What have I been up to lately? The 'One up' Ladies Pro-am in Portugal was competed for over the Millennium & Old Courses in Vilamoura. All week we were treated to clear blue skies & pretty warm temperatures. Considering it was the end of January, I was very pleased with my +2 total for the 3 three rounds of competition. That gave me fourth place and a few extra pennies for my pocket!

The Ladies European Tour schedule has been finalised (www.ladieseuropeantour.com) along with the one day PGA days for the girls. News of other pro-ams and golf events are filtering through also - the diary must always be to hand at the moment.

Next week I will be partnering Kirsty Taylor (2002 LET Rookie of the Year) in The Sunningdale Foursomes. This is a matchplay event that is played over 18 holes. If you have ever played either of the Sunningdale courses, you will know what a treat it will be to play there again. As it is foursomes we will need our games to gel straight away and not give our opponents any chances to get ahead.

Oh yes - and then there is the day job! Sandford Springs which is just South of Newbury is keeping me very busy too. There is always plenty to be getting on with in the pro shop, looking after the Members and spending a few hours each day teaching. Everyone seems to be coming out of hibernation now so the teaching diary is also close to hand!

Now is a good time for everyone to get out and hit a few balls, the warmer weather cannot be too far away so give your swings a bit of a treat and get along to a local driving range. Your play on the course can only benefit.

Happy golfing,

Claire.

Tiz the season to be quiet...... Tra la la la laa, La la la laa!

Not the busiest time of year for many of us in this profession whether a club pro or touring player. However as a semi-retired touring professional I can just hear that practice ground calling me despite the wet and blustery weather conditions that we are having right now (that's of course if I don't drown on the way to the practice ground!!!).

The Asian Ladies Golf Circuit kicks off the lady professionals' season in mid January followed by the Australian Masters & Open Championships in February of which the latter is now part of The European Tour or "LET".   All of the southern hemisphere events are well supported by the European players and serve as some great competitive practice in warmer climates.

As I am not travelling "down under" this year, I will be focusing on The 'One up' Ladies pro-am which will take place again during the last week of January in Vilamoura, Portugal - last year I lost in a play off to England's Tracy Craik (it did take 5 holes to separate us). I am not greedy, I only want to improve on that result by only one place!   I will be taking the same team again and presume they are well into their winter practice sessions and training (at least 500 balls a day) - or maybe not, knowing them!… Oh well it will just have to be a crash tuition course when we get out there just as before…..

Another popular event that will creep up soon is the Sunningdale Foursomes in late March which I am trying to persuade the LET's "2002 Rookie of the Year" to partner me in….. that is one Kirsty Taylor whose home club just also happens to be where I now work - Sandford Springs.    I believe that we could be a formidable force and give a few of the other pairings a good run for their money - so watch out ??!

In between my shop duties at Sandford Springs I am busy putting together some new tuition ideas for 2003.   Group, individual, corporate, junior and one off golf clinics have to be arranged.   I try to schedule myself up to two months ahead…. so information has to be displayed at the club, newspaper adverts have to be booked and my regular pupils have to be contacted.   I am also looking to organize (with Christine's blessing of course) a Golf Day during the Spring when we can have a full day of tuition and competition for all of you who log onto this website on a regular basis, so keep looking………

May I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year,
From your friendly golf professional, Claire.

Although playing in only six European events out of a possible thirteen, I did manage to finish 57th in the 2002 Order of Merit and therefore have kept full playing rights for next year.    (The top 90 are exempt for the following season.    30 cards are up for grabs at the European Tour School at the end of each season which gives you the 120 field size each week.)

2003 looks to keep girls busy starting in Asia from mid January with 4 events to be competed for on the Kosaido Asian Circuit and in mid Febuary, 3 events in Australia (2 of which will kick off The LET - The Masters & The Open.).    Those who have an LPGA card will then be thinking of getting out to the States to get their seasons underway.

The USA also has a challenge Tour called The Futures Tour which usually runs from March to August.   A few girls use this to sharpen up their games early in the year.   It really is great for your game and gives you a head start if you can get away to warmer climates before the European events get going rather than just turning up in May.

I am starting a new job in early November at Sandford Springs Golf Club in Hampshire where I will combine some hours in the pro shop with teaching.    My 2003 tournament season will start with "The One Up Ladies Pro-Am" in Portugal at the end of January.    I finished runner up last year so obviously I will want to finish one place higher next time!    Hopefully I will play the Australian events and then again, as in 2001/02, play a few European events…....Roll on 2003!

Claire Duffy