Inter County Championship 2008

I have to thank all those who sent cards or emails wishing the girls well at the Jamboree. It was also good to hear from the team just how many of you sent good wishes to the individual players, they were much appreciated.

The result does not give any indication of how well they all played, the committment given or the determination they all showed.

I am posting the results from each day for your information and you will see how close some of the games were. The opposition was very strong in the other three teams with two Curtis Cup players playing, who did not get it all their own way!

Just like many of us when we add up our score cards, we often say, I played better than that, the score just does not reflect the way I played.

We have next year to look forward to at Royal Dornoch, so we will have much more support there and the girls will hopefully have many practice rounds before the competition starts.

Jan Corbett
Captain

Course Record

Hannah McCook does it again. She broke the course record at Grantown on Spey on Tuesday 1 July, playing in a ladies medal. her score was gross 69, one stroke off the existing record of 70. CSS was 71 and Par 72. This broke her handicap and she is now 7.3. Well done Hannah and Congratulations.

Jan Corbett
Captain

Paul Lawrie Scottish Schoolgirls Golf Championship

Scottish Schoolgirls Champion
Kelsey McDonald

Winning Highland Team of Kelsey McDonald and Sammy Vass with Tournament sponsor Paul Lawrie and Scottish Schools Golf Association Secretary Dorothy Scott

County Open at Stromness on 31 May

Stromness hosted an Open Championship on behalf of Northern Counties Ladies Golf Association. Fifty one players, five from Royal Dornoch Golf Club, 24 from the Orkney Golf Club and 22 from Stromness Golf Club played under almost perfect weather conditions.

The greens staff had put in a lot of work to prepare for the event. This was appreciated by the players.

Unusually for Orkney, the competitors in the Silver Division and Bronze Division were competing only in their own divisions. In each division, there was one scratch prize and three handicap prizes. We were happy that all three clubs were represented in the prize list.

Results:
Silver division: Gross - Shona Croy (Orkney Golf Club) 76
Handicap - Lynn Slater (13) (Stromness Golf Club) 68; Ann Gilmour (13) (Orkney Golf Club) 72; Elspeth McLellan (9) (Stromness Golf Club) 73

Bronze Division: Gross - Alison Burnett (Dornoch) 92
Handicap - Linda Bonner (31) (Orkney Golf Club) 64; Chessa Llewllyn White (30) (Stromness Golf Club) 66; Tina Smith (23) (Stromness Golf Club) 70

After a dinner, catered by the ladies committee of Stromness Golf Club, the prize vouchers were presented by the Stromness Lady Captain, Lee Seator and the Northern Counties Delegate in Stromness, Delille Diament, who welcomed the visiting players. Lee made an amusing speech, which was replied to by Mora Douglas, Lady Captain of Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Linda Milne, Lady Captain of the Orkney Golf Club.

County Team

The County Selectors, Mary Law, May Alexander and myself can now announce the Team selected to play in the Inter County Team Championships (The Jamboree) at Downfield on 28 - 30 June. We are extremely proud to have such a talented group of players available to represent the Northern Counties. Each and everyone of them has worked hard on their golf this year, and I am sure they will all show great determination and willing to do their best to win the Jamboree and reach the County Finals.

The team is as follows:-

Cara Gruber - Royal Dornoch
Ashton Ingram - Fort William
Kelsey Macdonald - Nairn Dunbar
Eilidh Mackay - Nairn Dunbar
Pam Mackay - Royal Dornoch
Jenny Milne - Elgin
Mary Smith - Tain
Sammy Vass - Tain

Jan Corbett, Captain

Cancellations

Unfortunately, due to lack of entries, the following Open Meetings have had to be cancelled. Our secretary, May, emailed all Delegates to try and get more entries but with no success.

Abernethy Golf Club 4th June - County Open & Vets
Royal Tarlair 7th June - County Open
Duff House Royal 8th June - County Foursomes
Castle Heather 13th June - County Open

Jan Corbett, Captain

Course Record

Hannah McCook has set a course record at the age of 14! She returned a 73 over the Abernethy women's course in the Mustard Trophy competition. The SSS for the course is 68, the CSS 68 and Hannah's handicap of 10 dropped to 9 as a result of her very good round. The previous record of 77 was held by Dawn Ferguson. Hannah birdied the sixth and tenth and bogeyed the second, ninth and fifteenth.

Jan Corbett, Captain

Congratulations

Congratulations to Kelsey McDonald who played so well in the Helen Holm Scottish Womens Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships at Troon. The event had a handicap ballot of 3 or less. Kelsey made the cut and she must have been delighted with her game. We all wish her continued success.

Well done to all the Northern County members who played in the Scottish Ladies (Close) Amateur Championships at Lossiemouth last week. Special mention must go to Sammy Vass on a great performance.

Jan Corbett, Captain

Championship Update

We have just had a very successful Northern Counties Championship, played for the first time at Brora Golf Club. The weather on the Saturday was changeable, sunny but with a strong wind blowing, Sunday and Monday, however, were absolutely fabulous. Plenty of smiling faces.
The Committee of Brora must be thanked and congratulated most sincerely for giving us the courtesy of their course and for the exceptional warm welcome given by everyone we met. Special thanks to Angela MacBeath, Ladies Captain, for her sterling work, and a big thank you to Tony the Administrator and Sheina our Delegate.
The entry of 52 exceeded all expectations and the sheep on the course coped very well with the inconvenience of the ladies, thankfully cattle were not on the course.
The head greenkeeper Ian Wakeman presented the course in superb condition at this early stage of the season. Grateful thanks to Robin Wilson who took many photos and reported the results each dayin the press.

Our handicap champion for 2008 is Fiona Bell (Inverness) who had a very close game with Denise McBride (Royal Dornoch) winning on the last hole with a spectacular drive onto the par 3 18th hole finishing up about 18" from the hole.

Our County Champion for 2008 is Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch) who was too strong on the day against Mary Smith (Tain). Cara played some excellent golf and had too many birdies on the front nine for Mary to catch up on the back nine.

Our congratulations to all who qualified and especially to the two winners.
The next County Open is Stromness on Saturday 31 May. It is hoped that there is an increase in the number of entries to maintain this as a counting event for the aggregate cups, county procedure maintains that there should be an entry of 39 to host an official open. If there are fewer than this, then I hope the ladies who travel to Stromness have a most enjoyable time, I am sure they will. We will send a voucher for the winning handicap score.

The Scottish Ladies Close Amateur Championship is being held at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 May. Our best wishes go to Kelsey MacDonald, Cara Gruber, Mary Smith, Ann Ryan, Sammy Vass, Jenny Milne and Julie Vass who are all taking part. Play well girls and keep the Northern Counties to the fore.

Jan Corbett, Captain

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Kelsey Macdonald who played in the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships at Troon last weekend. The event had a handicap ballot of 3 or less. Kelsey made the cut and was the leading Scottish qualifier. She must have been delighted with her performance and we should be very proud of her. Unfortunately, Kelsey will again miss the County Championships this weekend at Brora. She has received and accepted an invitation to play with the Professionals in the Ladies Scottish Open at The Carrick at Loch Lomond. We wish her well.

Jan Corbett, Captain

Northern Counties Championship Draw at Brora GC

9.00 - C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), J Milne (Elgin)
9.08 - P Mackay (Royal Dornoch), S Vass (Tain)
9.16 - M Smith (Tain), W Ross (Elgin)
9.24 - A Ryan (Tain), E Manson (Thurso)
9.32 - G Dowling (Inverness), A Dunnett (Thurso)
9.40 - E Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), D MacAngus (Wick)
9.48 - A Gowie (Inverness), M Vass (Tain)
9.56 - M Mackay (Wick), K McGann (Grantown)
10.04 - D Hulme (Fortrose), L Beaney (Brora)
10.12 - M Barr (Gairloch), H Stuart (Muir of Ord)
10.20 - E Coghill (Royal Dornoch), S MacVicar (Gairloch)
10.28 - M Baggott (Royal Dornoch), F Bell (Inverness)
10.44 - J Vass (Tain), H McCook (Abernethy)
10.52 - P Morrison (Muir of Ord), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch)
11.00 - M Alexander (Duff House Royal), D McBride (Royal Dornoch)
11.08 - D MacKinnon (Durness), S Mackenzie (Elgin)
11.16 - D Marshall (Forres), A Robertson (Brora)
11.24 - S MacDonell (Inverness), M Orr (Tain)
11.32 - P Ashe (Brora), E Gruber (Strathpeffer)
11.40 - K Mackay (Fortrose), A Grant (Broar)
11.48 - H Cumming (Fortrose), S Rowan (Inverness)
11.56 - J Fraser (Muir of Ord), S Duncan (Royal Dornoch)
12.04 - D Mackay (Grantown), B Little (Brora)
12.12 - M Shnaks (Brora), I Hart (Royal Dornoch)
12.20 - S McDonald (Royal Dornoch)

Jan Corbett
Captain

2008 Fixture List

County Championship at Brora G.C. - 3rd to 5th May (closing date for entries 18 April)
Entries to - Mrs Sheina Bruce, The Bank House, Victoria Road, Brora, KW9 6QN

Open at Stromness G.C. - 31st May (closing date for entries 16th May)
Entries to - Mrs Delille Diament, Farafield, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3DJ

Open at Royal Tarlair G.C. - 7th June (closing date for entries 23rd May)
Entries to - Mrs Muriel McMurray, Royal Tarlair G.C, Buchan Street, Macduff, AB44 1TA

Foursomes at Duff House Royal G.C. - 8th June (closing date for entries 23rd May)
Entries to - Mrs Mary Law, 10 Scotstown, Banff, AB45 1LA

Open at Castle Heather G.C. - 13th June (closing date for entries 30th May)
Entries to - Mrs Florence Allan, 13 Sutors Gate, Nairn, IV12 5BW

Open at Durness G.C. - 13th July (closing date for entries 27th June)
Entries to - Mrs Lucy Mackay, The Bungalow, Durness, IV27 4P

Open & Vets at Aigas G.C. - 27th July (closing date for entries 11th July)
Entries to - Mrs Carrie Masheter, Aigas Golf Course, Aigas, Beauly, IV4 7AD

Open at Gairloch - 16th August (closing date for entries 1st August)
Entries to - Dr Margot Barr, 29 North Erradale, Gairloch, IV21 2DS

Greensomes at Fortrose & Rosemarkie G.C. 23rd August (closing date for entries 8th August)
Entries to - Mrs Aline Drummond, Westcliffe, St Andrews Walk, Fortrose, IV10 8TP

Open & AGM at Kingussie G.C. 5th October (closing date for entries 19th September)
Entries to - Mrs Janice Grant, Suilven, Green Lane, Kingussie, PH21 1JU

County Open & AGM on 7 October 2007

Northern Counties Ladies Golf Associations' AGM took place at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club on Sunday 7 October and the prize winners were as follows:-

CSS - 76
Scratch - Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 72
1st Handicap - Cynthia May (Nairn Dunbar) (18) 72
2nd Handicap - Anne Ryan (Tain) (4) 73
3rd Handicap - Margaret Baggott (Royal Dornoch) (11) 75

Bronze
1st Handicap - Aline Drummond (Fortrose) (22) 76
2nd Handicap - Doris Crawford (Moray) (24) 77
3rd Handicap - Florence Allan (Inverness) (22) 78

County Putter was won by Jan Corbett (Duff House Royal)
Silver aggregate was won by Susan MacVicar (Gairloch)
Bronze aggregate was won by Aline Drummond (Fortrose)
Francis Souter Trophy for the most improved girl was won by Julie Vass (Tain)

County Open at Nairn Dunbar & AGM

The AGM will take place after the following competition when the Aggregate Trophies and Junior Girls Trophies will be presented. I hope there will be a good attendance.

