Scottish Golf Awards Dinner - Glasgow

Here are some photos featuring Northern Counties' ladies at the Awards Dinner in Glasgow

Kelsey receiving her Order of Merit Trophy from Colin Montgomerie

Kelsey with the winning 2010 Team

Ladies' 2010 Order of Merit - Kelsey Macdonald

Kelsey with her Trophy for Ladies' Order of Merit winner

M

Mary Smith (left) & Anne Ryan (right)

Hannah McCook and Claire ?

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary 

Northern Counties' Fixtures for 2011

Details of 2011 fixtures are given below.  In addition to their own events, all junior girl members are eligible to play in the county opens provided they have a CONGU handicap.  A date for the McDermott Trophy for girls has not yet been finalised.  Once a date has been agreed I will send details to all delegates and also post the information on the WEB.

April

Sat 23^rd – Mon. 25th     County Championship     Fortrose & Rosemarkie

May

Sunday 8^th                   Adult/Jnr. Foursomes      Torvean

Sunday 22^nd                County Open                   Gairloch

July

Tues 5^th – Thur 7^th          North of Scotland C’ship   The Nairn             

 Monday 18^th               Girls’ Championship          Forres    

 Friday 22^nd                 County Foursomes           Invergordon

                                             

August

Wednesday 10^th           County Open                   Muir of Ord

September                        

Wednesday 14^th               County Open (+ Vets)      Kinloss Country          

October

Sunday 2^nd                  County Open & AGM         Newtonmore     

Entry forms are available form your County Delegate or you can contact me on dorothymarshall@talktalk.net if you do not have a delegate.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary 

NEWS FROM YOUR CAPTAIN

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a happy festive season. 

Very soon we will be thinking of the golfing events in 2011 and already the committee is preparing for the forthcoming season.

As I reported at the AGM we now have a vice captain, Lynne Fraser from Fortrose, who has taken on this position, for which she is well suited. Lynne is well known in curling circles and comes with a great deal of experience and knowledge, which will greatly benefit Northern Counties.

We now also have a new junior organiser, Anne Rose from Muir of Ord who is a retired teacher and well experienced in dealing with juniors.

I welcome them both to the committee and hope they enjoy their term of office.

Northern Counties certainly finished the year on a high with Kelsey winning the order of merit and Hannah McCook coming runner-up in the girls’ order of merit. Congratulations to both of them for having had a great year and I am sure there will be many more successes to come in 2011. 

Kelsey did well in the first event of the Florida Orange Blossom Tour coming 17th equal with a score of 297.  Eilidh Mackay also played and returned a total of 336.  Hannah was in Spain for training earlier this month as part of the Scottish ladies training squad.

There is a very nice article on the Highland Institute of Sport website about Hannah which is well worth reading. 

Well done also to Eleanor Tunn from Reay Golf Club, whose handicap is now down to 6 and she enters the second year of the academy coaching programme.

I wish everyone a good golfing season and hope the sun shines on us all.

Florence Allan

Curtis Cup Memories Rekindled For Gillian Stewart

Gillian Stewart & Tegwen Matthews (GB & I Curtis Cup Captain 2012)

The countdown has begun for the 2012 Curtis Cup Matches at The Nairn Golf Club. The Curtis Cup itself is currently on display for a limited time in the Nairn Golf Club having been brought North by officials from the Ladies' Golf Union and the Great Britain and Ireland Team Captain Tegwen Matthews.

During her time in Nairn, Tegwen took the opportunity to link up with her former Curtis Cup teammate and Nairn member Gillian Stewart.

During an outstanding amateur career, which included 3 Scottish Women’s Championship titles, Gillian Stewart twice played in the Curtis Cup Matches. Selected for the first time in 1980 when the match was played at St Pierre, Chepstow, she played for the second time in 1982 in Denver, Colorado.

“Playing in the Curtis Cup was and is the pinnacle of amateur team golf coveted by the players more than any other team event.

I played at a time when the Americans were enjoying huge domination of the event and GB and I had not won since 1956. I think it became a psychological thing – I don’t think we expected to win and lo and behold we didn’t. This turned around in the mid 80’s into the mid 90’s when GB and I enjoyed their greatest ever period of success with 5 wins in 6 matches. The challenge for the team at Nairn in 2012 will be to believe they can win again after another period of American domination - America has won the last 7 matches. After scrutinizing the Nairn honours board, Tegwen did note, however, that it revealed 5 wins out of 5 for GB and I teams, a great start in belief building”

“I played with Tegwen in my first Curtis Cup match. She was the first Welsh player to be selected for a Curtis Cup team making her debut in 1974. She had the experience, having played in the 3 previous matches, and I was the rookie. She piloted me around and although we lost our match it is an experience I will never forget”

“There is one other Curtis Cup experience I won’t forget and it is that I scored my first hole in one the day before the match started in 1980. In 1982 I repeated this trick and scored my second hole in one, again in practice, the day before the match started”

Gillian turned professional in 1985 and joined the Women's European Tour. She won her first Tournament played as a professional and quickly established herself as one of the stars of the Tour. Her four Tour titles were the pinnacles of a playing career based on an extremely high level of consistency, evidenced by the fact that she still holds the record (79 over a 6 year period) for the most consecutive cuts made.

