Greetings golfers,

So, Tiger's latest outing, following the big announcement of him joining TaylorMade, ended with him pulling out after just one round in Dubai. This was obviously hugely disappointing for everyone. Whatever your views on him he is a huge draw and I honestly believe that most of us want to see him back, taking on the younger players again. Unfortunately I am getting a rather different feel from him.

I am wondering if we are witnessing the beginning of the end for Tiger. It would not surprise me if we see another return in a few tournaments time, with another couple of missed cuts, followed by another lay off. Keep repeating this and the writing is on the wall.

One thing that stands out to me is how he now walks. Am I the only one who has noticed how different his walk is? I have had the odd back problem and at the grand age of 49 there are other things creaking, but I don't think anyone watching me walk a golf course would say anything has changed much (except for the tyre around my middle!!). Tiger, on the other hand, 8 years my junior, looks like he either permanently needs to find a restroom or that someone has stuck something where you don't want something stuck. He walks slightly stooped and very stiffly. Butch Harmon pointed out how slowly his body now seems to move during the swing and this makes it very difficult to time everything, particularly for such a strong man. He can still keep up, length wise, with most of the younger players despite this, which is very impressive, but he seems to be almost permanently out of sync.

I hope I'm wrong but this does seem to have been going on for too long now. I have been lucky enough to witness his entire career and what he did for golf during his glory years does not need embellishing here. It would be sad to watch him deteriorate, which might somehow affect how we all remember him. Fingers crossed that won't happen.


 

Back home, despite a cold period, the course has stood up particularly well as the latest scoring proves. I'm pretty sure that foursomes is generally regarded as a pretty tough format - it is very hard to get any rhythm going and often you might go half an hour without, for instance, having a putt. So a score of 40 points is extremely good and that is exactly what your Captain, Andy Wakeham and Leigh Barham scored to win on Sunday. Another winner was past Captain Paul Dunster-Price who has won the Winter Midweek Goblet Series. There's life in the old dog yet! Well done to everyone - keep it up.


 

Clearly, my coaching is going down well as I have had lots of you taking up my winter special lessons offer of 5 x 30 minute lessons for £99. Unfortunately this cannot last forever so I thought I'd give you all enough time to get in on this offer if you've been thinking of booking up. You can do so until the end of March. 

This does not mean you have to take all of the lessons by then, just that you have booked your first and paid for the series. I should add that there will be special packages in the summer as well that will involve both indoor and outdoor lessons, and sometimes on course. So come in and see me soon.

Click here if you would like to book a lessons package




In the shop we have new items and there is still a huge sale on most items with up to 50% OFF. As you can see from the picture my new grip stock has arrived. This is exactly the right time to be renewing your grips as the new season approaches. To help you see the benefit that new grips can give you we have a special offer of a FREE grip on your 7 iron. You can choose any Golf Pride grip in store so come and get yours now while stocks last. Then, if you need your others done I have great discounts for sets.

I have also taken delivery of the new Cleveland RTX-3 wedges. 

These are yet another great wedge from Cleveland and we also have the new Cleveland wedge analyser arriving to help you get exactly the right wedges in your bag. Of course all of this can be done indoors in the swing studio.

I have new crested shirts and sweaters on order and we will also soon be receiving our first Callaway clubs for both stock and for specialist fitting. I will also be fitting both TaylorMade and PING woods so if there is anything you are interested in please do not hesitate to let me know - I will more than likely be able to beat any deal you are able to get elsewhere.


 

Welcome to all those from St.Augustines who are receiving this newsletter for the first time this week. I understand that not everyone who has received the newsletter this week is a golfer at the club, so if you feel that you have received this newsletter by mistake, or that you would like to unsubscribe, then please click here and I will take the off the database immediately. 

But who knows? You just might enjoy it.