Blog

Hope everyone remains fit and well. Still not sure of when we’ll return to the golf course. The good news though is that the days are getting longer and the weather is much milder this week.

Below are some photos from a recent walk round the course to get you excited about the work that has been taking place on the course and some views to help your remember HGC!

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Don’t forget…

If you would like any of the latest hardware from Callaway or Ping, I will have lots of demo equipment for you to look at and try when we re-open. Please hang in there before rushing to purchase elsewhere….

I hope you and your extended families are keeping well. Sadly once again there’s not much to report on here at HGC – well except the nights are drawing out more noticeably now which gives us all a little bit of hope for what’s to come

In the professional game Paul Casey won his 15th European Tour event with a four stroke victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. Patrick Reed was involved in another rules controversy on his way to a 5 shot win at Torrey Pines in the farmers Insurance open.

Photos

The greenkeepers battle on during lockdown with work around the first tee continuing and the laying on paths on the third and ninth holes.

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Below is a photo from a week or so ago of what the proposed new fourth hole will look like under a dusting of snow – it could make a lovely Christmas card!

Still no golf and still plenty of crazy weather here in the UK but not so in Abu Dhabi where Tyrell Hatton had another excellent win. This time it was the HSBC Championship and the victory moves him to fifth in the World Golf Rankings. American Jessica Korda won the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions in Florida by two shots, having shot an incredible 60 in the third round.

New Season, New kit

I’ve been keeping myself busy sorting out pre books for the coming season. I’m thrilled to say I’m going to have the most extensive range of demo clubs ever. The brands that I have demos for are Ping, Callaway and Lynx. So if you are wanting to upgrade your clubs this year, please contact me and following lockdown, we can arrange a complimentary, no obligation demo. That way you can try before you buy to ensure that the new club out performs your current one.

It’s pretty scary investing heavily in the business when golf is in the grip of another lockdown and there isn’t any income. However, like many, I’m hoping that we can come out of this in the Spring and golf will boom again, as it did in 2020.

Pro Am

We had a tremendous response to my plug for the 2021 HGC Pro Am in last week’s newsletter. It takes place on Saturday 10th July. Eighteen of the twenty four places have now been filled and all of the afternoon times have been allocated. So please get in touch before it’s too late if you’d like to enter a team.

Moat

Just look at these three photos of the ladies first tee, following the heavy rainfall of last week, sent in by Howard Gill, Pat Jefferies and Terri Broadbent.

Practice Nets

The photo below is of our hard working greenstaff clearing the trees around the nets by the first tee on Monday morning – and yes look at that, blue sky!!

Well sadly not much to report on the golf front is there? So instead let’s look forward to a time post lockdown!

This year’s Hale GC Pro-Am will take place on Saturday 10th July. Please let me know if you would like to enter and whether you would prefer a morning or an afternoon tee time. Please remember this event is open to all male, all female or mixed teams. The format is three amateurs and a Pro with the best two scores to count on each hole. The afternoon slots are always more popular. Consequently they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so on your marks, get set, go……

Photos

During a walk over the course last week with our miniature dachshund Buddy, it was evident just how much rain we’ve had by the height of the Bollin adjacent to the third tee. The greenkeepers have continued to work hard whilst there have been no pesky golfers littering the course. Here’s a photo of Dave in action beside the new path by the third tee.

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Something to Read

I enjoyed an article which appeared in the online publication Global Golf Post recently about what attracts us to this brilliantly frustrating game. You can access it by clicking here. Enjoy!

Happy New Year everyone!

So the snow stopped us initially and now it’s lockdown 3.0…. meh!! We’ll battle through this and come the better weather and lighter nights, we’ll be back out stampeding down those lush fairways once again!

The main thing of course is that you and your families are keeping well. I wish you all the very best during these difficult times.

Kahla Trophy

We did get some golf after Christmas before the snow came in… incidentally I managed to sell a set of golf clubs whilst there was snow on the ground which I’m pretty proud of! We were able to make use of the Swing Room for the fitting.

Anyway back to the golf…. the Kahla Trophy was relaunched on Sunday 27th December with ten entrants. The format is a generational family foursomes competition. The winners with 15 points were Alex and Joe Mills. Second place went to the evergreen Munnerys, James and John, who also scored 15 points but were beaten on countback. The gentleman captain Jonny Yates was around to be able to do an impromptu presentation to the competitors.

Thanks to James Munnery for arranging the event and hopefully it will continue to grow in subsequent years.

Vouchers

I mentioned this previously in one of my December blog posts but it’s worth repeating – despite the inevitable down turn in retail over the next weeks and months.

