Carol -- It was lovely to finally meet you at the service.
I can't remember a time when I haven't heard Mum mention you and it was so good to put a face to the name.
I really appreciate you taking time to come to the service and would like to use this blog to pass on my thanks to all those involved in the Renfrewshire Ladies County Golf Association, West Vets and beyond who attended the service or sent cards, messages and flowers - these have genuinely meant the world to me and its been a real comfort to know so many other people thought mum was pretty special.
I would also like to mention those who stood down at Caldwell Golf Club for the cortege passing. Coming over the bridge and along the road to see all the ladies gathered took my breath away. It was both unexpected and wonderful. - Mum would have LOVED that so much.
I have spent the day trying to find the words to express what an amazing scene that was and there really isn't any to do it justice -- so if its ok I'll just say THANK YOU
A bit like the Pharaoh's, Mum was sent off with the essentials for the after life - best golf jumper, shoes, glove, scorecard, pencil, marker tee and skip !
Those that knew her knew she was terrible for always looking to change her clubs so I'm expecting she'll get a new celestial set. I hope you and everyone have a lovely Christmas and wish you all the best for the coming year.
The photo I took of the flag at half mast down at Caldwell GC on the way home from the service. I thought it summed the day up really well.
There has been a change of plan for Heather Anderson's Funeral due to Covid.
The hearse will leave from Heather's home in Uplawmoor at 9.50am on Friday 26th November.
It will travel down the village main street towards Cadwell GC -- (some of you may wish to pay your respects by standing at the roadside) The cortege will go slowly past the Golf Club going towards Irvine.
There will be a service at 10.30am at Holmbridge Crematorium, Irvine ( KA11 4EF) to which all are invited.
The service will also be streamed and the code will be listed on the Crematorium website.
For clarification, there will not be a service at Caldwell Parish Church.
After the service at the crematorium, Lesley has invited all to meet up at the Uplawmoor Hotel from 11.45am onwards. -- CLICK HERE FOR THE OBITUARY
Heather at the Scottish Seniors Championship in 2004
It is with much sadness that I have to announce the death of Heather Anderson (Caldwell GC and Troon Ladies) on the 8th November 2021 a month short of her 91st birthday.
Heather was Scottish Champion in 1969 and in the Vagliano Team in that year. She was also theRenfrewshire County Champion 9 times, and aScottish Ladies Internationalistin 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971.
Her good friend -- Renfrewshire Counties' Liz Hale from Caldwell Golf Club wrote
Heather took up golf at the age of 17. Her passion, up until this point had been horse riding however, after a serious horse riding accident at the Royal Highland Show, her parents managed to persuade her to sell her horses. She was then left with a choice on whether to take up badminton or golf. Golf won.
Heather joined Caldwell Golf Club, aged 17 and in the same year, competed and won the Paisley Grammar School Championship. By 1948, Heather had a handicap and started playing in the Medals at Caldwell GC which were played on Saturday afternoons after the gents. It was during this time that Heather met Ian, her future husband.
Heather partnered a number of accomplished golfers during her career including Findlay Black (who holds the record scorecard at Caldwell GC) - playing in the final of the Daily Mail Medal Foursomes at Gleneagles and Margaret Sharp at Troon Portland and at Caldwell GC with many successes. Heather also performed with style, most notably at the Highland Open Championship, Pitlochrie, where she donned trousers, shirt, cap and glove – all in the Anderson tartan. A competitor was overheard saying; ‘My God, it’s a bag of pipes she should be playing!’.
By 1958, Heather was a scratch golfer and was chosen to play for the Renfrewshire Team which she continued to do over a span of 32 years.
In 1964, Heather’s international career took off.
Heather played for Scotland in the Home Internationals in Sweden and France. She led the team in the European Championship and then two months later, Scotland won the Home International at Western Gailes. This was when Heather defeated the National Champion of England, of Ireland and of Wales, finishing the series with 100% success and earning the honour of being asked to play for Great Britain and Ireland.
