MAY NEWS...

Dear TSGers, today we are very proud to announce an association with Blind Golf Scotland & The British Blind Open 2022. This is a major step forward for TSG and we hope to help and promote them throughout the next 12 months by driving awareness and raising money for this prestigious event. Meanwhile, this issue also sees the start of a new series of articles on the Best Society Golf Venues by county, as picked by TSGers, the first being Sussex! Ian & The TSG Team

#TSGISAHAPPYPLACE   #BEHAPPY 

EVENT NEWS: TSG partners with 2022 British Blind Open...

We are very pleased to announce that we have chosen Blind Golf Scotland (BGS) as our official charity partner for 2021.

As such, we will be raising money for them at this year's TSG Open Championship and in return, we have been invited to be the Official Tee sponsor for the 2022 British Blind Open Championship.

Every year, the British Blind Golf Open is hosted by one of the member countries; Scotland, Northern Ireland, or England & Wales.

While many of the event details are still to be confirmed, the BGS team hopes to see the event hosted at one of the famous Scottish courses.

Why should TSG support this charity?

Most blind or partially sighted golfers have had to change careers, retire early, or have never been employed due to their disability. Golf course green fees, accommodation costs, and mini-buses are expensive. Even with financial aid from the IBGA (Independent Blind Golf Association), there is not enough money for them to cover all the costs incurred by hosting an Open event.

Blind Golf has multiple health benefits, both mentally and physically. It reduces isolation and loneliness and helps build stronger links with communities. Many blind golfers suffer financial difficulties

More details to follow but in the meantime, you can find out more about this superb charity here...Blind Golf Scotland

TSG MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP: The Race to Farleigh GC...

With only a few first-round ties left to settle, we have made the draw for round 2 of this year's summer-long event.

The following ties to be completed by end of June:

1.      David O'Connor Vs Mark Roberts

2.      Martin Kelly or Nigel Grant Vs Drew Byles

3.      Roger Dickson Vs Steve Maggs

4.      Tuan Nguyen Vs Chris Bradford

5.      Peter O'Hearn Vs James Blair

6.      Paul Veares Vs Nigel Sheppard

7.      David Stevens Vs Matt Coffey

8.      David Wilkinson Vs Tony Moss

9.      Chrissy Peacham Vs Peter Hammond

10.    Nigel Kerry Vs Chris Els

11.    Paul Smith Vs Colin Dinsdale

12.    John Barber Vs Mark Crane

13.    Ricky Pegram or Chris Myatt Vs David Johnson or John Donaldson

14.   John Sharples or Jamie Cowell Vs Chris Ford

15.    Allen Muhoma Vs Steve Slater or Daniel Manning

16.    Johnathan Knowles Vs Jill Daws or Lee Benson

#GoodLuckEveryone

SOCIETY GOLF VENUES: Sussex Courses...

This is a new series of articles in which we ask TSGers to suggest, by county, good clubs to host a society or charity golf day. To kick things off, we invited long-term TSGer and current men's TSG Open Champion Damian Benstead to pick his favourite Sussex courses.

Sussex is an excellent county for both the above golf day options but also for any corporate day, as the transport links make getting there simple. There are more than 45 golf clubs in Sussex and whilst some clubs have been sold or closed in recent years, it is still a popular destination for golfers all over the UK.

In addition, much of the county is chalk-based, meaning many courses can be played throughout the year, whatever the weather conditions.

Some of the better-known clubs for golf societies in Sussex to consider include:

1. Seaford Head GC >>

2. Royal Ashdown GC – West Course >>

3. East Sussex National GC – West Course >>

4. Piltdown GC >>

5. Copthorne GC >>

Read in more detail why these clubs were chosen and learn a little about their history - read more

VIDEO VAULT: The best clips from around the web...

We all love seeing someone get a hole-in-one but SERIOUSLY, during your first EVER round of golf?!

Congratulations Harry Cambage!

