Firstly I'd like to thank Liberton G.C. for having us back for this match just a week after hosting our Autumn meeting. We are always made to feel welcome here and are well looked after.
We have also been very lucky with the weather this year as the sun was shining again as we teed off in this last match of the 2025 season against Borders.

Everyone was in good spirits as we teed off and with not many strokes being given in any of the matches it was a close thing. In fact as the teams passed the clubhouse between holes 7 and 8 we were all level, with East up in three matches and Borders up in three matches. However the back nine threw up its challenges including those strategically placed bunkers (#IYKYK!) and the final result went Borders way again with a 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 win.

Thanks to Dawn and her team who take the Rosebowl back home again complete with flowers in Borders colours. Thanks to the catering staff who looked after us before and after play - don't think anyone left hungry! And finally thank to all the players who came out to play for East - your support is much appreciated.
We will look forward to next year's match at Eyemouth
Gail M
Team Captain

Viv Mitchell & Maureen Stewart lost to Mags Morrison & Flora Kerr
Rae Muir & Fran Ramage lost to Margaret Walker & Anne Teague
Anne MacCarthy & Cathryn Buckham halved with Dawn Tomlinson & Maria Smail
Katy Gillies & Jane Browitt won against Claire Howden & Anne Lorriman
Denise Mitchell & Maureen MacKay lost to Pauline Hogg & June Allan
Sheila Herschel & Elsa Todd won against Venetia Scott & Fiona Melrose

(More photos in gallery)

Autumn Meeting at Liberton G.C. September 4th 2025

Our thanks go to Liberton G.C. who yesterday hosted forty-nine of our members for our Autumn Meeting. Despite the ominous weather forecasts leading up to the day I am happy to report that all of us made it round dry! Our appreciation also goes to the pro shop staff and catering staff who looked after us all day.

The overall winner yesterday, with an impressive one under par 68 gross (66net) was Anne Hanson. Anne started the day with an eagle on Hole 1 and added another couple of birdies on her card too. Well played Anne! Other notable scores were net 68's by Sharon Lynch in Division 1 and Katy Gillies in Division 2. All of the scores can now be found below and under the results tab on the webpage.

We also had three two's on the day by Caroline Steedman, Karen Ballantyne and Kathleen Sked!

It's hard to believe that that's our fixture list almost at an end for this year, but the new fixture list for 2026 should be coming out soon
Thanks for your continued support
Gail M
Captain

Full results below:
Gross
Nett
Twos

Our first greensomes match of the year was held at Broomieknowe GC in glorious weather on Thursday. I must admit to being slightly concerned ahead of the match due to a thunder warning being in place for the whole day, and when I awoke to reports of multiple lightning strikes in the Lothians on the morning of the match, I feared the worst. I could not have been more wrong. The sun was splitting the sky and it was hot!

The course was looking great and in fiery condition with a lot of run on the fairways after all the recent sunshine and windy conditions. The greens were beautifully green but running fast as well.

As we walked around the course following the groups we saw some great shots being played, particularly in and around the greens. Shot of the day must go to Anne Rorrison who chipped in for an eagle on the 5th - see the celebratory photo above! A close second was Gilly Glen's pressure putt on the last to win their match 1 up.

After four close matches the overall score was sitting at 2-2 and it all came down to the final match, just as it had at Strathaven GC in 2024. All players and captains were gathered behind the 18th green waiting for the final group to come in. We saw handshakes take place on the 17th green but could not work out what the state of play had been, so watched in anticipation as the players walked in down the 18th, trying to work out from the body language who may have been victorious.
I am pleased to report that East had won the final match to make the overall score 3-2 and retain the ASP trophy. The trophy motto is “friendship always wins” and I think all players and team captains will agree that it was a very friendly match played in great spirits.

The full results were:

Sal Shepherd and Linda Boyle won 4&2 against Jan McNab and Janette McCartney

Liz Calder and Gilly Glen won 1 up against Jennifer Mack and Maryanne McKelvie

Frances McFadzean and Mandy McBain lost 3&2 to Jocelyn Faris and Faye Alexander

Carol Lees and Julie Baird won 3&1 against Elaine Robb and Chris Fowler

Elaine Lumsden and Anne Rorrison lost 4&3 against Carol McNally and Fiona Cameron

(More photos appear in the Photos section of the website)

Thanks to all players for volunteering to play in the match, it is very much appreciated. Thanks also to West team captain Gillian McGinlay and her team for making it such an enjoyable day.

