Yip, I'm going to be raising the bar!

But don't worry, it's not the upstairs bar otherwise Ann wouldn't be able to serve over it!!

No, I mean I am going to be going all out to "Raise The Bar" on the level of service and contribution to the Club that the Professional Shop & Staff provide for the Portlethen patrons!

Week 1 has passed in a flash but the warm welcome and good will from all the people I've been fortunate to meet so far has been very humbling! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to pop by and say "Hi", and it's there I'd like to start. Rest assured you will always be made welcome in YOUR Professional Shop! Many people will have different expectations of what they want from the Professional Shop/Services, but one thing I can guarantee is that EVERYONE will be met with a smile and a welcome, as warm as the one I have been extended so far, anytime they push that door open. So whether it's just to escape the cold for a few minutes while you wait on your tee time, to grab a card or pencil, book a time or check in, have a coffee or perhaps something more pertinent then come on in! We'll be happy to see you!

But beyond that, there are lots of things that I will be bringing to the table in this, my first year of many happy ones at Portlethen GC. Over the next few weeks in the newsletter I'm going to outline what these things are. Hopefully they will all be well received!? So let's start this week inside the four walls of my new empire!!

The Shop will go through some minor surgery! The counter and position will be radically changed and the external frontage will be freshened up with some new signage. So essentially a nose job and a face lift!!

Inside the shop the new ranges will start arriving for 1st March. These product lines will be based around a lot of the information I get from the survey I sent Pre-Christmas. Not only is filling this in worthwhile with regards the Shop, but remember there is a free Prize Draw for all the completed entries. So if you've not done it yet here's your chance.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PortlethenProShop

Throughout the season I will be running some promotions exclusive to Portlethen which add some great extra value, for example you'll be able to start the season in a fresh new pair of golf shoes that you'll be able to save money because I'll let you TRADE IN your old shoes!! So you'll be able to put your best foot forward!

Trade Ins are something that you'll definitely be able to do when it comes to equipment, every Member will also have their own Shop Account that will not only allow you to bank any credit and vouchers but it will allow us to keep a record with all your purchases. That means you don't have to worry about keeping receipts if you have any warranty claims. Hopefully we will not have too many of them, but whatever your requirement the process has already started to recruit 2 new PGA Assistants to give you a great Shop Team to call on. I was thinking of conducting the interviews like BBC's "The Voice" but while I'll think I'll be like Tom Jones turning around in my chair, I will more than likely look like Blofeld from Bond but "That's Not Unusual!"

I'm a big believer in embracing technology and while I have some excellent pieces of kit that will help your golfing performance in the forms of Radar Launch Monitors, instant Video Swing playback and Computerised Putting Stroke analyser (which I'll talk about next week in more detail) it's a more understated and underrated piece of technology that will be appearing in the shop. My computerised EPOS System means that not only will all the products carry a unique barcode price label but all your individual transactions will be registered against your own personal Shop Account. This account can be used to store any Shop Credit you acquire, Vouchers you would like to bank and also gives quick and easy reference to those purchases in the event that you do have a warranty claim like I mentioned earlier!

This leads me on nicely to my pricing, or more importantly my Price Match Policy. I always have, and always will endeavour to deliver my products at an extremely competitive price. I know that I am in line with all the big Superstores and Online Companies. I'm not naive enough to know that if you search long and hard enough Online that you will probably find a cheaper price.......but that's all you get....a good price! That doesn't always equate to good value. I can offer you unparalleled value when you shop here at Portlethen. All my products come with a "Try Before You Buy" Service! If it's clubs you can hit them FROM GRASS on YOUR GOLF COURSE, you will get Unbiased, Friendly, Honest, Personal, Professional and "Non-Hardsell" advice. My Equipment Fitting proposition is something I will talk about next week but I'm confident it adds huge value to the service and process of you investing in Clubs. Remember, you've already got a Credit & Trade-In facility to utilise when purchasing Clubs!!

Similar options are available on Trollies & GPS Devices, you can try them on your Course first plus these products come with my Keep You Playing Pledge! (If it's not working we'll keep you playing until it is!!)

Shoes, Clothing, Waterproofs all come with that tactile offering where you can feel the fabric, try them with the same advice as previously mentioned. AND you are able to compare them to other brands, models or sizes! Plus if they fail you just simply push the door of the shop open and we'll deal with the issue! No need to keep receipts, boxes or endure lots of faceless communication or unnecessary trips!

Do you really want to be traipsing back to a Superstore or emailing an online company if your glove rips after 2 rounds? Or your shoes leak after 4 months?

My service to a Portlethen Member really can't be matched so that value is reflected in my very competitive price. But if you find a product cheaper I WILL Match the Price.....but I will match the level of service that provider is offering too. For example:

MATCHING AN ONLINE PRICE: This is a Price Only Match with full payment required. You can't trial Online, you can't ask advice online, you definitely can't get PROPERLY Fitted online, there is no trade in or account/voucher facility online and you will be required to keep the proof of purchase. This doesn't even touch on the fact that most Internet Purchases also bring the inconvenience of a weekday delivery or extra cost for at the weekend!

