Ok, now this is starting to get a bit ridiculous!

I`m beginning to feel like Unlucky Alf! Not only have the Course Closures kept up their annoyingly regular habit of happening at the weekend but as my 1 month Aberdeenshire Anniversary approaches has the City which I now call my home not just picked up the award for "The Most Dismal Place In Scotland!"?? I`m starting to feel as welcome as Nico Rosberg at a Nicole Scherzinger Concert!! I have been wondering to myself should I just "Run, Run, Ruuuuuuuuunnnnnn, Run"

Locals are saying that the only thing less enjoyable than my arrival to Aberdeen from the West Coast was Aberdeen's visit last Saturday to the West Coast! It was of course League Cup Semi Final weekend! And it was 2 Scott Browns that grabbed the headlines. For Celtics Scott Brown it was relief and joy as his Team managed to advance to the final by seeing off their fiercest rival, Rangers, in the new Old Firm or is it the old New Firm!? His relief would be that a late, late lunge (no, not a sandwich at 3pm!) I mean a badly timed tackle at the very end of the game which could have resulted in him being sent off and suspended from the Final.

The other Scott Brown unfortunately wasn`t so lucky! The Aberdeen Goalies fumble in the closing moments of their match with Dundee United cost his Team a goal and their chance of a place in next Month's Final. I did get me thinking though, maybe Goalkeepers should be booked for NOT diving!!!? His attempt to stop the weakest of headers looked like he had just been given some Pre-Op Anaesthesia whilst trying to stroke a timid cat!

Speaking of Cats, it`s not all been bad for me this week. After years and years of perseverance I finally realized a career dream, ambition, goal, call it what you will. Despite being the same age our careers, achievements and fortunes couldn`t have been further apart, but now I can say without fear of contradiction that I truly can play golf as well as Tiger Woods!!

And I see now rather than me trying to emulate him on a golf course, it is the once infallible golfing God that it`s now replicating my world renowned "Celebrity Shortgame"! The Posh & Becks of Chipping - One is a bit thick, the other far too thin! The French & Saunders of Shortgame - A fat one & a thin one that make other people laugh! And the transformation was completed by the fact that he started having to count his score in "Under fives!!" Quite apt I thought that Tigers worst golfing display in a long time happened in a Tournament sponsored by a Waste Management company!! It wasn`t so much a Courtesy Car waiting to collect Tiger after his round but more a Sewage Tanker!

But while the former World Golf Dominator was floundering about in last place on his comeback, over in Dubai the new heir to the Golfing Throne, Rory McIlroy, slipped right back into the saddle with another quite flawless performance in the Desert Classic. His 20 Under Par total was good enough to win by 3 strokes, but it was the fact that in 72 Holes he only had 2 Bogeys! Tiger had more than that after he had played 2 holes and picked his nose!!

Stephen Gallacher put up a stout defence of his title and it`s been a good couple of weeks for the Scottish players over in the Far East with Marc Warren finishing 2nd in Abu Dhabi the week previous. Perhaps it`s the Scottish weather that is actually the reason Scotland isn`t producing more World Class players than the talent itself!?

Although our weather, and specifically Portlethen`s weather got some high profile recognition last week! My daily Facebook/Twitter morning updates have been getting some good coverage lately, but none more so than Sunday mornings edition had these 2 pictures and a post which read: "The only good news I can bring you today is that the Andy Murray match is on BBC just now! Yesterday`s floods have been coated with a covering of snow! All of which have now frozen and the Course and surrounding areas are as lethal as a sheet of ice! The only 4 ball here today was Jason Gardiner, Robin Cousins, Philip Schofield & Christine Bleakly!! Can`t believe Jason only gave me a 2.5 for getting from my Car to the shop!! I thought my triple axel into the crucifix bum slide was virtually perfect!"

So it was a pleasant surprise only a few hours later when that post was "Liked" by none other than Philip Schofield himself!

I just hope soon that I can post some pictures of grass and greens and maybe then get some likes from Gordon The Gowfer instead!

So what have you learned this week I hear you cry!! - Well seeing as you asked, here are the "THINGS I`VE LEARNED THIS WEEK!"

1) Fash Fin - Is in fact a statement followed by a question, and not an aquatic vertebrates rudder! 
2) Ken Fa`s Ken Hom`s Loon`s Wi - Is not South Koreas midfield three, and is actually the question "Know who Ken Hom`s boy`s with?" 
3) A Corrie Fister - Is not a punch up between Ken Barlow & Mike Baldwin (You can tell I haven`t seen it in a while!!) 
4) The names I`ve learned this week are!.....................nope, not seen anyone new at all!! 
5) Philip Schofield has seen my post!!

