Left: The Royal Liverpool team Day 1 dawned and we arrived promptly


in the hotel foyer at 7am. Despite a few mutterings about the early start, we were all eager for the day to begin and boarded our bus with clubs in hand. We arrived at the Club and were greeted


THE WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL


TEAM CHALLENGE SUE GRAVES REPORTS FROM THE USA’S WEST COAST


On 25th August 2017, six intrepid travellers journeyed from Hoylake to San Francisco to compete in the 8th Annual Women’s International Team Challenge, which was hosted by the Olympic Club. The WITC was founded in 2010 and is


currently made up of ten prestigious British, Irish and American Clubs, whose collective aim is to unite women from both sides of the pond who share a passion for golf and enjoy camaraderie and competition. Along with Royal Liverpool, the Clubs


currently involved in this event are Aberdeen


Ladies, Lahinch, Merion, Nairn, Royal Portrush, Southern Hills and The Country Club, Brookline. They all have their own special places in golfing history, so it was a real honour to be representing Hoylake in such distinguished company. Established in May 1860, in the heart of


San Francisco, The Olympic Club enjoys the distinction of being America’s oldest athletic club and, during our stay, we were privileged to receive complimentary membership which meant that in our spare time we were able to take advantage of their enviable indoor sports facilities and iconic swimming pools. It was an amazing experience to tread and swim where accomplished athletes had gone before. The social events began with a welcome


drinks reception for all the visiting teams, which gave us the opportunity to renew old friendships and forge new ones with our fellow competitors. The Olympic Club members were perfect


hosts and had planned the schedule of events to the finest detail, arranging everything from accommodation, a whistle stop social itinerary including an indoor crazy golf evening and official dinner, not to mention door to door transportation each day, ensuring we were all fed, watered and practiced before the battle began.


Here’s to 2018 and the hosting of the WITC at Hoylake


Above: Archetypal San Francisco - Jeanne Bell (left) and Sue Graves


Left: Alacatraz, like Hoylake bunkers - not so easy to get out of


46 ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2018–2019


by our hosts who directed us to a delicious breakfast buffet, ensuring we all knew our tee times and playing partners. It was then all outside for the official flag raising to the strains of a delightful brass quartet - all this and still only 8.30am! We were then ushered to the front of the clubhouse overlooking the magnificent 18th green where we were sorted into team colours for the official photocall. As you can imagine, herding sixty women into some semblance of order was a task in itself but, with the impressive backdrop and everyone smiling, the perfect photographic memento was finally captured for posterity. Our Royal Liverpool team was made up of six ladies: Jeanne Bell (our Captain), Ann Budenberg, Marion Foley, Liz Bateman, April Stern and myself. We were split into three pairings – Gross Division, Net Division and Captains Choice Division - so each team represented a range of handicaps, which was great as it meant that you didn’t need a very low handicap to feel part of the team. The competition was spread over three


days with a practice round followed by two qualifying competition days. Caddies were provided for each pair and once you got over the initial nerves of having someone watch your every shot, we soon began to settle down and place our trust in this stranger in our midst! The courses were extremely challenging


with some incredibly deep bunkers and lightning fast greens, but we were determined to play our best and, thanks to some unbelievably accurate reads from our caddies, at the end of Day 1 we held a very respectable 3rd position on the score sheet. The home team was naturally the favourite


and, true to form, the Olympic Club emerged as winner of the overall trophy, whilst Jeanne Bell and Ann Budenberg were thrilled to receive the runners up Gross prize. After a wonderfully enjoyable three


days, the event finally drew to its close with a farewell luncheon where prizes were awarded, speeches made and gifts exchanged. Our trip to San Francisco was a great success. We had played good golf, enjoyed fine weather, taken in the city’s sights and sounds, cycled the Golden Gate Bridge, and ridden in the cable cars. What more could anyone ask? Here’s to


our hosting of the 2018 WITC at Hoylake - where we will strive to match the care lavished upon us by the Olympic Club. n


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