Ryanair put a damper on Scots wanting to fly to

Morocco Family Golf Festival (October 9 to 16)

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Tournament Director for the 2010 Morocco Family Golf Festival
Ryanair's extortionate charge for carrying golf clubs could scare off potential Scottish entrants to the inaugural Morocco Family Golf Festival, to be held at Marrakech from October 9 to 16.
Mohamed Fakir, boss of London-based Menara Travel Ltd, who are putting together all the arrangements, told me today:
"I have started to receive a number of enquiries - a few from Scotland - from golfers who are quite attracted by the prospect of playing golf on four different courses at Marrakech.
"The problem with the flights from Edinburgh to Marrakech is the quite high rates being charged by Ryanair. The Ryanair website is currently showing a price of £250 per person return + £80 for golf clubs' carriage (£330 in all) which is quite high compared to the flight we have secured with Royal Air Maroc from London Gatwick, which is £189 including FREE carriage of golf clubs.
"The price quoted by Easyjet for the Manchester to Marrakech flight on Saturday, October 9 is £180 per person return + £38 per golf bag both ways.
"I have contacted Ryanair and Easyjet to try to do a deal with them quite a while ago but they said they don’t work with travel agents/tour operators. They prefer to deal directly with clients, which means we have to book the flights for our clients on their website the same way anyone else does it."
So it might be cheaper for Scottish golfers who want to share in the fun of the Morocco Family Golf Festival to cross the Border to Manchester or even Gatwick for a flight to Marrakech on Saturday, October 9.
Remember there will be individual prize categories for senior men (over 55yr), senior women (over 50y), men, women, Under-16 & Under-18 boys, Under-16 & Under-18 girls.You can name your own partner if you wish for the Festival's curtain-raising better-ball Stableford foursomes on the Sunday (October 10).
Details of the Festival programme are available by clicking on the appropriate wording at the top of the left-hand column on this website's Home Page.

==================ENTRY FORM==============================

MOROCCO FAMILY GOLF FESTIVAL

October 9 to 16, 2010, based at Marrakech

Competing as (Please tick the category listed below)
Senior Man (over 55 yrs on Jan 1)
Senior Lady (over 50 yrs on Jan 1)
Man
Lady
Boy (Under-16 on Jan 1)
Girl (Under-16 on Jan 1)
Boy (Under- 18 on Jan 1)
Girl (Under-18) on Jan 1)

FIRST NAME (Mr/Mrs/Miss)

SURNAME

HOME GOLF CLUB:

HANDICAP:
Maximum 28 for males; 36 for females.
(Competitors should take up an up to date handicap from their home club)FULL

POSTAL ADDRESS

POST CODE

Tel (Home)

Tel (Mobile)

E-MAIL ADDRESS

Name of partner for Better-Ball Pairs:
If you wish the Tournament Director to allocate you with a partner at random (Please indicate (Yes / No)

Accompanying Person / Non Golfer

Preferred Airport to fly from & to

Comments / Remarks

I confirm that I agree to abide by all the tournament rules & regulations and I enclose a deposit of £100 (please make cheques payable to MENARA TRAVEL LTD) – payment by cards accepted

Signature:

Please send your completed Entry Form and cheque to:
Mohamed Fakir, Menara Travel Ltd, 200c Blythe Road, London W14 0HH

1st MOROCCO FAMILY GOLF FESTIVAL
October 9 to 16, 2010 – based at MARRAKECH
-
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Colin Farquharson
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The MOROCCO GOLF FESTIVAL will be an annual golf competition – open to amateur golfers (Senior men, Senior women, men, women, boys & girls). Handicap limits: Men: 28, Ladies/girls 36.
AGGREGATE STABLEFORD TOURNAMENT: Four rounds, best three points totals to count
In addition to competitive golf, there is an exciting programme full of various activities: Cocktails party – City sightseeing tour of Marrakech– Gala Dinners– Accompanying person programme.
This tournament week in the warm of the North African sun in October is certain to be great fun and an enjoyable way of making new friends, enjoying friendly competition and playing a variety of outstanding golf courses in Morocco

PROGRAMME:

Saturday 9th October 2010:
Flight from London Gatwick to Marrakech (operated by ROYAL AIR MAROC (Flight AT673, depart from London Gatwick North Terminal at 20:30 and arrive to Marrakech at 23:05).
Assistance in Marrakech airport and transfer to the PALM PLAZA HOTEL & SPA 5*****
Check-in and overnight at the hotel
* Please note that flights can be arranged from other airport direct to Marrakech (From Edinburgh, Manchester, East Midlands, London Luton, Bristol) at a supplement.

Sunday 10th October 2010:
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the ROYAL Golf Club
Better-ball pairs, with a partner of your choice of with a partner allocated by the Tournament Director.
Transfer back to the hotel
Cocktail party at 19:00 in the hotel
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Monday 11th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to PALMERAIE Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 1
Transfer back to the hotel
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Tuesday 12th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AMELKIS Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 2
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel, Dinner & overnight
Wednesday 13th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel – Guided city tour of Marrakech
Transfer back to the hotel - Afternoon at leisure
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Thursday 14th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AL MAADEN Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 3
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel
Dinner & Overnight
Friday 15th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AMELKIS Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 4 (Final Round)
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel
Gala Dinner with entertainment & Prizes presentations ceremony
Overnights at the hotel
Saturday 16th October 2010
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel – Morning at leisure
Transfer to Marrakech airport for the return flight to UK – assistance with the check-in formalities
(Flight AT672, Depart from Marrakech at 15:05 and arrive at 19:40)

BARGAIN PRICES
Golfer: £789 per person (sharing a Twin or Double room)
Non-Golfer: £630 (Sharing a Twin or Double Room)
Single room Supplement: £80 (for 7 Nights)

The price includes:
*Return schedule flight with Royal Air Maroc from London Gatwick to Marrakech (Flights from other UK airports at a supplement)
*Seven (07) Nights accommodation in the PALM PLAZA HOTEL & SPA 5***** in Marrakech
*Daily buffet breakfast
*Five rounds of competitive golf and playing on the Royal, Amelkis, Plameraie & Al Maaden Golf Courses
*Cocktail Party
*Gala Dinner with Prizes Presentation
*Five (05) Dinners at the hotel as per the programme
*Half Day guided tour of Marrakech
*Ground transfers & Transportation
*Our Permanent assistance in Marrakech

PRIZES
1st, 2nd & 3rd of each category: senior men, senior women, men, women, boys (under-18 and under-16), girls (under-18 and under-16).

OTHER Flight Options:

From EDINBURGH to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR6824, Depart from Edinburgh at 14:50 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:10
+Saturday 16th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR6825, Depart from Marrakech at 18:35 & Arrive to Edinburgh at 23:55
From BRISTOL to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR8218, Depart from Bristol at 15:55 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:30
+Saturday 16th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR8219, Depart from Marrakech at 18:55 & Arrive to Bristol at 23:35
From MANCHESTER to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: EASYJET Flight No 1893, Depart from Manchester at 14:35 and arrive to Marrakech at 17:40
+Saturday 16th October 2010: EASYJET Flight No 1894, Depart from Marrakech at 18:10 & Arrive to Manchester at 22:55
From London Gatwick to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010:
+EASYJET Flight No 8895, Depart from Gatwick at 12:25 and arrive to Marrakech at 15:05
+EASYJET Flight No 8897, Depart from Gatwick at 15:35 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:15
+Saturday 16th October 2010:
+EASYJET Flight No 8896, Depart from Marrakech at 15:40 & Arrive to Gatwick at 20:10
+EASYJET Flight No 8898, Depart from Marrakech at 18:50 & Arrive to Gatwick at 23:20

MARRAKECH
The Golf Holiday to remember in a city you will never forget
Lying at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, nested in the midst of a palm-grove is the red pearl, Marrakech! More than an Imperial city, Marrakech legitimately boasts the sumptuous relics of its glorious past: palaces, tombs, gardens and minarets compete with each other for the pleasure of the visitor. A most lively city, a city of thousand and one perfumes, colours and melodies where life is a continuous show, climaxing at the natural theatre of Djemaa El Fna Square where magicians, acrobats, storytellers, and fortune-tellers gather to entertain you. Extending north from the square is the medina within which lies the imperial heritage of Marrakech. Wandering the SOUKS in the Medina is like travelling back in time, some shops glittering with jewellery, some festooned with richly coloured carpets and all around you the sounds of bargaining for that all important “best price”!
A dry and healthy climate adds to the pleasures of visits and excursions, making it possible to practice all kinds of open-air sports.

Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa 5*****
Located in Agdal, a new residential district, Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa welcomes you in a luxury setting in the heart of Marrakech, 10 minutes from the airport and 8 minutes from Djamaâ Elfna Square. Palm Plaza Hotel features comfortable rooms and suites. Savour exotic dishes in the hotel’s restaurants.Have a snack in the pool bar and in the evening, a quiet time in the piano bar or an exciting night in the night club. Enjoy a relaxing stay in Palm Plaza Hotel. The spa features a heated indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a Hammam and a gym
Palm Plaza Hotel & SPA has 230 rooms, including 151 Twin, 52 Double, 2 rooms for disabled persons, 6 junior suites, 20 senior suites and a royal suite. Houses of Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa are equipped by air conditioning, heating, Internet access and free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, safe, mini bar, telephone, hair dryer, voice mail and automatic alarm

ENTRY FORM

1ST MOROCCO FAMILY GOLF FESTIVAL

Competing as (Please tick the appropriate box)
Senior Man (over 55 yrs on Jan 1)
Senior Lady (over 50 yrs on Jan 1)
Man Lady
Boy (under 16yrs on Jan 1)
Girl (Under 16yr on Jan 1)
Boy (Under 18yr on Jan 1)
Girl (Under 18yr on Jan 1)

Title:
First Name:


Surname

Handicap
(Competitors should take up an up to date handicap from their home club)
Golf Club:

Full Postal
Address

Post Code

Tel (Home)

Tel (Mobile)

Email Address
Name of partner for Better-Ball Pairs
If you wish the Tournament Director to allocate you with a partner at random (Please indicate (Yes / No)

Accompanying Person / Non Golfer

Preferred Airport to fly from & to

Comments / Remarks

I confirm that I agree to abide by all the tournament rules & regulations and I enclose a deposit of £100 (please make cheques payable to MENARA TRAVEL LTD) – payment by cards accepted

Signature:

Please send your complete Entry Form to: Mohamed Fakir at Menara Travel Ltd, 200c Blythe Road, London W14 0HH

Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Nikki Foster (Pleasington), in action for England in the women's home internationals at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire last September (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Girls' glory run ends in Sunningdale foursomes final

The glory run of Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Nikki Foster (Pleasington), playing off eight, ended only in today's final of the Sunningdale foursomes.

The girls, both England amateur internationals, were beaten by one hole by C Cowper (World of Golf) and N Reilly (Surbiton), a +2 partnership.

All credit to the winners but a big "very well done" to the girls to come through a huge field and reach the last stage of this prestigious event.

In the morning semi-finals, Cowper and Reilly bt S Lilly (Wellingborough) & A Lilly (Kettering)), playing off +1, by 5 and 4 while Wild and Foster beat M Morris (Walmley) and S Davis (Keddleston Hall), a +2 pairing, by two holes.

Charlotte and Nikki in Sunningdale semi-finals

Charlotte Wild (Mere) and Nikki Foster (Pleasington) have done splendidly to come through a huge field to reach this morning's semi-finals of the prestigious Sunningdale foursomes.
Charlotte and Nikki now play M Morris (Walmley) and S Davis (Keddleston Hall).
All ties are under handicap.
In the second semi-final, C Cowper (World of Golf) and N Reilly (Surbition), conquerors of English women's champion Charlie Douglass and her partner N Pateman a day or so ago, will play S Lilly (Wellingborough) and A Lilly (Ketting).
If you want to look up the results, here's the link:
http://www.sunningdale-golfclub.co.uk/site/competitions/assets/docs/MjY3MjE=.xls

Alex Salmond's major announcement about £2million boost for Scottish amateur golf

First Minister Alex Salmond (centre) with a group including SLGA chairman Shona Malcolm, British Women's Open champion Catriona Matthew and Douglas Connon, chairman of the Scottish Golf Union Board, at North Berwick today when a major announcement about additional funding for Scottish amateur golf, particularly those who are turning professional., was made.

READ THE FULL STORY BY LOGGING ON TO www.scottishgolfview.com

Laura Murray's attitude, worth ethic and personality impressed Paul Lawrie (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency, click to enlarge).

Laura Murray joins Paul Lawrie team for 2010

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul Lawrie has added Scotland women's amateur international Laura Murray from Alford to his Foundation team for 2010.
"Laura will wear our logo throughout the year on Glenmuir clothes provided for her. She will also receive Titleist balls and will be included in my team golf days where I play 18 holes four or five times a year with them," said the 1999 Open champion.
"I have been very impressed with Laura's attitude, work ethic and personality."
Already members of the Paul Lawrie Foundation team are David Law (Hazlehead), Scottish boys' and men's amateur champion, Tartan Tour pros Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) and Graeme Lornie (Kings Links) and Peterhead youth cap Philip McLean.
" I normally meet three of them at a time. We play 18 holes and have lunch. I pass on course management tips and which type of shots to play in certain situations. I try not to coach them as they all have their own coaches.
"Adam Hunter works on the short game with them all. They normally see Adam five or six times a year. We are currently trying to give them some funding but that's not confirmed at the moment."
Laura Murray, 21, is also a member of Murcar Links and Aboyne golf clubs. A former Robert Gordon University student, she is a full-time amateur who makes some pocket money, working as a swimming pool life guard at the Kippie Lodge Sports Club at Milltimber near Aberdeen.
Last week she almost became the first female to win a North-east Alliance competition. Her scratch 66 at Murcar Links was pipped by late finished Scott Larkin's 65.
"It's great that Paul Lawrie has made me a member of his team. That will be a big help to me. I am aiming to make this my last year as an amateur, playing in all the big tournaments and hopefully I'll be ready to have a go at the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School near the end of the year," said Laura.

English Women's Golf Association and English

Golf Union moving towards potential merger

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) and the English Golf Union (EGU) have agreed to take the next steps towards a potential merger which would let the country’s amateur golfers speak with one voice.
The joint steering group from the two organisations has agreed five initial proposals and working groups have been set up to look in detail at key areas. The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations after they have received and considered the final proposal and following a period of consultation involving all members.
It is hoped the vote will take place before the end of 2010.
The benefits of merger could include:
+The opportunity to promote golf as one game for all and to make strategic plans for the future of the sport.
+Greater commercial power to attract sponsorship.
+More effective use of resources and reduced running costs.
The five proposals agreed so far are:
• A single National Governing Body for amateur golf in England. EWGA would join the EGU under a modified structure. EGU Ltd would be expanded to incorporate the activities and assets of both existing companies with a new management structure reflected in a revised Memorandum and Articles of Association. A trading name, yet to be finalised, would be adopted with the single company being styled "X" is the trading name of EGU Ltd incorporated with the EWGA.
• The headquarters would initially be at the National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa, with EWGA’s offices in Birmingham remaining in operation for use by staff from both organisations until at least the break clause in the current lease contract in October 2012. After this the new board would review the accommodation needs of the organisation.
• The board of the single organisation would develop the strategy for the new body.
• The EGU/EWGA steering group would consider options regarding the staff organisational structure needed to deliver that strategy. It would appoint where possible from existing members of staff from both organisations.
• The new body would have one main board with executive and non-executive directors. While the final composition and role of this board will be decided by the steering group looking at the structure, voting and governance issues, it would initially have a non-executive gender balance of 6:4 men to women. The main committees would have at least two men and two women members.
The working groups have been set up to consider such key areas as legal and financial issues, golf, marketing, sponsorship and communications. They will report back to the steering group by mid-April and the results of their work will help to shape the final proposal for a potential merger.
This is expected to be published at the end of July and will be followed by roadshows in every county (in England). The roadshows will be open to all members of both organisations and will provide an opportunity to discuss the final proposal in detail and to ask questions.
The decision on a merger will be made by the voting members of both organisations at general meetings held on the same day, towards the end of 2010.
To read a joint statement issued by John Petrie, EGU Chief Executive and Jim Robinson, EWGA Chief Executive please click here

Jones Cup overnight leader has 81 in second round

Tonight's report and scores from the Jones Cup Invitational on Sea Island, Georgia can be viewed by switching to www.scottishgolfview.com
First-round leader Philip McLean (Peterhead) with a 69, has had a second-round 81 in more difficult conditions.

