Gemma Webster is top seed in the Strathtyrum Trophy

Scotland international and Ohio State University women's golf team captain Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) headed the qualifiers with scores of 72 and 78 for 150 - one shot ahead of last year's beaten finalist, Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) - at the Strathtyrum Trophy women's open tournament, organised by the St Andrews Links Trust.
To read all the results go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

2008 Greenlees Trophy Results

DIVISIONAL TOTALS

West Vets News --- from Southerness

Scotland, rallied after losing the foursomes 2-1, to make a winning start to the Veteran Ladies Golfing Association inter-area championship at Southerness Golf Club today.
The Scots beat England South 6-3 while England Midlands beat England North, also by 6-3.
Click on this link for all the news Scottish Vets

Past Captain's meet for lunch at Douglas Park

The Lady Past Captains Annual Golf Competition and lunch was held at Douglas Park on Wednesday 6th August 2008. Due to the rain, there was no golf so the trophy will be played for later in the year.
The event was organised by Past Captain Jenny McGahan and in her welcoming remarks she particularly mentioned Past Captain Elspeth Low (in the insert in the picture above) and Sheena Mitchell (Second Row, second left) who were captains in 1964 and 1960 respectively

Thanks go to Pearl Slane for the photograph and the report -- To see an enlargement of the photo click on all the photo above

Senior's Supper --- Cinderella

At Deeside last month at the Scottish Senior's Championship there was entertainment at the evening of the Senior's Supper.
Liz Munro the tournament referee with the help of Pam Gordon(Inverness), Isobel McIntosh (Inverness), Eleanor Fisken (Nairn), Nancy Duncan (Brechin), Esme Hill (Dumfries and County) and Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies) give their version of "Cinderella"

To view the video in high quality Click Here and then click on watch in better quality

Please note all videos can only be seen with broadband connections plus have your sound turned on ---- hopefully will keep going through the ones I have from the Scottish Seniors and add them to this website
To see all other videos on this website Click Here

Medal 10 - Douglas Park

Played 8th August 2008, SSS 72, CSS 75 (Reduction Only), 52 Entrants
Silver :
Alison Miller 89 - 14 = 75 acb
Lindsay McLean 89 - 14 = 75
Joan Gemmell 82 - 6 = 76
Bronze:
Christina Curry 109 - 34 = 75
Pat Kennedy 97 - 21 = 76
Margaret McLaughlin 105 - 28 = 77

The winner of the Granny Prize is Joan Gemmell.
The winner of the Bionic Cup is Helen Robertson.
The winner of the Golf Foundation Brooch is Christina Curry.

Tear to a Glass Eye - No golf on a wet Saturday

Today is wet and horrible and one of my best friends sent me a link to this fantastic video and I thought I would like to share it with all my readers and animal lovers who may be sitting in front of their computers and glad not to be out in the rain "hacking" away at that wee ball !!

To see it in better quality Click Here

Scotland lose to Ireland and England regain the Stroyan Cup

SCOTLAND 4, IRELAND 5
Foursomes: C Booth, K MacDonald bt S Cunningham, Lisa Maguire 4 and 2; R Wilson, S Vass lost to P Delaney, E O’Driscoll 1 hole; A Niven, L Atkins bt S Meadow, S L Winter 3 and 2 (2-1)
Singles: Booth lost to Cunningham 4 and 3, MacDonald bt S Crowe 7 and 6, Vass lost to Lisa Maguire 5 and 3, Niven lost to O’Driscoll 7 and 6, Atkins bt Winter 2 holes, Wilson lost to Meadow 3 and 2 (2-4).

WALES 2, ENGLAND 7
Foursomes: A Boulden, K O’Connor lost to H Barwood, H Clyburn 2 holes; K Miller, G Bradbury lost to R Connor, H Baek 2 and 1; N Gobey, L Watkins lost to K Tidy, A Peters 3 and 1 (0-3).
Singles: C Williams lost to Barwood 5 and 3, Watkins lost to Clyburn 7 and 5, Boulden bt Baek 3 and 1, K O’Connor bt K Mundy 3 and 2 , Miller lost to Tidy 2 and 1, Gobey lost to R Connor 2 and 1 (2-4).

FINAL PLACINGS
1 England 3pt; 2 Ireland 1 1/2pt; 3 Scotland 1pt; 4 Wales 0pt.

