Hi Everyone,

Are you ready for this week's friendly round up of all things from B&C and PMGA? Well then let's get to it!


 

The April Medal was played on Saturday in a day of mixed weather fortunes (as always at the moment). It certainly got a whole heap more rainy by lunch, but the field stayed strong and plentiful!

Mike Collins took the top spot with a splendid nett 68, so fabulous work Mike!

The April Medal also hosts the PGA Pro Am qualifier, formally known as the Lombard, which means one lucky winner plays with Paul at Burnham in the next stage. The lucky winner will be announced next week.


In the Ladies' Medal at the weekend, the top spot was taken by Susan Ellis, followed by Karen Price - well done to you both.


This weekend saw the final of the Claret Jug take place. Four brave warriors in the form of Yvonne and Kevin Wesbroom taking on Iain Hathorn and Eva Tucker went head to head 'til the winners emerged...Our congratulations go to Eva and Iain. Well done, great job!


Last Friday saw the Seniors compete in their Seniors' Stableford. This was a qualifier and certainly drew in a crowd. The winner was Terry Beauchamp, followed by John Laycock in second place and Mike Ingham in third. Well done to you all, great golf.


Ladies' Captain Paula and Derek Kilgallon organised a brilliant Mixed foursomes Supper Evening last Sunday. There were lots of people playing and eating which is great to see. If you would like to play in these, please contact Paula for further information, or speak to us in the shop. It's a really nice way to meet other couples and enjoy supper together. The winners of last week's supper evening were Helen Battrick and David Law with 34 points, well done guys!


The next competitions on the horizon are: 

Thursday, 14 April - Midweek mixed open (book via the office) 
Saturday, 16 April - Wills Cup and Ladies' Stableford (online start sheet) 
Tuesday, 19 April - Ladies' Stableford (online start sheet) 
Friday, 22 April - Seniors' Stableford (no need to book)


Paul also entered his team for the BASF & Captain's Charity Day on June 3rd. "Mitchell's Mavericks", aka Paul, Paul's Dad, Carey and Mike Collins, will be taking on the field to attempt to bring home the trophy! There are some fantastic prizes and auction lots, so enter a team and come along to see what you can win!


Lots and lots to do! 

And now let's have a look and see what's going on through the Academy Door.....!


 

Paul started his tiny tots tri golf this week, and we had some absolutely lovely little ones join us on Saturday.


Max, Louis, Eloise, Harry and James all spent an hour with Paul, starting on the putting green and moving to the driving range. I also popped along to have a little watch of the talent of the future and some of these tiny tots are flippin' good! They all listen (bless) and all have a go, and it's a pleasure to watch them having great fun and learning at the same time.

  

  

Thanks Paul for doing a grand job with the tri golfers. The next session is on Saturday at 9.30am. 

Paul will also be taking over the regular Junior Coaching sessions from May, so for details please give us a call or email us for the dates. 

Luke also had a successful week with his Easter Camp, so it's been a great week all round for Junior Golf here at PMGA.

Now I would like to hand over to Andy McGreevy for his instructional of the week!


 

Hi everyone, 

This week I'd like to help you stop chicken winging! Chicken winging is one of the most common swing faults I see amongst generally weaker players who tend to swing the club slowly, and initiate their downswings with their upper body instead of their lower body. Players who chicken wing will tend to bend their arm through impact when it should be straightening and releasing the club (see picture). 

It can also stem from players who believe they need to help or lift the ball in the air instead of letting the loft on the club do the work and hitting down and through the ball.

Chicken winging can rob you of club head speed as it inhibits the natural release of the club head through impact as shown.

The bent left arm is effectively absorbing the torque and speed of the club as it slows the club down, so it's no wonder those who chicken wing also complain of golfers elbow!

So to stop this fault from ruining your game I'd like to share with you a handy drill to give you the feeling of what the correct movement through the ball is and help you stop winging it!


Backhand drill 

This drill is essentially how to hit a left handed topspin backhand in Tennis. You can do this drill using a disc, plate, table tennis paddle or a golf club, and in front of a mirror is even better. Grab the plate with your lead hand (left hand for a right handed player) as shown below. Start to turn your body into a half backswing, and as you do, make sure the back of your hand is facing away from you or towards the mirror.

   

Continue turning keeping your lead arm and wrist straight as you turn past impact and now the back of your hand/plate should be facing behind you, just as it would if you were hitting a topspin backhand in Tennis.

From this position start to turn into impact, and as you hit impact make sure your arm and the back of your wrist are straight and facing down the target line.

If you're performing this drill using a plate try to build up a repeatable feeling and then progress to a golf club as this becomes more familiar. The weight of the golf club may make this more difficult but it also makes it a great exercise for strengthening the muscles needed for this action. You can grip down the shaft to make the club feel a little lighter.

You can also combine this drill with taking a little step towards the target before you begin your downswing. This helps get the feeling of initiating the downswing with the lower body.

   

This really is an important area of the golf swing and if you devote just a little time each practice session to the movements described above I'm sure you'll begin to improve your ball striking and pick up a few yards. 

Andy


As always, I'm lovin' it!



Finally, the Pro Shop are moving into their new Spring/Summer uniform. I know I said it was going to be pink, but we decided to keep the pink uniform for our Get Into Golf days. I actually ended up choosing new shirts in the colour 'Volt'! 

Here's our Andy McG modelling the new uniform, doesn't he look smart? (and eye catching? And eye watering?! Yes it's really, REALLY, neon yellow). 

Nobody else was keen to model it................only kidding!

On that note, have a grand week 

Caren, Paul, Luke and Andy