Tuesday 30 March 2021
HANNAH DARLING GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH - BBC ALBA INTERVIEW
Monday 29 March 2021
Calling all Female Golfers!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER |
Are you a woman who has played golf at club level in Scotland between 1945 and 1995?
I am a PhD student working in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University and the British Golf Museum on an oral history PhD project which explores women’s experiences of playing golf at club level in Scotland during the period 1945-1995.
I am looking for women golfers who have played golf at club level in Scotland between 1945 and 1995 to participate in my research project.
Interested in participating in an online questionnaire? --- Link to questionnaire
See my blog for more information on the project -- Link to blog
OR
Contact laurenbeatty@randa.org
Lauren Beatty
Sunday 28 March 2021
The R&A has provided an update on its plans for the AIG Women's Open, and it's good news for golf fans.
Sophia Popov the 2020 AIG Womens Open Champion
R&A 'hopeful' that AIG Women's Open will allow fans
The R&A has provided an update on its plans for the AIG Women's Open, and it's good news for golf fans.
The 2020 AIG Women's Open was held behind closed doors over Royal Troon and without spectators last year, but following an announcement from the R&A, it looks like we might be able to go and watch the action in person this summer. Friday 26 March 2021
WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP AT COCHRANE CASTLE IN MAY - UPDATE
It is hoped that we will be able to hold the West of Scotland Championship which is scheduled for Sunday 9th May at Cochrane Castle.
Further information on entry and safety arrangements for COVID will be given later.
Jean MacIntyre (West of Scotland Secretary)
Thursday 25 March 2021
MyGolfRanking — Week 11 — 2021
Thursday 18 March 2021
MyGolfRanking Ayrshire and Lanarkshire -- Week 10 -- 2021
AYRSHIRE WOMEN
1 Luisa Gibson (Irvine) 1099 points
2 Arlene Sinclair (Irvine) 1042
3 Kelly McNee (Loudoun Gowf) 1006
4 Gillian Gowers (Loudoun Gowf) 978
5 Fran Hadden (Kilmarnock(Barassie)) 959
6 Eileen Munro (Loudoun Gowf) 951
7 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 950
8 Margaret-Ann McCrorie (Irvine) 940
9 Anne Burns (Loudoun Gowf) 927
10 Sally Hamilton (Loudoun Gowf) 923
11 Rona Walker (Kilmarnock(Barassie)) 914
12 Jennifer Linklater (Largs) 905
13 Joanne Sharp (Kilmarnock(Barassie)) 897
14 Aileen Anderson (Loudoun Gowf) 896
15 Jan Flint (Troon Welbeck) 895
AYRSHIRE WOMEN CLUBS
1 Loudoun Gowf 8018
2 Irvine 7908
3 Kilmarnock (Barassie) 7587
4 Largs 7007
5 Prestwick St Nicholas 6663
6 West Kilbride 6588
7 Prestwick St Cuthbert 6490
8 Troon Welbeck 6236Saturday 13 March 2021
Covid Guidelines --- Friday 12th March
Following our latest COVID-19 update, we have worked with our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government to gain final approval on our updated guidance.
We have now achieved sign-off on our updated guidance which is available here.
Clubs should note that from Friday 12 March:
- Golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households.
- Golf courses without a designated COVID Officer, or where members are crossing a local authority boundary to play, can remain open for play with a maximum of four players from two households.
- For groups over the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 15.
- For groups under the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 30.
Since our last update, we have received several queries relating to the new group numbers and limits. We wish to provide clubs with further clarity on this.
The guidance to permit 4-ball play from 4 different households to members who live within the local authority area is in-line with new sport-specific guidance developed by sportscotland and the Scottish Government for organised sport. Cross-border travel from one local authority area to another for organised sport is not currently permitted.
Within the latest guidance, golf continues to be considered a form of informal exercise, where participants are permitted to travel up to five miles from their local authority boundary to take part. However, where this is the case, household limits of 4 people from 2 households apply.
Scottish Golf does not set the rules or parameters for these distinctions. However, we will continue to provide feedback on their practicalities for our member clubs. In comparison with most other sports across Scotland, we are in a unique and fortunate position to benefit from being identified as both organised sport and informal exercise at this time.
We remind all clubs and golfers in Scotland that we remain in a privileged position, with courses across the country remaining open for play. Being able to benefit from playing golf should not be taken for granted, and we kindly ask that all clubs and golfers adhere to the latest guidance to ensure we can continue to make positive progress out of lockdown.
