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Webmaster: Gillian Kirkwood
Contributing Editor: Colin Farquharson

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Alexis Thompson (left) and Taylor Collins with their trophies at Coral Ridge Country Club, Florida today.

Alexis Thompson retains

Doherty/Jones Challenge

Cup in Florida

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Rated by many to be a better, more consistent player than Michelle Wie was at her age, 14-year-old Alexis Thompson from Coral Springs, Florida just keeps on winning!
The Junior Orange Bowl girls championship winner last month, Alexis successfully defended the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup - won by Catriona Matthew in 1992 - on the final day of the third event in the Orange Blossom Tour for female amateurs in Florida.
Alexis repeated last year's victory in the match-play event by beating fellow American and former US college circuit player Taylor Collins by 3 and 1.
In Friday's semi-finals, Collins beat Scotland's Under-21 champion for the past two years, Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
Thompson, a certainty to be named shortly in the US Curtis Cup team to play GB&I at Essex County Club, Boston in June, had beaten Martha Leach, the US women's mid-amateur champion who had beaten Pitreavie's Louise Kenney (with a birdie at the 18th hole) in the first round and Craigielaw's Jane Turner (Robert Gordon University) (by 3 and 2) in the second semi-final.
Stirling student Harriet Beasley, a member of the Woburn club, lost out at the 20th in a thrilling First Flight final today against American Jaye Marie Green who beat Louise Kenney by 4 and 3 in the semi-finals (Jaye, left, and Harriet are pictured above, courtesy of Coral Ridge Country Club).
But one of the Stirling students did collect a winner's trophy at this prestigious tournament. Rachel Cassidy from Dublin won the Second Flight title on Friday when she had a resounding 5 and 4 win over Connie Isler in the final.
The Senior Championship Final today was won by Kim Eaton, the No 3 seed, who won by one hole against the No 9 qualifier in the over-50s category, Lisa Schlesinger.
RESULTS OF FINALS
Players from US unless stated
DOHERTY/JONES CHALLENGE CUP
Championship
Alexis Thompson bt Taylor Collins 3 and 1.
First Flight
Jaye Marie Green bt Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) at 20th.
Second Flight
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island, Dublin) bt Connie Isler 5 and 4.
Seniors Championship
Kim Eaton bt Lisa Schlesinger 1 hole.
Seniors First Flight
Karen Feree bt Therese Quinn 1 hole.
Seniors Second Flight
Debbie Mooksang bt Laura Carson at 19th
Seniors Third Flight
Leslie Henry bt Clate Aydlett 2 and 1.

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The "Yorkshire Team," Sue Johnson on extreme left, who will be making the journey to the Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Boston, Massachusetts in June (image by courtesy of Susan Simpson).

Want to go to the Curtis Cup Match? Let the LGU's Travel Agent

handle your travel and accommodation arrangements

From Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union's Head of Golf Operations
I have had lots of inquiries about travel and accommodation for the Curtis Cup Match at Essex County Club, near Boston, Massachusets from June 11 to 13.
If would be grateful if Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk could let everyone know that travel and accommodation to the match will be handled by the LGU’s Travel Agent.
We hope that many will make the journey to this special venue, home of the Curtis sisters.
A draft programme of events has been posted on the LGU website and further information about how to book the official hotel and flights via our travel agent will be sent out and published online in early February.
Accommodation has been block booked, so there is no urgency, unless you wish to “do your own thing.” If you wish to join the Official GB & I party then please let us know by Email at curtiscup@lgu.org and we will keep in touch.

