SCOTTISH GOLF WINTER SERIES - Louise Duncan make it an Ayrshire double at St Andrews

Louise Duncan

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) made it an Ayrshire double last weekend in the Scottish Golf Limited Winter Series Final at St Andrews, when she took the girls title to add to the boys title won by Jack Broun.

Whilst Broun was recording a three stroke victory, Louise Duncan was the only player in the girls field who bettered par over the Strathtyrum course, her three under par 65 giving her a four stroke victory over her nearest rival.

Rachel Foster (Turnberry) finished tied for third place on 72, four over par.

New National Club Team Competition Annodata Matchplay Golf

For Golf Clubs that used to play in the Mail on Sunday this is a new Competition Open to amateur golfers in England, Scotland and Wales. Matchplay Golf in association with Annodata are delighted to announce a new National Golf Club Team Competition.

All Golf clubs in England, Scotland & Wales can enter 5 man / 5 Lady team in the Matchplay Knockout format. The new competition will be known as the annodata uk Golf Club Classic.

The Annodata Golf Classic is the Club team event of the year.

We believe it is the only National Golf Club Team event left running in the UK. It is also the toughest and most prestigious competition to win in the UK. Winners of this National Knockout Event will be crowned the UK Golf Club Champions.

To read more and enter your Club -- CLICK HERE

Ayrshire Girls shine in the Winter Series Final.

Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) finished top of the leaderboard in Scottish Golf's Winter Series Final at the weekend. Played over the Strathtyrum course at St. Andrew's, Louise's 65 was 3 under the CSS of 68. Rachel Foster (Turnberry) tied 3rd on 72 from a field of 16. Well done girls, all your hard work is paying off!

Thanks go to Liz Keohone for the report

WEST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY FORM

Kilmarnock Barassie

The West of Scotland Championship is being held at Kilmarnock Barassie on Sunday 7th May. To get your entry form ---- CLICK HERE

 If competitors wish to enter online rather than posting the form here is the link to the online form. CLICK HERE

If you enter this way Jean Macintyre (West Secretary) will e mail you the bank details so that you can pay electronically if you wish.

Please also download the original form to study the conditions of the competition.

Prestwick St Nicholas Pair win the Ayrshire County Winter Foursomes Final

The Winners

The Ladies managed to dodge the showers this weekend to play the final of the Ayrshire County Winter Foursomes.
The match was played over Troon Portland between Sheila McDougall and Margaret White (Prestwick St Nicholas) and Liz Keohone and Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf Club) The St Nicholas girls got off to a good start and were soon 2 up.
Quite a few holes changed hands but Sheila and Margaret held off the Loudoun challenge to win on the 17th.

WILLIAMWOOD PAIR WIN THE RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY WINTER FOURSOMES FINAL

Christine, Gill, Sandra and Norah 1st tee at Pollok GC 

The 2016/17 RLCGA Winter  Foursomes Final took place yesterday at Pollok Golf Club between Christine Leitch and Gill McLeod from Williamwood, who were playing in the competition for the 1st time, and Norah Adams and Sandra Winter from Kilmacolm. There was an extremely cold wind but it was dry overhead and the course was in remarkably good condition despite the recent rain and snow. 
The Williamwood pairing Christine and Gill playing in their first ever Winter Foursomes won the tie 4&3

A big thank you to the spectators who came to support and to County Secretary Carol McNally for arranging courtesy of the course at the last moment when snow had closed East Renfrewshire. 

RLCGA Captain Gillian Kyle  presents the winners with their trophies

To read the full report go to the Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association Website 

SAVE THE CHILDREN MIXED FOURSOMES GOLF TOURNAMENT

Save the Children will be celebrating our 36th Annual Mixed Foursomes Golf Tournament on the 5th of September 2017 at Glenbervie Golf Club with many clubs participating from across Scotland.

The golf clubs have an option to hold a qualifying event at their own club if they want to or can enter a team instead to represent club at the main event at Glenbervie Golf Club.

The entry fee is £35.00 per team, no handicap limit, Stableford format. If you are interested in taking part and supporting the work of Save the Children and raising money for vulnerable children around the world, then please get in touch with organiser Louise Fiermonte on 07786 981 176 or email her at  l.fiermonte@savethechildren.org.uk

For further information  visit ---www.savethechildren.co.uk

FIONA RATTRAY AND ALEX MENNIE WIN THE D&A COUNTY WINTER FOURSOMES FINAL

D&A County Winter Foursomes Winners Alex Mennie and Fiona Rattray (Douglas Park)
Photo courtesy of Christopher Mennie

The D&A County Winter Foursomes Final was played yesterday at Cardross Golf Club between the Douglas Park Golf Club pairing of Alex Mennie and Fiona Rattray against Mandy Allan (Milngavie) and Lindsay McCubbin (Hilton Park).
Fiona and Alex had to give 8 shots and with the conditions being awful and no mats allowed it was a difficult day for all the players.