Sunday 7 October
10.30 am - L Fraser (F&R) & M Duncan (Nairn)
10.36 am - L Clark (Nairn) & M Smith (Tain)
10.42 am - A Ryan (Tain) & J Corbett (DHR)

11.00 am - C May (Nairn Dunbar) & A Park (Moray)
11.06 am - J Grant (Moray) & J Johnston (Nairn)
11.12 am - M James (Forres) & J Hire (Nairn)
11.18 am - W Hendry (Muir of Ord) & C Delaney (Nairn Dunbar)
11.24 am - L Hampton (Forres) & K Graham (Muir of Ord)
11.30 am - V Wright (Forres) & E Wallace (Muir of Ord)
11.36 am - D Marshall (Forres) & D Mackay (Muir of Ord)
11.42 am - S Cobban (Forres) & I Mair (Nairn Dunbar)
11.48 am - S Vickerman (Grantown) & E Munro (Forres)

12. 00 - M Orr (Tain) & D Hulme (F&R)
12.06 - S Cooper (F&R) & M Hayden (Tain)
12.12 - M Douglas (Royal Dornoch) & C Matheson (Grantown)
12.18 - M Batgott (Royal Dornoch) & S McVicar (Fairloch)
12.24 - M Barr (Gairloch) & D McBride (Royal Dornoch)
12.30 - I Wright (Royal Dornoch) & C Brown (Nairn)
12.36 - B Little (Brora) & D Crawford (Moray)
12.42 - M Tough (Moray) & A Drummond (F&R)
12.48 - F Allan (Inverness) & I Wilson (Forres)

13.00 - S Bruce (Brora) & L Lloyd Baker (Grantown)
13.06 - A Taylor (Forres) & K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
13.12 - E Munro (Moray) & L Coghill (Royal Dornoch)

Mairi Orr
Captain

Home Internationals

All members of Northern Counties wish The Scottish Team a huge success at The Home Internationals being played at Dunbar Golf Club from 12 - 14 September 2007. Kelsey MacDonald is in the team and the last time Scotland won this Trophy, in 1991, Isobel McIntosh was the Captain.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Champion

Donna Macleod has just become British Police Champion playing at Moray Golf Club. Many congratulations to her.

Don't forget to enter Nairn Dunbar on 7 October. Closing date 21 September.

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Captain Elect

I have pleasure in advising that Jan Corbett of Duff House Royal has graciously accepted the nomination to be the next County Captain.

Mairi Orr
Captain

New of the Juniors

Kelsey MacDonald has just been awarded her first full Scottish Cap and we are all so proud of her. Kelsey was a member of the Winning Junior Girls Home International Team and also in Belgium.

Sammy Vass was named as reserve in 2 Girls Scottish teams and we feel it won't be long till she is 'promoted'. Well done to Sammy.

Earlier this month 4 of our Junior Girls attended a training day with the National Coach, Kevin Craggs in Stirling, one of the reasons the numbers were down for the north of Scotland Girls Championship at Thurso. The girls who went were Hannah McCook, Aimee Taylor, Hannah Mackay and Julie Vass. I have heard from Aimee and Hannah McCook, and they had a great time.

Kelsey MacDonald is Northern Counties Girls Champion and Chloe Macleod is Girls Handicap Champion, so well done to them both.

Mairi Orr

Captain

County Records

I am delighted to report the Course Record at Inverness Golf Club, set by Elaine Cuthill, was equalled by our very own Kerri Harper . Her card read as follows -
3,3,5,4,4,4,4,3,3, 33 4,4,4,3,4,3,5,4,4, 35 68
Well done to Kerri
Not to be outdone, the Doyenne of Caithness set the Course Record at Bonar Bridge/Ardgay on 25 August, so well done Vice-Captain Manson.

County Open & AGM at Nairn Dunbar on 7 October

We would like to point out that the CLOSING DATE is 21 SEPTEMBER. Please advise the members that it would be courteous to note this and get their entries in by then. It has come to our attention that more frequently than is necessary members are not complying with this policy and forget that Delegates are giving of their valuable time to assist the County.

The Agenda for AGM will be sent to you on Friday 31 August and we would request you read the accompanying letter and place all documents in the usual prominent place - The County Notice Board.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Mairi Orr
Captain

Greensomes - Buckpool - September

Please be advised that the above Competition is CANCELLED due to an inordinately small entry, and pass on our apologies to those who have already entered.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Boat of Garten

On Sunday 26 August, we were priviledged to be hosted at 'The Boat'. Joan Cairns, the Lady Captain and Northern Counties Delegate was run ragged with the many changes made to the draw, and many thanks to Joan and her helpers.
Reference adventures - there were a few at Boat of Garten - namely Gillian Dowling had a hole in one at 3rd hole - well done Gillian - it is the first Hole in One at a County Event for many a year.
Moira Gordon, who won at Portmahomack had to be transported off the course and has spent the last few days in Raigmore. News is she will be home soon and assures us she is completely 'off' bacon rolls.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Open at Portmahomack/Tarbat Golf Club

We again made a little bit of County history by being hosted at 'The Port'. It was the first County event to be played there and all those who played had a wonderful time and many an adventure. Moira Gordon won the Cathy Ross Salver and congratulations go to her. Many thanks to the Delegate, Morag Cairney, and the members for making us so welcome.

Results
Scratch - Mary Smith (Tain) - 80
Silver Handicap - Moira Gordon (Tarbat) (13) 69
Margot Barr (Gairloch) (10) 73

Bronze Handicap - Elspeth Dey (Kingussie) (26) 75
Diana Fraser (Inverness) (28) 76

Mairi Orr
Captain

Boat of Garten County Open - Sunday 26 August

11.30 - J Cairns (Boar of Garten) & A McKay (Muir of Ord)
11.38 - P Morrison (Muir of Ord) & W Spencer (Muir of Ord)
11.46 - A Rose (Muir of ORd) & E Hutton (Muir of ORd)
11.54 - M Brook (Muir of Ord) & S McDonald (Dornoch)
12.02 - E Wallace (Muir of Ord) & M Hayden (Tain)
12.10 - K Graham (Muir of Ord) & D Marshall (Forres)
12.18 - D McKay (Muir of Ord) & M Rennie (Dornoch)
12.26 - A Burnett (Dornoch) & M James (Forres)
12.34 - E Coghill (Fornoch) & S Ramsay (Inverness)
12.42 - D McBride (Dornoch) & S Rowan (Inverness)
12.50 - T Weekes (Dornoch) & S McVicar (Gairloch)
12.58 - K Lawson (Dornoch) & J Johnston (Nairn)
13.06 - S Cooper (Fortrose) & F Allan (Inverness)
13.14 - J Hine (Nairn) & J Thornton (Fortrose)
13.22 - J McKill (Inverness) & M Barr (Gairloch)
13.30 - C Boyd (Forres) & J Baldwin (Nairn)
13.38 - M Orr (Tain) & J Corbett (Duff House Royal) & H McCook (Abernethy)

Mairi Orr
Captain

North of Scotland Girls Championships

This year the above competition will be played at Thurso Golf Club. Please encourage all girls to enter. Maximum handicap is 35 and entries to Lorna Lloyd Baker please.

Mairi Orr, Captain

Girls Junior Championship

This year, the above competition is being played at Moray New Course on 1 August. All entries should be sent to Lorna Lloyd Baker.

Mairi Orr, Captain

County Open - Tarbat GC 17 August 2007

The closing date for the above Open is 3 August and entries should be sent to Morag Cairney at the address in the fixture card. This Open includes the Veterans Trophy, but does not preclude slightly younger members playing.

Mairi Orr, Captain

Results from Alness Open

CSS 68
Scratch - Susan MacVicar (Gairloch) 75
1st Handicap - June Keith (Alness) 65
2nd Handicap - Dorothy Marshall (Forres) 67

Bronze
1st Handicap - Diana Fraser (Inverness) 65
2nd Handicap - Maureen Johnston (Wick ) 69

Mairi Orr, Captain

North of Scotland Champion 2007

Prizewinners 2007

Moray Golf Club hosted the North of Scotland and I would like to thank them on behalf of, not only the County, but the North Division for their every assistance to ensure we had no major hiccoughs. To Iris Wilson and Doris Crawford, a big thanks for your time given so willingly. I really did appreciate it.

Monday dawned and around 70 competitors reported for duty. I acted as starter and thanks to the 2 Perth & Kinross ladies who assisted while I went for breakfast. They were Jennifer Sneddon and Gladys Pennycook. The early returns were outstanding with Kerri Harper returning a gross 70. The weather looked like breaking and we had a weather report faxed through from the met office and Steve fetched the klaxon from the cupboard. As we did not see any lightning at the Clubhouse, it was deemed not necessary to call the players off the course. A number of players did walk in and were given the option to return to the course to complete their rounds.

The qualifiers from Northern Counties were as follows: Scratch, Kerri Harper (1), Mary Smith (16), Sammy Vass (12) and Laura Walker (6). In the handicap section: Gillian Dowling (16) and Chloe Macleod (4). Sadly, both Gillian and Chloe were knocked out in the first round.

In the scratch Kerri Harper won by two holes from Mary Smith before going on to beat Donna Pocock by 4&2 and eventually succumbing to Emily Ogilvy at the 21st hole. Congratulations to Kerri who attended her Graduation Ceremony in Dundee the day before.

Sammy Vass had a spectacular round of golf against Carol Wilson, an Aberdeen county team player, and won by 7&6 before sparring with Emily Ogilvy who won by 4&3. Well done Sammy!