Peterhead's Philip McLean leads stars

with a 69 in Jones Cup Invitational

Peterhead's Philip McLean, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had the round of his young life - a three-under-par 69 - to lead a star-studded field by two shots at the end of the first round of the Jones Cup Invitational tournament at Ocean Forrest Golf Club, Sea Island in Georgia.

The first round was threatened by inclement weather but play was never suspended. The
field played through rainshowers and heavy winds on the difficult Rees Jones lay-out which measures 7,321yd.

The average score for the 84 player field was 78 with only three players bettering par.

Ross Kellett (Colville Park) had a 79 for a share of 41st place.

James White (Lundin) is in joint 57th place afteer an 81 and Steven McEwan (Caprington) is lying 75th in a field of 83 players after a 75.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72. 7,321yd

69 Philip McLean (Scotland).

71 Matt Nagy, Romain Wattel.

72 George Bryan, Henrik Norlander, Patrick Reed.

73 Blayne Barber, Hunter Hamrick.

74 Bud Cauley.

75 Byeong-Hun An, Harris English, Tom Lewis, Bryden McPherson, Nathan Smith, Bobby Wyatt.

Selected scores:

77 Jamie Abbott, James Frazer, Chris Paisley, James Robinson (jt 24th).

78 Victor Dubuisson.

79 Billy Hemstock, Ross Kellett (Scotland), Darren Renwick (jt 41st).

81 James White (Scotland) (jt 57th).

82 Oliver Farr (jt 62nd).

83 Stiggy Hodgson (jt 66th).

85 Steven McEwan (75th of 83).

Jones Cup: Friday not Thursday start?

As there are no scores available for the Jones Cup on Golfstat, we can only presume the 54-hole tournament at Sea Island, Georgia does not start until today (Friday) although the championship website itself says the event runs from February 4 to 7.

Not enough clubs taking positive action to retain

young players ... and attract new ones

FROM THE HERALD WEBSITE
By Douglas Lowe
The worm is turning, and what encourages Andy Salmon, development manager for both the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, is the way a steady trickle of clubs are taking positive action to retain young players and attract new ones.
But he warns it is not happening quickly enough.
It is a familiar lament that clubs lose most of their juniors as soon as they turn 18. Much of that is to do with leaving the area for education or employment reasons, but there is also a significant cost factor that is behind what is believed to be a widespread dearth of club members in the 18-to-30 age-group.
It is not that these players do not exist. They are known to be out there, but, in what has become known as the nomadic way, they prefer to pay green fees to the huge outlay of joining fees and annual subscriptions.
“A lot of clubs see young players leave because of the jump in fees from a very low cost to full membership which can be five or six times what the junior membership was,” noted Salmon, “and as a result many clubs have introduced a stepped pricing structure up to age 30 such as at Old Ranfurly and West Kilbride.”
Effectively, this is a way of subsidising young players and that is turning the old culture on its head. It used to be that younger players were expected to keep annual subscriptions down for senior members but current demography and demand has shown such practices to be flawed.
“We have never said older golfers are bad or the enemy even though a lot of people perceived it that way last year,” assured Salmon. “We want to hang on to the older golfers but supplement them with this younger generation.”
The Single Equality Bill, currently going through parliament and due to come into force this year, moreover, might push clubs’ membership policies further down the line by insisting on equal rights and making it possible to offer discounts only to minorities such as the 18-to-30 group.
“We will be publishing detailed advice around that in the next few weeks and it will absolutely have implications for clubs in terms of how they treat men and women in a mixed club. There are also requirements around age discrimination and we will be advising clubs on whether it will still be permissible to offer discounted memberships for, say, over-65s,” he said.
In the meantime, the drive for members continues and reciprocal arrangements with other clubs are becoming a common way of adding value to memberships. In addition, the SGU’s golf card scheme, offering half-price green fees to golf club members, is now operating at 120 clubs.
Yet there are still strong signs of apathy and a sense of anxiety that the sleeping giant needs to be woken up before it is too late.
Of 580 Scottish clubs, only 127 responded to a survey relating to last year’s Golf Awareness Week – a project that will be repeated this year just after the Masters – and just 173 were represented at a series of roadshows in November and December.
Over the last five years, memberships are down by more than 10,000, and that is costing dearly the governing bodies who are in the process of raising annual per-capita levies, the SGU from £7.20 to £10 over a period of three years, and the SLGA from £13 to £14.
“There are some great examples of clubs generating between 40 and 120 new members on the back of a specific action like radio advertising, a joining fee offer, an open day and these kind of things,” said Salmon.
“We are greatly encouraged by that and we don’t want to paint a negative picture. I think things are heading in the right direction but more clubs could sit up and take a look.
“I believe clubs need three things. First, they need a strong leadership, and by that I mean a good secretary/manager to prioritise expenditure. Second, the golf course has to be right, and third, there has to be a marketing policy.
“All too often marketing – and the golf course as well to a lesser extent – are the first areas clubs look at in making savings. I don’t think that necessarily is the right thing. One or two clubs are even wondering whether the secretary/manager is someone they can do without. I would suggest that is not the way to go.”
A survey of 50 golfers who joined a club last year showed that the quality of the course was the top priority followed by a welcoming environment and then the cost, particularly joining fees which put off many people. A key argument for keeping them is to prevent golfers changing clubs every year at a whim, but it is a controversial device.
“I don’t buy the notion that you charge a joining fee to trap members to a golf club,” said Salmon.
“Marketing people will tell you that you trap people in a golf club by giving them value for money and one of the recent changes we have seen is the emergence of a customer service ethic.
“If you are in Glasgow, where all the clubs are full and charging a £1000 joining fee, then you would be daft not to charge one at your club. It is about doing what is right in your local marketplace and what is right for your business objectives, but I do think there is a trend away from joining fees.
“On the whole, I don’t think clubs are changing quickly enough, but it is not our position to be telling clubs what they should be doing and when they should be doing it. There is definitely a culture of positive change going on, but is it happening at all 580 clubs in Scotland? No, it is definitely not.
“I would like to think that in five years’ time we will be in a great place. There will be much more marketing, clubs will be more business-like and also by then we hope the economy will be in great shape. I am very optimistic.”

Official figures for Scottish golf club members over last five years
Men 187,769 (down 4.23%)
Women 35,388 (down 9.89%)
Boys 25,047 (down 5.98%)
Girls 2,964 (up 3.63%)
Notes: Early returns for current figures show a further 0.89% fall and are feared to drop further. Adult figures are inflated by an unknown number who are members of more than one club and junior numbers are estimated from figures provided voluntarily by around half of clubs

Top five reasons for new members joining clubs last year
70% - I like the course
36% - I was made to feel welcome
30% - No joining fee deal
26% - Annual fees more affordable than others
22% - Monthly payment plan available

GIVE US YOUR VIEWS
Are the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association doing enough to rescue our clubs?
Is the per-capita levy too high or too low?
Is your club committee the best in Scotland or does it have its collective head in the sand?
What is your solution to falling memberships?

