| 31st
May 2007
Greetings from Duncan,
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.
Congratulations!
Harriet Rogers (13) is the first girl at Hele
Park to attain an LGU handicap of 36. Getting
girls into golf is a problem across the country
and whilst Hele Park Golf Club has a fantastic
reputation for assisting junior boys to reach
great heights, girls have been thin on the ground.
Harriet, a pupil at Stover School, first dabbled
in golf when she was 9. However, hockey took
over until joining Hele Park in July of last
year with her two friends, Georgia West and Harriet
Sansom, both of whom are very close to attaining
their own handicaps. Harriet has worked steadily
at her golf and was lucky enough to play at Sunningdale
in a school challenge, returning her card playing
to a very credible 37 handicap. Not everyone
can say they had their card marked at Sunningdale!
Hele Park Golf Club looks forward to welcoming
Harriet into all their competitions, juniors,
ladies & mixed and helping her, Georgia and
Harriet Sansom progress and enjoy the game.
Chris Gill
Well done to Chris who finished joint 6th in
the Ferndown Pro-Am at Ferndown Golf Course last
Friday. He scored 69, 2 under par.
Work Experience
I was so impressed with the five work experience
students we had here last week. They worked very
hard and carried out all tasks with a big smile
on their faces! Well done lads and thanks for
all of your help. Check out what they had to
say about their weeks of work lower down in this
mail.
Illegal Driver?
Drivers are a hot topic at the moment with many
soon to be classed as illegal. Manufacturers
are offering replacements, but it’s essential
you check yours to make sure it is not one of
them. If you are in any doubt at all, please
pop into the Pro Shop and we’ll check it
out for you. There’s also a link on this
newsletter where you can find out more.
Best wishes,
Duncan
GOLF SCHEDULE
Friday 1 June
Men’s Friendly Fingle Glen (A)
4pm
Juniors’ Stableford
& 9-Hole Stableford
1pm
Saturday 2 June
Ladies’ Invitation Day
Noon
Sunday 3 June
Weekend Mixed Stableford
Book your own times
Monday 4 June
Monday Group
1pm
Ladies’ Away Day
Taunton & Pickeridge
11am
Tuesday 5 June
Seniors’ DMVGA QF
9.30am
Wednesday 6 June
Ladies’ Express & Echo Foursomes
9.30am
Thursday 7 June
Midweek Mixed Stableford
Book your own times
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.
STUART’S SHORT
GAME CLASS
The short game class held last week was a resounding
success. Lots of people attended and all agreed
that they felt a lot more confident about their
short game skills. Another one is being planned
so if you would like to come along, please
let me know.
Keep checking the newsletter for more information.
IN THIS WEEK’S MAIL
Concerned about your driver? This week I start
talking about what is illegal and what isn’t
when it comes to your driver. Let’s improve
your short game – take a look at my article
below on how we can do just that! Pop into the
shop for a chat and don’t forget Father’s
Day
WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S
NOT
I am afraid that we have reached the time where
you really have to make sure that your Driver
is LEGAL, because from 1st January 2008 a Rule
of Golf will be introduced limiting the 'spring-like'
effect of Drivers (“driving clubs”)
for all golfers of all abilities.
By the way, notice of this rule introduction
was given in August 2002 and has been applied
for the Pros, via a Condition of Competition,
since 1st January 2003.
As the manufacturers pushed
the envelope in the late 90’s we started to see Driver
faces that would flex and then send the ball
off the face with a ‘spring like effect’ thus
gaining precious extra yards. The USGA, along
with the R&A, placed a limit on the Co-efficient
of Restitution (COR) that measured this spring
effect.
Despite the long period of notice there is a
chance that the introduction of the rule in January
will affect the conformance status of some drivers
currently in the marketplace and in your bags.
So here’s how we can help you: to view
or search the List of Conforming Driver Heads,
please click here. All of the clubs on this List
have been ruled to conform to the Rules of Golf
and they will continue to conform after 1 January
2008.
To see or search the list of clubs known NOT
to conform then please click here.
But, if you are one of those golfers who believes
that the manufacturers should be left alone to
develop golf equipment that will allow you to
blast that ball straighter and further each year
(despite advancing years) then don’t worry.
The manufacturers know we
are suckers for distance. We’ve already seen the standard length
on the shaft of one major manufacturer’s
Driver grow from 45" to 46". So expect
them all to find new ways to get the golf ball
to go further than ever.
LET’S IMPROVE
YOUR SHORT-GAME
You know that, as 70% of your shots are from
120 yards in, the secret to improving your score
is to improve your Putting and your Wedge play.
