On Monday the club held its first Pro Am with the Essex PGA. It was supposed to be an end of winter season one which was aptly cancelled due to snow last month. I had the elite seniors team of Bill Sandford, seniors captain who had come direct off the sick bed having had flu all week, Tony Clarke the Lemons organiser who likewise hadn't been great and had cancelled a trip to Scotland over the weekend and Alan Seymour who had had to rearrange his normal Monday morning Tesco shop to ensure he could get to the club 3 hours prior to our tee off. We started badly in the rain but got better in the middle of the round and by the time we went through 11 we had picked up 7 shots in 8 holes and I had got back to plus one and we felt we had a chance. Then the rain came heavier, the wind got up as the temperature dropped off just like our golf. Safe to say we didn't finish well. The weather was so bad in the middle bit of the back nine it was difficult to talk to one another and it was a case of play shot, get under the umbrellas and move on. Sarah's team faired a little better but they too fell off on the back nine but pro shop bragging rights go back to her for now after I had held them briefly since the Beds and Cambs Pro Am. Most struggled out there but there were a couple of exceptions. Jason Levermore shot a very steady 70 to finish second with the winner, Jack Winer shooting a very impressive 67. One of the reasons I was keen to get the Essex PGA Pro Am here was for the step up in competition, and the cream certainly rose to the top as the top three either have played in European Tour events or have ambitions to get there this year. Thanks to my team, there will be a chance of redemption later in the season so don't think you're getting away with it that lightly!
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Sarah Smith - Ladies Princes Trip Number 2 |
Wednesday & Thursday this week I took the second group of ladies to Princes Golf Club for an away trip. We were pleased to arrive to NO bomb squads this time and misty weather off the sea instead!
All three courses played really well as we were very lucky to have minimal winds for a Links Course. It was great to play the Dunes Course which we didn't play in March, this proved a little tougher than the other two, being one of their championship courses!
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There were 8 of is in total, so we paired up and the 2 stableford scores were added together over the two days, here are the results:
Olivia Hall & Penny Ackerman = 114
Sarah & Charlotte Pienaar = 112
Jane Wagstaff & Geri Still = 89
Val Oliver & Barbra Caley = 107
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Aaron Howard - PGA Training Academy Over the last week and a half I have completed two separate CPD courses at The Belfry. The first one was by short game expert Gary Smith. He has quite a radical view on the short game involving working the clubhead under the ball, using a lot of bounce on the sole and release. While this technique will not suit everyone, it definitely works and I feel it is important to always embrace new coaching methods as we all swing it differently and have individual preferences. The second course was a Level 2 First Aid qualification which I feel is very valuable in my own personal life and equally for my work at the club. Both were well worth the effort to gain further knowledge and experience.
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Masters Trophy
On Sunday the juniors played their second big competition of the year The Masters, where they match up their score with a lucky dip from Saturdays leaderboard at Augusta.
It was a win win for the Sparrow as Jack led home the 9 holers and Alex continued her good start to the season with a nett 66 matching that of John Rahm who she picked out the hat. Jamie Price was second and Louis Martin came third with the best gross score of the day, 73.
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 | | Jack and Alex Sparrow, runner up Jamie Price with Junior organiser Alan Price and me |
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Disappointment as Saffron Walden Ladies bow out of the Grace Norman Saffron Walden Golf Club ladies, faced with a difficult first round draw away at Royston GC in the first round of the county Grace Norman foursomes knock out competition, fought valiantly but went out following a 2-1 defeat.
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Lynda Minton and Claire Richardson in her first county competition looked to be facing certain defeat when 3 down after the 12th hole, but wins on the next 4 holes saw them 1 up with 2 holes to play. They halved these to secure a win on the final hole. Justine Voss and Alex Sparrow fought valiantly, only losing on the 18th green. Jaine Fieldhouse and Delia Roberts were giving 5 shots to the home team; this proved too weighty and they went out with 2 holes to play.
Photo: l to r: Justine Voss; Alex Sparrow; Claire Richardson; Lynda Minton; Delia Roberts; Jaine Fieldhouse
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Seniors Match v The Gogs Magog at Home
The Seniors mustered to play The Gog Magog on Friday the 6th of April at home. Match Captain Colin Brown had chosen a strong team as this match is always a tight well fought contest.