England regain Stroyan Cup, Scotland finish third

England’s 7-2 win over Wales on the final day of the Girls Home Internationals clinched the recapture of the title and the Stroyan Cup which had been in Scotland’s possession for the past two years.
On another wet day at Panmure Golf Club, England swept the foursomes – as they did against the Scots on Wednesday – and then took the singles 4-2 from Wales.
That meant the English finished with a 100 per cent record through the three days, having earlier beaten first Ireland and then Scotland.
The balance of Under-18 power has swung back to England who had that strength in depth advantage over the other countries. England’s skipper Julie Brown relied in the main on a nucleus of six players over the three days.
Ireland beat the Scots 5-4 today, coming back from 2-1 down at lunchtime, to take the Swansea Spoon as runners-up with one win (over Scotland) and one draw (with Wales).
Scotland slipped down to third place with one win (over Wales) and two defeats.
And so the pecking order established in the recent European girls’ team championship was more or less confirmed. England were beaten finalists at Murcar Links with Ireland seventh, Wales 16th and Scotland 17th of 19.
English women’s champion Hannah Barwood and Holly Clyburn built on the 3-0 foursomes lead to get their team’s points total up to the winning figure of five.
Hannah, who birdied the first and fourth holes to jump into a two-hole lead, went on to beat Wales’ Chloe Williams by 5 and 3. Chloe raised her hopes by winning the 10th and 11th but Barwood bounced back by winning four holes in a row from the 12th for a 5 and 3 victory.
Clyburn started like an express train on her way to a 7 and 5 win against Laura Watkins. The English player won the first three holes, halved the fourth and then took the next three holes to be six up on the eighth tee. Watkins stemmed the tide, if only momentarily by winning the eighth.
But Clyburn was not to be derailed. She won the ninth and 11th – lost the 12th – but won the 13th to end the match.
Katherine O’Connor put a point on the board for Wales by beating newcomer Katie Mundy 3 and 2. After losing the first hole, O’Connor won five out of seven holes in a row from the fourth to get into the driving seat and stay there.
Welsh girls champion Amy Boulden doubled the Welsh points tally with a 3 and 2 win over Heidi Baek. Amy took a grip on the match early on by winning the first, second, fifth and sixth, losing only the fourth. Heidi hung on in there to cut her deficit to one hole at the 11th but Boulden finished just the stronger, taking the 13th, 16th and 17th to Baek’s win at the 15th.
In the battle of the “Kellys,” Tidy of England beat Miller of Wales by 2 and 1. Kelly Tidy was never headed after winning the third but it was all square after seven and it was the English player’s successes at the 10th, 12th and 16th that proved crucial in the final analysis.
Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born Manchester pro, gained England’s seventh point of the day with a 2 and 1 win over Natasha Gobey who mounted a little comeback after being four down at the turn but could not improve on a deficit of two holes.

Scotland started their singles with a one-point lead over Ireland and Kelsey MacDonald made it 3-1 with an impressive 7 and 6 win over Ireland’s Sarah Crowe, a performance by the Scot that included three birdies. That was completed at 3.20pm – and it was almost another two hours before Scotland got their only other win in the singles.
Sarah Cunningham, promoted to the No 1 singles position in the absence of the injured Leona Maguire, the Irish women’s champion, scored her only win of the three days – but it was a notable scalp she claimed. Sarah beat Scots girls champion and Junior Ryder Cup player Carly Booth by 4 and 3, having been four up at the turn.
On a holes-won count, Sarah had a 7-3 advantage over her much more highly-rated opponent.
Lisa Maguire, the Irish girls title-holder, dropped down to the No 3 slot outclassed Sammy Vass with a 5 and 3 scoreline, rounding off the match by winning the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th, and Emma O’Driscoll was also a handsome winner, by 7 and 6 over Annabel Niven. Emma did not lose a hole and was four up after seven. She ended the tie by winning the 10th, 11th and 12th.
Stephanie Meadow got the winning fifth point for Ireland, beating Rebecca Wilson by 3 and 2 in a match that was very tight for a long spell after Rebecca cancelled out Stephanie’s wins at the first two holes. Successes at the 12th, 15th and 16th tipped the scales in favour of the US-based Irish girl.
Scotland won the last tie to finish with 14-year-old Lesley Atkins, who was three times two down, battling on strongly to win four holes in a row from the 12th, losing the 16th and then clinching a two-hole win by winning the 18th.
Six players finished the tournament with five wins out of six.
England had three with that fine record – Holly Cluburn, Rachel Connor and Kelly Tidy. The others sharing the “Most Valuable Player” honour were Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald, Ireland’s Lisa Maguire and Amy Boulden of Wales.
Thanks to Colin Farquharson for the full report

To see a photo of the winners and runners up go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Girls Home Internationals -- Scotland lose to England

ENGLAND 6 1/2, SCOTLAND 2 1/2
Foursomes: H Barwood, H Clyburn bt C Booth, K MacDonald 4 and 3; R Connor, H Baek bt R Wilson, S Vass 2 holes; K Tidy, A Peters bt A Niven, L Atkins 4 and 3 (3-0).
Singles: Barwood bt E Briggs 7 and 5, Clyburn bt Niven 4 and 2, Tidy lost to Booth 2 and 1, H Searle lost to MacDonald 5 and 4, Peters halved with Wilson, Connor bt Vass 8 and 7 (3 ½- 2 ½).

IRELAND 4 1/2, WALES 4 1/2
Foursomes: Leona Maguire, Lisa Maguire bt G Bradbury, C Williams 4 and 3; S Meadow, S L Winter bt K Miller, N Gobey 5 and 4; S Cunningham, E O’Driscoll lost to A Boulden, K O’Connor 2 holes (2-1).
Singles: Lisa Maguire bt K Bradbury 7 and 6, P Delaney lost to Miller 6 and 4, S Crowe lost to Boulden 5 and 4, Meadow halved with O’Connor, O’Driscoll bt G Bradbury 4 and 2, Leona Maguire lost to Gobey 2 and 1 (2 1/2 –3 1/2)

THURSDAY’S FINAL MATCHES
Scotland v Ireland
Wales v England

To keep up to date at the Girls' International Matches at Panmure
then go to the Live Scoring from Panmure by Clicking Here

THE R&A ANNOUNCES NEW GOLF CLUB RULES

St Andrews, Scotland, 5 August 2008: The R&A has today announced revisions to golf’s equipment Rules, which are designed to enhance the benefits of accuracy by making playing from the rough a more challenging prospect in future.

