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