The nearest the pin for the Gogs on the 5th was won by John Turner. Our nearest the pin was on the 18th and won by guess who Match Captain Colin Brown.
As speed of play is very important all players now receive their card showing their starting time but also the expected finishing time. It should be noted that all matches were completed on time. Well done.
Colin Brown & Ian Hassall won 4&3
Chris Yates & Geoff Wollerson won 3&2
Bill Hall & Chris Martin won 1 up
Tony Gomes & Malcolm Thorne won 1 up
So the match was won 4 and a half to 3 and a half.
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Free Balls, Anyone? We know it's one of your favourite promotions so we're delighted to tell you that it's back! Whether you want to stock up on balls for the season ahead or simply want one dozen FREE, now is the perfect time to get yourself sorted as we're offering you four dozen for the price of three on personalised Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls.
Click here to order yours. |
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Last Chance for FREE TaylorMade Balls This is the perfect way to stock up on balls for the season ahead, whilst making a nice saving at the same time. When you order three dozen TP5 or TP5x golf balls from our website, we will give you one dozen FREE. What makes this offer even better is that you can personalise these balls at no extra cost - what will you put on yours?
Click here to order yours. |
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Get With the Times If you're not using a Lithium battery with your electric trolley then why not? They charge quicker, last longer and work out far cheaper in the long run than standard Lead Acid alternatives. Right now we're offering you £25 when you trade-in your old battery against a new Lithium one - a fantastic opportunity to save yourself some money.
Click here to learn more. |
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Titleist Fitting Day Only a few weeks now till Titleist come to Saffron Walden on Friday, 27 April giving you the chance to try out and get fitted for their fantastic line-up. Here are the key details:
Friday, 27 April - FREE Please book your slot with us by clicking here. |
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Junior Coaching Programme 6 Week Programme At Saffron Walden Golf Club
Saturdays 10, 11 & 12noon
Sundays 11:00am
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The first 5 weeks will involve learning, long game, short game, putting & skills based challenges. The final week includes an exciting competition! Only £40 for 6 Weeks! £8 per session for 'roll up' on the day. MUST book now to secure your place, maximum of 8 in a group: Rob McNicholas, Aaron Howard & Sarah Smith, PGA Professional’s
Email- rob@swgc.com | sarah@smithperformancegolf.co.uk | Telephone- 01799 522786
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Ladies Get Into Golf Programme Do you know someone who wants to try golf? 7 Week Programme
Starting Week Beginning 16th April
(No Golf 28th May Week Due To Half Term) Tuesday 17th April 7-8pm
Thursday 19th April 12-1pm
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No previous playing experience is needed, all levels are welcome and we will provide the equipment. The initiative is designed to grow the game within the community and get people on the fringes of the game the chance to play it. We are very excited to have ran this programme for 5 years now and great to see some of the ladies who have taken part now a member of our ladies section.
So if you fancy giving golf a try, you've played before, taken part in this programme before and want to get back into it or you know someone who does, now is the time to start... Only £75 for 7 Weeks! Equipment & ALL Balls Provided Book now to secure your place, maximum of 14 in a group: Rob McNicholas, PGA Professional’s Email- rob@swgc.com | Telephone- 01799 522786 |
You Have Nothing to Fear Recently, you may have seen a few requests in our weekly emails asking you to create your golfing profile or confirm your email address for GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) purposes. As you might be aware, GDPR is new legislation coming into effect at the end of May, so we are taking the opportunity now to update your details. Not only does this give us the chance to confirm that we have your correct information, but it also provides us with the ability to personalise your weekly emails to suit your golfing preferences. If you have not yet updated your details, please do so now. It will take you less than a minute.
Click here to confirm your details. |
Golf can be a frustrating game at the best of times, but incurring a penalty stroke when you’ve accidentally done something wrong seems very unfair, especially when that one stroke could be the difference between getting a handicap cut or not. |
 | Current Rules
Under the current Rules of Golf, if you accidentally nudge your ball while addressing it you incur a one-stroke penalty and must replace it (18-2). The only exception relates to if it is accidentally moved in the process of marking it. In this case, it must be replaced and there is no penalty (20-1). New Rules from 2019
The new proposed rule (13.1c) states there will no longer be a penalty for accidentally causing your ball to move on the green and you must replace it on its original spot. |
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