The new Rules, which relate to club face grooves, are the culmination of an extensive collaborative research project between The R&A and the United States Golf Association. This research shows that modern groove configurations can allow players to generate almost as much spin from the rough as is available from the fairway, resulting in a reduction in the value of accuracy.

“Our research has involved input from both Governing Bodies, including substantial laboratory work and player testing at all levels around the world,” said Dr Stephen Otto, The R&A’s Director of Research and Testing.

“Contributions from golf club manufacturers in particular have been considerable and they have welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the process.”

The revised Rules will significantly increase the spin differential between shots from the fairway and shots from the rough.

The new Rules will augment the existing limitations on grooves and will affect all clubs (with the exception of drivers and putters), with the new regulations limiting groove volume and groove edge sharpness. Essentially, larger volume grooves have the ability to channel away more material, such as water or grass, similar to the tread on car tyres. At the same time, sharper groove edges facilitate a better contact between club and ball, even in the presence of debris.

Both new regulations will apply to golf clubs with lofts greater than or equal to 25 degrees (generally a standard 5-iron and above) with only the rule limiting groove volume applying to clubs of lesser loft.

The Rules will apply to all clubs manufactured after 1 January 2010. Clubs manufactured prior to this date, which meet the current regulations, will continue to be regarded as conforming under the Rules of Golf until at least 2024.

It is intended that the new Rules will be introduced as a Condition of Competition at top professional level from 1 January 2010 and at top amateur level and in other professional events from 1 January 2014. The R&A and the USGA will introduce such a Condition of Competition at their respective championships in accordance with this schedule. The world’s top professional tours for both men and women, and the organisers of golf’s major championships, have all indicated their support for the new groove regulations and their intention to implement the Condition of Competition in 2010.

“We believe that this rule change is necessary to reinforce the importance of accuracy at the highest levels of the game. However, beyond that the new Rules will be phased in very gradually,” said David Rickman, The R&A’s Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.

“The vast majority of the golfing public will enjoy many years’ use of their existing equipment within the Rules and this, of course, will also apply to any purchases they make from manufacturers’ existing model ranges.”
Further information:

Peter Dawson, Chief Executive
David Rickman, Director of Rules and Equipment Standards
Dr Stephen Otto, Director – Research and Testing
The R&A
Tel: +44 (0)1334 460000

D & A August Medal - at Dunbarton Golf Club

Played 5th August 2008, SSS 71, CSS 74
Scratch : Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 79
1st Silver: Margaret Gibb (Hilton Park) 88-19-69
2nd Silver : Joan Shankland (Hilton Park) 91-19-72
1st Bronze: Joyce McGregor (Wimdyhill) 97-22-75 (BIH)
2nd Bronze: Margaret Rice (Helensburgh) 100-25-75

Junior Home Internationals - Scotland win against Wales

England and Scotland meet tomorrow at Panmure.
FINAL RESULT - DAY 1
England and Scotland, the winning teams on Day One of the Girls Home Internationals, will meet tomorrow in a match that will go a long way towards deciding if the Scots complete a hat-trick of Stroyan Cup wins.
Scotland beat Wales 5-4 after taking a 2-1 lead from the foursomes while England had to come from behind to beat the battling Irish 6-3 after losing the foursomes 2-1.
SCOTLAND 5, WALES 4
Foursomes: C Booth and K MacDonald beat C Williams and K Bradbury 5 and 4;
R Wilson and S Vass beat K Miller and G Bradbury 2 and 1,
A Niven and E Briggs lost to A Boulden and K O'Connor 4 and 3 (2-1).
Singles:
Booth beat N Gobey 3 and 1,
MacDonald beat L Watkins 5 and 4,
R McQueen lost to Boulden 3 and 2,
L Atkins lost to O'Connor 3 and 2,
Wilson beat Bradbury 2 holes,
Briggs lost to Miller 2 and 1 (3-3).
IRELAND 3, ENGLAND 6
Foursomes:
Lisa Maguire and Leona Maguire beat H Barwood and H Clyburn 1 hole;
S Meadowand and S. L. Winter beat R Connor and H Baek 3 and 1;
S Cunningham and E O'Driscoll beat K Tidyand A Peters 2 and 1 (2-1).
Singles:
Lisa Maguire beat Barwood 2 and 1,
Leona Maguire lost to Clyburn 1 hole,
P Delaney lost to Tidy 1 hole,
O'Driscoll lost to Baek 1 hole,
Cunningham lost to Peters 3 and 2,
Meadow lost to Connor 4 and 2 (1-5).

