MYGOLFRANKING WEEK 14 - 2020

AYRSHIRE LADIES

1 Lorna Spencer (Largs) 1043 points

2 Pauline Patrick (Irvine) 1032

3 Gillian Kennedy (Troon Welbeck) 1019

4 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 1017

5 Aileen Anderson (Loudoun Gowf) 966

6 Anne Burns (Loudoun Gowf) 951

7 Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) 950

8 Janet Harkness (Skelmorlie) 926

9 Christine Whitelaw (Largs) 913

10 Liz Keohane (Loudoun Gowf) 910

AYRSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

1 Largs 872

2 Loudoun Gowf 870

3 Troon Welbeck 820

4 Prestwick St Nicholas 816

5 Skelmorlie 811

6 Girvan 722

7 Irvine 709

8 Brodick 447

DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES

1 Caroline King (Clober) 1229 points

2 Ashley Duffy (Clober) 1093

T3 Katharine Hardman (Dunaverty), Susan Rattray (Douglas

Park) 1063

5 Susan Griffin (Douglas Park) 1043

6 Paula Galloway (Douglas Park) 1038

7 Sarah Kemp (Helensburgh) 994

8 Gillian Morrison (Clober) 979

9 Susan Tyre (Blairmore & Strone 978

10 Josephine Monaghan (Dumbarton) 949

DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES CLUBS

1 Clober 1020

2 Balmore 872

3 Palacerigg 871

4 Douglas Park 862

5 Dunaverty 833

6 Dumbarton 829

7 Blairmore & Strone 818

8 Hilton Park 779

9 Helensburgh 762

10 Cardross 714

LANARKSHIRE LADIES

1 Jane Clark Airdrie) 1207 points

2 Ruth Hunter (Lanark) 1027

T3 Allison Bell (Strathaven), Amy McDonald (Bothwell

Castle) 998

5 Nichola Craig (Lanark) 983

6 Elaine Johnstone (Hamilton) 961

7 Lynne Williamson (Kirkhill) 942

8 Emily Lowther (Kirkhill) 917

9 Abigail McCafferty (Airdrie) 912

10 Susan Halley (Strathaven) 896

LANARKSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

1 Kirkhill 914

2 Airdrie 907

3 Lanark 843

4 Hamilton 800

5 Strathaven 789

6 Carnwath 786

7 Bothwell Castle 759

8 Langlands 735

9 Crow Wood 459

RENFREWSHIRE

1 Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) 1090 points

2 Heather Climson (East Renfrewshire) 992

3 Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 980

4 Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm) 951

5 Allison Murray (Ranfurly Castle) 931

6 Janette McCartney (Erskine) 929

7 Sandra Reid (Renfrew) 908

8 Linda Ellery (East Renfrewshire) 891

9 Nicky Stirup (Kilmacolm) 888

10 Patricia Briggs (Kilmacolm) 880

RENFREWSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

T1 Erskine, Ranfurly Castle 853

3 Renfrew 818

4 Kilmacolm 758

5 Bonnyton 688

6 East Renfrewshire 687

7 Paisley 585

8 Earl of Mar 167

The MGRankings are based on data compiled from a rolling 52 week cycle. This week the result data from Week 2019/14 is dropped and replaced by results data from Week 2020/14 but the latter does not exist at present.

CANCELLATION FOR ALL SCOTTISH GOLF EVENTS

First and foremost, I want to send our best wishes to each and every one of you, our members, from the team here at Scottish Golf. This is the most difficult time we have all had to face in a generation, both personally and professionally. All of us have been affected by COVID-19 either directly or indirectly.

For now, it is a time to pull together. As a community we represent so much more than golf. Together, locally, we represent camaraderie, friendship, and support.  We are all pulling together in the golf clubs that we love, reaching out to each other, making sure that our golfing friends who are on their own and vulnerable are being looked after and feel supported by their club and their fellow members. 

I recognise that, for each of our 575 affiliated clubs, our committees, employees and members, it is a time of uncertainty and stress. Tough decisions are being taken by your management teams so that your clubs can re-open their doors in as strong a position as is possible. Clubs need their members more than ever to support them financially so that they can survive the lockdown in an already tough market, and so that we each have our club to come back to.

