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