Coaching and Training for County Golf

Coaching and Training for County Golf

Information has been collected coaching and training offered by Midlothian to members of the County squad over the last 17 years.

Year
2005	Captain	Maggie McPherson
	Selector	Pamela Williamson (4th year)
	County Matches	Schawpark Golf Club, Alloa - Midlothian were the East Division Winners (for the first time since 1988)
	County Finals	Ranfurly Castle - Midlothian won the County Finals for the first time in 70 years!
	Winter Training	short-game coaching at King's Acre
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Toorwoodlee; Lanarkshire at Lanark. Duddingston Men, Mortonhall Captain's Team, SUGS Won all except Mortonhall match. Practice round(s) for squad at Schawpark Alloa
2004	Captain	Janet Wake
	Selector	PamelaWilliamson (3rd year)
	County Matches	Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh (Fife won)
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Squad of 18 had short game practice at Kingsacre. Groups of 4 at a time, each receiving three one hour sessions with Alan Murdoch & Ian Butcher Squad internal winter practice games - 2 ball foursomes in two groups of round-robin
	Fitness	Dr Audrey Duncan from Dundee University gave the Squad a presentation overviewing fitness for golf with emphasis on both the dynamic and static warm up. Also a brief practical on warm up stretching routines
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Mortonhall, Lanarkshireat Mortonhall. Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; Mortonhall; Lothians Golf Association; SUGS (no match - not able to raise a team)
2003	Captain	Janet Wake
	Selector	Pamela Williamson (2nd year)
	County Matches	Balwearie Golf Club, Kirkcaldy (Fife won)
	Winter Training	Squad of 18-20 hs Short Game Practice with 2 sessions for each squad member, each lasting 2-3 hours at Kingsacre Winter Practice. Internal squad games of 2 ball foursomes in 2 mini-leagues
	Fitness	Golf Fitness Assessment with Yvonne Brooks of Braid Hills Golf & Driving Range. This entailed a flexibility and strength assessment screening, followed by Ian Young , also of Braids Driving range looking at each individual squad member's swing on video
	Psychology	session with Dr Richard Cox
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Minto; Lanarkshire at Lanark. Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; Mortonhall; SUGS (Gullane 2). Two practice games at Balwearie in April.
2002	Captain	Karen Ballantyne
	Selector	Pamela Williamson (1st year)
	County Matches	Haddington Golf Club (Stirling & Clackmannan won)
	County Finals	..... Stirling & Clackmannan won
	Winter Training	Coaching from Ian Young at Braid Hills Golf & Driving Range
	Fitness Training	Audrey Duncan
	Psychology	Talk by Dr Richard Cox
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Broomieknowe; Lanarkshire at Baberton. Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; SUGS (Gullane 2).
	Other	The Captain held a debriefing later in the season with the squad to obtain feedback on Squad Training
2001	Captain	Karen Ballantyne
	Selector	Fiona Smith (4th year)
	County Matches	Stirling Golf Club (Stirling & Clackmannan won)
	County Finals	..... Stirling & Clackmannan won
	Winter Training	Ian Young at the Braids Hills Golf & Driving Range used as County Coach for the first time Each Squad member received 3 sessions for 2 hours each, and individual Squad members chose which aspect of their game they wanted to work on
	Fitness	Evening with Audrey Duncan, Sports Scientist from Dundee University, focusing on stretching and conditioning exercises
	Psychology	2-hour talk by Katie Sinnot a sports psychologist
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Eyemouth; Lanarkshire at Drumpellier. Mens' Teams:- Duddingston, SUGS
	Other	Captain circulated questionaire to all Squad members to gain on how beneficial they found the training and coaching
2000	Captain	Anne Brownie
	Selector	Fiona Smith (3rd year)
	County Matches	Murrayfield
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Main squad: 6 training get togethers at Braids Driving Range during February & March. Development Squad: 3 training sessions at Melville Golf Range with Garry Carter. Main Squad of 20 received coaching from Adam Hunter & Alan Murdoch at Kingsacre.
	Psychology	talk by Anne Brownie; plus 'Rules Evening' for the main and development squads
	Matches	Ladies:- Lanarkshire. Mens' Teams Lothians; Duddingston; SUGS (Match rained off but since it was the 70th anniversary of the match, there was a meal and an anniversary cake.)
1999	Captain	Anne Brownie
	Selector	Fiona Smith (2nd year)
	County Matches	Elie & Earlsferry
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Coach: Julie Forbes. Main & Development Squads attended sessions at Melville Driving Range (Development Squad: 10 invited & 8 took part)
	Other	A Golf Quiz & Social Evening for both squads. Questionaire was sent for the first time to 23 prospective squad members - final squad was 16. Squad Selection was made by Captain, Vice & Selector who picked the members from the criteria FACTS - Fitness, Ability, Commitment, Team Spirit
	Matches	Ladies:- Lanarkshire; Borders. Mens' Teams: Duddingston
1998	Captain	Margaret Rodgers
	Selector	Fiona Smith (1st year)
	County Matches	Longniddry
