There have been so many Famous Popstars passing away recently that now Heaven felt it clearly needed a BLANK or BLANKS!

Something is clearly in the air because it seems too many of the great & the good of music and showbiz are being taken too soon. This week we learned of the sad passing of everyone`s favourite Radio DJ and TV host, Terry Wogan!

The gem from the emerald isle who`s voice was smoother than velvet, his broadcasting slicker than his hair and his wit sharper than the dapper suits he wore, past-away at a youthful 77 after a short, unsuccessful battle against cancer.

He was absolutely a national treasure. Instantly recognisable, whether you were an avid listener of his radio 2 show or a regular watcher of Children In Need or the Eurovision Song Contest everyone knew Terry. Such a sad loss that it`s even brought a tear to Pudseys bad eye!

I was only a young boy but Wogan presenting Blankety Blank was some of my earliest memories of TV. I think it was his microphone that looked like he had just ripped the aerial off of a Vauxhall Viva that I liked the most, but clearly his love of innuendo also rubbed off and more worryingly with every passing day my self-styling, dressage and image see me morphing into the man himself! So I ask before it`s too late, please, can someone give me a swift slap on the BLANK or BLANKS! The similarities don`t end there either!! Because both of us have also graced the prestigious turf of the 18th green at the Kings Course Gleneagles. But, alas, I well and truly pale into insignificance there also, compared to the record breaking exploits of Wogans Wonder-Putt! In 1981 Terry set the record for the longest televised putt holed when he drained one across the huge 18th green of The Kings Course in BBC`s Pro-Celebrity Golf. Check out the great moment below. Now that`s when `Reality TV & Celebrity TV` were worth watching! 
Click here to watch.

In much the same way Children In Need won`t be the same now either sadly. Terry was an ever present on the show right up until last year and had watched the charity raise over £775 million pounds in the 35 years it has been running. Last year`s show raised £37 Million alone, over the 7 hour broadcast. That`s an incredible amount of money!......isn`t it!?

I`m questioning it only because whilst nearly £800 Million pounds going towards charity over 35 years, or £37 Million over 7 Hours, is not to be sniffed at it unfortunately and quite sadly pales into insignificance when you consider that advertising alone for the half time at this weekend`s American NFL Superbowl is reported to be $400 MILLION Dollars!! Each individual 30 Second Commercial has been sold at $5 Million Dollars! That`s nearly $170,000 per second!! Which pretty much means Pepsi (INSERT OTHER SOFT DRINK COMPANY HERE!!) have to sell about 340,000 cans per second and over 10 Million to pay for their advert!! I`m no Doctor, Nutritionist or Dietitian but I`m sure those kind of numbers can`t be doing much as the Country tries to battle obesity!? Fat chance!!

Probably more worrying, and saddening, is the fact that in the 8 years of the Iraq War a soldier (if they even lasted that long) wouldn`t even have earned $170,000! So in 30 Seconds Colonel Saunders could bankroll an entire platoon of Privates instead of getting lips licking for some Kentucky Fried Chicken! Perhaps it`s just me but I think big brands would do more for their reputation, image and endorsement if they said `No, we won`t be spending that amount of money on an Ad. Instead we are going to give that money to this, that or the next worthy cause!` I`m pretty sure that would buy much more consumer favour and ultimately sell more products than being part of the world`s most expensive egg timer!?

Here`s a better idea for those 5 Minutes, why don't they just play repeats of some of David Hayes fights! If you pick the right ones I`m sure you could fit about 4 in! 

One thing that did take much longer than 5 minutes on American Television was the completion of the Farmers Insurance Open on the PGA Tour. Storm conditions rolled in for the final round on Sunday and between the rain & high winds the last days play was delayed in starting and therefore meant it would have to be resumed on the Monday. By the time the leaders came back to finish off their rounds several large trees had been toppled. The strong winds were still there but now the gusts were blasting in the opposite direction.

Although the final round was played over two different days the weather on both was so bad that the average 4th round score was a smidge under 78. To give you a feel for how bad the conditions were the first round leader, Scott Brown, shot 87! A further 22 players failed to break 80 and the overnight leaders (KJ Choi & Jimmy Walker) both scored 76 & 77 respectively. So to say that eventual winner, Brandt Snedeker who score 69 (3 shots better than anyone else in round 4) deserved it would be a gross understatement!! The irony is that now Brandt has been battered and buffeted by the wind he can now go and play at Augusta!

Away from Torrey Pines it was a similarly blustery story over at Doha, where the wind also made the San Diego everywhere too! And much like the Farmers Insurance Open and walking the dog in the rain, no one could hang on to the lead! It was local boy, Paul Lawrie, who had moved into a 2 stroke lead after 3 rounds following some sublime shot shaping and putt making control in testing conditions the first 3 days (which were unusually Wed, Thurs & Fri which threw me slightly!!)

Of course the usual media claptrap followed about how the windy conditions suited Paul`s game better because he grew up playing in Scotland, blah, blah. I`m not saying for a minute he`s not good at playing in wind, he will tell you himself he is, and enjoys it. And I`m sure that has very much come from playing golf in Scotland, but in reality there aren`t many places in European Golf where you don`t play golf in some sort of wind. And more importantly I feel, there aren`t many places where playing in the wind is ANYTHING like playing in the wind in Scotland! So I`m pretty sure the cosy crosswinds of Qatar are a slightly different proposition to the cutting crosswinds of Carnoustie!

