After Saturday night I`ve come to the conclusion that there is such a thing as too much choice!!

Here was the dilemma. US Open coverage started at 5pm with the leaders teeing off around about 8pm (Those 3 hours gave Sky Sports enough time for messers Montgomerie, Harmon and Critchley to waffle and pontificate - or was it pontificate and waffle!? -, Tim Barter to have a good old play with his iPad/Etch-A-Sketch, Howard Clark to prove once again that he`s as good as useless at doing what Ken Brown makes look entertainingly effortless, and the broadcasters to show 6 golf shots - 3 of which were from Friday! Hmmm, "Live" golf eh!!?) Whilst over on the peasants channels we had the 'fitba'!! (Who`s pre-action buildup is every bit as mind numbing as the gowf!)

I wonder how short the programs and coverage of sport we actually be if they only showed the action!? Can you imagine if all "entertainment" was like this!? A one hour intro before the cinema talking about what might happen in the film, looking at previous films with the same actors for clues how they might act in this one!? Or interviews with the chef before he cooks your meal in a restaurant to establish what his "game plan" and tactics will be so he doesn`t burn it!?

Anyway, just so I don`t become too much of a hypocrite with this off tangent rant, I`ll get back to trying to make my point (if I even had one in the first place or is this all just linguistic garnish in an attempt to stuff you so full of bread and olives that you get to the end satisfied before you even realize that there wasn`t even a main course!)

So there I was eagerly poised on my couch ready for my sporty extravaganza! Well, when I use the word "poised" I obviously mean in the same way a walrus lumbered over a rock in the sun is poised! The dilemma was (you see I haven`t forgotten why I started this ramble!) do I watch the football in it`s entirety, or stick with the golf!? There was option "C" which would involve carefully maneuvering between the 2 channels systematically in a way that would allow me to observe the significant action and keep pace with the result!

I however chose hidden option "D" which on the face of it contained exactly the same approach as Option C but was riddled with the snooze virus! The upshot was I would jolt from my slavering slumber at various intervals only to flick to the other channel to find out I`d missed a goal, then flick back to see I`d missed a birdie (or bogey as was more the case on Saturdays coverage) so in a nutshell I probably managed to miss everything significant in both the golf and football and had dozed that much that when it eventually was time for "beddybies" I was more hyper than a toddler on sherbet! The irony was that I`d seen as much golf trying to watch the leaders coverage as they had shown in the "Live-but-more-talking-than-showing" coverage.

And by the look of the football result England had fallen asleep a few times against Italy too!! Germany however showed the same ruthless efficiency against Portugal that their young golfing prodigy, Martin Kaymer, oozed from start to finish on his way to a wire-to-wire victory in the US Open to become the first Continental European to win golf`s 2nd Major of the season. Kaymer clearly likes winning in America as he has now claimed 2 Majors (he also won the USPGA) and the Players Championship (golf`s unofficial 5th Major) and also was the player who broke American hearts by holing that putt at Medinah which meant Europe kept the Ryder Cup. So I`m wondering, do the Americans like him as much as he likes their country!?

There is no question holing that putt in the Ryder Cup totally turned around Kaymer`s fortunes! He is on record as saying he didn`t feel that he deserved to be on that team prior to that point with his form and confidence at a low ebb. That form and confidence has been completely turned on its head now that's for sure! Martin is a stick on for Gleneagles in September and will be one of THE most important players this time round that is for sure!

So Martin Kaymer is going to be at Gleneagles for the Ryder Cup this September, the question is "Are You!?"

If you are not but you`d like to be then I am offering 3 lucky people the chance to join me as my guest at this once in a lifetime occasion.

I have Tickets for myself and a guest for all 3 Practice Days and the Opening Ceremony and I`m offering you guys the chance to be my guest on one of those 3 days. This will be an all expenses paid day out at Gleneagles and includes transport to and from the event. There are 2 ways to get involved which are detailed below:

RYDER CUP PRIZE DRAW

Firstly, Tickets will soon be on sale to get your name put in the Draw - These will cost £10 each and you can purchase as many as you like!

