Karin Sharp takes over Scottish Golf reins with support from Iain Forsyth

By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman Newspaper 

Karin Sharp

Karin Sharp, the chief operating officer, has been handed the Scottish Golf reins following Andrew McKinlay's swift and shock departure as chief executive.

Sharp held the same position with the Scottish Ladies Golf Association from November 2013 before its amalgamation with the Scottish Golf Union in 2015.

In now taking over at the helm of the governing body, she will be supported by Iain Forsyth, the current chief commercial officer.

Both Sharp and Forsyth have "voluntarily decided" to take a 20 per cent pay cut for the foreseeable future.

Announcing the leadership change, Scottish Golf chair Eleanor Cannon said: “The Board and Executive Team have had to make very tough decisions in order to focus on ensuring we are in a sustainable position going forward when courses reopen.

"With many clubs feeling the financial strain, which in turn has had a knock-on effect on our income, we have prioritised expenditure accordingly.

"Now more than ever we need strong leadership backed up by robust actionable plans. I am very pleased to announce that The Board has invited Karin Sharp to lead the organisation with immediate effect, from her current role as Chief Operating Officer.

"Karin has outstanding operational pedigree gained through various leadership roles within RBS where her career spanned 23 years, predominately in their Corporate & Commercial Banking Division.

"She joined Scottish Ladies Golfing Association in November 2013 as Chief Operating Officer and, following the amalgamation in 2015, has ultimately continued in the same role for Scottish Golf.”

As revealed by The Scotsman earlier this week, Scottish Golf has asked its 550-odd member clubs to reveal sensitive financial information in a survey aimed at gauging the impact of courses being closed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

That decision was criticised by some club managers, but Sharp said the governing body is pushing ahead with its attempt to gather the information.

Sharp said: “In response to these unprecedented circumstances, we have issued a short financial health check survey to our member clubs which seeks to gather key information, specifically around the impact of COVID-19 to golf club operations.

"This detail will directly contribute to, and significantly inform, our ongoing dialogue with Scottish Government in relation to the struggles faced by golf in Scotland.

"This information is crucial. To enable us to represent the situation accurately and effectively, I urge all clubs to complete the survey at the earliest opportunity."

Scottish Golf shock as chief executive Andrew McKinlay steps aside

By Martin Dempster -- The Scotsman Newspaper

Scottish Golf has announced that chief executive Andrew McKinlay (pictured) has stepped down from the governing body. His shock departure, which comes as some member clubs fight for their survival during the coronavirus crisis, was announced in a statement.  

It read: "We are living in unprecedented times and, as we are all very well aware, sport has no immunity to the impact of COVID-19.

 "Scottish Golf, like all businesses and indeed golf clubs across the country, is having to assess its business model. "The governing body has had to make some very difficult decisions regarding income and expenditure, to ensure sustainability in the current circumstances.

 "To this end, our Chief Executive, Andrew McKinlay, has decided that he should step aside in order to help the organisation come through this situation. 
 "He leaves having worked with the team on a revised structure that will be fit for purpose when we emerge from the national lockdown." McKinlay, who previously worked for the SFA, was appointed as Blair Dodds' successor in February 2018 and took up the post three months later. 

 Eleanor Cannon, Scottish Golf Chair: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Andrew for his contribution to Scottish Golf over the past two years. He brought a wealth of experience to what can be a pressurised role. “He has helped take the organisation forward and has now taken a very difficult decision at this challenging time. I thank him for doing so and wish him the very best for the future.” McKinlay said: “It has been a privilege to lead this fantastic organisation and, I am grateful to Eleanor and the board for the opportunity. "Above all, I am indebted to the team at Scottish Golf for their commitment in implementing the objectives to take the game forward towards a sustainable and, indeed, prosperous future.”

SCOTTISH GOLF ZOOM MEETING TO SUPPORT CLUBS

Scottish Golf is delighted to launch a series of new Zoom Panel calls aimed at supporting golf club managers, senior staff and officials across the country with the first session set to take place on Thursday 23^rd April 2020 at 10.30am. 

