Autumn Meeting 2014

Over 50 competitors took part in the County Autumn Meeting at Rushcliffe Golf Club on Thursday 4th September. Players were started promptly by volunteers from Rushcliffe Golf Club including the President (many thanks) in slightly chilly autumnal conditions. The course was in very good condition but many competitors struggled to master the greens resulting in the CSS score for the day increasing to 74 and ultimately ending up as "reductions only".

So our congratulations must go to Karen Donnelly (Ruddington Grange) for returning an excellent nett 71 to win the 18 hole Challenge Bowl and a very well done to all of you who managed to finish in your buffer zone. Also to Kathryn Horberry (Coxmoor) who returned a very creditable 82 to take the 18 hole Scratch Challenge Bowl.

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Second Team Away Match v Leicestershire 2014

The return match for the 2nd team against Leicestershire was away at Longcliffe on Thursday 24th July. The weather was again perfect for golf. The course was in excellent condition and some of the players were paying their first visit there.

Read more: 2nd Team Away v Leics 2014

Nottinghamshire Players represent MVLGA in Jamboree

The Veteran Ladies Jamboree this year was played, from 5th-7th August, at Wallasey Golf Club on the Wirral. It is the home of Stableford, where the first stableford competiton was played by Dr Frank Stableford in 1932 and it is a great test of links golf. The competition is played between the North, South, and Midland regions of England and a team from Scotland. It is a 36 hole match play competition each day, played off scratch, with foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon. The teams were littered with Senior Internationals, ex British Champions and ex Curtis cup players, so the golf was of a very high standard. All the matches were very close and at the end of 3 days, played in glorious sunshine but windy conditions, Scotland, the North and the South were all tied on points and games won. Eventually, after counting holes lost, the South were declared winners. What a great week!

Check out the MVLGA website for more photographs and daily reports:  www.mvlga.org.uk

Back row: Helen Lowe, Leics; Mary Maclaren, Northants; Carol Wild, Notts; Cindy Ireland, Lincs; Gill Snelson (Vice Captain). Front row: Sue Spencer, Staffs; Ann Booth(President); Andrea Stockdale(Captain); Caron Harrison, Notts; Julie Walter, Cambs and Hunts.

Second Team Home Match v Leicestershire 2014

The first match for the 2nd team against Leicestershire was played at Wollaton Park on Sunday 20th July. It was a fine sunny day and the threatened storms held off - unlike the previous day which left many of the bunkers containing water. Otherwise the course was in excellent condition and was enjoyed by all of the players.

In the morning foursomes Emily Lyle played top with Caron Harrison but they just lost out to Amy Taylor and Harriet Hewitt. However there was a comfortable win from Emma Howie and Amy Oxbury and a close fought win on the last hole from Carol Houghton and Esme Hamilton to give Notts a 2-1 lead into the afternoon singles.

Emily Lyle led the way in the singles with an excellent 5/4 win over Alice Watson, in which Emily was 5 under par against her opponent's level par. Another fine win followed from Emma Howie in the second match giving Notts a 4-1 lead over all. However Leicestershire then fought back with wins over Caron Harrison and Amy Oxbury to reduce Notts' lead to 4-3.

Read more: 2nd Team Home v Leics 2014

County Captain's Day 2014

County Captain's Day was, within 10 days of being released earlier this year, oversubscribed. Eventually 41 teams (164 competitors) took part in the day played at Coxmoor Golf Club on Monday 28th July, 2014, with players teeing off from 8.20 until 3.00 in perfect conditions.

I am delighted to have been supported on the day by players from 22 Clubs with 11 Past County Captain's taking part. The format for the day was a 2 from 4 Stableford AmAm.

Players commented and complemented the Club on the excellent condition of the course with the greens being true and slick and there being a premium on hitting fairways. Scoring was fantastic with the team from Ruddington Grange of Sally McGarvey, Angela Picker, Wendy Kerry and Loraine Howd, returning a magnificent 91 points, being the eventual winners.

In second place, with an equally good 89 points, were the mixed team of Joyce Hayward (Coxmoor), Judy Wheatley (Coxmoor's Lady Captain 2014), Gaynor Tunney (Sherwood Forest) and Jane Barrs (Rushcliffe). In third spot, again with an excellent 88 points,  were the team from Rushcliffe of Tina Gillot, Chris Hodges, Jean Jolley and Janet Dolman. Taking the final prize and fourth place, on 87 points on countback (with an unbelieveable 49 points on the back 9), were the team from Coxmoor of Viv Radford, Chris Hargreaves, Janet Slater and Heidi Sweeney.

Read more: County Captain's Day 2014

Second Team Home Match v Lincolnshire 2014

The 2nd Team return match against Lincolnshire this season was played at Sherwood Forest on Sunday 13th July. Again it was a lovely sunny day and the rain showers held off, but there was a testing wind to negotiate. The course was in excellent condition and home advantage proved an asset to our players.

In the morning foursomes Emily Lyle played top with Emily Cheshire and it required a birdie on the last hole from their opponents Rita Broughton and Harriet Wilson to hold them to a half. Amy Oxbury playing in only her second match gained her first point for Nottinghamshire and was paired with Caron Harrison to win 4/3 over Helen Mcdougall and Louis Williamson. Esme Hamilton making her début for the team gained her first point for Nottinghamshire and was paired with Carol Houghton to win 3/2 over Alex Smith and Hannah Vaughan. The newcomers to the team appreciated the course management guidance they received from their more experienced foursomes partners.

Read more: 2nd Team Home v Lincs 2014

Recent achievements of some of our County Players

We are fortunate to have some excellent young golfers in Nottinghamshire.

Emily-Mae Hall, of Notts Ladies, was the winner of the Queen of Clubs 36 hole championship, held at Horsley Lodge GC on Thursday 24th July; a competition contested between the  2013 Club Champions from all  of the clubs in the Midlands North Region. A brilliant performance Emily-Mae!

Emma Newlove shot a gross 68 at Beeston Fields on Saturday 27th July to set a new Ladies Course Record - well done Emma!

Alex Peters has had another busy Summer. She finished joint 3rd in the recent English Womens Amateur Championship and will be playing in the English Women's Open Stroke-play championship at Tandridge Golf Club in Surrey, from August 5-7. This is a competition she won in 2012, so we wish her all the best for this year's competition!

This week Lianna and Annabel Bailey, Sophie Newlove, Emily Lyle and Rhiannon Linacre are all taking part in the English Girls' Open Amateur Championships at The Warwickshire. Jessica Bailey, Esme Hamilton and Kristina Lazarevic are playing in the U15 Championships at Copt Heath GC.  Play well girls!

Summer and Veterans Meeting 2014

On a glorious summer's day, on Monday 7th July, Worksop Golf Club very kindly hosted the County Summer and Vets Meeting. A field of 51 competitors took part on what proved to be a real test of golf with extremely fast running greens.

This was the first time that combining the Summer Meeting with the Vets had taken place and a good clubhouse atmosphere was present with much laughter. However, many taking part felt they had struggled to cope with the tough pin placements and the speed of the greens – evidenced by the CSS going up to 77.  However, good scores were returned with the eventual trophy winners being:

Read more: Summer & Vets Meeting 2014