In the money 

Not that he needed it, but Rory McIlroy picked up a nice little end-of-season bonus with victory at the DP World Tour Championship. Eighteen-year-old Lydia Ko also hit the jackpot, netting a tidy $1m for her season's efforts on the LPGA Tour. Well done to the pair of them. 

The prize funds we're used to may have a few less zeros on the end, but you can't beat the buzz of taking the money. Even if it's a pint and bag of crisps, we all love coming out on top; getting the better of our weekly fourball partners and rubbing it in in the clubhouse afterwards. 

Now, we all know someone who never seems to win, and we've all gone through barren spells. We dare say you find yourself willing on that person when they can't buy a putt, it's what makes golf so special; taking pleasure in seeing someone else play well. 

However, if you really are sick of handing over a fiver each week, now's the time to do something about it. Don't wait until the spring to find your game, come and speak to the team now and we can get you on the right track with a lesson. We might not be able to turn you into a millionaire, but we'll help cut down your bar bill resulting from those painful weekly defeats.

Get in touch here.

 

1st tee extension 

On Monday, 30 November we will be starting the 1st tee extension project with the initial tree clearance. As I hope most of you are aware we made the decision to make the 1st a Par 4 from the yellow tees and therefore moving them back to the Competition tees. 

This was for several reasons including creating a far better start to the course, speed of play, moving golfers off the awful public pathway, pro shop being able to manage the tee and most significantly reacting to the feedback when we trialled the yellows back there last summer. 

However, it is not as simple as moving the markers, as firstly the tee as it currently stands is not large enough to maintain the increased traffic so we need to double the size of the tee. Secondly we also have an issue with the vegetation encroaching from the left. 

So the plan of works is as follows: 

First week of December - clear vegetation to left of competition tee all the way up to the left of the yellow tee. Irrigation and drainage work can then start on the tee extension. Once this is in place the construction and turfing of the new tee area will begin, we hope to have this completed by Christmas (subject to weather). 

Early January - phase two of the tree clearance will commence and this will involve the area left of the start of the fairway. We have to do the work over two quarters otherwise the Club would need to apply for a special felling licence to remove that much vegetation in one go. After the area is cleared, the final stage is to add the path, which will run from behind the white tee all the way to the fairway (as show in pic). 

   

All in all I think this is a very exciting project and will create an impressive start to the course and all being well we would look to open the new tee around the time of the Captains Drive-in at the end of March. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank The Longdown Lottery for providing the funds to make this project possible. The Longdown Lottery provide funds for so many great additions to the Club so please if you are not already a member contact David Hylton and he will give you all the information. dhyl100@hotmail.com. 

Many have been asking what the hole will look like after the work is complete. 

I have had an artist's impression made up of more or less what you can expect.



Winter League

Congratulations to Mike Dowdell and David Lower for taking the victory in Sundays latest Men's Winter League, they piped the rest of the field with a very impressive 43 points in the annual two clubs and a putter event. However, the feedback from many was how much better they'd played with only two options to hit, it just goes to show what simple menfolk we really are!? 

Ladies Competition

In the ladies competition this week the field was blown away by an amazing score of 46 stableford points by recently converted Academy member Susan Pepperell. Having seen Susan's game develop through the Academy over the past year, I knew she wasn't going to be at that 34 handicap for very long and sure enough this last fantastic round has cut her a staggering 5 shots. Congratulation's Susan on a superb round of golf.

Festive Season

It's all starting to get pretty busy now as we enter the festive season and none more so than 'Turkey Trot Weekend'. I think already we have more teams signed up than I've ever seen but there are a few spots left on the Saturday and after a pull-out there is now one tee time left on the Sunday. It's a great weekend so whether you have a team for this four man/woman/junior Texas Scramble event or you are an individual looking for a game, please let me know and I will find you a spot. But hurry as spaces are running out fast.

 

Time to start thinking about your christmas list...

It's that time of year again, the decorations are going up and I'm going to bombard you with some amazing Christmas gifts for that special man or woman in your life, or just drop some hints and send up the other half!! 

In the image you will see a little Christmas list with just some ideas to think about.

If you leave this wishlist with me or indeed hand it to Santa. Then we will know exactly what to do!!

Please get in touch here or come and see us in store.