Douglas Park Ladies Social Evening is a great success

Maureen Rennie and Pearl Slane - click to enlarge

Douglas Park Golf Club Ladies had their Social Evening on Friday 18th February. Ladies Captain Gill Hendry had made the theme of the evening be "THE 60's" . What hilarity and fun they all had with dancing, singing and music from the 60's , plus many colourful outfits dragged out of the wardropes.
Click on the small picture below and then click on slideshow to reveal more.
Thanks go to Lynda Smith, Olive Mackay and Lindsay McLean for the photographs.

Douglas Park Social Evening

The Winning Scottish Team is introduced by Captain Lesley Nicholson and Monty says a few words

Videos Courtesy of your Webmaster

West of Scotland Championship Entry Form

The West of Scotland Ladies Close Championship is at Lanark Golf Club on Sunday 8th May 2011.
To print out your entry form CLICK HERE

Scottish Golf Awards Dinner --- The Ladies are Winners

The Scottish Team Award

Eilidh Briggs (SLGA Girls Order of Merit)

Lelsey MacDonald (SLGA Ladies Order of Merit Award)

The Scottish Golf Awards Dinner was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday Evening

Many Congraulations go to Renfrewshire's 2010 County Champion Eilidh Briggs (SLGA Girls Order of Merit Winner), Kelsey MacDonald (SLGA Ladies Order of Merit Winner) and to Lesley Nicholson's all conquering Scotland Home International Team that won the Team of the Year Award. -- The team included West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm).

The Scottish European Senior Women's Championship Team captained by Pam Williamson was also in the running for the Team award, along with the Scotland Boy's Home International team who beat England for the first time in 13 yeras and the North East Men's Team that won their first Scottish Area Team Championship since 1992.

Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie were both awarded LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
My thanks go to the SLGA for inviting your webmaster to the dinner which was absolutely fantastic.

Click Here and then click on slideshow to see larger picture and download a favourite

The Electronic Version of the 2011 LGU Yearbook.

Here is an electronic version of the 2011 LGU Yearbook.

A paper version will be distributed to clubs with the next LGU mailing.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ELECTRONIC 2011 LGU YEARBOOK

SLGA NAME INTERNATIONAL TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2011

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH LADIES GOLFING ASSOCIATION

Fiona Norris has been named Captain for this season’s European Team Championship and the Home Internationals, and she is looking forward to the challenge of building on last year’s success.
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is also delighted to announce the appointment of Karen Marshall (European Girls’ Team Championship and Girls’ Home Internationals), Helen Faulds (Senior Home Internationals) and Elaine Cuthill (SLGA Under-16 Open Strokeplay Championship) as Team Captains for the 2011 season.
With Fiona Norris (Pictured right courtesy of the SLGA), at the helm, the Scottish team will defend the Home International title at Hillside in September and will be aiming to retain a medal at the European Championships at Murhof in Austria in July.
Fiona, the sister of LPGA Tour professional, Mhairi McKay-Smith, knows she has a hard act to follow in taking over the captaincy from Lesley Nicholson, But she brings a wealth of experience to the post.
A three-time member of Home International teams, Fiona previously worked alongside Ada O’Sullivan as Manager of Vagliano Trophy and Curtis Cup teams and Captained Scotland at the 2008 World Amateur Championships in Australia.
“I hope to build on last year,” said the Hamilton member. “Lesley and Kevin Craggs (Scotland’s National Coach) did a great job last year and we should have a really strong team. Pamela Pretswell is the British Open Stroke-play Champion and Kelsey MacDonald was runner-up in the British Amateur and there is great strength in depth.
“I’ve never been to Austria, but Pamela did well in a European event at the same course a few years ago so I will be picking her brains. Scotland did exceptionally well to win the European bronze medal at La Manga last year and it would be great if we could do even better.”
Baberton’s Karen Marshall retains the Captaincy for the two junior tournaments – the Europeans in Sardinia in July and the Girls’ Home Internationals over Gullane No.2 in August when Scotland will be aiming to go one better than last year’s second place behind England.

Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) also stays in charge of the SLGA Under-16 Championship at Strathmore in April.

(Pictured right  -- - click to enlarge)

Helen Faulds (Douglas Park)--- (pictured top right in the 2006 Scottish Home Internationals at Hamilton Golf Club as a player with past Curtis Cup Captain Mary McKenna centre back row middle) ---
takes over the role for the Senior Home Internationals at Tramore in September from Pamela Williamson (Baberton) who is next to Helen on her LHS.-- Click to enlarge the picture

Your Webmaster Carol and Husband Gordon celebrate St Valentines Day

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Group Coaching at Playsport Golf

GROUP COACHING - MARCH 2011 Skills Development Sessions for ages 9-11 years 4 x 60min sessions for ONLY £40 Saturday Sessions starting 5th March - 1-2pm Sunday Sessions starting 6th March - 1-2pm Tuesday Sessions starting 8th March - 5-6pm Wednesday Sessions starting 9th March - 5-6pm Introduction to Golf Sessions for ages 7-8 years 4 x 60min sessions for ONLY £25 Saturday Sessions starting 5th March - 10-11am Tuesday Sessions starting 8th March - 4.30-5.30pm Thursday Sessions starting 10th March - 4.30-5.30pm ADULT GROUP COACHING SESSIONS - 4x60min for ONLY £40 Tuesday sessions starting 8th March for four consecutive weeks... Beginners:              7-8pm Intermediate:          8-9pm Thursday sessions starting 10th March for four consecutive weeks... Beginners:              7-8pm Intermediate:          8-9pm CONTACT RECEPTION TO BOOK YOUR SPACE

WOMEN GET THE CLUB EQUALITY THEY DON'T WANT !

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By ADAM LUSHER
The Equality Act has given women more rights in golf clubs – but many lady golfers have been left out of pocket and out of sorts.
It was meant to put women on a par with men.
Women golfers have long faced restrictions at their local courses on what times they could play and which bars they could drink in. Often they were blocked from becoming club captain.
So when Harriet Harman introduced the Equality Act to give women more rights in work places and social settings, golf clubs were seen as ripe for reform.
But the drive by Labour’s leading feminist seems to have landed in the bunker. Many women golfers say that, following the changes, which have brought an end to men-only tee-off times at many clubs, they now have to pay more for membership.
Although the legislation was passed by Parliament just before last year’s election and came into force in October, many of its effects are only now being felt, with golf clubs forced to rewrite their own rule books.
As well as allowing ladies to play on whatever day they want, clubs are also having to admit women to “men only” bars and restaurants in clubhouses, and some are abolishing the traditional post of club captain. Others are even planning to scrap “husband and wife” contests, replacing them with “mixed competitions” in which civil partners can also compete.
Kirstie Thirde, from the English Golf Partnership which incorporates governing and professional bodies, said many women were unhappy that they must now have the same unrestricted membership terms as men, meaning that they lost their ladies’ discount.
Mrs Thirde backed the Act but admitted: “Many golf club ladies don’t want equality. All they feel the Equality Act does is increase their fees and allow them access to the course at weekends, which they really don’t need.
“I visit an awful lot of clubs talking about the equality issue, and they will say to you 'women don’t want this.’ ”
Many women golfers are over 50 and retired. She said: “They play during the week. They don’t need access to the course at the weekend, so why would somebody pay for something they don’t want?”
Chris Jones, editor of Golf World magazine, said he too had heard women golfers complaining about the Act. “A lot of them are on fixed incomes and can’t justify an extra £40 a month for golf club membership.
“Most women don’t want to play with us men. They don’t want to endure the bravado, the trying to play like Tiger Woods, and the swearing, stamping and snapping of golf clubs that ensues. Ladies’ day is their day when they can get away from us.”
At some clubs, the post of club captain – once the preserve of men only – has been scrapped in favour of separate ladies’ and men’s captains. A 70-year-old honorary secretary at one club, who asked not to be named, regretted the change.
“To be club captain is one of the highest honours. These people that come up with the legislation don’t understand the traditions of this place.”
Some clubs have introduced changes with reluctance. Lenzie Golf Club, near Glasgow, announced that “veteran ladies” would now be expected to pay the same as “veteran gents”.
However, Robert Chalmers, the club captain, added: “I hope members will appreciate the changes are to be made as the result of legislation which we must comply with and not of our own initiation.”
A newsletter from Northwood Golf Club in Middlesex worried that “the new law bans the candidacy of a captain only being available to men. There’ll be a few harrumphs about this at the club bar, I am sure.”
The move was voted through with a big majority, but the club is now grappling with the thornier issue of whether it can still allow husband and wife discounts, or whether the average couple will have to pay an extra £200 in fees.
In Northwood’s newsletter, Steve Derbyshire, the club’s general manager, writes that “husband and wife competitions are discriminatory and need to be 'mixed competitions’ in future, taking into account civil partnerships as well as gender reassignment and sexual orientation issues”.
Alison Root, 43, the editor of Women and Golf magazine and a regular player, admitted: “To be honest, a lot of women don’t want change. They play during the week. They don’t care what happens on Saturdays. If you’re happy with your lot, why change?”
Objections to the Act among female golfers surprised Barry Johnston, compiler of the book The Wit of Golf. “I am sure they don’t want to go back to the bad old days,” he said.
“That’s when you heard stories about the ladies sitting on the veranda who were appalled by swearing from so-called gentlemen on the 18th hole. When the ladies complained, the committee took action – by banning ladies from the veranda.”
Any comments? E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Get Fit For Golf -- Visit Karyn Burns

