What's on this weekend at HGC..

This weekend is the Easter bank holiday which mean a few extra days off for some lucky golfers, more time to play and come up to see us at Heysham.

Times this Good Friday will soon go quickly, so please get your tee time booked early through BRS to avoid missing out for a game, especially if the weather is gorgeous! We will also have a Junior Competition on in the day, so all you juniors with handicaps reading this; get yourself up for a game.

Saturday gives you yet another chance for a game, maybe to get some practice in for Sunday's Spring Medal or to sharpen up your game in the Swing Lounge.

Sunday as mentioned we will be holding our Spring Medal; the first medal competition of spring/summer, not quite the start of the season but a gentle reminder it is nearly here. Monday is generally a quiet day here at Heysham as golfers like to play over the weekend and spend some time with the family on the Monday. However, if you do want to play, get booked in on BRS for a round.

The range will be available all weekend, the Swing Lounge has space during the day from Friday to Monday and the shop will be open everyday, jam packed with product (More on that later). Whatever you do this weekend, have fun, laugh smile and enjoy the time with your friends and family.

   

Portugal Trip 2016 Report

I have thought of several ways to include all of the stories from Portugal, but in this trip's case we would literally need around 10 emails to go out so I will give a streamlined report on the goings on of last weekend's 26 man trip to Albufeira.

Day One - We set off from Heysham at 6:15am ready for a full day of gol....drinking! With no golf booked in for day one due to the time we set off, it was going to be an interesting day. A few coach beers, airport beers, in depth swing practice in departures from Andy Elder and we were all safely on the plane. Ryanair aren't good flights, it's like travelling in a can of Special Brew smashing your knees against a coffee table; they even ran out of Heineken. We made up for it at the hotel on arrival, all-inclusive gets you all excited, except Rob Smith who sneaked off for a lie down, nearly as criminal as Iain Lightbody taking a bath! We completed day one with a trip to Infante, a local bar, to watch Liverpool vs. Man Utd. Liverpool went through giving Gav Thomson an excuse to throw another 7000 boks down his throat, it also gave everyone an excuse to carry on drinking. Doney had a nice little nap under a blanket whilst we all enjoyed a group photo. What later followed was a free for all of wandering around downtown Albufeira looking for an elusive strip of bars, following Jack Cowell's horizontal experience and Josh Corless visiting a Citroen Balingo then came the nightmare, Adam Hutchinson rugby tackling Rob Smith resulting in a broken ankle. Poor Rob hadn't even stepped foot on a golf course, I spent the next few hours keeping Rob company in various hospitals, haggling the price of an x-ray and cutting his jeans with surgical scissor. It was a shame for Rob, I would have stayed and milked the all-inclusive, however he went home after a day in bed resting up. Rob is fine, but won't be golfing for around six weeks, giving him a late start to the season.

   

Day Two - First day of Golf at Laguna, including Ryan having to get the clubs out and play due to Rob's absence. The main talk of the coach over and football chants, were over another unfortunate event that happened the night before, more hilarious but not safe for a golf newsletter, sorry readers! Several beers down and we were off, Laguna a course with a bit of water which was a good test, the greens were superb and USA took a 4-2 lead. Superb scoring from Ronnie Webster and Anthony Palmer was the best score of the day and you may also have heard on Sky Sports News, I shot (-3) 69. My partner, Jack Cowell managed a solid one par; contribution level zero. I also played with Ryan, watching him shout at seagulls was the highlight of his round. The night was completed with a trip to the Strip (not club), a row of bars which actually looks like something in Magaluf, awesome few bars, watching Dobbo dance and I believe a bit of bull riding went on, no pun intended. Day two had no broken bones just a bust tendon in a hand...

   

Day Three - Step onto the injury list, Gav Thomson, managing to bang his hand innocently on a railing meant his hand swelled up giving him a bit of pain, he did manage to play on day three, but it would side-line him on day four. In the golf Europe dragged the score back to 6-6 meaning the last day there was everything to play for. The Millennium Course in my opinion is superb, a few bland holes are ignored by some magnificent holes on the front nine and some ridiculous mansions round the outside, Greg Anderson not quite realising someone's front lawn would be in bounds. I witnessed a few pants down shots this day (I even managed one myself the following day), I also witnessed Brian Stephenson visit every tree in Portugal with some shots. The day was not ruined however by golf. No injuries, I think...(hazy) Tony Johnson won with a partner against Greg Anderson, apologies for the poor reporting there. The night was completed in the Old Town visiting what became our favourite bar, no idea what it was called but it served tequila, cheers lads. I witnessed some stuff that night in between shocking dancing, a favourite was Dez Drinkinez trying to pour a Vodka Red Bull in his mouth from a great height, enter Nick Holmes flying in to catch some!

