Bridge
You will notice improvements to the bridge next time you cross it. After the initial work to replace the sleepers a couple of weeks ago, this week a layer of plywood and green matting have been fixed on top. I think the green looks positively Augusta like, and perhaps with a coat of paint the bridge will be up to Augusta standard. All work has been carried out by club members who have given up their time and made an effort which is fantastic.
Ladies Coaching
Despite Sunday's rain, the ladies coaching was a real success with 6 new players turning up for coaching. This is just about a perfect number and after the coaching on the practice area, we had teas and coffees and a discussion on how to get into golf, and membership of Reddish Vale.
Now is a great time for other ladies to join them and all ladies are welcome to turn up and join in on Sundays at 12.00.
Please don't hesitate to contact your Pro Shop for more details.
Anne Gosling won Mr President's Prize to the Ladies.
Anne Gosling shot a nett 74 using her new PING fairway woods and hybrids. Anne was struggling with her woods as they were a few years old and a mixture of types, all different weights and shafts. All are now matching so well done Anne, keep up the good work.
Bernard Murray Prize
Jeanette Kinder's recent 42 points to win the Bernard Murray prize is also well worth a mention. Because Jeanette takes regular lessons and has learned really sound technique, I know Jeanette will continue to improve and her handicap has some way to fall yet!
Regular lessons whether you are playing well or not, and sticking to good advice is the best way to lower scores and maximise success in the long term. Waiting until you are absolutely desperate before booking a lesson, and then expecting a miracle in half an hour is the way that too many people still think!
Another of my pupils Sheila Cowlard finished second with 38 points. Sheila has also taken regular lessons over the past couple of years, which with her practice has improved technique, increased distance and lowered scores. Sheila and playing partner Jack Cooper recently knocked Abbie and Steve Marsh out of the Mixed Knockout 5&3!
Recommend your club
I can tell you there is much discontent at other golf clubs in the area. Many clubs are struggling to make ends meet and have no money to invest back into the course or facilities. The main gripes are courses in poor condition, and the strategies that clubs are resorting to, to poach one another's members - for example by discounting memberships to new members only, antagonises existing members. Members will leave these clubs and the predicament will worsen. In addition, many clubs continue to poach but are not doing enough to attract new people to the game. There can be no future in this.
None of the above is the case at Reddish Vale - in fact we are quite the opposite.
This year, as a bonus to club members for their loyalty, the club granted one courtesy tee time to each member so they could introduce up to 3 guests free of charge. This gives you the opportunity to welcome people to The Vale and show them what they are missing.
If you know any golfers that have lapsed membership please invite them for a game and let's get them back into the club.
Lapsed golfers - people stop playing or get out of the habit of playing for a variety of reasons and sometimes need a hand to get back - invite them for a game.
Dissatisfied members at other clubs - tell them how fantastic Reddish Vale is and how much you enjoy spending time here.
Invitation days - support these days and take the opportunity to show someone how good the place is.
Club crested clothing - wear it with pride and when someone notices it and comments tell - them how fantastic the place is.
Anyone who shows an interest in golf - recommend Reddish Vale as the perfect place to go- please give them my name and telephone number.
Investing in the future
I am delighted that Nick has had the go ahead from the club council to create a short game area on the practice ground. This new facility will include two greens of course standard and new bunkering. There is a longer term plan to remove many of the trees on the practice area to enlarge it - with a view to further improvements. As shown in the pictures, you can see that the surface of the new area has already been scraped in preparation for the new turf, and the feed from the main sprinkler system on the 17th has been created. Nick and his men are certainly not hanging around.
Having been at four previous golf clubs and always been fortunate enough to have good practice facilities, I have really missed not having these at Reddish and many of you are yet to discover the enjoyment and many benefits that this area will provide. I have yet to hear of anyone leaving a club because it has 'good practice facilities' but plenty have left due to poor ones!
Practicing short game will give you increased feel around the greens, and you will develop a better understanding of how the club face works and how the ball reacts. Practice is more fun and enjoyable as there is more of an outcome than just hitting balls into a field, more experimentation with types of shot so concentration is more easily maintained. I must admit that practising my long game was never a strength as I would rather have been on the golf course. But practicing my short game I have always found much more enjoyable and beneficial and I could spend hours doing it.
The possibilities for teaching golf on there and for people's increased learning are endless. It is a win, win for everyone! I will keep you posted on the progress. I would like to thank three club members who have contributed funds to the project.
Norman Pike Trophy
The play-off for The Norman Pike Trophy was played for on Monday, with Gary Inman and Lee Costello kindly scoring on the day for Tony Barnes and Simon Davenport.
Tony Barnes is the name that will be on the board as Tony's excellent 70 nett proved just enough.
Well done Tony on your first singles major here at Reddish.
Captains Prize
The overall winner of the Captain's Prize is Paul Wheelton. No play-off this time as Paul's 70+65=135 was enough to win by three from Ian Cowlard.
Porkster Houghton won Saturday's day prize with 68-2=66, on count back from Colin Barr. Not surprisingly Adam Stott won the lowest gross with 66 which puts Adam back off +4.
All the prizes won for captain's including the day prizes will be collected on the next presentation which is Saturday 30th August. This promises to be a particularly busy occasion with lots to present. Please attend to collect your vouchers dressed in your jacket and Tie.
Sunday's Stableford was won with 38 by Ross Paton, second was Dave Hamilton with 37 points. Dave is always there or there about each week, but playing regularly definitely helps to keep him consistent. Prizes went to 4th this week. Click here to see full results.
This weekend will be a running stableford Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday so please enter in the pro shop.
Dean Martin was back on form on Wednesday, winning Divison 1 with 69-4=65. Division 2 was won by Tony Barnes with 77-11=66 and Division 3 was won by Chris Byrne with 85-16=69. There were some great scores this week, well done to all the winners.
Scratch Team
On Sunday the scratch team won the Scratch knockout finals at Northendon Golf Club. The team of Adam Stott, Ryan Jackson, Ryan Swift and Dean Martin have achieved a very notable victory against the much favoured Sandiway. As the team arrived so did 20 supporters from Reddish including the Captain and President, Sandiway incidentally had none.
Both teams performed amazingly in the conditions with Dean putting the first point on the board at the 18th, a tremendous win against Dave Catterill (+1). Adam Stott then put the Vale 2up with a comprehensive win against Grant Little (Scr) finishing on the 15th. Sandiway clawed a point back with Sean Mills (2) beating Ryan Jackson on the 18th. With the score 2-1 it was down to Ryan Swift to prevent a sudden death playoff. Swifty had been down for much of the match but had fought back well and was all square on 18.
Needing a half on 18, and being 15ft away in two, with Sandiways Garry Winstanley (Scr) 5ft away in three, Swifty lagged his putt towards the hole, blasting it past by 5ft!
Garry, missed his four and Ryan holed to seal the 3-1 win. A great result for the guys!! Fantastic! This picture was taken just after the victory and before the real celebrations started.
I must say that this has concluded a very enjoyable season for the scratch team on a very high note. I must congratulate Ian Cowlard who has been something of a 'Jose Mourinho' as the manager and mentor of the scratch team. The camaraderie between the players this year has been very good and I am certain that the good feeling and positivity has brought success. The smart team outfit that the scratch team are wearing was organised by Ian before the season started. The players had to earn the shirt! Incidentally, Ian paid for the crested cotton shirts seen in the photo (this is about half of them!) out of his own pocket.
Orla Claire Stott was born on Thursday 21st August weighing 6 pounds. Congratulations to Adam and Claire on the birth of their first child.
