Hannah and Shannon finish joint 15th on South Africa's Sunshine Ladies Tour

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Grantown-on-Spey's Hannah McCook and Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne) shared 15th place on two-over 212 at the conclusion of the 54-hole Sunshine Ladies Tour's Supersport Ladies Challenge at Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward.
Hannah reeled off three 71s in a row while Shannon had scores of 69, 71 and 73.
Swaziland professional Nobuhle Damini won the first cash prize with a five-under-total of 205, made up of rounds of 64, 69 and 72.
England's Kiran Matharu was the leading non-South African player. She finished fourth on 208 with scores of 68, 70 and 70.

SUNSHINE LADIES TOUR'S SUPERSPORT LADIES CHALLENGE
Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
par 210 (3x70) Players from S Africa unless stated
205 N Damini (Swazi) 64 69 72.
206 L Assad 67 70 68
207 M Eaton 69 65 73
208 K Matharu (Eng) 68 79 79

SELECTED TOTALS
210 R Goodall (Eng) 68 70 72 (T8)
212 H Davis (Eng) 69 76 67 (T12)
213 H McCook (Sco) (am) 71 71 71, S McWilliam (Sco) (am) 69 71 73 (T15)
215 R Davies (Eng) 73 70 72 (T18)
218 L Taylor (Eng) 73 70 75 (T27)

GREENOCK GOLF CLUB OPEN DAY

Greenock Golf Club Ladies’ Open Greensome is on Thursday 21st June, 2018

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRY FORM

Get into Golf coaching

Women and Girls - Would you like to learn to play golf or improve your golf skills?

We’re looking for women and girls to book into the below 6 session coaching block starting in March with PGA Pro Jane Connachan.

Some of the female members of Haddington Golf Club will be also supporting at the sessions and hope to invite you to some short hole fun competitions and social get togethers.

Then read more  —-   CLICK HERE

Scottish Golf Chair Eleanor Cannon Answers Your Questions Ahead of the AGM

The Scottish Golf Annual General Meeting takes place this Sunday 4 March at Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club near Edinburgh.

They have taken the opportunity to speak to Scottish Golf's Chair Eleanor Cannon ahead of the meeting, to answer some of the questions that have been coming in from clubs regarding the AGM structure, the various votes taking place and the progress made since 'The Future of Golf in Scotland' conference in December.

To read the full all details go to the Scottish Golf Website

STILL TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THE SCOTTISH WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME LUNCH -- SUPPORT BELLE ROBERTSON AND GOLF

CarolFell Ladies Golf News : BELLE ROBERTSON IS GOING TO BE AT THE SCOTTISH WO...:

 STILL TIME TO GET YOUR TICKET

CONNIE JAFFREY HAS A CAREER LOW 66

PEORIA, Ariz. – Kansas State senior women's golfer Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) had a strong showing on Monday to propel her to a fifth-place finish during the final round of the Westbrook Spring Invitational at the par-72, 6,252-yard Westbrook Village Golf Club.

Jaffrey tied a career low during the final round by shooting a 6-under par 66 to finish with a 54-hole score of 8-under par 208. Both her third-round and tournament scores were the third lowest in school history. The Kilwinning, Scotland, native recorded nine birdies on Monday, including six on the back nine.

Jaffrey's performance helped the Wildcats card a 5-under par 283 in the final round, good enough for the third-lowest 54-hole score in team history. The Wildcats moved up one spot on Monday as they finished in eighth place at 8-under par 856.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT

WEST GIRLS WIN FIRST MATCH OF 2018

Dumbartonshire Golf Union U14 Boys 1.5 : West Girls 2.5 

(played over Balmore GC by kind permission)

Megan Docherty & Katie Graham  : won

Sophie Kyle & Katy Hill : won

Claire McLaughlin & Freya Russell : beaten

Jodie Graham & Taylor White : half match

Great day to be playing golf and great result for the girls . 

Thanks to Bob Collison , Dumbartonshire U14 Boys and Balmore GC for arranging this match . 

Well done to all the girls 👍🏌️‍♀️👌

Thanks go to Allison Bell for the results

BELLE ROBERTSON IS THE GUEST SPEAKER AT DOUGLAS PARK'S SWEDISH "ABBA" EVENING

Belle Robertson and Douglas Park Ladies Captain Anne Reid

The Douglas Park Choir -- Click on picture to see album of the evening

100 Douglas Park Golf Club Lady Members had a a very enjoyable evening on Friday at their Annual social evening held in the Club House.

Belle Robertson MBE who is an Honorary Member of Douglas Park was the guest Speaker.

