"No man is an Island!"
But perhaps young Master Spieth, with a 12 month take home of $22 Million in on course earnings and an estimated $50 Million in overall earnings from this year can claim to be a more financially stable Jordan than the Arabian Kingdom he shares his name with! In fact with a reported National Debt of around $29 Billion it`s safe to say the Middle-Eastern Country is easily the poorest Jordan on the planet! I think if we got enough of them together they could either recolonize a NEW Jordan or just re-brand the old one!
With Jordan Spieth`s expertise on all these manicured Golf Courses he would be ideally cut out as Minister For Agriculture, Michael Jordan or to give him his official title `Air Jordan` would obviously be the Environmental Minister, Katie Price aka Jordan would keep abreast of all Media and Communications but she would probably have to artificially construct a couple of large satellite receivers before anyone would take her seriously in that role. Eddie Jordan would obviously be Minister for Transport! And I`m sure they would want to have the same sort of party vibe going on like Brazil so they would probably want someone qualified to get the Ola Jordan dancing in a Strictly controlled environment. With all these high profile and wealthy personalities there might be a bit of a power struggle to see who is ruler of their new land but one things for sure, no one likes a Flash Jordan! (too much!?)
Jordan Spieth is certainly no flash in the pan that's for sure. At 22 he has had a landmark season and a record breaking one at that! Tiger was the modern day golfing Phenom, a genuine challenger to Nicklaus`s greatness. When Tigers star started to fade, out of the shadow emerged the precocious talent that is Rory McIlroy! Every inch as powerful and capable of the extraordinary as Mr Woods but with seemingly much more control, perhaps he was the man to challenge Jacks Legacy!? Then along comes a quiet, unassuming Texan with a golf game that is so solid it appears unspectacular and, so far, has literally knocked the records and his opposition out the park! Jordan`s 2015 performance card has been quite simply incredible! The first 2 Majors were followed by Top 2`s in the next two! (I know he finished 4th in the Open but he only missed the playoff by 1 stroke!) He`s played 25 events finishing in the Top 10 in 15, winning 5 and 2nd on 4 occasions. The last victory coming on Sunday at the Tour Championship, which meant he not only finished the Season with a win but also, and deservedly so, topped the pile in the Fed Ex Cup (the PGA Tours money list standings)
With a golf game as sound as Carol Vorderman`s counting and a head more level than Mr T`s mohawk I think it`s safe to say Jordan Spieth will be a force to be reckoned with for a long time. Whether he can push Jack (or Tigers) major record only time will tell. But at least he won't have to worry too much about his pension!
So Spieth winning in America isn`t any great surprise but his fellow countrymen nearly created a surprise of Japanese proportions in the Peanut Hugging Championships! Fortunately for us they didn`t as it was Scotland who they were playing! But at the end of the first half where we were about as efficient as a Volkswagon at an Emissions Test we trailed the Yanks by 13-3. They were USA, we were US less! You wouldn`t have thought that America would be all that good at Rugby but it all started when they won the draw from the face off, fed the ball on a blind side play to their quarterback, who ran the shot clock down before pulling back for the free throw and unleashing a howitzer of a slapshop from the hashmarks out to first base into the path of the running back who made a clean catch in his mitt, avoided the fumble, slide for the home plate and made slamdunk! TOUCHDOWN USA!! It certainly made the NBC highlight reel as they looked back at the Top 10 plays of the week brought to you by `Just For Men` - "Chase The Grey, Stay Youthful Today!" The halftime team talk by Scotland's Head Coach, Vern Cotter, obviously worked and maybe she got her Celebrity Juice co-presenter, Keith Lemon, to lift the guys spirits too! What!? It`s not the former Radio 1 DJ? They perhaps got inspiration from that famous line by Rabbie Burns - "If at first you don`t succeed Try, Conversion, Try, Conversion, Try, Conversion, Try, Conversion, Try and Conversion again!" - Or maybe they got fired up when they followed the Lion Rampant flag back out for the second half. It was carried by a young mascot in Kilt & Highland Dress. The Americans were going to get the Star Spangled Banner also carried out by a man in a skirt but unfortunately Bruce Jenner was already booked to do a gig!
