HANNAH McCOOK WINS NORTH OF SCOTLAND GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Many congratulations to Hannah McCook, has won the North of Scotland girls' golf championship.
A four-handicap member at Abernethy Golf Club, Nethybridge, Hannah, who had her 16th birthday last month, returned a scratch round of 74, which matched the CSS for the day, at Nairn Golf Club to win the title by three strokes from Lauren Duncan (Aboyne).
Tegan Seivwright (Deeside) won the leading handicap award with a net 68 off 13, clubmate Sophie Alexander was runner-up with a net 72 off six.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP - Nairn Golf Club - SCORES (CSS 74)
Scratch
74 H McCook (Abernethy); 77 L Duncan (Aboyne); 78 S Alexander (Deeside);
79 R Polson (Peterculter); 80 L McGillivray (Banchory); J Vass (Tain);
81 T Seivwright (Deeside); 83 K Beveridge (Aboyne); 89 E Tunn (Reay);
92 V Powell (Deeside); 94 K MacCallum (Newburgh); 95 E Reid (Deeside);
96 K Mackay (Durness); 96 F Fullerton (Meldrum House);
101 O Borwick (McDonald Ellon); 123 S McWilliam (Aboyne).
Handicap
68 T Seivwright (Deeside) (13); 70 H McCook (Abernethy) (4), L Duncan (Aboyne) (7).
72 S Alexander (Deeside) (6); 73 J Vass (Tain) (7);
74 R Polson (Peterculter) (5), L McGillivray (Banchory) (6), V Powell (Deeside) (18).
76 K Beveridge (Aboyne) (7); 80 E Reid (Deeside) (15); 81 K Mackay (Durness (15);
83 O Borwick (McDonald Ellon) (19); 84 K MacCallum (Newburgh) (10);
86 F Fullerton (Meldrum House) (10); 87 E Tunn (Reay) (13);
CAMERON COURSE SCORES
48 K Hardie (Fortrose & Rosemarkie); 57 E Murray (Moray).

August News

Rain and more rain, forced the Vets open at Muir of Ord to be abandoned, I am sure all the ladies who were to take part were disappointed, unfortunately we can do nothing about the weather.

The next Open is at Torvean on Saturday 5th September, a chance to get another score in for the aggregate cups, entries are very low for this at the moment so please get your entry in to Christine Marshall on 01463 223024 as soon as possible, closing date is 22nd August.

As you know there will be a change to the Committee at the AGM on 4th October. Florence Allan will be the new Captain and has a Secretary/Treasurer and Junior Convener in place, however, the Vice Captain's position is still vacant. I am sure there are many of you who would be very capable of taking this position and who would enjoy being involved in the County organisation.
Please get in touch with Florence on 01667 455229 or if you want any further information you could get in touch with me on 01261 812848.
We will be waiting for your call and hope that we will be busy answering our phones'

Jan Corbett
Captain

August news

There are still plenty of places in the Northern Counties Vets Open at Muir of Ord on Friday 14th August, please get in touch with Evelyn Hutton on 01463 782309 for a late entry. My apologies to all as I am unable to attend this event.