Heather’s most memorable win, of course, was at West Kilbride when she won the
Scottish Ladies’ Championship in 1969. There was a gold Medal but no prize money at that time and her daughter Lesley was seen to be building sand castles in the bunker to celebrate her victory !!
However, history was made when Heather was presented with a replica owned by the late Jean McCulloch of West Kilbride. Jean had, in her earlier years, won the Scottish title on three occasions between 1913 and 1928 and it was this last replica that Heather regraded as one of her most treasured possessions.
In 1980, Heather turned professional, only the second lady professional in Scotland, at that time and then reinstated in 1985 to the amateur ranks.
In the same year, Heather received an Honourable Membership at Caldwell GC.
Heather was Ladies Caldwell GC Champion (19 times) as well as winning many other trophies. She was our current Ladies President. -- She was truly an inspiration to us all!
Since her 80th birthday in 2010 Heather still managed to play golf up until about 2016 and featured throughout the last decade with various achievements --
In 2013 She entered a competition through 'How Did I do' . It was to tell a story about a memory of the 'Open'.
Heather's memory told about the time when her young daughter, Lesley, had approached Gary Player and asked for his autograph for her Mum. He was delighted to give this. At which point Lesley asked 'Would you like me to get my Mum's autograph now to give to you ?
This story made Heather one of the prize winners -- and to top it all she was informed she could bring a friend - and her friend invited was Liz Hale
A round of golf at Muirfield (with Caddy) on Thursday 20th June, just before the closing of the course to perpare for the Open.
2 nights stay at the McDonald Marine Hotel in North Berwick . (Taxi to the Course included)
Golf Clinic With Darren Clark followed by Buffet Lunch.
Dinner on Thursday Evening with 'Q and A session' with Darren Clark.
They both had a marvellous day -- the Marine was comfortable, friendly and good food. The clinic with Darren Clark was really informative and interesting - driving and short game- always something relevant you remember to take away with you.
This was followed by a wonderful buffet lunch in the Clubhouse before going out for our round of golf.
We were put into ten teams of four. As Heather and Liz were the only two ladies it was funny to see the expressions on the faces of the two Irish gentlemen who had been landed with us. They were great to play with.
The weather was good, sunshine and they each had a caddy. Heather played well which made the game enjoyable for her and Darren Clark played 2 holes with their team.
It was a great experience to play the course and made watching The Open itself more interesting.
After the game they returned to the Hotel where there was a prizegiving dinner with Darren Clark hosting a question and answer session. The men were given ties with the Claret Jug embroidered on it while Heather and Liz were each given a lovely silver brooch of the Claret Jug -- Nice keepsake.
A really enjoyable experience - a well deserved experience for Heather to add to all her very many golfing achievements. She was quite sad to come away from Muirfield.
In 2014 she was first Commonwealth Games baton bearer in her home town of Uplawmoor in East Renfrewshire. The BBC reported that -- Heather has long been an active member of the community and has been involved with the local council, the church board and the church choir. She is also an accomplished golfer, and won the Scottish Ladies Championship in 1969
It was an early start for Heather as she had to be there for 6.15am!! The carrying of the torch was at 7.30am and the rain held off. All TV cameras and eyes on Heather in her blue and white uniform as she carried the torch about 400 yards before handing it on. Quite an honour and a day to remember for Heather. Half the village turned out to see her and we were all given a lovely breakfast in the local hall afterwards. Heather had her hair done the day before and the first thing she asked her daughter on the the morning of the event was -'Is my hair alright?' She did well!!
Heather played in the West Vets Summer Meeting in 2016 over her Home course Caldwell with your webmaster Carol Fell who was so impressed with her still wonderful swing -- SO EASY!!
