Stuart Wilson

Hello Golfers,

With last weeks ‘Dress Rehearsal’ Match in Paris going so well it was time for the ‘MAIN EVENT!’

Pro's news

The Course set up was clearly even more intimidating than Le Golf National because not one single American turned up! But we did have a Columbian!! Sprinkle in an Englishman, an Elginite and a Huntly Loon then it most certainly was an International affair!

I am of course talking about the sporting event that even eclipsed the post-fight McGregor-Khabib stramash for entertainment – The CAFE2U Sponsored CAPPRO CUP!

The Season long Qualifying Campaign culminated in 24 Members representing 2 Teams in 6 Greensomes Matches, 6 Fourball Matches and 12 Singles Matches all for the sake of Fun, Friendship and some Bragging Rights!

Day 1 started early but not so bright, with the final stages of Set Up taking place in the dark at 6.30am. All in preparation for the warriors arriving for Breakfast at 7am. Like any event arranged for October the weather is the most unpredictable (uncontrollable!) part and for Day 1 we got lucky! Sunny, cool…but most importantly DRY!

After the Official Team Photos Game 1 got underway and fittingly it was the reigning Club Champion, Ben Murray who lead the Matches out. Partnered with Donald Smith and representing the Captains Team they took on my Professional Team pairing of Nick Mackie & Stephen Cook. In the Greensomes Format Ben & Donald combine well to get the Captain`s Team off to the ideal start taking the first point of the Match.

It was however to be a false dawn as my Professionals Team roared back ‘European Style’ claiming the next 5 Matches. Even in a playing capacity Captain Dave Fleming couldn`t inspire his troops, and in Game 2 he and Peter Griffiths went down to my duo of Jack Douglas & Michael Edwards! A Point that meant a great deal to Michael as this was his 4th Cappro Cup in a row (Only he and Stephen Cook have qualified to play in every match here at Portlethen) and his first full point and WIN!

Game 3 saw the Professional Pair of Imran Sheikh & Drew Tremain get the better of Bruce Harrold & Gary Cruickshank to get the Professional Team ahead on points, a position we were never to look back from! The Sea of Silver on the Leaderboard continued to flow when Craig Henderson & Willie Somers in Game 4 notched another win for the Professionals Team when they triumphed over Stuart McLaughlin & Alan Fulton.

In Game 5 the Captains Team suffered the same fate when Kevin Neish & Paul Dallas made light work of Ale Correa & Simon Jolly and in Game 6 the prospects of Captains Team striking Gold were in vein, because no matter how hard they tried the Professional`s Team would always be Golder, Denis Golder!! Who, along with his partner that weekend, Scott Marshall gave out a good panning to John Ryrie & Don Keith.

Score at Lunch: Captain 1 – 5 Professional!

Like what often happens in these Matches the tide can often turn in the afternoon, and with the Players let loose on their own Ball in the Fourball anything can happen.

With the Pairings & Match-Ups the same as the morning the Results went as follows:

Game 1: Ben Murray & Donald Smith HALVED WITH Nick Mackie & Stephen Cook
Game 2: Dave Fleming & Peter Griffiths BEAT Jack Douglas & Michael Edwards
Game 3: Gary Cruickshank & Bruce Harrold BEAT Imran Sheikh & Drew Tremain
Game 4: Stuart McLaughlin & Alan Fulton LOST TO Craig Henderson & Willie Somers
Game 5: Ale Correa & Simon Jolly BEAT Paul Dallas & Kevin Neish
Game 6: John Ryrie & Don Keith LOST TO Denis Golder & Scott Marshall

End of Day 1 Score: Captain 4.5 – 7.5 Professional!

Following a fabulous first day you could say that things got a little wet!! Having established a healthy lead my Professional`s Team showed they had what it takes to win the Apres Golf as well! Joking aside it was great to see so many of the players make the effort to stay and socialise with their fellow Members and we all had a great time in our, ahem, ‘Player`s Lounge’ before we joined in the festivities of the Club Function that was also on that night.

It summed up everything that I envisaged and wanted The Cappro Cup to be. A Fun event that brings the Membership together, makes Members become friends, and makes the Club stronger.

The wet inside turned to wet overhead, or should I say wet over fuzzy heads!! Sunday`s weather probably captured the mood of a few, but credit to everyone for turning up and bearing down.

The Sunday Singles were played in groups of 4 with the pack shuffled slightly. Captain Fleming needed his troops to get off to a fast start and his Top Man didn`t let him down with Ben Murray showing why he`s a worthy Club Champion right now. He took care of his match against Nick Mackie to reduce the gap to 2 Points but that was as close as the Captain`s Team got. When Scott Marshall beat Don Keith the margin was back to 3 points meaning the Professional`s Team only needed 4 more.

They came in fairly quick succession with Jack Douglas seeing off Peter Griffiths, Paul Dallas getting the better of Ale Correa and Drew Tremain comfortably taking care of Bruce Harrold.

That meant when Imran Sheikh beat Gary Cruickshank on the 16th Green The Cappro Cup had been won by the Professional`s Team.

John Ryrie BEAT Denis Golder
Stuart McLaughlin LOST TO Craig Henderson
Simon Jolly BEAT Kevin Neish
Dave Fleming LOST TO Michael Edwards
Alan Fulton LOST TO Willie Somers
Donald Smith HALVED WITH Stephen Cook

FINAL SCORE: Captain 8 – 16 Professional!

I`d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year`s match a fantastic success. To Captain Dave Fleming for embracing the match in his first year as Captain. To all the Players for making it such fun and embracing everything the Match is meant to be about. To Donald Smith and his Xeretec Company for the excellent Signage. To Mark Wallace for making the Tee Board structures. But a special mention of thanks must go to Alan Fulton and his generous CAFE2U Sponsorship which helped raise the bar and allowed us to provide an even more memorable experience to those involved in the Match.

Hopefully word will spread and encourage more to take part in the Qualifying Campaign. Roll on next year!

Upcoming Events

The fun events don`t stop there, but with winter setting in then the type of events change slightly.

Following on from the success of the last 2 years I will again be running:

NIGHT GOLF: Halloween Special

Friday 2nd November
Tee Times: 6pm – 8pm
6 Short Fun Holes

The key information is:
• £15 Per Person – Open to ALL Ages!
• Friends & Family most welcome.
• Refreshments Included - Warm, Cold, Soft or Hard……You Choose.
• Fancy Dress encouraged and will earn you BONUS SHOTS!
• Prizes to be won
• Restricted to 3 Clubs & your Putter

Competition Results

It wasn`t only the Cappro Cup that was on over the weekend. For those who didn`t qualify there was a Stableford running. Charlie Hamilton clearly used the right Shampoo that morning because he was Head & Shoulders above everyone with his score of 42 Points the best by 4!

Saturday
Division 1

1 Mark McDonald (10) 38pts

2 Gary Masson (10) 37pts

3 Malcolm Thomson (4) 37pts

Division 2

1 Graham Rennie (11) 37pts

2 Peter Jamieson (12) 36pts

3 David Kernahan (15) 36pts

Division 3

1 Charlie Hamilton (17) 42pts

2 Ian Riach (17) 35pts

3 Alistair Fergus (17) 34pts

Sunday
Mixed Division 1

1 Steve Davidson 81(16) 65

2 Alexander Legge 86(19) 67

3 Scott Candy 84(16) 68

Shop Specials

Many of the previous week`s Promotions/Offers are still running but I`d just like to highlight some new ones that I`ve added.

£20 OFF Footjoy Contour Fit Shoes!

These are not only one of the comfiest Shoes on the Market but unlike many other ‘Reduced Price’ Shoes they can be fitted and ordered so they specifically match your foot size/requirements – PLUS we have the Tools & Skills to measure you up correctly.

