Beth Paterson and Jenny McGahan elected at SLGA AGM

The SLGA AGM took place yesterday at the Quality Station Hotel Perth.
SLGA's Chairman Margaret McNaughton's informative annual report was followed by the Finance Director Lynne Terry's detailed accounts annual review. The annual report of the Scottish representatives on the Executive Council of the LGU was then given by Gillian Kirkwood

Ethel Jack was elected as President for the second year and
RLCGA's Past Captain Beth Paterson (Eastwood ) pictured above was elected on to the board by the SLGA to replace Margaret MacNaughton who retires by expiry of her term of office.

Jenny McGahan (Douglas Park) was appointed as Deputy to Gillian Kirkwood and Shona Malcolm as Scottish Representatives on the Executive Council of the Ladies' Golf Union
Three changes to the Regulations regarding County Golf were approved by large margins, and, after a clear and concise explanation of the SLGA Business Plan by Shona Malcolm , the new Rules and Regulations for SLGA Ltd were also approved.
Subscriptions for playing members of clubs will increase in 2009 will increase by 50p to £13.

Mrs Pat Wilson was then elected to be the new Chairman of the SLGA.
Isabel Crawford is re appointed as a West Division Selector

Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle and Douglas Park) asked the board in the "any competent business" section, if County Medals were the same as Open Days for the new Congu regulation. The answer was given as yes and she said that this was impossible to administer unless you used the Home Clubs handicap computer where the competition was being played at and not use the county laptop. The SLGA said they would look into the matter and Carol has sent a report to the SLGA as requested by the new Chairman Pat Wilson. This report includes an explanation of the problem and a couple of suggestions on how to solve this issue.

The meeting closed with an entertaining vote of thanks from Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)

Mary Hardie is the new Ranfurly Castle Captain

A very successful AGM and prizegiving was held in the clubhouse on Thursday 17th January.
Mary Hardie was duly elected as our new Lady Captain. She welcomed Helen Abram as Vice Captain and Sheila Gray, Sheila Biggart and Eileen Walker as new committee members.
The AGM was followed by our usual prizegiving.
Carol Fell, Ranfurly Castle's Ladies Champion, thanked the committee for all their work throughout the year.

Book a Group Day at Mearns Golf Academy

Do you want to get a group of friends together for a day out? Or are you looking for a family-friendly post-Christmas activity? Perhaps you want to schmooze some clients? Then come to Mearns Castle Golf Academy for a weather-proof event suitable for beginners through to advanced golfers.
To read more then click on the following link Mearns Castle Golf Academy

SLGA Annual General Meeting

The SLGA AGM will be held on Saturday 19 January 2008 at 11.00 a.m. in the ballroom of the Quality Station Hotel in Perth. All the papers for the meeting were posted to clubs and counties on Wednesday 19 December.

News from Jean Campbell -- D&A Webmaster

Good Morning - or afternoon and a very happy new year to you all. We arrived here on the 5th November and it feels like a few days ago - we certainly cannot complain about the weather as this is the second time we have seen some real rain (we have had the very odd sprinkle) and Florida badly needs it.
We were told last night on the news that it is the driest it has been for more than ten years (at this time of year) and all sorts of warning were given about the use of fireworks and there was certainly plenty of them last night. We dined outside as usual and watched these fireworks coming from all over the place - then things were quiet until midnight and then the sky was lit up again and it was very nice to see. John as usual went off to bed - I like to watch the tv programme from Times Square and managed to stay awake until midnight.

