Two Under-16 girls' stroke-
play competitions added
to Hacienda del Alamo
February Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Tournament Controller
Two important pieces of news with regard to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival from February 12 to 17.
The first is that we are introducing not one but TWO Under-16 girls' open stroke-play events.
They will be played in tandem with the Murcia Ladies Open on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13, and the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open on Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17.
Girls entering these competitions must be under 16 years of age on January 1, 2009.
The entry fee will be only 25 Euros per head for each of the Under-16 stroke-play competitions.
The second piece of Festival news is that John Green of Hacienda Golf Properties has become the Festival's "preferred partner" for the rental of villas/accommodation at the five-star resort.
That means if you are going to the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival, you should do one of two things, or maybe both.

1 E-mail John Green at info@hdagolfproperaties.com to find out what he can offer you and at what price.

2 Log on to John Green's website - http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/ - and see for yourself what he has to offer.

Revised Festival programme

The complete Hacienda del Alamo February Festival programme now reads:

MURCIA LADIES OPEN (36 holes)

Thursday-Friday, February 12-13

Open to lady professionals and lady/girl amateurs (maximum handicap 20)
Entry fee: Lady professional 70 Euros; amateurs 55 Euros.

MURCIA UNDER-16 GIRLS OPEN (36 holes)

Thursday-Friday, February 12-13.

Entry fee: 25 Euros.

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM (18 holes)

Saturday, February 14
Lady professionals with teams of three amateurs (male or female).

Entry fee: Lady professionals 70 Euros. Amateurs 55 Euros.

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS (18 holes)

Sunday, February 15

First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.

Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.

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

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN (36 holes)

Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.

Open to lady professionals and lady/girl amateurs. Maximum handicap 20.
Entry fee: Lady professionals 70 Euros; amateurs 55 Euros.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO UNDER-16 GIRLS' OPEN (36 holes).
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Entry fee 25 Euros.

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

Every competitor is entitled to a free practice round.

Any queries? E-mail them to Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Entry forms can be downloaded from the http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ website or Colin Farquharson will E-mail one to you on demand.

Spain-based Irish senior women's international & husband enter HdA
February Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Spain-based Pamela Morgan, a senior international for Ireland last season, is one of the latest entries for the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival at the five-star Murcia resort from February 12 to 17.

Pamela lives at Estepona on the Costa del Sol with his husband Brian. They both play off 10 and they are both members at La Cala Golf Club.
They have both entered the St Valentine's Day pro-am on Saturday, February 14 and the Costa Calida Pairs competition on the Sunday. Pamela will also play in the 36-hole opening event, the Murcia Ladies Open on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13.

Both Pamela and Brian, pictured above, are entitled to a free practice round over the Dave Thomas-designed championship course which delighted the Scottish Senior Golfing Society Spanish Festival competitors last week.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When charity doesn't begin at home ...
When Brian and Pamela went on holiday to Gambia, they got more than a tan. They got a mission - to help the local people. Louise France hears their story.
You can read it by logging on to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/05/ethicalholidays.gambia

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A check on the Festival entries so far for next February (S denotes SENIOR, and G denotes Under-18 GIRL (on January 1).

MURCIA LADIES OPEN

Two rounds stroke-play

Thursday-Friday, February 12-13
Professional entry
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Amateur entries

Mary McKenna (Donabate) S

Patricia Morris (Donabate) S

Fionnuala Forde (Donabate)

Margo Habets (Rinkven, Belgium)

Caroline Harper (Limburg, Belgium)

Natalia Zvezdina (Rinkven, Belgium)

Sandra Hendrickx (Rinkven, Belgium)

Louise Church (Hendon)
Pamela Morgan (La Cala) S

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM

One round: Lady pro with three amateurs (male or female)

Saturday, February 14
Professional entries
Lien Willems (Belgium).
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)

Amateur teams:

Mary McKenna, Patricia Morris & Fionnuala Forde (all Donabate).

Mary MacLaren, Meghan MacLaren & Rebecca Gee (all Wellingborough).

Margo Habets, Caroline Harper & Natalia Zvezdina or Sandra Henrickx + pro Lien Willems (Belgium).
Natalia Zvezdina or Sandra Henrickx & two other amateurs.
Pamela Morgan & Brian Harrold (both La Cala) + one other amateur
Amateur individuals:
Louise Church

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS

One round: First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.

Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.

Sunday, February 15

Professional entry
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Amateur pairings:

Mary MacLaren & David MacLaren.

Meghan MacLaren & Rebecca Gee.

Holly Clyburn & India Clyburn.
Pamela Morgan & Brian Harrold
Amateur individuals:
Louise Church (Hendon)

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN

Two rounds stroke-play

Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Professional entry
Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)
Amateur entries:

Holly Clyburn. G

India Clyburn. G

Mary MacLaren

Meghan MacLaren G

Rebecca Gee G

Louise Church

+Take advantage of the cheaper midweek flights to Spain by booking now. The prices will have risen if you leave it until January (January 15 is the deadline for entries, by the way).

+To find out details of how much it will cost you to rent accommodation at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort (the more who share, the cheaper it gets per head), here are some E-mail and website addresses:

info@stvmanagement.com

info@resortmanagementhda.com

info@homekare.co.uk

http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/

http://www.spaingolfrentals.com/

http://www.clubmurcia.com/

Hacienda del Alamo February Festival News

India Clyburn with the Four Counties Cup (courtesy of Mrs Clyburn). The four counties are Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. Girls from these counties competed for the Net Cup which India, at that time playing off 20, won with a net 66.

Clyburns United for Costa

Calida Pairs: India (12)

partners Holly (17)

By COLIN FARQUHARSON (Tournament Controller)
Lincolnshire Under-13 county champion India Clyburn, only just turned 12 years of age, is the youngest player so far to enter the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo February Festival at the five-star golf resort in Murcia, south-east Spain.
India, who had qualified for next year's Wee Wonders World Championships at Pinehurst, has a handicap of 12.
She will partner her 17-year-old sister, England girl international Holly, a +1 player, in the Costa Calida Pairs on Sunday, Feburary 15 - first nine holes greensomes, second nine holes better-ball foursomes - and both Woodhall Spa Golf Club members will play as individuals in the 36-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open on the Monday and Tuesday over the Dave Thomas-designed course.
We've had a lot of inquiries but here are the confirmed entries so far for the four events that make up the Festival:

MURCIA LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13

Professional entry

Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)

Amateur entries
Mary McKenna (Donabate)
Patricia Morris (Donabate)
Fionnuala Forde (Donabate)
Margo Habets (Rinkven, Belgium)
Caroline Harper (Limburg, Belgium)
Natalia Zvezdina (Rinkven, Belgium)
Sandra Hendrickx (Rinkven, Belgium)

Louise Church (Hendon)

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM
One round: Lady pro with three amateurs (male or female)
Saturday, February 14
Professionals
Lien Willems (Belgium).

Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina).

Amateur teams:
Mary McKenna, Patricia Morris (11) & Fionnuala Forde (12) (all Donabate).
Mary MacLaren, Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4) (all Wellingborough).
Margo Habets, Caroline Harper & Natalia Zvezdina or Sandra Henrickx + pro Lien Willems (Belgium).

Individual amateur entries (to be made up into teams of three nearer the date.
Natalia Zvezdina or Sandra Henrickx
Louise Church (Hendon)

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS
One round: First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.
Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.
Sunday, February 15
Professional

Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)

Amateur pairings
Mary MacLaren (4) & David MacLaren.
Meghan MacLaren (4) & Rebecca Gee (4).
Holly Clyburn (+1) & India Clyburn (13) (both Woodhall Spa).

Individual amateur entries (to be made up inito teams of two nearer the date).
Louise Church

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.

Professional entry

Jacqueline Pecoitz (Argentina)

Amateur entries:
Holly Clyburn
India Clyburn
Mary MacLaren
Meghan MacLaren
Rebecca Gee

Louise Church

+Take advantage of the cheaper midweek flights to Spain by booking now. The prices will have risen if you leave it until January (January 15 is the deadline for entries, by the way).

+To find out details of how much it will cost you to rent accommodation at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort (the more who share, the cheaper it gets per head), here are some E-mail and website addresses:

info@stvmanagement.com
info@resortmanagementhda.com
info@home-kare.co.uk

info@hdagolfproperties.com

http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/
http://www.spaingolfrentals.com/
http://www.clubmurcia.com/

Ladies Golf Union endorses Hacienda


del Alamo Golf Resort February Festival



By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Tournament Controller
The 2nd Hacienda del Alamo February Festival is being endorsed by the Ladies Golf Union.
The entry form for the four events over six days programme - Thursday, February 12 to Tuesday, February 17 - are being highlighted on the LGU website.
Fraser Munro, the LGU's Championship Manager, who visited the resort earlier this year and was highly impressed with the resort's facilities, says: "I was really impressed by the course and the quality of the practice facilities. For me there would be no better way to prepare for the new season than by spending a week or two at Hacienda de Alamo."
One important change for the 2009 Festival is that we have opened up the Saturday-Sunday events to allow MALES to enter the St Valentine's Day pro-am and the Costa Calida Pairs.
This is to encourage competitors to be accompanied by their husbands, partners or boyfriends, who will be able to share in the weekend action.
The two main events - the 36-hole Murcia Ladies Open (Thursday-Friday) and the 36-hole Hacienda Ladies Open (Monday-Tuesday) remain ladies/girls only.
Every competitor, whether they are playing in all four events or just one, is entitled to a free practice round over the Dave Thomas-designed championship course, which this week is hosting the Scottish Senior Golfing Society's Spanish Festival (switch over to http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ to see daily reports).
There is NO minimum or maximum age limit. All we ask is that the players have a handicap of 20 or less when they are competing in the Festival.
All four events that make up the Festival are open to lady professionals who pay a higher entry fee (70 Euros) than amateurs (55 Euros). The pros have their own prize lists. One or two have asked what the level of prize money will be. The answer to that is that so much depends on the number of professional entries. If we get, say, 30 for each event then the first pro prize would be around 1,000 Euros, scaling down to fourth or fifth place.
The more pro entries we get, then the bigger the pro prize funds. We are always open to offers of competition sponsorship!
Any queries or you want an entry form E-mailed direct to you? E-mail Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Hacienda del Alamo February Festival

European Tour director David will
play with wife Mary in Costa
Calida Pairs on the Sunday

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The European Tour will be represented at the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's February Festival for the second year in row - in an unofficial capacity in the person of David MacLaren.
David is the European Tour's Director of Property & Venue Development.
Last year David held a watching and relaxing brief as his wife Mary, daughter Meghan and family friend Rebecca Gee - all members of Wellingborough Golf Club, Northamptonshire - played in Festival events.
This time round, because we have widened the scope of the entries to allow males to enter the weekend events - the St Valentine's Day pro-am (Saturday, February 14) and the Costa Calida Pairs (Sunday, February 15) - David can and will team up with Mary in the pairs' competition.
Mary, Meghan and Rebecca all play off four of a handicap and are county team golf standard.
All three will make up one of the teams in the pro-am while Meghan and Rebecca will play together in the Costa Calida Pairs.
And Mary, Meghan and Rebecca will play as individuals in the 36-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open on Monday and Tuesday, February 16 and 17.

The majority of the entries for the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Festival last February came from the Emerald Isle and a repeat could be on the cards. Orla Barry and Jane Whiriskey, both from Galway Golf Club, are both making a return trip and bringing a friend with them.
No entries from any professionals yet although Lien Willems from Belgium, who played in the inaugural Festival, says she is definitely coming again and bringing two amateur golfing friends with her this time.
Curtis Cup player and Scottish women's champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Jocelyn Carthew (Ladybank), the player she beat in the championship final at Lossiemouth last May, say they would love to play at the February Festival but cannot finalise their plans until they see how they fare at the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School at La Manga Golf Resort, which is less than half-an-hour away from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.
Two international golfers among the early entries - the legendary Mary McKenna from Ireland and England girl cap Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Mary is now in the senior class as a competitor and we will have senior category prizes.

Competitors chasing places in the 2009 GB&I Vagliano Trophy team can rest assured that all the Festival scores will be brought to the attention of the Ladies Golf Union's international selection committee.
Here's how the entries are shaping for the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo February Festival

MURCIA LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Thursday-Friday, February 12-13
Amateur entries
Mary McKenna (Donabate)
Patricia Morris (Donabate)
Fionnuala Forde (Donabate)

ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM
One round: Lady pro with three amateurs (male or female)
Saturday, February 14
Amateur teams:
Mary McKenna, Patricia Morris & Fionnuala Forde (all Donabate).
Mary MacLaren, Meghan MacLaren & Rebecca Gee (all Wellingborough).

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS
One round: First nine holes greensomes; Second nine holes better-ball.
Any combination of lady pros, female & male amateurs.
Sunday, February 15
Amateur pairings:
Mary & David MacLaren.
Meghan MacLaren & Rebecca Gee.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN
Two rounds stroke-play
Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.
Amateur entries:
Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
Mary MacLaren
Meghan MacLaren
Rebecca Gee

+Take advantage of the cheaper midweek flights to Spain by booking now. The prices will have risen if you leave it until January (January 15 is the deadline for entries, by the way).
+To find out details of how much it will cost you to rent accommodation at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort (the more who share, the cheaper it gets per head), here are some E-mail and website addresses:
info@stvmanagement.com
info@resortmanagementhda.com
info@home-kare.co.uk

http://www.hdagolfproperties.com/
http://www.spaingolfrentals.com/
http://www.clubmurcia.com/

+Entry forms for the Hacienda del Alamo February Festival can be downloaded by clicking on the words at the top of the left-hand column on the Home Page of this website.

Holly Clyburn and Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas after their match at Woodhall Spa.

Rising star Holly Clyburn joins Mary

McKenna among early entries

for February's Spanish Festival

Holly Clyburn, one of the brightest young talents on the English amateur scene, has joined Curtis Cup captain Mary McKenna among the early entries for the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival at the five-star resort in the south-east Spanish region of Murcia.

Four events make up a busy programme at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort from Thursday, Febuary 12 to Tuesday, February 17.