10.00 - Norma Scrimgeour (MofO); Dorothy Mackay (MofO)
10.06 - Helen Stuart (MofO); Aline Drummond (F&R)
10.18 - Jenny Thornton (F&R)' Wendy Spencer (MofO)
10.24 - Jean Cameron (Strath); Harriet Cumming (F&R)
10.30 - Eveline Hutton (MofO); partner
10.42 - Jean Hunter (BB); Christine Marshall (N)
10.48 - Morag James (F); Marjory Matheson (BB)
10.54 - Denise Goldstein (RD); Dorothy Marshall (F)
11.00 - Kate Lawson (RD); Julie Fraser (MofO)
11.06 - Anne Hardine (RD); Anne Mackay (F&R)
11.12 - Denise MacBride (RD); Elinor Wallace (MofO)
11.18 - May Alexander (DHR); Trish Weeks (RD)
11.24 - Rae Topping (DHR); Margot Barr (Gair)
11.30 -Clair Dingwall (MofO); Susan MacVicar (Gair)
11.36 - Sylvia MacDonald (RD); Carol Diethe (N)
11.42 - Mairi Orr (RD); Elaine Hill (Gr)
11.48 - Pam Moscati (RD); Sheila Smith (Gr)
11.54 - Mary Hayden (T); Rosemary Bruce (MofO)
12.00 - Seonaid Vicerman (Gr); Marlene MacLean (MofO)
12.06 - Anne Armstrong (Strath); Jean Russell (T)
12.12 - Merle Allan (Gr); Maureen Ritchie (MofO)
12.18 - Ann Nicolle (Gr); Pat Morrison (MofO)
12.24 - Alison Burnett (RD); Liz Barras (MofO)
12.30 - Wendy Henry (MofO); partner


Something for us to think about next year is the Tain Four Day Tournament for Ladies and Gents which by all reports was a great success this year. The ladies scratch final was won by Anne Ryan who beat Hannah McCook by 2 and 1, Anne having beat Julie Vass in the semi-final.
Also congratulations Anne on your birthday, one of the special one's

Congratulations also to Mary Smith who was part of the team who retained the Miller Stirling Trophy at the Veteran Ladies Golf Association Jamboree at Bath Golf Club. Scotland bt England 5 1/2 to 3 1/2

In the Girls' Home International golf matches at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire Sammy Vass was part of the team who helped Scotland finish runners-up and take the Swansea Spoon. They lost to England, halved with Wales and beat Ireland.





I am sure you all wish Sammy all the best as she leaves next weekend for Florida to begin a University Course.





Remember, I don't always hear what is going on out there at your Club, so please let me have items of interest which I will post on the web page.



Jan Corbett
County Captain

Girls Championship 2009

Picture from Northern Counties Girls Championship at Tain on Monday 27th July.

Northern Counties Girls Championship at Tain on Monday 27th July.
Sponsored by MacKenzie & Cormack Solicitors & Estate Agents (Tain & Beauly). Lawson Keir of that firm in middle of picture. I 'd like to thank them very much for their very generous sponsorship.
Winner of scratch = K MacKay (Durness) 90
Winner of handicap = E Tunn (Reay) 91 - 13 = 78

Many congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald who has won the Scottish Under-21 Girls' Open Stroke-play Championship which was held at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club. Kelsey showed her 'true grit' winning a play off at the 2nd extra hole, against Lucy Williams of Mid Herts, they halved the first hole with birdies and then Kelsey won at the second extra hole with another birdie. Pictures and a full report on all the prize winners can be seen on http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/

Some other members of the Northern Counties team have also had success this season and must be congratulated also. Playing in the Scottish Girls' Championship at Lanark earlier this month were Sammy Vass, Julie Vass and Hannah McCook, they all qualified and Sammy just lost out in final to Ailsa Bain (Peebles), and I am sure you all know that Sammy is off to the University of Central Florida next month and our best wishes go with her.

Mary Smith (Tain) has been named in Scotland Vets team for bath in August 4-6 and also in the Scottish team for the European Senior Women's team championship in Co Dublin in September 1-4.

Hannah McCook (Abernethy) has been picked for the Grampian Houston Junior Trip to Texas in October 11 for 10 days (the only girl) I am sure she will enjoy the experience.



Results from Grantown: This was a non counting event, we had a great entry of over 60 but the heavens opened and we all experienced a thunder and lightening storm, 26 ladies went out in light rain when the course was re-opened and completed their round.

