PROFESSIONAL SHOP 

It has been another busy week in the shop here at Hornsea. Not many people playing but the phone is ringing non-stop. You can definitely tell the golf season is nearly upon us. 

This week some of you will be happy to hear that the first delivery of Titleist golf balls have arrived. For a number of years I not have stocked Titleist as in a shop like we have at Hornsea you can't stock everything. 

I have listened though and have brought them back. Titleist clubs will be arriving shortly. 

A few people this last week have past comment that I appear to have lost a little more weight. To be honest since going to see my sister a month ago then being full of cold I had slipped out of my good routine. Funny though as I am motivated again now and am back in the gym first thing every morning!! 

It was a great result for Steve Uzzell last week away playing in Egypt on the Mediterranean Tour. He managed a win in his first week out there and a tied 7th this week which is a great way to start off his season. For more details follow the link below. Be warned it is not the best website! www.mediterraneantour2015.com

   

On Tuesday Julie Wright one of our lady members celebrated a very special birthday with the help of the rest of the ladies section. 

Many Happy Returns Julie from us all in the Pro shop.

CAPTAINS CHALLENGE 

This week's challenge came from Ashley Dexter and Nick Tudor. 

I was a little naughty this week and actually started the banter on Saturday night by sending them both a message hoping they were both out enjoying themselves. I received this picture from Ash about 30 seconds later. He was taking it far too seriously!!!

It got worse too as Ash was here 7.15am practicing the following morning for our 8.36am start. He was far too keen!! At least when Nick turned up he looked terrible as he was coming down with flu so I thought we would have a chance. Well so I thought!! Craig and I set off steadily but Ash was on fire. We soon found ourselves struggling no matter what we tried. Ash was so focused and in the zone. He had scored 21pts in the competition for the front nine, Nick a few less and we were 2 down at the turn. Craig and I set off back on a mission though and with less banter Ash went to pieces. 

The game was getting close as we had squared the match with 4 holes to play. Nick by now was really struggling with the flu and looked as white as a sheet. This did not stop him making a great putt on the 15th to take the hole and then did the same on the 17th. This meant we went down the last 1 down and both the opposition were on shots. I made a solid par but Ash even after a dodgy 2nd shot managed to make a 5 net 4 and so took the game 1 up. That is the second week in a row that we have lost on the last!!! 

A great game though and yet again both Ash and Nick made a very generous donation to the Captains charity. Thank you.

   

TROLLIES 

So after a couple of drier weeks the course has now dried out nicely. Let's hope it stays like this for the next 6 months but the forecast is for more heavy rain this weekend!! Now it has dried out trollies can go with no restrictions. If it is wet again this weekend though that may change again. The ropes are still out though to help protect the areas around the greens. Please if you take a trolley do not go over the ropes even if you think it is now dry enough to do so. Gareth will bring the ropes in once grass starts to grow.

PICS FROM THE COURSE

I actually had a picture sent to me this week from Paul Duckworth. Quite a good one too as even I took a couple of attempts to guess which hole it was. Paul had taken this a couple of weeks ago when the course was a little damp!! Can you guess which hole it is? 

I only had one guess of who it was making the quick exit from the golf club in her trainers. It was Sue Howell and so congratulation to Jill Marshall for guessing correctly. 

Even Sue hasn't noticed her own shoes!!!

PING FITTING DAY 

There are only 2 times left now for the PING fitting day for anyone wanting a fitting for new clubs. 

I shall also be there with Paul if anyone just wants to come and have a try to see if the clubs perform better than your own or just want a bit of advice. 

Please note the practice ground will be closed whilst the demo day is going ahead but members wishing to practice may use the area between the 1st and 18th.

LONDON MARATHON 

I hope by now you have all sponsored Caroline our lady captain. As mentioned last week she is now in full training running roughly 50 miles per week. You can sponsor her by clicking here.

   

KNOCKOUT COMPETITIONS 

Entries to the knockout competitions are now closed and the draws have been done. 

They are all up in the clubhouse or available to see on the Hornsea Golf Club website. 

Please note the first round needs to be played by 1st May.