Keep up to date on our latest COVID-19 updates here.
Thank you for your continued co-operation and understanding.
Kind Regards,
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Golf
Wednesday 10 March 2021
COVID UPDATE - SCOTTISH GOLF - 10th March 2021
Following the First Minister’s latest update on COVID-19 restrictions, Scottish Golf welcomes the news that we are continuing to progress through the road map out of lockdown.
Within an hour of the First Minister’s update, Scottish Golf submitted updated guidance to our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, this final check can take some time as further details are considered and legislation published.
These checks remain ongoing and must be complete before we can share a full updated version of our guidance to affiliated golf clubs for implementation across the country. However, we do appreciate that clubs require time to make operational changes ahead of any changes coming into place so we have provided this update until such time as we are given the green light to publish a full updated guidance grid.
Guidance previously allowed golfers to travel up to five miles outside their local authority area to take part in informal exercise using household rules.
Yesterday’s announcement to allow organised sport will allow four-ball play with no restrictions on the number of households; however, this is only applicable to members who live within the golf club’s local authority area.
Where golfers are required to travel up to five miles across a local authority boundary, players will be required to adhere to informal exercise guidance which is subject to household limits of 4 players from 2 households.
Therefore, changes announced yesterday mean that from Friday 12 March:
- Golf courses with a designated COVID Officer can permit organised golf for members who live within the local authority area. Play can take place in four-balls with no restrictions on the number of households.
- Golf courses without a designated COVID Officer, or where members are crossing a local authority boundary to play, can remain open for play with a maximum of four players from two households.
- For groups over the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 15.
- For groups under the age of 12, coaching should not exceed group sizes of 30.
We anticipate further guidance from our partners at sportscotland and the Scottish Government relating to children and young people. We will communicate these updates to all clubs as soon as possible.
We also look forward to a more substantive update from the First Minister next week relating to the return to a protection levels approach. That update is likely to include more details for clubhouses, retail and travel and will again be subject to the same sign-off process as outlined above.
In the meantime, it is important to remind all golfers that they must remain close to home, travelling only for essential purposes in line with the current travel legislation.
Keep up to date on all the latest COVID-19 updates on our dedicated webpage here.
Kind Regards,
Scottish Golf
Tuesday 9 March 2021
OLD RANFURLY HONOUR THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL LADY GOLFER - WILMA AITKEN
Wilma Leburn nee Aitken |
International Woman’s Day was yesterday 8th March and to celebrate the day - Old Ranfurly shared the achievements of their most successful lady-Wilma (Aitken) Leburn
- Scottish Girls Champion 1975,1977
- Scottish U19 Stroke play 1977
- Scottish girl international 1975-1977
- Helen Holm Scottish Stroke Play Champion 1978,80,82
- Low Amateur Colgate European PGA 1978
- Scottish Girls Team Winners 1979
- Scottish International Team 1978-83, 1985
- British Ladies Championship runner up 1981
- GB Team V Europe 1981,83
- West of Scotland girls Champion 1975,77,78
- Scottish international team European Championship 1978,81,83
- Wentworth Scratch Trophy (course record 66) 1982
- West of Scotland Ladies Champion 1978-81
- British Girls Champion 1977
- Junior European Championship Winners 1980
- Carlsberg WPGA winner 1980
- World Record 9 consecutive birdies August 1981 🏆
- Runner up Scottish Ladies Championship 1981
- GB Team Spanish Championship 1981,82
- Curtis Cup GB v USA 1982
- Renfrewshire Ladies Champion 1978-82
- Old Ranfurly Champion 1975-84,87,88,91
Sunday 7 March 2021
Scottish Golf Annual Review 2020
Douglas Park GC (See Video below) Lynn Hain and Morag Thomson |
A year unlike any other! The Story of 2020 for Scottish Golf. -
The Review, available download below, reports a 6.1% rise in club membership and also showcases the extensive work carried out by Scottish Golf during the COVID-19 pandemic to support our clubs in Scotland.
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Golf, said, "2020 was an incredibly tough year, but one in which we delivered significant improvements in our focused services to our members. 2021 will be about continuing to build on these improvements and to support our affiliated clubs no matter what happens."Download their annual review at Scottish Golf -- good to see a few faces we know - Orla Rooney (Cowglen), Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie)
The Death of Lady Marjory MacSween - A golfing Tribute
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the sudden death of Lady Marjory MacSween (nee Brown) who was well known to many in the West of Scotland golfing circles and beyond.