Scottish Golf, like its member clubs, is having to make some tough decisions in light of a significant delay in our member income, so that we can continue to support our clubs as we come through these difficult times. To this end we have furloughed the majority of our employees and made the necessary decisions as regards our season’s calendar of events. 

We have taken the decision to cancel all our events and our performance programmes for the remainder of the 2020 season. 

There is important work that we will continue to deliver to ensure we are in a positive position when our clubs and their courses reopen.

 I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you more about this work now.

Scottish Golf are continuing the development of our Hive eLearning platform. This will allow clubs to access self-learning tools to manage various aspects of the club, including assistance with educating members on WHS. 

Secondly, the work continues on the development and testing of VMS. We know that many clubs are using the current down time to learn the new system and we have retained team members to support you in this. 

We are also in the final stages of completing the build of our WHS system, which will allow golfers to see what their new WHS handicap index will become.

Scottish Golf want to support you and your clubs during these challenging times. As each of the skeletal team is working remotely, the very best way to seek support on specific issues is to email: info@scottishgolf.org

We continue to liaise with sportscotland and the Government and we will ensure that we communicate with you as and when decisions about the game are made.

In time we will all get back out there onto our courses. For now, we must look after each other and the communities that our clubs serve. Once we can start playing the game we love again, we will all work together to re-establish golf as the life blood of our communities. 

Thank you for the commitment you have shown us. We look forward to working with you all both now and in the future.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a peaceful Easter weekend. I urge you all to continue to follow the Government guidelines to stay at home.

With very best wishes,
Eleanor Cannon
Chair

HAZEL MACGARVIE SELECTED FOR THE ARNOLD PALMER CUP

Hazel MacGarvie

From the Stirling University Website

Hazel MacGarvie (Royal Troon)  will take on some of the world’s best amateur golfers later this year after being selected to play in the Arnold Palmer Cup.

The third-year Stirling University student will represent an International side, containing players from over 15 countries, against their American counterparts at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, on December 21-23, 2020.

The match is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men’s and women’s university/college golfers from across the world and has seen over 100 former players go on to earn cards on either the PGA, European or LPGA Tours.

The event was originally due to be hosted at Lahinch Golf Club in July but has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Lahinch will now host in 2024.

Commenting on her selection, MacGarvie, who won her first senior international title at St Andrews last year, said: “I’m absolutely delighted with my selection. It feels great and is some good news amid these difficult times."

“The university has been a great help in me getting to where I am. The training programme that Dean Robertson – (University of Stirling High Performance Golf Coach) has put together is a fantastic support for all of us and continues to produce great results.”

The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in 1997.

The event has been played at some of the world’s greatest courses and in 2018, became the only major tournament to feature men and women playing side-by-side as partners. The United States currently leads the series 12-10-1.

The Arnold Palmer Cup is supported by Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation and is a demonstration of Arnold Palmer’s commitment to youth development and the growth of amateur/collegiate golf.

For more information about the Arnold Palmer Cup, visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com.

WEST OF SCOTLAND COUNTIES CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

It is with regret that due to the continuing threat from the Covid-19 virus and following a consultation with the 4 West of Scotland Counties it has been decided to cancel the following West competitions:

1. West of Scotland Championship- 10th May
2. Junior Inter County Matches for the Kennedy Salver- 1st June
3. Inter County Foursomes Final- 2nd June

A decision on the playing of the Inter County Matches from 15th to 17th June will be taken at a later date.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Jean Macintyre  West of Scotland Secretary 

DOWN MEMORY LANE - WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE

Click to enlarge

Today would have been the Masters Par 3 Day and my good friend Fiona Roger (Troon Ladies)  sent me a photo of an old golfing tea towel that she had found. - Great words on it - Click on photo  to read)

It made me think that perhaps I could do a section on Down Memory Lane Posts going back in time and wondered if this would be of interest -- Have old videos, and photo albums going back a few years eg The 2003 SLGA Centenary Dinner at St Andrews in 2003
You may recognise some faces 
Please fill in the form by clicking here so I can judge if this would be of interest -- Carol

GEMMA DRYBURGH RECEIVES USA COLLEGE AWARD

Gemma Dryburgh, Women's Golf, 2011-15

Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh will be remembered forever at Tulane! She will be inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame this fall 

Gemma said "Couldn’t be more excited to announce our Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020!"

