BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED

LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 1
England Golf’s County of the Year 2023
YOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS NEED YOU!!
Women's County Championship
We urgently need more entries for the Women’s County (gross) Championship to be held at John O’Gaunt on June 3rd and
4th. It is a wonderful venue to play with fantastic facilities and the competition is open to all players with a handicap index up
to 18. To be held over two days, the format is an 18 hole scratch medal on the Saturday morning, followed by matchplay
phases where there are two trophies to compete for. The top eight best gross scores will have a matchplay competition on the
Saturday afternoon (quarter-finals) and Sunday (semifinals and final) to become the county champion. But don’t worry if
you’re not in the top eight gross scores, because the players in 9th to 16th place after the medal will also have the
opportunity to play match play over Saturday and Sunday for a new plate prize.
Currently we have only six entrants but we know that there are lots of ladies in our Bedfordshire clubs with an index of 18
and under so we encourage you all to please sign up and join us for a super weekend of competitive golf on a great golf
course. Please rest assured, although its being held with the men’s County Championship, ladies will go out ahead of the
mens field for both the medal and the match play phases which will also give us a good pace of play.
Sign-up is via the website as usual and entries will remain open until Sunday May 28th.
Women's County Handicap Championship & Spring Meeting
The County Handicap Championship and Spring meeting will be open for entries until Monday, May 8th . Although this was
scheduled to take place in April, the incessant rain resulted in poor ground conditions so we took a decision to delay this
event and it will now be played at Cainhoe Wood (Castle course) on Thursday, May 18th. Sadly the change of date meant
that some original participants could no longer take part but it also means that some new participants might now be able to
make the new date. The format is an 18 hole medal and the competition is open to ladies with a handicap index up to 48. We
would welcome any additional entries this event .Come along and join us.
Women’s County 4BBB
The Women’s County 4BBB is also on the horizon. To be held at Pavenham Park, this is an 18 hole Stableford better ball
competition. This pairs event is open to players with a handicap index up to 48 and will be open on the website until Friday,
9th June. Find yourself a partner and enjoy a good day out .

England Golf – East Region – 36 Holes foursomes held ENGLAND GOLF – EAST REGION
at South Beds on Thursday 27th May 2023

A great day was had by 34 pairs playing at South Beds in this

SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
event. The weather was good for the am round but rained pm.
Bedfordshire Golf Club
The course was in a fantastic condition and the Club made all
those who had travelled from all of the East Region Counties
Tuesday 18th July 2023
very welcome. Many thanks go to Kim Burnage our East
Region representative and to the Club. The winners of Kelly Closing Date for entries 5th July 2023.
Cooke and Esther Strous from Welwyn Garden City Golf
Club with a gross 164 managed to hold onto the title for the You can enter via the BCGL website .Full
third year running. Sue Caley and Jo Harrison ( Aspley
Guise) came 3rd with a gross 168. The nett winners were
details, entry form and competition rules
Kerry Enever and Sarah Gotts with 141 with Bedforshire are also at:
pairings of Sherry Pugh and Lecy Robinson(Cainhoe Wood)
and Jean Hoar and Jacky Levinson ( South Beds) in joint 4th www:englandgolf.org/womens-regional-events
place with a nett 150. The next East Region event in
or contact Kim Burnage on
Bedfordshire is the Senior Championship on 18th July at
kim.burnage@gmail.com
Bedfordshire Golf Club.

www.bedfordshiregolf.org.uk
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 2
Practice matches for Women’s County Teams and Season preparation

In April we had two practice matches planned for our 1st and 2nd team players. A match against a Buckinghamshire team
which was planned for 3 April and one against Captain Claire’s county of birth Leicestershire on 23 April. These were
both away this year, the former at Gerards Cross GC and the latter at Longcliffe in Leicestershire. Sadly as a result of the
very wet month we had, the match away in Leicestershire was cancelled due to a closed course. Thanks to Lecy, Sue,
Marie, Helen and Ixie for fitting this into their diaries and I think we were all rather sad that our day away had to be
cancelled.

