Midland Girls & Summer Success

In early august at Ashby Decoy GC, Lincs, the Midland Girls Championship took place. The Notts girls had great success with Emma Anderson (Sherwood Forest) winning the 36 hole handicap trophy. On a narrow course she played consistently well all day and has been cut to 10. Esme Hamilton (Notts Ladies) won 3rd prize for the 36 hole gross competition and Emily Lyle (Worksop) won the Best AM gross. All three girls also contributed to Notts being runners up in the Nett and Gross team competitions.

Kristina Lazarevic (Ramsdale) and Laura Abbott (Oakmere Park) have both had a great season each reaching a single figure handicap and representing Notts County Ladies in the 2nd team matches. At a national level Sophie Newlove (Beeston) finished tied 5th in the English Girls U18 Championship, and Esme Hamilton (Notts Ladies) finished tied 6th in the English Girls U16 Championships.

Friendly Match v Mapperley 2015

The first friendly match of the season saw a team of 8 girls with handicaps ranging from 11 to 31 play against Mapperley Ladies on Wednesday 15th April.

The match was greensomes matchplay giving the girls an opportunity to play in pairs which tested their course management. We also had two girls making their debut, Charlie Inger and Stephanie Firth, so the format allowed them to learn from their more experienced partners and the ladies they played against.

At last the girls had a dry day so they were able to enjoy the course and the company. Their enjoyment showed in some of the great golf they displayed; from driving the first green, to making several birdies and holing putts from off the green.

Our sincere thanks goes to the Mapperley Ladies for giving the girls the opportunity to practise, and for hosting a meal afterwards. Emma Anderson gave a vote of thanks to Mapperley at the end of the match.

Read more: Friendly v Mapperley 2015

Friendly Match v Yorkshire 2015

A friendly match against Yorkshire was held on Sunday 2nd August 2015. A team of 7 girls took part in the match with handicaps ranging from 11 to 31, with Emma Hammond making her debut. The match was singles matchplay on a very demanding course, which tested their course management skills well.

It was a lovely sunny day and the enjoyment definitely showed in the girls faces. Some excellent golf was played by all of the girls and their attitude and sportsmanship made me proud to be part of their day. The score, a good half, definitely reflects the day.
Our sincere thanks goes to Rotherham Golf Club for their hospitality and for the meal afterwards. Emma Anderson gave a vote of thanks to Rotherham and Yorkshire at the end of the match.

On a personal note I would like to thank the parents who attended for their help and support on what was my debut as match organiser.

Elaine Mitchell

Read more: Friendly v Yorkshire 2015

League Match v Leicestershire 2015

The 1st and 2nd team played host to Leicestershire juniors at Norwood Park on Sunday 12th April 2015.

The girls were battling the elements, on an extremely windy and wet day, testing all elements of their game.

In potentially, her final junior match, our Junior Captain, Rhiannon Linacre, led the 1st team to a hard fought win 4–2. Congratulations to the Notts team of Esme Hamilton, Rhiannon Linacre (capt), Emma Anderson, Kristina Lazarevic, Jacey Peacock and Emily Jane Golder.

The 2nd team of Charlotte Parker, Sharna Betteridge, Eliza Davidson and Caitlin Arnold, were all giving shots, and gained some great experience on the day, losing out to Leicestershire 3.5 – 0.5.

Read more: League v Leics 2015

Mixed Am-Am 2015

As you are aware this competition is one where the girls raise funds for their own section by running the day. This year we moved it from April to July in the diary but it appears that this date change has proved difficult to secure entries and we have had to make the sad decision to cancel the date.

We have considered postponing to an alternative date later this year but finding an available date and course is proving difficult, so we are hoping to rearrange for next April instead and revert back to the usual date slot.

So thank you to all those girls and parents who were going to volunteer/donate raffle prizes etc., but you will get your chance to do that next year instead. Many thanks also to those teams who had already entered the competition; your entries and fees will be returned as soon as possible.

We must also thank Beeston Fields GC for offering to host the competition this year. Your support of the Junior Section is much appreciated.

League Match v Lincolnshire 2015

The girls ventured over to Seacroft on 29th March to play their first league match of the season vs Lincolnshire.

The coastal course was a hostile environment with wind and rain on and off during the morning.
Unfortunately by the time the girls were all out on the front 9 the weather took a turn for the worse with a hail storm and then the greens flooded. At this point the match was abandoned, and the drowned players and spectators headed back to the clubhouse to dry out!

The match will be rearranged for later in the season but thanks to all those who did try to play.

Notts Girls & Intermediate Championships 2015

The Girls & Intermediate Championships were held at Notts Golf Club on Sunday 26th April on a bright sunny day. There were 24 competitors playing and the standard of golf was very high. The ball spotters out on the course commented on how redundant they were!

Emily Lyle (Worksop) won the U18 Championship with an excellent one under gross 74, she also won the Open Scratch Salver. Congratulations!

Esme Hamilton (Notts Ladies) won the U16 Scratch Championship with a gross of 77.

Eliza Davidson (Wollaton) won the U18 Handicap Cup 87 - 17 = 70 and Georgia Viggers (Stanton) won the Bronze Division Scratch Cup The Intermediate Championship was won by Lauren Spray (Notts Ladies) with a gross 79. Well done girls!

Our sincere thanks go to Notts Golf Club for hosting the Championship and to Notts Ladies President Judy McLachlan, who welcomed the competitors to the club. The prizes were presented by the County Captain Kathyrn Horberry, following which she presented the Junior Captain's badge to the incoming Junior Captain Emma Anderson (Sherwood Forest).

Read more: Girls Championship 2015

Coaching and Bursaries 2015

As outlined in the Autumn, part of the new strategy from NCLGA for developing talented girl golfers is to offer coaching bursaries. The application form for these bursaries can be downloaded and needs to be returned by Monday 20th April. The applications will then be reviewed and bursaries awarded in early May.

The bursaries are aimed at developing potential talent so are not purely based on current ability. They also allow for a girl to retain their current coach rather than offering county coaching in a group session which may be with a different coach. It could also be used to address a specific skill gap with a specialist coach such as short game or putting.

 As there is a finite amount of money allocated for the bursaries, we anticipate we will be awarding an amount of between £80-100 for each successful applicant. The criteria we will be using to assess the applications are as follows:

• Their handicap and their age
• Accessibility to play and practice
• Progress within the last 12 months
• Recommendation from coaching pros
• Commitment to golf
• How the bursary will help

Once a bursary is granted the player has until the end of September to use it and will be required to fill in a feedback form.