Pamela Pretswell wins Swiss amateur title

Bothwell Castle’s Pamela Pretswell pictured above has scored a marvellous win in the Swiss International Women’s Amateur Championship at Lucerne.
She has sent a report for you to read.
You can scroll down for that, but first the leading final totals were:
Par 288 (4 x 72).
284 Pamela Pretswell (Sco) 78 72 67 67
285 Thea Hoffmeister (Ger) 71 75 72 67, Pia Halbig (Ger) 72 67 72 64.
289 Anais Maggetti (Swi) 71 75 73 70
She has sent a report to Colin Farquharson for you to read.
Pamela Pretswell reports:
LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND.
I have been playing in the Swiss International Amateur Ladies Championship 2008 at the Sempachersee Golf Club near Lucerne http://www.golf-sempachersee.ch/. This is an European Amateur Golf Ranking Event played over 72 hole [I came over for a bit of a holiday and a bit of golf].
I am pleased to report that I won the Championship with a total of 284 (78-72-67-67). The par was 72 and the course rating was 75.8 for each round. I finished four under par and 19.2 under the course rating for the championship.
I started with a 78 on Friday (with play being disrupted due to a thunderstorm) which left me outside the projected cut to 20 players but improved with a par round of 72 on Saturday to qualify for the final 36 holes in 11th equal position.
That left me 11 shots behind the leader, Pia Halbig from Germany, who shot 72-67 to lead the field by five shots.
On Sunday morning I scored a third-round 67 (five under par) to move into second place, one shot ahead of Thea Hoffmeister from Germany who scored a 72, but still six shots behind Pia Halbig who also returned a par 72.
Both Pia and Thea played in the Germany team at the recent European Ladies Team Championship in Sweden where our Scotland team had a successful tournament and finished ahead of the Germans in seventh place.
On Sunday afternoon, I scored another five-under-par 67 to win the championship by one shot from both Pia Halbig (who scored 2 over par 74) and Thea Hoffmeister who also scored a 5 under 67 in the final round.
I was really pleased with the way that I played over the last two rounds on Sunday. I have played a lot of links golf recently, which may have contributed to my first round score but I quickly adjusted to the conditions here in Switzerland and played consistently for the last 54 holes.
I was delighted with my 10 under par score on the final day, including 13 birdies, in extremely hot and tiring conditions and to fight back and win this international championship.
Winning this championship has also earned me an invitation to the 2009 Ladies European Tour Deutsche Bank Ladies' Swiss Open in Lausanne, Switzerland next year.

Pamela Pretswell
Lucerne, Switzerland

Note from the Gillian Kirkwood, Editor Colin Farquharson . Not only does Pamela play golf rather well, she writes a nice report, don't you think?

Pamela has certainly hit a hot streak of form. She was pipped by Kelsey MacDonald for the Scottish Under-21 girls' stroke-play championship at Powfoot and then set a record low 36-hole aggregate (15 under par) in winning the Mackie Bowl at Gullane.
Now she goes very low again to win on the international scene.

Pamela is Scotland's golfing girl of the moment

If you want to send her congratulations, Colin@Scottishgolfview.com will pass them on for you
To read some of the congratulations so far go to Gillian Kirkwood Website

Many , Many Congratulations from all in the West

Kyle Walker wins the Riccarton Rosebowl

St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) consolidated her position as clear leader of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Order of Merit by winning the Riccarton Rosebowl 36-hole tournament at Hamilton Golf Club yesterday.
Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) filled third place on 146 with scores of 71 and 75.
The Riccarton Rosebowl will be the final 36-hole Order of Merit event this season with the news that the Mary McCallay Trophy event at Dumfries has been cancelled.

Picture shows Barbara McKnight, above, ladies captain of Hamilton Golf Club, with Kylie Walker. Image by courtesy of Hamilton Golf Club.
FINAL TOTALS AT
RICCARTON ROSEBOWL
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 73 72.
143 K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 73 70.
144 L Murray (Alford) 71 73.
146 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 71 75.
149 G Webster (HIlton Park) 77 72, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 76 73, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 72 77.
150 S Wood (Drumpellier) 77 73.
152 L Fraser (Kingsknowe) 76 76.
153 A Devine (Hamilton) 75 78.
154 C Hargan (Mortonhall) 79 75, J Sneddon (Alyth) 78 76.
155 A Ingram (Fort William) 80 75, J Carthew (Ladybank) 79 76, L Hendry (Routenburn) 78 77.
157 A Wilton(Ladybank) 78 79.
158 G Scanlan (Hamilton) 80 78.
159 R Rankin (Lanark) 82 77, S Crolla (Duddingston) 80 79.
160 L Kenney (Pitreavie) 77 83.
162 J Allan (Hamilton) 81 81.
163 L Walker (Muckhart) 83 80, J Jenkins (Ralston) 82 81, L MacGregor (Falkirk) 81 82.
166 E Cuthill (Lanark) 83 83.
167 L Ruane (Cardross) 87 80, J Wycherley (Monktonhall) 86 81.
172 L Bain (Lochend) 86 86.
183 M McKay (West Kilbride) 97 86.

