Happy New Year to all our West of Scotland Website Readers

Happy New Year - Click on the picture to see your card

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

YOUR WEBMASTER WISHES ALL OUR READERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS -

NEW 2012 GOLF RULES

A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls Guidelines to interpret the Rules relating to the design and manufacture of golf clubs and balls.
.CLICK HERE to read more.

Douglas Park Ladies Wish Everyone a Merry Christmas

94 Ladies attended the Douglas Park Christmas Lunch today -- with good company,good food, fun and many songs
Click on the Picture below, make sure your sound is turned on and please give it time to load.

Kylie, Clare and Lynn all falter in the last round at Dubai

LEXI (16) YOUNGEST PRO WINNER ON LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

FROM BETHAN CUTLER
Ladies European Tour Media Manager
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: American Lexi Thompson, 16, became the youngest professional golfer to win on the Ladies European Tour when she captured the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters by four shots at Emirates Golf Club today.
Aged 16 years, 10 months, 8 days, she became the second youngest ever Ladies European Tour event winner after South Korean Amy Yang, who was aged 16 years, 6 months, 8 days, when she won the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia as an amateur, in 2006. 

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
273 Alexis Thompson (US) 70 66 70 67
277 Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) 69 72 67 69
278 Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 71 67 69 71
279 Becky Morgan (WAL) 70 69 70 70, Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) 68 73 68 70, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 72 68 68 71
281 Alison Walshe (US) 70 74 68 69, Julieta Granada (PAR) 68 71 70 72 282 - Georgina Simpson (ENG) 72 70 73 67, Florentyna Parker (ENG) 72 70 71 69, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 75 69 68 70
283 Lydia Hall (WAL) 72 74 69 68, Christel Boeljon (NL) 69 72 73 69, Sara Brown (USA) 71 71 72 69, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 70 68 74 71, Michelle Wie (USA) 73 67 71 72
284 Louise Larsson (SWE) 71 69 77 67, Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 68 73 75 68, Louise Stahle (SWE) 72 70 71 71, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 68 73 71 72, Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 71 72 69 72
285 Dewi Claire Schreefel (NL) 74 69 73 69, Melissa Reid (ENG) 72 71 72 70, Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 66 74 74 71
286 - Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 75 72 68 71, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 74 70 68 74
287 Carmen Alonso (ESP) 73 73 70 71, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 72 75 69 71, Liebelei Elena Lawrence (LU) 70 72 70 75
288 Tandi Cuningham (SAf) 69 78 72 69, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 67 75 76 70, Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 70 74 74 70, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 72 72 72 72, Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 70 71 74 73, Beth Allen (USA) 69 72 72 75, Diana Luna (ITA) 69 73 71 75
289 Rebecca Flood (AUS) 74 73 73 69, Malene Jorgensen (DEN) 72 74 72 71, Hannah Jun (USA) 73 70 72 74, Giulia Sergas (ITA) 75 69 71 74, Kylie Walker (SCO) 72 70 72 75, Maria Verchenova (RUS) 69 74 69 77
290 Lorie Kane (CAN) 74 70 73 73, Caroline Westrup (SWE) 70 76 70 74, Carin Koch (SWE) 73 73 69 75
291 Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 76 70 73 72, Jaclyn Sweeney (USA) 69 74 74 74 292 Klara Spilkova (CZE) 72 75 74 71, Christina Kim (USA) 73 74 71 74
293 Kim Welch (USA) 73 74 74 72, Lynnette Brooky (NZ) 71 72 77 73, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 72 73 74 74, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 70 76 72 75, Rebecca Codd (IRE) 73 73 72 75, Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 71 72 74 76, Karen Lunn (AUS) 70 73 74 76, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 74 69 71 79
294 Stacey Keating (AUS) 70 77 74 73, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 70 74 72 78
295 Tania Elosegui (ESP) 73 74 73 75 296 - Jenni Kuosa (FIN) 72 75 74 75, Clare Queen (SCO) 74 70 74 78, Julie Maisongrosse (FRA) 69 76 72 79 297 - Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 72 73 78 74, Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 74 72 75 76, Rachel Jennings (ENG) 71 76 74 76
300 Lynn Kenny (SCO) 73 74 74 79

Kylie Walker is doing well in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Lexi Thompson of the United States says that she will just ‘have fun and relax’ as she goes in pursuit of her second professional title at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday.
The 16-year-old, from Coral Springs in Florida birdied the 18th hole at Emirates Golf Club today to move a stroke ahead of the field going into the final round.