Where we play golf, there are a few lakes on the course and they are so low and they have recently introduced a ban on watering of gardens - I think it is only one day a week - so this rain is so badly needed and honestly since I ain't going anywhere, I hope it rains all day long. John has been busy playing table tennis and won a couple of medals in the state championship - he has recently started playing on a Thursday night at a club in Fort Myers and the standard there is higher than the club we go to in Sarasota. The sports centre where it is held is quite a place - only two years old and just super - since I go with him as the driver!! - we both joined this place at a cost of $5 each and don't have to pay anything when we go - wish they had this sort of facility in Scotland as surely it would encourage youngsters to take part - when it is almost free!!! There is one huge area which can be used for all kinds of sports with seating and also a dividing wall and then so many other smaller rooms for a variety of activities including a computer class!!! The school which is right next to this place was built at the same time and a couple of weeks ago when we arrived we saw crowds going into the school and I found out that there was a musical concert and in I went and again was impressed with the facilities - the programme started with the youngest musicians playing fairly easy but good tunes and then on to the next group - there was a group of older singers and they joined with the school choir to sing a few numbers. We also had a girl dancing - I was just so impressed with the talent on show and all those instruments - great to see. The concert was held in a huge hall and again it had all sorts of facilities for various sports and a stage - I was sorry I was unable to wait until the end of the concert.

We have been playing golf (of course) although probably not as much as we have in the past - my golf has been a bit mixed until the last couple of times that I have played, I don't know what I am doing BUT I wish I could parcel it up and bring it home - yesterday John played his best golf since arriving and this made it more enjoyable for MEEEEE!!! We shall see what I do next time I am out.

There is a law here that dogs must be kept on a lead - we arrived home a few weeks ago - drove into the garage and then heard this awful noise across the road where there is vacant lots and then onto a canal - the dog from two houses along was attacking a heron!!! The owner was screaming at her dog and we saw the heron get up and it was making such a noise and flapping its wings - it eventually limped into the bushes but it was not nice to see. We have since received a letter from this woman saying that her dog did not touch the heron!!! She wants us to speak to her about this - but we will not have anything to do with her - we both know what we saw. These people also own two maccaws and the noise from these birds is not acceptable - if I lived next door I would pop in and slit their throats!!!!!!
Well it is still raining and it is now time to give my fingers a well earned rest!!!

Loved you dancing in your Santa outfit Carol - my sister did one for me as an elf!!! I am thinking of working on the routine for the county dinner!!!##

Best Wishes for a good and healthy 2008

Heron Defences improved in Bearsden Glasgow

Having had a few fish taken on Hogmanay (we think) --- Still not got a proper head count, we have improved our defences - so this morning when we had another visit from "Henry" the heron he was not so lucky !!
Any chance of some "Golfing" News now or will I have to set up a Bird Website !!! Please Email me your news by clicking on the link on the RHS of this webpage

Hazel wishes you all a Happy New Year

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New Year Celebrations at Douglas Park Golf Club

Here is a short video of the bringing in of the New Year. It is also Past Captain Helen Robertson's birthday today -- so a cake was produced as well. Sorry the video is so dark but the lighting was poor.

It's the end of 2007 --- Happy New Year

Click here to Ring in the New Year

Heron Attack in Bearsden Glasgow

Nothing to do with golf ---- Your Webmaster Carol and husband Gordon had a visitor in their garden on Hogmanay. To all friends who like birds as well as golf I thought you would like to see this

Merry Christmas to all our West of Scotland Readers

Carol -- your Webmaster has a link to her Christmas Card to all readers of this website Carol's Christmas Card

Pat Walker (Captain of the West Vets) sends her Christmas wishes on the West Vets Website

Christmas Lunches at Douglas Park

Two Christmas Lunches were held at Douglas Park Golf club today Friday 14th and Sunday 10th -- . Thanks go to Clark Nelson who added to the musical entertainment on the Sunday and at short notice to Caroline Hanlon who played the piano on that day.
Click on the video below (not very good -- but if gives the jist !!) and the smileybox to see some photos and you may recognise a few faces -- Gladys Speedie, Helen Faulds and Olive MacKay to name a few of the Carol singers !!
Perhaps the singing was better in 2005 !!!
Click on this link; Video of DP Christmas Lunch Singing in 2005



To see some photos from both lunches (over 100 ladies) then click on the play button below

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The Christmas Cracker Competition - Ranfurly Castle

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32 ladies played in the Christmas Cracker yesterday morning in what can only be described as WET !
Alison Robertson and Pamela Mackenzie were the winners of the 9 hole Greensomes and Lois Brown won a prize for having the best hat.
A glass of mulled wine helped to warm everyone up at the end and there was plenty of chat and much hilarity!
To see enlargements of the photos go to Ranfurly Castle Christmas Cracker Winners