Karyn Burns, one of Mearns Castle's resident PGA Professionals has recently started her Personal Training Business 'kbfit'. Karyn is a Level 3 recognised Certified Personal Trainer with the Register of Exercise Professionals and is currently making training easy by training people in the comfort of their own home, easing time constraints on exercising or making it to the gym.

Whether you want to get fit for your health, to lose weight or just simply feel great, Karyn can make a PERSONAL programme for YOU and help you achieve your goals and even exceed your expectations.
Click Here to read more

Erskine Golf Club Tri Am Open Day - Get your Entry Form

The Erskine Golf Club Ladies’ Open Tri-am Competition is on Wednesday 27th April 2011
Entries should be in teams of three.
Maximum playing handicap is 30 although players with higher handicaps may enter.
Entry fee £30 per Team.
Closing date for entries 6th April 2011
Full catering available.
Starting times from 9am.
Prize Giving scheduled for 7.00 p.m

Click Here to get your Entry Form

SUBMIT YOUR OPEN DAY RESULTS

Why not post your Open Day Results or your Club Medal results by emailing your webmaster Carol

Death of Liz Miskimmin

From the SLGA WEBSITE
It is with deep regret that we record the death of Liz Miskimmin on Saturday 5 February. Liz’s contribution to Scottish golf was considerable at club, county and national level. Club Champion at four different golf clubs, she was Champion of Stirling & Clackmannan on three occasions, East of Scotland Champion and Scottish Veterans Champion. She captained Stirling & Clackmannan and from 1986 was a member of Perth & Kinross where she was county team member, Captain and President.The international selector for Scotland on the LGU’s selection committee 2001 – 2003 Liz joined the SLGA Board in 2008 where she was Chairman of Selectors and a director of clubgolf Scotland Ltd until she retired at the AGM in 2010. Her deep love of the game, great common sense and mischievous sense of humour will be missed by all who knew her.
Liz’s funeral will be held at Perth crematorium on Friday 18 February at 2.00 pm.

SLGA Match Play Foursomes

The closing date for the 2011 Match Play Foursomes is 7 March and the entry forms were posted to all Golf Clubs on 2 February 2011.