Thanks,

Susan Simpson
Head of Golf Operations
The Ladies' Golf Union
St Andrews, KY16 9AT
Tel 01334 475811 Fax 01334 472818
www.lgu.org

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Friday, January 22, 2010


KELSEY BEATEN IN SEMI-FINAL,

BUT RACHEL WINS FLIGHT 2 AND

HARRIET IN FINAL OF FLIGHT 1

Scotland Under-21 girls' champion Kelsey MacDonald was beaten 8 and 7 by American Taylor Collins in the semi-finals of the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup women's amateur match-play golf tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
Stirling University student MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar GC) never touched the form that saw her beat the No 2 seed Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico) at the 20th in the quarter-finals. Perhaps that victory drained the Scot more than had been thought.
In Saturday's 18-hole championship final, Collins will play the hot favourite, No 1 seed and defending champion, 14-year-old Alexis Thompson from Coral Gables, Florida.
Thompson was taken past the 14th green for the first time in the match-play stages in the other semi-final. She beat US women's mid-amateur champion Martha Leach, 3 and 2 conqueror of Craigielaw's Jane Turner in the quarters, by one hole.
There was one Irish success to report from Friday's play and possibly an English success on Saturday - both involving Stirling University students.
Rachel Cassidy, pictured above in Florida with her trophy, a member of The Island Golf Club, Dublin, won the Second Flight Final in which she beat American Connie Isler, the No 2 seed, by 5 and 4. Rachel was the No 4 seed in this category.
Isler had beaten another Stirling student, Jordana Graham from Southerness, by 3 and 2 in Thursday's semi-finals.
Stirling student Harriet Beasley from Woburn will contest the First Flight Final on Saturday. All the First Flight contestants lost in the first round of the Championship Flight. Harriet, the No 11 seed, beat No 7 qualifier Nicol Whitmore (US) by 6 and 5 in Friday's semi-finals.
In the other semi-final, No 16 seed Jaye Marie Green, an American who topled the top First Flight seed., Cyndi Carlson in the first round, reached the final by beating Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), the No 13 seed, 4 and 3.

RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Semi-finals (
Seeding number in brackets)
Players from US unless stated
Alexis Thompson (1) bt Martha Leach (20) 1 hole.
Taylor Collins (11) bt Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) (10) 8 and 7.

FIRST FLIGHT
Semi-finals
Jaye Marie Green (16) bt Louis Kenney (Pitreavie) (13) 4 and 3.
Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) (11) bt Nicole Whitmore (7) 6 and 5.

SECOND FLIGHT
Final

Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island) (4) bt Connie Isler (2) 5 and 4.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Semi-finals

Lisa Schlesinger (9) bt Mary Jane Hiestand (4) at 19th.
Kim Eaton (2) bt Anne Schultz (7) at 20th.






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Lancome continue support of ILGU championships

FROM THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION WEBSITE
The Irish Ladies Golf Union are delighted to announce the continued support of cosmetics giant Lancôme as sponsors of the ILGU/Lancôme National Greensomes Championship, in addition to the Lancôme Irish Women's Close Championship and the Lancôme Irish Girls' Close Championship.
The ILGU/Lancôme National Greensomes Championship, which to date has raised over €2 million for Irish Charities, will consist of qualifying rounds held at 24 venues across the country with the National finals taking place on the October 3.
Qualifying venues and venue for National final will be announced at a later date and published on http://www.ilgu.ie/ once confirmed.
The Lancôme Irish Women's Close will be held at Portstewart Golf Club, 22-26 May 2010, while the Lancôme Irish Girls' Close will be played at Grange Golf Club, Dublin, 13-16 July 2010.

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Orange Blossom Tour match-play championship in Florida

