March 2006 Archive

Friday 31st March 2006

Krystle best of the Scots in the Sherry Cup
Scotland's showing is rather disappointing in the Sherry Cup. The team is lying at the bottom of the league table in 11th position after two rounds with a score of 319, six shots behind Iceland and 26 shots behind the leaders England and Germany on 293.
In the individual event Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) is lying in joint 16th position on 153 (79, 74) and her fellow team members Jenna Wilson and Kylie Walker are at the bottom of the field in joint 34th position on 166 apiece.
[How's your Spanish? ... here is the Spanish Federation website]

EU Equal Treatment Directive
The scope of a new EU directive on the equal treatment of men and women in golf clubs has recently made the headlines following confirmation from the European Commission that the Directive will prohibit discrimination between men and women in the supply of services offered by golf clubs. The LGU have issued a note summarising what the effect of this Directive may be in practice for golf clubs across the UK.

SGU Press Release
Boys Championship Too Close To Call
The 65th staging of the Scottish Boys Match Play Championship at West Kilbride (10-15 April) is teeing up to be one of the most closely contested in the event’s 71 year history.
With double champion, Scott Henry from Cardross now too old to attempt a hat-trick of wins and former British Boys Champion, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) remaining at university in the US, the field is as evenly matched as it has ever been.
Although no clear favourite is emerging there are many who have already shown good form this season. Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), pictured right, who finished joint runner-up at last year’s Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship, was part of the Scottish Boys team that won the international Boys Quadrangular tournament in France in March, as was James White from Lundin, who lost in the semi-finals of the Scottish Boys last year, and Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) who will be looking to make home advantage count.
The other three members of the winning Quadrangular team, Ross Kellett (Colville Park), James Byrne (Banchory) and Ross Leeds (Muckhart) are also ones to watch.
Others sure to be in contention include Zack Saltman (Craigielaw), whose older brother Lloyd won the Silver Medal for best amateur at last year’s Open Championship at St Andrews, and Daniel Torrance (Sunningdale), son of former Ryder Cup captain Sam, who is in the field for the fourth time.
As a beaten quarter-finalist last year and having claimed fifth place in the 2005 Scottish Boys Under-16 Championship, Frazer Ogston from St Andrews is another leading contender.
One of the youngest competitors, 13 year old Ian Redford from King James VI in Perth, has already proved he is a match for anyone after taking the scratch prize at the Murrayshall Under-18 Junior Open last summer, while still only 12.
The Scottish Boys Match Play Championship is the first major event of the domestic season and one of the Scottish Golf Union’s flagship events. Past champions include European Tour players Andrew Coltart and Steven O’Hara.
The quality of this year’s championship can be best demonstrated by the fact that all 256 competitors play off a handicap of 5.6 or better, the lowest ever qualifying mark. Eight competitors have plus handicaps.
The format is head-to-head match play with the first game teeing off at 6.45am on Monday 10th April. The quarter-finals and semi-finals take place on Friday 14th April with a 36-hole final on Saturday 15th April.
This year’s event will be the ninth time West Kilbride has played host, the last time being in 2002.

Thursday 30th March 2006

ELGA Press Release
Sophie Walker extends lead in Sherry Cup
England’s Sophie Walker has extended her lead to five shots at the halfway stage of the Sherry Cup in Sotogrande, Spain.
Sophie, ELGA’s order of merit title holder, added a second round 71 to her opening 69 to move further away from the field. The closest challenger to the 21-year-old from Kenwick Park is Breanne Loucks of Wales (73, 72).
England have also made up a four-shot deficit to catch Germany at the top of the table in the European Nations Challenge. Both countries are currently tied on 293, two shots ahead of the Italian team.
Both of Sophie’s scores have counted while Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) contributed 78 on the opening day and Naomi Edwards (Ganton) added 75 in the second round.
In the individual competition Kerry is currently tied 16th (78,75), Naomi shares 22nd place (82, 75).

Katy ties first at NSU
Katy McNicoll from Carnousie, a student at Lynn University, tied for first place in the NSU Spring Classic at Woodmont CC Tamarac, Florida this week. Her six-over-par score of 150 (77 73) put her into the playoff with Lynn University colleague Natasha Morgan. Natasha won with a birdie at the third extra hole.
Individual scores
150 Katy McNicoll Lynn 77 73, Natasha Morgan Lynn 75 75 (Natasha won playoff at 3rd extra hole)
151 Sarah Nicholson W. Florida 73 78, Surita Risseeuw DayBch CC 77 74
153 Lina Bjorklund NSU 78 75
154 RemiJin Camping Barry (Fl) 76 78
156 Elise Brandt Lynn 77 79
Team scores
1 Lynn University 307 307 614 +38
2 West Florida, U of 314 315 629 +53
3 Nova Southeastern U. 320 315 635 +59

SGU Press Release
Campbell Toasts Amateur Game at SGU Dinner
Glenn Campbell from Blairgowrie looked forward to another successful year in amateur golf as he collected the Scottish Golfer of the Year Award at the annual Scottish Golf Union Dinner today (30th March) at the Macdonald Inchyra Grange Hotel, near Falkirk.
The award was the culmination of a tremendous 2005 season for 33-year-old Campbell, which was topped by winning the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Southerness and being part of the victorious Scotland team at the Home Internationals.
Throughout the 16-tournament Order of Merit campaign, Campbell took two winners medals and secured one third place, two fourth places, two fifth place finishes and one sixth place, as he cruised to a 97-point winning margin.
The sixth annual SGU Dinner marked an outstanding year for amateur golf in Scotland with Scots lifting the Australian, Czech, English and Irish Championships, as well as the renowned St Andrews Links Trophy.
Awards to Cardross youngster Scott Henry, who claimed the Junior Tour title for a second consecutive year, George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle) who won the Scottish Golf Ranking, Jonathan King (Glasgow) and John Gallagher (Swanston) were also made at the dinner.
Guest speakers were former football referee, Willie Young and David Kendall, known as the ‘Bank Manager from York’.

Wednesday 29th March 2006

ELGA Press Release
Sophie Walker leads in Sherry Cup
England number one Sophie Walker has a two shot lead over the field after the first round of the Sherry Cup at Sotogrande in Spain.
The 21-year-old from Kenwick Park shot a superb 69 in the opening round of the 72-hole tournament. The closest challengers to ELGA’s order of merit titleholder are the German players, Carolin Loehr (71) and Katharina Schallenberg (72).
England’s other two players are Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), who returned 78 and is currently sharing 17th place; and Naomi Edwards (Ganton), who scored 82 and is sharing 31st place.
In the European Nations Challenge, England are currently lying second on 147, four shots behind Germany and one ahead of Wales.

EGU Press Release
HORSEY AND PARRY EARN FIRST ENGLAND CAPS
England have named two new caps, David Horsey (pictured left - photo courtesy of Tom Ward) and John Parry, in their nine-strong side for the international with France at Golf du Medoc near Bordeaux on 12th and 13th May.
The rest of the team is Matthew Cryer, Robert Dinwiddie, Adam Gee, Jamie Moul, Edward Richardson, Paul Waring and Gary Wolstenholme.
After being beaten by James Heath in the final of the English Amateur at Hollinwell in 2004, Horsey has blossomed. He won the County Champions Tournament at Woodhall Spa last September by seven strokes after a closing course record 64 over the Hotchkin Course.
This year the 21 year old from Cheshire was a member of the victorious England squad in the Costa Ballena Tournament in Spain and finishing tied third in the recent South African Stroke Play Championship.
Parry, at 19, will be the youngest member of the team in France but his record in recent years is second to none. An England boy cap, Parry has also represented GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy, is a past winner of the McEvoy Trophy and has finished runner-up in the Carris Trophy and the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship.
Last year proved exceptional for the Harrogate teenager. He won the Yorkshire Championship then went to Denmark and won their Open Amateur Championship. That earned him an invitation to the Vietnam Open on the Asian Tour in which he played all four rounds.
He had a great start in 2006 by winning the Faldo Series International Trophy at the Hong Kong Golf Club before, like Horsey, playing a part in the successful Costa Ballena team and will be carrying the flag for the EGU in Peru in April.
The other seven members of the side all played in last September’s Home Internationals at Royal St George’s, while Moul and Wolstenholme were members of England’s triumphant European Men’s Team Championships squad.
There are two Walker Cup players in the team, Dinwiddie and Wolstenholme but teenager Oliver Fisher was released from selection as he has been invited to play in the British Masters at The Belfry the same week.
The international with France goes back to 1934 and England have generally held sway. But the improvement in French golf has seen them win three of the past five encounters including two on English soil.
They won 15 - 9 at Sunningdale in 1996 and 12.5 - 11.5 at Royal St George’s two years ago. France also won at Les Bordes in 1998, while England’s last victory came at Chantilly in 2002 by 17.5 - 6.5.
For Wolstenholme, England’s most capped player, this will be his sixth meeting with the French. His first came in 1988 but he missed the 2004 encounter.
England team: Matthew Cryer (Coventry), Robert Dinwiddie (Barnard Castle), Adam Gee (Leatherhead), David Horsey (Styal), Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland), John Parry (Harrogate), Edward Richardson (Southern Valley), Paul Waring (Bromborough), Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).

Press Release
SCOTLAND COMES TO LONDON
One of Britain's up-and-coming golf stars, Zane Scotland, will be at The London Golf Show next month.
Scotland, 23, from Surrey, was the second-youngest qualifier ever for the Open Championship, when, at the age of 16, he played at Carnoustie in 1999.
During a very successful amateur career, in which he won both the McEvoy and Lagonda trophies, he received numerous invites to European Tour events where his talent attracted eulogies from both Mark James and Nick Faldo.
Quickfire wins in the Portuguese and Spanish Amateur championships signalled he was ready for the pro Tour, but a troublesome injury prevented his anticipated progress.
Now fully recovered, he's well on the road to achieving what was expected off him when he made his initial breakthrough and as one of the faces of the Tommy Hilfiger golf range he will be adding a personal touch to its presence at the show.
In addition, he's expected to demonstrate his renowned short-game skills on the chipping green where compere Matt Lorenzo, from Sky Sports, will commentate; attempt to hole out at the show's famous floating green √ located 122 yards from the quayside; and, as one of the longest drivers on the European Tour, will pit his talents against the Long Drivers of Europe on the longest drive challenge.
He said: ?The London Golf Show will be an enjoyable change from the everyday pressures of the tour - although I imagine there will still be plenty of spectators when I try my hand on the chipping green.
?I'm delighted to be able to represent my sponsor, Tommy Hilfiger, at the event. I've heard a lot of really good things about the show and I'm looking forward to experiencing it all for myself.
?? The London Golf Show returns to ExCeL, London, from April 27-30, and will cover an area the size of five football pitches, with a four-day retail exhibition aimed at all standards of golfer. Check out the website at: www.londongolfshow.com.
For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Tuesday 28th March 2006

Children from Bannockburn and Dunblane clusters enjoy the clubgolf festival at Stirling GC this week