Earlier in the month, however, our trip down the M1 to Gerards Cross took us to Buckinghamshire on a lovely day in early
April on a Monday morning. The team was strong from us, with 3 of 2022 1st team, Chanel, Sue and Ixie lining up in
singles followed by Ali & Jo then Lecy & Nikki Morris in foursomes format. Claire set off to walk the course and support
the players on a parkland course which we all enjoyed. Due to the rain in previous weeks, it was heavy underfoot and the
rough was very penal if you hit off line. The fairways however were in prime condition and we all enjoyed the course. The
sun shone but there was still a little spring chill in the air, so whilst some wore caps, others were still in woolly hats to
keep warm! As it was the week before Easter, the team were sent out with some chocolate in the form of maltesers to keep
the sugar levels up!
Chanel was out in front against a young gun from Buckinghamshire but
soon took control of her match. Despite still being a schoolgirl, she has a
huge amount of experience for her age and used this to great effect
beating Demi 5&4. 1-0 up. Meanwhile Sue was in a very tight game with
Georgia, where she had to draw on all her experience to pull through
2&1. 2-0 up. Ixie was also trading birdies with Emily, showing maturity
beyond her 15 years to take the opponent down the last hole only to lose 2
down whilst trying to push hard to win 18. 2-1 the score now. In the first
foursomes, Ali and Jo (pictured) were throwing all they could at the
experienced pair of Katie and Katherine but in spite of some good
foursomes play, couldn’t get the win. So 2-2 and down to the last match
with the new pairing of Nikki and Lecy against Janette and Jenna. This
match went one way and then the other with both pairs having good and
less good holes, until Nikki and Lecy drew away over the back nine and
took the point with a 5&3 win. What a team and what a great outing,
beating Bucks for the second year running, 3-2.
We are looking forward to receiving our new merged County clothing and the next gathering will be a match and a bit of
team building against Bedford and County men’s team on 24 June for the 1st team squad.

In other news, Luca Thompson, 2022 County Champion, has had a good start to the season with events at Delamere
Forest, Frilford Heath (where she won the silverware) and Royal Troon, where she made the cut after 2 rounds in the
Scottish Womens Amateur Open. She has also played a Rose Series event where she rubbed shoulders with professionals
and came in the top half of the field. Chanel and Annabel also went to Royal Troon and both were unfortunate to miss the
cut by only a couple of shots. These girls are all aiming to play in some of the top national amateur events this year which
may clash with county events but we wish them all the best from Bedfordshire County and will report back on progress.
Georgia Staroscik has also had a great winter season with the Exeter University team and has performed well in both
matchplay and strokeplay events for the mixed team as well as completing her final year at Exeter. Caitlin Thomas and
Jess Sporle will be returning from stateside USA at the end of May where they have been sharpening their game up with
the top collegiate players. Sue Caley’s diary is full of top amateur events in a bid to get selection for the Welsh senior
squad and Sue and Jo Harrison have just taken 3rd place in the East of England Foursomes at South Beds. Well done all!

Bedfordshire County Golf Ltd – County of the Year 2023

 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 3
BCGL Seniors – County Matches – players needed.!! Reminder
The following match days have been organised against Senior Ladies from other
Millenium Trophy 2023
Counties
(Senior 2000)
18th May 2023 Beds vs Norfolk at Swaffam Golf Club 11.30
The Best nett scoring medal
13th July 2023 Beds vs Suffolk at Ipswich Golf Club 12noon
round by a senior lady (over 50)
20th July 2023 Beds vs Cambs & Hunts at South Beds Golf Club 12noon in a nominated May medal at
your club qualifies them for this
10th August 2023 Beds vs Bucks at Pavenham Park Golf Club 12noon knockout competition.
25th August 2023 Beds vs Northants at Staverton Golf Club. Please ensure your club qualifier
Most matches are played off scratch with the exception of Northants who play of name is with Helen Taylor by the
handicap. Don’t let ‘scratch’ put you off as many other teams field ladies up to 2nd June 2023
18/20. It is a great experience and a brilliant way to meet new people and play
different courses. If you are interested and would like to play in any of the above helenjtaylor@me.com
matches please contact Helen Taylor by email : helenjtaylor@me.com

Junior Girls County Academy

The Junior Girls Academy is going well with the squad group being
introduced to some interesting practice routines by Jo, and the academy
/development group getting some excellent short game and course
management advice and help from Richard and Steve. There is usually a
“beat the professionals” challenge to finish on.

Jo is getting the girls to think “outside the box” in terms of how they adapt to different situations so she organised
them to play one hole left handed, another hole using only one club including putting and another hole as “speed”
golf. It was great fun, and the girls loved the different challenges.
See below the putting drills which the girls did in pairs and them coming
Girls Golf Rocks
off the 9th hole course having played it all the way left-handed!