Laura Walker played against Ann Ramsay and this match went to the 19th hole in the quarter final. Laura then took on Laura Murray of Aberdeen and won with a terrific birdie at the 20th hole in the semis. She then beat Alexandra Bushby before the final marathon against her friend Emily Ogilvy. This match was terrific fun for the players and spectators alike and went to the 20th hole. Good old Laura certainly got her monies worth at Moray Golf Club! The Referee for the match was Moray Club Captain, Glen Roberts, who tells me he has asked the girls for a lesson. Many thanks to Glen for his time and to Steve Crane, Secretary of Moray, for acting as starter for the Finals.

Many thanks to the Greenkeeper, Kevin Thomson who was so supportive of the quality golfers and went to the trouble of cutting the greens between the semis and finals.

The Handicap Final was contested by Ann Smart and Lynne Terry who eventually won at the 18th. The Referee for that Final was Iris Wilson, Lady Captain of Moray Golf Club, who very kindly cancelled her week at Duff House Royal to assist me - the weather was better at Lossiemouth!!!!!

Well done to all the competitors who took part and survived to tell a tale or two. I do hope they all enjoyed it as much as I did. Next year, the North of Scotland will be hosted by Perth & Kinross at Strathmore.

Mairi Orr, Captain

County Open at Alness GC on 13 July 2007

10.10 - I McIntosh (Inverness), J Thornton (Fortrose)
10.20 - J Cumming (Inverness), M Fraser (Inverness)
10.30 - A Drummond (Fortrose), L McLaren (Inverness)
10.40 - S Ramsay (Inverness), H Stuart (Muir of Ord)
10.50 - J Cameron (Strathpeffer), P Webster (Tain)
11.10 - D Mackay (Muir of Ord), B Taylor (Alness)
11.20 - E Wallace (Muir of Ord), H Cumming (Fortrose)
11.30 - M Cairney (Tarbat), D McKinnon (Durness)
11.40 - B Lindsay (Visitor), M Hayden (Tain)
11.50 - W Hendry (Muir of Ord), B Little (Brora)
12.00 - C Place (Wick), C Boyd (Forres)
12.10 - V Balfour (Wick), M James (Forres)
12.20 - M Orr (Tain), D Marshall (Forres)
12.40 - M Fraser (Inverness) J Keith (Alness)
12.50 - M Barr (Gairloch), G Dowling (Inverness)
13.00 - M Johnston (Wick), D Fraser (Inverness)

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Alness County Open

Alness County Open - Friday 13 July. Closing Date is 29 June. Full details in fixture card. Visitors welcome and County girls with congu handicaps.

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Foursomes Results

County Foursomes at Brora GC

1st - Anne Ryan & Mary Smith (Tain) 71.5
2nd - Marion Mackay & Alison MacKenzie (Wick) 72.5 (bih)
Susan McVicar & Margo Barr (Gairloch) 72.5

Mairi Orr
Captain

North of Scotland Ladies Golf Championship 2007at Moray Golf Club on 2 July

Moray Golf Club - Monday 2 July
8.30 am - E Ogilvie (Muckhart), M Thomson (MacDonald Ellon);
8.37 am - L Murray (Alford), K Harper (Inverness);
8.44 am - L Walker (Nairn Dunbar), A Ramsay (Kirriemuir);
8.51 am - M Smith (Tain), C Wilson (Murcar Links);
8.58 am - D Pocock (Murcar Links), A Bushby (Strathmore);
9.05 am - C McAndrew (Nairn Dunbar), A Hunter (Monifeith);
9.12 am - A Ingram (FortWilliam), R Wilson (Monifeith);
9.19 am - F Neish (Murcar Links), A Hay (Letham Grange);
9.26 am - D Macleod (Inverness), H Anderson (Downfield);
9.33 am - S Vass (Tain), S McGregor (Edzell);
9.40 am - L Terry (Cruden Bay), J Sneddon (Alyth);
9.47 am - V Neish (Kemnay), A Smart (Banchory);
9.54 am - P Wilson (Murcar Links), A Bowman (MacDonald Ellon);
10.01 am - G Dowling (Inverness), E Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies);
10.08 am - A Gowie (Inverness), M Clapperton (Banchory);
10.15 am - A Smith (Monifeith), L Hardie (Aberdeen Ladies);
10.22 am - D MacKinnon (MacDonald Ellon), J Petrie (Panmure Barry);
10.29 am - J Grubb (Montrose Mercantile), C Whicher (Aberdeen Ladies);
10.36 am - A Freeman (Panmure Barry), M Robinson (Murcar Links);
10.43 am - S Belton (Kirriemuir), P McGunnigle (Banchory);
10.50 am - N Green (Nairn), L Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies);
10.57 am - M Horn (Newmarchar), C Bryce (Ballater);
11.04 am - M J Miller (Cruden Bay), H Kelly (Panmure Barry);
11.11 am - A Hope (Newmarchar), L Smith (Monifeith);
11.18 am - I Smith (Moray), P Nicoll (Banchory);
11.25 am - S Tait (Newmarchar), A Sharp (Banchory);
11.32 am - J Vass (Tain)m P Nile (Banchory);
11.37 am - S MacDonell (Inverness), L Joss (Newmarchar);
11.44 am - E Thomson (Aberdeen Ladies), L McNiven (Aberdeen Ladies);
11.51 am - E Cook (Banchory), R Maclean (Cruden Bay);
11.58 am - D Massie (Newmarchar), E Barrack (Aberdeen Ladies);
12.05 pm - F Martin (Kirrimuir), J Sneddon (Alyth);
12.12 pm - C Boyd (Forres), F Watterson (Newburgh);
12.19 pm - E Rattray (Moray), E Herries (Banchory);
12.26 pm - E Anderson (Deeside), W Smith (Kirrimuir), H Omand (Banchory).

County Foursomes at Brora on 10 June

12.30 - Dierdre MacAngus (Wick) & Audrey Dunnett (Thurso)
Margaret Barr & Susan MacVicar (Gairloch)
12.40 - Seonaid Vickerman & Merle Allan (Grantown-on-Spey)
Ann Ryan & Mary Smith (Tain)
12.50 - Mairi Orr & Mary Hayden (Tain)
Harriet Cumming & Anne Mackay (Fortrose & Rosemarkie)
13.00 - Sheina Bruce & Barina Little (Brora)
Mora Douglas & Isabella Wright (Royal Dornoch)

County Open - Isle of Skye

The weather was glorious and the Cuillins were standing proud over us and there was not a midgie in sight! If is the first time Isle of Skye has hosted a Ladies Open and we were pleased to be joined by visitors to the County from Stornoway, Dalmally, Traigh and Merlin in Cornwall.

Results -
1st Silver - Jill Mackinnon (Isle of Skye) nett 72
2nd Silver - J Goodard (Merlin) nett 76

1st Bronze - Donaldo Johnston (Isle of Skye) nett 76
2nd Bronze - Dorothy Simpson (Traigh) nett 80 bih
3rd Bronze - R MacDonald (Stornoway) nett 80

Mairi Orr
Captain

Commonwealth Spoons/Foursomes

Closing date for the above competition at Brora Golf Club is 1 June. If you have never played at Brora before, now is your chance. Hurry, hurry, only 8 days left to enter.

Closing date for the North of Scotland at Moray Golf Club on 2 - 4 July 2007 is 1 June.

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Open Draw - Isle of Skye 26/05/07

10.0 - D Simpson (Traigh), D MacLeod (Stornoway), C Matheson (Grantown-on-Spey)
10.12 - A MacLean (Stornoway) M Mackenzie (Traich), R Macdonald (Stornoway)
10.24 - L MacLean (Traigh), J Goddard (Merlin), L Carmichael (Stornoway)
10.36 - H Simpson (Traigh), J Boden (Home) & Partner
10.48 - M Carr (Traigh), D Johnston (Home), A Hay (Dalmally)
11.00 - M Orr (Tain), D Marshall (Forres) & Partner
11.12 - M Hayden (Tain), C Boyd (Forres), J Buchanan (Dalmally)
11.24 - I Noble (Muir of Ord), M Douglas (Royal Dornoch) & Partner
11.36 - J Mackinnon (Home), C Mackay (Muir of Ord) & Partner

Strathpeffer Open Results - May 17 2007

1st Scratch - Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) 78

1st Handicap - Lorraine Nixon (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (18) 61
2nd Handicap - Eilidh Syrjanen (Strathpeffer Spa) (13) 67
3rd Handicap - Maureen Ritchie (Muir of Ord) (17) 69 bih

Bronze Handicap - Aline Drummond (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (22) 65

Mairi Orr
Captain

2007 County Team

Northern Counties are pleased to announce their team selection for Cruden Bay.

Kerri Harper (Inverness), Ashton Ingram (Fort William), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Donna Macleod (Inverness), Eileen Manson (Thurso), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Mary Smith (Tain), Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar)

Reserves - Marion Howieson (Inverness), Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar), Sammy Vass (Tain)

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Open at Strathpeffer on Thursday May 17

10 - Isobel McIntosh (Inverness), Nicola Bartlett (Strathpeffer Spa)
10.10 - Sheilah Ramsay (Inverness), Wendy Spencer (Muir of Ord)
10.20 - Anne Armstrong (Strathpeffer Spa) & partner
10.30 - Aline Drummond (Fortrose), June Keith (Alness)
10.40 - Betty Taylor (Alness), Dorothy Mackay (Muir of Ord)
10.50 - Elinor Wallace (Muir of Ord), Eilidh Syrjanen (Strathpeffer Spa)
11 - Mairi Orr (Tain), Loraine Nixson (Fortrose)
11.10 - Mary Hayden (Tain), Rosemary Bruce (Muir of Ord)
11.20 - Susy Cooper (Fortrose), Val Balfour (Wick), Maureen Ritchie (Muir of Ord)
11.30 - Maureen Johnson (Wick), Jean Cameron (Strathpeffer Spa)
11.40 - Morag James (Forres), Harriet Cumming (Fortrose)
11.50 - Dorothy Marshall (Forres), Margot Barr (Gairloch)
12 - Susan MacVicar (Gairloch), Annette Strauss (Royal DOrnoch)

Thank you

Jenny Milne would like to thank everyone who sent messages and cards after her win the the 2007 County Championships at Royal Dornoch Golf Course on 28/29 April. They are all very much appreciated.

Final Results of Championship at Royal Dornoch

Scratch Semi-Final
Donna Macleod beat Gillian Dowling
Jenny Milne beat Mary Smith
Final
Jenny Milne beat Donna Macleod

Handicap Semi-Final
Julie Vass beat Sheena Dunn
Marion Mackay beat Chloe Macleod
Final
Julie Vass beat Marion Mackay

Congratulations to - Jenny Milne - Northern Counties Champion 2007
Congratulations to - Julie Vass - Northern Counties Handicap Champion 2007

County Championships - 1st Rd Results

Mary Benton Trophy - Scratch
First round results -Donna Macleod beat Susan Mackenzie, Susan MacVicar beat Trish Weekes, Gillian Dowling beat Audrey Dunnett, Eileen Manson beat Donna McKinnon, Mary Smith beat Marion Howieson, Winnie Ross beat Sammy Vass, Dorothy Hulme beat Anna MacDonald, Jenny Milne beat Pat Morrison.

