To see some photos of the day click here JUNIOR COACHING PHOTOS

The start of a busy golfing season is nearly upon us. Preparations are in hand for the Championship at the new Eastwood (entries to Christeen Finlayson) and the big event of the year, the 'West Division Inter-County Matches' (The Jamboree) at East Renfrewshire 26th- 28th June
I hope as many of you as possible will attend, to support your team and caddy if required – caddy mistress Eleanor Bremner will be delighted to add your name to the list of caddies!

The team squad has been in training throughout the winter months with coaching at Mearns Castle Golf Academy under the watchful eye of Karyn Burns and they have been competing against each other in Mini Leagues. The Golf Academy has given us sponsorship, providing each squad member with a free card for practice balls at the range. I am hoping that this will encourage the squad to practise – especially during the long winter evenings.

On Sunday 19th March on a cold day the team had a 9 hole match at the Mearns Golf Academy against the Renfrewshire Boys, resulting in a loss by ½ to 3½.

New sweaters and shirts are being ordered. The sweaters are still navy blue and the shirts white but the crest colours have been changed to pink, blue and white. This will make the sweater and shirt more co-ordinated. These can be purchased from Anne Robinson. A list will be available at all medals so I hope many members will take the opportunity to place an order.

This year the County are selling umbrellas as a fund raiser. These are very distinctive being bright pink with a navy logo. A sea of pink brollies should give great encouragement to the team so please contact Anne Robinson to place your order. They will sell at a cost of £20.

The County has purchased a new laptop computer and printer. We are indebted to Carol Fell for allowing us the use of her laptop for the last three years. A sub committee has been set up and Carol (what would we have done without Carol!) has been providing them with training for the last few months, so they will all be ready for the first medal at Cochrane Castle, in April. Everyone will now have to sign in on the computer. Do not worry if you are not computer literate, there will be someone from the committee on hand to help!

Finally, I would like to encourage you to support all our competitions this year. We are very fortunate to be given courtesies by the Renfrewshire clubs and I shall look forward to seeing you all in the coming season.

We are launching Erskine Golf Clubs first ever Junior Academy this Easter and are offering "Taster Session" for any interested local children, followed by coaching after school and over the summer. In line with ClubGolf guidelines as listed below Erskine Golf Club is happy to invite local children to try golf. They don't need to be members, have any experience or have their own clubs. We are particularly interested in introducing more girls to golf. The coaching will be carried out by PGA Level 1 coaches who are all volunteers. There will be no charge for coaching sessions, only a small charge for refreshments.
The above picture is of the recent PGA Level 1 course which was held at Erskine Golf Club and they are from the back PGA Pro and Club Golf tutor Bill Lockie, Next row from the Left PGA Pro and Club Golf tutor John Mulgrew, Erskine Members/Coaches Fiona Campbell, Graham McGee, Lorraine Morrow. Front row from left Sandra Littlejohn and Patricia Davidson. I took the picture and qualified as a coach 2 years ago but have been busy being Lady Captain over the last year so at last am free to get this new incentive off the ground.

Any more information you need just give me a call please

Janette
Junior Development EGC

Janette McCartney
26 Wrightlands Crescent Phone 0141 812 4169
Erskine Mobile 07810 566996
PA8 7BZ email janmcc@btinternet.com

Eilidh Briggs, h'cap 13, joined Gillian McGinlay  (6) in the match and played Andrew McGlaughlan (4) (age 13!) and Gavin Stirling (5).  The other combinations were Donna and Alyson, Megan and Lesley, and Sara and Julie.

Meantime the Fells and the Faulds have returned safely from a terrific week in Portugal -- I hope you read some of the HOT NEWS REPORTS that were published from Vilamoura, Portugal

The Fells and the Faulds are off to Portugal tomorrow for a wee holiday and perhaps a spot of golf !! There will therefore, be no news unless I find an internet connection in the Algarve  - which is unlikely.
 I have set up as a trial a Hot News Blogger Page where I hope that RLCGA members who are interested will be able to add there own news reports. If you would like to become a blogger then  email Carol and I will see if I can set it up on my return and test it out --- You would even be able to just send an email to the Hot News Page to put your "blog"  directly into the page

In case you did not know a blog is short for weblog

SLGA Press Release
The following are the attendees at the SLGA winter training camp at Pals, Spain from March 11 to 25 with National Coach Karyn Dallas:

SLGA officials in attendance
Both weeks:
JANET WAKE & PAT WILSON
Week 1:
MARGARET RODGERS
Week 2:
PAMELA MacKENZIE (RLCGA)

RLCGA County Team Member Kate O’Sullivan (High Point University) from Cochrane Castle tied for 26th place in the Fighting Camel Classic over Keith Hills Country Club’s No 2 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Kate had rounds of 82, 79 and 83 over the 6,020yd, par-72 course for a total of 244.
Team-mates Jenna Kinnear from Belfast and Ann Marie Dalton from Carlow finished joint 34th and joint 47th respectively.
Jenna scored 87, 82 and 82 for 251 while Ann Marie had rounds of 87, 85 and 85 for 257.
Chelsea Curtis (Georgetown) won the individual honours by two strokes with 72, 72 and 81 for 225.
Georgetown (937) won the team event from Campbell (950) with North Carolina-Greensboro (954) third. High Point (1002) finished sixth.

Thanks go to Gillian Kirkwood for the report

PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT