Good afternoon

Ok we'll start this week with a fantastic win for Andy Kirk in Sunday's Douglas Gray's, Club Presidents Day. Andy won with 41 points and was kind enough to mention me in his prize acceptance speech. 

Andy had 3 lessons back in January and was concerned that he wasn't really playing to his handicap regularly enough. The first lesson we went into the Swing Zone and Andy was making some lovely swings and hitting some super shots which were far better than his 16 handicap would suggest. This puzzled me so we organised a lesson on the course to see why he wasn't playing to his handicap. 

On the course it soon became clear that it wasn't Andy's short game that was holding him back it was indeed his long game.And that nice long, flowing, swing that we had seen in the Swing Zone the previous week had disappeared. 

Andy was making very defensive swings determined just to hit the ball forward but due to the lack of commitment through the ball was often hitting bad shots. In essence he was steering the ball around the course. As soon as I showed Andy his great positive swing in the Swing Zone that we had recorded a week earlier comparing it to his swing on the course, it proved to be a real lightbulb moment for Andy.

Ok success didn't come straight away, he had a few years of negative swings to get rid of on the course, but over the last 6 months his game has steadily improved which culminated with his victory on Sunday. Well done Andy I'm delighted for you and I think we can all learn a great lesson here. As Dr Bob Rotella said, 

"as Pros we see so many amateur golfers on the course with a cocky strategy and conservative swing, whereas in the pro game you see all of the pros go out with a conservative strategy and a cocky swing!"

Back in the places on President's Day, Andy Browne beat Daniel Crosby and Rob Allen, on count back, to claim second all with 39 points.

In the afternoon Douglas welcomed the Ladies section to his President Day for the afternoon Mixed Foursomes. Linda and Roy Jones won the afternoon with 41 points beating Anne and Mike Amos in to second with 39 points. In third came Marion Anderson and Mark Everard with 37 points. 

Everyone I have spoken to since Sunday has said what a lovely day Douglas put on, so well done Club President, Douglas Gray!


 

Oli turns Professional

We have some exciting news in the Pro shop. As from Wednesday 6th July, Oli is now a professional golfer! He got his forms through via email on Tuesday evening saying that he has been accepted on to the PGA Foundation Degree course starting in September. From now on he ceases to be an amateur golfer and will be classed as a PGA Trainee Professional. Oli signed off his amateur career in fine style by winning, in what turned out to be his last amateur event, a competition over at his home course, Great Yarmouth & Caister, by shooting his best tournament round a gross 68. 

Well done Oli, keep that up and you might win a bob or two!!




Is it the 'Big Three' or the 'Big Four'?

Just when you thought Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were all set to divvy up golf's biggest prizes, along comes big-hitting Dustin Johnson. The US champion is now number two in the world and looks to be finally fulfilling his potential after another fine win at the weekend - and a big one too at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. For years Johnson seemed destined to be the bridesmaid, now he's one of the favourites to go back-to-back in Majors and take the Claret Jug back across the Atlantic.

Next week's Open at Royal Troon could be a classic

Which leads us on to a new section of our website - our regular poll, and we want your votes. Tell us who you think will win the Open Championship next week; will it be Day, Johnson, Spieth, McIlroy or A.N. Other?

Have your say by clicking through to our homepage here... 


 

Competiton Results

In other competition news we'll head back to last Wednesday and the Ladies Peggy Norton Cup which saw some tremendous scoring from the ladies. 

In first place came Jackie Walsh with a fantastic 44 points, in second came Victoria Watson with 42 points and in third place came Gail Chapman with 40 points. 

In last Thursday's Men's Mid-Week Stableford, Chris Beare beat Brendan Gough on count back to claim Division 1 both with 40 points. Ady Price must of kept his head still, as he won Division 2 with 41 points. 

On Saturday we had the latest Men's Roll Up Stableford where Jack Keyzor beat Daniel Crosby on count back, both with 37 points, to win. 


 

In my latest Captain Pro Challenge played last Thursday, Tony Cater pulled in a last minute ringer, young Jack Butcher as his brother couldn't play. It was Tony and Jack who ended up the winners by one hole in a very topsey turvey game. Neil and I were 2up through 7 and then 4 down through 14, thanks to some great play from Jack and Tony. Neil and I however did get it back to only one down by the end. The win means Tony and Jack will carry a 1 point head start to the Captain Pro Finals Day on Saturday 8th October. 

If anyone else would like to play against Neil and I, we have a couple more games available in early September.




Cobra Demo Day Success

The Cobra demo day was a great success with plenty of members trying out all the latest Cobra equipment, with which they were all very impressed by. 

Club Fittings continue to be very busy with lots of members upgrading their current equipment with  success. Bob Cooper is pictured here looking very happy with his latest Titleist equipment following a recent fitting.

If you would like to arrange a fitting please click here. 


Titleist Ball offer for The Open

In other shop news to celebrate the Open Championship starting next Thursday we are doing a fantastic Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x offer where you can but 2 dozen balls for £80.00 and get a Titleist cap and ball marker, worth £18.00, absolutely FREE!

Open Sweepstake

Following on the Open theme don't forget to get your Pro Shop sweepstake squares to stand a chance of winning over £100 in Pro Shop vouchers. Squares are £2.00 each and prizes pay down to 5th place if you draw a player who finished in the top 5 with bonus prizes for players with the best rounds of the day.