Blog

Hi everyone.

I hope you are staying well and not getting on the nerves too much of your nearest and dearest. That of course would be impossible for me to do but the people I live with are having their moments of pushing my buttons!!

Weekly Video

I am going to start a weekly video that I will include in this newsletter and in fact I recorded one yesterday (with umpteen takes!!) on posture. However it was rubbish on several levels – the backdrop, the content and my very wooden delivery. So that has been hastily deleted and I will be trying to up my game for next week!

I re-visited my YouTube channel which if it was a real thing would definitely have collected dust and probably a few cobwebs and noticed that I actually did a video on posture a few years ago. Although it isn’t perfect, I think the content and delivery are well worth a look.

Posture is not the most exciting thing to work on I appreciate but it’s something you can do at the moment with just a mirror, whilst you are unable to get to the course. Plus in my opinion, progress in this area can be as simple as improving your awareness of how you think you are standing at address versus how you are actually standing.

Please have a look (it’s less than two minutes long) and I welcome any helpful feedback from you. For the record, helpful does not mean explaining how the last few years haven’t been kind to me!! Also if you have any ideas for topics that I might cover in future videos, please drop me an email

Lifting Our Spirits.

Thanks to David Cranmer for sending me the note below.

The first thing I’m going to do when my golf resumes is go straight to my nearest course, walk onto the first tee, peg up my ball and take a moment to appreciate being back in my happy place before I hit my shot.

The second thing I am going to do is hit a provisional…!!

If you have any photos stories or jokes that are suitable for this esteemed publication, please send them to me so that we can have a little bit of cheer during these difficult times.

Stay well and our thoughts are with any of the membership who are directly or indirectly affected by Covid-19.

Welcome everyone to the golf newsletter with no golf to talk about!!

I’m on day eight of being at home following the closure of the golf course, clubhouse and Pro Shop last week. Chez Booth, all is going (reasonably 😉) well and a bit of a routine has been established with a couple of dog walks each day for our miniature dachshund Buddy and Joe Wicks’ morning workout at 0900.

So overall lockdown life is going well albeit very different to our normal existence. My wife Elizabeth is still able to carry on with her job for GlaxoSmithKline and so we all try and give her space to be able to do her emails and phone & conference calls in peace.

I also have work to do speaking to my accountants and trying to plan for how the government’s initiatives will help with paying Phil his wages and for my loss of income being self employed. I also pop down to the club every few days to collect and distribute the post and catch up on some other things.

At the Club

When I have been at the club, it’s strange experience. There obviously aren’t any golfers out there which makes the course look so inviting – the prospect of popping out there for a few holes is very tempting! Russell and Dave are still working tirelessly on the course without any let up. They’ve been sanding the greens to improve their drainage and ensuring the 1st and 2nd greens will be in good shape when we all return to the club in the future.

I’ve also bumped into Ben and his wife Cat (if you can bump into someone from two metres away that is!) and they too are busy – looking after their daughters and like many of us, trying to catch up on all those little jobs at home that have been in need of completion for some time!

Captains’ Drive In

Saturday was due to be the Captains’ Drive In. Jonny Yates and Irene kirk were obviously unable to do the honours but wrote a nice note to the members instead, which was sent out by email.

Irene re-created the occasion in her garden and apparently Jonny performed a “Captain’s Putt-In” at home which successfully struck his target. Please note, we don’t have any witnesses to substantiate this claim!!

Closing Words

I understand some of the members and their family members are battling the virus so our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to still be fit and well, stay safe and I’ll be back in touch again soon.

Following the announcement yesterday evening from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the golf course, clubhouse and the Pro Shop are now closed to try and halt the spread of Covid-19. As things stand, our hardworking greenkeepers Russell and Dave will continue working to keep on top of the course . It looks like the situation will be reviewed in three weeks time.

It is a completely understandable decision by the government and backed up by England Golf but it is frustrating isn’t it? We’ve had a lousy winter and the course is now starting to dry up but we’re not allowed to use it! In the grand scheme of things, it just doesn’t matter though does it? The main thing is simply that people stay well. With that in mind, I send my best wishes to all the membership and their families at this difficult time. Stay safe!