SuperMac Kelsey beats No 2 seed in

quarter-finals, but Jane Turner

loses to US mid-amateur champ

There is one Scot left in the last four of the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup women's amateur match-play championship at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, Scotland's Under-21 girls champion for the past two years, won a thriller of a quarter-final at the 20th against the No 2 seed, Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico).
Roig won the Harder Hall Invitational, the opening event of the Orange Blossom Tour, and was confidently expected by the "locals" to meet 14-year-old defending champion and rising American star, Alexis Thompson, in Saturday's final.
But "SuperMac" killed that "dream final" with an excellent performance which will have boosted her chances of making the GB&I Curtis Cup team for the June match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts.
MacDonald's Scotland team-mate in last September's women's home internationals, Jane Turner (Craigielaw and Robert Gordon University) was beaten in the quarter-finals by Martha Leach, holder of the US women's mid-amateur title and conqueror of another Scotland cap, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) with an 18th hole birdie in the first rouond.
Turner gave Leach a good match before losing by 3 and 2.
In the semi-finals, Thompson, who has not gone past the 14th green yet, will play Leach while MacDonald, who qualified in 10th place, will play the No 11 qualifier, American Taylor Collins.
All the first-round losers got a second bite at the cherry by making up the First Flight of the match-play. Louise Kenney, who played par golf in losing to Martha Leach, is through to the semi-finals of this category.
The Fifer beat Marilyn Hardy by 3 and 2. Also in the semi-finals of the First Flight is Harriet Beasley (Stirling University & Woburn). Harriet beat Susan West by 3 and 2.
Another Stirling student, Rachel Cassidy from Dublin is in the final of the Second Flight. She beat Megan Tuohy by 2 and 1 in the semi-finals and will play another American, Coonie Isler who beat Jordana Graham (Stirling University & Southerness) by 3 and 2 in the second semi-final.

Results (players from US unless stated)
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
Alexis Thompson bt Gennifer Mendez 6 and 5.
Martha Leach bt Jane Turner (Robert Gordon Univ & Craigielaw) 3 and 2.
Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) at 20th.
Taylor Collins bt Amelia Lewis 1 hole.
FIRST FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
Jaye Marie Green bt Samantha Smolen 5 and 4.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) bt Marilyn Hardy 3 and 2.
Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) bt Susan West 3 and 2.
Nicole Whitmore bt Julie Carmichael at 20th.
SECOND FLIGHT
Quarter-finals
Megan Tuohy bt Ariel Martin 1 hole.
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island, Dublin) bt Elizabeth Breza 3 and 1.
Connie Isler bt Laura Martine 5 and 4.
Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ & Southerness) bt Kerry Johnson 5 and 3.
Semi-finals
Cassidy bt Tuohy 2 and 1.
Isler bt Graham 3 and 2.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

New look to Midlothian girls' squad

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Four newcomers have been included in this year's Midlothian County Ladies' junior golf squad, which will be coached by Mark Berrie at the Braid Hills Golf Centre.
Katherine Fisher (Baberton), Heather Laing (Glencorse), Jane Finlay (New Swanston) and Rebecca Trimble (Murrayfield) join 'old hands' Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), Kirsty Simpson (Murrayfield) and Heather Tumblety (Liberton) in the much-changed group.
Broomieknowe's Kate McIntosh has been elevated into the main squad, while Natasha Shivji (Ratho Park) moves out of the junior section.
In addition, Samantha Lamb (Glencorse) has been forced to give up golf due to an injury while Isobel Hinds (Liberton) and Sally Naysmith (Dalmahoy) have decided to concentrate on their school studies.
Berrie will hold coaching sessions with the squad over the next three months, as well as spending some time on course management with them.

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Kelsey and Jane in Florida quarter-finals

Two Scottish students are through to the last eight of the Doherty-Jones Challenge Cup women's amateur match-play tournament, the third event on the Orange Blossom Tour, at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
Stirling University's Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) beat Vanessa Vela (Colombia) by 2 and 1 to reach the quarter-finals in which she will play the No 2 seed Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico), winner of the first event on the Orange Blossom Tour, the Harder Hall Invitational.
Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University student Jane Turner (Craigielaw) beat fellow Scot Laura Mackin, who lives on Majorca but is a Ranfurly Castle member, by 5 and 4. Mackin was the No 5 seed, the highest of all the European players.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) won her First Flight first round tie by 6 and 5 against Lin McMillan and, in the same category, Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) beat Sara Banke by 5 and 3.
Stirling students Rachel Cassidy (The Island, Dublin) & Jordana Graham (Southerness) won their Second flight ties by 3 and 1 and 5 and 3 respectively.

