County Week Report 2022

t was a pleasure to Captain the 2022 Squad for 2022 County Week held at Leamington & County Golf Club, hosted by Warwickshire Ladies Golf Association.  This year there were a few changes introduced which made it all the more pleasant event.

We did have an early disappointment when we had Maddy Pearce withdraw due to an shoulder injury, but she turned up to help and support the team on Monday. Thank you.

The team: Tracy Crew, Izzy Holmes, Emily Savage, Jules Tarr, Bella Kent, Emma Newlove, Vicky Prietzel, Donna Hunt, Charlie Keenan

Special mention and thank you to the caddies who came up to Leamington: Kim Richardson and Caroline Dover (Reading GC), Ann Williams and  Margaret Berriman (Goring & Streatley). And to the supporters who came.

Also, to Airlie Dyson our County President who supported the team for the week and to all the clubs and members who sent good luck cards.

I would like to thank Warwickshire and the host Club (their manager was outstanding) for how they looked after the teams, supporters, and caddies.

Sunday is a practice round where the team can view the course and play from the composite course which totalled 5934 yards. This is followed by the Players dinner where the teams are introduced. Then early to bed for the early rises the next morning as we were first on the tee against Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Monday 13th June am

It is always nerve racking on the first day for those who have played before and those playing in their first County Week match, and for the support team as well! The forecast was for 18-20 degrees with a 15-20mph wind, but no rain! First off were Tracy and Izzy, followed by Emily and Jules who played foursomes. The singles were Vicky, Emma and Bella.

It was a very close match with both the singles and foursomes equally shared resulted in the match being halved 2 1/2 to 2 1/2.  It would be a different matter in the afternoon when the team had to face Buckinghamshire.

Monday 13th June pm

We played the same team in the afternoon, but when you consider the Bucks team are made up mostly of players that play full time, all the other counties faced the same challenge. We had some close matches and some not too close. Bella Kent playing in her first County Week managed a well-earned halve, while Emma Newlove also playing for the first time came close losing 2/1.

We chalk it up to experience and to knowing what the next level of golf looks like. We lost 4 1/2 to 1/2.  Tomorrow would be another day and with Emma having to return to work, we had to work out some of the foursomes pairings.

Tuesday 14th June am

It was going to be a warm day, sun cream, shade and water the requirements of the day. Being down two players, Donna and myself were on the cards to play. So we partnered Emily and Tracy respectively. The singles were Bella, Izzy and Vicky.

The morning match was against Oxfordshire and was one that both teams really wanted to win as we play some many matches against each other.  It was the only time the team went of the 10th, as all the other matches we started from the 1st.

In the end it wasn’t our morning, we lost both the foursomes and but halved the singles with a win for Izzy and a halve by Vicky which cheered us up. We lost 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.

Tuesday 14th June pm

Up next was Northamptonshire, we could put aside the morning disappointment and enjoy the match. Jules came in to play with Emily, the rest of the team was the same.

We had an excellent result as we won both the foursomes 1 1/2 to 1/2, and the singles 2 to 1, a winning match of 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.  Apparently, as I hadn’t realised it, it guaranteed we could not be bottom.

The team were delighted to have gained their first match win and were geared up for the next match.

Wednesday 15th June am

Our final match was against the host county Warwickshire. We had another injury, as Tracy tweaked her knee in the Tuesday afternoon match. We were down to the wire with team members, at one stage it looked like Airlie may have to play!!

It meant Donna and I played in the foursomes, with Jules and Emily paired up again. The singles were taken on again by the youngsters. The overall match result came down to the last putt on the 18th. With the foursomes lost, Bella and Izzy winning we knew that it was down to Vicky. It was going to be close – could Vicky pull it back? She was 2 down with 2 to play.

Well she had won 17th, so was now on the 18th a par 3 across a gully on a tiered green.  The team were there to witness her winning the hole and resulting in a halve in her game and the team squaring the match.  When I spoke to her afterwards, she didn’t know the score and was glad she didn’t.

It was a good result to finish on.

We finished up 4th overall and when we considered we had a depleted team, we were delighted.  The final table is here:

For full results click here

Next Year

We will be the hosts next year – which means we have the honour of running this competition. We will be at Sonning Golf Club from 19th June – 21st June. Please put in your diaries and if you would like to help out please let me or any of the exec know. The more help we can get from all the Clubs makes our jobs so much easier.

Charlie Keenan
County Captain