We have introduced a new incentive for our members guests and visitors each month. One email address is chosen at random each month, and receives a FREE 4 Ball here at the Club.
This month's winner was Andrew Fish. Congratulations Andrew!
- New lightweight push trolley has arrived. The small folding lightweight trolley is available for just £99!!
The Open Draw
There is only about 40 tickets left for our open sweepstake. £10 per square, with a guaranteed sleeve of Velocity Balls or Pro v1 balls to be won!
1st place wins a custom fit set of Titleist Irons
2nd place wins a fitted Vokey Wedge
3rd Place wins 2 dozen Pro V1 golf balls
Captain's Day
Vic Pomphrett, Colchester Golf Club's Captain held his Captain's Day at the Club last weekend. On a day where the sun shone for most of the time and not spoilt by an odd shower, he held a team competition open to all sections of the Club.
It was played in teams of four with the best two scores counting. The Captain also introduced a double scoring yellow ball which was played with by each member of the team in rotation and it had to be included as one of the two scores. Having got control of the scoring it was the team of David and Claire Croger plus Beverley and Neil Parker who returned 107 points and were declared winners.
Returning the same score but losing out on the countback were Jim Wilkinson, Mike Carroll, Dick Bokenham and Tim Rogers. Third place was also decided on countback and was won by Sheila and John Dornan along with Mike Withers and Richard Shackell.
Nearest the pin prizes were on the fourth Louisa Storey (6ft) and Brendan Booth (28inch) on the 8th Alison Clare (19'7") and Roger Wright (3'6") and on the 13th Jo Mager (14'6") with Roger Wright getting a double with 11'10".
Adam Harper won the putting competition with all proceeds going to the Captain's Charity The Riding for the Disabled Association.
Other Results:
Linda Freeman took pole position in the ladies Charles Bland Medal. Her nett 75 for a twenty handicap was enough to put her ahead of Judith Robertson (16) who carded 76.
Third place was secured by Janet Austin (24) after scoring a nett 77 with Annie Johnston (14) in fourth returning a nett 79, piping Claire Croger (24) after a countback.
Iain Cruickshank (8) returned 37 points to win the Sunday Stableford from Jonathan Gilbert (5) again after a countback.
Ian Parry (9) had 36 points along with Ben Williams (5) to take third and fourth spots.
The Vets played their stableford along with their Anniversary Trophy during the week with Simon Rippingale (12) snatching honours from Peter Robinson (14) who along with Mike Lapham (11), Dick Bokenham (12) and Michael Berry (20) all returned 36 points.
Click here to view the full Vets results.
Is it the 'Big Three' or the 'Big Four'?
Just when you thought Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were all set to divvy up golf's biggest prizes, along comes big-hitting Dustin Johnson. The US champion is now number two in the world and looks to be finally fulfilling his potential after another fine win at the weekend - and a big one too at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. For years Johnson seemed destined to be the bridesmaid, now he's one of the favourites to go back-to-back in Majors and take the Claret Jug back across the Atlantic.
Next week's Open at Royal Troon could be a classic
Which leads us on to a new section of our website - our regular poll, and we want your votes. Tell us who you think will win the Open Championship next week; will it be Day, Johnson, Spieth, McIlroy or A.N. Other?
Have your say by clicking through to our homepage here...
Clock System The most important shot in the game of golf is the approach shot.
Many amateurs I play with hit the ball well from tee to green, but when they get within 50 yards of the green, in pitch shot range, they seem to struggle. "I don't have time to practice pitch shots," they tell me. "The pros have all the time in the world to stand and work on these shots, so they develop feel."
The 7-8-9 Method is a drill for pitch shots that requires a little practice initially, but once you have established your distances you will be able to rely on it in the future.
Imagine as you
address the ball that you have a large clock in front of you. Learn to swing your left arm (for right-handed golfers) to the various "hours" of the clock as a way of controlling the distance on your pitch shots.
Practice hitting shots swinging your left arm to 8 o'clock and note your distances. Swing with a consistent tempo and you will learn what distance is associated with your 8 o'clock position. This will become your 8 o'clock shot.
Practice the same as the first two shots, while swinging your arm to 9 o'clock.
Finish off swinging the arm to 10 o'clock and you will now have four specific distances that you can consistently pitch the ball. Distances will vary from player to player as in full shots, but once you have them established you have a tried-and-true method on which to rely.
After working with the 7-8-9 drill, you'll find yourself 40 yards from the flag on the course and can say to yourself, "OK, this is my X o'clock shot." And now you know for sure that if you swing your arm to that position, the ball is going to go about 40 yards.
Consistent Pace to Swing: It is important that the pace of the swing be consistent throughout. It is no good swinging slowly through one shot and quickly through the next. You'll get very inconsistent results. Try to imagine a pendulum and the way it moves backward and forward at the same pace. Try to feel this in all of your pitch shots.