August News...

Dear TSGers, So Shane Lowry ensured the Americans didn't hold all golf's majors at the same time. Meanwhile, Ruth Brand won her second TSG OPEN title and Damian Benstead won his first! In addition, back at TSG HQ, we can confirm we have been made an official partner of this years' MOVEMBER charity promotion in aid of Men's Health. AND we are now an American Golf - AG Club partner. Most importantly, July saw our BIGGEST ever month on the site, with more than 7,000 visitors and 100+ new member registrations in a single month. Vive Le TSG! Til next time...Ian & The TSG Team

TSG EVENT: The Social Golfer OPEN Championship 2019...

As TSGers got together for the 9th TSG OPEN Championship, it was a pleasure to see everyone laughing and enjoying each other's company, whilst raising money for a great cause! After all the scorecards were counted up and verified, we are very pleased to announce we have two new TSG OPEN Champions...

Ruth Brand & Damian Benstead

However, the real winners were our chosen TSG charity for 2019, Community Golf, as we raised over £2,200 for them, which will go towards funding a years' worth of golf sessions for special needs kids! #GoTSGers

The full list of winners from the event includes: (scores based on 9/10ths of H'cap):

Women's Trophy...
1st - Ruth Brand - 35 Pts
2nd - Judy Lilley - 30 Pts

Men's Trophy...
1st - Damian Benstead - 37 Pts                                                                                                  2nd - Mark Crane - 36 Pts
3rd - Chris Knight - 34 Pts (on countback)

Golf News Guest Trophy - David Graham (Community Golf)
NP (2nd hole) - Rob Burnell
NP (17th Hole) - Paul Williams
NP in 2 (13th hole) - Paul Smith
Straightest Drive (9th hole) - Michael Hanley
Community Golf Skills Challenge (sponsored by Golf Escapes)  - Russell Mitchell
Yellow Ball Team Winners - Gary Cartlidge, Nigel Grant and Ian Ralph
Trevor Sandford Trophy - Chip in Birdie - Kate Tan

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A note to everyone that attended: Thank You SO much for giving the day such an amazing atmosphere.  A big thank to those that volunteered and helped us run the day, especially (but not exclusively) Brigitte Lockwood, Mark Crane and Mr.Steve Slater.  That's all for now folks, see you at the TSG MatchPlay Finals Day in September!
 

TSG Player of the Month (sponsored by www.2fore1.co.uk)

John Badbury - Pine GC in Essex with a Stableford score = 49. 

Well done to John, this is his FIRST win on the TSG Leaderboard. Here's what he said...

"Best round so far, drives were straight and long and the puts went in, a good day all round"

Welcome to the 2020 TSG Masters!

H'cap change: 21.1 to 17.9 ...ouch!                                                            BUY A TSG TOWEL

GOLF TIPs: Which electric golf trolley is for me?

So, despite saying I would continue to carry my golf bag until I can’t, the recent improvements in design, fold-up size and battery life have forced me to rethink this stance of late. Now in my early fifties, is this the time to make the change? However, with so many different options available to choose from, which electric golf trolley suits my needs and budget? In an attempt, to find out, I did some research…

The Considerations… firstly, as already stated above, there are a number of factors I found I needed to take into account when selecting an electric golf trolley…

1. Budget – While a ‘Push’ trolley can be bought for as little as £50, a good electric golf trolley will start upwards of £400 and can cost as much as £1000

2. Design – Unless you have an American RV pick-up truck or state of the art Range Rover, like many, the size a new electric golf trolley packs down to, will be a big determining factor when it comes to purchasing. However, it's best to measure the space in your boot before committing to your purchase as some items are not as small as you think. In addition, pay close attention to the carrying handles, as I found one of the more expensive models very difficult to carry and even took the skin off my knuckles on first test!

3. Battery – With some batteries only catering to the 18 holes golfer, it’s worth considering if you want to charge the lithium battery in your cart every time you play. Or if you sometimes play more than one round in a day, should you upgrade to a Long-Life battery at the time of purchase, as this may only add an additional £50 to your costs

4. The Brands – There are so many brands available on the market but right now (July 2019) the market leader are without doubt PowerKaddy and MotoCaddy. Both PowerKaddy and MotoCaddy are UK based businesses. In fact, MotoCaddy was started by ex-PowerKaddy employees. Between them, they hold 95% of the UK market with PowerKaddy being the market leader with a 60% share compared to MotoCaddy’s 35%.