Both couples led by one hole, turn by turn. However, Lindsay and Mandy led by 2 up at one point.

Fiona & Alex eventually were 1 up after 17 and as they said they could not have made it any harder for themselves. ----
Alex drove into trees, Fiona got it out, Alex hit a poor third and with the pin in a really tough position at the back of the green Fiona then narrowly missed the clubhouse windows landing about 10cms form the Out of Bounds!
Alex chipped on with a great shot for a gimme which was not given.

Meantime Mandy hit a good drive down the middle, Leslie hit a good shot which landed in a huge puddle and stopped in it right at the front of the green. Mandy chipped to the very back, Lindsay whose putting had been brilliant, was short.
Fiona putted in for 6, Mandy putted to take the match on to the 19th and missed and Fiona and Alex were the winners! — Despite the horrible weather the spectators had really enjoyed what was an exciting match!

CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE DAY -- COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER MENNIE

Thanks go to Christina Graham (Douglas Park Ladies' Captain)  for the report

Renfrewshire County host their biennial dinner at Haggs Castle Golf Club

Cat Morrison and RLCGA Captain Gillian Kyle

57 ladies enjoyed the RLCGA Biennual Dinner at Haggs Castle Golf Club last night. There were many Past Captains, Honorary members, non-playing members, new members and the regular County players all creating a real buzz in the clubhouse! 

Cat Morrison (MBE) gave the ladies a stimulating and very interesting talk about the world of duathlon and triathlon. Golf has never seemed so easy!

Vice-Captain June Lockhart rounded off the evening with a very entertaining vote of thanks.

CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING -- COURTESY OF FIONA ARMOUR AND CAROL FELL

Cat Morrison career highlights: 
ITU Duathlon World Champion 2010 & 2006 
ETU Long Distance Duathlon World Champion 2008, 2007 
ETU Duathlon European Champion 2009, 2007 
Multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 wins 
 Represented Scotland at Commonwealth Games 2002 & 2006

LADIES FASHION SHOW ST RANFURLY CASTLE GOLF CLUB.

You are invited to a
LADIES GOLF FASHION SHOW
hosted by
Ranfurly Castle Golf Club Pro Shop and

LOOKINGGOODFORGOLF.co.uk

Thursday 6 April, 7 for 7.30pm
Tickets £5, including light refreshments, a goody bag, models and entertainment !

Tickets available from the Ranfurly Castle Pro Shop
Tel: 01505 614795 or email tomeckford@btconnect.com or Sarah.eckford1967@gmail.com

MO RICHMOND TOP SCOT FINISH IN SPANISH SENIORS

GOLF COPY AND TOTALS
CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY

Mo Richmond (pictured left) was the highest-finishing Scot in the three-round Spanish senior women's international amateur golf championship which ended at Isla Canela Golf Club, Ayamonte today (Saturday).
Richmond tied for sixth place with rounds of 80, 80 and 75 for a total of 235 over the par-72 course.
She finished five strokes behind the Dutch winner, Nan Croockewit-Roland Holst who scored 79, 78 and 73 for 230.
Jane Rees from Wales was runner-up, two shots behind the winner, with scores of 80, 78 and 74 for 232.
Overnight leader Gertie McMullen from Ireland slipped back to a joint fourth place finish after a final round of 79, her worst of the three, for a total of 234.
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) and Margaret Sievwright (Buckpool), the only other Scots apart from Richmond to survive the 36-hole cut finished joint 28th and 35th respectively.
Wood scored 81, 84 and 82 for 247. Sievwright had rounds of 83, 86 and 81 for 250.

SPANISH SENIOR WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Isla Canela GC, Ayamonte.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
230 Nan Croockewit-Roland Holst (Ned) 79 78 73.
232 Jane Rees (Wal) 80 78 74.
233 Jo Shorrocks (Eng) 75 82 76
234 Maria de Orueta (Spn) 77 82 75, Gertie McMullen (Ire) 77 78 79.