1st Scr - Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) 80; 1st Silver H'cap - Jean Russell (Tain) (18) 74; 2nd Silver H'cap - Fiona Williams (Inverness) (15) 74; 1st Bronze H'cap - Mora Douglas (Royal Dornoch) (31) 76; 2nd Bronze H'cap - Maureen Walker (Garmouth & Kingston) (22) 79; 3rd Bronze H'cap - Meg Shanks (Brora) (22) 82.



Our next Open is the Vets at Muir of Ord on Friday 14th August.

Jamboree

This time last weekend the Northern Counties has won the first two games of the Jamboree at Royal Dornoch. We beat the defending champions Perth & Kinross 5 1/2 to 3 1/2 and Angus 7 to 2. We awoke on Day 3 to yet another wonderful day and defeated Aberdeenshire 5 1/2 to 3 1/2.
The girls all contribued to a wonderful Championship and we should be very proud of them all.
Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) Pam Mackay (Royal Dornoch), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Mary Smith (Tain) Julie Vass (Tain), Sammy Vass (Tain) and reserve Hannah McCook (Abernethy).

Sammy Vass holed her tee shot at the 6th and the only player to beat Carly Booth in the singles was Kelsey MacDonald, playing in her first Jamboree was Julie Vass who had a very exciting game which she won on the 18th to give us a winning point.

I am very proud to have been their Captain and was extremely touched when the girls presented May and myself with a set of lovely Table Mats, this was very much appreciated by us both.

Also, many thanks to all of you who sent the Team 'good wishes' by card and email.

We now go forward to Baberton, Edinburgh in September 18th - 20th for the finals and there we will play Mid Lothian, Renfrewshire and Galloway. Sammy Vass will have moved to the USA by then but we still believe that we are capable of becoming champions again.

There is a great article published in the Northern Times which can be seen on their web page www.northern-times.co.uk this article has already been sent to your club delegate and should be placed on a prominent place in your Clubhouse.

Many thanks
Jan

Monday, June 29, 2009

NORTHERN COUNTIES WIN TITLE
Northern Counties have joined Renfrewshire and Galloway in the line-up for the Scottish women's inter-county team golf championship finals at Baberton Golf Club, Edinburgh from September 18 to 20.
Northern Counties wrapped up the North Division title at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today (Monday) when they beat Aberdeenshire 5 1/2-3 1/2, giving them three wins out of three.
In the other tie, Perth & Kinross beat Angus 6-3

The Inter County Championship (the Jamboree) takes place this coming weekend at Royal Dornoch Golf Club. The team members - Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch), Cara Gruber (Royal Dornoch), Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn Dunbar), Pam Mackay (Royal Dornoch), Jenny Milne (Elgin), Mary Smith (Tain), Julie Vass (Tain), Sammy Vass (Tain) and reserve - Hannah McCook (Abernethy) will have a practice round on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday we play Perth & Kinross, Sunday its Angus and on Monday we play Aberdeenshire.
The foursomes start at 9.00am and the singles at 2.00 pm each day.
I hope to see lots of Northern Counties red colours on the course giving lots of support to the girls.
Jan Corbett
Captain

The Foursomes at Tain went very well with an entry of 30 pairs and the results were –
1st Scratch – Mary Smith & Anne Ryan gross score 80.
1st H’cap – E Gruber (Strathpeffer) & C Ross (Royal Dornoch) 74; E Ballantyne & M Walker (Garmouth & Kingston) 76; M Barr & S McVicar (Gairloch) 76.5; A Ross (Tain) & L Beannie (Brora) 77.

Many thanks to Pam Gordon who has done a ‘Golf Quiz’ to help with our funds, this has been sent to your Delegate, so please get a copy, costs £1 and is a lot of fun.

Our next Open is at Grantown on Spey on Wednesday 15th July, the closing date being 1st July. I think this will be a popular venue so please get your entries in early.

Remember your news from your club should be on our web page.

Aberdeenshire is looking for more entries for the North of Scotland Championship at Newmachar 6th to 8th July.

