I can`t believe how busy the restaurants in Aberdeen are!

Do you know not one of the places I phoned had a Table for 1 available on Valentines Night! Incredible!

Fortunately I did get a night out last Saturday when I attended my first Portlethen Social Function. It was the Michael Buble Tribute and it was a really good night. For everyone that was there they might say it was a night that had everything!! For anyone that wasn`t there then this is the equivalent of the Sportscene Highlights!

140 Tickets were sold, of which well over 100 dined. And it`s safe to say that EVERYONE WINED!! Some knew that they shouldn`t drink on an empty stomach while some now realise that they shouldn`t drink on an empty head!

As for the main event, he was excellent! If you closed your eyes you would definitely have thought it was Michael Buble, mind you, if you had closed your ears you might have thought it was Michael Ball! (No, not the former Rangers & Everton left back!!) I did however have to have a double take at one point in the night because I was convinced that Ted Bovis from Hi-De-Hi had made a guest appearance just as some form of "entertainment" took place on the dance floor that would merit the term ball room!

One lady got singled out for some special dance floor treatment from the Crooning Loon. She was so mesmerized by his velvet tones that she looked as if she had drifted off into her own wee buble….I mean bubble….her buble bubble! In fact her buble bubble caused her toilet trouble, yet it was him that cast a spell on her! Now that is some impressive sWitchcraft!

There were some people that got so mesmerized by the singing that it sent them into a deep hypnotic state or maybe they had just supped a little too much sleeping potion! Those Nightnurse and Tonics can be pretty lethal! 


     

   

But all this chat about music has reminded me of:

"THINGS I`VE LEARNED THIS WEEK!"

1-A Spice & Coke is Morgans Rum & Cola and not "Charlie" mixed with Curry Powder! (Def not to be sniffed at!)  
2-Original FM Radio`s Playlist is just a Cassette Tape of "NOW: That`s What I Call Music! Vol 3! 
3- This ISN`T "The Sumer Of 69!" 
4- ……or "The Road To Hell" 
5- ……or even "The Final Countdown!" 
6- But Joan Armatrading is clearly Aberdeen`s answer to Miley Cyrus!! 
 
Back to the Golf Club, and despite the rumours that "I came in like a wrecking ball!" with the worst spell of weather that Portlethen had experienced in years, we finally got the Course open for play on Monday with the exceptions of Holes 2 & 3. They remained closed for the usual reasons.."It`s the Climb!" (I`m probably not doing myself any favours with my worrying knowledge of Miley Cyrus songs!!?)

Someone who has made "The Climb" is poor old Billy Casper! The 83 Year Old 3 time Major Winner past away this week. Billy won the US Open twice in `59 & `66 and claimed the famous Green Jacket in 1970. Many of the greats that played in that era have given glowing tributes of what a great player he was but also what a gentleman he was! I guess now in Mr Casper heaven truly does have a friendly ghost!

Another of the games greats Tiger seems to be being haunted by demons of some sort! A shock early withdrawal from only his second come back event due to a back injury! This coming after he was confident, and adamant (No, I`m not back on the `80`s popstars again!) that all his injury troubles were a thing of the past, when in fact they are still very much behind him! I`m a little worried that the biggest scar tissue that Tiger is having to deal with is the one between his ears!?

Perhaps he just needs to get back to basics?

With the season creeping ever closer here at Portlethen and some nice bright, dry and sunny days appearing perhaps this is the time for you guys to think about doing the same? Pre-Season is all about knocking off some of that winter rust that will inevitably be there after a long (and sometimes enforced) winter lay off.

With the Range Facilities ideal and my Teaching Diary now available why not give your game a well-deserved and worthwhile MOT and make sure you are getting the all-important basics right!? These fundamental`s influence your swing so much, and when applied correctly your swing will seem easier, and your shots more consistent and achievable.

An early season session will also allow me to assess your equipment and set make up. This might highlight a performance limitation that isn't even your fault! Get your season of too as quick and enjoyable a start as possible by booking in today. Just simply click here to get yourself "Back To Basics!"

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!

As I touched on earlier as well, your equipment plays a big part in your performance. And as part of my commitment to making you perform better my Club Fitting & Trial Proposition I believe is going to be second to none, especially for a Portlethen Member. This week we had the first delivery and addition to that process.

In the Wilson D200 Club Range I truly believe there is one of the best value for money sets of Clubs on the market right now. They are aimed at a certainly level and type of golfer, but those golfers WILL experience some incredible performance form both the woods and irons that this model offers. And now available to you is a FREE On Course Trial option for the Complete Set! Yip, that's right! You can now take either the full Gents or Ladies Set out for a Test Drive on YOUR Course! This gives you the chance to trial ALL the Clubs in a real-time environment! To book your Trial Round Click Here or pop in store and ask.

Over the next few weeks more of these Trial Sets will arrive from the other Top Brands that I will be featuring in the Professional Shop. And remember, if you try them and like them then we will carry out a detailed Club Fitting process for you to ensure you get the very best performing and most suitable specification of Club to compliment your swing. 

 

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

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! 
-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. 



"Tree Fellers!? No There`s At Least 5 Of Them!"

It`s easy to assume that with the Course Closed a lot that the Greenstaff get a jolly skive! But that couldn`t be further from the truth because our boys use the enforced lull in Course Maintenance to tackle other important jobs that need done but don`t always get the quality time to do them. The pruning of the low hanging tree branches, and thinning out of the many tree plantations around the course are vital for the health of these areas, not to mention making recovery and play from these places easier for the golfers.

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.