Lots to tell you about this week as Mother Nature teases us that the golf season is just around the corner. The fairways have been cut for the first time this week and Andy says the greens have sustained growth on them after the hollow tining process.
This week we received a new greens mower which has the added advantage of doing two jobs at once. It will clear away dead grass whilst it cuts and save another machine having to follow behind. The current greens mower will be used for the fringes and aprons. It's great to see some definition on the grass at this time of year with the sun out and some warm temperatures, although bizarrely the course was extremely quiet in the week - I guess you're all having to get in the garden!!
Group Coaching Classes
Ladies beginner coaching. I have a couple more slots available for the ladies beginner class - please pass this on to anyone who you know that would like to trial the game. Clubs will be provided and dates will be to suit the attendants, it's a great way to get into the game, in a fun, group environment.
New Brocton Hall Junior Academy
The current series of junior coaching culminated last weekend with all the kids receiving their Golf Foundation certificate after passing tests and proving that they had developed their skills in putting, chipping, pitching, bunkers, full swing, score keeping, etiquette and course management. This week is a free of charge session in case they've missed a week.
We'll have a new junior series launching in a couple of weeks time with some exciting developments as part of our commitment to Better Golf from a young age, just one of the reasons Brocton Hall commands 'Golfmark High Achiever' status.
We're launching a new Junior Academy which reaches out to all the juniors, not just the younger or newer-to-golf sections. Times will be dependant on the uptake and ages can vary, but generally speaking the classes will take the form of:
- 11:00am - 11:45am, 5-9yr olds, 6 week course, £36, max 8 in a class
- 1:30pm - 2:30pm, 9 -11yr olds, 6 week course, £48, max 8 in a class
- 2:30pm - 3:30pm, 11-13yr olds, 6 week course, £48, max 8 in a class
- 3:30pm - 4:30pm & 4:30pm - 5:30pm, CONGU handicap golfers, 4 week course, £48, max 4 in a class
We will continue to provide a free of charge week at the end of each series in case a week is missed with every class. The new CONGU handicap groups are ideal for the golfer who has perhaps outgrown the larger groups and would benefit more from some individual tuition. Being much smaller groups, they will effectively be a great opportunity for some more attentive coaching and some supervised practice whilst retaining the fun aspects of group coaching.
The first three classes are open to members and non members, but the last two groups will be member-only. Please click here if you would like to register interest or have a question.
Here's a couple of photos of Holly Hunt during her coaching last week. I rarely like to change a golfer's grip on the club, a grip doesn't have to be orthodox - it just has to complement other areas of the golfers game. For example a strong grip turns the club into a digging tool and be complemented quite well with other movements in the swing that counteract the digging action. Paul Azinger won millions of dollars and a major with the strongest grip you'll probably ever see!!
In Holly's case however she was hitting 'steep traps' - low shots that are caused by her strong grip whilst the rest of the swing and swing direction was good. The photo with lines on it shows the top of her backswing with a strong grip, the clubface is twisted to face the sky in a 'closed' position which will give her the steep trap. The other photo was her first shot with a better grip, the clubface now in a neutral position and producing a much shallower impact. The result? - higher shots, 2 clubs more distance and less injuries in the future!!
Remember - if something doesn't change in 3 shots, then it's probably the wrong thing for you to work on or not the right way to work on it. There's no point making the swing 'orthodox' or 'pretty' if it doesn't change impact. Even the opposite fault at impact is better than no change at all.
Titleist Vokey Wedge Launch
To celebrate the Titleist Vokey SM5 wedge launch this Friday, I'm releasing details of an upcoming wedge clinic.
The new wedges have kept the popular Vokey shape but have a new sole grind and finish and have been much anticipated in the golf industry. Most golfers are surprised to hear that Vokey wedges are cast, not forged like Miura, Mizuno or Vega but as Titleist put it on their website 'it's because of the large number of models we develop'.
Pop into the shop and have a look, as a Vokey stockist we'll also have some demo models available.
So, the wedge clinic - It will be on Friday April 4th from 4:00 - 5:30 and there will be 10 places available at a cost of £20. All the demo wedges will be available including Miura, Vega, Mizuno, United and Vokey and topics covered will be:
Please click here to reserve your place or pop into the shop. Places will be on a first come, first served basis.
Putting Clinic
On Tuesday April 1st we have your last chance this Spring to take part in the Putting Clinic series. The two previous clinics in January and February have been fully subscribed and following this one there will be a outdoor series focusing on green reading, distance control and taking it to the course, which will only be available to those who have attended one of the three indoor clinics.
The April 1st clinic will be from 7:00pm - 8:30pm and costs £20. Please click here to book your place.
Topics include:
Workshop
As you can see in the image, it's been busy in the workshop again this week
Masters Sweep
The Augusta Masters sweep is up and running in the shop. There are 96 squares at £5 per square. Once filled, we will draw the 96 players to a number at random and the top 5 in the tournament will win credit in the shop with the first prize this year being £150. (assuming all tickets are sold).
The best and worst scores of each day will also win £10 so there's plenty of chance to win, no matter who you draw.