Read up on this year’s honorees » 

CLICK HERE

• A four-time all-conference performer and three-time All-Louisiana selection.
• A four-year letterwinner who played 126 rounds in 43 tournaments and posted a 74.33 (9,365 strokes) career scoring average, which ranks second in school history.
• Claimed two career individual titles: the 2012 Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational and the 2013 C-USA Championships.
• Finished par or better 35 times with 15 Top-20 performances.
• Posted nine career rounds in the 60's.
• Played in three NCAA Championships, including 2013 (Athens, Ga.), 2014 (Tulsa, Okla.) and 2015 (Bradenton, Fla.).
• Three-time member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and four-time selection to the Tulane 3.0 Club.
• Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during her final three seasons. 

Many congrats Gemma

AYRSHIRE, D&A,LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE MYGOLFRANKING WEEK 13 - 2020

Important information: You might be wondering how the weekly MGRankings change when there are no competitive club counting events being played at this time. 
The MGRankings are based on data from a rolling 52 week cycle. 
As an example, this week the results data from Week 2019/13 is dropped and is replaced by results data from Week 2020/13 (or not replaced as at present)

MyGolfRanking AYRSHIRE GOLFERS of Week 2020/13 IS LORNA SPENCER of Largs Ladies who ascends to the NUMBER ONE position on MGR AYRSHIRE Ladies Ranking 

AYRSHIRE LADIES 
1 Lorna Spencer (Largs) 1043 points 
2 Pauline Patrick (Irvine) 1039 
3 Gillian Kennedy (Troon Welbeck) 1019 
4 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 1017 
5 Aileen Anderson (Loudoun Gowf) 966 
6 Anne Burns (Loudoun Gowf) 951 
7 Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) 950 
8 Christine Whitelaw (Largs) 919 
9 Liz Keohane (Loudoun Gowf) 910 
10 Janet Harkness (Skelmorlie) 902 

AYRSHIRE LADIES CLUBS 
1 Largs 881
2 Loudoun Gowf 870 
3 Troon Welbeck 820 
4 Skelmorlie 819 
5 Prestwick St Nicholas 817 
6 Irvine 725 
7 Girvan Ladies 722 
8 Brodick Ladies 447 

 DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL GOLFERS of Week 2013 is SUSAN RATTRAY of Douglas Park Ladies who ties No 3 on MGR DUNBARTONSHIRE & ARGYLL Ladies Ranking
 
DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES 
1 Caroline King (Clober) 1217 points 
2 Ashley Duffy (Clober) 1141 
3 Katharine Hardman (Dunaverty), Susan Rattray (Douglas Park) 1063 
5 Susan Griffin (Douglas Park) 1043 
6 Paula Galloway (Douglas Park) 1038 
7 Sarah Kemp (Helensburgh) 994 
8 Jill Burgess (Hilton Park) 984 
9 Gillian Morrison (Clober) 979 
10 Susan Tyre (Blairmore & Strone) 978 

DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES CLUBS 
1 Clober 1035 
2 Palacerigg 871 
3 Douglas Park 862 
4 Dumbarton 845 
5 Dunaverty 833 
6 Blairmore & Strone 818 
7 Hilton Park 789 
8 Helensburgh 756 
9 Machrihanish 701 
10 Vale of Leven 630

LANARKSHIRE
1 Ruth Hunter Lanark  1027 
2 Allison A Bell Strathaven  998 
3 Nichola Craig Lanark s 983 
4 Elaine Johnstone Hamilton  964 
5 Lynne Williamson Kirkhill  942 
6 Emily Lowther Kirkhill  917 
7 Susan S Halley Strathaven   896 
8 Elizabeth Lees Hamilton   887 
9 Elaine Gemmell Kirkhill   868 

