It`s getting down to crunch time in Europe!

No, not the Final of the Champions League! No, not the Title run in for La Liga in Spain! No, not the jostling for Ryder Cup places on the European Tour! No, not the Continents deliberation over developments in Ukraine or the implications that an Independent Scotland would have on the EU!

The crunch time in Europe I`m talking about is the Semi-Final stage in the Eurovison Song Contest!! That moment when 31 fight for the right to be in the Elite 20 to totally embarrass their home Nation! It`s kind of like they round up all the freaks from "Their Country`s Got Talent" and give them their own wee Competition to see who`s got the most popular freak! I suppose it`s a kind of "X Freaktor"

There are some right "belters" (I`m of course using the West Coast vernacular of the word and not for one minute suggesting that they are great singers!) this year. With the most controversial of contradictions being the Austrian entry, Conchita Wurst. I`ll admit that I got very confused (I know it doesn`t take much!) when reading about this act. The blurb said "Conchita Wurst is the transvestite alter ego of former Boy Band star Tom Neuwirth" so you`re thinking ok, a guy dressed as a woman fair enough, but then it goes on to say "…also known as the bearded lady she has called the beard a symbol of tolerance" HANG ON! Guy dressed as a girl hmmm, ok I can deal with that. Guy dressed as a girl but kept his beard, ehhh, ok, weird but fair enough. Guy dressed as a girl with a beard who wants to be known as a she!! Sooooo confusing, honestly the lengths some people will go to get to play off the Red Tee Boxes and get a higher Standard Scratch is unbelievable!

She/He/It is particularly well named then because you probably couldn`t get a Wurst Con-Cheater than a man dressing as a woman calling himself a she just so he can play off the Ladies Tees!!

The UK`s fate is in the hands of 26 Year Old unknown Molly Smitten-Downes but I`m sure she will do a whole lot better than the 2nd last that Engelbert Humperdinck (who has now been put back in to storage with the rest of the Spitting Image archives) managed last year.

But on the subject of funny caricature like faces I see Liverpool have just managed to get their noses out in front (or is it Luis Suarez`s teeth) in the race to the Premiership Title! Albeit their 1 point advantage over Man City is probably not going to be enough given that the big spending giants from Manchester have a game in hand and their last 2 remaining fixtures are Home games where they have been particularly impressive these past few seasons.

 

Impressive home form continued for our very own Eastwood ladies as they got their Greenlees League campaign off to a very impressive winning start with an 8-1 Home win over the Ladies from Greenock GC. All the Teams are underway in their respective Leagues now and it`s been a mixed bag so far for the Eastwood representatives.

The Gents Brand Putter got humbled somewhat at home by Haggs Castle, going down 8 - 1! On the same night the Over 50`s FIT League Team managed a respectable 1 ½ - 1 ½ Draw away to the same opponents. The Junior Fleming Watson Team have now played 2 matches and registered impressive wins in both, firstly they managed a 5 - 1 win against Williamwood at home before whitewashing Pollock 6 - 0 on their own patch. Lets hope that form continues as the boys attempt to keep a very interesting run going. Eastwood Juniors have won the Fleming Watson League in 1994 and 2004 so hopefully this too is their year for glory!

I`ve been keeping those "Followers" on Facebook and Twitter more immediately updated with info. and news like the Team matches as well as other important Club, Course and Shop notifications. If you too would like to get this kind of information more quickly and conveniently then simply follow one of my links below and either like or follow my pages!

The Bank Holiday weekend meant no Saturday Competition action to report so all that's left to bring you from a Competition perspective is the Thursdayhttps://twitter.com/stuartwilsonpro Medal Results.

Last week wasn`t the best weather wise and the scoring reflected that for a change. The CSS rose to 72 which is very unusual here at Eastwood and with only 1 golfer breaking 70 you can see why it did.

John Mclaren 83(14) - 69 was that soldier and had the lowest nett score of the day by some 3 strokes. He was in fact 4 clear of 2nd in DIV 1 Robin McGuire 85(12) - 73 with Colin Gray 87(12) - 75 a further 2 back.

In DIV 2 John Hopkins 87(15) - 72 was best with Tanvir Moughal 96(23) - 73 2nd on a countback from Craig Walker 88(15) - 73

 
 

  
Maybe though we are sometimes quick to use the weather or course conditions as a ready made excuse for our bad golf. The next time you`ve played perhaps you should sit down and evaluate your game, more importantly break it down into departments. It`s only when you identify the problem can you start looking for a solution.

Try giving yourself a rating for the following areas of your game.

"From The Tee" - How many Fairways did you hit during the round, how often when you missed were you in BIG trouble? (ie: Lost ball, chip out, penalty drop) 
"On The Fairway" - How often did you miss the green from an approach shot? Were you short, long from good strikes or was it miss hits and/or miss directs? 
"The Scoring Zone" - How often did you take 3 (or More) from pitching distance and closer!? Was it poor shot selection or poor execution? 
"Holing Out" - How many times did you need to use your putter? Was you pace and/or your green reading leaving you too far away? Were your short putts confident and almost or negative and nervy!?

