Skelmorlie and Murrayfield fly the Saltire in Spain!

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Murrayfield Golf Club women's team travel out to Spain tomorrow for the final stages of one of Britain's leading team tournaments.
They are flying the flag for Scotland along with Ayrshire's Skelmorlie in The Mail on Sunday Classic at El Rompido.
Caroline Johnstone (6 handicap), Ray Lynch (9), Norma Richmond (9), Rosie Dennis (11), Lynn Wilson (11) Margaret Fergusson (12) are representing Murrayfield.

TO READ THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS STORY IN FULL,PLEASE CLICK HERE

SGU Golfers e-newsletter November 2010 Issue No 17

Welcome to the latest edition of the SGU e-bulletin.  This month we have launched the new-look 2011 Scottish Golf Dinner and tickets are now on sale...buy yours now to avoid disappointment! Also this month, a selection of cracking winter special offers from the SGU for golfers in Scotland as well as the latest news from the SGU on the hot topics in Scottish golf.

Guarantee Your Seat at the 2011 Scottish Golf Dinner Tickets went on sale today for the XOS Scottish Golf Dinner 2011, taking place on Friday 18 February at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow. Hosted by BBC commentator Andrew Cotter with special guest appearances, the Ryder Cup trophy will also be in attendance on the night. Open to everyone, the event promises to be a great night out for you and your friends or club-mates or a fantastic opportunity for your company to entertain key clients. Find out more >>

Winter Golf Special Offers We are delighted to bring you a great selection of Winter Special Offers on behalf of our clubs. Some of the fantastic deals you can snap up over the next few months include a Sunday four-ball at Peebles in the beautiful Borders for just £60, a round at the picturesque Aberdour on the Fife coast including dinner in the clubhouse for £17 or sample the delights of Ayrshire jewel Largs for just £20 per person. Find out more >>

Check out SGU TV Why not visit our recently launched YouTube TV channel, featuring highlights from some of our major events last season including the Belhaven Best Club Handicap Championship Final from The Duke's, St Andrews where Ranfurly Castle claimed the glory. There's also a look behind the scenes with the SGU team and interviews with some of the rising stars of the Scottish game. Find out more >>

SGU and SLGA Club Seminars Hit the Road Staff from the SGU and SLGA are out on the road this month delivering a series of ten regional club seminars, presenting to your club on the wide range of valuable services we provide. This year's roadshow has attracted a record number of clubs and delegates with great feedback and insight to help us improve our support to you. Find out more >>

Plan Your 2011 Golf Season Already planning your 2011 golfing calendar? Visit SGU Golf Central, Scotland's most comprehensive and up-to-date golf directory, featuring hundreds of club opens for you to play in over the winter and into the new season. Some of the more popular opens sell-out quickly, so make sure you get your entry forms in now. Find out more >>

Governing Bodies Amalgamation Proposal Gathers Pace Plans for a single governing body for amateur golf in Scotland have gathered pace with details of the formal proposal sent to Clubs, Areas and Counties recently unveiled. We welcome feedback from clubs and members so we'd like to hear from you. Find out more >>

Scottish Golf Card...The Perfect Stocking Filler! Looking for some inspiration ahead of the Christmas shopping rush? The Scottish Golf Card, exclusively available to members of SGU and SLGA affiliated clubs, costs just £10 and offers 50% off green fees at over 140 participating courses for a full year. Buy a card for your golf fanatic loved ones today! Find out more >>

Get Your Game in Shape with webgolfcoach.com If you are already eyeing up that elusive sub-par round or handicap match play title at your club next season then webgolfcoach.com with its innovative technology and selection of leading Scottish golf coaches gives you the chance to improve your swing over the winter from the comfort of your home. Find out more >>

Keep visiting scottishgolf.org for all the latest news, results, offers and information from the Scottish Golf Union.

