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.
As we head into the winter we will again have a policy of using winter greens only if there is a frost, we very rarely use the winter greens and I can count on one hand the number of times we have had to use them this year. If they are ever in play this is to protect the main greens as it does them no good to have golfers walking on the greens when they are frozen. We also endeavour to keep the full grass tees in play as much as possible, however some of the par three holes may be played off a mat to protect the tees for next summer - we have just introduced a matt on the seventh hole as the main grass tee is quite small.
You may have noticed recently that red & yellow lines have been applied around the edges of some ponds and hazards, the line is used to signify the hazard boundary and should be used to determine if your ball is in that hazard. The red or yellow posts are only there to indicate to golfers that there is a hazard. Where a line can be seen the line must be used to determine if you are in the hazard or not, soon the green keeping team will be removing some posts from hazards as these will no longer indicate the boundary of that hazard.
I think that you will agree that the course has been in great condition recently showing that our green keeping team led by Andy are doing a sterling job and their handling of the course means that is presented in great condition all year round!
Members Profile
Every week we will be bringing you a profile of a member here at Hartford Golf Club, this week it's the Ladies Captain Jill Bebbington.
When did you begin playing golf and what's your handicap? - 'I have been playing golf for 13 years. I started as an absolute beginner on retirement at 60 years of age. After having been a golf widow for over 25 years, I thought that it was about time that I should try the game. Now my husband, John, is the golf widower!! I am slightly ashamed of my handicap of 36, but I love the game and friends that I have made at Hartford. I am really honoured to be Lady Captain for 2013-2014.'
What are your favourite and least favourite holes at Hartford? - 'My favourite is the fourth as it usually treats me well and the third is my least favourite as it's just a brute of a hole, I'm always glad to get it out of the way!'
Favourite professional golfer? - 'That's easy - Rory Mcllroy. I admire his dedication and commitment to achieve becoming this year's world number one and having won 4 majors. I was thrilled to see him play at The Open this summer. I wish that I could swing like him!'
If you could play any course in the world what would it be? - 'Pebble Beach in California, it's so scenic - I visited there before I played golf and was very taken by the course and the facilities. I watch the golf on that course when it is on Sky TV and it just as beautiful, as I remember it. Such a challenging course too.'
Your favourite course you have played? - 'Balfron in Stirlingshire. It is a beautiful, picturesque course with stunning views. It is a very well maintained, no Clubhouse, just a hut, which has basic amenities only. You put your bargain green fees in an honesty box. I just loved it there.'
Who would you play with in your dream fourball? - 'Annika Sorenstam, Adam Scott, and my son, Michael, who has never played with me, but I would like to have a game with him!'
Charity news
As you may have seen there have been a strange growth going on at the club over the past 3 weeks or so from our competition Secretary Paul Underwood in support of Men's Health Awareness. Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.
There have been some interesting names and references given him by his fellow members, who have been referred to him member of YMCA, serial killer or star of a particular 70's genre of TV, he has assured us he is none of these.
Check out the mo and donate at: http://mobro.co/paulsdodgytache and more importantly if you are a male who hasn't had a recent health check-up then take this note as a kick up the backside to go and get yourself checked out. Paul will also have a donation pot at this weekend's Winter League Round 4 competition.
All those that donate will go into a prize draw for a 3 course meal for 2 at Cranage Hall or a half body Swedish massage at the Knutsford Spa which you could give away as a Christmas present or enjoy for yourself.
Team news
Thanks to our captain Chris Bird who has provided this report from our latest team match away at Oak Royal on Sunday;
'On a day that started with a pre 7am alarm call, we took a team up to Chorley to take on Oak Royal Golf club in our Annual match. Our team of 12 headed up to Lancashire and were greeted to bacon rolls and coffee on arrival and a full carvery upon completion of the match.
In between there was some golf to play. On a wet day we were greeted to glorious winter sunshine just after the turn. All of the matches were competitive but Hartford's golfers showed their class on the back nine to record 5 victories and a tie from the six matches (5.5 - 0.5).
We headed back down the M6 to a Christmas sing song and closed out a great day with a quick pint back at Hartford. A great day and a great result. Thanks to the team for delivering as always (Paddy Scanlan, Steve Holehouse, Kieran Underwood, '2 pints' Alan Nevin, Jack Carroll, Simon Stephenson, Dave Johnson, Steve Hulse, Tim Barnes, Ian Wharton and Gareth Eaton).
We look forward to welcoming Oak Royal back to Hartford next year, and by then we should have a proper trophy and not just an empty box that you will see in the photo!'
The third round of the Winter League was played on Saturday and it's shaping up to be a very tight affair this year with a number of strong pairs, Martin Major and Steve Bond brought themselves into contention with a round winning total of 23 points - this score was built on birdies at holes three and four and pars on the remaining holes. In second place was the pairing of Kieran Underwood and Dave Shering on 22 points and third were the defending champions Julie Daines and James Eaton also on 22 points. After three rounds the top four pairs are:
Ian Daines & Keira Wharton 64 points
Steve Nicholson & Patrick Scanlan 64 points
Antony Green & Dave Johnson 63 points
Julie Daines & James Eaton 63 points
The Winter League fixtures continue thick and fast as the fourth round comes up this Sunday at 12pm.
Captain's Christmas Party coming up soon
Captain Chris Bird wants everyone to get into the festive spirit and join him for a Christmas gathering in the bar on Saturday 13th December after the Winter League. He will be providing mince pies, mulled wine and some yule tide themed music from around 2pm onwards. Everyone is welcome including members and guests, Christmas jumpers or santa hats are most definitely the preferred dress code!
Geoff Dodd is certainly a man in form as he won his second seniors competition in a row on Tuesday, he scored 43 points in the monthly Stableford including back to back birdies on holes thirteen and fourteen. Geoff's handicap drops to 16 as a result, in second place was Andy Margeson with yet another top ten finish - he also had a birdie on thirteen, in third place was Mike Eddison with 39 points.
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.
Well played to Jean Clare and Sarah Dee who won the Ladies Autumn Pairs Final on Saturday, there was plenty of good golf played and Jean had a birdie as they defeated Annie Rowland and Sandra Peake on the sixteenth hole by a margin of 3 and 2.
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!
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.
Winter League round 4 - Sunday 30th November 12:04pm
Seniors 9 hole roll up - Tuesday 2nd December 9.16am
Ladies 9 hole roll up - Thursday 4th December 9am
December Medal - Saturday 6th December 11am
