Author Archive: Gary Tubb

Lady Captain’s Newsletter – May 2017

PRINCES RISBOROUGH GOLF CLUB LADIES SECTION
LADY CAPTAIN’S MAY NEWSLETTER

Here we are in May already and the year is speeding by. The active golfing season is well underway with club competitions, league matches and friendlies, and I hope that you are all enjoying your time on the course. Please keep an eye on the noticeboard in the Ladies Locker Room – as soon as there is any information about up-coming events, that’s where you’ll see it. Meantime, below you will find details for May and a few hints about June.

MAY DIARY DATES

Mondays in May
Ladies Roll Up
The Monday roll-up will continue throughout the month. In principle players will go out in arrival order, playing 9, 14 or 18 holes as mutually agreed. Please remember that Monday 29th May is a bank holiday so you should book a tee time if you wish to play – no surcharge for five day members.

Wednesday 3rd May
Ladies Informal Morning
The informal game today will be THE WALTZ. The competition organiser on this occasion is Jill and those who signed up for the event will already have received details of their tee time and playing partners. Cards and fee to the Clubhouse as soon after you clear the 18th green as possible please. If you didn’t sign up but would like to take part please contact Jill, or you can follow on after the other ladies have gone out.

Saturday 6th and Wednesday 10th May
May Medal
The sign-up sheet has been posted on the noticeboard in the Locker Room - I hope you've all got a tee-time arranged.

Wednesday 17th May
The Wishlade Trophy
This competition, generously sponsored by Lynn, is for ladies with handicaps 30-36. A 9-hole option is available for those eligible. Please sign-up on the list on the noticeboard and you will be allocated a tee time. Other ladies with lower handicaps are asked to delay going out until after the Wishlade competitors have tee’d off.

Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th May
Ladies Away Days
Fourteen ladies will be heading off to Staverton Park for three days golf and relaxation. During this week no arrangements will be made for Wednesday play at home, but even if you aren’t indulging in the fun up in Northamptonshire, I hope you will meet up at the Club for golf, chat and lunch.

Wednesday 31st May
Ladies Informal Morning
The informal game today will be TWO MULLIGANS. The competition organiser will be Jacqui and you can expect to see the sign-up sheet on the noticeboard from 17th May.

OTHER INFORMATION
Getting out of Bunkers!
Many of us have benefited from taking part in Bruce’s Backward Chain coaching and are still muttering Tick-Tock-Stop. Building on this course, Bruce is now offering a workshop on bunkers – I wonder what the mantra will be for this one? The dates on offer are Friday 12th and Sunday 14th May and sign-up sheets are displayed in the Locker Room lobby. There are limited places and this is one not to be missed, so sign up quickly.

The Barcilon
The Barcilon is the main club championship and this year it will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June. Sign-up sheets will be displayed shortly. Please do consider taking part. You will need to be available for both days and ladies will follow on after the men have tee’d off. There are additional trophies for ladies, known as The Dexter Trophies, kindly donated by Valerie. These are awarded in three divisions:
• Best lady player with handicap up to 21
• Best lady player 22-29 handicap
• Best lady player 30-36 handicap

League Matches
Home Chiltern League matches are scheduled against Aylesbury Vale (Monday 8th May) and Chiltern Forest (Monday 5th June). If you aren’t playing in these matches, please remember to either go out well in advance of the ladies who are, or to wait until they have tee’d off. Nick will be able to advise on the morning.

TOFFS and Ladies Events
Two more dates for your diaries are Thursday 1st June – TOFFS and Ladies Dinner at the Clubhouse and Monday 19th June TOFFS and Ladies Away Day at Huntswood Golf Course. More news soon.

Midsummer Madness
Make a note of a special event – MIDSUMMER MADNESS - that will be taking place on Wednesday 21st June. This will be a cross-country competition, playing the course in reverse with some interesting twists. It will start late afternoon and promises to be a lot of fun, so look out for more information in the weeks ahead.

Summer Competitions
The Ladies Singles, Ladies Summer Pairs and the Hutley Cup are now well underway. Good luck if you have survived the early rounds, and please try to avoid scheduling matches for Wednesdays!

I hope like me you are looking forward to the summer months which offer so many opportunities for golf whether competitive or informal, and I look forward to seeing you all on the course.

1st May 2017

Funeral details of our dear friend and ex Captain Brian Bradshaw

It is with great sadness that we record the recent death of our dear friend Brian Bradshaw.
Brian will be remembered as a kind and valued player and as our Captain during 2014-5.
Our condolences go out to Christine, Brian’s wife, and to all his family and friends who are lessened by his loss.
A service of committal and commemoration will take place at Amersham Crematorium at 2.45pm, Tuesday 2nd May 2017 and afterwards at Princes Risborough Golf Club.

