GOT…..TO……RESIST……!
TRY…..TO…..FIGHT……THE……OBVIOUS……URGE!.....CAN`T…….SAY…….WHAT`S…..IN…..MY…..HEAD!
ENG….LAND…..OUT…..AND……TOO…..MANY…..JOKES…..!!!!! "THEY THINK IT`S ALL OVER!! It is now!"
Everybody sing! (To the tune of Baddiel & Skinners 3 Lions) "They`re coming home, they`re coming home, they`re coming…….."
Once again at a major tournament the "Best League in the World" (self proclaimed!?) proved that it is clearly the foreign talent that makes the English Premiership worthy (if at all!?) of that accolade! Especially given that it was 2 players who have played in that league recently that were England`s undoing! So it`s not as if messers Balotelli (Italy) and Suarez (Uruguay) were "surprise packages" to the England players and management. I hear that after Steven Gerrard`s unintentional flick on against Uruguay that gave Club Team mate Luis Suarez a through ball that he could get his teeth into (didn`t realized he liked eating Italian as much!!) that turned out to be the winning goal, Stevie G phoned Mario Balotelli up and asked if he could borrow his "Why Always Me!!?" T-Shirt!
It baffles me why Englands failings come as a surprise to everyone, especially the media and pundits! Let`s think about it rationally, despite some moderate success these last few years in the Champions League and Europa Cup (again largely due to the influence of Foreign players like Ronaldo, Van Da Sar, Cech, Drogba, Torres, etc) the English Clubs are constantly being exposed and outplayed both technically and tactically. Yet, because the domestic league is "exciting" (aka: everyone tries really hard and the games are played at a million miles an hour!) the media seem to think that the National Team should be a great side! Remember that much of the leagues excitement is supplied by the foreign talent the Clubs import in the first place!
And what about poor Rooney! He must be on the verge of pulling his new hair back out! He can`t seem to do right for doing wrong! I think a lot of people getting England`s best player mixed up with "Roy of the Rovers!". This is the showcase of the world's best players……in every position! Can anyone say Ronaldo has set the tournament alight!? Messi has scored 2 goals as the Argentineans talisman and as an England forward Rooney has scored once when he was played through the middle and created another (from the left) when he was played on the left! Not sure what more he was meant to do!? If his fellow teammates did their jobs as efficiently then it might be a different story!? Midfielders that can pass to someone in the same colour shirt as them, and defenders who can stop someone dressed differently from shooting at their goalie, and goalkeepers that keep the ball out the net instead of picking it out the net!
So much for Joe Hart being "Head & Shoulders" above the other goalies!! For many of the English squad that travelled to Rio all they`ve been able to do is "Watch & Go!" I`m sure a lot of them are thinking "Fructis" I`m off!
Another thing that has been blatantly obvious during the World Cup coverage that the foreigners are better than us Brits at is…..wait for it……..speaking English! Henry, Seedorf, Viera, Cannevaro….(actually, no I can`t understand a word Cannevaro is saying!) but the other 3 are running verbal rings around the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Ian Wright when it comes to making a point. Not only making a point but articulating it in a way where the statement has structure and grammar. I honestly believe that "Wio and Wighty!" think grammar is their dads mum! I also think it was cruel for ITV and the BBC to expose Neil Lennon and Gordon Strachan to the searing temperatures of Brazil! Perching those 2 redheads in the sun is like keeping your grenades warm in the oven!! Although it wasn`t all bad for wee Strachan, apparently when he was out on Copacabana beach a local saw his big hooter and mistook him for Barry Manilow! However when Gordon lay down to do a bit of sunbathing he looked more like a sundial!!
Sundials are not exactly an integral part of the Scottish landscape but recently we`ve been treated to some excellent weather. Maybe it`s been too good for golf and you`ve all fled to the seaside because it has been particularly quiet around the Club despite the upturn in weather! However, the welcome rays have certainly put some added shine to the 2 big trophies being played for this and last weekend! Yes it`s Championship time with both the Club Championship title and Earn Salver knock out stages taking place.
Some late withdrawals from both competitions tainted the opening round a little which saw several people advance to the next round without having to hit a shot but of the matches that did go ahead here are the results. If you want to sample a bit of the action take a look at my "Road To The Finals" video below!