RESULTS
Championship Flight
Players from US unless stated
Alexis Thompson bt Meghan Stasi 7 and 5.
Gennifer Mendez bt Ashley Smith 2 and 1.
Martha Leach bt Tovie St Louis 1 hole.
Jane Turner (Robert Gordon Univ & Craigielaw) bt Laura Mackin (Majorca & Ranfurly Castle) 5 and 4.
Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico) bt Rene Sobolewski 2 and 1.
Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) bt Vanessa Vela (Colombia) 2 and 1.
Amelia Lewis bt Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) 1 hole.
Taylor Collins bt Daniela Lendl 2 and 1.
First Flight
Jaye Marie Green bt Cyndi Carlson 4 and 3.
Samantha Smolen bt Natalie McNicholas 5 and 4.
Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) bt Lin McMillan 6 and 5.
Marilyn Hardy bt Rebecca Wilson (Stirling Univ & Monifieth) 6 and 5.
Julie Carmichael bt Eilidh Mackay (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) 1 hole.
Nicole Whitmore bt Alexandra Hammer 2 and 1.
Susan West bt Cynthia Friend 2 and 1.
Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) bt Sara Banke 5 and 3.


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Retiring LGU chairman Brigid McCaw (left) presents an outsize cheque for the sum of club donations for the Breakthrough Brooch, which the LGU introduced to replace the September pendant, to Hannah Noble from Breakthrough.

Ladies Golf Union Annual General Meeting summary

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE LADIES’ GOLF UNION
A unanimous vote in favour of restructuring the Ladies’ Golf Union and adopting new operational rules has paved the way for a more modern and effective approach to managing the organisation. The Annual General Meeting in Cardiff heard that these important changes would be implemented immediately following the AGM.
CEO Shona Malcolm explained that in practice the changes would not impact on the LGU’s functions, but that the new business model leaves volunteer Councillors better protected and the LGU itself in a stronger position to engage in commercial activities and contracts. A new Chairman will be appointed in early course, and in a further change from past practice, will serve for three years rather one.
Retiring LGU Chairman Brigid McCaw reported on the year’s championships and matches, making specific reference to the Ladies’ European Tour victories in 2009 of the past two British Amateur Champions, Azahara Munoz and Anna Nordqvist. “These tour victories by our past champions are fitting testament to the ever increasing quality and importance of our amateur championship”, she said.
She went on to advise the meeting that Peugeot has confirmed its continued sponsorship of the ever popular LGU Coronation Foursomes in 2010, which attracted 35,000 participants in 2009.
LGU Treasurer Jane Brown made reference to the problem of falling lady membership numbers in clubs which is being experienced in all four home countries, and offered the support of the LGU in initiatives aimed at reversing this trend.
Guest speaker Clive Brown, a successful Walker Cup Captain in 1995, gave an entertaining and interesting address, highlighting the importance of the winning mindset of his team, a topic which was being listened to intently by Curtis Cup Captain, Mary McKenna, in the audience.
The Chairman wished Mary, Manager Tegwen Mathews and the GB&I Team and Captain good luck for a successful Curtis Cup Match to be played at the Essex County Club, Boston from 11 – 13 June 2010.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

US Palmer Cup coach appointed for June match

at Northern Ireland venue

The Golf Coaches Association of America has appointed Chris Zambri to be coach of the United States team for this year's transatlantic international students' match for the Palmer Cup.
The Americans have lost the last two matches.
Zambri (pictured) is head golf coach at the University of South Carolina.
The Europe v United States match will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland venue from June 24 to 26.
The Americans lost 13-11 last June at Cherry Hills CC, Denver, to a European students' team coached by Dean Robertson.
The last time the Palmer Cup match was held on this side of the Atlantic, Europe won 14-10 at Glasgow Gailes.
The two sides are 6-6-1 in the competition's first 13 years although Europe has a 5-2 record since 2003.

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Creamer and Wie in field for HSBC event in Singapore

NEWS RELEASE FROM IMG
World No 7 Paula Creamer and No 10 Michelle Wie have confirmed they will play in the third edition of the HSBC Women’s Champions which takes place from February 25 to 28 at the Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore.
A total of 63 players will tee-off for four days of stroke play. Along with two sponsor's invites, the field will be completed by the winning Singaporean amateur or professional of a two-day local qualifying tournament taking place at TMCC today and tomorrow (January 20-21).

