Hi everyone,

The last two weeks have been particularly busy for me as the weather has continued to improve bringing more visitors and members, who hadn't ventured out previously. In one week I saw the greens improve dramatically (still not perfect but the weather is sorting them out) and definition reappear on the course. It's all looking good for the Spring Meeting in a weeks' time.

On that note rather than to get into detail about particular holes this week I am going to talk about my own experiences and thoughts when playing tournaments, and I do think I have some interesting ideas to pass on.

Competition play -

Our own South Region PGA playing season has begun and this week I played in the first of the major, two day tournaments at Frilford Heath near Oxford. When I finished I looked over my round and all I could focus on were three long range three putts from just off the green and one when on the green where I missed from two and a half feet. I also failed to get up and down from around the green on two par fives all of which would have improved my +2 score to well under par. I missed the cut by one shot!

Most of you will look at that and agree that short game was the issue, until I give you more. It wasn't until I did my full stats that I realised as well: I missed six fairways which is not disastrous but I also missed 10 greens in regulation! Now how do you see my short game? I got up and down from three bunkers and from the side of two greens and chipped in once! Seriously - how can I view my short game as weak? Two of my three putts were weak but the other two were really tough. The simple truth is that you cannot put that much pressure on your short game - I missed way too many greens. That was my weakness, not my short game. I had only 28 putts so although I missed a few eight footers and one tiddler I can't blame that either.

So what's the point? What can you and I learn from what I've discovered. From my point of view it underlines what I've known for some time and it's the reason why I have been changing my backswing over the last year. My irons have always been a weakness and that round backs it up. It wasn't terrible but that one shot was the difference. So I need to keep working on that part of my game - driver as well but I can honestly say that five of those missed greens were unforced errors to at least some degree.

There are two things that you should start to think as a result. Firstly, do your stats and be honest. What is you real weakness? An example: if you're off 15 and your stats from a round are that you've missed 10 out of 14 fairways and 12 out of 18 greens but shot six over your handicap then its short game! But if you've missed only five fairways but 14 greens then quickly you have to look at your irons and green approach work. Don't make my mistake of always saying 'well if I'd made all those putts, so it must be my putting'. Nobody can make everything (except Jordan Spieth at the moment it seems!) and if you keep putting pressure on your putter it will fail sometimes. That's the same for pros as well as amateurs. Secondly, we must hit greens! Pros or amateurs will benefit and the pros stats back this up. Very often the tournament winner is number one in greens hit for the week, or very close.

So, think about why you are not hitting greens. Be honest again - is it because you keep getting into trouble off the tee? In which case start hitting shorter clubs off the tee to find fairways while you sort your driver out. If it's not that then it could be the amateur problem of clubbing. Where are you missing them? Short? Then learn and quick. Ego won't help your golf. Is it always right as you cut your irons? Then play with your cut for the moment and aim left. Sort it out with your pro over time but stop aiming straight when you never hit it there!

The lesson is clear - find out where your weakness is and then be intelligent. Don't do the same thing and hope for a different result. That's the old joke but most of us keep doing it!

One mental tip -

I have been very guilty of this and I have changed over time as I realised it. You often here them on TV saying ' you must not get ahead of yourself' but what does that really mean? In the past I have found myself calling a number that I think would either win or get into the money and losing heart fast when I thought I had dropped too many shots, only to find everyone had struggled and I missed out on a cheque by just one shot. Had I tried my hardest till the end? That was not the case on Wednesday by the way - I had already made a commitment to try my hardest till the end and I did. I fought for every shot so that wasn't the issue. So, in the Spring Meeting, or any competition, don't make the mistake of assuming that the winner will score X. Just try till the end on every shot and see what happens.

Lastly, a big well done to Gary Swan who won the PGA qualifier at the weekend and who now joins me in the regional qualifier at Camberley Heath. Let's hope we can win and go to Gleneagles later in the year - I've won it once so you never know!

I have a few now looming so I need to finalise teams. I need the following so please contact me if these interest you:

• Leeds Castle - Tuesday 9th June - Just one person required to join me - £50 entry.
• East Sussex National - Monday 15th June - Just two people required - £110 each.
• Canterbury - Thursday 18th June - 3 people required - £80 each.
• Sittingbourne - Tuesday 30th June - 3 people required - £TBC
• Rochester & Cobham - Thursday 2nd July - 3 people required - £110 each.
  

PING short game demo fortnight -

 We have in store for just two weeks all of PING's wedges and putters for you to try. This is the perfect opportunity to try out some of the best looking, and performing, wedges on the market and also the full range of new putters. Simon and I will be on hand if you'd like some help with this area of your game as well so feel free to ask any questions you may have. There is no obligation to buy so it can also be a great opportunity just to learn about what modern wedges and putters might be able to add to you game. Come into the shop now or click here if you're interested.

 Lithium batteries -

The lithium revolution continues! So much so that I now stock both 18 hole and 36 hole Motocaddy lithium's and I am shortly to get the lithium lite batteries in stock that will fit almost any trolley. I should add at this point that we will not be supplying any more lead acid batteries once my current stock has gone. There are so many advantages to lithium - most importantly that they give no problems for the owner, and therefore also the supplier, which certainly isn't the case for lead acids. If you are unsure about lithium please come in and see me. I'd be delighted to go through the advantages and you can even try out a lithium powered trolley as we have them in our hire trollies now. The offer of money off is still on so do it now!

Have a good week everyone - get those stats out - they don't always lie!!