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1:
Match 1 - Kevin McAllister W/O
Match 2 - Stephen Smith WON v Andrew Crusher
Match 3 - David Donnelly W/O
Match 4 - Bill Jenkins WON v Callum Taggart
Match 5 - Frank Taggart WON v Rob Crusher
Match 6 - Graeme Smyth WON v Colin Farquhar
Match 7 - Paul Conacher v Gavin Campbell WON
Match 8 - Barry Keenan v Austen McDowall WON
Quarterfinals:
Match 1 - Kevin McAllister v Stephen Smith WON
Match 2 - David Donnelly v Bill Jenkins WON
Match 3 - Frank Taggart v Graeme Smyth WON
Match 4 - Gavin Campbell v Austen McDowall WON
EARN SALVER
Quarterfinals:
Match 1 - Iain Wilkie v Allan Crooks WON
Match 2 - Greg Walker W/O
Match 3 - David Mair v Steven Murray WON
Match 4 - Stephen Cunningham W/O
Good luck to the guys this weekend. All the Semifinals take place this Saturday 28th with the Championship and Earn Salver 36 Hole finals on Sunday 29th. I know the guys really appreciate when you come out and support them so it would be great to see as many of you as possible out cheering them on!
Again with no Saturday strokeplay competition that meant Thursday`s Medal is the only results to bring you this week. Doug Sharp 75(9) - 66 lead the way but it was Kevin McAllister 75(6) - 69 was the lucky winner as Doug wasn`t in the Sweep so Kevin`s score was good enough to take the loot! Derek Gardiner 76(7) - 69 also benefited from this by getting 2nd Sweep and so too did Ross Hunter 82(12) - 70 with 3rd.
Division 2 was a little more cut and dried with Sam Anderson 88(22) - 66 claiming both top spot and top sweep! Marcus Rafferty 90(21) - 69 was a distant 2nd with Gordon Hamilton 86(17) - 69 being pushed into 3rd on the countback.
Unfortunately getting pushed back a place is fate that befell the Junior Fleming Watson Team this week! Having led from the front all campaign the boys stumbled right at the final hurdle with a draw and then a disappointing defeat in their last game which means it`s likely Haggs Castle will leap frog them into 1st. The gents Brand Putter have the ignominy of a Wooden Spoon decider away to our neighbours East Ren however on a brighter note in the reverse fixture the Over 50`s FIT League Team can clinch the title with a 3-0 home win (although any win might also be enough depending on other results!)
This illustrates the fine margins between success and failure in golf! It has been said it is a game of fractions and that is why the slightest little thing can make the difference! Look at last weeks US Womens Open. Michelle Wie claimed the first womens Major of her career. That success was built largely on the fact that for 72 holes on the fast greens of Pinehurst No:2 she never 3 putted once! And what is she accrediting that to!? A slight and simple tweak to the lie angle of her putter! Never mind the fact that her putting stance looks more like she is auditioning to be the back end of a pantomime horse, she flattened the lie angle of her putter to suit that stance better and straight away she felt more comfortable with the club which gave her confidence.
For many of you the lie angle of your irons could be off by only 1 or 2 degrees but that can have a huge influence over the direction and shape of your shots. So too can the centeredness of your strike! If you miss the centre of your club even slightly not only do you lose ball speed (distance) but it hugely effects face angle (where the club points at impact) and spin (how the ball travels through the air)
One of the biggest factors in missing the centre of the clubface is shaft length, especially in drivers but also in irons. Do you know if you are hitting the middle of the club often enough!? Do you know if your clubs are the correct lie angle for your swing!? Do you know if they are the correct length for your height & swing!? If the answer is "NO" to any of them then that is where I can help! Do you want to hit it more fairways and greens with longer drives and using less club!? If the answer to that is "YES!" then I can help. Simply book in for a Performance Analysis and I will assess both your swing and suitability of your clubs, recommending whatever adjustments need to be made to either your technique or technology! Click Here to book your session.
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
It`s the certainty and assurance over those aspects that breed confidence. So too does certainty over just simply knowing exactly how far you have to go, rather than thinking you know how far to go. The best golfers in the world rely on exact yardages so they can be pin point with club choice, but also eliminate risk! Knowing how far to carry front greenside bunkers, distances to lay up short of fairway hazards, how far they need to advance a ball from trouble so they leave their favorite wedge distance, fairway run outs and back of the green distances. That is why these guys employ Caddies but whilst you don`t have that luxury you can certainly get something that can do all that but perhaps not carry your clubs!
Golfbuddy have had some of the best GPS Distance Devices available over these last few years and now their range has just got even better with the new PT4 handheld unit. This looks and works like the very best of smartphones with all the features and accuracy you need to be fearless and accurate with your approach shots! And with their new WT4 watch soon to hit the market place too they really have some great kit to help you "Dial In" your game.
Also in store we still have some amazing savings on some fantastic products.
The adidas adizero one shoe is not only reduced to an incredible £89 but I am also throwing in a Limited Edition adizero one cap absolutely FREE!
Also for the remainder 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!
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
To book, click here now.
Members Birthdays This Week
28th - Joseph Harkins, Mark McLennan and Alexander Williamson
29th - Ian Irvine, Agnes Lottimer, Michael McEvinney and Anjum Baig
30th - Ryan Gavigan
1st - John Stirling and Colin Wilkie
2nd - Lesley Little, Matthew Smith and Robert Young
3rd - Margaret Connell
4th - Michael Smith