There are at least 3 clubs in

Bedfordshire, (Leighton Buzzard Golf
We are still looking for more girls to join the academy so if you have any Club, The Bedfordshire Golf Club,
girls at your club who are showing promise and you feel would benefit Aspley Guise Golf Club) running the
from the different format and teaching, please encourage them to contact Girls Golf Rocks initiative this
either Claudine Tate or Liz Bagshaw at summer. This is a great way of
juniorgirls@bedfordshiregolf.org.uk introducing girls between 5 and 18
into golf. It’s a course of 6 lessons
The next sessions are May 14th, June 11th and July 9th . costing £40.00 with the last lesson a
short time on the golf course Go to the
Girls Golf Rocks website to find out
more or contact the clubs direct.
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 4

Sad news from Tilsworth Golf club

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Megan Taylor a long
and admired member of Tilsworth Golf Club.
Megan was born on January 1st 1938 in the Welsh speaking town of Bala
in north wales. Up until the age of eleven she only spoke Welsh and it
wasn’t until she went to senior school that she started to speak
English. She meet her husband John when he worked as a young engineer
on the construction of the Bala reservoir, they married and after the
contract ended they re-located to Dunstable, they were married for 63
years.
Megan was always a very keen sports woman. Squash, tennis at Dunstable
Tennis Club where she was a club champion and together with John ran
the Junior section, and eventually golf. She initially played at Wavendon
and then became a long standing members at Tilsworth Golf Club. She
was for years the matriarch and mainstay of the Ladies section, very
supportive to new members and would teach the rules and etiquette which
she was very particular about. She was very proud of her ‘Hole In One’ on
the 16th at Tilsworth and teased her husband John that it was something
that she had achieved before him. There are many happy memories of her
time at Tilsworth, she was Lady Captain in 2000, and helped organise
many away weekends and Open days. A regular supporter of County
events and was recognised with an award from Bedfordshire Golf for her
services promoting women’s golf. She was well known through out the
county and will be greatly missed.

NEWS FROM OUR CLUBS
Jo Harrison announces details of
the Girls Golf Rocks programme
taking place at Aspley Guise &
Woburn Sands GC. 6 week
Coaching Courses will commence
on Saturday 27th and Tuesday 30th
May. Full details on the Girls
Golf Rocks website.
https://girlsgolfrocks.played.co/ve
nues/aspley-guise-woburn-sands-
golf-club
Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club
Results Club Competitions
With the weather improving and no cancellations Club competitions are back
in full swing.
4th April – Ladies Crescendo – Winners, Di Green, Jenny Rose, Barbara
Gretton.
11th April – Ladies Australian Spoons (1-14 Handicap) – Winners, Sue Caley
and Jo Harrison
18th April – Ladies 9 Hole, Winner Jane Firth, Ladies American Greensomes
Chapman, Winners Barbara Gretton and Margot Norris.
County Competitions
Handicap Shield
6-1 Home win against Dunstable Downs. 4.5 – 2.5 Home win against John
O’Gaunt
Scratch League –
3-0 Home win against Beds & County
Friendly Matches
AM-AM v Whipsnade, Lorraine Charles & Joanna Mayfield on the winning
team
4-0 defeat to Cambridge City Country Club. First time at this very impressive
venue.
Business Ladies
Home loss to Mid-Herts 1.5 to 2
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 5

More news from our Clubs Bedford and County Golf Club
On 14th April Bedford & County welcomed George Anthony for an excellent Soul Night. We all enjoyed listening, and
dancing, to George – a winner of “Stars in their Eyes”. To accompany the music, and sticking to the theme, Chef James had
prepared Southern Fried Chicken, New Orleans Gumbo, Cajun Jambalaya, Mississippi Mud Pie and Pecan pie. A wonderful
evening.

We welcome our new Ladies Vice
Captain – Chris Eales. Chris has been a
member of our Club since 1998. Her
father was a golfer, husband David too
and eventually she joined them!
We would be delighted to welcome you to this event – the band are
excellent, and it is always a great evening. Just call the office on 01234
352617 if you would like to come along and join in the fun.