West of Scotland's Kylie Walker had another par round today to remain 2 under after the 3 rounds. Clare Queen and Lynn Kenny both had 2 over par rounds today. The other Scot in the field Vikki Laing did not make the cut
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Alexis Thompson (US) 70 66 70
207 Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 71 67 69
208 Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) 69 72 67 , Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 72 68 68
209 Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) 68 73 68 , Becky Morgan (WAL) 70 69 70 , Julieta Granada (PAR) 68 71 70
211 Michelle Wie (US) 73 67 71
212 Alison Walshe (US) 70 74 68 , Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 74 70 68 , Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 75 69 68 , Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 71 72 69 , Maria Verchenova (RUS) 69 74 69 , Liebelei Elena Lawrence (LU) 70 72 70 , Linda Wessberg (SWE) 68 73 71 , Margherita Rigon (ITA) 70 68 74
213 Louise Stahle (SWE) 72 70 71 , Florentyna Parker (ENG) 72 70 71 , Diana Luna (ITA) 69 73 71 , Beth Allen (USA) 69 72 72
214 Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 74 69 71, Kylie Walker (SCO) 72 70 72 , Sara Brown (US) 71 71 72 , Christel Boeljon (NL) 69 72 73 , Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 66 74 74
215 Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 75 72 68 , Lydia Hall (WAL) 72 74 69 , Carin Koch (SWE) 73 73 69 , Giulia Sergas (ITA) 75 69 71 , Hannah Jun (US) 73 70 72 , Melissa Reid (ENG) 72 71 72 , Georgina Simpson (ENG) 72 70 73 , Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 70 71 74
Other Scots:
217 Clare Queen (SCO) 74 70 74
221 Lynn Kenny (SCO) 73 74 74,

Message from D&A's Jean Campbell from Florida

Jean is the one on the left 

 Camilo Villegas reads his putt

This was how I appeared on tv last Friday!!!!
John and I went with our German friends to the Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club at the Ritz Carlton resort in Naples, this was us at the 18th and enjoyed the day - Scotty McCarron was taking the mickey out of Camilo Villegas who as you know is one for spreadeagling himself along the ground to read a putt - so Scotty lay on his back and when he got up - he did hole out. Later, the four of them came to a golf clinic which Norman hosted - they showed us all sorts of shots, questions were invited and the kids were made very welcome and encouraged to ask questions, they then had about ten youngsters aged 10 - 16 who then showed us what they could do and boy it was impressive - professional golfers in the making. I did of course take one of the free hats and got Norman, Fowler and McCarron to sign it - Rickie Fowler asked me if I would like a game but I am far to busy to fit a game into MY busy schedule!!!!

There was the usual stalls for all sorts of things and in one of the places, I took part in a putting competition and for holing three putts in a row - got a head cover - they did take a picture and you could choose whatever background - the US OPEN or St. Andrews - I chose the Scottish venue! We then went into Naples and had dinner on 5th Avenue so a nice finish to the day.

THANKS FOR YOUR NEWS JEAN -- AND DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU ARE NOW A TV STAR !!