The second chance to get you name in the draw will come if you by any piece of clothing or outerwear from my Ryder Cup Collection! (Caps & Beanies do not qualify) I will soon have a small collection available in store, but as a stockiest of Glenmuir (The Official Uniform Supplier to the European Ryder Cup Team) I have access to ANY product from their Clothing Range (Ladies & Gents) which can be crested with the Official Ryder Cup/Gleneagles Logo.

Below are links to both Glenmuir`s Ryder Cup Fanware and 2014 Brochures. Simply click on the icon, find a garment you like, tell me the style name, size & colour and it will be ordered for you with the Ryder Cup Logo on it. So not only will you get a great piece of memorabilia from The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles but you might just very well get a day out at that very competition so you can wear your new piece of kit!! 

To give you a feel for what you could be part of click the links below and check out the short promotional video. 

Click here for Glenmuir 2014 Ryder Cup Fanwear

Click here for Glenmuir Spring Summer Collection

And remember there is ALWAYS a lucky winner, but you have to be in it to win it! Just ask John Hopkins!

John was the lucky benefactor of both Martin Kaymers good play at Pinehurst and his own jammie fingers for picking out the envelope with Kaymer`s group in it!! Of course I`m talking about my US Open Sweepstake.

Here are the people with the "Sixth Sense" (No, I don`t mean they can see dead people!)

1st - John Hopkins (Martin Kaymer) - £80 Shop Credit
2nd = Neil Carruthers (Ricky Fowler) - £50 Shop Credit 
3rd = John Carroll (Eric Compton) - £50 Shop Credit

Best 3 Ball Aggregate (All 3 Players need to make the Cut!) - Steven Warner (Dustin Johnson/Jimmy Walker/Victor Dubuisson +10) - £20 Shop Credit 
Low Amateur - Margot McLean (Matthew Fitzpatrick) - £20 Shop Credit
Dead Last After 72 holes - Atta Lone (Toru Tanigutchi) - £20 Shop Credit

 

There was probably only one man who was luckier than John at that weekend and that was Roddy Fawbert! Roddy used to be a Member but was back as a guest with his brother Brett for Member & Guest Day. Not only did his local knowledge pay off on the golf course as the Fawbert Boys scooped top spot in the Member & Guest Competition but Roddy also won £33 in the Bonus Ball Draw!

Probably what made Saturday even sweeter for Brett & Roddy was the pipped their best friends Rab Cochrane & Brian Miller to the title by 1 stableford point, and they were playing in the same group, and Roddy holed a long putt at the 18th to beat them!!!

Here are the Prize Results in full:

MEMBER & GUEST DAY

1ST: Brett Fawbert & Roddy Fawbert - 46 points 
2nd: Rab Cochrane & Brian Miller - 45 Points 
3rd: Ken Soutar & A Rennie - 42 Points BIH 
4th: Phil Sherwood & Andy Crosbie - 42 Points 
5th: Bill MacMillan & Ross MacMillan - 42 points 
6th: Graeme Smyth & A Searil - 40 Points 

    

With the Member & Guest Day taking place on Saturday that meant the only strokeplay action was on Thursday with Andy Hutton 83(14) - 69 leading the way in Div 1 from Stephen Smith 76(6) - 70 and Barry Keenan 77(6) - 71.

Division 2 saw Craig Walker 82(15) - 67 post the low round of the day, edging out Darren Moss 90(22) - 68 by a stroke. 2 shots further back was Tony MacPherson 89(19) - 70. 

  

The next few weekends sees the Matchplay take centre stage with both the Club Championship and Earn Salver Knockout stages starting this Saturday.

Here are the match ups:

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

9.30am - David Sibbald v Kevin McAllister 
9.40am - Stephen Smith v Andrew Crusher 
9.50am - David Donnelly W/O 
10.00am - Bill Jenkins v Callum Taggart 
10.10am - Frank Taggart v Rob Crusher 
10.20am - Graeme Smyth v Colin Farquhar 
10.30am - Paul Conacher v Gavin Campbell 
10.40am - Barry Keenan v Austen McDowall

EARN SALVER

10.50am - Iain Wilkie v Allan Crooks 
11.00am - Greg Walker W/O 
11.10am - David Mair v Steven Murray 
11.20am - Martin Glancey v Stephen Cunningham

Good luck to all the players!

