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| Some of the West Vets Prizewinners |
After the AGM President Wendy Cameron presented the prizes.
To see larger photographs CLICK HERE and then click on slideshow
CAPTAIN’S REPORT
Another year gone in the blink of an eye! I can honestly say that I have enjoyed my first year of captaincy of the West Vets, and along with it, another year of fun in the wider circle of Scottish vet’s golfing circles.
I think the fun and camaraderie within the vets is something special.
The golf may not be quite as consistent as it once was, but we are still out there trying as hard as we ever did!
As in most of the Vet’s Divisions in Scotland we have a very full membership and turnouts for competitions are high. Our membership is full with 180 members and a considerable waiting list. Long may that continue. Perhaps not for the people well down the waiting list but certainly to be in such a healthy position is great.
The past season has not produced a whole lot of summer weather but if you recall our Spring Meeting at Prestwick St Cuthbert in April was a magnificent day and we had 87 enthusiastic ladies take part. There wee 7 ladies below the CSS for the day in Division 1 and 4 in Division 2. A great display of golf! Janette Stewart (Kilmarnock Barassie) was our winner with a brilliant net 66. Division 2 winner and super vet was May McGhee with a net 65.
The summer Meeting was played at Whitecraigs in weather that improved as the morning went on. This was also our qualifier for the West Division Championship. 68 people participated and scoring reflected the not so good conditions. The CSS was 75 (RO). The winner was Enid Young with a nett 77. Whitecraigs member Sandra Carruthers was Division 2 winner and Super Vet with a net 73, Well done Sandra – the best net score of the day! 8 players with the best scratch scores qualified for the Championship – more about that later.
There was a poor turnout for the Autumn Meeting at Cardross. Perhaps the awful weather leading up to it, and the fact that it was a difficult course and even more difficult with the conditions underfoot. The day did in fact turn out to be extremely good overhead but sadly we had only 33 ladies turn up.
We had 2 people who obviously didn’t find it too difficult! The CSS was 77 and Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes) returned a wonderful score of GROSS 78-6:72 pipping Suzanne Cadden (Cardross) also GROSS 78-5:73. Well done to both of them. Division 2 was won by Jane Thomson (Whitecraigs)
Matches:
All three matches this year were played in a very friendly but competitive manner and I am delighted to report a halved match against the East in the Elise Duncan Trophy at Gullane – scratch singles for the single handicapers.
A win (4-3) against the Midlands for the Mid West Trophy at Alloa – scratch singles for 10+ handicaps.
And a win (3.5-1.5) against the East in the Friendship Trophy at Troon – scratch foursomes for handicaps 10+.
May I minute my thanks to Emma Wilson, Midlands Captain and Noreen Fenton, East Captain for arranging two such enjoyable days away, and to say how much we enjoyed hosting the East foursomes team at Troon.
Can I thank all those who took part in the matches.
Low singles at Gullane:
Suzanne Cadden, Helen Faulds, Jane Finnie, Alex Glennie, May Hughes, Pat Hutton, Jennifer Mack, Janice Paterson and Anna Telfer.
10+ handicap singles match at Alloa:
Enid Young, Maureen Mitchell, Cathy Morton, Marion Stewart, Jennifer Graham, Mo Neilson and Anne Aitken.
Foursomes at Troon:
Enid Young, Sandra Gilchrist, Marion Stewart, Rena Simpson, Jennifer Graham, Ruth Henderson, Freda Bunch, Fiona Roger, Anne Aitken and Ann Dunn.
The Championship:
The 2011 West Division Championship was played again this year at Renfrew Golf Club. The 8 best scratch scores from the Summer Meeting went forward to the match play stages and the best 4 scratch scores in the Bronze contested the Bronze Championship.
We appreciate Renfrew allowing us the courtesy of the course – 10 tee tmes in all over two days.
A challenging course and good to start of the championship on a windless day.
Congratulations to all those who qualified for the match play stages.
Day 1 saw Alex Glennie, Jennifer Mack, May Hughes and Janette McCartney progress to the semi finals at the expense of Lorraine Campbell, May Hughes, Enid Young and Anna Telfer.
The semi finals and finals were played on day 2 under blue skies and warm sunshine.
