majesty, but also of serenity and calm”. You can imagine that our overseas


visitors were already impressed by the delightful Lady Chapel but they were blown away by the immense scale of the main church. moment in


silent


I enjoyed a memorable contemplation


with


a member of the USA Olympic team gazing up into the high tower, both of us feeling the deep notes of the organ reverberate around us. Another delicious meal in the private


Cathedral restaurant ended a memorable evening, and we were all ready for the serious competition to begin the next day. Day 1 of the team competition, and our 3 Hoylake pairings were playing with teams from Southern Hills, Merion and Olympic Club. We scored a very respectable team total which put us in contention. Golf was followed by another drinks reception (well – it is all about enjoying the event!) and a really excellent meal in the Club Room. By now our guests were singing the praises of our team of “yellow” helpers who were on hand for guided tours of the clubhouse, and to ensure that our guests were well looked after and enjoyed their visit to us.


Day 2, and all the teams were in for


some tough, chilly conditions and a high standard of competition. The committee made sure that the pairings were varied so that each pairing played with different Clubs. Jeanne Bell and I were delighted to play with Pat Cornett, past USA Curtis Cup Captain from the Olympic Club,


Golf brings people


together in camaraderie and competition


who is a tough competitor with a deadly and accurate short game. However, after some serious number crunching by the Secretary, we were delighted with a 2nd place overall - missing out only to the Olympic Club who won for the third year in succession. The event was rounded off with an awards ceremony over an informal lunch and we eventually waved goodbye to our guests in the late afternoon. Satisfied with a job well done, our


organising committee, playing team, and helpers gathered on the patio in the


THE LADY GOLF ACADEMY


Imagine nine potential new lady members, all virtually strangers to the game, or at least unfamiliar with the challenges of a Championship links course. All of them cringing at the prospect of some breach of etiquette in the clubhouse, while wondering how the other members of a much revered Club would take to them. This was the start of Hoylake’s first Lady


Golf Academy in May 2017 - an initiative to attract some new women members. What followed were six months of us grappling with the daunting task of learning the game while trying to impress sufficiently in order not to be barred. What could possibly go wrong? The answer - certainly from the viewpoint


of the Academy members - turned out to be absolutely nothing at all! From the moment we stood trembling as Head Professional John Heggarty assessed how much golfing help we needed, through the endless hours put in by him and his assistants, to the time when we were individually assigned lady golfing mentors to help us continue our journey,


52


late afternoon sun, reliving some of the highlights and golfing stories of the past few days, and enjoyed a well-earned glass (or several) of fizz! Organising 10 ladies teams from the


UK, Ireland, America and Canada takes some doing – and involves an awful lot of people, too many to list here, but they all worked together to deliver a seamless and successful event. Probably the most important memories


that our guests returned home with were the warm welcome and smiling faces of all our members and staff - and of course the challenge of the links. Golf


brings people together


in


camaraderie and competition, and that is what the WITC is all about. Many thanks to the WITC Committee


members:Captain of the Ladies Brenda Cross, Helen Heggarty, Jeanne Bell, Ali Johnson, Julia Leary, and Joyce Tuomey. Special thanks to: RLGC Secretary Simon Newland and Louise Cardall. n


LIBBY SMITH DESCRIBES HER EXPERIENCE OF AN ENJOYABLE HOYLAKE INITIATIVE


well, our golfing progress was assured. Well ‘assured’ is maybe a bit strong.


Let’s say ‘hugely assisted’ instead. Quite how the mentors coped with trying to find our balls in knee high rough, while not only teaching us the rules and etiquette but also remaining unwaveringly friendly and unflustered is quite beyond me.


What could possibly go wrong?


We all made or enhanced great


friendships with our mentors, who displayed more care, enthusiasm and encouragement than we could ever have wished for. There were tea parties; rules meetings;


prosecco parties; and competitions where even the least able went home with a small prize. Mine was a small pot plant. Sadly John Heggarty does not offer lessons in plant maintenance, so its withered future did not mirror the blooming success of the


Academy. In short we were very quickly made to feel really welcome and a real part of this great Club, and we have all continued to make friends ever since. Of nine ladies who started the Academy


eight have become full members; loads of fun has been had; many lessons learned; competitions have been won; some handicaps have come down. Maybe the odd really good golfer has been found (so far it’s not me), but most of all the whole thing has reflected magnificently on all the members of Royal Liverpool. I’m very grateful. The Academy was


innovative, far sighted, welcoming, heartwarming and, I believe, hugely successful.


A Golf Club is about its people, both the members and the dedicated people who staff it. Hoylake ‘s big heart has shown through in all this. Many sincere thanks from all the Academy members to everyone who made it possible. It’s been a blast - just a shame I took up


the game a bit late in life to make a run at Curtis Cup selection. n


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2019–2020


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