brunston castle members' site news

**Brunston Castle Mens team enjoyed a very convincing victory against Wigtown & Bladnoch last Sunday by 4.5 to 0.5, and are now in the draw for round 6 in the Sunday Mail Teams competition. YE HA! As that was the report as given, I think they were pretty pleased!

**My generation of golfers were inspired by the heroics of Arnold Palmer and then by the ultimate in swashbuckling good looks -- Seve Ballesteros. Having been lucky enough to meet him when the Opens at Turnberry were not the money circuses they have become and members met the players as people, every female with a pulse was enchanted by Seve and will cherish the few words and hugs he freely gave to the 'sign in' ladies at the Registration Desk. This little video shows exactly why he mesmerised everyone, inspired us all and will be remembered with great affection as well as enormous sadness.

**13 Dailly Primary pupils came for some follow up lessons to the S A golf initiative on the last two Wednesday afternoons. At least half have taken to a golf swing like a duck to water. Let's hope they come to the clubgolf and eventually join the Club. [pix in the Gallery]]

**The Ladies are through to the next round in the Daily Mail - this time with a bye from Dunskey; the men play Wigton & Bladnoch on Sunday coming.

**Cheryl's [not so] tiny bundle of joy is to be called Ryan. There is no truth in thr romour that he is coming along to the clubgolf sessions this spring.

**On Tuesday Cheryl had a bouncing boy weighing a healthy 10 lbs 15oz; His temporary name is Bruiser and as soon as he is walking = by next week or so, hopefully his mum and dad will have chosen a name!

**Catherine and Jessie continued their winning ways today, 14th April, by eliminating Kilmarnock Bararssie in their second round match in the Daily Mail Foursomes. They finished off Debbie and Margery at the 19th hole over Brunston. A good win over a formidable club with a long history of inter club competitions wins.

**Captain George reported, bashfully, that the Brunston men, had managed to win - actually maybe even inflicted a humiliating defeat - in the Sunday Mail match against Dalmilling at Brunston. One win, a narrow 8 & 6 game seemed especially pleasing. The next game is against Tam o' Shanter. Lets hope the next result is as good.

** Pamela is off to Morocco on Sunday to warm up for the Lalla Meryem Cup - one of the LET events. We wish her good luck. As you know she will be giving tuition to each section of the club for a number of hours. Do not waste this chance to get your game in shape. You can follow up with personal 'top ups' from Pamela when she is at home.

** Well done to Catherine and Jessie for their win over Girvan at Girvan in the Daily Mail Foursomes. The ladies clinched the game at the 18th to win 2 up.

** Calling all larks! The annual Captains v Vice-Captains Competition is on Saturday 2nd at 9 am. The entry sheet is up on the Ladies' and Gents' boards in the corridor. It is usually good fun - and maybe this year the sun will shine.

**The Social Evening is on Friday [25th] at 7.15pm. It is a chance to come along and discuss anything and everything which is 'on the syllabus' this year. Pamela Feggans is coming, and if you wish to take part in her coaching hours scheme which the Club has paid for, we can decide the best way to use her expertise for the allocated 10 hours. Tea, coffee and a glass of wine is also on offer. If you want to discuss something in particular, contact Lynda.

** Ann Lang our Clubgolf Leader, took the following at the beginning of the season get-together ar Stranraer on March 6th. As you can see it was a boiling hot day, typical of this winter.

** Cheryl has left us for the moment rather than have her baby in the Clubhouse which is probably a little bit too much devotion to duty. We wish her a safe and healthy maternity leave - with a perfect little bundle of joy next month. And our thanks for all the help she has given to us as members - either as a Club or as individuals.

For the moment Susan and Sharon are the 'boss ladies'.

** It is not just policemen who are getting younger. Hole-in-oners are too! I thought there was a mistake when I looked at the cards the Stribling lads handed in on Sunday. But no. I am not sure which one of the lads it was, but a 1 was posted at the 8th on the Blue course. I was thrilled to get my first ace at Secondary school, but Primary is something else!!!

**Sadly Jessie and Catherine got their marching orders at West Kilbride on Wednesday; they were beaten 4&3. Jessie said they were not at their best, but WK is a course used for Junior through to Senior Championships and is deceptive to first timers. No shame, girls. You have done us proud.

**Norman is in Crosshouse Hospital letting the NHS practice their embroidery on him and will be unable to come to the clubgolf nights. Ann will be on visiting/nurse duties. It would be most appreciated if any extra volunteers can come along and help out - even if it is just ensuring the kids remember not to swing clubs without enough space.

** Often ladies golf is dismissed with a bit of a sneer. For anyone who still thinks this, read the winning totals from Troon [off the yellow tees, by the way - and weep!

FINAL TOTALS

Par 225 (3x75) CSS 76 76 77
First two rounds over Troon Portland; last round Royal Troon
213 Charlotte Ellis (Minchinhampton) 73 69 71.
214 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 69 72 73.
217 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 74 73 70, Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 71 71 75
219 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 75 74 70.
220 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 73 76 71, Lisa Ball (Matfen Hall) 72 73 75, Rachael Goodall (Heswall) 72 73 75.
221 Emma Brown (Malton and Norton) 72 77 72, Meghan MacLaren (Wellingborough) 74 74 73

222 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 75 75 72, Katharina Soehnlein (Germany) 73 73 76, Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) 74 72 76, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 74 71 77.

**The Scottish Strokeplay Championship [ known popularly as the Helen Holm] is on at Troon 22-24 April. The top amateur European ladies compete over 54 holes and it is certainly not a place for 'big lassies'! Worth a watch on what promises to be a real summer/spring weekend. Also a 'spot the golf celebs' event.

. **Once again the Brunston men were victorious over the Tam o' Shanter men at Belleisle tho' by a more bail-biting margin. Scott, as 5th man, had to go down the 19th to decide the drawn match. There was a very quiet member of the squad who after a nightmare round was off to either cut his wrists or his moustache.

The next round is at Loudoun Gowf at Brunston. Their Ladies Team has been to Spain so this is a club well geared in this competition.

**Completely against the ghastly weather forecast, the Captains v Vice Captains Foursomes were played on a dry morning which just got warmer and warmer. And the golf got pretty hot as well with not a lot of mercy shown especially on those crucial short putts. The Captains' players won by one match.

** The drainage work at the 6th and the 11th has been completed and will hopefully solve the problems. The bottom line is, for all the moaners, is that a quick visit to other parts of Scotland where play has been impossible since November till now, with courses frozen or still under snow, puts things in perspective. A few words of appreciation for the plus points to any or all of our green staff would give them a lot more motivation than complaints. And remember to fix pitch marks and replace divots; As our political leaders like to say "we are all in this together"