Jennifer beat Alex at the 17th in a closely contested match.
The other semi final was a game of two halves between Pat and Janette. Janette took a commanding lead but Pat played her way back into the match and was victorious at the 18th.
The final was contested between Pat and Jennifer and in the end Pat was the worthy winner and Vets Champion for 2011.
The Bronze finalists were Mary Irving and May McGhee at the expense of Maureen Rennie and Anna MacDougall. The final was very competitive and closely fought with May McGhee coming out on top as Bronze Champion 2011.
Can I say how honoured I am to captain a Vet’s Division that has so many of its members committed to so many areas of Golf – administration, captaincy, team members, club champions and participants in so many of the Vet competitions not only in this country but also abroad. If I have omitted anyone in the following list, please forgive me.
Fiona Cowan, SLGA Committee
Sally Coster, Vice President of the Scottish Vets, Helen Faulds Scottish Vets Captain
Scottish team for Home Internationals – May Hughes and Alex Glennie team members, Helen Faulds Captain
Team members – Scotland v Ireland – May Hughes team member and reserves Alex Glennie and Suzanne Cadden,
Vets Jamboree – Alex Glennie and May Hughes team members and reserve Janice Paterson.
Helen Faulds, Vice Captain ( jamboree played before Helen took over captaincy)
Home Internationals: Captained by Helen Faulds Team members Alex Glennie and May Hughes.
Seven Vets played in the Scottish Championships at Machrihanish. I think they all wish the had decided not to – the weather was seriously horrendous.
17 West Division vets took part in the Scottish Seniors at Portpatrick Dunskey. There were 77 competed altogether. Alex Glennie became Scottish Stroke play Champion – many congratulations Alex. Alex, Pat Hutton, Janice Paterson and May Hughes all qualified for the match play stages, Jennifer Mack, missing out in a play off, for the last match play place. Pat unfortunately lost in the first round. May in the quarter finals but both Alex and Janice reached the semis Janice only losing to the eventual winner, Noreen Fenton at the 18th. Carol Fell qualified for the new handicap match play but unfortunately lost in the first round.
The West vets were represented at the British Seniors in Ireland by Janice Paterson. Jennifer Mack and Helen Faulds had to withdraw as they were storm bound and unable to cross to Ireland on the ferry!
Janice and Jennifer went to the Portugeuse Seniors. Janice won the 6-12 handicap category.
Janice and Suzanne Cadden participated at the Spanish Seniors.
Ayrshire County Captain Alex Glennie took her county team to the County Finals
Milngavie Greenlees team, led by Anna Telfer won the Greenlees Trophy for the 3rd year in a row.
I do know that several vets have won their club championships. I apologise for not being able to name them. I couldn’t find the list which I know Carol put on the web.
WELL DONE TO ONE AND ALL. A WONDERFUL PARTICIPATING BUNCH OF WEST DIVISION VETS.
I would like to finish my report by thanking all my committee for their support throughout the season and to all the members of the Division who have supported all the year’s competitions. I look forward to as many of you being able to be at next season’s competitions and hope that we have some slightly better summer months.
BLAIRGOWRIE REPORT 2011
120 Ladies from all over Scotland were at Blairgowrie for the annual vet’s meeting. The Championship played on the Landsdowne course features the 8 Divisional champions from all over Scotland, in a knockout competition and PAT HUTTON our West Division champion lost in the quarter final to Linda Dyball from Midlands. The East Champion, NOREEN FENTON, followed up her title of SCOTTISH SENIORS CHAMPION earlier in the season at PORTPATRICK DUNSKEY by becoming SCOTTISH VETS CHAMPION at Blairgowrie.
West division was well represented in the prize list for the other competitions over the two days.
Played on the Monday, JUNE IRONS was second in the Patrick Rose Bowl – medal round played over Rosemount- with a net 74 and SHEILAGH ORBORNE was 5th with a net 76. The Buchanan Cup, for the best net score for the ladies in the more senior age group was won by JUNE IRONS with SHEILAGH ORSBORNE runner up.
The Greensomes was played on Tuesday and the West had 13 couples participating. Carol Fell and Helen Faulds retained the Tony Moffat Trophy for the best scratch score of 78 and the Beddows Quaich for 1sr handicap (78-7:71)
Well done to all the prizewinners.
