The 117th ILGU Annual General Meeting (3rd as ILGU Ltd) will take place on Saturday 15th January 2011 in Moran's Hotel, Naas Road, at 12.30pm. 2 Delegates from each Club are invited to attend.
Chief Executive Sinead Heraty will make a Presentation on events in 2010 and plans for 2011, while 2011 European Solheim Cup team captain, Alison Nicholas will appear as a guest speaker.
Clubs are reminded that the ILGU Affiliation Fees of €25/£21 and €5/£4 (under 18s) remain unchanged for 2011.
ALISON NICHOLAS
From 1980 to 2004, England's Alison Nicholas claimed 18 Professional titles establishing herself as one of Europe's most successful female golfers.
Taking the game up rather late at the age of 17 did not deter her in the slightest. Within 4 years she had represented Yorkshire at county level and went on to win the 1983 British Stroke play Championship before turning professional in 1984.
Her breakthrough in the professional ranks came in 1987 when she won the Weetabix Ladies British Open at St Mellion. Throughout the 80's and early 90's Alison was a regular winner on the Ladies European Tour.
After representing Europe in the inaugural Solheim Cup in 1990 Alison was encouraged to play in America and take on the best in the world. Improving her technique under the watchful eye of Lawrence Farmer proved successful and in 1995 she won her first Tournament on the LPGA Tour.
The highlight of her career was to come 2 years later when she was crowned 1997 US Open Champion ... holding off golfing legend Nancy Lopez to win her first major. Following this success Alison was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to women's golf.
Representing Europe in the Solheim Cup six times was memorable for Alison especially being on three victorious teams in 1992, 2000 and as Vice Captain in 2003.
Retirement followed in 2004 but her interest in golf will continue through her business activities and teaching at The Alison Nicholas Golf Academy.
On her debut as European Solheim Cup Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in 2009, the Americans kept their untarnished home record intact with a 16 to 12 final score against the Europeans and now lead the competition 8-3.
However, Nicholas, from Birmingham in England, feels confident that Europe can stage a comeback at Killeen Castle in County Meath, from 23-25th September, 2011.
“I'm confident because I think we gave them a run for their money at Rich Harvest Farms and the difference between the two teams is very close, as we proved. There are some good young players on the European Tour, I think they will come into their own and we'll have some youngsters to fight those young American players. We've a lot of very, very good players. They just need to believe in themselves a bit more,” she said.
Factfile
1962 – Born in Gibraltar on 6th March
1984 – Turned professional
1987 – Earned first tournament victory at the Weetabix Women's British Open
1990 – Played first Solheim Cup match at Lake Nona in Florida
1992 – Played on winning European Solheim Cup side at Dalmahoy
1996 – Winner Ladies Irish Open at City West, Dublin
1997 – Won US Open Championship by a stroke over Nancy Lopez
1999 – Claimed 18th and final career tournament victory at Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open
2000 - Played on winning European Solheim Cup side at Loch Lomond
2003 – Vice captain to Catrin Nilsmark when Europe won at Barseback
2004 – Stepped away from competition after 20 years on Tour
2005 – Vice captain to Catrin Nilsmark at Crooked Stick, Indianapolis
2009 – European Solheim Cup Captain at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois in August.
In November, named Europe's Solheim Cup Captain for Killeen Castle in Ireland in 2011
