Teams to represent Scotland

Congratulations to Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) who, together with Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), has been chosen to represent Scotland at the Total Belgian International Juniors Tournament being held at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium from the 26th to 29th August. Also to Jane Turner (Craigielaw) who has been named as one of the reserves for the team to represent Scotland at the Ladies' British Open Stroke Play Championship being held at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club from the 19th to 21st August.

Next week sees the St Andrews Junior Ladies' Tournament. This is being held from the 3rd - 6th August on the Old and Jubilee Courses at St Andrews. Once again I have failed to find a starting line up but good luck to all who are entering this competition.

All-Women Pro-Am

I received the following letter from Karyn Burns and was asked to put it on the County website for you all to see. There are still a couple of team slots available and so if anyone is interested in submitting a team of 3 and entering the Pro-Am, please contact Karyn. Vikki Laing is one of the Professionals taking part.

Hi Ladies!

The date and venue is now confirmed for my ALL-Women Pro-Am! The event will be held at Archerfield Links Golf Club over the Fidra Course on the 21st August 2009.

I am delighted to have the co-operation of Archerfield Links, this fantastic and exclusive venue will be the perfect setting for what will prove to be an excellent and enlightening fun filled day for all involved! I am also excited at the prospect of having the Top Scottish Lady Professionals of the Ladies European Tour and the PGA all together for the event to make your day most entertaining!

Availability for teams is Limited .... I have space for ONLY 10 teams of 3 amateur players! Cost of entry for Each Team will be £495 (£165 per person).

This will include:
Tea/Coffee & Bacon Roll on Arrival
Short Teaching Clinic/Q&A session
18 holes (Format TBC)
Prizegiving
3 Course Dinner inc wine.

Also, I have specifically chosen this date as it coincides with day one of the 2009 Solheim Cup which is being played in the USA. Following dinner, coverage of the Solheim Cup will be screened for us in the clubhouse should you so wish to make an evening of it!

I have also agreed a very special rate of £150/twin room in the Pavillion rooms within Archerfield, however there is limited availability on the number of rooms available. I can provide further information on alternative accommodation on entry should you so require.

If you have any queries please don't hesitate to contact me. If you wish to get your team signed up for what I'm sure will be one of your most memorable golf days EVER then please email or call me as soon as possible to confirm your place. Entries are opened to all players with an LGU Handicap!

Happy Golfing Always!

Best Regards,
Karyn Burns
PGA (AA) Professional
Sports Massage Therapist
E-mail karynburns@yahoo.com
Mobile: +447720442492

Riccarton Rosebowl

The recent mad golf spell continues this weekend. After the Mackie Bowl at Gullane Golf Club on Sunday in which 3 MCLGA members finished within the top 10 (Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 6th, Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) 7th and Claire MacDonald (Gulland Ladies) 8th equal), this weekend's action takes place on Sunday at Hamilton Golf Club with the playing of the Riccarton Rosebowl. Taking part in the 36 hole SLGA Order of Merit event are Linda Bain (Lochend), Louise Fraser, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) and Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw). Good luck to all of you.

MCLGA Summer Meeting

85 ladies turned out to enjoy the County Summer Meeting at Broomieknowe Golf Club. A great scratch score of 76 was posted in the second match of the day by Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) which stayed in the lead until Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe), in the second last group of the day, posted a score of 75. This was short lived as the last group left the course with Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) recording a 74 to take 1st scratch and the Corstorphine Salver. Gabrielle, however, wins the 1st handicap in the Silver Division. The Dumayne Bowl for the best overall net was won, by one shot, by Carol Clark (Craigmillar Park), a lunchtime starter, while the scratch winner in the Bronze Division and winner of the Murphy Trophy was Sheila Hunter (Murrayfield), another lunchtime starter. The winner of the Bronze Handicap came from the late afternoon starters with Anne McMillan (Kingsknowe) coming home with a net 74.

Our thanks, as ever, go to Broomieknowe Golf Club for the use of their course, which I believe was in great condition, to the professionals for handling the two's sweep and the bar and catering staff for dealing with our thirst and hunger pangs. Thank you also to Lady Captain Anne Bowden, Sandra Hennessy and Moyra Statham for their time on the registration desk and also to all of the members who donated raffle prizes and to those who bought tickets. We managed to raise £133 for the MCLGA Juniors.

The results are as follows:

CSS 74 (counting competition)

Overall:

Best overall net and the Dumayne Bowl: Carol Clark (Craigmillar Park) - 92 less 22, net 70

2nd overall net: Janet Collin (Liberton) - 92 less 21, net 71 (on the better inward half)

Bronze Division:

1st handicap: Anne McMillan (Kingsknowe) - 98 less 24, net 74

1st scratch and Murphy Trophy: Sheila Hunter (Murrayfield) - 96

Silver Division:

1st handicap: Gabrielle Macdonald (Cragielaw) - 76 less 5, net 71

2nd handicap: Anne Brownie - 80 less 7, net 73 (on better inward half)

1st scratch and Corstorphine Salver: Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) - 74

2nd scratch: Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) - 75

There were 4 twos, each winning 6 Titleist NXT Extreme golf balls:

Christine Clements (Lothianburn) and Marion Duff (Merchants) at the 5th and Karen Marshall (Baberton) and Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) at the 11th.

Thank you once again to everyone who was involved on the day and supported the Summer Meeting.

Fun Girls in Golf Open

Congratulations to junior MCLGA member, Julia Smith, who is having a fantastic summer with her golf. On Sunday, Julia took part in the "Fun Girls in Golf" Competition being held at the Children's Golf Course in Gullane. Open to girls both with and without handicaps, she played round the 12 holes in 46 shots (with halves of 25 and 21) to win the event by 1 shot. Not only that but she also played in the the Swanston Par 3 Championship but rain stopped play as she made her way into the quarter finals. Having now played that round she is waiting to hear the date of her semi-final tie. Well done, Julia and we look forward to hearing more about the Par 3 Championship. Good luck in the semi-final.

Rachael Livingstone turns Pro

Congratulations to Rachael Livingstone who has been accepted onto the PGA Foundation Degree Course which will lead her to become a qualified PGA Professional. She will be trained as an Assistant Professional at Musselburgh Golf Club and will be eligible to enter Tartan Tour Pro Tournaments next year. We would like to thank Rachael for all her commitment to MCLGA over her junior and "senior" years and wish her well for a very enjoyable future in the Professional ranks.

Scottish Vets

Whilst the girls are playing in the Home Internationals from 4th-6th August, the Scottish Vets will be defending the Miller Stirling Trophy which they won last year at a rain drenched Southerness Golf Club. This year's jamboree against teams from England North, England Midlands and England South takes place at Bath Golf Club and the Scotland team includes Fiona de Vries (St Rule) and Fiona Hunter (Baberton), with Pamela Williamson as Vice-Captain. Good luck to everyone involved and we hope that the Trophy makes it way back to Scotland.