Holly, who lives at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire and is a member of Woodhall Spa Golf Club, has entered the 36-hole Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open on the closing Monday and Tuesday of the 2009 Festival.

She will have her 18th birthday during the week before the Festival starts and she will be hoping to produce a performance to impress the Great Britain & Ireland selection committee who will be monitoring scores from far and near in the early months of 2009 as they work their way towards a team of nine for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe in Hamburg, to be named after the British women's open amateur championship in June.

The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival is one of the few opportunities for prospective selection candidates to put some competitive results on the board - and sharpen up their game at the resort's five-star practice facilities - early in 2009.

Holly Clyburn helped England to win the girls' home internationls title at Panmure Golf Club, near Carnoustie this past summer and she was also in the England team which beat Wales and Scotland in the 2008 schoolgirls international matches.

Holly also played in a top-level exhibition match which launched the Single Figure Golfer Challenge Cup over her home course at Woodhall Spa.

In a Ryder Cup-style format, the "Single Figure Golfers" played "The Pros," a team consisting of former Ryder Cup, Walker Cup and Solheim Cup players, including Paul Way, Gordon Brand junior, Steve Richardson, Alison Nicholas, Roger Champman, Jim Payne, Ricky Willson, Philip Walton, John McHenry and Gary Wolstenholme.

Holly showed her class in partnering Richard Latham to victory against current Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas and Gary Wolstenholme, now a professional but arguably the most successful English male amateur over the past two decades.

In a match of high quality, Holly staged a grandstand finish to birdie the 17th and 18th for victory in the opening day's four-balls.

In the Day 2 foursomes, Holly partnered Liam Hannan to an 8 and 7 win over the very experienced pairing of Paul Way and Roger Chapman.

In the afternoon singles, Holly was drawn against Alison Nicholas and their tie went all the way to the 18th green before Alison won.

For the record, the Pro Challenge team won by 14.5 to 5.5.

Just a reminder of the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival programme (every competitor is guaranteed a free practice round over the Dave Thomas-designed course which Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez represents on the European Tour).

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 & 13

MURCIA LADIES OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP over 36 holes

Entry fees: Professional - 70 Euros; Amateur - 55 Euros.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO ST VALENTINE'S DAY PRO-AM over 18 holes

Entry fees: Professional - 70 Euros; Amateur - 55 Euros.

+Entries from male amateurs, either as individuals or teams of three accepted for this event.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15

COSTA CALIDA PAIRS TOURNAMENT over 18 holes

First nine holes alternate shot; second nine holes foursomes.

Entry fees: Professional - 70 Euros; Amateur - 55 Euros.

+Teams can be two professionals or amateur-professional or amateur-amateur.

Entries from male amateurs, either as individuals or as a team or two, accepted for this event.

MONDAY-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 & 17

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN over 36 holes.

Entry fees: Professional - 70 Euros; Amateur - 55 Euros.

NO ENTRY FEES TO BE PAID UNTIL YOU CHECK IN WITH TOURNAMENT CONTROLLER COLIN FARQUHARSON IN THE HACIENDA DEL ALAMO GOLF RESORT CLUBHOUSE

BANK CHARGES FORCE IMPORTANT CHANGE OF MIND

Festival entry fees can be paid on

arrival at Hacienda del Alamo

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Tournament Controller, 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival

We have decided to scrap the need to pay a downpayment of 100 Euros towards competitors' entry fees for the four-event, six-day programme from February 11 to 17.

We are reverting to the format which was in place for the inaugural Festival last February, i.e. competitors don't pay their competition entry fees until they get to the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

Why the about-turn, you might ask? Well, it's all to do with Bank Charges. We had opened a Euros currency account in this country into which all the advance payments would have been paid.

But after the first cheque for 300 Euros had been deposited, we received a Bank Statement a couple of weeks later, showing only 290 Euros in the account!

When we inquired what had happened to the missing 10 Euros, we were informed that this was the standard deduction for "bank charges."

So, had we continued to bank all the advance entry fees, the Bank, which shall remain nameless, would have deducted a minimum of 10 Euros and a maximum of 60 Euros for EACH transaction, depending on the size of the deposit.

As all the entry fees, less a few admin costs, go out again in cash or other prizes, the Festival just could not afford to continue this arrangement.

So, no entry monies needed up front. Simply fill in the entry form, cut and paste and E-mail it to Colin@Scottishgolfview.com

You can, if you wish, still post the entry forms .

LGU want top players to seek out warm-weather training/competition venues

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort's two-tier driving bays plus the chance to hit balls off grass, which is not possible at many driving ranges. There is also a six-hole academy course, big practice greens for chipping/pitching (another rare facility) as well as putting. On top of that there are even practice bunkers.

Hacienda del Alamo Festival

is tailor-made for players chasing Vagliano Trophy

team places in 2009

By COLIN FARQUHARSON,

Tournament Controller, 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival

The Ladies Golf Union has today named a short leet of 26 players for next year's Vagliano Trophy match and is recommending that they should all consider going to a warm-weather venue in the winter to get in some intensive practice and competitive play at the same time.

Sounds very much like the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival to me ... superb practice facilities at this five-star Murcia resort with the unique opportunity to play in a four-event competitive programme over the February 11 to 17 weekend.

All the results from the Festival will be sent to the Ladies Golf Union and they will appear on http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ every evening. I have no doubt that the GB&I selectors will be taking note.

Of course, as the LGU's Press Release today underlined, not being named in the preliminary GB&I squad does not mean that you cannot force your way into the team with outstanding displays in tournaments such as the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Festival.

If you scroll down, you can read about contacts for arranging rental accommodation at the Hacienda del Alamo Resort before, during and after the Festival.

Here's an E-mail on the subject, received just a few minutes ago:

Dear Colin
Many thanks for including our e-mail address on website information regarding the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Golf Festival. Just to point out that our e-mail address has changed to: floss@crampies.co.uk, which is the ideal e-mail address to use, although I can still pick up anything sent to the old address.

Our villa – “The Boat House” (own pool, sleeps six) can be viewed on the web-site www.haciendadelamovillas.com plus we also have a smaller, two-bed, two-bath townhouse with shared pool.

Prices for your dates in February: for The Boat House £600-700 per week, for the townhouse £400-£500 per week, depending on number of people and length of stay.
Thanks again and we look forward to being of help to you.
Kind regards,
Floss Cramp

DON'T LEAVE IT TOO LATE TO SWING IN THE FEBRUARY SUN

Renting villa accommodation for the


Hacienda del Alamo Women's


Winter Golf Festival

Before you enter the Festival, which has four events and a free practice round packed into seven days (February 11 to 17), you
should make inquiries about the rental accommodation available at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo, where all the competitions will be played.
Quotes for the short-term rental of villas at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort during the period of the Festival are available by E-mailing any of the following addresses:
management@stvgestion.com
info@spaingolfrentals.com
floss@crampies.freeserve.co.uk
haciendarental@aol.com
There is also rental information on the following websites:
http://www.spaingolfrentals.com/
http://www.haciendagolfrental.com/
http://www.haciendadelamovillas.com/

It is important to realise that one person renting a villa will find it quite expensive. Four (or more) people sharing the cost of renting a villa brings the cost per head down to affordable levels.
If you wish clarification on the arrangements at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, direct your inquiries in the first instance to:
Billy Sim, Director of Golf, Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Mobile telephone: 0034 690 295 650
or E-mail him at
billysim@hdagolf.com

Festival Controller Colin Farquharson is available to handle your inquiries about the tournaments and entries at 01224 869782 or by E-mail at:
Colin@Scottishgolfview.com

Some points to bear in mind:
1 There are four competitions but you don't have to play in all of them. You may want to take Saturday or Sunday off to go sightseeing, no problem with that. You may have time only to play in one competition. That's OK with the Festival organisers. You are still entitled to one free practice round.

2 The 100 Euros to be sent with your entry form is not over and above your entry fees. It is part of or even more than your entry fee if you are playing in only one competition. You will be refunded at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort by Colin Farquharson if you have overpaid.

3 Buggies are available for hire at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort and will permitted for competition play. Where possible, two people should hire one buggy.

4 When making your flight arrangements, Murcia Airport is the one to fly to. It is less than 30min from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort and is not an expensive taxi journey. Alicante Airport, on the other hand, is well over an hour away and a taxi trip from Alicante to Hacienda del Alamo is expensive.

5 Although the Festival events are open to lady professionals as well as low-handicap lady amateurs/girls and those with handicaps up to 20, as well as senior ladies (50 and over on January 1), no amateur will be in direction competition with a professional. Each category has its own prize list.


6 We are encouraging MEN to come out to play in the St Valentine's Day pro-am when we hope all the professionals will be ladies but the amateur teams can be of mixed sex. If your husband, partner or boyfriend is a golfer, he can play in the pro-am and he will get a free practice round as well. If we get enough inquiries, we can also have mixed partnerships in the Sunday pairs competition which is nine holes of alternate shot and nine holes of better-ball.


7 January 15 is the deadline for entries but you are advised to enter before the end of this month to make sure of your place in what is a unique festival of fun and competitive play. And if you are a serious golfer, Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort has five-star practice facilities: a two-tier driving range, a six-hole academy course, practice putting and pitching greens, a bunker practice facility.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN VILLA RENTAL ARRANGEMENTS

Note from Colin Farquharson,

2009 Hacienda del Alamo

Women's Winter Festival Controller.

Sue Gardiner is no longer running a Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort villa rental business. This means that the information concerning Sue on all the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival entry forms in circulation no longer applies.

Below is a new list of contact E-mail addresses for arranging accommodation over the period of the Festival.

The entry form for downloading in the left hand column has also been updated.

ENTRY FORM FOR 2009 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WOMEN’S WINTER GOLF FESTIVAL
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: JANUARY 15, 2009

FIRST NAME SURNAME

ADDRESS

TOWN/CITY POSTCODE

COUNTRY

NATIONALITY

DATE OF BIRTH: (day-month-year)

AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL GOLFER

HOME GOLF CLUB/ATTACHMENT

EXACT HANDICAP (if amateur) ………

E-MAIL ADDRESS

TELEPHONE NUMBER MOBILE PHONE

COMPETITIONS I WISH TO ENTER.

Tick where appropriate

1 MURCIA LADIES OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

(Thu/Fri February 12- 13) o
Entry fee: 70 Euros for a professional; 55 Euros for an amateur.

2 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO VALENTINE’S DAY PRO-AM (Sat February 14) o
Entry fee: 70 Euros for a professional; 55 Euros for an amateur

+If you are an amateur and you know the names of the other two amateur team members, please list. Otherwise the organisers will include you in an amateur team of three.


3 COSTA CALIDA LADIES PAIRS TOURNAMENT (Sun February 15). o
Entry fee: 70 Euros for a professional; 55 Euros for an amateur

+If you know the name of your partner, please indicate. ………………………………….
+If you wish the organisers to fix you up with a partner, please indicate. o

4 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN (Mon/Tues February 16-17). o
Entry fee: 70 Euros for a professional; 55 Euros for an amateur


I enclose a cheque for 100 Euros, made payable to Colin Farquharson.
I understand that the balance of my entry fees will be paid on arrival at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.
Print out and post entry form and cheque to: Colin Farquharson, Cal Carson Golf Agency, Littleways, Baillieswells Road, Bieldside, Aberdeen AB15 9BS, Scotland.

SIGNATURE

DATE


RENTING ACCOMMODATION FOR THE FESTIVAL

Quotes for the short-term rental of villas at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort during the period of the Festival are available by E-mailing any of the following addresses:

management@stvgestion.com

info@spaingolfrentals.com

floss@crampy.freeserve.co.uk

haciendarental@aol.com

There is also rental information on the following website:

http://www.spaingolfrentals.com/
http://www.haciendagolfrental.com

It is important to realise that one person renting a villa will find it quite expensive. Four (or more) people sharing the cost of renting a villa brings the cost per head down to affordable levels.

Log on to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ for regular Hacienda del Alamo Festival news.

If you wish clarification on any point, direct your inquiries to:

Billy Sim, Director of Golf, Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
billysim@hdagolf.com
Mobile telephone: 0034 690 295 650
or
Colin Farquharson, HDA WWW Festival Controller.
Calcarsongolf@aol.com
Telephone: (+44) 01224 869782

Euros only for 2009 Hacienda del
Alamo Festival advance payment

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
As the value of the £ is now at an all-time low against the Euro, I have decided that advance entry fee money for the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival must be a cheque for 100 Euros.
The option of sending a cheque for £100 has been discontinued.

Mary McKenna is first entry for

2009 Hacienda del Alamo

Women's Winter Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

The Irish, who were the strongest supporters of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival in February this year, have set the ball rolling for the 2nd HDA WW Festival from February 11 to 17, 2009.

And what a pleasure it is to welcome Ireland's legendary lady amateur golfer, Mary McKenna, recently reappointed captain of the GB&I team for the 2009 Vaglian Trophy match and the 2010 Curtis Cup match in America.
"I'm looking forward to playing what will be a new venue for me in Spain and also to playing in some winter sunshine," says Mary, a member of the Donabate club, Dublin.

Two other Donabate members - Patricia Morris and Fionnuala Forde - have joined Mary McKenna in sending in the first entries for the 2009 Festival.

Mary makes no secret of the fact she is old enough to play in seniors' golf, well, she couldn't, given the number of trophies, etc she has won in over-50s tournaments after a splendid career as an international amateur golfer in the 1970s-80s-90s.

And the 2009 HDA WW Festival will have prizelists for seniors.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Where is the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort?

Near the town of Fuente Alamo and the city of Murcia in the south-east region of Spain.

Which airport should you fly to?

Definitely Murcia Airport which is about 20min away from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort by car or taxi. You can fly to Alicante Airport but that is more than a 60min car journey away from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

Any more questions about Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort and the 2009 Women's Winter Festival? Send them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Marc Warren is right - you

need to enter the

Hacienda del Alamo

Festival to get in

Winter Practice

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Here's an unsolicited advertisement for the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival (February 11 to 17) from a MAN.

