Author: Richard Booth

This week we have three lots of competition results for you, which is always a good sign that the weather has been reasonably clement of late! The Pro Shop indoor winter league continues until the end of Feb. And the breaking news is that we’ve just secured Karl Morris to come and speak at the club in June. Please read on for more details.

Karl Morris

First off, this is not Noelle’s husband (despite him being a very nice chap too!)

I am delighted to announce that the other Karl is presenting to us on Monday 9th June from 1900 – 2030. He actually did a talk for us in my first year here at Hale, back in 2009 so I thought it was high time we got him back!

Karl’s presentation will be fun and informative. As you can see from the poster, he’s worked with some of the biggest names in golf but also spends alot of his time working with grass roots golfers. I’m confident that if you implement some of his suggestions, your golf will improve.

I went on a three day course that he ran in November 2023, which was fantastic. It was held in Manchester but delegates travelled from all over to be there – Irealnd, Belgium, Holland, Singapore, & the USA.

You won’t have any such logistical issues as it’s going to take place in the HGC dining room! Tickets are priced at £20 each.

I know this event is a bit different from the norm so I’d really appreciate you supporting it and making it financially viable by reserving your space.

Mens Team Betterball Waltz

Well done gentleman captain Ben Fallows, Pete Turkington & Neil Thompson for winning Saturday’s comp with 73 points. Paul Simpson, Jonny Gray and Andy Gething were second with 68 points. One shot adrift in third place were Bob Siddle, John Moss and Jim Nicholson.

Ladies 3 Clubs & a Putter

Congrats to Sally Blackburn for winning’s Thursday’s stableford with a very impressive 22 points. Louise Gerald was second with 19 points. Both Min Fishwick and Vanessa Veitch scored 17 points.

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

• Play the stunning Lofoten Links in Norway (ranked in the world’s top 100 courses)
• Pairs Betterball Stableford
• Nine holes (holes 1-9)
• Open to ladies & gents
• Entry fee £4 per pair
• Last opportunity to play – 28/2/25
• The top two scores will qualify for the final, which will be played over 9 holes (matchplay).

Bradley 5

Glyn Isaac won Wednesday’s Bradley 5 with 18 stableford points beating Bill Wrigley on a card play off. Andrew Fishwick finsihed thrid with 17 points.

Portugal

Thanks to Brian Greenbank for sending this photo in from the Algarve as 11 of our members competed last week in a Maxitours event over there.

Unfortunately I can’t zoom in on the photo so you’ll just have to believe me that Dave Rodwell, Brian Greenbank, Andy Cowan, Jason Wright, Bob Manley, Steve Bates, Bill Dixon, Paul Hunter, Martin Quinn, Dave Madeley, Jonny Yates & Glynn Isaac are all in the photo!

We have a few results to report on this week and an update on the Indoor winter league.

Three Clubs & a Putter

Congrats to Peter Wolfenden for winning the 3 clubs and a putter back nine stableford on Saturday with a great score of 20 points. Graham Jones was second with 19 points and Mark Williams was third with 18 points, beating Bob Siddle on countback.

Back Nine Stableford

Well done to Min Fishwick for winning Thursday’s comp with 21 points. Ceri Hyde finished second having been beaten on a card play off. Helen Davies was third with 17 points.

Pro Shop Winter League

As things stand, the top two teams are currently Jane Wilkinson & Jonny Yates and Ollie Grieves & John Book. You have until the end of Feb to have a go at beating their scores and qualifying for the final….

New courses on Trackman

Click on the logo below to check out some of the spectacular new courses available to play in the swing room.

The weather scuppered the seniors nine hole stableford which was due to take place last Wednesday. At least, we got some play for the ladies on Thursday and the gents on Saturday.

Bogey 4

Congrats to Dave McGlennon for winning Saturday’s 15 hole Bogey 4 with a score of three up. The alt day on friday couldn’t go ahead because of the heavy rains. Peter Hindle was the runner with two up and Howard Gill third on all square.