SELECTED TOTALS
235 Maureen Richmond Sco) 80 80 75 (T6).
238 Aileen Greenfield (Eng) 75 83 80 (T10).
239 Angela Jones (Eng) 78 81 80 (T13)
240 Debbie Richards (Eng) 80 84 76 (T16)
241 Helen Lowe (Eng) 81 79 81 (T18).
245 Sandy Catford (Eng) 86 84 75 (T25)
247 Sheena Wood (Sco) 81 84 82 (T28)
250 Katharine Russell (Eng) 86 86 78, Margaret Sievwright (Sco) 83 86 81, Kate Evans (Ire) 85 80 85 (T35).
258 Marilyn Henderson (Ire) 88 88 82 (T55).

WEST GIRLS PLAY KILMARNOCK BARASSIE JUNIORS

Kilmarnock Barassie

From Allison Bell
Season 2017 starts tomorrow with our first match. A selected West Girls team play their annual match against a Barassie junior team. This is always a spirited competitive event and should be a great match. Good luck to our following girls :
Kirsten Brown, Jillian Farrell,Katie Graham, Hazel MacGarvie, Alison Macnab, Claire Mclaughlin, Kirsty Stewart & Susan Woodhouse

KILMACOLM AND PAST CURTIS CUP PLAYER IS LEADING SCOT IN SPAIN

Kilmacolm's Maureen Richmond is the leading Scot, in joint 13th place, with one round to go in the Spanish senior women's international individual golf championship at Isla Canela Golf Club, Ayamonte today (Friday).
Maureen has had a pair of 80s for 160 - five behind the Irish leader, Gertie McMullen (77-78 for 155).
Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) is sharing 23rd place after rounds of 81 and 84 for 165.
Margaret Sievwright (Buckpool) has scored 83 and 86 for 169 and a share of 38th place.
Scots May Hughes (185) and Lesley Johnston (186) missed the cut which fell at 177.
Pamela Williamson retired.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES
par 144 (2x72)
155 Gertie McMullen (Ire) 77 78.
156 Melissa Luk (Austria) 73 83.
157 Casilda Castillejo Oriol (Spn) 81 76, Nan Croockewit-Roland Holst (Net) 79 78, Jo Shorrocks (Eng) 79 78.
158 Jane Rees (Wales) 80 78, Aileen Greenfield (Eng) 75 83.

SELECTED SCORES
159 Angela Jones (Eng) 78 81 (T8)
160 Helen Lowe (Eng) 81 79, Maureen Richmond (Sco) 80 80 (T13)
164 Debbie Richards (Eng) 80 84 (T21).
165 Sheena Wood (Sco) 81 84, Kate Evans (Ire) 85 80 (T23).
169 Margaret Sievwright (Sco) 83 86 (T38).
170 Sandy Catford (Eng) 86 84 (T42).
172 Katherine Russell (Eng) 86 86 (T49).
176 Marilyn Henderson (Ire) 88 88 (T58)

MISSED THE CUT (177 and better qualified)
178 Barbara Woodham (Eng) 91 87, Pamela Morgan (Ire) 90 88.
181 Catherine Reilly (Ire) 87 94.
182 Mary Dowling (Ire) 84 98.
185 Vivienna Houston (Ire) 92 93, May Hughes (Sco) 91 94, Terry Linskey (Eng) 87 98.
186 Lesley Johnston (Sco) 94 92.

Retired: Pamela Williamson (Sco), Lindsey Shaw (Eng)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE

SHEENA AND ELLIE ARE LEADING SCOTS IN SPAIN

Aberdeen Ladies GC members Sheena Wood and Ellie Whyte were the highest placed Scots in finishing joint 24th in a field of 45 pairs at the Spanish senior women's pairs championship at Isla Canela Golf Club, Ayamonte today (THU).
Wood and Whyte had scores of 83 and 84 for 167, 17 strokes behind the Spanish title-winners, Casilda Castillejo Oriol and Maria Trallero Santamaria (73-77 for 150).
Scotland's second-best pairing were Barbara Biggart and Maureen Richmond with scores of 79 and 91 for a 170 total and a T28 finish.
May Hughes and Lesley Johnson shot 81 and 93 for 174 and finished T35.
Pamela Williamson, partnered by Canadian Diane Williams finished 38th on 177 with rounds of 83 and 94.
The highest finishing English players were Helen Lowe and Lindsey Shaw (76-80 for 156) in ninth place.
Two other all-England pairinigs, Sandy Catford and Angela Jones (78-81) and Debbie Richards and Katharine Russell (75-94) tied for 14th place on 159.

SPANISH SENIOR WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Isla Canela Golf Club, Ayamonte, Spain

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 144 (2s72)
150 C C Oriol and M T Santamaria (Spn) 73 77
151 A Greenfield and J Shorrocks (Eng) 73 78, N C-R Holst (Ned) and T McCart (Ned) 72 79.