Mearns Castle -- Its that time of Year !!

Promo. It is that time of the year again when we all start to dust down the clubs, and get in some much needed practice before the golf season starts. It is fair to say that we have had a rather cruel winter so far, so as a reward, Mearns Castle Golf Academy would like to reward those dedicated to practising in the month of February with some added incentive. For the month of February the PGA professionals are offering a massive 20% OFF all golf lessons! This is the perfect time of year to come in to see one of our team of professionals who can help you with your game.  If it is just a quick fix you are after, an individual 30 minute lesson is now only £22.40, or if you are really looking to gain a competitive edge this season, why not take out a block of 6 x 60 minute golf lessons for only £200 and allow our team of professionals to set you up with a winter coaching programme tailored to meet your needs. To book simply call reception on 0141 644 8200. Please click here for a full comprehensive list of lesson prices this month. Simply print off this advert to claim your complimentary basket of balls, valid until the 28th of February. Medal/Competition Results. A big show of appreciation to the hardy 18 members who played in January's 5 club competition. In adverse weather conditions, it was a true testament of the love of golf that all players completed their round. Congratulations to Dave Cowie who won the competition with a score of 18 stableford points over 9 holes.  Dave would like thank his professional Iain Kennedy for the lessons he has received over the winter, which have really helped his game. Love is in the air, so in conjunction with our business partner, Mr Singh's India, why not treat your loved one to a special night out.  Go on, treat that special someone in your life this February!

Nothing to do with Golf -- Action on the beach !!

Thanks go to Maggie Rutherford from Douglas Park Golf Club for this link to a lovely Movie

Connie Jaffrey finishes 3rd in the Scottish Golf Academy Under 16's at St Andrews

Ailsa Summers, who plays for the Angus women's county team and is a girl international, shot a two-under-par 71 from the girls' tees in the girls' sections of today's (Sunday) Scottish Golf Academy Under-16 Winter Series event over the Eden course, St Andrews,. She had an eagle at the 16th and birdies at the third, eighth, 13th and 18th in halves of 38 (one over) and 33 (three under).
Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies), winner of last year's Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play championship, finished second with a 75.
Three girls - Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Kimberley Beveri8dge (Aboyne) and Connie Jaffery (Troon Ladies) - finished joint third on 77 in a field of 20.
GIRLS
Par 73
71 Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies).
75 Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies).
77 Lauren Whyte (St Regulus), Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne), Connie Jaffery (Troon Ladies).]
78 Emma Greenlees (Dumfreis & Galloway), Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies).
79 Heather Munro (Monifieth).
80 Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Tara McTaggart (Minto), Clara Young (North Berwick).
81 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Samantha Munro (Aberdour).
82 Eilidh Watson (Muckhart), Chloe Goadby (St Regulus).
83 Katie McGarva (Troon Ladies).
84 Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Rachel Walker (Dumfries & Co).
87 Eva O'Connor Bothwell Castle).
90 Emma Hale (Troon Ladies).

Happygolf Scotland Booklet -- Selling Out -- Limited stocks left

Dear Fellow Golfer

Due to the recall of `The Wee Yellow Book` last week I have had a rush on sales and now have limited stock available.

The Happygolf Scotland booklet has hundreds more opens than `The Wee Yellow Book`. When you purchase a booklet a password is forwarded to you to gain immediate access not only the Scottish opens on the web site but all opens, golf weeks and passport schemes, plus it is the same price.

To purchase a booklet at  £ 4.00 or web access only at  £ 3.00 (click here).

Thank you for your support.

Elizabeth S Miller
01383 620200
info@happygolf.co.uk
www.happygolf.co.uk

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership

Disabled golfers from across the world will soon be selected to participate in the 3-day Scottish Golf Championship and 4-day World Team Cup, to be played at the Westerwood Resort in Scotland this July.

Teams will be selected at the end of this month, so we would urge any disabled golfer to submit their name for team selection as soon as possible.