Heather, Wendy and Aileen
Later that year she was then awarded Honorary Membership of the West Vets at the 2016 AGM alongside Aileen Wilson to join Wendy Cameron as the 3 Honorary Members. --
Liz Hale said today "Heather fought bravely for the last year but died peacefully at home which is what she would have wanted. Her daughter Lesley looked after her very well ".
"Before her illness, Heather was always ready for a coffee and chat and enjoyed going down to Troon to catch up with her long term golf 'pals' there.
A long and successful career with a swing that was 'easy and consistent'. Not many golfers go off golfing in Portugal in their mid eighties!
She was the oracle at Caldwell and a respected and much liked lady President of the Club - She will be missed at Caldwell and missed in her very much loved village of Uplawmoor."
Heather’s funeral will be on Friday 26th November.
There will be a video / streaming of the service . I think these are usually on the website for a few days. A code is required which I shall send to you as soon as I have it.
Lesley has asked for no flowers but possible to make a donation to Hessilhead - Wild Life Rescue at Beith Liz Hale
TO READ A THANK YOU FROM HEATHERS DAUGHTER LESLEY -- CLICK HERE
Finally a happy memory from 2009 -- a toast to the County ! -- Much laughter and hilarity -- Rest in peace Heather
The 111th. Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association AGM and Prize-Giving will take place on Wednesday 3rd November at 7.30pm at Haggs Castle Golf Club
Marilyn Muir, Rena Simpson and Margaret Adams Courtesy of RLCGA
Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association held their Tri Am Stableford Competition yesterday over Gleddoch Golf Course in rather miserable conditions.
13 teams competed with two scores counting at each hole and the winners with a best inward half of 71 points.
1st: Marilyn Muir (Old Ranfurly) Rena Simpson (Kilmacolm) Margaret Adams (Gleddoch) - 71 points bih
2nd: Chris Fowler (Cowglen), Sandra Macdougall Kilmcolm) and June Irons (Caldwell) 71 points
3rd: Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm), Alison Macnab (Lochwinnoch) and Vicky Rennie (Ranfurly Castle) 69 points
For those who knew Margot Stewart (Erskine) - she died on the 15th August at the age of 99 .
Margot was born in her parents house where she lived in all her days and died at home (not many people could have managed that) -- She was a real feisty lady in fact a bit of a legend.
She was also Past Secretary of Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association(1989 - 1991) and treasurer for the West Vets for 5 years retiring in 1999
Many hockey players may remember Margot - She was a Scottish Internationalist (Centre Forward) and then a Scottish International and West District Selector in the 60's and 70's
As she got older and took up golf she started to get a lot of bother with her knees (as many hockey players do !) and when your webmaster met her at Erskine she would often ask me how my knees were !!
She used to meet the late Dorothea Hastings, Jean Brown and others every Friday for lunch regularly
She was a real character who loved her regular wee dram at the Golf Club and was able to drive down to the club until she was about 95 - Her car did get a few dents and scrapes !!
She finally got a taxi down to Erskine after that and it took many of of her friends at the club about 15 minutes to get her out the lounge as she would talk non stop to everyone on the way.
You just had to admire her determination and spirit !!
The Funeral is on Monday 30th and arrangements are in today’s Glasgow Herald - CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK —- >> GLASGOW HERALD
Fifteen girls participated for the Renfrewshire County Junior Campbell Clock Stableford competition over 18 holes at Whitecraigs Golf Club yesterday, 22nd August.
This was won by Ellen Bentley [Pollok] with 40 points, 2nd place was Jayla Kepler [Greenock] with 39 points and 3rd place was Lucie Barclay [Kilmacolm] with 38 points. (click on Ellen’s name and points to see her card)
Also played for today was the Junior County Championship trophy won by Orla Rooney [Cowglen]. with a fabulous gross score - click here of 75
We also had some girls participating in the 8 hole and PAR 3 with Brooke McMeekin [Whitecraigs] winning the 8 hole and Jazyln Sandhu [Whitecraigs] the PAR 3.
This year we also had some off the intermediate ladies participating (over 18) , Alison MacNab [Lochwinnoch] won this category with a great 36 points.
