Welcome to this week’s newsletter. As you will see from Sarah's report the PGA competitions have started in earnest with Fabian, Aaron and Sarah all away playing in tournaments this week leaving me at home. Mine start next month with a couple of Pro Am’s, the 4BBB with Aaron and a new two man team event that I'm entering with the one and only Dave Burt. |
Those who have played in the past two weeks would have noticed blue circles cropping up on the front 9, not aliens but the blue academy course. We have been using the 7 hole course at Chesterford science park to get juniors started on the course then when ready bringing them down here for the roll ups once a month so they can start to get a handicap. Now we have a measured and rated 9 holes for them to do this more accurately. The idea came from this year’s captain and last year’s junior chairman Graham Jones and was a follow up to what Simon Noakes introduced in his captains year. |
|
We have tried our best to keep them out the way of general play so hopefully they won't interfere too much. |
Sarah Smith - WPGA One Day Series
Monday this week I played my second event of the WPGA One Day Series at Dunham Forest, Manchester. After a bit of work on my game over the last couple of weeks, I felt as though I hit the ball well and played a steady game. The weather was superb, getting up to 24'C - the 'golfers tan' is coming along nicely! The course was in great condition but being so warm the greens were definitely playing a little tougher than usual with hard surfaces, making sure to bounce everything short and let it roll on - luckily getting the hang of this only a few holes in! Getting a little nervous on the finishing holes and finishing bogey, bogey, I wasn't disappointed with how I played overall. I scored 4 over putting me in 6th position out of 28 ladies.
|
The next One Day Series is a little closer to home, at Three Rivers Golf Club Essex. If anyone would like to come and support it's on Tuesday, 5 June teeing off at 10:25am.
Before this I have one of the main events of the season, The FootJoy & Titleist Championships. This is a 36 hole event being played at Trentham Golf Club (Stoke On Trent) Friday next week. |
Saffron Walden Draws Scratch League Match Against Girton
Saffron Walden played their second match of the 2018 Scratch League season away at Girton. On a fine evening, the Saffron Walden team took on new comers to the top division of the Cambridgeshire Scratch League, Girton. The Girton course was in great nick, with the pins placed in extremely challenging positions due to a competition played the previous weekend. The first pairing of Goodman and Fraser played Girton’s Evans and Z Cooke. The match was a tight affair, with the lead changing several times. Goodman and Fraser managed to gain a 1 up advantage, however lost 3 holes on the trot to lose 2&1. In the second match, Martin and Burlingham had a tough battle against Kenyon and Russel. Martin and Burlingham played solid golf, managing to gain a 2 up lead with 3 to play, however Kenyon and Russel fought back strongly, winning 2 holes in a row to get back to all square coming down the last which was halved. In the final match, Southall and Adair took on C Cooke and Dean. Once again, the match was a tight one, however Southall and Adair were always in the lead, eventually finishing with a 1 up win. A good result away, in a competition where the home team has a distinct advantage. Many thanks to Girton for their excellent hospitality, their green staff, for setting up the course so well, and their catering staff for the much appreciated meal at the end. Foursomes Results
Goodman and Fraser lost to Evans and Z Cooke 2&1
Martin and Burlingham drew with Kenyon and Russel A/S
Southall and Adair beat C Cooke and Dean 1 up Overall Result
SWGC 3 Girton 3
|
Saffron Walden Wins Preliminary Round of the Goddard Cup Saffron Walden have started the 2018 Goddard Cup with a whitewatch of Barkway Park this past Sunday. On a beautiful spring morning, Saffron Walden began its 2018 Goddard Cup campaign against Barkway Park. In the first foursomes match, Walden’s Hunt and Hall took on Barkway Park’s Smith and Butler. Hunt and Hall went up early and kept the pressure on for a strong 7&6 win with Hunt steady throughout and Hall showing some deft touch around the greens. In the second match, Fraser and Nuthall took on Albow and Monk. The match started with the first 3 holes being halved, however after that, Fraser and Nuthall took control of the match, turning 4 up after the first 9 holes, eventually winning 5&4 In the singles matches, Martin played Locky, MacDonald played Hughes, Brown played Knapp and Southall played Young. Martin, Walden’s rising young star, took on Locky and was in control throughout, playing steady golf resulting in a great 6&5 win. MacDonald, a SWGC stalwart, also made light work of Barkway’s Hughes, winning 5&4 despite limited time on the course this year due to heavy work and family commitments. Brown had a tough match against Knapp, going down early, however he kept playing his own game to eventually win 3&2. Southall, always a strong member of Saffron Walden’s Scratch team, took on Barkway’s Young and was too good for Young, winning 7&6. A great result which bodes well for future rounds of the Cup. Foursomes Results
Hunt and Hall beat Smith and Butler 7&6
Fraser and Nuthall beat Albow and Monk 5&4
Singles Results
Martin beat Locky 6&5
MacDonald beat Hughes 5&4
Brown beat Knapp 3&2
Southall beat Young 7&6 Overall Result
SWGC 6 Barkway Park 0
|
Saffron Walden Draws First Home Scratch Match of 2018
Saffron Walden have drawn their first home match of 2018. On a cold and overcast evening, with the course played hard and fast due to the recent hot weather, the Saffron Walden took on a solid Elton Furze team. The first pairing of Southall and Adair played Elton Furze’s Scott and Newton. The match was a tight one, with both teams being up at stages. Going down the last the match was tied with Southall having a chance to win with his final putt, however it slide past the hole resulting in the match being tied. In the second match, Burlingham and Martin took on Bridgland and NKana. Elton Furze took an early lead winning the first and forth holes, however Walden fought back strongly to take a one up lead. Leading into the last four holes, Burlingham and Martin had slipped to dormie four down, however they won the next three holes on the trot, meaning that if the won the last hole the match would be tied. Unfortunately, despite a great par putt from Burlingham the hole was halved. In the final match, Brown and Fraser played Elton Furze’s Hingston and Young. Elton Furze took an early lead in the match, however the solid play of both Brown and Frazer meant they were too strong for Hingston and Young earning the team a strong 2up win. All in all, a reasonable result against a strong Elton Furze team. Foursomes Results
Southall and Adair halved with Scott and Newton A/S
Burlingham and Martin lost to Bridgland and NKana 1 down
Brown and Fraser beat Hingston and Young 2 up Overall Result
SWGC 3 Elton Furze 3
|
The Come Back Kids Fantastic Win in the Jean Wilkinson
The ladies from Saffron Walden Golf Club faced tough opposition playing away at Ely in their first match of the County Jean Wilkinson Trophy. Their triumph, with 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss, giving 10 points to 4, gave fantastic start to their campaign in the group stage of the tournament.