SELECTED TOTALS
156 H Lowe and L Shaw (Eng) 76 80 (9th)
159 S Catford and A Jones (Eng) 78 81; D Richards and K Russell (Engt) 75 84 (T14).
167 E Whyte and S Wood (Sco) 83 84 (T24)
170 B Biggart and M Richmond (Sco) 79 91 (T28).
174 M Hughes and L Johnston (Sco) 81 93 (T35)
177 P Williamson (Sco) and D Williams (Can) 83 94 (38th)
Field of 45 pairs

SPANISH SENIORS BEGINS TOMORROW

The SPANISH INTERNATIONAL LADIES SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP begins tomorrow at the Isla Canela Golf 9-11 March 2017.


There are a few Scots playing in the Championship including the 2016 Scottish Seniors Order of Merit Award Winner Sheena Wood ( pictured above)

West of Scotland's May Hughes (Lanark Golf Club) is also playing.

CLICK HER FOR START TIMES.

CONNIE JAFFREY NAMED BIG 12 WOMENS GOLFER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY

MANHATTAN, Kan. – After leading the Wildcats to a team championship in the Westbrook Spring Invitational, Kansas State junior Connie Jaffrey was named Big 12 Women’s Golfer of the Month for February, the conference office announced Wednesday.

It is the second time Jaffrey has earned the award, the first coming after her first month of collegiate golf in September 2014.

Jaffrey paced the Wildcats with a season low 54-hole score of 6-under par 210 at the Westbrook Invitational. In the final round, Jaffrey tied her career low 18-hole score of 5-under par 67, propelling her to a second-place finish in the tournament.

The second-place showing gave Jaffrey her second top-five finish of the season and sixth of her career. The Killwinning, Scotland, native carded 12 birdies in the tournament as she helped the Wildcats pick up their second tournament victory of 2016-17.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

WEST GIRLS OPEN DAY

West of Scotland Girls Golfing Association are holding an Open Day on Sunday 19th March.

Karyn Burns Coach at the Glasgow Indoor Golf

Article from the PGA magazine  

For a coach who abides by reality of numbers there's nothing Karyn Burns at the Glasgow Golf Centre at Kinning Park loves more than a little bit of Seve magic

CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE AND READ ALL ABOUT IT.

THE R&A AND THE USGA ANNOUNCE PROPOSED CHANGES TO MODERNISE RULES OF GOLF

1 March 2017, St Andrews, Scotland and Far Hills, N.J., USA: The R&A and the USGA have unveiled a preview of the proposed new Rules of Golf, as part of a joint initiative to modernise the Rules and make them easier to understand and apply.

The online release of this preview begins a six-month feedback and evaluation period during which all golfers worldwide can learn about the proposed changes and provide input before they are finalised in 2018 and take effect on 1 January 2019.

The announcement follows a comprehensive review process that began in 2012 with a working group of key R&A and USGA Rules administrators, professional tour officials and other Rules experts. While the Rules are revised every four years, this is the first fundamental review since 1984, and was established to ensure the Rules fit the needs of today's game and the way it is played around the world. 

David Rickman, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, "Our aim is to make the Rules easier to understand and to apply for all golfers. We have looked at every Rule to try to find ways to make them more intuitive and straightforward and we believe we have identified many significant improvements. It is important that the Rules continue to evolve and remain in tune with the way the modern game is played but we have been careful not to change the game's longstanding principles."

"We are excited and encouraged by the potential this work brings, both through the proposed new Rules and the opportunities to use technology to deliver them," said Thomas Pagel, Senior Director of Rules & Amateur Status for the USGA. "We look forward to an ongoing conversation with golfers during the feedback period in the months ahead."

The proposed 24 new Rules, reduced from the current 34, have been written in a user-friendly style with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, bulleted lists and explanatory headings. The initiative also focuses on assessing the overall consistency, simplicity and fairness of the Rules for play.

The Rules are currently delivered in more than 30 languages, and the proposed wording will support easier translation worldwide. When adopted, the Rules will be supported by technology that allows the use of images, videos and graphics.

Highlights of the proposed Rule changes include:

• Elimination or reduction of "ball moved" penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is "virtually certain" that he or she did so.

• Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.

• Relaxed rules for "penalty areas" (currently called "water hazards"): Red and yellow-marked penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; expanded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.

• Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.

• Relying on player integrity: A player's "reasonable judgment" when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong; and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is damaged.

• Pace-of-play support: Reduced time for searching for a lost ball (from five minutes to three); affirmative encouragement of "ready golf" in stroke play; recommending that players take no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke and other changes intended to help with pace of play.