Jan Corbett, Captain

Success at Southerness in the the Scottish Ladies (Close) Amateur Championship.

Well done Sammy and Kelsey.
Sammy Vass beat Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) by 4and3 in the final of the Clark Rosebowl, this being the competition for those whose scores were below the 32 qualifiers for the Championship.
Kelsey Macdonald also played well and qualified in 6th place for the title, Kelsey won her first round match against Karen Marshall (Baberton) but was beaten in the second round by Elaine Moffat (St Rugulus).

Kelsey and Cara Gruber will be taking part in the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews on 30/31 June and I am sure we all wish them well.

Northern Counties - County Foursomes
Tain Golf Club - Saturday 23rd May 2009
B, Brora; BB, Bonar Bridge; D, Duff House Royal; F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie; G, Gairloch; Gr, Grantown on Spey; GK, Garmouth & Kingston; I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord; N, Nairn; RD, Royal Dornoch; S, Strathpeffer; T, Tain;

11.00 - C Dingwall (MO), W Spencer (MO), and M Smith (T), A Ryan (T); P Morrison (MO), J Fraser (MO), and N Burtwell (N), C morrison (N); P Moscati (RD), I Wright (RD) and C Cranston (FR), C McMartin (FR); E Hutton (MO), M Maclean (MO) and M Wilson (FR), A Drummond (FR);
11.32 - M Vass (T), J Vass (T) and L Fraser (Fr), J Kennedy (FR); T Fraser (FR), K Bissett (Fr) and N Bartlett (S), J Carr (S); M Maclachan (Gr), M Dick (Gr) and A Mackay (FR), H Cumming (FR); E Hill (Gr), E Sloan (Gr) and A Armstrong (S), J Russell (T);
12.12 - I Blease (Gr), J Coulthard (Gr) and F Fraser (FR), M Webster (FR); N Scrimgeour (MO), H Stuart (MO) and M Hayden (T), M Alexander (D); M Barr (G), S MacVicar (G) and L Thompson (T), F Brand (T);
12.36 - J Nicol (I), F Williams (I) and A Ross (T), L Beannie (B); E Ballantyne (GK), M Walker (GK) and D Marshall (F), M James (F); M Orr (RD), P Davis (F) and L Offin (BB), G Mackay (BB).

Magi and Sammy Vass pip Lorraine and Hannah MacKay for Northern Counties adult-girls' prize
There is no rule in the book against organising a golf competition - and then winning one of the major prizes yourself!
Step forward Mrs Magi Vass (Tain) who staged a Northern Counties Girls' adult-girl greensomes at Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club on Sunday - and won the handicap prize with her daughter Sammy with a 68 net on a better inward half countback over Lorraine MacKay and her daughter Hannah, also from Tain, who also returned a net 68.
Magi (as Margaret Russell) was a Scotland junior international team member in her day while Sammy is a Scotland girl international.
Dana Stodart and her mum Margo (Royal Dornoch) won the pre-handicap section with a 75 net.
Magi Vass writes:"The Nairn and Nairn Dunbar Ladies teamed up (spearheaded by Jen Abbott who has 50 girls playing regularly at The Nairn Golf Club!) in a fund-raising effort for the Northern Counties Girls. They held a coffee morning in Nairn on Saturday and raised £1,300.
"They deserve a very big thank you from me and all the girls as this will make a massive difference to the coaching, etc that we can provide."

Kylie, Carly and Kelsey win Welsh Team Trophy for Scotland
Good news Kylie Walker, Carly Booth and Kelsey MacDonald - Scotland won the Nations Cup team event at the weekend's Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship at windswept Royal Porthcawl. Kylie said – “Obviously we were disappointed not to do better as individuals but we were happy to do Scotland proud by bringing home the Nations Cup Trophy. Thanks to the SLGA for sending us," Kylie figured in a three-way tie for the lead with one round to go eventually finishing joint sixth, Carly Booth joint 12th and Kelsey MacDonald 17th.

