LADIES UPDATE JUNE 2026
As we say goodbye to May, an update from the month and a look ahead to June.
Firstly, congratulations to Jan MacNab for a successful County Championship here at Ranfurly Castle from 6th-8th May. Craig and the team had prepared the course with excellence. Indeed, there were many compliments from players and spectators alike for both the quality of the course and for the warm welcome extended to everyone from our team and members at The Castle. Warm congratulations to Melissa Keay from Ralston, who established a new course record in her first ever round on the course, and who went on to win a closely fought final against Jennifer Rankine from Haggs. It took a birdie at the second extra hole for Melissa to win the championship for the very first time. How Jennifer managed to get out of the ‘bundai’ to the right of the second green with her third shot, taking the final to the 20th green, was genius. Elaine Robb, Troon Ladies, won the Irvine handicap competition and Jean Irvine was there to present the trophy at the prizegiving. Thank you to everyone for your hospitality and support over the three days and for an excellent turnout for the final.
Thursday 14th May brought great fun and camaraderie to the Ranfurly Lounge with our very own Ladies Country & Western Evening. Pete and Cath led us through our paces on the dancefloor quite brilliantly and Leanna and the team served up a delicious lasagna followed by a cuppa and a cupcake. Thank you to everyone for their raffle prizes. Everyone was a winner and we managed to break even on the night. A special thanks to Anne Judge for her hard work in pulling the evening together.
We have all been busy on the golf course, some with more shots than others! A special shout out to Denise Cowan for a magnificent eagle at the 3rd. It was quite a joy to behold, even though Morven and I spent a wee bit of time looking for her ball before finding it in the hole!
As we look forward to June, Saturday 6th we have Captains’ Day. Fraser invited the Ladies Section to share in the day by having both a Men’s and a Ladies competition on the day. It would be great to have a robust field of ladies, however I appreciate that for many ladies, competition day is a Wednesday, preferring a bounce game on a Saturday. I have gifted a modest quaich for the winner along with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in a Stableford format. There will also be prizes for the ladies for Nearest the Pin at the 14th and for the Straightest Drive at the 18th. Thank you to everyone who chooses to sign up on the day.
For our Ladies Section, it is an established practice that competition play is in three balls, and I appreciate your support in maintaining this discipline on a Saturday when the Men’s Section choose to open competition play up to four balls, usually only in the afternoon. I note that there are four balls going out on Captains’ Day morning. My hope is that this will not slow play down for the ladies who are playing in three balls.
Our annual Ladies Past Captains’ Lunch is on Friday 12th June. 36 of our Past Captains have been invited to play 12 holes ahead of lunch in the clubhouse. Many of our Past Captains continue to play an important role in supporting the Ladies Committee in their endeavours and this is an opportunity for us all to thank this community of members, past and present, for their contribution to our Ladies Section.
Past Lady Captain Kate Scott is doing an outstanding job as Junior Convenor, inspiring the development of nearly 100 junior members at the club. This takes an inordinate amount of hard work and commitment. Many parents are part of Kate’s support network, however not all parents have experience of golf and so are unable to provide technical scoring support on the course. Kate is finding herself stretched in different directions, particularly on Sundays when there are competitions both at home and at other clubs. Please can I ask you to consider volunteering in support of our Junior Section. All of us contributing one Sunday afternoon of our time throughout the season would be tremendously helpful.
The Spring Meeting for Captain’s Prizes, essentially the Ranfurly Castle Ladies Section’s Captain’s Day, is on Wednesday 17th June. This is a Strokeplay competition with prizes for:
1. The best Scratch Score
2. The best Silver Net Score
3. The best Bronze Net Score
There will also be a 9-hole Stableford competition and prize for ladies who would prefer not to play 18 holes.
I am very much looking forward to welcoming as full a field as possible on the day. For our working ladies, please remember you can take part at any time during the day to suit your schedule. Please let me know if you intend to play in the competition, and I shall make sure I am there to greet you on the 1st tee with a goody bag.
Sunday 21st June, we have the David Reid Mixed Greensomes. This is a great opportunity for members to play with family or friends from other clubs in a sociable, competitive format. I am delighted to be playing with my big brother Gordon, who so patiently taught me to play the game of golf many moons ago.
In closing, warm congratulations to Past Captains Pamela Mackenzie and Eileen Walker who celebrate very special birthdays this month, and to immediate Past Captain Pauline MacEwen who heads off to France early tomorrow morning for her daughter Morven's wedding.
It is our June Committee Meeting tonight. Please do let me, or any other committee member, know of any item that you would like raised going forward. We are here to serve you, our members.
Yours aye,
Eleanor
07768 647916