Send your views to sportletters@theherald.co.uk

United States win The Spirit title: Good last

day for Scots women but men disappoint

Despite a great last-day, four-under-par better-ball round of 68 by Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Pitreavie's Louise Kenney, Scotland's combined team - Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) were the male half of the quartet - finished 18th of the 20 countries competing in the biennial The Spirit International better-ball team tournament at Whispering Pines, Trinity near San Antonio, Texas
The Scots girls saved their best performance for the last day after earlier better-ball rounds of 72, 73 and 70. Their 284 aggregate was four-under-par.
In contrast, Bookless and Shields finished with a one-over-par better-ball total of 289, made up of rounds of 70, 75, 72 and 72.
Walker and Kenney finished joint ninth in the women's team standings.
Bookless and Shields came last of 20 in the men's team table.
Italy, with British amateur champion Matteo Manassero and Andrea Pavan, combined for a brilliant 27-under-par total of 261 (64-64-67-66), topped the men's standings and United States (14-year-old Alexis Thompson and Jennifer Johnson) led women's table with a 24-under-par total of 264 (66-64-66-68).
But it was the United States (Jordan Spieth and Ben Martin completed their team) who had the best combined men's and women's team aggregate with a staggering 45-under-par 531 - but only two shots ahead of South Korea.
England (Matt Haines, Stiggy Hodgson, Holly Clyburn and Rachel Jennings) came fifth overall with a total of 545 after a disappointing last round total of 140, their worst of the four days.
Medals were also awarded for individual totals of birdies and eagles.
Alexis Thompson finished up with four golds - US team, US women and women's individual. She has 17 birdies over the four rounds. England's Rachel Jennings tied for sixth with a bag of 12 birdies; Kylie Walker finished joint 16th with eight; Holly Clyburn had seven and Louise Kenney four.
Bum-Geun Chae (South Korea) had the most birdies (20) in the men's category. Matthew Haines (England) finished joint seventh with 14 and Stiggy Hodgson joint 18th with 11. Paul Shileds had six for joint 36th position and Mark Bookless had three birdies.

HOW THEY FINISHED
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS
Par 576
531 United States 134 129 131 137.
535 South Korea 137 136 133 129.
543 Denmark 134 138 133 138.
544 Chinese Taipei 130 136 144 134.
545 England 136 135 134 140.
552 Germany.
553 Italy.
555 Sweden, Canada.
556 Colombia.
559 France.
560 South Africa, Australia.
562 Belgium.
563 Argentina.
564 Norway.
570 Philippines.
572 Scotland 142 148 142 140.
574 Czech Republic.
589 Mexico.
MEN'S TEAM TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
261 Italy 64 64 67 66.
264 South Korea
265 Chinese Taipei
266 Denmark, Canada.
267 Sweden, United States.
268 England 71 64 66 67.
269 Germany
270 Australia.
273 South Africa.
278 Belgium.
279 Norway.
281 Colombia, Czech Republic.
2892 France.
284 Argentina.
287 Philippines.
288 Mexico.
289 Scotland 70 75 72 72.

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL BIRDIES
20 Bum-Geun Chae (SKor).
Selected:
14 Matthew Haines (England) (jt 7th).
11 Stiggy Hodgson (England) (jt 18th).
6 Paul Shields (Scotland) (jt 36th).
3 Mark Bookless (Scotland) (38th).

WOMEN'S TEAM TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
264 United States 66 64 66 68.
271 South Korea.
275 Colombia.
277 Denmark, England, France.
279 Argentina, Chinese Taipei.
283 Germany, Philippines, Scotland 72 73 70 68.
284 Belgium.
285 Norway.
287 South Africa.
288 Sweden.
289 Canada.
2890 Australia.
292 Italy.
293 Czech Republic.
301 Mexico.

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL BIRDIES
17 Alexis Thompson (US).
Selected:
12 Rachel Jennings (England) (jt 6th).
8 Kylie Walker (Scotland) (jt 16th).
7 Holly Clyburn (England) (jt 21st).
4 Louise Kenney (Scotland) (jt 33rd).

United States lead by 11 from England,

Scotland remain in 17th place

Fog delayed the start of the third day in The Spirit International better-ball team tournament at Whispering Pines Golf Club, Texas.
At the end of it, United States (Jordan Spieth, Ben Martin, Jennifer Johnson and Alexis Thompson) had gone 11 shots clear of England at the top of the leaderboard.
Scotland remained in 17th place in the field of 20 countries.
Kylie Walker and Louise Kenney combined for their first sub-par score of 70 while Mark Bookless and Paul Shields' better-ball score only matched the par of 72.
Scotland's team total after 54 holes is level par 432 over a par-72 course. Walker and Kenney have scored 72, 73 and 70 for one-under-par 215.
Bookless and Shields have scored 70, 75 and 72 for one-over-par 217.
Meanwhile, England have been doing well but not quite well enough to dislodge United States from the leadership.
Rachel Jennings and Holly Clyburn had a very good better-ball third round of 68 while England's male representatives, Matt Haines and Stiggy Hodgson did even better, marking up a better-ball of 66 - showing the true potential of better-ball scoring.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 432
394 UNITED STATES 134 129 131 (Jordan Spieth & Ben Martin 68 65 65 for 198; Jennifer Johnson & Alexis Thompson 66 64 66 for 196).
405 ENGLAND 136 135 135 (Matt Haines & Stiggy Hodgson 71 64 66 for 201; Rachel Jennings & Holly Clyburn 65 71 68 for 204).
406 SOUTH KOREA.
410 CHINESE TAIPEI
411 ARGENTINA.
413 COLOMBIA, GERMANY.
416 FRANCE, ITALY.
418 CANADA, SWEDEN.
420 SOUTH AFRICA.
421 BELGIUM.
425 AUSTRALIA.
430 NORWAY.
432 SCOTLAND 142 148 142 (Mark Bookless & Paul Shields 70 75 72 for 217; Kylie Walker & Louise Kenney 72 73 70 for 215).
438 CZECH REPUBLIC, PHILIPPINES.
446 MEXICO.

Scots slump to fourth bottom in The Spirit tournament Scotland's mixed amateur golf team slumped to 17th in a field of 20 countries competing at The Spirit tournament at Whispering Pines Golf Club, Houston in Texas today (Thursday). Paul Shields (Kirkhill) and Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) have so far had better-ball rounds of 70 and 75 for a two-round total of 145 over the par-72 course. The 75 was the second-worst better-ball men's team score on the secon day. The other half of the combined Scotland team, Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) and Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) have scored 72 and 73 for 145. The Scots' second-round total of 148 was six shots worse than their opening-day effort. The Scotland total of 290 is 27 shots behind the leaders, United States (263), with Chinese Taipei (266) second and England (271) third. COMBINED LEADERBOARD 263 United States (men: 68-65, women: 66-64). 266 Chinese Taipei. 271 England (men: 71-64, women: 65-71). 272 Colombia, Denmark. 273 Argentina, South Korea, Sweden. 275 France, Germany. 276 Italy. 277 Canada. 278 South Africa. 281 Belgium. 286 Australia. 288 Norway. 290 Scotland (men: 70-75, women: 72-73). 292 Philippines. 293 Czech Republic. 295 Mexico. +For a full overview of the second day's play, switch over to www.scottishgolfview.com

The Spirit Tournament News

Louise Kenney, Kylie Walker, Paul Shields and Mark Bookless combined for a two-under-par first-day better-ball team score of 142 - 12 shots behind leaders Chinese Taipei.
England's Rachel Jennings, Holly Clyburn, Stiggy Hodgson and Matthew Haines are lying joint sixth on 136.
Kenney and Walker combined for a better-ball round of level par 72; Shields and Bookless had a better-ball 70.
More news on http://www.scottishgolfview.com/

