Honorary Member Heather Anderson is 90 today

West Vets Honorary Member  Heather Anderson is celebrating her 90th Birthday today -- unfortunately though she is in hospital after fall last week having broken her hip -- Hopefully she is now on the mend and is able to come home for Christmas. 

We all wish Heather a Happy BIG Birthday and a speedy recovery.

To read more go to The CarolFellGolf Website

Season Greetings to all our Members

On behalf of the WestVets Committee, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Hopefully 2021 will be a better one for all of us.

Keep safe, healthy and we look forward to seeing you all next season.

Chris Fowler

WEST VETS AGM -- 2020 MINUTES

With the current government guidelines, the 2020 AGM will unfortunately not be taking place.

This year there were no fixtures, no team matches, therefore unfortunately no prizes to be given out and no reports on international matches to be read out, also no real issues have arisen throughout the year.

Here are all the reports and the fixtures which would ordinarily be read out at the AGM.

The  2020 West Vets AGM minutes can be read on the website by Clicking Here 

Alternatively if you wish a better better print then out click on the following link  

CLICK HERE TO PRINT OUT THE AGM 2020 MINUTES

West Vets Fixtures for 2021

Fixtures for 2021:

Spring Meeting: Wednesday, 7th April 2021 Lanark GC - CANCELLED

Summer Meeting: Wednesday 12th May 2021, Cathkin Braes GC 

Autumn Meeting: Thursday 2nd September 2021, West Kilbride GC 

Singles: West Division v Midlands (Mid-West Trophy)

Troon Portland Thursday, 27th May 2021

Singles: West Division v East Division (Elise Duncan Trophy)

Douglas Park GC, Tuesday 1st June 2021 (to be confirmed)

Foursomes: East Division v West Division (ASP Friendship Trophy) Turnhouse GC, Thursday, 12th August 2021

West Division Championship Finals: Renfrew GC

Tuesday 18th May, 2021

Thursday 20th May, 2021

SVLGA v Ireland: Mary McKenna Trophy, Roganstown GC, Dublin

29th & 30th March 2021 - CANCELLED

Jamboree: Glenbervie GC 3rd – 6th August 2021

Blairgowrie Meeting: 

SVLGA Championship Sunday 19th September 2021 

The Patrick Rose Bowl Monday 20th September 2021

Beddows Quaich Tuesday 21st September 2021

SVLGA AGM Monday 20th September 2021

West Vets AGM Thursday 4th November 2021 2.00pm at Cowglen GC

West Vets Trio join SVLGA training session at East Renfrewshire Golf club

 

Gillian Kyle with SVLGA Squad at East Renfrewshire Golf Club
Click to enlarge

The Scottish Veteran Ladies' Golf Association (SVLGA)  had to cancel their team events but it’s never to soon to prepare for 2021. 

Their 2020 squad of players have started winter matches by visiting East Renfrewshire GC, home club of Gillian Kyle. 

West Vet Gillian was joined by other West Vets Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart 

Karen Ballantyne (SVLGA Captain) thanked  Gillian for arranging this and to the club for their hospitality and said."Looking at the scores, our players have been working hard on their games during the past few months."

For other photos (Courtesy of Gillian) go to CarolFellGolf 

PRO AM AT IRVINE BOGSIDE IN OCTOBER

The UK’s first ladies-only Pro-Am is back for the third year running, and this time it’s heading to The Irvine Golf Club in Ayrshire on Tuesday October 6.

We know many of you were disappointed not to be able to head to the AIG Women's Open at Royal Troon this weekend, but this Scottish jaunt could be the next best thing.

Designed to let you experience some light-hearted team competition (and also win some fabulous team and individual prizes), the teams consistent of three amateurs and one professional.

Don’t know a female pro who would be up for it?