Glasgow's Marc Warren, who defends the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week, told Mike Aitken of "The Scotsman" yesterday:

"You can't practise your short game in Scotland in the winter. You don't see the true flight of the ball and it's difficult to see what's actually happening. I want my practice to be more about playing rather than just trying to swing it pretty."

Marc could also have said you can't practise your short game in England, Ireland, Wales, the Scandinavian countries, in fact anywhere in Northern Europe during the winter.

That's why Billy Sim, the director of golf at Hacienda del Alamo, and I started the HDA Women's Winter Festival in February this year.

It was to give female golfers - professionals who can't afford to go Australia and such places, and amateurs (including over-50 seniors and Under-18 girls) with handicaps up to 20 - the chance to put in some sustained practice at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort's five-star practice facilities with the bonus of competitive play to put to the test what you have been working on in practice.

There are four events over the long weekend. But you don't need to play in them all.

Don't think because there will be lady professionals playing, that you have no chance of winning any prizes. Each section has its own prize list.

Pringle, Stewart Spence (The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, Aberdeen) and an oil company who don't want to be named but are delighted to support ladies/girls' golf are our sponsors. But we are always looking to add to the list.

If you want all the details about the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival E-mailed to you or you have questions to ask, E-mail Colin@Scottishgolfview.com

January 15 is the closing date for entries but you can enter now.

Time to start thinking seriously about the
2009 Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only six months and a bit to go to the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival with its streamlined programme of four events over a long weekend (February 11 to 17).
Have you made up your mind about coming back if you enjoyed the inaugural event - which I am sure you did - or are you going to come for the first time with some friends?
You will find all the details if you click on the appropriate FESTIVAL words at the top of the left hand column and this is just a reminder that there are separate prize lists for:
*Lady amateur golfers with handicaps of 20 or under.
*Girl golfers with handicaps of 20 or under.
*Senior lady golfers with handicaps of or under.
*Lady professional golfers (who can take a party of female club members with them and coach them at the five-star HDA practice facilities if they wish).
If lady golfers want to go to Hacienda del Alamo with a male partner/husband/son, then they will be allowed to play over the Dave Thomas-designed course at a reduced rate when tee times are available. And males are welcome to join the ladies for the St Valentine's Day pro-am on the Saturday.
If you are looking for accommodation at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, here's some news from one of the villa owners: Phil Eastham

Colin,
We have a villa at Hacienda available to rent.

http://www.spainvillasandgolf.com/ is our web site.

My E-mail address is: phil.eastham@dsl.pipex.com

Thanks
Phil

Entering the HDA Festival?

Matthew has a villa to rent

Readers who are considering entering the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 11 to 17 will be interested in the following E-mail from Matthew Simmons:

"I wondered if any of your golfers would be interested in renting our two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa which sleeps 4. It is situated in prime position near to the Hacienda del Alamo clubhouse, village and driving range.
"You will receive owners' rates when you go to pay at the clubhouse.
"Our rates include air/conditioning, central heating, linen towels and Sky TV.
"We also have a BBQ and communal pool.
"Our rates start at £275 per week. We are able to offer a 10% discount on these prices.
Based on four sharing, this works out at £63 per person in low season.
If you would like to see what the villa has to offer the web address is http://www.haciendagolfrental.com/"

Matthew Simmons

Haciendarental@aol.com

Corrected dates for 2009 Hacienda del Alamo

Women's Winter

Golf Festival

Apologies for putting up the wrong dates in February 2009 in my early release of details for the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival.

The Festival will still start on a Wednesday with a free practice round and finish the following Tuesday but the actual February 2009 dates were out of kilter.

HERE IS THE AMENDED LIST OF DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday, February 11 is the practice day.
First 36-holer is Thursday-Friday, February 12-13.
Pro-am is Saturday, February 14.
Foursomes is Sunday, February 15.
Second 36-holer is Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17.

Colin Farquharson

Festival Organiser

++Any queries, please feel free to E-mail me at Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The news you've all been waiting to hear ...

The 2nd HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
WOMEN’S WINTER GOLF FESTIVAL

February 11 to 17, 2009

FOUR TOURNAMENTS

OVER SIX DAYS

Open to lady professionals and

Silver Division lady amateurs

To be played at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, Murcia

in sunny South-east Spain

PROGRAMME

Wednesday, February 11: Free practice round over championship course.

1: Thursday-Friday, February 12-13: MURCIA LADIES OPEN (36 holes stroke-play)

2: Saturday, February 14: HACIENDA DEL ALAMO Pro-am (lady pros & teams of three amateurs, male or female, over 18 holes.

3: Sunday, February 15: COSTA CALIDA PAIRS competition (first nine holes alternate shot, second nine holes better ball).

4: Monday-Tuesday, February 16-17: HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN (36 holes stroke-play).

FIVE-STAR PRACTICE FACILITIES
The object of the Festival is to give players a chance to combine practice with competition at a time of the year when they are unlikely to be able to do so at home.

Hacienda del Alamo has five-star practice facilities: two big practice putting greens, big chipping/pitching green, bunker practice facility, 36-bay two-tier driving range, six-hole Academy course.
You can arrive early and practise …. And you can stay on and practise even more.

HOW TO ENTER
Entry forms are available by E-mailing Festival Director COLIN FARQUHARSON (Colin@scottishgolfview.com) or downloading them by clicking on the appropriate words at the top of the left hand column of your screen.
There are separate entry fees for each event but you do not have to play in them all.
Regular information updates on the 2009 Hacienda del Alamo WW Festival will appear regularly on this website.

When you are booking your flights, remember that Murcia Airport is less than 30min away from Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort while Alicante Airport is more than 75min away from the resort.

HOW TO RENT A VILLA
Quotes for rental of villas at Hacienda del Alamo (the more players who share a villa, the cheaper it becomes) are available from SUE GARDINER of HM Rentals by E-mailing her at sue@hmrental.com

Log on to her website for details at: www.hmrental.com

SWING IN THE SPANISH SUN IN MID-FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR

Ladies European Tour professionals Lien Willems (Belgium) and Maria Martin (Spain) with their Spanish playing partners, Ignacio Sitja Guetas and Sebastian J Fernandez Gonzalez during the St Valentine's Day pro-am at the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.

Professionals Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Natasha Morgan from South Wales with their male playing partners, Simon and Trevor Taylor, in the St Valentine's Day pro-am competition at the recent Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival in Spain. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Galway golfers Jane Whiriskey, left, and Orla Barry with their Spanish playing partners, Ivan Garcia Martinez and Pablo Jose Tarraga Carrasco, at the St Valentine's Day competition during the recent Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.

Fun at the Festival: Ladies European Tour professionals Claire Coughlan and Martina Gillen with their amateur playing partners, Padraic Cantwell (left) and Gerald Charters (right) at the halfway house during the St Valentine's Day pro-am competition at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

No wonder Rhian Thomas's middle name is "Wyn!"

Rhian Wyn Thomas , pictured above, a Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club member, was the outstanding amateur player of the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain earlier this month.
Rhian's parents do not play golf and she took up the game purely by chance - responding to an invitation at a golf exhibition by Welsh coach David Llewellyn for anyone who had never played golf to come forward and have a go.
She showed a natural skill right from the start and has never looked back.
Aged 20 and a two-handicap member of the Welsh Ladies Golf Union international squad, Rhian triumphed in both the Festival's 36-hole events.
She won the Murcia Ladies Open by seven shots from clubmate Anna Carling and the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open by four strokes from university student Ami Storey (Ponteland) the following week.

Youngsters in Spanish Festival spotlight

Two youngsters who did well at the first week of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain. On left, 12 year old Amber Ratcliffe from Royal Cromer Golf Club, Norfolk. On the right, 14-year-old Kirsten MacCallum from McDonald Golf Club, Ellon in Aberdeenshire.
Well played, girls!

TWO FIRST TIME
WINNERS AS
PROFESSIONALS
AT HACIENDA
DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S
WINTER
FESTIVAL


MARTINA
GILLEN
(above)
from Ireland







and
LAUREN
DIGGLE (left)
from Wales

Hacienda del Alamo Winter Festival competitors

Colin Farquharson reports: For some reason I was not able to post a single picture from the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival on the website over the past two weeks. It may have something to do with a new camera.
Anyway, over the next week or so, I will be putting up some pictures from what was a very successful festival which will almost certainly be repeated at the same time of year, although shortened to seven days, running from one midweek to another so that competitors can take advantage of cheaper flights.
The first picture from the Festival shows some of the prizewinning competitors, outside the magnificent Hacienda del Alamo clubhouse, after the Stableford competition in Week 2.
Sue Gardiner, who organised most of the villa rentals, is on the extreme left, and Director of Golf Billy Sim is on the extreme right. You can enlarge the image by clicking on it.

JENNA WILSON GETS OFF MARK AS ROOKIE

PRO WITH VICTORY AT SPANISH FESTIVAL

Strathaven's Jenna Wilson, the reigning Scottish womens amateur golf
champion, scored her first win as a rookie professional today
at the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival at the five-star
Murcia resort in Spain.
Jenna picked up the 300 Euros first prize with a score of 33pt in the
professional Stableford event , finishing a slender point ahead of
Marjet van der Graaff (Netherlands).
In a very tight finish in ideal conditions - no wind, quite warm and
latterly sunny - Welsh rookie Natasha Morgan finished third with 31pt.
"A fortnight here at the Festival, practising every day with a
competition every two days or so, has really brought my game forward at
a time of the year when I wold have been stagnating in Scotland," said
Jenna.
Over a Dave Thomas designed course of some 6,500yd - longer than she
will encounter on the Ladies European Tour in the coming season and
with 86 bunkers to be negotiated, Jenna birdied the first, 13th and
15th and had a gross round of 75 (39-36).
Kintore's Katie Thomson, who is being trained as a PGA pro at the
Aspire Golf Centre near Aberdeen, finished fifth with 28pt.
In the Festival's Stableford 2 amateur section, Karen Ogilvy
(Auchterarder) finished second in Class 2 with 32 pt off 16 of a
handicap - two points behind Warrenpoint youngster Tara Gribben who
plays off five.
Karen's daughter Emily, who was beaten by Jenna Wilson in last year's
Scottish womens amateur championship final, also made the trip to
Hacienda del Alamo although she will have her right shoulder - badly
dislocated in a gymnasium mishap in January - strapped up until the end
of March.
So keen is Emily to keep her game ticking over that she has been
practising one-handed shots - left hand only on the grip - at the
resort's excellent facilities.

Results

Stableford 2 competition
Leading professionals
33pt Jenna Wilson (Sco).
32 Marjet van der Graaf (Ned).
31 Natasha Morgan (Wal).
29 Lauren Diggle (Wal).
28 Katie Thomson (Sco).
Leading amateurs
Class 1 - Ami Storey (Ponteland) (1) 36pt, Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (3) 33pt, Lisa Barton (Coventry) (2) 31pt, Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) (4) 30pt; Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) (2), Mary MacLaren
(Wellingborough) (4) 28pt.
Class 2 - Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) (5) 34pt; Karen Ogilvy
(Auchterarder) (16) 32ptl; Judy McCairns (Frilford Heath) (9) 31pt;
Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) (7), Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) (5).
30pt.

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AMI STOREY FROM PONTELAND TOP SCORES

WITH 36PT IN FESTIVAL STABLEFORD 2

University student Ami Storey (Ponteland Golf Club) had the day's best points score in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival Stableford 2 competition today.

Ami scored 36pt after picking up 19 of them on the outward half. She won by three points in Class 1 (handicaps under five) from Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park), playing off three.

Warrenpoint teenager Tara Gribben top-scored in Class 2 (handicaps 5 and over) with 34pt off five. She had 18 points on the outward half, winning her section by 2pt from Karen Ogilvy, a 16-handicap Auchterarder GC member.

Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) won the girls' section with 30pt off seven of a handicap.

Scotland's Jenna Wilson scored the first win of her pro career in the professionals section. She compiled 33pt off the blue tees, slightly farther back than the reds from which the amateurs played.

Marjet van der Graaf (Netherlands) was runner-up with 32pt, one ahead of third placed Natasha Morgan from Wales.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S
WINTER FESTIVAL 2008

WEEK 2 STABLEFORD (18 holes)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21

AMATEURS
CLASS ONE (hcaps under 5)

36pt Ami Storey (Ponteland) (1) 19-17.

33pt Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook Park) (3) 13-15.
31pt Lisa Barton (Coventry) (2) 17-14.

30pt Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) (4) 14-16.
28pt Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) (2) 13-15.
28pt Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) (4) 16-12.

CLASS TWO (hcaps 5 and over)

34pt Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) (5) 18-16.
32pt Karen Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (16) 16-16.
31pt Judy McCairns (Frilford Heath) (9) 14-17.
30pt Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) (5) 17-13.
29pt Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) (5) 14-15.
28pt Annie Gowing (Frilford Heath) (5) 13-15.
26pt Paula Reynolds (Seapoint) (19) 14-12.
26pt Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) (7) 16-10.
19pt Gina Sim (Hacienda del Alamo) (20) 11-8.

GIRLS (Under 18 years)
34pt Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) (5) 18-16.
30pt Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) (7) 14-16.
30pt Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) (16) 17-13.
29pt Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) (5) 14-15.

PROFESSIONALS
33pt Jenna Wilson (Scotland) 15-18.
32pt Marjet van der Graaf (Netherlands) 13-15.
31pt Natasha Morgan (Wales) 14-17.

29pt Lauren Diggle (Wales) 15-14
28pt Katie Thomson (Scotland) 13-15.

