Hi everyone,

It really does feel like the season is getting into full swing now as we are seeing more and more faces that we haven't seen for a while. The Masters is just a week away and that always seems to herald the start of the golfing season proper but with the course being open all winter, given it was a limited way with no trolleys, it seems we have hit the ground running.

The Midweek Stableford has now started and with a record number for the first outing - which was only 12 holes. That didn't stop 36 of you entering and enjoying the first Wednesday's food specials in the clubhouse afterwards. Well done to Tom George who scooped the 2's pot with the only two of the afternoon and to Paul Gammon who won with 29 points over 12 holes (5 under) and to Alister McIlroy who had 27 after blobbing the last. That's great scoring by both players.

Many of you will know that Warren 'Trev' Bennett is back playing this year, finally fit and playing well. You will no doubt be interested to know that he went to qualifying this week for the EuropPro Tour, which you can watch highlights of on Sky most weeks, and after a so-so first round came back to comfortably gain his card. Without doubt he will get better as the rounds go by so we'll keep you informed on his progress.

Now, as the season gains momentum and the course hardens I think it is right to start a section which goes beyond my course run through that I did over a number of weeks. Many of you will already have started to see the course playing differently and so I am going to highlight certain areas on the course that may well catch you out as it changes. It won't include every hole and it will be more specific about certain shots. This is more about course management and there will be quite a few differences:

1st Hole

If you think about how our course will change as it dries the one problem that creates is that those lovely plugged lies, which you all moaned about, will now vanish to be replaced by the ball bounding away either into the rough or into hazards. Now is when you start to realise why the scoring was so good in the winter! The 1st then starts to offer us a bit of a challenge - shorter hitters need to be careful of the ditch with their second shot, particularly if they miss-hit the ball, and longer hitters need to be very careful now off the tee. It is amazing how the tee shot changes - in the winter, as I said in my run through, it is usually driver but now it can be a mid-iron if a strong wind is behind us.

In the first East Kent league match at the weekend (which the boys won 3.5-1.5 - well done guys) I saw at least one tee shot in the ditch. The point here is that even if you can get over the ditch, and you have to be very careful if you try, what gain is there? If the wind is in your favour then a long iron past the tree on the corner leaves you a small wedge into the green anyway. Fine in a betterball match, which it was, but think about it otherwise. The same goes for the short hitter who may have missed the fairway off the tee - be careful, laying up short of the ditch leaves you a very easy shot to the green so don't try to make up for the tee shot by trying something you may not be able to do.

This now is all about the tee shot, which is comfortably the hardest on our course when we're on the back tee (or on the front come to mention it). With a hard fairway we have to be doubly careful now. Any ball bouncing on the right edge of the fairway may well bounce into the trees so we have to be very confident of where we are hitting the ball. Moreover, let's consider what we are trying to achieve: Whether you are down wind or into the wind on the back tee there is a really good argument here for not hitting driver - can you get there in two? If not then are you gaining anything by hitting it?

I have lost count of the amount of times I have hit a good drive off the back tee and then watched someone hit a low scuffy drive down the hill only to find them almost next to me in the fairway! The fact is my drive won't have run very far when it landed due to the uphill nature of the fairway whereas theirs scampered down the hill and kept on running all the way to my ball! This is one tee shot where you can really use the land to your advantage. Think about a low shot with an iron here in hard conditions - it literally won't stop once it's on the down slope so you can easily hit it as far as your driver! Of course if you driver is your best club then that is what you should hit but I guarantee many of you will gain a lot by trying something different here.

As I said the Masters is just a week away and we have a few numbers to fill in our Masters Sweepstake. We have three great prizes worth over £540 for the top three so pop in the shop or we'll see you at the weekend. As they say - you have to be in it to win it!

You will see the shop looking very different when you're next in - we have new summer stock from Nike and PING as well as new shoes from Nike and Skechers. The top shoe from Skechers is the one that Matt Kuchar wears and it really is incredibly comfortable. Try them on and you'll understand!

Lastly, Simon and Stevie are running an Easter Camp for juniors on the 15th April. This runs from 10.00am to 3.00pm and is £30 including lunch, tuition and prizes! This is open to any juniors so all are very welcome. If you would like to book just contact us in the shop.