East Lothian Ladies County Golf Association was established in 1924 for the purpose of entering a team in the Inter County competition for the County Shield and to run competitions for members to raise funds to support the team.
The current format of the competitions has developed over the years and the County committee also has a role in supporting East and Scottish events including junior events.
The County now organises Spring, Summer and Autumn Meetings and a Commonwealth Spoons Foursomes competition. The Spring Meeting also acts as a qualifier for the County Championship and Handicap Quaich. In addition there is a Summer Hole and Hole Competition and a Winter Foursomes Competition.
While many of our more experienced junior girls compete (often very successfully) in the main competitions, the County also organises junior medals, coaching events, and an annual friendly match against Northumberland. They also form mart of an annual match for ladies and juniors against Borders. A junior team also compete annually against teams from Midlothian, Fife and Stirling & Clackmannan for the Cuthbertson Trophy. Although the Trophy was donated in 1953 by an East Lothian member to promote junior golf, East Lothian did not win it till 1984. They have however won it 11 times in the last 30 years, most recently on 2014.
The County squad have a number of annual friendly matches, the oldest being against Borders and the most recent addition is against Lanark. They also have a long standing match against a Senior Gullane Men’s team. Over the years they have had matches against various Club Winter League teams.
The County Team plays in the East Division Inter County matches in an annual three day “jamboree” against Midlothian, Fife and Stirling & Clackmannan. The winner of the event goes through to the national final. The Team have won the County Shield twelve times over the years including a purple patch in the 1990’s when they won six times in ten years. After a gap of 15 years the Team reached the County Finals in 2014 thought the County Shield was beyond them on this occasion.
Over the years the County has produced many players who have represented Scotland and GB teams at junior, university and senior levels. Some have gone on to pursue professional careers. The most famous in recent years being Catriona Matthew.
While the County team is for the top players, ELLCGA is not just for them and anyone with a handicap of 35 or less who is a member of an East Lothian club, or resident in East Lothian or was born in the County is eligible to join and enjoy the chance to participate in the competitions, meet new people and get a chance to play the many and varied courses in the county.