Day Four - Pain. We all felt pain, I bought a Coke at the golf club bar, I needed bed. However, we were playing the Faldo Course, a bit of a weird lumpy, hilly bunkered crazy golf course. I wasn't a fan, don't get me wrong it had some great holes, but I didn't like it. Neither did my partners on the day, however I saw some very decent golf from Tony Johnson who won on the day. Nick Holmes and I halved with a weird game of golf, I was six points down at one point to him, I dug in, birdied the last for a half...phew. Jack Cowell played to a great standard, 17 points solo, which included a hilarious fresh on the last; Cowell Watch may improve this year as he can now draw the ball. On the day Europe pinched it, USA needed a last match double win but unfortunately a loss from Dez Loseinez caused a two game loss. USA will be back next year to take back the title! The trip was finished with more beer, some air drumming and a few dances to Pitbull's 'Don't Stop the Party' . For any Darts lovers we turned into a bunch of Peter Wrights, what a great laugh and his surely now many peoples' favourite song. Overall on the trip home we all felt like broken men, coming back soulless, sleepless and pennyless but I wouldn't change it for the world. If there is one thing I love about Heysham it's our members, my friends - we are almost like a big family. All of the 26 lads on this trip were all great lads, I can't say how much I love them all in their own different ways and once the hangover fades, I'm sure we will all miss eachother's company. 2017 will soon be in the planning, but to any of you who fancy coming, you may find there won't be a space and all 26 will be returning.

Swing Lounge Winter League

As I have been away and this newsletter is going out before the Bank Holiday weekend I will be putting a post on Facebook with the league table and a print off off in the men's locker room. Keep an eye out for one of these to see where you are. The competition will run into April allowing all teams to complete their eight rounds.

Click here to visit our Facebook page.

Upcoming Events

This year we are looking to add events regularly to help you with your golf and also test out lots of exciting equipment with no obligation to buy. Currently we have some fitting days scheduled, check them out below, these days will also have special offers available on the day!

Cobra Fitting Day - Saturday, 2 April (11am - 3pm)

Cobra have gone from strength to strength, so come along and test the new King F6 line up as well as it's famous zero CG driver, the King Ltd. This year I am playing Cobra and I am excited for you to join me in going low with Cobra, just maybe not as low as Rickie. Special offers on the day will be available!

Callaway Special Full Bag Fitting Day - Wednesday, 13 April (3pm - 7pm)

On Wednesday, 13 April we will host a Callaway fitting experience day offering a chance to try the new XR16 range, the Mack Daddy 3 wedges on our new pitching facility or the full Odyssey range with myself on the putting green. Look out for special offers and a chance to try the Chrome Soft ball!

Wilson Staff Fitting Day and Multi-Brand Fitting Day - Wednesday, 27 April (3pm - 7pm)

Come and try the new C200 range from Wilson Staff and experience a range of new equipment from a number of brands. Free custom fit sessions will be available with Ryan or try the Wilson Staff Range with Joe Senior.

Click here to get in touch for more details.

    

Clubfit News...

The shop is literally jam packed! We have everything, absolutely everything you need. This week we have the new Oscar Jacobson clothing in store which is a new clothing brand we are excited to offer. Come check it out as it's already catching the eye. This joins our Puma, adidas, Callaway and FootJoy ranges.

   

Speaking of FootJoy check out our new 2016 shoe range, plus bag a FREE shoe bag with some D.N.A. shoes as well! Whilst you're at it you could also treat yourself to a new trolley, with plenty of choice, internet prices and an exclusive push trolley from BIG MAX which you won't see online. Come see us this Bank Holiday weekend to see what we have in store and grab a bargain from the sale rail whilst you're at it.

Mrs D's deal of the week    
 
We now have plenty of new gloves and balls in store for you to use through the 2016 season.

Mrs D is offering a deal on Wilson Staff DX2s where you can purchase a dozen for £14.99 and receive two balls FREE. Or grab two TaylorMade Tour Preffered gloves for only £20 (saving £10 on our usual price).