5. Warranty – Having spoken with a number of retailers and it would seem some electric carts are more prone to faults than others. One retailer said, “We do occasionally see PowerKaddy’s trolleys returned but rarely do we see a return from MotoCaddy purchasers”. However, given this quote came from just one of many hundreds of retailers, I don’t think it would be a fair representation of the brand as a whole. In addition, having looked at online reviews, MotoCaddy is certainly winning on the testimonial stakes! Google Reviews: PowerKaddy (1 Review) – 1/5 star, MotoCaddy (29 reviews) – 3/5 stars

6. Function – Many carts now come with GPS included but I would ask do I need it, given that I have a handheld GPS already?!... READ MORE

Golf in Australia: The Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club...

For the last couple of years or so, whilst being a member of The Social Golfer and writing about all the beautiful & interesting golf clubs and golf courses around the world, I thought I would tell you a little more about Golf in Australia...more specifically my own club here in New South Wales!

My wife Judy and I recently relocated from Melbourne to Yarrawonga in Victoria, because the warmer climate suits us both, and since Judy has relatives and family living here, it made settling in that much easier.

I knew that for me the best way to make new friends would be to get involved with some sort of sport whether it be football, cricket, fishing or golf and I decided on playing golf.

Unlike a lot of Scotsman, I don’t drink whiskey and I never touched a golf club until I was 55 years old. I played golf with a social golf club on the North East Coast of New South Wales for 10 years, however, it was only a very small golf course with a par 31.

But, on reaching our new home, I decided it was time for me to 'take' the game more seriously, so I joined the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Resort, which is just over the border in neighbouring New South Wales.

Golf In Australia - The Region...

Since 1886 the Yarrawonga golfers had graduated from a 3-hole course in the centre of town, to a 9 hole course laid out around the local racecourse. Latterly, it was relocated to the site of an old dairy farm in Mulwala.

Here it has been now for the last 90 years, and just like cream rising to the top, so has this beautiful golf resort. The two nearby towns are separated by the Mighty Murray river which is approx 2500 Kilometres long. It is the 3rd longest navigatable river on the planet with only the Amazon & Nile ahead of it.

The river starts in the Southern Alps of New South Wales and Victoria, it flows in a westerly direction before reaching its outlet near the town of Goolwa on the South Australian coast. The Mighty Murray river (also the state border between N.S.W & Victoria) is approx 1880 Km long and there are approx 37 golf clubs... READ MORE

TSG Club Partner: The Golf Day Challenge...

Every golfer holes the occasional chip, but when you book a golf day at a Crown Golf Club, this one could be worth a big prize and legendary status amongst your golfing buddies!

Every member of your golf day will have the opportunity to hole a chip from 20 yards and should they 'make it' you will win a free golf day* Whether you hole it or not this is guaranteed to get your golf day off to the best possible start with cheers, laughter, oohs and aahs as you take on the thrill of #thegolfdaychallenge.

FYI – this is now a permanent feature for all golf days booked with us

#thegolfdaychallenge channel your inner Phil Mickelson

*T&C's Apply.  The prize is the equivalent value to the golf day being played. The free golf day must be used within 2 months and is not transferable... READ MORE

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

DONT FORGET EVERY TSG PRO MEMBER GETS A FREE £25 voucher with Golf Escapes!

(mention at time of booking to qualify!)

Course Review of the Month: Farthingstone GC, Towcester, Northants, UK.

Actually, quite a gem! 

This course is in deepest Northamptonshire but beware there are virtually no signs directing you there. So make sure your sat-nav is working, else you'll never find it!

The entrance 'drive' is not the most welcoming, but that's probably down to farm vehicles using it. And as you approach the property you will glimpse the 5th green, at which point you will be forgiven for thinking 'what have I let myself in for', as it appears a touch scabby. The attached hotel appears to have seen better days and (on my visit) there were virtually no players/guests around. however, please don't let the preamble put you off, get on the course and play it - then make your own mind up, because it is a cracking course and we WILL be returning.

The tee boxes could do with a bit of TLC but are in better condition than many clubs. The fairways are lush and almost have a carpet like feel on them (if you play on them of course). Bunkers have the perennial problem of inconsiderate players not raking them but do have that elusive ingredient - SAND.

The greens - they run true, but some are quick, some are slow...but another player in your group will tell you the opposite (or is that because its the end of the day and one way is quick, the other way is slow?)

You are going to get a real workout on this course - up, down, up, down...and keep to the correct side of the fairway as there are slopes you cannot see - read the stroke saver or, at least, the description on the teem sign.

The three of us that played on the day will definitely be returning but never on the hottest day of the year (so far)!

John Barber - Luton, Bedfordshire (H'cap 17)