Facilitated by Scottish Golf’s Club Business Manager, Iain Evans, these calls will support all delegates by bringing together an expert panel from across the golf industry to deliver a range of advice, guidance and best practice during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The panel will answer pre-submitted questions from the audience to ensure that the most frequently asked questions for all of our golf clubs are covered. All affiliated golf clubs are invited to register for the session and those wishing to submit a question can do so on the registration form here.

Meet the Panel: 

David Roy CCM –  Club Manager – Crail Golfing Society

• David has worked at five clubs including proprietary, exclusive, urban and links. Previously a greenkeeper and immediate past President of CMAE. Presenter on the MDP programme, Board member of the Fife Golf Partnership.

Craig Boath – Links Superintendent – Carnoustie Golf Links

• Craig joined Carnoustie Golf Links straight from school working his way up through the ranks to Head Greenkeeper of the Championship Course where he oversaw The 147^thOpen Championship in 2018. Craig has since been appointed Links Superintendent.

Susie Fraser – Managing Director – Adeo Group

• Susie is a marketing and communications expert working as Managing Director at the award-winning agency, Adeo Group.

Alistair MacGregor – Chief executive Officer – Fife Golf Trust

• Established in 2011, Fife Golf Trust manages 7 public golf courses on behalf of Fife Council.

Bob Gunning – retired General Manager – Longniddry Golf Club, Treasurer – Scotland’s Golf Coast

• After a long career in banking, Bob took on the role of General Manager at Longniddry in 2005 and served there until he retired in August 2019. Bob is still involved in the golf industry through his role as Treasurer of Scotland’s Golf Coast and member of its Steering Group.

A reminder that you can sign up for this webinar and submit your questions for our panel of experts here. Please note that registration for our online webinar will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 22 April 2020.

DEATH OF SHEILA GENDERS - FERENEZE, HAGGS CASTLE AND WEST KILBRIDE

Haggs Castle Greenlees Trophy Winners - 1998
Sheila 4th from left back row

Sheila in 2010

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of past RLCGA County member Sheila Genders.

Sheila whose home club was Fereneze was also a Greenlees Trophy Team member for Haggs Castle playing along side many good players in that team at that time -- Aileen Wilson, Dorothea Hastings, Jennifer Mack, Janice Gardner (Paterson), Brenda Livingstone, Irene Rose, Carol Smith, Audrey Sturgess, Jennifer Graham, Evi Park, Isobel Pearson - to name but a few.
She was also member of West Kilbride GC

Glasgow Herald 

GENDERS - Sheila Peacefully at home, on Sunday 12th April 2020, Sheila Genders (Medical Social Worker & 
Distinguished Member of Fereneze Golf Club). Loving daughter of the late Sydney and Mary (Moira), honorary aunt to Harvie and Hunter Milligan and their families. 

Teasing times for Scottish golfers but too early for courses to reopen

Guilty as charged -- Your webmaster Carol
 out for a walk over Douglas Park GC !!

By Martin Dempster - Subscribe to the Scotsman Newspaper

Today's Scotsman Newspaper - Click to enlarge

Pictures flooding social media of courses looking resplendent are making this an even more frustrating period

What’s not helping, either, is social media being flooded with photographs of courses around the country looking resplendent. Taken either by green keepers as they carry out essential maintenance or club managers, they are merely having a teasing effect at the moment as golf clubs lie closed due to the ongoing threat caused by COVID-19.

Mike MacDonald, the switched-on and extremely welcoming club manager at Fortrose & Rosemarkie, posted a couple of videos on Twitter over the weekend showing the Black Isle course, with the gorse starting to bloom, in its full glory. “Just whetting our appetites,” said one person on seeing those clips, while another jokingly declared: “Please, I can’t take any more!”

Many felt the same, albeit in a totally different tone, about another short video that popped up on social media last week, this one showing what appeared to be a man and his son kicking a football back and forward in the middle of a green at West Kilbride on the Ayrshire coast as three others stood at the side and watched.

