Hello everyone,
I hope you are all enjoying this nice sunny weather we are now experiencing - doesn't it make you feel better?
Onwards to Club News
Last Saturday did not see any club competitions, but instead we had a lovely sunny day open to all. I hope you all enjoyed it!
Next week's April Medal sheet is already full, but do keep an eye out online for any cancellations if you wish to play!
Following the April Medal is the Wills Cup, which is being held on 16th April. This is another start sheet and again it is proving to be very popular, so don't delay and book today online.
The Ladies play their Stableford and KitKat qualifier on Tuesday 10th, followed by the Bodinnar Cup on 17th. All bookings for these are available online.
Please ask us if you have any difficulty booking or visit the office and the fabulous George will show you how to do it.
I would like to congratulate our junior team consisting Harry Kennedy, Willem Cole and Tom Sproull on coming third at the Alexander Trophy played at Clevedon Golf Club on Monday. Well done guys, what a cracking result!
On to our PMGA Academy News
This week saw the last of Paul's England Golf AASE squad sessions for the year. The kids broke up for the "summer" (ha ha what summer?!) and the year ones will be back in September - year twos graduate!
Over to Paul's report of the weekend!
Pupils Mitch Waite and Noah Hessey from the Gloucestershire County Men's Team joined my England South West Under 18 Squad for the day. I wanted to give the England squad players a new experience and competing against two more experienced players was a valuable exercise.
Mitch and Noah are both away members of B&C and play off handicaps of plus one, and I wanted to competitively prepare them for the heavy season ahead, when they will be driving around England playing many of the national men's amateur events. The plan for them both is to reduce their handicaps to plus three or so and knock on the door of the England men's selectors by the end of the year.
It was great to have them along to share their thoughts on progressing through the amateur ranks, tournament preparation, how to practice to improve, and more importantly, further education.
I set up a number of skills tests for competitive comparisons, and although it was a closely fought contest, Mitch and Noah came out on top. I know that they both felt the pressure of expectation to win the skills tests, but at the same time, I thought a bit of nerves would prepare them for their first tournament in the weeks to come.
All four of my year twos have now passed and completed the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence, and the Squad Manager and I will be assessing applications for four new players to start the scheme in October. The vast majority of England Golf juniors move through the AASE scheme which provides them with some great learning tools and another A Level equivalent qualification.
It's been another hectic winter and I am so looking forward to our family holiday in August. I've been that busy that I haven't picked up a club since the beginning of December!
Talking of golf, the Captain and I would love to challenge you to a foursomes match. If you have a budding partner then put your names down on the Captain's notice board in the Spike Bar. I love playing Captain Pro Challenge matches, not just for the golf, but it's so nice to have time to talk with all of you.
What an absolutely beautiful cake Lorraine (Failand Post Office) has made for the England Golf squad! She is seriously one talented cake maker.
Paul has other important projects he is working on from now on, so it's going to be a busy summer I can tell….!
Paul starts tiny tots tri golf this Saturday - 4 little ones already booked, so it should be heaps of fun! If you have a tiny tot, do give us a ring and come along. It starts at 9.30am on Saturday, so come and enjoy the sunshine with us.
This week I received my Licence to Occupy from North Somerset Council after a six week consultation period. This allows us to run our Get Into Golf day at Portishead Lake Grounds on Saturday, 16 July. I am so looking forward to these days - hopefully the gods of the weather will be kind to us, as they have been for every other GIG day!
Please pop along and support us if you can - we set up at 8am and are open to everyone to come along and try the game in a supportive environment from 9am. The week before, on 9th, we will also be at Blaise Castle by the play areas and not far from the historic mansion, so visit us there as well!
Lastly Andy's Get Into Golf beginner 5 for £25 sessions for April/May are completely booked now. However the next set of 5 for £25 start in June, so ask for further details or go onto the Get Into Golf Website to reserve your place. These are open to complete beginners, so if you know of anyone who would like to try the sport without spending a fortune, these modestly priced sessions are such good value.
Don't forget - The AimPoint course is coming up on the 21st May. Five of the six places are already reserved, so sign up quickly to snatch the last available place!
On that note, have a great week,
Caren, Paul Andy & Luke