Flowering Scotland

IWAS delighted by the recent announcement that there will be a Scottish Open in the 2007 Ladies European Tour schedule. The event will take place at the brand-new De Vere Cameron House resort and Carrick Golf Course at Loch Lomond, which promises to be a fantastic venue.

It has always amazed me that since the demise of The MacDonalds WPGA Championship at Gleneagles, the LET had been unable to find sponsorship of an annual event north of the border with any regularity.

Now it seems that Scotlands desire to host the 2011 Solheim Cup matches has been the catalyst for this new tournament.

There is no doubt that the Solheim Cup certainly is the jewel in the crown of womens golf in Europe and probably in the world.

Nowadays, the prestige and worldwide media coverage generated by the Solheim Cup is colossal in terms of what it can achieve for a venue, and it is with this in mind that VisitScotland has signed a three-year agreement to sponsor this new event.

With fellow Scottish venues Dalmahoy and Loch Lomond providing two of Europes three Solheim cup victories to date, I would be all in favour of the Home of Golf hosting the next European match after Halmstad and Sweden have hosted it next year.

The only problem is that, to judge from our previous Scottish triumphs, it seems that the weather needs to be wet, the course soggy, the greens slow and conditions in general pretty miserable for our girls to come out on top!

This is not so good for the spectators, of course, but judging by these past performances, Europe not only cope better with these conditions, but positively thrive.

Whereas the Americans hate them and just want to get back across the Atlantic to some familiar warm and dry weather as quickly as possible!

Seriously, though, rain or shine, I know a lot of people involved with the tour, both officials and players alike, who would love Scotland to host the Solheim Cup once again.

As with the Ryder Cup, so much will depend on the financial package and incentives that are offered to the LET, since apart from being arguably the biggest spectacle for womens golf, the Solheim Cup also needs to generate considerable income for the tour.

Without that, the LET would be struggling to survive. Over the coming months, it will be interesting to see which other countries and venues put in bids for the next European-based Solheim Cup which will take place in 2011.

So watch this space Lady Golfer will be first to report on any developments as and when they occur!

Having virtually had a drought of major womens events in recent years, in addition to the new event on the Carrick Golf Course, Scotland will of course be playing host to the 2007 Weetabix Womens British Open.

This really will be a special week as it will become the first-ever womens professional tournament and Major to be played over The Old Course at St Andrews.

I already have my accommodation booked, and am looking forward to seeing how the best lady golfers in the world cope with the huge double greens, and the primitive, almost lunar-type landscape of the Old Course. It really is a unique challenge.

How well they cope will, as with all links courses, be hugely dependent on the weather conditions.

If, as for the last two mens British Opens, the weather is warm, sunny and the wind benign, I think that they will cope very well.

If, on the other hand, the wind blows as it so often does in that part of the world, then watch out, well be in for some interesting viewing!

Then in 2008, St Andrews will also play host to the Curtis Cup. Actually, the top amateurs are much more familiar with St Andrews than the professionals in that every spring the St Rule trophy is played for over the famous links.

I was delighted to see that the United States Golf Association recently announced that Carol Semple Thompson has been reappointed as captain of the American team having won at Bandon Dunes in June.

How appropriate that Carol Americas most-capped player in the history of the Curtis Cup will be up against Irelands Mary McKenna, the GB&I captain, who is GB&Is most-capped player.

Their friendship and rivalry goes all the way back to the 1970s and will surely enhance the spirit of what promises to be a really special match in a special location.

Needless to say, Im already looking forward to all these Scottish events so roll on, winter, and heres to a super 2007!