For once it`s good to be Scottish!
Ok maybe not if you are a Rugby Fan, but what I mean is, for once the plight of the world isn`t directly effecting Scotland! That worldwide plight can be summed up in two chilling words (pardon the pun!) - `CLIMATE CHANGE!' Experts used to call it 'Global Warming' but it doesn`t take an HND never mind a PHD to realise…nowhere on the globe is getting warm!
So our immunity boils down to two things. When you`re used to miserable, another form of miserable isn`t too difficult to accept! And when the rest of the world gets thrown a planetary Vegetable shortage, a culture such as our own, can continue as if all is rosy in the garden when Walkers Tomato Crisps, a Terry`s Chocolate Orange, a Strawberry Tart, some Carrot Cake all washed down with an Appletiser already constitutes 'Your 5-A-Day.'
Yes, whilst the over production of Oil has seen a dramatic drop in its value, the cold weather shift in the Mediterranean has seen things go 'pear' shaped for fruit & veg suppliers which could lead to a 'raisin' Vegetable Stocks for those people in the 'Knorr'! At this rate it won`t be long before we`ll be buying a 24 carat Carrot! Then snowmen really will have to pay through the nose for them! You`ll end up needing an Overdraft for your Aubergine, and you`ll probably be cheaper buying a Corvette than a courgette.
Perhaps if cold temperatures and fruit & veg shortages are to become the norm the Scots are best prepared to cope if we are to believe the old adage 'You won`t miss what you`ve never had.'
A saying that unfortunately doesn`t ring true for the decision makers at Glasgow Rangers who, with not so distant glory days and success still prevalent and perhaps clouding their grasp on the present, have decided that the man that got them back to where they were desperately trying to get to has not delivered enough success for them. Fortunately they have allowed their Manager to leave without having to pay out his contract or any compensation. So you could say there is also less dough in Warburton`s these days too!
Sports Trivia - What do the Board of Glasgow Rangers and Emma Stone have in common? - They are both in La La Land! The difference? - Only one of them is collecting Trophies though! (Sorry Rangers fans, I`m only teasing! It`s just a Trump-esque size target)
But it`s all about the Film Awards these next few weeks as we build towards the Oscars. This week it was Britain`s version, the BAFTAS, which are normally a good prelude to who will be collecting the Golden Statues at the upcoming Academy Awards. La La Land seem to be sweeping the board just now with 6 BAFTA`s. I honestly didn`t think a movie about the backstory of the Yellow one in Teletubbies would be that popular, but it is and it seems to be winning more awards again, again! I guess it was because of the cameo by Noo Noo that it is 'cleaning up' at these award ceremonies!
A short trip up the coast from LA Land is another spectacular Stone, in fact this was a stunning Pebble Beach.
The iconic seaside resort on the California coastline played host to, what I can only describe as 'The Rich man's Dunhill Championship,' the AT&T National Pro-Am. The 'A' definitely stands for A-Listers, while the TnT ensures the event is dynamite - by comparison the Dunhill event held in Fife in October is more 'a B&B.'
Justin Timberlake made most of the Celeb Headlines and showed his swinging is as in tune as his singing when he partnered Justin Rose in the Pro-Am event, but it was TV Host, Carson Daly (he`s basically an American Phillip Schofield) who won the Pro-Am section of the event with his Professional Partner, Ken Duke, with an impressive 33 Under Par Team Total.
Equally impressive was the individual Pro Winner, a certain Jordan Spieth rediscovered his putting touch and romped to a 4 stroke victory with his 19 Under Par total. His 3rd Round 65 (7 Under Par) included THIRTEEN 1 Putt Greens. When he gets his eye in on the greens and putts like that it is very difficult to beat. I think we all have had golf days where you realise you`re never going to 'Out Golf' someone who is holing everything they look at!
That win was Jordan`s 9th Tour Victory making him the 2nd Youngest to reach 9 Victories on Tour at the tender age of 23 Years & 6 Months old. Any guesses who the youngest guy to do it was? I`ll give you 3 clues - he goes with Bread, Beer, Balm & Feet!
If Spieth has made a surprising return to form, back on the European Tour Fabrizio Zannotti`s win I think surprised even him. Having started the year with a run of 3 consecutive Missed Cuts, made up of 6 rounds in the mid 70`s (the lowest being 72) he arrived in Kuala Lumper with confidence as low as an Oompa Loompa kneecap. An opening 70 at least got him his first under par round of the year (for a Professional Golfer that is a significant psychological hurdle), he followed that with his first round in the sixties (69) which obviously upped the belief levels even more but at that point he was 7 strokes back and probably thinking all he could do was finish as high as possible. 5 Under in the 3rd round jumped him into the Top 10 but he was still 6 shots off top spot. However, he must`ve had 3 Weetabix for breakfast on the Sunday because he blitzed round in 63 strokes to rocket up into Top Spot. He gave 3rd Round Leader, Danny Willett, a wave on the way past as the Masters Champion lead disappeared quicker than Iceberg Lettuce at Asda.