The "Douglas Park Choir" was the "Abba "entertainment  which had a Swedish Theme to the night.

 CLICK HERE TO SEE ALBUM OF THE EVENING  --

Photos are also on Facebook -- Click Here

BELLE ROBERTSON IS GOING TO BE AT THE SCOTTISH WOMEN IN SPORT HALL OF FAME -- INDUCTION LADIES LUNCH

 D&A's Belle with Karen Maxwell and Ann Wilson

We all know now that #GirlsDoSport - and that more opportunities are occuring ever day to encourage more and more women and girls to particpate. However at Scottish Women in Sport, we believe it is important in order to move forward and continue to accelerate change, we take time to recognise the many female pioneers in sport who have largely gone unnoticed.

Recording our sporting history is an important part of moving forward and yet there are still many pioneers who go unrecognised.

This year Scottish Women in Sport will induct some of our past and present 'Pioneers of Sport' into our Hall of Fame’ on Sunday 4th March at a ladies lunch in Glasgow. Belle Robertson will be representing Women's Golf.
This will be, in part, our contribution to International Women’s Day, #PressForProgress which is on Thursday 8th March.

You can sign up to join us on the day. A delicious afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco on arrival, an Inspirational speaker, the awards themselves will be followed by some music.

Come and join us and help us keep alive the memory of those who battled to get an opportunity to participate in sport and those who are currently leading the way.
CLICK HER TO GET A TICKET AND COME AND SUPPORT BELLE AND WOMEN'S GOLF

SHEENA MURCHIE FROM LAMLASH LEADS THE AYRSHIRE LADIES RANKING AFTER WEEK 7

The MyGolfRanking.net AYRSHIRE GOLFERS of WEEK18/07 are SHEENA MURCHIE (Lamlash Ladies) who ascends to NUMBER ONE on the MGR Ayrshire Ladies Ranking and COLIN KNOX of Prestwick St Cuthbert Golf Club who climbs to NUMBER ONE on the MGR Ayrshire Men’s Ranking.

 ​

AYRSHIRE LADIES

1 Sheena Murchie (Lamlash) 960 points

2 Susan Butchard (Brodick) 890 

3 Sally Hamilton (Loudoun Gowf) 825 

4 Alison Uppal (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 806 

5 Linda Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 788 

6 Margaret Dalziel (Loudoun Gowf) 719 

7 Ann Clark (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 715 

8 Roz McCulloch (Girvan) 708 

9 Elinor Heggie (Girvan) 704 

10 Ann May (Brodick) 700

AYRSHIRE CLUBS – LADIES

1 Brodick 717 points

2 Prestwick St Cuthbert 703 

3 Girvan 699 

4 Lamlash 551 

5 Ballochmyle 479 

AYRSHIRE MEN

1 Colin Knox (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 1269 points

2 Martin Riddall (New Cumnock) 1163 

3 Jamie Rankin (Ballochmyle) 1014 

4 Andrew Carroll (Drongan) 989 

5 Neil McBride (Kilmarnock (Barassie)) 986 

6 Andrew Campbell (Kilmarnock (Barassie)) 959 

7 Graeme Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 953 

8 W F Wilson (Ballochmyle) 950 

9 C Adams (Irvine) 943

10 David Cunningham (Ayr Carrick) 940

AYRSHIRE CLUBS – MEN

1 Kilmarnock (Barassie) 734 points

2 Brodick 714

3 Ayr Carrick 705 

4 Ballochmyle 704 

5 Girvan 701

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works visit www.mygolfranking.net. The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members so

CLUB SECRETARIES PLEASE EMAIL THIS TO YOUR MEMBERS in order that they may sign in.

Seven points arising from the new World Handicap System

From the National Club Golfer Website

It’s finally here. After a build up that would shame a heavyweight title fight, the R&A and USGA today announced the key principles of the new World Handicap System.

Set to be implemented in 2020, the two governing bodies say it is designed to “provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability”.

There are six handicapping systems around the globe at present, including CONGU in the UK, and all were reviewed before the new World Handicap System was established.

So what are the major features of the new system, what questions do they raise and how might they affect our competitions? Let’s take a look…

Worldwide use of the USGA course and slope rating system

The worst kept secret in amateur golf is finally revealed. Anyone with half a brain knew that slope was going to become the standard and, in actuality, the work to prepare for this has been under way in the UK for some time.

Anyone notice that your course has been re-rated recently? That process, which has been ongoing for a couple of years now, has seen layouts looked at in line with USGA standards.

