2010 County Championship

This is the last call for entries for the County Championship, being held at Prestonfield Golf Club. Open to players with handicaps of 12 and under, the 36 hole qualifier takes place on Monday 26th April, with the match play stages on Friday 30th April and Sunday 2nd May.

If you would like to enter please contact Agnes, by Sunday 11th April, either by e-mail or by phone on 0131 445 2411, to add your name to the list.

Spring Meeting

The draw for the Spring Meeting, being held at Murrayfield Golf Club on Wednesday 21st April, has now been put on the website. To see the starting times, please click on "Spring Draw" on the left hand side of the page. Spaces are still available, so if you would like a late entry, please contact Agnes Leslie either by e-mail or on 0131 445 2411. You can also "turn up on the day" and will be put with the first group within your handicap category, should a space become available.

PLEASE remember to bring your handicap certificate with you on the day.

This competition is the qualifying round for the "B" championship, which is for handicaps of 13 and above. Please note that the match play stages of the Championship are being held at Prestonfield Golf Club on Friday 30th April and Sunday 2nd May.

Please note that MCLGA does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs) in ANY of its competitions and, as such these devices are not permitted for use at the Spring Meeting, regardless of whether Murrayfield has a local rule permitting their use or not. Penalty for breach of this rule will be disqualification.

Please also note that, with tradition, a raffle will be held in aid of the County Juniors. Raffle prizes will be gratefully received and can be brought along to the check in desk on the day of play.

Cuthbertson Cup

MCLGA is pleased to announce that the 2010 Cuthberstson Cup team to defend the trophy for the fourth year in succession will be Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw), Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) and Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), with Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) as reserve. The matches, which are being held on home soil at Ratho Park Golf Club, are on Sunday 18th April.

PLEASE come along to support your Junior Team. They tee off in their first match at 9.30 am, against Stirling and Clackmannan, and the afternoon matches start at 2pm. There will be good golf on show!

Gillian Kirkwood to Chair the LGU

Many congratulations to Gillian Kirkwood who, it was announced at the weekend, is to take over as Chairman of the Ladies Golf Union with immediate effect, a post which she will hold for 3 years.

ESGGA Spring Meeting 2010

The East of Scotland Girls' Golfing Association Spring Meeting takes place on Monday 12th April at Pitreavie Golf Club in Dunfermline. Taking part in this competition from Midlothian are:

Rachael Watton and Gabrielle Macdonald, out at 10.30 am,
Gillian Simpson, out at 10.37 am,
Kate McIntosh, out at 10.44 am,
Hannah Scott, out at 10.51 am
Kirsty Simpson, out at 11.05 am,
Katherine Fisher, out at 11.12 am.

Good luck to all of you and I hope the wind doesn't swirl and the sun shines!

Junior Spring Meeting

A great day was had at Swanston New Golf Club today as the MCLGA season got underway with the Junior Spring Meeting. 13 girls took part in the main competition on the 18 hole golf course while another 9 played 12 holes on the Templar Course, followed by a putting competition. The snow of last week had, luckily, disappeared over the weekend and the forecast rain managed to stay away until after the golfers had all returned safely to the clubhouse.

In the main competition, the course record, held by Noreen Fenton, was under threat. But after 12 holes it looked as though it would stand to see another day as moans of the swirling wind were heard to swirl around the 13th tee! But Rachael Watton, disappointed to miss her birdie on the 18th green, came home with a 78, one better than Noreen's 79. Emma Morrison, who gained her first CONGU handicap at the end of last year had the round of the day with a level par net 69. A great round which, with the CSS increasing by 3, reduces her handicap by 1.5 shots. Well done Emma.

On the Templar Course, the burn seemed to come into play rather a lot, which caused all sorts of problems! But two great scores were recorded. The first by Kim Naysmith who scored a very impressive 9 over par and the second by Anna Massey with an 11 over par; both scores catching the eye of Rachael Watton and causing a slight dropping of her jaw! The non-handicappers then took to the putting green to test their skills. They were joined in this by Lucy Morrison who held her own with her playing partners and took the honour on a couple of occasions with a couple of 2s. However, the end result brought a tie and under the watchful eye of the Junior Cuthbertson Cup team, the play off was held. As the bets on the winner were being placed with bookie extraordinaire, Gillian Simpson, Alexandra Massey won the toss and the honour. A great putt was struck which finished no more than 6 inches from the hole. Following her, Kim Naysmith left her first putt short and just missed her 2, allowing Alexandra to tap in to win the putting.

It was a great day and our thanks go to all at Swanston who helped to make the day so successful. The pizzas the girls had afterwards went down a treat! Thanks to all the Mums, Dads, Brothers and Grans who helped to keep the scores, to Kay and Anna for all their help and time during the day and to Joan for all the organising.

The results were:

1st scratch: Rachael Watton, Mortonhall (78)

2nd scratch: Gabrielle Macdonald, Craigielaw (82)

1st handicap: Emma Morrison, Craigmillar Park (net 69)

2nd handicap: Kirsty Simpson, Murrayfield (net 78)

1st non-handicap: Kim Naysmith (51)

2nd non-handicap: Anna Massey (53)

1st putting: Alexandra Massey

2nd putting: Kim Naysmith

Scottish Universtities Championships

Congratulations to Jane Turner (Craigielaw) who finished 2nd equal at the Scottish Universities Championships at Lossiemouth. In horrendous conditions, which included rain, hail sleet, snow and, to top it off, wind, the competition was reduced to 54 holes. Unfortunately (although maybe with all the weather she is, now, not too disheartened!) the second Midlothian player in the field, Arlene McGarty (Harburn) had to withdraw due to a reoccurrence of an injury.