The RLCGA County AGM was held at Haggs Castle Golf Club yesterday evening and approximately 50 members attended including our 90 year Honorary Life President Kathleen McNeil
Reports were given by Jane Thomson (Secretary) Audrey Sturgess (Treasurer), Fiona Roger (Results Secretary), Gillian Kyle (Junior Secretary)
Christeen Finlayson (Vice Captain) then told us that in 2009 it will be the RLCGA Centenary Year and that they were hoping to collate as much details from the past years --- so if you have any memorabilia please let Christeen know
Maureen Mitchell (Old Ranfurly) gave a report on the Course Rating program and announced that Renfrewshire had completed all the courses well ahead schedule
Retiring from the committee are Brenda Livingstone (Lamlash), Maureen Mitchell (Cathcart Castle) and Anne Robinson (Ranfurly Castle).
New to the committee are Maureen Cook (Lochwinnoch), Maureen Mitchell (Old Ranfurly) and Mamie Robin (Elderslie)Captain Beth then gave her annual report ---
The County Team Training Squad was coached again this year by Karyn Burns at Mearns Castle Golf Academy. The Academy sponsored the team by giving each squad member free practice at the range. Mini leagues were organised over the Winter months. Due to all the Child Protection issues the County needed to have a Disciplinary Procedure. This has been drawn up and passed by the Committee. A copy is here for anyone who is interested.
She then told us how The Website continued to tick along with visits to the site this year being over 19,000 up 6,500 on last year. September 2006 was the best month ever with 4,200 visits.
New this year was the Videos Page --- Unfortunately only viewable to those who have Broadband. However, those who were able to view them were able to see highlights of various County events. If your club is not receiving the results for handicap purposes, handicap exchange letters can be downloaded from the website. Also new was the Hot News Page where should anyone like to try and upload news they could contact Carol and have a go --- Unfortunately not many takers!! As with the Hot News Page the great disappointment to the website is the lack of news sent in by the members --- via the send me news page.
She also said Carol tries her best to make up stories that she has heard of!!
She would be delighted for some help on the matter or any new ideas that could perhaps be introduced in the forth coming season
She then thanked Carol for doing such a splendid job of our website
The new style logo on our sweaters has proved to be popular with over 100 items sold.
The Winter Foursomes final took place on 27th April at Cowglen Golf Club. The winners were Fiona Roger and Anne Robinson (Ranfurly Castle), beating Linda Stevenson and Alison Patrick (Whitecraigs) by 3 & 1.
Fifty competitors played in The Championship, which was held at The Eastwood Golf Club. Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) won the Peggy Clark Cup. In the semi finals Megan Briggs beat Sara Harman by 3/2 with Megan having a hole in one at the 7th. Donna Jackson had a very close game with Gillian Kyle winning at the 20th. In the final Megan played excellent golf beating defending champion Donna by 6/5. Megan was 2 under par for the 13 holes she played. Congratulations to Megan on winning the Championship for the first time.
The team played a match against The Renfrewshire Boys, the boys winning by 3 ½ games to 1 ½. At the end of May we played against an Eastwood Youth Team and unfortunately the boys won again 2 games to 1. Thankfully, the losing streak didn’t continue.
Renfrewshire were well represented at the Scottish Championships at Dunbar with Clare-Marie Carlton reaching the knockout stages and Gillian Kyle reaching the last eight of the Rosebowl.
The County had great success at the Inter County Foursomes at Irvine Golf Club. Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) & Maureen Skinner (Gourock) won the Scratch and in the Handicap section Penny Baglin & Audrey Barclay (East Renfrewshire) came 1st and Marie Doherty & Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine) were runners up.
In lovely weather in June we hosted the West of Scotland Inter County Matches at East Renfrewshire Golf Club. The team consisted of Megan Briggs, Clare-Marie Carlton, Gillian Kyle, Donna Jackson, Jennifer Jenkins, Gillian McGinlay, Kate O’Sullivan and Lesley Robertson. The girls played extremely well winning all three games to qualify for the first time in 8 years to go to The Scottish County Finals. I would like to thank all who assisted for all their help and a special thank you, to East Renfrewshire Golf Club for granting the courtesy of their course for the 3 days.
The West of Scotland Girls Association held a competition on the 9th August at The Ladies Golf Club Troon to mark their 50th Anniversary. Aileen Wilson and her team were runners up.
The Scottish Seniors Championship was played at Machrihannish Golf Club where Jennifer Mack reached the quarter finals. Renfrewshire were well represented again and all the ladies who played seem to have a riotous time!
96 ladies attended a Bridge Drive at Eastwood Golf Club to raise funds for Team expenses to go to The Scottish County Finals. We held a raffle with same fantastic prizes. I would like to thank all who gave donations or donated raffle prizes especially, Cameron Kyle of Calder Millerfield who donated a round of golf for four at Gleneagles; Frank Blincow who donated a Round of Golf for four at East Renfrewshire & The Kings Theatre who donated 2 theatre tickets. We raised an amazing £1300.