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ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR MATCH-PLAY

Jane Turner beats one Scot,

now faces another in Florida

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen student Jane Turner (Craigielaw) had to beat a Scot to clear her first-round hurdle - and she will have to conquer another compatriot if she is to make the last eight of the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup women's amateur tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale, the third event on Florida's Orange Blossom women's amateur tour.
Jane, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, the No 12 qualifier of the 32 who came through Monday's stroke-play eliminator, beat Stirling University student Rebecca Wilson from Monifieth, the No 21 qualifier, by 3 and 2.
Jane now plays Majorca-based Scot Lauren Mackin who was the leading European qualifier as fifth seed.
Lauren beat American Marilyn Hardy, the 28th qualifier by 2 and 1.
Scottish Under-21 champion Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling University & Nairn Dunbar) is a third Scot in the last 16. The No 10 seed, she beat American Alexandra Hammer, the 23rd qualifier, by 7 and 5.
Kelsey's clubmate and Stirling squad-mate Eilidh Mackay, the No 31 qualifier, lost by 6 and 5 to the No 2 seed Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico), winner of the Harder Hall Invitational, the opening event on the Orange Blossom Tour.
Scotland international Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), the 13th qualifier, lost by one hole to American Martha Leach, who qualified in 20th place. Louise, who was round in approximately level par, lost only to a birdie at the 18th against a highly-rated player who is the current holder of the US women's mid-amateur championship.
Stirling student Harriet Beasley from Woburn went down by 3 and 2 to No 11 seed Taylor Collins from the United States. Harriet was the No 22 qualifier.
Engand's amateur champion, the left-handed Charlie Douglass from Brocket Hall, was the day's biggest winner. She won by 8 and 6 over Susan West (US), the No 19 qualifier. Charlie qualified in 14th place.
Stirling University's Irish student, Rachel Cassidy, who failed to qualify for the championship match-play flight, had a bye through the first round of the Second Flight. So too did Jordana Graham (Stirling University & Southerness).
Catriona Matthew, North Berwick's Ricoh Women's British Open champion, won the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup in 1992.
All the first-round losers in the championship flight will contest the First Flight of match-play from Wednesday onwards.

RESULTS (in draw order):

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
FIRST ROUND
Players from United States unless indicated
Seeded position in brackets
Top half of draw
Alexis Thompson (1) bt Cyndi Carlson (32) 5 and 4.
Meghan Stasi (17 bt Jaye Marie Green (16) 2 and 1.
Gennifer Mendez (8) bt Samantha Smolen (25) 6 and 5.
Ashley Smith (9) bt Natalie McNicholas (24) 5 and 4.
Tovie St Louis (4) bt Lin McMillan (29) 4 and 2.
Martha Leach (20) bt Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) (13) 1 hole.
Lauren Mackin (Majorca & Ranfurly Castle) (5) bt Marilyn Hardy (28) 2 and 1.
Jane Turner (Robert Gordon Univ & Craigielaw) (12) bt Rebecca Wilson (Stirling Univ & Monifieth) (21) 3 and 2.
Bottom half of draw
Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico) (2) bt Eilidh Mackay (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) 6 and 5.
Rene Soblewski (15) bt Julie Carmichael (18) 2 and 1.
Vanessa Vela (Colombia) (7) bt Nicole Whitmore (26) 6 and 5.
Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar) bt Alexandra Hammer (23) 7 and 5.
Amelia Lewis (3) bt Cynthia Friend (30) 6 and 5.
Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall) (14) bt Susan West (19) 8 and 6.
Daniela Lendl (6) bt Sara Banke (27) 2 and 1.
Taylor Collins (11) bt Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn) 3 and 2.

