Last week I spent three days with Woody practising in Dubai. We didn't contemplate how hot Dubai could be in April and were greeted with some wonderful weather and some testing wind. We worked for two and a half days to improve his focus for actual playing on the course. This involved very little technical input from myself but more pressure games to induce a 'must do' trusting mentality.

Jumeirah Golf Estates which is the current home of the end of year Race to Dubai tournament, always welcome us to use their amazing practice facilities. Almost as good as ours?

We started with a chipping exercise, where I picked random chips from around 30-40 yards from the flag. In particular, chip shots that could confuse anyone into wondering what club to use, where to land the ball, which way the ball will move on the undulations, which way is the grain of the grass is growing, how will the wind effect the chip and what type of spin needs to be imparted on the ball to get close to the hole. The exercise was to get Chris thinking about every factor involved. I would ask him to drop one of my six foot diameter chipping rings onto the green where he thinks he needs to land the ball and talk through all possibilities, whether I felt he was correct or not and throw in some ideas. Obviously Chris is a very good chipper but we are always looking at ways to get the ball closer to the hole.

Any top professional can hit the ball inside 3 yards from the flag when pitching from between 45 to 120 yards and Chris is no exception. I decided to make our usual distance control test much more difficult by playing downslopes, up slopes, side slopes and rough lies. We also practiced pitching from 40-100 yards out of a bunker, which is one of the most difficult shots you can ever get on the course.

   

At the end of the first two days, Chris played a competitive nine holes using my homemade dice. On each side of the dice are different shot types:- Draw, Fade, Low, High, All Yours (any shot he wants) and purposeful miss (has to miss the target on purpose where he has to scramble). The dice was rolled before playing each full shot and encouraged Chris to forget about technique and try to manoeuvre the ball around the course. What I call playing mode!

On the final day we played nine holes with two balls (18 holes) on the back nine of the Earth course and Chris shot 70 (-2) with a lost ball. I think he is now turning the corner. After a disappointing start to the season he is getting better and better and better and I know that soon he will play his best ever golf. It would be nice to think he would be holding the Claret Jug at Hoylake this summer and qualify for the Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles. Why not?

     

Over to Caren for results and academy news

Caren's results corner

Some super results this week guys, muchas felicitaciones!

Following a group of lessons with Andy over the winter months, Nigel and Gill Jones have been burning it up! They were the victors of the Mixed Foursomes Supper Evening on 13th April, and they continued their fine form by winning the Mid-Week Mixed Open on 17th! Fantastic news, well done both of you and also well done to Andy!

County Seniors Scratch Salver Foursomes

On Friday 18th April, The 2014 County Seniors Scratch Salver Foursomes scratch matchplay was held at home against Chipping Sodbury. Clive Pulteney, Ian James, Andy Robertson, Mike Clew, Danny Savage  (and Mr Wrigley went into battle (boys are you sure you're all seniors? Some of you look so young!) and they absolutely whitewashed the competition, winning 3 - 0. It is fantastic to hear such amazing results, I am so proud of you.   

  

The ladies medal on 12th was won by Annette Murfin, and the Wills Cup last Saturday 20th was won by Mark Dalton, pushing Jack Pring into second place. Great scores guys, congratulations to you all.

Custom Fitting Day

We are running our very popular FREE Paul Mitchell Golf Academy custom fitting day on Saturday 31st May 9am - 2pm, the first of this year. This is entirely FREE with no obligation to purchase, and is a great chance to come and try out all of our demo products, from PING, Titleist and TaylorMade, and be FlightScope fitted by our trained technician Andy. Appointments start at 9am and finish with the last slot at 2pm.

We custom fit all clubs, from drivers to hybrids to irons, and can provide you with all the data, and what's even better, if you choose to purchase, we also price match with other companies. You can be assured that you are buying the right product for you as the proof is on the FlightScope screen and you also know you are getting the best price on offer anywhere.

If you do purchase, you are getting our top quality after sales care, which you can't get on the internet! So there's nothing to lose, book your FREE custom fitting slot now by calling 01275 393031, click here to get in touch, or pop into the Pro Shop.