Thanks to Broomieknowe GC for hosting us. The course was in great condition and was a new one for a lot of the West players, who all seemed to enjoy playing it. The catering was also well received, with a lot of players admiring the new clubhouse building and surroundings. We look forward to next year’s match and trying to keep our run going.
Acting Vice-captain Fiona.

I think I want to start this match report by thanking the nine members who travelled to Hayston today to play, especially Karina and Linda who were added to the team very late on when I had run out of reserves. Thank you for your support of East Division in this important fixture.

The weather on the drive across to Hayston GC was not great and while having our bacon rolls I'm sure some of us were wondering where the sun from a couple of weeks ago had gone. However apart from a couple of squalls we stayed mostly dry and had only the wind to contend with. For those that haven't played Hayston it's a fun course and well worth the trip to play it.

In an unexpected twist the West Captain, Lesley Lloyd, and I were paired against each other and like many of the matches it was a close one going all the way to the eighteenth. In fact against a very strong West team I think we performed well and were unlucky in some of the results.
However the bad news is I do have to report back that West Division got the better of us this year with a 5-4 victory to win back the Elise Duncan Trophy.

The results were as follows;-

Hilary Laughland lost 5&4 to Fiona Norris
Ailsa Cackett won 3&2 against Lesley Robertson
Caroline Steedman won 1 Up against Gillian Kyle
Susan Rennie won 2&1 against Lesley Watson
Ann Sewell lost 2&1 to Ruth Hunter
Gail Mathieson lost 1dwn to Lesley Lloyd
Fiona Larnach lost 1dwn to Liz Stewart
Karina Matson won 3&2 against Pauline Patrick
Linda Boyle lost 7&6 against Donna Jackson

Thanks were expressed to Lesley and her team, to Hayston GC and to the catering staff for hosting us all. Everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the course and the company.
We look forward to the return match next year.

(More pictures are available in the Photos Section)

Thanks again to the players,
Gail M
East Captain

The winner of the SVLGA Championship on Monday was title defender Martine Pow who beat Gillian Kyle in the final over the Lansdowne course.
Huge credit to our East Champion Ann Sewell who fought hard to stay in the game with Gillian in their quarter final match on the Sunday.

Monday also saw the Patrick Rosebowl played for over Rosemount. Rather a successful day for East Division with Mandy McBain winning the Rosebowl, Sal Shepherd the second place Smith Medal. East also won the team Lyon Trophy for aggregate best three nett score; Mandy and Sal were joined by Karen Marshall for this.
Karen also had the second best nett score for the day with Frances McFadzean collecting the Buchanan Cup for best nett 65-69 years.
So, there was much to celebrate that evening after the AGM.

Tuesday saw us all on Lansdowne to play the Greensomes as a Stableford this year. The Beddows Quaichs were won by Louise Walker and Isabel Cullen from West Division but the Tony Moffat Quaichs for best gross score were won by our own Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall.
Great effort by all our players.

Full results below:
Patrick Rosebowl
Beddows Quaich
Prize Winners
2024 Championship

One thing of note from the SVLGA AGM is the confirmation of the Associations impending name change to Scottish Senior Women’s Golf Association (SSWGA) as from October 1st 2024.
I am keen to note here that despite this change coming soon, very little will change immediately other than website name and logo which Gail and Fiona will be working on over the next weeks. Our team jumpers will stay in use until we next require a bulk order and then the new logo will be used.

Next stop is 5th November East AGM and lunch at Gullane GC.

Captain Sal

Congratulations to our 2024 Knockout Competition Winners:

Winner of the Ramsden Cup: Rae Muir
    Runner Up: Dulcie Barnes

Winners of the Friendship Foursomes: Caroline Steedman and Isla McCrone
    Runners Up: Gail Mathieson and Denise Turnbull

Well done to all!

The sun was shining for our last match of the season against the Borders at Torwoodlee G.C.