Kylie Walker does well in the India Open

Caroline Hedwall notched the fourth win of her rookie season on the Ladies European Tour with a closing 69 at the Hero Women’s Indian Open today.
The 22-year-old Swede had five birdies and two bogeys in her final round at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, New Delhi, to finish with a winning score of 12 under 204 - two ahead of Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum.
Many Congrats go to West Of Scotland's Kylie Walker who finished well up the field
Leading Final Scores
Par 216 (3x72)
204 Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 67 68 69
206 Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 67 69 70
208 Becky Morgan (WAL) 70 69 69
209 Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 69 72 68, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 66 73 
Scottish Scores:
215 Vikki Laing (SCO) 69 70 76 
217  Kylie Walker (SCO) 70 73 74 ,
219  Carly Booth (SCO) 75 73 72 , 
222 Lynn Kenny (SCO) 72 76 74,
To read the full report go the the Gillian Kirkwood Website 

Milngavie have their Greenlees Team Party

A fun evening was held at Captain Anna Telfer's house on Friday, December 2nd to celebrate their (3 in a row) success in winning the Greenlees Trophy in 2011.
After a delicious buffet - everyone brought a dish - and lots of toasts with champagne, the laughter continued with games and quizzes.
Roll on 2012!!

A slideshow by Smilebox

Thanks go to Team Captain Anna Telfer for the photographs

Moira Thomson Funeral Arrangements

Moira's funeral will be at 2pm on Wednesday 30th November at Mortonhall Crematorium.

All friends are welcome afterwards at the Nether Abbey Hotel, Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick to join the family in a celebration of Moira's life.

May Hughes receives Honorary Membership at the Lanarkshire County AGM

Lanarkshire Ladies County Golf Association's leading prizewinners after the annual meeting and presentation or prizes at Cambuslang Golf Club last night. County champion Rachael Taylor who lives in Germany could not be present. Pictures by courtesy of Jean Macintyre.

LANARKSHIRE HONOURS MAY HUGHES

Long-playing Lanark Golf Club member May Hughes received Honorary Membership of the county at the AGM. This was the speech given by county captain Lesley Lloyd when making the presentation:

"May Hughes has been a member of LLCGA since 1979 and played for the County Team between 1983 and 2010. May was selected for this year’s team but decided it was time to hang up her red jersey. 

During that time, especially in the 1980s and early 1990s, Lanarkshire were a very successful team and May was part of a winning team that qualified for and won the Scottish County Finals on 4 occasions.   

May was County Champion in 1993, 2003 & 2004 and runner-up on 3 other occasions.  As well as being a very successful golfer, May served on Committee from 1996-99 and she was County Captain in 2008 and 2009 in our Centenary Year. 

Since becoming eligible for Seniors and Vets golf May has twice been West of Scotland Vets Champion in 2008 and 2010, was runner up in the Scottish Vets Championship in 2010, represented the Scottish Vets Team on five occasions and this year represented Scotland in the Senior Home International Matches. 

May, in recognition of your outstanding contribution and commitment to Lanarkshire Ladies County Golf Association over many years I would ask you to accept Honorary membership of our Association."

To read the full report go to the Lanarkshire County Website

An Evening in the Memory of Jean Watson

Belle Robertson and John Watson

John Watson and his family held an evening in memory of his mother Jean Watson who died earlier this year at the age of 88. Approximately 100 guests attended the evening on Saturday 19th November. The guests included former Curtis Cup Players Belle Robertson and Wilma Leburn (Aitken), many D&A Past Captains and members from Douglas Park Golf Club.
John, Susan (Jean's daughter) and D&A and Douglas Park's Elinor Grant all recounted their happy memories.

Jean Watson who had been six times Lady Champion of Douglas Park Golf Club, Douglas Park's Ladies Captain in 1965, D&A County Captain 1973 - 74 and on many occasions a member of the D&A County Team. She was the winner of the West of Scotland Ladies Veteran's Championship in 1974, 1978,1979,1983,and 1984 and finalist in the Scottish Ladies Veterans Championship in 1979. For 30 years she performed the duties of Handicap Secretary to the Ladies Section.
In 1965 Jean won the LGU Gold Medal for Scotland at Gleneagles. She was Captain of the Scottish Ladies' Veteran Golf Association in 1985 and 1986 and Jean played for the Scottish Vets for 10 years between 1976 and 1986.
In recognition of her many playing successes, her service to the Club, and the honour she brought by her membership of the Scottish and National ruling bodies, Jean was elected an Honorary Member in 1979.
To see some photographs from the evening Click on the small thumbnail below

