner (Craigielaw) who has been picked to represent Scotland at the Welsh Ladies' Open Amateur 54 Hole Stroke Play Championship at Southerndown Golf Club from the 1st-2nd May and in the Irish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Newlands Golf Club from the 5th-6th July. Also Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) is called up as the travelling reserve for the Welsh Championship.

SLGA/SGU Amalgamation

Some members may be aware of an article which appeared on the East Vets Ladies website on the 11th February regarding the planned merger, by the end of 2011, of the SLGA and the SGU (see article entitled "East Vets Weel-kent Faces" at http://www.eastvetsblogspot.com/) or may have seen articles in the Press or even the latest issue of the Bunkered magazine. Having been touched on very briefly at the SLGA AGM in January, the East Division Captains brought this up at their Divisional Meeting on the 6th February. It was very evident at that meeting that not a lot, if anything, is known about this planned merger, not even by the East Division's SLGA Representatives! As a result, the East Division Captains asked for it to be added to the agenda for the SLGA Captains' Meeting which was held on Sautrday.

At that meeting, a statement was read out on behalf of the SLGA by Dawn Buchert. Having thought that was the end of the item, questions and comments then followed, being answered by Sheila Hartley. The SLGA Representatives on the Amalgamation Committee are Shona Malcolm, Sheila Hartley, Lynne Terry and Lorna Bennett. Apparently, nothing has been done. It is not a done deal. There is nothing to report. Nothing has happened. It is just a proposal. They can't answer any questions because they haven't had any discussions.

So all those reports in the Press that the merger is going ahead at the end of 2011 are wrong!

The Committee's first meeting was held on the 23rd February and that, we were told, was the start of the formal talks. Their next meeting is at the end of April. They have no proposals to put forward, no framework to work towards nor even, at the moment, a starting point.

The Captains stressed to the SLGA that they must keep their members informed to stop rumours spreading. Communication is vital. The Captains were told that they were responsible for informing the County members. However, this was thrown back as we asked that the SLGA issues a statement informing us all of where they have got to and what their next steps are. A positive statement is what is needed to let everyone know that the merger has not got any further than a proposal. A statement letting us all know that both the SLGA and SGU memberships WILL be asked to vote to give their approval for the merger. A statement letting us all know that an EGM WILL be called and lady golfers do not just have the 2011 AGM to voice any opinions.

There are various issues, some of which were raised, that need to be looked at. The County structures between the men and the ladies differ greatly. The voting structures between the two groups are far different. The County Championships are run far differently. The SLGA has assets specifically sidelined for County affairs. They need to be protected. The SLGA and SGU office letting contracts run out at different times but neither apparently is big enough to cope with both administrative groups. These and many more questions need to be addressed when the Committee finally get down to discussing this possible proposal.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the SLGA statement!

Scottish Vets Team announced

The Scottish Vets team to play against an Irish Senior Select team for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy has been announced. This year's match, being held over Portmarnock Links from 18th-19th April, will be Captained by Pamela Williamson (Baberton). The team of nine players consists of two Midlothian members, namely Fiona de Vries (St Rule) and Noreen Fenton (Dunbar), with a further member, Fiona Hunter (Baberton) being named as second reserve.

Good luck to all.

Champion of Champions Draw 2010

The draw for the 2010 Champion of Champions was made at the first Committee Meeting of the year last night and has now been published on the website. Please click on the "Champ of Champions" link on the left hand side of this page to see the draw. The first round has to be played by May 1st. Agnes will be in touch with contact details for your opponent, rules for the competition etc.

Good luck to all who have qualified for this event.