Ladies Stand-a-Side Texas Scramble

The weather was just foul on Thursday but two very hardy teams completed their nine holes so well done indeed. The team with the best score was Lisa Warnes, Sally Budd, Jane Wilkinson & Joanne Bryant.

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

We’ve had some competitive golf in the last few days with a seniors and a ladies event taking place. The men’s 15 hole Bogey 4 is scheduled for Saturday with an alt day on Friday morning.

Pro Am 2025

Just a reminder that this year’s Pro Am is taking place on Saturday 12th July. It’s been a popular part of the club’s golfing calendar since 2011.

Teams comprise of three amateurs and a pro that we fix you up with (unless of course you know someone who you would like to invite). Teams can be all female, all male or mixed. It’s a really good day – just ask anyone who’s played in it previously.

Please contact me for more details.

Bradley 4

Well done to Andrew Fishwick for winning Monday’s rearranged Bardley 4 back nine stableford with 18 points. Bill Dixon was runner up with 17 points beating Tony Adamson on a card play off.

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

Yellowball Stableford

Congrats to Jane Wilkinson, Diana Harris and Helen Williams for winning last thursday’s team comp wih 37 points. Mandy Gilbert, Vicki Wells and Jane Nicholson were two point adrift in second place.

Unavoidably the course is closed again today so how about some retail therapy instead? Or maybe enter the Pro Shop indoor winter league? Please read on for more info…….

Ping Drivers, Fairways & Hybrids

The new G440 range of Ping golf clubs are launching any day and I have jut received my demo equipment which consists of 3 driver heads, 4 driver shafts, 3 fairway woods, 3 fairway shafts, 3 hybrid heads, 3 hybrid shafts, 4 irons heads and 5 irons shafts which means a huge amount of custom fitting options. Please contact me book a fitting and be amongst the first to try these fantastic new clubs from Ping.

This new product launch means that I now have other clubs to sell (all right handed) at discounted prices as follows:

• G430 SFT 10.5 degree driver with regular shaft. Was £469. NOW £375
• G430 Max 10.5 degree driver with reg shaft. Was £469. NOW £375
• G430 Max 3 wood (15 degrees) with regular shaft. Was £299. NOW £239
• G430 SFT 3 wood (16 degrees) with regular shaft. Was £299. NOW £239
• G430 3 hybrid (19 degrees) with regular shaft. Was £279. NOW £223

We also have some ex demo G430 clubs available (3 drivers, 1 fairway and 1 hybrid) which will be a little cheaper still. Finally I have a used Ping G400 10.5 degree driver with a stiff shaft available at £199.

Golf Bag Sale

All golf bags that are in stock (there are 16 of them!) are 20% off until the end of Jan 2025. Be sure to hurry along to “bag” (groan….!!) the one that you want!

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

This 9 hole betterball pairs stableford is really starting to generate some interest. Please pop in to have a go before the end of Feb. You find the format and rules by looking at my blog post from last week.

Just in – SuperStroke Putting Grips

We have had a delivery of brand new SuperStroke putter grips in a selection of sizes, shapes and colours – all priced at £35 (which includes fitting).

Photos

Thanks to Vicki Wells for these lovely snowy snaps.

The course is closed as I write this on Tuesday afternoon. However the show must go on and so I must tell you that there are still a few spaces left in Saturday’s three clubs and a putter stableford… we just need the weather to allow us to run it!

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

Don’t forget that no matter the weather, you can all play in this event! It’s a nine hole pairs betterball stableford open to teams of two ladies, two gents or a mixed team. It’ll take no more than 60 minutes to complete.

• Powered by Trackman
• Play the stunning Lofoten Links in Norway (ranked in the world’s top 100 courses)
• Nine holes (holes 1-9)
• Open to ladies & gents
• Entry fee £4 per pair
• Last opportunity to play – 28/2/25
• The top two scores will qualify for the final, which will be played over 9 holes (matchplay).

