Welcome to this week’s newsletter. What a glorious weeks weather we've experienced and how the course has changed with it. Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining the three club farmers for their spring guest day as the guest of Mike Price. The day is played over 36 holes with foursomes in the morning and four ball better ball in the afternoon. We got to see and test at the firsthand how the rough has thickened up as we attempted to play foursomes and got home in a pathetic 28 points. Mike had warned me I'd be playing from some interesting positions and he was true to his word as I perfected the pitch out sideways on a number of holes. I did get my own back on 17 though with a shocker but somehow we managed to scramble two points on the hole. The afternoon was a lot better, after a change of irons, a couple of swings in the nets with Aaron watching, getting Pricey to actually turn and the main incentive of playing for a bottle of wine over dinner we managed to pip our opponents, Andy Fisher and Mark Stones, by a point and finish third in the afternoon overall with 40 points. Beating Mark and Andy was no easy fete as Andy despite an indifferent back nine always plays steady and Mark is a scratch golfer who has represented England seniors on 18 occasions, winning 14 times, drawing twice and only losing twice. Thanks for the invite, hopefully I redeemed myself in the afternoon to get an invite back and thanks to the guys from the three club farmers, their wives and their sponsors for everything that was laid on for the day it was truly enjoy, particularly the brownies at the half way house. Well done to Rob Duke and Gary Bower as well for playing very steady golf and winning the overall day. As you will read from the reports it's been a busy week in all actions of the club. Well done to Justine and Graham for their hosting of the Captains Cocktail Party and well done to both the scratch and Jean Wilkinson teams on their great starts to the season.
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Saffron Walden wins first Scratch League Match of 2018
Saffron Walden have started the 2018 Scratch League season with a good win away at Brampton Park. On a glorious evening, with a course in tip-top condition, the Saffron Walden team took on a strong Brampton Park team. After a stressful start, with the Saffron Walden team only just managing to get to the course on time due a pile-up on the A14 leading to grid-locked roads, the first pairing of Brookes and Adair took on Brampton Parks' King and Newton. They went behind early, but fought back strongly in a nip and tuck affair, eventually losing on the last for a 1 down result. |
 | | Brookes |
 | | Adair |
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In the second match, Goodman and Frazer took on Robinson and Ford. Goodman and Fraser started the 1 up win with birdies at the 1st and 11th and a 15 ft par putt on the 12th by Goodman which sent them 4 up with 6 to play. Brampton pairing of Robinson and Ford fought back strongly, winning the 14th, the 15th and birdieing the 17th so Walden remained 1up going into last which was halved. |
 | | Frazer and Goodman |
 | | Southall and Martin |
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In the final match, Southall and Martin took on Gays and Burns, with Martin only just getting to the course on time due to the traffic. He ran to the first tee and hit a majestic 3 wood into the center of the fairway! Southall and Martin took an early lead which they did not relinquish through-out the match, prevailing with a strong 2up win. All in all, a great result to set the season off on the right foot. Many thanks must go to Brampton Park for their superb hospitality, their green staff, for setting up the course so well, and their catering staff for the much appreciated meal at the end. |
An honorable mention must also go to Graham Jones, the Saffron Walden Club Captain, for enduring a 4 ½ hour trip to collect one of the team!
Foursomes Results
Adair and Brookes lost to King and Newton 1 down
Goodman and Frazer beat Robinson and Ford 1 up
Southall and Martin beat Gays and Burns 2 up Overall Result
SWGC 4 Brampton P |
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Jean Wilkinson Team
Great news, the Team won their first Jean Wilkinson match of the season, away at Ely by 10 points to 4. This is the first of six matches so a really great start. The Team, Reserves and Caddies are:
Lynda Minton, Jaine Fieldhouse (caddie Vivienne Dondi), Alex Sparrow (caddie Justine Voss), Deb Bowler (caddie Jan Rackham), Paula Munns, Sue Ward, Caroline Peat (caddie and reserve Elaine Purcell), Reserves: Jane Wagstaff and Olivia Hall Our next match is against Newmarket on Friday, 25 May at home (1:00pm start). Will keep you up to date with results. Best wishes, Vivienne
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Success Away from the Club
Jackie Greenaway won the Ladies Club Championship at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi over the weekend. She won by 4 shots! |
Match vs Stowmarket - Wednesday, 2 May
Clive Walker was Match Captain for the day. He welcomed us all and said that he hoped it would stop raining - it didn’t. Clive announced the Nearest the Pins for Stowmarket on the 5th and Walden on the 11th. Things went a bit wrong and Stowmarket had the 5th and the 7th. This meant that he presented the bottles for the Stowmarket holes but when it came to the 11th won by Derek Green - he only got an empty bottle…Oh dear !! The result was 5 1/2 Walden to 2 1/2 Stowmarket. We have now won all our home matches. Please can we have more players for future matches. The sheets are up please enter - we need new players. |
Away Day at Stoke Rochford
Bryan Lewis as ever, organised an excellent day out at Stoke Rochford Golf Club in Lincolnshire. This is in the A1 northbound - opposite the Adult Store. 37 turned up which was great. some including myself had wet kit from yesterday's match.