Helen and I attended the committee meeting on Sunday, along with the other captains and secretaries and then the AGM, well supported, was held on the Monday night. Both meetings past with any great dramas.
In the absence of President Jean Thomas due to illness Sally Coster in her role as Vice President chaired the AGM.
Correspondence was received from Team members who played in the Irish and Jamboree matches saying that they felt it was a privilege to play for the vets and appreciated the continued support from the Association and that they were very aware of costs involved although they do contribute quite a lot of expenses themselves.
Finances seems to be holding their own. Sheila has already mentioned the £1 increase payable by the Divisions.
Pam Williamson gave a very comprehensive report on the 2011 Jamboree held at Wellingborough in August. She was disappointed that the Miller Stirling Cup wasn’t retained but the team gave of their best. One win, one draw and a loss.
Pam then handed over the Scottish Vet’s captaincy to Helen Faulds and wished her well in her time of office. Helen then announced that her vice captain would be Noreen Fenton from the East.
The 2012 Jamboree will be hosted by Scotland at The Hirshel Golf Club, Coldstream from 7th to 9th August.
The Irish match will be in Ireland at Hilton Temple Patrick Golf Club from 14th to 16th April 2012.
It has been agreed that the Scottish team have a nice new uniform which is in the hands of Helen.
At the request of Helen, The Championship draw has been changed to a rolling draw rather than divisions drawn out of a hat. There are 8 Division and there will now be a set draw which will cover seven years.
As always a huge thanks must go to the Scottish Vet’s Secretary Jean Lambert and her team for a very well organised few days of competition as well as the meetings she has to prepare for. It is thoroughly enjoyed by all those taking part.
Dates for next year’s Blairgowrie Meeting will be 16th to 18th September.
The meeting this year has passed the use of Distance Measuring Devices for Blairgowrie 2012.
If you wish to go to Blairgowrie next year please make sure that your form is with Ruth by the Spring Meeting next year. Entry is subject to a set number of couples from each Division determined by the Divisional Membership. Should we have to many apply from the West we will need to ballot for places.
Mary McKenna Trophy -- Report by May Hughes
Craigielaw was the venue for the annual friendly tussle with Ireland for the Mary McKenna Trophy. The Scots team of Elaine Allison, Heather Anderson, Allison Bartlett, Lorna Bennett, May Hughes, Anne Ryan, Mary Smith and Moira Thomson, were eagerly awaiting the contest to get their revenge for the defeat last year at Portmarnock.
April in Scotland can on occasions be cold and wet but in this instance the sun shone from dawn to dusk leaving several vets short on sun cream.
In the fourballs on day one the Scots did not get off to the best of starts losing the first session 3.5 to 0.5, with Mary Smith and Alison Bartlett to only pair to put a half point on the board. This left Captain Pam Williamson and Vice Captain Helen Faulds searching for inspirational words to inspire a comeback. The Scots now needed 6 points from the 8 singles to regain the trophy.
However in true Scottish underdog style the team made a valiant effort to turn the match around. From the word go the Scots were out of starting blocks at full pelt and at the ninth the Irish captain Roma English must have had some niggling doubts of cashing in on their overnight lead. All but one game at the turn was in Scotland’s favour.
Moira Thomson put the first vital point on the board and a hole in one from Lorna Bennett helped add a second. Elaine Allison, Alison Bartlett and Anne Ryan posted 3 more wins and the Irish were beginning to feel heat. With 5 singles on the board only one more point was required, which after the disaster on day one was a welcome position.
May Hughes was all square at 15 but lost on 17 to Sheena McElroy. Mary Smith unfortunately lost on the last which left Heather Anderson needing a point for the victory. Sadly however a closing birdie from Ireland’s Helen Jones secured the vital point for the visitors and the Mary McKenna Trophy sailed west for another year.
The captain and her right hand woman were exhausted after one of the tightest games ever and although disappointed to lose, were very proud at just failing at the final hurdle. Next year at Temple Patrick in Belfast we look forward to fight another day.
Alex Glennie also gave ann excellent report on the The Annual Vets Jamboree at Wellingborough Golf Club. Click Here and then Scroll down for all the results