10 May Hughes Lanark  866
LANARKSHIRE CLUBS (NO DATA SENT)

MyGolfRanking.net RENFREWSHIRE GOLFERS of Week 2020/13 is JANETTE MCCARTNEY (Erskine Ladies) who rises to No 5 on MGR RENFREWSHIRE

RENFREWSHIRE LADIES 
1 Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) 1090 points 
2 Heather Climson (East Renfrewshire) 992 
3 Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 980 
4 Allison Murray (Ranfurly Castle) 931 
5 Janette McCartney (Erskine) 929 
6 Sandra Reid (Renfrew) 902 
7 Linda Ellery (East Renfrewshire) 891 
8 Mary Aitken (Erskine) 862 
9 Patricia Davidson (Erskine) 855 
10 Helen Abram (Ranfurly Castle) 852

 RENFREWSHIRE LADIES CLUBS 
T1 Erskine, Ranfurly Castle 853 
3 Renfrew 836 
4 Bonnyton 688 
5 East Renfrewshire 687 
6 Paisley 585 

R&A cancels Curtis Cup and reschedules Amateur Championships

By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman Newspaper 

While there is no word yet on The Open, the R&A has announced the postponement of one of its upcoming big amateur events and the rescheduling of two others due to the coronavirus crisis.

The 41st Curtis Cup, which was due to be played at Conwy in North Wales on 12-14 June, has been rescheduled to 2012 in agreement with the USGA, with revised dates still to be fixed.

Meanwhile, the Amateur Championship and Women's Amateur Championship have both been switched from June to the week commencing 24 August.

The Amateur Championship is set to be held at Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire while Kilmarnock (Barassie) is due to host the Women’s Amateur Championship.

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships at the R&A, said, “We have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the players and everyone involved in our events so it is the right course of action to take.

"We are grateful to all of the venues for their continuing support in these challenging circumstances and will update everyone involved with our plans.”

A fortnight ago, the R&A said it was "proceeding as planned" for both The Open at Royal St George's and the AIG Women's British Open at Royal Troon but, at the same time, was "considering contingency options".

It is believed an emergency meeting was held last week about The Open, with the likelihood it will be postponed due to the fact the building operation for the world's oldest major would normally be about to start around this time of the year.

The Masters and the US PGA Championship have already been postponed by Augusta National Golf Club and the PGA of America respectively, while it is believed the same decision has been made by the USGA regarding the US Open.

Coronavirus: Scottish Golf urged to lobby government on behalf of worried clubs

By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman Newspaper 

Scottish Golf has been urged to lobby the government to provide financial support for clubs fighting for survival during the coronavirus crisis.

The plea was made by Duddingston Golf Club secretary Duncan Ireland after he hit a brick wall trying to come up with financial help for the Edinburgh venue.

It emerged last week that a one-off grant of £25,000 is available from the government for leisure businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Duddingston is one of several capital clubs not eligible for that due to its rateable value exceeding the £50,999 cut-off.

"We can find no scheme that will help Duddingston Golf Club at present," said Ireland. "We are collecting subscriptions just now and, funnily enough, not many want to commit to paying. How can we possibly claim anything back for this lost revenue?

"We will all be looking for Scottish Golf to lobby on all clubs' behalf to try to get further help. The government must look into this because, if not, then I fear that a lot of clubs may literally not be able to survive.

"Our only hope just now seems to be trying to get a business interruption loan from the bank."

At the weekend, Crail Golfing Society manager David Roy said he feared the current closure of courses will be a "bridge too far" for some clubs in terms of being able to survive.

"There are a significant number of golf clubs currently running at a deficit and, in the absence of them being able to sell off assets or get help from a few wealthy benefactors, there is going to be an unwelcome number of clubs going to have to shut the door at the end of this," said Roy.

His comments have been echoed by Paul Gibson, the immediate past president of the Lothians Golf Association.

"Many clubs will experience extremely difficult times, indeed, are currently experiencing difficult times," he said.

"While club membership is still popular with many people, this will become more critical when the Covid-19 Virus passes. 