How to do business on the golf course – 10 winning tips

Golf isn’t just a wonderful way to make friends and get fit! Building business relationships and closing sales on the golf course is now common practice. So here’s a few tips to do it a little better!

(1) Choose the right Venue

No matter how good they are at golf, choose a course that is easy on the knees and allows their morale to stay high. A course which is too tight, too hilly or too long is a business killer. It will create frustration and diminish your chances of doing business. So pick a course you know they will all enjoy, and consider;
* can we break or stop after 9 holes for refreshments?
* are there beautiful views to help them relax and enjoy the moment?

(2) Create a positive association between you / your business and the club

Consider sponsoring one of the holes or getting the club to put a “Welcome to xxx” at the Golf Club reception

(3) Always pay for their round

It tells them that you value their company and their business. Consider a Corporate Sponsorship Package that makes this more affordable.

(4) Follow Their Lead

* Encourage your guest to choose how the match should be played; Stableford, with or without handicap, Texas Scramble – whatever makes them happy. Remember, be accommodating rather than overly competitive.
* Choose a quiet day on the course and let your guest guide the pace of play.  Don’t let them feel panicked or rushed.  If you are holding up other golfers then let them play through.
* If they are generous with a ‘gimmie’ or make a mistake – go with the flow – this is not a PGA Tour!

(5) There is a time and a place to talk business

Always let your guest be the one to bring up business – they know why they are there!  Remember, you invited them for a round of golf, not to suffer a captive sales pitch.
Be engaging and ask them questions.  Encourage them to talk about themselves and their business – you are making a bond… ‘tell me about that competition you won… about your kids, are they golfers? etc’ This kind of small talk helps people to relax and enjoy the game and your company.

(6) Respect the course

Always be very careful to repair your divots and ball marks.  Being responsible tells them something about your nature. You will be equally respectful within your business relationship.

(7) Don’t cheat! or get angry!

Generating business is all about building trust and the quickest way to ruin your image is to get caught cheating.  If you are having a bad day – don’t let it effect your playing partner. Smile – don’t cheat!

(8) Follow the Dress Code

Make sure that you respect the golf course dress code.  You wouldn’t show up to a business meeting looking scruffy – so keep that in mind when showing up to the course.

(9) Create a positive Memory of Yourself

Always have a business card in your wallet and/or golf bag.  A “leave behind” to remind that person of you is a great way for them to remember you. Even better, purchase some golf tees, or golf balls with your company’s name on them, give a few to your guests before or after the round.

(10) Enjoy yourself

The above tips will help you look professional. What your guest also wants is to have enjoyed the course and your company. They accepted the round of Golf, because it was supposed to be enjoyable.  So loosen up, enjoy the day and help your partner to do the same.

Like golf – doing business on the course takes practice..we hope these tips will help!!

Seniors Inter-Club Competitions – Doing Rather Well…

My Fellow Seniors,

Two of this season’s matches played – a two wins; and by impressive margins.
With fourteen more to go there is still work to be done and for each match we require twelve good men and true to step up to the plate. To those who have done so already we must all be grateful for their commitment and skill.
I have had no trouble to-date finding twelve volunteers but wouldn’t it be good if I could always have one or two “reserves” for those occasions which do occur when circumstances mean that someone has to unexpectedly withdraw. It might also give some of our regulars a chance to take a break, if that is what they want.
So if you are a Senior looking for a taste of good company and competition – and the respect of your peers, watch out for the list for forthcoming matches and just add your name and telephone number.
Don’t concern yourself if you have never played a competition, Seniors or any other, we all started in that position once. You will be welcomed, even feted, and I guarantee that once “blooded” you will be back for more.
When my year as your Captain comes to a close I would be happy to say that we had won every match we played: I would be happier though if I could say that I had played alongside every Member of our Club in one game or match throughout what, in any event, I know is going to be a year for me to remember.

Brian Fowler; Captain 2016-7

ANNA AND FRED MAKE A CRACKING START…

We're well into the golf competition season now and these two members got off to a cracking start last week.  

Playing in a field of 24 keen golfers, Anna and Fred won the TOFFS and Ladies American Foursomes and look set for more great finishes in the months ahead

Well played!!!

Ladies – April Update

Good evening ladies.

I started my last newsletter with a comment about the weather and I’m going to do the same this month.  March most certainly came in like a lion and left us like a lamb.  Those of us who played in the TOFFS and Ladies American Foursomes event last Thursday enjoyed the best March day for many a year and felt truly blessed in the sunshine.  And if this weekend is anything to go by I think we can hope that April won’t disappoint. 
 