So what is course and slope rating? A course rating, in the simplest terms, is the number that indicates the difficulty of a golf course when played by a scratch golfer under normal weather conditions.

It’s based on yardage and other obstacles that affect how difficult scoring may be to that scratch player.

The rating is usually close to a course’s par and goes up depending on how difficult the course is. The figure is the number of strokes taken to one decimal place. So, while a course might be a par of 71, it’s course rating could be 71.3.

Slope, meanwhile, is the number that estimates how difficult a course is to a ‘bogey’ golfer. In USGA terms, a bogey golfer is a player “who has a course handicap of approximately 20 on a course of standard difficulty”.

The course slope ranges from 55, which is considered simple, to 155. The higher the score, the more difficult the course.

Understand? Hmm…

Many golfers, misunderstanding the system a touch, believe that slope will automatically see their handicaps increase. But that may not be the case.

If the new USGA course rating, and slope rating, consider your club course to be easier than the current CONGU rating, then your handicaps are going down.

Calculating handicaps on an average

The R&A and USGA say handicaps will be calculated using the best eight of the last 20 scores and “factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control”.

There’s a couple of questions here. Why eight scores? Is that an arbitrary number or is there a method behind using that particular figure?

What on earth does “factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control” mean?

Does it mean that if someone remembers I scored 40 points in the April Stableford then my average can be adjusted based on the fact I have ‘demonstrated’ my ability to shoot that score in the past?

It might. But reading further, however, it appears the aim is to suggest something of the opposite – that a temporary loss of form “should not automatically lead to an excessive increase in handicap”.

Allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap ability

This is the thing that is going to get some golfers excited. By excited, I mean angry.

Just over a year ago, when England Golf announced that clubs should monitor roll-ups and swindles during non-qualifying periods in order to crack down on potential ‘bandits’ there was an outcry – both from clubs who thought they’d have to administer it and players.

I know of some clubs, and organisations, who simply refused to take on the guidelines.

What is crucial when allowing recreational rounds to count for handicaps is how it is administered.

Given that the governing body’s announcement merely outlines the proposal, little is revealed about how that will actually happen.

I’ve little problem with a golfer who has a good round putting in a retrospective card for handicap purposes. I’ve always felt the need to declare a supplementary before going out was tedious.

But just as the supplementary system is routinely abused by players looking to quickly edge their handicap up, so the use of recreational rounds – particularly when they count for a mark that’s made up of average scores – will need to be tightly policed.

And it’s clubs, not the new handicap administrators, who will have to do that.

The other key thing to consider is: if you are going to allow recreational rounds to count, doesn’t everyone have to do it?

I’m not sure if a situation where some are putting in recreational scores, and some aren’t, wouldn’t skew the system.

Couldn’t some players just protect their marks by not using recreational rounds, while others see far more volatile moves because every score counts?

A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap

This will be 54 holes and the crucial bit is that it can be from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds – although associations will be able to set their own minimums.

This is already the case with CONGU, although 18-holes is the preferred option and is required at some clubs.

There seems no reason, though, in this era of everyone apparently not having enough time to play golf, to force players to play a trio of successive 18-hole rounds to gain a handicap.

The 54-hole recommendation offers a little bit more flexibility and that is to be welcomed.

How course and weather conditions will apply

The R&A and USGA says there will be a “calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day” and “daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation”.

I think we already see something of the former in our CONGU competitions. It’s competition standard scratch.

In added notes on the R&A’s website, it’s stated that “the new system will consider the impact of daily course or weather conditions on each golfer’s performance. Such adjustments will be conservative and will only be made when there is a clear evidence that an adjustment is warranted”.

By submitting a score “as soon as practicable after the completing the round” – The R&A advise before midnight on the day of play – it can then be included in the daily Course Conditions Adjustment Calculation.

The point of this is to allow players to have an updated handicap the very next time they play.

A limit of nett double bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)

Nothing much to see here. This goes by the sleek name of the ‘Stableford/Nett Double Bogey Adjustment’ in medals. In Stableford, of course, you just pick up.

A maximum handicap limit of 54.0 to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance

CONGU brought this in from January 1 to a predictable outcry. Anyone hoping 54-handicappers would go away can now be assured they are here to stay.

GOLF’S NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM DESIGNED TO WELCOME MORE GOLFERS

20 February 2018, St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, N.J., USA:

The way golfers around the world will calculate their handicaps is set to be transformed by a new system developed by The R&A and the USGA, with key features designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability.

The new World Handicap System, to be implemented in 2020, follows an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA.