The SGU Team

Questions or comments? E-mail us at sgu@scottishgolf.org or call 01334 466477

The Lanarkshire County AGM -- Pamela Pretswell is made an Honorary Member

Lanarkshire County Prizewinners - Click to enlarge

FROM JEAN MACINTYRE  --- 
To Read more of the AGM and see photographs then go to the Lanarkshire Website

At this week's annual general meeting of Lanarkshire Ladies County Golf Association Pamela Pretswell was awarded Honorary Membership of the Association. Captain Lesley Lloyd said of Pamela: "What a player! What a year! She represented GB and Ireland in the 36th Curtis Cup Match against the United States at Essex County Club, Massachusetts.
Was 6th in European Ladies Amateur Individual Championship
Was Runner Up in the Austrian Ladies Amateur Championship - (including a nine-birdie round of six-under-par 66)
Won the British Ladies Amateur Stroke Play Championshionship
Was SLGA Champion of Champions
Represented Scotland at European Ladies Team Championship, with Scotland winning the Bronze Medal
Represented Scotland at Ladies Home Internationals – Pamela holed the winning putt to ensure Scotland won the Home Internationals Matches for the first time in 19 years.
You have just heard what an outstanding year 2010 has been for Pamela Pretswell. Pamela was a top-ranked tennis junior, rubbing shoulders with Andy Murray and co at the age of 14.
However, she swapped tennis for golf  7 years ago and as they say the rest is history! To reach the top of the amateur game in such a short period of time is quite amazing and we are immensely proud to have her as one of our members. Not only is Pamela a fantastic golfer, she is in her Honours year at Glasgow University studying Business and Management and despite her very busy schedule (not to mention jet lag following the Curtis Cup) Pamela found time to come to Kilmacolm to caddy for the team!
Pamela, in recognition of your outstanding achievements, but in particular being selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup and winning the British Open Strokeplay Championship I would ask you to accept Honorary membership of Lanarkshire Ladies’ County Golf Association."

Club Golf Program with Scottish Ladies Golf Coach Kevin Craggs

To read more about the program go to the Club Golf Website

Equality and Amalgamation Issues for the future from the SLGA and SGU

Equality Issues -- Some up to date News from the Glasgow Herald.
Read all about by --- by clicking on the following link -- West Kilbride Golf Club News
The move to bring the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association (SLGA) together as a single governing body has gathered momentum with a formal proposal being delivered to each organisation’s members.
The proposal with details of the roles of Board members and committees and a covering letter from the Amalgamation Group Chair, Donald Turner may be accessed by clicking on the links.

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

Kylie slips up in the last round in India

Kylie Walker, who had been the leading Scot through the first and second rounds of the Hero Honda Women's Indian Open, finishing disappointingly with a 78 for 224 which gave her a share of 41st place and a payslip for 1,331 Euros.
England's Laura Davies won at the first hole of a four-way play-off involving Thailand's Nontaya Srisawang
Pamela Feggans had three rounds of 76 for a total of 228 and a share of 59th place. She earned 686 Euros.
To read the full report go to the Gillian Kirkwood website

West Kilbride golf Club ahead of the game

Phyllis Howie (Ladies Captain) and Janette Mair (Club Captain)

