Time for nine

Throughout July every Friday evening the pro shop team will be running a nine hole competition with first tee off at 5.30pm. Each Friday will see a different format event, starting with a pairs betterball on Friday, 3 July. The Rules are as follows:

• Maximum score: Double par i.e. 6 on a par 3, 8 on a par 4.
• Penalties: All are one stroke, including out of bounds, water and lateral hazards, lost ball and unplayable lies. Drop a ball near where the original was lost and play on.
• Search time: Two minutes maximum, if lost proceed under rule 2.
• Conceded putts: Putts may be conceded with your playing partners' consent.
• Equipment: no restrictions.
• Common sense: when in doubt, use common sense and fairness.
• Cost of entry: £4 per person. Food available after in the Claret Jug. 

Pelz short game handicap test.

Think you have a good short game? Is your short game letting you down? Put your skills to the test with the Pelz short game handicap test. Dave Pelz has picked out key shots which he feels are imperative to having an excellent short game. There are eight different shots to execute with 10 attempts on each which contributes to your overall total. This total is then calibrated to give you a "Short game handicap".

Find out what your strengths and weaknesses are under pressure and aim to improve your short game handicap. A short game handicap leaderboard will be kept up to date and will be put up on the members' noticeboard and also in the professional shop.

Improve your short game handicap and consequently see your club handicap come down. Ross Astley was the first to take on the Pelz shot game handicap test. Ross has a current playing handicap of 7. The Pelz short game test calculated him a handicap of 14.5, providing Ross with the areas of his short game which require more attention and practice. Ross will be putting what he learned in his lesson into practice on these areas and will take the test again in four to six weeks' time. 

What's the offer? Purchase an hour lesson and you will receive a one hour 30 minute session. This will include the test, a review and a short game lesson to help improve your technique and scoring. Please contact Steve in the pro shop to book. Call 07590690060 or email stevetrumangolf@hotmail.co.uk.



What's your worst ever score on one hole? 

We've all had card-wrecking scores that ruin a medal round, but Russia's Andrey Pavlov notched up a 17 on the par-5 1st during his second round at the Austria Open at the weekend, which included finding the water hazard six times. Unsurprisingly, he followed that with a bogey - although he took just four shots on the 2nd. 

We're not poking fun; rather using this unfortunate example to help make this point: we can help you avoid your own card wreckers. Whether it's preparing physically and mentally for that challenging opening tee shot, how to approach a shot over water, or how to best manage the course, our lessons are for all golfers, regardless of skill level. Are you fed up with one big score killing off your medal chances? 

We want to help you enjoy better golf and shoot lower scores - so click here or come in to ask about a lesson, or course of lessons. 

In the meantime, spare a thought for Pavlov; he never quite recovered from that opening hole.