Press Release
300 children introduced to clubgolf at Stirling’s half millennium golf celebration
Around 300 local school children, all new to the game, enjoyed a firstclubgolf taster this week when Stirling celebrated a golf festival marking the city’s 500 years in the sport.
It was in 1506 when King James IV strode out of his palace in Stirling Castle to play a regal round of golf with the Earl of Bothwell. They played over King’s Park - then royal hunting grounds, today the home of Stirling Golf Club – in what is reputed to be Scotland’s second-ever recorded golf game.
Half a millennium later, at the start of a new season, the old and new of golf collided. The Festival features golf tournaments, a costumed re-enactment with hickory clubs, lectures on the history of the sport, an art exhibition and a golf comedy play.
On Monday and Tuesday the club was transformed into a sea of junior activity when around 300 children from the Bannockburn and Dunblane areas arrived, courtesy of City Sightseeing Stirling and Mackies of Alloa, for the clubgolf festival.
“Our children had a fabulous time today,” said Bannockburn Primary School teachers Liz Wallace and Irene Cremin. Sixty of the school’s children braved the rain.
“They absolutely loved it and the fact they behaved so well is indicative of how much they enjoyed themselves despite the weather. Some of them seemed to have good swings and very few of them have played the game before.”
Provost Colin O’Brien, teeing up events at Stirling Golf Club, said, “The accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland prove that in early 1506 King James IV bought a dozen golf balls in Stirling. Then as now, golf was popular with all kinds of people. We have a rich history of golf in the Stirling area, many wonderful courses and we want to celebrate our links with the game.”
The celebrations mark a point at which opportunities for children to begin the game have never been better.
This spring clubgolf will be adopted by every primary school in the Balfron, Bannockburn, Dunblane and McLaren clusters. Teachers and school helpers, trained by Stirling Council’s School Sports Team of Active Schools Co-ordinators and Sports Development staff, will give over 500 pupils their first taste of golf.
Those who enjoy the experience can progress to Stage 1 hosted by their local golf clubs – so far seven out of nine clubs in Stirling have signed up to deliver the clubgolf programme.
“All of our P5s, that’s 63 children, will be starting the six week firstclubgolf course at school from Easter,” said Liz Wallace. “Two of us have been trained, we have a bag, we are ready to go and we are looking forward to it.”
Part two of Stirling’s golf millennium begins next month when Sandy Lyle officially launches Central Scotland’s clubgolf Junior Golf Strategy at Stirling Golf Club.

SGU Press Release
NEW WORLD FIRST WEBSITE CENTRAL TO SCOTTISH GOLF SUCCESS
THE Scottish Golf Union has created the world’s first dynamic national internet golf service, which will revolutionise the way Scots and overseas golfers organise their playing in the Home of Golf.
Today (Tuesday March 28) sees the launch of the SGU Golf Central website, which will make golf more accessible for Scots of all ages, from school children to pensioners.
The website – which has been 18 months in the making – aims to increase visitors to the 350 Scottish clubs that have signed up so far, and help to grow golf tourism, which is already worth over £300 million-a-year to Scotland. It will provide a fully comprehensive list of open golf competitions across the country, and the first ever easy to use guide for golfers to search the country for membership vacancies.
Within three clicks of a computer mouse, SGU Golf Central can let the user know which clubs have membership vacancies for all categories of member, whether the golfer is searching for gents, ladies, seniors or juniors. The service also provides a number of tools for golf club managers and secretaries to help improve communication with members and visitors alike.
SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey, pictured right, said: “The sky is the limit for SGU Golf Central. For the first time ever golfers all over the world from Texas to Troon will be able to book their golf direct with any of the Scottish clubs that have signed up.
“It will be a huge boon to those clubs and the Scottish economy, because wherever golfers go they spend money.”
Mr Grey added that the website will play a key role in bringing more Scots of all ages into the game.
He explained: “Growing the game is a key part of the SGU’s strategy and through our unique membership search tools, golfers will be able to quickly find out which clubs they can join. The perception remains that golf is inaccessible and expensive, whereas in reality the opposite is often true.
“In the last ten years, the number of golf courses has increased by nearly 20% whilst membership has risen by 5%, and just over 1% in the last two years. As a result the membership has been spread thinner, opening up more capacity in many golf clubs. SGU Golf Central will support our clubs in their marketing to potential new members on a national scale,” added Grey.
Part of the SGU’s remit with the development of the website was to help clubs combat the growing issue of discount or 2-for-1 golf schemes and SGU Golf Central offers a tool which puts the clubs in 100% control of their visitor golf offering. Through the website, members of SGU affiliated clubs will be able to access preferential green fee rates at many participating clubs, adding value to being a member of a golf club.
The SGU are also encouraging Scotland’s golfers to participate in more competitive golf and to try out other golf courses across the country. The new website will offer a listing of all club open competitions in Scotland, with men’s, ladies, juniors, seniors and mixed opens detailed, with the opportunity to download entry forms on-line and access draws and results.
“There are now 550 golf courses in Scotland and we obviously have a huge choice here at the Home of Golf. Club open competitions are a great way of playing golf at other courses, and the seniors’ circuit in particular is booming. With SGU Golf Central, we’re bringing a great service to members and visitors alike on-line, making it easier for the ordinary golfer to enter competitions.”
The new website incorporates unique technology, using geographical rather than alphabetical search functions. The user can choose from a radius of 10, 25 or 50 miles and the website will automatically list the clubs available within that radius, depending on the search.
SGU Golf Central is also unique in that clubs were involved in every part of the development process. A working group of 13 golf clubs from across the country took part in an ongoing feedback programme, whilst nearly 30 regional training seminars have taken place over the last five months. More than 350 clubs have now updated the website with their dynamic information on memberships, open competitions and visitor golf packages.
“The SGU have given the golf clubs of Scotland an excellent new service with the development of the SGU Golf Central website. Not only will the website help me promote my club to hundreds of thousands of golfers, it also provides valuable management and communication tools for our business,” said Norman Dyce, Secretary of Kirriemuir Golf Club.
“We can tailor our visitor packages depending on the audience and the time of year, whilst our members will benefit from many of the features within the site, adding value to being a member of our golf club.”
SGU Golf Central has been running a pilot website in recent months, and already clubs have received more than one thousand entries to their open competitions and many membership enquiries. The new service can be located on the existing SGU website at www.scottishgolfunion.org, which has already generated an average of 10,000 unique users per month in the last year, resulting in an 80% increase in traffic.
Mr Grey added: “Our key objective through the launch of SGU Golf Central is to provide the best guide to golfing in Scotland for the ordinary club golfer and visitor. The website also supports our member clubs by helping them market their businesses, cross-sell their products and services and communicate to their customers. As a result of all its functions, SGU Golf Central will help us grow the game in Scotland.”

Monday 27th March 2006

ELGA Press Release
Sportsmatch backs girls' golf in Sussex
Plans to develop girls' golf in Sussex have been boosted by more than £3000 thanks to a local sponsor and the government-funded Sportsmatch scheme.
Sussex County Ladies Golf Association will use the money to offer girls' taster and coaching sessions, as well as competitions.
The sponsorship of £1588 has come from Eastbourne-based company CMS (GB). Chief executive Mr Adrian Teulon said: "I am delighted to be able to put something back into the sport that has given me so much pleasure".
This has been doubled to £3177 by Sportsmatch, which helps fund grass roots and community sports in England by matching new sponsorship money on a pound for pound basis.
The cheques were presented at a ceremony at Royal Eastbourne Golf Club by Mr Teulon and local MP Nigel Waterstone, who represented Sportsmatch. They were received by Sussex county president Diana Langridge and county captain Glenda Ricketts.

ELGA Press Release
Chloe helps England win bronze
Essex golfer Chloe Rogers has scored a Commonwealth Games triumph in Melbourne in her other sport - hockey.
She made certain that England won the bronze medal when she scored the fifth and crucial penalty against New Zealand in the third-place play-off. The medal was decided in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished goalless after extra time.
Chloe - who will be 21 on Thursday - has great ability in both golf and hockey. The Braintree player was Essex ladies' champion in 2004 and a member of ELGA's South East Regional Squad.

Sunday 26th March 2006

Monifeith prizewinners

Monifeith Girls Prizegiving
Monifieth Golf Club junior girls held their winter league prizegiving today in front of a large gathering of friends and family within the club.
The prizes were presented by Jillian Pryde, junior girls captain.
Prize winners were as follows;
Section 1
1st - Louise Smith
2nd - Heather Peebles
3rd - Rebecca Wilson
Section 2
1st - Saphia Matthew
2nd - Gail Wilson
3rd - Alison Pryde
Section 3
1st - Heather Munro
2nd equal - Rosy Hunter and Susan Cameron

Saturday 25th March 2006

Young Reese does it in style!
You'll remember the story of five year old Reece Campbell Murphy who was to play seven Championship courses against seven Pros, sponsored by Highland Spring in aid of Barnardo's. Well he did it... and beat one of the Pros in the process. His Dad sent in this email.......
Dear Gill
I received an yahoo alert directing me to your sight with regards to Reece Campbell Murphy the five year old from Fife taking on the 7 pro's for charity.My name is Steven and I am his daddy aka caddie(well very tired one now after the past 7 days.I thought I would email you with an update of the 7 wonders.
The past 7 days have been amazing.To be part of even though all I am doing is pulling the bag.But to witness it was some kind of magic.To see a little person with the biggest heart and swing do what he did for the children's charity Barnardo's was awe inspiring.
THE SEVEN WONDERS EVENT
The final net scores of all events are as follows;Reece played each course from men's yellow tees.Not junior tees.
1-St Andrews Bay Par 70 6242 yards pro- 90 tiny tour pro- 109 18.03.06
2-Turnberry Par 72 6440 yards pro- 77 tiny tour pro- 87 19.03.06
3-Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Par 71 6322 yards pro- 79 tiny tour pro- 78 20.03.06
4-Burnt island Par 70 6073 yards pro- 71 tiny tour pro- 97 21.03.06 Reece's 6th birthday
5-Gleneagles Par 68 5965 yards pro- 82 tiny tour pro- 90 22.03.06
6-Gullane Par 71 6466 yards pro- 73 tiny tour pro- 85 23.03.06
7-Old Course St Andrews Par 71 6387 yards pro- 82 tiny tour pro- 87 24.03.06
Although unofficial Reece is believed to be the youngest person at five years of age in the world to beat a pro over 18 holes strokeplay format in any golf event.There are also other records at stake such as youngest person to play the most professional golfers 7 and the most holes in a week totalling 126 and the most yardage/distance overall 43,895 yards.
We must have faced all of mother nature's elements this week and it must be taken into consideration that the winter elements are still taking there toll on the course's.I believe as do all the pro's you would see a huge difference in the scores during the summer months.
Here's one dad truly saying His son is his hero and inspiration.
Yours sincerely
Steven Campbell if you need more info either email me or check out his web site www.tinywoods.co.uk

