Maggie Armstrong Awarded Lifetime Membership

Where do we start in the story of our most cherished member? Well, like all great movies, let’s start in the present before telling the tale of what led us to this point.

Last month, as for the past 23 years Maggie held her competition the 007 Cup. It is a mixed pairs Greensome medal, about as tough as they come and no ‘sorries’ are allowed. 26 partnerships endured the test with the pairing of Eva Weber and Captain Nick Easter taking the prize with a fantastic score of net 56. They were 8 shots clear of second place Mariona Prat and Gary O’Neill.

winners 007 cup
Maggie and Vice-captain Jeremy with the winners of the 007 Cup Eva and Nick

In January of this year during the new Captain’s lunch proceedings were stopped for a very special reason. The Club was presenting Maggie with Honoury membership for loyal service to the Club for the past 25 years.

Actually, Maggie has been involved at the Club longer than its 25 year old history.

Maggie Bond as she was known then and her husband Ron Bond were introduced to the Costa del Sol by a family friend and cricket partner of her husband, another Ron. The ‘Two Ronnies’ were both members and players of Sunbury on Thames Cricket Club in the eighties and later that decade made the migration south to warmer climates.

After 10 years at Fulwell Golf Club, Twickenham, UK where she had the role of Lady Captain, they joined Miraflores Golf Club in the Riviera del Sol area. They also joined the Santa Maria bowls club which was active some years before construction of the golf course finished. The rapid development of the first nine holes was visible during their trips to play bowls and they decided to join the Club before the course was officially open.

maggie awarded
Maggie with Founder Colin Mosely receives lifetime membership in January
maggie at fulwell
Maggie at Fulwell Golf Club, UK playing in the Johnny Walker Pro-am. The team finished second in the tournament.

Maggie became the second full Captain of Santa Maria in 1993 and during her year of Captaincy she had the privilege of cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the driving range as well as representing the Club in its first ever Pro-am competition with Professional Diego Morito. Also in this year the first “007 Cup” was held. Bond, 007, hopefully the connection is clear, is an event she has sponsored every year since and is the longest running tournament in the Club’s history.

maggie
Maggie presented with a bouquet of flowers during her inauguration of Captain in 1993
maggie 1st 007 cup
Maggie and husband Ron presenting the first 007 Cup, 1993

 

Several years after her first husband Ron’s passing, Maggie re-married fellow member John Armstrong and lived overlooking the course.

Maggie has recently celebrated her 91st birthday and is still as active as ever. She not only competes but frequently takes prizes too proving the old adage that the only important number is the one that goes on the scorecard. When you dedicate a quarter of a century to a golf club, with the love and care as she has, it is only natural that the whole club loves you back. We love you Maggie and here’s to many more years to come.