The new system will feature the following:

Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability

A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with some discretion available for national or regional associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction

A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System, already successfully used in more than 80 countries

An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control

A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day

Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation

A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)

A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game

Quantitative research was conducted in 15 countries around the world, through which 76 percent of the 52,000 respondents voiced their support for a World Handicap System, 22 percent were willing to consider its benefits, and only 2 percent were opposed.
This was followed by a series of focus groups, in which more than 300 golf administrators and golfers from regions around the world offered extensive feedback on the features of the proposed new system.

This feedback has helped shape the WHS, which has been developed by The R&A and the USGA with support from each existing handicapping authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are working with our partners and national associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.
“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers.
Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.”

Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, commented, “For some time, we’ve heard golfers say, ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,’ or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap.’ We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game.
We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernising golf’s Rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.”

The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives:

to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020. When adopted, the World Handicap System will be governed by The R&A and the USGA and administered by national and regional associations around the world, with safeguards included to ensure consistency as well as adaptability to differing golf cultures.

The existing six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

The announcement is the latest step in a multi-year collaboration between The R&A and the USGA, as well as national and regional golf associations around the world to introduce one set of Rules of Handicapping, aimed to support modernising, growing and improving accessibility of the sport.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A’s and the USGA’s efforts to implement a World Handicap System. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.
To provide feedback on the new World Handicap System or for more information, visit www.randa.org. Golfers are encouraged to follow and join in the conversation on social media by using #golfwhs2020.

Douglas Park Open Greensomes Stableford

The Ladies’ Open  Greensomes  Stableford at Douglas Park Golf Club is on Friday 22nd June 2018

Tee Off Times 8am – 4pm

Entry Fee per Couple  £10

Entry Details and Entry Form 

LANARKSHIRE'S ANNE BURDEN HAS DIED

It is with much sadness that Lanarkshire Ladies' County Golf Association have announced the death of Anne Burden.

Anne sadly has been ill for the past four years following a stroke but up until then was a very active lady, heavily involved in dance and in golf. and a well liked and respected member of LLCGA

Anne was a member of the Lanarkshire County Team from 1964 to 1984, during which time Lanarkshire won the County Finals 4 times.

She was County Captain from 1979 to 1981. She has been successful in many County Competitions and in 1976 won both the Blackjack Cup and County Championship.

She was made an Honorary Member of the County in 2003 and Honorary President of LLCGA from 2013 to 2015.

From 2001 to 2006 she was a Scottish International Selector and was also captain of the West Vets in 2003 - 2004.

She had also been a member of The Ladies Golf Club Troon, Cambuslang Golf Club and East Kilbride GC
.
We extend our sympathy to her son Mike and daughters Bobbi and Katy. and her grandchildren.

Anne's funeral is at 2pm on Thursday the 8th March at South Lanarkshire crematorium then everyone is welcome to join the family at Cambuslang GC afterwards.

Kylie Henry finishes in 7th Place in Australia

West of Scotland's Kylie Henry finished T7 on 210 today in the ActewAGL Canberra Classic with scores of 68, 70 and 72

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE KIRKWOODGOLF WEBSITE

LOOKING FOR MORE GOLF NEWS GO TO THE KIRKWOOD GOLF WEBSITE 

WEST GIRLS COACHING

DETAILS OF THE SCOTTISH GOLF AGM

Scottish Golf is delighted to announce details for the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which takes place on Sunday 4 March in Edinburgh.

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, easily accessible on the outskirts of the capital, is to host the event, and they very much hope you can attend.

CLICK HERE to read more

2018 JUNIOR FLAG CHALLENGE ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN

Entries are now open for the 2018 Junior Flag Challenge!

 This year we are introducing a Glasgow North and Ayrshire Tour to go alongside our Glasgow South Tour that we have run for the last couple of years.

 Check out the dates and information at http://juniorflagchallenge.co.uk 

ANNODATA MATCHPLAY GOLF -- HAS YOUR CLUB ENTERED

Welcome to Matchplay Golf. Competition Open to amateur golfers in England, Scotland and Wales. Matchplay Golf in association with Annodata are delighted to announce a new National Golf Club Team Competition. All Golf clubs in England, Scotland & Wales can enter 5 man / 5 Lady team in the Matchplay Knockout format.

 The new competition will be known as the

Go to the Website to enter 

They are keen to get more Scottish Ladies teams to enter this year and make it a great event for all of the UK. 

So far here are the Scottish entrants.

