THE Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship celebrates its 21st anniversary this year under the watchful eye of the Awali Golf Club's first-ever female captain.
Women golfers from around the region are being urged to sign up for the event which takes place on November 21 and 22.
The annual tournament takes place at Awali, which has a history of firsts since its establishment as the first golf course in the Gulf region in 1938.
The club began with a nine-hole course, progressed to 18 holes and is now proudly celebrating 70 years.
Myra Turner, 59, was elected as the first woman club captain in June this year and is very much enjoying her new role saying: "It is an honour to be accepted as Awali's captain because I am sure there are a few guys that are a little bit doubtful about what I am going to do. But generally the guys have been really good and they have supported me."
She is really looking forward to the Ladies Open which she describes as a relaxing and fun weekend for all to enjoy.
She said: "We have women who have left the island coming back to take part in the championship. We also have women attending from different golf clubs around the Gulf and regular golfers here in Bahrain. We end up seeing a lot of familiar faces.
"This championship is open for all ladies with a golfing handicap. It is an amateur tournament and we do not play for money.
"It sounds a bit intimidating at first but we actually have a very relaxed atmosphere. The Bahrain Open, which is also open to ladies, is usually filled with guys and is a bit more serious. But the Ladies Open is a lot more fun. The femmes come out, have a good weekend and just play some golf."
Myra has been a golfer for about five years and still considers herself a novice.
And as the first woman captain of Awali Golf Club she has been nicknamed the 'Pink Leader'- and, her golf-enthusiast husband Allan loves the idea of his wife being in charge.
She said: "I am quite new to the game. I got an interest in it when Allan started playing. I was curious to know what the big attraction was since he would disappear for four hours.
"So that was it really. I started playing from then on and loved it. I do play with my husband and he usually wins. He is quite good.
"When I first told him I wanted to join him for a round of golf, he took me out to the desert with a bucket of balls and said 'OK, have a go'."
Aside from the regular games with Allan, Myra takes lessons with David Park, a professional golfer who makes regular visits to the kingdom. He comes out twice a year during the season and will be arriving in Bahrain next month.
Myra, from Riffa, said: "My duties are to basically look after the club and make sure that all the members are happy. I generally have to keep the spirit of the club going."
John Parker and David Philpot, who have been members for 10 years, both believe Myra is doing a wonderful job. John said: "Myra has been marvellous. She is the most attractive captain I have ever seen at the club!"
While David believes that Myra has been fantastic for everyone and has kept things going.
And, one of the things she is very keen to do is draw more women into the sport.
She said: "I don't think golfing is a male-dominated sport and I encourage other ladies to give it a try.
"My advice to lady golfers would be to not give up ... and keep practising! I find that it is quite important to get out on the driving range and practice. Don't get frustrated, just keep at it. Also, the more relaxed you are, the better you will play."
Over the years, the Awali club has developed substantially with significant improvements still being made to the course and club house. Major competitions began in 1956 and some of the same trophies are still being played for today.
The first Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship was the brainchild of a group of female members - namely, Joan Calder, Sheila Farrelly, Lillias Picken and Lou Scott, who, backed by the women playing in Saudi Aramco, put their heads together and forwarded a proposal to the general committee of the Awali Golf Club to start the tournament.
The club is also supported and maintained by the Bahrain Petroluem Company (Bapco) which is its main sponsor and Myra added: "Without Bapco there would be no club and no tournament."
For further details about the Bahrain Ladies Open contact Awali Gulf Club on 17756770 or log on to www.awaligolfclub.com