Competition Results

The men’s winter season ending Bogey Final took place on Saturday. Well played David Swale who was the winner on level. Charlie Hindle had the same score but lost out on account of a card play off.

In the ladies nine hole stableford on Thursday, twenty ladies took part. Well done to Anne Webster who was the winner with 17 points whilst Gillian Healey finished in second place, just one point behind Anne. Congratulations also to Mandy Gilbert for winning the 18 hole stableford with 32 points.

Sadly there are no photos of the winners from any of the above competitions as presentations have had to be put on the backburner.

So that’s it for now

Please look after yourselves and I’ll be in touch again when I have some news / updates. Once this is all over, we can look forward to playing golf again on our lovely golf course and when we do, I think we’ll all appreciate it just that little bit more…

Well as you know things are changing by the day if not by the hour with the current pandemic. Please click here for details of the club’s Coronavirus Policy, which is accurate at the time of writing.

Competition Results

The Captain’s Finale took place on Sunday. The format was teams of four with the best two scores from four counting. It was played over nine holes. It was also an opportunity for some “Greenkeepers’ Revenge” as they scattered random objects around the holes and at other points around the course to make things even trickier than usual for the players!!

The winners were the Freda & Ian Hunt and Min & Andrew Fishwick who won with an excellent 46 stableford points. Barbara & Robert Spark and Tracey & Keith Thompson were four points behind in second place.

Well done to Kathleen McNairney for winning Thursday’s 18 hole stableford competition with 32 points. Louise Gerald finished in second place.

Barbara Spark came out on top of the three way card play off to win the nine hole stableford with 14 points meaning Anne Webster and Clare Withey were beaten into joint second place.

Putting Competition

The gentleman captain Chris Wood hosted another fun putting competition on Saturday followed, as you’d expect in true Hale fashion, by lunch. The winner of the nine hole prize was Richard Dyson and the winner of the closest to the hole for the long putt was John Bacon.

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Competition Results

Congratulations go to Robert Spark and Peter Wolfenden for winning the Chicken Run on Saturday with 32 points. It was a stableford foursomes with a 0845 shotgun start. John Moss and Tony Sampson were a point off the pace to take second spot.

Not many played in the ladies 18 hole stableford on Thursday but even with a full field Mandy Gilbert would have taken some beating – she scored 38 points so well played Mandy! Gwynneth Bramwell was second with 33 points.

Vicky Wells and Jane Perks both scored 15 points in the nine hole stableford but Vicky fared better in the card play off to win the competition.

New Stock

Golf Access

On school term time Mondays, we are running an initiative called Golf Access. We start on the 16/3/20. This is a fun and structured way to get junior golfers onto the golf course. The children will tee off from approx 1615 to 1730 and will play from the forward tees or adult tees depending on their ability. Those from the forward tees will play three, six or nine holes again depending on their experience. Please click here and here for more details of the two programmes.

Please can you help?

Please would you be willing to volunteer and guide a junior group or two round? If can do every session then great. If you can only do occasional sessions that would be a big help to. Please contact me to find out more and do your bit to help the future of your club and the game of golf.

Competition Results

Unfortunately the weather took it’s toll gain on Thursday and the ladies competition was cancelled.

The men’s nine hole stableford did take place on Saturday although the turnout was limited with just six players taking part. No matter as Adam Hyde played very nicely to score 21 points and win. That man Bill Dixon was high on the leader board again finishing second this time with 20 points.

Talking of Bill, my apologies I neglected to mention last week that he was the winner of the Sharp Trophy. This is presented to the player who has the best four scores out of the six Bogey competitions that run over the winter. Bill finished the campaign with an excellent aggregate of ten up. Andrew Hay was second with four up and Robert Spark third with three up.

Masters Sweepstake

You know the season is nearly upon us when I announce that the Pro Shop Masters Sweepstake is up and running! The Masters runs from the 9th – 12th April this year. Numbers for the sweepstake cost £4 for one or three for £10. As the Masters is a small field of only 87 players, they will sell fast so please pop into the shop so that you can take part. Prizes in the form of Pro Shop credit are available for the first and second place overall and also for the best and worst score on each of the four tournament days.

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The scoring in Saturday’s Bogey 6 was exceptional. Sadly it had to be nine winter greens but it didn’t seem to bother Bill Dixon who romped home with a score of nine up… and no that’s not a typo! Bill’s on a hot streak at the moment so keep it up sir and congratulations!

