I`m not going to lie, I got the fright of my life this week! I thought the establishment had caught up to me when I read the headline "Jack Daniels Swilling Golf Pro Hopes Aberdeen Can Get Him Back In The Swing Of Things!"
Fortunately it was 2 time Major winner, John Daly they were talking about this time!!
Yes, all eyes are on Aberdeen as the European Tour stops off at nearby Murcar Links for the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay. I`m sure the event organisers were delighted when the `Wild Thing` agreed to play, but they were nowhere near as happy as the owners of Soul Casino no doubt!! But given my brief sojourns into town I`ve witnessed already that it won`t be the first time the City has been subjected to middle-aged men with eighties mullet haircuts, bad dress sense and incorrigible addictions! No, I don`t mean me!! Although I have been compared to Nicolas Colsaerts before!.......Basically, I`m dreadful COMPARED to Nicolas Colsaerts!
In its first year the event hasn`t exactly attracted the game`s elite back to Scotland following the Open Championship but I`m sure if it is a success the event will grow year on year. However, there are lots of familiar and recognisable names on show. No fewer than 6 former Ryder Cup Players will be calling on their Matchplay memories whilst there are also 6 Home Grown players for the locals to cheer on. I`m sure Paul will want to put on a good show in the tournament he has worked so hard to pull together, and Marc Warren will also hope to recapture some of the good form that got him into contention at St Andrews just the other week. And it`s not just Daly that will have the Long Ball enthusiasts buzzing! Crunchers like the aforementioned Nicolas Colsaerts, Alvaro Quiros and Peter Uhlein will be on show trying to tackle the tight Murcar turf tunnels!!
And speaking of turf, there was more reason for cheer in Scotland during the week when it was announced that we had drawn England in the upcoming World Cup Qualifying Campaign for the Russia 2018. Wembley have already started taking precautions by cementing their goal posts into 20 feet foundations and installing an unliftable pitch. If mysteriously some of it disappears after the match then I`d say that was just Turf luck! No doubt though the authorities will see it differently and pack the Tartan Army back into the Train "….and send them homeward, tae DRINK AGAIN!!"
There has been more Matchplay making the media that has peaked the local's interest. Just a few hours down the coastline at the Elysium that is Muirfield the Scottish Amateur Matchplay has been taking place and Portlethen was well represented with the trio of Clark Brechin, Sean Lawrie and Kevin Daglish all making it into the high calibre field. Clark & Sean made it safely through the first round played in tough conditions on the demanding Lothian links. Kevin came close to making it 3 for 3 but lost out narrowly on the final hole in his opening match.
I was also really pleased to see a couple of players from my former Club making the headlines too as David Sibbald & David Dickson, both former Eastwood Club Champions, both knocked out some highly seeded and much fancied players in the 1st round.
Sean's week ended in the 2nd round with his match going all the way to the 20th before he lost out in the extra hole shoot out to Jeff Wright from Forres GC. Clark had progressed to round 3 quite comfortably but came undone at the next hurdle but well done to all the guys for representing the Club so well.
Photos left to right: Clark,Sean & Kevin
Hopefully for Kevin though, the disappointment of losing out in the Amateur will be made up by winning the Portlethen Club Championship as he has made his way to his first ever Final. In it he will face Ben Murray meaning that we will definitely have a new Champion to put on the board regardless of the outcome. It`s getting to, what the football pundits call, the business end of the season with all the various Club Championships and Matchplays drawing to a conclusion so I`ll bring you more news on some of them later in the blog.
Last weekend saw another 2 Round Tournament reach it`s conclusion. This time it was the Galvin Cup (Nett) & Galvin Shield (Scratch) competitions which were the aggregate scores from the last 2 Saturday competitions. In the Handicap event it was Scott Kranzke (71 + 68) who took the Cup whilst the Scratch went to Kieran Spence (73 + 74)
Scott Kranzke & Kieran Spence
Kieran had a good week as he posted his best score in a long time with a very impressive 6 Under par 66 in the Wednesday Medal. And not to be outdone his Dad also won his Division but felt a little inferior when his Nett Score still didn`t beat his boys Gross!