Clare Queen and Kyle Walker are the top Scots in India

Clare Queen (The Carrick at Cameron House) earned 2,070 Euos for a share of 28th place on 295. Clare had rounds of 75, 72, 73 and 75. In her final round, she took a long time to get going with bogeys at the second, fifth, ninth and 10th. Her first birdie came at the 11th but she bogeyed the 12th before birdieing the long 15th for halves of 39 and 36.
Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), with Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), playing on special invitations for amateurs, took the chance to turn in arguably her best performance of the season.
Kylie had scores of 77, 73, 72 and 75 for nine-over-par 297 and a share of 35th position, not bad at all among professional company. Kylie bogeyed the second, third and fourth but birdied the fifth and long seventh before a bogey at the eighth saw her turne in two-over-par 38. Another birdie at the long 10th helped to offset the damage of a double-bogey 6 at the long par-4 16th in halves of 38 and 37.
Had she been playing as a professional, Kylie would have won 1,590 Euros.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
281 G Nocera (France) 69 69 72 71 (30,000 Euros).
282 V Lagoutte-Clement (France) 72 75 66 68 (20,300 Euros).
284 Lisa Hall (England) 72 73 70 69 (14,000 Euros).
285 L Wahlin (Sweden) 69 75 72 69 (10,800 Euros).
286 T Plucksataporn (Thailand) 72 71 74 69 (8,480 Euros).
287 K-M Juul (Denmark) 73 73 70 71, T Johnson (England) 73 70 72 72, M Prieto (Spain) 73 70 72 72 (6,000 Euros each).
288 S Arricau (France) 72 73 76 67, L Davies (England) 77 74 67 70, M Eberl (Germany) 76 71 68 73 (4,053 Euros each).
289 M Beautell (Spain) 77 70 70 72 (3,440 Euros).
290 M Rigon (Italy) 73 72 72 73, Becky Brewerton (Wales) 76 70 71 73 (3,150 Euros each).
Other totals:
293 J Head (England) 77 71 73 72 (jt 20th) (2,520 Euros).
294 R Coakley (Ireland) 73 76 73 72, S Walker (England) 70 75 72 77 (jt 23rd) (2,310 Euros each).
295 K Matharu (England) 76 73 73 73, C Queen (The Carrick at Cameron House) 75 72 73 75 (jt 28th) (2,070 Euros each).
296 D Masters (England) 77 76 70 73 (jt 32nd) (1,860 Euros).
297 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) (amateur) 77 73 72 75 (jt 35th).
300 Lydia Hall (Wales) 76 75 74 75 (jt 44th) (1,220 Euros).
301 F More (England) 78 74 72 77, H Kavanagh (Ireland) 78 74 72 77 (1,080 Euros each).
303 F Johnson (England) 78 75 76 74, N C Booth (England) 73 76 77 77 (jt 51st) (940 Euros each).
304 C Coughlan (Ireland) 79 77 74 74 (jt 54th) (840 Euros).
306 K S Taylor (England) 76 77 79 74 (jt 57th) (720 Euros).
307 K Taylor (England) 75 78 74 80 (jt 60th) (640 Euros).
311 S Heath (England) 74 79 79 79 (63rd) (600 Euros).
314 M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) (amateur) 82 69 75 78.
318 G Simpson (England) 82 77 80 79, J Clingan (England) 76 78 84 80 (jt 66th) (570 Euros each).

Clare Queen is leading Scot after 3 rounds in India

Clare Queen is the leading Scot in joint 19th place with scores of 75, 72 and 73 for 220. She had two birdies in her Friday round - at the fifth and 15th but took the edge off a potentially good score with a cluster of late bogeys, at the 14th, 16th and 17th for 38 home.
Buchanan Castle amateur Kylie Walker, has recovered some of her best form of the year in distant India. She is in joint 29th place in a field of 71 with scores of 77, 73 and 72 for 222 - the same mark as former Curtis Cup player Kiran Matharu and Irish-Australian Rebecca Coakley.
Kylie did very well indeed to shake off the mind-blowing effects of a double-bogey 5 at the short third followed by a bogey at the fourth.
She then was five under par for the next six holes - vintage Walker indeed! - with birdies at the fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth and 10th.
Late bogeys, at the 14th and 17th, saw her home in 37 after getting to the turn in 35