Kilmacolm Competition Results in July

Played 17th July 2008 :July Medal, SSS 72, CSS 71, 20 entries
Silver
1 Megan Briggs (0) 71
2 Marion Stewart (10) 73 acb
Bronze
1 Norah Adams (22) 68
2 Julie Noble (32) 78
Best scratch player - Megan Briggs 71
Played 22nd July : The Kathleen McNeil 5 club competition, 24 entries
1 Jane Simpson (24) 66
2 Joy Monteith (27) 68 acb
Played 24th July 2008: Gran's Goblet - Stableford, SSS 72, CSS 72, 27 entries
1 Anne Dunnet (30) 37 pts
2 Annabel Kane (13) 36 pts
Played 20th July 2008: Hidden Hole Competition
1 Cathie McLaughlan
2 Sally Dillon

Some Photographs from the Scottish Seniors Championship and Supper

I seem to have a bundle of photographs and bits of video taken last week at Deeside. The 1st album is of the Seniors Supper which was a magificent meal produced by the Clubhouse Catering Staff.
Thanks go to Noreen Fenton for a few of these photos.
To see the first set of photographs click on the small photo below

Scottish Seniors Supper 2008

The 2nd Album is of some photographs taken out on the course and thanks go to Pat Wilson for some of the photos of the matchplay prizegiving
To see the second set of photographs click on the small photo below

2008 Scottish Seniors Ladies Golf Championship

Hopefully when I have a look at the videos taken I will put them on the web if they are any use !

To see some photographs of the Course go to the Deeside Golf ClubWebsite

Alex Glennie is a reserve for the Scottish Seniors Team -- Video Announcement

To see the video in better quality Click Here

The Scotland squad for the European senior women's amateur team championship at Wouwse Plantage Golf Club, the Netherlands from September 2nd to 5th is:
Team:
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).
Fiona De Vries (St Rule).
Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay).
Fiona Hunter (Baberton).
Mary Smith (Tain).
Margaret Tough (Falkirk).

Reserves:
1 Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
2 Heather Anderson (Downfield).
3 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie).

Captain
Joan Marshall (Baberton).

Tee Hee Day -- At Erskine Golf Club -- Have Fun Playing Golf

As lady captain this year, Barbara Campbell, lady captain at Erskine Golf Club, introduced a Tee Hee Day for the ladies where they were to wear polka dots. The ladies played in three’s and were given a three foot piece of string for the team which they could use on the greens around the course and the stroke would not count. (i.e. if they went for a putt and missed it they could use a piece of their string (within range) and the stroke would not count). They then knotted that part of the string and the amount left could be used at another hole.
Each lady, if they landed in a bunker, could throw it out once – without it counting as a stroke; again if they landed in the rough – they could kick it out - only once - without it counting on their score card.
I also wanted all ages to play and arranged the game that those who wanted, could play the course without playing the holes with the hills. The oldest playing lady on the day was Helen Pettigrew who is 86, and Barbara McHattie (former captain and in her 80s) won the longest drive for the day – she drove the buggy for the 86 year old!
I was fortunate to gain sponsorship for the day, including dinners at the local diner; car washes; bottles of wine; old fashioned sweeties in a presentation box; vouchers for various shops. To add to the day, the weather was stunning, wall to wall sunshine, warm and sunny smiles all round!
The picture above shows three of the ladies who took part: Jan Muir (pictured with the white polka dot top) said: “It was a fun day; lots of fun”.

Thanks go to Barbara Campbell --- Captain of Erskine Golf Club for the photo and enjoyable report

2009 Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival

Time to start thinking seriously about the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Tel and fax 01224 869782
Aberdeen, Scotland

Only six months and a bit to go to the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival with its streamlined programme of four events over a long weekend (February 11 to 17).
Have you made up your mind about coming back if you enjoyed the inaugural event - which I am sure you did - or are you going to come for the first time with some friends?
You will find all the details if you click on the appropriate FESTIVAL words at the top of the left hand column on the Home Page of www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk
There are separate prize lists for:
*Lady amateur golfers with handicaps of 20 or under.
*Girl golfers with handicaps of 20 or under.
*Senior lady golfers with handicaps of or under.
*Lady professional golfers (who can take a party of female club members with them and coach them at the five-star HDA practice facilities if they wish).
If lady golfers want to go to Hacienda del Alamo with a male partner/husband/son, then they will be allowed to play over the Dave Thomas-designed course at a reduced rate when tee times are available. And males are welcome to join the ladies for the St Valentine's Day pro-am on the Saturday.
If you are looking for accommodation at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, here's some news from one of the villa owners: Phil Eastham ---- We have a villa at Hacienda available to rent. http://www.spainvillasandgolf.com/ is our web site.
Why not email : phil.eastham@dsl.pipex.com
Message from Colin:
I fully expect us to double the inaugural HDA Festival entry figures of 13 lady professionals and 44 lady/girl amateurs. We may have to cap the field at around the 100 mark because there is a limit to the amount of daylight, even in southern Spain in mid-February.
It will be first come, first served. So, to avoid disappointment, enter now and let the others do the worrying.
Colin Farquharson , Festival Controller

Pamela Williamson retires from Senior Golf

The West of Scotland Website and all in the West that have played with Pamela Williamson would like to congratulate her on a wonderful golfing career an wish her well in her retirement . To read all about her achievements Click Here