Marjory was brought up in Strathaven, attended Hamilton Academy and was School Captain. Although she was very sporty and was Captain of the hockey team, she was also very clever and went on to study medicine at Glasgow University.
It was there that she met Roddy MacSween a fellow medical student and married him in 1961.
Marjory became a dermatologist and like her husband was a fine golfer, and supported him in all his professional activities.
She also had a great love of Kintyre with the MacSween cottage in Southend which they restored from an old ruined cottage.
She had a special friendship with Scotland’s Belle Robertson (Dunaverty, Troon Ladies and Dunbartonshire and Argyll Ladies' County Golf Association), Jennifer Mack (Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association) and also with Isabel Crawford (SLGA and Ayrshire Ladies’ County Golf Association) who all had known her for many years and enjoyed holidays down in Southend, Kintyre.
She had a very interesting life and had many friends world-wide. She was devoted to her husband and son Gordon and daughter Ruth - all golfers of course! - and to her five grandchildren 2 in Canada and 3 in England.
She was a member of Dunaverty, The Ladies Golf Club Troon, Past member of East Renfrewshire Golf Club where she was Ladies’ Captain in 1985 and Strathaven Golf Club where she was Ladies' Captain in 1976
She was also an active past member of Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association.
She played in the West of Scotland Greenlees Team, a past Greenlees Team Captain
and a Past Ladies’ Captain of Dunaverty.
She won many trophies and her biggest highlight of her golfing career was reaching the final of the Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Championship in 1999 played over Whitecraigs Golf Club. She played Donna Jackson on that day and although she lost was amazed and so very proud to have made such an achievement.
From the RLCGA General Meeting Minutes (3rd November 1999).
The Captain’s AGM Report stated:
The Championship was played at Whitecraigs amidst snow storms. Dr Marjory MacSween stormed her way to the final beating shell-shocked county team members on the way. In the final against Donna Jackson, Donna played like a true champion but credit goes to Marjory who did not go down without a fight.
Some Tributes
Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle, Troon Ladies, Dunaverty)
Marjory and I first met in the late 50's when we were both holidaying in Southend, Kintyre. Marjory's father Dr Brown had a caravan just over the wall from Jock McVicar's house. Jock has been a close friend of the family for many years.
Isabel Crawford was also a regular at that time as she had relations living in Southend. I then found myself working for Marjory in the mid 60's when she was in the Dermatology Department of the Western Infirmary. I admired her enormously as she seemed to cope with so many things and was super-efficient in all aspects of her life. Over the years we played countless games of golf over Dunaverty, a course very dear to both of us. Marjory was a very down to earth person and a wonderful source of information about so many things. She was great at telling a story and it was always interspersed with humour.
She was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren who so loved spending time with their 'Granny Mac'!
In the words of her daughter in law, she was so bright, bubbly, caring and never complained in spite of her many health issues.
She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.’.
Sallie Harkness (Haggs Castle, Troon Ladies)
Marjory joined the Saturday (old) Girls playing at Troon and we also would play on Wednesdays. If the weather was poor we usually went for lunch at Parklands or Loks or the Orchard Park. Marjory was great company whether on the golf course or at the lunch table. She loved Troon but was before a member at East Renfrewshire Golf Club
In recent years Marjory was attending the Victoria for regular blood transfusions but she did not let her illness get her down and continued with golf when she could. She was still driving her car, busy in the kitchen and garden and keeping in touch via the internet using FaceTime, Zoom and e-mails.
It’s hard to believe that she is no longer with us for her departure was very sudden. We all miss her for we shall not see her like again.
Isabel Crawford (Ayrshire Ladies’ County Golf Association)
I had known Marjory for over 60 years!
We holidayed at Southend in July, Marjory in August … her caravan was always parked at the end of Dunaverty beach to be near Angus and Jean MacVicar (their son Jock, became the long-time renowned Scottish Daily Express golf journalist)
They were great friends and Marjory and her sister Anne were often to be found in Achnamara for a wee bit of home baking while their father fished in the local rivers and lochs.
It was really that association that encouraged both Marjory and Roddy to play golf.
It was Angus MacVicar who encouraged Marjory to play and they had many keenly fought rounds over Dunaverty.
Marjory loved Southend and thoroughly enjoyed being there with her family … she was a very welcoming hostess, extremely kind to many local events and to villagers and took pleasure in keeping up with all village news and gossip !
