It's Green for Go for Amber (still only

14) at Hacienda del Alamo Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Royal Cromer Golf Club junior member Amber Ratcliffe will be making her third appearance at the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival in a couple of months' time - and she's still only 14 years old!

Since she played in the 2nd Festival in February this year, Amber has won the Norolk schools championship with a gross one-over-par score. Then she won the English schools Under-16 girls championship at Northants County Golf Club with a brilliant opening round of eight-under-par 67 which smashed the course record by four shots, followed by a one-over-par second round.

Amber also played in the Norfolk county ladies championship for the first time and finished runner-up - and she was still only 13 years of age at the time.

She made her Norfolk county ladies debut at County Week, winning three out of four singles matches.

Amber, pictured above in action at the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Festival, also won her county Under-16 championship and was selected the EWGA Select Midland Squad. Amber also played for England against Wales in a schools international and won her singles match, helping England to win the match overall.

Last, but certainly not least, because it is a barometer of her golfing progress - Amber has reduced her handicap to 2.6.

In the 3rd Hacienda del Alamo February Festival, Amber has entered the Murcia Under-16 Girls Open over 36 holes on the Monday-Tuesday, February 15-16, but she will step up to take on the Ladies in the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open over 54 holes on the Thursday-Friday-Saturday, February 18-19-20.

Even younger than Amber Ratcliffe is another entrant this week from High Ongar, Essex. She's Gabriella Cowley who had her 13th birthday on March 10. She is a member at Chelmsford Golf Club and has a handicap of 6.

Gabriella is to play in the Under-16 Girls Open over 54 holes from February 18 to 20.

There will be scratch and handicap sections in all the events.

We are still crying out for entries from seniors (over 50 years) and lady professionals.

The Lanark-based company Glenmuir, whose sweaters the European Ryder Cup team will be wearing in next year's match at Celtic Manor, is also providing prizes for the third year in a row at the Festival. Hacienda del Alamo Properties are also providing valuable support.

You can download an entry form and more details about the events by clicking on the appropriate wording at the top of the left hand column of the Home Page of this website.

Entries don't close until mid-January but we would like to know if YOU are coming or not!

If you want details about how much it costs to rent accommodation at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort during the Festival, send an E-mail to John Green of Hacienda Del Alamo Properties at johngreen@hdagolfproperties.com
The cost per head obviously comes down dramatically if you are prepared to share the accommodation. That's why it makes sense to organise a group of your golfing friends to go with you to the five-star golf resort where the clubhouse is magnificent, the practice facilities brilliant and the Dave Thomas-designed course will bring the best out of you.

FESTIVAL ENTRIES RECEIVED SO FAR

Mary MacLaren: Murcia Ladies Open & Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open.

Meghan MacLaren: Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Hannah Turland: Pairs with Hayley Davis, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Alice Hewson: Pairs with Dominic Hewson, Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Sally Watkins: Pairs with Jessica Bradley, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open
Charlie Douglass: Pairs with Holly Clyburn, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Hayley Davis: Pairs with Hannah Turland, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Georgia Gilling: HDA U-18 Girls Open.
Daisy Dyer: Pairs with Simon Brierley, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Nicola Callander: Pairs with Ella Ofstedahl & Murcia U-16 Girls Open.
Ella Ofstedahl: Pairs with Nicola Callander.
Holly Clyburn: Pairs with Charlie Douglass & Murcia Ladies Open.
Lucie Walker: Murcia U-18 Girls Open & HDA U-18 Girls Open.
Hannah Barwood: Pairs with Amy Boulden, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Jessica Bradley: Pairs with Sally Watkins, Murcia U-18 Girls Open & HDA U-18 Girls Open.
Emma Harris: Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Emily Taylor: Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-18 Girls Open.
Amy Boulden: Pairs with Hannah Barwood, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA U-18 Girls Open.
Dulcie Sverdloff: Pairs with Aaron Sverdloff, Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Aaron Sverdloff: Pairs with Dulcie Sverdloff.
Kelsey MacDonald: Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Linda Marr: Murcia Ladies Open (Seniors) & HDA Ladies Open (Seniors).
Linda Wilson: Murcia Ladies Open (Seniors) & HDA Ladies Open (Seniors).
Gillian Gardiner: Murcia Ladies Open (Seniors) & HDA Ladies Open (Seniors).
Audrey Lee: Murcia Ladies Open (Seniors) & HDA Ladies Open (Seniors).
Becky Gee: Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Hollie Vizard: HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Charlotte Humphries: HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Katherine Carragher: Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Danielle Anderson: HDA Ladies Open.
Amelia Taylor: Pairs with Jenna Birch, Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Jenna Birch: Pairs with Amelia Taylor, Murcia Ladies Open & HDA Ladies Open.
Gabriella Cowley: HDA U-16 Girls Open.
Amber Ratcliffe: Murcia U-16 Girls Open & HDA Ladies Open.

Kam Cheema: Pairs with Paul Cooper & HDA Ladies Open (Seniors).