Welcome to this week's newsletter taking a look at what's new in-store, recapping a workshop looking at growing our game, looking at how PING do custom fitting and announcing who last week's winners were. Enjoy the read.

What's new in-store...

It’s that time of year when it seems each day we have loads of new stock coming in-store.

Here is just some what’s arrived:

• Motocaddy’s new M1, new S1 and new cart bags
• PowaKaddy FW5 and accessories
• FootJoy shirts, shoes, trousers and mid layers
• PING clothing
• PING putters
  

Visit my website to view all products.

They're here...

PING's new G410 drivers, fairways and hybrids came into your Pro Shop right on the release date of the new product range (7th March). Well, they were here. Sorry half of them went on the first day! More are coming I have allocated some as demos so you can try what I would call the best PING range to date. The driver seems particularly good and you can compare the demos to your own stuff very easily on GC2.

We have loads to try but if you want to try even more you may want to book a PING fitting at Gainsborough? It’s a bit of a drive but it’s only the other side of Sheffield, so really not that far. I have never met anyone yet who has been to PING and been disappointed or didn’t think it worthwhile. It’s an eye opener and you would enjoy it. If you want to go just tell us and we contact the company and book you in. You can have a 60 or a 90 minute appointment, costing £30. But as I discovered when booking someone in last week, they are extremely busy and the next appointment then was is in the middle of April! 

In the old days this was done inside the PING factory and clubs were tested and customised in a practice net right next to where they were then built. You played shots into the net off a black rubber mat which marked the sole of the club. A guy with a large hammer would then put the club in a vice and adjust the lie angle by hammering the toe of the club up or down to make the club lie flatter or more upright until it was right for you – I am not joking. PING were definitely the pioneers of custom fitting and although a modern day custom fit incorporates more technology the principles of the company have remained the same.

Fittings now take place at Gainsborough Golf Club. It’s a bit like walking into a massive shop full of every sort of PING club you could wish to try. Except one side is open so you can play shots straight down a range. You can see the full ball flight, try everything from putters to drivers and of course there are launch monitors to give you all the stats.

You can order any equipment you wish to buy and they will be built and delivered to your Pro Shop. If you are not correctly custom fitted for their equipment PING don’t want you to buy it – that is why you won’t see PING as readily for sale online as with other brands.

What a refreshing ethos in today’s cut throat market.

Explore PING's range.

England Golf Junior development

Abbie and I went to a meeting of ‘developing junior golf’ at Wilmslow Golf Club on Thursday evening which was organised by England Golf along with a mixture of PGA Pro’s, junior organisers, club and county officials and people passionate about growing the game.

It is obvious that there is a sudden realisation that far fewer young people are taking up the game which gives a bleak outlook for golf. There are lots of reasons for this. Golf being perceived as old fashioned. Golf clubs being very traditional and often unwelcoming to new people – things like dress code for example. While golf is slow to change, other things such as technology have been very quick to change and we are now up against things such as Xboxes with many children being happy to stay indoors and just play computer games these days.

What can we do about it?

Lots of good ideas were exchanged about what we can do to make golf and golf clubs more attractive to youngsters. We also need the structure in place at golf clubs so that when children come here we have something such as a pathway into golf to offer them. We already have this pathway at Reddish Vale - lots of golf clubs do not. Examples of good practice, things that work were discussed and there were some success stories. More modern golf complexes with more public access and better practice facilities are definitely succeeding in attracting young people/more people more easily.

Let’s be mindful of the future, willing to accept inevitable change over time and please do what you can to help encourage junior golf.

Cheshire Boys

Daniel has his first Cheshire meet-up on Sunday which is a pre-season game at Warrington Golf Club. This is actually an under 16’s event Daniel has been invited to so he is one of the highest handicappers in this field whereas he will be one of the lowest in the under 14’s.

Anyways, I am sure it will do him good meeting and playing golf with other keen young players.

Coaching specials

4 for 3 on lessons until the end of March.

Book a lesson here.

Making way for new stock

Because product life cycles are shorter these days and manufacturers bring out new ranges every year, to make way for it requires me to clear oddments and old stock faster than ever before. This means the products in your Pro Shop are always the latest, most up to date ranges and at the cutting edge of new technology.

It also means we have various deals on stock which may not be displayed in the shop (taking up valuable space and oddments spoil tidy displays) so whatever you are after – it may be a new pair of shoes or a second hand driver – please ask because we may have a great deal for you.

We also sell your unwanted equipment on ebay so you can use it to buy new equipment from the shop. All you have to do is bring it in - we have all the hassle of photo’s, listing, packing and postage and you get paid.

Saturday

Ryan Jackson, Paul Sloane and John Milner won the Texas Scramble on countback from Ross Birch, Chris Roberts and Josh Beeby.

Pro Shop Sunday Stableford

Andy Humphrey won Sunday’s stableford with 34 points in testing conditions.

View competition results here.

Pro Shop Wednesday Stableford

Tom Walker’s 36 points was just enough to win from Adie Ord who is back among the winners again.

View competition results here.