FROM THE GLASGOW HERALD WEBSITE
By Rebecca McQuillan
Who says golf is a male bastion?
Not the members of West Kilbride golf club in Ayrshire, who have elected two females to posts traditionally held by men, including that of club captain.
Sixteen-year-old Mhairi McKay was made juniors captain last night at the thousand-member club, completing a trio of female office bearers. She joins club captain Janette Mair and women’s captain Phyllis Howie.
According to Ms Mair, the club has long been “ahead of the game” when it comes to equality, having brought in equal membership rights in 1997.
Ms Mair, who has been a member of West Kilbride for 50 years, said: “Equality is about being equal in every respect and involved in the running of the club; it’s not about trying to rule the roost.”
Other clubs have been forced to change their membership terms as a result of the Equality Act, which passed into law on October 1 and outlaws discrimination in mixed-sex clubs.
The sex discrimination provisions of the act do not apply where a club was formed as men-only or women-only.
The act requires clubs to end practices such as offering women cheaper “associate only” membership, disallowing them from playing on Saturday mornings or preventing them from entering a particular bar.
Yet some clubs fear the law could have the unintended consequence of dissuading women from playing, by requiring them to pay a higher subscription fee.
It comes at a time when male and female player numbers are already dropping and golf clubs are suffering as a result of the recession.
Currently 29,728 women have playing, as opposed to social, golf club memberships in Scotland compared to 177,120 men.
This represents an annual fall in playing membership from 2009 to 2010 of 4.19% for women and 2.71% for men.
Andy Salmon, Scottish golf development manager at the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA), which aims to increase women’s participation, said: “It’s quite a bizarre situation that the net impact of the Equality Act will be to reduce the number of women in golf.”
Associate membership for women, as offered in some clubs, was cheaper but typically debarred women from attending the AGM or playing on Saturday mornings.
Due to the fact that male golfers typically outnumber women by a large margin, reducing the fee for men to the same level as women would be financially impossible for some clubs, according to Mr Salmon. Instead, many are raising the subscription rate for women.
Mr Salmon said: “Some clubs are really worried and some ladies are saying they may have to give up their membership.”
The SLGA fully supports women having the right to full membership but argues existing women members should be able to continue as associates for five years after the act was introduced.
However, Mr Salmon added: “In the long term, the Government would say, by having true equality in clubs you will attract a new generation of golfers who would have found two tiers of membership unpalatable. We hope that will happen.”
Ross Duncan, marketing manager of the Scottish Golf Union, said the organisation was encouraging clubs to innovate with the range of subscriptions they offered.
West Kilbride’s newest female office-bearer is one of 20 girls in the 130-strong juniors section.
Ms Howie has made it a priority to attract and keep more female players, and stressed the friendly, fun nature of the club.
While West Kilbride’s female membership accounts for 188 out of 980 members (18%), she said that some women, especially working mothers, found it difficult to justify paying an annual golf fee when they lacked time to play regularly.
Women at West Kilbride choose not to play on Saturday mornings.
Ms McKay added: “In other areas, men and women are equal, so why can’t golf clubs be the same?”

SLGA Order of Merit Title

From the SLGA Website

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) has confirmed her status as Scotland’s best amateur by clinching the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association’s Order of Merit title.
Winner of the Scottish National and the Scottish Under-21 Open Strokeplay Championships and runner-up in the British Amateur, the 20-year-old had a terrific individual season.
She also proved to be a great team player, helping Scotland win the Home Internationals for the first time since 1991 and leading the side to a bronze medal at the European Championships in Spain in July.
“I’m over the moon to win the Order of Merit,” said Kelsey, who has just returned from representing Scotland at the World Amateur Team Championship in Argentina last month. “I won the girls’ title two years ago, and the title is a reward for consistency.
“I have had a really busy season, so to be crowned the best overall in Scotland is a great honour.”
Kelsey finished with 2,900 points, with last year’s winner, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), taking second place with 2,380 points. Laura Murray (Alford) was third on 1,955.
Jane Turner (Craigielaw) and Curtis Cup player Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) filled the next two places on 1,875 and 1,776 points respectively.
Kelsey and Eildih Briggs (Kilmacolm), who won the Girls’ Order of Merit title, will receive their awards at the Scottish Golf Dinner in February 2011

Click on the following link to see the SCOTTISH MERIT AWARD LIST

Kylie Walker does well in Korea

Kylie Walker (The Carrick on Loch Lomond) 78 71 69, finished the top Scot in the Daishin Securities Tomato M Korea European Ladies Masters yesterday.
TO READ THE FULL REPORT GO TO THE GILLIAN KIRKWOOD WEBSITE

Erskine Golf Club Social Evening

Past Renfrewshire County Captain Christeen Finlayson (Whitecraigs) was in sparkling form as the after dinner speaker at the ladies dinner held at Erskine Golf Club on Friday evening - 5th November.