What I have been busy doing this week though is readying the shop for my "SALE OF THE CENTURY!"

With the new ranges not for away from being delivered in time for the start of the Golf Season the task at hand is to create some Shop space for them so most of the current Stock has made its way in to my Crazy Clearance.

And I`ve put the Century into Sale Of The Century, with all products featured in it £100 or LESS!

• ALL SALE DRIVERS - £100 or LESS! (TaylorMade, Wilson, Callaway, PING)
• ALL SALE CLOTHING - HALF PRICE or LESS! (adidas, Glenmuir, Galvin Green, Green Lamb, ProQuip)
• ALL SALE SHOES - HALF PRICE! (FootJoy & adidas)
• ALL GALVIN GREEN JACKETS - ONLY £100!
• 4 DOZEN PRO V1/V1x - ONLY £100! (Or 2 Doz For £60)
• 3 For 2 - ALL SRIXON BALLS
• ANY 2 WEDGES - ONLY £100! (Cleveland, Callaway)
• MacGREGOR CART BAGS - HALF PRICE! (Now Only - £60!)
• USED IRONS - ONLY £100! (Ping G10 4-SW, Wilson D100 5-SW*, Tour Edge Bazooka Graph 5-PW + Driver*) *FREE CART BAG INCLUDED!
• ALL SALE PUTTERS - HALF PRICE!
• All Woods & Irons Come With FREE Trial & Set Up - Driver Fitting Sessions can be added for £30.
  

Below are details of my Lesson Tariffs and Package Options:

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* (Session Can Be Shared: 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, 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* (Session Can Be Shared: 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

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

So for the upcoming 2015 Season ask yourself what you want to improve about your game!

Do you want your shots to be…

LONGER
STRAIGHTER
FEWER
BETTER
STRONGER
HIGHER

Do you want your Shortgame to be…

CLOSER
CRISPER
CONTROLLED
VARIED
CONSISTENT
POSITIVE

Do you want your putts to have better…

LINE
SPEED
CONTROL
CONSISTENCY
CONFIDENCE

Then I`m here to help you achieve your best. You`ll always enjoy something more when you do it better!

An aspect of performance that is all too often overlooked or under estimated is suitability of your equipment! I get asked all the time, "What is the best Driver these days!?" (You can replace Driver with Irons/Wedges/Putters!) But the honest answer is "The one that Fits YOU Best!"

This is an area that I really can`t emphasise enough, and to that end I have invested in the best equipment to give you guys as thorough and comprehensive a Fitting Service & Experience as I can. As previously mentioned the Flightscope Radar captures all the important data relating to how you attack and launch the ball. Once that is established it is a lot easier to "Fit" a Club in a way that will improve whatever aspect of that data can/needs to be improved to get you to your optimum performance. To help find you that ideal specification of Club (whether it be Woods, Irons, Wedges or Putters) I also carry the latest Fitting Carts & Clubs from the Manufacturers that will be stocked in the Pro Shop.

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 Fitting - 30 Minutes

Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £30 
*Includes 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 - 60 Minutes 
(£15 Comes off purchase price - £15 given back as Shop Voucher for future/additional purchase)

Full Fitting Experience (Requirements Unknown) - £50
*Includes Flightscope Radar - 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

 

"These Boys Show True Grit!"

Well, as I`m sure you can imagine there is very little the Greenstaff can do in terms of Course work and maintenance when the weather and conditions are like this. However they do play a major role in keeping the car park and surrounding areas as safe and passable as possible.

Looming fast is the Michael Buble Night - Sat 7th Feb so you still have time to get Tickets for that.

There are lots more great looking nights in store throughout this season at Portlethen so get these pencilled in to that Diary too:

Saturday 4th April: Ultimate Legends (No it`s not an Auction for Oscar Pistorious Bladez!) A multi tribute performer.

Saturday 23rd May: Elvis Is In The Building (I hope he`s getting signed in!?) A Tribute To the King

Saturday 27th June: 5th Avenue (It`s £5 for Parking that night) This Group are Streets ahead!

Saturday 26th September: Patrice & McRuvie (A Couple o`Jokers!) There`ll be some Port Belly Laughs that night!

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.