PRO-AM SWEEPSTAKE TEAM
127pt Lauren Diggle (Wales) 29 & Ami Storey (Ponteland) (1) 36, Karen
Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (16) 32, Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) (5) 30.
125pt Natasha Morgan (Wales) 31 & Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) (7) 34,
Judy McCairns (Frilford Heath) (9) 31, Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) (5) 29.
119 Marjet van der Graaff (Netherlands) 32 & Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook
Park) (3) 33, Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) (2) 28, Kate Evans
(Frilford Heath) (7) 26.
118 Jenna Wilson (Scotland) 33 & Lisa Barton (Coventry) (2) 31, Mary
MacLaren (Wellingborough) (4) 28, Paula Reynolds (Seapoint) (19) 26.
116pt Katie Thomson (Scotland) 28pt & Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough)
(7) 30, Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) (4) 30, Annie Gowing (Frilford
Heath) (5) 28.

ends
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WELSH WINNERS AT SPANISH GOLF FESTIVAL

WELSH WINNING DOUBLE AT SPANISH
GOLF FESTIVAL

The rain in Spain today fortunately arrived too late to mar the double
triumph of Welsh players Rhian Wyn Thomas and Lauren Diggle in the
amateur and professional sections of the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies
Open, the 36-hole stroke play championship of the second week of the
inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women´s Winter Festival at the five-star
Murcia resort.
Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club member Rhian won the amateur title with
rounds of 75 and 72 for a four-over par aggregate of 148 over the
testing Dave Thomas designed lay-out.
Rhian has improved almost with every outing in the six-event Festival
which is open to lady professionals as well as amateurs.
What a pity that the 20-year-old two-handicapper cannot get into the
field for the Spanish women's open amateur championship at the end of
the month. A scratch handicap is the cut-off point. Rhian would have
certainly held her own the way she has played at the Hacienda del Alamo
Festival.
She had four shots to spare at the end of two rounds from Ami Storey
from the Ponteland Golf Club in the North east of England. Ami had
rouns of 77 and 74.
Lauren Diggle, who lives within sign of the future Ryder Cup venue at
Celtic Manor, won the pro title with scores of 75 and 71 for 146 off
the blue tees (a 6,500yd course), while Rhian Thomas compiled her
scores from the forward red tees (just over 6,000yd).
"I´m really proud of that second round 71. That's the best I-ve ever
played at Hacienda del Alamo," said Lauren whose parents own a villa at
Alicante, which is about a 90min drive from Hacienda del Alamo.
"There was no wind today and fortunately we were back in the clubhouse
before the rain came. It´s my 25th birthday next Monday and this was a
pre-birthday present. It-s my first ever win as a tour pro."
The victory was worth 350 Euros to Lauren who had eight shots to spare
over joint runners up Jenna Wilson from Strathaven, Scotland, a rookie
pro who won the Scottish women-s amateur title last year, and Marjet
Van der Graaf from the Netherlands. Both score 80 and 74.
Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough), only 13 years old but with five of a
handicap already, won the girls´scratch title with gross rounds of 77
and 83 for 160.
Tara Gribben, a 16 year old from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland, won
the girls handicap award with a net total of 160 off five.

All the scores

AMATEURS

SCRATCH
147 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 72.
151 Ami Storey (Ponteland) 77 74.
152 Lisa Barton )Coventry) 76 76.
158 Jane Binning (Frilford Heath) 81 77, Charlotte Dalton (Ladbrook
Park) 80 78..
160 Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 77 83.
162 Mary MacLaren (Wellingborough) 84 78.
163 Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) 82 81.
164 Orla Barry (Galway) 86 78.
167 Annie Gowing (Frilford Heath) 86 81.
170 Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) 89 81, Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 87
83, Vicky Smith (Hacienda del Alamo) 87 83.
171 Judy McCairns (Frilford Heath) 86 85.
179 Jane Whiriskey (Galway) 87 91, Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) 91 88.
188 Rebecca Gee (Wellingborough) 98 90.
202 Paula Reynolds (Seapoint) 98 104.

HANDICAP

Class 1 (0 to 5)
143 R W Thomas (2) 73 70.
148 L Barton (2) 74 74.
152 C Dalton (3) 77 75.
154 O Barry (5) 81 73, Mary MacLaren (4) 80 74, J Binning (2) 79 75.
155 S Carty (5) 78 77.
157 A Gowing (5) 81 76.
160 T Gribben (5) 86 74, V Smith (5) 72 78.
169 C Reynolds (5) 86 83.
178 R Gee (5) 93 85.

Class 2 (6 and over)
146 Meghan MacLaren (7) 70 76.
153 J McCairns (9) 77 76.
154 J Whiriskey )12) 75 79.
156 K Evans (7) 82 74.
164 P Reynolds (19) 79 85.

GIRLS
Scratch
160 Meghan MacLaren 77 83.
170 T Gribben 91 79.
179 C Reynolds 91 88.
188 R Gee 98 90.

Handicap
146 Meghan MacLaren (7) 70 76.
160 T Gribben (5) 86 74.
169 C Reynolds (5) 86 83.
178 R Gee (5) 93 85.

PROFESSIONALS
146 Lauren Diggle (Wales) 75 71.
154 Jenna Wilson (Scotland) 80 74, Marjet Van der Graaf (Netherlands)
80 74.
158 Natasha Morgan (Wales) 85 73.
169 Katie Thomson (Scotland) 83 86.

LEADING PRO-AM SCORES
(professonal´s score gross, amateurs nett)
299 Natasha Morgan 73 & Ami Storey 73, Annie Gowing 76, Sarah Carty 77.
300 Lauren Diggle 71 & Charlotte Dalton 75, Judy McCairns 76, Vicky
Smith 78.
301 Jenna Wilson 74 & Kate Evans 74, Lisa Barton 74, Jane Whiriskey 79.

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WELSH SET THE PACE AT START OF
SPANISH FESTIVAL'S SECOND WEEK

It was Wales´ day at the start of the second week of the Hacienda del
Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star Murcia resort in
south-east Spain today when the clouds continued to blot out
the sun but there was no wind and they were pleasant conditions for
golf, a lot warmer than back in Britain.
Welsh pro Lauren Diggle established a five-strokes lead at the halfway
stage of the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open professional championship
over 36 holes.
Lauren, whose parents have a villa at Alicante - about an hour's drive
away from Hacienda del Alamo, shot a three over par 75.
Lauren did very well to finish on that mark over the demanding Dave
Thomas course, considering she was three over par on the fourth tee.
She dropped a shot at the fourth and then had a double bogey 6 at the
fourth.
Lauren settled down after that to cover the next eight holes in two
under par with birdies at the long fourth and the par-4 11th.
She bogeyed the short 12th but got a birdie 2 at the short 15th but
shed late shots - as almost every player does over the so testing last
two holes. Lauren finished 5-6 against the par of 4-5.
In the professional event, Miss Diggle leads by five shots from
Scottish rookie Jenna Wilson from Strathaven, who won the Scottish
womens amateur title last year, and late entrant Marjet Van der Graaff
from The Hague in the Netherlands. Marjet finished 6-6 for her 80 while
Jenna finished 5-6.
On the Hacienda del Alamo Ladies Open amateur front, one-handicapper
Rhian Wyn Thomas from the Vale of Glamorgan, who had a very good first
week in the Festival, leads the scratch race with a very steady 75.
On her heels is two-handicap Coventry player Lisa Barton with a 76.
Like Rhian, Lisa kept a 6 off her card - and not many players -
including the pros - have been able to say that on a course on which
the undulating greens have been causing problems, very frustrating for
those players who hit them in regulation.

2008 HACIENDA DEL ALAMO LADIES OPEN
(36 holes Monday & Tuesday)

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
AMATEUR SCRATCH
75 RHIAN WYN THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) 38-37.
76 LISA BARTON (Coventry) 38-38.
77 MEGHAN MacLAREN (Wellingborough) 39-38, AMI STOREY (Ponteland) 39-38.
80 CHARLOTTE DALTON (Ladbrook Park) 42-38.
81 JANE BINNING (Frilford Heath) 38-43.
82 SARAH CARTY (The Island, Dublin) 42-40.
84 MARY MacLAREN (Wellingborough) 40-44.
86 ORLA BARRY (Galway) 42-44, JUDY McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) 40-46,
ANNIE GOWING (Frilford Heath) 43-43.
87 VICKY SMITH (Hacienda del Alamo) 46-41, JANE WHIRISKEY (Galway)
44-43.
89 KATE EVANS (Frilford Heath) 47-42.
91 TARA GRIBBEN (Warrenpoint) 48-43, CARLA REYNOLDS (Seapoint) 50-41.
98 REBECCA GEE (Wellingborough) 49-49, PAULA REYNOLDS (Seapoint) 51-47.

AMATEUR NET SCORES
70 MEGAN MacLAREN (7).
74 LISA BARTON (2), RHIAN WYN THOMAS (1).
75 JANE WHIRISKEY (12).
76 AMI STOREY (1).
77 JUDY McCAIRNS (9), CHARLOTTE DALTON (3).
78 SARAH CARTY (4).
79 JANE BINNING (2), PAULA REYNOLDS (19).
80 MARY MacLAREN (4).
81 ORLA BARRY (5), ANNIE GOWING (5).
82 VICKY SMITH (5), KATE EVANS (7).
86 TARA GRIBBEN (5), CARLA REYNOLDS (5).
93 REBECCA GEE (3).

PROFESSIONALS
75 LAUREN DIGGLE (Wales).
80 JENNA WILSON (Scotland), MARJET VAN DER GRAAF (Netherlands).
83 KATIE THOMSON (Scotland).
85 NATASHA MORGAN (Wales).

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GALWAY PAIR HAVE BEST AMATEUR STABLEFORD
POINTS SCORE AT HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

Amateur prizewinners in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival better-ball Stableford today were:

44pt ORLA BARRY (5) and JANE WHIRISKEY (12), both from Galway Golf Club, Ireland.

39pt RHIAN WYN THOMAS (2) from Vale of Glamorgan GC, Wales and RICKY ROACH (17), an "honorary" Festival lady, standing in at last minute when Rhian had no partner.

37pt MARGARET ROONEY (20) and MARY McAREE (20), both from Navan Golf Club, Ireland.

36pt JANE BINNING (2) and ANNIE GOWING (5), both from Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.

Other points totals´
34pt Marion Geoghegan (Navan) (13) and Judy McCairns (Frilford Heath) (9).
33pt Gemma Jennings (Navan) (12) and Kate Evans (Frilford Heath) (7); Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) (18) and Kate Ogilvy (Auchterarder) (16).
28pt Eveleen Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13) and Azmina Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) (11).


OPEN CLASS

43pt ROBERT NEIL (4) and NIGEL GOUDE (5).

41pt JUAN VAL VERDE (8) and CRISTOBAL MARTINEZ (10),

41pt DANIEL SIM (10) and LUKE BAILEY (25).
+In Spain, when there is a tie, the players with the lower handicaps are placed higher.

40pt MIGUEL SANMARTIN (4) and JOSE SANMARTIN (24).

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort Women's Festival

Irish eyes are still smiling in Spain,

Martina, Claire win better-ball

Ireland's Martina Gillen made it three wins out of three in the first
week of the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival
at the five-star resort in south-east Spain today.
The tall Dubliner warmed up for her new Ladies European Tour campaign
by winning the 36-hole Murcia Ladies Open pro title on Monday and
Tuesday, following that up with victory in the Festival Stableford on
Thursday.
Then, in her last event before flying home to Ireland, Martina teamed
up with compatriot Claire Coughlan from Cork to win the professonal
better-ball competition with a two-under-par round of 70 over the tough
Dave Thomas-designed course.
Under sunny skies, Martina and Claire birdied the long fourth, the
short 13th and the par-4 13th. They had just one bogey, at the 17th.
Martina's three victories earned her a total of 1,100 Euros.
They had a shot to spare from two rookie pros, Natasha Morgan from
South Wales and Scotland´s Jenna Wilson from Strathaven, last year's
Scottish women's amateur champion.
Natasha and Jenna birdied the long fourth, the 10th and the long 18th.
They bogeyed the short fifth and 12th in returning a better ball of one
under par 71.
Natasha, who has spent the last four years as a golf scholarship
student at Lyn University, Florida, was runner-up in all three events
of the Festival´s first week.
The Festival continues with three more competitions next week.
"We will definitely be coming back to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's
Winter Festival next year," said Martina Gillen, a former Curtis Cup
player and past Irish champion.
"The superb practice facilities have given me a chance to work out some
things and I loved the combinaton of this and some low-key competition
to start putting an edge on your game."
"Yes, I´ll be back here again," said Claire Coughlan. "There have been
quite a lot of Irish lady amateurs over for the Festival and I am
planning to make up my own little Irish party for the trip next year."

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN´S WINTER FESTIVAL
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, Murcia, Spain.
Professional better ball
Leading scores (Par 72)
70 Martina Gillen (Ire) & Claire Coughlan (Ire).
71 Natasha Morgan (Wal) & Jenna Wilson (Sco).
75 Lien Willems (Bel) & Maria Martin (Spa).
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TEAM EVENT IS FESTIVAL SATURDAY HIGHLIGHT
AS MARTINA BIDS TO TOP 1,000 EUROS MARK

The inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women´s Winter Festival in south-east Spain moves into its third competition of the six-event programe tomorrow with the Festival team event.
There are two sections to this with the lady professionals playing their own better-ball stroke-play over the tough Dave Thomas course while the amateurs - the Festival lady amateurs being joined by Hacienda del Alamo owners, male and female, as well as some Spanish amateurs, again male and female, from the neighbourhood.
Ireland's Martina Gillen will be bidding to boost her earnings for the week over the 1,000 Euros mark, having won the Festival´s first two pro events over 36 holes on Monday and Tuesday, followed by an 18-hole Stableford on Thur5sday.
She will be crossing swords with compatriot Claire Coughlan, Welsh rookie Natasha Morgan, Scottish rookie Jenna Wilson and Belgium's Lien Willems and Spain's Maria Martin.
In fact Martina and Claire are on the same side. The luck of the draw, made by Martina, paired her with Claire and they will be hot favourites to land the 400 Euros jackpot for the winning pair.
Jenna Wilson partners Natasha Morgan while Lien Willems has Maria Martin as a team-mate.
The pair with the second lowest better ball score will earn 200 Euros between them.
On the amateur side, it will be a better-ball Stableford points format.
Gina Sim, wife of the Scots-born Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort Director of Golf Billy Sim has a two-handicapper, Lisa Barton, as a partner so they might be among the leading contenders with their combination of local knowledge and a low handicap.
Amber Ratcliffe, the 12-year-old Royal Cromer 18'handicapper who has made such an impact over the first week, has Karen Ogilvy from Auchterarder as her partner.
Karen's daughter Emily made the trip with her mum even though she will not be fit enough to play golf again until the end of March. Emily had a horrific accident in a gymnasium back home where she was powerless to prevent the weights on the machine falling backwards and forcing her right shoulder back until it was dislocated. Painful even to talk about it so you can image the agony Emily must have been in at the time.
But so keen is she on her golf she has been practising one-handed shots on the excellent facilities at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.
The weather has been the most disappointing feature of the first week at the Murcia resort ... very windy, quite cool with some rain, fortunately most of it during the night. But the Spanish sun is forecast to shine on Saturday.