1 x Men & Ladies Kinross GC - Kinross-shire

2 x Ladies The Williamwood Golf Club - Renfrewshire

1 x Ladies Hilton Park GC - East Dunbartonshire

2 x Ladies Murrayfield GC - Midlothian

1 x Ladies Merchants of Edinbugh - Midlothian

1 x Ladies Duddingston - Midlothian 

1 x Ladies The Old Course Ranfurly GC - Renfrewshire

1 x Men & Ladies Douglas Park GC - East Dunbartonshire

1 x Ladies Tain GC - Ross-shire

1 x Men Strathtay Golf Club - Perth and Kinross

1 x Men & Ladies The Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club - Renfrewshire

1 x Men & Ladies North Berwick Golf Club - East Lothian

GO TO KIRKWOODGOLF TO READ MORE

Scottish Golf add a 9 Hole Championship

Scottish Golf Adds 9-Hole Final to National Portfolio

A new National 9-Hole Final will feature in Scottish Golf’s calendar of events for the first time in 2018, with the governing body encouraging more clubs to adopt shorter formats of the game.

The event will form part of the qualifying process to find Scotland’s finalists for The R&A’s 9-Hole Championship, where winning pairs from the Home Nations will savour the chance of a lifetime to tee up at Carnoustie just days before The Open commences.

Part of the national member benefits package, the free-to-enter 9-hole Championship is open to golfers of all ages and abilities who are members of clubs possessing a designated 9-hole Standard Scratch Score (SSS). Each affiliated club meeting this criteria – of which there are almost 300 – will be invited to host a 9-hole stableford qualifying event before the end of May.

The leading pairs from each club will tee up at the National Final in June, before Scotland’s top four pairings join qualifiers from England, Ireland and Wales in front of the iconic stands at Carnoustie on Saturday 14 July.

Fraser Munro, Head of Events at Scottish Golf, said: “Nine-hole golf has long been part of the game’s fabric in Scotland but we need to do more to promote it to a wider audience and this fantastic event gives us a higher profile platform to achieve this.

“The incentive of playing at Carnoustie in the build-up to The Open is a dream come true and we would encourage as many clubs as possible to sign up and give their members a chance of taking part.”

In a further move by Scottish Golf to address pace of play concerns, ‘Ready Golf’ will be adopted at all championships from 2018. The initiative encourages players to play when they are ready to do so, rather than adhering to the traditional ‘farthest from the hole plays first’ stipulation in the Rules of Golf.

Munro added: “We are committed to speeding up the game and making competitive golf more enjoyable for everyone. We acknowledge slow play continues to be a problem but believe adopting ‘Ready Golf’ is a proactive step towards addressing this issue.”

The domestic season will open with the Scottish Boys’ and Girls’ Open Stroke Play Championships taking place at Montrose and Monifieth respectively (4 – 6 April), while Royal Troon’s Portland and Old Courses will once again welcome the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play.

Scottish Golf’s flagship Women’s and Men’s Amateur Championships will be staged over Elie (5 – 9 June) and Blairgowrie (31 July – 5 August), before The King’s Course at Gleneagles hosts the Carrick Neill Scottish Men’s Open Stroke Play for the first time in late August, a week before the World Amateur Team Championship in Ireland.

Elsewhere, the Scottish Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur Championships will be held at Moray’s Old and New Courses in early July, while the new look Loretto Golf Academy-sponsored Scottish Boys and Girls Under-14s events are being split into two separate championships for the first time in 2018. These will run simultaneously in Edinburgh at Murrayfield and Turnhouse, with the girls’ event also including an Under-16 category.

“Our National Championships provide a platform for players to benchmark themselves against not only the best players in this country but the many golfers travelling internationally to compete,” added Munro. “They also provide a great showcase for clubs to market them themselves to the many thousands of golfers at home and abroad who take an interest in our events.”

Scottish Golf’s full programme of club handicap events will be announced early in 2018, with the PING Scottish Mixed Championship, Revive Active Scottish Women’s Regional Medal Finals and Belhaven Captains & Secretaries Championship joining The R&A 9-hole Championship on the calendar for the year ahead.

The venue for the National 9-Hole Final in June will be confirmed early in 2018.

Further information on all of Scottish Golf’s events can be viewed on the Championships page at www.scottishgolf.org. Entries open at the end of January.