Start from the green and work back and ask yourself these questions:

What would I have scored if I took minimum of 2 putts on every green!? 
What would I have scored if I took minimum of 2 shots every time I was chipping onto a green!? 
What would I have scored if I my first shot was always in play!?

Then think about your Hole strategy and ask if you could be utilizing and maximizing your Handicap (strokes) in a better way to make the holes play more to your strengths.

If you identify your weaknesses 2 things happen. It highlights your strengths and it emphasizes what you SHOULD be practicing instead of what you typically practice!

Remember, I`m here to help both! I can help evaluate your game so you can target the things that will help you improve quicker and have more fun. I can also give you the understanding and information you need to make your practice more worthwhile and instill the good habits that will allow you to play better more often. And you never know you may well just get the kind of financial and emotional rewards that many of my pupils have experienced over the years.

You also don`t need to learn alone. Whilst I tailor my Consultation and Lesson Packages to meet Individuals requirements similar plans of improvement can be made so 2, 3 or 4 people can share Sessions. This is particularly worthwhile with things like Shortgame Masterclasses, Putting Sessions and On Course Strategy Lessons. So why don`t you and your buddies get together and come and see me about Dates & times that will suit your group. 


Consultation "Performance Analysis & Overview" (2 Hour Session) - £75 (2 People = £37.50 Each, 3 People = £25 Each, 4 People = £20 Each)
This session contains a detailed assessment of your game and your goals! Important performance data is recorded using Flightscope which alongside a comprehensive Skills Test and questionnaire allow a "Plan For Progress" to be created specifically for your game. *Anyone who takes this assessment automatically qualifies for a 10% Reduction on all future Lessons & Packages that season. 

Playing Lesson: "Take It To The Course" (2 Hour Session) - £75* (2 People = £37.50 Each, 3 People = £25 Each, 4 People = £20 Each) 
This On Course Session focuses predominantly on your ability to manage your game and the course, mental approach, visualisation, routine, green reading, rules, etiquette and shot execution. Whilst how to play certain types of shots will be covered technique and swing changes will kept for on the Practice Range. 

Scoring Zone: "The Ultimate Shortgame Session" (2 Hour Session) - £75* (2 People = £37.50 Each, 3 People = £25 Each, 4 People = £20 Each)
The ideal way to make significant and lasting improvements to the one area of the game that guarantees lower scores! This session contains a detailed assessment of your Shortgame "Strengths & Weaknesses", a skills test, Computerized Putter & Stroke Analysis, Green Reading & Pace Control as well as an overview of Pitching & Bunker technique, Chipping method and shot choices. 

Group Tuition 
2 People (1 Hour) - £30PP 
3 People (1 Hour) - £20PP 
4 People (1 Hour) - £15PP  

To book a lesson or fitting, click here

Something else to consider in your quest to improve, especially in that Scoring Zone Area, is we have not only great Practice facilities for that sort of thing but also excellent "Fitting Facilities" for that sort of thing too!

My Tomi Putting Analyser gives an amazing insight into what you actually do when stroking the putter and it`s that info. that allows me to recommend improvements to your technique or alterations to your Technology. In other words a different Spec. or Style of Putter to suit your stroke characteristics better. 

 
PUTTER FITTING 

Specification Fitting & Set Up Only (Make & Model already established) FREE 
*Includes Tomi Putting Analyser Fitting - 30 Minutes 
Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £30 
*Includes Tomi Putting Analyser Fitting, Analyse current Putter, Trial New Putter options, custom fit to players Spec. - 60 Minutes (£15 Comes off purchase price - £15 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase) 

Have a look at my new video below with the SWING studio in full action on how to to improve your putting.

 
 
And with our Flightscope Radar we can also accurately evaluate you Wedge play from your actual Yardages to your Distance Gapping. That distance gapping might be down to having the wrong wedge configuration so whilst the Flightscope can highlight that issue we also have a fantastic Wedge Promotion that will make any Wegdes required great value for money!

Right now you are getting £25 OFF any new Cleveland 588 Wedge! That`s a new Wedge for only £65 when you hand in any old wedge as a part exchange! We have many different lofts available to try out so you can get a feel for these clubs for chipping, lob shots, pitching or bunkers!

To book a lesson or fitting, click here  


 

Members Birthdays This Week 

9th - Nan Moss and Niall Bree

10th - Ann Russell, Douglas Sharp, Ronnie Waddell and Glen Malcolm

11th - Stuart Paterson, Alan Hunter and Marc Whyte

12th - James Thompson

13th - Eddie Deans and Graeme Smyth

15th - Colin Gray and John Corrie

16th - John McFarlane, Andrew Dickson, Ronnie Miller and Marcus Rafferty