We'll meet again…..
Oh we have!
Ha ha how are you blooming sweet pile of lovelinesses? I have a bumper newsletter with exciting and shiny things this week so keep reading!
This week saw the Volvo National Qualifier played on the 9th. This is a really very important competition because it raises money for Help for Heroes. This is the charity which supports our incredible servicemen and servicewomen when they become injured during combat. They provide practical support, recovery centres, vital accommodation for those who need it and they even fundraise for other charities. Wow, how incredible is this charity?
The winner of this event was Brian Jones with 37 points, followed by Andy Selway in second place and Andy Harris in third. Congratulations to you all. After a regional final, the National Final will be held at Turnberry. Good luck!
The Club of The Year runners up presentation took place on Tuesday, 12 May. We were met by Sharon Heeley, the England Golf Regional Manager who brought us our award, prizes from Cobra Puma (who sponsored the Club of The Year competition), and they also want us to star in their England Golf Case Study, which will published to all the clubs in the country.
I am very proud of my team, together we are a unit to be reckoned with! It was also really nice for Peter, Mark, Geoff and my assistant Andy to attend. Thanks to Geoff Clements for his kind words and also to Peter Bell and the council of this very fine Golf Club for allowing us to do what we do.
We have also been told we will be videoed for our work, and it will be shown at the next England Golf Awards ceremony as B&C is a shiny thing of brilliance! Wooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooooo.
I actually said to Peter Bell that I feel I need another form to fill in, it's been a while!! GolfMark two anybody?
Paul and Captain Geoff took on their first competitors for a Captain/Pro Challenge last Friday afternoon. Fresh from a nasal injury (ha sorry, I meant to photoshop!) Andrew Fisher arrived first wearing a most delightful plaster on the bridge of his nose. The reason for this was that he awoke very early and excitedly leant over to find out the current General Election status, only to fall and whack his nose on the bedside table! Poor Andrew, but it did make for some merriment! Andrew's partner, the ever swish Tim Westwood, arrived in style and the match began.
Paul and Geoff made some great birdies on 13th and 17th. Geoff chipped in on 13th from 25 yards short of the green. Paul hit a 4 iron to 12 feet and Geoff rolled it in for a birdie on 17. Tim and Andrew kept on fighting all the way round the front 9 and unfortunately they were beaten at the last. Congratulations Captain and Paul, a super win!
I would also like to congratulate John Wrigley, whose branch of the Bristol Irish Society took their national title in Leicester last week. Congratulations to you. It's always a pleasure to hear about our members' successes.
On a particularly blustery 6th May, we had our PING fitting day. The lovely custom fitter from PING, Johnny came to fit some of our customers with new PING goodies!
Click here to find out more about PING's fantastic hardware ranges for 2015
It is always advisable to either have a custom fit by us using FlightScope, or go to a proper fitting day. That way you can be sure you are buying the right clubs for you. There are even more fitting days coming up so keep a look out on our noticeboard.
Click here to get in touch if you would like to book your custom fitting.
This week I received a lovely email from a lady who works for Wecil (The West of England Centre for Inclusive Living). They are arranging a huge inclusive sports festival for August 5th at the University of Bristol Sports Centre at Coombe Dingle. This will feature many different types of sport, adapted inclusively, and we have been invited to come and coach disabled people in the community at the festival.
Well you can't imagine how excited I am about this, and of course it was a massive YES to the invite. I am finalising details for the day with Anna, one of the support coordinators, and we will then be good to go. I have entrusted the job of coaching at this festival to Luke and Andy, and I know it's going to be a huge success. It is also like a test run for our own Inclusive festival in September.
This week I have an instructional from Andy, so read on and see what you learn from his wise words of wisdom!
Putting - The bucket is always half full!
Do you struggle with your speed on the greens? Constantly leaving the ball short or going past the hole and leaving you those knee knockers coming back? It could be down to the rhythm of your putting stroke being too quick, jerky or just inconsistent. To improve the rhythm of your stroke here's a quick tip to help you establish a smooth stroke.
Firstly you need to half fill a bucket with water (always the optimist!). Now holding the bucket at the top on either side, take your setup with your arms hanging straight under your shoulders.
Make a putting motion trying to cause as little disturbance as possible to the water.
If your stroke is too quick or jerky you'll cause the water to splash in the bucket or even spill over the top. Maintaining an even and controlled rhythm will help to keep the water calm in the bucket and also encourage you to use the correct body parts to make the putting stroke.
If the thought of standing on the practice putting green is a little embarrassing for you, then just use your imagination. Imagine your holding the bucket of water whilst making practice strokes and visualise the water staying still and calm in the bucket.
I hope this tip helps improve your putting. If you try it out let me know how you get on and if you've any questions please pop in the shop and I'll be more than happy to help, or click here to get in touch.
Andy
Thanks Andy, appreciate the tips! But guys don't go pinching your missus' washing up bowl…!
This week I also read a funny little book given to me by our very own club legend Bob Bennett. Bob has written a lovely book which he had told me about on previous occasions, and this time I was lucky enough to be given it on loan. I do love a good read in bed and I got my Horlicks, a cookie and my favourite muumuu (it's a really warm fleecy onesie actually) and I settled down to peruse.
I don't want to tell you too much, because you might read it yourself and I can't give the plot away, but it is written from the perspective of Bob's two dogs Daisy & Monty. There are some wonderful pictures in the book, which add to the special feel of this.
Bob also tells me that he wrote another book quite some time ago, a story about some people who were trying to start up businesses of their own. It basically taught them how to go about doing this is a simple way and in an interesting fashion. Well done Bob, I wish I had read that when I started out! It's all a minefield when you have never done it before, and I had many a sleepless night worrying, so to create something to ease the worries is a valuable tool.
Thank yous
Mrs M made a choccy delight - mmmmm! Here's Cam stuffing his little cakehole! Thanks Mrs Mann
The very lovely Tony Stirratt also suggested that I include a favourite recipe on here. Sorry guys, I guess I have been a little food obsessed recently (ha only recently Caren?) so those who don't want to see my favourite recipe, don't click here!!!!
Those who do click the link and make it, let me know how you get on or, better still, email me a picture.
I also just wanted to inform those who would like to go to Joe Hayes' commemorative service (Joe died on New Year's Eve) that it will be at St Joseph's at Portishead starting 12pm. Joe was a member here for years and played in many of the B&C groups.
I hope you have all noticed our new beginner deal, for which there are some fetching banners outside the club - 5 beginner sessions for £25 on certain days in May/June. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this, please tell them we'd love to coach them!
So now it is time for me to sign off. This week I think I shall do so in Hawaiian!!
A Hui Hou!
Caren, Paul, Luke, Andy & Kris