In 2011 the North of Scotland Championships are being held at The Nairn Golf Club the first week in July so anyone wishing to see what the course is like before the Curtis Cup is played there should try and enter this championship.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

LADIES' DINNER AT NAIRN DUNBAR GOLF CLUB

 

Florence Allan (Captain), Jane Brown (Speaker)
Pam Gordon

Those of you who were unable to come to our Ladies' Dinner at Nairn Dunbar on Saturday 30th October missed an excellent evening out.  In all 82 ladies attended which was a very good response.

To start the evening off the ladies were welcomed by our captain, Florence and invited to have a glass of wine or a soft drink. 

The meal provided was excellent as was the service which could not be faulted in any way.

After the meal the raffle, which had the theme of wine and chocolates, was drawn and this raised the magnificent sum of £268.

What can I say about the speaker, Jane Brown.  Jane is not a golfer but is the manageress of the Globe Inn in Dumfries and an authority on Robert Burns.  She is a very funny lady and has been all over the world as an "After Dinner Speaker" or as a speaker at "Burns Suppers".  She spoke for an hour and a half and was very entertaining and well received by everyone.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

County Open - Elgin Sunday 3rd October - Results

After a few people dropped out, only nineteen ladies played in the county open at Elgin on Sunday 3rd October as most people preferred to stay at home and watch the Ryder Cup.  Apart from a slight shower early on it turned into a really nice day with some very good scores.  Hannah McCook from Abernethy returned an excellent scratch score of 77.  Results were:-

1st Scratch - Hannah McCook - 77

1st Silver - Eilidh McTavish (Elgin) - 87 (13) 74 (after count-back)
2nd Silver - Sandra Hooker (Muir of Ord) 87 (15) 74

1st Bronze - Lorraine Argyle (Bonar Bridge) - 102 (30) 72

CSS for the day was 74


The AGM followed at approximately 5.30p.m.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Draw for County Open & AGM at Elgin on Sunday 3 October

12.00 - M Alexander (DHR) & L Munro (Moray)
12.06 - R Topping (DHR) & F Neish (Moray)
12.12 - S Rowan (Inverness) & M Walker (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.18 - M Hayden (Tain) & L Ballantine (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.24 - P Moscati (Dornoch) & M Gauldie (Garmouth & Kingston)
12.30 - L Argyle (Bonar Bridge) & partner
12.42 - S Hooker (Muir of Ord) & V Wright (Forres)
12.48 - T Weeks (Dornoch) & D Marshall (Forres)
12.54 - M Blair (Dornoch) & M Grant (Moray)
1.00 - H McCook (Abernethy) & E McTavish (Elgin)
1.06 - B Little (Brora) & partner
1.12 - I Maclean (Inverness) & P Cronin (Forres)
1.18 - M Douglas (Dornoch) & C Marshall (Nairn)


Late entries will be accepted on 01343 544304 (Susan Mackenzie) up until Thursday 30 September thereafter entries to Dorothy Marshall, Secretary

County Open - Inverness 12th September - Results

A field of 59 members and non-members played at Inverness on Sunday 12th September.  Although there were a few showers in the morning the weather improved and it ended up being a very nice day.  The best news for most players will be that the CSS went up to 76 and the competition was "Reduction Only".  Winners were:-

1st Scratch - Alison Bartlett (Royal Dornoch) - 80
2nd Scratch - Isobel McIntosh (Inverness) - 83

1st  Silver - Lynne Fraser (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) - 83 (9) 74
2nd Silver - Mairi Orr (Royal Dornoch) - 95 (19) 76
3rd Silver - Fiona MacDonald (Royal Dornoch) 95 (19) 76
4th Silver - Margot Barr (Gairloch) - 88 (22) 77

1st Bronze - Fiona Mackay (Muir of Ord) - 101 (21) 80
2nd Bronze - Chris Waterson (Grantown-on-Spey) -106 (26) 80
3rd Bronze - Pauline Cronin (Forres) - 109 (26) 83

The final open of the year, plus the AGM, is at Elgin Golf Club on Sunday 3rd October.  Entries to Susan Mackenzie, Abbotsford House, 100 Pluscarden Road, ELGIN, IV30 1VF