I want you to be able to shop local and support your Pro Shop as much as possible. So with that in mind, should you have received any gift vouchers for American Golf as a Christmas present, we will accept them in the Pro Shop and give you their full face value. That way, there is no need for you to shop anywhere else

These are the T&C’s:
(1) all vouchers redeemed must be valid for a minimum of 4 weeks before their expiry date
(2) any vouchers not redeemed in full with have the balance issued as HGC Pro Shop credit
(3) vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.

Photos

Below are a selection of photos taken by myself and others from the holiday period. They’re broadly in chronological order.

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Well this will be my last missive of 2020 and of course, what a year it’s been. The course has been closed for approx 11 weeks out of the 52 and I can’t imagine that has ever happened before since the club was founded in 1903. Then when we did open in May, the course was consistently busy in a way that I haven’t seen in my eleven plus years at the club.

This wasn’t just at Hale as a golf boom gripped the nation. All was well unless you wanted to play a course as a non member or get hold of a golf trolley of any kind, as stocks were quickly depleted and still remain so even now to an extent.

My business predictably has been stop start but I just want to take this opportunity on behalf of Phil and I to thank both the club and the members for continuing to support the shop in such an emphatic way. Nationwide the call is to shop local and support small businesses so thank you for doing your bit here at HGC. So I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a fabulous and, more importantly, healthy 2021.

Pro Shop Christmas Draw

Talking of support, the Pro Shop Christmas draw sold over 600 numbers which is a fantastic effort so thank you once again! Our President, Barbara Grant, kindly agreed to draw the numbers out for me from the very high tech tombola that I bought online last year.

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So the winners and the amount of Pro Shop credit they each receive are listed below:

POSITION	AMOUNT	NUMBER	WINNER
1st	£250	586	Lee Bramley
2nd	£200	221	Cliff Wright
3rd	£150	72	Jonny Gray
4th	£100	445	Iain Carstairs
5th	£75	121	Alan Cannell
6th	£60	59	Howard Gill
7th	£50	215	John Book
8th	£40	512	Diana Hogben
9th	£30	395	Mandy Gilbert
10th	£25	38	Tiff Fielden

Saturday 9 Hole Stableford

We had a great turn out at the weekend for the 9 hole stableford. Well done to Richard Robinson for winning the men’s event with 21 points. Bill Dixon had the same score but was beaten into second place on countback. Alex Mills was third with 19 points.

In the ladies event, the ever reliable ladies competition secretary Sally Wright won with 18 points. Gwynneth Bramwell was second with 16 points beating Mandy Gilbert on a card play off.

Shop Christmas Opening Hours

The shop will open as normal until Wed 23rd and then the hours will be as follows:

Fri 25 – Mon 28 December	Closed
Tues 29 – Thu 31 December	0900 – 1400
Fri 1 Jan 2021	Closed
Sat 2 Jan	Normal opening hours resume

Photo File

In the world of professional golf, A-Lim Kim finished with three birdies to win the rain delayed ladies US Open on Monday by one shot with a cracking round of 67. This was her first professional victory outside of Korea.

In the men’s game the 47 year old Lee Westwood continued to roll back the years as he won the Race to Dubai for the third time, his first one being twenty years ago. Matthew Fitzpatrick won the actual tournament that finished on Sunday, the World DP Tour Championship with a 15 under par total.

Thursday Nine Hole Stableford

Back at HGC, the first competition after the latest lockdown took place last week. The ladies winner with 18 stableford points was Sally Wright. Congratulations Sally. Lynette Lodge finished second one point behind beating Gill Kay into third place on countback.

The men’s winner was Bill Dixon with a fine score of 21 points. Andrew Cowan was second with 18 points. Phil Long was third with 18 points – he too was beaten into third place via a card play off.

Well done also to Roger Sheen for recording the only two of the men’s competition for a bumper pay out

Video Analysis

I’ve now done a few lessons in the swing room with the new high tech video cameras. I’ve still got a few things to learn about using the software to get the very most from it but I’m getting more knowledgeable every day. It’s a really great bit of kit. If you like to see for yourself and book a lesson, then please call the shop, email me or book online by clicking here.

The Gift of Better Golf

Still not sorted out that golfing loved one’s Christmas present? Why not get them a voucher for some golf lessons which can be taken in the freshly upgraded swing room or outdoors if they prefer? Denominations to suit every budget are available. If you can’t get down to the club, payment can be made online or via telephone and the voucher can be hand delivered through your letterbox if you live locally, posted or emailed. Please get in touch to arrange yours now.

Other Vouchers

While I’m on the subject of vouchers, I want you to be able to shop local and support your Pro Shop as much as possible. So with that in mind, should you currently have any gift vouchers for American Golf or indeed receive any over the Christmas period, we will accept them in the Pro Shop and give you their full face value. That way, there is no need for you to shop anywhere else.

