The world has this week been taken over by leaves! Millions of them appeared overnight and caused devastation everywhere. Blocking drains, gutters and more importantly hiding your golf balls. Not even the highest trained labrador could unearth some of the tee shots at Royal East Kilbride. Hopefully these leaves will leave very soon!
I on the other hand hope to never leave here and Sunday marked my first year anniversary at East Kilbride Golf Club. Thank you for all the card and that wasn't a typo. It was a solitary card but a very important card from the chap who hired me, Stewart Wilson. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as your professional and I hope you have enjoyed having me. Hopefully reading this newsletter has brought a few smiles to your faces!
Saturday saw the annual end of year Green Jacket shin dig and just like a Z-List celebrity, I was there with bells on. The night was filled with pool, darts and Ping Pong.
When I told my wife that I was going out to play Ping Pong with the boys, she immediately said "Graeme that is the worst excuse I have ever heard to go out drinking". I pointed out to Hilary that I had in fact been an avid Ping Pong player in my youth and played for the BB. Hilary then pointed out that I am not in my youth anymore and probably double the weight. I knew I would still have my cat like reflexes but there was one thing I didn't take into account. ALCOHOL! It had turned me into a wobbly wreck and I was seeing more than one bat, but I suppose it was Halloween! After 4 or 5 successful bribes I found myself in the final of the PING PONG CHAMPIONSHIP facing ' Stevie O'Riley'. Stevie did seem very sober and failed to tell us that he once played Ping Pong for China! He dispatched me with ease in the final as his skill rose to the top as my talent sank to the floor. It was a great night and a big thank you to Danny McKinlay and Laura who organised the night and to Ronnie Neil for accepting all my bribes! A big thank you to Alex and Calum McLeod who also donned their referee coats. This was a great social night and if anyone else is having any more nights like this then please invite me.
Oh and before I forget, Thank you to Gary Stuart who got an Air Ambulance to take me home from the club! Very Kind of him indeed!
The new Titleist ball
If there was a Greek God of Golf Balls, his or her name would be 'TITLEIST'. Many of you swear by the Pro V1 ball, but I am sorry to say that most of you don't have the clubhead speed to make the ball work. The Pro V1 is between 88 & 90 compression and in recent years many manufacturers have produced lower compression balls.
Now it's Titleist's turn with the new 'Titleist DT Soft'. The soft is a 51 compression and designed to give players with slower club head speed more distance.
Will this happen with everyone?
Absolutely not and this is why we measure what happens with our ball tracking device to make sure you get the ball that suits you. What we must never forget is that golf is a game of feel, and the feel of a golf ball when you strike it is so important. If it doesn't feel good then you will never play your best! So when the ball launches early next year, we will be on hand to test it with you!
Click here to find out more about Titleist's ball range, or why not check out our cracking Titleist Christmas ball offer where you can get FREE personalisation on any of Titleist's range of balls when you buy a dozen or more. Plus they will be delivered FREE of charge to us here in the pro shop.
Click here to find out more about this great Christmas offer.
Christmas Raffle Board
After last years successful Christmas Raffle Board, I have decided to construct a massive raffle board with more prizes than Jim Bowen's Dart Board. There will be no speed boats or carving knives but I can promise you wondrous golfing gifts!
Improvements To The Practice Facilities
We have been working hard recently to improve the practice facilities here at East Kilbride Golf Club and I am please to tell you that we will be doing the following over the coming months.
Introducing gradients of grass height round our short game area.
The introduction of a new bunker next to the bottom chipping green to replace the ones on the practice area.
A feeding and aeration program will commence on areas of the front and the back of the practice areas. This will stimulate growth and allow us to create two teeing areas that we be utilised alternately during the season.
The removal of the bunkers on the practice area and the creation of these two tees will allow the practice area to be used at its full length safely by many players at once.
The introduction of measured yardage boards onto the practice area giving you a quality practice experience. These practice boards were created by club member and 'Steven Moran' and myself. A big thank you to Steven who is a fabulous joiner who assisted me on this project for free.