SECOND FLIGHT
FIRST ROUND
Megan Tuohy (1) bye.
Ariel Martin (9) bt Amy Michelle Levin (8) 4 and 3.
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island, Dublin) (4) bye.
Elizabeth Breza (8) bye.
Connie Isler (2) bye.
Llaura Martin (10) w.o. Mary Mulcahy (7) scr.
Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ & Southerness) (3) bye.
Kerry Johnson (8) bye.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST FLIGHT
FIRST ROUND
Carolyn Creekmore (1) bt Meredith Wolf (32) 4 and 2.
Diane Lang (17) bt Alison Reifers (16) at 21st.
Annette Gaiotti (8) b t Susan Rampelberg (25) 4 and 3.
Lisa Schlesinger (9) bt Ginny Orthwein (24) 3 and 2.
Mary Jane Hiestand (4) bt Vilma Sapp (29) 6 and 5.
Elizabeth Haines (13) bt Debra Mielka (20) 4 and 2.
Diane Yelovich (28) bt Barbara Pagana (5) 1 hole.
Mimi Hoffman (21) bt Therese Quinn (12) 1 hole.

Connie Shorb (2) bt Teri de Luis (31) 3 and 2.
Cindy Morris (15) bt KJaren Ferree (18) 5 and 4.
Anna Schultz (7) bt Jan Phillips (26) 6 and 5.
Peggy Woodward (23) bt Ann Marie Hoffman (10) 2 holes.
Kim Eaton (3) bt Marlene Streit (30) at 24th.
Ivy Steinberg (14) bt Jewell Malick (19) 5 and 4.
Maggie Wieder (6) bt Denise Martorana (27) 7 and 6.
Ann Fulginiti (11) bt Mary CEichhom (22) 5 and 4.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

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

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Anna Nordqvist will headline the star-

studded field for ANZ Ladies Masters

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Queensland can boast a piece of golfing history following today’s confirmation that the 2010 ANZ Ladies Masters has secured the strongest field ever assembled for a golf tournament in Australia. The prestigious event, to be contested at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast between the 4 and 7 March has confirmed the appearance of three of the four major champions from 2009. This marks the first time in Australian golfing history that three current major champions will contest the same event on Australian soil. Kraft Nabisco Champion, American Brittany Lincicome, Women’s US Open Champion, South Korean Eun Hee Ji and McDonalds LPGA Championship winner and World No. 7, Swede Anna Nordqvist, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, will headline the star-studded field.
Supporting and challenging the current major champions will be a plethora of top 20 players from the Rolex Women’s World Golf rankings. These include World No.3 Suzann Pettersen, World No. 6 Yani Tseng, South Korean Na Yeon Choi (No.12), our own World Golf Hall of Famer and six times Masters Champion Karrie Webb (No.13), South Korean Song-Hee Kim (No. 14), European No.1 and World No. 18 Sophie Gustafson.
The international players do not stop there, South Koreans Hee Young Park (36), Hee Kyung Seo (No. 42) and M.J Hur (No. 45), Americans Stacey Lewis (No. 47) and the flamboyant Christina Kim (No.48) are all heading to the magnificent RACV Royal Pines Resort, most for the first time.
A field comprising 8 of the top 20 and 15 of the top 50 world ranked players, is also unprecedented statistic for an Australian professional golf tour event.
Three Australians have previously won the ANZ Ladies Masters. Webb is a six times champion, Jane Crafter won twice in the 90’s and Katherine Hull is the defending champion. Hull, Webb and fellow compatriots including World No. 28 Lindsey Wright, Nikki Campbell and Tamie Durdin, both of whom won on the LPGA of Japan in 2009, three time LPGA tournament winner Wendy Doolan, LET multiple title winners Nikki Garrett, Joanne Mills and Karen Lunn will be fighting to keep the title in Australian hands.
The established players will however need to look over their shoulders, as the tournament has a reputation of uncovering a rookie star who upstages the stars.
Young Australian rising stars including Kristie Smith, Rebecca Flood, Leanne Bowditch, Kate Combes and Sarah Oh will be keen to repeat the efforts of 2006 champion, 16 year old Amy Yang, as they relish in the strongest field on the biggest stage of their fledgling careers.
No one will discount former World No.1, winner of over 70 titles worldwide including three Ladies Masters titles, reigning Women’s Australian Open Champion and crowd favourite England’s Laura Davies, who will be as keen as ever to add another title to her unparalleled list of international victories.
ANZ Managing Director Strategy and Marketing David Lindberg said ANZ was looking forward to its tenth ANZ Ladies Masters and welcomed elite golfers from here and around the world. “With some of the world’s top ranking female golfers competing, the 2010 ANZ Ladies Masters looks set to be one of the most thrilling tournaments yet.
It’s not difficult to see why it is now firmly established as one of the key features of the international golf calendar,” Mr Lindberg said.
ANZ is proud to continue its support of the ANZ Ladies Masters which reflects not only our commitment to women’s golf, but also our commitment to Queensland and the Gold Coast, as a thriving global destination.
Queensland’s Acting Premier Andrew Fraser is pleased at the news. “This is a great result for a great Queensland based event. The ANZ Ladies Masters is synonymous with the Gold Coast and Queensland and I am impressed at the quality of the field that has been announced today,” said Mr Fraser.
“There is no better place to play a tournament of this nature and to have a field that is this strong is a testament to the event itself and its organisers. The Queensland government is pleased to be a major supporter of this event through our own Queensland Events.”
Tournament Director Ben Tuohy stated “This is definitely the one to watch. The 2010 ANZ Ladies Masters will showcase the best field – in men’s or women’s golf - ever assembled in Australia. Sports fans should grab this opportunity with both hands, either come and watch the girls ‘live’ at RAVC Royal Pines Resort, or at home ‘live’ on Channel 10 and ONE HD.”