MATCHING A HIGHSTREET/SUPERSTORE PRICE: No On Course Trial or Account Credit.

I don't want these to come across as too pedantic or trying to be awkward but I do believe that what we will be creating and delivering for you here at Portlethen is a service high in standard, effort & value and our prices will be fair for the market place but reflective of that service.

So you've learned a little bit more about what I'm going to be about, here's a taste of some of things I've learned in my first week at Portlethen GC!!

1) I learned that Wind-chill is derived from the Latin Sectarius Intwa! Meaning Cut You In Two!!! A Brass Monkey popped in to take advantage of my 3 For 2 offer so at least he had a provisional!! 
2) I learned that Mary & Peterculter were NOT the parents of Jesus!! 
3) I learned that Cookney is not a snob from Essex
4) I learned 4 & half...no, call it 5 new names of Members! 
5) I learned that Jake Legge (one of the names I learned) is the unofficial Ambassador of Portlethen GC, because he apparently always hands out the Ferrero Rocher on the 10th Tee!! 
6) I learned that if Captain Ian is leaning on his right elbow at the Bar it's Friday and if he's leaning on his left elbow at the Bar it's Saturday!! 
7) I learned that Transit Vans on Black Ice are like Todd Carty on Dancing On Ice!! 
8) I also learned that milk is colder outside than it would be in a fridge!!

The Latin fridge like conditions didn't stop a few idiots....I mean intrepid golfers heading out on Saturday in the Pro Shop Sweep.

In Div 1 Robert Dickson (32 Points) took top spot from John Goate (30 Points) and Jeff Christie (29 Points) edged into the bronze medal berth courtesy of the Countback!

Div 2 also need the help of a Countback to separate a few scores. This time it was first place that was settled on the back nine score with Jeff Capstick (29 Points) getting over the line on a photofinish! Harry McBain (29 Points) had to settle for 2nd and 2 points further back was Chris Lobb (27 Points)

Perhaps the biggest winner was George Donaldson! He decided not to got out to play but instead had a shot of my (now a regular feature) Saturday Bonus Ball Draw! All you have to do is pick a number, pay a pound and hope you've matched up with that nights Lottery Bonus Ball Number! George did by choosing number 39 (his age!!???) and he scooped the pot of £20! Hopefully when the Saturdays get busier all 49 squares will go and swell the pot. 

Tickets available for the Michael Buble Tribute Night on Saturday 7th February! It'll be my first Portlethen Social event so maybe that's reason enough to come along!?

As you saw earlier in this blog the Shop has taken shape with the product I brought with me, but the new seasons range is just around the corner so I want to make valuable space for that so now many of the products will be on a Clearance Offer. Here are 3 of the early entries to that!

GENTS SHIRTS - adidas Climachill Shirts NOW ONLY £30 Each or Any 2 For £50!

LADIES CLOTHING - Spring/Summer Glenmuir Buy 1 Get 1 FREE! Plus, SALE RAIL: All Clothing ONLY £10 Waterproof Jackets ONLY £20!

GOLF BALLS - Srixon Z Star / AD333 Tour / Ladies Soft Feel ALL 3 For 2! 

   

INSIDE THE GREENKEEPERS SHED - "Neil Before Sad"

I also hope to include updates from the Course on projects, improvements and general conditions with consultation from Neil Sadler, your Head Greenkeeper, to help communicate and keep you guys in the loop! As I'm sure all of you will know Neil has been carrying out work on a few bunkers. Here is a picture update of the process they went through to create the new fairway bunkers down the left hand side of the 3rd fairway. 

As I mentioned last week these Newsletter Communications go out weekly (50 weeks as there is a 2 week break over Christmas) thanks to everyone who has subscribed so far and if you are reading this directly from your Inbox then you are one of those people! If you think you know of other Members (or golfers!) who would like to receive this then I'd appreciate if you forward it to them and encourage them to subscribe using the relevant link! Once in the database you/they will then be able to receive regular contact (oh no I hear you cry, not daily doses of his pathetic patter!!) through my Broadcast Messages that go straight to your email. I also have my SWING Studio Facebook page where I post and Tweet daily with anything from course updates to shop promotions! So why not like my FB Page or Follow Me on Twitter by clicking the links below.

Now while these are great communication vehicles for me, the Newsletter/Website especially can offer a great Tool for you to get your message out there as well! As you can see if you scroll down there are a few "ADVERTISING BANNER" opportunities that provide great exposure to my ever growing database. So if you have a Company, Brand or Product that you'd like to Advertise then contact me here and I'll happily talk you through the Advertising options.