Editor: Continuing the debate on why the SLGA Champion of Champions' tournament attracted only 10 competitors to Glasgow Gailes GC last Sunday.

SLGA could introduce wild card invitations

Another E-mail from Stuart Mactaggart

Had a further thought regarding the above. I think the SLGA should introduce a “wild card invite” system for the Champion of Champions' tournament as I think we are all aware the USA is proving a major attraction for many of our girl golfers, thus depleting the pool of eligible players. 

By introducing this “wild card invite” the SLGA could hand out invitations to players they deem worthy e.g. academy players etc.  This year there were five out of the six Scottish Under-16 girls' team who could have been invited. It would have given them valuable experience playing alongside the more senior players as well as giving them useful “game time” ahead of the U16 tournament in the early part of April.

Stuart Mactaggart
Counties should be allowed to enter substitutes for qualifiers no longer eligible or available

E-mail fron Susan Wood
Can I add that from the west, two of our county champions have now turned pro doing PGA training, one is injured I believe and we did not hold a west championship for 2014! So out of five qualifiers, four were not eligible.
If you want more numbers why not allow each county to have one representative, e.g. if the champion has turned pro then the runner up? Also there must be a few qualifiers out there who will be in the States.
Reading the comments it's as if the girls are not entering as they do not want to. I am sure this is NOT the case.
Susan E Wood


Winners should want to celebrate their success by

playing in Champion of Champions' tournament

E-mail from John Scott
In agreeing 100% with Stuart Mactaggart's comments I, like you, find it baffling that so few of the girls play in this event. Having had the privilege of caddieing for my daughter, Hannah, at the last two Champion of Champions' tournaments, as I say to her, the fact that you have to be a winner, or be part of the National Team, to even be invited should be worth celebrating.
As a former amateur club rugby player of reasonable standard (my contemporaries might argue that point) I always wanted to pit my wits against, and play with, the best the game had to offer.
Yes, injuries do play a part, and Glasgow Gailes is a tough course with the early season conditions making it even harder, but young Shannon McWilliam gave us all a lesson on what is possible even when the going is tough; "hats off to her" and all the girls prepared, as I put earlier, to "pit their wits".
So come on girls and ladies celebrate the fact that you are winners and get out there and compete if you can, because the fact that you are already a winner should mean that there is no additional pressure to perform. 
Stop an old cynic like me who might think you are trying to protect your precious handicaps achieved on courses much less difficult than Glasgow Gailes.
I hope to see all "qualifiers" in October enter the 2015 Champion of Champions
Jocky

PS: If I were a member of Glasgow Gailes I might be asking why we are giving up our course on a Sunday (prime time) when they can't be bothered to turn up. Is it a case of use it or lose it?