That is why over the last two weeks I have given
you some examples of the equipment solutions
that are available to you. The different lofts
from 48° (on a fairly standard Pitching Wedge)
through to 60° (and beyond if you wish).
Depending on the feel that you want, you can
have different types: soft feeling forged carbon
steel wedges, firmer cast stainless steel wedges,
or clubs finished in chrome or a soft nickel
coating.
These are all styles and innovations that the
manufacturers produce with one hopefully providing
you with a better solution. But again, it all
comes down to you. Your shot decision, your technique,
your setup and your swing.
Did you select the right club for that greenside
chip? Did you take a Wedge when maybe a 7-Iron
would have got the ball onto the green and rolling
towards the flag?
Did you make allowances for the uphill lie?
Did you think about your shoulder alignment and
position of the ball? Did you remember that the
ball will pop up on a higher trajectory? When
did you last practice this shot?
Can I repeat that for most golfers the easiest ‘equipment’ solution,
to improved scores from 100 yards in, is to make
sure that you fill the gap between the 48° PW
and the 56° SW. Please make sure you are
carrying a 52° Gap Wedge.
The manufacturers make a lot of grooves but your
ball only makes contact with the top fraction
of the groove. That’s why the milling of
the groove is so important to create the best
edge. The rest of the groove is there as a channel
to clear away the dirt, grass and moisture.
HERE’S HOW
I AM GOING TO HELP
For each of you there will be different challenges
with your short-game. The result is that for
each one of you there will be a different number
#1 priority that will result in improved results,
quicker. For some it may be an improved Wedge
configuration. For others it might be a simple
practice drill. There will be those of you who
know that your game would improve beyond belief
if you just learnt the correct technique. Come
and talk to me. I am here to help and I am probably
the best placed person to give you practical
advice that will increase your enjoyment.
WORK EXPERIENCE
STUDENTS – WHAT
THEY HAD TO SAY
Throughout the week I have enjoyed the challenging
jobs and projects that I have faced. After spending
two hours cleaning the store room or polishing
and cleaning endless amounts of clubs, I felt
I had achieved something, but then an even bigger
job would be waiting. The most memorable part
of my week was controlling the putting challenge
on Wednesday morning when a school group came.
Overall I have enjoyed the whole week and as
well as learning about golf, I have learned about
the business side by doing a stock take and doing
point of sale in the Professional’s Shop.
Alistair Powe
Before I came for my work
experience at Hele Park, I thought it was going
to be a walk in the park but I was soon to
be proved wrong. This was for a number of reasons – firstly because
I never knew that you had to put so much effort
into stock taking as you have to have a good
mathematical brain which I have not got. Also
I have learnt how to put grips on golf clubs
which can help me in the future so I don’t
need to pay anyone to do it. Finally I would
like to thank the whole golf club for taking
me and help me in learning new things. Thank
you very much.
Tom Harwood
When I first came to Hele
Park, I was expecting this job to be easy but
then when I got here my expectation changed.
It’s a lot harder
than you think, you have to sort them out by
size, colour and gender and how many there are.
But also I have learnt a lot about my game and
the difference between club degrees and what
difference it makes to the game. But it is also
important to keep your grooves on your club so
the ball gets a clean strike off the club face.
The main enjoyment I have got out of this work
experience is that I’m helping my club
and I have enjoyed it because this club has helped
me a lot and I thank you all for having me. It
has been a pleasure working for you and I hope
to be here in the future. I feel everyone has
helped me on my golf game. Thank you.
Dean Lang
When I first decided to come to Hele Park for
my work experience I thought it was going to
be an easy week but it turned out not to be that
easy. During this week I have had to do a stock
take which turned out to be a nightmare because
I had to sort them out in size order, gender,
colour and how many of each there was. I also
cleaned the stock cupboard which was a tip! I
have also learnt a lot about how to change my
game like if you clean your grooves out, you
will get a good strike and more loft on the ball.
The main enjoyment of this week is that I know
I have helped my club in what I have done after
all they do for us. I also thank everyone connected
with the club for letting me do my work experience
here and I hope to be here in the future.
Sean McArdle
This week has been very fun and I have enjoyed
working with the people. All the jobs that they
have given me have been fun, some jobs have been
easy and some jobs have been hard to do. I have
enjoyed myself all week and the people who work
here have been very kind to me, and I have been
kind to them. Thank you.
Andy Jones
Have a great week and good luck to all of you
playing this weekend.
Regards
Duncan |