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Captain has a new Grandaughter

Congratualtions to our Captain Florence who has just become a granny again to a new grandaughter Lara Jane out in Australia to her son David and his wife Tanya.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

Scotland win Home Internations

2010 Ladies Home International Champions
Back Row: Hilary Wardell (Manager), Martine Pow, Megan Briggs, Kelsey MacDonald, Rachael Watton
Front Row: Laura Murray, Louise Kenney, Lesley Nicholson (Captain), Pamela Pretswell, Jane Turner

The Scotland Ladies' Team of Megan Briggs, Louise Kenney, Kelsey MacDonald, Laura Murray, Martine Pow, Pamela Pretswell, Jane Turner and Rachael Watton, skippered by Lesley Nicholson, has won the Home International Matches at Whitchurch (Cardiff) Golf Club. The Scots scored victories over the other three home nations by beating Wales 6.5-2.5 on Wednesday, England 5-4 on Thursday and Ireland 5-4 on Friday 10th September. Congratulations to Lesley and all her team.

This follows on from the Scottish Seniors Team win in Europe last week end and marks a fabulous two weeks for Scottish Ladies golf.

Florence Allan

Captain

Tain Sisters win European Gold Medals

Congratulations to Mary Smith and Anne Ryan from Tain who won European Gold Medals last week in Berlin when they played in the Scottish Seniors' team.

Florence Allan
Captain

Draw for County Open at Inverness - Sunday 12th September 2010

A few spaces are still available for the County Open at Inverness on Sunday 12^th September 2010.  Please call Eileen Robb on 01463 238101 if you would like to enter.

Abbreviations:  F, Forres; FR, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, G, Gairloch; GK, Garmouth & Kingston; GOS, Grantown-on-Spey; I, Inverness; MO, Muir of Ord;  N, Nairn; ND, Nairn Dunbar; Ry, Reay; RD, Royal Dornoch;  T, Tain.

10.18 - L. Fraser (FR) & J. Nicol 

10.24 - I. McIntosh (I) &  M. Barr (G)

10.30 - E. Coghill (RD) &  S. MacVicar (G)

10.36 - M. MacCulloch (FR) & M. Dick (GOS)

10.42 - C. Marshall (N) & M. Allan (GOS)

10.48 - M. Ritchie (MO) & E. Sloan (GOS)

11.00 - H. MacLeod (I) & E. Hill (GOS)

11.06 - J. Drummond (N) & C. Waterson (GOS)

11.12 - P. Moscati (RD) & S. Vickerman (GOS)

11.18 - L. Argyle (RD) & P. Wilson (GOS)

11.24 - L. Ballantine (GK) & C. Ramsay (RD)

11.30 - M. Gauldie, (GK) & M. Orr (RD)

11.36 - E. Hutton (MO) & F. MacDonald (RD)

11.42 - E. Wallace (MO) & T. Weekes (RD)

11.48 - C. Dingwall (MO) & D.McBride (RD)

12.00 - W. Spencer (MO) & A. Burnett (RD)

12.06 - N. Scrimgeour (MO) & A. Bartlett (RD)

12.12 - C. Graham (MO) & K. Lawson (RD)

12.18 - A. Rowe (MO) & W. Murray (RD)

12.24 - H. Stuart (MO) & A. Gowie (I)

12.30 - F. MacKay (MO) & A.Harding (RD)

12.36 - M. Brook (MO) & M. Douglas (RD)

12.42 - C. MacKay (MO) & M. James (F)

12.48 - A. Mackay (MO) &  D. Marshall (F)

 

13.00 - J. Cameron (FR) & P. Cronin (F) 

13.06 - A. Jack (FR) &  P. Davis (F)

13.12 - S. Ramsay (I) & V. Wright (F)

13.18 - I. Croal (G) & I.Wilson (F)

13.24 - E. Tunn (Ry), G. Dowling (ND), F. Allan (N) 

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

KELSEY CAPS GREAT SEASON BY WINNING BELGIAN JUNIOR TITLE

Congratulations to Kelsey MacDonald, 19, a member of Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, who has just won the Belgian Junior International Tournament's Girls' individual title at the fourth and last attempt at Royal Golf Club of Belgium, near Brussels today.

Kelsey, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, winner this year of the Scottish Women's Amateur title and the Scottish Under-21 Girls Championship for the second year in a row and also beaten finalist in the British Women's Open Amateur Championship, capped her great season by coming from several shots in arrears with a brilliant last round of two-under-par 70.

That gave her a total of 293 after earlier rounds of 72, 73 and 78. She won by five shots from Federica Maria Costantini (Italy) who finished with a 76 for 298.