• Simplified way of taking relief: A new procedure for taking relief by dropping a ball in and playing it from a specific relief area; relaxed procedures for dropping a ball, allowing the ball to be dropped from just above the ground or any growing thing or other object on the ground.

A series of materials have also been prepared to explain the proposed Rule changes and provide background on the initiative. Found on randa.org and usga.org/rules, they include:

•  Overview of the Rules Modernisation Initiative: goals, proposed changes and process for implementation in 2019

• Draft New Rules of Golf for 2019: the full text of proposed Rules 1-24 and Definitions

• Draft Player's Edition of the New Rules of Golf for 2019: Written from the perspective of "you" the golfer, this shorter version covers the most commonly used Rules and is meant to be the rule book golfers will use when finalised and adopted in 2019

• Explanation for Each Major Proposed Change in the New Rules of Golf for 2019: Short summaries of each major proposed change

• Summary chart of major changes

• Videos and Infographics: Visual explanations of the proposed Rules.

Golfers are encouraged to review the proposed changes and submit feedback online via worldwide survey technology that can be accessed at randa.org or usga.org/rules from now until 31 August 2017.

The feedback will be reviewed by The R&A and the USGA in establishing the approved final version of golf's new Rules. These are due to be released in mid-2018 ahead of a 1 January 2019 implementation. Social media users can also follow the discussion using #GolfRules2019.

Players are reminded that the current 2016 Edition of the Rules of Golf remain in force when playing, posting scores or competing, until the new Rules are officially adopted by The R&A and the USGA in 2019. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of this review process.   

Women Golfers Energised with New Revive Active Sponsorship

SCOTTISH GOLF NEWS RELEASE

Scottish Golf’s most popular women’s competition is to be energised with a new title sponsor for the next three years thanks to an exciting partnership with leading health foods brand Revive Active.

The Irish-based company, who recently announced a sponsorship deal with three-time London Marathon winner and world women’s marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe, will become headline sponsors of the Scottish Women’s Regional Medal finals, a nationwide event open to all female club members in Scotland.

Revive Active become the first brand to dedicate sponsorship to women’s golf in Scotland since the governing body became amalgamated in October 2015, with the announcement coming quickly after Scottish Golf secured PING as a partner for the revamped national Mixed Championship, which will take place for the first time this season.

As part of the agreement, Revive Active will also become the Official Super Food and Nutrition Partner for Scottish Golf, supporting the governing body’s campaign to encourage playing golf as part of a healthy lifestyle which can increase life expectancy by up to five years.

Revive Active were also one of the partners involved at Friday night's Scottish Golf Awards in Edinburgh, sponsoring the Senior Men's and Women's Orders of Merit Awards.

The Revive Active Scottish Women’s Regional Medal is the biggest event for women golfers in Scotland, with more than 300 clubs taking part each year. It offers the winners of the Silver and Bronze Medals at club level the opportunity to compete in one of four Regional Finals in May and June, with the leading 24 players being rewarded with a place in the Grand Final, hosted at the idyllic Perthshire venue of Crieff Golf Club on Sunday 16 July.

Daithi O’Connor, managing director of Revive Active, said: “Golf is great for your health and requires a keen eye for accuracy and quality. We’re therefore delighted to be partnering with Scottish Golf as the benefits of Revive Active’s Super Supplement range continue to grow in popularity throughout Scotland.

“We are proud to support women’s golf at club level and look forward to welcoming more than 600 competitors to the four regional finals who will hopefully enjoy sampling our products.”

Scottish Golf’s marketing and commercial director Ross Duncan added: “We are delighted to add Revive Active as the first sponsor of the Scottish Women’s Regional Medal which will undoubtedly enhance what is already an extremely popular event among our clubs.

“The brand is a great fit for us as we continue to promote the message that golf is a sport offering many healthy lifestyle benefits. The sponsorship market remains very challenging so we welcome the additional investment from a young, dynamic company and we look forward to working with the Revive Active team to deliver a successful long-term partnership.”

Revive Active’s products are available in pharmacies and health food outlets across the UK and Ireland, as well as online at www.reviveactive.com

This year’s Revive Active Scottish Women’s Regional Medal finals take place at Inverness (2 May), Kirkcaldy (16 May), Largs (26 May) and Torwoodlee (16 June).

Further details on qualifying criteria can be found on the Championships section of the Scottish Golf website.

For more information, please contact:

Ed Hodge
PR & Media Manager

M: +44 (0)7850 772166
E: e.hodge@scottishgolf.org
W: scottishgolf.org
A: Scottish Golf | Caledonia House | 1 Redheughs Rigg | Edinburgh | EH12 9DQ