West of Scotland Girls Medal - Milngavie - Mhairi McKay is a winner

Played Milngavie 30th July, CSS 70
Scratch - Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 78
1st Silver- Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 78-10=68
Runner Up: Kirstin Scott (Milngavie) 80-9=71 (BIH)
3rd Silver- Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) 91-20=7
Bronze:
1st Bronze-Rachel Irvine (Largs Kelburn) 97-24=73
2nd Bronze Alexandra Duffy (Cathkin Braes) 122-36=82
Under 21- N/A
Under 16-Silver Abigail Gliksten (Strathaven) 79
Under 16 --Bronze N/A
Under 14-Silver Katie McGarva ( Kilmarnock Barassie) 76
Under 14-Bronze Megan Duff (Hilton Park) 92

Lorna Bennett wins at the 20th and Alex Glennie loses in Final of the Plate

Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) -- pictured above, came back from three down in the final to beat Fiona De Vries (St Rule) at the 20th hole and retain the Scottish senior women's amateur match-play golf championship at Deeside Golf Club today.
It was a game of two halves with Fiona having much the better of the outward half.
Fiona birdied the third and eighth and also won the fourth with a par to be three up on the ninth tee.
Lorna won back the 11th and 12th but lost the 13th to fall back to two down again.
She won the 15th to cut her deficit to one and holed a curly 12ft downhill birdie putt on the last green to square the match before winning with a par at the second extra hole. It was the first time Lorna had led in the match.
"I have to say I'm surprised that I am still champion, considering the state of play at the turn. But I just hung on in there and holed a few putts," said Lorna.
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) won Flight 2 final in which she beat Ayrshire's Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 2 and 1. ---- Click on picture above of Alex and Kathleen to see an enlargement
Today's results:
Semi-finals
Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) beat Mary Smith (Tain) 2 holes.
Fiona De Vries (St Rule) beat Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) 4 and 3.
Final
Bennett beat De Vries at 20th.

Second Flight
Semi-finals
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 1 hole.
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) beat Heather Anderson (Downfield) 4 and 3.
Final
Sutherland beat Alex Glennie 2 and 1.

Alex Glinnie reaches Plate final at the Scottish Senniors

Alex Glinnie (Kilmarnock Barassie) won her semi final tie against Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) this morning in torrential rain. Alex was 3 up at the turn and Noreen fought back to in the inward halve by having babck to back birdies at the 16th and 17th to sqaure the match. Alex then played a superb chip shot at the last from the back of the 18th green and ank the putt to win the semi final tie by 1 up.

She now meets the 2007 Stroke play Senior Champion Kathleen Suthrland (Montrose) in this afternoon's Plate Final

Morning News from a very wet Deeside course and the final day of the Scottish senior women's amateur match-play championship

Semi-finals
Lorna Bennett beat Mary Smith 2 up
Fiona De Vries (St Rule) beat Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) 4 and 3.

SECOND FLIGHT
Semi-finals
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) beat Heather Anderson (Downfield) 4 and 3.
Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) beat Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 1 hole.

Anna and Suzanne make it to the quarter Finals of the Scottish Seniors

Tain's Mary Smith is on course for a double whammy in the Scottish senior women's amateur championships at Deeside Golf Club.
Having won the stroke-play title on her debut appearance earlier in the week, Mary (pictured above with Suzanne Cadden) as No 1 seed, is through to the semi-finals of the match-play championship for the over-50s.
She beat Ann Smart (Banchory) 2 and 1 and former Curtis Cup player Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 3 and 1 to reach the last four at the first attempt.
Milngavie's, Anna Telfer beat Margaret Tough (Falkirk) in the morning and then was beaten by Lorna Bennett the 2007 Scottish Matchplay Champion in the quarter finals in the afternoon

Alex Glennie (Kimarnock Barassie) lost in the 1st round to Suzanne Cadden but has progressed to the semi final stages by beating Ann Smart (Banchory) in the afternoon tie of the second flight (pictured above)

Today's match-play results:
First round
M Smith (Tain) bt A Smart (Banchory) 2 and 1.
S Cadden (Cardross) bt A Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 1 hole.
L Bennett (Ladybank) bt N Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 3 and 2.
A Telfer (Milngavie) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 2 and 1.
F De Vries (St Rule) bt P Williamson (Baberton) 5 and 4.
F Hunter (Baberton) bt H Anderson (Downfield) 6 and 5.
J Harrison (Cruden Bay) bt K Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 4 and 3.
M Thomson (North Berwick) bt P Wilson (Murcar Links) 4 and 2.
Quarter-finals
Smith bt Cadden 3 and 1.
Bennett bt Telfer 5 and 4.
De Vries bt Hunter 2 and 1.
Harrison bt Thomson 2 and 1.

Semi-finals at 8.50am, 9am on Friday.
Final at 1.40pm on Friday.

SECOND FLIGHT (first round losers)
First round
Glennie bt Smart 2 holes.
Fenton bt Tough 3 and 2.
Anderson bt Williamson 5 and 4.
Sutherland bt Wilson 5 and 4.

Semi-finals at 8.30 and 8.40am Friday.
Final at 1.30pm Friday.