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 216 (3 x 72)

210 G Nocera (France) 69 69 72.
213 V Lagoutte-Clement (France) 72 75 66.
215 M Eberl (Germany) 76 71 68, Lisa Hall (England) 72 73 70, M Prieto (Spain) 73 70 72, T Johnson(England) 73 70 72.
216 K-M Juul (Denmark) 73 73 70, L Wahlin (Sweden) 69 75 72.
217 M Beautell (Spain) 77 70 70, B Brewerton (Wales) 76 70 71, S Walker (England) 70 75 72, M Rigon (Italy) 73 72 72, E Steinberger (Austria) 74 70 73, T Plucksataporn (Thailand) 72 71 74.
218 L Davies (England) 77 74 67, V Zorzi (Italy) 75 71 72, Bo Ri Lee (Korea) 71 72 75.
219 L Kreutz (France) 75 74 70.
220 A B Sanchez (Spain) 72 76 72, J Schaeffer (France) 74 74 72, C Queen (The Carrick at Cameron House) 75 72 73 (jt 19th).
Other scores:
221 J Head (England) 77 71 73 (jt 22nd).
222 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) (amateur) 77 73 72, K Matharu (England) 76 73 73, R Coakley (Ireland) 73 76 73 (jt 29th of 77 players).

Milngavie Ladies have a very successful 2007 Season

Ladies teams at Milngavie Golf Club have had an extremely successful season in 2007. They have a Scratch team that plays in the Greenlees League - open to all clubs in the West of Scotland. This year, Milngavie won the 3rd Division with a record 57 points and are therefore promoted to the 2nd Division.




Their second team plays in the Allander League, which is a handicap league that is played in the evenings. Milngavie GC retained their title in this competition and have won this trophy 7 times in the last 9 years. (Ladies participating in these teams range in age from 15 to 70+)


Here are both teams together

Clare Queen is top Scot in 1st Round of Indian Ladies Master

Clare Queen 75 (The Carrick at Cameron House).... Kylie Walker 77 (Buchanan Castle)... Michele Thomson 82 (McDonald Ellon).
That's the "Scotland" scores from the first round of the Indian Ladies Masters at the Eagleton Resort, Bangalore
There is a three-way tie for the lead at three-under-par 69, featuring Lotta Wahlin (Sweden), Gwladys Nocera (France) and Anna Tybring (Sweden)

Stirling win the Mail on Sunday Classic

All the teams in the West of Scotland that played in the Mail on Sunday congratulate Stirling Golf Club on their tremendous victory last Saturday at El Rompido in Spain
Champagne corks popped as Stirling at last became Mail on Sunday Classic champions, a title they thought they might never win.
Third-placed team in 2001, losing finalists in 2005, they finally
became champions after a 4-1 win over Marriott Meon Valley at
the sun-bathed El Rompido course in Spain.
In the semi final, Stirling defeated Mere 3 ½-1 ½ after Fiona Campbell led the team out against their lowest golfer – a four-handicap county player. Fiona played excellent golf and lost narrowly at the 16th. Tricia Chillas and Elaine Allison managed to secure wins at the 15th and the Stirling team then required one point to reach the final.
Alison Davidson, playing the Mere captain, was two up at the 16th where she hit a magnificent tee shot to the short hole where she was conceded her birdie putt to put the Stirling team through.
In the final, two of the Stirling team got off to a fast start. Elaine built up an early lead against 12-handicapper Jenny Readman and Shelagh Quinn found herself five up at the 12th against their budding young professional player, two-handicapper Katie Thompson. Shelagh finished the match at the 13th with a 6 and 5 win.
In contrast Alison got off to a poor start and was four holes down to Tracey Boyes, who narrowly failed to win her Ladies European Tour card last month. In typical style, Alison fought back strongly to square her match at the turn.
Vicki Stevenson, playing Lauren Davis (9), was two up playing the 16th. She knew how important it was to seal the match as she had to concede strokes at both the 17th and 18th holes. Her shot to the green found the fringe of the green and she had a great chip and putt to secure her par and gain the second point.
Elaine was dormie at the 15th hole and her par 4 secured the elusive title and Stirling became the first Scottish team to win the event.
Alison and Tricia had slender leads at this point but still had to concede strokes at the final holes. With the match won, all of the remaining players on the course agreed to halved matches so that the
Celebrations could begin.
Meon Valley were magnanimous in defeat and acknowledged the quality of Stirling’s victory. Captain Kathy Estcourt said: ‘We were playing a team on a mission. Stirling were just unbeatable today.’
Former Curtis Cup star and past British and Scottish champion, Alison Davidson said: "I just cannot tell you what this means for the team, for the club and for me. I’ve played in some pretty big matches in my career, but when you can go out to play with your friends for your club, there just isn’t a feeling like it.
"I would like to thank the supporters who made the trip to cheer us on. We all had a great time. I would also like to thank Stirling Golf Club and the members for their support and best wishes. Finally, a big thankyou to Guardian Systems for generously sponsoring the uniform for players and supporters – it was greatly appreciated."
Thanks go to Gillian Kirkwood for the report