Well never fear, the organisers will find someone suitable to partner you up with. All you need to provide is yourself and two pals.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

West Vets Fixtures & update July 2020

On the 8th July West Vets Secretary Sandra MacDougall sent out an email to all the West Vet Members from Captain Chris Fowler -- In was you did not receive it or have not read it -- here is the Covid-19 update for the Association ------

The Committee held a Zoom meeting on the 6th July to discuss our fixtures for 2020 and how we go forward into 2021. 

1. We took account of what Scottish Golf had to say about Open Competition, Elite Amateur or indeed Professional events: 
"At present, it is not currently envisaged that these type of events will return for some time yet" 
Along with the SVLGA's early decision to cancel all their competitive golf events this year, we have decided to cancel our Autumn Meeting at West Kilbride in September. East Vets have already made the decision to cancel the Foursomes Match in August

2 Since we have not been able to hold any events this year, we felt that it is only fair to carry forward your subscription payments into 2021. We hope this meets with your approval.

3. It is hoped that all our 2020 fixtures will remain the same for 2021. Same venues, approximately the same dates for competitions and matches. Sandra has been in touch with all the clubs we were going to use and is hopeful this will be the case.

With so much uncertainty about golf this year, we felt we should make these decisions now and let you know the situation as it stands.

I will be in touch later in the year with any news about fixtures and what will happen about our AGM.

These are certainly unprecedented and extraordinary times. 
Keep Safe, enjoy your golf.

Chris Fowler (Captain)

MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN CHRIS

Hi Ladies,

"I hope that you and your families are all safe and well.

Today would have been the West Vets Summer meeting at Cathkin Braes Golf Club, also our Championship qualifier which would have been played next week over Renfrew Golf Club."

"With the announcement that Golf will be permitted in England from Wednesday and in Ireland and Wales from next Monday there is no doubt that we are getting closer to a return ourselves here in Scotland.

I’m sure most of you will be looking forward to getting back out on the golf course, mindful of social distancing and all other measures put in place to keep you safe."

"It has been a really difficult time for everyone and it is likely to a slow return to what we consider normal – playing golf, meeting friends & family."

"I will keep you up to posted with any news or updates."

Take care and stay safe.

Chris Fowler

MESSAGE FROM THE SVLGA

As you all know, we are in the midst of a coronavirus epidemic and the SVLGA Committee has been trying to find the best way forward for 2020. We have held a virtual committee meeting, and, taking into account recent government advice on the length of time it may take to find our way out of the lockdown, we have decided to cancel all our events for 2020. Playing any kind of competitive golf event appears to be quite a long way off. Our events involve an older age group, travel across Scotland and England, overnight stays, catering, not to speak of methods of playing golf at a social distance. We hope that all Divisions agree with these decisions.

The first event to be cancelled is the Jamboree at Glenbervie. We were looking forward to hosting the English Divisions in Scotland. However, the Divisions have agreed to postpone the event to 2021, and we have booked to play at Glenbervie from Monday 2nd - Thursday 5th August 2021.

We have also decided to cancel the SVLGA Championship. Many Divisions have cancelled their qualifying competitions which are usually played over the year leading up to the finals at Blairgowrie. The Scottish Championship will not be contested this year. In 2021 the SVLGA Championship Finals will be contested on Sunday 19th September and Monday 20th September at Blairgowrie as usual. 

We have also cancelled the Blairgowrie event. We were hoping that we might be able to hold a golf event in September as it is still a few months away, but it is looking increasingly unlikely that we would be able to hold the event in the normal format, and the sensible decision is to cancel it. We have booked at Blairgowrie for 2021 on Monday 20th September and Tuesday 21st September. Thank you to everyone who intimated that they would like to play this year. Most Divisions had taken up their quota, and will be allocated the same number of places for 2021.

Our AGM is scheduled for Sunday 20th September 2020 at Blairgowrie at 7.30pm. As the Blairgowrie event is not going ahead, we will find another method of holding the AGM which is likely to be on the same date at the same time. We will let you know details as soon as we can.

