Women golfers throughout the UK and Ireland should not miss out on the chance to play in the UK's leading amateur event - it could be you sitting on the famous Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews.
The late Enid Wilson, a winner of three British Women’s championships, used to tell of two club golfers studying the noticeboard in their ladies’ lounge.
The pair were eyeing up the local open meetings when suddenly they saw a poster for the Curtis Cup, which was as close to home as anything else. “Here we are,” said one to the other. “We’ll play in this.”
The ladies may or may not have had a rude shock to their systems when they learned that their services were not required but, throughout the LGU’s first 121 years, there has always been something which fits the bill for all lady golf club members.
Today, the main perk of a membership which, incidentally, costs no more than £2.50 per annum paid via the national unions, is the chance to play in the Coronation Foursomes sponsored by Peugeot. 2014 represents the event’s 61st year and, of the 33,000 entrants, some have already progressed from their initial club qualifier to play in one of 16 area finals.
The players in question will even now be thinking ahead to the Grand Final which take place in St Andrews on 22 September. Once there, they will do as such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other Open championship stars in staying in the Old Course Hotel. As for the actual final, that will be held over the Eden Course rather than the Old Course, the reason being that the LGU feel that the Eden links marry perfectly with the tournament format.
There are prizes galore, with the best of them two places in the pro-am for the following year’s Ricoh British Women’s Open. The same lucky pair will also have their picture taken on the Swilcan Bridge, with the latest winners having been featured on the 2014 poster which is currently hanging in virtually every clubhouse in the land.
In other words, a win in the Coronation Foursomes is hardly going to go unnoticed….
Plenty of the finalists will ask to see round the LGU’s HQ when they are in St Andrews. The house is on The Scores, about 50 yards up from the R&A and easily identified in summer by a front garden containing a Curtis Cup golf bag with a host of flowers cascading from the centre.
On a slightly different tack, LGU members looking for a hub for a golfing holiday in Fife and beyond, can book the LGU flat at a reasonable rate for a period of two days or more. The flat is sited next to the LGU and is perfectly placed for walking to the course or into town.
Meanwhile, for those who like watching golf, it is worth keeping half an eye on the LGU website to see where the top ladies – amateur and professional – can be seen.
This summer, the Curtis Cup takes place in St Louis in the first week in June (see details for supporters on our website) and, if St Louis is too far away, what about the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale from 10 – 13July?
Pictured l-r: Winners of the 2013 Peugeot Coronation Foursomes, Mary Shawley and Kate Helm