Hi everyone,

Well this has been an interesting week: Firstly, we have Jordan Spieth showing the rest of the world how to do it at Augusta, then we have the hottest day of the year on Wednesday and now it's back to thick woolly jumpers!

Our Masters Sweepstake was therefore won by Richard Billings who wins a Nike Vapor Pro driver - congratulations Rich. Second and third was of course shared between Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson so Steve Hollamby and Phil Veness will have to share the second and third prizes. Come in guys and we'll sort you out!

I do believe that Spieth's win is the first of many for him - he was a record breaker at college and has continued in the same vein as soon as he has arrived on tour. He clearly has a wonderful mental ability for a guy of his age and I cannot see why he wouldn't continue winning the way he always has. That then gives us a fantastic match-up with Rory McIlroy to look forward to over the coming years perhaps with a similar feel to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus? One was a swash-buckler and then a professor turned up - similar tones? Maybe, we will see.

A few more tips then:

3rd Hole - I've always found the 3rd one of the holes I have to respect on our course - it is too easy to drop shots here by missing the green right but on the other hand we don't want to pull the ball too hard left. So the tee shot becomes very important. Question: is it better to be down the right off the tee or high on the slope up the left? I would say high on the slope as I can see the green easily but it brings on a lot of trouble off the tee that I can avoid by hitting an easier drive down the middle or right side of the fairway.

To be clear - I am not particularly a fan of fairways that run the ball off no matter where I hit the ball. I think that's unfair, but it's what is in front of us so it's the same for us all. So here's the point. No matter how I describe different ways to play the hole I constantly want to be careful. Going for it will cost you in the long run (imagine playing the hole 100 times safely and then 100 times going for a big drive up the left. Over those 100 times which would come out lower? I know what I'd bet on).

Most of you, of course, will not get there in two. This, in a way, makes it easier in one respect as it takes a lot of trouble out of the equation, but harder in another as you will constantly be left with a tricky short wedge from poor lies in the right hand rough short of the green. Again though, it is just a hole you have to play the odds with. If you're a higher handicapper I would ask you all day to take your chances with the short wedge than to try something you are probably not capable of earlier in the hole.

One tip for the short pitch though - you will almost always hit the ball further right than you think because of the sloping lie. Give yourself plenty of room left - again you are playing the odds here - they'll pay you in the long run.

We still have some amazing early season deals as most of you will already know - FREE balls from Titleist and Srixon, trade-in offers on shoes from FootJoy and batteries from Motocaddy. Most interesting is the number of lithium batteries we are now selling. We are already into double figures this year on new lithiums whereas that was probably our total for last year! More and more of you are getting the message that they are worth the initial investment and I cannot emphasise that enough. They are very much easier to deal with as opposed to lead acid batteries and they last at least five times the life of them as well.

Incidentally, I have acquired a number of one year old PowaKaddy FW3s with 36 hole lithium batteries. If you are interested in one we have white and black versions to sell and they are £300 each (a new 36 hole lithium battery is £250 on its own!). Come in and see me if you are interested.

Both myself and Simon are now very busy with lessons so I thought this would be a very good time to remind you about how we can help you:

We are both £35 for a 45 minute lesson with iPad video technology. However, if you book a course of lessons this figure reduces depending on how serious you want to be. Come in and talk to us and we will sort a package out for you that should be very cost effective! If you can't make it down to the Club this weekend, get in touch here.

Just a reminder that the Spring Meeting is just two and a bit weeks away so get practising people and I'll see you out there.