On the subject of matchplay the Leagues are drawing to a close. The gents Team are starting to find a little bit of form a little too late but a good home win over Whitecraigs 5-3 has put the cat amongst the pigeons at the top of the league! Unfortunately the same happened for our Junior Fleming Watson Team who could only muster a 3-3 away at Cowglen. Now the league goes to the final match and only a win away at Whitecraigs will do to ensure the boys are crowned Champions!! Stick in boys, you`ve proved you`re all good enough to win against any opposition on any course!

  

I`m going to take you back to the US Open for a minute and have a look at a few lessons that can be taken from that tournament. Yes these guys still seem to play a game that is a million miles from the one we are familiar with! Yes it is hard to comprehend 540Yard Par 4`s! Yes, it is ridiculous when 9 Irons being hit from 180Yards. Most of the time these uber talented players play shots we can only dream of, shots you would just NEVER BE ABLE to play. But every so often they play shots you NEVER PLAY but are ABLE to!

There is no question that one of the reasons Martin Kaymer was so emphatic in his win was because of his decision (and ability) to use his putter from tricky situations off the green. Perhaps in a bounce game he might have grabbed for the lob wedge every time and tried to float one up, get some check spin and stop it impressively by the hole! Does he have that ability!? I`m pretty sure he does, but this was an important tournament so what he and many of the guys did was choose the higher percentage/lower risk shot! They knew that at times bogey wasn`t a bad score. This is something that I think gets lost on the handicap golfer! It`s about making the lowest score that you CAN, not the lowest score that you`d LIKE to. I see and hear a lot of the time that the most lofted club in the bag is the only club that people chip with regardless of the nature of the shot or the risk involved. So next time you are faced with a shot from off the green that could be run on instead of flighted why don't you try a couple of balls with your putter, lofted fairway wood or hybrid and see what the risk to reward ratio is.

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.

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.  

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.


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

Master Kaymer certainly used his PING putter to good effect but his long game wasn`t too shabby either. His driving was near flawless all week as were his crisp iron shots. He has the TaylorMade family to thank for that.

Kaymer was using TaylorMade's SLDR Driver that I mentioned heavily at the start of this season. He first put the SLDR driver into play at the 2013 Open Championship and has kept it in the bag ever since. Currently the No. 1 played Driver model on the PGA & European Tour, the SLDR is engineered with a remarkable low and forward center of gravity (CG) placement which results in dramatically reduced spin rates.

Known for rarely making equipment changes, Kaymer also added the new Tour Preferred MC irons (that our very own Past Captain Colin Farquhar also uses) to his bag at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February. Prior to the U.S. Open Championship, Kaymer had a Tour Preferred 3-iron de-lofted to a 2-iron for low trajectory shots and maximum roll on Pinehurst's fast fairways. His win is yet another for the revolutionary speed pocket technology found in TaylorMade's Tour Preferred irons.

In Kaymer's Championship Bag:

Driver: SLDR 460 (9.5*) 
Fairway: SLDR (14.0*) 
Irons: Tour Preferred MC (2014) 3-PW; Tour Preferred 3-iron (bent to 2-iron loft) 
Wedges: xFT (54* & 58*) 
Ball: Lethal

TaylorMade also had 55 drivers (35% of field) in play at Pinehurst, staking claim to the #1 Driver brand at the U.S. Open for the 14th consecutive year.

So with stats and recommendations like that you`d be silly not to take notice! And right now there is no better time to look at the TaylorMade range for some amazing offers!

For the month of June purchase any driver, fairway or hybrid from the SLDR or JetSpeed Family and you will be entered into a draw with a 1 in 5 chance of winning a £50 credit onto your shops account. All TaylorMade purchases have a 30 day money back guarantee. Items must be paid in full at point of purchase. Once 5 items have been purchased, a draw will be made and the lucky winner notified.

