Hi everyone,

It started with a fine week but deteriorated into yucky wet stuff by the weekend. Never mind, the golf's been good.


 

Last week the Ladies took on a two day Challenge Cup and James Cup. The overall winner was Alison Bracey (74 points). The winner of Day one was Su Worthington (37 points) and the winner of day two was Gill Jones (34 points). Great golf Ladies.


At the weekend, the August Medal took place with a grey sky and a bit of drizzle. That did not phase the winner of division one, Ian Hayward, or the winner of division two, Les Freeland. Great golf guys.


The Ladies have now started their England Golf Open Amateur Strokeplay competition and we are in the midst of it. More to be reported next week.

   

Well done once again to Matt, Carey and the greens team on doing such a good job on the course - fabulous work guys.

So now we move on to Academy News




This week has seen us all busy on our various projects. Paul played a playing lesson and practice round with some of the girls competing in the Ladies' Amateur Open Strokeplay, so here's his report on the day:

England's 2016 Girls Champion Emily Toy, Welsh Ladies International Caitlin Brand Evans and England Under 16's Squad member Ebonie Lewis wanted to pick my brains on how to play Bristol and Clifton. All three are pupils of mine and it was an honour to take them around the course discussing course management and green reading strategy.

Last Friday was an extremely windy day to experience at B&C and many of the holes played directly into the wind. These three hit the ball as far as me and it wasn't a problem getting onto the green in two at the first hole. With many of the yellow and white mens tees being used for the Women's Championships this week, the course will play much longer than the normal red course. With competitors with handicaps as low as plus four, the winner at the end of the week will still be well below par.

A special mention and good luck to B&C's Alexandra Saunders this week.


 

I have been busy with the trademarking process and this week, I heard back from the Intellectual Property Office. The Paul Mitchell Golf Academy logo is now fully trademarked. I will be adding The registered mark to the logo (and laughing as it will look really funny).

  

I have also been making initial enquiries with a firm of solicitors about a part of our Academy gaining charitable status. This is because we receive money from a (wonderful) trust to fund our Inclusion work and it would help us to attract further funding to provide more coaching to special needs children in schools and at festivals. It would also strengthen our links with local charities and provide more coaching for other charitable groups such as the recent BASF coaching we held at the club. I will keep everyone posted.


Talking of Inclusion, we have finalised the last dates for Inclusion coaching for 2016 - 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th October from 11am. Following these, we take a break for the winter and restart in March 2017.


We have also been busy filling up our Get Into Golf beginner sessions. These are £25 for 5 group sessions on September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 5th October at 5.30pm and are aimed at complete beginners or those with very little experience. Although this was not a specific Ladies only group, so far seven of the eight places have been filled with Ladies. I am so thrilled - Girls Golf Rocks.. If you know someone who would like to reserve a place, and it is open to men as well as Ladies of course, please book through us ASAP as there is just one slot left.

Click here to get in touch if you are interested.


 

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been receiving lots of training from the various companies on products we stock and will soon be receiving. Two weeks ago, Rich Nelsey, area sales manager for Titleist, arrived at the pro shop to do some staff training on the new 917 product coming soon. Last week we were visited by Pete Brown, sales manager for PING Europe, so we had the chance to look at and test out the new iBlades. 

We really believe that training is the best way we can improve our service to you and don't forget, we price match. We really want to be your number one for golf sales and service - if you don't see what you want, please ask.

  

We have also been having our photos taken this week, in readiness for updating the pro shop and range signs this autumn. We don't feel right not having Nick's face next to ours on the wall, we are after all a team and stick together, so in September the whole academy staff will once again rightly be displayed outside the shop. 

I'm looking forward to Nick completing his level one coaching qualification so that he can be much more involved in the coaching aspect of the academy, and we will all pull together to support him.


Paul, Cam and I are off on annual leave to Spain this Thursday, returning to work on 5th September. We will be looking at our emails but for urgent messages, bookings, orders, lessons etc please contact the Pro Shop who will be able to assist. Newsletters will be going ahead as usual and we will throw in a couple of instructionals as well.

Before I go, quick thank yous - Nansi your cake was once again a hit. I'm in awe of your baking.

I would also like to thank June, Mike and Rusty Paton for their huge bag of goodies and gorgeous card for Cam. You are all so kind to us and we are so grateful. I promise I didn't eat it all June.

 

Thanks also to Mike Biggs and Christine Taylor for the most delicious clotted cream Cornish shortbread biscuits they bought for us - we love treats!

 

On that note, have a great couple of weeks and see you on 5th 

Caren, Paul, Nick and Andy