Friday 24th March 2006

St Mary’s Primary School children warm up for Stirling celebration
Nine children from St Mary’s Primary School were given a preview of this week’s golf festival, which marks Stirling’s 500 years in the sport, when Dunblane New Golf Club opened its doors to the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf last week.
clubgolf has been adopted by every primary school in the Balfron, Bannockburn, Dunblane and McLaren clusters this spring. Over 140 children from Dunblane, Newton and St Mary’s primaries have experienced clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf. Played with modified equipment, rubberised balls and Velcro targets it is designed to give primary school children a safe and exciting introduction to the game.
Last Friday marked the culmination of the St Mary’s firstclubgolf course, when nine children were invited to play at Dunblane New Golf Club.
“The children found firstclubgolf both challenging and great fun,” said Mrs Whitaker, P5 teacher St Mary's. “They were all looking forward to using real clubs and balls and playing at the club and are very excited about being part of next week’s golf celebrations in Stirling. It will be a great experience for them at a fabulous club.”
It was in 1506 when King James IV strode out of his palace in Stirling Castle to play a regal round of golf with the Earl of Bothwell. They played over King’s Park - then royal hunting grounds, today the home of Stirling Golf Club – in what is reputed to be Scotland’s second-ever recorded golf game.
The Festival features golf tournaments, a costumed re-enactment with hickory clubs, lectures on the history of the sport, an art exhibition and a golf comedy play. Stirling Golf Club will transform into a sea of junior activity when some 300 children from the Bannockburn and Dunblane areas arrive, courtesy of City Sightseeing Stirling open top bus tours, for clubgolf sessions.
The celebrations come at a time when opportunities for children to begin the game have never been better.
Seven of Stirling’s nine golf clubs have signed up to deliver the clubgolf strategy and will begin introducing primary school children to their clubgolf Stage 1 courses, the second level of the programme, this spring. Dunblane New Golf Club has identified twelve members who will soon become qualified coaches on two-day PGA clubgolf Level 1 Training for Volunteers Course.
“Juniors are a very important part of our club,” said Dunblane NGC’s volunteer coach Maggi Davidson. “We have 120 junior members at the moment and we want to give more children access to play golf.
“In the past it’s normally only the children whose parent play golf that get the chance to play. But through clubgolf all children will get that opportunity. Last Friday was an opportunity for the children to come along, see the golf club and meet some of the volunteers coaches.
“Our volunteers are all keen to help and are looking forward to starting coaching at the end of April.”
The second half of Stirling’s golf millennium begins next month when Sandy Lyle officially launches Central Scotland’s clubgolf Junior Golf Strategy at Stirling Golf Club.

Bonhams & Butterfields swing by Boston to sell Bobby Jones' golf collection
When Bonhams & Butterfields auctioneers swing by Boston in early May to hold their annual Brookline Sale of motorcars, antiques and marine collectibles, as a first time event, they will bring down the hammer on a number of significant golf collections, including that of the legendary all-American sporting hero Bobby Jones.
Around 25 items from his collection will be sold with important memorabilia on Saturday,6 May at The Larz Anderson Auto Museum, next to Brookline's Country Club, host of the 2004 Ryder Cup.
The name "Bobby Jones" is synonymous with great golf. He was the amateur golfer who never took a lesson yet the Oxford Companion to World Sports and Games describes him as "probably the greatest player the game has known".
The accomplishments of Bobby Jones (1902-1971) cannot be matched in the world of golf, nor can his contribution to the sport be underestimated. From 1923 to1930 he won thirteen major championships and remains the only player to win all four majors in the same year. He won the British and US Amateur and Open tournaments in 1930, before retiring from competitive golf -- when he was just 28 years old. The only player who has come close to achieving this is Tiger Woods, but even Woods has not succeeded in winning all four titles in the same year. In 1934, Jones went on to found the US Masters tournament, held annually in Augusta, Georgia.
Bonhams & Butterfields' first sale of Golfing Memorabilia to be held in the USA, the Bobby Jones Collection, is sure to attract attention amongst enthusiasts. Highlights include a silver metal 1930 USGA National Amateur Championship 'Contestant's' badge, which is expected to fetch $2,000-3,000. It was winning this final leg of the slam that also secured him a place in history. A brass 'Contestant's' badge from the 1928 USGA National Amateur Championship, held at the Brae Burn County Club, West Newton, Massachusetts, will also be featured at $800-1,000. In this tournament, there were 158 entries and 143 starters, with Bobby Jones beating the British Walker Cup player, Phil Perkins in the final 10 and 9.
In addition to the 25 lots on offer from the Bobby Jones Collection, golfing fans will be able to bid on a further 400 lots - 300 of those culled from the US West Coast collector Larry Boone, featuring beautiful golfing ceramics, such as three Lenox mugs dating from 1900, estimated at $3,000 each. From yet another collection, a selection of valuable long nose clubs and irons from the mid 1800s, ranging in price from $1,000 to $20,000, will also be available to bid on.

Thursday 23rd March 2006

US College golf
McALPINE OUTGUNNED IN ARIZONA
Blairgowrie-born Kevin McAlpine, pictured right, in his final term as a golf scholarship student at Colorado State University, tied for 57th place in the Pioneer Classic men’s college tournament at Palm Valley Golf Club, Goodyear in Arizona this week.
McAlpine shot rounds of 77, 70 and 73 over the 7,015yd, par-72 course for a four-over-par total of 220 but he finished well down the field in one of the lowest-scoring 54-hole tournaments of the American college season.
The winner, Canadian James Love (Denver University), had scores of 69, 63 and 67 for a brilliant total of 17-under-par 199 for a four-shot success.
Colorado State (844) finished fifth of 15 behind team winners Louisville (836) with Nebraska (837) pipped by a shot.

SGU Press Release
Two To Go One Better At Sherry Cup
Scots Walker Cup duo Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) will be part of Scotland’s four-man team looking to go one better than last year when the Sherry Cup gets underway at Sotogrande in Spain next week (29 March – 1 April).
The Scots finished as runners-up to Spain last year, when Ramsay and Saltman played alongside George Murray and Andrew McArthur. This year, the current Scottish Boys Match Play Champion, Scott Henry (Cardross) and Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion, Steven McEwan (Kilmarnock Barassie) have earned a call-up to challenge for the prestigious trophy.
Last year, despite McArthur and Ramsay sharing second place in the individual event and Saltman finishing in a tie for sixth, the Scots collectively finished five shots behind the host nation and nine clear of third placed England.
Scottish Golf Union national coach Ian Rae said, “Last year we had a good week in Spain and we are even more optimistic this time. All four team members have made a strong start to the season so it looks as though the development work over the winter has again proved successful.”
The format for the Sherry Cup is 72 holes stroke play over four days.

SGU Press Release
SGU Homes In On New HQ
The Scottish Golf Union (SGU) today (23 March) announced it is teeing up a move to new purpose-built headquarters adjacent to the recently remodelled Duke’s course overlooking St Andrews, the home of golf.
The SGU, which governs all aspects of the men’s amateur game in Scotland, is working in partnership with the Kohler Company, owners of the world-famous St Andrews Old Course Hotel and Duke’s course. It is hoped that the SGU will make the move to new 4,500 sq ft offices sometime in 2007.
The building will be owned by the Duke’s course, with the SGU occupying on a long-term lease. In the interim, the SGU will continue to operate from its existing offices in Drumoig.
SGU chief executive Hamish Grey said, “Negotiations with the Kohler Company are at an advanced stage and we have agreed in principle, although full details of the new facility are now subject to planning permission.”
“As part of our ongoing programme of modernisation we are continually looking to the future and see this as a progressive move into St Andrews. The purpose-built offices based at an excellent golfing facility, will provide us with the ideal working environment from which to operate - a base that allows us to build further on the very positive state of Scottish golf.”

Lewis Kirton (Newmachar)

Graeme Mitchell (Northern)

James Byrne (Banchory)

NORTH-EAST TRIO ARE HANDICAP BACKMARKERS FOR SCOTTISH BOYS’ GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
It’s 11 years since Steven Young from Inverallochy completed a hat-trick of title wins in the Scottish boys’ championship but the trophy could be coming back to the North-east next month.
Handicaps count for nothing in scratch match-play but the three teenagers with the lowest handicaps among the 313 entries for the week-long tournament at West Kilbride from April 10 to 15 all live in the North-east.
They are Lewis Kirton (Newmachar), Graeme Mitchell (Northern) and James Byrne (Banchory).
Kirton, the North-east boys’ match-play champion for the past two years, has the lowest handicap of +1.4 and will play Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) in the first round on the Monday.
Lewis, who played for Scotland in the recent quadrangular boys international match in France, is currently in the United States, seeing for himself the golf and other facilities of universities who have offered him a four-year golf scholarship starting in the autumn.
Mitchell, son of a former Aberdeen Links champion, has a handicap of +0.9. He is the current men’s champion of both Northern and Braemar golf clubs. Graeme will play David Parlane (Helensburgh) on the opening Monday.
Byrne, holder of the North of England boys’ open title, also played for Scotland in France recently and won a junior tournament in Texas over the Christmas-New Year period. James plays off +0.8. His first-round opponent at West Kilbride will be Kristofer Harper (Carnoustie).
Other players with plus handicaps in the West Kilbride field are:
James White (Lundin) +0.7, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) +0.6, Ross Bell (Downfield) +0.6, Zack Saltman (Craigielaw) +0.2, Chris Robinson (Wigtown & Bladnock) +0.2, Steven Mann (Moray) +0.1.
Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) will have the honour of driving the first ball in the championship at 6.45am on the Monday. He plays Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle).
And when the remainder of the first round programme is completed on the Tuesday, it will be Ross Jack (Alness) who will be first off the tee at 6.45am in a tie against Alistair Graham (Crow Wood).
There was room only for 256 players – 128 ties in the first round - in the starting field and some of those with 5.6 of a handicap were balloted out.
Scott Henry (Cardross), winner of the title for the past two years, no longer meets the age requirement of under-18 years on January 1, so no hat-trick bid by him.
Although he is still young enough to play in boys’ golf this year, former British boys’ open champion Jordan Findlay will not be in the field at West Kilbride. The Fraserburgh teenager is in the first year of a golf scholarship at East Tennessee State University and their commitments on the American college circuit take precedence over Jordan coming home to play in the “Scottish.”

Gary Player’s ‘Global Journey’ Detailed in World Golf Hall of Fame Special Exhibit
St. Augustine, Fla. (March 21, 2006) – The World Golf Hall of Fame unveiled today a special exhibit, “Gary Player: A Global Journey,” that tells the story of the world’s most travelled athlete and explores the impact he has had on the game and beyond.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but after walking through the exhibit I was deeply moved,” said Mr. Player, the Hall of Fame’s Global Ambassador. “It certainly embraces all the facets of my life in a way that brought a tear to my eye.”
“Gary Player: A Global Journey” celebrates his storied life and career through a comprehensive collection of personal memorabilia, historic artefacts, images and video that have not been previously viewed by the public.
“The purpose of this exhibit is to give fans of the game a true sense of who Mr. Player is, providing perspective to the man who is considered one of the greatest ambassadors the game has ever seen,” said Jack Peter, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hall of Fame. “I think we’ve accomplished that and each person who views the exhibit will walk away knowing more about the dynamic man that is Gary Player.”
The Grand Slam area showcases Player’s Grand Slam trophies, plus all of his significant major championship artefacts, including his nine major championship medals, the Black Knight Blade Putter used to win the Grand Slam and more than 100 other worldwide events, scorecards, crystal and commemorative gifts. Additionally, Player’s Green Jacket from the 1961 Masters Tournament is showcased, as is his fibreglass-shafted driver used to win the 1965 U.S. Open.
A selection of other trophies, medals and awards from Player’s career are also on display in The World Stage area of the exhibit, including his 13 South African Open medals, seven Australian Open medals and the scorecard from the 1974 Brazil Open when he shot a 59. Known as the World’s Most Travelled Athlete, the exhibit incorporates stories of his successes on each continent in which he has won.
Since 1983, Player’s philanthropic endeavours have been channelled into the Gary Player Foundation, an organization that initially addressed the education crisis in his native South Africa. The Knight’s Shining Armor area of the exhibit focuses on the undertaking of his Foundation, with particular attention paid to the Blair Atholl Schools, and his work alongside the likes of Nelson Mandela, to better the human race—regardless of colour.
Gary Player is a family man and a global business. The Legend of the Black Knight tells the story of both sides of this great golfer away from the course. Supporting personal stories that give further insight into Player are numerous artefacts that represent his interest in golf course design, fitness, thoroughbred racing and more, including a full-size silver and leather saddle given to him by friend Lee Trevino.
Player’s dedication to family is told in the exhibit as well as through a montage of family photos and items from his early years and his first ventures into the game of golf.
“Gary Player: A Global Journey” will remain on display through early 2007.