GENTS HULL AND DISTRICT ASSOCIATION 

Well after a wonderful season in both the gents Hull and District and East Riding Alliances in the end Hornsea came home with nothing. I reported on the East Riding last week when an amazing score from Hessle did us. Well they did it again at Hull last Thursday. Going into the last round Hornsea held a 2 shot lead. Hornsea's best score was a 66 from Nathan and myself. That was not a bad score as the greens were very tricky. I was not too impressed to go into the clubhouse and see that a Hessle pairing had managed another amazing score of 62. This on the day won by 3 clear shots!! So yet again Hessle pipped us at the post. Can I thank everyone who has supported these events over the season. I have tried all season to put out the strongest team each week we could. In the end I guess coming 2nd in both is not too bad but I shall be on a mission next year to go one better in both!

 

Thursday 17th March - Pro's Stableford 8 entries, £32 prize fund 

1st £16 Dave Blanchard Jnr 41pts, 2nd £10 Stephen Blanchard 39pts, 3rd £6 John Thackray Snr 35pts 

Saturday 19th March - March Stableford 

Division 1 
1st £25 Richard Tucker 38pts, 2nd £15 David Rogerson 38pts, 3rd £10 Ian Lockwood 34pts 

Division 2 
1st £25 Jon Mitchell 36pts, 2nd £15 Adam Fell 33pts, 3rd £10 Jon Naylor 32pts 

Division 3 
1st £25 William Marshall 37pts 2nd £15 Gary Markham 35pts 3rd £10 Gordon McGlynn 33pts 

2's Comp - £16.66 each: Ian Lockwood, Ian Sizer and Dave Egerton. David Hickson had one again but was not in the 2's!

Sunday 20th March - Individual Stableford inc Mark Hurn Qualifier 

1st £25 Will Marshall 34pts, 2nd £15 Ash Dexter 34pts, 3rd £10 Kevin Bond 32pts 

2's Comp - £17 for Martin Rowbotham. Max Clark and Kevin Bond also had 2's but they didn't enter the 2's!!

Tuesday 22nd March - Ladies Medal 

Silver Division 
1st Cath Caley 87-17-70, 2nd Maggie Gee 89-15-74, 3rd Wendy Lockwood 88-14-74.  

Bronze Division 
1st Margaret Moore 96-22-74 2nd Sarah Ahearne 119-36-83 3rd Doreen McCaughey 107-24-83. 

 

Saturday 26th March - Pro's Stableford 
Saturday 26th March - Ladies Medal 
Sunday 27th March - Individual Stableford inc Mark Hurn Qualifier
Sunday 27th March - Junior Stableford 
Tuesday 29th March - Lady Captains Charity Vase

 

TUESDAY CLUB 

Well summer must be on its way as I do like it when I have to mention the Tuesday Club is nearly back with us. 

This year it starts on Tuesday 5th April and runs until Tuesday 27th September. That is plenty of weeks (26) to get 10 stableford scores in. 

Please click here for more details. 

HORNSEA PAR 3 COMP 

We still have some tee's available for this event. 9am shotgun start on Sunday 10th April. Let's see who can become the Par 3 Hornsea Champion and walk away in the Jacket. The sheet is available outside the shop.

 

GREENS 

We made a slight adjustment to the aeration plan of maintenance week. It was the intention to use a bigger tine on the greens to allow more sand and air into the profile. However with the bad weather of recent weeks and temperatures not looking to increase, I decided on a less disruptive option. An aggressive verticut to aerate and filter any thatch build up at the surface. Top dressing of both green and approach (approximately 30 tonnes was applied in total) followed by solid tining with 8mm tines at a depth of 125mm. The greens were then brushed and rolled several times. A granular fertilizer will be applied later this week weather permitting. Now we have moved onto the tees. They are being aerated with 12mm tines to a depth of 175mm. This will help relieve any compaction, improve surface drainage and allow air to the rootzone. The tees will be top dressed and a granular slow release fertilizer will be applied. Gareth. 

Now it has started to look like people have forgotten how to repair pitch marks again!! Please if your ball hits the green make sure you repair at least one pitch mark even if it might not be yours. Repairing more than one would be even better. I know when the greens are just dressed you might find it hard to find a mark but trust me there will be one. Please look at the following link to see how to repair one correctly. 

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/how-to-repair-a-pitch-mark-correctly-12186
 
 

AWAY GOLFING 

I was having a quick chat with one of the members on Saturday who is going away on a golfing holiday shortly. It got me thinking. If any of you are ever away please send me pictures of where you are and a few lines on what you think to your trip. I could then post that information on here so when people are thinking of going away golfing they could get some ideas of maybe where to go.

 

Paul Gibson's Blog 

Easter weekend is no upon us, is your game ready for the season ahead? The Masters countdown is well and truly on with a couple of weeks to go.

Please click here to read.