Jean Watson

The video below is of John Watson and Elinor Grant (Bunny) giving their tributes to Jean.
Go to your Webmaster's Video Channel to see some of the other videos

Pamela finishes in the top 20 in the Murcia Open at La Manga

After both shooting 70 in the final round of the Murcia Ladies Open to finish at five under par 214, the defending champion Julie Tvede from Denmark and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda played off on the Sunday Morning with Ciganda being the winner.
Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) was the top Scot, finishing T9 on 223 with scores of 76, 70 and 77. She had a double bogey 6 at the 15th for the second successive day. Heather's take-home pay amounted to 675 Euros.
British amateur international Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), who entered the tournament because it was being played over La Manga's South Course which is the same one that will be used for January's LET Qualifying School, finished one shot behind Heather but T17 was her final position after rounds of 73, 75 and 76. She had a birdie 3 at the 14th in the final round. The same hole cost her a double bogey 6 in the first round.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73)
214 Carlota Ciganda (Spain) 68 76 70, Julie Tvede (Denmark) 72 70 70 (Ciganda bt Tvede in play-off completed Sunday morning). Ciganda 3,062 Euros; Tvede 1,902 Euros).
217 Maria Beautell (Spain) 72 74 71 (1,342 Euros).
218 Daisy Nielsen (Denmark) (am) 71 72 74.

SCOTS' TOTALS
223 Heather MacRae 76 70 77 (T9) (675 Euros)
224 Pamela Pretswell (am) 73 75 76 (T17)

MISSED THE CUT (153 or better qualified for the final round)
159 Katy McNicoll 73 86.
164 Pamela Feggans 76 86.

DEATH OF MOIRA THOMSON (61) SHOCKS SCOTTISH GOLF

By Gillian Kirkwood

It is with huge regret that I report the death of Moira Thomson (nee Dewar) at the young age of 61.   
She died this morning (19th November) at the Western General Hospital.   I am sure all who read this will be as shocked as I am at the speed in which her illness took her.   It has been only 13 weeks since her diagnosis,  and she fought a courageous battle to the end.
Moira won the Scottish Girls Championship at Dalmahoy in 1968.   Starting out as a County player for Midlothian, and then a stalwart of the East Lothian County team,  she really came into her own on reaching the age for seniors golf,  and was a regular Scottish Senior International player for over 10 years.   
She worked very hard on her golf in these latter years,  and gained the respect of her international colleagues as a strong match player.  She thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of senior golf and her  friends at Gullane will miss her in their regular Saturday game.
Our heartfelt sympathies go to her husband Alastair, her daughter Claire and son Andrew, her sister Anne and their families.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

To read more go to the EAST VETS WEBSITE -- Some memories from recent times are seen in the photos below CLICK HERE for larger photos

MURCIA LADIES OPEN PLAY SUSPENDED: SCOTS IN TOP TEN

The second round of the 54-hole Murcia Ladies Open over the South Course, La Manga will be completed early Saturday morning after electrical storms in the south-east region of Spain forced a suspension of play this afternoon.
Heather MacRae (Gleneagles) and amateur international Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) will have nine holes to complete before going out again for the third and final round.
They are both two over par overall, Pamela Pretswell, playing the second nine first, dropped three shots over her first three holes. MacRae started badly but birdied the fourth, sixth and eighth before play was halted.
Ayrshire's Pamela Feggans also has nine holes to complete but, having run up a quadruple bogey 8 at the third and taken 44 shots for the first nine to be 12 over par overall, she has little chance of surving the cut, forecast to be at four-over 150.
Carnoustie's Katy McNicoll was one of the few to complete her second round and she had a disastrous 83 with one triple boge3y and two double bogeys to be joint 66th on 159.
Danish amateur Daisy Nielsen, with nine holes to play, leads at three under par by one shot from Danielle McVeigh (Ireland), also halfway through her second round, with overnight leader Carlota Ciganda (Spain) one under par with six holes to play.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE LET ACCESS SERIES WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

Autumn Mailing --- FROM THE SLGA

From the SLGA WEBSITE
The SLGA Autumn Mailing to clubs was posted on 16 November 2011.
It contains a letter from the Chairman, Shona Malcolm, a conditions of competition checklist, the mailing update form and the 2012 subscription form.  --- CLICK ON THE LINKS

Seminars on handicapping and the Rules of Golf will be held between 6 December 2011 and 19 January 2012 at locations round the country. An invitation and booking form, for a maximum of 4 attendees per club (ladies and Men), are also in the pack.

