The Ryder Cup is here at last!
By the time that you read this latest newsletter it will be less than 24 hours to the start of the one of the biggest tournaments in the world - the Ryder Cup, I'm not sure what it is about the Ryder Cup but it seems to inspire even more of a buzz than golf's major championships and even though the European team has home advantage and seems stronger on paper I think it could be a lot closer than many imagine. The players say they get more nervous than at any other time when they are stood on the first tee waiting to tee off and there will be a huge global audience watching them, with the weather looking set fair (which is a real bonus in Scotland!) it promises to be another great encounter. After the 'Miracle at Medinah' two years ago I'm predicting a 15-13 victory for Europe!
If you haven't got Sky Sports we will be showing full coverage in the clubhouse from 8am on Friday all the way through to the final stages on Sunday afternoon, why not come down for nine holes and then watch some of the world's finest players battling it out at Gleneagles!
Please give us your feedback - last chance!
Many thanks to all of you who have so far completed our annual equipment survey, if you haven't had a chance yet could I please ask you just to spare a couple of minutes and fill it in. The survey provides vital feedback for us about the golf brands and equipment that interests you and what we should stock next year in order to give you the best possible service.
As an added incentive we will enter everyone's name that completes the survey for Hartford Golf Club into a special prize draw to win a dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls worth £45! Not only this but everyone will also be entered into a national prize draw to win a three night golf trip to the PGA Cataluyna Resort in Spain.
Just click here to begin the survey.
Our SALE ends next week!
Our end of summer SALE is coming to a close next week on Tuesday 30th September, there are still many bargains to be had so you had better be quick!
Here is a selection of some of the sale items:
£10 sale rail - clothing reduced from as much as £29.99 to £10
£15 sale rail - clothing reduced from as much as £44.99 to £15
£20 sale rail - clothing reduced from as much as £49.99 to £20
adidas adizero one golf shoes were £99.99 reduced to £69.99
Nike Lunar Control II golf shoes were £109 reduced to £75
Nike and Callaway golf balls dozen packs just £9.99
20% OFF the marked price on all golf bags
20% OFF the marked price on all golf balls
20% OFF the marked price on all putters
Waterproof shoes reduced to as little as £29.99
TaylorMade Rocketbladez irons were £449 now £379
Titleist ex demo woods from £99
Titleist 712 AP2 irons sets were £599 now just £449
TaylorMade Jetspeed drivers were £199 reduced to £149 , fairway woods £109 and hybrids £99
Golf course tips
One of our PGA teaching professional's and Lombard Trophy finalist Adrian Hill shares a few tips and strategies that may help you tackle the par 4 sixth hole at Hartford:
Hole 6 - Par 4 - 259 yards - SI 17
"The sixth hole is one of those holes that can seem quite innocuous but can have a sting in it's tail if not treated with respect! My first piece of advice when you get to the tee would be to check where the flag is on the green, if it is towards the right of the green it can be a dangerous position with the flag cut behind the green side bunker, in this case I would recommend leaving yourself a good distance in to the green for your second shot it may only mean you hit something like a 5 iron off the tee to leave yourself an approach shot of around 80 yards. If the flag is on the left this means that you have easier access to the pin and it may be worth being a little more aggressive from the tee to get closer to the green.
As ever use your head before you tee off - if you know you can hit your driver or 3 wood around 250 yards it may be worth hitting driver off the tee to leave yourself a short chip on to the green, but beware leaving yourself on the right as you could have a very difficult chip over the green side bunker. Golf is all about playing to your strengths so if you aren't too confident chipping around the green then play an iron off the tee so you don't leave yourself to close to the green. Once you have picked your club make sure you are specific with your target and then commit fully to the shot.
With your approach to the green avoid over clubbing as if you go through the back of the green you will inevitably leave yourself a very difficult chip.
Once you have hit the green two putting should be relatively easy as the green is fairly small and flat, as ever look back at the hole when you have finished playing and quickly review how you played the hole and what you may do differently next time, then it is on to the seventh hole!"
Photo of the week
Club member James Eaton is always saying he is going to sweep up this season, but we didn't think this was what he meant! Feel free to send us through your own captions.
Click here to send us your caption.
New online tee booking system
We are in the final stages of implementing a new online tee booking system, this will be more user friendly than the old booking system and we will have special offers on green fees, if you book and pay online you will be able to save up to 25% on the normal green fee rates.
The booking system isn't live just yet but you can have a sneak peek and register now by clicking on the link http://www.brsgolf.com/hartford/visitor_home.php
Winter fixture list
We have put the final touches to the winter fixture list, you can click here to view it and it will also be available to view on the club website.
Entries for the Winter League are now being taken, this is a pairs competition with an entry fee of £5 per pair, it would be great to see a good turn out for this ever popular competition and the course is always in great all year round condition meaning that you can keep your game sharp over the winter months.
The next competition is the President's Day on Saturday 27th September, it is the final event for the summer Order of Merit and it should provide an exciting finish to the season as Steve Bond and Paul Underwood are tied on the same points, however Dave Johnson also has a chance of winning with his late surge pushing him right into contention.
Good luck to defending champion Tom Duncalf and Gareth Eaton who are contesting the final of the LJ Percival Knockout Trophy on Saturday, it should be a great match!
Well done to our 3 handicap junior member Tom Duncalf who has been selected for the North-West under 16's regional coaching squad, over the winter he will receive tuition from some of the area's best golf coaches.
Also wishing the best of luck to Rhys Nevin who is playing in Portugal in the final of the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship which is one of the best known under 18's tournaments in Europe.
The ladies have finalised their winter fixture list, you can view it by clicking here.
Just a reminder for the ladies participating in the Autumn Pairs competition that all your qualifying scores need to be submitted by next Saturday 4th October.
The seniors played a nine hole strokeplay competition on Tuesday, there was some good golf played and the winner was Peter Wildin who has hit a bit of form recently. He scored a nett 30 including back to back birdies on holes five and six. Peter just edged out Frank Yarwood who also scored a nett 30 and in third place was Tom Hutchinson with a nett 31.
Next Tuesday the seniors are playing an 18 hole Stableford.
Ladies Stableford - Thursday 25th September 9am
President's Trophy - Saturday 27th September 12:04pm
Seniors 18 hole Stableford - Tuesday 30th September 9:32am
Ladies 9 hole Stableford - Thursday 2nd October 9am
October Medal - Saturday 4th October 11am start