The FJ Contour Fit are also a Spiked Waterproof Shoe available in both White or Black so if you are looking for the ideal warm, waterproof, comfortable and sure-footed shoe for your Winter Golf then these are exactly what you need.

All this FOR ONLY £79!

Come in store and ‘Get Fitted’ Today!

New Arrivals

The leaves are falling and the birds are flying south which means Winter Golf is well and truly here now and the Shop is also adapting for winter.

We have just taken delivery of our new Under Armour, Galvin Green and ProQuip Autumn/Winter Products so you guys have the very best opportunity to tackle whatever elements get thrown at you whilst you play.

Adult & Junior Fun Day

6 HOLE SPRINT FAMILY DAY
Sunday 11th November @ 2.30pm!

All Development Gang Members over 8 Years of age are invited to take an adult along to play on the day
Non Member Adults Entry Fee is £5
Non Member Juniors play FREE (Ages 8-12)

• Come with a smile!
• Play in pairs with the "oldie" of your choice.
• Enjoy a 6 Hole Sprint – Best Score at each Hole.
• Prizes to be won both on the course and in indoor competition after your game!
• Sausage rolls juice and crisps to follow - leave some for me please!
• Open to all juniors and gang members (over 8yrs).
• Book with me Terry Kennedy (tkennedy784@btinternet.com) ASAP to ensure a place as we are limited in numbers.
• Any young player who doesn't have an adult to play with can contact me and I will arrange a partner for them.
• No snow allowed on the day!!

The good old days

Sometimes it's nice to reminisce about the good times. When it comes to golf, the days of persimmon woods, small clubheads and hitting balls which were hard as a rock are long gone - but it can help to take a trip down memory lane to remind us of just how much technology has developed, particularly in the case of drivers.

Time tunnel

Take TaylorMade for example; you might have been lucky enough to own its iconic r7 Quad driver way back in 2004. The r7 was memorable for introducing the then-revolutionary concept of changeable weights in a driver, which was a massive shift from the conventional 'one weight fits all' approach. The r7 Quad is a classic club, and is certainly remembered with fondness.

Fast-forward to the present day and TaylorMade has released its most technologically advanced driver to date in the form of the M3. The M3 really shows just how far we've come in terms of moveable weights, with a Y-Track feature that allows golfers to adjust their settings for optimal trajectory, maximum forgiveness, or less spin.

So, whilst it is nice to think about your first ever driver, it's probably time to get up to speed with the latest models such as the M3. Who knows? Maybe in another 10 years time, you'll be looking back on the M3 with as much fondness as the r7 Quad!

explore TaylorMade's range >

How times have changed

Remember when you used to get ready for a round of golf during winter - you'd put on your vest, followed by a turtleneck, followed by a polo, then a jumper, before finally putting on your jacket. Not only was it a complete pain in terms of trying to stay warm without overheating, but it also made swinging the club near impossible - not a great combination if you wanted to enjoy your 18 holes.

Luckily, we've come a long way since then and we're now able to wear golf-specific garments which are not only comfortable, but also designed to keep your movement as natural as possible. So, instead of donning 5 or 6 layers during your round of golf, all you'll need is three.

Over your polo, we'd recommend wearing a pullover like this ProQuip Merino Lined jumper. Its Italian Merino Wool helps you stay comfortable throughout your whole round, whilst ProQuip's pioneering water repellent feature means you'll be well protected from the cold, wind and rain.

For those winter rounds, you'll also need a waterproof jacket as your final layer, like this Pro-Flex EVO jacket. The Four-Way stretch material gives you total freedom of movement, whilst the full-length waterproof zips allow for easy access in even the wettest conditions.

explore ProQuip's range >

Video of the Week

Having already received plaudits from the likes of Keegan Bradley, Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell, the RTX 4 wedge from Cleveland is brimming with the potential to boost your game.

I hope you have enjoyed this week's update.
We hope to see you soon
Stuart

Portlethen Golf Club
Badentoy Road
Portlethen
AB12 4YA

Phone: 01224 782571

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