Do you think at Golf Courses in Texas they play a Glasgae Stramash!?
Perhaps not but over here in the "City of Culture" circa 1990 we have adopted the Texas Scramble format for some of our Competitions. Last Saturday being one of them. It transpires that the Scramble format flourished in Texas during the Depression so I guess it probably felt right at home given the weather we had that day didn`t exactly have the place jumping with joy! Gale force winds were lightly dusted with Gatling Gun like rain which lead to the most popular scramble of the day being the dash to get back under your umbrella as quick as possible! That said though the 93 participants (I know that's an odd number for a 4 Man Team event!) got their heads down and battled on regardless, and if there was any format where you could have a bit of fun in testing conditions then the scramble was probably it.
As usual, there were a few who still managed to play some cracking golf despite the weather and perhaps no surprise that all 12 players in the top 3 teams have continued to play (when they could) throughout the winter season! So I guess it was just "another winter's day" golfing for them!?
Well done to Eastwood`s answer to The A Team (I`ll not tell you what the "A" stands for!!) D.A.ve "Baracus" Drummond, Andy "Hannibal" Hutton, James "Howlin Mad" McMillan and Chic (Greetin)"Face" McInanny who showed the field how it was done with an impressive 59!
Making a stout defence of their title were last years winners Austen McDowall, David Dickson, Stevie Smith and Paul Conacher with a 60 while the quartette of Gary Potts, Graeme Cross, John Harkness and Phil Sherwood came in third on 61.
It was a good day all round for Andy Hutton who also scooped the Bonus Ball Draw which just happened to be a Roll Over! "He just loves it when a plan comes together!!"
Maybe Andy`s Luck will extend to my Prize Draw!? It`s definitely one worth having a go of! As they say you`ve got to be in it to win it and for the chance to walk away with a £400 Motocaddy Trolley from a Ticket that could cost as little as 1p then you`d be silly not to have a try! Below is the T&C`s of the Raffle and Tickets are on sale in the Professional Shop.
PENNY PRIZE DRAW!
This is how it works!
Tickets are numbered 001 to 500
How much you pay per ticket (in pence) depends on the number you draw. For instance Ticket number 032 will cost you a whopping 32p!! 001 is obviously 1p and ticket 500 is 500p so the most you will pay for a ticket is £5!
Top Prize will be a Motocaddy S3 Power Trolley worth £399! Surely that's worth buying at least one ticket for!
If all 500 Tickets are sold then there will be 10 Great Prizes up for grabs from the Trolley, Callaway Drivers, Wedges, Shoes, Bags & Putters.* (*This is a Prize Draw so all items won can not be exchanged for other goods or credited to account)
Speaking of picking up prizes I think there will be a few of our Aberdonian Members happy to see their beloved "Dons" lift the Scottish League Cup, their first Trophy in 18 Years! (I was going to say their first Silverware in 18 years but I have it on good authority that Stewart Milne had put his money where his mouth is and bought new teaspoons from a Car Boot Sale only 4 years ago!)
I guess the full time and extra time score wasn`t too much of a surprise when you put 11 Highlanders and 11 Aberdonians together! They were never going to give much away! But what the game lacked in goals it made up for in excitement, non more so than the Penalty Shootout!
And if the "Sheep Were On Fire!" (Ewe knew I couldn`t go this whole blog without mentioning that!) in Glasgow on Sunday then their Welsh Cousins were certainly sizzling away too in Cardiff on Saturday where the Scots were well and truly fleeced in the Eggchasing! The last time a Scotsman took a whipping like that in Wales he was handcuffed to a dwarf, starkers, in a strip club covered in shaving foam. But that's enough about the Captains Stag Doo!!
It`s not just the Scottish Rugby Players that have been posted missing recently! To the right is a picture of the Bag rest attachment that you are given when you hire one of my rental Push Trollies! Now I have 12 trollies but at present only have 7 of these cradles! So unless they all booked a holiday away with Malaysian Airlines then they are somewhere around the Golf Club. If you have used a trolley and mistakenly popped the top piece in your locker or car boot can you please return it to the Professional Shop.
One thing that certainly hasn`t disappeared is the issue of "Slow Play" in golf with another instance of it again on the USPGA Tour. No surprise, or should I say Na surprise that it centered around the man with more backswing rehearsals than a Centipede has shoes! Kevin Na! He and playing Partner, Robert Garrigus (one of the Tours quicker players!) were put on the clock in round 3. Typically when you have a slow golfer and a quick golfer playing together it is invariably the quicker player who gets affected more by the other players style/pace of play. I think this eventually caught up with Garrigus on the Sunday as he started the final round leading the Tournament. The mixture of nerves and not being able to play at the pace his routine is comfortable with saw him get off to an awful start and was effectively out of the running by the time they reached the turn. It was Australian John Senden that emerged from the chasing pack to take over at the top and win his first PGA event since 2006.