WALK ON MEDAL, Wednesday 22nd July `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Kieran Spence = 66(2) - 64 2nd: Iain Flett = 75(10) - 65 3rd: Jamie Ironside = 71(5) - 66
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: David Spence = 79(12) - 67 2nd: Rory Forbes = 83(15) - 68 ACB 3rd: Craig Guthrie = 83(15) - 68 ACB
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Bruce Johnston = 84(20) - 64 2nd: Michael Hay = 85(16) - 69 ACB 3rd: Ian Longstaff = 87(18) - 69 ACB
A more noticeable score for me though was that of Bruce Johnston. His Nett 64 help chop his Handicap by 3 strokes from 20 to 17! Bruce had only that week had a Putting Lesson and complete his Game Changer Lesson Package. Throughout his Package Bruce commented on how he could see improvements in his game, but not necessarily his scores, and mentioned at the start of his Putting Lesson that he regularly struggled with 3 Putting caused mainly by poor distance judgement. Needless to say Bruce was delighted to tell me that he didn`t have one 3 putt and had holed out really well en route to his best ever score.
Photos from left to right: Kieran Spence, Jamie Ironside, Rory Forbes, Craig Guthrie, Bruce Johnston & Michael Hay
GALVIN CUP/SHIELD 2nd ROUND Saturday 25th July`15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Stephen Cook = 72(4) - 68 ACB 2nd: Scott Kranzke = 76(8) - 68 3rd: Willie Todd = 78(9) - 69
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Mike Cameron = 80(13) - 67 ACB 2nd: Derek Goodall = 82(15) - 67 3rd: Stuart Pirie = 79(11) - 68
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Tony Storey = 83(16) - 67 2nd: Ken Riddell = 94(26) - 68 3rd: Steven Campbell = 92(23) - 69
Photos left to right: Stephen Cook, Scott Kranzke, Tony Storey, Mike Cameron, Derek Goodall & Stuart Pirie.
WALK ON MEDAL Sunday 26th JULY `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Ryan Penny = 69(2) - 67 2nd: Lewis Gordon = 73(5) - 68 2nd Sweep: Malcolm Thomson = 73(5) - 68 3rd Sweep: Graham Innes = 69(0) - 69
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Gary Pacitti Snr = 80(13) - 67 2nd: Derek Miller = 82(12) - 70 3rd: Jake Legge = 83(12) - 71
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Grant Turnbull = 86(17) - 69 2nd: Brian Alves = 87(17) - 70 ACB 3rd: David McKenzie = 87(17) - 70
Photos from left to right: Ryan Penny, Malcolm Thomson, Graham Innes, Gary Pacitti Snr, Derek Miller, Jake Legge
Well this week I tried to put my words into actions and headed off for a Tournament in Duddingston. Not sure whether I just started to listen to the advice I give my Junior Students or if it was my new Custom Fitted Callaway Apex Irons & MacDaddy Wedges but I managed to finish in a Tie for 20th in the 2 round event which was good, but having been Tied 6th after day 1 following a 4 Under 68 I was a little disappointed to fall back on round 2.
What it does say however that properly fitted Clubs can give you the confidence to go and perform at your best, especially a wedge system that suits your game and it's amazing the extra control new grooves give you over trajectory and distance. I`d recommend that everyone should look at the condition of their wedges and grooves then try them out against some of our new trial wedges to see how much you are missing out on.
Someone definitely in control of his short game over the weekend was Brandon Simpson.
Brandon is having an excellent season and the cherry on top might just have come on Sunday where he edged Lewis Sinclair in a fantastic tussle for the Junior Club Championship. Brandon had raced to an early lead but Lewis clawed him back and at lunch Brandon lead 2 Up with 18 to play. That advantage became 5 up heading into the last 9 holes and the final look all over bar the shouting. But Lewis certainly came roaring back and took the match to the last hole. Brandon managed to hold his nerve down the 36th to seal the win and become Portlethens new Junior Club Champion. Well done Brandon.
Photos: Brandon & Lewis, The Champ
Junior Stableford Saturday 25th July `15
1st: Ewan Brown - 47 Points 2nd: Aidan Fulton - 42 Points 3rd: Brandon Simpson - 37 Points
I mentioned last week about my end of holidays Junior Camp but I would like to highlight that I`ve tweaked the Timings a little. They are now 9-11am & 11-1pm.