The teams participating in this first ever 4-team Ryder Cup style event are from Scotland, England, the Celtic Nations and a World Team. There is a fantastic entry fee package, covering golf, hotel,food and golf carts available for all selected players of only £250 for the week.

More information and forms can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk

Lone Scot -- Clare finishes in 67th place

Scotland's Clare Queen totalled 148 for the first two rounds and 157 for the third and fourth with scores of 71, 77, 76 and 81 for a total of 305 and 67th place which earned her Australian $650 (1,136 Euros).

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Clare Queen -- The Lone Scot in Australia

Clare Queen, the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut at the Handa Women's Australian Open had a third-round 76.
She bogeyed the first, sixth and seventh and birdied the short ninth. The Carrick on Loch Lomond player bogeyed the 14th and 16th before birdieing the 17th.
Her earlier rounds were 71 and 77 and her 54-hole total is 224 which puts her in joint 61st place with a round to go.

Clare Queen slips down on Day 2 of the Australian Open

Clare Queen slipped from her prominent first-day position with a four-over-par 77 for 148 and a share of 48th place.
The Scot bogeyed the second, third and fourth, birdied the 13th but bogeyed the 14th and 16th.
Kylie Walker improved by nine shots on Round 1 with a 73 for 157. Playing out of The Carrick on Loch Lomond - as does Clare - Kylie birdied three par-5s: the second, the sixth and the 15th. She also finished strongly with birdies at the 16th and 18th.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Clare Queen shoots a 2 under par in the 1st round of the Australian Open

Clare Queen (The Carrick at Loch Lomond), who had to pre-qualify on Monday to get into the event, has made a very good start to the Handa Australian Women's Open at the Commonwealth Golf Club on Melbourne's Sand Belt.
She shot a two-under-par 71 to be four shots off the lead, shared by Jiyai Shin and Jennifer Song and in joint 16th place overall

SCOTS' SCORES
Par 73
71 Clare Queen (T16).
77 Carly Booth (T98).
83 Vikki Laing (143rd).
84 Krystle Caithness, Kylie Walker (T144).

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE SCORES

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership (SDGP)

The SDGP is proud to announce its first PGA supervised Golf Training and Tuition day for 2011.

It will be held at the Wellsgreen Golf Academy, Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Saturday 9 April and will run from 09:30 through to 16:00. There are initially places for fifty disabled golfers and their coaches, guides or carers

The SDGP are providing a golf lesson, use of practice facilities, catering and golf on the adjacentcourse for each person. A £20 entry deposit, which will be refunded on attendance, is the only requirement for attendees.

Anyone of any age or golfing standard, who has a disability, serious health problem or mobility issue that interferes with the playing of the game and their coaches, guides or carers can attend.

A brief application form is attached, but if you require the form in another format or you would like more general information about the SDGP, please contact us via the website at www.sdgp.co.uk or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk

Notes

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership is governed and operated by disabled people and is the only group in Scotland which actively encourages and involves anyone of any age, with a disability, serious health problem or mobility issue and their coaches, who wish to play golf and includes amputees, the blind, deaf, those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome, stroke and heart attack victims, wheelchair users and anyone with other similar issues, who wish to learn or play the sport.

The SDGP are also well into their arrangements for the Worlds biggest ever disabled team, Ryder Cup style event, which will take place at the Westerwood Resort and Hotel in July 2011. Each of the 4 teams participating will have 12 golfers and be played over 4 days. Participants will include golfers with all types of disabilities including amputees, the deaf, blind and those with learning disabilities, as well as wheelchair users. The World Team Cup will follow a brand new 3-day Scottish Championship at the Dullatur Golf Club and, thanks to some wonderful support from the 2 host golf clubs and strong sponsorship from across Scotland the SDGP is pulling together a package of golf, a week's hotel stay, and food and golf carts for golfers from around the world.