	County Finals
	Winter Training	18 squad members had 4 of 6 sessions at Melville Driving Range Feb/Mar. Pre-season training at Melville included Julie Forbes having 9 holes with groups of 3. Development Squad short game practice at Melville in early spring
	Matches	Ladies:- Lanarkshire at Baberton. Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; SUGS; Lothians.
1997	Captain	Margaret Rodgers
	Selector	Elizabeth Simpson (3rd year)
	County Matches	Glenbervie
	County Finals
	Winter Training	County Squad consisted of 18 players Each attended 4 of 6 sessions at Melville Driving Range, 2 of which were attended by John Murray. Training at Turnhouse for 1-hour sessions with John Murray. Development Squad:- 1-hour training session with John Murray & short game practice at Melville. Free practice balls at Melville Driving range for the Squad sessions
	Matches	Ladies:- Borders at Minto; Lanarkshire at Hamilton. Mens' Teams:- SUGS at Murrayfield; Duddingston.
	Other	Captain's ABC for squad members\;- A) ability; B) being part of a team; C) commitment.
1996	Captain	Sue Caton
	Selector	Elizabeth Simpson (2nd year)
	County Matches	Broomieknowe
	County Finals
	Winter Training	County Squad of 16 with target sessions at Melville. Kathryn Marshall attended when available. Coaching sessions at Turnhouse with John Murray.
	Matches	Mens' Teams:-Broomieknowe; Duddingston; SUGS at Gullane; Lothian Men at Kingsknowe. Friendly target golf match versus East Lothian at Fenton Barns.
	Other	Social Evening for Squad at Marmalade Cat
1995	Captain	Sue Caton
	Selector	Elizabeth Simpson (1st year)
	County Matches	Pitifirrance, Dunfermline
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Squad of 24, 19 with handicaps of 5 or less. Coaching at Melville Driving Range with Kathryn Marshall, who also played 9 holes with squad members. Discussion on Course management which produced a SkillsAnalyses sheet for Squad members to work on.
	Fitness	Rita Dee took step classes from January to March
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; SUGS at Baberton
	Other	Criteria for Squad Selection: handicap experience potential age
1994	Captain	Elizabeth Rose
	Selector	Margaret Allan (4th year)
	County Matches	Gullane no 1
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Squad of 16 with handicaps of 5 or less. Rita Dee took step classes at Craiglockhart Centre. Kathryn Marshall attended clinics at Melville Range
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- SUGS at Gullane; Duddingston.
1993	Captain	Elizabeth Rose
	Selector	Margaret Allan (3rd year)
	County Matches	Schaw Park Golf Club, Alloa
	County Finals
	Winter Training	All players with handicaps 5 or less invited for winter training. Rita Dee took step classes. Kathryn Marshall took 2 coaching clinics at Dalmahoy with 12 players in each. Foursomes Practice games at Baberton. Practice game for Squad at Schawpark
	Psychology	John Mathers gave a presentation on sports psychology
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- SUGS at Liberton; Duddingston.
1992	Captain	Gillian Kirkwood
	Selector	Margaret Allan (2nd year)
	County Matches	Murrayfield
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Rita Dee took aerobics sessions. John Mathers took a talk called " the commitment to practice". Coaching Sessions with Derek Small at Dunbar and at Peffermill, covering swings & Specialist shots (rather than course management). Team Trial at Baberton, in which 24 took part. Received £150 grant from SLGA for training
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- Duddingston; Lothians at Murrayfield (abandoned for fog); SUGS at Liberton
1991	Captain	Gillian Kirkwood
	Selector	Margaret Allan (1st year)
	County Matches	Ladybank, Fife
	County Finals
	Winter Training	Pool of 24 squad members New fixture against Juniors at Broomieknowe but it could only raise 6 a side
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- Murrayfield; Duddingston; SUGS at Liberton (ladies received 1 stroke every 3 holes).
	Other	Instigation of "man of the match" awards at the County Matches First winners: Valerie Aitchison against Stirlingshire; Fiona Rennie (now Hunter) against East Lothian; Karen Marshall against Fife
	SLGA	New training initiative from SLGA - 15 MCLGA members ( 10 ladies & 5 juniors) took part in a regional training seminar at Dunbar. SLGA training committee (Chairman, Joan Marshall) introduced a proposed County Training Programme. Pyramid System with Clubs coaching youngsters at beginner level, the Counties taking over when the girls reached a certain level; & then Divisional coaching for better players, for which Midlothian had Derek Small at Dunbar. Apex of the pyramid a training weekend organised by SLGA for 36 of the top players from which the Scottish Team would be selected
1990	Captain	Joan Marshall
	Selector	Elizabeth Rose (2nd year)
	County Matches	North Berwick West
	County Finals
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- Murrayfield; Duddingston; Lothians; SUGS Match 60th Anniversary) Gullane 2 (ladies receiving 6 strokes).
1989	Captain	Joan Marshall
	Selector	Elizabeth Rose
	County Matches	Stirling
	County Finals
	Training	Squad of 24, reduced to 16 after the County Championship
	Matches	Mens' Teams:- Murrayfield; Duddingston; Baberton; Dalmahoy; SUGS at Liberton..

