At the end of a long summer, my visit to the USA proved a great source of fun despite my golf falling a little short of the level I would like to play.  My brother, sister-in-law and I played some interesting courses including this one at Crow Creek Golf Course where the wildlife was somewhat more challenging than the odd terrier and low flying geese!

Enjoy reliving some of the best shots from each day by clicking on the pictures above and below.

Gleneagles played host to one of the best Ryder Cups to date as Europe retained the famous gold trophy, defeating the USA 16.5-11.5.

Hitting the Draw

It would be fair to say that most, if not all, club golfers would love to be able to draw the ball consistently.

This would be especially true with the driver as there is no doubt the right-to-left flight (for right handers) of the draw maximises distance in comparison to the left to right shape of a fade or slice.

So why does hitting a draw elude so many mid-high handicappers? Especially when technology, such as launch monitors, which calculate everything about what the club and ball are doing when struck, has shown us in great detail what it takes to hit the ball with this shape.

The reason is quite simple, most amateur club players do not set up to the ball well enough or consistently enough to hit a true draw shot. As a consequence the direction and consistency of the swing makes it impossible to achieve this flight.

There are many factors that will affect the draw shot. If you stand too close or too far away or don't hold the club correctly, if your posture is poor, if your weight distribution isn't good, if your ball position is out and your stance width is irregular and out of proportion or if your aim and alignment are poor.

One or a combination of these, not to mention a multitude of other elements can and will have an affect on the movement of the body and in turn the club itself, which will mean that no matter how hard you practice, how many videos you watch or how many articles you read a draw will be hard to hit repeatedly or correctly.

A visit to your PGA Professional will confirm how good your set up is and the limitations it is putting on your swing. They will then help you implement the correct adjustments in order to give you a fighting chance of hitting what is probably the most desirable shot in golf.

Contact the Pro Shop now to book your lesson.
  

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We are very lucky to have such good practice facilities at RWNGC so just take a moment to think about these three words - enjoyable, pleasurable, fun.

Are these words that spring to mind when you think about practicing?

What about rewarding, productive or constructive?

If you are one of the many golfers who find practicing a chore or feel that you aren't seeing any real improvement despite the countless hours you spend hitting hundreds of shots, a change of approach would appear necessary.

To get the most out of your practice time whether it is on the range, chipping or putting the key is to practice with a purpose and keep yourself engaged.

By introducing these skill-enhancing games, practice should be far more enjoyable not to mention beneficial.

Compete with a friend: Practice with a friend who is better or of similar ability and introduce challenges. Select different targets and take turns hitting to them, whoever gets closest most often out of five shots each is the winner.

Increase the challenge by specifying shapes or trajectories that have to be executed.

Par 18: Simply Throw 9 balls into different positions around a chipping green. Using whatever clubs necessary including your putter Play one ball at a time until it is holed out.

Give each shot the same focus you would on the course, marking and lining up putts etc. record how many shots you take with each ball. When possible write down your score as you would when playing. Add up the total with Par being 18 i.e. Getting up and down with each ball.

Humpty Dumpty: This can be used both on the putting green or when chipping. Using some XL tees, tee up six balls either in a row or in various positions around the green.

The objective is to simply knock the balls off their perch in as few shots as possible. A bit like coconuts at the fair, which is always fun.

I will keep an eye open to see who is gettting their practice in before playing!

'The drop is coming' say the weather people.  Make sure you have all you need to keep out the chill with our men's and ladies' range of UnderArmour and Lined Jumpers in the Pro shop.

Rory McIlroy (pictured)
Driver: Nike Vapor Pro
3 Wood: Nike VRS Covert 2.o (15º)
5 Wood: Nike VR_S Covert (19º)
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (4-9)
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (46º, 52º, 56º and 59º)
Putter: Nike Method 006 Prototype
Ball: Nike RZN Black
 

Jamie Donaldson
Driver: TaylorMade SLDR (9.5º)
3-Wood: TaylorMade RBZ Tour (15º)
5-Wood: Callaway Big Bertha SteelHead III (19º)
Irons: Ping i15 irons (3-9)
Wedges: Titleist C-C Spin Milled (48º, 54º & 60º)
Putter: Odyssey Versa Sabertooth
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Patrick Reed
Driver: Callaway Big Bertha V Series
Fairways Woods: CallawayBig Bertha
Irons: Callaway RAZR X Muscleback; Callaway X Forged
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro #3
Balls: Callaway Speed Regime 3

This month we have teamed up with European Ryder Cup team kit supplier Glenmuir to offer you the chance to win £500 worth of Glenmuir gear.

Since Glenmuir’s beginnings in 1891, when the very first piece of knitwear came off our looms in Lanark, Scotland, Glenmuir has committed itself to creating golfwear with impeccable care, skill and dedication to the craft. Glenmuir’s unique relationship with the game of golf remains as strong today as it did more than 120 years ago.

For 27 years – ever since Europe’s famous first victory on American soil in 1987 at Muirfield Village – Glenmuir has designed and supplied the shirts and knitwear to successive European Ryder Cup Teams including the team at Gleneagles.

Glenmuir has dressed the giants of the sport in their shirts and knitwear, meeting the demanding performance standards required to play in the intensity of one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

To be in with a chance to win this fantastic prize please answer the question below:

What year did Glenmuir start crafting the finest Scottish Knitwear?

a) 2001
b) 1991
c) 1891

Click here to enter.

Competition closes on Friday, October 31

Thank you to my partner, David Cave as we had a very enjoyable game with John Luddington & David Pilch.  With a presentable score of 34 points we thought to be in with a chance but were no match for Hugh Coghill (Vice Captain) and Miles Connell who won with 38points.  Congratulations to them and thank you to everyone who took part.  We raised over £260.00 for the Captain's Charity - The British Heart Foundation.

PowaKaddy’s entry-level FW3 model offers golfers a great-value essential product that represents a new revolution of the world’s best-selling trolley for the past decade, the Freeway.

A completely new PowaFrame and low-profile chassis design, with the added simplicity of the new Plug ‘n’ Play Battery System look set to establish the FW3 as an instant favourite amongst golfers of all ages seeking PowaKaddy’s revered robust & reliable performance. An ambidextrous control with soft touch T-Bar grip alongside the new Power on/off LED indicator and Power, Pause & Resume function provide additional performance capabilities.

Other stand-out features include a powerful whisper quiet motor, 5-spoke quick release wheels, PowaKaddy’s proven 3-Fold mechanism, improved front wheel adjustment and PowaKaddy Key-lock Base. The latter effortlessly restricts all lateral golf bag movement when attached to the all-new Bungee Bag Straps, complete with finger-friendly Anti-Pinch handles.

The new PowaKaddy FW5 is feature-packed electric trolley that represents a truly ‘best in class’ product by combining modern styling and precision engineering alongside easy-to-use functionality.

Highlighted new features include, a Digital Power Gauge & Battery Fuel Indicator, Integrated USB point for charging phones and GPS devices and ‘ADF’ function (Automatic Distance Function) which offers pre-set trolley distances from 15, 30 and 45 yards.

An ambidextrous control with soft touch T-Bar grip and Power, Pause & Resume function complete the FW5’s effective digital offering. As with all models in the new PowaKaddy range, the FW5 provides a distinctive sporty look with the new PowaFrame, low-profile chassis design, 5-spoke quick release wheels and ingenious Plug ‘n’ Play Battery System.

A powerful whisper quiet motor ensures that the FW5 is not only visually stunning, but is also engineered to the highest possible specifications for outstanding performance on all terrains. Other standout features of the FW5 include PowaKaddy’s incredibly quick 3-Fold mechanism, improved front wheel adjustment & Key-lock Base and Bungee Bag Straps.

Golfers who aspire to own the best electric trolley on the market will be suitably impressed by the FW7’s perfect combination of 21st century engineering, modern design and cutting-edge digital functionality.

With PowaKaddy’s robust and reliable performance attributes resonating throughout this highly-desirable model, users can be guaranteed a memorable experience from the moment they push the on button and head out on to the course.

Headline features of the FW7 encompass the innovative new Plug ‘n’ Play Battery System, the lightweight PowaFrame as well as being fully-loaded with an array of the latest user-friendly digital technology, clearly displayed on the integrated full-colour LCD widescreen.

A simple-to-use soft touch T-Bar grip with function buttons and Digital Power Gauge & Battery Fuel Indicator allow users to quickly select trolley speeds as well as view the machine’s power and capacity.

As with the FW5, the clever ADF enables the trolley to be sent variable distances from 5 – 50 yards. A specific Speed Display & Distance Measurement and ‘Competition Mode’, that easily removes features banned in competition environment, also add further impetus to the all-round appeal of PowaKaddy’s most advanced electric trolley to date.