LGU pre match practice for Curtis Cup Squad

Eight members of the LGU Squad will assemble in St Andrews this weekend, 6-9 December, for pre match practice, ahead of selection for the 2008 Curtis Cup, which will be played for the first time over the Old Course, St Andrews, 30 May - 1 June. To read all about it click on this link LGU Newsletter

Clare Queen to take part in the Indian Ladies Masters

Clare Queen(The Carrick at Cameron House) with caddy Karyn Burns (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) left today for Bangalore. Clare is the only Scottish Professional taking part in the Indian Ladies Masters (the first Ladies European Tour event on the sub-continent) from 5th to 8th December.

Amateurs, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Michel Thomson (McDonald Ellon) will be joining Clare.

Haciendo Del Alamo Women's Winter Festival now has a Silver (Division) Lining

Just to keep you up to speed with the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
I have had some feedback that the handicap limit of nine was stopping some ladies coming in groups with their friends because not all of them had as low a handicap as that.
With that in mind, I have raised the handicap limit to 20, i.e. Silver Division players only as well as Lady Professionals.
To Read all about it click on this link Alamo Winter Festival
Regards
Colin Farquharson
Tournament Controller

The Rules of Golf 2008 - 2011

The R & A and the United States Golf Association have worked closely for more than fifty years to produce a uniform code of rules so that wherever golf is played the same laws apply. Every four years these two governing bodies, after consultation with golf authorities worldwide, agree any changes that they consider will make the Rules of Golf fairer and easier to understand.

New rules come into force on 1st January 2008. Four million copies of the ‘Rules of Golf’, sponsored by Rolex, will be printed in English. The new rules will also be printed, under licence, in twenty-five other languages. Rule books will be distributed free of charge to golf clubs and may be ordered on the R&A Website
‘Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2006 – 2007’ becomes obsolete and is replaced by the new 2008 – 2009 edition. This book is invaluable not only for Rules Officials but also for all those involved in the administration of the game (e.g. club committees). It may be purchased from the above website or from high street or on-line booksellers.

Many members will have read in the press recently that there are to be changes to 28 of the 34 rules but there is no cause for alarm. ‘Rules of Golf 2008 –2011’ contains a new ‘Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf". This is excellent and should certainly make players feel more at ease with their rule books. Many rules have simply been re-worded in order to make them easier to understand. One example is the term ‘reasonable evidence’ that was used previously used in several rules. This was difficult to interpret and has been changed to ‘known or virtually certain’ which is much clearer.

One significant change relates to hazards. Until now the rules did not giver a player the opportunity to lift a ball from a hazard in order to identify it and therefore there was no penalty for playing a wrong ball either from a bunker or from a water hazard. The restriction on identifying a ball in a hazard has been removed (Rule 12 – 2) and the exemption from penalty for playing a wrong ball from a bunker or water hazard has also been removed (Rule 15 – 3). The result is that the penalty for playing a wrong ball anywhere on the course is now loss of hole in match play or a two stroke penalty in stroke play. In stroke play the mistake must of course be corrected in order to avoid disqualification.

