?APRIL ASPIRATIONS?

Welcome to Spring from all of us working on the Warwickshire Ladies Committee!

I feel I?m well and truly settling into the role now and with the help and support of a wonderful committee we feel confident that many of the preparations are now in place for an exciting season ahead.

A quick reminder?

I do hope you?ve had a chance to study your booklet and considered entering the County Championship. The closing date is 8 April which is on Thursday, so don?t delay a moment longer! Remember you need only play one round if you wish by entering the Silver Division Medal. Just think you?ve worked so hard at reducing your handicap over the years, so come and show off and play in this event run for players of 20 handicap and under!

Liaison Officers meeting:

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Liaison Officers meeting in February. The interest from the clubs was very stimulating and motivating to us and we were able to go away with many ideas and incentives to work with. Remember we are here to give you help and share ideas and if your club doesn?t have a Liaison Officer please contact Beth Towers (number in the WLCGA booklet) for advice.

Please also remember we?re looking forward to hearing about what your club is planning for the year ahead and any golfing or personal achievements of any of your lady members. For example: have you held a special event over the winter? Have you raised money for charity?

Has anyone visited an exotic golfing location and would like to tell us all about it? We could run a travel section if you think this would be a good idea! Are you planning a fun golf competition? I ran a ?Monopoly Golf? Competition at Edgbaston one year and would be very happy to forward details to anyone interested!

Come on, share your ideas and achievements with us all and be among the first to get your club mentioned on the Warwickshire Website!! All you have to do is give Beth Towers, our Liaison Officer, a call and she?ll do the rest!

Current Vacancies:

We?re still looking for potential committee members. I can?t stress how much we need a full compliment. As well as being important to the continuation of the Association, I can promise you a very enjoyable and satisfying few years. Please call any of us whose names you will find in your booklet on page 28. We?d love to talk to you and explain some of the roles.

Team News:

The Warwickshire Teams have been training hard over the winter. They?ve had coaching from Andy Dunbar at Stratford Oaks who has spent time on each player?s technique. He has also focussed on the psychological side of the game and what the girls are learning now will undoubtedly help them cope with those unavoidable moments of pressure. Also, for the first time this year, 10 of the potential 1st team and 12 of our top juniors are receiving tuition from the Professionals at the Belfry. The facilities are superb and the girls are already commenting on how beneficial it has been.

They say ?the proof is in the pudding? and I?m delighted to bring you results from 1st Team practice matches to date!

A team of Claire Dowling, Tracy Atkin, Claire Howells, Hannah Coles, Marsha Button, Anne Parry, Sue Pearse and Bobbi Waugh played against a strong Moor Hall Men?s Team on 21st March. The effect of recent storms meant many branches and trees were littering the fairways but the club had worked hard to make sure we could play and we won by 3.5 to 0.5. The true meaning of the Equinox was revealed to me as I wandered around watching the girls play!

The long awaited and anticipated revenge match against Lancashire finally arrived on 28th March! Our President Sue Westall and Ann Irvin her counterpart in Lancashire planned this match in 2002 and last year the team travelled to Royal Lytham St Anne?s for a marvellous match on that glorious course where sadly we lost 2-12. Last Sunday was the re-match! Edgbaston GC very generously allowed us courtesy of their course and pulled out all the stops! The course was in excellent condition, the catering superb and the course almost empty. The Captain had kindly chosen the same weekend to take many of the men away for their annual match against Aberdovey GC. What more could I have asked for?! It was a very competitive match and of an extremely high standard. The Warwickshire team of Claire Dowling, Felicity Johnson, Claire Howells, Lisa Barton, Hannah Coles, Marsha Button, Anne Parry and Kath Ashley won by 7 matches to 5, having gone into the afternoon singles 2 all after the morning Foursomes. All the training and hard work by the team came together on the day and their motivation and competitiveness there for all to see. I was a very proud Captain that day!

A strong Men?s team from Copt Heath invited us as usual to play yesterday and despite deep negotiations regarding handicaps we lost 0.5 to 4.5. A small blip in our preparations! However during an extremely violent April shower we were able to test out our new waterproofs very kindly and generously supplied by Sunderland. They stood up to the challenges magnificently. They?re very light and comfortable to play in and meant, for the first time, when the rain falls we still look like a team in our navy uniform. Thank you Sunderland!

And back to you:

I hope all your personal preparations are going well for the season ahead and that you?ve entered or are intending to enter some of the Warwickshire events this year ? I must say they?re being held on some wonderful courses!

Please remember to continue with those little ?goals?, such as giving Jane Dennick a call and offering to help for an hour or two with her juniors. And do go and watch those girls with handicaps perform in one of their events ? you won?t be disappointed! Incidentally, all junior events are listed on page 5 of the booklet and Sylvia Evans would be delighted to see you supporting her girls.

Lastly, please jot the dates of County Week down in your diaries and come and support the 1st Team at Whittington Heath in June. It would really lift the team to have some support from all you Warwickshire Bears out there!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter and springtime filled with golf!

Pat Hale

County Captain