The start of the season for the first county match was quite late this year. The first match was against Warwickshire at Walmley golf club.  We had very wet weather leading up to the match,  and the course was very wet, resulting in playing winter rules with dropping from out of the bunkers.  The course was playing very long and local knowledge proved to be key. The opposition fielded a very strong side, and with close matches we lost to them by 6 games to 2.

 

Our second match was our first home match against Northamptonshire.   We played on the 16th June at Hinckley golf club, the course played very well for our home team, and produced a real highlight for everyone - a HOLE-IN-ONE ! Anne Macgregor holed her tee shot on the 12th,  which is not an easy hole to play. Congatulations!  We had a very good result from the match, and won by 7 games to 1. Well done to all the ladies who played.

 

The WOODEN SPOON match was another fixture for our home team. This match is played against the Derbyshire senior ladies, and we hold the spoon from the last year. The game was played at Longcliffe golf club on 3rd July. The course was in lovely condition, and we had a nice summer day to play the games. I was delighted to hand the ribbon bedecked spoon back to Derbyshire. We traditionally have a photograph of all the ladies who played. Thank you ladies for giving me the opportunity to return the spoon!

 

 

The Nottinghamshire match was played away at Ruddington Grange GC on Thursday 17th July on the hottest day of the year so far. The course was very dry, and it made the ball take some interesting bounces !  The team played well in the warm and humid conditions and beat Nottinghamshire by 6 matches to 2. Well played all the ladies.

 

 

The last of our home matches was played at Beedles lake golf club against Lincolnshire on Friday 1st August.  The weather forecast was not looking very promising, but remained dry. Beedles Lake course greens were good and proved a good test of putting, as the course was starting to show the effects of a very dry summer.As usual the hospitalty of the course was good. All the games were close, and we won 6 matches to 2.  Very well done again ladies.

 

The annual match with the Rothley Senior Gentlemen took place on 18th August. The day was very pleasant and they were excellent company with a lot of banter! The winners on countback with 72 points were Annette Cattermole and Chris Hyde, Gordon Newton and Tim Vincent. 

 

The final county fixture was on Monday 1st September at Leek Golf Club.  We had a very good fight against a strong team who knew the course well. The course was hilly and following rain in the morning was quite lush. Knowledge of the greens proved to the Staffordshire teams advantage, and we lost  21/2 to 5 1/2. Thank you ladies for putting up a good fight!