"Membership subscriptions are the life blood of golf clubs and without them there is no future. We now need to look 'outside the box', and identify other ways of encouraging, firstly, participation, then retention in golf. 

"There are initiatives aimed at girls, boys and ladies and that is commendable and should continue.

"But very soon we need to find a 'light bulb moment' which reaches out to full/senior members with a view to retention of membership and perhaps initiatives which will encourage them to stay and not to join the already high number of nomad golfers. 

"The whole structure of golf membership needs to change with the times, and the current situation we find ourselves in, may spring us into action. 

"Golf at the 'top end' is iconic throughout the world, and will survive this current and other challenges, too.

"However we must act to help and protect the 'bread and butter' of this sport, ie, the club members, or face an extremely hazardous and desperate future. 

Let's all remember that without club members, there will be no clubs."

GOLFING STALWART JOAN LAWRENCE MBE HAS DIED

Joan at the SLGA Centenary Lunch in 2009

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Joan Lawrence.
Joan was going to be 90 on the 20th April and had been in good health until she had a stroke last week and died last night -- With the current coronavirus situation the funeral will be private. 

Is now in the Scotsman Newspaper by Martin Dempster  - Click Here

Saturday 28th Scotsman Report
Click to enlarge

(TRIBUTES AT END OF POST) --  email CarolFellGolf if you would like to say something

Home Internationals 1960 . From L to R - Janette Wright, Ansley Lurie,
Belle Robertson, Jean Burnett
Jean McCulloch (Captain) Betty Singleton, Dorothea Sommerville,
Joan Lawrence and Margaret Myles

Some Fife County Champions including
Joan Lawrence (Centre front) Marigold Speir, Lorna Bennett,
Elaine Moffat & Dale Reid
from KirkwoodGolf

Achievements

Scottish Ladies Champion 1962 to 1964 
Member of the 1964 Curtis Cup Team 
Represented Scotland in 1964 in the World Team Championship and where Scotland finished runners up 
Member of the winning Vagliano Cup team in 1963 and 1965 Represented Scotland in the European Team Championships 1965, 1967 and 1969 
East of Scotland Champion 1971 and 1972 
International Selector 1973 to 1976 
Scottish Veteran Ladies Champion 1982 to 1984 
Regular member of the Scottish team for some 12 years and a regular in the Fife County team for over 30 years 
Won the Fife Ladies Championship 18 times, the first being in 1953 

In her non-competitive roles, she was Chairperson of the Ladies Golf Union in 1989 and in 1995 appointed as President of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association. She was also President of the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Society from 1994 to 1995. Captain of the winning Great Britain and Commonwealth Team in 1971 and Vice-Captain of the 1970 Curtis Cup team. 

 In the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours Joan was awarded an MBE for services to golf.

TRIBUTES

SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE
Andrew McKinlay, CEO of Scottish Golf said, “On behalf of Scottish Golf, we would like to express our deepest condolences to Joan’s family and friends at this difficult time. Joan was a two-time winner of the Scottish Ladies Championship and represented Scotland with distinction at so many high profile events within the amateur game.”

GILLIAN KIRKWOOD  - PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LGU

"Joan was SLGA President when I first went onto the SLGA Executive in 1995.   

Her extensive experience and golfing knowledge were extremely useful to the Committee, especially when we hosted a European Team Championship at  Nairn and discussed (fruitlessly)  amalgamation with the SGU."

  

"I’ve emailed some of the LGU Past and Vice-Presidents and they have replied to say how much they admired Joan, as a player, selector and administrator, although many of them found her strong Fife accent difficult to understand ! "  

"She had a sharp wit and a great sense of humour, but what comes through in their emails was the great respect and fondness they held for her."

"Latterly her golf took a back seat to bowls,  but she attended both SLGA and LGU events and was always supportive and interested in what the LGU was doing." 

   

"Golf is a sadder place today with the news of her death."

SHONA MALCOM - PGA SCOTLAND

"Sorry to hear about Joan's death yesterday. She was President when I went on to the SLGA as Treasurer in 1996, and we worked very closely together in what was quite a challenging time with the move to Drumoig and the need to manage the relationship with the then SGU. We kept in touch after she went off the SLGA and indeed she last popped in to see me at Gleneagles last year in the lead up to the Solheim Cup."

