Welcome to this week's newsletter bringing you the latest news from around the club, competition results and a look at what we have to offer you in-store.

Enjoy the read.

New Head Greenkeeper

Aaron Watkinson, our new Head Greenkeeper started on Monday. Aaron has come from Pleasington Golf Club and plays golf himself (off a handicap of 1 so not too shabby) so knows about the game from both a good golfer and a Greenkeeper’s point of view. Aaron was straight into action this week getting to know people, meeting and walking the course with Nick. Oh, and removing a damaged tree and rodding the drains on the 8th of course!

I am certain we all wish Aaron very well, we wish him every success and hope he is very happy here. Let’s all get behind the Head Greenkeeper and give him our full support. This is how you will get the best possible service from a Greenkeeper and the best golf course possible. 

Putting trainer

No it’s not John Seaton’s new winter mat, it’s a putting trainer and someone’s put a bit of thought into it. You can see the green circle is the size of a hole, and the putt out will return a good putt simply using gravity. It is possible to get a ball to sit in the hole as in one of the pictures but it must be the perfect putt and you have to really concentrate on making a good stroke! It also makes you realise how big the hole really is.

On sale in your Pro Shop, this would be a nice Christmas present for £20. For more information about the design and use - watch this video...

Tuition

Thanks to the warmth and technology of the swing studio, I have been helping lots of people improve their game recently. If I am fully booked during the day, I also do some evening coaching when it’s dark outside and this may suit you anyway.

With a 4 for 3 on lessons until the end of March, why not take advantage?

Swing Studio

Beat the weather and still play golf…4 for 3 on one hour hires of the swing studio. Thank you to all the people who have already booked the ‘star buy’ which will be most beneficial to them. If you don’t know how the studio works and all the things you can do please ask.

Christmas Draw

The board is filling up very quickly so thanks and best of luck to everyone who has a go.

Squares are 50p each, 12 for £5 or 30 for £10. First prize is £300 to spend in your Pro Shop and prizes go all the way down to 10th.

There is no limit to how many squares you can have, and it’s true that the more you put on the greater your chance of winning!

Saturday Texas Scramble

1st - Bob Moorhouse, Daniel Myers & Josh Beeby - 54.0
2nd - Ian White, Andrew Cole & Scott Carter - 54.4
3rd - Steve Bardsley, Mike Canning & Brian Douglas - 54.8

Well done to all the winners. It’s great to see juniors and members old and new in the prizes. Hopefully see you at The Captain’s next presentation which is on Saturday, 21 December at 5.00pm.

By the way, I have noticed there are two spaces on Saturday morning at 9.44am if anyone wishes to join Josh, who was part of the winning team last week.

Wednesday Pro’s Stableford

Thank you to the hardy souls who braved the elements and played in the competition on Wednesday. Mike Radcliffe didn’t win this week...

Click here for the results.

Club closures

The winter months are becoming tougher than ever for golf clubs and I heard that South Leeds golf club closed last week. This is a pity because this was a members club with a good course which I played a number of times during my time in Yorkshire.

I remember playing it in a match the evening Manchester United won the Champions League in 1999 as we finished just in time to see the two late goals there. There was a burnt out car on the 17th green and the kids on motorbikes were a nuisance but the course had character and some good holes!

I have also heard that both courses at Temple Newsam (also in Leeds) are probably also going to close. This is a real shame because Temple Newsam did have two 18 hole Alister MacKenzie design layouts until about two years ago when they were reduced to 27 holes. Many golfers that I came to know in Leeds began playing golf at Temple Newsam because they are council run municipals. They were renowned as ‘very good municipals’ (even in Leeds where the standard of golf courses is very high) thanks to their layout and better than many a members club.

Apparently the demand for the courses has wained as fewer people take up the game so the council are planning to turn the courses into bike tracks for families. It may seem a way from Stockport but it isn’t far away at all. You can read about it here.

There is also a petition in an attempt to save the courses here.

Less municipals mean less people will be taking up golf which is not good.