Ladies Golf rocked in Worcestershire on Friday Sept 10th as MG lady editor Mandy Ambert’s group of hastily arranged MGALS became our Society Champions for 2021 on a high point scoring day.
Gaudet Luce GC in Droitwich played host to 24 x 4balls representing a number of local societies and a couple of welcome new ones from other areas in England. The top 4ball from each group played in our third running of the Society Championships, as tradition dictated, we also held a Charity Open alongside the main event for second teams and other non-society based fourballs. Funds on the day were raised for Prostate Cancer and Gaudet’s own cause, the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust.
The day involved bacon rolls/tea/coffee on arrival, a two tee start from midday and a BBQ dinner after the golf, one that started outdoors but concluded inside the conference room due to the less than friendly late afternoon weather conditions.
Yet nothing could deter the enjoyment of the day for us all, possibly the long pandemic related lay off made us all appreciate being able to host a large event all the more, and the social element as well, especially after play seemed all the busier and more enthusiastic. Societies networking with other groups, arranging get togethers, Ryder Cup style events into the future, exactly what this is all about.
GL owner Alec Fernihough, Course Manager Andrew Laing and all of the staff pushed the boat out for us all, the Phoenix course was in supreme nick with speedy greens taking many by surprise. The on-course quality was more than matched with the 19th hole charms, the generous BBQ was very well received by all players.
To the honours board and the ‘green team’ of Robin Hood Golf Society from Swannington in Leics brought two teams and has a successful time of it. Their A team finished third on countback in the main event on 98 points, their second team walked off with the Charity Open title (pictured below.)
In the Society Championship standings, the Pink STAGS performed well again as they always do as did the Redditch based Golden Goose GS who brought two teams over. The Reds of Bagot Arms GS were our two-time defending champions and must have thought another great display and 99 points was enough for a hat-trick of titles, but the MGALS had different ideas!
Mandy, who’s been around a bit (in golfing terms) and was slightly embarrassed to win her own organised event with a team score of no less than 103 points described it as the best day on the course EVER. A perfect example of dovetailing at its finest, putts holed, chip-ins, two players always playing well on any given hole, one of those occasions where everything went right.
What a wonderful advert the result became for ladies’ golf at all levels and its success in recent times. Team captain Mandy (2nd right) an 11 handicapper from Trentham GC (who shot 5 under on the day) was joined by three other MGALS from different local golf clubs. On the right, her friend Jane, an ex-member at Mandy’s first club, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, now at Crewe GC and playing off 16. Second left is Gill Williams, a 13 handicapper from Wychwood Park, also in Cheshire, anyone who has played there knows how difficult that place is.
But topping the tale is the lady on the left, the unassuming Mee Ling Yui who has been a regular at MGALS events ever since Mandy ran the first one back in 2017. Back then, Meeting was a very high handicapper, taking up the game at the Ladies Love Golf Academy at 3 Hammers Golf Complex in Wolverhampton. She’s since become a full time member of the ladies section at Bloxwich GC, her handicap down to 18 and now after playing a major role at Gaudet Luce, she’s a society champion too.
Such a great day, catching up with old friends and MG event regulars. Great to meet a few new ones too such as the Friday Club from Stonebridge, the NEGS (No Etiquette) from Staverton Park, the reformed Beefy and Lamby Tour (Cleobury Mortimer) and from elsewhere in the country the Nomads GS and the eight strong Monkey Club from Wiltshire who were absolute stars. All wanted to know about our 2022 event plans and will return, we’ll have details of those very soon.
Thanks to everybody involved in the running and competing in 2021’s Society Championships – it was good to be back.
