Aiming for Three in a Row – Ladies ‘La Liga’ Team

It was a sunny afternoon and the setting was Añoreta Golf Club on the east side of Malaga. The lunch was a celebration and accumulation of an entire year of home and away matches for the ladies of every club in the east half of the Costa del Sol. “And in 2015, for the second year running” came the announcement, up stood the Ladies of Santa Maria in their turquoise and navy.

In 2014 long time member Inma Gonzalez captained the team to their first league victory in the new format since the coast was split into east and west divisions. Previously winning that league too, however the ladies liga was getting so popular with almost every club presenting a team changes had to be made because there were simply not enough weeks in the year to play all the matches.

Inma, a single figure handicap herself stood down victorious and allowed Carol du Toit to follow the expectations set. Carol, also a low handicap of 10, had only been at the club a few years but took the challenge showing that determination and ‘afraid of nothing’ attitude that South Africans are famous for.

The format of these matches are six ladies playing three matches of betterball matchplay. There is a home leg and an away leg usually within 10 days of each other and the most accumulative points over the two matches wins. Carol says the secret to success is making sure you win all of your home matches where you have the advantage and pick up whatever you can away. A strategy much easier said than done, although this is exactly what they achieved in 2015.

The silverware is at Santa Maria for the second consecutive year and 2016 has seen a good start with a win over their first match against Parador. Next up is Baviera at the far reaches of the Malaga province. Carol says they would love to make it three in a row but let’s take it one step at a time. It is a long season ahead with many good teams. We wish everyone good luck and look forward to meeting once again this year.

On behalf of everyone at the club, congratulations to Carol and all the ladies playing in the team – you are making us very proud.