The Small Print

1. Players can play from whichever tees they choose
2. Putting is not required and will be set up on the Trackman to “Auto – By Hcp”
3. Pairs may play their qualifying round as a twoball
4. The simulator hire charge is not included in the entry fee (except for the final, which will have a complimentary hire fee). The sim hire charges for 2+ players are £27 for 60 mins (£13.50 each if 2 players or £6.75 each if 4 players)
5. RB will match all entry fees that will go into the prize fund for the winners & runners up
6. The final must be played by 31/3/25. The team with the highest qualifying score must liaise with RB and give the second placed team 3 dates to play. If the final is not played by the 31/3/25, then we’ll have joint winners and the prize fund will go to charity.

Photos

Here are a selection of photos of the course from the last few days showing a variety of climatic conditions! The water feature on the 3rd is not permanent btw!

Happy new year to you all – hope it’s full of long, straight drives, crisp iron shots and plenty of holed putts!

NYE Frolic

Well done to Helen & Mark Williams and Kate & Antony Morris for winning this back nine step-a-side Texas Scramble event with a whopping 26 points. Runners up with 25 points were roger Sheen, Nick Maxwell, Paul Bramwell and Keith Thompson. A big thanks to ian Hunt for setting up and running the event.

Pro Shop Christmas Draw

This took place after the presentation for the NYE Frolic and congrats to one of our greenkeepers Ben Jackson for winning the main prize of £250 in Pro Shop credit. All the other winners are listed below and all the prizes have now been credited accordingly.

POSITION	AMOUNT	NUMBER	WINNER
1st	£250	383	Ben Jackson
2nd	£200	242	Jo Egerton
3rd	£150	367	Kerry Bailey
4th	£100	493	Sally Wright
5th	£75	220	Ian Ponter
6th	£60	376	Cliff Wright
7th	£50	269	Phil Long
8th	£40	226	Amanda Greaves
9th	£30	377	Rosie Gerrard
10th	£25	6	Tony Adamson

Thanks to Helen Wlliams, Kate Morris, Antony Morris, Mark Williams, Roger Shee, Paul Bramwell, Keith Thompson, Jo Egerton and Kerry Gill for for their help in drawing out the numbers. And of course thanks to so many of you for taking part and supporting the draw.

Pro Shop Indoor Winter League

• Powered by Trackman!
• Play the stunning Lofoten Links in Norway (ranked in the world’s top 100 courses)
• Pairs Betterball Stableford
• Nine holes (holes 1-9)
• Open to ladies & gents
• Entry fee £4 per pair
• Last opportunity to play – 28/2/25
• The top two scores will qualify for the final, which will be played over 9 holes (matchplay).

The Small Print

1. Players can play from whichever tees they choose
2. Putting is not required and will be set up on the Trackman to “Auto – By Hcp”
3. Pairs may play their qualifying round as a twoball
4. The simulator hire charge is not included in the entry fee (except for the final, which will have a complimentary hire fee). The sim hire charges for 2+ players are £27 for 60 mins (£13.50 each if 2 players or £6.75 each if 4 players)
5. RB will match all entry fees that will go into the prize fund for the winners & runners up
6. The final must be played by 31/3/25. The team with the highest qualifying score must liaise with RB and give the second placed team 3 dates to play. If the final is not played by the 31/3/25, then we’ll have joint winners and the prize fund will go to charity.

Don’t forget…

There are still a few spaces available for tomorrow morning’s nine hole comp. It’s an indiviidual stableford played over the back nine that is open to ladies and gents. Please sign up on Club V1 if you’d like a game.

This is my last newsletter before Christmas so I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support this year. Many of you have purchased Christmas presents and lesson vocuchers from the shop which is much appreciated. I hope you all get to spend some time with your nearest and dearest and have a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes for 2025!

The draw for the Pro Shop Christmas Draw will take place on New Year’s Eve at lunchtime after the Frolic so if you’ve not yet entered please reply to this email or pop into the shop to get involved!

Pro Shop Christmas Opening Hours

I’m on holiday from the 21st – 28th December and return to work on the 30th December. In my absence, Phil is holding the fort with new recruit Charlie Hindle (who’s just helping out by doing a few hours when home from university) so please pop in and say hello! Unfortunately we’re unable to open on Sat 21st December.

