Hampshire Ladies Golf celebrate 125 Years

With the weather forecast predicting sunshine and comfortable mid 20s temperatures, and with 45 participating clubs, the stage was set for a perfect day to celebrate 125 years of women's golf at Petersfield GC.  There was a lovely atmosphere right from the start: the players were warmly welcomed by Lynne Grimshaw and her team, all suitably attired in 1900s golfing gear and they all received little 125 goodie bags. The clubhouse was decked in 125 bunting and light blue bunting and Petersfield's Lady Captain Jackie Carter had organised an army of helpers to ensure the players were given the best possible experience.  Some 30 ladies had signed up just for the delicious BBQ lunch but they stayed for most of the day to support their club members, to catch up with old friends, do a bit of retail therapy and to join in the putting and chipping competitions.

With menacing black clouds and distant rumblings, the first groups were just completing their rounds when lightning was spotted and all the players were called off the course.  A 30 minute delay ensued but there must have been some good scores out there as everyone was in good spirits and accepted the delay with good grace. The early leaders in the clubhouse were the Army pairing of Adrienne Price and Tena McMachan with a whopping 44 points. They waited patiently to see if anyone could beat that score and as more 40+ points rolled in, it became quite exciting.  The Burley pair, Mags Jones and Dee Flanagan came close, also with 44 points, but it was one of the last groups who pipped the Army girls; Debbie Campbell and Julie Weatherdon from Bramshott Hill clinched the win with an impressive 45 points.  

After the lunch, our County Captain Eilean Cunningham briefly outlined our rich history, noting all our international players and notable successes through the years - certainly a history we should all be justly proud of - and she then presented Di Stock (North Hants GC) with a HLG Lifetime Achievement Award for her 40 years of self-less commitment to women's golf at both national level and to Hampshire. A richly deserved recipient!  By sheer coincidence, we also gained our 1,000th follower on Facebook that day - Petersfield's Club Captain, Iain Thompson! More cheers and rounds of applause were given to all the prize-winners (1st to 5th places, Nearest the Pin and Line winners, Putting & Chipping Winners) and the club was delighted to raise over £1000 for their chosen charity, Dementia Friendly Petersfield, thanks to the generosity of HLG members.

The biggest vote of thanks was given to Lynne Grimshaw (Basingstoke GC), our 125 Events Organiser, who not only master-minded and executed this special day, but she was responsible for coordinating all the 125 club events and all the special 125 memorabilia that players have received throughout the year.  What a super-star and a massive thank you from everyone 

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