In amongst the golden sands of the UAE it was Paul`s game that deserted him. A wild drive which lead to an untimely double bogey 7 at the 9th meant he dropped out of the lead by 3 shot. The back nine capitulation which followed was more having to press and attack in conditions that required more control and patience. It all added up to a disappointing 78 which dropped Lawrie to 13th. The title eventually going to Branden Grace who, like Snedeker, fired a solid 69 to claim the come from behind victory.

If the 2 events this weekend prove anything about playing windy conditions well, it`s that you have to play well in windy conditions!! If you`re on your game and in control of your ball then you will be able to combat the wind. If you are a little off (and I mean only a fraction) with your ball striking or shot shape then the wind will show up every single flaw.

In his post round interview after round 3 Paul Lawrie eluded to what he feels are the secrets to playing in the wind. Take a little off the length and strength of your swing, and don`t get grumpy! Yeah the conditions are tough, but they are tough for everyone, so try not to let it bother you. Accept the outcome and move on. 

But essentially he has reiterated one of the best pieces of wind advice you`ll ever get: "Into the breeze - Swing with ease!" Simple, but so true. If you swing softer you`ve a better chance of keeping the spin on your shots lower, and not just backspin! I`m not going to get too technical on you here but if you make a bad AND aggressive swing you`ll change what is known as the "Spin Axis" of the ball. In the past it was referred to as back spin and side spin, but the advances in technology have shown that there can`t be 2 different spins on the ball at the same time. 

Instead what has happened is the `Axis` of the ball has been tilted. Imagine your ball had wings like an aeroplane, if the plane was going to fly to the right the right wing tilts down while the left wing tilts up. Now the plane would start to bank to the right. Conversely, if the plane was going to bank left it would do the opposite. And lastly if it was going to go up the wings would tilt up. So think what would stop a plane going forward in a straight line into a wind!! You want to keep the wings pointing forward as long as possible and level as much as possible.

Forget the wind even. Just picturing the wings on your ball will give you a great insight into why perhaps your plane goes off radar at times!! 

 

 

All this data is what we capture during both Lessons & Clubfittings using our Launch Monitor. The GC2 Camera System captures all the important ball data, while the HMT measures the influence and actions of the Clubhead during impact. This information along with my trained eye and 20+ years of Coaching & Fitting experience mean I have all the tools required to "Get You Golfing Better!"

Why not book a Swing or Equipment evaluation today! Click here.

Seeing as this week`s Newsletter is full of wind (so whats new I hear you cry!!) I thought I`d continue on the same theme.

With the recent storms over last couple weeks, and not just in Scotland for a change, play was effected on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines where play was delayed due to heavy winds. So I thought this would make a good topic to bring you in the "rule of the week" feature.

So the question is "What happens when your ball is moved by the wind?" especially on the putting surface.

This rule has been changed recently as it was felt that it was too unfair.

If your ball is moved by the wind you are to refer to Rule 18-1: Ball at rest moved by an outside agency.

The rule now says that you must replace it with no penalty. With this important note..

Note: It is a question of fact whether a ball has been moved by an outside agency. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that an outside agency has moved the ball. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must play the ball as it lies or, if the ball is not found, proceed under Rule 27-1.

The important difference here is that previously if your ball was in play and you HAD addressed it, you would`ve been penalized. If your ball was in play and you HAD NOT addressed it you would have had to play it from where it finished!

Well last week the winter alliance was at Peterhead and the full greens were in play! The first 7 holes were the weather was fine and then the heavens opened up and it rained until finish! Even with all the waterproof gear, I was soaking at the end!

I still managed to play pretty well. I shot a 70 level par which finished 5th out of the 80 odd people that played. The thing that was most surprising about my game was my putting. Having not putted since last week, I didn't miss many putts! It was also nice to putt on summer greens. Next week is back at Buckpool which will hopefully be on summer greens too! 

More new product hit the shop floor last week with the latest upgrade to the Callaway Wood Range. Following on from a club that performed exceptionally well last year, Callaway have given the XR Series an upgrade. And it`s more than just a facelift or a paint job. Their Team at the Research & Development Department have tweaked the design. By pulling the back edge of the clubhead further from the face the have not only created a more aerodynamic shape for more head speed but this has also created a more stable head at impact, especially on off centre hits. So now not only does it move faster but it is also more forgiving. See the video below or click here to watch.

But like many of these new products the proof of the pudding is in the eating. So why not book in for a trial and a fitting now?

Click here

Don`t forget this weekend Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th February

Is my "MAKE ME AN OFFER - Deal or No Deal" Clearance

Here`s how it works:

• Find A Sale Item You Want.
• Make Me An Offer. 
• If I Like That Offer - DEAL!
• If I Don`t - NO DEAL!
• You Can Always Up Your Offer! 
•  (T`s&C`s: Shop Credit or Shop Vouchers NOT Allowed - Full Payment Purchases Only)

If you golfers are getting exacerbated by the weather then trust me so are the Greenstaff. Last week saw us experience pretty much everything the heavens could throw at us. We had the strong winds, the heavy rain, a touch of snow, cold ground frosts…but frustratingly we even had glimpses of the sunshine and calm too.

The upshot is the Course doesn't know if it`s coming or going, and neither do the staff. The weekend saw frost and frozen greens, Monday & Tuesday saw things improve to be back on the Summer Greens. The ground conditions started to dry which allowed the staff to cut the greens tees, approaches and fairways…..then the frost came back in overnight to knock us back onto Winter Greens come Wednesday morning. However the sun popped up and that allowed the Full Greens to go back on and get treated to a nice massage! Ok, so it was a roll with the Turf Iron, but I`m sure it is their equivalent!

Fingers crossed this is the start of a good spell!?