MARTINA WINS TOP PRO PRIZE AGAIN
AT HACIENDA DEL ALAMO FESTIVAL

Ireland’s Martina Gillen must be wishing the Ladies European Tour restarted next week. She has found her form quickly at the Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Winter Festival at the five-star resort in south-east Spain – despite the weather being distinctly “un-Spanish."
The cool breeze was even stronger today for the second event of the six-competition, two-week programme than it was for the opening 36-holer but it made no difference to Cavan’s Martina.
She won the Festival Stableford 1 event with a total of 33 points to add the 400 Euros first prize to the 500 she collected on Tuesday evening.
Martina was heading for a very good gross score, despite the wind, when she was one under par with five holes to play.
“I spoiled it a bit by bogeying four of the last five holes but fortunately I had enough points in hand to hold on for victory,” she said.
In fact Miss Gillen still had four points to spare from Welsh rookie pro Natasha Morgan, who was also runner-up to her earlier in the week.
Natasha totalled 29pt, pipping another Welsh player, Lauren Diggle, by 1pt by finishing 3-5-5 (birdie-bogey-par(over Hacienda del Alamo’s tough closing holes which claimed so many victims.
Irish pro Claire Coughlan retired after only a few holes with a nagging shoulder complaint while Scottish rookie Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) took the day off to rest a back injury.

Amber Ratcliffe, the chunky 12-year-old 18-handicapper from Royal Cromer, Norfolk impressed again. She had the best amateur points total fo 32 to win Class 2 for handicaps of 13 and over by a big margin.
Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan), playing off four, won Class 1 with 31pt ahead of Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) who had 27pt, also off four.
Marion Geoghegan (Navan), playing off 13, won the Senior Section with a creditable 26pt over a Dave Thomas course that is a real test of stamina.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN’S
WINTER GOLF FESTIVAL

STABLEFORD ONE

PROFESSIONALS

33pt Martina Gillen (Ireland) 400 Euros.
29pt Natasha Morgan (Wales) 200 Euros.
28pt Lauren Diggle (Wales).
26pt Lien Willems (Belgium).
23pt Maria Martin (Spain).
Retired: Claire Coughlan (Ireland)

AMATEURS

Class 1 (handicaps 12 & Under)

31pt Anna Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) (4).
27pt Sarah Carty (The Island, Dublin) (4).
25pt Orla Barry (Galway) (5).
23pt Azmina Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) (11).
18pt Eveleen Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13).
16pt Gemma Jennings (Navan) (12).
15pt Jane Whiriskey (Galway) (12).

Class 2 (handicaps 13 & Over)

32pt Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) (18).
26pt Marion Geoghegan (Navan) (13).
19pt Margaret Rooney (Navan) (20).
18pt Eveleen Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13), Karen Ogilvie (Auchterarder) (16).
14pt Philomena Sheeran (Navan) (20).
13pt Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (20).
11pt Mary McAree (Navan) (20).

Seniors

26pt Marion Geoghegan (Navan) (13).
23pt Azmina Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) (11).
19pt Margaret Rooney (Navan) (20).
18pt Eveleen Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13).
14pt Philomena Sheeran (Navan) (20).

AMATEUR PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1
1 Anna Carling.
2 Sarah Carty.
Class 2
1 Amber Ratcliffe.
2 Margaret Rooney.
Seniors
1 Marion Geoghegan.
2 Azmina Desmond.

+No player can win two prizes (Marion Geoghegan’s prize as winner of the seniors’ section was more valuable than what she would have received as runner-up in Class 2.

Hacienda del Alamo Women¨s Winter Festival

MARTINA AND RHIAN ARE MURCIA LADIES

OPEN PROFESSIONAL & AMATEUR CHAMPIONS

Ireland's Martina Gillen from Cavan maintained her overnight lead in even tougher conditions of wind and rain to win the Murcia Ladies Open professional golf championship over the Dave Thomas-designed course at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in south-east Spain.

Martina followed up her opening round of two-over-par 74 with a 77 for a seven-over-par total of 151 to win by four shots from Welsh rookie pro Natasha Morgan, who lives near Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor.

"This is a very long course and when the wind is in your face, as it seems to be at the longish par-4s, it is almost impossible to get up in two," said Martina.

"You cannot fly the bunkers in the landing areas when the wind is in your face and I would rate it just about the most difficult course I've come across yet, given the wind we've had over the past two days.

"There was even rain as well today so you just had to soldier on. It's nice to win whatever the tournament, whatever the country and let's hope it's the first of a few victories in 2008."

Martina, a former Curtis Cup player and past Irish amateur champion, collected the 500 Euros first prize donated by Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence.

Natasha Morgan has spent the past four years at Lynn University in Florida and turned pro after graduating. She has played as an amateur on the US Futures Tour and plans to go back there until the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School comes around again near the end of the year.

Natasha had creditable rounds of 76 and 79 for 155. But for double bogeys at the first and seventh – two of the long par-4s referred to by Martina Gillen (who had double bogeys herself at the sixth and short 15^th) – for an outward 41, Miss Morgan might have put playing partner Martina under pressure over the tough closing holes.

As it was, Natasha was delighted to earn 200 Euros – her first pay check as a professional.

Claire Coughlan from Cork, like Martina a past Curtis Cup player, earned the 100 Euros third-place prize with 82 and 79 for 161.

Marion Riordan retired after a few holes of the second round, having hurt her back on the opening day. She has cut short her trip to fly home for physiotherapy treatment.

There was a 1-2 success for Wales in the amateur scratch division with Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) winning by seven shots with scores of 75 and 78 for 153.

Clubmate Anna Carling was runner-up with 85 and 75 for 160. To improve by 10 shots in even more difficult conditions on the second day left Anna rueing her first day effort.

Twelve-year-old Amber Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) won the amateur women's handicap title with a net two-round total of 146 off a handicap of 18. The stockily built youngster had two battling rounds of gross 91 to win this section by 12 shots from Ireland's Marion Geoghegan (Navan).

As little Amber could not win two prizes, Kirsten MacCallum, 14-year-old junior member at McDonald Golf Club, Ellon in Aberdeenshire, finished the leading girl with net total of 158 off 20 of a handicap.

Azmina Desmond (Hollywood Lakes, Belfast) claimed the senior prize with a net total of 175 off 11.

The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival is the brainchild of two Scots – the resort's director of golf Billy Sim and golf writer Colin Farquharson. There are six events in all over the two-week programme, open to both lady professionals and amateurs with a maximum handicap of 20.

The next competition is an 18-hole Stableford on Thursday.

MURCIA LADIES OPEN

FINAL TOTALS

Par 144 (2 x 72)

PROFESSIONALS

151 M Gillen (Ire) 74 77 (500 Euros).

155 N Morgan (Wal) 76 79 (200 Euros).

161 C Coughlan (Ire) 82 79 (100 Euros).

163 L Diggle (Wal) 84 79.

164 L Willems (Bel) 81 83.

167 J Wilson (Sco) 83 84.

171 M Martin (Spa) 88 83.

Retired: M Riordan (Ire) 90 - .

AMATEURS

Scratch

153 R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 78.

160 A Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) 85 75.

167 S Carty (The Island, Dublin) 83 84.

176 V Smith (Hacienda del Alamo) 94 82.

182 A Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) 91 91.

184 C Murphy (Grange, Dublin) 96 98, M Geoghegan (Navan) 92 92.

197 A Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) 100 97.

198 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 96 102.

206 G Jennings (Navan) 103 103.

219 E Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) 105 114

223 M Rooney (Navan) 114 109.

229 P Sheeran (Navan) 114 115.

244 M McAree (Navan) 122 122

Handicap

146 A Ratcliffe (Royal Cromer) (18) 73 73.

149 R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) (2) 73 76.

152 A Carling (Vale of Glamorgan) (4) 81 71.

158 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (20) 76 82, M Geoghegan (Navan) (13) 79 79.

159 S Carty (The Island, Dublin) (4) 79 80.

166 V Smith (Hacienda del Alamo) (5) 89 77, C Murphy (Grange, Dublin) (9) 87 79.

175 A Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) (11) 89 86.

182 G Jennings (Navan) (12) 91 91.

183 M Rooney (Navan) (20) 94 89.

189 P Sheeran (Navan) (20) 94 95.

193 E Higgins (Laytown/Bettystown) (13) 92 101.

204 M McAree (Navan) (20) 102 102.

Leading senior (handicap)

175 A Desmond (Hollywood Lakes) (11) 89 86.

Leading girl (handicap)

158 K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (20) 76 82.

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE HACIENDA
DEL ALAMO WOMENS WINTER
GOLF FESTIVAL IN SUNNY SPAIN

The inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women´s Winter Golf Festival tees off at the five-star Murcia golf resort later this morning with the first round of the 36-hole Murcia Ladies Open.
Injuries to Scotland amateur international Emily Ogilvy from Auchterarder and Lauren MacCallum from Ellon have not cleared up in time for them to take their place in the line-up but both made the trip to enjoy the sunshine.
Ireland are strongly represented both in the professional and the amateur fields.
Claire Coughlan and Martina Gillen are expected to be leading contenders for the 500 Euros first pro prize, donated by Stewart Spence, the owner of The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel & Spa on the western suburbs of Aberdeen.
The amateur prize lists have been generously supported by the Glenmuir company whose headquarters are at Lanark but who have built up a global standing.
At the weekend, it was cool before the sun rose and after the sun set but between times it was just like a typical Scottish summer´s day, possibly even better.
We´ll have the first round scores displayed for you at the end of each day´s play in the Festival which consists of six events and runs for two weeks.

VERY LATE ENTRIES ACCEPTED
FOR HACIENDA DEL ALAMO
WOMEN'S FESTIVAL IN SPAIN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Festival Organiser
We have "lost" several players over the past two weeks which means
that spaces have become available for very late entries to the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival at the five-star golf resort in the south-eastern Spanish province of Murcia.
There are six competitions (2 x 36 holes, 4 x 18 holes), open to lady professionals (who have their own cash prize lists) and lady amateurs (playing off a maximum handicap of 20 even if they have a higher handicap) over two weeks (February 11 to 23).
You can go for one week, you can go for two. You can even straddle both weeks by flying out and back in midweek when flights are sometimes cheaper.
If you want to drop everything and go or know anybody - lady amateur (play off a maximum handicap of 20) or lady professional - who might jump at the chance to go Spain at the last minute or who might be in the Murcia region and could play in any or all of the six events, tell them to E-mail colin@scottishgolfview.com or call HDA Director of Golf Billy Sim (mobile 0034 69029 5650).
The mid-February temperatures in the Murcia Region are reputed to be the warmest in the whole of Spain at that time of the year.
This is your chance to escape the Scottish winter ... if only for a week or two!

The two men whom Hacienda del Alamo Women's Festival competitors should look out for on arrival at the Murcia resort. Caught in typical poses, Director of Golf Billy Sim (on the left), head up and smiling, and (right) Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson, head down and hard at work at a previous tournament. If you are really brave, you can click on the images to enlarge them!

INFORMATION FOR HACIENDA
DEL ALAMO FEBRUARY
FESTIVAL COMPETITORS

The Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort is just five minutes from the traditional Spanish town of Fuente Alamo, where you can find an excellent supermarket, restaurants, bars and lots of local shops, together with a Saturday morning market.
FREE TRANSPORT TO NEAREST TOWN
Festival competitors will be given a free lift into Fuente Alamo but they will have to take a taxi back to the HDA Resort unless they make a private arrangement with the driver who takes them on the inward journey.
Just 30 minutes away are the lovely beaches of Mazarron or a 20min drive away is the naval city of Cartagena.
The resort's own restaurant, “La Hacienda”, has moved to the recently opened clubhouse.
A café bar (“The IT Bar”) is closed at the moment.
Another bar, “The Spaniard Inn,” opens nightly at the resort.

EATING AT THE CLUBHOUSE
Hacienda del Alamo's clubhouse will be the centre of the catering operation for Festival competitors. Director of Golf Billy Sim has secured the following prices for you:

Breakfast Buffet - 11 Euros.

Lunch can be off the snack menu or Menu of the Day at 15 Euros.

Evening - Snack menu or Dinner Buffet at 22 Euros.

Catering vouchers will be on sale to competitors at the Tournament Desk.
Please note that on Saturday, February 16, a Valentine's Day (almost) Dinner is being held in the clubhouse. Festival competitors are welcome to attend at a charge of 35 Euros per head.

CHECK-IN DESK WITHIN CLUBHOUSE
There will be a check-in desk next to the Tournament Desk in the clubhouse. At the check-in desk, competitors will be given their accommodation keys and lots of other information, including details about organised shopping trips.

EUROS IN CASH FOR COMPETITION ENTRY FEES

Remember that payment at the Tournament Desk to organiser Colin Farquharson in respect of competition entry fees must be in Euros and must be in cash. He will not be in a position to offer Credit Card facilities. Competitors who are coming for both weeks of the Festival will not have to pay all their entry fees when they check in. One week at a time will do. Those who feel that they may not play in every event should only pay an entry fee for one competition at a time, at the Tournament Desk. Better that than get involved in later asking for a refund of an entry fee for a competition in which they did not play.

You will be able to use a Credit Card in the clubhouse restaurant and the professional's shop.