NORTHERN COUNTIES LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION
PRIZE RAFFLE – FREE FOUR BALL 2009
The draw for the ‘Free Fourball’ during 2009 was done at the end of the prize giving at the Championship at Nairn Golf Club by the Vice Captain, Florence Allan and the Ladies President of Nairn Golf Club, Mrs Jenni Drummond. An estimate of the funds this has generated is £2245 an absolutely wonderful achievement, this sum will greatly help the funds of both the Ladies and Girls Associations. Some of the vouchers were taken by friends of the winners and the rest will be posted this week.
Many thanks to you the members for generating this sum and for your continued support and generosity.
We are extremely grateful to the Clubs who donated the prizes and enabled us to make this fundraising event such a success.
MORAY - ALISON BARTLETT, ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF CLUB
TORVEAN - IRENE BLEASE, GRANTOWN ON SPEY GOLF CLUB
DUFFTOWN - NICOLA THOMAS, CASTLE VIEW, KINTORE
BOAT OF GARTEN - JOANNA FLOCKHART, MAIN STREET NEWMILLS, FIFE
ROYAL DORNOCH (STRUIE) - MAC ALLAN, FORRES GOLF CLUB
FORT AUGUSTUS - SEONAID VICKERMAN, GRANTOWN ON SPEY GOLF CLUB
ELGIN - MGT SPARK, STRAPEFFER GOLF CLUB
STRATHLENE - VIVIEN MCINTOSH, 3 FAIRWAYS, NAIRN
FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE - SUE HELAL, ROYAL DORNOCH GOLF CLUB
LYBSTER - W PLEASANT,29 PEBRIE CRESCENT ELGIN
TAIN - F HOSSACK.WATERSIDE HOUSE, WEST SHORE STREET, ULLAPOOL
FORT WILLIAM - J ALEXANDER, DUFF HOUSE ROYAL
STORNOWAY - ISOBEL ROBERTSON NAIRN GOLF CLUB (SEE YVONNE GUNN)
NAIRN DUNBAR - D GRAY, CRANGTON N. KESSOCK
BUCKPOOL - D ROSS, ELGIN GOLF CLUB
GOLSPIE - STAN FARQUHAR, DUFF HOUSE ROYAL
ULLAPOOL - A ADAM,EASTER BUTHILL, ELGIN
STRATHPEFFER - E CRUICKSHANK, DUFF HOUSE ROYAL
BONAR BRIDGE - C RIACH,CORONICH ,BOAT OF GARTEN
GAIRLOCH - K GREEN,BREMNER, GAIRLOCH CRESC CONON BRIDGE
HOPEMAN - E MCLAREN,8, HOLM PARK, INVERNESS
ROYAL TARLAIR - K L KELLY,56, INVERGOWRIE DRIVE, DUNDEE
REAY - R CORBETT, DUFF HOUSE ROYAL
BRORA - F MCLEOD,13, STATHERICK PARK, INVERNESS
ABERNETHY - JAN GRANT, KINGUSSIE GOLF CLUB
SKYE - L FRASER, 9 CROWN DRIVE, NVERNESS
DUFF HOUSE ROYAL - P MCPHERSON, 7 TULLOCH DRIVE, NAIRN
CULLEN - MRS GRANTHAM,24, RIVER PLACE, NAIRN
ORKNEY - A FINDLAY,8, WELLSIDE GARDENS, ABERDEEN
FORRES - G K LAWSON,4 THE PILLARS ,DORNOCH
INVERNESS - M MCKAY,6 PORTDUNBAR, WICK
NAIRN - G C WILLIAMS,CRAIGEWEN, CAWFIELD RD ,INVERNESS
THURSO - C BROWN, NAIRN GOLF CLUB

