Jonathan Shelbourne (left) and Andrew Shinie greet LGU Head of Golf Operations Susan Simpson at Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory.

LGU Head of Golf Operations

runs the rule over Inchmarlo

with an eye to the future

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie-born Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union's Head of Golf Operations based at its St Andrews headquarters, was a welcome visitor at Inchmarlo Golf Centre near Banchory, Aberdeenshire late in the 2008 season.

Susan is pictured above with former helicopter pilot Jonathan Shelbourne (left), founder and owner of the popular Centre which has a driving range with 30 covered bays, two courses (18 hole & nine-hole), TWO clubhouses, one of which is reserved for members, and an excellent restaurant which caters for non-golfing visitors, and club secretary and events manager Andrew Shinie (right).

Inchmarlo staged a very successful Scottish women's county championship finals in 2008, providing not only a golf course but also onsite villa accommodation for the teams, an extra dimension which few clubs or golf centres can offer. The Paul Lawrie Scottish schools championships were also hosted by Inchmarlo last summer.

So Susan Simpson, who had never been to the Inchmarlo centre before, came to the North-east to see for herself what it had to offer ... and she went away impressed. Don't be surprised if Inchmarlo is invited to stage an event under the auspices of the Ladies Golf Union in the not-too-distant future.

"It's most encouraging when one of the Ladies Golf Union's top officials pays you a visit," said Andrew. "It will also give us the incentive to tighten up one or two holes on The Laird's Course so that it really can be a test for the best off the back tees."

Head greenkeeper at Inchmarlo Golf Centre is Janice Florence (pictured above) who learned her trade at Royal Aberdeen among other places. Is Janice the only female head greenkeeper in Scotland, maybe England as well?

We don't know of another but if you do, be sure to E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If you want to read more about what Inchmarlo Golf Centre has to offer, log on to its website

http://www.inchmarlo.com/