2018 NEWS

2018 AGM

Our 2018 AGM was held at Beau Desert on 1st November

Apologies were received, minutes approved and the Hon Treasurers statement of accounts was accepted.

Changes were agreed to The Constitution and Competition Rules and new affiliation fees were agreed.

Annual reports were made by committee members.

Presentations were made to the following clubs:

Scratch League Winners     

Division VII - Brocton B         
Division VI - Lichfield
Division V - Branston B       
Divison IV - Brocton A
Division III - Sandwell Park   
Division II - Beau Desert

Many Congratulations to the Scratch League Cup Winners:  Trentham A

Interclub 25-36

Runners Up - Uttoxeter      
Winners - Branston Golf Club

Interclub 12-24
Runners Up - Newcastle GC 
Winners - Branston Golf and Country Club

We welcomed new members onto the committee:
Madeleine Winnett  - County Captain 
Jayne Hutchins - Hon Treasurer

We also welcome Emma Leech 2nd team captain

Taskers Trophy
Branston retained the Ian Burtoft Trophy

COUNTY FINALS 2018

Staffordshire were runners up in the National Finals 2018.

Centenary Vase 2018

Marion Lilley and Dot Cowburn - Leek GC

Leek Golf Club hosted the final County Competition of the year. 

There were several excellent scores but the homesters took the title with 44 points

Special thanks to Lady Captain, Lynne Ball and County delegate, Nel Boulton for their excellent organisation.

Autumn Greensomes 2018

Jill Preece and Beth Rhodes of Beau Desert (69.8)

Many thanks to Little Aston for hosting

Many congratulations to Lyn Gray for her Hole in One!

For full results click here

Mactier Cup 2018

Held at Penn GC on Monday 20th August.

The Mactier Cup was won this year by:

GillDamjanovic of Leek GC with 41 points

Our thanks to Penn for hosting.

Special thanks to Jo Hall, deputy Lady Captain, for being our starter and presenter.

For full results click here 

Bronze and Silver Divisions - 6th August 2018

Beau Desert hosted the Bronze and silver Divisions. There were 93 entrants from 27 clubs with 18 teams taking part across the two divisions

The winner of the Bronze Division:

Louise Harper - Uttoxeter 40 stableford points

Winners of the Williamson Team Cup:

Joan Carr, Helen Toft and Gill Clarke

Trentham Golf Club - 93 points

Beau Desert Swept the board in the silver division.

Winner of the Silver Division:

Elaine Dorrington - Beau Desert - Nett 68

Winners of both the Staffordshire Cup for best combined Nett 216

and the May Evershed Trophy for best combined Gross 255

Jill Preece, Elaine Dorrington and Cynthia Butler

Winner of best Gross - (78)

Emma Leech - Penn 

Many congratulations to Anne Fern of Whittington Heath for her hole in one!

Many thanks to staff and members of Beau Desert particularly Tim Gilpin, James, Phil, June Taylor and Lady Captain Marion Mears for her flowers, her help and her lovely speech. It was a most enjoyable day.

Bronze Alliance - 16th July 2018

The 2018 Bronze Alliance was held at Walsall Golf Club on a sunny Monday in July

In third place with 83 points were Sara Allen, Trudie Hanson and Bev Doughty from Branston Golf and Country Club

In second place with 85 points were Jan Baker, Trish Franklin and Sue Ward from Brocton Hall

The winners of the Staffordshire Rosebowls with an impressive 89 points were:

Margaret Sylvester, Christine Brewerton and Michala Collinson of Sandwell Park pictured below

For full results click here

Our thanks to Walsall Golf Club for their hospitality with special thanks to County Delegate Hilda Daya for all her help with the organisation today

County 2nd Team 12th July 2018

2nd Team match v Derbyshire at a rather quirky Ormond Fields, sadly no big comeback today a 2.5 - 6.5 loss 😔

County 2nd Team 10th July 2018

The 2nd team had an amazing win yesterday at Shifnal, coming back from being 3 - 0  down at lunch to winning 5 - 4.

Results:

Foursomes Staffs 0 Shrops 3

1. Debbie Loach/Terri Smith lost to Caileigh Smith/Julia Line 4&2 2.

Bridget Locke/Lynn Gray lost to Ros Moor/Jan Sheargold 3&2 3.