England send strong four to Spirit

International at Houston, Texas

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Internationals Holly Clyburn and Rachel Jennings, together with Matt Haines and Stiggy Hodgson, will represent the English Women’s Golf Association and the English Golf Union respectively in the Spirit International Amateur Championship being staged from November 4 to 7 at Houston, Texas.
The biennial event takes place at the Whispering Pines Golf Club, north of Houston, and attracts leading players, both boys and girls, from many overseas nations.
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire), 18, is the English girls' champion, the French Under-18 open champion and the British colleges' open champion. She was also a member of the winning England team in the girls' home internationals and along with Rachel Jennings played in the Ladies' Home Internationals at Irvine where England finished runners-up to Wales.
Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton, Staffordshire), 21, represented England in last year’s women’s world amateur team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy, having also won the French Lady Junior Championship.
In 2009, she was a member of the GB&I team against the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy and qualified for the Ricoh British Women’s Open at Royal Lytham.
Both Holly and Rachel were members of the England team that won the silver medal in the 2009 European Ladies' Team Championship in Slovenia and both have been included in the 2010 Curtis Cup squad.
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham, Kent), 20, was capped at boys level and has been an England international for the past three years after making his debut in the 2007 European men’s team championship in Denmark.
In that time he has won the McEvoy, Carris and Lytham Trophies, while this year his successes have included winning the Berkhamsted Trophy, the Hampshire Hog and Salver and a shared victory in the Duncan Putter.
He has also finished runner-up in the St Andrews Links Trophy and the Welsh open stroke play and reached the quarter-finals of the Spanish and English amateur championships.
Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale, Surrey), 19, like Haines, played in last month’s Walker Cup, having made his full England debut as part of the victorious home internationals team. A former boy international, Hodgson’s victories have included the McEvoy and Carris Trophies and the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, all in 2008.
This year, he has won the Sunningdale Foursomes, was joint winner of the Henriques Salver at the Brabazon Trophy, finished runner-up in the Junior Orange Bowl in the United States and in the South of England Stroke Play, third in the Tillman Trophy and was a semi-finalist in the Amateur Championship and a quarter-finalist in the English Amateur.England has a superb record in recent Spirit Internationals.
In 2005, Sophie Walker and Felicity Johnson won the gold medal in the women’s event at Houston and, with Oliver Fisher and Jamie Moul, took the international team gold.
Two years ago, the England quartet of Gary Boyd, Danny Willett, Liz Bennett and Naomi Edwards came out on top to take the gold medals.
The field contains the best 24 international teams who qualified through their final positions in the Eisenhower and Espirito Santo Trophies. Each team comprises two men and two women and is played on a four ball, better ball format over 72 holes.
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer

LOTHIANS FATHER AND DAUGHTER WIN SLGA ADULT-GIRL FOURS AT ARBROATH The Lothians' father-and-daughter pairing of Michael Connor (Mortonhall) and Louise Connor (Kilspindie), playing off a handicap of 20, had the best overall Stableford points total of 36pt in today's (Sunday) Scottish Ladies Golfing Assocaition adult-girl foursomes golf tournament Arbroath Golf Club. Ian Smith (Grange) and Louise Smith (Monifieth), playing off eight, won Category 1 (handicaps 0 to 12) with 34pt. Category 2 (handicaps 13 to 20) was won by the Kennedys from Paisley, Iain and Emma with 35pt off 17. Margaret Alexander (Baberton) and Jillian Farrell (Cardross), playing off 24, won Category 3 (handicaps 21 to 36) with 31pt. Category 4 for girls with no handicaps was won by the Kilspindie pairing of Phil Notley and Ellis Notley with 23pt with a better inward half. A total of 44 pairs took part. LEADING PRIZEWINNING STABLEFORD POINTS TOTALS Overall winners – Michael Connor (Mortonhall) & Louise Connor (Kilspindie) (29) 36pt. Category 1 (0 to 12 handicaps) – Ian Smith (Grange) & Louise Smith (Monifieth) (8) 34pt; Alistair Serrals & Ashley Ann Alston (Royal Montrose) (4) 33pt. Category 2 (13 to 20 handicaps) – Iain Kennedy & Emma Kennedy (Paisley) (17) 35; Alison Scott & Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) (19) 31pt. Category 3 (21 to 36 handicaps) – Margaret Alexander (Baberton) & Jillian Farrell (Cardross) (24) 31pt; Charles McCleary & Jessica McCleary (Monifieth) (24) 30pt. Category 4 (girls with no handicaps) – Phil Notley & Ellis Notley (Kilspindie) 23pt (better inward half).

BIENNIAL THE SPIRIT TOURNAMENT

SLGA, SGU name four to

represent Scotland at

Whispering Pines, Texas

The combined Scottish Golf Union-Scottish Ladies Golf Association team to represent Scotland in The Spirit amateur international golf championship at Whispering Pines Golf Club, Texas, from November 4 to 7 is: Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) Paul Shields (Kirkhill) Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) Mark Bookless won the Scottish boys' open stroke-play title last year and recently won the Newlands Trophy 72-hole SGU Order of Merit tournament. Paul Shields has reached the final of the Scottish boys' match-play championship for the past two years. Kylie Walker and Louise Kenney were both named last week in the Ladies Golf Union's GB&I squad for the 2010 Curtis Cup match against the United States at Essex County Club in Massachusetts in June. Kylie, winner of the St Rule Trophy for the past two years, finished second in this year's European women's amateur championship. Louise Kenney, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf agency in action for Scotland in the recent Women's Home Internationals at Irvine, was the winner of the Angela Uzielli Trophy (best over-23) for a fourth place finish in the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Balgownie in August. Having her best season since she won the Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play title and then went off to Iowa State University for four years, Louise was beaten finalist by Megan Briggs in this year's Scottish women's amateur championship at Southerness.She is the current leader of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association Order of Merit. Kylie, 23, is a full-time amateur golfer. Louise, 26, is a supply teacher and is coached by Spencer Henderson, the SGU national junior coach. The Spirit tournament, held every two years, will have a field of 20 countries.

SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED

SCOTTISH MIXED GOLF POSTPONED Sunday's Scottish mixed foursomes tournament at Letham Grange has been posptoned because two of the holes on the course are still unplayable due to excess water on the fairways. The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association is trying to find a new date.

Tain four-day men's and women's title winners

Sister and brother Mrs Anne Ryan and Jimmy Russell with their trophies gained in the Tain four-day open tournament. This was the first year that the ladies had a section all to themselves - and it was a great success. Read Robin Wilson's report by switching over to our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com Image by Robin Wilson.

Janice Paterson (left), winner of the inaugural Riccarton Salver for senior ladies over one round; Hamilton Golf Club ladies' captain Jenni Allan, and Riccarton Rosebowl winner Pamela Pretswell.

Pamela Pretswell in action in the British women's open amateur championship at Harlech in June (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency; click on it to enlarge).

Pamela Pretswell wins Riccarton Rosebowl

by six shots from Rebecca Wilson

Vagliano Trophy player Pamela Pretswell won the Riccarton Rosebowl SLGA 36-hole Order of Merit tournament by a six-stroke margin at Hamilton Golf Club today (Sunday).
The Bothwell Castle player and Glasgow University student had rounds of 69 and 72 for a total of 141, compared with the combined CSS aggregate of 146 (73-73).
Runner-up was former girls international Rebecca Wilson (Monfieth) with two steady rounds of 74 and 73 for 147. Rebecca had the best net total of 143 off two of a handicap.
Scotland caps Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) and Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) tied for third place on 149.