Step-a -Side Texas Scramble

Congrats to Roger Sheen, Nigel Taylor & Mike Kirchin for winning Saturday’s stableford with 22 points. Helen Williams, Mark Williams & Sally-Anne Heaford were beaten on countback to finish as runners up. 22 points. Third place went to Jane Wilkinson, Jonny Yates & Ian Powell 21 points. There was a good turn out with 39 players taking part.

Ladies Christmas Frolic

The winners of this team shotgun start competition were Caroline Massey, Lisa Warnes, Barbara Spark & Gillian Brogdon and the runners up were Joanne Bryant, Mandy Gilbert, Lucy Leonard & Helen Williams. The best dressed went to Gail Sampson as Santa! Diana Hogben received a gift for suppling mulled wines and mince pies to all of the hardy players on the 8th tee. Wendy Jenkins received a gift for all her help. Thank you to Terri Broadbent for suppling the photos.

Member’s Christmas Lunch

Thanks to Jan Ravencroft for her “insider report” from the members Christmas lunch which took place on Sunday.

The photos show the Captain’s table getting into the Twelve Days of Christmas and performing their very animated version of a Partridge in a Pear Tree. Plus gentleman captain Ben and past captains Roger Lait and David Wainwright full of Christmas spirit and finally a lovely photo fo the current and past lady captains, Gill Kay & Jan.

Mike Kirchin did a great job leading the carol singing. At the end of the afternoon, the draw was made for Lady Captain’s charity “hamper” raffle. £1435 was raised for ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ which is a fantastic achievement. Thanks to everyone who took part.

The winners were Sally Wright, Min Fishwick, Trina Walsh,  Val Nelstrop and  Morven Millar. A huge thank you to Gillian Brogdon for putting it all together.

There are still spaces in Saturday morning’s nine hole step-a-side Texas Scramble which is open to ladies and gents. It’s a 3 player team and the competition will be played over the front nine.

Winners from the Team Competition on Thursday 28th November

Photo

Golf and Christmas sweaters on Monday before the Brat pack’s lunch on Monday.

Well it’s now December so not too long until the bearded warrior makes his rounds! If you need any Christmas presents for that special golfer in your life, please pop in.

We can preapre a voucher of any value you for goods, lessons or both! We also have Hale GC crested towels, water bottles, shoe bags, wash bags, headcovers, caps, beanies, ball markers, pitch mark repairers, groove brushes and clothing.

Or how about a top of the range Spurk golf mat to help make winter golf more enjoyable? Or a light weight carry bag if you just want to take out a 1/2 set? Or perhaps an accessory for your electric golf trolley such as an umbrella holder or scorecard holder?

Mens Team Betterball Reverse Waltz

Saturday’s men’s 15 hole team comp was won by Alan Bradley, Bob Siddle and Chris Wood with 65 stableford points. The runners up were Dave McGlennon, Ted Shaw and Andrew Cowan with 63 points. Two points further adrift and in third place were Bill Dixon, Graham Jones and John Kennedy.

Mixed Betterball B9 Stableford

Thursday’s best two from three nine hole stableford open to ladies and gents was won by Sally Budd, Diana Harris & Lucy Leonard with 39 points. Jane Wilkinson, Kerry Gill & Ian Powell finished second with 33 points. The Nearest the Pin Prizes were won by Barbara Spark on the second and Phil Long on the 4th.

Seniors Texas Scramble

It was team comps galore last week. The first of which was the Seniors 9 hole Texas scramble. The winners with 23 points were Ian Hunt, Roger Fielding, and Andy Veitch.
Second place, following a back three hole card playoff, went to Andrew Fishwick, Roger Mattocks and Dave Swale. And Bill Dixon, John Webb and Steve Bates finished third with 22 points.

Photo Round Up

Thanks to Ted Shaw for this great winter sunrise photo whilst he was walking his dog Reggie last week (and not the location of his opening tee shot as he was quick to establish….!!) Plus here’s the evidence that Tom Sloan and Nick Horrocks were working hard putting up the Christmas lights last Friday.