Hello golfers,
Well another week goes by here at the Valley and plenty of golf has been played. The weather is still holding on for us, thankfully, with a few winter showers scattered around not enough to deter the many keen golfers wishing to take to the course. We are still on course to finish a full season of competition golf which is testament to both how good the course has been this year and also how kind the weather has been to us. We are just starting to see some signs, however, of winter and are busy preparing for the months ahead both on and off the course, keep reading the newsletter for more details.
Bunker Renovation Programme 
We are now in to week two of our bunker renovation programme here at the club. As you appreciate there is bound to be some disruption as this is carried out so we appreciate your continued understanding. So far the weather has been pretty kind to us and work is on schedule with some great work being done.
The work consists of improving and adding drainage through new drains, better construction of the bunker layers as well as some new shaping around and on the edge of bunkers to help water drain away.
We also will be filling in some bunkers and will have some new additions and we will keep you updated about how the works are coming along.
Motocaddy Rentals For Sale
I am now taking down names for anyone wanting to purchase one of my Motocaddy rental trolleys. I have six to sell and all of them are in excellent condition and come with a 36 hole lead battery. They are S1 digital models and are selling for £190 each. They will be available from mid November so if you are interested then please contact me in the Pro Shop.
Micky Davis recorded an excellent nett 65 to win the Medal Winners Trophy, well done Micky! Division One was won by Jason Morris with a nett 65, one ahead of runner-up Geoff Garrett. Phil Bradford had the low score of the day with a nett 63 in winning Division 2 beating Micky Davis in to runners-up spot. Jamie Scanlan took Division 3 honours as his nett 70 beat Nick Crout by a shot.
Well played to all this week's winners.
A new feature to the newsletter is our rule of the week feature. If you have a ruling that you would like featured or answered then please contact the pro shop and we will feature your ruling in the coming weeks. To start us off I have featured a ruling we have been asked a few times:
Question
You are on the putting green and prior to hitting your putt you have a practice swing to the side of your ball but you accidentally catch the ball with the toe of your putter and the ball roles 6 inches to the right, what is the ruling?
Answer
This is not officially a stroke as the definition of a shot is a fair attempt at hitting the ball and this was done accidentally on a practice swing so a one shot penalty must be added to a players score and the player then MUST replace the ball back to its original spot and play from there.
Dates for your diary
Saturday 25th - 10.00-11.00am - Junior Roll Up session
Sunday 26th - 10.00-11.00am - Junior Team session (hcp juniors)
Sunday 26th - 11.00-12.00pm - Game Improvement session 2 of 4 (Putting) £7.50 per person - open to everyone
Monday 27th - 3.30-4.30pm - Seniors' Coffee and Coaching (Driving)
Tuesday 28th - 2.00-3.00pm - Ladies' Coffee and Coaching (Bunkers)
No testimonials this week however a congratulations to Micky Davis and Geoff Garrett for great Saturday performances. They both have really benefited from swing fixes in the recent weeks and made use of looking at their swings after Saturday performances.
Please remember that I am here to coach until 8pm on both Monday and Thursday so if weather or work stops you playing, You can still keep working on your game. Don't let the above stop you improving.
The winter pitch shot
With the soft ground conditions and soft greens, the opportunity to hit pitch shots at the hole and get them to stop are much higher than in the summer months. A key to this shot is to make the proper contact with a descending strike. Any contact behind the ball in the wet will result in a 'fat' shot.
Use a lofted club with a high degree of bounce, such as a sand wedge or purposely designed wedge. Ball position should be in the middle of the stance with the weight being 60% on the left side. Try to focus on the sternum staying over the ball without swaying to the right. This will ensure using the loft on the club correctly and imparting a downward strike. Swing length will vary per person however a 3/4 movement would be more than ample with feet width just narrower than a full swing to control swing speed. Don't worry when you hit the turf, focus on a nice full follow through keeping up the inertia of the club.
To talk about what bounce on the club actually is, or if you want to work on this shot further please come in and talk to me more.
You may have seen this feature on TV or in various golf magazines that you read. Normally, they always focus on what the tour professionals have in their bags, and this is where we will differ.Our new feature will give you an insight in to what we find in our customer's golf bags. What brand of club, what type of clubs they carry including shaft flexes and lofts.
But we start this week with what's in my bag:
Driver - Nike Covert 2.0 Tour set with 10.5 degrees of loft; Stiff White Tie shaft and a white multi compound grip (my favourite club)
3-wood - Nike Covert 2.0 standard head with 15 degrees of loft; Stiff Kuro Kage shaft and a white 2G wrap grip
Rescue - Nike Covert 2.0 Tour rescue set at 18 degrees of loft; Stiff Kuro Kage shaft and a white multi compound grip
Irons - Nike Pro Combo (4-PW) fitted with Rifle 6.0 steel shafts; Lie angle 1 degree upright and a white multi compound grip
Wedges - 50, 54 and 60 degree V Forged; Rifle 6.0 steel shafts and a white multi compound grip
Putter - Nike Method 001 mallet; 34 inches in length and fitted with 2.0 Superstroke grip
Golf Ball - Nike RZN Platinum
Glove - Nike Dura Fit size small
GPS/Range Finder - Skycaddie SGX W and a Bushnell Tour V3 Jolt
All my clubs have been custom fitted to suit my game and all golfers should do likewise if you want to maximise your performance. Come and talk to us about what's in your bag and how we can help you set up your bag to lower your scores.
