Charlotte Humphries with two of her trophies from an outstanding season in which she has cut her handicap from 33 to 18.

Rising Somerset star Charlotte

first entry for Murcia Under-16

girls' stroke-play event

The most improved junior golfer in Somerset, Charlotte Humphries, a 14-year-old member of Burnham and Berrow Golf Club, has entered the Hacienda del Alamo Under-16 girls' 36-hole stroke play open championship.

It is one of the new events on the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival and will be played in tandem with the Hacienda del Alamo Women's 36-hole open on the same days, Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17.

The entry fee for the Under-16 girls' events - there is another 36-hole stroke-play event for them on the previous Thursday and Friday - is only 25 Euros.

Hopefully the bargain entry fee will persuade more girls of Charlotte's age to go out to the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in the Murcia region of south-east Spain for the competition and for the chance to use the Resort's excellent practice facilities.

They include a six-hole Academy course, short-game and putting practice greens, a bunker practice area and a 36-bay two-tier driving range.

Hacienda del Alamo's lady teaching pro Elaine McBride would be delighted to run her eye over any youngster's swing during the Festival.

Charlotte Humphries won the South West Girls Championship Salver at North Wilts last July, beating over 40 juniors from all over the area with net scores of 71 and 69.

She has been playing golf for just over three years and, at the time of writing, had reduced her handicap from 33 to 18 since April, winning a lot of competitions along the way.

She has been a regular member of the Burnham and Berrow Junior first team and player her first matches for Somerset girls in Dorset.

Charlotte will partner her dad, Rob, who's not a bad player himself - handicap 6.2 - in the Festival's Costa Calida Pairs on the Sunday.

JOHN GREEN IS YOUR MAN FOR VILLA RENTALS

John Green of Hacienda Golf Properties has become 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 mailto:info@hdagolfproperaties.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.

The complete Hacienda del Alamo February Festival programme now reads:

MURCIA LADIES OPEN (36 holes)
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13
Open to lady professionals and lady/girl amateurs (maximum handicap 20). Entry fee: Lady professional 70 Euros; amateurs 55 Euros.

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS OPEN (36 holes)
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13.
Entry fee: 25 Euros.

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM (18 holes)
Saturday, February 14

Lady professionals with teams of three amateurs (male or female).
Entry fee: Lady professionals 70 Euros. Amateurs 55 Euros.
COSTA CALIDA PAIRS (18 holes)
Sunday, February 15
First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.
Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.
Entry fee: Lady professionals 70 Euros, amateurs 55 Euros.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN (36 holes)
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Open to lady professionals and lady/girl amateurs. Maximum handicap 20.

Entry fee: Lady professionals 70 Euros; amateurs 55 Euros.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN (36 holes).

Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17. Entry fee 25 Euros.

(Closing date is January 15 for all Festival entries).

Every competitor is entitled to a free practice round.
The 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Winter Golf Festival is sponsored by *Glenmuir. *Stewart Spence of The Marcliffe Hotel, Aberdeen. *A North Sea oil company who do not wish to be identified. *John Green of Hacienda Golf Properties and, of course, *Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

Any queries? E-mail them to Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Entry forms can be downloaded from this website (see top of the first column) or Colin Farquharson will E-mail one to you on demand.