News Release - Wednesday 13 July
INTERNATIONAL GOLFERS CONTEND WITH DIVE BOMBING ARCTIC TERNS ON BRITAIN'S MOST NORTHERLY COURSE
As The Open at St Andrews gets under way tomorrow (Thursday 14 July) some more intrepid golfers have been competing on Whalsay Golf Course (Isle of Whalsay), the most northerly golf course in Britain, for the NatWest Island Games XI in Shetland.
(Dramatic photos of Golfers teeing off at Whalsay Golf Course with a dramatic backdrop of the North Sea and high cliffs are available by contacting Steve Lindridge, Ideal Images 07718 919597 /
steve@idealimages.co.uk)
88 golfers (54 men, 34 women) from 14 islands are competing in singles and team competitions and are delighted with the course. The majority of this island golf course sticks out into the North Sea and is surrounded by dramatic high cliffs with rolling hilly fairways and 'velvety' greens.
However it is not only the cold, windy weather that is proving a challenge to players it is also some over protective Arctic Terns who are nesting on the fourth fairway. After teeing off, the golfers have to contend with these huge imposing birds as they dive-bomb them while they innocently attempt to walk down the fairway.
Isle of Man golfer Ruth Piggott who has just finished her second round said:
'This course is absolutely fabulous. I've not played it very well though. It is quite windy, making the greens a little tricky. The par threes on the course are pretty tricky. The terns are trying to attack us, but I've been giving them a wide berth to avoid being attacked. But it is lovely to see all the nature here. We saw a few seals yesterday which was fantastic.'
Kevin Moore, also from the Isle of Man, managed level par (71) yesterday on the Whalsay Course to lead the field ahead of Robert Eggo from Guernsey (who has competed in two Walker Cups in recent years) with a score of 72.
Paul Foster, the Golf sports co-ordinator for the NatWest Island Games said:
'Competition started yesterday and everything is going extremely well despite the inclement weather. The standard of play has been very high; in particular the Channel Islands teams who have several English county players.
'All our golfers are handling both of our challenging courses in Whalsay and at Dale very well, especially the Bermudan players who are playing in weather conditions they don't come across very often! They are actually playing in temperatures about 20° lower than they are used to but seem to be coping very well. In the women's team event Bermuda finished on top of the leader board after their first round!'
'Our volunteers have done a sterling job, keeping everything running smoothly.'
On the Dale course, Shetland's second golf course, yesterday Cath Preston from the Isle of Man managed a hole in one on the second hole.
Unfortunately for her there was a lack of spectators to witness the spectacle as she was in the last group to tee off. She finished her round in fifth place, determined to improve her game in order to challenge Laura Robinson of Bermuda who leads the field.
Editor's Notes:
The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, 9 - 15 July. Shetland is the first Scottish member island to host the games; and with a population of approximately 23,000 it is the smallest island population ever to host this large-scale event.
NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: http://www.shetland2005.info/ NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, event results website http//www.shetlandresults2005.com NatWest Island Games and the IGA: http://www.Islandgames.net/
The 24 member islands of the International Island Games Association are:
Aland, Alderney, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Froya, Gibraltar, Gotland, Greenland, Guernsey, Hitra, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Orkney, Prince Edward Island, Rhodes, Saaremaa, Sark, Shetland, St. Helena, Western Isles, Ynys Mon.
Sports for the NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: 15 different team and individual sports have been chosen from a list of 18 set down by the IGA:
Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailboarding, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball.
Shetland
The Shetland Islands are situated 200 miles North of Aberdeen and 225 miles West of Bergen. Made up of a diverse group of over 100 islands, bordered by jagged cliffs and bleached white beaches, Shetland is ruled by water. The mainland of Shetland is approximately 70 miles in length and 35 miles wide, with a population of around 23,000. http://www.visitshetland.com
Funding Partners
Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Charitable Trust, EventScotland and sportscotland
Sponsors and Supporters
NatWest is the official sponsor to the IGA and the NatWest Island Games. The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, is the fourth Games that NatWest has sponsored.
A large number of Shetland businesses are also supporting the games.
http://www.shetland2005.info/
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E: paddy@podge.co.uk / W: www.podge.co.uk