Quarter Final results - Donna Macleod beat Susan MacVicar, Gillian Dowling beat Eileen Manson, Mary Smith beat Winnie Ross, Jenny Milne beat Dorothy Hulme

Semi-Finals 30 April at 9.00am and Final at 2.00pm.
Donna Macleod v Gillian Dowling & Mary Smith v Jenny Milne

Chetham Trophy - Handicap
Qualifiers - Moira Rennie, Sheena Dunn, Elizabeth Coghill, Julie Vass, Rosemary Bruce, Marion Mackay, Chloe Macleod, Pam Moscati

Quarter Final results - Sheena Dunn beat Moira Rennie, Julie Vass beat Elizabeth Coghill, Marion Mackay beat Rosemary Bruce, Chloe Macleod beat Pam Moscati

Semi-Finals Monday 30 at 9.20am & 9.30am
Sheena Dunn v Julie Vass & Marion Mackay v Chloe Macleod

Northern Counties Championships 2007 - Qualifiers

Royal Dornoch Golf Club - 29 April 2007
8.30am - Donna Macleod v Susan Mackenzie
8.38am - Trish Weekes v Susan MacVicar
8.46am - Gillian Dowling v Audrey Dunnett
8.54am - Donna McKinnon v Eileen Manson
9.02am - Mary Smith v Marion Howieson
9.10am - Sammy Vass v Winnie Ross
9.18am - Anna MacDonald v Dorothy Hulme
9.26am - Pat Morrison v Jenny Milne

NCLGA Championship Draw - 28,29 & 30 April

Competitors leave the tee at 8 minutes intervals and are from the host club unless otherwise stated:
Abbreviations - D - Durness, E - Elgin, F - Forres, Fo - Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G - Gairloch, I - Inverness, M - Muir of Ord, N - Nairn, ND - Nairn Dunbar, T - Tain, Ta - Tarbat, Th - Thurso, W - Wick,

8.0 - J Milne (E), M Smith (T); M Howieson (I), S Vass (T); D MacLeod (I), E Manson (Th); W Ross (E), E Mackay (ND); G Dowling (I), D MacAngus (W); A Dunnett (Th), N Scrimgeour (M); A Gowie (I), M Mackay (W); D Hulme (Fo), N Green (N)
9.04 - M Barr (G), L Fraser (Fo); H Stuart (M), M Bagott; S MacVicar (Ga), E Coghill; P Morrison (M), F Brand (T); S Mackenzie (E), C MacLeod (ND); D McBride, A Macdonald (Ta); T Weeks, D Marshall (F);
10.0 - K Graham (M), C Ramsey; E Wallace (M), D McKinnon (D); E Hutton (M), I Wilson (F); M Ritchie (M), J Vass (T); S Macdonell (I), S Cooper (Fo); D Mackay (M), P Mascati; L Mackay (D), M Rennie; M Wilson, (Fo), W Spencer (M);
11.04 - E Morrison (Fo), M Hayden (T); H Cumming (Fo), C Boyd (F); A Mackay (Fo), A Burnett; S Dunn (Fo), R Bruce (M); F Allan (I), S Cobban (F); K Lawson, A Drummond (Fo); M James (F), A Rose (M); I Hart, M Webster (Fo); W Henry (M), P Webster (T)

Grand County Draw 2007 - Results

Gillian Stewart (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Abernethy.
Margaret Gauldie (Garmouth & Kingston) won the 4 ball at Boat of Garten.
Pat Morrison (Muir of Ord) won the 4 ball at Bonar Bridge.
Lisa Dickenson (Royal Dornoch) won the 4 ball at Brora.
Jean Cameron (Strathpeffer) won the 4 ball at Castle Heather
Ruth MacKenzie (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Duff House Royal.
Mary Hayden (Tain) won the 4 ball at Durness.
Val Wright (Forres) won the 4 ball at Elgin.
Nancy Scott (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Forres.
Chloe Macleod (Nairn Dunbar) won the 4 ball at Fortrose.
Florence Allan (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Fort Willliam.
Ann Park (Moray) won the 4 ball at Garmouth.
Wendy Spencer (Muir of Ord) won the 4 ball at Golspie.
Jenny Louden (Nairn) won the 4 ball at Grantown.
Janice Grant (Kingussie) won the 4 ball at Hopeman.
Avril Cowie (Bonar Bridge) won the 4 ball at Inverness.
Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Kingussie.
Jena Cameron (Strathpeffer) won the 4 ball at Muir of Ord.
Norma Scrimgeour (Muir of Ord) won the 4 ball at Nairn.
Pat Smith (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Nairn Dunbar.
Jan Corbett (Duff House Royal) won the 4 ball at Orkney.
Mary Hayden (Tain) won the 4 ball at Royal Dornoch.
Christine Marshall (Nairn) won the 4 ball at Tain.
G Barron won the 4 ball at Thurso.
Eileen Ross (Inverness) won the 4 ball at Wick.

County 40th Birthday Competition - Results

1st Team - Chuntering Grannies (Helen Stuart, Hazel Littler, Alison Burnett & Chris Matheson) - 49 points.
2nd Team - Northern Belles (Louise Hampton, Alison Gowie, May Alexander & Marina Webster) - 49 points
3rd Team - Next Week we are going bowling (Linda Fraser, Dorothy Marshall, Louise Clark & Marion Howieson) - 47 points
4th Team - The Final Four (Jenny Milne, Susan Mackenzie, Denise McBride & Maureen Ritchie) - 47 points
5th Team - The Marvels (Susan McVicar, Trish Weekes, Elizabeth Sloan & Sheila Smith) - 47 points
Booby Prize - The Fore Tees (Isobel McIntosh, Lorna Lloyd Baker, Ann Park & Sheilagh Ramsay
Best Name - Penultimate Prats (Liz Coghill, Rosemary Bruce, Lynne Fraser & Lucy Mackay
Longest Drive - Kelsey Macdonald
Nearest the Pin - Sheila Smith

40th Birthday Celebration Draw - 22 April 2007

Players, in teams of 4, will leave the tee at 10 minute intervals and are from the host club unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviations: A - Abernethy; B - Bonar Bridge; Br - Brora; C - Cruden Bay; D - Duff House Royal; Du - Durness; F - Forres; Fo - Fortrose; G - Grantown; Ga - Garmouth; Gai - Gairloch; I - Inverness; L - Lothianburn; M - Moray; MO - Muir of Ord; N - Nairn; ND - Nairn Dunbar; R - Ranfurly Castle; RD - Royal Dornoch; S - Strathpeffer; T - Tain; Th - Thurso;
(J) - Junior Girl

9.20 - I McIntosh (I), LL Baker (G), A Park (M), S Ramsay (I); J Cumming (I), C McAndrew (ND), M James (F), W Ross; L MacLaren (I), M Hayden (T), M Duncan (N), E Mackay (J) (ND); L Fraser (I), D Marshall (F), L Clark (N), M Howieson (I);
10.0 - M Orr (T), R Dunsmuir (C), P Mackenzie (R), J Corbett (D); E Manson (Th), A Brownie (L), S Macdonell (I), E Hutton (MO); L Hampton (F), A Gowie (I), M Webster (Fo) M Alexander (D); P Morrison (MO), D Latham, V Wright (F), J Cameron (S); M Wild, M Gauldie (Ga), A Drummond (Fo), E Morrison (Fo); M Grant (Ga), M Lasseter, S Dunn (Fo), J Anderson (Ga);
11.0 - D Crawford (M), M Douglas (RD), M Wilson (Fo), C MacLeod (J) (ND); L Walker (ND), G Stewart (I), N Scrimgeour (MO), B Grant (Ga); C Matheson (G), A Burnett (RD), H Stuart (MO); A Oakes (G), M Matheson (B), D Mackay (MO), I Wilson (F); M Rennie (RD), H McCook (J) (A), I Smith (M), M Holmes (RD); E Wallace (MO), M Blair (RD), S Lorimer (Br), A Taylor (J) (F);
12.0 -M Allan (G), W Spencer (MO), L MacKinnon (I), K Macdonald (J) (ND); S Vickerman (G), M Barr (Gai), A Rose (MO), E Colvin (I); S Macvicar (Gai), T Weekes (RD), E Sloan (G), S Smith (G); E Coghill (RD), R Bruce (MO), L Mackay (Du), L Fraser (Fo); D McBride (RD), M Ritchie (MO), J Milne, S Mackenzie

First Junior Golf Competition

A new session is just starting with the golf and the first competition will be on SUNDAY 15 APRIL at FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE at 1.30pm. Whether you have a handicap or not, find a lady member whom you can team up with and come and play in the Juniors/Ladies Competition. NO charge. This is a fun competition to get you started for the season.
I look forward to seeing you all then and please, let me know if there are any questions.

Lorna Lloyd Baker
Junior Girls Convenor

Pam Gordon's Quiz

The above Quiz went very well and a big thank you has to go to Pam for her hard work in putting the quiz together and also to the ladies who participated and raised £275 that will go towards helping the juniors. Thank you to the ladies who provided raffle prizes too.
There were 8 teams of 4 and everybody had tea and biscuits at half time. Sweets were at hand to munch, whilst trying to think of answers to the questions.

Thanks again
Lorna Lloyd Baker
Junior Convenor

Pam Gordon's Quiz

HELP, HELP, HELP

Numbers for the above Quiz are short! Please try and support this if at all possible.

Wednesday 28 March at 2.00pm at Fairways, Inverness
£20 per team of 4 including Tea & Biscuits.
All proceeds to Junior Girls Funds

National Playing Fields Association

Many congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald on being awarded a medal at the above awards in Edinburgh, by Ethel Jack, President of SLGA.

PAM GORDON QUIZ

Pam Gordon is holding another quiz for Junior Girls Funds on
WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH at 2pm in FAIRWAYS, INVERNESS.

£20 per team of 4
Tea and biscuits included

To enter, contact Pam on 01667 453392

See you there

NOTICE OF DELEGATES MEETING

Please be advised that a meeting of the Northern Counties Delegates will take place on SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY at 2.00pm in NAIRN DUNBAR CLUBHOUSE.

It is hoped that all clubs will be represented.

Apologies should be sent to the County Secretary.