Wednesday 22nd March 2006

US College Golf
LOUISE’S TOP-20 FINISH IN ALABAMA
Scottish Under-21 girls champion Louise Fleming, pictured right, from Kelso, a student a Jacksonville State University, Alabama, tied for 14th place in the Samford University Intercollegiate women’s golf tournament at Timberline Golf Club, Calera in Alabama.
Louise had rounds of 75 and 81 for a total of 156 over the par-71, 5,803yd course.
She finished nine shots behind the winner, Emily Klein (Birmingham Southern University).
Another Scot, Stephanie Crolla (Nicholls State University, Louisana) from the Lothians, had rounds of 88 and 85 for 173 and 65th place.
Birmingham Southern (602) won the team event by 14 shots from Jacksonville State with Nicholls State (674) 13th of the 15 competing teams.

US College Golf
SCOTS IN TOP 10 AGAIN IN CALIFORNIA
Gavin Dear from Perth and Carnoustie’s Keir McNicoll – both senior golf scholarship students at Lynn University, Florida - finished joint second and ninth in the California State University-Monterey Bay Otter Invitational tournament at Bayonet Golf Club, Seaside in California (earlier this week).
Dear scored 74 and 70 for a level par tally of 144 – one shot behind the winner, Brian Thompson of the host university. Brian scored 71 and 72 in a tournament which suffered a lot of rain on the opening day.
McNicoll struggled in the wet conditions for a 77 but improved to a 71 second time out for a total of 148 and a share of nine place.
The two Scots also finished in the top 10 in their last tournament.
Lynn University (594) finished runners –up in the team event to CSU-Monterey Bay (587) with Western Washington (602) third of 17 teams.

ELGA Press Release
ELGA members approve vital rise in subscriptions
ELGA members gave the association a vote of confidence when they approved a vital increase in subscriptions at an extraordinary general meeting at Edgbaston Golf Club on Tuesday, March 21.
Cheers rang round the room when it was announced that the Yes vote had carried the day. The approval for the two resolutions will bring in additional income which is crucial to the future of ELGA.
The result means the annual subscription will rise by £1.50 to £7.50 with effect from 1 January 2007. This was approved by 491 votes to 222, a majority of 68.9 per cent.
In addition, the subscription will be increased annually by the rate of inflation, to the nearest 5p. Golf clubs will be advised in February each year of the increase to take effect the following January. This was approved by 481 votes to 220, a majority of 68.6 per cent.
ELGA chairman Ros Weston said afterwards: "This is a fantastic result. This increase is absolutely crucial for ELGA and it means we can go ahead with our plans for the future, which include the modernisation of the association."
Pauline Perla, the association's chief executive, added: "I see this as a vote of confidence in our plans to move forward."
This was the third time the association had put these proposals to members and accountant Mike Hall spelled out in stark terms why approval was necessary.
Without it ELGA would be "struggling to pay the bills by 2007/08 and by 2008/09 would run out of money."
ELGA currently receives £799,000 pa from membership subscriptions and other income which is spent on tournaments, golf development, the website, events for club members, handicapping, volunteer and staff training, marketing, representation to other governing bodies, administration - and more.
The association additionally receives a grant from Sport England, estimated this year at £659,000. This funding is handled separately from subscription income and supports the training of players in the ELGA squads, personal athlete awards and the administration of this work.
Mr Hall outlined the reasons behind ELGA's need for more subscription income. Among these was the news that the association has been given notice to leave its offices at Edgbaston Golf Club because the owners wish to redevelop the building. There are only between six and 12 months remaining on the lease.
In addition, ELGA has operated at a deficit for the last two years and is budgeting for a loss again this year. "This is an unacceptable position to continue," said Mr Hall.
The executive committee wishes to continue its programme of work, which will be further shaped by the modernisation review currently being carried out. Recent progress has included extending the championship rota to include seniors events and introducing on-line tournament entries and payments on the ELGA website. There are also plans to provide live scoring at championships. Investment is needed to grow the game of golf and to help golf clubs attract more members.
Earlier Pauline Perla outlined for members how ELGA had progressed since 1999, increasing its activities and recruiting staff to support this work. This included the establishment of a development team and a training department, the launch of the website, increased marketing to raise the profile of the association and the introduction of an IT system. ELGA, she commented, commanded great respect among golf's other governing bodies.
"If you want the association to continue to grow you must support the increase," she said.

Derek Ferguson, right of target, with sixth formers from Greenock High School

Former football stars give Greenock High pupils a golf lesson
Jim Chapman and Derek Ferguson, Albion Rovers Manager and Assistant Manager respectively, have been at Greenock High School for the past four weeks. The former professional football players have been hard at work putting a dozen of the school’s senior pupils through their paces. But not a single football or goalpost was in sight.
Golf is the flavour of the month at Greenock High and the soccer duo, who are fully qualified regional tutors for the junior national golf strategy, clubgolf, were training the children to become golf coaches as part of their Sports Leader Awards.
A partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland, the clubgolf strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, is played with modified equipment, rubberised balls and Velcro targets to give primary school children a safe and exciting introduction to the game. It is this aspect of the programme that the 12 pupils have been learning to teach. At the course’s culmination they gave a lesson to a local primary school, supervised by Chapman and Ferguson.
As clubgolf is rolled out nationally this year, the strategy’s newest coaching recruits will work within local primary schools to introduce P5 age group children to the game.
“We’re doing a lot of work with clubgolf so the more coaches we have in the area to deliver in primary schools or to work with coaches the better,” said Sports Development Officer, Lorna Jackson.
“These children are from the area and will be putting something back into the local community once they have the coaching awards. So we hope they will become role models for the primary children they are teaching.”
Inverclyde may be one of Scotland’s smallest local authority areas but it is has shown impressive leadership with the clubgolf strategy. Over 30 golf club members have already qualified to coach Stage 1 of the programme within local clubs. So well subscribed has the municipal Greenock Whinhill Golf Club’s clubgolf course been that the Club has secured sportscotland funding for a new practice facility.
“Our first step has been to get coaches from local golf clubs trained and we have made an encouraging start,” added Ms Jackson. “We have held open nights to get volunteers interested in becoming qualified. We had 11 people on the recent course to become Level 1 coaches and more have stepped forwards for future courses.”

Tuesday 21st March 2006

SCOT GETS CAMBRIDGE’S ONLY POINT FROM OXFORD AT NORTH BERWICK
Oxford scored a resounding 8-1 win over Cambridge in the inter-university women’s golf match at North Berwick Golf Club today (TUESDAY).
Oxford made a 3-0 clean sweep of the morning foursomes and then took the afternoon singles 5-1.
Edinburgh-born Elaine Evans, a member of Craigielaw Golf Club, lost by 3 and 1 in the foursomes, partnered by Angela Donoghue, but was Cambridge’s only winner when she beat Nicole Saad by 2 and 1 in the singles.
Results:
OXFORD 8, CAMBRIDGE 1
(Oxford names first)
Foursomes (3-0)
Emma Parr & Fiona Johnson bt Lisa Heidemanns & Jo Reeve 6 and 4.
Nicole Saad & Jennifer Andrews bt Jenny Heathcote & Sarah Meados 3 and 2.
Sonavi Chopra & Meredith Riedel bt Elaine Evans & Angela Donoghue 3 and 1.
Singles (5-1)
Parr bt Heathcote 1 hole.
Johnson bt Heidemanns 7 and 5.
Saad lost to Evans 2 and 1.
Andrews bt Donoghue 5 and 3.
Reidel bt Meadows 5 and 4.
Chopra bt Reeve 9 and 7.

Monday 20th March 2006

Midlothian Junior Girls held a Rules night tonight at Baberton Golf Club

KATE TIES FOR 32ND IN SHAMROCK EVENT
Kate O’Sullivan (High Point University), pictured right, tied for 32nd place in a field of 77 for the Shamrock Intercollegiate women’s golf tournament at Tega Cay Golf club, South Carolina.
Kate, a junior-year student, had rounds of 77, 89 and 85 for a total of 251 over the par-72, 5,842yd course.
Team-mate Ann Marie Dalton, a sophomore student from Carlow, Ireland, tied for seventh place on 233 with rounds of 82, 76 and 75. She finished five shots behind individual winner Samantha Widmer (Elon University) who scored 81, 77 and 70 for 228 and a two-shot win.
A third High Point team player, Jenna Kinnear, a junior student from Belfast, finished joint 41st on 256 with scores of 84, 88 and 84.
Elon University (934) won the team event, contested by 13 colleges. High Point (977) finished sixth

