PAST CURTIS CUP STARS VISIT KILMACOLM GOLF CLUB WHO ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 125TH ANNIVERSARY 

by Carol Fell

L to R : Lady Angela Bonallack, Eilidh Briggs, Kilmacolm Ladies Captain Susan Reid,
Belle Robertson, Julie Otto and Mo Richmond 

Kilmacolm Golf Club who is celebrating their 125th Anniversary this year held their Ladies Social evening on Tuesday (22nd March) with Captain Susan Reid inviting some Past Curtis Cup players to join them. 

Susan introduced Angela Bonallack, Eilidh Briggs, Julie Otto Mo Richmond and Belle Robertson to all that attended. She gave some history of the Curtis Cup and then questions from the audience were answered by the players - with many amusing stories and tales. 

The evening finished with an excellent supper enjoyed by all with the players joining to chat and mix with everyone around the room.  - A lovely evening was had by all

Susan's Introduction :

The Curtis Cup Match is contested every two years by teams of female amateurs representing Great Britain & Ireland and the United States. It is organised by the United States Golf Association and Ladies Golf Union, who select the respective teams of eight golfers. The Curtis Cup was first played in 1932, and is named after sisters Harriot and Margaret Curtis, who won four victories in the U.S. Women's Amateur. The Curtis sisters donated the trophy for the competition.The Curtis sisters had competed in the 1905 British Ladies Amateur at Royal Cromer Golf Club, where an informal match had occurred between teams of American and British golfers, and they wanted to promote the international friendships in the world of women's golf. The cup is inscribed, "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands." 

BELLE ROBERTSON O.B.E.

Belle started playing golf at Dunaverty GC at age 15.  Played in the Curtis Cup in 1960, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1982, 1986 and was the non-playing Captain of GB & Ireland in 1974 and 1976. She won the British Ladies Amateur title in 1981 plus winning the Scottish Amateur title on seven occasions. Received O.B.E for services to golf. Voted "Scottish Sportswoman of the Year" four times; voted "Women Golfer of the Year" three times; inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.  She also became one of the first female members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in February 2015.

From L to Right -- Angela Bonallack, Mary McKenna  and Maureen Richmond
at the 2012 Curtis Cup Match at  Nairn GC.

MAUREEN RICHMOND

Maureen began her golfing career here as a junior and she is now an Honorary Member of Kilmacolm.  She played in the Scottish Junior Team for 5 years; was the Scottish Girls Champion 1970, 1971, 1973; the British Girls Champion 1972.  Played in the 1974 Curtis Cup in San Francisco, which Belle Robertson captained!  She also played in the Vagliano Trophy in 1975 (UK & Ireland v Continental Europe) and was selected for the World Team in 1976.  Maureen is now a GP based in the Wirral, and now plays in the British Senior Women’s’ Golf Amateur competitions as well as in the Seniors in Spain (along with Barbara Biggart who is a former Kilmacolm member as well!)

LADY ANGELA BONALLACK

Angela started golfing in England when she was 12 years old. Was British Girls’Champion in 1955 and English Ladies Champion in 1958 and 1963.  She played in 6 Curtis Cup teams – 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1966. She is now a member of the R & A and won the 2015 Monthly May Medal  with a net 71, played on the New Course St Andrews. She was also the first woman to play in a match for the R & A against the St Andrews Link Trust Staff that same week. 

JULIE OTTO

Julie was brought up in Felixstowe where she was introduced to golf at the age of 11.  At age 19, she was selected to represent England in the European Lady Junior Team Championships in Germany.    Played in the Curtis Cup teams of 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996. She retired from international amateur golf after the 1996 Curtis Cup as the reigning British Amateur Champion and moved into golf administration becoming Assistant Director – Rules at the R & A.  In 2015, Julie became an Attached PGA Professional at the Fairmont St Andrews and she is also a PGA Teaching Professional at Elie Sports Club in Fife.

EILIDH BRIGGS

Eilidh Briggs at the 2014 Curtis Cup in the USA

Eilidh began playing golf at age 6; got her first handicap at age 9.  She has been the Renfrewshire Ladies County Champion three times; Scottish Girls Champion 2011; Scottish Champion of Champions 2011 & 2012. She played foursomes with her sister Megan, when Eilidh won her first ladies cap at Hillside Golf Club in the Ladies Home International matches in 2011. Eilidh first represented Scotland at the European Young Masters in 2008, returning to the competition in 2015 as the Team Captain. She played in the Curtis Cup in 2014 in St Louis, USA.

All these golfers have won numerous other Championships during their golfing careers – too many to list!