There were some nearest the pin and putting competitions and it was great to see so many players and family members wait for the prize giving.
Thanks to our volunteers and for Whitecraigs Golf Club for the courtesy off the course
Jan Macnab (Peggy Clark Trophy) Jennifer (RLCGA Champion) and Morag Cunningham (Irvine Trophy Winner)
Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) and Julie Wilson (Williamwood) qualified for this year’s Championship Final, having beaten Alyson McGinnigle (Williamwood) and Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) respectively in the semi-finals.
Julie started with a birdie at the first to go 1 up but Jennifer immediately hit back with an eagle at the second to square the match. The remainder of the first nine was very close with some near perfect golf and the match was all square at the turn (both players were -3 and -2 respectively).
Jennifer won holes 10 and 11 to go 2 up and with the next six holes being halved with scratch golf, Jennifer went on to win 2 and 1.
Well done to both finalists for producing an excellent game and a big “thank you” to those who came out to spectate and support this year’s final.
“In calm conditions, local ladies Ranfurly Castle's Morag Cunningham and Vicky Rennie (off 32 and 33 respectively) played the match in a very sporting manner, and it most certainly was a match of two halves.
Vicky was 3 up at the turn, but Morag fought back to win the next three holes in a row. Holes were fairly even after that until Morag won the 17th, to go 1 up, and held on to halve the 18th and win the match.
NB: At the 15th, Morag’s tee shot hit the cliff and returned to the back of the tee!!!
Top - Joan Walker and Helen Climson Botton - Linda McDougall and Isabell Donnelly Photos courtesy of Fiona Armour
The RLCGA August County Stableford was played yesterday in high winds and showers over East Renfrewshire Golf Course
32 ladies braved the elements and considering the conditions, which saw trolley’s being blown over and balls getting chased off the green, there were some remarkable points accrued despite the weather. The overall winner was new county member Joan Walker (Balfron) as was the 2nd Divisional winner Heather Climson (East Renfrewshire)
(Number in brackets after name was the members Playing Handicap)
For the 1st time this season the Players Course Conditions (PCC) - (a bit like the old CSS) was up by +3 which shows how difficult it was and this is applied to the players handicap calculations in their record
It is with great saddness that I have to announce the death of Willeen McCallum who ran the Greenlees league, single handed for 19 years. Her organisational skills, friendly manner and sense of humour stood her in good stead and we all owed her a great debt of gratitude.
In the her time all the Greenlees results were collated manually and then put in the Results Section of the Glasgow Herald
I don’t think anyone realised how much time and effort Willeen spent making sure that the league ran smoothly through the summers and then followed this up with the presentation lunches and December fixture meetings.
As well as the general day to day running of the league, proposals from clubs had to be dealt with as well as any complaints from clubs - on the whole the latter were not numerous." "But it all added up to responsibility of running the league."
In her time of office the 50th anniversary took place and she organised a Greenlees Jamboree over Troon Portland. A highly successful day. 3 ball best ball competition with 60 competitors. Lunch provided for some 100 people. -- No mean feat of organisation
Willeen, Anne and Fiona 75th Anniversary Celebration at Cathcart Castle
She then attended the 75th Anniversary Match at Cathcart Castle in 2015 she is seen in the photo with her successor Fiona Roger and Secretary at the time of the 75th Anniversary Anne Dunn
On her retrial in 2008 she said that the highlight of her 20 years in office was the meeting of Mrs Greenlees in 1990 at the 50th Anniversary at Troon. Mrs Greenlees got married at aged 17, had 2 children by the age of 20 and started her golfing career at Prestwick St.Nicholas and died in 1994 aged 94
Willeen on the other hand started her golfing career at Ranfurly Castle and on her retiral she just managesd to squeeze in at no 9 in the Whitecraigs Greenlees Team..