Several other changes are to penalties rather than to actual rules and in every case the change favours the player. When a ball in motion is stopped or deflected by the player, her partner, or either of their caddies or equipment the penalty has been reduced from loss of hole in match play and a two stroke penalty in stroke play to one stroke in either form of play (Rule 19 – 2). This is a very welcome change. Many members will have been in the situation where the ball re-bounds off the face of a bunker and it is impossible to move quickly enough to avoid being struck by it!

Until now a flagstick that had been removed and placed on the ground was not allowed to be moved whilst a ball was in motion. This left players in a ‘catch 22’ situation. Moving the flagstick in case a ball in motion struck it incurred a penalty under one rule (Rule 1- 2). Leaving it on the ground to be struck by the ball incurred a penalty under another rule (Rule 17 – 3). This situation has been resolved. A flagstick, whether attended, removed or held up may now be moved when a ball is in motion (Rule 24 – 1).

On the putting green it is sometimes very difficult to avoid standing on another player’s line without standing astride the line of one’s own putt which is of course not allowed (Rule 16 –1e). An ‘exception’ to this rule has been added to allow inadvertent standing astride the line of putt or doing so in order to avoid another player’s line.

The penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming club has been reduced from disqualification to, in stroke play, a penalty of two strokes per hole at which a breach occurred, with a maximum penalty of four strokes per round. In match play the state of the match is adjusted by one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred with a maximum penalty of two holes per round (Rule 4 – 1). This is now the same penalty as that for carrying more than fourteen clubs (Rule 4 – 4).

The penalty for using a non-conforming club remains disqualification. The R & A announced four years ago that from 1st January 2008 all drivers must have a conforming clubhead and ensured that this was well publicised. Sufficient warning was given to allow players plenty of time to check and, if necessary, change their drivers. This rule applies to all golfers of all abilities and in all forms of play. The required specifications are set out in Appendix II, 5c of the new rule book and detailed lists of conforming and non-conforming driver heads may be found on the R & A website. In club golf it is the responsibility of each player to check that her equipment conforms to the Rules of Golf. Players taking part in County or National events should also check as to whether the Conditions of Competition include the Driving Club Condition. If so any driver used must be on the R & A’s ‘List of Conforming Driver Heads’. For more detailed information refer to the R & A website and in particular their ‘Frequently asked questions’ on this topic.

Space does not permit me to mention, let alone explain, every single rule change but I have highlighted those most likely to crop up in the normal course of play. For more detailed information refer to the R & A website and to ‘Principle Changes introduced in the 2008 code’ which you will find on page 6 in your new rule book. Always remember that the Rules of Golf exist to make the game fair for all players. The more familiar you become with the rules the more you will enjoy your golf.

Jenny McGahan
R & A qualified Rules Official
November 2007

Thanks Jenny for all the information

GLENMUIR IS SUPPORTING HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S WINTER GOLF FESTIVAL

Do you know anyone who is a good enough player to enter? Tell them about the February 10-23, six-competition programme at the five-star Murcia golf resort with excellent practice facilities in sunny southern Spain.
Open to Lady professionals and amateurs with a handicap of nine or under.
E-mail Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at colin@scottishgolfview.com if you want to know more.

Advertising-- No Golf News

Still No Golf News --- So How about looking at one of the top best website adverts for 2007 Click Here
Nothing to do with Golf but it will make you laugh !!

Prizegiving and Cheese and Wine -- Douglas Park

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The Main 2007 Prizegiving was held at Douglas Park Golf Club this afternoon after a light Cheese and Wine reception. Here are a few smiling faces that you may recognise that received their trophies. The Ladies Annual Meeting is held in January when all the prizewinners will receive their awards
To see enlargements of the photos above CLICK HERE

CONGU Unified Handicap System 2008 -2011

The Council of National Golf Unions has published the CONGU® UHS (Unified Handicap System) 2008-2011 manual which is the result of substantial voluntary work of the Council Members during the last four years.

The Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) is the governing body for handicapping matters in Great Britain & Ireland and is comprised of members from the men’s and ladies’ Golf Unions/Associations in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with additional representatives from The R&A and the LGU.

The UHS 2004-2007 manual included, for the first time, a unified approach for handicapping men and ladies under the same system. The 2008 UHS has built on this success and has been expanded to include a number of new concepts. These include Supplementary Scores, Nine Hole Handicap Competitions, a separate CSS calculation for “Home” and “Away” players in Open Competitions and assistance for handicap committees in carrying out the time consuming Annual Handicap Review (AHR). The manual has been totally revised to make it more user friendly to clubs and their members by placing the clauses in a more logical order and adding explanations to relevant clauses (in a blue shaded area) to clarify the system.

The section on Supplementary Scores has been included to assist golfers who, for whatever reason, play in few or no competitions each year, by allowing them to return cards outside competitions for handicap purposes. At the discretion of affiliated clubs, a limited number of Nine-Hole qualifying competitions may be run and such scores shall be used to adjust handicaps. This option is designed to attract more players into the Unified Handicapping System.


Common sense has always suggested that in Open Competitions, the ‘Away’ player is often at a disadvantage compared to the ‘Home’ player and subsequent statistical analysis showed this to be on average between one and two shots. Since this unfairly affects adjustments of handicaps, there will now be a separate Competition Scratch Score for ‘Home’ and ‘Away’ players to take account of this factor and to provide a more equitable basis for handicap alterations.

The CONGU® website – www.congu.com – is being updated to explain the changes and also to answer many queries about the UHS. The “Myths and Misconceptions” and “Frequently Asked Questions” sections should be of particular interest to the club golfer. All the constituent Unions/Associations websites have links to the CONGU® website.

CONGU believes that the revised manual and the incorporation of the new concepts will assist in meeting the demands of the modern game and the changing needs of club members.

Douglas Park's Maureen Rennie meets Alex Salmond

Maureen Rennie, Past Captain of Douglas Park met First Minister Alex Salmond recently at Boat of Garton. Maureen wished him good luck in the Commonwealth Games Bid.
Yesterday, Glasgow won the bid and are to host the games in 2014.
However, to see what really was said by Alex to Maureen then Click on this link

Italian Evening at Douglas Park

An Italian evening was held at Douglas Park Golf Club last night and Captain Janet Dow decided to have a ladies table only. As you can see from the smiles and laughter a good evening was had by all --- especially Avril Berry who just thought the wining and dining was just great. Click on the photos to see an enlargement

November Stableford - Ranfurly Castle

Played over 15 holes 7/11/07 16 entries
Silver - P McKenzie (13) 26 pts, V Howe (17) 24 pts
Bronze - H Abram (25) 28 pts, M Reid (23) 27 pts

Jenna Wilson wins the 2007 SLGA Order of Merit Award

Scottish champion Jenna Wilson from Strathaven has bowed out of the amateur ranks as winner of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Order of Merit women's title for the second year in a row.
Jenna, who has turned professional since graduating from the recent Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, averaged a score of 1.80 UNDER the CSS in the 10 designated tournaments.
She won by the narrowest of margins - one-fifth of a stroke - from Michele Thomson, the Aberdeenshire champion and winner of the SLGA Order of Merit girls' title last year.
They were the only two players to have a minus CSS average.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) was 4th with a score of 0.7 OVER the CSS, and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) was 6th with a score of 0.9 OVER the CSS.
To see all the final totals FINAL SLGA LADIES RANKINGS FOR 2007

Carly Booth (Comrie) finished No 1 in the SLGA girls’ rankings for 2007 with the outstanding average score of 4.17 under CSS in six designated tournaments.
No other girl had an average score under CSS.
Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) finished third with +0.33.Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) was 6th with +3.83 and sister Eilidh was 7th with +4.00 OVER the CSS. To see all the final totals
FINAL SLGA GIRLS RANKINGS FOR 2007
(To increase the magnification of the page click on the + sign)