Mary Hayden

Secretary

Happy Birthday

Congratulations to our President, Isobel McIntosh on reaching the ripe old age of 70 on 11th January 2007. Maybe you will have to give up the caddying this year at Cruden Bay Isobel!!

Best Wishes from all County Members and Officials

xxxx

Christmas Wishes

We would like to wish all of our members and golfing friends a Very Happy Xmas and successful New Year in 2007, hopefully Santa will bring you what you would wish for

Mairi Orr

Captain

County Member's Celebrations

Tain Golf Club will be celebrating this weekend as one of their well known Lady Members who is also a member of the County Team reaches a special birthday number. I don't think anyone needs any more information to guess who this is -

Many Happy Returns Mary, from your fellow members of the County.

County Party

1967 - 2007

Northern Counties will celebrate their 40th Birthday at Elgin Golf Club on Sunday 22 April 2007

Grand County Raffle Draw

Prizes - Numerous 4 Ball Times for Courses throughout Northern Counties

(to be drawn at Elgin on 22 April)

Contact your Delegate for full details

Mairi Orr

Captain

County Update November 2006

Hello from the Command Centre. I know you all thought "oh joy she has hibernated"quite the contrary, I have to say, indeed, we administrators have been busy with next years diary and 2008 and in fact already working on 2009. How time flies during a stormy few days. There are a number of important points which we wish to address at this time of year and your full co-operation will be hugely appreciated.

Curtis Cup 2008
It has been announced today that the above will be played at St. Andrews 30th May - 2nd June 2008, something for the diary and special attention re: fixtures as you will all no doubt wish to go.

Guidance on running a competition
The R&A have written to us asking if we would let you know about the above publication. Mary and I have both read it and we would recommend your club have one. It may be purchased from the R&A at www.randa.org. While you are on that site, you will also see a number of other booklets which are free, as is the postage.

Xmas Stocking Fillers
I know you are always wondering what to do about this, so why not buy 3 County Pens for a £1 and a Keyring for £1.50

County Sweaters
Ahead of our 40th Birthday next year, why not get yourself a new county sweater to look the part at the party. Order from Mary on 01862 892545 or maryhayden1@aol.com It would be lovely to see you all in red tops!!

Reporting
Speaking of which, you will have read how Ashton is doing in America. Unfortunately, the report suggested she was struggling, as indeed Michelle Thomson was the following day. I would suggest tho, that the only struggle comes from the reports which continually call us "The WUMINS" Association. Maybe in our 40th year we might at last be called ladies. Indeed, sometimes the record is stuck. One of your county players is described always as a 46 year old, however, I can let you into a little secret, she is to be eligible to play in the senior events come the 26th of this month!!

Winter Training Squads
These have not been officially reported yet to the press. However, I can tell you that Kelsey is in the National Squad, Kerri in the under 22, Sammy and Eilidh in the under 18, so well done to them all.

Ladies and Girls Rankings
These have now been finalised and in the ladies the following county members are - no. 14 Laura Walker, no. 16 Kerri Harper. Terrific news, well done. In the girls rankings no. 3 Kelsey MacDonald, no. 16 Sammy Vass, no. 21 Eilidh Mackay.

Fixtures 2007
These are all well in hand and hopefully we will have a good year. There is to be a meeting to discuss the Party at Elgin in April and I will let you know soonest what is planned. After our successful trip to Orkney, I have had a call to say that approx. 12 Orkney Ladies are doing a "tour" of the County next summer. A number of clubs are to be involved, namely Dornoch, Muir of Ord, Inverness, Tain and Grantown.

Membership
Delighted to report that the above ladies would like to join the County and so I have surpassed my target to recruit at least one new member and hopefully you have been encouraging new people to join.

SLGA Fixtures
These have now been published and you can read them on SLGA Webpage.

Our Webpage
Access it by www.nclga.blogger.com Next year we hopefully will again have all the draws and results available on time.

Fixtures 2008
We have prepared a list for then and Mary Doll is writing to each club concerned. She will advise the delegate under separate cover.

News of the girls
Sammy won the Donald Ross held at Dornoch and Kelsey won the Highland schools at Spey Valley.

Course Records
Pleased to report that most clubs have now returned this despite a certain amount of embarrassment, however one club in Yorkshire even replied. The power of technology. Delighted not to have 1000 posters and minutes etc. all over our tables, worktops, beds and indeed any flat surface. It will be the delegates responsibility to print the minutes and posters for her club. Hopefully you will all see the benefits. Reduced postage, printing costs, paper and most importantly our time, as we are only two people. Further, we hope that this initiative will encourage more volunteers to step forward. We are hoping to arrange for a speaker to give a talk to the delegates on the simple use of computers aimed at county documents.

Must away and get ready for a wee trip Mary and I are going on this weekend, to the Harrods of the north in Banff.

Technology
As I mentioned in my Captain's report, we intend to use this more in the future, being ever conscious of County Funds. Posters etc. will be put onto a disc for each club and this will be sent out at the end of January.


Mairi Orr
Captain

2007 Fixture List

April 22 - Elgin 40th Birthday
April 28,29 & 30 - Royal Dornoch for County Championship

May 17 - Strathpeffer - County Open
May 20 - Duff House Royal - Captains Match
May 26 - Isle of Skye - County Open

June 6 - Fort Augustus - Delegates Day
June 10 - Brora - County Foursomes
June 23,24 & 25 - Cruden Bay - Inter County Championships

July 2,3 & 4- Moray Old - North of Scotland Championships
July 13 - Alness - County Open

August 17 - Tarbat - County Open & Vets Trophy
August 26 - Boat of Garten - County Open
August 31, September 1 & 2 - Tulliallan - County Finals

September 8 - Buckpool - County Greensomes
September 9 - Inverness - Scratch League Final
September 20 - Tain - Commonwealth Spoons Final

October 7 - Nairn Dunbar - County Open & AGM


Junior Girls
April 15 - Fortrose - Ladies/Juniors Foursomes
May 13 - Fairways - McDermott Trophy
June 9 & 10 - Ballumbie Castle - Inter Div Girls
July 9 - Hopeman - Medal
August 1 - Moray New - Junior Championship
August ? - TBA - Girls North of Scotland

Mairi C Orr
Captain

County Open at Tain

The final county open at Tain had to be stopped as unfortunately the greens flooded. The field returned to the clubhouse wet, but in good spirits. Well done to all those who played. The AGM was held immediately afterwards and the members voted unanimously to adopt the re-written constitution and were pleased to note that the entry fees for girls was reduced as part of the ongoing attempts to encourage the young ones to play. Also decided at the meeting was to revert to 16 scratch qualifiers and 8 handicap qualifiers. It was also agreed to place the following courses on our list of approved Championship venues - Brora and Spey Valley, when they have completed their affiliation process with the SLGA and hopefully we will be able to play there in 2009. The following Officials were unanimously re-elected for a year:-
Hon President - Isobel McIntosh
Captain - Mairi C Orr
Vice-Captain - Eileen Manson
Secretary/Treasurer - Mary Hayden
Junior Secretary - Lorna Lloyd-Baker

The Scratch League trophy was won by Morayshire. The Silver Aggregate Trophy was presented to Susan MacVicar who is from Gairloch. The Bronze Aggregate Trophy was won by Aline Drummond of Fortrose & Rosemarkie. The Francis Souter Trophy for the most improved girl was shared this year between Hannah McCook of Abernethy who cut her handicap from 30 to 15, and Julie Vass of Tain who cut her handicap from 31 to 16. Next year Northern Counties shall be 40 years old and we plan a special day at Elgin on 22 April where the first Northern Counties event was played.

Mairi C Orr
Captain

Visit to Spey Valley Golf Course

County Open at Tain Golf Club 1st October

Due to the field going out in three balls, the AGM starting time will probably be delayed from our estimated time of 5 pm and will now be nearer 6 pm, as we will be having the prize giving for the Open before the AGM. Hopefully you are all able to stay, as there is a full Agenda and a number of important issues to be addressed.

See you on Sunday.

11.08 - H Vass (Tain), M Lane (Tarbat)
11.16 - L Coghill (Dornoch), M Gordon (Tarbat), A Ryan (Tain)
11.24 - M Ross (F&R), D Macbride (Dornoch), A Macdonald (Tarbat)
11.32 - T Weekes (Dornoch), S Rowan (Inverness), L Thomson (Tain)
11.40 - A Burnett (Dornoch), C Selwyn (Fort Augustus), F Nicholas (Nairn)
11.48 - J Patterson (Fort Augustus), A Ross (Tain), P Moscati (Dornoch)
11.56 - M Smith (Tain), D Sinclair (Tain), H Stuart (Muir of Ord)
12.04 - M Hayden (Tain), J Russell (Tain), C Malcolm (Dollar)
12.12 - B Little (Brora, M Douglas (Dornoch), C Vass (Tarbat)
12.20 - D Sutherland (Tain), S Bruce (Brora), H Macleod (Inverness)
12.28 - M McCook (Abernethy), C Macleod (Nairn Dunbar), F Brand (Tain)
12.36 - D MacKinnon (Durness), N Green (Nairn), L Lloyd-Baker (Grantown)
12.44 - A Drummond (F&R), M Orr (Tain), A Strauss (Dornoch)
12.52 - M Barr (Gairloch), J Loudon (Nairn), M Ritchie (Muir of Ord)
13.00 - S MacVicar (Gairloch), K Graham (Muir of Ord), S Ramsay (Inverness)
13.08 - M Sutherland (Tain), L Mackay (Durness), W Spencer (Muir of Ord)
13.16 - S Vass (Tain), M Vass (Tain), I McIntosh (Invernes)
13.24 - J Vass (Tain), K Mackay (Durness), H Mackay (Tain)

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Team at Spey Valley GC, Aviemore

County Update

Hello to you all from a dreich mist-enshrouded Dornoch. The last few weeks have been very busy for everyone, all trying to cut the handicaps before the end of the season. Some have been successful and others less so, although on information supplied by Delegates, it looks like handicaps are coming down, which can only augur well for the future of Northern Counties.

More mature golfers in the County drove the long winding road to Machrihanish to play in the Scottish Seniors, although none qualified for the matchplay championship. On the first day, Pam Moscati had a gross 92 and Evelyn Hutton had a 95. In the scheme of things, this was excellent golf - the greenkeeper had a sense of humour. Three ladies putted off the 17th green into a bunker. I am pleased to say none were from the north.

Next month is of course the Senior Home internationals at Hamilton and Pam Gordon is Captain of the Scottish Team. Please do try to take a trip down there to give your support. Contact Florence Allan as she is trying to organise a bus.

