Members Profile
Every week we will be bringing you a profile of a member here at Hartford Golf Club, this week it's the seniors Captain Graham Bower.
What’s your handicap? – ‘it’s 21 at the moment’
How long have you played golf? – ‘like many people I only started playing when I retired, I’ve been playing for the last 6 years with my only club being Hartford’
What’s your favourite and least favourite hole at Harford? – ‘I like the 4th hole as I seem to par or birdie it more than any other, for obvious reasons the stroke index one 3rd hole is my least favourite as I’ve had a few disasters on there!’
Who is your favourite professional golfer? – ‘I really like Phil Pickering, erm I mean Phil Mickelson!’
What’s your favourite club in your bag? – ‘I use my trusty 7 iron a lot and it doesn’t usually let me down, any club longer than that has a habit of mis-behaving!’
The best course that you have played? – ‘I love playing at Llaynmynech Golf Club in Wales, it’s a very scenic course and one hole you tee off in Wales and putt out in England’
If you could play any course in the world what would it be? – ‘It would definitely be Augusta, it’s looks amazing on TV every year’
Who would you play with in your dream fourball? – ‘I would definitely play with Phil Mickelson as it would be great to see his short game in action, Rory McIlroy to witness his driving and Justin Rose as he seems like a really nice bloke’
Christmas best sellers
This week I thought I would give you a top ten run down of the items in the shop that I think will be very popular over the next few weeks and would make great Christmas gifts for the golfer in your life, I have also chosen a range that will suit all budgets with prices starting from just £1.50 up to £349:
Distance Measuring watch (from £159) – these are quite simply the hottest products in golf giving you accurate yardages on the golf course, guaranteed to improve your golf!
Nike Hyper Adapt Waterproof Jacket (from £159) – one absolute essential for any golfer in this country is a good waterproof jacket and this is the best one offering ultimate freedom of movement in your swing whilst keeping you dry
Lithium trolley battery (from £199) – amazingly light, faster charging battery that also lasts up to 5 times longer than a traditional lead acid battery and available to fit any brand of electric trolley
Disposable hand warmers (£1.50) – another essential for any golfer, they get very warm quickly and this warmth lasts up to 8 hours perfect for keeping in your pockets or gloves to stop your hands feeling cold, also ideal for walkers or runners!
Under Armour Cold Gear base layer (£34.99) – quite simply the best selling thermal base layer not only in golf but in sport in general because they work, if you haven’t got a base layer you really are missing out on an important aspect of keeping warm
Personalised Titleist golf balls (from £15.99) – the number one selling golf ball brand in golf with a personal message on the ball also included for free, a totally unique present! 
Titleist 915D driver (£349) – the most forgiving driver they have ever made, will suit all levels of golfer as it’s up to 30% more forgiving than other drivers on the market
adidas winter bobble hat (£14.99) – you lose the most amount of heat through your head, wear one of these so you don’t feel cold on the golf course
Animal and character head covers (from £12.99) – 
perfect fun stocking filler gift for that golfer in your life that already seems to have everything, one’s available include tigers and dogs through to the Pink Panther and Popeye!
Motocaddy Clear View Umbrella (£29.99) – large umbrella to keep you dry but also with clear panels so you can see where you’re going even when it’s on your trolley
Remember also that we offer late night shopping being open until 9pm every single day of the week!
Do you know your distances?
The technology in the irons market has come on rapidly recently, the major golf companies are not only producing clubs that are more accurate than ever but they are also giving the golfer more distance through hotter facers, lighter materials and expanded sweet spots. Of course the main concern with irons is accuracy but if you can hit your irons straighter but also longer that's a win-win situation! Two of the latest clubs on the market that seem to launch the ball incredible distances are the new Callaway Big Bertha and TaylorMade RSi irons, I would like to offer anyone that wants to try a demo 7 iron in these new clubs a FREE basket of balls on the driving range and you can take them out and compare them against your own current 7 iron, I am sure that you will find increased distance without losing accuracy, many of you will be up to two clubs longer, is that something you can turn down? Take the bucket challenge now and you can find out what you're missing out on!
Our best membership deal of the year
We are introducing an amazing deal on our membership - 15 months for the price of 12! This would make an ideal Christmas present for any keen golfer - if you join any time before Christmas your membership will start on 1st January 2015 and run all the way through until 31st March 2016. With full membership available from £450 that works out at just £30 a month for as much golf as you can play!
Remember also that we have a great winter course that is always dry and in good condition so you can play plenty of golf over the winter and get your money's worth! Members also receive 10% discount in the shop on most items and can purchase range balls at reduced prices as well as obtain a handicap and play in regular club events. There is also a dual membership offer that includes membership at our sister club Pryors Hayes near Chester.
If you are interested click here to contact me and we can send you further membership details.
November Bogey results
There was a familiar name at the top of the leader board in the November Bogey as 19 handicapper Alan Tayler returned a fine score of 5 up, it could have been even better but for a no score on the last hole, this didn't cost him victory though as Julie Daines finished second on 4 up. Julie produced some brilliant golf including birdies on holes four and fourteen, in third place was Martin Major who has returned to form recently after a quiet summer and he played steady golf with pars on 14 out of the 18 holes to finish 3 up.
Gareth Eaton is the early leader in the winter Order of Merit on 20 points, with Simon Stephenson and captain Chris Bird in second and third respectively.
The next competition is the Winter League third round which is coming up this Saturday at 12pm.
The Seniors played a Texas Scramble this week, the winning team were Roger Wilkinson, Dennis Broster, Keith Ingram and Brian Singleton.
The Seniors have been getting a great turn out every Tuesday morning so due to the higher number of players they are now starting at the earlier time of 9.16am every Tuesday.
21 handicapper Ann Broster has returned from Spain playing some great golf and she scored 36 points on Sunday to win the latest Ladies weekend Stableford, may be it also had something to do with the new Motocaddy electric trolley she purchased giving her some extra zip up the fairways!! Kath Hough came second also on 36 points, her round could have been even better with 21 points on the front nine but a few wobbles over the last few holes meant that she just missed out on first place, the consistent Sue Gunning came third with 34 points. Well done also to Sarah Dee for an excellent birdie two on the sixteenth.
The next ladies competition is on Monday 8th December which is a nine hole Stableford Waltz at 9am, after this the ladies will be having their Christmas lunch party - all lady members are welcome to join in!
Give the gift of better golf for Christmas
If you are still struggling to come up with good Christmas gift ideas why not purchase a lessons voucher and give the gift of better golf this Christmas. We have two PGA professionals here - Adam Powell and Adrian Hill, with nearly 30 years coaching experience between the two of them, lessons can include all aspects of the game from driving, to putting and bunker play. They also offer on course tuition, Trackman and video analysis and club fitting sessions. Prices start from £25 with discounts available for courses of lessons, gift vouchers are available in the shop or you can contact me here if you want to reserve a voucher.
Ex demo clubs reduced to clear
We still have some absolute bargains left including:
Callaway Big Bertha driver new price £279 ex demo price £149
Callaway ladies X2 Hot 5 wood new price £159 ex demo price £79
Titleist 913 drivers new price £249 ex demo price £129
Nike Covert 2.0 drivers new price £229 ex demo price £119
TaylorMade JetSpeed hybrids new price £119 ex demo price £79
Ladies 18 hole Winter Greensomes - Thursday 20th November 9am
Winter League round 3 - Saturday 22nd November 12:04pm
Seniors 18 hole Stableford - Tuesday 25th November 9:16am
Ladies roll up - Thursday 27th November 9am
Winter League round 4 - Sunday 30th November 12:04pm