"Joan never minced her words - but I liked that because you always knew where you stood! Her contribution to golf in Scotland should never be underestimated, and she was very generous with her time and, almost as importantly, her advice - whether sought or just offered "

"She and Babs were stalwart supporters of ladies golf in Scotland, and the game will be poorer without her inimitable presence." 

Play through, Joan, RIP

ELINOR GRANT (Chairman SLGA 1997)

"Joan was a member of Aberdour Golf Club and in 1997 was elected to be the first Lady to be the Captain of the Club and, it is believed, the first Lady to be elected Captain of any Scottish Golf Club."

"When, in 1997,  the S.L.G.A. moved the Association HQ to Drumoig Joan was President and was the mainstay of the Executive Committee that year. We had new offices, a new Secretary, a new Treasurer and a new Chairman. 

Joan’s extensive knowledge of British golf infrastructure was invaluable that year and subsequently. Apart from being a very accomplished player over many years she was hard working, efficient, a good organiser and funny with it."

"She was Chairman of the L.G.U. in 1989/90 also -- 

In 1997 the Scottish Ladies team went to the European Team Championship in Finland where we came 2nd to Sweden. She was known to many of the Countries representatives there and highly respected"

"We kept in touch in spite of the demise of S.LG.A and her last comments to me were that she now knew nothing about anything." 

- I did not believe that!"
" An outstanding and proud Scotswoman who brought honour to her Club, county and COUNTRY."

MAUREEN GIVEN (CHAIRMAN SLGA 1984) 
"Joan and I were friends since 1949 having played together in the Girls Internationals of that year. Our paths crossed many times over the years golfing together then when I was SLGA Chairman she was Treasurer then on my appointment to the LGU Executive she was my Chairman."
"We saw each other frequently and her dedication to the game whether as a golfer or Administrator I did so admire."
 "Ladies golf in Scotland is the poorer for her loss. Sleep well friend."

WILMA LEBURN (AITKEN) - CURTIS CUP 
"I was very sad to hear of the passing of Joan Lawrence I knew Joan well during my competitive years as both a fierce competitor and proud Scot . Sad news indeed for Scottish Golf. 


AILEEN WILSON -  (SCOTTISH LADIES AMATEUR CHAMPION - 1974 - Nairn)

"I was sad to hear of the recent death of Joan Lawrence. She was a talented golfer, and much respected in so many different official positions. 
"I first met Joan in 1963 at the Scottish Championship at The Old Course Troon as it was known then. A friend and I were fortunate to be asked to be her ball-spotters in the Final."
" I was impressed by her controlled play and long running fairway shots, which resulted in a win. I realised how much she loved her golf, as well as being very competitive, and having a pawky sense of humour. "
"When the golf museum at St Andrews opened she donated one of her Scottish Championship Cup replicas to the museum. 
"The Scottish golfing scene has lost one of the their true characters." 

Aileen Wilson, Renfrewshire .

ISABEL CRAWFORD (WYLIE)-  SCOTTISH INTERNATIONIST , SLGA BOARD MEMBER AND LGU SELECTOR 

 Joan was a one off ...honest, direct, kind, and in all situations called a spade a spade....great golfer for the national cause...and a very astute administrator.....but a driver???  -------
Coming back from Killarney after the home internationals, the Captain and Vice captain had stayed on for a holiday thus Joan was given the job of driving our mini bus to Shannon airport. -- 6am  on a very stormy wet morning...visibility very poor ... pitch black and flooded roads. 
The golf bags and suitcases were piled in the back, the team sitting in the middle, all suffering from excellent Irish hospitality the previous evening!” -- Right Wylie (Joan always used surnames) up here beside me to help to read the road signs”  - Marjory Ferguson (nee Fowler) was sitting immediately behind Joan with dark glasses on and very much hung over! - Ten minutes into our trip from a high bank above the road came four or five donkeys. Joan braked violently and skidded into the side... the donkeys brayed and neighed and dispersed....clubs, cases, bags and bodies were hurtled all over the bus ....and Marjory let out a scream.”” -- 
"What was that?" - 
"Donkeys!" - replies Joan...
"Donkeys ?“shouts Marjory  -- “Not donkeys it’s your rotten driving” 
Joan and I were the only ones to know the truth!!