Janice Paterson won the inaugural Riccarton Salver, an 18-hole competition for senior ladies.
FINAL TOTALS
CSS 73 73
141 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 69 72.
147 Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) 74 73.
149 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 76 73, Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) 74 75.
150 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 76 74.
151 Anne Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 72, Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 76 75, Susan Wood (Drumpellier) 74 77, Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 74 77.
153 Laura Murray (Alford) 893 70.
156 Jacquelihne Sneddon (Alyth) 80 76.
158 Louise Fraser (Kingsknowe) 78 80.
160 Rachel McQueen (Troon Ladies) 82 78.
162 Anne Moore (Hamilton) 79 83.
163 Louise McGillivray (Banchory) 82 81, Gabrielle MacDonald (Craigielaw) 80 83.
164 Ashley Wilton (Ladybank) 81 83.
165 Ashley Smith (Monifieth) 86 79, Jenni Allan (Hamilton) 79 86.
167 Linda Bain (Lochend) 83 84, Emma Caddow (Colville Park) 83 84, Angela Devine (Hamilton) 80 87.
168 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 85 83, Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) 83 85.
170 Natasha Quayum (Ranfurly Castle) 84 86.
172 Katie Reid (Monifieth) 84 88.
182 Patricia Davidson (Erskine) 89 93.
183 Lindsay Mathie (Windyhill) 91 92.
186 Gail Wilson (Monifieth) 92 94.
195 Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine) 99 96.

SENIOR SALVER

82 Janice Paterson (Drumpellier).

87 E M Lees.

92 Elaine Morris (better last nine), P Milligan.

94 Sheila Genders (West Kilbride).

95 Anne McKeown.

102 M Arthur (better last six), Elizabeth Nelson (Hamilton).

Krystle Caithness Fund-raiser winning team

The Krystle Caithness Fund-raiser took place today over the Jubilee course St Andrews.
The winners were Dunvegan with 83 points. The Dunvegan line-up (pictured above by Alma Robertson, left to right): Willie Tait, Lynne Tait, Krystle Caithness, Moira Wilbraham, Sheena Willoughby.
Second were Rule Britannia (Mary Forster, Dotty Kennedy, Nicola Davidson, Liz Childs) with 81 points.
Third were the R & A (G Howe, I Marshall, R Bunch and I Donald) with 80 points
Pictured (by Alma Robertson) above is the winning team with Krystle.

Twenty-two teams took part in the event which was organised by the St Regulus Club to help Krystle Caithness who joined the professional ranks earlier this year.

Susan pips Gillian for "leading lady" award over new Torrance course

Susan Simpson, the LGU's Head of Operations, pipped Gillian Kirkwood, the LGU vice-chairman for the "Leading Lady" award in yesterday's Scottish Golf Writers' championship over the mist-shrouded and revamped Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews. Hamish Grey (left), the SGU chief executive, won two of the three main male awards. Malcolm Campbell (right) won the writers' championship for the Alex M Fox Trophy.
Full story and all the leading scores are available on our other website, www.scottishgolfview.com (image by courtesy of Peter Kelly; double click to enlarge).

Angus Cappi makes it

five in a row for

Kirriemuir coach

Karyn Dallas

Angus Cappi’s win in the Golf Data Lab Scottish youths championship at the weekend meant that for five straight years a player coached by Kirriemuir Golf Club professional Karyn Dallas, pictured above, had won either a Scottish or British championship.
In the early days as a female coach Karyn was often frustrated at the lack of male players coming for coaching but over the past two years things have changed and the victory by Carnoustie Golf Club member Cappi hid the fact that another Dallas-coached player, William Bremner from Edzell, finished two shots behind in third position.
The girls on Dallas’s programme are showing what can be achieved with two earning tour cards and in the recent fifth place for Pamela Feggans in the Ladies Portuguese Open.
Dallas now has four boys and four girls on her elite programme and is expecting three to head for tour school this year.
Dallas, one of the few coaches ever to graduate from the PGA with an “A” for swing knowledge, was frustrated by criticism early in her career for being too simplistic and not placing enough emphasis on swing development.
Karyn always refuted this, pointing out that some of the best players in the world have unusual swings and that a coach had to be able to adapt to the players and not the other way around if the players were to maximise their potential.
Who can disagree? Her achievements speak for themselves but Karyn is keen to point out that there is much still to be done.
For more information on Karyn Dallas’s work you can visit her website http://www.tg54.com/

Cecilia Cho (14) beats Lydia Ko (12) in youngest

ever final of New Zealand women's amateur

Auckland 14-year-old Cecilia Cho became the second youngest player to win the women’s honours at the Lion Foundation New Zealand Amateur golf championships in Auckland this week.
She held off the challenge over 36 holes from 12-year-old Lydia Ko (Pupuke) in what proved the youngest finalists in the 115-year history of the amateur championship, at Titirangi Golf Club.
Western Australia’s Matt Jager, 20, proved too strong for South Africa’s Nicol van Wyk to take out the men’s title 6 and 5, also over 36 holes, for the best win of his young career.
Cho, four-up after 18 holes, held off a brief comeback from Ko to win 4 and 3. The South Island Amateur champion was three weeks and three days older than Auckland’s Larissa Eruera was when she won the amateur title in 2006.
While there was widespread interest in the performance of Ko, the North Island Amateur champion, in her quest to become the youngest ever winner, Cho used a simple game plan to win the amateur crown.
“My plan was to keep things simple. I wanted to keep the ball in play on the fairways,” Cho said. “I just kept on getting pars and being consistent. Lydia made some mistakes and that gave me a good lead.
“I was really nervous today and couldn’t really see the ball on the first tee. I didn’t sleep very well last night.
“It was my goal to win this and now I have achieved it. I can now go on with golf,” said Cho who is currently seeking citizenship that would enable her to represent New Zealand in the near future.
She was four up after just seven holes and from that point did not relinquish her grip on the match, being flat with the card after her first round. Ko won three in a row in the middle of the afternoon round but Cho birdied the 33rd hole to seal the title.
Ko, who turned 12 last Friday, impressed many with her coach Guy Wilson predicting a big future.
“The sky’s the limit really for Lydia. As long as the interest remains and she can keep developing, then she has a huge future in the game.”
She hit the ball well today but missed numerous chances on the greens to fight her way back into the match.
Jager, who won a major tournament in Argentina last summer, was in complete control of the men's final, adding touch on the greens to the pure ball-striking that he has produced during the tournament.
He was six up after 15 holes with an eagle and four birdies before going to the break at four up. He pushed back out to a six-hole advantage after 24 holes and never allowed the steady South African back into the match.
“I had not played the 16th and 17th well all week so it was good that I did not have to play it again this afternoon,” the 20 year old said. “I hit the ball really well tee to green right through the tournament. Today was the best I have putted in a long, long time which proved the difference. This is a real highlight for me.”
Results of 36-hole finals:
Lion Foundation New Zealand Amateur Championships, Titirangi GC:
Women: Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga) bt Lydia Ko (Pupuke) 4 and 3 (Cho led 4-up after 18).
Men: Matt Jager (Australia) bt Nicol van Wyk (South Africa) 6 and 5 (Jager led 4-up after 18 holes).

Scottish Golf Awareness Week

Get a Scottish Golf Card and save

50% of green fee at over 70 clubs

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
To kick-start the Scottish Golf Awareness Week, the SGU and SLGA have launched the Scottish Golf Card exclusively for golf club members as an added incentive, enabling them to take advantage of a 50% reduction off standard green fees at golf clubs participating in the programme.
The new initiative has hit the ground running with over 70 clubs now accepting the Scottish Golf Card across the country, with that total increasing daily.
For just £10, the card - the first of its type launched by the SGU and SLGA - will enable club members to take advantage of great savings as well as help clubs to increase capacity on their fairways.
Scottish Golf Development Manager Andy Salmon commented: “I am delighted with the initial response to the Scottish Golf Card by both clubs and members alike. The number of clubs taking the Golf Card is increasing all the time which gives greater choice and value to golf club members.
"The benefits are twofold, in addition to this reward for membership, clubs can increase volume on their courses, so this really is a win, win situation.
“I would urge any club which is concerned about decreasing memberships and revenues to promote the card to their members and accept card holders at their course.”
He concluded: “In the current climate golf club members like everyone else are looking for added value and ways of cutting costs and the Scottish Golf Card can reap great benefits for those wanting to take a short golfing break or golfing holiday in Scotland, or for those who just like to play other courses.”
Among the fantastic courses already signed up to the initiative are:
*Marriot Dalmahoy in Edinburgh.
*The ancient links of Royal Montrose.
*The superb Murcar Links
to name but a few, with more clubs indicating they will come on board shortly.
The card can make a great gift to a friend or colleague or yourself with the whole season ahead of you.
To purchase simply phone 01334 466 477 or visit the Scottish Golf Union website to download an application form www.scottishgolf.org.
Memberships are verified with your club before the card is issued.
Kate Weldon
Communications Manager
Scottish Golf Union

Scottish Golf Week

DENIM DAY AT HILTON PARK LAUNCHES SCOTTISH GOLF WEEK

Scottish Golf’s Awareness Week gained momentum with the launch of the ‘Love Golf? Join the Club’ campaign on April Fools Day at Hilton Park Golf Club.