We are now moving towards the summer months and the golfing diaries are getting crowded.  Our first ladies match, a friendly against Chesham and Ley Hill, was today and I’m pleased to report that the PRGC Ladies won.  With the Spring come Summer Rules and I would remind everyone to keep their eyes open for daily information on the approach to the first tee. 
 
 

APRIL DIARY DATES

Mondays in April

Ladies Roll Up
Depending on weather conditions the Monday roll-up will continue throughout the month.  In principle players will go out in arrival order, playing 9, 14 or 18 holes as mutually agreed.  It can be disappointing if you happen to be the one who turns up when there’s no one else around, so it’s worth remembering that most ladies chose to go out about 0900 and if the weather does turn against us some ladies still pop into the club mid-late morning for a coffee and a chat. 
Please remember that Monday 17th April is a bank holiday so you should book a tee time if you wish to play – no surcharge for five day members.

Wednesday 5 April

Ladies Informal Morning
The informal game this day will be BLIND HOLES.  Please be ready to play from 0845, going out in threes and playing a normal Stableford round.  When you return to the Clubhouse there will be an announcement about which scores should be deducted from your total.  Cards and fee to the Clubhouse as soon after you clear the 18th green as possible please.
 

Saturday 8 and Wednesday 12 April

April Medal
The sign-up sheet has been posted on the noticeboard in the Locker Room – I hope you’ve all got a tee-time arranged.

Wednesday 19 April

Ladies Informal Morning
Your committee has decided that it is time to revamp our informal Wednesday mornings.  You will hear more about this in the lunchtime briefing this Wednesday but basically we will be asking you to sign-up to participate in these fun events.  A member of the committee will then be responsible for allocating tee times for all those interested and you will receive confirmation of your playing partners a few days beforehand by email.  The committee are hoping that this will help to mix up groupings and to ensure all those who wish to play are aware of the format for each day.  This process will be piloted from mid-April to early November and we will be looking for your feedback on how it works – so please do tell us!

Saturday 22 and Wednesday 26 April

Spring Stableford
Sign-up sheets for this event will go up about two weeks in advance.  Please remember that you may only submit a card for either the Saturday or the Wednesday, not both days.    
 
 

OTHER INFORMATION

Winter Pairs and Summer Pairs
The second semi-final and the final of the Winter Pairs will be played this month, and the draw for the Summer Pairs will take place shortly.  If you haven’t signed up for the Summer Pairs yet, then please check the noticeboard for more information. 
 

Putting/Chipping/Pitching/Driving

Many of us have benefited from taking part in Bruce’s Backward Chain coaching during March.  I hope we’re all still thinking Tick-Tock-Stop.   If you would like to continue with lessons, then do have a word with Bruce who will be pleased to talk about your needs and to tell you what classes and individual opportunities are available.
 

Bucks County News

Some of you have been asking about the Bucks County booklets and I can confirm that these are no longer printed – but you can find all information on the Bucks County website at www.bclga.org.uk.  Also, if you have requested a County Card then these will be available from Nick in the near future.
 
I hope like me that you are looking forward to the summer months which offer so many opportunities for golf whether competitive or informal.  The golfing diary is really busy from May to August, and our Committee Secretary, Beryl, will shortly be issuing an updated schedule.  Please do check this as we have made some alterations.
 
Meantime, happy golfing and see you on the course.
Sue 

Nick Wins WAGS Opener

Nick Wins WAGs Opener!!

That's right!! Scoring 19 points over 9 holes Nick smashes Jacko into second place on countback.  A great evening in the bar was guaranteed - as was Nick being deducted a shot!!

Please see details or check your notice board

From Barber to Salon quality…

Last time we 'trimmed' the hedge I was minded to a time, many years ago, when at the beginning of the summer holidays my brother and I were dragged to the barbers. A minute later we emerged with very little if any foliage left... scalped and with a 3 month recovery time!
So this year we have engaged Julian Bailey and we hope you agree that our hedge has emerged from the salon looking rather stylish this year! Thank you Julian

Aero Quick!! (30.03.17)

Wow! what a piece of kit - a unique combination of a slitter and a tining device!!

We have used the finest 6" blade for maximum impact and minimum disruption to play.

Today we tested the Aero Quick on our Academy greens and applied a final top dress. On Monday we will be Aero Quicking the Main Greens.

The key benefits?

  1. Relieves compaction, allowing turf to breathe
  2. Opens up the soils structure and improves drainage
  3. Stimulates deeper roots which resist drought in summer

You may also be interested in... Aeration and Top Dressing of Greens