The clocks went back last Saturday night and given the weather from Sunday until Tuesday you'd have thought they had gone back to Mississippi, 1926!! (Watch video right)

Ok, maybe Americas greatest ever flood is a bit of an exaggeration but the rainfall certainly was as brutal as the volumes Britain was exposed to back in February of this year! Throw in the gale force winds and it has been a fairly horrendous period!

The course finally gave up the ghost on Tuesday, which was fairly apt with Halloween on the horizon! The River Earn burst its banks and turned the 4th fairway into Lake Placid. I thought I had caught a glimpse of the Creature From The Black Lagoon at one point, but it turned out to just be Neil the Greenkeeper checking on the pump house!!

As bad as Tuesday started, by close of business that day the clouds had cleared, the surface water had drained, the wind had died and the sun even popped his head out for a little while.

It did get me thinking though about which golfers would cope well in under water conditions!

Obviously The Great White Shark would (Greg Norman if you have no idea who I`m referring to!), Craig Stadler (aka The Walrus) would be ok from time to time! What about Webbed Simpson? David SeaHorsey! Scott Verplankton! Victor BluSea-son, Ernie Eels, Patrick Reef, Santiago Tuna, Phil Muckleprawn, and Ian Baker-Fish!

Although the players that would probably clean up every week would be Ross Fisher and Bradley Dredge!!

I'm starting to think that we now only have 2 seasons! A few months of nice, warm, dry weather that we can call Summer, the rest is just a wet, wild and miserable endurance that we should start calling Sprautinter or Winauting!?

Let's hope we get a sustained dry spell to let you guys keep playing and enjoying your golf for as long as possible. One thing for sure following this wet weather is that the protection of the course is paramount. From this Saturday 1st November the Power Trolley Wheel restrictions come in to affect again. For those of you who don't know what that entails basically if you want/need to keep using your Motorised Trolley throughout the "Sprautinter" then it MUST have Winter Wheels fitted. These can either be the Manufacturers Winter Wheel or the "Hedgehog" Wheel attachment. All of these options are available In Store. If you need the attachments fitted can we ask that you hand your wheels in well in advance of the day you need to use them so we they will be ready for you to use that day. Also this is something to bear in mind if you intend to bring guests up to play the course from the 1st onwards. Their powered trolleys will also need the winter wheels otherwise they will have to use one of the alternative options.

This Saturday is also the first of the Winter Medals (another reason to make sure your Trolley Wheels are sorted before the 1st!) The November Medal is the first of the Off Season Comps that are played over 15 Holes. There is no reason that this won't be played on the Full Greens, but these competitions are played as long as the course is open. There are still spaces left if you'd like to play and the winners qualify for the Medal Finals played in May.

All the Competition winners from the 2014 Season were recognised at last Friday's Presentation Dinner. Now I know Halloween isn't until this Friday but there were a few guisers let loose last Friday too! The last time I saw that many drunk guys in suits was at George Bests funeral! But these were Eastwoods best, and a great night it was too! Captain Howard chaired proceedings and after dinner it was former World Cup Goalkeeper, Alan Rough, who entertained us with some funny stories from his career both as a player, and now, as a pundit.

The irony is that the next morning I'm sure nobody could remember any of his stories but they all woke up feeling a bit rough!

There were 2 prize winners in particular that optimised what being a Member of a Club should be. Stuart Paterson won the Cronies Singles Matchplay for a second time 38 years after his only other victory in the Competition! But what made it even more significant was that first victory had come 38 years after his father had won the same Trophy! Stuart's wife, Beth, also had a successful year by winning the Ladies Championship and alongside their daughter, Laura, she also won the Ladies Foursomes. So all in all a memorable year for the Patersons!

The second prize winner I want to mention is Iain King Senior, who next year will have been an Eastwood Member for 40 Years, but this year was recognised as "The Most Improved Golfer" for 2014! Proof if ever you need it that you've got to stick at this game to get your rewards!!

   

Perhaps for these guys Christmas has come early! But it's certainly coming quick enough for everyone else! In Store the build up started a few weeks ago as I mentioned in last week's blog. Every day more and more great gift ideas are arriving in store so remember to spread the word and drop those hints that we are the ideal 1st port of call for your ideal holding gift, regardless of how big or small that gift might be!

Here are some more of those gift ideas for anyone looking for inspiration! They also take the hassle right out of it too!!

That age old question! What came first the Stocking or the Stocking Filler! Well, we've taken care of both for you! Here are our ideal "Pick me up" quick gift ideas for the golfer in your family!

DELUXE STOCKING: £60 
1 Dozen Srixon Z Star Balls 
1 Srixon Leather Glove 
1 Cap 
1 Pair FJ Fashion Socks 
1 Bumpa Tee Pack(110)

(Full RRP - £80) All this including Stocking for ONLY £60!!

Or to suit your pocket better if it is just a smaller gift you'd like.

SURVIVAL STOCKING: £30 
1 Sleeve of Srixon AD333 Tour Balls 
1 Srixon All Weather Glove 
1 Pair FJ Pro Dry Socks 
1 Marker Pen & Ball Cup 
1 Pack of Pencils 
3 Packs of Tees 
1 Pair of Handwarmers (Full RRP - £40) All this including Stocking for ONLY £30!!

Remember, even if I don`t have it in store, unless it`s extremely last minute, I will be able to source it for you (2014 Product) Remember I also have the Online Shopping facility at Foremost Golf (Click Here) which also offers the "Click & Collect" Service so again you have all the convenience of letting us deal with the delivery and you collect at your convenience.

All products have a no quibble Returns Policy. So if it is something you really don`t like/want then we can find you something you do like without....shhh....anyone needing to know!!

Other reasons to choose us. 7 Day Opening, FREE and plentiful parking, a warm & friendly (crowd free) environment, Christmas Stockings, Gift Bags and definitely FREE Carrier Bags! Plus we offer Gift Vouchers that can be banked rather than kept and misplaced, and more importantly Lesson Vouchers from people who know you, your game and the Course YOU play on!

Individual LessonPrices 
30 Minute Lesson - £30*  
45 Minute Lesson - £35* 
60 Minute Lesson - £40*

Development Plan Package: "The Game Changer" (4x 45 Minute Session) - £140*

This Package is the ideal way to make simple, effective and long lasting improvements to your game. Whether it is focusing on one particular aspect or gaining knowledge and adding improvement to every department of your golf game.

Complete Game Package: "Top To Toe Improvement" (3x 45 Minute Session) - £105*

This Package focuses on every aspect of your game where you will be given analysis and advice on how to improve your Tee To Green Game (Session 1 - Long Game), your Approach Play (Session 2 - Shortgame) and your Putting Prowess (Session 3 - Putting)

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.    

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.

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     

 

Members Birthdays This Week

1st - David Meechan and Kelvin Moran 
3rd - Clair Linn, Malcolm Doran and John Mullarkey
5th - Fraser Bonner and Derek Mann
6th - James Paton, W F R Rice, George Donaldson and Andrew Grant
7th - Grant Malcolm