Club Competitions 

Just to let you know in the gents competitions over the winter we are incorporating a league of merit. The competitions will still run as they are in the handbooks. How the scoring will run is the top 12 places will get points. Coming first will give you 12 points, 2nd will gain 11 points, down to coming 12th will give you 1 point. First Second and Third prizes will be awarded to the members with the most points from a maximum of any four competitions. These prizes will be presented at the Spring Captain vs Presidents Dinner. The Comp will be a 4BBB on 21st November. 

Moving on, last week the ladies played in a 5 club chicken run. They were split into two divisions. In Division 1, Lynne Dicken came in 3rd with 32 points, narrowly beating Jane Campaigne on a card play-off. Jo Harrison also scored 32 to come in 2nd place on a card play-off, but just one shot ahead of the pack on 33 was Debbie Baker. In Division 2 we had some great scores. Elizabeth Dunkley came 3rd with 36 points, D. J. Harrison came in 2nd with 37 points and way out in front with 40 points, and the overall winner, was Helen Bolam. The following Saturday the gents played in an AMAM shotgun, the first of our order of merit competitions. In 3rd place were A. Kennedy, C. James and D. Aitchison with 79 points. In 2nd place were M. Murray, C O'Neil and P. Lowe with 80 points. But just beating them on a card play-off and the winners on Saturday were A. Hargreaves, D. Martin and G. Payne. Well done to all our winners in last week's competitions.

 

Golf is sort of tiring right now. The year that won't end is kind of, sort of, almost ending. There are a few more PGA Tour events, the Race to Dubai and Tiger Woods' event in December, and that's pretty much it. What that means is that the 2016 year will be starting very, very soon. I'm already looking ahead to what's going to unfold. I have a few questions, too, about the tournaments, the players and the equipment. Let's jump right in. 

1. Can Rory McIlroy fix his broken putting stroke? This might be the biggest question I have for 2016 because it seems like it affects the most things. If he fixes it, lights out, kids. Daddy is home. If not, he'll still win tournaments, but he won't be elite. 

2. Will golf's governing bodies explore a neutralization of distance? You can do a lot of things. Pull back the clubs. Pull back the ball. Move to new courses. When Bubba Watson and Jason Day are purposefully banging their drives off tents because they don't care about hitting fairways, that's an issue. Will golf do anything about it?

3. Can Rickie Fowler make "the leap"? I don't think Fowler is capable of joining the triumvirate of McIlroy, Day and Jordan Spieth. If anyone is going to do it, however, it's going to be Fowler. 

4. Who is this year's Justin Thomas? Thomas became a borderline star in 2015, concluding with his win at the CIMB Classic. Smart money here is on Patrick Rodgers.

5. Can Thomas (or someone like him) shake up the Ryder Cup team? Tony Finau and Billy Horschel are also potential candidates here to mix it up with the old guard and lead an American charge at Hazeltine that is much needed.

6. Who gets their first major? In the past two years, only Jordan Spieth and Jason Day have been first-time major winners (and those two hardly play the part). Will 2016 produce a more 2013-like slate of winners? That year, Justin Rose, Jason Dufner and Adam Scott took home titles. Recent history says no, but it would be pretty cool if guys like Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Brandt Snedeker or Bill Haas could get No. 1. 

7. When does Tiger Woods return (if at all)? This is a big one whether you want it to be or not. Woods still moves the needle. Woods will always move the needle. Think about it, Jack Nicklaus still moves the needle and he hasn't won a major in nearly three decades. Tiger will take his time getting back to competitive tournament play which is a good thing. I'm simply curious about when he'll return. 

8. What does Phil Mickelson have left in the tank? Lefty switched coaches late in 2015 as he prepares for one last gasp at a major or two over the next few years. That sun is fading pretty hard, though, and Mickelson hasn't won since the 2013 British Open. It would be both sad and fitting if that was his last tournament win.

 

   

 

ProQuip Jacket

New in the shop we have the new ProQuip Tour Pro Elite 360 Jacket. These jackets are about as good as they get and sold at a reasonable price of £59.99-£69.99, depending on the model. 

The Tourflex Wind 360 Elite Playing Top wind top is a high performance windproof outer layer featuring the same innovative fabric technology that ensures ProQuip's waterproofs are the lightest, softest, quietest and most playable in golf today. 

This slim-fitting garment features stretch fabric that moves naturally with the golfer's body for optimum freedom of movement throughout the swing. The technical fabric is water-repellent, lightweight, quiet and breathable and offers maximum playability and supreme comfort even in gales. The wind top is available in a half zip playing top, full zip wind jacket and sleeveless gilet styles. It is an ideal mid or outer layer garment and functions best when worn as part of a layering system. The fabric wicks moisture from the skin, preventing build-up of cold sweat and enabling the beneficial flow of air between garments. Anti-crease technology means the top always looks great, even after being stored in a golf bag. Striking branding and colour contrast back, sleeve and side panels deliver a modern, contemporary look.