Hello everyone,

It's shaping up to be a most wonderful week. Shall we begin….?!


 

The Ladies have had a couple of great weeks with the 3 Clubs and a putter competition. Lovely Yvonne Wesbroom took the lead on this one, with 28 points, followed by Claire Fairman (also lovely) in second place with 27 points. In the Foursomes Stableford, first place was claimed by Scilla Edwards and Su Worthington and second place was taken by Ali Vyas and Alison Bracey. Woo hoo! Well done to you all.

The next Ladies' Competition is the Hi-Mid-Lo bowmaker on Tuesday, 2 February.

Coming up next for the guys is the Pro Shop Stableford on Saturday, 30 January, and the main Monthly Stableford on Sunday, 6 March. Plenty to be looking forward to!

Now one very special little lad did a very special thing this week. Our PMGA Junior Player of the Year, Mr Harry Kennedy, got a hole in one on Saturday 24th at the 6th! 

This is one talented little guy, coached by Paul but his greatness is all of his own! He's just ten years old and a serious star of the future. Congratulations Harry, we are sooo proud of you.

I just love to hear the stories of achievements of our juniors - you are all so shiny brilliant!

On to the Academy news section!


 

Well it's been an altogether messy and untidy couple of weeks, but like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, we have emerged a much more beautiful creation (in our humble opinion!) So we admit it - the pro shop before mini refit, with its tired lemon paint and very old carpet really did need a freshen up, so we gave it what it deserved, and now it's a bit super duper special.

  

  

                

I hope you all like the fresh new style as it brings us closer to the home of golf. Not content with sprucing the place up, we also felt the lads would let the place down if they were wearing their old kit, so………………………..here's Andy McGreevy wearing the new Paul Mitchell Golf Academy team kit for winter 2015-16! Doesn't he look dapper?

   

And for the record, I did not make the trousers out of carpet offcuts! (I used underlay!!)

On Saturday, we also offered our FREE choc treats and a wee shortbread or five to all our super members who have supported us whilst the work was being done………….guys you're awesome!

     

We have started to get our new FJ footwear styles in, but more to come. Have a look at the new beauties above!

The new stock for 2016 will be starting to arrive soon - from March onwards we will be a full Under Armour stockist, with all of the latest products (and a super new UA wall design will be appearing in store, thanks to Academy friend Andrew Summers).

I am also really excited to say we are now displaying a new product on the market - BaffyNook lamps, made very cleverly locally from old golf clubs. A very stylish item for your house, pop in a see our own lamp!

For more details, please contact Laura at baffynookdesign@gmail.com.


 

Member Dez Gulliford won my FREE prize draw on New Year's Day for a years' worth of FREE golf tuition.

We have since got together a couple of times and Dez has been working hard on a couple of minor improvements.

Out first get together was a good chat and a look at his swing on the driving range. Dez currently plays off a handicap of 9.3 and is looking to get that down this year.

I noticed a couple of issues in Dez's set up starting with a tendency to position the ball too far forward in his stance with his irons. Sometimes this may suit a certain style of swing, but the problem with the ball being too far forward is that the hands then get too far behind the ball.

At impact the left hand should lead the clubhead but with the hands back, Dez was having to drop and loop to a very shallow plane in the downswing. Sometimes this does work, hence playing off a nine handicap but the timing has to be spot on to get the contact on the ball just right.

Dez's bad shots before was an inconsistent strike with the irons and an occasional hook and block with the longer clubs.

With the improved set up, hands at least level to the ball, I am encouraging Dez to think about his follow through. To stop him from dropping inside from the top of the backswing and hitting from behind the ball, he is working on getting to a perfectly balanced finish.

It's early days, but already I can see the improvement. Well done Dez!

   

If you are interested in improving your game with us here at the PMGA, click here to get in touch or come and have a chat with us in the pro shop.


So what's next for us? 

Plans are submitted for the Get Into Golf days, we start our New Siblands School coaching for 4 weeks on 2nd February, our Kingsweston school coaching starts 2nd March for four weeks, our Belgrave school coaching starts in April for 6 weeks……………and then I am going to curl in a ball and sleep for weeks! 

Only kidding, it's really good for all our stamina - and we LOVE it!

So on that note, have a brilliant week 

Caren, Paul, Andy & Luke