Emily Sutton/Ella Pugh lost to Alison Grove/Tarnia Osborne 1 down

Singles Staffs 5 Shrops 1

1. Emily Sutton beat Julia Line 6&5

2. Debbie Loach lost to Ros Moor 5&4

3. Terri Smith beat Tarnia Osborne 3&2 4

4.Bridget Locke beat Caileigh Smith 2&1 5. Ella Pugh beat Alison Grove 2&1 6

5.Lynn Gray beat Jan Sheargold 3&2

Emily Brennan WGCA D2 Freshman of the Year - Midwestern State University

Emily has had a fantastic freshman year in Texas, Finished the year making it to the national championship as an individual (team didnt progress) she was awarded Freshman of the year in her region, all conference 1st team and finished with 8 top 10 finishes. we were notified by her coach that after she returned home she was also awarded Dii Freshman of the year (nationally),

On Emily's return she has played her first competition back in the UK, at the St Rule Trophy, St Andrews and finished runner up with an amazing -11 total over 3 rds.

Congratulations Emily on a great year.

91st County Championship - Whittington Heath GC

The weather was cool and breezy as 21 girls played their 36 holes on a Whittington Course in superb condition.

Through to the knockout on Saturday 12th May 2018 were:

Emma Leech v Chloe Williamson

Emma went through to the quarter final

Melanie Bailey v Katie Symonds

Katie went through to the quarter final

Julia Gaunt v Pam Bailey

Julia went through to the quarter final

Emma Watson v Bev Chattaway

Bev went through to the quarter final

Rachel Bishop v Lynn Gray

Rachel went through to the quarter final

Louise Manning v Georgie Taylor

Georgie went through to the quarter final

Fiona Southwell v Tracey Klek

Tracey went through to the quarter final

Terri Smith v Jenny Rhodes

Jenny went through to the quarter final

Julia won the first quarter final 6&5

Rachel won the second quarter final 3&1

Emma Leech (Penn) 36 hole Best Nett and

Best Gross and winner of the Wedgewood Bowl

Rachel Bishop - Runner Up Plate

Julia Gaunt -2018 COUNTY CHAMPION

Winner of the Vicountess Lewisham Cup

Thanks to all who played, to Whittington for their hospitality and to referee Sara Allen

For Gross Leaderboard - Click here

For Nett Leaderboard - Click here

For Knockout Results - Click here

2nd Team v Worcestershire and 2nd Team v Warwickshire 2018

Staffordshire ladies 2nd team have now played 2 friendlies matches against Worcestershire, and warwickshire. These are warmup games before the season starts in july. Both results we came out on top. 2 wins out of 2.Well played to those who have been part of the team.

Worcestershire Game and Warwickshire results below

Spring Foursomes

Winners of the Beryl Snape and Kay Denham Salvers were:

Bev Hensley from Ingestre and Sue Macmillan from Trentham with 37 points

They are pictured above with County President Di Jeynes and Lady Captain Deb Pursell

Many thanks to Trentham for their hospitality

For full results click here

Whittington Ladies Trophy  3rd April 2018

Prizewinners

Winner                      Eilidh Briggs                         Kilmacolm GC          70+73 = 143

Runner Up                Morgan Thomas                 Beaudesert GC        76+70 = 146

3rd Place                    Caitlin Evans-Brand           Yelverton GC           74+72 =146

4th Place                    Gemma Allman                   Moor Park GC         74+74 =148

5th Place                    Holly Haslam           Stockbrook Manor GC      79+72=151

Best Nett Aggregate          Aimee Sawyer         The Mendip GC                   147 Nett

Best AM Gross                     Poppy Finlay            Vicars Cross GC                   72

Best AM Nett                       Ellie Darnell              Wellingborough GC           73

Best PM Gross                     Melissa Wood         Woodsome Hall                  72

Best Pm Nett                        Louisa Tarn              Sunningdale GC                  71

Sue Turner Trophy - 9th April 2018

Linda Guthrie & Sheila Griffiths

Stafford Castle

Winners of the 2018 Sue Turner Trophy with 44 points

Gizelle Higginson & Fiona Southwell

The Chase

Second with 41 points

Congatulations to Di Gillen for her eagle on the 5th

Many many thanks to South Staffs for their hospitality and to all who played.

Sue Turner's daughter Lottie was our special guest for part of the day.

For full results click here

County News

Click here to download CONGU 2018 changes

Click here to download Handicap Appeals procedure

2019 New Rules  - effective from 1st January 2019

Major news from the R&A today: new and changed rules that will come into effect on Jan 1, 2019, have been announced.

Here are the headlines, but remember – they’re not in effect yet and won’t come into effect until 2019.

Taking a drop: instead of dropping the ball from shoulder height, you’ll do it from knee height.