The joint SGU and SLGA campaign which was recently boosted by a £10,000 grant from the R&A, is the first of its kind and aims to promote the benefits of golf club membership, while helping clubs recruit and retain members.

In a break from tradition, SGU and SLGA executives sported jeans and T-shirts to demonstrate the sort of thinking which is helping clubs widen their appeal to a new target audience.

At a press conference officials of Hilton Park and Swanston New, another of the clubs that have embraced Golf Awareness Week, outlined some of the methods they have used in recent years to build their memberships at a time when the trend has been toward declining membership across Scotland.

Scottish Golf Development Manager Andy Salmon who is spear-heading this campaign, said: “The majority of clubs are already using our free of charge service within the Scottish Golf web-site, to market themselves and there are currently 300 clubs advertising membership vacancies. This is helping to break down the myth that clubs are difficult to get into because of closed memberships or lengthy waiting lists when many are actually actively looking to recruit new members.

“Swanston New and Hilton Park are great examples of clubs that are reaping the benefits of innovative thinking by adopting a more customer focussed approach to their membership. What we are keen to do is provide as many examples as possible of best practise so that other clubs can choose what best suits their particular needs.

“We are not suggesting that many clubs are likely to start allowing members or guests to turn up in T-shirt and jeans, but the purpose of today’s event was to invite them to think differently about how they promote themselves to a wider market, specifically targeting the nomadic golfer A more relaxed dress code is just one example of a successful change in golf clubs.”

Lynn Kenny, one of Scotland’s leading female professionals on the Ladies European Tour who was supporting today’s launch, added, “The Love Golf? Join the Club campaign is a great idea for Scotland’s clubs. Being a member of a golf club is a fantastic way to make life-long friendships and is often great value for money compared to other leisure pursuits.

“Attitudes within golf clubs have changed significantly for the better towards women and families and I’m sure this campaign will help attract many new members whilst also convincing existing members that they should remain at their club.”

Scottish Golf Dinner

Press release
DOUBLE FOR MACAULAY AS SCOTTISH MALE GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Kylie Walker (pictured right, courtesy idealimages.co.uk) takes the Ladies Order of Merit trophy

Tulliallan star Callum Macaulay was awarded his second successive Scottish Golfer of the Year award tonight in front of a packed house at the Scottish Golf Dinner in Glasgow (Friday 27 March).

The 25-year-old’s achievements in his final season as an amateur were celebrated at the glittering event hosted by television personality Dougie Donnelly at Glasgow's Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Living up to his status as the country’s leading player he won the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and also enjoyed individual success at the Tennant Cup.

However Macaulay also excelled as a team player with his form of the previous year earning him selection for the GB & Ireland squad that contested the St Andrews Trophy with a powerful Continent of Europe side.

Asked to lead the team out in both days’ singles by team captain Colin Dalgleish, he finished the two-day match unbeaten in four rounds of singles and foursomes, as did fellow Scot Wallace Booth of Comrie.

The pair teamed up again later in the season, along with Murrayshall’s Gavin Dear to produce the performance that turned 2008 into one of the most special years in the history of Scottish amateur golf.

Just six years after it was decided that the four Home Unions would compete separately in the World Championships rather than as Great Britain & Ireland, the Scots became the first of them to lift the famous Eisenhower Trophy in the contest that marked the 50th anniversary of the event.

Buoyed by that success in Australia, Macaulay then moved on to the European Tour Qualifying School where, among 900 competitors, he was the lone amateur to win his full tour card.

Evidence that he is at home among the elite was provided just last weekend when his spectacular back nine in the final round at the Madeira Islands Open, including eight birdies as he roared home in 28 strokes, earned him a runners-up finish and a cheque for £73,000 that will greatly ease the pressure of his first year on tour.

With Macaulay competing on the European Tour again this week the award was picked up on his behalf by Ian Rae, the Scottish Golf Union’s national coach who is still working closely with him.

Macaulay did not repeat last year’s achievement of winning both the Scottish Golfer of the Year title and the SGU Order of Merit however because of the remarkable consistency of Caprington’s Steven McEwan, who claimed seven top 10 finishes to take that title.

Booth, who won the Bidwells Scottish Strokeplay Championship as well as the Newlands Trophy in the course of the season, and Dear meanwhile picked up special awards for their contributions to the World Championship win.

Another who shone on the international stage was Boys Order of Merit Trophy winner Michael Stewart, the Scottish Boys champion, who captained the GB&I Boys team to victory in the Jacques Leglise Trophy, while at senior level he put in a fine performance to finish runner-up at the St Andrews Links Trophy.

At the other end of the experience scale was Gordon MacDonald who won the Scottish Seniors Order of Merit after achieving four top five finishes in their counting events, forcing Macaulay’s clubmate Bob Stewart, winner of the Scottish Seniors Strokeplay title, into second place.

Scottish Ladies amateur golf was also celebrated in a season that saw Booth’s sister Carly become the youngest ever player to represent GB&I in the Curtis Cup. That team contained a record equalling four Scots with Krystle Caithness, Michelle Thomson and Sally Watson accompanying the teenager in the match played at the Old Course.

In the domestic season Kylie Walker and Kelsey MacDonald (pictured left, courtesy idealimages.co.uk), won the ladies and girls Order of Merit titles respectively by impressive margins.

Guest speaker Professor David Purdie rounded off a memorable evening which saw former European Tour star Stephen McAllister and Ladies European Tour player Lynn Kenny among those presenting awards.

Michele and Fergus reach NE Alliance foursomes semi-final

Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), last year's Scottish women's amateur champion and now a rookie pro waiting to make her debut on the Ladies European Tour, teamed up with golf magazine writer Fergus Bisset (Banchory) to reach the semi-finals of the North-east Alliance foursomes at windy Murcar Links this morning.
Switch over to www.scottishgolfview.com for news of that tie and the other results.

R&A joins forces with Scottish Golf to

keep clubs on course for Golf Week

The R&A has joined forces with Scottish Golf by providing a £10,000 cash boost to help fund the Scottish Golf Awareness Week, aimed at helping clubs to promote their facilities and increase adult golf club membership across the country.
The R&A’s support announced today will help the initiative target potential golf club members and highlight the many benefits of golf club membership as well as provide clubs with a toolkit of information devised to help them maximise opportunities to market their facilities.
The national campaign, the first initiative of its kind launched by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, will commence the week following the US Masters and clubs across the country are being encouraged to get involved, although activity does not need to be restricted to that week alone.
It is hoped that the golf week or ‘Love Golf – Join the Club’ initiative will kick start the 2009 season and beyond, in seeking to attract much needed members to maintain the health of the game in the home of golf.

The cash injection from golf’s world rules and development body is very welcome in the current challenging economic climate affecting industries across the globe as well as the sport and leisure sectors.
Duncan Weir, pictured above, R&A Director of Golf Development said, “The R&A sees it as one of its roles to not only encourage people to play golf but to join clubs and this is why we decided to offer financial support towards this Golf week initiative.
Scotland as the home of golf is unique in golfing terms and we are keen to see golfers joining clubs and maintaining the strong and vibrant club scene that so many have enjoyed for so many years.”
Andy Salmon, Scottish Golf Development Manager who is driving this innovative campaign, added, “We are delighted that The R&A has lent its support to this new initiative to encourage nomadic golfers to join golf clubs.
“This backing enables us to deliver our plans and provide a significant level of support to our affiliated clubs. There is no question that strong clubs are the key to a healthy sport and we are excited about the prospects for Golf Awareness Week.”
Case studies helping clubs to share best practice as part of the information pack available on the ‘Love Golf – Join the Club’ campaign is available by visiting the Scottish Golf website http://www.scottishgolf.org/

Kingussie's cluster of long-reigning champions

Continuing our "series" about men and women who have been multi-winners of their club champions.
Here's an E-mail from Ian Chadburn, secretary of Kingussie Golf Club.