Equally infuriating was hearing a similar story about someone thinking it was acceptable to use the 18th green on the Championship Course at Carnoustie to do what was described as a “Joe Wicks’ training session”. Seriously? He was lucky, surely, not to have ended up where Jean Van de Velde wrote himself into folklore in the Barry Burn.

Four weeks into lockdown, it is no surprise to be hearing a good few people starting to ask if serious consideration should be given to those guidelines being relaxed in order to allow golf to be acceptable as a form of our permitted daily exercise. Wisconsin, where the Ryder Cup is due to be played in September, is allowing its courses to re-open later this week with restrictions in place, while Golf Australia announced on Friday that it is now satisfied that “golf can be played at minimal risk” under strict and specific safety protocols.

Pete Smith, a former Turnhouse member, moved to Australia in 2006 and currently plays his golf at Kogarah Golf Club in Sydney. There, in addition to social distancing, rakes being removed from bunkers and pieces of polyethylene foam stopping balls dropping into the bottom of holes, members have to arrive on a “just-in-time basis”, not more than 15 minutes before a booked round, then leave the club immediately afterwards. Under strict guidelines outlined by New South Wales Public Health officials, clubs face possible fines of up to Aus $55,000 for any breach of the protocols. 

“Here, the majority of golf is played in competitions, and our Wednesday and Thursday competitions are running as normal,” Smith told me. “We play in twos and tee-time intervals are a bit longer than usual. I still miss the chance to go and have a beer and a chat with my playing group at the end of the round, and other members, but being able to get out and play golf is definitely a highlight of the week when you are stuck indoors all day!

“I have not observed anyone break the social-distancing rules – and they are really easy to maintain on the golf course. My view here is golf provides a great source of exercise for many. For our older members, golf is often their main source of social interaction during the week and, whilst they can’t meet with all of their friends, they can at least enjoy company at a time that can be lonely for many people.”

Fellow Scot Craig Morrison, who has been in Perth since 2010 and is a member at Royal Perth, as well as Kilmacolm back home, is taking a different view despite golf also being an option for him at the moment. “There’s nothing better than getting on the course with your mates,” he admitted. “However, I haven’t played since Christmas and most of my regular playing partners, like me, have decided not to partake for the time being.”

Is it time for golf to be permitted again in Scotland? In my opinion, no. We are still in the grip of a pandemic, and as long as that daily exercise is only for an hour, there seems no point, even though a two-ball could get in a decent few holes in that time. Reopening courses would mean more people jumping back in cars and starting to travel around again. With another three-week lockdown having just been implemented, it’s too early for that.

Let’s be patient because there is a good chance that golf could well be something that is indeed part of a phased return to normality. Just don’t expect it to be what we were used to before the world was turned upside down. It goes without saying, of course, that you’ll need to look out those waterproofs because we all know what’s what’s going to happen when the courses are open again…

DOWN MEMORY LANE -- THE HELEN HOLM TROPHY SOME OLD PHOTOS

The Prize Winners in 2010 : Louise Kenney, Hannah Barwood, Nikki Foster,
Charlotte Ellis, Danielle McVeigh,Lauren Taylor, Leona Maguire & Rachel Jennings

The Helen Holm Trophy should have been on this weekend over Royal Troon and Troon Portland -- unfortunately has not happened -- thought I might start looking down memory lane -- 

Here are the 2010 and 2011 Helen Holm Trophies photos albums


CLICK HERE FOR THE 2010 ALBUM  
CLICK HERE FOR THE 2011 ALBUM

FOR SOME PAST REPORTS OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS -- CLICK HERE

- and the final day in 2011 when Eilidh Briggs and Pamela Pretswell were in contention -- Many players are now professionals

GOLF AT GULLANE WITH MAUREEN MADILL

Lesley Hope and Gillian Stewart (Photo courtesy of Maureen Madill)

Maureen Madill was up in Gullane in East Lothian for a few days and had met up with my old pal and sparring partner from Tour days, Gillian Stewart. 

