Hello all,
The plan is to add a footnote onto the clubs newsletter each month until I return in April, please find the first below:
I’m well underway here at the Laguna Golf Club in Phuket, Thailand, and as well as being a fantastic place to visit and play golf, it’s an extremely busy golf club too!
I’ve had a very productive first few weeks and although it’s full on coaching, the days off are spent at the beach, so not all bad!
Over the next couple of newsletters I will get some dates out for group couching in May and June, and please feel free to contact me at anytime whilst I’m away to book any private one to one sessions into the diary ready for my return, as I’m pleased to say some people already have, thank you.
I feel very humbled and privileged to have been asked to come out to Laguna for the winter, which I hope shows the regard that my knowledge and coaching is held at within the PGA both in the UK and abroad, so please utilise the coaching skills I have once I’m back if you want to not just improve your golf, but enjoy it more also.
A few pics to brighten up the winter mornings:
Well, thank goodness "dry January" is over, probably one of the wettest months in recent times.
However, our course is looking in great shape for the forthcoming Spring, due to the expertise and hard work of Jack, Chris, and Matt. I hope everyone is enjoying using the new course cards - they are like a "breath of fresh air".
And as Spring approaches, many of us will begin to think about all the various competitions and activities that either have already been arranged or will be shortly.
The Seniors CBL competition restarts in February, away to Aylesbury Vale. (Steve Sergeant is the contact)
The Seniors "friendly" competitions begin in March, with three away matches in March and April. (Seniors captain David Orford is in charge now)
Barry Woledge has kindly put up all the entry sheets in the male changing room, for the five main Mens Board competitions and I would ask you to put your names on these sheets as soon as possible in readiness for the draws. The entry fee for each competition is £5.00 and will be collected by Al Bowyer (treasurer) shortly.
We have entered the Hillman Trophy again (low HCP competition) and Phil Sloan is the contact.
Now to a couple of "Save the Dates":
Wednesday 3rd April - WAGs i.e. Wednesday Afternoon Golf society begins (run by Dave Mackenzie), a regular Wednesday nine-hole competition with both ladies and gents welcome. This will be followed by something that I gather has not happened for some time, i.e. the Mens Presentation Evening, where the trophies won in 2023 will be presented to the individual winners, so all welcome, and I trust the Ladies will indulge us on this one occasion. Food is to be provided by Natalie, at the usual competitive prices.
Tuesday 23rd April - St. Georges Day. This is a regular Seniors day, but for this very "special day" (Celts, you always celebrate yours!!!) we will open the day up to both ladies, gents and seniors, with a celebratory lunch afterwards. Details of the type of competition to follow, but I will be putting a "sign up" sheet in both changing rooms.
In conjunction with Jack, I will organize another work party morning for repairing divots and assisting with any course maintenance that we as members are able to do. (Probably early March). The bunkers are regularly raked now, but there are other jobs as well.
Monthly Winners. Well done to John White for winning the Seniors Monthly Stableford. And well done to Steve Williams for winning the January Club Stableford.
Coaching. Our very own Bruce Loom will return to the UK around the end of March/early April, but if you want some lessons, he will take email bookings now.
Pro Shop. Please remember to utilize this facility for tees, hats, polo shirts, sweaters, balls, gloves etc etc. Luke Viney will be delighted to serve you.
Once again, my thanks, on your behalf, to all the folk that make our course so friendly and enjoyable to play.
Best Regards to All
Dick Pooley, Club Captain.
mob. 07785 996511, land. 01494 269615, email "richardpooley5@gmail.com"
Here is the link to Sue's update
A short message from Jack, the greenkeeper regarding protecting the fairways.
First, thank you to everyone who has been so supportive in protecting the fairways, either through responsible buggy driving or electric trolley use.
Whilst the course is prone to becoming muddy, he is keen that the fairways are protected through the use of hedgehog wheels where possible please. If you need to hire a healthy push trolley with hedgehog wheels they are available at reception. If you would prefer to use your electric trolleys without hedgehog wheels, please can you use the rough.
Thank you once again for your support, your course will be the better for it.
Please find below the February / March Calendar prepared by Al Bowyer, Competitions Secretary. If you need to find it in the members section it is here:
Calendar & Competitions at Princes Risborough Golf Club - Princes Risborough Golf Club
Here you will also be able to see Al's longer term annual calendar.
If you have any questions on the changes, please ask in the Clubhouse or one of your Committee Members.
Please find below the January Calendar prepared by Al Bowyer, Competitions Secretary. If you need to find it in the members section it is here:
Calendar & Competitions at Princes Risborough Golf Club - Princes Risborough Golf Club
Here you will also be able to see Al's longer term annual calendar and the new news from Jan 1st on new scorecards / handicap tables and measured courses. This is v. important as it will impact how many shots you now get when playing PRGC courses.
If you have any questions on the changes, please ask in the Clubhouse or one of your Committee Members.
As many of you will be aware, our PGA professional Bruce has been offered a winter placement at the renowned Laguna Gc in Phuket Thailand. He will spend the winter months there full time coaching and will be back in April.
Whilst away he will also start to get the coaching season here at PRGC ready by planning some group coaching for May and June, dates and times will follow, as well as being available for individual lessons.
It would be great if we could start to fill his diary up for May 2024, ready for his return, with any private coaching you may want.
Bruce will always be available via email whilst away, although please be aware, there is a seven hour time difference.
Happy New Year - it turns out that you are all better golfers than you thought! Here's some good news to kick off 2024!
For the first time in PRGC history we have a measured winter course from mats to main greens. This allows you to mark your card and enter your scores into the Club V1 system as normal. The new course will be shown on the new scorecard as the Brown 'Mats to Mains' course.
On the new scorecard simply tick that you are playing the Brown course, check the new handicap tables below to see how many shots you now get and away you go. Don't forget, you will initially get more shots and achieve a lower net score, but this will adjust over time.
From Jan 1st use the temporary tee for the Brown (Mats to Mains) 18th which is situated in the normal 18th tee area. Signage will be in place directing you from the 17th to the 18th tee area as per normal.
Now this is even better news. In the old world, in casual or general play, men could use the Yellow Tees to score on. Ladies could score on their Red Tees and a hybrid Yellow course.
From the Spring, Men and Ladies will, in regular play, be able to choose to play on one of 5 new measured courses.
Brown: Mats to Main Greens (winter)
Green: A new short course designed for golfers who have lost a few yards on their drive but their short game and guile keeps them competitive (also good for Juniors)
Bronze: This is essentially the old ladies Red Course but repurposed with different Stroke Indices for men and women - a shorter, quicker course for men and a chance for men and ladies to play competitively together on the same course, without distance being a hurdle.
Silver: This is a new iteration of the old Yellow Course. It's longer than the Bronze but still accessible for men and ladies to compete on. Interesting Tee positions and par 5's for the ladies on longer holes.
Gold: Again, a new course iteration, making PRGC still more versatile and interesting. Also accessible for men and women to play and score on.
In addition to the above new Casual / General play courses there will of course be additional competition courses, for example the Whites, which will be restricted to certain Club Competitions. More on those in a future release!
Importantly, there is no such thing now as a ladies' tee or a men's tee - there are now 5 different Casual / General play courses and you (men and women) simply check the handicap tables, the SI's and the pars and choose whichever course you wish to play!
For key competitions you will as ever, be directed to specific courses.
For more Info - see the charts below...