To print out your ENTRY FORM ---- CLICK HERE

SLGA ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE

Entry forms for the 2011 season are now available to download from the SLGA WEBSITE

The first major event of the 2011 Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association season will be the SLGA Under 16 Open Stroke Play Championship from 14 - 15 April at Strathmore Golf Centre, near Alyth, which proved a popular venue in 2010.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORMS FROM THE SLGA WEBSITE

R&A TO LAUNCH WOMEN'S WORLD AMATEUR RANKING

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R and A
The Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking will be launched by The R and A following the success of the Men’s Ranking, now in its fifth year. The Women’s Ranking will be published for the first time in February when a new World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) website for both the Men's and Women's rankings is unveiled.
The Men’s Ranking has grown in stature and today encompasses more than 1,800 counting events, ranking over 5,000 players representing 70 countries worldwide.
The launch of the Women’s Ranking follows an extensive period of testing by The R and A and will provide the women’s game with a way to compare amateur player performance in elite competition over a rolling 52-week period. The Women’s Ranking currently has a calendar of 1,350 counting events with over 3,100 ranked players.
“WAGR has been embraced by both amateur associations and Professional Tours alike in men’s golf, and we are delighted to be able to now offer this same service to the women’s game,” explained R and A Director, Mike Tate.

Gillian Kirkwood, Chairman of the Ladies Golf Union, said, “The LGU welcomes the Women’s Ranking as a very useful tool for the comparison of players, and believes it will become increasingly important around the world in informing decisions on team and field selection.”

Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the European Golf Association, said, “The EGA welcomes the Women’s Ranking as a means for providing greater scope to our ladies’ European golf rankings as well as giving an incentive to our members who stage counting events and to the elite players who participate in them."

WAGR has become a weekly point of reference for players, championship organisers and golf fans alike and is supported by governing bodies and tournament administrators worldwide.

Clare Queen qualifies for the Australian Women's Open

Clare Queen (The Carrick at Loch Lomond) survived a triple bogey today at her last hole to qualify for the Handa Australian Women's Open which tees off at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne's sand belt on Thursday.
She joins Kylie Walker (The Carrick at Loch Lomond) who was exempt from pre-qualifying but a third Scot, Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links), failed to come through.
To read more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Clare Queen and Kylie Walker are playing in Melbourne next week

Clare Queen, Kylie Walker and Lynn Kenny have all entered the Honda Australia Women's Open at the Commnwealth Golf Club on the Melbourne Sandbelt, starting next Thursday.
To read more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

Amalgamation Roadshows

Invitations and booking forms (to be returned to the SGU Office at The Dukes by 31 January) have been sent to clubs and counties for the second round of roadshows on the proposed amalgamation of the SLGA and SGU. These will take place at the following venues:

Ladybank GC on Wednesday 16 February at 6.30 pm
Downfield GC on Thursday 17 February at 6.30 pm
Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC on Monday 21 February at 6.30 pm
Turnhouse GC on Wednesday 23 February at 6.30 pm
Dullatur GC on Thursday 24 February at 6.30 pm
Stranraer GC on Monday 28 February at 6.30 pm
Murcar Links GC on Wednesday 2 March at 6.30 pm
Loch Ness GC on Thursday 3 March at 11.00 am
Hilton Park GC on Monday 7 March at 6.30 pm
Haggs Castle GC on Tuesday 8 March at 6.30 pm

Places are limited to 4 per club (men and women) and 2 per county.

SLGA AGM AT PERTH TODAY

Chairman of the SLGA - Shona Malcolm and Vice President of the SLGA Nancy Chisholm