BEN WILL TRY FOR A SHAMASH-AND-GRAB WIN AT LOSSIEMOUTH NEXT WEEK
Remember Ben Shamash, the 100-1 shot who reached the final of last summer’s Scottish men’s amateur golf championship at Southerness, last year – and then disappeared from the golfing scene?
The one-time Scottish schoolboys champion steps back into the limelight in next week’s Scottish universities championships, hosted as usual by Moray Golf Club at Lossiemouth.
Shamash is a student at Edinburgh University and he must be among the favourites to follow in the footsteps of Richie Ramsay (2004) and Jamie McLeary (2005) as winner of the men’s individual stroke-play title over 36 holes.
Stirling beat St Andrews last year to regain the men’s team championship and will go close to repeating the feat.
There will be a new women’s champion. Ann Ramsay (Kirriemuir and Heriot Watt University), title-winner for the past years, has graduated since her 2005 success.
Stirling’s Olivia Briggs, who did very well on the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida earlier this year, will be hot favourite to win from team-mates Alex Marshall, who, like Olivia, comes from south of the Border, and Monifieth’s Dawn Dewar
If there is to be an upset it could be provided by Abertay student and Northern Counties team player Kerri Harper who hails from Inverness and should know the Moray course fairly well.
Draws for the individual events:
MEN
Wednesday, March 29, Moray Old
6.45 & 12.0: D Greenshields (E), J Hopwood (UHI); J Bailey (UHI), G Reid (HW), P Mulcahy (G).
7.0 & 12.16: A Robertson (E), N Finlay (G), G Minnes (Sc); R Wilson (A), J Musgrove (E), D Calder (G); T Gillilland (At), F Inglis (G), C Abrahamson (E); R McCormack (A), F Niven (E), R MacLeod (Sc).
7.30 & 12.48: A Leggate (Sc), J Duff (A), E Bryceland (S); A McAlister (At), N Granath (StA), G McInroy (Sc); C Cowie (RGU), A MacDonald (A), M Murray (UHI).
8.0 & 1.16: S Turnbull (S), N Feinberg (StA), F Simmons (D); R Rebecchi (StA), K Shepard (S), J Spaven (G); B Brooke (S), B Soutar (HW), D McIndoy (Sc); I Brown (HW), B Shamash (E), B Rushford (S).
8.30 & 1.48: G Little (StA), S Hume (At), R Hutton (G); N Slater (UHI), E Polson (S), R Lando (StA); R Duncan (HW), G Davidson (StA),A Gordon (Sc); P Okan (StA), M Wilkie (E), F Bone (D).
9.0 & 2.24: M Lindsay (At), S Phillips (A), J Watt (S); B Paterson (S), G Findley (At), M Dickson (StA); R Taylor (At), A Low (HT), P Betty (S); C Harkins (G), G Yates (S), C Colraine (Sc); G McBain (UHI), M Kerr (E), R Dixon (StA).
9.45 & 3.06: M Burt (GC), C Shaw (A), S Finlay (HW); S Robinson (StA), M Ralland (A), R Metayer (UHI).
10.0 & 3.24: G Smith (RGU), D MacLeod (HW), I Thomson (A); C Connolly (A), C Morrison (G), D Evans (GC); M Gordon (RGU), N Keast (UHI), C Wedgeworth (GC); J Godward (A), J Murchie (Sc), D Graham (E).
10.30 & 4.0:V Sinkkonen (G), R MacDonald (E), A Brown (Sc); S Aitken (HW), R Gray (RGU), A Thomson (At); A Fearnside (G), J Varkey (E), A Ramage (RGU); R Aspin (Sc), C Robertson (GC), A Carry (HW).
11.0 & 4.32: G Noblett (UHI), C Callander (RGU), K Ward (At); C Lindsay (RGU), A Sannigan (HW), J Warwick (UHI); L Stevenson (At), M Cushions (RGU), J Gilmour (Sc); G Gordon (UHI), R Moore (GC), R Gordon (RGU); R Black (RGU), G Anderson (At), J Kemp (UHI).
WOMEN
Tuesday, Old Course; Wednesday, New Course.
10.0 & 8.56: O Briggs (S), E Tipping (S), K Harper (At); A Marshall (S), C-M Carlton(S), F Haffey (E); D Dewar (S), C McLoughlin (SA), A Donadelli (StA); C Winstanley (StA), M Macpherson (StA), F Williamson(Sc).
10.32 & 8.25: J Elliot (Sc), D Skinner (A), L Gilmour (G); K Robinson(E), J Glover (Sc), L Johnston (Ed); L Rowan (G), S Patterson (E); K Anderson (G), H Kinkead (Sc).
Abbreviations: A, Aberdeen; At, Abertay; D, Dundee; E, Edinburgh; G, Glasgow; GC, Glasgow Caledonian; HW, Heriot Watt; S, Stirling; StA, St Andrews; Sc, Strathclyde; UHI, Highlands & Islands.

AMERICAN GETS GO-AHEAD FOR £20 MILLION GOLF COMPLEX NEAR INVERNESS AIRPORT
Highland councillors have finally given the go-ahead for work to begin on a £20million golf complex at the Castle Stuart estate next door to Inverness Airport off the Inverness to Nairn road.
The plans included:
*Two 18-hole courses.
*A driving range.
*A clubhouse.
*A 57-bedroom hotel.
*120 timeshare units.
*Two apartment blocks containing 28 flats.
*A spa and leisure complex.
The developers - Cornerstone Golf Development International and Moray Estate Development Co, aim to complete the huge complex on 176 hectares of land at Balnaglack and Lonnie farms by 2012.
The initial work will focus on the construction of the first golf course.
It was in June 2004 that Californian businessman Mark Parsinen, a former Silicon Valley computer executive, revealed his plans for the £20million major development in the North.
Parsinen, one of the key men behind the hugely successful construction of Kingsbarns Links, said at the time he had spent three years searching for a site in Scotland that would rival the Fife venue and finally “discovered” the Castle Stuart estate.
“The Moray Firth setting is ideal,” said Parsinen.
Highland tourism chiefs have hailed the scheme as a major boost for the North.
Nairn councillor Sandy Park, who chaired the planning meeting which gave the green light for the project, said: “I am very pleased that the decision went the way it did. To have a top-class facility on the Moray Firth will be a tremendous boost to the area’s tourist attractions. With the airport doing well, this is a big plus indeed for the Highlands.”
But there is no shortage of objectors to the multi-million pound project.
One of their main concerns is that there is not enough water on tap for the whole development.
Scottish Water says a connection to the public drainage system is not available but the developers have proposed building a private waste water treatment plant to serve the complex.
David Gerrard of Easter Dalcross said he was worried about the environmental impact of the scheme which, he felt, would inevitably lead to increased pollution of a delicate place.

JACKSONVILLE JOCKS SCORE DOUBLE WHAMMY IN EL DIABLO EVENT
The “Jacksonville Jocks” are back on song on the American college golf circuit. The three Scottish students who are on golf scholarships at Jacksonville University, Florida certainly hit the high notes in their weekend tournament.
Duncan Stewart from Grantown-on-Spey won the individual title by six shots with some brilliant golf in the El Diablo Intercollegiate at El Diablo Golf & Country Club, Citrus Springs in Florida.
Team-mates Russell Knox from Inverness and Jamie Kennedy from Edinburgh finished third and 14th respectively in the big field.
And Jacksonville ran away with the team title by the commanding margin of 20 shots from their 18 opposing college line-ups. It was their second team win of the August to May college golf season.
Jacksonville University head golf coach Jim Taketa said:
“Duncan played really well throughout but particularly on the last day when the weather was bad and the conditions tough.
And Russell was right in there in contention as well. All in all, another great team effort.”
Stewart had rounds of 70, 68 and 69 for a nine-under-par total of 207.
Russell Knox scored 69, 72 and 75 for a level par total of 216.
Jamie Kennedy had rounds of 74, 72 and 80 for a total of 226.
All three Scots are junior-year students at Jacksonville University. Duncan is 6ft 1in, Jamie 6ft 2in with Russell, only 5ft 7in, dwarfed by his golfing buddies.
Jacksonville University’s winning team total for the 54 holes was 885. Charleston (905) were runners-up in the field of 19 teams.

Hottest Property In US Women’s Golf
When English-born PGA teaching pro Martin Hall first went to the United States, top coach Chuck Cook told him that in order to get noted he would either need to teach tour professionals or produce good juniors.
Although he has worked with a number of tour professionals in his time he did make a conscious decision to work with juniors. One of those has become one of the hottest properties in women’s golf – Morgan Pressel.
Last year Pressel won the US Women's Amateur, finished second at the US Women's Open and qualified to play on the American LPGA Tour. This year she has started the Tour with a fifth and eleventh and a worst score of 71 from six rounds.
"The thing I could see right away was she could hit the ball," Hall said. "Even when she was nine, she never had much trouble hitting the ball in the middle of the club face. She didn't hit it straight and she didn't hit it far, but she could hit it in the middle of the club. And that's genetics, isn't it?”
Martin has been working with her for almost ten years and says "My job is to help her develop a golf swing that makes the ball go where it's supposed to go."
Martin is guest speaker at the PGA Teaching and Coaching Conference 2006 being held at the Bescot Stadium, Walsall on 22/23 May (PGA members only).

Sunday 19th March 2006

FINDLAY DOWN THE FIELD AT HUMBLE, TEXAS
Former British boys’ champion Jordan Findlay from Fraserburgh, a first-year golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University, finished joint 79th in a field of 93 for the Hall of Fame Invitational college golf tournament at Redstone Golf Club, Humble in Texas today (SUNDAY USA TIME).
Findlay, who has been showing much improved form recently, saddled himself with an opening round of 85 – 13 over par for the 7,422yd course and his worst score yet on the US college circuit.
He did improve with a second-round 76 but sagged again with a no-birdie 79 for a 24-over-par total of 240 – 32 strokes behind the runaway, eight-shot winner, Anthony Kim (Oklahoma) with 67, 69 and 72 for eight-under-par 208.
East Tennessee State, who were well in contention for the team title after the first round, dropped back to fifth place on 901 behind winners Oklahoma State (880), second-placed Texas A&M (890) and joint third Oklahoma and Texas (899).
Edinburgh-born Rhys Davies from Bargoed, Wales was the top East Tennessee State finisher in sixth equal place with scores of 72, 76 and 72 for 220.
Cian McNamara fell away in his final round to finishe 16th on 224 with 73, 73 and 78. Cian, a former R&A Junior Open winner boged the 15th, double-bogeyed the short 16th and bogeyed the 17th in an inward half of 40 on his final round.
Matt Mills (Texas), Tessa Jowell's son, came joint 18th with 74, 76 and 75, including two early double bogeys in his final round.
Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland - a team-mate of Jordan Findlay - slumped from a share of ninth place at the start of the day to a joint 30th place. He scored 72, 76 and 79 for 227, double-bogeying the fourth and fifth on the final day.
Yet another ETSU student to have a dreadful last round was Englishman Adam Hodkinson. He plummeted from 24th to joint 50th with scores of 78, 73 and 81. His last round included double bogeys at the 10th and 13th.
Farren Keenan (Texas) from Middlesex came 78th on 239 with 79, 81 and 79.

US College Golf
TEXAS BLUES FOR DANIELLE, SOPHIE AND SIAN
English trio Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa University), Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota) and Sian Reddick ( Baylor) will not have pleasant memories of this year’s Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational college tournament over the University of Texas course at Austin.
None of them managed to break 80 over a course measuring 6,353yd with a par of 72. To make matters worse, the final round was played in steady rain.
Danielle tied for 68th place on 249 with scores of 83, 82 and 84.
Sophie finished 76th on 253 with 81, 83 and 89.
Sian scored 82, 89 and 84 for 77th place on 255.
Duke University scored a double whammy by winning the individual and team titles.
Amanda Blumenherst headed the field with 72, 74 and 72 for 218, which was good enough to give her a six-stroke victory from Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) with 76, 73 and 75.
Duke (907) won the team honours by nine shots from Texas A&M (916) with Purdue (926) third. Baylor and Tulsa (952) tied for 10th place. Minnesota (973) came last of the 15 teams.

US College Golf
WALLACE FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH IN GEORGIA
Former Scottish youths champion Wallace Booth, picured right, from Crieff had one of the best last rounds of the day - a two-under-par 70 - to improve from joint 58th to a final placing of tied 33rd in a field of 75 for the Schenkel Invitational college golf tournament at Forest Heights County Club, Statesboro, Georgia today (SUNDAY USA TIME).
Booth, a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, had birdies at the first, third, fifth, 12th and 14th as well as bogeys at the second, 13th and 16th in halves of 34 and 36 over the 6,945yd, par-72 course.
Wallace's earlier rounds were 77 and 74, giving him a 54-hole total of 221 - 14 shots behind the winner, Matt Harmon (Michigan State) who scored 68, 69 and 70 for nine-under-par 207.