Isabel Crawford Ayrshire 

COVID-19 Update – Essential Maintenance Statement for Golf Courses during COVID-19 Outbreak

COVID-19 Update – Advice for greens staff

Following last night’s announcement, Scottish Golf has been working with partners from across the golf industry to seek further information from the Government on guidance for greens staff.

Scottish Golf has today received the following advice from the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport:

• For security and essential maintenance purposes, greenkeeping staff can still attend work.
• All work must be carried out in strict accordance with government guidelines on social distancing.

We are aware that this is an uncertain time and would like thank you for your understanding during this ever-changing situation. Scottish Golf will continue to provide further updates in response to COVID-19 on our dedicated website page here.

COLIN FARQUHARSON - SCOTTISH GOLF VIEW WEBSITE

I'm sure that all of you, our loyal Scottish Golf View readers, will be sorry to learn that our Editor and main contributor, Colin Farquharson has decided to call a halt to updating the website.

Scottish Golf View started in 2006,  and reached it's peak audience in August 2015, when over 178.000 page views were reached..    

Colin should be justly proud that over 11 million page views have been recorded since the first post.

I'm sure you will join with me in wishing Colin a long and happy retirement.

Best wishes Gillian Kirkwood Webmaster .

From CaroFellGolf -- Colin has done a fantastic amount over the years for news covering many events including women's golf. -- I wish him well in his retirement.  

Photo taken in 2018

In 2018 Colin Farquarson received a lifetime award  from the Association of Golf Writers of which he has been a member since 1974.

He is pictured above with his very proud daughter Elaine Farquharson-Black (Captain of the Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Teams in 2016/ 2018)  and wife Ethel.

Colin had been editor and supplier of much news to Kirkwood Golf over the years.and was the editor of the Scottish Golf View Website  

Belle Robertson endures in game of great longevity

By Nick RodgerGolf Correspondent - The Glasgow Herald 20th March

Belle Robertson has played just one round of golf this year. She’ll double that tally with another today.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemonium, the isolated tranquillity of life in Kintyre has its benefits.

“I’ve not heard of anyone coming down with anything just yet and maybe it’s one of the advantages of living out here,” said one of Scotland’s most decorated golfers. “I have a two-ball arranged for Friday at Machrihanish. I’ve not played since January so here we go again.”    --- 

(Hopefully you got that game Belle before the course shut down)

By her own admission, Robertson is now a “fair weather golfer” and given that the weather in recent weeks has been about as uplifting as peering at a COVID-19 infection rate chart, it’s hardly surprising her outings are now few and far between.

As club golfers the world over try to muddle on as best they can and keep playing in some form or another against a backdrop of woe, worry and wearying uncertainty, Robertson doesn’t need to be reminded about the lasting lure of this grand game. Old habits die hard.

“Golf is part of my life,” said the multiple Scottish Women’s champion and Curtis Cup mainstay.

“When it’s a nice day you look out and you think a walk would be nice.

“But a walk on the golf course and a game gives that walk more purpose. There’s an excitement to it … and some frustration too. There are all sorts of emotions involved. And that keeps you going.”

Robertson’s longevity is well renowned. She won the first of her seven Scottish titles in 1965 and the last of them at the age of 50 in 1986.

As something of a trailblazer in terms of exercise and stretching regimes while in her pomp, Robertson remains a sprightly specimen as she “closes in on 84”.

The golfing mind, meanwhile, remains as sharp as a Dunaverty wind. The passing of the years, though, bring their own little vexations for this great competitor.

“When I’m golfing now I keep saying ‘I used to be away up there when I was playing my second shot’,” she said with a wry chortle. “That’s the frustrating thing about golf now; not having the power. The will is still there.

“The one thing, at least, is that I’ve been lucky with my putting.”

Robertson remains a keen observer of golf at all levels. “But what will we do without The Masters?,” she said of the demise of golf’s rite of spring on a savaged schedule.

