Debbie Scott: Canterbury Women's golf team manager ahead of the Pollock Cup semifinals

The Pollock Cup is the premier trophy in women's golf in Canterbury and is highly sought after by the clubs.  

This weekend Russley, Waimairi, Christchurch and Clearwater will scrap it out at the beautiful Rangiora Golf Club for bragging rights. 

Thanks to the Elmwood Trading Company, Debbie Scott joined Lesley Murdock to give her thoughts on this weekend’s semifinals, and the state of women’s golf in the region. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well time in association with the Omwood Trading Company to
go to Debbie Scott. Of course we spoke to her
in October about the women's golf. Of course, Debbie is
a long term Cannibur Women's subcommittee chair as well as
being a long time representative, selector and manager. So Debbie,
good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning Leslie. Nice.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Well, it looks as it's fined up a bit out there. Actually,
what is good news?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
It's just good news. We've been on the fresh side.
But there.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
I think we're getting used to that, aren't we. In
November we're waiting for the summer.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well yeah, so Canterbury is all weathers in one day.
We just do that quite.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well, Yeah, we do well. We did talk the Woodward Cup,
which is the men's equivalent of the Pollock Cup, which
is the high performing women's into club. And we have
got the finals up for grabs on Sunday, and I
did feel sorry for Kiri Chuck. He did put his
neck on the line, got it. He had to give
us a winner and the two final teams and in

(00:59):
the end it was clear Water who prevailed and he
did not pick them. So we're probably going to ask
you to do the same thing for the women that
first of all, tell us how has the Pollop cut prevailed.
I mean you've been happy with the form.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, it's gone really well. And I'm hesitant because we
only have six teams in the competition. We would nearly
love to get a few more clubs, but basically we
don't have the really low handicapped players who are required

(01:34):
to be able to perform at this level because we're
playing Basically it's used as a selection tool for the
selectors in preparation for the New Zealand individuals and the
representative games that flow through from about August to the
end of the year. So the Pollop Cup you need

(01:57):
really good young players, any good players, they don't need
to be game and and we have a few of those,
but we do have to rely on some players from
a to support the teams here in Canterbury, and we
just need a few more of those low handicapped players

(02:18):
because basically you're playing your top teams off scratch and
the top four. You know, the highest handicap is about five,
so you need to have each club needs to have
it at least one or two really low handicapped players
to be able to perform at this level and we
haven't them through the clubs.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Well, is it because you do lose some of your
brighter stars to scholarships in the US.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
You are so right, we lose them to university scholarship
and you know we were unlike the men who have
a huge pool of players they have to ballot out
at tournaments, we don't have. We don't have that huge pool.
We do have up and coming youngsters and we need

(03:03):
them because our teenagers come eighteen nineteen ish, you go away,
so we need to keep feeding into that group. And
it is a wee bit of a worry because we
don't have the big basis that we would like. I
guess again, we're not an Auckland population or a Wellington population. However,

(03:27):
we you know, we do work well. Canterby Golf is
really good at filling in the youngsters with We've got hubs,
we've got junior tournaments. They do that well and she
loves golf. We do have lots of women and lots
of participation. We've just moved them and that's sad. Well

(03:48):
in the moment.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
It's the challenge, isn't it. But the good news is
that you have got four in the semi finals. You've
got your number one qualifier Roussly playing number four finisher Ymiley,
and they'd better watch out because it was the fourth
quite in the Means Woodward Cup clear Water that came
through and won the thing. So second and third play
each other, christ each Clearwater. How do you see these
semifinals going and you're playing out and you're a golf club,

(04:11):
Yes we are.

Speaker 2 (04:12):
We're playing out there and Walmarty beat won it last
year and they've just they had a wee bit of
a poor form through the season. They didn't win all
three matches as the others have done, so they had
a couple of wins and a drawer which popped them down.

(04:35):
They'd been tracking quite well, but they had lost their
last game and they needed to secure another wind to
stay near the top of that. However, they are a
good team and they have managed to remain themselves in
the top fourth and the semifinals tomorrow they're playing a

(04:56):
Rustly and it will be interesting because the last time
they played Rossly in the round robin, Rossly one Handsomely
five to one, so it will be an interesting challenge
to see what they come up with.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
And the other one christ Church clear Water.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yes, christ Church have always been in the mix. From
the first trophy when it was first starting way back
in nineteen eighty six. Christ Church have I either been
first or second or very close to thereabouts. And there
was a wee hiatus in the middle of those years,

(05:36):
and then latterie christ Church have come back and been
very strong and won it the two previous years to
check to one beach. So you know, if you were
mentioning you wanted a pack, I'm going.

Speaker 1 (05:50):
Roughly christ Church as the final and who to win
rusly right. I can hear some trepidation on your voice,
but we've got it. It's on the logger and we'll
drag it out if we need to. But you're very brave,
Thank you for that. But it run your good venue.
Mo Pollock's stomping ground.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
Well is Mowini and Pollock donated this, as I said,
way back in nineteen eighty six, and she one of
them donated it because they wanted the top It wasn't
something for the women in for top competition golf, so
they donated this trophy and back then it was just

(06:33):
four players. But we've sort of moved with the times
over the years, and we've added another two players to
that mix, so you can have a sixth person. Then
you can have two imports, and you can you can
combine if you wish to with another club, and that's

(06:55):
what I'm hoping might happen next season, so we can
get that extra player, an extra team in the mix
if we can. But Mo Pollock, she I'm not my shame.
I'm not sure if she is still alive. I'm hoping
she is. I know Ian has passed away, and she

(07:16):
was just so passionate about club golf and inter club
and it's really lovely that we do play for this trophy.
Roundering Eura and amble being as you say that jumping
ground absolutely well.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
We wish you all the very best well, especially the
golfers in the semi finals for the finals place for
the Pollock Cup, and for you Debbie Scott for your
putting your nick on the line as well and your
predictions and yeah, let's see how it plays out and
we'll hear next week.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yes you will. Indeed, as you say, I could get
in trouble for that comment, but I can live with that.

Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yes, I'm sure you can. You're very good and I
mean your service to the game is just phenomenal. So
thank you for late as well.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
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