Golf Quiz

As the County Open at Thurso was cancelled, the draw for the golf quiz was done on Saturday 21st August instead of the Friday.  It was the Ladies' Open at Thurso so I asked Anne Simmonite the Lady Captain to draw the winners for me.  The winners were:

1st   Mrs Liz Fraser from Nairn
2nd  Mrs Margaret Young from Inverness
3rd  Mr & Mrs George Spark from Strathpeffer

M & S vouchers have been posted.

Most people got the connection which was that they had all won Majors.  There were only about four incorrect answers.  Anagram 7 was Angel Cabrera and not Bernhard Langer.

What a lovely course Thurso was and in excellent condition too.  The wind was really strong on the Saturday but two of the Forres ladies won prizes so the trip was worthwhile.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary/Treasurer

HANNAH MCCOOK DOES IT AGAIN

On her way home from the Girls' Home Internationals in Northern Ireland the week before last, Hannah McCook from Abernethy Golf Club played in the North of Scotland Girls' Championship at Brechin on Sunday 15th August winning the North of Scotland Girls' title for the second year in a row.

Hannah made hay while the sun shone over the Brechin course with a two-over-par round of 74 to win the title by one shot from Rachel Polson (Peterculter) and Kimberley Beveridge (Aboyne) with another member of  the Scotland girls’ team, Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) in fourth place. 

 

The field of more than 30 players was the biggest the championship has attracted for a number of years. In the final analysis it was Hannah’s figures over the last six holes that retained the title to add to the Northern Counties' Girls’ Championship which she won earlier this season when she was also runner-up in the Paul Lawrie Scottish Schoolgirls' Championship.

 

Hannah covered holes 13 to 18 in one under par with a birdie 4 at the 16^th .for an inward half of 36. Rachel Polson was one over par for the same stretch, having an eagle 3 at the 14^th but bogeys at the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th in 38 home. 

Congratulations from everyone in Northern Counties.

Florence Allan

Captain

County Open - Friday 20th August - Thurso

Unfortunately this fixture has had to be cancelled due to lack of support.

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

County Open - Friday 20th August - Thurso

The next County Open will take place at Thurso Golf Club on Friday 20th August. 

Entry fees:  Members £8.00, Juniors £3.00, Non Members £12.00.  Members over 50 years of age will be eligible to win the Vets Trophy.

Enries should be sent to Eileen Manson, 49A Princes Street, THURSO, KW14 7AB Tel: 07934 298802.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

Hannah McCook wins Northern Counties' Girls' Championship

May Britovsek & Annabelle Brown

May Britovsek & Hannah McCook

The Northern Counties' Girls' Championship was played at Nairn Dunbar on Friday 30th July.
 
Despite the rain Hannah McCook from Abernethy carded an excellent score of 70 gross with birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 13th and 18th and an eagle on the 16th.  The handicap prize was won by Annabelle Brown from Nairn Dunbar playing off 12 with a net 77 beating Eleanor Tunn from Reay off 8 with a net 78. 
 
To encourage the junior girls without a handicap, May Britovsek oragnised a five hole competition to follow the main competition.  Six girls took part and although the results were very close, Kayrin Fraser from Inverness was the winner with Rachel McPherson from Nairn Dunbar in second place.  All these junior girls really enjoyed the competition and with a bit more encouragement will no doubt become stars of the future for Northern Counties.

Dorothy Marshall

Secretary

Girls' 2010 Championship Draw

Draw for the Girls' Championship at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club on Friday 30th July is as follows:-

1332  Hannah McCook, Eleanor Tunn
1340  Natalie Britovsek, Eilidh McTavish
1348  Annabelle Brown, Dana Stoddart

5-Hole Competition

1356  Katie Miller, Lauren Fraser
1404  Abby Cruden, Kirsty McBeath 
1412  Kayrin Fraser, Rachael Mackenzie, Rachel McPherson

Dorothy Marshall
Secretary

ANNE RYAN AND MARY SMITH IN SCOTLAND TEAM

Congratualtions to sisters Anne Ryan and Mary Smith from Tain who have been named in the Scotland team of six to compete in the European Senior Women's Team Golf Championship at Sporting Club, Berlin from September 1st to 4th.

 

Anne earned her first cap by finishing joint second in the Scottish Senior Women's Stroke-play Championship at Fortrose and Rosemarkie in late June. She led the field until the last few holes of the 36-hole competition.

 

Mary is a regular selection for Scotland's over-50s teams.  Anne and Mary have also been named for the Scotland team, for the Veteran Ladies' Jamboree at Seascale Golf Club, Northumbria from August 3rd to 5th.

Florence Allan

Captain