We have had such a fantastic and positive response to the new newsletter and website which we launched last week. We are pleased that so many of you have either spoken to Calum and the team in the shop or sent him an email. That really is the aim of this weekly communication, to inform and to encourage more golfers to talk to us about their game and how they would like to improve. Have you set your aims for the year? If so let us help you achieve them and make 2014 a fantastic golfing year. Click here and tell us what you'd like to achieve be it more consistency, lower your handicap or just to beat your golfing partner.
For those of you that might have missed our email last week, We'd like to tell you a little more about my new email and website. We have spent a lot of time putting together this website. You will find videos on the latest golf equipment, instructional tips and videos, contact forms to keep in touch and information on the promotions that we have running in my shop. But we also want to feature you! So if you have any news be it a hole in one, birth of a son or granddaughter, a testimonial on how great your new driver or electric trolley is we want to know and we will be delighted to feature you in our site.
From time to time you will see graphics and content in our email and website relating to Click and Collect. This is a website where you can buy golf equipment. It helps us to expand our product range that we are able to offer you. If we don't stock it here in our shop and it's available on the Click and Collect website, then you can pay for the product and have it delivered to our shop free of charge. If there are any problems with the item purchased you can return it to me and we can send it back, again without charge.
For all you non-golfers out there - Have you ever thought of trying golf? Are you a beginnner who wants to improve? Are you someone who has played in the past and would like to get back into golf?
Starting last weekend, Cottesmore are offering FREE adult golf taster lessons (over 16) to beginners and those who are trying to get back into golf.
We are also offering any first one to one lessons for half price. On top of this, we are holding monthly beginner get togethers on the golf course.
We will even be taking part in the National Golf Month in May where we will have many activities happening to encourage you to 'Get into Golf' including a Women in Golf Day on Saturday 17th May.
We have the complete pathway for you to learn golf efficiently. If you are interested in Get into Golf through 2014 please register here.
GET OUT OF PAIN AND OPTIMISE YOUR GAME!
We have Chiropractor Andrew Robson spending an evening with us to talk about all those niggling golfing injuries and how to get rid of them. Look out for more information!
We are continuing to take bookings for a free health check. This includes blood pressure, BMI, waist-hip meaurements and more. If you want us to track your progress and help meet your individual goals please speak to a member of the gym team and book in your time slot.
Make sure you set SMART goals to give yourself the best chance of success.
S - specific
M- measurable
A - action orientated
R - realistic
T - time bound
Trainer Tip - Write your goals down and log results. This helps to improve adherance to your goals. If it is not written down, it is not a real goal!
The Ladies Practice Club recommences on Tuesday 22nd April at 11am. This is a one hour practice session with newly qualified PGA Professional Steven Grouwstra hosting. Cost is still only £6 per person and future dates will be listed next week. This is the perfect opportunity for our Lady Members to fine tune their games. To register your interest please click here or register in the Pro Shop.
Following on from the success of last years Ladies practice club we are planning to launch a Vets Practice Club on Thursday mornings at 11am too. Same set up as the ladies above. First date is today, Thursday 10th April. Future dates again will be listed next week. To register your interest please click here or register in the Pro Shop.
………and not to be left out we also have a practice club for everyone on Thursday evenings at 6.30pm. These will be hosted by Sam Smitherman. To register for these click here or register in the Pro Shop.
The Pros at Cottesmore offer a wide variety of lessons for all standards of golfers. You can find their latest prices on Calum's new website by clicking here.
Well done to Sam and Steve last week, who both qualified for the PGA in England South Assistants Championship.
Played at Stoneham Golf Club, Steve had his best round in a Professional Tournament scoring a 2 under par 70 following a little advice from his boss. I have always said that Steve is the most talented of the Professionals in the shop and this round has been a long time coming. I know that this could be the first of many sub par rounds for him.
Sam has been struggling on the greens of late and it is a credit to him that he dug deep during his round to qualify despite continuing his woes with the putter.
All three of us compete next week in the Sussex Spring Meeting at Mannings Heath.
If your ball is in a bunker or water hazard, do not:
- touch the ground (or water in a water hazard) with your hand or club before your downswing
- move loose impediments (Rule 13-4)
Penalty for breach of rule: Strokeplay - 2 Shots; Matchplay - Loss of hole
This Easter Holiday sees our Juniors represent the club at two Sussex events. The first is today, Thursday 10th April, at Ifield for 36 holes of foursomes where our young team is made up of Josh Dance, Richard Bailey, Egor Zotov and Jay Eggleton. The second is at Copthorne next Monday 14th April, where our team of Josh Dance, Egor Zotov and Josh Greig will be trying to win a place to represent Sussex at the English Junior Champion Club Tournament at Woodhall Spa. We wish them all luck for these competitions and hope they play well.
Saturday sees the first event of the year - a Junior Monthly Stableford. The first tee time is at 10.30 on the Griffin Course and there are still plenty of places for entries. If you would like to play please put your name up on the entry list on the Junior Board just inside the Pro Shop or email proshop@cottesmoregolf.co.uk.
The first Junior Academy Order of merit event of the year was played last Sunday.
The Easter Cup was always going to be a tight match with all past order of merit champions either unavailable or not eligible. A new champion was promised and it was thought that he would come from the opening group of Ben Powell, Ryan Chilton and Isaac Peate.