Sue Penman drives off (Photo courtesy of Maureen Madill)

They had a game arranged with well-known, local golfing celebrity and current Gullane Ladies’ champion, Sue Penman and 1975 Scottish Ladies Champion Lesley Hope

To read the full story go to Maureen's Website ----> Madill Golf

WEST OF SCOTLAND MYGOLFRANKING - WEEK 15 - 2020

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Are you wondering why the weekly MGRankings change when golf courses/clubs are currently closed and thus no competitive club counting events are being played?

The MGRankings are based on data compiled from a rolling 52 week cycle. 

This week the result data from Week 2019/15 is dropped and replaced by data from Week 2020/15 which does not exist.

AYRSHIRE LADIES

1 Gillian Kennedy (Troon Welbeck) 1051 points

2 Lorna Spencer (Largs) 1043

3 Pauline Patrick (Irvine) 1032

4 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun Gowf) 1017

5 Joanne Sharp (Kilmarnock (Barassie)) 984

6 Liz Keohane (Loudoun Gowf) 969

7 Aileen Anderson (Loudoun Gowf) 966

8 Anne Burns (Loudoun Gowf) 951

9 Robina Gilbertson (Prestwick St Nicholas) 950

10 Janet Harkness (Skelmorlie) 926

AYRSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

1 Loudoun Gowf 883

2 Largs 862

3 Troon Welbeck 834

4 Kilmarnock (Barassie) 831

5 Prestwick St Nicholas 816

6 Skelmorlie 811

7 Prestwick St Cuthbert 737

8 Girvan 722

9 Irvine 709

10 Brodick 447

DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES

1 Caroline King (Clober) 1229 points

2 Ashley Duffy (Clober) 1093

3 Susan Rattray (Douglas Park) 1083

4 Katharine Hardman (Dunaverty) 1063

5 Paula Galloway (Douglas Park) 1038

6 Josephine Monaghan (Dumbarton) 995

7 Sarah Kemp (Helensburgh) 994

8 Gillian Morrison (Clober) 979

9 Susan Tyre (Blairmore & Strone 978

T10 Jill Burgess (Hilton Park), Enid Young (Balmore) 914

DUNBARTONSHIRE/ARGYLL LADIES CLUBS

1 Clober 1020

2 Balmore 881

3 Palacerigg 871

4 Douglas Park 865

5 Dumbarton 853

6 Dunaverty 833

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) 1011

T3 Allison Bell (Strathaven), Amy McDonald (Bothwell

Castle) 998

5 Nichola Craig (Lanark) 972

6 Elaine Johnstone (Hamilton) 961

7 Lynne Williamson (Kirkhill) 942

8 Emily Lowther (Kirkhill) 917

9 Abigail McCafferty (Airdrie) 897

10 Susan Halley (Strathaven) 896

LANARKSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

1 Kirkhill 914

2 Airdrie 888

3 Lanark 811

4 Strathaven 789

5 Carnwath 787

6 Hamilton 782

7 Bothwell Castle 769

8 Langlands 729

9 Crow Wood 459

RENFREWSHIRE LADIES

1 Jan Macnab (Ranfurly Castle) 1097 points

2 Heather Climson (East Renfrewshire) 992

3 Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) 980

4 Anabel Kane (Kilmacolm) 951

5 Janette McCartney (Erskine) 929

6 Sandra Reid (Renfrew) 915

7 Allison Murray (Ranfurly Castle) 913

8 Nicky Stirup (Kilmacolm) 888

9 Patricia Briggs (Kilmacolm) 880

10Margaret Richardson (Erskine) 861

RENFREWSHIRE LADIES CLUBS

T1 Erskine, Ranfurly Castle 853

3 Renfrew 814

4 Kilmacolm 758

5 Bonnyton 676

6 East Renfrewshire 662

7 Paisley 585

8 Earl of Mar 167

PAST LADY CAPTAIN MOIRA KERR OF COWGLEN SENDS YOU A MESSAGE

A song from singer/songwriter Moira Kerr in isolation on Easter Sunday during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Moira wrote and sang all the songs for the BBC Scotland television series "WHERE EAGLES FLY" and featured on Pebble Mill, Gloria Hunniford, Brian Mathew etc.