Ranfurly Castle Golf Club - Special Temporary Winter Membership

Ranfurly Castle Golf Club are inviting golfers to their club for the period up till 15th March 2012 as  a  Temporary Winter Member. Any golfer who then decides to join their club will be credited the cost of the Temporary Membership. The Glasgow Herald ran an article on Golf Clubs on Wednesday 16th November where their initiative was feature. If you are considering giving Golf at the Castle as a trial then the cost for the four months is only  £200 and fully credited to next years subscription / entry fee if they take up membership. Read more at - Ranfurly Castle Website

MERGER BETWEEN EWGA AND EGU COMES INTO EFFECT ON JAN 1

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The merger of the English Golf Union (EGU) and the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was approved yesterday at simultaneous general meetings of both organisations.
The merger will come into effect on January 1 and will create England Golf, one national governing body to represent all amateur golfers in England.
The merger proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the EGU, meeting at its headquarters in Woodhall Spa; and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the EWGA, meeting at the National Motor Cycle Museum at Solihull. Both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per cent for it to be successful.
The decision was immediately hailed as a triumph for golf and a vital step forward for the game.
Sylvia Perrins, EWGA Interim Chairman, and Nigel Evans, the EGU Chairman, said: “This merger is in the best interests of golf and we are delighted that it has been given overwhelming support by our members. We look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.
“England Golf will speak with one voice and send out the powerful, modern message that golf is a game for all, for men and women, boys and girls.
“A unified organisation, which promotes both the men’s and women’s game, will be more attractive to new golfers, will help us to grow the game, will be more appealing to commercial partners and sponsors and will mean we can be more cost effective.”
The merger vote followed a long period of consultation and preparation, which began in 2009 when a steering group was formed of members of both organisations.
Following lengthy discussions, and the involvement of ten working groups, the proposal was produced and ratified by the Boards of both organisations before being put to the voting members.
Key points of the merger
• The headquarters of England Golf will initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa. The EWGA offices in Edgbaston will continue in use until at least October 2012.
• The counties will continue to be the voting members. Counties will be encouraged to merge their Unions and Associations, but this will not be mandatory.
• The Board of England Golf will initially include 10 stakeholder non-executive directors, six nominated by the EGU and four women nominated by the EWGA. One of these 10 will be nominated as Chairman.
• The first sole President of England Golf will be a woman. The President will be supported by the immediate Past President and the President-Elect. One of these three will always be a woman.
• Club golf will go on, from day-to-day, as it does now, but members will benefit from the positive perceptions created by the merger and by the better support available for clubs.
• All the championships and tournaments currently run by the EWGA and the EGU will continue.
• The regional and group structures of the two organisations will continue to run competitions. The decision-making role of the EWGA regional committees will end.
• Affiliation fees for men and women will be harmonised and will be equal by January 1, 2014. Women will continue to pay an additional subscription to the Ladies Golf Union.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press and PR Officer
EWGA

Rules Officials are needed

The SLGA are seeking candidates to train as Rules Officials. They are looking for those who have already passed the SGU Rules Exam or people interested in sitting this exam. This involves a two day course with an exam at the end and which involves a cost. This would allow someone to officiate at club or county level and she may be asked to assist at Scottish events.
Those who have successfully passed the SGU exam, at the invitation of the SLGA, may be put forward to sit the more advanced R&A exam. The SLGA fund this exam.
If you are interested in having your name put forward please contact Carol Fell by 30th November.

Shiskine November 12 Hole Medal

November 12 hole Medal (SSS 44, CSS 46)

Pat Adamson (10) 46
Sheila Gray (10) 47
Sally Brookes (12) 48
Best Scratch Player: Pat Adamson Score: 56