Last Sunday was the Scratch League Final played at Moray Golf club between Morayshire and Ross-shire, Moray won the match and congratulations to them; also to Moray golf club for the courtesy and the warm welcome we received from Aileen Johns, Lady Captain. The League is open to all cat. 1 & 2 players who are County members and although primarily designed to give the squad more matchplay practice, it is essential to encourage more people to take part as the golf does improve and of course brings more people into the "limelight". Ours is a big County and we must give everyone an equal opportunity to participate in County events.

News of the young ones is always encouraging and terrific to see them all travelling about, not only the County, but beyond. Kelsey was selected to be a reserve in the Home International Team, a terrific achievement. Kelsey if off to England this week to play in the Scottish Schools team.

Ashton has settled into her new life at Belmont College in America and plays 7 days in the week; not sure she is relishing the 3 mile runs, pilates and special diets.

Gordonstoun School have asked to play a match against the girls and Lorna is busy organising this.

The County Greensomes were a great success and the entry was encouraging; although the plan to back to back with the highland vets did not altogether work as a lot of the vets did not play in our competition.

We have distributed a number of pens and keyrings and the delegates who have them will hopefully be able to return the monies to Mary at the AGM.

Tain County Open on Sunday 1 October. Entries to Ann Ryan on 01862 892100. Members £7, Juniors £5 and £12 for non-member. Late entries will be accepted until next Sunday 24 September.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

County Update

Hello to you all from a dreich mist-enshrouded Dornoch. The last few weeks have been very busy for everyone, all trying to cut the handicaps before the end of the season. Some have been successful and others less so, although on information supplied by Delegates, it looks like handicaps are coming down, which can only augur well for the future of Northern Counties.

More mature golfers in the County drove the long winding road to Machrihanish to play in the Scottish Seniors, although none qualified for the matchplay championship. On the first day, Pam Moscati had a gross 92 and Evelyn Hutton had a 95. In the scheme of things, this was excellent golf - the greenkeeper had a sense of humour. Three ladies putted off the 17th green into a bunker. I am pleased to say none were from the north.

Next month is of course the Senior Home internationals at Hamilton and Pam Gordon is Captain of the Scottish Team. Please do try to take a trip down there to give your support. Contact Florence Allan as she is trying to organise a bus.

Last Sunday was the Scratch League Final played at Moray Golf club between Morayshire and Ross-shire, Moray won the match and congratulations to them; also to Moray golf club for the courtesy and the warm welcome we received from Aileen Johns, Lady Captain. The League is open to all cat. 1 & 2 players who are County members and although primarily designed to give the squad more matchplay practice, it is essential to encourage more people to take part as the golf does improve and of course brings more people into the "limelight". Ours is a big County and we must give everyone an equal opportunity to participate in County events.

News of the young ones is always encouraging and terrific to see them all travelling about, not only the County, but beyond. Kelsey was selected to be a reserve in the Home International Team, a terrific achievement. Kelsey if off to England this week to play in the Scottish Schools team.

Ashton has settled into her new life at Belmont College in America and plays 7 days in the week; not sure she is relishing the 3 mile runs, pilates and special diets.

Gordonstoun School have asked to play a match against the girls and Lorna is busy organising this.

The County Greensomes were a great success and the entry was encouraging; although the plan to back to back with the highland vets did not altogether work as a lot of the vets did not play in our competition.

We have distributed a number of pens and keyrings and the delegates who have them will hopefully be able to return the monies to Mary at the AGM.

Tain County Open on Sunday 1 October. Entries to Ann Ryan on 01862 892100. Members £7, Juniors £5 and £12 for non-member. Late entries will be accepted until next Sunday 24 September.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Northern Counties Scratch League FInal

The above competition was played on Sunday 10 Spetember in possibly the best conditions at Moray Old Course. The Counties are divided into South and North; the South comprising Banff, Moray & Nairn; while the North is Inverness, Ross-shire and Cathness & Sutherland. The Teams of four are selected from all Category 1 & 2 County members available to play. Todays final was between Moray and Ross-shire, the defenders.
Results -
Moray names first - Jenny Milne beat Pat Morrison, Winnie Ross beat Lynne Fraser, Audrey Gill beat Fiona Brand and Susan Dean lost to Helen Stuart.
Well done to Morayshire and many thanks to Moray Golf Club for the courtesy of their course and to Aileen Johns, Lady Captain for the welcome we received. The golf was superb and the girls are wondering how they can better the course record of 65 set by Elaine Farquharson Black. The par is 75. The opportunity may well come at the Northof Scotland Championships early July next year.

Mairi Orr, Captain

County Greensomes

The Northern Counties Greensomes were played on 6th September at Bonar Bridge/Ardgay Golf Club, a little known gem at the top of the Dornoch Firth and well worth a visit. We are indebted to them for their hospitality and courtesy of their course. We had players from as far away as Wick and Gairloch. Bonar Bridge was presented to us looking at its' best and with the heather blooming, we could almost have been on our holidays.

The prize list is as follows -
1st - B Bremner & M Webster (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 63.4
2nd - S Hamilton (Brora) & M Hayden (Tain) 64.2
3rd - M Lane & M Gordon (Tarbat) 64.6

The winner of the County Putter was Elda Morrison (Fortrose)

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Golspie Open and Vets Trophy

The above competition was played at Golspie Golf Club on 14th August by kind permission. The course was in excellent condition and as usual the weather was kind to us. Par 71, SSS 71, CSS 73.
The Cathy Ross Salver for ladies of a certain age was won by Barina Little of Brora (24) 71. The Cathy Ross Trophy was donated 25 years ago.

Silver Scratch - Sammy Vass, (Tain) 81
1st Handicap - S McVicar (Gairloch) (11) 75
2nd Handicap - I McIntosh (Inverness) (7) 76

Bronze 1st Handicap - B Little (Brora) (24) 71
2nd Handicap - M Johnson (Wick) (25) 73

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Kerri's Course Record

Kerri Harper set a new course record at Nairn Golf Club on Tuesday 5th September, playing in the Ladies Medal
Par 75, SSS 75. The previous record of 70 was held by her team mate Laura Walker.

Par 4 5 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 36 5 3 5 5 3 4 5 4 5 39 75

Kerri 3 5 2 3 4 3 5 4 4 33 5 2 4 4 3 4 3 4 5 34 67

Well done to Kerri, whose golf is going from strength to strength.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

County Open

There is a County Open at Cullen on Friday 25th August. Entries to be sent to Dorothy Shepherd, 22 Reidhaven Street, Cullen AB56 4SY or telephone 01542 840685

Mairi Orr, Captain

County Vets Open

The above competition will take place at Golspie Golf Club on Monday 14th August. Entries are being taken by Marie Macleod on 01408 634030. Cost is £7 for members, £5 for girls and £12 for non-members.

Mairi Orr, Captain

Scottish Mixed Foursomes

This competition is to be played at Deeside Golf Club on Sunday 10th September. Entries are being taken until 14th August. Why not find a nice partner and have a great day out. Entry forms are available from SLGA on 01738 442357 or from the Sponsors, Paul & Williamsons 01224 621621 and ask for Elaine.

Regards
Mairi Orr, Captain

Northern Counties Junior Girls Championship

On a very warm day at Moray New Golf Club course, the junior girls played their Championship. Eilidh Mackay of Nairn Dunbar posted a gross 80 to win for the first time. Eilidh has battled with a sports injury, but has obviously overcome it. In the handicap section, Chloe Macleod, also of Nairn Dunbar, did the double playing off 12 had a 75 nett to win, not only this trophy, but also the senior handicap trophy at Forres in May of this year. Nadia Green, Nairn Golf Club, off 10, was the runner up on a better inward half with a 78 nett.
Well done to all the girls who took part. We know you have all been working hard over the summer months to cut your handicaps and at the same time have a bit of fun. We would also like to thank Moray Golf Club for their continuing support of Northern Counties Ladies Golf by granting us courtesy of the courses. It is most appreciated.
We hear that Julie Vass posted a 71 at Tain in the Ladies Open, but her young clubmate Hannah Mackay posted a 68 nett. Hannah won the bronze medal earlier this year at Crieff, and as a cousin of Lindsay Anderson must have the genes to do well, if her bagpiping does not interfere, so also, well done to them.

Regards,
Mairi Orr, Captain

Kelsey and Roseanne for Belgium

Roseanne Niven (Crieff) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) have been selected by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association to represent Scotland in the Belgium International Junior Open at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussells from August 23 to 26. Roseanne won the Scottish Under-18 Girls' match-play championship at Peebles recently, while 15-year-old Kelsey won the Under 16 award in the Scottish Under-21 girls open stroke-play championship which ended at Stirling on 28 July

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Open results

Muir of Ord County Open 20 July 2006
Silver Scratch - Louise Hampton (Forres) 79
Silver Handicap - 1st Dorothy Mackay (Muir of Ord) (17) 65; 2nd Jenny Thornton (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (17) 66; 3rd Merle Allan (Grantown on Spey) (19) 67
Bronze Handicap - 1st Paddy Ross (Kingussie) (29) 63; 2nd Jan Paterson (Fort Augustus) (21) 66; 3rd Wendy Henry (Muir of Ord) (28) 68; 4th Aline Drummond (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (21) 69

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Open Draw at Muir of Ord on 20 July 2006

10.00 - M Ross (FR), W Spencer (MO)
10.08 - J Glen (Spa), J Thornton (FR)
10.16 - H Cumming (FR), E Robb (Inv)
10.24 - A Drummond (FR), J Cairns (Boat)
10.32 - P Roxburgh (Boat), B Bremner (FR)
10.40 - P Morrison (MO), M Barr (Gair)
10.48 - E Hutton (MO), S McVicar (Gair)
10.56 - M Maclean (MO), J Cameron )Spa)
11.12 - E Wallace (MO), D Marshall (F)
11.20 - D Mackay (MO), S Cobham (F)
11.28 - R Rollo (Gair), S Rowan (Inv)
11.36 - L Hampton (F), T Weekes (RD)
11.44 - V Wright (F), L Fraser (FR)
11.52 - R Brown (F), J Fraser (MO)
12.00 - M James (F), J Paterson (FA)
12.08 - D Rae (FW), D McKinnon (Dur)
12.24 - I McIntosh (Inv), L Lloyd Baker (Gr)
12.32 - S Vickerman (Gr), S Ramsay (Inv)
12.40 - M Orr (Tain), M Ritchie (MO)
12.48 - M Allan (Gr), J Russell (Tain)
12.56 - W Hendry (MO), M Douglas (RD)
13.04 - P Magee (MO), S Dunn (FR)
13.12 - L Barras (MO) & partner
13.20 - P Moscati (RD), J Grant (King)
13.28 - P Webster (Tain), M Murray (King)
13.36 - P Ross (King), E Dey (King)
13.44 - N Bain (MO), A Armstrong (Spa)


Mairi Orr
Captain

British Mid Amateur Championships at Nairn

Congratulations to Northern County members, Christine McAndrew and Gillian Dowling who have 'made the cut' for the final round on Sunday. We wish them good golf and perhaps some members will be there to support them.