Colin
There are in fact three major champions here at Kingussie

Ladies - Maggie Lawson - Champion 16 times on the trot from 1987 - 2002 & again in 2006
Men - John Gunn - Champion - 1954; 1959 - 1961; then 17 times on the trot from 1963 - 1980; 1982 - 1985 & finally 1988 / 89
Norman MacWilliam - 1981; 1986 / 87; 1993; then 9 on the trot 1995 - 2003; and to date 2007. Norman also holds the par 67 course record of 60 gained in the Kingussie Open 2001

Regards
Ian Chadburn
Secretary
Kingussie Golf Club
sec@kingussie-golf.co.uk

PS from Colin Farquharson: Kingussie the village/town (I've not been there for a number of years and it is probably a lot bigger than I remember it) is, of course, a hotbed of shinty and I've heard it said that most shinty players who play golf, play it left-handed. Someone once told me that Kingussie Golf Club must have more left-handers in its membership that any other golf club in Scotland/anywhere. Perhaps Ian Chadburn can confirm this?
Quick reply from Ian Chadburn:
That information I do not have but as you note there are a good number and I would say all male.

Ian

MULTI-YEAR CLUB CHAMPIONS

The correspondence continues:

"I was reading your article about multi-year champions. Until 2008, when I was defeated in the semi-final, I was Lady Champion at Gourock Golf Club for 15 years consecutively.
"This could be a starting figure for your investigations!!"
Regards
MAUREEN WOODHEAD (formerly Skinner)

Any advance on 15 years, then?

On the trail of multi-club champions, male or female!

We are running a story on http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ to see if we can find out which player has won his club championship the most times in a row. It started out as a men's title query but it has since widened to include women.
If you know of someone who has won his or her club championship a lot of times in a row, E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com with the details.

Here's a note on the subject from Scotland international golfer, Bryan Fotheringham of Forres:

Hi Colin, If my memory serves me right there is a man or woman at Kingussie Golf Club that has won their club championship near 20 times or more! I am remembering this from a BOYS' district match there so you can do the maths on how long ago that was!! Hope this helps your story!!
Regards
Bryan Fotheringham

EWGA AND EGU BEGIN MERGER TALKS

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
Representatives of the English Women’s Golf Association and the English Golf Union have met to re-open talks on the possibility of merger between the two organisations.
It was agreed at the meeting held at The Belfry on Friday, February 27 to explore the proposal in more detail. A series of steering group sessions is being scheduled over the next few months and working groups made up of staff and officials will be set up to look at particular aspects of the merger including finance, governance and communications issues.
It is anticipated that county representatives from both organisations will be briefed on progress at the end of June.
Sue Whittaker, chairman of the EWGA management board said: “The initial meeting went well and provided an excellent opportunity for the two organisations to exchange views in an informal setting.”
Nigel Evans, chairman of the EGU board, said: “The meeting was positive and allowed both organisations to highlight the numerous areas that need to be considered. I look forward to taking the discussions to the next stage.”
The EGU has about 740,000 members in over 1900 golf clubs, while the EWGA represents around 120,000 women and girl members in more than 1780 golf clubs. -

EWGA and EGU are shortlisted for sports award

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION
The English Women’s Golf Association and the English Golf Union have reached the official shortlist for the Sport Industry Awards 2009. They are among six contenders in the category of best promotion of a sport by a governing body.
They will be challenged by the British Horseracing Board, cricket’s ECB, basketball’s NBA, the FA and the Football League.
The awards organisers describe reaching the short list as a stellar achievement. The EWGA and EGU won their place for their National Skills Challenge, the popular initiative which challenges youngsters to learn and improve their golfing skills, while having fun.
The awards are Europe’s largest and most prestigious commercial sport awards. They recognise and reward the best the sport business has to offer in marketing, PR, sponsorship, new media, publishing, advertising and design.
The awards ceremony will take place at a gala dinner in London on Thursday, April 30. To find out more about the National Skills Challenge visit www.getintogolf.org/skills/
Lyndsey Hewison
Press & PR Officer
English Women's Golf Association
Visit the EGWA web site at www.englishwomensgolf.org

TEEforeTWO Links Golfers Looking

for Friendship on the Fairways

A brand new golf networking website, www.teeforetwo.co.uk, officially launches today, aimed at golfers looking for friendship on the fairways.
Whilst TEEforeTWO is pitched at single male and female golfers at every level of the game, it is more of a social forum for like-minded individuals who love to play golf and share a similar lifestyle that includes meeting new people, travelling and enjoying an active life.
“With TEEforeTWO we are looking to connect golfers who quite simply would like to play more golf,” explains Janet Rampton, co-founder of TEEforeTWO with Michael Rayment.
Some individuals may be looking for a relationship on TEEforeTWO while others may simply wish to widen their circle of friends or play the occasional round with someone of a similar outlook and standard of golf at a different course.
“Golf is a lifestyle thing and, like pleasures such as food, wine and travel, it is something that, in our view, can only really be enjoyed if you have someone to share it with," continues Janet.
“So Michael and I decided to set up TEEforeTWO with the aim of creating an online club community where golfers can interact, share experiences, arrange to play and hopefully find friendship and enjoyment together.”
TEEforeTWO is unique in that the common interest of all its members is golf. Its establishment joins a trend towards niche networking websites that eradicate the need for individuals to spend hours and hours trawling through profile after profile to find someone with similar interests.
“So many of the social networking websites in existence are far too generalised so it seemed to make absolute sense to cut out all the peripheral interests that people list and focus on the one common thing that they enjoy most - golf,” concludes Janet.
Janet and Michael were both single when they met playing golf, making them the perfect advert for their new web venture.
"Janet and I met each other playing golf and really enjoyed each other's company. Immediately the ice was broken, it was very easy to move on and we found we had many other interests in common,” comments Michael.
“It seemed such a simple idea to try to create a forum whereby golfers can look for new partners and straight away they have something in common... the love of golf. It is also a great, and safe, environment to meet new people."
Although it is only in its infancy, TEEforeTWO has already attracted hundreds of registrations from all regions of the UK and Ireland. Golfers of all handicaps and ages (ranging from 23 to 71 years old) have joined, with the ratio of male to female currently standing at 3:2.
Membership of TEEforeTWO is free of charge – there is a simple registration process involved – and allows users to view other members’ profiles, as well as the general member benefits. However, those wishing to interact with other individuals will need to upgrade their membership and pay a subscription fee, which costs from as little as £6 per month.
Members can link up with other users in their area, as well as those further afield if they have spare time during a business trip or would like to meet new friends on holiday or on a weekend away. To ensure a good match, members are encouraged to upload their profiles (including their golf handicap), post comments on the online Members’ Notice Board, search for events taking place nearby and make use of related websites to which there are links.
TEEforeTWO members are also encouraged to take advantage of member benefits (offered by site partners in sectors such as insurance, wine and golf holidays) and sign up for golf days around the UK run by TEEforeTWO and its partners.
To join and find out more about TEEforeTWO, click on www.teeforetwo.co.uk

Leading North golfers announce engagement

Congratulations to Bryan and Donna

Two of the North's leading amateur golfers, Bryan Fotheringham (Forres) and Donna MacLeod (Inverness), announced their engagement on Christmas Eve.
Bryan is a former Scotland international team member and long-time North District team player.
Donna is a former British policewomen's title-winner and the current Scottish policewomen's champion.