For all the Matchplay results from the Scottish Seniors go to the SLGA Website

Mary McCallay Trophy Order of Merit 36-hole event is CANCELLED

The last of the season's SLGA Order of Merit 36-hole Sunday competitions, the Mary McCallay Trophy at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club, has been cancelled due to lack of entries.
It was due to be played on Sunday, August 10.
Fiona Macgregor, Dumfries-shire Ladies county captain, said: "We will return entry fees in due course. We are sorry it had to be cancelled but we felt it was not viable to run the competition with the number of entries we had."
Earlier this week, the SLGA cancelled the Scottish women's foursomes at Brunston Castle on August 17 for the same reason.
A disturbing trend.

Alex, Suzanne and Anna are the best in the West !!

Mary Smith of Tain pictured above with her trophy donated by the late Toni Moffat is the Scottish Seniors Champion after the 2nd round played over Deeside Golf Course today. Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie), Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) and Anna Telfer (Milngavie) pictured above from right to left were the best in the West and have qualified for the Match Play stages which begin tomorrow.
SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR
STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Deeside Golf Club
FINAL TOTALS & MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72). CSS 76 76.
158 Mary Smith (Tain) 79 79.
159 Moira Thomson (North Berwick) 82 77.
160 Fiona De Vries (St Rule) 81 79, Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 77 83.
161 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 81 80.
162 Heather Anderson (Downfield) 83 79, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) 82 80, Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 82 80.
163 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 83 80, Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 81 82.
164 Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 85 79, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 81 83.
168 Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 87 81, Pamela Williamson (Baberton) 85 83, Pat Wilson (Murcar Links) 83 85.
169 Ann Smart ( Banchory) 88 81 (after play-off).
OTHER TOTALS
169 Frances Neish (Forres) 85 84, Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 85 84 (both beaten in play-off for 16th place in match-play championship)..
170 Lesley Johnston (Gullane Ladies) 84 86, Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 84 86.
172 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 88 84, May Hughes (Lanark) 86 86, Patricia Hutton (Lanark) 85 87.
173 Johanna Carrigan (The Australian) 89 84.
174 Rose Anderson (Huntly) 87 87.
175 Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) 88 87, Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) 87 88, Anne Bowman (McDonald Ellon) 87 88, I McIntosh (Inverness) 88 87.
176 Sandy Bushby (Strathmore) 84 92.
177 Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) 88 89, Elizabeth Simpson (Murrayfield) 87 90, Morag Wardrop (Niddry Castle) 82 95, Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 93 84.
178 Isobel Harvey (St Rule) 89 89.
179 Rosaleen Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) 89 90, Eleanor Fisken (Nairn) 92 87.
180 Sue Penman (Gullane Ladies) 86 94, Shelagh Quinn (Stirling) 84 96.
181 Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 90 91, Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies) 96 85.
182 Maureen McRobb (Kingsknowe) 94 88.
184 Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk) 91 93.
185 Pam Gordon (Inverness) 90 95, Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) 92 93, Stella Bain (Aberdeen Ladies) 93 92, Judy Slater (Aboyne) 94 91.
187 Margaret MacNaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies) 89 98, Norma Smith (Downfield) 93 94, Emma Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 93 94, Anne Ellen (Nairn) 95 92.
188 Doris Dunn (Dunblane New) 96 92, Moira Begbie (Murrayshall) 96 92.
189 Sheila Reid (Aberdeen Ladies) 94 95.
190 Dorothy MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 93 97, Maureen Neilson (Greenock) 94 96.
191 Morag Clapperton (Banchory) 94 97, Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 99 92.
192 Janice Cumming (Inverness) 94 98, Nancy Duncan (Brechin) 96 96.
193 Esme Hill (Dumfries & Co) 94 99.
194 Anne Stalker (Aberdeen Ladies) 94 100.
196 Hazel Kelly (Ladies Panmure Barry) 95 101.
201 Lindsey McNiven (Aberdeen Ladies) 102 99.
203 Pat Nile (Banchory) 101 102.
204 Elizabeth Rose (Aboyne) 104 100.
210 Gwynneth Haines (St Regulus) 105 105.
215 Anne Hood (Dunblane New) 108 107.
217 Diane Gray (Lanark) 107 110.
220 Helen MacGregor (Hilton Park) 110 110.
OVER-60s SCRATCH – Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh 164 (81 83).
BEST NET AGGREGATE – 1 Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) (5) 153 (78 75); 1 Heather Anderson (Downfield) (4) 154 (79 75, better second round); 3 Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) (4) 154 (78 76).

MATCH-PLAY DRAW
(8min intervals)
8.0 M Smith v A Smart, Glennie v Cadden. Bennett v Fenton, Telfer v Tough.
8.32 De Vries v Williamson, Hunter v Anderson, Harrison v Sutherland, Wilson v Thomson.
Quarter-finals: 1pm, 1.10, 1.20, 1.30.