The rise of more events where men and women compete side by side, meanwhile, has certainly received the Robertson seal of approval.

“It’s a great thing,” she declared with gusto. “I can remember they did quite a bit of this in Sweden with medals together.

“They thought we were crazy the way we played golf over here. It can only help the game, certainly the amateur game.”

It’s 60 years now since Robertson made the first of seven playing appearances for GB&I in the Curtis Cup.

She lost 8&7 to US great Judy Bell in the singles. “But we’ve been best friends ever since,” noted the Scot.

The camaraderie of golf endures. And in these turbulent times, we need that camaraderie more than ever.

Link up with an Open champion aids Clare-Marie Macaulay's golf drive

By Nick Rodger Golf Correspondent - The Glasgow Herald -24th March

In this country, where the dank, grim days of winter are as short as a resigned sigh, the onset of some decent, dry spring weather doesn’t half raise the morale. Well, it would if the coronaviruswasn’t lurking all over the parish.

While nothing is more important than the health of all and sundry, the timing of the Covid-19 assault for those in the golfing industry has been as wonky as high handicapper’s swing.

Clare-Marie Macaulay’s admirable endeavours in spreading the game’s gospel into schools has been, temporarily, plunged into the rough but her enthusiasm for getting a new generation playing and, most of all, enjoying golf knows no bounds.

The grassroots work she performed in tandem with her PGA qualified brother, Andy Carlton, at Paisley Golf Club certainly made people sit up and take notice. One such person was a certain Open champion.

“Paul Lawrie approached me to see if I’d be interested in taking on a role in his Foundation,” said Macaulay of the 1999 Claret Jug winner’s advance. “It was an easy decision to make.

“It’s great to have Paul there as a figurehead. Some of the teachers in the schools we go to may not be golfers but they know of Paul.

“Even if the young kids don’t know him, it’s a nice, inspiring tale to tell about his rise, his Open win and what he does for golf. Paul wants the best for golf in Scotland, we all do and we need to keep driving it forward.”

In a joint venture which can only be beneficial for the young ’uns, Lawrie’s Foundation and the Foundation run by Stephen Gallacher have teamed up with the Junior Flag Challenge, an initiative Macaulay helped run, to form a nationwide under-12s development platform that is also backed by Scottish Golf.

“It’s the right thing to do,” she said of this combined fleet. “We’re getting a more joined-up approach now and that can only be good.

“Before I joined up with Paul people may have thought we were in competition with what he was doing and what Stevie was doing. That wasn’t the case at all.We just all wanted the same thing and that was to get more kids playing golf and give them more opportunities. Working together will help to do that.

“When I was a junior at Fereneze, I never struggled for a game in the juniors. We need to get the numbers back up. The Scottish Junior Flag Championship gives young players a bit more incentive. They don’t need a handicap and it’s a chance for them to represent their clubs through a local qualifier and then onto a regional event.

“The clubs across the country get involved too and there are a lot of very active people trying to do their bit for junior golf.”

Of course, the wild spread of the coronavirus continues to put a spanner in all manner of works. “Obviously now, I can’t go into the schools,” said Macaulay, the wife of former European Tour player Callum.

"This couldn’t have arrived at a worse time. But we just need to get on with it. It’s a shame as there was some real momentum building with the school programme.”

Her momentum may have been halted by this perilous pandemic but Macaulay’s eagerness remains undiminished. “There is huge potential to get golf into schools,” she added. “All the teachers seem very keen. It’s a bit different to other standard sports.

“I do ask the kids if they’ve ever touched a club and a lot haven’t. I’ll also ask them, ‘be honest, did you think golf was boring?’. But they love it and say it’s better than they thought.

“It’s aimed at primary five, six and seven and a few kids have been involved in the five week course at school and have gone on to do coaching at their local clubs.

“Ralston Golf Club, for example, started some junior coaching and six of them from the school programme went along which was encouraging. They were keen to keep going.

“A lot of the time with golf, kids have parents or grandparents who are into it but going into schools gives everybody a chance. It opens it up to all.”