The team Megan Briggs, Clare-Marie Carlton, Sara Harman, Donna Jackson, Gillian Kyle, Gillian McGinlay, Lesley Robertson, Carol Whyte, Vice Captain & Team psychologist Christeen Finlayson and I travelled to The Hirsel Golf Club to the Scottish County Finals on 21st September. This was the worst possible weekend as it clashed with The Ryder Cup and the Glasgow September weekend. We are very grateful to the caddies who gave of their time to come. I would like to give a special mention to Pearl Orr, Brenda Stewart, Lindsay Mathie and our Irish friend Gerald Bunting and his wife Pat who came for all three days. However the timing didn’t dampen our spirits and the girls played superbly. We won on the Friday and Saturday and lost to the winner Fife on Sunday. We finished runners up winning the F.J. Morison Trophy for the first time.
The team was sponsored by Glenmuir and each team member received a raspberry pink wind top. These will be available for purchase next year. This is all thanks to Sarah Kirby.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the girls for playing so well and being such good sports.
Gillian McGinlay won the Rosebowl Final by 1 hole beating Carol Fell at Haggs Castle Golf Club.
The West of Scotland Championship was held in October as it had to be abandoned in May, due to adverse weather. Renfrewshire again did really well. Clare-Marie Carlton became the West of Scotland Champion for the first time, Donna Jackson runner up and Sara Harman third. Renfrewshire also won the team event. This meant that Renfrewshire had won every team trophy in the West this year.
On the same day Megan Briggs represented Renfrewshire at the Champion of Champions at Glasgow Gailes where she came runner up. Elaine Moffat from Fife was the winner.
Megan won the Tom Lehman Trophy for the third time. She won the West of Scotland Girls’ Championship and was appointed West of Scotland Girls’ Association Captain. She reached the last 16 of The Scottish Girls’ Championship.
Megan was in the Scottish Schools team and was part of the winning Scottish team at The Home Internationals at Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland. This team was captained by Jennifer Jenkins. Well done to Jennifer and all the girls.
Clare-Marie Carlton represented Scotland in the European Junior Ladies Team Championships which was also captained by Jennifer Jenkins. Representing Stirling University she won the Scottish Universities Championship at Lossiemouth with Sarah Paterson (Eastwood) representing Edinburgh University winning the handicap tournament.
Kate O’Sullivan finished 4th with her lowest ever score over 36 holes, in the Great Smokies Intercollegiate Women’s Golf Tournament in the United States.
As Gillian has reported Eilidh Briggs has had a fantastic year bringing her handicap down from 12 – 5. Well done to Eilidh and all the Juniors especially The Kennedy Salver Team.
Janette McCartney (Erskine) finished second handicap in the LGU Challenge Bowl at Dunblane.
Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle) won the handicap prize at the Spanish Seniors.
Dorothy Yates & Christine Fowler (Cowglen) won the handicap prize at the Scottish Ladies Foursomes.
Trish Davidson and Lorraine Morrow (Erskine) won the Grand Final of the Amateur Lady Golfer Summer Knock Out Pairs competition at the Belfry.
Renfrewshire was well represented in the West of Scotland Vets team. Jane Thomson was runner up in the West of Scotland Vets Bronze Championship.
She congratulated everyone who had won their club championships.
Congratulations to Ranfurly Castle Team, who won the National Finals of the Captains Team Trophy and to Cochrane Castle for winning and retaining the Greenlees Trophy, Kilmacolm on winning the 2nd Division and Erskine on winning the 3rd.
On the administrative side Pamela McKenzie is on the SLGA Executive Committee and is Chairman of County Golf. Sheila Goudie is Secretary and Lilias Snodgrass is Treasurer of the West of Scotland Vets. Nancy MacGadie is President of the West of Scotland Girls Golfing Association.
She then thanked her committee for all their help this year.
Past Captain Aileen retires from committee this year and she thanked her for all her hard work and enthusiasm. Aileen has a great wealth of knowledge which will be missed from committee. Aileen deserves some of the credit for our success this year. She prepared the ground work and we just finished it off!
Finally, Beth gave us a date for our diaries, they are holding a dinner on Wednesday 14th March, 2007 at Haggs Castle Golf Club and the speaker for the evening will be Sir Craig Reedie, member of The International Olympic Committee and husband of Rosemary. Tickets can be reserved from Beth at a price of £20 per ticket.
She then finished her report and stated that she had enjoyed her first year as Captain and was looking forward to next year already.
The Prizegiving then took place with Honorary President presenting the Prizes .
Coffee, tea, wine and chat were enjoyed by all at the close of the meeting