Speaking of gigs with men in women`s clothing Portlethen had the comedy talents of Patrice & MacRuvie at the Club on Saturday night. I believe this was their third time performing at the Club and by all accounts it was another successful Social event although I also heard some of the material was not for the faint hearted. The term "Turned the air blue" has been used!
It was the sky that turned blue for the weekend (and most of the week actually) here at the Club and provided quite possibly the best weather and playing conditions we've had since June! In fact it was so nice we were contemplating playing next years July & August Medals just to ensure we got to play them without the need for mitts and a beanie!!
People keep using the phrase 'Indian Summer' but all I'll say is Delhi get carried away!
Wednesday kicked things off for the weeks Competitions with a Stableford. A format that tends to favour the higher Handicappers who are not as severely punished for having a bad hole or two as they would be in stroke play. This proved the case again with Scott Garden in DIV 3 posting a best of the day 41 Points. The Captain, Ian Cruickshank, showed them how it was done in DIV 1 with 36 Points courtesy of the count back. Ryan Sheikh showed that he had the right amount of patience and just what the Doctor ordered for that day as his 38 Points won DIV 2.
WALK ON STABLEFORD Wednesday 23rd September `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Ian Cruickshank = 36 Pts (10), 2nd: Clark Brechin = 36 Pts (+2), 3rd: Paul Morrison = 36 Pts ACB (6)
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Ryan Sheikh = 38 Pts (13), 2nd: Dino Becci = 35 Pts (12), 3rd: Terence Kennedy = 35 Pts (13) ACB
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Scott Garden = 41 Pts (28), 2nd: Michael Tough = 38 Pts (17), 3rd: Jonathan Russell = 37 Pts (16)
Ian Cruickshank, Clark Brechin, Ryan Sheikh, Dino Becci, Terry Kennedy, Dave Fleming
Saturday was the Medal Finals & Consolation Medal. And with a return to standard Strokeplay it it was a Division 1 players who posted the best score. Drew Tremain's 66 was the best by 2 from Dave Fleming who is back to form following his recent injury layoff!
DIV 2 saw Chris Stoddart continue his good form top take top spot with a 68 from the man who's getting used to finishing second, Tom Boyle. There was something to cheer about for Tom though as Chris hadn't entered the Sweep so at least Tom got all the loot!
Kevin Moir was another having to settle for only the bragging rights as he too topped his Division(3) with 67 but also didn't enter the Sweep.
Medal Finals & Consolation Medal Saturday 26th Sept'15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Drew Tremain = 74(8) - 66, 2nd: Dave Fleming = 73(5) - 68, 3rd: Rikki Chalmers = 79(10) - 69, 3rd Sweep: Bruce Harrold = 77(8) - 69
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Chris Stoddart = 81(13) - 68, 2nd: Tom Boyle = 81(12) - 69, 3rd: Mike Will = 84(13) - 71, 3rd Sweep: Ron Fulton = 84(13) - 71
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Kevin Moir = 89(22) - 67, 2nd: Gary Duncan = 87(17) - 70, 3rd: Scott Marshall = 91(21) - 70, 3rd Sweep: Rama Maganti = 96(25) - 71
Mark Will, Bruce Harrold, Stan Lenort, Gary Duncan, Kevin Moir, Tom Boyle, Ron Fulton
Sunday was a Walk On Medal but despite it being an even better day than the Saturday I think most of you decided to Walk On By as the entry was particularly low! So much so that we could only pay out 1 place in the Division 1&2 Sweeps!
What was even more surprising than the low entry was the high scores! The playing conditions couldn't have been any better but we only managed ONE score better than the SSS! That was by Jim West in DIV 2 with a 69! Next best was in DIV 1 and Robbie Murdoch's 72 was both good enough to top that Division and was Aldo lowest gross of the day (74). DIV 3 was won with a 73 by Stan Lenort.
WALK ON MEDAL Sunday 27th September `15
Division 1 (10 & BELOW)
1st: Robbie Murdoch = 74(2) - 72, 2nd: Kieran Spence = 77(1) - 76, 3rd: Graham Smith = 87(9) - 78
Division 2 (11-15)
1st: Jim West = 81(12) - 69, 2nd: Graham Penny = 89(12) - 77, 3rd: Jim Douglas = 91(14) - 77
Division 3 (16 & ABOVE)
1st: Stan Lenort = 92(19) - 73, 2nd: Walter Thompson = 95(21) - 74, 3rd: David McKenzie = 92(17) - 75
Robbie Murdoch, Kieran Spence, David McKenzie, Graham Smith, Jim Douglas, Walter Thompson
As I mentioned last week 7 of our Ladies were away chasing the sun in Portugal. Well I'm pleased to report they all made it back in one piece.
