Ross-on-Wye prepares to launch the England  Golf championship season   Ross-on-Wye Golf Club will step on to the national stage when it hosts the English senior women’s championship from 10-13 May.  It’s the first time the club has staged a national championship and, says secretary Ian Griffiths: “There’s a feeling of excitement building up.  “Many of the members are looking forward to helping out and over 50 have already put their names down to volunteer.”  They’ll also have plenty of local interest with three club members in the field: Jan Armstrong, Pat Watkins and Amanda Marshall The event – the first of the England Golf championship season - has attracted a strong field of over 100 of the country’s leading women golfers aged 50 and over.  Among them are defending champion Helen Lowe of Leicestershire (Image © Leaderboard Photography) and Julie Brown of Staffordshire, the British senior champion and winner of England Golf’s senior order of merit for 2015.  They’ll be joined by the other five internationals who teamed up to win the senior women’s Home Internationals last year: English senior stroke play champion Lulu Housman of Middlesex; Caroline Berry, Sue Dye and Cath Rawthore of Cheshire; and Lindsey Shaw of Derbyshire.  The picturesque Ross-on-Wye course follows the natural contours of the hills and will set a good test. Ian Griffiths remarked: “The course demands accuracy – it’s tree-lined and if you’re not on the fairway you will struggle; and the greens are small so the approach shots are very important. So accuracy and good distance control will pay dividends.”   All competitors will play 18 holes on each of the first two days of the championship, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 and 11 May. Then, the top 16 players will go forward to the championship match play which takes place on Thursday and Friday, 12 and 13 May.  Players finishing 17th-64th after the qualifying rounds go forward to play in Flight Two, taking part in a 36-hole stroke play competition, with 18 holes played on each day.  Spectators are welcome and live scoring, results, news and pictures will be available at www.englandgolf.org/seniorwomensamateur Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193