It seems like everyone is at The Open this week. Looks like it’s going to be a varied test with temperatures in the 30’s preceding thunderstorms and heavy downpours. Who does that suit from the field? I’m sure Matt Kuchar is going to win a big one soon although he hits a high ball so it may not be this week. Justin Rose from these shores and I think Bubba has got to be a good bet with his ball-shaping ability – he nearly won at Lytham in similar conditions 2 years ago.
Congratulation to Mike Dewsbury and Stefan Skibicki who won the Club Championship and Twigg Trophy respectively at the weekend. Mike’s 1 under par total of 67 and 70 won by an impressive 9 shots from Ian Ashton and Neil Johnson. Mike was briefly down to +1 handicap at +0.6 for a week and is now close to that again at +0.4. That means that he would have to add a shot to his score instead of taking one away. So, a golfer of 1 handicap would get a shot on the hardest hole at Brocton, the 12th, whereas a golfer off +1 would give a shot away on the easiest hole, the 8th, so he’d have to get a birdie, nett par.
The Captain and I are hoping that Mike gets down to +1 again soon because then I’ll be receiving a shot off Mike in our upcoming match!! That’ll be a first, and of course that shot will come on the easiest, not the hardest hole.
Here’s a picture of Mike hard at work practicing the very next day.
Stefan’s rounds were equally impressive as nett scores of 63 and 68 were just good enough to pip Shaun Davison with rounds of 65 and 68. The first few holes were played in heavy rain and the afternoon round was in a strong wind, so well done to all 78 competitors.
Practice can make perfect
Ian Carlton has been working on his game in our Academy scheme and spent 10 minutes working on his bunker shots prior to the Twigg Trophy. The result? He got up and down out of green side bunkers 4 times and holed another one!
Wade Upton had an up and down day on the course including an ace on the tricky 17th!
The club match v Beau Desert was a 7.5 – 2.5 win to Brocton. The Captain and I had a good game against Barrie, their pro, and Captain Tony and I came out on top eventually. The food afterwards was perfect for a hot day and was met with comments like “exotic” and “progressive” by our guests – chicken and chorizo pasta with garlic bread and then my favourite, Eton Mess, for dessert. Our away fixture against Beau is the big one – we’ve never won away there. The winner holds a club head on a rope inscribed with the words - “Friendships last when each friend thinks they have a slight superiority over the other”!
Alison Parkes won Lady Captain’s Day recently by 2 shots from 4 others with a nett 69 on another testing day.
Richard Le Page is out in Michigan representing England in the World Golf Championships this week.
After the first round England are in second place, just 3 off the Americans in the lead.
You can keep up with the action at www.wdgc2014.com
How many of you have a bogey hole on your course?
A hole which you get stuck in a rut with and no matter which way you play it, Old Man Par seems to have the upper hand every time! Chris Leonard’s bogey hole has been the 9th at Brocton, his average has been 4.8 for the year – here’s a message after we worked on the 9th hole tee shot during a lesson:
“Just to say, thanks for the lesson today. Had a birdie on the 9th! Thanks, Chris”
Here’s your chance to partner one of the leading professionals from the Midland PGA circuit. We have a couple of spaces in the Pro Am on Friday August 22nd. Teams of three amateurs and 1 professional playing for:
£3000 amateur prizes
£4000 professional prize fund
Hole prizes
Halfway house complimentary refreshments
Meal after play
PGA tournament vehicle leaderboard
Hole sponsorship is available at £325 including your entry fee and advertising in the brochure and the opportunity to advertise on the course.
Team entry is £165 for a Brocton team and £210 for non members teams which is great value for this top venue.
If you would like to play as an individual please let me know, I can fix you up into a team.
Please click here to let me know.
Charity Bike Ride
I’m up to 62 miles in my training rides so far, last weeks' ride was hilly and into the wind all the way from Stafford to Wolverhampton, Bridgenorth and then Shrewsbury. My next long ride will be the longest before the Prudential Ride London 100 on August 10th and I’m planning to cycle to Leicester and back which will take about 6 hours. It makes you realise how far 100 miles is – I could cycle to The Open at Hoylake and that would still be just under 100 miles! Goodness knows how they manage to complete the Tour De France.
I have a collection box in the Pro Shop as I’m aiming to raise £2000 for the Katherine House Hospice in Stafford. I also have a website www.justgiving.com/nevilbland. Please give what you can as it’s a very worthy cause and it’s easier than doing the cycling yourself!!
Open Championship Shop Offers Whilst Stocks Last:
All clothing – Buy 1 get another half Price!!
Titleist Driver, 3 wood and hybrid bundle – save £148!
PING G25 Driver, 3 wood and hybrid bundle – save £168!
FREE Motocaddy Lite bag with an S3 or M1 electric trolley – save £99.99
Half Price Motocaddy Lite bag with a push trolley – save £49.99
Malcolm Wood has sent me these pictures of Brocton Hall in the 1980's. Isn't it amazing how small the trees were 30 years ago given that the course is 90 years old!
