FRIENDLY MATCH v FORFAR - 22nd April

Our second friendly match of the season took place on Monday 22 April against Forfar Ladies on Rosemount.  The afternoon's weather played ball with the sun coming out - some ladies even managed to strip down to short sleeves!  Both teams enjoyed their matches and the two course meal in the clubhouse afterwards.

All four matches were close, however the result was a home win for Blairgowrie 3 1/2 to 1/2.  Thanks to Moira Campsie, Marion Kay, Mary Miller, Pauline Hill, Linda Rice, Eileen Brown, Sue Waddell (team captain) and Lorraine MacGregor for representing the Club, and to Sue for the match report and photos.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS

The Club Championships are the most prestigious of the golfing year and the following is a reminder of the rules:

There are four qualifying rounds for the Club Championships during designated SGL medals - two on Rosemount and two on Lansdowne, which can be played on either the main competition days or the alternate days as per the fixture card.  The dates for 2024 are: 

Round 1: Rosemount - Friday 26 April (alternate Sunday 21 April)

Round 2: Lansdowne - Friday 3 May (alternate Saturday 27 April)

Round 3: Rosemount - Friday 10 May (alternate Sunday 5 May)

Round 4: Lansdowne - Friday 17 May (alternate Saturday 11 May)

It is not necessary to play all four rounds, however one round on each course must be played.  A player’s best scratch score from each of Rosemount and Lansdowne are added together and ranked in order, split into Division 1 and Divisions 2&3 combined.

The top 8 players from Division 1 go into the draw for the Club Championship.  Likewise, the top 8 players from Division 2&3 combined qualify for the Division 2 Championship.  After the Championship qualifiers have been selected, the 8 players with the best nett scores from Divisions 1, 2 &3 combined will qualify to play for Sophie's Trophy. 

Following the introduction of the WHS, during the qualifying rounds players are split into divisions based on their playing handicap on the competition date for the course played on.  They may therefore fall into different divisions when playing even if there is no change to their handicap index.  While this is fine for handicap competitions on a single course, for scratch events such as the Club Championships, which are qualifying over both courses, it is considered to be a clearer divide to use a player’s handicap index as at the date of the first qualifying competition to allocate divisions.  Therefore, for 2024, players with a handicap index as at Sunday 21 April of up to 20.4 will fall into Division 1 and be eligible for the Club Championship draw; players with a handicap index of 20.5 and above will be eligible for the draw for the Division 2 Championship.

Once all the qualifying rounds have taken place, the draws will be made and the players advised of their opponents and the "play by" dates for the quarter and semi-finals.  The players are then responsible for arranging and booking tee times to play their matches.  The Club Championship and Division 2 Championship are played as scratch knockouts, whilst Sophie's Trophy qualifiers play a handicapped knockout.

This year the knockout rounds and finals are to be played on Lansdowne, with the final of all three competitions to be held on Sunday 30 June.  If you wish to enter these competitions you must be available to play on this date.

When playing in the qualifying rounds, please let the starter know if you wish to enter the Championships.

Full details, and information about all Ladies Competitions, can be found in the folder in the Ladies locker room. 

FRIENDLY MATCH v ELIE - 15th April

We received a warm welcome from the ladies at Elie for our first friendly match of the season.  A beautiful lunch was enjoyed by all pre-golf giving everyone fuel as they headed out in very windy and wet conditions.  Thankfully the rain subsided and the ladies were warmed by some glorious sunshine. 

All matches were keenly contested, however the home team triumphed, winning all four.  The Elie Lady Captain, Jeanette Johnston, admitted that they had an “extra player in their team - the wind!!” Thank you to Brenda Clough, Fiona Edwards, Moira Lumby, Meriel Walker, Eileen McMurray, Sheila Bruce, Gill Tissell and to Maggie Marshall, for being team captain and providing photos on the day.

AWAY DAY TO MONTROSE GOLF LINKS - 19th September

Our outing this year will take place on Thursday 19th September, playing on Montrose Golf Links 1562 course - the 5th oldest golf course in the world.  A sign-up sheet to register your interest has been posted in the ladies locker room....full details below:

SUMMER SEASON DELAYED

Yesterday should have been the first Medal of the new season, played on Lansdowne alongside the Karrinyup Spoon competition, however once again we were defeated by the weather which resulted in the course being closed for most of the morning due to snow!!!

We have been able to reschedule the event for Tuesday 16th April with tee time zones between 9:00am and 10:30am and 12:30pm to 1:00pm.

Booking is now open, and will close at 10:00am on Monday 15th April.... here's hoping the sun will have found it's way to Blairgowrie by then.

THE COLUMBINE CUP - 4th April

The Senior Gents v Ladies annual competition was held on Thursday with five groups on Rosemount and five on Lansdowne playing a 4 ball better ball matchplay competition.  All matches were keenly contested, many going to the 18th hole, and overall the main objective of having a friendly and sociable occasion was definitely achieved.  A delicious meal was enjoyed by all in the dining room afterwards. 

Once again the Gents were successful, winning all 5 matches on Lansdowne whilst the spoils were split 2 1/2 each on Rosemount.  