Kylie has big lead in SLGA Order of Merit standings

St Rule Trophy winner Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) has a commanding lead in the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association.
To read all the current standings Click Here

Only two seniors break 80 at Deeside in the Scottish Seniors

Deeside Golf Club's women's course proved too difficult a test for the 75 competitors in the first round of the 36-hole Scottish senior women's amateur stroke-play championship.
On a wind-free day, only two players - Margaret Tough (Falkirk) with a 77 and Tain's Mary Smith with a 79 - broke 80 over a course with a par of 72. The CSS was 76 (reduction only). - SSS 73
Some players blamed the pin placements, which were chosen by club professional Frank Coutts, for the high scores.

There will be a play-off if necessary to decide the stroke-play champion at the end of Wednesday's second round. The 16 players with the lowest 36-hole aggregates will qualify for the seniors' match-play championship over the same course on Thursday and Friday.
For the first time, there will be a play-off if necessary to produce the precise number of 16 qualifiers.

SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Deeside Golf Club
ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72. SSS73 CSS 76 (Reduction Only)
77 Margaret Tough (Falkirk) 37-40.
79 Mary Smith (Tain) 40-30.
81 Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) 41-40, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) 41-40, Fiona de Vries (St Rule) 41-40, Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 39-42.
82 Moira Thomson (North Berwick) 42-40, Jill Harrison (Cruden Bay) 41-41, Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) 40-42
83 Heather Anderson (Downfield) 43-40, Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 42-41, Pat Wilson (Murcar Links) 41-42.
84 Lesley Johnston (Gullane Ladies) 42-42, Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay) 42-42, Shelagh Quinn (Stirling) 40-44, Sandy Bushby (Strathmore) 39-45.
85 Patricia Hutton (Lanark) 45-40, Frances Neish (Forres) 43-42, Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) 41-44, Fiona Hunter (Baberton) 41-44
86 May Hughes (Lanark) 44-42, Sue Penman (Gullane) 42-44
87 Anna Telfer (Milngavie) 47-40, Elizabeth Simpson (Murrayfield) 45-42, Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) 44-43, Rose Anderson (Huntly) 43-44, Anne Bowman (McDonald Ellon) 43-45.
88 Ruth Brown (Lothianburn) 46-42, Rita Dee (Kingsknowe) 44-44, Ann Smart (Banchory) 44-44, Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) 44-44, Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) 43-45.
89 Margaret MacNaughtan (Aberdeen Ladies) 49-40, Isobel Harvey (St Rule),46-43, Linda McDougall (Greenock) 46-43, Rosaleen Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) 45-44, Johanna Carrigan (The Australian) 44-45, Louise Graham (Carnoustie Ladies) 43-46.
90 Pam Gordon (Inverness) 47-42, Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 47-42.
91 Winifred MacCallum (Falkirk) 48-43.
92 Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) 50-42, Eleanor Fisken (Nairn) 45-47.
93 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) 50-43, Dorothy MacKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 50-43, Stella Bain (Aberdeen Ladies) 49-44, Norma Smith (Downfield) 48-45, Jean Bald (Aberdour) 46-47, Emma Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry Ladies) 45-48.
94 Sheila Reid (Aberdeen Ladies) 51-43, Maureen McRobb (Kingsknowe) 50-44, Morag Clapperton (Banchory) 48-46, Esme Hill (Dumfries & Co) 48-46, Judy Slater (Aboyne) 47-47, Anne Stalker (Aberdeen Ladies) 47-47, Janice Cumming (Inverness) 47-47, Maureen Neilson (Greenock) 45-49.
95 Hazel Kelly (Ladies Panmure Barry), Anne Ellen (Nairn), Ann Moffat (St Regulus).
96 Nancy Duncan (Brechin), Doris Dunn (Dunblane New), Moira Begbie (Murrayshall), Carol Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies), Elinor Grant (Douglas Park).
97 Anne Terrey (Greenock).
99 Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle), Catherine Bryce (Ballater).
101 Pat Nile (Banchory).
102 Lindsey McNiven (Aberdeen Ladies).
104 Elizabeth Rose (Aboyne).
105 Gwynneth Haines (St Regulus).
107 Diane Gray (Lanark).
1089 Anne Hood (Dunblane New).
110 Helen MacGregor (Hilton Park).

Scottish Women's Foursomes is cancelled

The Scottish women's foursomes golf tournament, scheduled for Sunday, August 17 at Brunston Castle Golf Club, Ayrshire has been cancelled due to lack of entries.Entry fees already paid will be refunded.

Invitation from Vivien Saunders - Calling all Lady Senior Golfers

COME ON DOWN TO THE FIRST ENGLISH LADIES SENIOR OPEN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Just to remind you all that we are holding the first English Ladies' Senior International Championship at Cambridge Meridian on August 27-28-29 with practice rounds on the Monday afternoon and/or Tuesday.
This is "Open" in that it is open to pros and amateurs, British or foreigners, handicap limit 14. There is a £1,000 first prize for professionals, a separate trophy for over 60s, some handicap prizes and also a putting championship.
You will be guaranteed a fun few days with serious golf.
The good news for many is that this seems as though it will be a non-qualifying three-day medal. It is not run by the club or a governing body but by ELSIE - English Ladies' Seniors International Events!
So please help make ELSIE a success.
You can download all information about the tournament from www.golfsocieties.com . Cambridge is all downhill from Scotland so we'd love to see more Scots playing!
Viv