US College Golf
LEWTON TIES FOR THIRD IN GEORGIA
Stephen Lewton (Tennessee), a senior student from Milton Keynes, finished tied for third place in the Schenkel Invitational college tournament at Forest Heights Country Club, Statesboro, Georgia on Sunday.
Lewton, winner of the Seminole tournament earlier in the month, had scores of 71, 68 and 72 for a five-under-par total of 211 over the 6,945yd course.
Winner of the event was Matt Harmon (Michigan State) with 68, 69 and 70 for 207 – two shots ahead of Robert Reisen (North Carolina) (70-71-68).
Brad Doster (Kentucky) matched Lewton’s total of 211 with 69, 70 and 72.
Lloyd Campbell (Tennessee), a senior student from Kent, finished 25th on 220 with scores of 75, 70 and 75. Campbell had a double-bogey at the short sixth.
Former Scottish youths champion Wallace Booth (Augusta State) from Crieff had rounds of 77, 74 and 70 for joint 33rd place in a field of 75 on 221.
North Carolina (857) won the team title by two shots from Florida with Kentucky (865) third. North Carolina State (876) finished sixth equal while Tennessee (877) were ninth and Augusta State (880) 10TH.

US College Golf
JORDAN BACK ON TRACK WITH A 76
Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay (East TennesseeState) improved by nine shots with a second-round 76 for a 36-hoel tally of 161 which put him in joint 83rd place with one round to go in the Hall of Fame Invitational tournament over the Redstone course at Humble, Texas.
Jordan cut out the double and triple bogeys although he had only one birdie, at the 10th, in halves of 40 and 36.
Anthony Kim (Oklahoma) leads the field by an eight-stroke margin after two great rounds of 67 and 69 for eight-under-par 136.
Joint second are Jonathon Moore (Oklahoma State) (74-70) and Jhonatton Vegas (Texas) (73-73) on 144.
Irishman Cian McNamara has taken over as the best-placed East Tennessee State team member with a pair of 73s for 146 and a share of sixth place.
Team-mates Rhys Davies from Wales and Gareth Shaw from Northern Ireland are bracketed on the ninth position mark at 148. Both have scored 72 and 76.
Tessa Jowell's son Matt Mills (Texas) is in 18th place on 140 with a 74 and 76.
Adam Hodkinson (East Tennessee State) had a good second-day 73 to be in 24th place on 151.
Farren Keenan (Texas) from Middlesex) is not having a good tournament. He is back in 77th place after a 79 and 81 for 150.
Oklahoma State lead the team event with 587 - seven ahead of joint second-placed East Tennessee State and Texas. Oklahoma (599) are in fourth place.

US College Golf
ENGLISH TRIO STILL TRAILING IN TEXAS
English trio Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota), Danielle Roseberry (Tulsa) and Sian Reddick (Baylor) are still trailing as the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational women's college tournament goes into its third and final day at the University of Texas golf course at Austin.
Sophie has had rounds of 81 and 83 for 164 to be sharing 64th place.
Danielle has scored 83 and 82 for 72nd place on 164.
Sian is well below form with 82 and 89 for 171 which puts her in joint 75th place.
Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) leads on two-over 146 (72-74) with Christa Spedding (Texas A&M) second on 147 (70-77).
US Curtis Cup player Elizabeth Janangelo (Duke) is in joint third place on 149 (78-71) alongside Ashley Knoll (Texas A&M) (76-73).
Top-ranked Duke (604) are on course for another team win but Texas (605) might well mount a last-round surge to take the title. Purdue (6-8) are in third place. Tulsa (635) are in 11th place, Baylor (644) 12th and Minnesota (648) are last of 15.

Saturday 18th March 2006

Winners of the Sunningdale Fourssomes - Danielle Masters and Ben Evans
(Photo Courtesy and Copyright © Tom Ward)

DANIELLE AND BEN WIN SUNNINGDALE FOURSOMES
Victories have disappeared off Danielle Masters' CV since the former Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy player from Kent turned pro ... that is until this past week's Sunningdale Foursomes.
Danielle teamed up with England Under-21 amateur international Ben Evans to beat James Morrison and Colin Roope by 2 and 1 in the final, coming from behind to lead at the 15th for the first time.
In the semi-finals, Danielle and Ben had a good win over Walker Cup teenager Oliver Fisher and England women's international Sophie Walker.

TWO SCOTS IN EUROPE TEAM TO NZ MATCH
Walker Cup Scots Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) have been named in the Europe team to play Asia-Pacific in the biennial men’s amateur international golf match for the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy at Auckland Golf Club, New Zealand from April 26 to 28.
This is the fifth staging of the match and both sides have won twice so far.
Teams are:
EUROPE
Nigel Edwards (Wales), Oliver Fisher (England), Zac Gould (Wales), Julien Guerreir (France), Joos Luiten (Netherlands), Brian McElhinney (Ireland), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Pedro Oriol (Spain), Richie Ramsay (Scotland), Lloyd Saltman (Scotland), Marius Thorp (Norway), Gary Wolstenholme (England).
Non-playing captain: Gonzaga Escauriaza (Spain).
ASIA-PACIFIC
Andrew Dodt (Australia), Josh Geary (New Zealand), Anujit Hirunratanakom (Thailand), Yuko Ho (Japan), Mu Hu (China), Yuta Ikeda (Japan), Sung Hoon Kang (Korea), Kyung Tae Kim (Korea),Won Jon Lee (Australia), Ben Leong (Malaysia), Michael Purser (New Zealand), Ajeetesti Sandhu (India).
Non-playing captain: Still to be named.

Friday 17th March 2006

We are a grandmother again! Claire and Kenny had a little boy at 4:38pm. He weighs 8lb and 0.5oz. No name yet.
I now have one grandson who is going to play cricket for England and another who is going to play rugby for Ireland.
Where have I gone wrong?

US College Golf
FINDLAY NIGHTMARE IN HUMBLE, TEXAS
American college golf is all about peaks and troughs for Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay at the moment. Recently he had his lowest ever score (68) in the United States and his best finish (3rd). Yesterday (Friday USA time), the 17-year-old East Tennessee State University student had his worst round on the American circuit – 12-over-par 85.
Jordan was competing on the opening day of the Hall of Fame Invitational college tournament at the Redstone course, in Humble, Texas.
Starting at the 12th hole, Jordan ran up double bogeys at the long 15th and 17th, then a triple bogey 7 at the 18th. It did not get any better. At one stage he was 14 over par for the 13 holes he had played.
Findlay bogeyed the second and then had double bogeys at the third, fifth and sixth before stringing together three pars to finish with halves of 43 and 42.

US College Golf
JORDAN FINDLAY'S TEAM-MATES CLOSE RANKS TO MOUNT A CHALLENGE
East Tennessee State University produced a big team effort to make up for Jordan Findlay's round of 85 and finished the first day of the Hall of Fame Invitational in third place (295) only two shots behind leaders Texas (293) and one behind Oklahoma State (294).
Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies and Ulsterman Gareth Shaw both matched the par of 72 over the 7,422yd Redstone course at Humble, Texas.
And Ireland's Cian McNamara produced his best display of the season with a 73 to be in joint seventh place.
Davies and Shaw were models of consistency. Rhys birdied the fourth and seventh and bogeyed the sixth and 11th in halves of 35 and 37. Gareth varied from par only twice, birdieing the third and bogeying the 14th, also for 35 out and 37 home.
McNamara had more birdies - and more bogeys. He birdied the second, 10th and 14th but dropped shots at the third, seventh, 11th and 16th in halves of 37 and 36.
Tessa Jowell's son Matt Mills helped Texas into the team pole position with a round of 74 (39-35). That was a very good effort, considering he had a double-bogey 6 at the sixth. Matt finished strongly with birdies at the 15th and 18th.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS
67 Anthony Kim (Oklahoma).
71 Jhonatton Vegas (Texas).
72 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State), Gareth Shaw (East Tennesee State), Eric Schriver (Arkansas).
Other scores:
73 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) (jt 7th).
74 Matt Mills (Texas) (jt 13th).
78 Adam Hodkinson (East Tennessee State) (jt 42nd).
79 Farren Keenan (Texas) (jt 49th).
85 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) (jt 90th).
LEADING TEAMS
293 Texas.
294 Oklahoma State.
295 East Tennessee State.
300 Oklahoma.

US College Golf
ENGLISH TRIO UP IN THE 80S IN TEXAS
It wasn't a good day for the three English players in the first round of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational tournament at the University of Texas course at Austin.
Sophie Stubbs (Minnesota) had triple-bogey 7s at the fourth and 17th in compiling a nine-over-par 81 for a share of 59th place.
Sian Reddick (Baylor) finished with an 82 for a share of 63rd place. Sian never recovered from starting with a double-bogey 6 followed by a bogey at the third although she did birdie the long fifth. Out in 40, Sian had a double bogey 7 at the long 14th and a third double bogey of the round at the 17th.
Danielle Roseberry (Tulas) earned a share of 68th place with an 83, made up of halves of 44 and 39. In her sad outward half, Danielle shed eight shots to par in five successive holes - double bogey at the fourth, double bogey at the fifth, bogey at the sixth, double bogey at the seventh and bogey at the eighth.
Christa Spedding (Texas A&M) leads the tournament with a two-under-par 70. She is two shots clear of Amanda Blumenherst (Duke) and Katie Miller (North Carolina).
Texas A&M (298) lead the team event from Duke (302) with Texas Christian (303) in third place. Tulsa (307) are sharing sixth place. Baylor (320) are back in 13th place while Minnesota (321) are joint 14th in the field of 15.

LAST ROUND DISASTERS FOR CLARE QUEEN
Rookie tour pro Clare Queen from Drumpellier had a disastrous last round of nine-over-par 81 for a 10-over total of 226 to finish joint 47th in the South African Women’s Masters golf tournament at Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg today (FRIDAY).
Her earlier rounds of 70 and 75 had given her a chance of at least a top-20 finish but she plummeted down the rankings and in the end earned only Rand 1,416.
Last week the Scot, who won the British women’s open amateur stroke-play and both the British girls’ open match-play and stroke-play titles as an amateur, finished joint 22nd in the Telkom Women’s Classic – her first tournament since she gained a top-10 finish in the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School and immediately turned pro.
Ashleigh Simon, pictured right, the brilliant 16-year-old South African amateur, won her native Masters title by one stroke with rounds of 70, 69 and 70 for a seven-under-par total of 209.
The first and second cash prizes were split by joint runners-up Kirsty Fisher, pictured left, an Anglo-Scot from Lancashire, and South African Mandy Adamson. They each earned Rand 39,000 for hitting the six-under 210 mark.
It was Kirsty’s best performance in three years as a pro. Daughter of a former Scotland rugby international hooker, Miss Fisher was capped for England as an amateur. She scored 72, 69 and 69.
Miss Admason scored 72, 70 and 68.
Kirsty’s golfing buddy, Rebecca Hudson from Wheatley, Doncaster, finished joint fifth on 212 with scores of 70, 71, 71. This year’s South African WPGA circuit has seen Rebecca recapture the brilliant amateur form that had been missing since she turned pro three years ago.
Another British player to note was Lauren Hamilton Diggle, playing in her first pro tournament, who finished 10th with scores of 69, 73, 73. She was 5 under with 3 to play on the last day but the television camera's got the better of her " like a rabbit caught in the headlights" was her comment and she dropped four shots in 3 holes.
Rebecca, winner of the South African Women’s Open two weeks ago, topped the SWPGA Order of Merit’s four-event table with earnings of Rand 119,200, well ahead of runner-up Laurette Maritz (South Africa) who collected Rand 76,000, also from four events.
Kirsty Fisher finished sixth with Rand 39,450 from two events.
Clare Queen finished 60th with Rand 5,466 from two events. The Scot will be disappointed at her finish in the SA Women’s Masters but her tour pro career is off and running and she can gain consolation from the fact that she survived the 36-hole cut with comparative ease in both events. If she can continue that habit, Clare will steadily improve her bank balance.
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN’S MASTERS
Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 72
209 Ashleigh Simon (SA) (am) 70 69 70.
210 Kirsty Fisher (Eng) 72 69 69, Mandy Adamson (SA) 72 70 68 (Rand 39,000 each).
211 Florence Luscher (Swi) 71 69 72 (Rand 24,000).
212 Laurette Maritz (SA) 70 71 71, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 70 71 71 (Rand 16,200 each).
213 Kelli Shean (SA) (am) 74 72 67.
Other totals:
215 Lauren Hamilton Diggle (Wal) 69 73 73 (Rand 7,020).
220 Clare Lipscombe (Eng) 70 73 77 (Rand 3,150).
221 Vanessa Bell (Eng) 76 73 72 (Rand 2,526).
224 Kelly Hutcherson (SA) 71 78 75 (Rand 1,830).
226 Laura Wright (Eng) 75 77 74, Clare Queen (Sco) 70 75 81 (Rand 1,416 each).
227 Sopie Hunter (Eng) 73 78 76 (Rand 1,170).