To read more go to the Renfrewshire County Website 

Vote Now on the Scottish Barclays Open

West Vets --- Eastwood's Wendy Cameron is made an Honorary Member

Wendy is presented with her Honorary Membership 

by outgoing West Vets Captain Helen Faulds 

The West Vets AGM was held at Cowglen Golf Club yesterday and the committee were delighted to announce that they have asked Wendy Cameron to become an Honorary Member of the West Vets Association and even more importantly, she has accepted.

Wendy has over many years given a huge amount to both the West and Scottish Vets and indeed Scottish Ladies golf.

She has been West Vets Captain, Scottish Vets Captain and President and played in the Scottish Vets team.

She has also been a Renfrewshire Team member, Captain, President and Hon Member of the County.

In terms of SLGA, Wendy has been Chairman, President and is also a Vice President of the Association, one I may say of a very select few.

At club level she is a Life Member of Eastwood GC.

To read more go to the WEST VETS WEBSITE

Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association AGM

RLCGA Vice Captain Maureen Wood head and Captain Trish Brown

Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association held their 101st AGM at Haggs Castle Golf Club last night - Wednesday 3rd November. After a very successful 2010 season most of the County Team were there to celebrate the occasion  with Captain Trish Brown and Vice Captain Maureen Woodhead. To read the full report go to the RLCGA WEBSITE

Scottish Golf Club e-bulletin On Line

The Scottish Golf monthly Club e-bulletin aims to keep clubs and their committee members up to date with information on our range of services and other activities which support SGU and SLGA affiliated clubs.

The Club e-bulletin is emailed directly to clubs, however their webpage will be updated on an ongoing basis with all e-bulletins that are distributed.
CLICK HERE TO GET ACCESS

Scottish Golf Academy Under-16s Winter Series Event 1

Played at The Glen Golf Club, North Berwick on Sunday, October 31.

GIRLS' SCORES
Par 73. CSS 73
1 McDONALD, Gabrielle Craigelaw 72
2 YOUNG, Clara North Berwick 74
3 STEVENSON, Lindsey Elie and Earlsferry (and also Whitecraigs) 76
T4 AITKINS, Lesley Gullane Ladies 77
T4 MUNRO, Samantha Aberdour 77
T4 MEEK, Jessica Carnoustie Ladies 77
7 McCOOK, Hannah Abernethy 78
T8 SUMMERS, Ailsa Carnoustie Ladies 79
T8 WALKER, Rachel Dumfries and Co 79
T10 BEVERIDGE, Kimberley Aboyne 80
T10 WATSON, Eilidh Muckhart 80
T10 HALE, Emma Troon Ladies 80
T10 McINTOSH, Kate Broomieknowe 80
14 SEIVWRIGHT, Tegan Deeside 81
T15 WHYTE, Lauren St Regulus 82
T15 McTAGGART, Tara Minto 82
T17 JAFFERY, Connie West Kilbride 83
T17 POLSON, Rachel Peterculter 83
19 McGARVA, Katie Troon Ladies 85
T20 GOADBY, Chloe St Regulus 86
T20 TUNN, Eleanor Reay 86
T20 GREENLEES, Emma Dumfries and Galloway 86
23 MUNRO, Heather Monifieth 89
24 GADSBY, Clare Creiff 101
25 O'CONNOR, Eva Bothwell Castle 108
WITHDREW
McKECHIN, Alyson Elderslie
GOODWIN, Alison Glenbervie
MAGUIRE, Sophie St Regulus
BRIGGS, Eilidh Kilmacolm