Overview

County Golf

This page is under development

Information on Coaching and Training offered to County Squad Members

During 1912 MCLGA won 6 and lost 2 matches. The Fife Club won East Division During 1913 MCLGA played 8 County mtches, won 5 & lost 3. Fife won East Division and also County Finals

In November 1920, as funds were low, it was proposed at the AGM the the County that shoulld only pay ½ train fares for County matches. It was suggested that a selection committee be formed to choose County Team but it was agreed that current arrangements shouldccontinue with Captain and Secretary choosing team. The final of the (Inter) County Championship was not played, Fife being shot of funds.

MCLGA won the Scottish County Finals at Troon on 3/11/1921 beating Lanarke by 5/2; and again at Gleneagles on 24/10/1922 when they beat Lanark 6/. In 1923 Midlothian won all its East Divisional Matches and, in the County Finals, beat Ayrshire at Western Gailesby 5/2. In 1924 Midlothian only lost one Divisional match against Fife at St Andrews. In the Scottish County Finals at Longniddry Midlothian beat Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire each by 5/2. In 1925 Midlothian won the County Shield for the fifth year in succession and the MCLGA accounts showed balance of £25.12.4, less than last the previous year, as full fares were paid for all County Matches!

In 1926 The County Shield was won by Lanarkshire, beating Midlothian 4/3 and Aberdeenshire 5/2; Midlothian beat Aberdeenshire 6/1.
In 1927 Midlothian won the County Shield, beating Aberdeenshire 6/1 and Ayrshire 5/2. Ayrshire beat Aberdeenshire. In 1928 Midlothian again won the County Shield at Gleneagles, beating Aberdeenshire 6/1 and Ayrshire 6/1 (Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire did not play their tie owing to weather conditions. At the MCLGA AGM in October 1920 it was agreed give the team playing in County Finals a grant of 30/- towards their expenses, in addition to train fare. After some discussion, the Hon Sec was instructed to write to the LGU enquiring as to how this might affect the amateur status of the players. In 1929 the MCLGA team had a successful season, winning all their divisional matches and the County Finals at Gleneagles on October 3rd when they beat Aberdeeenshire 6/1 and Ayrshire 5/2, . MCLGA thus winning the County Shield eight times out of nine.

In 1930 Midlothian won all their Divisional matches. Unfortunately in the Finals at Gleneagles whey were not at full strength and were beaten by Ayrshire who won the County Shield. A letter had been received from the Sec of County Golf which stated that "payment of expenses over and above train fare, does not affect a player's amateur status.In 1931 Midlothian again won all their Divisional matches, but were unsuccessful in the Finals at Gleneagles, Ayrshire winning the County Shield. At the MCLGA AGM it was agreed that there should be a committee of three to select the county team.

In 1932 Midlothian had a very successful year winning all their Divisional matches and the County Shield, beating Moray & Nairn 6/1 and Ayrshire 4/3 in the Final at Gleneagles in October. In 1933 the Midlothian Team had a successful season, winning 5 of 6 Division Matches and the County Shield, beating Ayrshire 4/3 and Moray & Nairn 4/3 in the Final at Gleneagles