Willeen was such a character and many of her antics came to the fore as you will see in the video below in 2007 at Prestwick St Nicholas at the Greenlees Presentation Lunch.
She also was a past member of Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Assoiation and member of Whitecraigs GC -- She will be sorely missed by many
Following the publication of a revised schedule for amateur championships and international matches for 2021, a consolidated series of home international matches for boys and girls, women, senior men and women will take place at one venue for the first time.
Woodhall Spa will play host to the best amateur golfers that England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales have to offer for the matches from 4-6 August in 2021.
Scottish Womens' Team
Hannah Darling (Brommieknowe)
Louise Duncan (West Kilbride)
Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)
Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon)
Tara McTaggart (Minto)
Lorna McClymont (Milngavie)
Scotttish Women Gillian, Elaine, Fiona, Karen and Karen M
Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths claimed the biggest win of her successful career when she beat Hamilton’s Katie Graham 4 & 2 in the final of Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship at Strathaven.
The 2019 European Junior Vagliano Trophy team member came into the championship in second place on the 2021 Scottish Girls’ Order of Merit and she showed why she is currently ranked only behind Curtis Cup hopeful, Hannah Darling, on that list with a series of impressive victories in her march to the final.
The new champion’s toughest match came in the second round when she was taken to the 18th hole by fellow Scottish international, Rachel Foster, from Prestwick St Nicholas but she then beat Parkstone’s Alice Webb 6 & 5 in the semi-finals before proving too strong for Graham in the afternoon.
Graham had previously knocked out top seed, Forfar’s Robyn Fowlie, in the second round and then beat Shrewsbury’s Isla McDonald-O’Brien 6 & 5 to earn her place in the final.
Griffiths went ahead as early as the second hole of the final and was three ahead after ten holes before Graham clawed one back on the 11th. Griffith increased her lead again with wins on the 12th and 14th and though Graham won the 15th that reprieve proved to be short-lived when Griffiths sealed victory on the very next hole.
Runner up Katie Dunn with Winner Lindsay Main Photo courtesy of Jean MacIntyre
Lindsay Main claimed a popular victory on her home course in the concurrent Scottish Girls’ Net Amateur Championship.
The Strathaven player beat Elderslie’s Ava Graham 2 & 1 in the semi-finals and then collected the trophy following an emphatic 7 & 6 triumph over Paisley’s Katie Dunn in the final. She was pulled back to two up when Dunn won the seventh but then won five successive holes from the eighth to clinchthe Aynsley Reid Salver.
Earlier Dunn had reached the final after securing a 7 & 5 victory over Lucie Barclay from Kilmacolm.
Katie Graham from Hamilton booked her place in the last four after beating top seed Robyn Fowlie in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship at Strathaven.
Graham secured a convincing 4 & 3 victory over Royal Troon’s Freya Russell in the morning but then had to come from behind to claim a last gasp victory over Forfar’s Fowlie on the 19th hole.
Graham’s opponent in the last four is Isla McDonald-O’Brien from Shrewsbury who also had to go to the 19th hole in the morning before beating Hazlehead’s Rachel Mathieson and then defeated Ruby Watt from the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre 4 & 2 in the last eight.
In the other semi-final Aboyne’s Carmen Griffiths will face Alice Webb who plays out of Parkstone in Dorset who won against Jennifer Lynagh from Caldwell Golf Club by 2&1
Griffiths had a straightforward 8 & 7 victory over Strathmore’s Kirsten Miller in the first round but then had a much tougher test against Rachel Foster from Prestwick St Nicholas after lunch.
Foster reached the quarter finals of the recent Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship at Gullane where she lost to eventual champion Chloe Goadby and against Griffiths she led all the way until her opponent drew level on the 15th and then went ahead for the first time in the match on the 18th hole.
The semi-finals of the concurrent net match play competition will see Elderslie’s Ava Graham face Strathaven member Lindsay Main and Paisley’s Katie Dunne goes up against Lucie Barclay from Kilmacolm.
