Hexham shop sponsors ladies' golf trophy

"In fact, the vast majority of the girls who play golf - and their mums - are very fussy indeed about what they wear on and off a golf course and I regard The Journal Ladies Trophy as the perfect vehicle to get that message across."

The Trophy is open to all female golfers who play at any of the 78 clubs in Northumberland and Durham County who have ladies' sections.

The vast majority of them run a Journal qualifying tournament. Following the club qualifiers, the Northumberland final of the Trophy is at Blyth on July 14 and the Durham final at Crook on August 5.

Six ladies from each county final go through to the Grand Final at Garesfield on September 24, when the first prize is an overnight golf stay for two at De Vere Slaley Hall.

All the ladies who progress from the heats to the final will earn PGA gift vouchers, with both heat winners also winning a shield.

The runner-up in the final wins £100 in PGA gift vouchers

"My business is mainly about going to ladies events all over the country and in Scotland and putting on my golf ranges as a show," added Scott.

"This is another good reason to get involved, we've even 'played' the Newcastle Arena.

"Also, ladies' golf does not always get the support and recognition it deserves and we shall derive pleasure from redressing at least some of the balance."

One of the Anne Scott models is Val Pesarra, who won the Hexham club championship for the fourth time last season. Pesarra, who runs a Hadrian's Wall B&B in Humshaugh, has also won the Hexham Squash Club championship eight times.

"I often help out Anne when she goes round the country," said Pesarra, "so obviously I like the designs myself."

The tournament's county heats are organised by the Durham and Northumberland ladies' committees, with each county taking it in turns to run the final.

This year it is Durham's job and their new competitions secretary, Anne Dunn, a member of the Whitburn club, said: "We are pleased about this week's publicity for the event because many golfers have busy lives.

"This gives them the chance to plan ahead and keep the dates free if they want to compete in the county heats and the final. The prizes are excellent and although that is pleasing, there is more to The Journal Trophy than that.

"The competition is always fierce, but there is a very good relationship between the two counties and it is a tournament everybody enjoys playing in."

Northumberland also have a new competitions secretary in Christine Fitzgerald from the Whitley Bay club and she said: "Virtually every ladies section in both counties has a player in The Journal Trophy and it is a popular tournament.

"The kind backing of Anne Scott and Slaley Hall adds the extra ingredient of good prizes, which goes down well with all the golfers."

Inquiries concerning the Journal Ladies Trophy should be directed to Anne Dunn (Durham County) on 0191 416 9147, e-mail golfannedunn@btinternet.com

Anne Scott can be contacted on (01434) 607093, mobile 07925 688107, email anne.scott83@virgin.net and Christine Fitzgerald (Northumberland) on 0191 252 0419, e-mail fitz116@blueyonder.co.uk