Inter County event hit by the pandemic will be held in June
THE county ladies’ golf association members were extremely disappointed at the impact the coronavirus restrictions, including lockdowns, had on what was to have been one of their most exciting seasons, writes Jennifer Prentice.
The season included hosting the traditional annual Inter County Week last year – but this fell victim to the pandemic.
Now, happily, it has been rescheduled for this season and the new date has been announced.
It will be at Hinckley GC on June 27-30 and preparations on that course, which had started for last year’s event, will be revived and amended where necessary.
Hopes are high the organisation can be put into place quickly once restrictions are lifted.
County captain Jo Mayfield (Rothley Park) has been preparing for a busy start to the new season.
She said: “I booked four sessions over the winter with Tony Westwood. This would allow every county squad member to have two each and covering the mind side of the game.
“Restrictions only allowed five players and the coach at each session. But one, fixed originally for November had to be cancelled completely. So was the January date, but we hope two later ones will be able to go ahead.
“I also arranged for the winter series I launched last year to be repeated.
“It proved to be very popular and certainly fulfilled my aim which was to put together some foursomes pairings, most importantly for County Week.
“This is against five other counties over three days with two foursomes and three singles clashes. We will be up against Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.
“These winter series competition days at Rothley Park, Glen Gorse, Kirby Muxloe, The Leicestershire and Hinckley were for the county first and second team squads, as well as for the two squads of youngsters.
“They produced good team spirit and helped to instil confidence in all the squads, so were very successful and I hope we will continue to reap the benefit of them.
“For 2021, I have also arranged friendly inter county matches with Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, as well as against the county senior men, and a new fixture too against the county men.
“It is impossible to say just at present how much of this early season programme will be able to go ahead intact.
“But we will hope that at least some of the games will survive and we can get back into playing mode again as soon as possible.”
County ladies’ second team captain Sue Holwell (Lingdale) echoed Jo Mayfield’s comments, after what she described as the county seconds own “decimated programme”.
It is impossible to say how much of this early season programme will be able to go ahead intact Jo Mayfield
She also thanked Jo for developing the winter series at the start of 2020, so they could play some competitive golf at the beginning of the year.
Sue added: “Hopefully, we can keep people involved and build up towards getting back on track with some fixtures in 2021.
“Thanks again to Jo for developing this initiative. The competitions proved extremely popular last year, although, of course, we could not go ahead with our fixtures as planned.
“But the signs were they were a successful innovation.
“I am looking forward to being able to resume my own role as second team captain, working with players new and old, with the sole aim of reaching the Midlands North Regional Final in August.”
Another big event on this year’s ladies’ fixture list is the county championship.
This takes place on May 9, 15 and 16 at Longcliffe GC.
Day 1 is stroke play qualifying with days 2 and 3 the matchplay semis and final.
Juniors entry will be free for this top tournament. The reigning champion is Ellie York (Hinckley).
She beat Caz Parkes-Walley (Lutterworth) by one hole in the 36-holes final at Lingdale last year to win the title for the second time.