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Monday, January 18, 2010

ORANGE BLOSSOM TOUR

Doherty/Jones Match-Play Tournament
Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

QUALIFYING ROUND
Par 72
Players from US unless stated.
*Defending champion Alexis Thompson exempt.
69 Kyle Roig (Puerto Rico).
72 Amelia Lewis.
73 Tovie St Louis.
75 Lauren Mackin (Majorca & Ranfurly Castle).
76 Vanessa Vela (Colombia), Daniela Lendl.
77 Gennifer Mendez, Ashley Smith.
78 Kelsey MacDonald (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar), Taylore Collins.
79 Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Jane Turner (Craigielaw), Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall).
80 Jaye Marie Green, Rene Sobolewski.
81 Meghan Stasi, Martha Leach, Julie Carmichael, Susan West.
82 Rebecca Wilson (Stirling Univ & Monifieth).
83 Alexandra Hammer, Harriet Beasley (Stirling Univ & Woburn).
84 Samantha Smolen, Nicole Whitmore, Natalie McNicholas.
85 Lin McMillan, Marilyn Hardy, Cynthia Friend, Eilidh Mackay (Stirling Univ & Nairn Dunbar), Sara Banke.
86 Cyndi Carlson.
= CUT-OFF FOR CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY FLIGHT
86 Megan Tuohy.
87 Connie Isler, Jordana Graham (Stirling Univ & Southerness).
88 Rachel Cassidy (Stirling Univ & The Island, Dublin), Elizabeth Breza.
89 Kerry Johnson.
91 Amy Michelle Levin, Mary Mulcahy.
95 Ariel Martin.
108 Laura Martin.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT FIRST-ROUND TIES
Top half of draw
A Thompson v C Carlson.
M J Green v M Stasi.
G Mendez v S Smolen.
A Smith v N McNicholas.
T St Louis v L McMillan.
L Kenney v M Leach.
L Mackin v M Hardy
J Turner v R Wilson
Bottom half of draw
K Roig v E Mackay.
R Sobolewski v J Carmichael.
V Vela v N Whitmore.
K MacDonald v A Hammer.
A Lewis v C Friend.
C Douglass v S West.
D Lendl v S Banke
T Collins v H Beasley.

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Alex Thompson (only 14) has already

switched to new grooves!