COMPETITION ENTRY FEES
The scale of competition entry fees is as follows:
Two-day 36-hole events: Professionals - 70 Euros, Amateurs - 55 Euros.
One-round Stablefords: Professionals - 55 Euros, Amateurs - 42 Euros.
Saturday pro-ams: Professionals - 40 Euros; Amateurs 15 Euros.

USE OF PRACTICE FACILITIES
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort has five-star practice facilities: big greens for practice putting, practice chipping, a bunker practice facility, a two-tier driving range with 36 bays and a six-hole Academy course.
Director of Golf Billy Sim is offering a discounted rate of 30 Euros for one week's unlimited use of any and all the practice facilities, i.e. any amount of buckets of range balls you wish. That would work out a lot cheaper than if you were paying every day at the Range. For competitors staying both weeks, this fee will be discounted again - a one-off payment of 50 Euros.

HIRE OF BUGGIES
Buggies will be permitted in all the Festival competitions. Again Billy Sim is offering a discounted rate of 25 Euros per round. This is 10 Euros cheaper than the normal rate and obviously works out at 12.50 Euros each if two are sharing one buggy. The HDA pro shop does accept Credit Cards.

PRIZES
Professionals will be paid in Euros and in cash at the conclusion of each event. Their prize fund has a guaranteed minimum first prize in the two 36-holers and the two 18-hole Stablefords of 500 Euros, thanks to the generosity of Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence. In the two pro-ams, the pros' cash prizes will necessarily be lower because of the lower entry fee and lack of a sponsor
There will be a minimum of three professional prizes in each of the four individual events.
The amateur prize lists have been supported by Glenmuir, the Scottish company with a worldwide reputation, but there will also be amateur prize vouchers which have to be redeemed at the Hacienda del Alamo's professional's shop. You can add money to a prize voucher to obtain something more expensive from the shop.

PRIZEGIVINGS
We are keeping an open mind about holding prizegivings ASAP at the end of each competition. If you are an early starter and don't want to hang around until the finish, you can pick up your prize - if you have won one - at the Tournament Desk the following morning. Obviously this won't apply on the last day of the Festival, Saturday, February 23. Everyone who wins a prize should ensure that they collect it that day and for winning amateurs they would need to present any vouchers to the pro's shop without delay unless they are flying home late on the Sunday.

STARTING TIMES FOR SECOND WEEK OF HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S FEBRUARY FESTIVAL OF GOLF

Here are the provisional draws for Week 2 of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's February Golf Festival.
They are "provisional" in that competitors should be aware that the following times are subject to change if players withdraw.
They are advised to keep checking the Festival Noticeboard at the Tournament Desk in the clubhouse where Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson will be found most of the time.


HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN’S OPEN
36 holes.
Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19

Same draw for both rounds.
10.00 Ami Storey, Sarah Carty, Jane Binning.
10.10 Kimberley Crooks, Rebecca Gee, Rhian Thomas.
10.20 Jane Whiriskey, Meghan MacLaren, Orla Barry.
10.30 Mary MacLaren, Judy McCairns, Annie Gowing.
10.40 Lisa Barton, Charlotte Dalton , Kate Evans.
10.50 Nicky Lumb (p), Danielle Masters (p), Jacqueline Pecoitz (p).
11.00 Lien Willems (p), Maria Martin (p), Katie Thomson (p).
11.10 Lauren Diggle (p), Natasha Morgan (p), Jenna Wilson (p)
+Professionals to play off blue tees (6,594yd); amateurs off red tees (6,087yd).

FESTIVAL STABLEFORD 2
18 holes.
Thursday, February 21

10.00 Danielle Masters (p), Jenna Wilson (p).
10.10 Jacqueline Pecoitz (p), Katie Thomson (p).
10.20 Natasha Morgan (p), Lien Willems (p).
10.30 Sarah Carty, Mary MacLaren, Lisa Barton.
10.40 Jane Binning, Rebecca Gee, Meghan MacLaren.
10.50 Kate Evans, Kimberley Crooks, Charlotte Dalton.
11.00 Annie Gowing, Rhian Thomas, Ami Storey.
11.10 Lauren Diggle (p), Karen Ogilvy, Judy Cairns.
+Professionals to play off blue tees (6,594yd); amateurs off red tees (6,087yd).

FESTIVAL PRO-AM 2
18 holes.
Saturday, February 23

PROFESSIONALS
1 Tracey Craik
2 Lauren Diggle.
3 Natasha Morgan.
4 Jacqueline Pecoitz
5 Katie Thomson
6 Lien Willems.
7 Jenna Wilson.

AMATEURS
Kimberley Crooks (hcap scratch)
Ami Storey (hcap scratch)
Rhian Thomas (hcap 1).
Sarah Carty (hcap 4)

Mary MacLaren (hcap 4)

Rebecca Gee (hcap 5)

Meghan MacLaren (hcap 7).

The pro-am draw for the teams and tee times will be made at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort once it is known how many resort residents are taking part.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE WEEK ONE STARTING TIMES

ORDER OF PLAY IN FIRST WEEK
EVENTS OF HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO FEBRUARY FESTIVAL

Starting times in the first two events of the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival:

Murcia Ladies Open Championship
36 holes - Monday & Tuesday, February 11 and 12.
+Same draw for both rounds as some players have to have late tee times both days to allow for travel to course.
10.00 Jenna Wilson (p), Claire Coughlan (p).
10.10 Jacqueline Pecoitz (p), Maria Martin (p), Lien Willems (p)
10.20 Nicky Lumb (p), Martina Gillen (p), Natasha Morgan (p).
10.30 Marian Riordan (p), Michele Thomson, Rhian Thomas.
10.40 Vicki Smith, Anna Carling, Tara Gribben.
10.50 Carla Reynolds, Emma O'Driscoll, Mandy Easton.
11.00 Paula Reynolds, Margaret Rooney, Philomena Sheeran.
11.10 Lauren MacCallum, Cara Easton, Caroline Murphy.
11.20 Sarah Carty, Gemma Jennings, Lauren Diggle (p).
11.30 Mary McAree, Kirsten MacCallum, Amber Ratcliffe.
11.40 Eveleen Higgins, Azima Desmond, Marion Geoghegan.

Festival Stableford 1 on Thursday, February 14.
10.0 Kirsten MacCallum, Philomena Sheeran.
10.10 Mary McAree, Karen Ogilvy.
10.20 Amber Ratcliffe, Paula Reynolds, Margaret Rooney.
10.30 Orla Barry, Carla Reynolds, Sarah Carty.
10.40 Lauren MacCallum, Eveleen Higgins, Gemma Jennings.
10.50 Marian Geoghegan, Jane Whiriskey, Azmina Desmond.
11.00 Mandy Easton, Vicki Smith, Tara Gribben.
11.10 Anna Carling, Emma O'Driscoll, Cara Easton.
11.20 Nicky Lumb (p), Michele Thomson, Rhian Thomas.
11.30 Martina Gillen (p), Jacqueline Pecoitz (p), Marian Riordan (p).
11.40 Claire Coughlan (p), Lien Willems (p), Natasha Morgan (p).
11.50 Jenna Wilson (p), Lauren Diggle (p), Maria Martin (p).

+Professionals play off blue tees (6594yd); amateurs off red tees (6,086yd).

PRO-AM, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
The draw for teams and starting times for the pro-am on Saturday, February 16 will be made at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, once we know which villa residents are playing. If we are short of enough professionals to have a complete pro-am field with teams of one pro + 3 amateurs, it is intended that one or two of the low-handicap amateurs will be "nominal professionals" for the day and be given three amateurs as their team.
Probable first pro-am competitors:

PROFESSIONALS
1 Claire Coughlan
2 Martina Gillen
3 Marian Riordan
4 Jenna Wilson
5 Lauren Diggle
6 Natasha Morgan
7 Lien Willems
8 Maria Martin
9 Jacqueline Pecoitz

AMATEURS
Rhian Thomas (hcap 1)
Lisa Barton (hcap 2)
Jane Binning (hcap 2)
Charlotte Dalton (hcap 3)
Sarah Carty (hcap 4)
Orla Barry (hcap 5)
Annie Gowing (hcap 5)
Vicki Smith (hcap 5)
Kate Evans (hcap 7)
Judy McCairns (hcap 9)
Azmina Desmond (hcap 11)
Gemma Jennings (hcap 12)
Eveleen Higgins (hcap 13)
Marian Geoghegan (hcap 13)
Jane Whiriskey (hcap 13).
Amber Ratcliffe (hcap 18)
Philomena Sheeran (hcap 20)
Margaret Rooney (hcap 20)
Mary McAree (hcap 20)

Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival

EMILY OGILVY DISLOCATES SHOULDER BUT DETERMINED

TO GO TO SPAIN ... EVEN IF

SHE'S NOT FIT TO PLAY!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scotland amateur international player Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) has dislocated her shoulder during fitness training in the gymnasium. She has to keep her arm in a sling until Tuesday of next week when she has an appointement with the doctor.

"Until then, we won't know if she will be able to play at the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival, although, as thing stand at the moment, it's extremely unlikely," said her mother Karen tonight.

"As you can imagine, Emily is very disappointed and very frustrated. However, she is still going out to Spain for the Festival."

The Festival tees off on Sunday, February 10 with a free practice round over the Dave Thomas-designed championship course.

The Murcia Ladies Open Championship over two rounds will take centre stage at the five-star Murcia resort on Monday and Tuesday, February 11 and 12.

There has been a late addition to the list of professionals who have entered.

Jacqueline Pecoitz from Argentina, a Category 9 player on Sweden's Telia Tour, is going to play in all six events over the two weeks of the HDA Festival. Welcome aboard, Jacqueline!

FINAL LIST OF ENTRIES FOR 2008 FESTIVAL

PROFESSIONALS
Claire COUGHLAN (Ireland)
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Martina GILLEN (Ireland)
Nicky LUMB (England)
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Jacqueline PECOITZ (Argentina)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Katie THOMSON (Scotland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).
Jenna WILSON (Scotland).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16/17.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 18.
Azimina DESMOND (Hollywood Lakes) handicap 11. Senior.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Tara GRIBBEN (Warrenpoint) handicap 5. Age 16.
Eveleen HIGGINS (Laytown/Bettystown) handicap 13. Senior.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin) handicap 9. Age 17.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap 16.
Amber RATCLIFFE (Royal Cromer) handicap 18. Age 12.
Carla REYNOLDS (Seapoint) handicap 5. Age 16.
Paula REYNOLDS (Seapoint) handicap 19.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.
Ami STOREY (Ponteland) handicap scratch.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1.
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO WOMEN'S

FESTIVAL NEWS

BUGGIES CAN BE USED ... 25 EUROS TO HIRE

Competitors in all the events at the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival will be permitted to use buggies which they will be able to hire at a cost of 25 Euros.

That's 10 Euros less than the normal price - thanks to director of golf Billy Sim.

Two competitors to a buggy which means only 12.50 Euros each if they are sharing the cost.

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

There is a Valentine's Day Dinner in the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort clubhouse on the evening of Saturday, February 16. Tickets cost 35 Euros per head.

The clubhouse will be taken over in its entirety by the function which means that competitors who do not wish to attend the Valentine's Day Dinner - and you don't have to - will have either to eat early or make arrangements to dine elsewhere.

HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!
FESTIVAL ENTRIES
CLOSE TODAY

Today is the last official day for entering the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
All you have to do is E-mail the Tournament Controller, Colin Farquharson - colin@scottishgolfview.com - and tell him you want to play in Week 1 (February 10 to February 16) or Week 2 (February 17 to 23) or BOTH weeks.
The Festival is, of course, open to lady professionals and lady amateurs with handicaps of 20 and under.
If any lady or girl amateur who has a handicap in excess of 20 wants to come to the Festival with a view to improving her game for NEXT YEAR - almost guaranteed with the five-star practice facilities at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort - then her entry will be accepted but she will be able to deduct only 20 from her gross scores in the handicap sections.
There are six competitions under the umbrella of the Festival and Week 2 is a mirror image of Week 1, with a slight difference.
We have named the 36-hole Festival competition, to be played on Monday & Tuesday, February 11 & 12, the Murcia Ladies Open championship with a professional title winner and an amateur title winner as they are playing off different tees.
And the 36-hole Festival competition, to be played on Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, will be known as the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Open championship. Again there will be two champions: one a professional and the other an amateur.
We think these titles add a bit of prestige to the Festival and will look good on the winners' CV.
We will be asking all those who play in both events whether they should be extended to become 54-hole competitions in 2009.
Stewart Spence, owner of The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen, is guaranteeing a minimum first prize of 500 Euros to the professionals in the two 36-hole championships.
Glenmuir, the Scottish company with worldwide standing, is sponsoring the prize lists for the amateurs, which will include scratch and handicap, girls and seniors' sections.

FESTIVAL EATING ARRANGEMENTS
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort director of golf Billy Sim has secured the following eating arrangements for Festival competitors next month.
"Our new clubhouse will be the centre of the operation," says Billy.
"Breakfast buffet will cost 11 Euros.
"Lunch can be off the snack menu or the Menu of the Day at 15 Euros.
"In the evening, the snack menu remains an option or there will be a dinner buffet at 22 Euros a head.
"We will be selling catering vouchers at the Tournament Desk in the clubhouse.
"Also we have earmarked a couple of nice restaurants in the neighbouring town of Fuente Alamo to direct players to if they wish a change. There may also be transport laid on for groups."
Well done, Billy Sim!

Entries close on Tuesday for Spanish golf highlight

KATIE THOMSON TAKING A BREAK

FROM PGA TRAINING TO PLAY

IN HdA WOMEN'S FESTIVAL

Entries for the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in Spain from February 10 to 23 close on Tuesday ... and former Aberdeenshire county champion Katie Thomson has just made it in time.

Katie, pictured right with the Aberdeenshire trophy, is in the second year of her PGA training as an assistant professional at the Aspire Golf Centre, Ardoe, only a couple of miles along the South Deeside Road from the Bridge of Dee, Aberdeen.

She has played in some Tartan Tour assistants' events.

"I've some PGA training tests coming up at The Belfry headquarters soon so it will be nice to have a break in the Spanish sunshine, get in a lot of practice and play in the Festival competitions," said Katie who will make the trip with her father to the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort which is near the city of Murcia in south-east Spain.