Mairi Orr
Captain

North of Scotland Championships

Well done to Sammy Vass from Tain who is the new Handicap Champion of the North of Scotland and to Kerri Harper who was the runner-up to Michelle Thomson in the Scratch.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Jamboree Results

Crieff Golf Club - Saturday 24 June - Monday 26 June

Northern Counties 5.5 - Aberdeenshire 3.5
Northern Counties 3.5 - Perth & Kinross 5.5
Northern Counties 5 - Angus 4

Overall Match Points -
Aberdeenshire - 1
Angus - 1
Northern Counties - 4
Perth & Kinross - 6

Northern Division Winners 2006 - Perth & Kinross

County Update 29 June

Hello from Dornoch, I am still in the twilight zone and not yet reached the darkened room. I managed a game myself yesterday and having been inspired over last weekend, managed a win. Your County Team was awesome this weekend. Their golfing skills were the talk of a few buggies (mostly ours of course). That really is a joke because the golf produced by all of the teams was a joy to watch and left us all speechless. In fact, the thesaurus probably does not have words to describe it; eg: on Monday, Kelsey lost her match 4&2, Kerri was having to eagle and birdie each hole to stay alive, and was 4 under when it finished. Ashton was 1 over par at the 13th when she lost to Ann Ramsay 7&5. Ann was 6 under par!!! Last year, Ann Ramsay did the same thing to Christine McAndrew, another wifie of this parish, and also one who had played wonderful golf. Other matches from your team were also in the calibre of brilliant, and if I were to detail it all, I would be hours doing so. I can say they were all playing scratch golf or under and if they were to enter the 'Q' school who knows????

I would like to thank all those who sent messages of goodwill to the team. They really do appreciate it and especially I wish to thank the following for their presence each day - Jock of Auchterarder, Sheila and Mary Price for breaking their journey home from Duff House, Moira Grant of Garmouth and Alan Kessack and Marion Thomson of Elgin who caddied and said the golf was better at Crieff than Gleneagles!! To Aileen, Liz and Fiona who are members at Nairn and travelled from Glenrothes to caddy - also thank you.

Perth & Kinross County of course hosted this year and they certainly put a lot of work into the event, and we thank them for that. We were made most welcome by the Officials of the County. Crieff Golf Club were gracious hosts and their staff were courteous and professional at all times in assisting us, thank you to them all.

The penultimate thanks go to Isobel, Mary and Susan for their hard work, support and dedication to the team and of course to myself.

Finally, to Kerri, Kelsey, Laura, Mary, Donna, Eileen, Jenny and Ashton, thank you all for giving so generously of your time to play in the Northern Counties Team

Moving on, I have to advise that Ashton is going to America for 4 years to Belmont Abbey in Charlotte, North Carolina and will be majoring in computer studies.

Muir of Ord 20 July
Entries for the above County Open close on 4 July and Wendy Spencer is anxiously awaiting the post.

North of Scotland at Montrose on 3 July
A number of our members are travelling to Montrose next week to take part in the above and we wish them all good golf.

British Mid Amateur at Nairn
This is also being played next week and good luck to our members who are playing.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Golf Champion of Nairn

Laura Walker is Miss Golf Champion of Nairn 2006. Earlier winning at Nairn West, she has now won at Nairn Dunbar.
Par 75 SSS 75
1st rd - 75, css 74
2nd rd - 74, css 75
3rs rd - 76, css 75
The last double champion was Louise Clark. Well done Laura.

Mairi Orr
Captain

County players prepare for Jamboree

This week the County team goes to Crieff for the Inter-County Championships. Their preparations have been outstanding with Jenny Milne retaining the Club Championship at Elgin, Kerri Harper being runner-up in the University Championships at Macclesfield and also winning a prize at the Munross Trophy and Ashton Ingram setting a new course record. Well done to Kelsey who broke another course record at Kingussie.

Card 4 5 4 5 4 4 3 3 5 37 3 4 4 5 5 3 4 4 4 36
Kelsey 3 4 4 5 5 3 4 3 4 35 2 4 3 5 4 3 3 3 3 30
par 73 sss 70 css 71

We have been fortunate to have our Match Balls sponsored by Cairngorm Windows, and we thank them for that. Thanks also go to Gleaner Oils Elgin, Munro Fruit of Tain, Johnstons of Elgin and a Cool Drink Supplier who wishes to remain anonymous.

I would also like to thank those clubs who have so generously sent us donations over and above the subscriptions.

If anybody is in the vicinity of Crieff this weekend, we would love to see you. Bring your golf shoes and a trolley!!

Mairi Orr
Captain

Ashton sets new course record

County member Ashton Ingram set a new course record at Fort William in the Captains' Prize and Gleneagles Medal. She equalled the record of 70 last July at a County meeting.

Par - 71 SSS - 70

Card 4 4 3 5 5 3 4 4 5 37 5 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 34

Ashton 4 4 3 4 4 2 6 5 5 37 4 4 3 2 4 3 3 4 4 31

Mairi Orr
Captain

County update

It has been a busy period for the County, what with team practice and the County foursomes at Garmouth & Kingston. Garmouth was looking terrific and that is probably because Rebecca Grant is working there over the summer months. Some of the ladies would like her to lower the cutting blades in the rough!! Should you be looking for a great course to take your summer visitors, so pop along to Garmouth.
Prize winners were:-
1st Scratch - G Dowling & A Gowie (I)
1st Handicap and winners of the County Foursomes trophy - L Ballantyne & M Walker (G&K)
2nd Handicap - P Clarke & J Anderson (G&K)
3rd Handicap - S Cobban & F James (F)
The two Garmouth couples will go forward to represent Northern Counties at The Commonwealth Spoons to be played this year at Loundon Golf Club on 19 September, and we wish the well.

The Girls Inter-Divisional at Ballumbie was a huge success for the North Division as they won the trophy. The team was Eilidh Mackay, Sammy Vass, Lauren McCallum, Annabel Niven, Kirsty Moss and Ashley Smith. Well done to Lorna Lloyd Baker for being the team captain - splendid job.

I have just heard that Ashton Ingram has just broken the course record at Fort William. Details to follow.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Kelsey does it again

Kelsey has smashed another course record, this time at her home club Nairn Dunbar on 31 May in the Mouaidh Trophy. Laura Walker was the record holder previously.

Kelsey's score was as follows -
card 4 4 3 5 5 5 4 3 5 38 4 3 4 5 4 3 5 4 5 37 75
kelsey 4 4 2 5 4 4 4 3 4 34 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 33 67

par 75 sss 75 css 75

Very well done to Kelsey and good luck in The St Rule

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Foursomes/Commonwealth Spoons Draw

Friday 9 June 2006 at Garmouth & Kingston Golf Club

Abbreviations: B - Boat of Garten; F - Forres; FR - Fortrose & Rosemarkie; G - Grantown on Spey; GK - Garmouth & Kingston; HO - Hopeman; I - Inverness; M - Moray; MO - Muir of Ord; S - Strathpeffer; T - Tain

10.00 - L Ballantine (GK) & M Walker (GK); J Tulloch (M) & G More (HO)
10.10 - MJ Gauldie (GK) & D Cruickshank (GK); S Vickerman (G) & M Allen (G)
10.20 - F Fraser (FR) & M Webster (FR); W Hendry (MO) & J Cameron (S)
10.30 - H Macleod (I) & J Grant (I); E Hutton & M Maclean (MO)
10.40 - M Ross (FR) & A Macintosh (FR); P Morrison (MO) & Partner
10.50 - J Glen (S) & H Cumming (FR); B Bremner (FR) & A Drummond (FR)
11.00 - J Cairns (B) & P Roxburgh (B); L Munro (M) & V Mullin (M)
11.30 - S Cobban (F) & F James (F); J Scotland (GK) & M Grant (GK)
13.00 - M James (F) & D Marshall (F); M Hayden (T) & M Orr (T)
13.10 - M Fowler (GK) & B Grant (GK); B Hughes & M Jones
13.20 - G Dowling (I) & A Gowie (I); E Morrison (FR) & S Dunn (FR)

Orkney Results

County Open at Kirkwall Golf Club on 27 May 2006

Silver Scratch - Shona Croy (Kirkwall) 81
1st Handicap - Sheila Ramsay (Inverness) 88 (16) 72
2nd Handicap - Liz Coghill (Royal Dornoch) 85 (12) 73
3rd Handicap - Sheila Hourston (Kirkwall) 92 (19) 73

Bronze
1st Handicap - Morag McCallum (Kirkwall) 99 (21) 78
2nd Handicap - Maggie McGregor (Kirkwall) 102 (22) 80
3rd Handicap - Hazel Gray (Kirkwall) 110 (30) 80
4th Handicap - Elizabeth Drever (Kirkwall) 108 (27) 81

Mairi Orr
Captain

Orkney Trip

The "goiles" are back on this mainland from a hugely successful trip to Orkney where we were met with the most wonderful hospitality and friendship. Most people who travelled spent a few days sightseeing and partaking of the terrific food to be had on the island. The travel tales will have to be glossed over, but I do believe some people were not very good on the high seas, indeed the RDGC Ladies had a plan to shout "we are sinking" and the purser rushed out to ask what they were thinking about!! The advance party, led by Pam Gordon, included Isobel McIntosh and Sheila Ramsay and thanks to them all, both Kirkwall and Stromness (pronounced Strumniss) have been rated. Friday evening was a soiree in Kirkwall Golf Club. The ladies had spent weeks deciding on a wonderful menu for us all. The entertainment was eclectic, and the main turn was Arthur Pottinger and his brother Stuart. The Inverness ladies sang a song, Pam Moscati took her keyboard, but unfortunately it was described, by the suddenly not so honorable secretary, as not being in playing mode! We were also introduced to Ellie May, a new member at Grainbank and she very obviously had a bit of adjusting to do, in all sorts of ways. Saturday dawned with what is known locally as a gentle Orkney breeze (gale force), the skies turned blue, as did the hands and faces of many of the competitors, and the rain went away; must have been the song what did it! There was not a pair of braces in sight and most of the scores reflected this. Congratulations to all the prizewinners, especially those who won their county voucher. We had 10 clubs represented and it was encouraging to see many new friendships being formed. I had the honour to play with Doreen Garson, the Captain of Stromness and Marianne Tait, Captain of Orkney. It would seem, even in Orkney, nicknames are fashionable, although Marianne is called The Dictator. I could not quite think why she had her other name on her gloves "ogre". That was until we got the the 18th, but I have recently come out the darkened room so don't want to say anymore, apart from the flagpole is in a very interesting spot!! Thank you for the golf ball, I will remember the 18th forever. It was almost a course record!
To Orkney Golf Club and all their staff and helpers who worked so hard to prepare for our visit, thank you so much, Simon Henderson the greenkeeper is a star.
We are still to confirm, but the Stromness Ladies would welcome a County Open there is May of 2008.
I would urge you to take your golf clubs to Orkney and enjoy a wee break. For more reporting of the event, see www.theorcadian or www.orkneytoday.co.uk (comes out on Thursday) and thank you to Robert Leslie and his photographer for their interest in Northern Counties.
A reminder about Colin Farquharson's new website www.scottishgolfview.com, should be worth a look.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Orkney Open Draw