They had been visiting Cascais which is the Lisbon area of the country. They managed to squeeze in 5 rounds of golf at Quinta Da Marinha, Estoril, Penha Longa, Beloura and Oitavos Dunes. The ladies said all the courses were great but Penha Longa was the favourite only because it had Sauna and a Jacuzzi in the Locker Room! Lady Captain Linda has already put a suggestion to Dino!! I think his response was something along the lines of "you've just got a lock that works, what more do you want!!"
I think another tongue in cheek suggestion was considered when playing the hilly Estoril course because the Club laid on a buggy and trailer to transport players from the 16th green to the 17th Tee! Sound familiar!? Although we would need to buy a return ticket for a here at Portlethen!
The trip was to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Ladies Away Weekend Trips and much reminiscing and laughs were shared!
The girls were back in time to take part in the Medal Finals but it was Morag Cammack (73) who won with Rowena Keith (75) and her newly fitted irons in 2nd!
It was Medal time for us Seniors last Thursday and our guys definitely took advantage of the nice weather! We don't feel our aches and pains so much when it's warm you see!
Ray Davidson swept the field with his 43 points so I'm sure Stuart will be taking some credit given the fact that Rays been having Lessons! In fact I'm sure it's a 1,2,3 for pupils of his!?
SENIORS MONTHLY MEDAL Thursday 24th Sept`15
Division 1(All)
1st: Ray Davidson = 43 Points, 2nd: Stuart Winpenny = 41 Points, 3rd: Robert Ewen = 39 Points
Well clubs are in the cupboard for a week as I head off on a trip back to Azerbaijan so this weeks report is short and sweet as I'm scrambling it together before I board!
With all the Trophy golf done it was just a Stableford Comp for the kids this week. Their competitions have moved to a Sunday which is a sign that the days are getting shorter now as they wouldn't be able to finish playing on a Saturday behind the Gents.
It's good to see some of the Juniors finishing the season strongly though with good scores coming from William Lloyd (41 points) and someone I've been working with, Ewan Brown (41 Points)
Ewan missed a huge chunk of this season with a football injury but he might still be on course to finish the season at single figures! Louise Cook (37) is also continuing her good form!
Photos -William Lloyd, Louise Cook
The course is potentially in the best condition it's been all season. Needless to say the dry, warm weather is a godsend to Neil and the guys and they are presenting the course in a fantastic way right now. Many people (members, visitors & guests) have commented on how good and fast the greens are running.
I think a few people got a bit concerned when they saw Neil trialling a new machine on the putting green the other day! Don't worry this was just to get an up close look at a new scarifying machine/technique which might be something Neil feels would benefit the greens at a later date.
As I reported the other week, I was at the product launch of the new TaylorMade M1 Driver and PSi Irons. Well I'm delighted to say that the Trial & Fitting Clubs have arrived in store and are here ready for you guys to test drive them ahead of their retail launch date. Why not take one for a round or better still book yourself in for a Fitting Session and get one dialled in to your individual requirements.
To book a Trial or Fitting - Click Here
Meanwhile remember we have some of the biggest and best savings on the current R15 you`ll find anywhere.
TAYLORMADE R15
DRIVERS: Now ONLY - £269
HYBRIDS: Now ONLY - £129
The Autumn/Winter range is arriving thick & fast. On top of the Galvin Green Collection we have also just received the new Under Armour Collection as well as the new Exclusive Pro Quip Range. This includes Ladies & Gents Waterproofs, Lined Sweaters, Wind jackets, Beanie & Mitts! We are in the process of getting them unpacked and merchandised for the weekend but I`m not sure if the builders will have my shop extension completed by then!!
To continue to make the necessary space for all these new and exciting goodies I have some fantastic Offers and Promotions still running.
For a Limited Time Only:
BUY A GALVIN GREEN SUIT** FOR ONLY - £350!
**Selected Jackets
ALL BAGS IN STORE - 20% OFF!
ALL SALE SHOES - Up To HALF PRICE!