Why don't you follow Katie Thomson's example and E-mail your Festival direct to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at colin@scottishgolfview.com without further delay?

Details about the Festival are available by clicking on the words HDA FESTIVAL near the top of the left-hand column of your screen.

You can go for both weeks of the Festival, you can go for the first or second weeks, or you can even straddle both weeks by travelling and coming home in midweek if this enables you to get cheaper flights.

Current entries:

PROFESSIONALS
Claire COUGHLAN (Ireland)
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Martina GILLEN (Ireland)
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Katie THOMSON (Scotland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).
Jenna WILSON (Scotland).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway)

Lisa BARTON (Coventry)

Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath)

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan)

Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin)

Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea)

Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park)

Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy)

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy)

Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan)
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath)

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough)
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath)
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan)
Mary McAREE (Navan)
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath)

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough)

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough)
Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin)
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion)

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder)
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder)
Margaret ROONEY (Navan)
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan)

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan)

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon)

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall)

Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway)

HdA FESTIVAL IS FOR HANDICAP

GOLFERS AS WELL AS THE

PROFESSIONALS AND
SCRATCH PLAYERS

BY COLIN FARQUHARSON (Festival Controller)
This is your last weekend for thinking about entering the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival in sunny south-east Spain from February 10 (checking in for the first week) to February 23 (second team event rings down the curtain).
Tuesday, January 15 is the closing date for entries.
I had an E-mail last night from two players with handicaps in the 15 to 16 range. They said they would not be coming because the Festival was aimed at professionals and very low handicappers ... and there was "nothing for them."
WRONG!
Yes, the Festival is primarily geared to give the "better" players a chance to get in some serious practice at five-star facilities for the new season plus the bonus of low-key competition to help put an edge on their game.
But it is a Festival for all Female golfers. There will be handicap prizes in each of the six events over the two weeks. Take my word for it. The professionals will have their own cash prizes list (subsidised by Stewart Spence, owner of The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen); there will be an amateur scratch prize list and, as nobody can win two prizes in the same event, those with bigger handicaps should come into their own in the handicap prize list.
And, I almost forgot, there will be a prize list for Under-18 girls.

Glenmuir, the Scottish company with worldwide standing, are supporting the amateur prize lists.
Let's hope that has made up your mind. Go for it!
E-mail your entry NOW to colin@scottishgolfview.com

IRISH GOLFING ARMADA HEADING FOR SPAIN!

Martina Gillen driving from the 18th tee of the Old Course, St Andrews (Cal Carson Golf Agency image).

Claire Coughlan and caddie on the 17th green of the Old Course, St Andrews (Cal Carson Golf Agency image).

IRISH ACES MARTINA AND CLAIRE

BOOST THE PRO ENTRY FOR

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WOMEN'S FESTIVAL

Martina Gillen and Claire Coughlan - two Irish members of the Great Britain & Ireland team in the 2006 Curtis Cup match at Bandon Dunes, Oregon - are the latest professionals to confirm their entries for the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.

Entries will close on Tuesday, January 15 for this inaugural staging of the two-week, six-event Festival to be held at the five-star golf resort near the city of Murcia in south-east Spain from February 10 to 23.

The Festival is open to lady professionals as well as lady amateurs up to a handicap of 20.
The professionals will play off the Blue Tees (6,594yd) and the amateurs from the Red Tees (6,087yd).

The pros are playing for cash awards, their prize fund being boosted by the generosity of Stewart Spence, owner of The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel and Spa near Aberdeen. The first professional in each of the four individual events will earn at least 500 Euros and they will be handsomely rewarded in the two team events on the Saturdays of the Festival.

Glenmuir, the Scottish company with a worldwide reputation, hav contributed very generously to the amateurs' list of prizes.

Martin Gillen, who had her 25th birthday on January 7, and Claire Coughlan, 27, from Cork, have been two of Ireland's most outstanding amateurs of the past decade. They turned professional after the 2006 Curtis Cup and both played on the Ladies European Tour in 2007.

Martina, who won six American college tournaments as a student at Kent State University, Ohio, was Irish women's match-play champion in 2003, Helen Holm Scottish open stroke-play winner in 2005 at Troon and Irish open stroke-play champion in 2006.

As a member at Beaverstown Golf Club, Martina was an Ireland team international from 1997 to 2006 and figured in at least two title-winning squads in the Women's Home Internationals.

Apart from the 2006 Curtis Cup, she played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy match of 2005.

Claire Coughlan was Irish champion in 1999 and Irish open stroke-play title-winner in 2003. In 2005, she was beaten in the final of the British women's open amateur championship. She played in two Curtis Cup matches - 2004 and 2006 - and also the Vagliano Trophy match of 2005

A qualified gym instructor, Claire worked at a Leisure Centre in Cork.

E-mail your Festival entry direct to the Tournament Controller, Colin Farquharson, at colin@scottishgolfview.com before Tuesday's deadline.

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Claire COUGHLAN (Ireland)
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Martina GILLEN (Ireland)
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).
Jenna WILSON (Scotland).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16/17.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 18.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin) handicap 9. Age 17.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap 16.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18.

Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

LET ROOKIE JENNA WILSON
PLAYS FOR PAY FOR FIRST
TIME AT HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO WINTER FESTIVAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
The reigning Scottish women's amateur champion, Jenna Wilson from Strathaven, now a Ladies European Tour professional, has entered next month's inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival in Murcia, south-east Spain.Last November, Jenna came through the pre-qualifying competition and then the LET Final Qualifying School to gain her player's card for the 2008 season.
"I am going to make my debut on the LET in the Spanish Open in April (17 to 20th) at Panoramica Golf & Country Club (situated between Valencia and Barcelona) so Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort with its five-star practice facilities will be ideal for some good quality practice and my first competitions as a professional," said 23-year-old Jenna.
"I have some sponsorship set up to finance the start of my new career as a pro golfer. I am getting support from the Cross Garage in Stonehaven and Waterpoint, also based in Stonehouse."
Jenna was the dominant player of Scottish women's amateur golf for the past two seasons. She was a prolific winner of the 36-hole Order of Merit weekend competitions and she finished top of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association women's rankings in 2006 and again last year. In 2007, Miss Wilson finished ahead of Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
That means the 1-2-3 in the SLGA Rankings for 2007 will all be playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Festival as Michele and Emily, who were Scotland's female pairing in the The Spirit tournament in Texas last autumn, were among the first to lodge their entries.
Jenna was Lanarkshire county champion in 2005 and 2006 and won the Scottish Under-21 girls title in 2003.
But now the days of amateur trophies and international honours - she played for Scotland in the Women's Home Internationals of 2004-2005-2006-2007 - are over. Jenna is entering a play-for-pay golfing career, something she has always wanted to do and which she is quite excited about.
Thanks to the generosity of Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence who is underwriting the professionals' prize fund, Jenna will be chasing a first pro prize of at least 500 Euros, maybe more, in each of the individual events at the Festival.
So if she does well in these and the two team events, she could easily have a first take-home pay of 2,000 to 3,000 Euros. That would more than cover the cost of the trip to Spain and set her up for the return trip to make her first appearance on the 2008 Ladies European Tour.
The professionals and the amateurs will play off different tees and have separate prize lists in the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Festival.
The professionals will play off the Blue Tees at Hacienda del Alamo. That's a course measuring some 6,594yd. The amateurs will play off the Red Tees (6,087yd). The women's par is a uniform 72.
Remember, the deadline for entries by professionals and amateurs to the Festival is Tuesday, January 15. Get your entry off now to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)
Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).
Jenna WILSON (Scotland).

AMATEURS
Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.
Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16/17.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 18.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin) handicap 9. Age 17.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap 16.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18.
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

Image of Tracey Craik, in action on the Ladies European Tour, by Bethan Cutler, the LET Press Officer.

REMEMBER TRACEY CRAIK? 1984

SCOTTISH GIRLS' CHAMPION

ENTERS HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WOMEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

It’s a long time since Tracey Craik, whose Edzell-born father Derek was at the time club professional at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire, won the Scottish Under-18 girls’ match-play title at Peebles.
Twenty-three years ago, in fact, since Tracey, who was a bit of a runner – a lean and wiry distance specialist rather than a sprinter in her early teens, beat Donna Jackson 3 and 2 in the 1984 final after knocking out Elaine Farquharson – who would win the title the following year – in the semi-finals.
Now Tracey, who was capped for Scotland at girls' international level, is back in the “news” by becoming the seventh professional to enter the Hacienda del Alamo Women’s Winter Golf Festival at the Spanish golf resort in the southeastern province of Murcia.
To be fair to the Scottish, English & Irish lady professionals who have not entered, Tracey will not have far to go to compete in the Festival.
“We live on the club at La Manga – which is just along the road from Hacienda del Alamo. I have been out here for 11 years now,” Tracey told http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/.
“I have played Hacienda del Alamo a few times, although not recently. I have not played on the Ladies European Tour for a few years now. I’ve got a bit of a dodgy shoulder. Can’t take too many Neurofens! I am still playing golf but this year probably the least since I started.”
Tracey has just completed a three-year, online course for greenkeeping.
“Sportsturf they call it. Quite interesting, especially the soil bit, which surprised me. The reason I did the course was because we (John and Tracey) bought a golf course in France and apart from speaking appalling French (though probably still better than my Spanish), we knew virtually nothing about course maintenance. To prevent them from ‘pulling the wool over our eyes,' I laboured through this course for three years and drove John mad in the process,” she said.
Tracey’s brother Derek junior succeeded their father as pro at Frilford.
“I’m going over to England to the Golf Trade Show at NEC in early February but we will be back at La Manga just after the start of the first week of the Hacienda del Alamo Festival,” said Tracey.

Even later with her entry than Tracey was 17-year-old Dublin girl Caroline Murphy who plays off nine at Grange Golf Club. Caroline is really making a flying visit to the Festival. She will fly to Spain on Sunday, February 10, play the 36-hole tournament on the Monday and Tuesday - and then fly home to Ireland on the Wednesday.

Caroline's golfing CV lists her as the current holder of the Duggan Cup and the Tom Funge Cup so she will be one of the favourites for a lowest net total prize in the opening event of the Festival.
Thanks to the generosity of Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence, the leading professional in each of the four individual events at the Festival will be guaranteed a minimum prize of 500 Euros in cash.

Glenmuir are supporting the amateurs' prize lists.
There is less than a week to go now to the deadline for entries (Tuesday, January 15).

Who can enter the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival?

Open to Lady professionals and Lady amateurs (maximum handicap 20).

No minimum or maximum age.

Separate prize lists for professionals and amateurs.

No competition entry fees to be paid until you check in with Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at the Tournament Desk at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

All you have to do to enter is E-mail colin@scottishgolfview with your details, professional or amateur, home club, handicap, date of birth if under 20 years; arrival and departure dates.

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Tracey CRAIK (Scotland)

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16/17.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 18.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.

Caroline MURPHY (Grange, Dublin) handicap 9. Age 17.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap 16.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18.
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

ACCOMMODATION

It is much cheaper to share a villa so try to organise something with your golfing friends. Information about how to book accommodation is available by clicking on the words HDA WOMEN'S FESTIVAL near the top of the left hand column of your screen.

PRICE SLASHED FOR ONE WEEK'S PRACTICE
AT HACIENDA DEL ALAMO FESTIVAL

Some good news for those who are going to the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
Billy Sim, the five-star Murcia resort's director of golf, has slashed the special one-week charge from 55 Euros to 30 Euros for unlimited use, i.e. any amount of buckets of range balls you wish, of the excellent practice facilities.
For 55 Euros, Festival competitors will get TWO weeks' unlimited use of the practice facilities which amount to:
+A two-tier driving range with 36 bays.
+A big putting-only practice green.
+A big pitching and chipping practice green.
+Bunker practice facility.
+Six-hole academy course.
EUROS CASH ONLY AT THE TOURNAMENT DESK
A word in the ear of those who have committed themselves to playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 (checking in day for first week) to February 23 (second team event ringing down the curtain) from Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson.
"It will be Euros cash only when paying competition entry fees at the Tournament Desk. Same goes for the 30 or 55 Euros fee for the run of the practice facilities. No credit card facilities will be available from me," he said.

STEWART SPENCE CHIPS IN TO

HELP LADIES-ONLY GOLF FESTIVAL
IN SPAIN NEXT MONTH

Aberdeen hotel owner Stewart Spence, pictured right, is chipping in 2,000 Euros to the prize fund for a Spanish golf festival for women professionals and amateurs next month.
It's the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23 at the five-star golf resort in Murcia, south-east Spain where the mid-February temperatures are reputed to be the warmest in Spain.
There will be six competitions, two of them 36-holers, over the two weeks. Competitors can go for one week or two.
Former Open champion and past Ryder Cup player Paul Lawrie, his coach Neil Marr and Scotland youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead) recently spent a week at Hacienda del Alamo and came home raving about the Dave Thomas-designed course and the excellent practice facilities.
North-east man Billy Sim is the director of golf at the five-star resort.
"I am always delighted to help out a new golfing venture and this sounds a great idea for the lady professionals and amateurs to get in some serious practice for the new season with the bonus of some low-key competition to help sharpen them up," said Stewart Spence, a former Royal Aberdeen Golf Club champion and owner of The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel & Spa in Aberdeen's leafy, western suburbs.
The deadline for entries is January 15 and should be E-mail to the Tournament Controller, Colin Farquharson, at colin@scottishgolfview.com

"Stewart Spence has been helping people in golf for as long as I can remember. Muriel Thomson and Paul Lawrie are just two who were given a leg-up by him in their early careers," said Colin.

"What his donation of 2,000 Euros will enable us to do for the Hacienda del Alamo Festival is to guarantee a minimum first prize of 500 Euros for the professionals in each of the four individual events.

"Billy Sim and I devised this warm-weather, mid-winter Festival to give both lady professionals and amateurs alike the chance to really get down to serious golf practice at the best facilities in Spain at a time of year when it will probably be too cold to get out and about if they stay at home in Britain & Ireland or anywhere in northern Europe for that matter.