Junior Development Camp
Date: Monday 10th August - Fr iday 14th August
Time: Group 1 - 9-11am Group 2 - 11-1pm
A fun engaging week of Professional coaching for children aged 8-14 (or 9 hole handicap) to help develop their skills and get them excited about progressing further and for some kids getting ready for the 18 holes. Each day will consist of learning a new technical skill, fun warm up activities, skill tests and challenges. £40 per person for the week.
Spaces are limited. To book please call the Professional Shop on 01224 782571 or email kamranzeno1992@yahoo.co.uk
"All the Golfing Gossip from the Powder Room" by Aileen McVey The Pro Shops 1st Lady
Well I`m doing my Judith Chalmers bit again this week and bringing you the ladies news from another of my holiday getaways! This time all the way from sunny Aviemore where I`ve brought both my Golf Clubs and my Bike. The weather hasn`t been great for getting out with either to be honest.
The weather hasn`t stopped the golf back here at Portlethen by the looks of it with some good scores being returned in the process.
Plevey Putter Saturday 25th July `15
Silver
1st: Rowena Keith = 89(14) - 75 2nd: Barbara Watt = 95(19) - 76 3rd: Linda Craik = 90(13) - 87
Bronze
1st: Silvia Revell = 99(29) - 70 2nd: Denise Robertson = 96(25) - 71 3rd: Morag Cammack = 104(27) - 77
Walk On Medal Tuesday 28th July `15
Silver
1st: Elaine Stoddart = 91(20) - 71 2nd: Linda Craik = 85(13) - 72 3rd: Barbara Watt = 92(19) - 73
Bronze
1st: Barbara Tait = 95(21) - 74 2nd: Di Driver = 99(25) - 74 3rd: Pat Penfold = 105(27) - 78
Photos - Elaine Stoddart, Linda Craik,Silvia Revell, Denise Roberston & Barbara Tait
It was Club Championship time for the Seniors too with Bob Inkster being crowned our newest Champion having triumphed in the final over Gary Wilson.
The Senior Section also got back to their Counting Competition fixtures last week too with some great Stableford scores being returned.
Seniors Stableford Thursday 23rd July `15
1st: Graham Christie = 41 Points 2nd: Keith Youngson = 40 Points 3rd: Peter Harkess = 39 Points
.jpg)
Bob Inkster and Graham Christie
Following last week's flash floods and pictures like Niagra Falls we have had more heavy rain fall this week. One consolation has been that it has predominantly been at night but regardless Neil has reported that we are at 127mm for the month of July. That's the largest amount that he has recorded this month since he started here over 7 years ago!
The course is standing up unbelievably well and you just wouldn`t even know that it`s been wet at all so firm are the fairways and so fast are the greens. However there are some little tell tail signs. The wet bunkers being one and LOTS of pitchmarks being another! So just a gentle reminder and a hopeful plea to be conscientious enough to repair ANY pitchmark you see. Even if it isn't yours!
Here is a little Video to help remind you of not only the benefit of repairing them but also the most efficient technique to do it. Click here to watch.
The season might be nudging past it`s midway point but my aim is to always keep things fresh and along with the help of one of the manufacturers in the Pro Shop I`m able to do just that.
Ping have a tradition of allowing the 2 different Head styles in their range to leap frog one another in their production cycles. So following on from the success of the G30 Range they have given their i-Range an upgrade too and I`m delighted to say we have both a full Trial Set and all the Custom Fitting Components for the new Ping i-E1 Iron. This Iron has an unrivalled combination of incredible forgiveness but with tradition looks and feel, meaning it has something to offer for a huge spectrum of golfers.
And where better to try them than on YOUR OWN Golf Course! That's the level of unrivalled service I`m trying to provide here for you guys, and add in my comprehensive GC2 Assisted Club Fitting Service you will get no better value for money anywhere else.
Ping haven't just stopped at a new traditional Club, they have also introduced what can only be described as a rocket launcher! Their new G-Max Iron has also arrived in a Trial Set and boasts some serious distance and ridiculous forgiveness. Essentially just wave it in the general vicinity of the ball and it`ll go!!
But if looking good is more your thing then I`ve also just taken delivery of some fantastic new Ladies & Gents Portlethen Crested Shirts & Sweaters to brighten up your wardrobe! These will be out on show as soon as we can get the chance to do it so why not pop in and check them out.
