Amy Boulden, who helped Wales to win the Women's Home Internationals title at Wrexham (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Rising Welsh star Amy Boulden

heading for Spanish Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Amy Boulden, the 15-year-old rising Welsh star, is the latest entry for the Hacienda del Alamo Winter Women's Festival at the five-star Murcia golf resort in south-east Spain.

Llandudno-based Amy, a member of Maesdu Golf Club, earned herself a place in the Great Britain & Ireland preliminary Vagliano Trophy squad for 2009 with a stellar 2008 season.

She won the Welsh girls' match-play championship at Pennard, played in the Welsh team and the girls' home internationals at Panmure before celebrating her first full cap for Wales by playing a significant role in the capture of the Women's Home Internationals title for only a second time in nearly 100 years at Wrexham in September.

Amy won't be 16 years old until next August so she is well ahead of schedule in her rise to the front rank of women's amateur golf.

Amy flies out too late to play in the Murcia Under-16 girls' 36-hole stroke-play championship on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13 but she will probably join the Murcia Ladies Open field (also February 12-13) on the Friday to get her free practice round over the Hacienda del Alamo championship course which was designed by a Welshman - Dave Thomas.

Amy's dad Simon says his daughter will probably play in some of the Festival's weekend action which is made up of a St Valentine's Day pro-am on the Saturday and the Costa Calida Pairs on the Sunday.

But she is a definite starter in the Hacienda del Alamo Under-16 girls' open stroke-play championship on the Monday and Tuesday. Her rivals in that field include India Clyburn (Woodhall Spa), 12-year-old sister of the England girl international Holly Clyburn, 14-year-old Charlotte Humprhies (Burnham & Berrow), and 14-year-old Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), whose dad David is a European Tour director.

To encourage more Under-16 girls to compete, their entry fee has been reduced to 25 Euros and the Under-16 maximum age applies to the first day of each competition.

We would also like more senior ladies to come to the Festival. Their Under-50 maximum age also applies to the first day of each competition.

+++The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival is on the list of early-season events recommended by the Ladies Golf Union for participation by players who are either already in the Vagliano Trophy squad or would like to bring themselves to the attention of the selectors before the team to play the Continent of Europe in Hamburg is finalised.

You can E-mail Festival Controller Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com if you have any queries about the Festival.

FESTIVAL ENTRIES SO FAR

MURCIA LADIES OPEN

Two rounds stroke-play

Thursday-Friday, February 12-13
Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium)
Amateur entries

Mary McKenna (Donabate) Senior

Patricia Morris (Donabate) Senior
Pamela Morgan (La Cala) Senior

Fionnuala Forde (Donabate)

Margo Habets (Rinkven, Belgium)

Caroline Harper (Limburg, Belgium)

Natalia Zvezdina (Rinkven, Belgium)

Sandra Hendrickx (Rinkven, Belgium)

Louise Church (Hendon) (9)

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS’ OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13.

No entries todate.

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM

One round: Lady pro with three amateurs (male or female)

Saturday, February 14
Professional entries
Lien Willems (Belgium).
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Amateur teams:

Mary McKenna (4), Patricia Morris (11) & Fionnuala Forde (12) (all Donabate).

Mary MacLaren (4), Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4) (all Wellingborough).

Margo Habets (7), Caroline Harper (15) & Natalia Zvezdina (20) or Sandra Henrickx (20)) + pro Lien Willems (Belgium).
Natalia Zvezdina (20) or Sandra Henrickx (20) + two other amateurs.
Pamela Morgan (10) & Brian Harrold (10) (both La Cala) + one other amateur

Amateur individuals:
Louise Church (Hendon) (9).
Charlotte Humphries (Burnham & Berrow) (17)
Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdhu) (1.5) (to be confirmed).

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS

One round: First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.

Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.

Sunday, February 15

Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium)

Amateur pairings:

Mary MacLaren (4) & David MacLaren.

Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4).

Holly Clyburn (+1) & India Clyburn (13).
Pamela Morgan (10) & Brian Harrold (10).
Charlotte Humphries (17) & Rob Humphries (6).

Amateur individuals (need partner)
Louise Church (Hendon) (9)

Amy Boulden (1.5) (to be confirmed)

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN

Two rounds stroke-play

Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Professional entries
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Lien Willems (Belgium).

Amateur entries:

Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).

Mary MacLaren (4)

Rebecca Gee (4).

Louise Church (9)

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO UNDER-16 GIRLS’ OPEN
Two rounds stroke play
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17
Charlotte Humphries Age 14.
India Clyburn Age 12.
Meghan MacLaren. Age 14.
Amy Boulden (Llandudno Maesdu). Age 15

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO GOLF RESORT VILLA RENTAL

John Green of Hacienda Golf Properties is the Festival's "preferred partner" for the rental of villas/accommodation at the five-star resort.

That means if you are going to the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival, you should do one of two things, or maybe both.

1 E-mail John Green at info@hdagolfproperties.com to find out what he can offer you and at what price.

2 Log on to John Green's website - http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/ - and see for yourself what he has to offer.