Foursomes Don't Go Scotland's Way

Day One at an absolutely beautiful Craigielaw and Scotland are faced with a fairly substantial uphill battle tomorrow in the singles. The fourball first round went Ireland's way with a scoreline of three and a half points to a half. One the whole the driving was good for both teams but the Irish were more accurate with the shot to the green and getting the ball in the hole - a somewhat necessary requirement. When the iron or wood to the green failed to come off, this was often followed by an initially good-looking chip which unfortunately didn't stop close enough to the pin for holing out. Even the gentlest of pitches could quite often roll off the green whereas putting needed a strong positive stroke. Hopefully tomorrow will see a more successful outcome.

Results (Scotland first)
Lorna Bennett and Elaine Allison lost to Sheena McElroy and Phil O'Gorman 2 and 1
Heather Anderson and Anne Ryan lost to Niamh Giblin and Mairead MacNamara 4 and 3
Moira Thomson and May Hughes lost to Valerie Hassett and Violet McBride 3 and 2
Mary Smith and Allison Bartlett halved with Helen Jones and Pat Doran


The singles matches were drawn out of the hat. That makes it sound rather like finding Houses for the new pupils at Hogwarts and actually there was no hat, all the Scottish names were in one brandy glass and all the Irish in another. This is how they are placed tomorrow starting at 9.00am.

Moira Thomson v Mairead McNamara
May Hughes v Sheena McElroy
Anne Ryan v Violet McBride
Lorna Bennett v Niamh Giblin
Mary Smith v Pat Doran
Elaine Allison v Phil O'Gorman
Alison Bartlett v Valerie Hassett
Heather Anderson v Helen Jones

Lots of great tussles there.

Scottish Vets v Irish Senior Select at Craigielaw

At the moment of posting, Scottish Vets - including our own Moira Thomson of Gullane and the team captain Pamela Williamson of Baberton will be finishing off their practice round at Craigielaw, having waved (in possibly a somewhat false guise of camaraderie) to their Irish contemporaries, mid-course. No such social niceties tomorrow when they meet seriously to contest the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy (which our ladies lost last year - small blip). Tomorrow, at 11.30 is the four ball, better ball first round, to be followed on Monday by the singles matches between 9.00 - 10.00 where all eight team members from each side meet to battle it out. Previous readers will remember these match draws are generally drawn out of any old hat so bring it all on. Why not come along and spur them on with your support? The weather forecast is just right for a day (within shouting distance) at the seaside. It's going to be a great weekend for photography!

Unfortunately the Scottish Vets Champion, Karen Ballantyne of Craigmillar Park is in sunny Oz but sends her good wishes to the team.

Scottish Team
Elaine Allison (Midland)
Heather Anderson (North)
Alison Bartlett (Highland)
Lorna Bennett (Midland)
May Hughes (West)
Anne Ryan (Highland)
Mary Smith (Highland)
Moira Thomson (East)

Non-playing captain Pamela Williamson (East)
Non-playing Vice-captain Helen Faulds (West)

Irish Team
Pat Doran (Donabate)
Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire)
Valerie Hassett (Ennis)
Helen Jones (Strabane)
Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
Sheena McElroy (Grange)
Mairead McNamara (Woodbrook)
Phil O'Gorman (Laytown/Bettystown)

Non-playing captain Roma English (Larne)

East Vets Spring Meeting

At last, a semi-acceptable day for the Spring meeting with 69 completing the round. That compares most favourably with last year's 32. The weather, always that most convenient of conversation topics, was downright cold and very windy for those first out. Either one got used to being blown about or it became less windy and a bit warmer. Then, in accordance with BBC Weather, rain clouds gathered so those going out in the middle felt very aggrieved at getting wet,but at least they weren't frozen. Those later in the day possibly got more of the sun and less of the wind and exhibited a very healthy glow when they got in. The main thing is the Spring meeting was played. Hurrah.

Moira Thomson (Gullane) lifted the Scratch prize, which she won on the better inward half from Noreen Fenton (Dunbar). They both had scratch 75's. In general the scores were quite high so the Silver handicap winner, Katy Gillies (18) from Melville caused quite a stir with her nett 65. She had three's at four out of the five par three's - always a help - but still managed this lovely score despite an eight at the uphill 14th. There were many stories of balls in bunkers and ladies being lost without trace but still, there were plenty smiling faces in the clubhouse afterwards.

One lady - shall we name her? - yes we will - it was Rosemary Denny of Murrayfield - she had a fairly forgettable/unforgettable round which became a No Return because of one of the afore-mentioned bunkers. After having a somewhat disconcerting first hole with a ten which she described as typical army golf (left, right, left, right) she proceeded in orderly fashion, hoping as we all do, for improvement. The ninth was the bunker hole. She had an encouraging three at the plateau 11th, a six at the longish 12th where the pheasants were getting blown backwards, then a two at the short 13th where she had what was described as a huge and curling putt. Disregard the 14th (an easily attained nine). Then the saucer-shaped 15th where the drive,not exactly by the book, rolled, and rolled, and rolled, on to the green, hopped over the hole and stopped dead for another two. The ups and downs of golf. Someone might have wished she had come out of that bunker on the ninth. Isn't golf a bundle of laughs!

Very many thanks to Ethel Jack who was of most enormous help assisting the committee at the desk.

By the way, who was it who paid the balance of the entrance fee not with a pound but with a 20 euro coin? CCTV in operation next year!