Her zest for life, her lovely sense of fun and humour, and her keen interest in folk in Kintyre made her a popular semi local !
Her influence will be felt in this part of the world for many years
Carol Fell (Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association)
I met Marjory through East Renfrewshire Golf Club and playing County Golf.
Roddy’s end of life care in 2015 was in Mearnskirk Hospital in Newton Mearns as was my mothers. Marjory and I used to chat on numerous occasions and even at these sad times she did make me laugh. I remember one day looking out of Mum’s bedroom window and seeing Marjory’s daughter Ruth and her new husband on their wedding day, the sun shining and all the family sitting with Roddy out in the hospital gardens — It was such a special day for them all.
She was a very special person and will be missed by so many including all those from RLCGA that knew her so well
Anne Jamieson (Strathaven Golf Club Ladies Section) - Marjory joined as member in 1956 and was Ladies' Captain on 1976. She played in our annual Past Captains’ Competition until a few years ago and regular visited the club with her sister Anne until lockdown. She will be fondly remembered by those who all knew her.
Donna Jackson (RLCGA and Troon Ladies)
Marjory was a lovely lady, and so sorry to hear the sad news — and I do remember that County Championship final at Whitecraigs played in the snow — which brought it all back !! Always enjoyed a wee chat when down at Troon playing on a Saturday with the Saturday Girls.
From the Glasgow Herald Isabel Dawson said -- We remember her with real affection, it is only a few weeks since she addressed the haggis for us at our Lunch and Social Club for people living with dementia, using the Burns book presented to her mother at Glasgow High School 100 years ago. Marjory had been a committed volunteer at the club for many years. As we remembered her it was with thankfulness for the fun and laughter she brought into our lives
GLASGOW HERALD --- MACSWEEN - Lady Marjory With heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of Lady Marjory MacSween. Wife of the late Professor Sir Roddy MacSween, irreplaceable mother of Ruth and Gordon, mother-in-law to Graeme and Jo, beloved Granny Mac to grandchildren Ben, Tess, Jamie, Sammy and Alex, she will be missed by all. She was a true force of nature in her time, and those who knew her will miss her joie de vivre, her soup, her baking, and her general enthusiasm for all things, especially family, friends, golf, and garden. Determined, strong, competitive, witty, and sharp as a tac to the end, her legendary putt-sinking, card-sharpening and crossword-solving skills and her utterly indomitable spirit will live on for some time, we suspect. A fitting Celebration of Life will be held at a later date - Ruth and Gordon will confirm when lock down allows
CLICK HERE TO PRINT OR DOWNLOAD THIS TRIBUTE
From Gordon MacSween (Son)
Thursday 4 March 2021
KILMACOLM'S MEGAN BRIGGS IS INTERVIEWED ON BBC ALBA
This week in the 360 studio, Iona Ballantyne is joined by Netball Scotland CEO, Claire Nelson, who catches up with former Scotland women’s Amateur champion golfer Megan Briggs. -- She chats about her golfing career to date and her future role as Kilmacolm Golf Club Captain in 2022.
The episode also comes at a great time in run up to international Women's Day --
To view the whole video -- CLICK HERE
Wednesday 3 March 2021
WEST VETS SPRING MEETING IS CANCELLED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS
Following a West Vets Committee Meeting on Monday 1st March 2021 it was decided due to the current restrictions we are all in at the moment and also the uncertainty of what the next steps are, the decision was made to cancel the Spring Meeting at Lanark GC on the 7th April.
Tuesday 2 March 2021
World Handicap System (WHS) ZOOM PANEL MEETING
With the first full season under the World Handicap System (WHS) approaching, our next Zoom Panel Call will provide club officials with everything they need to be ready.
Scottish Golf’s Handicapping and Course Rating team will answer some of the most frequently asked questions from clubs since WHS went live. They will also cover the key features and resources available, including:
- WHS CDH Tools
- CDH Number Management
- WHS Competition Advice
- Stroke Indices
- Hive Learning
You can find out more by accessing the WHS section on the Scottish Golf website.
The Zoom Panel Call takes place on Thursday 11th March at 3pm and attendees can submit their WHS questions when registering and our team will do their best to answer as many as possible.
Registration closes at 5pm on Wednesday 10th March and you will receive information regarding access to the call shortly after this time.
If you cannot attend, please do not worry, as we will record the session and make it available to watch online.