@ Image Courtesy of Instagram

TSG LEADERBOARD: (sponsored by 2fore1.co.uk)...

Gary Wilson at Pedham Place GC with an EXCEPTIONAL score = 44 pts. 

Welcome to the 2022 TSG Masters Mr.Wilson!

Well done to Gary, his first win since joining the site in May 2009.  

The TSG GREEN towel is on its way to you.

H'cap change: 21.0 to 17.0! (Ouchie)   

BUY YOUR OWN 'NAVY' TSG TOWEL >>

CHARITY GOLF EVENT: Football Legends Golf Day...

Whenever we can, we like to promote a charity golf day, and this month we are advertising an event that will appeal to football lovers of the 80's and 90's!

Charity Golf Day - 8th July 

Football legends include: Mark Ward (West Ham & Everton), Martin Allen (West Ham & QPR), Mickey Hazard (Chelsea & Spurs), Graham Rix (Arsenal),  Frank McAvennie (West Ham & Celtic), Perry Groves (Arsenal) and Tony Cottee (West Ham & Everton). 

   • Coffee & Bacon Rolls 

   • 18 Holes Individual & Team Event

   • Dinner & Charity Auction

   • Networking & Social

   • Prizes, Games & Quiz

£500 Per 4-Ball or £179 Per Player

Charity Info: The idea behind Run Free United is to provide a support system, where like-minded people can congregate to use football as a means of escape from the pressures of everyday life.

CALL 07540 096 631

TSG PARTNER OFFER: Golf Escapes...

Praia d'el Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort, Obidos, Lisbon

Praia d'el Rey is a stunning resort on the Lisbon Golf Coast. With the luxurious 5* Marriott hotel as a superb base for your stay, some of Portugal's finest golf on offer, and a beautiful location on the beach - it really is a special place. If you'd like to secure your place, feel free to get in touch. Our team of friendly experts is ready and will be happy to help you on your way...

4 Nights, B&B + 3 rounds on either Praia d'el Rey on-site or the stunning West Cliffs Golf Links with free golf transfers. 

Book now - 1 in 8 goes FREE 

From £369 per person >>

For further details, email us at info@golf-escapes.com or click on the link below. Or CALL a member of the team on 01342 811 777

 TSG PRO MEMBERS GET £25 OFF bookings with Golf Escapes!

(mention at time of booking to qualify!)

Course Review of the Month: The Darenth, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK...

"Good, BUT could be even better"

This was my first visit to The Darenth Golf Club (just off M25, Jct 3 in Kent) and on arrival, you first notice a very modern clubhouse, clean and new paths and welcoming staff. 

However, whilst it's always nice to play a course you've never played before, it's also interesting to see how much time and effort has been put into the overall golf experience for the visitor by the club. So with the friendly face in the Pro shop, I was expecting good things from the course...

The Par 72 design is both a good test and well laid out. There are some very pretty Par 3s and some long Par 4s but more than enough to enjoy for all in this parkland setting.

The club has had nobody playing on it for three months (this was the first week in April 2020 after lockdown) thus giving the club plenty of opportunities to regenerate the course, so I was somewhat disappointed to find patchy greens, no yellow tees at all, and in places, unkept tee boxes. I would also comment that many of the greens had little bumps and tweaks that made the greens hard to predict.

Don't get me wrong, this course is very pleasant, with some expansive fairways, tight greens, and nice vistas of the valley the course runs through, but why spend all that money on a lovely clubhouse and not have your greenkeepers work the course? In addition, as is often the way with a 'members club', there was little signage to help the visitor and at times we had no idea where we were going next!

All of this should not take anything away from the course as a whole, but I think this could be a great little course with not much more needing doing to it, therefore making it a 'great' venue. That said, I will gladly return in the summer months to try the course again, as I have no doubt some warm spring weather will help the course no end.

Ian Mullins - Essex (H'cap 14)