'Yes, he comes from a land down under. Where putts fall and drives thunder. He says "Do you speaka my language?" As he knocks it stiff with his TaylorMade Sand Wedge.'
Easter Sunday became J-Day last weekend as Jason Day continued his remarkable form to not only claim the Accenture World Matchplay title, but also return to the top of the World Golf Rankings. He's nearly becoming Jason De Ruler.. (Pop reference in case you're wondering).
And it was kinda on that note that got me thinking about this generation of Tour Stars. In getting back to the No.1 spot in the Rankings (he was there briefly for 6 days in September) Jason Day is the first Aussie to be World No.1 since Greg Norman.
Now some would say that modern day Tour standard has gotten so much better than the era where Greg Norman regularly jostled with the late great Seve for the No.1 spot, but there is one significant area where the current crop of superstars simply can not compete and that is.......NICKNAMES.
I'm struggling to think of any that we regularly use and associate with the latest batch of top players? Of the ones still playing to a good level I'd say Sergio's 'El Niño' is about the only one I can think of. Louis Oosthuizen gets called Shrek, but let's be honest that's not exactly his to use. Henrik Stenson is known as 'The Ice Man' which I think is quite apt. Obviously Bubba & Tiger spring to mind, but that's the names given to them by their parents so they don't really count.....and they are both pretty much from another generation anyway. That generation had the likes of 'The Big Easy' (Ernie Els), 'Boom Boom' (Freddie Couples), 'Wild Thing' (John Daly). Go back a little further and you had the likes of slightly lesser players 'Al Gato' (The Cat: Eduardo Romero) and 'Radar' (Mike Reid).
But when you go back much further you find that there were some instantly recognisable nicknames which made the players instantly recognisable.
None more so than the great man himself, 'The Golden Bear' (Jack Nicklaus with his intimidating stature and full-some golden hair......I feel I didn't even need to write that.), then there was 'Tex Mex' (Lee Trevino, the Texan with Mexican heritage) and 'The Black Knight' (Gary Player, who always wore black. But not to be confused with Christian Bale's Batman)
Following them was the likes of 'The Walrus' (Craig Stadler with his lumbering gait and bushy moustache) and of course probably the best and most apt of all, 'The Great White Shark' (Greg Norman, with his piercing blue eyes, formidable and sleek build, flowing white locks and relentless ability to hunt you down from nowhere)
A testimony to how great these nicknames were is the fact that not only did all players embrace them, they all turned them in to their 'Brand'.
So do you think the likes of Jason, Rory, Jordan, Adam or Ricky can pull off a Nickname? Surely the likes of Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson and Keegan Bradley merit one?
With Bradley's stop start Pre-Shot Routine he looks like a Long jumper about to start his run up, and his stooped address position makes him look like a Praying Mantis. Zach Johnson's swing just reminds me of the thing that they shoot Clay Pigeon Discs from.
I'd like to hear your suggestions. Send your ideas through to me by clicking here.
Speaking of 'The Golden Bear', here is another interesting point. In a week`s time we head to Augusta and it will have been 30 years since Jack's amazing back nine 30 clinched him his final major championship at the age of 46. 30 years ago the likes of Day, Speith, McIlroy or Fowler weren't even born..
Jordan returns to defending his Green Jacket while USPGA Champ, Jason D goes in search of back to back Majors. Who's your money on?
My Masters Sweepstake is full now and we await the official draw to be able to allocate everyone's player. Stay tuned for that.
So as all these players attempt to put their best foot forward at Augusta, I'm just about to help you guys do the same here at Portlethen. Or at the very least let you 'Step out in style'.
On top of having my Spring/Summer Range of Clothing now out on display
For the next 2 months we will be running the popular Battery Trade In again. This starts on the 4th April but why not get ahead of the game and Pre-Order?
Basically if you hand in a flattery battery, you will be entitled to £25 OFF either a Lithium Battery, we have styles that will suit both Motocaddy or PowaKaddy (or basically Torberry & T-Bar fittings), or any Lithium Powered Motocaddy Trolley. And given that they have already re-positioned their Lithium Trolley Prices by £50 you can now get a new Lithium Trolley for £75 less than last year's price.
Why not check out their Trolley Range by clicking here, or pop in store for a demo of some of the options available.
And remember any Power Trolley you get from me comes with my "Roll to the Tee" Guarantee.
Maybe your current shoes are ok and just need a good polish after lying dormant all winter? But something that will certainly will be in need of buffing up after months in hibernation is your Short Game..
Even the most avid of winter golfers, whether it be religiously going to the Driving Range, or even getting out on the Winter Course, your Chipping & Putting will definitely have been neglected. And let's be brutally honest, it's that area that will be the difference between a good score or a bad score as the Season gets underway.
Firstly, it's important to distinguish what is actually wrong with your chipping. Ask yourself:
"Are the shots MIS-JUDGED?"
Or
"Are the shots MIS-HIT?"
This is important because mis-judgement is a well played shot, but a poor shot selection, whereas a mis-hit is poor technique or execution. If you are mis-hitting them then you need to focus firstly on improving the technique & contact, and not worry at all about where the ball actually ends up.
Once you've gained that confidence, then you can focus on the elements that will get the ball close to the target.
So here are the ingredients you need to think about:
Contact/Strike: This is controlled largely by your set up and very much by the quality of the stroke you make (I'm purposely not going into detail here because these details are better discussed faced to face on the range as everyone will need slightly different information).
