Renovation week has started and so far gone quite well.

On Monday we managed to get the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 14th, 15th and 18th done, on Tuesday, we're hoping to be very close to finishing. The work has gone well because we know we will have very little drying time for the sand, so we are putting less on and accepting the holes will not be filled. This means over the next 2 weeks we'll probably see lots of holes opening up as rain drives the sand in. This is an inevitable result of doing this work at this time of year. The next couple of weeks we'll be doing some light top dressings to try and deal with this problem and ensure we take smooth putting greens into the season.

Thanks,

Glenn Kirby
Golf Course Manager

The bar will now remain open until 6.30pm at weekends only. Can we please ask that you are aware of the closing time when ordering your drink.

I think Pete Crowe has a part time evening job, here he is showing us his skills as a master carver!!

Actually several members attended the PGA in Hampshire dinner with me at Rowlands Castle Golf Club last week and we were served a delicious piece of beef that had to be carved at the table, Pete took charge.

The day started with a round of golf at Rowlands Castle followed by a very enjoyable evening of great food and speeches, especially from our guest speaker, entertainer, comedian and sports impressionist Aaron James.

On Thursday, 12 March at 10.30am the ladies will be playing Corhampton (away) in the next round of the Mail on Sunday. Supporters more than welcome.

On Tuesday, 17 February there was a very enjoyable encounter between the juniors and the Ladies. The Ladies fought well, however the might of the juniors came through to show a 3 1/2 to a 1/2 victory. I would like to thank the juniors (that was the biggest turn out we have had in a year) and the Ladies, who gave it their all.

George Hoarton (Junior Captain)

FootJoy Hyperflex coming soon

Most athletic shoes are constructed with soft, mesh upper materials which are perfect for running and activities that don't require a lot of lateral movement. For FJ's research & development team, the key was to keep those comfort qualities in place but would also deliver the support, stability and waterproof qualities required for golf. Through extensive testing, this balance was achieved utilising an engineered material never before used in golf shoes. FJ has dubbed it: FlexGrid.

The FlexGrid was actually inspired by a suspension cable bridge in Boston, Massachusetts - the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge. When viewing this type of bridge at different angles, the cables form a grid of tremendous strength and support, all while maintaining a sleek, lightweight and technical appearance.

The FlexGrid system begins with a base layer that consists of a tight-knit, lightweight, soft, flexible, waterproof mesh which allows for maximum comfort, breathability, flexibility and airflow. That layer is (literally) supported by the very noticeable FlexGrid exoskeleton "cage" which conforms to the foot and allows it to flex and expand, but is also strong enough to keep the foot from rolling laterally during the golf swing. The end result is a very unique shoe that wraps your foot in the comfort you expect from an athletic shoe with the support of a high-performance golf shoe.

If you are looking for a sporty looking shoe that also provides plenty of support during the swing, then you should put the Hyperflex high on your list.

New in this week - The Callaway XR range of woods

• Unleash even more speed from the tee with the Callaway XR Driver so no matter what your handicap you can get pure distance and out driver your playing partners.
• Callaway are at the top of their game when it comes to new technology and the ground breaking R-MOTO face is no different. Callaway have re-optimised the face thickness and the boundaries of the face to make it energy efficient so you still boom your drives even on miss hits.
• This R-MOTO face also allows the weight to be moved back in the head for forgiveness and a higher launch. 
• More ground breaking technology comes from the driver's head shape which incorporates a 'Speed Step' on the crown to help control and optimise the airflow around the club on your down swing to reduce drag and in turn give you more speed! 
• Adjust your XR Driver with more accuracy thanks to the advanced adjustable OptiFit technology worked into the range. The OptiFit Hosel allows you to adjust the loft into 8 different positions and the lie to a draw or neutral position. 
• The all black head features a tonal alignment 'Chev' in the centre and speed step help frame the ball on the tee while also leaving you distraction free at address. 
• Callaway are at the 460cc maximum had size but the larger look at address helps to inspire confidence when you get on the tee with a narrow fairway ahead. 
• Our Price £249

Chris's Tip of the week

For the next few week's I am going to write different tips on breaking certain scores. This week I am covering breaking 100 and what to do on par 5's that will help lower your score.

Driving Set Up

Stringing together multiple shots on a par 5 is something that gives the average 100-shooter fits. To get into position to hit a few good shots in a row, you need to start with the driver.

Stand with your feet together and the ball in line with your left instep (1). Sidestep with your left foot so the ball is a few inches inside your heel, then sidestep with your right foot and let your shoulders and head tilt away from the target (2).

By getting into a proper stance, with your feet just wider than your shoulders, and tilting behind the ball, you're in position to hit a solid drive.

Practice Drill Imagine Hitting Up

Once you're in a good setup position, it's time to visualize a better route to the ball. Many players struggle with an out-to-in swing and end up chopping down on the ball through impact. One way to get into a better impact position is to visualize a set of balls on increasingly taller tees as they get to the actual ball you're hitting. As you can see below, the bottom of the swing arc with a driver is a good six inches behind the target ball. When you get to impact, the driver should be moving upward. To do this, picture yourself hitting every ball in this sequence squarely. That will force you to keep your head back and your shoulders tilted correctly.

Stat Facts

Average 100-shooters hit less than three greens a round and make only two saves on more than a dozen short-game opportunities.

Winter League

The Winter League final will be between:
Ed Manger & Lee Phillips and Chris Stephens and Marc Eades This will be played on Sunday, 15 March at 11.00am.

Results:

With 3 days of differing weather the best score in the John Simpson 5th Card was on Saturday and was carded by Dan Mould with an outstanding 44 points. This was closely followed on Sunday by Mike Archer with 43 points.

With only one more card to be played the leading scores are as follows:

1st - Kevin Unsworth - 119
2nd - Sean Green - 117
3rd - Malcolm Mackenzie - 116 (last year's winner)
4th - Pete Eagles - 115
5th - Mike Andrew - 113
6th - Andrew Davis - 113

All to play for chaps.

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Pompey won 6 - 2 against the mighty Cambridge United away from home and Robin and I beat the defending champions of the Capt/Pro, Derek Noyce and Roger Broadgate 5 & 4. We also won against Drew Gibson and George Wilson 5 & 3. Both games contained lots of banter as the ladies on the 1st tee heard, but was played, as usual in a great spirit. Robin and I definitely played our best game this weekend, we were under par when we finished, so are now looking forward to the next game which is against trainee legends Paul Downing and Ben L'enfant (who was half of the duo that knocked Jack and I out of the Winter foursomes) and Alan Carpenter and Pat Lawson (legends already). So I am sure we will have to be at our best again.

Sunday, 1 March - St David's day Stableford, played from the yellow tees.
Capt/Pro tee reserved 11.55 - 12.05
Hampshire squad training tee reserved 2.30 - 3.00pm

Family Foursomes on Sunday, 22 March is now open for entry, only £15 per pair, please sign up in the foyer.

Titleist fitting day on Tuesday, 31 March, BETWEEN 11AM AND 3PM no appointment necessary.

Click here to find out more about the fantastic new Titleist ranges.