LLGA v LSGS

Having had this fixture cancelled last year by the LSGS it was with eager anticipation that a team of twelve Legals headed to Royal Wimbledon for this "annual" match against the London Solicitors.

The format is St Andrews Greensomes: both players drive, the team then chooses on the first hole whose ball to play for the second shot, the shot being played by the player whose drive is not selected. The player who takes the second shot on the first hole then plays the second shot on all the odd holes and the other player plays the second shot on the even holes.

There was a fair amount of discussion before the match started as to the number of shots being given/received by the teams but in the end all players set off reasonably happy with the allocation.

The course at Royal Wimbledon was in the final stages of the redesign which has been ongoing for the last eight years with the course due to reopen fully at the end of April. As a result only twelve holes were open. The toughest part was coming round to the 18th as it started to get chilly and having to head back out to replay six holes rather than retiring to the Clubhouse for a drink.

A slightly odd scoring system designed to keep the matches competitive for the full eighteen holes meant that the winning pair in each match was given points for the number of holes they were ahead after 18 holes. An initial tally indicated that the Legals were one point ahead but sadly when all the results were amalgamated the LSGS crept ahead having had a couple of matches where they finished well ahead.

Sarah Brownlee accordingly presented the trophy to Steven Turnbull for the LSGS. The match was followed by a delicious two course supper in the Clubhouse and, as ever, the company was very enjoyable and the match was played in very good spirit.

Thanks to Royal Wimbledon for welcoming the match again and to Steven Turnbull and Gillie Galloway for the organisation of the fixture and the teams.

Triangular Match at Walton Heath

The Annual triangular match between Walton Heath, the Oxford and Cambridge Ladies Golfing Society and the Ladies Legal Golf Association took place this year on Saturday 20th April.

This match is played in three balls with points scored for matches won or halved against each of the opponents in the three ball. At the end of the day OCLGS scored 8 1/2 points, Walton Heath had 5 1/2 points and the Legals came in third with 4 points.

Many thanks to all our players and congratulations to Becca Atkins who scored 2 points, beating both her opponents. Many thanks to Marian Raybone for all the hard work which went into organising the team and a particular thank you to new member Piya Haria who stepped in at the eleventh hour to make up the numbers.

Spring Meeting at New Zealand GC

The Spring Meeting took place at New Zealand Golf Club on Tuesday16th April. The competition was an 18 hole qualifying Stableford and twenty four players took to the field.

The weather was the story of the day, with the LLGA ladies playing through all four seasons, several times over, during the round.  Hail was the icing on the cake!

The course was in good condition.  The catering - bacon baps before play and afternoon tea after play - were delicious.

The First Handicap prize went to Nicola Johnson with an amazing 43 points. Rebecca Atkins came second with 35 points and there were five players with 33 points. The Scratch prize was won by Debbie Richards.

Thanks to New Zealand Golf Club for making us so welcome and to Gillie Galloway and Sara Reston for sorting out the scores at the end.

Kate Pinto