LEADERBOARD MAKES OFFICIAL BID FOR 2011 SOLHEIM CUP
The Leaderboard Group has announced its intention to bring the 2011 Solheim Cup to England for the first time.
Leaderboard intends to register its official bid with the Ladies’ European Tour (LET) for The Oxfordshire Golf Club to host the prestigious matchplay event involving the cream of Europe and America’s golfers.
The bid from the Leaderboard Group, the owner of The Oxfordshire, is the first to be
submitted officially as the race to stage the Solheim Cup starts in earnest. All bids must be received by the LET by May and a host venue will be chosen in January 2007.
David Walls, the sales and marketing director for the Leaderboard Group, said: “We are the first to state our intention that we want to bring the Solheim Cup to the heart of England.
“European ladies’ golf is a growing concern and is becoming more and more popular and more and more fashionable – something we have first-hand experience of having hosted the Ladies’ English Open successfully at Chart Hills for the past three years.
“Leaderboard is throwing its full weight behind the Solheim Cup bid and aims to use all its vast expertise to bring the tournament to England for the first time.”
The Oxfordshire is no stranger to hosting major championships, having successfully staged four Benson & Hedges Internationals, the Anderson Consulting World Championship and the Ladies’ English Open in the 1990s.
More recently, the stunning Rees Jones-designed creation near Thame has hosted leading seniors tour and amateur strokeplay championships.
Walls added: “The Oxfordshire is a magnificent golf club with an enviable reputation and has the capability on and off the course to host the very best tournaments in golf – and the Solheim Cup certainly comes into that category as arguably the jewel in the crown of the Ladies’ European Tour and the United States-based Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association.
“It’s the biggest and best matchplay event in the world in the ladies’ game and we will do everything in our power to ensure that the 2011 Solheim Cup comes to The Oxfordshire.”
For more details on the Leaderboard Group’s Solheim Cup bid, please contact David Walls on 01580 292106. For details on The Oxfordshire, call marketing manager Jennifer Daniels on 01844 278300 or visit www.theoxfordshiregolfclub.com.

HIGHLAND SPRING HELPS THE TINY TIGER SWING
Scotland’s answer to Tiger Woods, The Tiny Tiger, received a boost from Highland Spring who are sponsoring the five year old’s ‘Seven Wonders of the Golfing World’ event.
The tour, which kicks off on Saturday 18 March at St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa at 12 noon, will see five year old Reece Campbell Murphy from Dunfermline take on some of Scotland’s top players at seven of Scotland’s finest golf courses in aid of Barnardo’s.
As the official natural mineral water supplier to the event, Highland Spring will ensure Reece and the professionals are properly hydrated.
Highland Spring is committed to getting more British kids to drink water and supporting a healthy active lifestyle for families. Suzanne Casey, senior marketing manager for Highland Spring said: “At only five years old Reece is setting a fantastic example to other children. His passion for golf shines through and his tremendous ability will inspire others to take up sport and will set a good example for other children.”
John Kerr resident PGA professional at St Andrews Bay will face Reece on 18 March. He said: “I am looking forward to playing Reece and I’m extremely happy to be involved with his fundraising activities. It’s phenomenal to see this wee boy play golf. The course is a tough test for any golfer never mind when you are just three foot tall. It’s amazing what he has achieved in such a small space of time and I for one will be watching out for him and offering my support for his future golfing endeavours. If I’m lucky enough he might give me a few tips.”
Reece will also play at Turnberry on March 19, Glasgow Gailes on March 20, Burnt Island on March 21, Gleneagles on March 22, Gullane on March 23 and St Andrews Old Course on March 24.

The Golf Foundation Junior Championships 2006
The Golf Foundation Junior Championships 2006 is officially launched today and around 5,000 boys and girls will hope to emulate the likes of Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Mhairi McKay as they enter their club competition in a bid to reach regional finals and then the Grand Final, at the Marriott Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club, on the 15th and 16th of August.
This is a scratch event for age groups – Under 13, Under 14 and Under 15 – for both boys and girls. Club competitions will run until early May and regional finals will be held between June and early August. One hundred golfers will earn a place in the two-round Grand Final of the event, which was first staged in 1987.
It remains one of junior golf’s most prestigious competitions – with David Howell, Paul Casey, Simon Dyson, Karen Stupples and Curtis Cup player Rebecca Hudson among the big names competing. For a number of today’s Tour stars a victory in their age group has been a first step to the top. Lee Westwood won the Under 15 boys’ event in 1987 (Ian Garbutt winning the Under 16’s in the same year) and Westwood won the Under 16 title a year later. Justin Rose was Under 14 boys’ champion in 1993 while Mhairi McKay, twice a winner on the Ladies European Tour, was the Under 13 girls’ champion in 1987 and Under 14 champion in 1988.
Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “The Golf Foundation Junior Championships has a wonderful history and it’s exciting to imagine a young Lee Westwood winning the event and wondering what the future holds. This year there will be around 5,000 boys and girls teeing it up at their local clubs and we hope many of the girls involved will emulate the likes of Mhairi McKay and Rebecca Hudson and keep playing the game. This year we are making a concerted effort to bring more girls into the tournament. With its fairly generous handicap restriction (boys’ handicap 24 and better, girls’ 33 and better), this tournament aims to appeal to as many children as possible at a grass roots level and is an inclusive event for a good range of players, while offering a chance of real glory for those who score well and make it to our Grand Final.”
The Golf Foundation Junior Championships has been renamed this year; it was formerly called the Weetabix Age Group Championships. Players in the regional finals and Grand Final will tee up with Titleist NXT balls, as Titleist is Official Golf Ball Supplier to the Golf Foundation. Special packs of tees will be supplied by Pride Golf Tees as Official Tee Supplier, and rainwear brand ProQuip is supporting the Grand Finals by donating junior rainsuits as additional prizes.
Justin Rose is in no doubt of the value of the event. He said: “Winning the Golf Foundation’s Championships gave me the encouragement required to take the game to the next level. I enjoyed playing in this tournament and remember how much winning it meant to me. The Championships are very important for developing junior golfers. It is at this early age that we really need to nurture young golfers’ talent and enthusiasm for the game in order to maintain their interest in golf and prevent losing talented players.”

Kintore's mound

KINTORE’S BIG PROBLEM: MOUND TURNS OUT TO BE BRONZE AGE BURIAL SITE
An Aberdeenshire golf club has had to abandon plans to flatten a big mound on its golf course. It turns out to be a Bronze Age burial site!
Kintore Golf Club secretary Charlie Lindsay, pictiured right, explained:
“A feature of our 16th hole – some members says it is an eye-sore - is a big mound which you have to drive over. Late last year we began looking at trying to remove the mound as part of a plan to lengthen both the 15th and 16th holes and, at the same time, get rid of the blind element of the tee shot from the 15th.
“A plan was formulated. However, while waiting to put this to our members at the annual general meeting, we partially excavated the mound to establish whether it was feasible to remove it. In the interim, a local worthy (a non-golfer) saw what we were doing and we think he contacted Historic Scotland as he was of the opinion that it was a historical cairn.
“An archaeologist from the council came to inspect the mount and was of the same opinion. We then engaged Murray Archaeological Services to explore the site and they came to do a conducted ‘dig.’
“They produced an eight-page report confirming it as a Bronze Age burial side. Fragments of cremated bone, pottery and flint flake were found. The site is now protected.
“It can remain in play as it has done for almost 100 years and we are continuing on this basis although one or two ideas have been discussed with a view to taking the mound of out play.”
Charlie Lindsay says he can hit his tee shot from the 15th over the top of the mound but he is not sure he will be able to clear it in 10 years!
“If you are a low handicap golfer, the mound is no problem. You can quite easily drive over the top of it,” he said.
“But our older members and longer handicap players as well as the ladies have to drive to the side of it, on to the 15th fairway coming down the way.
“This presents a potentially dangerous situation with the possibility of players on the 15th being struck by drives off the 16th.’’
There is, in Charlie Lindsay’s view, a silver lining to the unexpected hitch to Kintore Golf Club’s ongoing drive to keep improving their course.
“Having a Bronze Age Burial site slap bang in the middle of a hole is bound to be an attraction to visiting parties. I should think we can now expect bookings from the golf sections of archaeologist and historical groups,” he said, only half-joking.
Kintore Golf Club was founded in 1911 with a nine-hole course. This was extended to 18 in the early 1990s. Situated only 12 miles outwith the Aberdeen boundary on the road to Inverurie, it has become a very popular course for summer outings by city golfers.

Excavations on Kintore Golf Course

2005: Another Successful Year for Junior and Beginner Golf Coaching
The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Ladies’ Golf Association (ELGA) are delighted to announce that 2005 was another hugely successful year for golf coaching at junior and beginner levels.
In order to evaluate the success of the Junior Club Coaching and the Free Taster Coaching sessions, which are run by clubs with the support of grants provided by the EGU and ELGA, the two organisations have recently audited those clubs who participated in both schemes last year.
593 clubs were involved in the Junior Club Coaching initiative, which represents the second highest level of participation in the seven years that the scheme has been running. On average, over 20 junior golfers received coaching at each golf club. This equates to almost 12,000 children across the country receiving golf coaching in 2005. Over 15% of participating children were girls.
The beginner’s taster session initiative was equally successful with the programme being offered by 193 golf clubs across England in 2005. Over 5,000 beginners, both adults and juniors, were introduced to golf through this scheme. Most promising was the fact that, of those beginners, 76%, representing almost 4,000 golfers, were still participating in the sport after a six-month period.
2006 looks like being another fantastic year for both grant aid schemes. Each has got off to a positive start in 2006 with over 500 golf clubs so far applying for the £125 Junior Club Coaching Grant and almost 300 golf clubs already seeking the £200 Free Golf Coaching Grant. As an extra incentive this year, and to provide further support to member golf clubs, the EGU and ELGA are also offering an extra £25 to any club that participates in both coaching initiatives.
Both schemes are delivered by PGA Professionals at each participating club, who provide the very best in golf tuition. The PGA represents over 5000 qualified professionals, each of whom is qualified to teach not only how best to swing a club but also is well versed in the rules and etiquette of the sport and is an expert in golfing equipment, and therefore best placed to advise juniors and beginners as to how to start off in the sport.
Richard Flint, Development Manager for the EGU commented, “We are very pleased with the feedback from clubs as to the success of the junior and beginners coaching initiatives. We now look forward to working hard to increase the number of opportunities for people to experience golf and become regular participants in the sport”.

