| 7th
June 2007
Greetings from Duncan,
Ladies’ Invitation
Day
Hele Park Golf Club’s Ladies’ Invitation
Day was a great success with 11 different clubs
represented from as far a field as Herefordshire.
Playing a Betterball Stableford off ¾ handicap,
it was a tight finish with the top 3 all on 34
points. Hele Park’s Irene Berry and her
guest, Sue Holland, from Dainton Park clinched
it with an excellent 19 points on the back 9.
The only 2 of the day was Tricia Underwood (Hele
Park) on the 5th hole. Nearest-the-Pin was Sue
Holland from Dainton Park and Janice Styles (Army
GC) had the Longest Drive.
1st Irene Berry (HP) & Sue Holland (Dainton
Park) 34pts
2nd Pat Phillips (HP) & Mary Dummett (Teignmouth)
34pts
3rd Tricia Underwood (HP) & Jean Greening
(Teign Valley) 34pts
9 For £9!
Throughout June we are offering a special rate
of £9 for 9 holes (normally £11.50)
when teeing off between 2 & 4pm, Monday to
Friday. Bookings can be made up to 5 days in
advance and as usual payment of at least one
green fee must be made in advance to secure each
tee time. Please note this offer only applies
to 9-hole rounds.
One In… One
Out!!!
This week we say goodbye to Chris Gill who is
going to Exeter Golf & Country Club. Thanks
Chris for all your work since you joined us at
Hele Park – you’ve been great to
have around! We all wish you all the best at
Exeter. We also welcome back Simon Warne who
has completed his second year of Golf Management
Studies at Birmingham University and is joining
the coaching team at Hele Park. Simon is available
to teach individually and in groups – ring
the Pro Shop to book.
Don’t Get
Shafted!
In this week’s articles I contrast the
difference between old and new drivers and how
shaft technology has had to adjust to compensate
for this. In June we will be taking delivery
of the new Callaway Optifit System, which consists
of a combined total of 1,284 driver and iron
club options. Players of all abilities will benefit
- before OptiFit, only touring pros could test
multiple head and shaft combinations to find
the right driver. Now that option is available
to every golfer regardless of their ability.
The novice golfer will discover, before purchasing
his/her clubs, which loft and flex combination
work best for them. The advanced golfer will
be able to fine-tune their desired feel and ball
flight with precision. So there’s no excuse
to be shafted with the wrong shaft!
Best wishes,
Duncan
GOLF SCHEDULE
Sunday 10 June
Bader Cup
1pm
Monday 11 June
Ladies’ League Match Fingle Glen (A) 12.30pm
Monday Group
1pm
Tuesday 12 June
Seniors’ 9H Stableford
9.30am
Seniors v Axe Cliff (A)
12.30pm
Wednesday 13 June
Ladies’ Stableford
9.30am
Thursday 14 June
Lady Vets v Churston Friendly (A)
11am
Midweek Mixed Stableford
Book your own times
Friday 15 June
Men’s Friendly v Teignmouth (A)
4pm
Lady Vets’ 9-Hole Stableford
Saturday 16 June
Ladies’ Monthly Medal
1pm
Sunday 17 June
Men’s Monthly Medal
1pm
CORRECTION
Last week we reported that Harriet Rogers was
the first girl at Hele Park to attain an LGU
handicap of 36. Unfortunately we featured a picture
of Harriet Sansom by accident. Sorry girls.
IN THIS WEEKS MAIL
This week I continue my discussion on illegal
drivers with some examples of exactly how big
the changes to drivers have been in recent years.
I also explain how the ‘bend profiles’ of
shafts have had to change to accommodate changes
in clubhead design and size. Come and have a
chat with me if you need some advice, and remember
it is Father’s Day soon!
TWILIGHT GOLF
Our special offer was so popular last year, we’re
doing it again! With immediate effect, from 6pm
each evening you can pay for 9 holes, and play
as many as you like.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR READERS!
A new selection of logo shirts is now available
in the shop.
If you mention this newsletter, I’ll give
you 20% off your purchase.
WHAT’S
ON AT THE TOURS?
US Tour
Stanford St. Jude Championship (TPC Southwind,
Memphis)
Defending Champ: Jeff Maggert
EURO Tour
BA-CA Golf Open (Fontana GC, Austria)
Defending Champ: Markus Brier
LOOK BEYOND THE CLUBHEAD
In your search for distance and accuracy I urge
you to look beyond the obvious. I have made
a lot of noise about how much technology has
changed in our game with a lot of focus on
the club head and its impact. This is, after
all, the most visually obvious place where
technology impacts your game. You can’t
fail to notice that the clubhead on your Driver
has increased from 260cc to 460cc over the
last 12 years and you certainly can’t
miss some of the geometric innovations.
What might have gone unnoticed is how shafts
have had to change to accommodate these changes
in clubhead design and size.
For the better manufacturers this has been an
area where lots of research and development dollars
have been spent.
The shaft on a Driver with
a 460cc head needs a lot more muscle than the
shaft on the 260cc heads of 12 years ago. But
what you as golfers have also demanded is no
loss of feel and feedback. Now that’s
a challenge.
Consequently we have seen from specialist shaft
manufacturers and the top equipment manufacturers
a lot of work on the ‘bend profiles’ of
the shaft to control how much flex there is at
what point in the shaft.
The result is that the shaft now plays a significant
part in the launch conditions of your shots (launch
angle and spin rate) and more than ever needs
to be carefully matched to the golfer and his
or her swing speed and the way that they unload
through the contact zone.
More than ever, when making
a decision on what golf club to buy, you need
to look beyond the obvious and spend time making
sure that the other characteristics of the
golf club are working with you and not against
you. There’s no
point falling for the advert that promises 10
more yards and then losing 15 yards and some
accuracy because it could, but doesn’t,
match your swing.
Have a great week and good luck to all of you
playing this weekend.
Regards
Duncan |