She is looking forward to her year – learning

lots this year about all the behind-the-scenes
hard work of all the committees and the
dedicated work needed to keep everything
running smoothly.
What a day we had for our Easter Monday Texas Scramble, the drive ins for our Captains and
the Charity Launch Day! The weather had been really pleasant over the holiday weekend, but
it rained on the Monday virtually all the way through the competition. 25 teams braved the rain
for an 08.30 shotgun start and really appreciated their sandwiches and chips when they are all
got in. Luckily the sun came out for the 4 Captains to do their drive ins and the clubhouse was
buzzing when everyone came in with players, guests and representatives from the two
charities– FACES (family and children’s early help Services) for Debbie Newnham-Davies and
Cancer Research UK for Lloyd Wardall. The bottle raffle on the day raised £350 – getting both
charity pots off to a good start. Despite the usual barracking Debbie had an excellent shot for
her Drive in.
 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 6
FROM BEDFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB
Inaugural Sections Match: Men v Seniors v Ladies v Juniors - Team Stableford Competition Saturday, April 22nd
13 players from each team, went out in mixed 4 balls with the 9 best Stableford scores counting towards a total team score. For the
Ladies, Louise Walker, Fran Eyre and Georgia Gordon top scored with 33 pts to help their team accumulate a total of 276. The
Senior Section were 3rd with 283pts, which included the best adult round of 37 pts from John Simpson. The Men played very
consistently to finish runners up on 287pts both Godfrey Muraya and Roy McDonald both posting 36pts.
However, it was the Junior Section who triumphed with a huge 335pts demonstrating the excellent improvement of many over the
winter! Top scorer with an incredible 48 pts was Ed Forster, with Oliver Elphick also on great form carding an impressive 42,
They were joined by Lara Gauntlett (39) and Oliver Hurley (38) who were also under handicap. The rest of the winning team were
Sam Aldwinckle, Oliver Gauntlett, Jack Greenwood, Sammy Hughes, Rhian Morjaria, Vikram SIngh, James Stocks, Caleb
Widger and captain Dillon Basi who received the trophy from Club Captain, Derek Freeman. Well done Junior Team - some of
whom received appropriate handicap cuts following their achievements!
Away Day @ Brampton Heath GC 25th April, 2023
The two dozen or so ladies who took a trip north of Northampton were in for a treat. Huge thanks go to Julia Thompson for
organising the day and Caroline for providing the inspiration. Results:
Individual Stableford winner:- Hilary Denny (33 points)
Team competition Winners: Nicki Reynolds, Jan Skippins, Sharon Curtis & Jackie Watts (90 points)
Runners up: Caroline Kirby, Eleanor Mapes, Judi Monico & Janet Broomhall (84 points)
Nearest the Pin - Winners: Caroline Kirby and Diane Ward.
Yellow ball team competition (9 holes) and rules lunch and quiz - 13th April
Front 9, :1st Mira Tysoe, Karen Chandler, Diane Ward 58 pts
2nd Hilary Denny, Sam Turnbull, Elna Ball 55 pts
1st individual - Hilary Denny 23 pts
Back 9, 1st Lucy Taylor, Margaret Morris, Joanne Bull, 57 pts
2nd Janet Broomhall, Suzanne Richardson Veronica Guterres 53 pts
1st individual - Margaret Morris 22pts
Saturday ladies 18 holes
1st Carol Pennington, Caroline Kirby & Rachel Stark 109 pts Brampton Heath Day
2nd Adele Carson, Diane Ward & Karen McDonald 104 pts
There was a good turnout with 42 ladies taking part in this fun threesome competition. We were lucky with the weather in that it
was merely cold and blustery while the sun shone. There was a delicious choice of soups to warm us all up and a generous helping
of chocolate eggs for the prize winners. Denise and Sally, ably assisted by Mary entertained and informed the merry gathering with
their golf rules quiz. Who knew legal matters could be so much fun.
Easter Senior Ladies F9 Individual Stableford - Thursday, April 6th 2023
The forecast of rain did not faze 14 ladies who ventured out. In spite of the gloomy weather forecast, we all came in dry and
smiling. Greens were slow but it didn't dampen our spirits when we were all treated to delicious hot cross buns at the halfway
house and a selection of chocolate mini eggs for lunch!!! Congratulations to the winners:
1st Debbie Strachan 17 points 2nd Jenny King 15 points on c/b 3rd Chin Fern Griffiths 15 points
Special thanks to Sue Brierley for organising the event and for providing all the treats to make it a very special day indeed and to
top it up with Easter egg prizes.
Doff Gillet Medal
Our first medal of the season was played in challenging conditions on 15th & 18th April. Many congratulations goes to one of our
junior members Georgia Mundy who takes 1st place and the Trophy with a Nett 71. 2nd Breege Traynor Nett 75 and 3rd Nicki
Reynolds Nett 76.
Kay Walker Winter Eclectic - 1st November 2022 to 31st March 2023
Our Kay Walker Winter Eclectic came to its conclusion on 31st March. Congratulations go to Lucy Taylor for winning on her first
attempt at the eclectic with a Gross 80/Nett 64. Congratulations also to joint 2nd places - Chin Fern Griffiths - Gross 79/Nett 67.5
and Nicki Reynolds - Gross
76/Nett 67.5.