2018 Scottish Golf National Championships

Scottish Boys’ Open Stroke Play – Montrose (4 – 6 April)
Scottish Girls’ Open Stroke Play – Monifieth (4 – 6 April)
Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play – Troon (20 – 22 April)
Scottish Women’s Amateur – Golf House Club, Elie (5 – 9 June)
Scottish Boys’ Area Team – Bothwell Castle (10 June)
Scottish Golf R&A 9-Hole Championship National Final – TBC (June)
Scottish Senior Men’s Open – Irvine (20 -22 June)
Scottish Senior Women’s Open – Prestwick St Nicholas (26 – 29 June)
Scottish Boys & Girls Amateur – Moray (1 – 6 July)
Scottish Boys’ Under-16 Open – Fortrose & Rosemarkie (10 – 12 July)
Scottish Men’s Amateur – Blairgowrie (31 July – 5 August)
Loretto Golf Academy Scottish Girls’ Under 14/16 – Murrayfield (13 – 14 August)
Loretto Golf Academy Scottish Boys’ Under-14 – Turnhouse (13 – 14 August)
Carrick Neill Scottish Men’s Open Stroke Play – Gleneagles King’s (27 – 29 August)
GolfKings Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship – Cawder (7 – 9 September)
Scottish Women’s County Finals – Kilmacolm (14 – 16 September)
Senior Men’s Home Internationals – Southerness (18 – 20 September)
Scottish Men’s Club Championship – Kinross (23 September)

Clubs wishing to register for the National 9-Hole Championship should visit: https://www.scottishgolf.org/players/club-members/handicap-championships/9-hole-championship/

SCOTTISH GOLF CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS, VIDEO & FEEDBACK

From the Scottish Golf Website

Dear Golfer  
Thank you for attending The Future of Golf Conference in Edinburgh earlier this month. 
We hope you enjoyed the presentations, discussions and the opportunity to take part in the debate around finding solutions to the challenges we face in our game. It was great to meet so many people with a passion for the game across the golfing spectrum and gain opinion, insights and feedback which will shape our future direction. 
Our Board and staff team have been working hard to collate the content from the Conference and this e-newsletter pack provides a recap for you, which we hope you will share with your fellow golfers. 
Over the coming weeks, the Board of Scottish Golf will be meeting to discuss how we use these insights to deliver our strategy of growing participation in golf and building stronger clubs. The feedback we have had has been hugely positive and we look forward to harnessing the collective power of clubs and golfers to create a brighter future for our game. 
Thank you for your continued support. 

 Eleanor Cannon, Executive Chair - Scottish Golf 

Scottish Golf have themed all the general comments, suggestions and feedback from delegates attending the Conference to give you a full overview of the opinions coming in on the day, which they will take on board in their discussions.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

CARDROSS GOLF CLUB CHRISTMAS CHEER.

Cardross Ladies held their Christmas Stableford on Sunday 3 December when nine ladies braved the elements and enjoyed a fun Christmas competition! The winner with a magnificent 26pts was Elizabeth Fleming.

On Tuesday 5 December, in challenging conditions yet more ladies went out in Christmas attire. The winner was Anne Barrie with 22 pts.

Mulled wine and mince pies were enjoyed by all and secret Santa left presents. Pictured are just a few of the Christmas attired ladies.

Thanks go to Lorraine Campbell for the report.

PROVISIONAL GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND SQUAD FOR 2018 CURTIS CUP ANNOUNCED - CONNIE JAFFREY IS IN THE SQUAD

14 December 2017, St Andrews, Scotland:

An initial Great Britain and Ireland squad of 14 players has been announced by The R&A ahead of next year’s Curtis Cup match being played at Quaker Ridge, New York.
The 40th Curtis Cup match will be played from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 June 2018 with GB&I attempting to retain the historic trophy after an 11½-8½ win over the United States at Dun Laoghaire in Ireland last year.
Elaine Farquharson-Black, who will captain GB&I in the Curtis Cup for the second time, said, “We have identified a talented group of golfers, including three members of the winning 2016 Curtis Cup team. Each player in the squad is in contention for selection to the team and we will be monitoring their performances and results closely over the coming months.
“We will also be closely following the performances of other players not named in this squad who still have the opportunity to play their way into our thinking before the final team selection is made in April.”
Leona Maguire, who is currently the number one woman golfer in the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™, leads a group from Ireland which also includes Paula Grant, a former R&A Foundation scholar, Olivia Mehaffey, a 2016 team member, and Annabel Wilson. Maguire won the 2017 Ladies British Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig, while Mehaffey had wins at the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship and Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship in 2016.
Lily May Humphreys, who won the Girls British Open Amateur Championship at Enville earlier this year, features in a strong English contingent of eight players. Alice Hewson is in contention to make her second Curtis Cup appearance after playing in the winning GB&I side in 2016 and Sophie Lamb, who finished as leading amateur at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns to win the Smyth Salver, is also included.
Scotland’s Shannon McWilliam and Connie Jaffrey make up the squad. A former Scottish Ladies Order of Merit winner in 2015, McWilliam finished runner-up in both the Helen Holm Championship and the Scottish Girls Open Championship this year. Jaffrey attends Kansas State University and has won three times in US collegiate golf, while also triumphing in the 2017 Scottish Ladies Amateur Championship.
The GB&I squad:
Emma Allen (20, Meon Valley, England)
Connie Jaffrey (21, Troon Ladies, Scotland)
Lianna Bailey (21, Kirby Muxloe, England)
Sophie Lamb (20, Clitheroe, England)
India Clyburn (21, Woodhall Spa, England)
Leona Maguire (23, Slieve Russell, Ireland)
Annabell Fuller (15, Roehampton, England)
Shannon McWilliam (18, Aboyne, Scotland)
Paula Grant (24, Lisburn, Ireland)
Olivia Mehaffey (20, Royal County Down Ladies, Ireland)
Alice Hewson (20, Berkhamsted, England)
Isobel Wardle (17, Prestbury, England)
Lily May Humphreys (15, Stoke by Nayland, England)
Annabel Wilson (16, Lurgan, Ireland)