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By Sean Martin
With Alexis Thompson’s 15th birthday not coming until February. 10, it’s safe to say the pro game is still a couple years away for the young phenom
But rising American star Thompson, pictured right, recently made a change that should help her when she does start playing for pay, and in the handful of LPGA starts she’s expected to make this year. Thompson switched to irons and wedges with the new, conforming grooves the December week of the Junior Orange Bowl, which she won.
Players competing in LPGA events (including amateurs) have to use the new grooves starting this season, but the new grooves won’t be mandatory for elite amateur events (like the U.S. Women’s Amateur) until 2014. Everyone else has to switch in 2024.
Thompson, Golfweek’s female junior amateur player of the year for 2009, could use the old grooves in amateur events this year, but hopes the full-time switch will put her ahead of the curve when she competes against professionals.
Thompson will likely be one of the amateurs invited to the Kraft Nabisco Championship (she shared low-amateur honors last year), and has qualified for the past three U.S. Women’s Opens.
Thompson’s success hasn’t been slowed by the change. With the new grooves, she won the Orange Bowl girls' title, tied for second at the Women's Dixie Amateur, lost a play-off at the Harder Hall Invitational and finished third at The Sally (South Atlantic Ladies Amateur) which finished at the weekend.
Editor's Note: Look out for Alexis (new grooves and all) making her Curtis Cup debut against GB&I at Essex County Club, Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts in June.

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Sunday, January 17, 2010


SLGA Board members for 2010
Back Row L to R: Winifred McCallum, Fiona Cowan, Sandy Bushby, Helen Cuthbertson, Janet Wake, Dawn Butchart, Lorna Bennett 
Front Row: Lynne Terry, Douglas Connon (SGU Chairman in attendance), Shona Malcolm (SLGA Chairman), Emma Wilson (President), Beth Paterson.


Record attendance at SLGA annual general meeting

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH LADIES’ GOLFING ASSOCIATION
A record turn-out of 168 lady golfers attended the SLGA’s annual general meeting in Perth on Saturday.The meeting heard from Chairman Shona Malcolm that 2009 had been a memorable year for Scottish Ladies’ Golf, what with Catriona Matthew’s victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open, the Senior Home International Team beating all three opponents on its way to a first- time win, and three Scots representing GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy match.
Catriona was elected as a Vice-President of the SLGA, and the Chairman was delighted to advise the meeting that the Open Champion would be demonstrating her support of Scottish ladies’ golf by attending the current squad’s forthcoming warm weather training in Spain.

The new President, former Chairman Emma Wilson, was elected and paid warm tribute to retiring President Ethel Jack, while the meeting also approved the appointment of new Board members Dawn Butchart, Sandy Bushby and Lorna Bennett (pictured right). Proposals for the restructuring and modernisation of the Ladies’ Golf Union were agreed, and revised Rules and Regulations of the SLGA adopted.
The Chairman updated the meeting on the amalgamation discussions with the Scottish Golf Union, stressing that there was much to be considered and the members would be kept informed of the progress of these talks.
Finance Director Lynne Terry reported the concerning trend of falling lady membership numbers in golf clubs, and emphasised the SLGA’s ongoing determined efforts to raise interest and club participation in the ladies’ and girls’ game.
The full report of the Board is available under the SLGA AGM 2010 Agenda link on the website www.slga.co.uk.

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Louise Kenney up for the next

Orange Blossom Tour event

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
colin@scottishgolfview.com
Curtis Cup team contender Louise Kenney from Dunfermline is raring to go for her second event on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida - the 78th Jones/Doherty amateur championship at Coral Ridge Country Club, Fort Lauderdale.
The Scotland international and Pitreavie GC member, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has already put her disastrous Saturday finish in the South Atlantic ladies amateur championship behind her and is looking forward to an event in which the list of winners include the legendary Babe Zaharias and Women's British Open champion Catriona Matthew in 1992.
"I triple bogeyed the 13th and 15th, then double bogey the 16th on Saturday. Yes, I had a bad last six holes!" said Louise who was tied 10th after rounds of 77, 71 and 75 but tumbled down to a joint 17th finish with a last-day 12-over-par 84 in which she required 46 shots for the second nine.
"I didn't putt as well as I would have liked but I feel I have lots of positives to take from my first week in Florida, considering I hadn't played since November. So I'm very much looking forward to the Jones/Doherty tournament at Fort Lauderdale."
Kenney had to have an appendix operation last year and by the time she was fit and ready to resume playing the bad weather had set in all over Scotland.
The Jones/Doherty tournament, which has an entry fee of $245, begins with a qualifying round of Monday with the leading 32 players going forward to the match-play stages.

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