Many congratulations Kelsey from all the Northern County members on your great play at the Helen Holm in Troon and our best wishes go with you to Southerness next month.
Leona Maguire from Northern Ireland finished first, two shots ahead of Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), in the 37th Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon.
Kelsey’s ambition is to play in the Curtis Cup match in her home town of Nairn in 2012.
She has run into form at the right time with the Scottish women's amateur championship coming up next month at Southerness.
A full report on the Helen Holm and pictures of the prizewinners can be seen at www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Our 2009 Championship at Nairn is now over and what a wonderful weekend the 70 participants had. Great location, facilities and weather. We all saw Nairn Golf Club at its best.
We now congratulate our Northern Counties Champion - Cara Gruber, Royal Dornoch who beat Jenny Milne, Elgin in the final by 6 and 5. Cara played some wonderful golf and ended the match at the 13th with a eagle 3 having chipped in from off the green, Jenny could give not a lot more than she gave after having gone to the 22nd hole in the morning against Alison Bartlett, Royal Dornoch. Cara won her semi final against Eileen Manson, Thurso by 4 and 3.
The Handicap champion is Sally Rowan, Inverness who beat Sheila Duncan, Royal Dornoch by 4 and 3.
You can see all the results and photograph of the prizewinners by going on to - www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk



Sally Rowan (Inverness), who plays off 21 and whose mother Sylvia won the same title in 2001, won the handicap championship. She beat Sheila Duncan (Royal Doroch), playing off 19, by 4 and 3 in the final.Today's results:Semi-finals - C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) bt E Manson (Thurso) 4 and 3, J Milne (Elgin) bt A Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) at the 22nd.Final - Gruber bt Milne 6 and 5.Handicap championshipSemi-finals - S Rowan (Inverness) (21) bt A Burnett (Royal Dornoch) (21) 5 and 4, S Duncan (Royal Dornoch) (19) bt D McBride (Royal Dornoch) (13) 4 and 3.Final - Rowan bt Duncan 4 and 3.

Scottish Golf Awareness Week
Get a Scottish Golf Card and save50% of green fee at over 70 clubsNEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNIONTo kick-start the Scottish Golf Awareness Week, the SGU and SLGA have launched the Scottish Golf Card exclusively for golf club members as an added incentive, enabling them to take advantage of a 50% reduction off standard green fees at golf clubs participating in the programme.The new initiative has hit the ground running with over 70 clubs now accepting the Scottish Golf Card across the country, with that total increasing daily.For just £10, the card - the first of its type launched by the SGU and SLGA - will enable club members to take advantage of great savings as well as help clubs to increase capacity on their fairways. Scottish Golf Development Manager Andy Salmon commented: “I am delighted with the initial response to the Scottish Golf Card by both clubs and members alike. The number of clubs taking the Golf Card is increasing all the time which gives greater choice and value to golf club members."The benefits are twofold, in addition to this reward for membership, clubs can increase volume on their courses, so this really is a win, win situation.“I would urge any club which is concerned about decreasing memberships and revenues to promote the card to their members and accept card holders at their course.” He concluded: “In the current climate golf club members like everyone else are looking for added value and ways of cutting costs and the Scottish Golf Card can reap great benefits for those wanting to take a short golfing break or golfing holiday in Scotland, or for those who just like to play other courses.”Among the fantastic courses already signed up to the initiative are:*Marriot Dalmahoy in Edinburgh.*The ancient links of Royal Montrose.*The superb Murcar Linksto name but a few, with more clubs indicating they will come on board shortly.The card can make a great gift to a friend or colleague or yourself with the whole season ahead of you.To purchase simply phone 01334 466 477 or visit the Scottish Golf Union website to download an application form www.scottishgolf.org.Memberships are verified with your club before the card is issued. Kate WeldonCommunications ManagerScottish Golf Union

Jenny Milne and Mary Smith. I know it was cold, but that hat Mary!!

Help, I'm sure it would be just here.

Kerri Harper and Sammy Vass finding it a bit cold.