ladies' pro-am, Islantilla, Spain, April 2011

As Brian and I landed in a very sunny Spain we were so excited about the pro-am this year as it was the 10th Anniversary!! We had 10 teams of 7 and we had ladies from Norway, USA, Denmark, Poland, Scotland and England. WHAT A GREAT MIX IT WAS GOING TO BE.

So we did the usual set up, checking the team shirts, sorting out the trolleys, making sure the rooms were right as lots of the ladies want rooms close to their team mates wherever possible, setting up the course, the 1st night meet and greet meeting room and the tables for dinner... well that was just to start with!!

The girls arrived all excited to see old friends made from last year and to meet some new ones too. For me it was great to see a friend of mine Chris Beedles who I haven’t seen for 10 years and to see my team of OLDIES, the combined age of my girls was over 400 years!! Let me tell you, they may have been a bit older that most, but boy could they PARTY!!! Then to see Muskie 2 Tina from Norway and the Norwegian Dream Team - all my great friends... really too many to mention, but just great to see all the girls really wanting to get on the course and I have to say it was in just FAB condition, the best I have ever seen it, so I knew we were in for a great time!

Practice round first, just to get a bit of a feeling for the course with us playing the Green and Yellow courses. Then day 2 the Texas Scramble day where everyone gets to play with other people who are not in their own team, as it's a great way to meet new people, what a great laugh everyone had that day. Then came the party night, everyone let their hair down with the karaoke and singing and dancing. What a great night and we have the photos to prove that one!

The next day was our day off, so some of the ladies went off to Seville on a day trip, some went shopping, some just chilled out and others practiced!!

Day 1 of the competition... "bring it on" they all said. A good day for golf, not too hot, the scores were great with the team of Lora leading with 160 it was going to be a close one I thought! After play some took time to rest but a lot took the chance to have some practice with their pro, it was great to see the girls on the practice ground.

Day 2, started a bit wet but got better and better as the day went on and the race for the top got HOT, the scores were great and my team moved up the table too. On the top of the list was Ashley with 316 a tie with Lora 2nd and 3rd was Alison Greys team with 306, so as they say it was all to play for on the 3rd and final round.

Day 3, the best of the week, started off with the photo call for everyone and I must say how smart all the girls looked. All the amateurs were in lilac and the pros were in black and white. I think everyone had a camera so there are sooo many similar photos doing the rounds on facebook!!

The race to the finish line really hotted up in the Spanish sunshine. My great team of "rock on grannies" were a bit tired but tried their best. I couldn't ask for more effort and although it wasn't our week, in terms of scoring, we all had a great time... thanks girls!

The winners were the Dutch team with their pro Ashley B, with 487 and 2nd was Lora Fairclough's  team.

Everyone had a great time and our last night prize presentation event was up to it’s usual high standard as Brian Knight is one of the best hosts you could ever want, especially when he is with his right hand man - John Barnes.  A great time was had by all with everyone going off with new friends and with promises of meeting up at some point in the year.

Myself, well, I had a great time, I will say this now, it is the best week in my golfing year.  I get to work with Brian and John, get to invite my professional friends to come along and play, get to see my great friends from Norway... these girls rock!!, and of course get to meet new ones who now will always be friends... so all I can say is see you all in 2012!!

my team — they know how to party!

the pros

everyone