Hello everyone and welcome to this week's newsletter written by both Paul and myself!

On Sunday 16th March, we held our first ever Junior Captain's Drive In, which saw James Robinson hit his drive to start his year's captaincy. Our Academy ran a presentation afternoon to a group of Bristol & Clifton Junior Members, to explain how our junior coaching, competitions and other events work, and we have been pleased with the result of our efforts. Some of the Junior Committee were also present at our drive in day, and it is always nice to see club members supporting our Academy work with the juniors.

Following the drive in, our group of juniors then headed down to the 10th tee to play a friendly 9 holes together.

As well as our Drive In, we also started our new coaching initiative, The Junior Golf Passport, on Sunday. This is a structured programme run through the Golf Foundation which encourages juniors to follow their progress online and achieve their targets. As they improve, they achieve different wristbands, and complete more challenging tasks. Our junior coaching attendees loved it!

I know I have asked before, but I am really getting desperate to find a Junior Organiser for this club. Without a proper Junior Organiser, our club cannot keep up with the demands of team playing and being involved in leagues. Our Academy runs all the coach-ing, competitions and special events, and this will always continue as we love doing it, but we need someone to head the progression of the Juniors Section. If anyone thinks they could get involved with club competitions and help with the team competing in the Bristol & District Junior Golf League, please do let us know. It is an amazingly worthy cause, as the juniors are the future of this club and we want to do everything we can to ensure that we increase our membership and keep our juniors happy, safe and supported. I am not one to give up easily and this is something we can achieve together as Academy and Club. Click here to get in touch, and show your interest.

Our Pro Shop Stableford held on Saturday 15th March was won by Jason Dayus with 36 points, followed in second place by with Mark Dalton with 35 points. Well done guys!

Our Ladies' Semi Texas Scramble was won by Alison Leatt, Marion Jackson, Rose Hargreaves and our club secretary's lovely wife, Meryl Betteridge. Well done Ladies!

The March Stableford Division One was won by Andy Robertson with 40 points, closely followed by Andrew Smith (39 points) and Jeff Pickering (38 points).

Division Two was topped by James Benson with 41 points, and in second place Dave Sweeney with 40 points which pushed Ian McNeil into third place with 39 points. Great scoring guys!

It is the Golf Club's AGM on Friday 21st March at 7pm. Don't forget that you cannot vote unless you are present in person on the night. There are some fantastic candidates for council, so I urge you all to come along and help make choices to keep our golf club progressing.

On 22nd March, Azim Dinani drives in as new Club Captain. If you haven't as yet paid £1 to enter his 'Guess the Length of the Drive In' fun competition, there is still time to do so. The sheet is in the Pro Shop and proceeds go to charity. The winner gets a bottle of Champagne!

On the same night, there is the Cabaret night and supper. This is now fully booked, and it is wonderful to see such a well supported event.

On the 25th March, we have our Ladies' Captain V Ladies' Secretary competition, which is a shotgun start from 9.30am. Booking available online.

From Monday 31st March until Friday 4th April, our course is having a spruce up in Course Maintenance week, which has pushed the April Medal back to April 12th. Bookings for this will open online two weeks in advance, and it also contains the Virgin Atlantic Qualifier(Lombard Trophy). The winner of the April Medal will play with myself at the regional Virgin Atlantic Qualifier at Saunton later in the year, so winning has its benefits!

On the 2nd April is our FREE Ladies' Fashion Show. Sign up on the notice board for the show, and also for the supper if you would like to stay. Only £7 a head for a one course supper, so join your friends and have fun after the event.

Quick note!

Andy's Ladies groups sessions are really filling up now, and some are almost full, so please do sign up on the board in the Ladies' changing room to avoid disappointment. We will also run bespoke groups, so if you have a date in mind and get a nice little group together, we can arrange a coaching session especially for you!

Luke is also in the process of arranging some Seniors' Group coaching, so keep an eye out on the Seniors' Board for further details and dates to sign up.

I would also like to thank Tony Mann for providing the Academy with another delicious treat this weekend. Mrs Mann made Cameron the most amazing yummy chocolate cake, which the whole team got stuck into and by end of Saturday, the cake was no more. Delicious!

Now I am handing over to Paul to tell us about his Gloucestershire Gold Squad day on Saturday.

Gloucestershire Gold Squad News

This year I have a talented group of nine young players who compete for either the County men's first or second team. We had a competitive but fun day at Bristol and Clifton, and you may have seen them practising on the short game area and grass practice area behind the first green. Bristol and Clifton's 2013 Player of the Year, Jack Pring, showed his flair throughout the day by winning the chipping and bunker challenge, pitching test, and finishing one shot behind the nine hole challenge winner.

Jack is only eighteen years old, and has come on leaps and bounds since being selected for the Gold Squad back in October. Showing some great pre season form, Jack has prepared with some warming winter training in Southern Spain and can't wait to start his season. His first major tournament is at Copt Heath next month where he will be playing in the Peter McEvoy Trophy which is the first England Boys event of the year. Good luck to Jack.

The Captain and I are looking for challengers for our first Captain Pro together on Sunday 6th April, teeing off at 830am. The list of new dates are now on show in the Spike Bar near to the veranda entrance.

I am selling off my old Motocaddy S1 Rental trolleys for £150 each. The electric trolleys are in excellent condition, and come with a 27 hole battery and charger. Bargain!

And finally, this Friday is the PING Fitting Day, and there are still a couple of spaces available for an in depth club fitting experience with James Turnbull from PING. Click here to get in touch with us to book yourself in for a fitting. 

The ladies section continue to do well and recently our 'Mail on Sunday' team beat Saltford 2:3 at Saltford, so well done to Jane Bell, Paula Keaney, Alison Leatt, Karen Price and Lynne Vowles.

In the Alliance scratch foursomes, Karen Rix and Su Worthington beat the Filton team.They were 2 up at the end.

Liz Hale 
Ladies Captain