These are the T&C’s:
(1) all vouchers redeemed must be valid for a minimum of 4 weeks before their expiry date
(2) any vouchers not redeemed in full with have the balance issued as HGC Pro Shop credit
(3) vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.

Happily I started back at work on Monday and my foot seems to be doing ok at present so I’m really pleased. I will start coaching again in earnest from Monday 14th so if you’d like to get something booked in for that week then please get in touch.

I’m hoping to have my new video camera system in the swing room fully operational by then so fingers crossed. As soon as it is, more details will follow in my newsletter.

The greenkeepers are still working hard, currently laying turf in this horrible weather. Plus we remain hopeful that Ben and his team can spring back into action from the 16th December if Trafford moves into Tier 2.

Pro Shop Christmas Draw

Numbers are still available so please pop into the shop to get involved! They are £2 for one or £10 for six.

Christmas Gift Ideas

Special Offer on CBD products available in the Pro Shop from now until the 15th January 2021. Buy one product and get the second for 1p.

Hopefully everyone has remained fit and well over the last four weeks. Thankfully we can get back on the golf course on Wednesday for some exercise and camaraderie. With us remaining in Tier 3 there’s not much else we can do so fingers crossed the weather will be kind to us.

Upcoming Shop Hours

Unfortunately I can’t make it into work until next Tuesday at the earliest – I see my doctor about my foot on Monday so will know more then. In my absence, Phil will be manning the fort. He’ll be in as follows:

Wed 2 Dec	0900 – 1400
Thu 3 Dec	0815 – 1400
Fri 4 Dec	0900 – 1400
Sat 5 Dec	0900 – 1400
Mon 7 Dec	0900 – 1400

Last Call for Personalised Water Bottles

I will be placing the order for Christmas delivery on Friday so if you would like one of these mighty fine personalised water bottles for that special golfer in your life, please let me know before then. They are available in black, grey or navy and come up in a very nice presentation box. They cost £19 and you can have up to ten characters of personalisation.

Pro Shop Christmas Draw

There are still spaces available…. Please either reply to this email or pop into the Pro Shop from Wednesday to bag yours! Thanks so much to all of you that have already partaken

Well I don’t know about you but I really enjoyed watching Dustin Johnson romp home to win the Masters on Sunday. The finish time meant I didn’t fall asleep through the closing stages which was another personal bonus of staging the event in Autumn.

DJ played practically flawlessly and plotted his way round the golf course beautifully. He has power in spades but was not afraid to lay up when necessary. It seems the game’s not that difficult when you hit the ball straight and hole a few putts!!

Also a word about Tiger. He scored a ten on the par three twelfth in the final round which shows that any golfer can have a terrible hole. What was staggeringly impressive though was that he then proceeded to birdie five of his remaining six holes. Hal Sutton on Twitter felt that this was one of the single best achievements of Tiger’s glittering career. To dig in and keep grinding with nothing at stake but his golfing pride should be a lesson to us all.

Lights, Camera(s), Action

Council agreed to allow me to install some hi-tech video capture analysis in the Swing Room a few weeks ago so during lockdown the installation process has started. I will be using the GASP software.

To stop “shaft blurring”, you need two things: a video camera with a high shutter speed and lots of lights. Consequently three powerful lights with barn doors have been fitted to the ceiling. I have also fitted two large TVs to the side wall. One will display the golf ball data and the other will display images of the pupil during their swing.

I’m really excited about being able to offer this service to the members and pupils. I hope it will be fully operational by early December.

Foot Op

One thing that is about to slow down the above installation is that I am going in for a foot operation on Saturday. I have a two Morton’s Neuromas in my left foot (apparently they are the scourge of top class athletes….) and so the consultant is removing the larger one. I will then need to rest for a time afterwards so understandably going up and down step ladders will need to go on the backburner for a while!

Pro Shop Christmas Draw

First of all, a huge thank you as I had a brilliant response to the launch of the Pro Shop Christmas Draw remotely last week with dozens of golfers emailing me asking me to put them down for some numbers.

The good news is that it’s not too late if you missed it! Numbers are £2 each or six for £10. So if you’d like to get involved, please send me an email.

Water Bottles

The Hale GC crested water bottles with free personalisation have also proved popular. They are 500 ml, are available in black, grey or navy and cost £19. You can have up to ten characters of personalisation on them (a space counts as a character btw) so please email me with your requirements if you’d like to snaffle one! Delivery will be just before Christmas.

And finally…

Thanks to Andrew Page for sending in this photo of Dr Tom (Earnshaw) gracing the fairways just prior to lockdown in matching trousers and cap. I’m sure the outfit would have made the rest of his group smile during their game