This is a course that you must play. It is shorter than Walden at 6,133 against our 6,364 and has a SS of 70 against our 71, but it seemed to us all that it played much longer with tough par 4s but some short par 3 thrown in. We met at 9.00 for bacon rolls and played off at 10.00. The sun was out and we had a great day.
All this followed by an hearty chicken pie and chips. The results from the day were: 1st place - Ian Hassall, Keith Peacock & Colin Murrant – 103pts
2nd place - The three Geoffs - Wollerson, Mansfield & Tobin – 92pts
3rd place - Barry Kingsley, Derek Green & Patrick Lavelle - 92pts Well organised Bryan, great day out. |
Michael Noakes
4th place - Tony Gomes, Roger Forster, Clive Walker, Derek Underhill with 99 points
3rd place - Alf Magona, David Wiseman, Anthony Gold, Robert Golding with 101 points
2nd place - Keith Peacock, Alan Seymour, Denis Brown, Andy Barker with 102 points
1st place - Peter Taylor, Malcolm Thorne, Lennen Ekner, Geoff Wollerson with an excellent score of 108. Here they are pictured with their prizes. |
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Tri Golf Programme
On Wednesday this week Radwinter year 5&6 girls group came for their final week of the Tri Golf Programme at Saffron Walden Golf Club. The weather was definitely on our side and the group of 12 started at the range learning about the basics of the full swing with a mid-iron, using their Tri Golf knowledge. The second half of the lesson we spent on the putting green playing skills games, getting them used to real grass rather than the school hall (which turned out to be a similar speed!) With the 4 week programme being very successful, we have invited the girls back for two more sessions at the Golf Club which they will take part in during their PE hour, after this continuing to invite them along to a little fun competition at Chesterford Par 3 course to encourage them to put everything together & continue the golf!
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Sarah Smith - Are you Struggling with your Chipping? |
Follow Sarah’s guide to play a perfect chip & run shot around the greens.
Click here to watch video.
Keep an eye out for further videos on our Facebook page or if you are a reader of the Women & Golf magazine. |
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Aaron Howard - Titleist & FootJoy PGA Championship Qualifier Last week the Titleist & FootJoy PGA national qualifier was held at Gog Magog for the East region. On a tough, blustery Tuesday the Wandlebury course was presented in magnificent condition. The top players in our region all assembled to fight for the top fourteen qualifying spots that lead to the national final later in the year. |
The course was playing long but fair due to the heavy overnight rain that had closed other courses in the region. My driver misbehaved early in the round costing me two bogies through four holes. Birdies at the fifth and the eighth moved me back to level par. Just when I thought things were going my way, I decided to try and make things more challenging by driving it into the fairway bunkers of holes nine and ten. At two over par through fourteen holes I knew that I needed at least two birdies over the last four holes to qualify. Playing conservative wasn’t an option. I had no choice but to attack flags to force the issue. Unfortunately it went the other way and a final score of 76 (four over) was the result. One under par made the eventual cut and the leading qualifier was Christopher Cutchie from Colchester shooting five under. |
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My next event is the John O’ Gaunt Pro Am on the 21st of May and I’m very much looking forward to playing alongside three Saffron Walden members for this event.
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TaylorMade Fitting Day
We are delighted to announce we will be hosting a TaylorMade Fitting Day on Friday, 1 June 2018. You will be able to book a 30 minute slot from 12:00 - 15:30.
A representative from TaylorMade will be on hand to take you through all the latest equipment. You may be looking for a new set for this year or wanting to see how the latest equipment compares to your current clubs.
Please call us on 01799 527728 or click here to get booked in. |
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Battery Trade-In Ends this Sunday If you haven't taken advantage of this promotion yet then you only have a few days left to get £25 OFF a new Lithium battery when you trade-in your old battery. Just to remind you, Lithium batteries charge quicker, last longer and work out far cheaper in the long run than standard Lead Acid alternatives. What are you waiting for? Click here to learn more. |
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Practice is Important - 4 SPACES LEFT
This hour will be a coached short game session ran by PGA Pro Sarah Smith, followed by a few holes supervised on the par 3 course at Great Chesterford. After the hour is complete, you will be allowed to continue around the par 3 on your own. It's a great chance to have a fun afternoon, meet new people and improve your game.
The cost is £15 for an hour with optional FREE play after the coaching.
Email Sarah here or call 01799 522786 to secure your spot.
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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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Let’s face it: we all want to hit the ball further. Being able to hit longer drives gives you less club into the green, making everything that little bit easier. There are many ways you can try and generate more power during your swing, and nearly all of them start from the ground up. |
Trust your footwear
Despite his small frame, tour star Rickie Fowler is renowned for his power. As you can see in the three images above, he pushes off from his right foot through impact and relies on great grip and stability to ensure the power his body is creating doesn’t come at the cost of control. Having a strong base is something we should all aspire for. The FootJoy Tour-S can help you do this thanks to its PowerStrap that enhances support, plus its nine cleats per foot that offer maximum stability across a range of terrains. |
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