Congratulations to Colin and his team; thank you to everyone who took part, and to Pauline for taking the photographs.

Elaine presenting the Columbine Cup to Colin ...

....... and many congratulations to Doug Robertson for achieving a hole in one

FINAL WINTER LEAGUE RESULTS

The last of the winter competitions were concluded at the end of March; congratulations to the winners and runners-up as follows:

The Winter Eclectic was won by Louise Whitehead with a score of 57 points on countback from Elaine Robson.

The Winter Ringer winner was Elaine Robson and Kathy Cameron came second on countback from Marion Kay, with net scores of 56 and 61 respectively.

On the Wee Course, Shirley Irvine was the winner of the Ringer with 31 points on countback from Heather Welsh.

DAILY MAIL FOURSOMES - round 2 success

Congratulations to Maggie Marshall and Gill Tissell who today won their 2nd round tie against Dunkeld opponents Rosie Elleray and Cara MacLean, playing on Rosemount.  Despite being 3 down, the home ladies were able to turn the match around, fighting back to a 2/1 success.  Well done both, and good luck in the next round.

Gill, Rosie, Cara & Maggie

BIRDIE TREE, PAR BAR, SUMMER RINGER & MORE.....

Now that the new season has started, the following is a reminder of the summer competitions that run alongside the SGL Medals and stroke play competitions:

Birdie Tree

When a player has a Gross Birdie (or better) during any SGL medal, Stroke play or Stableford competition, she can put her name on a flag and pin it on the first ‘nest’ on the Birdie Tree in the upstairs Ladies Locker Room.  When she has another Birdie, she progresses up to the next ‘nest’ and so on.  There is a Robin trophy for the player with the most Birdies in Division 1 and a Pheasant Trophy for the player with most Birdies in Divisions 2 & 3 combined.  The office will provide birdie reports for each competition as a means of verification.

Par Bar

Similarly, Gross Pars may be recorded by entering the details (name, date, hole on which Par was scored) on a card and posting it in the pocket of the Par Bar chart behind the door in the Ladies Locker Room.  A trophy will be presented at the end of the season for the player with the most Pars in Divisions 2 & 3 combined (i.e. with an end of season handicap index of 20.5 & above).  Again, the office will provide a report for verification purposes.

Summer Ringer

Similar to the Winter Ringer, cards can be submitted for the Summer Ringer for rounds played as part of a competition or during bounce games (up to a maximum of two cards per week) on Lansdowne.  The first score recorded must be over 18 holes; thereafter at least 9 holes must be played.  Players can improve the score on up to three holes on each card and the score on each hole can be improved only once after submission of the first 18-hole card.  The Hilda Hendry Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player with the lowest final score less half her handicap index as at 30th September. 

Summer Eclectic

The Eclectic runs on all Strokeplay and Stableford competitions on Rosemount over the summer.  This is administered by the office and updates will appear on Intelligentgolf.

Competitions (including Alternate Days)

There is an entry fee of £1 payable prior to every full section competition (50p for all Wee Course competitions).  In addition, all ladies wishing to enter the full section competition will have the chance to enter an optional sweepstake and an optional twos which will cost £1 and 50p respectively per competition. 

On a medal day (inclusive of Alternate Days), all ladies should check in at the PSI system in the Foyer OR use their Smartphone app to check in before play.  At this point the compulsory entry fee of £1 (50p for Wee Course competitions) will be taken and all full section competition ladies will then have the option of entering the sweep/twos competition.

Sweep money won will be returned to the members Clubhouse (bar) account and twos money won will be put on to the members Pro Shop account.  Please note failure to check in before play will mean that the player will be unable to enter their scorecard after their round.

Full details of all Summer competitions are available in the Ladies Competition Bible in the upstairs locker room.

LADIES CAPTAIN v VICE CAPTAIN 29th March

We were fortunate that the early light rain didn’t last and we were able to remove the waterproofs and complete our season opener on Rosemount in warm sunshine.  The Greenkeepers are to be commended for presenting the course in such a splendid condition – what a lovely start to the year.

Forty ladies participated in the match which was led by Ladies Captain, Elaine and Vice Captain, Maggie together with their playing partners, Moira Lumby and Avril Smith.

Most of the matches were very close, and although the Captain’s team won 5, lost 3 and halved 2, overall the Vice Captain’s team triumphed, winning by 13 holes to 10.  The main objective of the day was to have a friendly game of golf and some fun and that was definitely achieved.  On the Wee Course, Heather Welsh was closest to the pin in 2 on the 7th and Margaret Sturrock won the “count the putts” competition – well done ladies.  Maggie and I would like to thank everyone that played and helped to get the season off to a great start.

After our match, we enjoyed a drink and delicious lunch with a chance to relax and have a chat; thanks to Tina, Greg and their teams for looking after us all.  After lunch I was delighted to announce that the Easter Hamper Raffle had raised a total of £620 for SCAA – thank you again to Pauline, Heather and Anne for arranging the hamper, and to everyone that bought (or helped to sell) tickets.  The winner was Leah Gray, with Joyce Morrison winning the second prize.

Thanks to Pauline and Alistair for the photographs - here are a selection from the day......please click on the images to enlarge.