County Open at Kirkwall Golf Club on Saturday 27 May

D - Durness; E - Elgin; G - Grantown-on-Spey; I - Inverness; K - Kirkwall; M - Muir of Ord; RD - Royal Dornoch; S - Stromness; T - Tain

9.0 - L Campbell (K), M Irvine (K), C Matheson (G);
9.10 - H Gray (K), M Douglas (RD), E Drever (K);
9.20 - F Allan (I), J O'Connor (K), S Salter (K);
9.30 - J Sharpe (S), L Ross (K), E Maclaren (I);
9.40 - L Reeve (K), A Barnett (RD), M Macgregor (K);
9.50 - M MacCallum (K), W Spencer (MO), M Daiziel (K);
10.10 - S Shearer (K), L Seator (S), S MacKinnon (D);
10.20 - P Gordon (I), S Walls (K), L Milne (K);
10.30 - I McIntosh (I), H Smith (K), S McDonnal (I);
10.40 - P Moscati (RD), S Ramsay (I), S Hourston (K);
10.50 - E Sloan (K), M Hayden (T), D McBride (RD);
11.00 - M Tair (K), M Orr (T), D Garson (S);
11.20 - G Gilbert (K), E Coghill (RD), S MacVicar (G);
11.30 - D Hutchison (K), A Gilmour (K), S Mackenzie (E);
11.40 - E Spence (K), M Barr (G), L Lloyd-Baker (G);
11.50 - K Sutherland (S), E Manson (T), J Cumming (I);
12.00 - M Leonard (K), A Dunnett (T), A Poke (S);
12.10 - E McLellan (S), S Croy (K), J Milne (E)

Congratulations

Congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald who has been selected to play in the European Girls Team Championships in Esbjerg Golf Club, Denmark on July 11-15. Kelsey has also been selected as a reserve for the European Junior Masters in Austria on July 27-29.
Congratulations to Kerry Harper who has been selected as a reserve for the European Junior Womens Team Championships in the Netherlands on July 11-15.
Eilidh Mackay and Sammy Vass are in the North Division team for the Girls Inter-Divisional at Ballumbie Castle in June.
Thank you all for your support of the squad, they really do appreciate it.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Team Members

We are pleased to announce our team for the Inter-County Championships at Crieff Golf Club on 24 - 26 June 2006

Kerri Harper (Inverness)
Ashton Ingram (Fort William)
Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar)
Eileen Manson (Thurso)
Jenny Milne (Elgin)
Donna Sinclair (Tain)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Laura Walker (Nairn Dunbar)

Reserves
Marion Howieson (Inverness)
Eilidh Mackay (Nairn Dunbar)
Sammy Vass (Tain)

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Championships at Forres GC

The ambience and friendliness provided by the ladies of Forres Golf Club was much appreciated by all who participated - to Louise Hampton, the Lady Captain and her dream team of Northern Counties Delegates, Val Wright and Sheila Cobbam, well done, and to Dorothy Marshall, the ever efficient secretary, a big thank you.
The other staff at Forres are also to be praised for their professionalism, the course was well presented and proved to be challenging for the majority of players.
Rodney the rooster kept us entertained and had the odd crow or two when people were putting!
The entry was down this year due to various stalwart members having other commitments, eg: The doyenne was in Dubai checking out the winter training venue for the County Team (JOKE)! Sadly, other members were injured or had family arrangements. May I take this opportunity to welcome the two new members from Gairloch. Thank you to all who entered and helped make the championship the premier event in our calendar.
The County Putter was won by June Glenn from Strathpeffer and we wish her happy days with it.
It was especially pleasing to see so many of the junior girls playing and what a lively bunch they are. This years' fashion statement is definitely braces, and what fun we had with them. Indeed, County Team players might have to get red ones!
Speaking of dress, congratulations to Laura for her well turned out appearance in County Uniform on Sunday and indeed to you all who wore the red.
The mood of the weekend was set by Kelsey who took 2 hours 30 minutes to go round the course and SMASHED the course record set in 1997 by Pat Maclennan of Forres.

Card 4 4 4 4 3 5 3 4 5 36 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 36 72
Kelsey 3 5 3 4 3 3 2 4 3 30 4 4 4 4 5 3 3 3 4 34 64
SSS - 71 CSS - 71

The matchplay started in the afternoon with 8 qualifiers.
Kelsey Macdonald bt Ashton Ingram
Ann Ryan bt Laura Walker
Jenny Milne bt Donna Sinclair
Kerri Harper bt Christine McAndrew

Sunday dawned - we provided lollipops on the first as the semi-finalists were mostly juniors or just come of age. The handicap semi included Liz Coghill and the combined age of the other semi finalists plus their caddies almost equaled hers!! However, not daunted, and in true sporting fashion, Liz posed for photographs and declared that instead of the County scheme of adopting a junior, it was now, Foster a Granny!
Kelsey beat Ann in a game of brilliant golf from both players, Anne will have to try again next year. The other semi-final was hotly contested between Kerry and Jenny, going to the 21st when Jenny pitched to within a foot of the pin while Kerry was through the green.
In the handicap semi, Sammy Vass caddied for her sister Julie, with Julie beating Liz Coghill. Chloe Macleod and Aimee Taylor, both making their debut at the Championships, also had a good match ,with Chloe winning.
The Referee for the Handicap Match was the Lady Captain of Forres and she came prepared with her length of string etc. Julie and Chloe both enjoyed their game with Chloe winning at the 17th. Well done to both of them.
The final was refereed by our very own top Scottish Referee, Liz Munro. Kelsey and Jenny squared up and like all of the girls, very much enjoyed the moment. The scores for your information below:-

Kelsey 4 4 5 5 4 6 3 3 4 4 c 3 4 4 4 4
Jenny 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 c c 3 3 4 5 5 4 5

Well done to all the finalists and thank you to all the spectators who came to watch such superb golf.
The venue for next year's Championship will hopefully be announced shortly. I apologise for the delay, but we have had what I shall describe as technical difficulties.
The County Team shall be announced at the earliest opportunity and hopefully you will come to Crieff to support us in our defence of the Inter-County Championship. Caddies are urgently required. Contact Susan. You don't need to be young or wear braces!!

Mairi Orr
Captain

N.C.L.G.A. Championship Draw - Forres GC 6th & 7th May

8.0 - K Macdonald (ND) & K Harper (I)
8.06 - J Milne (E) & L Walker (ND)
8.12 - C McAndrew (ND) & S Ingram (FW)
8.18 - M Smith (T) & M Howieson (I)
8.24 - W Ross (E) & A Ryan (T)
8.30 - D Sinclair (T) & A Gowie (I)
8.36 - M Vass (T) & G Dowling (I)
8.42 - M Barr (G) & P Gordon (I)
8.48 - L Lloyd-Baker (Gr) & E Mackay (ND)
8.54 - S Vass (T) & L Fraser (F&R)
9.0 - K McBeath (F) & H Stuart (MO)
9.06 - S Mackenzie (E) & S MacVicar (G)
9.12 - L Coghill (RD) & A Strauss (RD)
9.18 - M Bagott (RD) & J Maison (DHR)
9.24 - D Marshall (F) & P Morrison (MO)
9.30 - D McBride (RD) & S MacDonell (I)
9.36 - P Moscati (RD) & M Rennie (RD)
9.42 - I Wilson (F) & J Glen (S)
9.48 - M Hayden (T) & E Morrison (F&R)
9.54 - W Spencer (MO) & M Brennan (RD)
10.0 - A Burnett (RD) & R Cruickshanks (I)
10.06 - F Allan (I) & H Cumming (F&R)
10.12 - C MAcleod (ND) & M Maclean (MO)
10.18 - A Drummond (F&R) & S Dunn (F&R)
10.24 - J Paterson (FA) & M James (F)
10.30 - D Rae (FW) & S McDonald (RD)
10.36 - A Taylor (F) & C Proctor (F)
10.42 W Henry (MO) & J Cameron (S)
10.48 - J Vass (T) & Partner

Abbreviations -
DHR - Duff House Royal; E - Elgin; F - Forres; FA - Fort Augustus; FW - Fort William; F&R - Fortrose & Rosemarkie; G - Gairloch; Gr - Grantown; I - Inverness; MO - Muir of Ord; ND - Nairn Dunbar; RD - Royal Dornoch; S - Strathpeffer; T - Tain

Highland Vets Fixture List 2006

April 26 - Grantown-on-Spey GC
May 19 - Championship qualifying at Nairn Dunbar GC
May 22 - Semi & Final of Championship at Nairn Dunbar GC
August 14 - Home Match v Northern Division at Elgin GC
September 5 - Greensomes at Tain GC
September 20 - Open and Prizegiving at Newtonmore GC

Happy Birthday

Many Congratulations to Kerri on her 21st birthday from everybody in Northern Counties.

Mairi Orr
Captain

County Championships at Forres 6/7 May 2006

Entries will close for the above competition on 21st April. Please get your entries in now to Val Wright on 01309 673650.

Mairi Orr
Captain

Quiz Evening

Thankyou very much to all who supported the Quiz last week held at Fairways. We raised £280 for the Junior Girls and I was absolutely delighted.

Regards
Pam Gordon

Devices

After discussion, The NCLGA Management Committee and The North Divisional Committee for Scottish County Golf have decided the following:-

Notwithstanding any local rule that a golf club may have invoked, the use of distance measuring devices is PROHIBITED in any County event during 2006.

The use of such a device is in breach of rule 14.3, the penalty for which is disqualification.

Mairi C Orr
Captain

COUNTY GIRLS QUIZ

A quiz has again been organised by Pam Gordon this year for WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH at Fairways, Inverness, tee-off at 2 PM.
The cost of each team will be £20 which includes tea and biscuits.

Team members do not necessary have to be golfers and the prizes will of course be outstanding!!

Entry forms will be available at the AGM on Sunday 25th February at Nairn Dunbar, or alternatively call her on 01667 453392

All proceeds go towards the development of the girls golf and every penny is precious.

Mairi Orr
Captain