|
A number of matches started badly for the Walden ladies. Lynda Minton was 3 down at one point, but rallied to win 2 up with 1 to play. Jaine Fieldhouse was 5 down when she put her ball in the water on the 9th. Amazingly, she won the hole, then the next four to get back to all square which is how the match finished.
Caroline Peat lost the first six holes to a very steady opponent. Fighting back strongly she won the next 3 to be 3 down at the turn. A run of wins on the 13,14 and 15th holes brought her back to all square, and excellent tee shots combined with accuracy around the greens, gave her the last two holes, to win by 2 on the 18th. What a comeback.
|
|
Alex Sparrow, Deb Bowler, Paula Munns and Sue Ward all played their part in this great result for the Saffron Walden ladies. |
Senior Match vs Girton After some late team changes due to unavailability and Girton asking us to reduce our team size from 8 to 7 pairs, we arrived at their Club House for 8:00. The weather was much better than the torrential rain of last year, although there was a very strong breeze that made choosing the right line of flight especially important. Clive Walker and Tony Collett got off to a great start in the opening match winning 5 of the first 7 holes, to go 5 up. This included a run of three consecutive scores of 3 on holes 4 to 6. The Girton pairing won their first and only hole on the 12th, eventually losing 6&4. Clive had a gross score of 84, 6 under his handicap.
Our second pairing of Colin Murrant and Malcolm Thorne pulled into an early lead of 2 holes. This was pegged back and it was all square on the 18th tee. The Girton pair parred this to win one up, whilst Malcolm's par putt slipped agonisingly by. After therapy, Malcolm is arranging a putting lesson ASAP. Our third pairing of Eric Grant and our Marshall, Andy Peterson were both former members of Girton, so know the course well. In a tight game they came away with a well-earned draw. Alf Magona and Andy Barker were our 4th pairing and they won in fine fashion 4&3.
Our next two pairs of Tony Gomes/ Patrick Lavelle and Barry Kingsley/ Ian Hassall lost 2 down and 4&2 respectively. So it was up to our final pairing of John Stewart and Roger Cowan to save the day. We are unsure if they won 2 up or just 1 up, but it was enough to give an overall result of 3 1/2 to 3 1/2. We look forward to playing Girton in the return match on 5 September.
|
Heffers Triumph in Mixed Open at Saffron Walden Golf Club The Mixed Open golf tournament at Saffron Walden Golf Club held on the 20th May was, once again, a great success, attracting 30 pairs from 20 different clubs. The weather was kind and the course in splendid condition, looking stunning but also challenging, with difficult rough and tricky greens.
|
The winners by 2 points, were Mark and Judith Heffer, from Manor of Groves GC near Sawbridgeworth, playing in the Open for the 3rd time.
Playing sound golf for 18 points on the front nine, their round came alight at the turn, when Mark birdied the par 5 10th for 4 points, followed by Judith parring the 11th for 3 points. They maintained their excellent form to the end of the round, never scoring less than 2 points a hole, to finish with 41 points.
They were staggered and clearly delighted by their win. |
|
In second place were Robert and Sue Boom from Chelmsford GC with 39 points, while Stanley and Patricia Nixon from Ely claimed 3rd place on countback from Andy and Michele Howarth from Benton Hall GC, both finishing on 38 points. |
Refreshers Afternoon Practice Session
Great Chesterford Science Park Par 3 Course
Saturday, 23 June 1:30-2:30pm |
This hour will be a coached short game session ran by PGA Professional 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 course on your own! It’s a fun afternoon, meeting new people, improving your game and you will be refreshed on the skills of improving your golf game.
Only £15 For An Hour, optional free play after the coaching.
Book Now To Secure Your Place, Maximum Of 8 In A Group:
Sarah Smith, PGA Professional Email- sarah@smithperformancegolf.co.uk | Telephone- 01799 52278 |
Junior Coaching Programme 6 Week Programme At Saffron Walden Golf Club
Saturdays 10, 11 & 12noon
Sundays 11:00am
|
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
|
We may be heading into summer soon but it’s still important to have the right clothing on you in case the weather changes. A lightweight mid-layer is the perfect piece to keep in your bag for exactly this reason, and combining it with other layers can create a great look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