The final eight player GB&I team will be announced on 26 April 2018 and will include the two golfers who are placed highest in the WORLD AMATEUR GOLF RANKING™ on 25 April 2018. In addition, a further six players will be selected by The R&A Women’s Selection Committee. Up to four non-travelling reserves will also be announced.

SCOTTISH GOLF AGM -- SAVE THE DATE

The Board of Scottish Golf is pleased to announce the date of the 2018 Scottish Golf Annual General Meeting.
The meeting will be held on Sunday 4 March 2018.
We would encourage you to save the date with confirmed venue and timings to follow early in 2018.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Pamela Pretswell Asher would like to see more events on the Ladies European Tour

By Martin Dempster -

West of Scotland's Pamela Pretswell Asher believes the Ladies European Tour has hit its lowest ebb at a time when the circuit boasts its strongest pool of talent in the last five years.

The 2017 campaign concludes on a high note this week with the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic involving a star-studded field at the Emirates Golf Club. But the fact it is just the 14th event on the schedule shows what a tough year it has been for players like Pretswell Asher who are trying to make a living on the LET.

Five tournaments went by the wayside this year, leading to the departure of the circuit’s CEO, Ivan Khodabakhsh, in August.

During the Solheim Cup in Des Moines, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan revealed that he had instigated talks with Keith Pelley, chief executive of the men’s European Tour, to see what could be done to help the LET. However, it emerged recently that the LET has declined the offer of assistance for the time being after being encouraged by the potential for a healthier 2018 schedule. “No chance,” replied Pretswell Asher, who was on the LET committee before resigning earlier this year, to being asked if there was a possibility of as many as 24 events being on that list, which is expected to be unveiled at this week’s event in the UAE.
“I think you’d be looking at 18 events next year and, for me, that would probably be a good schedule. “I think there is genuine interest, but whether that can be put in place for 2018, who knows. Even getting a couple back would be a start. But I think it will be 2019 before we really see a difference, so patience is the key.”

Speaking at an Aberdeen Standard Investments golf clinic in Edinburgh, the Scot added: “For me, the sad thing is that talent on the LET at the moment is the strongest it has been in the last five years. That’s the thing that frustrates me the most. “We have so many good players but they don’t have anywhere to play and don’t have to go to America if you don’t want to. But, at the moment, the only option is to go to the States. Georgia Hall, for instance, has to be there to progress her game after doing remarkably well to get into the Solheim Cup team this year from so few starts on the LET.”

Pretswell Asher has been the leading Scot on the circuit for the past two years but heads into this week’s event behind Michele Thomson on this I season’s money-list after the Aberdonian finished second in last month’s Indian Open. Due to bad smog, 
Pretswell Asher withdrew from that event but, after recording a top-15 finish in the following week’s Sanya Ladies Open in China, she is looking to end her season on a high in a field that is headed by Ricoh Women’s British Open champion In-Kyung Kim. “Michele had a great week in India but, if I can have a good week in Dubai, we’ll see where it leaves me at the end of the year,” said the former Curtis Cup player, who also has US Solheim Cup duo Angel Yin and Brittany Lincicome as her rivals this week. “This is a tournament I really enjoy, it’s the best one after the Scottish Open and it is one of the biggest on the schedule.
I’ve been pretty happy with my game. I just haven’t seen the results I would have wanted, though I had a good week in China. In fact, that was the best golf I’ve played for a long time. “My aim this week is to get 
a good finish to what has 
been a frustrating season. I think next year the schedule is looking better, though I don’t think it could be much worse, to be fair. “There were various reasons I came off the committee. It [a threadbare schedule] is not ideal because, at the end of the day, it is everyone’s job. It is the same for everyone, but I’m someone who likes to get a bit of momentum. “I like to get a few tournaments to get into the season and then get a run to get some rhythm going. This year, I had a couple of good results in April yet my next tournament was July – our biggest month – and by that time I’d lost any momentum I had. “It was disappointing not being able to take advantage of having both the Scottish Open and British Open on home soil.”