I am also offering some amazing added value on the TaylorMade Speedblade Iron as well. Buy any 7 Iron set you will receive a Standbag worth £119 absolutely FREE! Plus this all comes with FREE Flightscope Fitting! If you are interested in any of the above offers just click here.

I also have available to you, the very limited SLDR Iron! These are an exclusive iron only available from select accounts. I have been selected to promote these irons and the basis of our excellent Fitting facility in my SW:ING Studio! These irons can also be trialed first. They really are a fantastic looking club combining a classic finish, performance encouraging appearance with unbelievable forgiveness and feel! If you are curios and would like to learn more just click here. 

 

 

But if TaylorMade is literally "not your bag!" then perhaps Callaway can offer the sort of performance to value ratio you are looking for!?

If you buy an X2 Hot Driver (£249) you will receive a matching Hybrid (worth £149) absolutely FREE! If you buy a 7 Club Set of Irons (4-PW = £499) and you will not only receive a FREE Standbag (worth £89) AND a FREE Sandwedge (worth £70) but I will also ensure you get the absolute best out of those clubs by throwing in a FREE Fitting & FREE Lesson (worth £60)

So for a top to toe Set of Custom Fitted Callaway X2 Hot Clubs with Bag and Instruction all you need to pay is £748!!!! (With a Saving of £368!!!)

That`s not much to pay for Longer Drives, More Greens Hit and Lower Scores! I know it sounds "X2 Good To Be True!" 

What`s even better about all these deals is that you can even test drive everything (Woods, Hybrids & Irons) for FREE first on YOUR Golf Course! 


 

DRIVER FITTING 

Specification Fitting & Set Up Only (Make & Model already established) FREE 
*Includes Flightscope Radar Fitting - 30 Minutes 

Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £30 
*Includes Flightscope Radar Fitting, Analyse current Driver, Trial New Driver options, custom fit to players Spec. - 60 Minutes (£15 Comes off purchase price - £15 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase) 

IRON FITTING 

Specification Fitting & Set Up Only (Make & Model already established) FREE 
*Includes Flightscope Radar Fitting - 30 Minutes 

Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £30 
*Includes Flightscope Radar Fitting, Analyse current Irons, Trial New Iron options, custom fit to players Spec. - 60 Minutes (£15 Comes off purchase price - £15 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase) 

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) 

FULL BAG FITTING 

Specification Fitting & Set Up Only (Make & Model already established) - £30 
*Includes Flightscope Radar & Tomi Putting Analyser Fitting - 60 Minutes
 (£15 Comes off purchase price - £15 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase) 

Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £50   £50  
*Includes Tomi Putting Analyser Fitting, Analyse current Putter, Trial New Putter options, custom fit to players Spec. - 120 Minutes (£30 Comes off purchase price - £20 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase)

To book a lesson or fitting, click here 

 
Some more dates for your diary:

The Eastwood Seniors Open for all gents Over 55 is being held on Thursday 3rd July this year and there are spaces available. It is a £10 Entry which includes a Whiskey Miniature and an Eastwood Ball. The Prize Money is great which is split over many different Age categories. Entries can be made with Jackie in the Office. (eastwood02@btconnect.com)

On the topic of Open`s the Ladies Open Tri-Am is another that is looming quickly. They are holding that competition on Tuesday 5th August an the aforementioned Tri-Am format. Team entry is £30 and entries for that can be made to Carol Anderson (carol.f.anderson@btinternet.com - 07733 112818)

Remember you can keep up to speed with all Shop, Course and Club news by following me on either Facebook or Twitter. Simply follow the links below.

 

Members Birthdays This Week 

21st - Calum McMillan

22nd - Drew Wright, Iain G Hutcheon and Anthony Gray

23rd - Gladys Duncan, Mae McIntyre and John Waterson

24th - David Langley,Neil Connelly and Grant Elliott

25th - Patrick Connelly and Mervyn Davies

26th - Graham Hutcheon, David Craig, Ryan Wilson, Dave King, Allan Kinloch and Christopher Magee

27th - Kenneth J Todd and Luke Halpin