Fresh off the back of winning the York Ladies Championship on home turf, we caught up with Kirkbymoorside member Elaine Arnott.
She has been with us only 11 months, but the five-handicapper is already a popular figure at the club and comes with a serious pedigree.
Indeed, this is the third time she’s won the YLC, following success in 2001 and 2002 at Pike Hills and York.
It was a long time between drinks due to a sabbatical from the game to focus on work, but Elaine took out her latest title at our club earlier this month. With four KGC members in the top five (nett – see results below), it showed that local knowledge can be helpful, but also that our ladies section is thriving. For Elaine, however, there is still some learning to do.
“Playing on a home course can be an advantage,” she said.
“But I have a lot of thinking to do out there – I am still learning the course given I only joined in August!
“The club fielded a number of good players and the course was playing very fair, with not much wind and receptive greens.”
Elaine shot 77 to win the gross event by two shots, but it wasn’t plain sailing. She got off to a rough start, trailing by four shots at the half-way mark following a 42. A pair of two-putt birdies, though – on 11 and 13 – gave her a timely boost and she kept pushed on to post a two-under 35 on the back nine.
“I am pleased I kept my head in the game after that front nine,” she said.
“11 got my round going and being in a group with the eventual second-place finisher meant I knew the scores all the time and what I needed to do.”
Born in York, Elaine first picked up a club aged 13 at Heworth after being inspired by Seve Ballesteros playing in the Benson & Hedges Championship.
By 16, she was off 4 and picked up county honours as well as the 1987 Yorkshire Schools title. She is currently part of the 2023 Yorkshire Veterans County side.
“At my age, I can still hit the ball as well as I ever have, but concentration can be an issue!”
We’ve all been there! The club would like to wish Elaine sincere congratulations and we all hope this is the first of many titles she wins as a KGC member.
We have also been named in Golf World’s Top 100 GB&I courses under £40 a round! £ for £ we are tough to beat!