WEST VETS TEAM MATCHES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED

I have been in touch with the East and Midlands Captains regarding our up and coming Team Matches. We have agreed that these scheduled matches cannot go ahead following the latest Government directives.
Consequently -
                          28th May West v Midlands at Troon
                          2nd June West v East at Douglas Park
Have been cancelled.
Whether these matches can be rearranged later in the season is impossible to predict. We will keep you posted.

With best wishes and good health throughout the coming months.

Chris Fowler

WEST VETS CANCELLATIONS AND UPDATE ON THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

In light of the recent directive from the UK Government to avoid non-essential social contact, we have taken the decision to cancel/postpone the Spring Meeting at Lanark, the Summer Meeting at Cathkin Braes along with the Championship at Renfrew.
The number of clubs around Scotland who have now closed their catering and bar facilities is increasing daily.
I am also aware that things are likely to escalate over the next few weeks.
We are extremely disappointed but agree that this is in the best interests of our members.

The draw for Blairgowrie will go ahead, we have been allocated 11 spaces. So far 9 couples have sent Sandra applications. If you still wish to apply, can you do so by 4th April.
We normally ask for names of ladies who wish to be considered for our 3 Team Matches, to put there names forward when attending the Spring Meeting, can you email myself if you wish to be considered for selection for any of the matches listed below.

For players with a handicap of 10 and above there are two matches:
The singles match against Midlands, 28th May at Troon Portland 
The Foursomes match against East, 13th August at Turnhouse GC
For players with a handicap of 9 and under 
Singles match against East, 2nd June at Douglas Park

Obviously, we will be looking at the current situation nearer the time as to whether any of these matches will take place.

It may be possible to try and play the Championship later in the year, however that is something we can look at over the coming weeks.

Stay safe everyone.
Chris Fowler (Captain)

The Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy is postponed

The Annual SVLGA team v Irish Senior Ladies team for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy:

I suspect that it will come as no surprise that the decision has been made to postpone the above match which was due to take place on 28 and 29 March in Dublin. We are currently in discussions with our Irish friends to decide when the next match will be played.

This is such a disappointment for all concerned but it is clear the current situation will not improve  in the next two weeks and this is the only course of action which could be taken. 

In the meantime, we do hope that all our members stay fit and well and manage to get out on the golf course to reap the benefits of playing this great game. 

Stay fit and well everyone ⛳️🏌️‍♀️

Karen Ballantyne

SVLGA Captain

SOME WEST VETS HAVE BEEN COMPETING IN THE SPANISH SENIORS

Lesley, Liz, Donna and Gillian on the practice day

West Vets, Donna Jackson, Liz Stewart, Gillian Kyle, Lesley Lloyd and Gillian McGinlay have all been at the Spanish Seniors last week in Valencia at Parador El Saler Golf Club.
The event consisted of 2 days of 'Doubles" - Fourball (Day 1) and Foursomes (Day 2) and then 3 days of singles with the cut being made at 60th out of a field of 90 after the 2nd round.

Out of a field of 46 couples Gillian Kyle partnered by Scottish Seniors Champion Elaine Moffat finished in Tied in 22nd place followed by 1 shot behind by Donna and Liz tied in 24th place

The whole week all the players endured exceedingly high winds that played havoc with many scores and as you can see from the photo below some light refreshment was needed to help the recovery !!

The 19th Hole

Donna and Lesley Lloyd had the best performance with both of them finishing the rounds tied in 40th position and Donna was 20th in the handicap section.

For all the daily reports and scores click on the following link

  CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE REPORTS

BLAIRGOWRIE 2020 - ENTRIES NOW BEING TAKEN

The entry form for Blairgowrie 2020 can now be downloaded here and sent to me along with a cheque for £124 per couple. 

We will ballot the entries at the Spring Meeting at Lanark on Wednesday 8th April.