Fresh from her card success at the LPGA Qualifying School, Gemma Dryburgh also lines up in the Dubai event, as do Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, Kelsey MacDonald, Vikki Laing, Kylie Henry and Carly Booth.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

By Martin Dempster (The Scotsman)

It was easily the soundbite that made the biggest impact during a four-and-a-half hour discussion about the future of golf in Scotland. “We are all on the Titanic if we choose not to do anything,” around 500 delegates were told at the first Scottish Golf national conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

When he was subsequently accused by one delegate of being responsible for “a lot of negativity” about the state of the game in its birthplace by delivering that message, Stewart Darling, a Scottish Golf board member, stuck firmly to his guns. “It’s not negativity – it’s reality,” he said in response.

Eleanor Cannon, the Scottish Golf chair, kicked off the day’s proceedings in the capital by asking a wide cross section of the game to “suspend disbelief” following recent negativity towards the governing body on the back of a controversial proposed new strategy being put on hold as some keynote speakers addressed the audience and, with all due respect to the others, it was Darling who definitely made the strongest impression in the hall.

He highlighted that Scottish clubs had been losing roughly 5,000 full members every year in the last 10 years. He warned that the consequence of not doing anything to try and address that situation was an average annual subscription of £478 rising by 34 per cent in five years’ time and to be 84 per cent higher in 10 years’ time. “That is a fairly challenging prognosis in any walk of life,” he said.

One of many illuminating graphics Darling, the CEO of Vianet Group, a strategic insight and cloud based technology business, used to get his message across highlighted golf’s demographic being its biggest problem.

Over 55s make up more than 100,000 of golf club members whereas 24 and unders provide just more than 10,000. He also pointed out that it used to take 20 rounds per year in 2007 for someone to justify their subscription fee and now it is 40.

He revealed, too, that only 47 per cent of members submit enough cards (three) to retain a handicap while just 53 per cent play in a formal competition.

Having too many courses is one of the game’s problems. “We can’t sustain 600 clubs in 10 years’ time,” he warned. Struggling to walk the line between smart and casual?

 Darling’s strongest message, though, about what needs to change more than anything was about getting more women into the game. That is based on the fact that women currently make up less than 14 per cent of membership in Scotland. “There is going to have to be a fundamental re-think,” he said. “We need to think very clearly about the future and how we get women in. It is a big opportunity if we accept this to be the case.
Some clubs are not welcoming to women and children - that is a fundamental issue. “Also, we are not connected as a golfing community and need to harness the power of that. Data is the new oil and new water. The power of it is massive for golf. At the moment, we have so little data on our game. We can have power if that changes and that is really important.”

At the moment, only 6 per cent of Scottish Golf’s income is from a commercial source. Roz Cushieri, another board member, agreed when that situation was described as “absolutely disgraceful” by a delegate. “But we need to make sure what we are offering the long list of companies we are engaging with is attractive in terms of inclusivity and other things,” she said before another delegate revealed that one company looking to invest a seven-figure sum in golf had said “no” to Scotland because it felt the game in this country wasn’t “family friendly”.

One of the proposals in that new strategy was to raise the affiliation fee paid by every club member from £11.25 of to £24. Asked if that could still be on the table at the agm in March, board member Malcolm Kpedekpo hinted it might. “This is the start of a process and, if we think £24 is the right price when we look at the strategy, then it would be wrong not to put it forward.”

Cannon, who was delighted with the success of an event that brought the most club administrators, club committee members and professionals under the same roof in Scotland, said she hoped a new chief executive to replace Blane Dodds will be in place early in the New Year. “We had a tremendous response to the advert and will be holding interviews in December but, as part of the consultation process, we thought it was maybe wise to slow things down a bit to get feedback from today,” she said. 
Read the full article in the SCOTSMAN: CLICK HERE

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