It was Isaac Peate who just pipped Ben Powell on the 8th hole. Both players had one shot left out of their allotted shots 36 shots and Isaac hit his tee shot 6'' closer than Master Powell. What neither of them were expecting was for Lucy Pigram (2013 Girls Order of Merit Champion) to still have 7 shots left on the 7th tee. A five on the seventh would leave her 2 shots on the 8th and certain victory. Even a six on the seventh would have put her in prime position but not knowing what was going on ahead of her and the thought of just beating her personal best put her in the hole in 7 to use up her 36th shot. A personal best it was for Lucy and winner of the Girls Category too but she left slightly bitter knowing that she was two shots ahead of all the boys after 6 holes!
List of Winners
Easter Cup - Isaac Peate
Under 13s - Sam Pearce
Under 11s - Isaac Peate
Under 9s - Joseph Byrne
Under 7s - Elliott Fillion
Girls - Lucy Pigram
The next Order of Merit Event is on Sunday 4th May and it will be a brave person to predict the winner from the three champions above.
Vets Section
On a chilly, blustery day 45 Vets were out playing the first round of the Peter Morley/Harry Bacon trophies, the first medal qualifier of 2014. The results were very good in the conditions, although some did not have such a good time, especially yours truly! The winner of the Monthly Medal was Ken Brightwell with a nett 70, but was unfortunately not available to receive it. Ken was followed by four players with a nett 72. Mike Pearson was second on countback, followed by Bob Imrie in third. Honourable mentions, therefore, go to Phil Hodson and Frank Eve. There was only one 2 this week and the pot was won by John Hutchence. Remember, you've got to be in it to win it! Congratulations guys!
A busy Thursday last week with two teams representing the Vets. I enjoyed many visits to the 'beach' in the away match at Banstead on the 3rd April. It proved to be very close and the result was in doubt until the last match finished. Unfortunately, we 'drew the short straw' and lost 4 1/2 to 3 1/2. A considerable improvement on the previous match and thanks to all those who made such a valiant effort to win.
Trevor James and his merry men, Alan Rengger, Bob Imrie and Hugh Masterson played in the Seniors Captains and Committee Invitation event at East Brighton. It was an aggregate 4-ball better ball stableford and our team scored 87 points and came fifth out of 20 teams, only 3 points behind the winners from Goodwood. A fantastic performance.
Next week is the Foundation Trophy (a stableford competition in combination with the first round of the Haig trophy).
Ladies Section
Division Two's second outing was at home to Singing Hills last Wednesday and this time we secured a 5-2 victory. Well done to all those in the team and thanks to Jenny for organising. We have a quick return match with them as our away fixture at Singing Hills is this coming Saturday. It would be good to secure a similar win on their course - fingers crossed!
Division Three's first match was away at Cowdray Park last Friday and unfortunately they lost 5.5-1.5 (same result as Div. 2's first match - note to Div. 1 team, when you go out for your first match, you do not have to copy us!).
Good luck to Penny and Pat who are playing in the county Scratch Foursomes at the Nevill on Wednesday. Their opponents in the first round are Crowborough Beacon; should they win that game, then they face either Piltdown or Mannings Heath on Thursday.
All those who have signed up for the friendly vs Reigate Hill match on Monday 14th April are in the team, but Fee is looking for someone to be the reserve. If you can be available, please let her know asap - thank you.
Thanks to Yvonne for organising this fun competition for us last Thursday. It was played very competitively and tactically by certain individuals but was an enjoyable format - one I look forward to playing again! Pat won the 18 hole version and Sue Ford the 9 hole - congratulations to both ladies.
The closing date for the Spring Meeting is on Thursday. There will be a nine-hole competition (organised by Prue) in addition to the full 18. If possible, can people tick their meal options by Thursday - thank you.
Thank you to everyone who bought squares on my Chestnut Tree House draw. Matthew Hazelden kindly chose two winning numbers (59 and 113) for the £50 and £25 prizes and the winners were Dave Smythe and Glenys Peate - congratulations to them both. I shall be doing this draw again later in the year, so don't miss out on your chance to win some easy money!
The second charity quiz night is fast approaching. I already have three teams entered; one and a half of these are new competitors! If you'd like to come along, the entry forms with all the details are in the pro-shop. It would be great to see you there!
Mens Section
The fine weather finally deserted us on Sunday for Hospice Cup day. A fifty strong field battled the elements on what was a great day for fundraising with well over £500 going to St Catherine's Hospice. Thanks to everyone for turning out in inauspicious conditions and for bringing raffle prizes and buying tickets. The raffle alone raised nearly £250!!
Winner on the day was your (lucky) captain with 37 points, but I was given a close run for my money by an excellent performance from Jill Lewis who also scored 37 points losing by the slenderest of margins on countback. Jill also picked up the prize for nearest the pin for the ladies on the second, with Neil Cockerill winning nearest the pin on the 17th for the men. Well done to both Mark Waddell, who eagled the 1st, and Dan Smythe who eagled the 15th.
On Saturday the A team met strong resistance from an excellent East Brighton side and came out winners by 3.5-2.5. Dan Smythe and Tony Cockerill were the best pair for Cottesmore. Next up is an As and Bs match at Home to Chartham Park on 31 May. If you are interested please add your name via the notice board or online here.
Next date for your diary is Monday 21 April which is the Easter Handicap Cup. Please enter for this competition via the PSI and pay on the day.