As discussed at our AGM in November - we will prioritise those couples who were not successful in last year’s ballot - and will create a new waiting list if we are oversubscribed this year, once we learn how many spaces the West Division has been allocated for 2020.

Sandra Macdougall (Secretary SVLGA (West Division)

SPRING MEETING AND SUMMER MEETING ENTRIES ARE NOW BEING TAKEN

18th Green and Clubhouse at Lanark GC

The West Vets Spring Meeting is at Lanark Golf Club  this year on Wednesday 8th April 

Entry on line is now available -- CLICK HERE or go to the Entry On line Page where you will also find the online entry for the Summer Meeting over Cathkin Braes

GILLIAN, LESLEY AND DONNA SELECTED FOR THE SCOTTISH VETS TEAM

West Vets - Gillian Kyle, Lesley Lesley Lloyd and Donna Jackson

The SVLGA and Captain Karen Ballantyne are delighted to announce the team who will be travelling to Dublin to play against the Irish Seniors at the Roganstown Course on Sunday 29th and Monday 30th March.  

We will be taking the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy back to Ireland and we do hope it will be making the return journey with us on the Monday.

The team is:

Alison Davidson Midland

Karen Ferguson-Sneddon East

Donna Jackson West

Gillian Kyle West

Lesley Lloyd West

Lorna Mckinlay Midland

Elaine Moffat Midland

Sheena Wood Northern

Reserve:

Jennifer Bryans East

HAPPY BIG BIRTHDAY WENDY

Congratulations to Honorary President Wendy Cameron on celebrating her 90th Birthday today.  Click Here to Read More

CLICK HERE TO SEE HER BIRTHDAY CARD

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO OUR MEMBERS AND NEW MEMBERS

A very Happy New Year to all our members and I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new members. ---

Norma Choat (Hilton Park GC) 
June Gordon (Douglas Park GC) 
Josephine Monaghan (Dumbarton GC) 
Ninuk Smith (Elderslie GC) 
Rona Agnew (Dumbarton GC) 
Lindsay Mathie (Ladies Golf Club Troon) 
Elspeth Mulholland (Hilton Park GC) 
Helen Craig (West Kilbride GC) 
Marianne McKelvie (Elderslie GC) 
Gillian McGinlay (Ladies Golf Club Troon) 
Jan Grant (Hilton Park GC) 
Marilyn Peden (Hilton Park GC) 
Anna Brawley (Cowglen GC) 
Catherine Kennedy (Ladies Golf Club Troon) 
Anne McGillivray (Prestwick St Nicholas GC) 
Gina Rennie (Douglas Park GC) 
Susan Dumigan (Prestwick St Nicholas GC) 
Eda Davy (Balfron Golf Society) 
Jan MacNab (Ranfurly Castle GC) 
Stella Bowie (Kilmalcolm GC) 
Brenda Duthie (Cathcart Castle GC)

We had a large number of resignations last year which has allowed us to offer membership to everyone on the waiting list. So we are still in a good position regarding members moving forward. 

Anyone now applying will not have the same wait to get in. I look forward to seeing you all at our meetings this year.

The Fixture Cards were given to representatives at the County AGM or will be on their way by post. It is also available on the Website. - Click Here.

The three meetings this year are:

SPRING MEETING: Wednesday, 8th April 2020 – Lanark Golf Club 

SUMMER MEETING: Wednesday, 13th May 2020 – Cathkin Braes Golf Club

AUTUMN MEETING : Thursday, 3rd September 2020 – West Kilbride Golf Club

The entries over the past couple of years have been great, I’m sure this will continue as we now have a bigger playing membership. As before, we would urge you to support the catering at each of these 

clubs, as they very kindly offer us courtesy of their courses.

Gilets will be available to buy at these meetings or if you get in touch with me, I can get one to you.

I hope we have better weather than we had last year and all the competitions get played. 

Wishing you all successful and enjoyable golf in 2020

Christine Fowler (West Vets Captain)