Unfortunately Aussie John doesn`t have any Ryder Cup aspirations that his victory might have helped but I hope to god that 2nd placed Kevin Na doesn`t make the US Team for Gleneagles! With him on board the chance of completing 36 holes around the PGA Centenary in late September in Scotland would be virtually impossible!
On the subject of the Ryder Cup I have some fantastic news for my Eastwood Members. I have been successful in the ballot for Ryder Cup Tickets and have secured tickets for myself and a guest for all 3 Practice days leading up to the main event. (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) so watch this space because later in the year I will be coming up with a concept that will allow anyone of you the chance to be my guest on one of those 3 days (3 different winners, with top prize being the Thursday which includes the Practice Day AND Opening Ceremony!) So you now all have the chance to be part of the Ryder Cup in your own back yard!
Although Gleneagles isn`t quite as "in your back yard" as the course they just played the European Tours Trophy Hassan II tournament on! It is basically a Championship Course that the King of Morocco has built in the grounds of his Palace! It was Spain`s Alejandro Canizares who cantered home to a 5 stroke wire-to-wire victory. I`m sure he`s hoping this form will continue during his push to make the European Team for the September match as he tries to emulate his father, Jose Maria, who represented Europe 4 times in the Ryder Cup (`81, `83, `85 & `89)
One guy I`m sure will be pegging it up on the Centenary in the Autumn is Justin Rose but he might not be looking forward to hitting those little pitches from the soggy, sandy lies that the PGA Course will no doubt be throwing up at that time if the shot he hit last week at the Valspar Championship is anything to go by! If you haven't seen him completely duff a pitch (or Henrik Stenson cold shank a wedge from the previous week) then check them out by visit (and "Liking") my Facebook Shop page by following this link.
Our own Ryder Cup Style Match, "The Cappro Cup" will also be taking place this September (I really hope it doesn`t overshadow the real event!!) on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st. The Qualifying Campaign for this starts on the April Medal which is Saturday 19th. This Saturday (March Medal - 22nd) the Sign Up Sheet to enter the Qualifying will be available and remember you have to have signed up before you play the April Medal for you to be eligible to earn any Qualifying Points.
Here are the details of the Match: THE CAPPRO CUP - Sat 20th & Sun 21st September. An End of Season Finale - Ryder Cup Style Match
Captains Team v Pros Team
£5 To Join The Qualifying Race - You can enter anytime but your Points only start accruing from then.
Points Awarded for the Gents April to September Monthly Medals + Spring, Summer & Autumn Meetings (9 Comps In Total)
You Qualify In Your Handicap Categories (Cat 1: Scr - 5, Cat 2: 6 -12, Cat 3: 13 - 18, Cat 4: 19 - 28)
Top 4 From Each Handicap Category Qualify Automatically
The Club Champion & Runner Up Qualify Automatically
Plus 6 Captains Wildcards
The weekend of the Match consists of:
Team Uniforms
Breakfast & Lunch on Saturday
On Course Hospitality & Goodies
Saturday: 6 Morning Fourballs & 6 Afternoon Greensomes
Sunday: 12 Singles Matches
Lots of Laughs & Goading
Great Friendships Made
Last year it was the Captains Team who were victorious so I`m determined to win back the trophy this year.
It`s pretty much all change in the Shop, well except me unfortunately! Both our "new Boys" have started now, Steven is into his 2nd week and Stuart is halfway through his 1st. On top of the staff changes as all the new for 2014 stock starts to arrive in store I`m trying my best to give the Shop a new look and feel so you all don`t get bored and fed up with it. So apologies in advance if everything is not as I would like it straight away but it is a bit of a work in progress as there is new product arriving all the time that we are trying to fit in and merchandise properly.
And remember while I endeavour to stock as comprehensive a range as possible the Shop size limits the Brands & Volumes I can have in store. But I have virtually every product under the sun available for you to purchase right here in YOUR Professional Shop. It`s as easy as 1, 2, 3 and only a click of a mouse away.
Check out how to use my Online "Click & Collect" Shopping Service in this short video I`ve had done for you.
For the 2014 Season I have introduced a new structure of my Coaching.
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.
Playing Lesson: "Take It To The Course" (2 Hour Session) - £75*
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.
Scoring Zone: "The Ultimate Shortgame Session" (2 Hour Session) - £75*
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.
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)
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.
Individual LessonPrices
30 Minute Lesson - £30*
45 Minute Lesson - £35*
60 Minute Lesson - £40*
Group Tuition
2 People (1 Hour) - £30PP
3 People (1 Hour) - £20PP
4 People (1 Hour) - £15PP
Junior Tuition
30 Minute Lesson - £20
3 Lesson Package - £45
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
21st - Susan Ratcliffe, Aileen Wright and George Roberts
22nd - Frank Jolly, Matthew Farmer and James McMillan
24th - Scott Craig and Keith Gravis
25th - Angela Chassels, John Marszol, Cameron Young, John MacKie and Iain Cairney
26th - Bill MacMillan and Robert W Cochrane
27th - Grant McDowell, Peter Clark and Keith Lammie