Happy Halloween to all Our Readers

Click on the following link Happy Halloween to all Our Readers

Kylie Walker does well in China

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Lee-Anne Pace won a four-way sudden death play-off to capture the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open title in China today, just a week after she won the Sanya Ladies Open in Hainan.
Glasgow's Kylie Walker finished top Scot with rounds of 70, 70 and 73 for a total of 213. That gave her a share of eighth place and a cheque for 4,280 Euros.
Vikki Laing finished joint 12th on 214 with scores of 69, 71 and 74. The Musselburgh player earned 3,246 Euros.
Carly Booth from Comrie had scores of 72, 72 and 75 for 219 and a share of 41st place which was worth 1,286 Euros.

Wonder Woman ?? --- (Not with my knees !)

To read more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website

TRIPLE WHAMMY BY THE GLASGOW HERALD'S DOUGLAS LOWE AT GOLF WRITERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Herald sports writer Douglas Lowe scored a triple whammy at the frost-abbreviated Scottish golf writers and guests' golf championship at Mar Hall Hotel golf course near Bishopton, Glasgow today (MONDAY).
Frost delayed the start of the scheduled 18-hole competition from 9.30 to 11am and play was only possible on holes 10 to 18 at that time. Because some of the competitors faced a long journey home to the North and North-east of Scotland and a prizegiving lunch had been arranged, it was decided to cut the tournament to nine holes.
Lowe, despite a knee injury, regained the Alex Fox Trophy as the leading golf writer with a Stableford score of 17pt off a handicap of 12.
"I have won the trophy before but it was so long ago that Nick Rodger must have still been in short trousers," said Douglas who had 2pt to spare from Fergus Bisset (Golf Monthly), playing off 2, and twice past champion Mike Aitken (The Scotsman), playing off 15.
Lowe's prizes included a free tee for four at any of the Gleneagles Hotel golf course, midweek or weekend.
Lowe's total was higher than anyone achieved in the male and female women guests' categories which earned him the Belhaven Trophy for overall supremacy.
Just to cap the "wounded warrior's" day, Douglas figured in the winning team of Stewart McDougall (DBS Sports) and Ronnie Cully (Evening Times) whose 32pt (best two from three scores to count) saw them triumphy by a single point from Scottish international Claire Hargan (SLGA), Mike Aitken (The Scotsman) and Dave Edwards (Press and Journal).
Former Northern Open champion Peter Smith, Mike Woodcock (St Andrews Links Trust) and Sheila Hartley (SLGA) took third place on 29, beating Fergus Bisset (Golf Monthly), Michael Gannon (Aberdeen Press and Journal) and golf course designer Graeme Webster from Inverurie on a tie-breaking countback.
Mike Woodcock, playing of 12, pipped eight-handicapper Stewart McDougall for the Bunkered Trophy as the leading male guest. They both finished with 15pt. Mike had the better last six holes' points total. He won a free tee time for four at The Duke's Course, St Andrews.
Graeme Webster, playing off 10, finished third in the male guest category with 14pt, the same total as SGU Press and Marketing Officer Ross Duncan (5). Webster had the better last three-hole points total.
SLGA Tournament Officer Claire Hargan, a one-handicap member at Mortonhall, won the Leading Lady Guests' section with 16pt, one ahead of West of Scotland women's golf webmaster Carol Fell (10) and two clear of Sheila Hartley (SLGA).

Thanks go to Colin Farqharson for the report  --- To see the report and a larger picture of Douglas Lowe go to Colin's Scottish View Website

Equalities Act 2010 --- Associations including private clubs

What is an association?
For the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 an organisation is an association if:
it has 25 or more members, and
it has rules (not necessarily formal or written) regulating who can be a member and there is a genuine selection process for members.
Private clubs - such as golf and other sports clubs, working men’s clubs and social clubs - political parties and some charities such as the Scouting Association are examples of associations.

Not sure about the Equalities Act --- then CLICK HERE

Thanks go to Ann O'Connell from Douglas Park for this info.