Thursday 16th March 2006

CLARE SHARING 18TH PLACE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Clare Queen made her second 36-hole cut in a row with rounds of 70 and 75 to share 18th place in the South African Women’s Masters tournament at Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg today (THURSDAY).
The rookie tour pro from Drumpellier’s tally of one-over-par 145 was seven shots inside the limit for the leading 60 and ties to qualify for the final round.
Florence Luscher (Switzerland) and 16-year-old South African amateur Ashleigh Simon lead the field on five-under 139. Florence has scored 71 and 68, Ashleigh 70 and 69.
Anglo-Scot Kirsty Fisher, whose father was capped for Scotland as a rugby hooker, and the in-form Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster are among five players sharing second place on 141.
Kristy has scored 72 and 69, Rebecca 70 and 71.
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN’S MASTERS
Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg
Leading qualifiers
Par 72
139 F Luscher (Swi) 71 68, S Ashleigh (SA) (am) 70 69.
141 S Giquel (Fra) 69 73, A-S Le Nalio (Fra) 73 68, K Fisher (Eng) 72 69, R Hudson (Eng) 70 71, L Maritz (SA) 70 71.
142 M Adamson (SA) 72 70, L Hamilton Diggle (Wal) 68 75.
Other English qualifiers:
143 C Lipscombe 70 75.
149 K Hutcherson 71 78.
151 S Hunter 73 78, E Brown 77 74.
152 L Wright 75 77.
Did not qualify:
153 C Smith (Eng) 75 78.
154 S Dickens (Eng) 77 77.
162 M Smith (Eng) 79 83.

US College Golf
TOP-10 FINISH FOR HEATHER BUT LATE TRIPLE BOGEY IS COSTLY IN NEVADA
British women’s open amateur stroke-play golf champion Heather MacRae (San Diego State University) chalked up another top-10 finish on the American college circuit when she tied for ninth place in the UNLV Spring Invitational tournament at Boulder Creek, Nevada.
Heather, 22, from Dunblane had three steady rounds of 73, 74 and 73 for a total of 220 over the 6,1253yd, par-72 Boulder Creek Golf Club course.
Chasing a place in the GB&I team for the Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon in late July, Heather would have broken 70 in her final round and tied for third place but for a lurch off the straight and narrow when the clubhouse was in sight. She bogeyed the 13th and ran up a triple-bogey 7 at the 15th.
Earlier Miss MacRae, with a solitary bogey at the eighth had birdied the third, 10th, 11th and 12th to get to three under par for the round.
Over the 54 holes, the Scot had one eagle, seven birdies, one triple bogey and three doubles.
Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) from Dublin slumped from a peak of a second-round 72 (one of her best ever rounds in the States) to a closing 85 in which she had a triple bogey at the short 17th and doubles at the second and ninth, having started at the 10th. Her opening-day score was a 79 so Dawn-Marie finished with a total of 236, plummeting from 34th to 63rd of 95 players in the final standings.
Her collated stats included six birdies, one triple bogey and three doubles over the three rounds.
Shannon Johnson (Indiana) was the individual winner at five-under-par 211 after rounds of 68, 75 and 68. She won by four shots from Alejandra Shaw (Campbell) (74-69-72).
UNLV, the host university, won the team event with a total of 879, three ahead of Brigham Young with Campbell (885) third. San Diego State (915) came eighth while Memphis (925) finished 12th of the 19 teams.

US College Golf
TOP 10 FINISH BY MARIA DUNNE
Dubliner Maria Dunne, pictured right, finished joint 10th in the North/South Women’s Collegiate golf tournament at Jacksonville Beach Golf Club, Jacksonville in Florida this week.
Over a par-72 course measuring 5,835 yards, Maria, a Bethune-Cookman College student, had rounds of 77 and 81 for 158 t finish nine shots behind the winner, Stephanie Hicks (Longwood) (76-73).
Maria’s team-mates, Fern Grimshaw from Dorset and Becky Dowell from Thornecombe finished 29th and 36th respectively in a field of 91.
Fern had rounds of 83 and 82 for 165 – two better than Becky who scored 82 and 85.
Bethune-Cookman (652) finished sixth of 17 in the team event won by Jacksonville (621).

SCOTTISH LADIES’ GOLFING ASSOCIATION
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is the governing body for ladies’ and girls’ amateur golf in Scotland. Applications are invited for the following position which will be based in Perth.
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
(Full time or part time considered)
Applicants must be familiar with the structures of ladies’ golf. They should be self motivated but able to work as part of a team and have strong communication and organisational skills. Fully conversant with Microsoft Office the person appointed will deal with matters relating to team and training squad administration and provide administrative support to the course rating and handicap committees and other committees as required. Attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines are imperative.
Salary and benefits package will be commensurate with experience.
The Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association is an equal opportunities employer.
Applications, in writing, accompanied by a curriculum vitae should be sent to:
Dr S E Hartley, The Secretary, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, The Den,
2 Dundee Road, Perth PH2 7DW
marking the envelope Ref:AA Private & Confidential.
Closing date for applications: Saturday 25 March 2006.

Wednesday 15th March 2006

GOOD START BY CLARE QUEEN IN SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN’S MASTERS
Rookie tour pro Clare Queen from Drumpellier was in joint sixth position in a field of 101 at the end of the first round of the South African Women’s Masters tournament, the final event on the Nedbank Tour, at Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg today (WED).
Clare, who had a top-20 finish in her pro tournament debut last week, shot a two-under-par 70 over the 5,665metres course.
Three players shared the lead on 68 – Helena Alterby (Sweden), Sophie Giquel (France) and Nora Angehrn (Switzerland).
Lauren Hamilton Diggle (Wales) shared fourth place on 69 with South Africa’s Vanessa Smith.
On the same mark as Clare Queen was Rebecca Hudson from Wheatley, Doncaster, who won the South African Women’s Open two weeks ago and was pipped at the final hole for victory in the Telcom Classic.
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN’S MASTERS
Killarney Golf Club, Johannesburg
Leading first round scores (Par 72)
68 H Alterby (Swe), S Giquel (Fra), N Angehrn (Swi).
69 L Hamilton Diggle (Wal),V Smith (SA).
70 C Queen (Sco), P Beliard (Fra), S Jelander (Swe), R Hudson (Eng), C Lipscombe (Eng), L Mortiz (SA), A Simon (SA) (am).
Other English scores:
71 K Hutcherson.
72 K Fisher
75 C Smith, L Wright.
76 V Bell.
77 E Brown.
79 M Smith.

CHARLENE, NIKKI HELP PFEIFFER FINISH SECOND
Pfeiffer Universtiy students Charlene Reid from Antrim and Nikki Taggart from Belfast finished seventh and 29th respectively in the Lady Bear women’s college golf tournament at Rock Barn Golf Club, Hickory in North Carolina.
Charlene had scores of 88 and 80 for 168 while Nikki had 96 and 93 for 189.
Winner of tournament by eight strokes was Elizabeth Cortez (Belmont Abbey) with 79 and 76 for 155.
Catawba College (671) won the team event by seven shots from Pfeiffer in a field of nine.

US College Golf
TOP-20 FINISH FOR LOUISE AT PINEHURST
Scottish Under-21 girls’ open stroke-play champion Louise Fleming from Kelso did not have one of her better displays in the Pinehurst Challenge women’s golf tournament this week – but she was still the top scorer on the Jacksonville State University team.
Louise had scores of 79, 78 and 77 for a total of 234 over the Pinehurst No 8 course, North Carolina (5,954yd, par-72) to finished joint 18th behind Michelle Jarman (North Carolina-Wilmington) who won with 72, 78 and 71 for five-over-par 221.
Jacksonville State (956) finished 10th of 18 in the team event won by Maryland (917).

US College Golf
HEATHER, DAWN-MARIE FALTER AFTER EARLY BIRDIES AT BOULDER CREEK
Heather MacRae (San Diego State), pictured left, from Dunblane dropped two places from 12th to 14th while Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis), pictured right, from Dublin made a big step up from 57th to 34th in the second round of the 54-hole UNLV Spring Invitational women’s college golf tournament at Boulder Creek Golf Club, Boulder Creek City in the state of Nevada.
Heather has had rounds of 73 and 74 for a tally of three-over-par 147 over the 6,153yd, par-72 course. Starting at the 10th, the British women’s open amateur championship was closing in on the leaders when she birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th.
Her troubles began when she dropped a shot at the 17th, followed by a double bogey at the 18th which made her level par for her first nine holes.
Then Heather had another double bogey – her third in 36 holes – at the long fifth. But she kept her nerve and parred every other hole on what was for her the inward half.
Dawn-Marie Conaty, the 2001 Irish girls’ champion who has transferred to Memphis University from North Carolina State, has scored 79 and 72. Like Heather, Dawn-Marie started at the 10th and got in among the birdies right away.
She birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th before bogeying the 15th. Covering her first nine in three-under-par 33, Miss Conaty bogeyed the first, sixth and seventh for a second nine of 39 but a par 72 was still one of her best rounds ever on the American college circuit.
In the team event, UNLV (579) lead from Long Beach State (585). San Diego State and Memphis (608) are sharing ninth place.

THE PGA OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES DATE FOR THE 2008 RYDER CUP AT VALHALLA
The PGA of America has announced that The 37th Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, USA, will be played from September 19-21, 2008. The biennial contest will be the largest international sports event held in Kentucky while the Jack Nicklaus-designed Valhalla - which opened in 1986 - has been host to the 1996 and 2000 US PGA Championships, the 2002 PGA Professional National Championship and the 2004 Senior PGA Championship.
The date for The 2008 Ryder Cup was announced by PGA of America President, Roger Warren, who said: "The PGA of America joins the City of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky with great anticipation of The 37th Ryder Cup coming to Valhalla Golf Club, Kentuckians know what it means to be outstanding hosts and model sports fans. The 37th edition of The Ryder Cup will be an opportunity to showcase Louisville, Kentucky and the game of golf to the world."
Valhalla Golf Club, ranked Number 70 in the most recent list of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses," by Golf Digest, was the scene of Tiger Woods' US PGA Championship play-off victory over Bob May in 2000.
The 36th Ryder Cup at The K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland, will be played from September 22-24 this year. The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales will host The 2010 Ryder Cup; Medinah Golf Club, Illinois, in 2012; The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland, in 2014; Hazeltine National Golf Club, Minnesota in 2016 and Whistling Straits, Wisconsin in 2020.

HSBC WEE WONDERS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
The UK’s leading golf competition, for 5 to 12 year olds, the HSBC Wee Wonders Open Golf Championships, is now open for registration. Now in its 12th year, the Championships continues to lead the way in grassroots golf, with over 3,000 young aspiring golfers each year enjoying the challenges and thrills of competitive golf. With a qualifying round registration fee of £6, a record number of entrants are expected this year, so parents and children are advised to sign up now by visiting www.hsbcweewonders.co.uk or by calling the Wee Wonders golf team on 020 7862 0060.
Played on a par 3 course, the Championships allow competitors to play 36 shots and place their flag where their final shot finishes, with the winners being those achieving the greatest dista