I think I'm safe to mention Christmas now and we'll be launching our festive season over a long weekend - Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November. We usually hold a 'Christmas Greetings' night in the Pro Shop on a Thursday night but this year we're going bigger and better!!



 

Friday 27th November

We'll be starting the festive weekend with a BLACK FRIDAY FLASH SALE featuring many of the popular products from 2015 including shoes, clubs, putters and accessories.

Saturday 28th November

The men's Turkey Trot competition takes place and the Pro Shop coffee machine will be free for the early starters and there'll be something more potent for the later starters plus your first dip into the Christmas chocolate tin! You'll be able to look at some great Christmas present ideas and promotions with plenty of time to order in anything specific should you need to.

Sunday 29th November

We'll be running a special Sunday Mixed Pro's Fiddle - open to any combinations of golfers - male and female. Better Ball Stableford with 90% handicap allowance - no priority, just turn up and play or ask us in the shop to arrange a game for you.

Also over the three days:-

- Try out the new SkyTrak launch monitor for free.
- Many special promotions and offers.
- Have a go in the Christmas Raffle.
- Come and have a drink with the Pro Shop team! 




Congratulations to Mick Dilworth and Josh Smith who won the Captain Pro Final on Saturday, beating Andy Jones and Steve Trotman on local rule as they both had 40 points. They're worthy winners as they destroyed us with some phenomenal putting in the matchplay stage early in the year and birdied three of the last four holes to win on Saturday. The qualifying weekend for 2016 takes place in March.

Pete Hughes and Anthony Dell won the final of the Daily Mail tournament at the weekend, beating Ian Ashton and Steve Trotman. They go on to represent the club in the regional knock out stages and hope to win through to the Grand Final in Portugal. 

The Staffordshire PGA Winter Alliance was held at Brocton last week and everyone was thrilled with the course and the 'whale and chips' afterwards. Shaun Ball from South Staffs won the pro event with a 1 under par score and Luke's team of Bill Whittle, Nathan Lamey and Jay Wood finished third in the team event.



The ladies held their presentation night at the weekend with all the winners from the year receiving their due recognition. It's very odd to see winter events taking place whilst golfers are still playing in short sleeve shirts - and even the odd pair of shorts! The conditions have been phenomenal and the grass is still growing - slowly. We were closed initially on Saturday due to very heavy overnight rain but opened at 8:30 and lots of golfers enjoyed playing the better ball event. 




I played at Fairhaven near Blackpool on Tuesday with which we have a reciprocal arrangement for Brocton Hall members. For just £20 you can arrange a game at this fantastic Open Qualifying value, designed by James Braid in 1895.

   

It's a great winter course as we found out - they had experienced torrential rain the day before and was perfectly playable next day. We had a good links course 40mph wind and played round in short sleeves again which considering the wind, is a real bonus in mid-November. 




Decisions regarding the opening/closing of the course aren't taken easily and I met with Andy at 7am on Saturday to find out the prognosis. Later on, the Greens committee Chairman, Kevin Mellor, and Competition Secretary, Anthony Dell, along with Andy assessed the course in detail. I can testify that nobody wishes to close the golf course and it's always good to know that at Brocton if you aren't allowed on the course, then it is very much in the best interest of the course and the golfer's ability to get around. Saturday was a good example as it was very wet to begin with, but by mid-morning the high wind and temperatures meant that lots of golfers were very happy to get out and play. I say 'lots of golfers' but of course we don't see anything like the traffic that other courses see - during the week we often see less than 30-40 golfers daily.

The green staff have done a fantastic job clearing the leaves each day, only to see another dumping of them from the high winds. It's definitely the golf version of 'painting the Forth Road Bridge!' - As soon as you've finished, you have to start again. Please be careful as we move into winter on the slopes and bridges - we re-spike a lot of shoes with metal spikes at this time of year. 


 

There's nothing on this weekend so we'll be holding a Pro's fiddle - Better Ball stableford pairs, open to men and ladies, 3/4 handicap, white tees, £8 per pair including 2's. No Priority on the course - give the shop a call on 01785 661485.





In the workshop this week:

- Srixon 745 irons - KBS Tour shafts
- Titleist 716 irons - Dynamic Gold AMT shafts
- Titleist 716 irons - Aerotech Steelfiber shafts
- Mizuno JPX Boron Forged irons - KBS Tour shafts
- TaylorMade wood reshaft
- PING G30 driver