Trajectory: To keep it simple, this is going to be influenced and controlled by your club choice. Knowing the trajectory you are trying to play will help you visualise and understand how the ball will roll and react on landing.
Distance: How far the ball travels through the air is essentially down to you. How hard will you hit it, how long a swing will you make. Think how you would throw a ball. The longer and harder you swing, the further the ball will travel.
So in a nutshell remember:
Set Up = Strike
Swing = Flight
Club = Roll
Once you've got a reliable strike, getting it close is the correct combination of club choice and swing strength.
The quality of clubs really do help too, so remember we offer GC2 assisted Short Game instruction AND expert Wedge Trial & Fitting. So why not sharpen your Short Game in the best way today.
Click here to book a session.
So from Lithium Batteries to Launch Monitor Lessons, it's all mod cons here at Portlethen these days. And the leaps in modern technology don't end there.
Rewind to the season before I arrived and when competition day rolled round, you guys were left to scrawl your own scorecards out before you played. For some this was a bigger challenge than whacking and finding the 'wee white baw' in a decent score was. Then we started looking after you and you received your card Pre-Written. Well now I'm delighted to announce you will no longer have to put up with our hen scratchings, because you will now receive your card with a lovely printed label attached. But here's the drill.
On arrival on Competition Days please follow the following procedure:
Pre Round
1: Sign In on Computer - PRO SHOP SCREEN ONLY.
2: Sign In For Sweep & Twos - SHEET ON COUNTER.
Sign Name In CORRECT H`Cap Division
Tick for Sweep or Twos (Optional)
Collect Scorecard with Printed Label
Post Round
1: Score Entry - CLUBHOUSE SCREEN ONLY.
2: Post Card - BOX IN LOUNGE.
But before the counting competitions got underway, we kicked the season off with the Opening Day Better Ball event. And guess what. The weather was rank rotten.. So I`ll start by saying well done to everyone who turned up and braved the conditions with a smile on their face.
We had a total of 39 teams take part, and despite the weather the winning scores were exceptional. The format was Better Ball - 2 Best Nett Scores to count.
The winning Team of Jeff Christie, John Goate, Paul Singer & Chris Lobb skooshed round in a 123 Total (That`s 21 under Par).
Second place went to the quartette of Greg Donaldson, Charlie Rennie, Brian Davie & Matthew Davie who shot an impressive 125. Both these teams Tee`d off later in the worst of the weather too.
3rd place went to Peter Clark, Jeff Capstick, Stuart Pirie & Michael Edwards on 128.
The other golf prizes to mention were the Nearest The Pin @ 5th Prize which was won by Arthur Graham and Nearest The Pin @ 12th which went to Robbie Murdoch.
There were however more prizes up for grabs SOMEWHERE on the Course in my Easter Egg & Bunny Hunt. There were 3 Bunny`s and 14 Eggs hidden across various parts of the Golf Course, and anyone who found them was asked to report it back and take a pic or selfie.
There was 1 egg that didn`t get claimed, and 1 bunny that didn`t get reported as found.
Here are the list of others found.
1st Hole: Colin Hay
3rd Tee: Kev Daglish
4th Hole: Ray Cowan
5th Hole: Ian Elmslie
7th Tee: Lewis Sinclair
7th Hole: Not Found
8th Hole: Doug Robertson
9th Bridge: Lewis Shand
10th Green: Louise Cook
11th Tee: David McKenzie
11th Fairway: Murray Sinclair
13th Hole: Not Reported
15th Bell: Gordon Gibb
16th Bunker: Steve Rutherford
16th Green: Rob Anderson
17th Green: Peter Clark
18th Bridge: Derek McCann
I had a prize draw for the lucky few who claimed an Easter Prize, and first out the hat was Louise Cook. Well done Louise, pop into the shop and you can collect your Prize.
It`s back to competitive business again for the Ladies Section too, and they had their first competition of 2016 on Tuesday. I think it`s fair to say there is a tiny wee bit of winter rust needs buffed off a few of the ladies games, but there certainly wasn't much wrong with Heather McCabe`s golf as she blitzed the field with an impressive 86 (17) - 69
The season is finally here meaning soon you'll be hearing more exciting news on Junior golf and my own instead of my weekly complaints on "I have to study this week".
The studying however is not over as the final exams are on the 25th April and the final practical exams on the 10th May. Luckily I have plenty of time off during the week now as in the summer I'm at work only 3 days (12 hour shifts).
My first tournament comes a day after my practical exams, and that is when my season officially starts. That is the regional qualifier for British Assistants which I managed to qualify for last year.
As mentioned before the Junior Club Golf sessions and the Get together gang are to start at the end of April. I have already seen plenty of kids dusting off their clubs and getting back into it last week, so hopefully there's more to come.
The season is off and running now, and it was great to see all the Tee Markers and Course Furniture go back out. The guys are busy beavering away every day as usual, and at the beginning of the week following the downpours of Saturday they gave the greens a light aeration and top dress. Followed immediately by a cut and roll. This treatment just helps keep the air flow and gets oxygen to the roots, but still leaves the green surfaces putting in extremely good condition.
The one thing that the Greenstaff can`t really influence is the temperatures at this time of year, and through the night has been particularly cold. When you also consider that this time last week it was an hour earlier, you have to realise that frost, and more importantly frost delays, are likely. These are frustrating for everyone and pretty much unavoidable. The course can`t be rushed open, and playing on it (the greens especially) too soon would create some fairly lengthy and sightly damage to the surfaces.
