10-10-17

October 10th 2017!

That was my last round of Golf! But you know what they say 'You're only as good as your last game!'...so the fact that I finished 1st is something to remind you of...although the fact that I was only 1 of a 4 Man Winning Team is something we'll gloss over...oh look a GOLD COIN!

So Golf has been in pretty short supply since that glorious autumn day at Trump Links, but I can tell you about some other games I'm considering turning Pro at!

Which is exactly the same Mantra that I'm hoping to convey to you guys!

Every aspect of what we do and the products we will be showcasing will come with that same Service Promise - where our priority will be to 'Make Sure It Fits'

And we don`t just want to provide ‘A Service’ – We want to ‘Provide Service’

When it comes to the Tools of the Trade – ‘We DON’T SELL Equipment – We SELL IMPROVEMENT!’ – If I can get you a better result WITHOUT Selling you new Clubs I will! If new Technology will help then I will find you the best, most cost effective, version of that Technology.

CLUB FITTING WALL

Drivers/Fairways/Hybrids – Not only do we provide one of the most comprehensive Fitting Services at an On Course Facility. From the extensive range of Fitting Products to the 'Best In The Business' Fitting Launch Monitor, but when coupled with my wealth of experience my desire to make sure you play at your potential and enjoy the game to the max that is my Service Pledge to you that you won`t get from any faceless Online Retailer or any High Street Retailer.

If you can`t put a face to the name or a name to the face then you certainly can`t claim to ‘know or care about that person or the outcome of their transaction’

Irons - Like the Wood proposition we boast an unrivalled Trial & Fitting Proposition. On top of the same Fitting Process & Pledge you also have the option to ‘Test Drive’ the whole Set of Irons, not just on Green Grass, but YOUR Green Grass – the very Course you play week in and week out.

Wedges – The Clubs that probably need Trialled & Fitted the most are often the ones that aren`t. Not only do we offer every Loft Option in 6 of the top Wedge Brands for you to ‘Get Dirty’; whether that be in an On Course Trial, from the Bunkers or all situations around the Short game Area, but we also provide a Comprehensive Wedge Custom Fit Session which incorporates a detailed analysis of your Pitching Technique using a combination of a Shaft Mounted Wedge Swing Analyser and the GC Quad Club/Ball Analysis. All this allows us to determine suitable Lofts for Distance Gapping, the correct Bounce Angle to suit your delivery technique and the best Lie & Length configuration to control your Strike & Direction.

Putters – An area that I`m looking to significantly improve on this Season is my Putter Fitting Service. It`s THE most important Club in any Golfers Bag and getting the best one for your Technique goes a huge way to making you a better Putter. Much of the Shop Re-Jig is to try and create a suitable area to allow me to offer a better Putter & Stroke Analysis service that will enhance both Putting Lessons and Putter Fitting. Watch this space!

SHOE FITTING WALL

Even the equipment we wear plays a huge part in how we perform. So it`s important that again we 'Make Sure It Fits'

This starts from the ground up.

FootJoy studies have shown that over 70% of Golfers are wearing the wrong size Shoes! Leading to a potential Power loss of up to 26%! Ill-Fitting shoes also lead to sore feet and a shorter lifespan of the shoe, so when you are spending money on something that you need to be comfortable and supported in for approximately 4 Hours & 5 Miles you`d want to make sure it fits.

My newly created Shoe Fitting Station allows us to do just that for you. We measure your Feet to find the correct Size & Width, allow you to try that measurement of Shoe on (We have 7 thru to 11 including half sizes in both Medium & Wide Fitting!) then you simply choose the Style of Shoe you want.

If we have it in our range of Stock then great, if not we will have it Ordered and In Store within approximately 2 Days (Stock Levels Permitting).

Possibly one of the most significant and worthwhile ‘Changes In Store’ that I`ll be making this Season is in the shape of my new Member of Staff. With Kamran making the jump to playing Full Time and Aileen also moving on I had a big hole to fill.

Whilst it created a challenge I also saw it as a good opportunity too. So I`m very excited to announce that from March 1st we will have Ross Anderson joining the Professional Staff Team as ‘Head Of Junior Development’

Ross comes to us from the nearby Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, Inchmarlo, and brings a great deal of experience with him too. He is a Qualified PGA Professional with a good Teaching background where has focussed on Junior Development, an area he will continue to help grow and build on here at Portlethen working alongside and supporting the current Junior Development Team & Network. On top of that I know he will be a terrific asset to my business and the services we provide for the Members.

One aspect of Ross`s credentials that will be a fabulous asset to the Club and a great addition to our Teaching/Performance Portfolio is his TPI Qualification.

TPI – Titleist Performance Institute

This qualification specialises in the ability to assess the Physical Profile of a Person to establish their range of movement, mobility and motion relative to their golf technique. This is extremely important when it comes to ‘Improving’. For example, during a Lesson you will be encouraged to make different movements or assume different positions, however if you`re ‘mind is willing but your body is not able’ then you can try as hard as you like but your physical limitation will restrict your ability to change.

Once Ross starts we intend to do an ‘Evening With’ to introduce Ross and the benefits of TPI Physical Profiling, so again stay tuned for that. In the meantime Ross will be joining the Team on March 1st so I`m sure you will all make him feel very welcome and right at home here at Portlethen.

Feeling right at home seemed to sum up how comfortable this week`s European Tour Winner was with the format he was playing in. The ISPS Handa World Super 6 went from 3 Rounds of Strokeplay to 6 Hole Knockout Matchplay. The last guy to squeak through the Strokeplay stage to make the Matchplay was Kiredech Aphibarnrat. And he only made it through thanks to winning a straight head to head Playoff too!

He then proceeded to cruise all the way through the Matchplay Rounds before stitching up James Nitties in the Final. It`s fair to say, that having also won the Paul Lawrie Matchplay event that was held at nearby Murcar Links a few years ago, that big Kiradech loves the Matchplay format! I think it`s also fair to say that judging by his physique, that he also loves Matchplay more than Salad!

Over Stateside there was something magical happening when Harry`s American Cousin, Ted Potter Jnr triumphed in the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Thanks to some wizardly wedge play he held off the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Severus Snape and a host of Horcrux`s to win his first Tour Title since 2011 which curiously was the same year cousin Harry finally defeated Lord Voldemort!

Ted`s career stalled largely because of a horror injury when he broke his ankle in a freak flip-flop fail. But hopefully his win at Pebble Beach turns out to be the biggest break of his career!?

We are still suffering from our own ‘Cold Snap’ here at Portlethen and that was amplified considerably on Sunday with a gale force crosswind that was so cold & sharp it cut you in two quicker than Paul Daniels & Debbie McGhee at a Royal Variety Performance!

Those conditions didn`t make for the most conducive ‘Launch Event’ as 11 intrepid souls braved the elements to support and take part in my ’10 Yard Challenge’ - Where we were showcasing the new Callaway Golf Europe Rogue and TaylorMade Golf M3 & M4 Products.

It’s a shame that the icy gale force winds caused the Golfers to adopt their own ‘Twist Face’ as they tried to overcome the wrong kind of ‘Sub Zero’ exposure! Fortunately the products did deliver some ‘Hot Drives’, but I was in a generous mood and gave everyone who participated a sleeve of 3 Balls (Chrome Soft or TP5)...so at least that made up for the couple these guys probably got frozen off!

I don`t feel the temperatures, wind direction & strength allowed the Products to flourish but thanks once again for all those who came to support.