Unfortunately we lost a player to illness this week (get well soon Rae) but Captain Sal was happy to jump in and play.

The format was handicapped Greensomes and I had the unfortunate chore of telling our team how many strokes they were giving away on the first tee! However they still managed to smile for their photos.

The result did not go our way this time with Borders winning 4 1/2 to 1 1/2.
Congratulations to their team and a big well done to Louise, Jane, Elaine and Carole who secured points for East.

A big thank-you goes out to Torwoodlee G.C. for their welcome and hospitality, and we look forward to hosting Borders on home ground next year.

Results were as follows;

Gilly Glen & Maureen MacKay lost to Joyce Michie & Dawn Tomlinson
Louise Campbell & Jane Browitt won against Sheila Horsburgh & June Allan
Elaine Lumsden & Carole Mason finished AS with Flora Kerr & Dorothy Small
Caroline Kinnaird & Denise Turnbull lost to Janet Brown & Maria Smail
Sal Shepherd & Elsa Todd lost to Anne Paterson & Cherry Thom
Gill Ellis-Pow & June McEwan lost to Fiona Melrose &Pauline Hogg

Thanks to everyone who played
Gail

(More photos can be found in Photos section)

Hot on the heels of playing the Midlands we were straight back to Fife for the annual match at Elie versus a British Senior Men’s team. I had half hour of panic in the morning when I realised we were one player down due to illness, but I am very grateful to super sub Tricia for last minute finding a frock and hitching a lift with Sue and Mairi. Great commitment, thankyou Tricia.
Less drama for the rest of the assembled team who met up at the Clubhouse for a drink and a chance to size up the opposition, followed by a lovely two course meal. Many thanks to the Men’s team and all at Elie GC for the hospitality provided. I must apologise for not taking a team picture!

Off to the first tee for the golf, and what an opening tee shot Elie provides. There is literally a periscope in the starters box so you can see where the first green is hiding.
The weather was not the kindest but our team clearly coped well with the east wind and the squally rain that came and went. Here are the results to illustrate:
David Simpson and Douglas McNair lost 3&2 to Wendy Nicholson and Karen Marshall
Nigel Watt and Alistair Brown lost 7&5 to Sue Penman and Sal Shepherd
John Duncan and Johnny Allbrook lost 1dn to Kate Rorke and Gail Mathieson
Richard Muckart and Douglas Donaldson lost 2&1 to Annie Laird and Ann Sewell
Graham Duncan and Roddy McDonald lost 2&1 to Mairi Pollock and Sharon Lynch
Campbell Evans and Stuart Allison won 7&6 against Annabel Edmond and Tricia Smith
ESVLGA win 5-1.

My appreciation and thanks go to Johnny Allbrook the new Captain of the Men’s team. The match was played in the best spirit of the game, very competitive but with great fun too. Thanks also to Wendy for assisting in team persuasion and selection, and as always your committee for their support. I have resisted this match in the past but it really is a super day out and what a fantastic course to play.
Obviously, I am a very happy Captain Sal and so proud of the team and this win after so many years. Very well done everyone.
(I am keen to do a bit of digging into the history of this match find out when we did last win. I have a couple of potential leads to follow so please watch this space.)

Our opening match of the season took us across the Forth to Fife and Ladybank GC to play our annual scratch singles match.

The course was in great condition and appearance. Unfortunately, we had to leave the Liz Miskimmon Friendship Quaich behind again but I am sure our team enjoyed the day out and the golf with some old and new friends.
Results:-
Barbara Biggart lost 3&1 to Elsie Hutcheon
Dianne Brown lost 2dn to Lesley Gibb
Mairi Pollock halved with Jude Allardyce
Sharon Lynch lost 3&2 to Claire Capocci
Gail Mathison lost 1dn to Morag Wardrop
Louise Casey lost 5&4 to Joyce Murdoch
Fiona Larnach won 4&3 against Fiona Johnston

So, Midlands win 5.5 to 1.5 & keep the Quaich.

Thanks to all those who played for our team and to Midland’s Fiona Johnston, Evelyn Hamilton and Ladybank GC for hosting such a lovely day out. I think I am right in saying I was the only one to see a red squirrel. Clearly not paying attention to the golf!
Captain Sal.