Category Archives: News
Pro Update – Another quick heads up from Bruce, from a land far far away…
Hello all,
The plan is to add a footnote onto the clubs newsletter each month until I return in April, please find the second one below:
I’m well into my second month here at Laguna Golf Club in Phuket and I must say it’s been incredibly busy, but enjoyable also.
Sorry to hear about the weather back in the UK which I am sure has stopped some of you having the opportunity to get out on the course, I very much hope it improves for you all and you can get back out in some better golfing conditions soon. It sounds as though the greens staff are doing a good job under difficult conditions, well done gentlemen.
Thank you to the people who have taken the time to contact me whilst I’m out here and have started to get themselves in the diary for when I am back, please continue to do this so that we can hit the fairway running as soon as I do return, lets all hope for a nice spell of Spring weather.
I will have some dates ready for you by the next newsletter for a couple of planned group classes in May. With the short game practice facilities we now have at the club, I intend to utilise these and will be adverting a short game masterclass for May where we can practice/learn the vital aspects and most important part of this great game including chipping, pitching and bunker shots. I would like to only have 5 players per session, allowing maximum time for each player, so please look out for the advertising and sign up as early as you can to secure your spot. I will endeavour to organise a mid-week and weekend session so everyone is catered for.
I will sign off with a couple of pics from Laguna to hopefully send the nice weather your way for Spring!
Stay safe everyone,
Bruce
Welcome to Jack Thorne – a welcome new addition to the clubhouse team!!
What a great catch for the clubhouse team! Please welcome Jack Thorne. Not sure which one you have met - but both are very talented! Jack is off to University in September but as it is local, the plan is that he will be working for us full time during the summer and part time during term time - perfect!
Oh and in case you spot the likeness - his dad Chris is a bit of a winner too!
Ladies and Gents Changing Rooms – Refresh underway!
The team have been hard at work refreshing the ladies and gents changing rooms and the feedback on the quality of work has been fantastic - well done Jack!
March Club Calendar reminders from Al Bowyer
Please find below the current overall updated calendar for the month of March 2024, together with the calling notices for the following March Competitions: (Copies of these details will also be placed on the notice board in the changing room).
Tuesday 19th March
Seniors Monthly Stableford. Please contact Steve Williams direct at stevecgs2003@yahoo.co.uk to enter this event.
Friday 22nd March
Friday Mixed Stableford. Please contact John White direct on johnwhite2102@googlemail.com to enter this event.
Saturday 9th March
The Club Monthly Stableford. Simply form your own groups for this event on the day.
Currently, due to current weather conditions and forecast, these competitions have all been set to be played off the winter ‘Brown Tees Course’. This situation could change at short notice and we will take advice from the green keeping team regarding any potential changes to which tees are to be used.
There is one other event currently programmed for March and that is our first Club Medal of the year, set for 30th March. Details of this will be separately posted.
Kind Regards
Al
albert.bowyer@btinternet.com
01494 562862
Mobile: 07807 776461
New Scorecard & Handicap Tables working a treat!
New Measured Winter 'Brown' Course, Scorecards & Handicap Tables Working a Treat!
A massive thank you to all of the Committee Members (& of course Barry Woledge) for their support in launching our first ever measured Winter Course.
The great teamwork and hard work paid off and everything went to plan.
We are keen to single out Steve Williams in particular for his leadership and guidance - absolutely invaluable.
A reminder - and in short - From January 1, 2024:
PRGC Course was re-rated as more difficult:
- The course was remeasured and its difficulty rating adjusted by England Golf
- Because the course has been rated 'more difficult', you get more shots awarded on your existing handicap index - you were better than you thought!
- Over time, as you submit cards into the Club V1 system, your handicap will normalise at a new lower level
...And Coming Soon in Spring 2024 (when the main tees re-open)
Our new courses will become available! 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: A new short, relatively quick course; a chance for men and ladies to play competitively together on the same course, without distance being a hurdle.
Silver: 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 will be 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 from the available courses.
For key competitions, you will as ever, be directed to specific courses.
More information to come ahead of the launch - but just to whet your appetite!! Can't wait!!
Great feedback from visitors…
How wonderful to welcome so many more visitors to the club this spring. As you know, at PRGC we are blessed with a sponge like chalk base which creates the most sustainable, natural drainage system possible. Combine that with Jack's greenkeeping expertise and we have been able to keep our greens and course open when other local clay based courses have been forced to close.
The feedback from our visitors has been fantastic - particularly for the fairways, greens and and customer service in the clubhouse. A real buzz for the teams and a lovely reward for all the hard work!
Updates to Club Calendar from Al Bowyer
Some quick calendar updates
Pro Update – A quick heads up from Bruce…
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:
