JANICE HOPING TO PLAY IN SCOTLAND THIS SUMMER - AND SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE PAUL LAWRIE TOUR

    JANICE MOODIE ... Exchanged E-mails with Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour organisers

FROM THE SUNDAY HERALD NEWSPAPER

By ELSPETH BURNSIDE  
LIFE is changing for Janice Moodie. As she approaches her 40th birthday, the three-time Solheim Cup player has stepped back from the tournament treadmill and is ready to face new challenges.
Living in Cleveland, Ohio, with her American husband, Tim Carneval, and sons six-year-old Craig and Matt, two, the Scot hasn't quite stacked away the clubs, but she is slowly turning from playing to coaching. She also has an important role this season as captain of Europe's Junior Solheim Cup team.

"I'm not golfing much at all and, to be honest, I'm not really missing it," said Moodie, who has spent 14 unbroken years on the playing circuit and is a two-time winner on the US-based LPGA Tour.
"You could say I've quietly retired. But if I should get into a few events this season I still might try to play a bit."
One event that could see her put pen to paper on the entry form is the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews in August. The chance to take on the world's best over the Old Course is an alluring prospect.
"I might try to qualify. It is always special playing in Scotland and it's fantastic that the Women's Open is going to the Old Course," she said. "I've already planned a trip home earlier in the summer. I have a big birthday [she turns 40 on May 31] and am going over with Tim and the boys to celebrate with my mum and brother."
It is the maxim that family comes first that has contributed to the significant change of priorities. Craig is in his first year at school and, as she points out, the treacherous winters don't make Ohio the best of bases for off-season practice.
"I've got a place in Florida but I don't want to spend too much time away from Craig," she said. "Now I want to turn to coaching. I've taken the LPGA teaching qualification and attended a course at the Titleist Performance Institute. I want to get my feet wet in coaching."
This month, she will make her debut on the training range when she joins fellow Scot Gary Weir – he is based at Westchester in New York – running a clinic in Florida, and she is looking forward to instilling her own passion in others.
Despite having left Scotland almost 20 years ago – she gained a degree from San Jose State University – Moodie remains committed to the Scottish game. She has her own tournament – the Janice Moodie Trophy – staged annually at her old club of Windyhill and negotiations are under way to have it included as an official Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association event.
"I do keep in touch with Scottish golf and I think the SLGA are doing very well. There are a lot of good girls coming through the ranks," she said.

As skipper of the Junior Solheim Cup team, Moodie's aim is to sprinkle some of her own match-play magic on the European team. She played in three Solheims and was twice on the winning side, at Loch Lomond in 2000 and Barseback in Sweden in 2003.
"The qualification period has just started and I'm so looking forward to being in charge of the team in Colorado in August," she said. "I think I was chosen as captain because I am based in the States and know the conditions. I love team competition. Playing for Scotland, Great Britain and Ireland and then Europe are definitely among my career highlights. 
"Team spirit is something I think I'll be able to bring to the juniors. I'm a very social person and I think we will have a great time, although it will be very serious."
She is hoping that a Scot makes the team. Lauren Whyte, the Scottish Girls' champion from St Regulus, and North Berwick's Clara Young, who played for a GB and Ireland Under-16 team two years ago, are both in the running.
"It would be great to have some Scots in the team," said Moodie, who has helped blaze the trail for Scotland's women professionals over the past couple of decades. And a first Junior win for Europe in the US would be the perfect tribute to one of the game's feistiest competitors.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The organisers of the Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour have exchanged E-mails with Janice Moodie on the subject of making an appearance on the fledgling circuit during her visit home in June.
Unfortunately that's the month when no events have been scheduled for the PLGC SLOT because it is a busy month for the top amateurs.
But Janice is interested in the possibility of playing in Scotland again.
The best bet might be if she gains a sponsors' invite to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Ladies Open at Archerfield Links from Friday to Sunday, August 30 to September 1.
Earlier that week, on the Monday and Tuesday, the Paul Lawrie Tour will have back-to-back 18-hole events at Fairmont St Andrews (August 26) and The Duke's, St Andrews (August 27).
The PLGC SLOT organisers are hoping that some of the players who intend playing in the AAM Scottish Ladies Open will come up to Fife to play, if only to sample two very good courses. And if Janice Moodie is among them - so much the better!