Easter Senior Ladies Competition Lucy Taylor –Winter Eclectic

winner
Junior Team – Section match winners.

BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LTD - WWW.BEDFORDSHIREGOLF ORG

 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 7

Bedfordshire County Golf Ltd – County of the Year 2023

 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 8

More news from our Clubs MOWSBURY GOLF CLUB

We have just had our annual trip to Stoke –by-Nayland. Over
the years we have had snow, scorching sun and showers. But
until now we have never had rain that stopped play on our
middle day9 except for three hardy ladies). However it did not
spoil an excellent three days away.

As Easter was approaching we mixed our Midweek Medal with a fun Day Easter Egg competition. The Easter Egg was
won by Pauline Hargreaves, Anne McGregor and Alicia Hawking. Division 1 midweek Medal winner was Alicia Hawking
with Division 2 being Pauline Hargreaves. The weekend Medal was won by Elaine Barrows.
Our Diary is beginning to think its summer regardless of what the weather thinks. We have played many more games this
month.
The Alex Rizzi Memorial a mixed Stableford was won by Alicia's and Anne’s team.
The Spring Scramble was won by Marina Allen, Hazel Hopperton and Lillian Wilson.
2 ladies enjoyed the Past Captains Day at Chalgrave Manor, the format was also a welcome surprise.
We have also entertained Cainhoe Woods in a friendly, with the sun making an appearance on the back 9. A huge
congratulations to Jane Morgan from Mowsbury on getting a hole in one on the 11th.
Finally we are having a Family Fun Day on the 8th May. Information can be found on Mowsbury Golfs Facebook page.

FROM SOUTH BEDS GOLF CLUB

On Sunday 2nd April, The Past Ladies
Captain, Fay Glynn, and Past Club Captain
Dermot O’Neill presented The MIND
organisation with a cheque for £4, 136.00
to be equally split between the National
and Local branches from their Captains
Charity of 2022. The presentation was
made in the clubhouse and Mrs Helen
Walsh accepted the cheque on behalf of
‘MIND BLMK:’
(Bedford, Luton & Milton Keynes) and
MIND UK .
Mind is a mental health charity in
England and Wales. Founded in 1946 as
the National Association for Mental Health
(NAMH), it celebrated its 70th anniversary
in 2016. Mind offers information and
advice to people with mental health
problems and lobbies government and
local authorities on their behalf.

BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LTD - WWW.BEDFORDSHIREGOLF ORG

 BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF LIMITED – LADIES NEWSLETTER
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS MAY 2023 PAGE 9
NEWS FROM PAVENHAM PARK GOLF CLUB
A SPECIAL LADY'S BIRTHDAY - LINDA'S 80TH
Linda hosted a fantastic team roll-up and quiz on Tuesday 25th April, along with a bit of a do for her 80th Birthday for us all
to celebrate with her. It was fabulous Linda and so lovely to see a few ladies who for one reason or another have not been
able to play.
We all thank you for your generosity in including the Pavenham Ladies in your celebrations

E N G L A N D G O L F – E A S T R E G I O N

AUSTRALIAN SPOONS 2023

Foursomes Fun for women with a Handicap
Index between 15-54.

Clubs are required to have at least one

qualifying competition but there is no limit
on this or the amount of times you enter.

East Region Final at Colne Valley Golf Club,

Essex Wednesday 12th July 2023

Closing Date for entries 21st June 2023.Full

details, entry form and competition rules at:
www:englandgolf.org/womens-regional-events

Or contact Sharon Glover on

Winners of the D&L Trophy played recently at gloversharon989@gmail.com
Pavenham Park – Jim and Heather Wildsmith.