CSS for Gullane members was unchanged at 69
CSS for all others was +1 at 70

Results
Scratch
Moira Thomson 75 (bih)

Silver Division
1st Handicap Katy Gillies (18) 65
2nd handicap Barbara Halliday (13) 67
3rd handicap Margo Blair (20) 68
4th Handicap Molly Woolgar (20) 69

Bronze Division
1st Handicap Judy Cuthbertson (29) 69
2nd handicap Anne Patrick (21) 71

All individual scores have been emailed to the relevant club. This includes all adjustments.

EVLGA Spring Meeting Draw

First meeting of the year and surely, the weather cannot possibly be as bad as last year, which led to drastic reductions in the entry. One thing , the course at Gullane will be fantastic so all we need are playable weather conditions. We can but hope.

The balance to be paid is £7 so to keep Dulcie, our new committee member, happy, if possible please arrive with the exact money. Why not ransack your piggie bank and put it in your golf bag now!!!! Please also remember, those who have them, that it was passed almost unanimously at the AGM, to permit the use of Skye Caddies and the like, but NOT any aid which determines slope or wind force. These will always be disallowed.

It was also agreed at the AGM that the official colour of teeshirt to be worn in competition with our green jersey would be yellow. Katherine will be taking orders for these teeshirts (Glenmuir Lemon) at the Spring meeting. Those ladies who normally play in our matches or anyone who is interested, may wish to consider purchasing one at this point as Katherine needs a minimum order for postage.

Please let Katherine know if you now find you are unable to play but, with apologies, the deposit is non-returnable. As of this year we are being charged by Gullane for tee-times booked.


Draw.
8.48 N. Fenton, D. Mitchell, J. Herd
8.56 M. Thomson, H. Thomson, D. Thomson
9.04 S. Grant, C. Reid, E. Smith
9.12 P. Stephenson, P. Townsend, V. Sandeman
9.20 R. Denny, P. Rose, M. Maxwell
9.28 B. McIntosh, M. Campbell, A. Patrick
9.36 G. Glen, E. Todd, R. Brown
9.44 L. Gray, M. Hutchison, C. Shedden
9.52 B. Freedman, C. Clarke, F. MacFadzean
10.00 D. Barnes, S. Caton, M. Woodward
10.08 M. Dalrymple, M. Stewart, M. Armstrong
10.16 A. Hanna, S. Hunter, A. McKenzie
10.24 N. Richmond, C. Ross, A. Brownie
10.32 M. Lauder, C. MacLeod, R. Lynch
10.40 J. Squires, A. Beedie, J. Watt
10.48 I. Halliday, K. Gillies, J. Dawson
10.56 F. Ford, E. Jack, F. McLaren
11.04 S. Brian, N. Gow, E. Campbell
11.12 C. Campbell, J. Cuthbertson, P. Scott
11.20 P. Williamson, R. Thoresen, M. Hardy
11.28 M. Woolgar, A. McIntosh, M. Law
11.36 M. Cranston, J. Watt, C.Simpson
11.44 S. Stewart, K. Milne, M. Richardson
11.52 G. Thomson, S. Cunningham, M. Blair
12.00 V. Biggar, P. Mavor, J. Butters
12.08 J.Millar, C. Bowe, D. Silver
12.16 M. Thompson, C. Johnstone, S. Lyon
12.24 S. Cullen, B. Biggart, R. Dee
12.32 C. Kinnaird, B. Halliday, M. Magson

This draw is out of the hat with small adjustments for special times asked for , accommodating ladies who are travelling together, etc, etc so have a quick squint at the second trio out - is that not the biggest co-incidence?

Have a very enjoyable game everyone.

Draw for the Ramsden Cup

The season is starting up at last and here is the draw for the Ramsden Cup which will start the day after the Spring Meeting on Tuesday April 5th. Please note that the phone nos. for all contestants will be on the board at the Spring Meeting - Katherine will have her giant draw on show. If you want to find out telephone nos. before then, to get your game fixed up, all committee members will have a copy of the telephone numbers. Please note that Dulcie Barnes is our new committee member.

First round to be played by May 7
Clare Bowe
Bye
Mary Davidson
Bye
Christine Simpson
Bye
Madge Hutchison
Bye
Denise Mitchell
Bye
Kate Milne
Bye

Sylvia Cunningham
Rita Dee

Marion Law
Senga Grant

Sandra Simpson
Elice Cackett

Anne Patrick
Kate Johnston

Sandra Ashurst
Fiona Ford

May Hardy
Deirdre Kinloch-Anderson

Vicki Cullen
Karen Ballantyne

Maureen McKay
Ruth Brown

Christine Clarke
Molly Woolgar

Gratian Andrew
Norma Richmond

Liz McLelland
Lyn Lockerbie

Sandra Kempston
Patricia Rose

Dulcie Barnes
Ray Lynch

Betty Redwood
Elsa Todd

Elinor Blair
Fiona McLaren

Alice Archbold
Margo Blair

Maureen Stewart
Isabel MacDonald

Isobel Hastings
Jean Dawson

Seonaid Stewart
Anne McIntosh

Gilly Glen
Christine Reid

Marion Cantley
Bye
Hilary Thomson
Bye
Isobel Halliday
Bye
Muriel Armstrong
Bye
Mairi Pollock
Bye
Katy Gillies
Bye