Out of bounds: in order to help speed up play, Clubs will be able to pass a Local Rule that says instead of having to hit “three from the tee” you’ll be able to take a drop close to where it went out of bounds and take a two-shot penalty.

Putting with the flag in: you’ll be able to putt on the green without having the flag removed or attended.

Spike marks on a green: you will be able to repair them.

Water hazards: these will be renamed as “penalty areas” and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in them.

Bunkers: there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or touching the sand in one with your hand or club, although you still won’t be able to ground your club behind the ball.

Double hit: there will be no penalty if you accidentally hit the ball twice.

Pace of play: you’ll only get three minutes to look for a lost ball instead of five; and Ready Golf will be “affirmatively encouraged” for strokeplay.

Full details are here:

https://www.randa.org/News/2018/03/New-Rules-of-Golf-unveiled-by-The-RA-and-USGA

World Handicap System features announced from R & A

Tuesday 20 February 2018

The way golfers around the world will calculate their handicaps is set to be transformed by a new system developed by The R&A and the USGA, with key features designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability.

The new World Handicap System, to be implemented in 2020, follows an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA.

Features of the World Handicap System

The new system will feature the following:

Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability 
A recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with some discretion available for handicapping authorities or National Associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction
A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System, already successfully used in more than 80 countries 
An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of previous demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control 
A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day   
Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation 
A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)  
A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game 

Worldwide stakeholder engagement

Quantitative research was conducted in 15 countries around the world, through which 76 percent of the 52,000 respondents voiced their support for a World Handicap System, 22 percent were willing to consider its benefits, and only 2 percent were opposed. This was followed by a series of focus groups, in which more than 300 golf administrators and golfers from different regions around the world offered extensive feedback on the features of the proposed new system.

This feedback has helped shape the WHS, which has been developed by The R&A and the USGA with support from each handicapping authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada.

A modern and more accessible sport

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are working with our partners and National Associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.

“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers. Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.”

Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, commented, “For some time, we’ve heard golfers say ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,” or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap.’ We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game. We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernising Golf’s Rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.”

Objectives of golf’s World Handicap System

The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair and equitable basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020.  When adopted, the World Handicap System will be governed by The R&A and the USGA and administered locally by the six existing authorities and National Associations around the world, with safeguards included to ensure consistency as well as adaptability to differing golf cultures.

The six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.   

Collaboration

The announcement is the latest step in a multi-year collaboration between The R&A and the USGA, handicap authorities and national and regional golf associations around the world to introduce one set of Rules for handicapping, aimed to support modernising, growing and supporting accessibility of the sport.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A’s and the USGA’s efforts to implement a World Handicap System. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

To provide feedback on the new World Handicap System or for more information, visit randa.org.

World Handicapping System - England Golf announcement

20 February 2018

The R&A and the USGA have today announced details of the new World Handicap System (WHS).

It is designed to welcome more players, to make golf easier to understand and to provide all golfers with a handicap which is portable all around the globe. 
 
The system is expected to be launched in January 2020 and its features will include: 
 
• A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap
• Allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes so a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of current ability
• A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System, already successfully used in more than 80 countries
• An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores. The system will also be able to ‘remember’ good scores, even when they have dropped out of the last 20. 
• A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions on a player’s performance each day
• Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation
• A limit of net double bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)
• A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance and so increase their enjoyment of the game
 
England Golf is working closely with The R&A and the USGA to help introduce the new system and is running workshops for golf clubs this spring to outline the proposals and their impact. More detailed workshops will be run in the autumn.
 
Chief Executive Nick Pink commented: “We’re joining golfers around the world to welcome this new system. It shows that golf is modernising and becoming easier to understand and I’m sure it will encourage more people to play, get a handicap and enjoy our sport, which is very good news for the future of the game.”
 
The WHS looks set for a great reception. Research was conducted in 15 countries, involving 52,000 people. Of these, 76% were in support of WHS, 22% percent were willing to consider its benefits and only 2% were opposed. This was followed by focus groups when over than 300 golf administrators and golfers offered extensive feedback on features of the proposed new system.
 
This feedback has helped shape the WHS, which has been developed by the USGA and The R&A with support from each handicapping authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada.
 
Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, commented: “For some time, we’ve heard golfers say ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,” or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap.’ We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game. We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernizing golf’s rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.”
 
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We are working with our partners and national associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.
 
“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers. Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.”
 
The full details of the WHS will be released in late 2018.
 
To provide feedback on the new World Handicap System or for more information, visit www.usga.org or www.RandA.org.