When was the last time you had new grips?
As we approach the winter months it is essential that you review the condition of your grips. Many of you will not have changed your grips since you have had your clubs so they will be well over due a change. It is a proven fact that poor grip condition can lead to poor golf. One of the key reason is that over a period of time grips lose their traction. They become hard and shiny and can start to slip in the hands when hitting shots. As a reaction to this it is common for a golfer to then increase grip pressure in order to keep hold if the club correctly which, in turn, can cause tension leading to poor rhythm and poor timing.
We have recently installed a new Grip Bar in the Pro Shop (seen above) which allows us to correctly fit you for the best type and size of grip to suit your game. Correct grip size is crucial for consistent golf as it allows the hands to control the club head. If the grips are too thin then the hands can work too quickly causing the clubhead to close and the shots to fly left. If the grips are too thick then the hands can work too slowly leaving the clubface open leading to the ball flying to the right.
Next time you're at the club why not pop in and talk to us about having some new grips fitted and see what difference it can make to your game.
Winter Golf inside this year
As winter approaches it's a good time to remind you of the fantastic indoor facility we have here at the Valley. Our GC2 Simulator and Launch Monitor is state of the art and a fantastic way to keep your golf going this winter. Whether it is through coaching, fitting or just playing on one of the five courses we have you will be able to keep your game sharp over the coming months.
I am currently working on some winter promotions based around the simulator and will add these in to next week's newsletter. We will also be running a competition where someone will win FREE use of the simulator for the winter and we will be reducing the hire cost of playing the simulator at certain times over the winter period. I myself will be sharpening my game up in the warmth of the simulator this winter!
Winter Stock
We have just received the bulk of our winter clothing orders in to stock. We have a great selection of waterproofs, cover ups, compression tops, fleeces, bobble hats and beanies as well as winter mitts and umbrellas. Basically everything a golfer needs to keep playing this winter. With brands such as Nike, adidas, Under Armour, FootJoy and Stuburt, we have all bases covered at various price points for men and ladies. With our price promise we are ultra-competitive with price and are service is second to none so please come in and get fitted for winter.
Know how far you hit the ball
Many golfers I play with have no idea of what yardage they have left in to any green. Their club selection is based upon guess work which they may get away with it to an extent as they become familiar with their own course but when they go elsewhere they struggle to get their club selection right.
A GPS watch is the perfect way to get an accurate yardage on every shot you play. It displays a yardage to the front, middle and back of any green thus giving you the opportunity to select the correct club needed to cover the required distance. The SkyCaddie GPS watch is a fantastic product and is in stock in the pro shop. We have a demo watch available for you to take to the course and try.
Find your numbers
Working in conjunction with a GPS device it is vital that you know how far you hit each club. Using our GC2 launch monitor we can help you to understand how far you hit each club. We can help you perform a gap test which works out the average carry and total distance you hit each of your clubs vital information for the golf course.
An example of this would be your GPS device showing 132 yards to go and you knowing your 8 iron goes 135 would be a pretty good club selection. To book your fitting please contact the pro shop.
Our Price Promise to all our Customers
I take great pride in not only the amount of great product that we stock, but also how competitive our pricing is. I make it one of my weekly tasks to sit down and look at other retailers and compile a list of what price they are selling the products that we stock. Without having to move my pricing I am always sitting there right alongside the best pricing online. The one thing that I can give ALL my customers that the online retailers cannot is face to face advice and service.
We are here seven days a week to help you with all of your enquiries and queries and are the best people qualified to recommend and fit you for correct product. We also offer a complete after sales service package on all items we sell which gives our customers complete piece of mind.
If by any chance anyone finds a product we sell and the price is cheaper than us, then I am more than happy to match that price without compromising on our quality of service. Please feel free to come in to the Pro Shop and chat to us about our services.
Super Stroke your way to better scores
As many of you will have seen recently there has been a growing number of players switching to use a Super Stroke putter grip. The larger grips are designed to encourage a more solid putting stroke helping to eliminate excessive wrist action which is often one of the major causes of inconsistent putting. If the wrists become too active then this can have major restrictions on the ability to control distance putts and maintain a square club face through impact causing pushes and pulls. The Super Stroke range of putter grips come in various sizes to suit all golfers. So next time you're at the club why not pop in to the shop and we can advise you on what size grip to be fitted with.
As a golfer I am sure you are keen to improve your game and reduce your handicap or even obtain a handicap. My staff and I are the most qualified people to help you do this. We are trained to the highest standard in custom fitting and coaching - the two key areas to look at if you really want to improve your golf. I have managed to help many of you this year by custom fitting you correctly to a product that will undoubtedly help your game. Whether it be a set of irons, a driver or even a wedge or putter we have the skill set to correctly fit you in to the correct product to improve your game.
Our custom fitting is completely FREE when you make a purchase within one month of your fitting and with our wide range of choice aided by our state of the art GC2 Launch Monitor and Simulator.