"The amateurs have responded well but I have to admit I am disappointed by the professionals' limited response. Stewart Spence's gesture may boost the numbers before the entry deadline next Tuesday."

Billy Sim is convinced that the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival will become a permanent and very popular fixture on the golf calendar and that it might not be so easy to get into the field in years to come.

"Those who support the inaugural event will certainly get preferential treatment when it comes to putting a ceiling on how many competitors we can accommodate in 2009 and beyond," said Billy.

January 15 the cut-off point for entries

DEADLINE FOR HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO WOMEN'S WINTER
GOLF FESTIVAL APPROACHES

Only seven days to go (Tuesday, January 15) until the deadline for entries to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival at the five-star golf resort near Fuente Alamo and the city of Murcia in south-east Spain from February 10 to 23.

Who can enter the Festival?
All six events over the two weeks (2 x 36 holes, 2 x 18 holes stableford, 2 x 18-hole team) are open to Lady professionals and Lady amateurs (maximum handicap 20).
You do not need to come for both weeks and you do not need play in every event. You would only pay for the competitions you enter.

Unlimited use of practice facilities

There is Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort management bargain offer of 55 Euros which entitles a competitor to unlimited use - as many buckets of balls as you like - of the excellent practice facilities for both weeks. A great chance to get your game in shape for the 2008 season.

No minimum or maximum age.

Separate prize lists for professionals (minimum 500 Euros cash first prize per competition) and amateurs (a combination of vouchers and prizes donated by Glenmuir).

When do entry fees have to be paid?

Not until you check in with Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson at the Tournament Desk at Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort.

Is there a choice of weeks?
There certainly is. A competitor can go for both weeks or the first week only or the second week only. A week straddling the first and second weeks is also a possibility if it helps you take advantage of cheaper midweek flights

Accommodation
Click on to the HDA Festival words at the top of the first column of your screen to get all the details.
An opportunity to share accommodation at the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort during the second week of the Festival has come up. Anyone interested should E-mail colin@scottishgolfview.com to obtain details.

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Marian RIORDAN (Ireland).
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS
Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.
Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Kimberley CROOKS (Saltburn by the Sea) handicap scratch. Age 16/17.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 18.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Karen OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap 16.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

HOW TO ENTER
You must E-mail your entry to colin@scottishgolfview.com, giving name, state whether amateur or professional, name home golf club and handicap if an amateur, give date of birth if under 20 years. Also state arrival and departure dates.

JANUARY 15 CLOSING DATE FOR
ENTRIES TO HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO .... WHERE THE SUN
SPENDS THE WINTER

A reminder that entries close on Tuesday, January 15 for all six competitions that make up the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23.
The Festival is open to lady professionals and amateurs with Silver Division handicaps.
Hacienda del Alamo is a five-star golf resort in the south-east Spanish area of Murcia where the mid-February temperature is reputed to be the warmest in the whole of Spain.
With the third worst winter on record forecast for the British Isles, Murcia might just be the place to escape to if you want to keep on playing and practising!
E-mail your entry direct to the Festival Controller, Colin Farquharson - colin@scottishgolfview.com - giving your name, whether you are a professional or an amateur, stating your home club and handicap if you are an amateur, and when you plan to arrive and leave Hacienda del Alamo.
You don't have to stay at the accommodation on offer at Hacienda del Alamo, but if you do it makes sense to make the trip with as many golfing friends as you can muster. That will bring down the cost per head per day of renting a villa.

MARIA MARTIN LOPEZ AND SARAH
CARTY ARE LATEST ENTRIES FOR
HACIENDA DEL ALAMO FESTIVAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Festival Controller
Two more entries to the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival over the Festive season - Spanish professional Maria Martin Lopez from Madrid, and yet another Irish amateur, Sarah Carty, who plays off four at The Island Golf Club, Dublin.
Sarah played in last year's Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs in Florida last year and she is going back again next week/next month.
Maria Martin Lopez has been a tour pro since December 1999 and she has played on the Ladies European Tour.
Remember, the closing date for entries to all six competitions that make up the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival is JANUARY 15.
E-mail your entry without delay to colin@scottishgolfview.com, stating if you are a professional or an amateur and, if an amateur, what your home golf club and handicap is.



Entries so far:
PROFESSIONALS
Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Maria MARTIN LOPEZ (Spain).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales).
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS
Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.
Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Sarah CARTY (The Island, Dublin) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 17.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion). Handicap 5. Age 15.
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18.
Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

Where have all the professionals

gone? Only four have entered

Festival so far

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Tournament Controller

While the number of new amateur entries for the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival continues to increase, we have stuck for ages at the figure four for the professionals.

If we can get another six Lady pros to enter before the January 15 deadline, I can guarantee a minimum first prize of 500 Euros in cash for the professionals at each of the six Festival competitions between February 10 and 23.

Of course, part of the attraction about the Festival is also the opportunity to devote a lot of time on the five-star practice facilities to put an edge on your game for the new season.

Entries should be E-mailed direct to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Same address if you want more details about the Festival or you want clarification on any point.

ENTRIES SO FAR

PROFESSIONALS

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 17.

Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan) handicap 13.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan) handicap 12.
Mary McAREE (Navan) handicap 20.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emma O’DRISCOLL (Ballybunion) handicap 5. Age 15.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Margaret ROONEY (Navan) handicap 20.
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan) handicap 20.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). scratch. Age 18.

Jane WHIRISKEY (Galway). Handicap 13.

HDA FESTIVAL FEVER IS SWEEPING

ACROSS IRELAND!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Hacienda del Alamo "Festival Fever" seems to be sweeping across the golf clubs of Ireland.
Today we have had SIX entries from the Emerald Isle - five ladies from Navan Golf Club in County Meath and 15-year-old Emma O'Driscoll, who plays off five at Ballybunion Golf Club, Tralee.
The five from Navan are Marion Geoghegan, Gemma Jennings, Mary McAree, Margaret Rooney and Philomena Sheeran.
Orla Barry from Galway entered previously so the Festival list has seven Irish entries so far ... and I believe more are on their way.
No names, no pack drills but I can tell you that we now have two over-50s in the party so it looks as if we will have a senior prize list after all.
The Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival will run from Sunday, February 10 (first practice day) to Saturday, February 24. The six competitions over the two weeks are open to Lady professionals and Lady amateurs up to a maximum handicap of 20.
E-mail your entries to the Tournament Controller, Colin Farquharson, at colin@scottishgolfview.com

Incidentally, after consultation with Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort Director of Golf Billy Sim, the closing date for Festival entries has been fixed as MONDAY, JANUARY 15. Tell your friends who are thinking about it but have not filed their entries that there is now a deadline.

Festival entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS
Orla BARRY (Galway)
Lisa BARTON (Coventry)
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath)
Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan).
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park)
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy)
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy)
Marion GEOGHEGAN (Navan)
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough)
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath)
Gemma JENNINGS (Navan).
Mary McAREE (Navan)
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath)
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon)
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough)
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough)
Emma O'DRISCOLL (Ballybunion)
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder)
Margaret ROONEY (Navan).
Philomena SHEERAN (Navan)
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan)
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon)
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall).

Sunny southern Spain here they come!

FRILFORD HEATH FOUR ADD TO
NUMBERS FOR HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO WOMEN'S FESTIVAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON (Tournament Controller)
Four ladies from Frilford Heath in Golf Club are the latest entries to the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
The Festival, which has six competitions, open to Lady Professionals and Lady Amateurs - separate prize lists - over the two weeks, runs from Sunday, February 10 (first official practice round over the Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole course at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort near Fuente Alamo in the Murcia region of south-east Spain) to Saturday, February 23.
Jane Binning (2), Annie Gowing (5), Kate Evans (7) and Judy McCairns (9) are all single-figure handicap players but we did raise the handicap limit to include all Silver Division players (i.e. maximum 20) just in case there were those of you out there who were desperate to come but did not have a single-figure handicap.
Buggies are not mandatory but will be permitted during all six Festival events.
Director of Golf Billy Sim has obtained a reduction in the hire cost for Festival competitors - only 10 Euros each for a shared buggy, 20 Euros if you want to go solo.
Electric trolleys are also available for hire.
The countdown has begun .... if you have not entered so far, get cracking before Christmas, please!

Entries so far:

PROFESSIONALS
Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)
Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS
Orla BARRY (Galway, Ireland) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2
Jane BINNING (Frilford Heath) handicap 2
Anna CARLING (Wales) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 17.
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.
Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.
Kate EVANS (Frilford Heath) handicap 7.
Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 5. Age 16.
Annie GOWING (Frilford Heath) handicap 5.
Judy McCAIRNS (Frilford Heath) handicap 9.
Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.
Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.
Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 4.
Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 7. Age 13.
Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.
Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.
Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.
Jane TURNER (Mortonhall). Handicap 1. Age 18.

To be confirmed:
Rachael LIVINGSTONE (Musselburgh Old) scratch. Age 19.

HOW TO ENTER
E-mail your entry direct to colin@scottishgolfview.com, giving full name, state whether amateur or professional, name of home golf club and handicap if an amateur, give date of birth if under 20 years or state if you are a "senior" if over 50 years on January 1.

SEE THE INSIDE OF THE NEW HACIENDA DEL
ALAMO GOLF RESORT CLUBHOUSE

The new clubhouse will be the headquarters and focal point of the inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival from February 10 to 23.
To see images of the internal decor, etc, click on the following:

http://www.clubmurcia.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=126

HDA FESTIVAL ENTRANT DANI MASTERS

WINS BBC SOUTH EAST FEMALE

SPORTS PERSONALITY AWARD

Ladies European Tour player Danielle (Dani) Masters, who will be playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival from February 10 to 23, is celebrating after being named female sports personality of the year in the BBC South East sports awards.
It has rounded off a successful 2007 for the Maidstone-based 24-year-old, who secured six top-20 finishes and a second place in the Ladies Scottish Open.
She said: “I’m so lucky to be doing something I love and to be improving every year is a fantastic feeling.
“I still have so much to learn and I find that very exciting. To be with Chart Hills Golf Club and have their support is a massive boost; knowing that the whole club is behind me and wanting me to do well.”
Chart Hills’ general manager Rod Park said: “This completes quite a sensational year for Dani, who’s really starting to make a significant impact on the ladies’ game.
“It’s great for Chart Hills, not just because we have a successful professional golfer in our but because many of our members know Danielle, which creates an empathy from the club with her continued success.”

Field for southern Spain from February 10-23 is filling up

Bound for Spain: That's Lisa Barton (action image by courtesy of Tom Ward)

CHARLOTTE AND LISA FROM

WARWICKSHIRE ENTER

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO

WINTER FESTIVAL

Another two players have entered the Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival.
They both come from Warwickshire:
Charlotte Dalton from Solihull and a member of Ladbrook Golf Club. Charlotte has a handicap of 3 and will be 19 years old on January 22.
She had a good run through to the semi-finals of this year's English girls' championship at Old Ford Manor Golf Club. Qualifying for the match-play stages in 15th place, Charlotte had two good wins in reaching the last four. She beat the No 2 seed Hannah Barwood (Knowle) by 2 and 1 in the round of the last 16 and then she won at the 19th against Sian Evans (Faversham), the No 7 seed, in the quarter-finals.
In the semi-finals, Charlotte lost by 5 and 4 to the No 3 seed, Katie Best from Sherwood Forest.
Lisa Barton lives in Coventry and is a member of Coventry Golf Club. She has a handicap of 2 and is an experienced Warwickshire county team player. Lisa was a member of the Warwickshire team that reached the last four of the English county championship in 2004 at High Post Golf Club, Salisbury in Wiltshire. They lost only by 5-4 to the eventual champions Yorkshire.

Lisa is a regular competitor in English Ladies Golf Association tournaments and obviously wants a fast start to the 2008 season by getting an edge on her game during the Festival, to be held at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in the southern Spanish area of Murcia.

*Thanks to Lyndsey Hewison, Press Officer of ELGA, for supplying both the smaller pictures of Charlotte (left) and Lisa (right).

FESTIVAL ENTRIES SO FAR

PROFESSIONALS

Lauren DIGGLE (Wales).
Danielle MASTERS (England)
Natasha MORGAN (Wales)

Lien WILLEMS (Belgium).

AMATEURS

Orla BARRY (Galway, Ireland) handicap 5.
Lisa BARTON (Coventry) handicap 2.

Anna CARLING (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 4.
Charlotte DALTON (Ladbrook Park) handicap 3. Age 19 on January 22, 2008
Cara EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 8. Age 15.

Mandy EASTON (Dalmahoy) handicap 5.

Rebecca GEE (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 5. Age 16.

Kirsten MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 20. Age 14.

Lauren MacCALLUM (McDonald Ellon) handicap 7. Age 17.

Mary MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 4.

Meghan MacLAREN (Wellingborough, Northants) handicap 7. Age 13.

Emily OGILVY (Auchterarder) handicap +1.

Rhian Wyn THOMAS (Vale of Glamorgan) handicap 1. Age 20.

Michele THOMSON (McDonald Ellon) handicap +1. Age 19.

Jane TURNER (Mortonhall) handicap scratch. Age 18.

To be confirmed:

Rachael LIVINGSTONE (Musselburgh Old) scratch. Age 19.

+++E-mail your Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival entry direct to Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson: colin@scottishgolfview.com, telling him whether you are a professional or an amateur; if an amateur, then please give date of birth if under 20, home golf club, home city, current handicap.

The handicap limit has been raised to 20.

BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE 2008 WOMEN'S WINTER FESTIVAL

The inaugural Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Golf Festival, staged in February 2008, was a big success with the competitors.

Now we are planning the 2nd Women's Winter Festival to be staged in February 2009.

It will again be open to Lady Professional and Silver Division Lady Amateurs.

Tournament Controller Colin Farquharson and HDA Director of Golf Billy Sim are weighing up the pros and cons about leaving the two-week programme as it is or fine tuning it after seeing how things went in February.

As soon as we have definite news about February 2009 for you, it will be posted on the website.