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