Don't be surprised if you see me cycling into work over the coming weeks - following my run in the London Marathon in 2012, I'm now going to be cycling around the city in August. I'm taking part in the Prudential Ride London which is a 100 mile race following the exact route that Bradley Wiggins and co. raced in the 2012 Olympic Games.
We start at the Olympic Stadium and finish at Buckingham Palace (about 6 or 7 hours later!). There were 80,000 applicants and only 20,000 get to ride it so I'm lucky to get in. As with the marathon, I'm hoping to raise a lot of money for charity and this will be the very deserving Katherine House Hospice in Stafford.
Please take the time to sponsor me for this endeavour as I aim to raise £2000. Any donation would be very appreciated and I have set up a website which is https://www.justgiving.com/NevilBland or I have a charity tin in the shop.
I'm told that getting used to spending hours in the saddle is important and after spending 20 minutes cycling, I'm thinking I need to develop a solid 'standing-up' technique!
I have a 1980's Peugeot road race bike that was my Grandad's who was a keen cyclist and he used to take part in charity bike rides late into life, I was going to use this but it needed lots of upgrades. (Who knew cycling shoes have cleats that slot into special pedals so you can pull the pedals back as well as push down on them!?!). So, Thanks to Svein Balkoy who has lent me a bike to train on and set it up correctly for me. He's promised to take me out for a ride but I think I need to get some miles under my belt first!
Next weekend is my Professional's Day on Saturday 10th May. The format is popular so will stay much the same, for those who haven't played before, this is what you can look forward to:
THREE-BALL Texas Scramble
Team prizes
Longest drive
Nearest the pins
Complimentary Refreshments in the halfway house including tea, coffee, (beer), soup and nibbles.
Double your money par 3.
Most of the banter is saved for the 9th tee as that is where you get to have a shot at doubling your money. Simply bring £10 or £20 with you and if you hit the green, we'll credit your shop account with double your wager! But that's not all - miss the green and we'll still put your original bet on your account - you can't lose!!
Usually we get between 17 and 20% of you manage to hit the green, even though the tee markers usually aim way off to the right. Can't think how that happens.
Let us know in the shop on 01785 661485 if you need fixing up, or click here and email us.
Please remember, on competition days there are no visitors or members guests allowed.
Here's a new set of Vega blades I've built this week for myself.
4 to 9 iron fitted with X100 extra stiff flex Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts and the new Golf Pride midsize grips.
Whilst the blade design isn't for everyone, the new Golf Pride Multi Compound Platinum grips are awesome and they last a long, long time.
Other clubs in the workshop this week:
- Vega VM02 irons, Project X shafts
- Mizuno MP54 irons
- ACCRA tour Z reshaft
- Tom Wishon 3 wood
- Tom Wishon hybrid
- Titleist 913 hybrid
Here's some more pictures of a rejuvenated wedge after some re-grinding.
Last week I talked about using the bounce on your wedges effectively. That means gliding the sole of the club along the turf, not digging the leading edge in and you can happily strike the ground behind the ball. With this Titleist Vokey wedge, I've increased the bounce by shaving off the leading edge of the sole and rounding the rear edge.
What do you think after it's time in the workshop?
Tuesday's social 9 hole golf was won by Gary Murphy for the second week running, he scored 22 points. Come along this week between 4 and 6 pm and see if you can stop him winning!
Luke Howe has won the Staffordshire Winter Pro Am series Order Of Merit in both the individual AND team categories which is a tremendous achievement. He was tied for the individual with Danny Taylor as he couldn't play the last event last week at South Staffs as he was doing his PGA exams, Danny caught him with a 5th place finish.
In the team category he won by 8 points! Well done to all the Brocton members and friends of Brocton who have joined us this year on the weekly battle to win the fiver and thanks for playing with us, it's been good fun!
Apologies to Steve Bloxham and Steve Kane's after a mix up with this weeks event.
Next year's events start in September. Let us know if you'd like to play nearer the time.
We're both in action this week as we have the Staffs County Strokeplay Championship at Little Aston on Tuesday which is 36 holes, and then I have the Foremost Championships at Hadley Wood in London on Thursday which is a superbly run event. I lost in a playoff for the title two years ago but I'm hoping to play well and get one of the top spots and get back into the Ashworth Cup which is a Ryder Cup style event played at Gleneagles in July between the two main golf pro groups in the country.
Speaking of Ashworth, the clothing and popular shoes are due in this week from Ashworth - pop in and have a look and don't forget to follow us on Twitter or Facebook for regular updates (and some random stuff!)
Pro's Fiddle
Results from last weeks Pro's Fiddle on Bank Holiday Monday:
S Bright & S Trotman 44 points £26 each
I Carlton & T Nichols 42 £20
N Lamey & M Godridge 41 £18
R Brown & J Clark 40 £13
R Edwards & D Rees 40 £13
P Mason & M Mason 40 £10
P Birch & A Birch 40 £10
M Stockhall & T Edwards 40 £8
G Murphy & M Dilworth 40 £8
Men's Winter Knockout
Congratulations to Simon Bright and Anthony Dell, winners of the Men's Winter Knockout and receive a £35 voucher each and a tankard. They beat Bob and Sam Walker in the final who win a £25 voucher each. Other winners:
Losing Semi-finalists (£15 each):
N Flowers & I Thornton
J Brookes & S Skibicki
Losing Quarter-finalists (£10 each):
R Howarth & R Jefferies
M Godridge & T Venables
P Bright & S Trotman
A Dawes & P Hodkinson