REPORT TAKEN FROM THE GILLIAN KIRKWOOD WEBSITE

SLGA Chairman Shona Malcolm (pictured above with Nancy Chisholm) welcomed a full house to the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association Limited AGM at the Dewars Centre in Perth this morning.
Before proceedings began, President, Emma Wilson, paid tribute to past Chairman, Anne Fraser, a member of Turnberry and Ayrshire, who died in 2010.
The Chairman's report had already been circulated and Shona picked out particular highlights, including the Scottish Ladies' team victory in the Home Internationals and third place in the European Team Championships, the Seniors' team fantastic victory in the European Senior Team Championships and our Junior team's runner-up spot in the Junior Home Internationals. On the individual front, Pamela Pretswell had won the British Stroke Play Championship and Kelsey Macdonald had been runner-up in the British Amateur and had won the Scottish Championship. Pamela and Sally Watson had represented GB&I in the Curtis Cup at Essex County Club, near Boston, Mass.
Shona also touched on the Performance and Development aspects of the SLGA remit, as well as giving thanks to those who had helped SLGA last year.
Finance Director, Lynne Terry, reported that SLGA Ltd had shown a healthy surplus of £61,000 last year, largely due to prudent cost control and some events costing less than expected. The fall in the number of lady golfers was once again evident at 4.1%, but an increase in subscriptions by £1 had absorbed that potential shortfall.
The report of the Scottish Representative on the Executive Council of the Ladies Golf Union, Janet Wake, had also been previously circulated, and Janet highlighted some of the coming events in the 2011 season, in partcular the Ricoh Womens British Open at Carnoustie, 28-31st July, the Astor Trophy (previously Commonwealth Trophy) at Fairhaven 15-19th June and the Vagliano Trophy Match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl, 24-25 June.
Election of office-bearers went through smoothly with June McEwan (East) and Liz Scott (South) coming onto the Board. Lorna Bennett takes over from Janet Wake as Scottish Representative on the Executive Council of the Ladies Golf Union. Cara Gruber is the new North selector.
Amendments to Regulation 3.5 governing County Golf had already been disSL;GHAcussed by the County Captains and were approved at the meeting.
A "tidying up" exercise had been performed on Regulation 7 (National Championships and other Tournaments run by the SLGA) and amendments were approved at the meeting.
The proposal that annual subscriptions and fees for 2012 remain the same was also approved, with the caveat that if the amalgamation goes through then subscriptions would be different.

Amalgamation.
Chairman, Shona Malcolm and Chief Operating Officer, Sheila Hartley, presented a cut down version of the road-show that had already been shown to clubs and counties round the Country in the last few months. There were many questions from the floor. Anxiety that the proposals were proceeding at "breakneck speed" with little time to take it in, were voiced. These proposals are still at the consultation stage, and feedback from the roadshows and the two AGMS (The SGU AGM is next weekend) as well as individual feedback from clubs, counties and members will be examined at a meeting of the Amalgamation Committee at the end of January.
 Sheila Hartley asked that any comments should be made to her before 25th January ----- secretary@slga.co.uk for consideration by this committee. Once the proposal has been refined in the light of feedback, a new round of roadshows will be presented to both men and women together in the spring, with a view to holding Special General Meetings of both organisations in the latter half of May, where 75% would have to vote in favour for the proposals for it to go through. If that happens the Board of the new Scottish Golf Limited would be recruited in the summer with a view to the Amalgamation happening on 1st October.
There were questions of costs, representation, who would pay etc. It was emphasised that the proposal was a "very broad brush" at present, the minutiae of how it will all happen has not yet be finalised. Yes, there would be costs, but they would be kept to a minimum, and absorbed by both organisations. Subscriptions, currently £9 for men and £14 for women would probably settle at £11 for both genders.
SLGA County and SGU Area boundaries would remain the same. There is no proposal for Counties and Areas to amalgamate. Clubs would be the stakeholders in the new organisation, with each club's liability limited to £1.
The move to bring the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association (SLGA) together as a single governing body has gathered momentum with a formal proposal being delivered to each organisation’s members.
The proposal with details of the roles of Board members and committees and a covering letter from the Amalgamation Group Chair, Donald Turner may be accessed by clicking on the links.

The SGU and SLGA have delivered a formal proposal to member clubs, Areas and Counties this week outlining plans for amalgamation as a single governing body from 1 October 2011. Click Here to read more