TO GO TO MOIRA'S YOUTUBE DIRECTLY CLICK HERE

Kelsey MacDonald remains positive in shutdown

Relieved Scot puts frustration aside as she looks forward to getting back on course

• The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
• 9 Apr 2020
• STEVE SCOTT Twitter: @C_SScott

Kelsey MacDonald seemed poised for her breakthrough in professional golf just as the sporting world ground to a halt with the coronavirus pandemic, but the young Scot is definitely taking the positive side.

The 29-year-old from Nairn finished tied for fourth in the Investec South Africa Open, her best ever finish on the Ladies European Tour, but that was the last event before the shutters came down.

But, rather than be frustrated at having to down tools when her form was hot, Kelsey takes a broader view of what might have happened if the LET was still struggling on its own.

“The timing couldn’t have worked better for us, actually,” she said. “I’d hate to think of the position the Tour would have been in right now had the merger with the LPGA at the end of last year not happened.

“Mike Whan (LPGA commissioner) has done such an incredible job. There is probably going to be a little trough because of what’s happened, but hopefully in the next few years it’s going to be a tour that goes from strength to strength.

“If the merger hadn’t happened I think we would have been on our last legs. I’m grateful the timing has worked in our favour.”

That said, she finds now she’s restricted in her flat in Renfrew trying to work on her fitness and strength with a remote physical trainer, but unable to swing full out and properly.

“South Africa was brilliant, obviously getting tied fourth was my best performance to date. I was really happy with that,” she said.

“It’s just a bit gutting things have panned out this way, and it’s just a bit of a waiting game at the moment.

“I’ve got my putting mat, and I’m working on that, I have a routine and split my day into sections, but, although I can swing a club in the flat and I am doing a lot of mirror work, it’s never going to be the same.”

The next scheduled date for the LET is June 18-20 in France, but the big worry is the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon on August 20-23, which was Kelsey’s main target for the year.

“We have not heard anything yet, from speaking with our players’ council representative or anyone. I think it would be quite difficult for them to have the women’s championship and not have the men’s. I don’t know how that would go down.

“My goal for the year was playing in the British Open, among other things.

“I haven’t played in a British Open yet but I’m sitting 10th in the order of merit at the moment and that gives me a good chance to play this year.”

A prolonged break won’t be a problem for Kelsey after she missed a long spell with illness a couple of years ago, but, like everyone else, she’s gunning to get going again.

“I feel I am probably mentally a lot stronger in comparison possibly with some other girls because I was in that position of having to graft and get back,” she said.

“To me, this is not a worry at the moment, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and control what I can.

“I think when we come back everyone will have the complete golf bug and there will be a lot of positives from it.

“Fitness-wise, I can do a lot without having to think that it could have an impact on my golf the next day.

“I can have fitness goals that will put me in good stead at the end of the season or if we have to restart next year.”

WEST OF SCOTLAND INTER COUNTY MATCHES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2020

2019 -Scottish County Champions
Ayrshire

Since our previous announcement cancelling some West of Scotland Competitions Scottish Golf have announced the cancellation of all their competitions including the County Finals. 
It is therefore with regret that the West Counties have decided to cancel this year's West Inter County Matches also. 
Hope you are keeping safe and well and that it won't be too long before we are back on the fairways again.

Jean MacIntyre - West of Scotland Secretary

WHITECRAIGS GOLF CLUB RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT NHS STAFF

David Orr

Nice story in the Scotsman Newspaper by Martin Dempster about Whitecraigs pro David Orr teeing up video sessions for members during coronavirus course closure to raise funds to support NHS staff ....

Scotsman Newspaper 9th April 2020
Click to enlarge and read 

 Alternatively -- CLICK HERE

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