And guess what equipment Fabrizio uses? Yep, another TaylorMade Win on Tour. I think TaylorMade might need to change it from the M-Series to the W-Series.
Click here to watch the pro's tell you about their first time!
I know I 'drone' on about how good these products are but why don`t you have a look at how Sergio deals with all that 'droning'...
Click here to watch.
Remember we have the following Fitting Days already booked in for early season:
TaylorMade Fitting Day
Friday, 7 April - 2pm until 4pm
Callaway Fitting Day
Wednesday, 31 May - 2pm until 4pm
To Book a 30 Minute Fitting Appointment - Click Here
You can see that my constant message to you guys is about the correlation between correctly fitting equipment and improvement. So whilst I`ve always been looking out for better ways to get the correct equipment in your hands…I`m now doing the same for your feet.
FootJoy, the top golf shoe manufacturer for many years, have reported that in their findings over 70% of Golfers have been (and are) wearing the wrong size shoes. This could either be the wrong length or the wrong width (and even in some cases, BOTH.) With these findings FootJoy not only have started offering many more width combinations for the customer, but they have also recently put a lot of emphasis on their 'Fitting Process.'
This is something that I will be focusing on when it comes to Shoe Sales in the Pro Shop (That nearly had me launching into 'she sells sea shells on the sea shore!') When the new shoe Range arrives for the Summer Season (End Feb - Beginning Mar) we will have created a new area for the Shoes and will be encouraging everyone to be properly measured first as the starting point.
Take a look at the FootJoy Fitting Process and you might find that the look of your old/current golf shoes suggests that you are wearing the wrong size? Many people who require a wider shoe typically have gone for a bigger size rather than a wider fit, whilst many people with a long foot arch are wearing shoes that are actually too small.
Click here to see how the FootJoy Fitting Process works.
A quick check on the Fitting Brannock will soon let you know exactly the size and perhaps even the style that is best for your feet.
In this next bit I might be encouraging you to go for a pair of wedges, don`t worry I`m not talking about high heeled cork soled summer shoes. No, the quest for the ideal fit also extends into the 'Scoring Clubs' in your set too. And my ability to get you guys using the best tools just got a little stronger thanks to a great little invention from those clever chaps at Cleveland.
I have just taken delivery of their 'Wedge Analyser' - This is a bona fide pitching club that has been fitted with a shaft mounted sensor. When you hit pitch, chip or bunker shots with it, the sensor sends your swing characteristic information to an app that not only shows how you attack the ball but what the best degree of 'bounce' on the sole you would benefit from.
'BOUNCE' - The degree of angle that the sole of the club sits below the leading edge.
The wrong 'Bounce' with the wrong swing will lead to consistently poor or inconsistent results. Once our Short Game Practice Area re-opens I can`t wait to see this in action.
For more details or to book a Fitting - Click Here
So that`s better grip on your feet, and better grip on your pitches…how about some better grip on your…GRIPS?
If you're thinking 'now's the time to get back into the swing of things before the season starts' then why not get your favourite Practice club re-gripped for FREE.
Choose any of the selected Golf Pride Grips In Store and we will re-grip your 7-Iron with both the Grip & Fitting FREE OF CHARGE.
This Saturday see us get to the final week of Winter League Round Robin Matches…On Schedule, Woo Hoo.
Click Here to view the standings with that crucial final series of matches to be played.
The course has been up and down like a Rollercoaster and mirrored the fluctuation in the weather. Peaking obviously with the Full summer Course for some days, and dipping as low as Course Closed on others. We also spent a few days somewhere in between on Winter Course Conditions.
I mentioned a few weeks ago that Neil was losing one of his Team with jack taking up a new career opportunity in Denmark. This has obviously opened up a Vacancy here at Portlethen so if you know of anybody with the Qualifications required who might be interested here is a link to the Clubs Greenkeeper Vacancy advertisement.
Lastly, one of our Members, Johnny Russell and his Fiancé are raising money for a good cause.
One of their initiatives is a Golf Prize Draw with the Top Prize of a Customised Driver of your choice and a separate Draw for a Pair of Shoes of your choice.
Tickets are £15 for the Driver Draw & £5 for the Shoe Draw. You have until Tuesday, 21 February to buy your tickets.
Click here to view the poster.
You can sign up for a Ticket in the Professional Shop or on Johnny`s PayPal: j.russell753@btinternet.com