Ian Macklin was second with seven up and spare a thought for Tony Sampson who also scored seven up and didn’t even get in the prizes as he was beaten by Ian on a card play off.

Clothing Sale

We have plenty of men’s and ladies’ winter golf clothing in the sale. It’s all at least 30% off so please pop in and grab a bargain – because at this rate the winter conditions may continue until August!!

Well still the lousy weather continues but we’re still here….. awaiting patiently the fabulous summer which is bound to come our way!
Unfortunately yesterday’s ladies competition was rained off but fingers crossed the final Bogey of the men’s winter campaign will be able to take place tomorrow.

Results

Congratulations to Wendy Jenkins for winning the nine hole stableford on the 13th February with a very creditable 21 points. Second place went to Vanessa Veitch who scored 19 points.

The previous Thursday, Jane Perks played very nicely to score 20 points and win the nine hole stableford. Vicky Chamberlain was second with 18 points.

Three players battled round to finish level in Bogey 5 which took place on Saturday 8th February. The card play off went in Bill Dixon’s favour and bothers Peter and Andy Veitch finished second and third respectively.

Other Photos

This year’s overseas Ryder Cup match between ourselves and Knutsford GC in the Algarve was fantastic for so many reasons. The weather was probably the best we’ve ever had and the courses were stunning with my favourite still being Quinta South. Everyone who went was fantastic company, great fun and played all the matches in the right spirit. Thank you so much for making the decision to come along.

Now onto the result….. Knutsford won this encounter by the closest of margins – after 3 days play and 63 matches, the overall score finished at 42.5 points to 41.5 points. So we were all hugely disappointed but we put up a good defence. The overall score now is four all so it will be all to play for again next year. We’ll re-group and bounce back stronger.

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The stand out performer from our team was Matt Nelstrop who won 7.5 points out of eight and so was was unbeaten over the course of the week. Well played indeed sir!

We had two rookies playing, Quentin Smith and David Rodwell, and they did a great job too. Most notably Quentin who beat the Knutsford Pro Tim Maxwell on the second day – giving Q thirteen shots over nine holes from the forward tees with the distance he hits the ball would be a brutal task for anyone!

Results Round Up

Congratulations go to Roger Flint for winning Saturday’s 15 hole Winter Stableford with 34 points. Peter Veitch scored 32 points and nudged Mike Massey into third after a card play off.

Gill Kay played very nicely to score 20 points and win Thursday’s nine hole stableford. Emma Daynes was in second place with 18 points.

In the seniors fourth nine hole stableford of the winter campaign on Friday, Alan Kemp topped the leader board with 18 points. David Swale scored the same number of points but was beaten into second place via a card play off.

Distance Debate

This has been in the golfing news this week so click here to read up on this very interesting report which featured on the BBC’s website.

Competition Results

There was some very good scoring this week in both the Men’s and Ladies’ nine hole stableford competitions.

Bill Dixon won on Saturday with 21 points. Roger Sheen was just one point adrift in second place. Bill Dixon and Ian Macklin scored twos and so shared the “twos pot”.

Mandy Gilbert used her new Ping irons once again to great effect to score a whopping 22 points on Thursday. Noelle Morris was second with 21 points and Vicki Wells third with 20 points.

Ping Demo Golf Clubs

I have recently taken delivery of some more ladies’ Ping G Le 2 demo clubs. I now have a driver, fairway, hybrid and seven iron for you to try FOC if you are in the market for some new clubs. Book a no obligation club fitting in the simulator to see how your current clubs compare against Ping’s latest technology.

Remember also that I still have several men’s Ping G410 demos available to try and the same rules apply with regards to no obligation fittings in the simulator.

Please waste no time and contact me to book your slot.

Viva Portugal!

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On Thursday thirteen Hale gentlemen members and myself fly to the Algarve for our eight consecutive overseas Ryder Cup style match against Knutsford GC.

It will be played over three days of competition commencing on Friday. It’s sure to be great fun but Knutsford will be hungry to make amends after our victory last year made the overall score 4:3 in our favour.

I’ll be putting updates on Twitter so if you’d like to follow our progress, please follow me @rboothgolf