This week we are looking for a golfer to take part in our 8 week Game Improvement Golfer Challenge.  We need someone who is happy to feature in each newsletter for 2 months and share your progress with other RCPGC members.  We will track your progress and the aim of this is simple, to help you to have the best golfing season of your career!

The plan will be structured as follows:

• Weeks 1 + 2: Assessment of each department of your game, then agreeing a plan that will fast track improvement.
• Weeks 3 + 4: Implement discussed development plan, work on specific game changes, this will be followed by a Gapping session.
• Week 5: Next a custom fit experience where we will test all of your current equipment and compare it against new products (there’s no obligation to buy anything!)
• Week 6: Reassess plan and fine tune.
• Weeks 7+8: Progress reports and more work on key game changes.

As you can tell, this is going to take some work from both parties. We are looking for someone who is serious about improving their game, who will put some time in to practice (1-2 times a week as well as playing regularly).  As this is the first time we have done anything like this we are offering this at a discount rate of £80. All replies will be put into a draw and the winner will be picked out at random on Monday, 1 June.

Please note you will have to be comfortable with being in the newsletter, willing to have your equipment tested and happy to share your experience with others (throughout the programme).  We are excited to offer this opportunity as we know we can help you enjoy better golf.

Click here to enter the draw.

Captain/Pro Matches

After a long winter's practice, working hard to understand each other's game, the Captain and I feel ready to take on any pairings brave enough to accept the challenge.  A list of dates is now available on the Pro's noticeboard, located to the left of the men's changing room door.  The format is Four-Ball Match Play off 3/4 handicap.

Match terms as follows:

Challengers Win (not likely) - receive a sleeve of AD333 Tour golf balls and bragging rights for the remainder of the Captains term.

Challengers halve or lose pay the Captains Charity £10 each and accept a volley of abuse for the rest of the season.

There are only 7 dates available, so if you're keen to play please book early to avoid disappointment. 

Bump & Run

A shot most golfers will associate with links golf, usually played from the apron of the green with enough fluffy grass to prevent you from putting.  The flight characteristics involve a ball that carries around 30% of the total distance then rolls the remaining 70%. To easily achieve the optimum ball flight conditions its critical you choose a club/loft that promotes such results, for me a 7 or 8 iron would be the club of choice.

The green design at RCPGC makes this a shot every golfer should have in there armoury.  With our large, undulating, open fronted greens, it screams keeping your ball on the ground and running as often as you can, unfortunately I see only too often members using the Phil Mickelson approach and lofting the ball into the air, which in my opinion comes with its risks. The other advantage to playing this shot more than the parachute method is that your technique requires a much smaller swing, leading to more consistency, improving margins of error, which will undoubtedly lower scores.

Below I've taken 3 snaps of how I like to setup to the Bump and Run shot, I hope its of some use.

Step 1:

The grip.  I like to treat this shot like an extension of my putting, so to achieve this I alter my grip to match that of a putting stroke.  This works two fold.

Using the reverse overlapping grip firms up my wrists giving me a solid almost wooden feel to my setup, great for achieving a one piece movement.  Secondly, I run the grip through the palm of my left hand, this forces the shaft to stand more vertically at address allowing me to swing the club on a much straighter swing path back and through, thus improving my chances of a better contact.

Step 2:

Not only do you need to make great club choices to become a successful bump and runner, you need a solid setup.  I implement the following 3 steps at a address to create the desired low flight.

First up ball position, place the ball opposite the right foot, secondly  I like my hands to be slightly in front of the ball, this gives me confidence that any unnecessary loft has been taken off of the club.

Finally I position the majority of my weight over my left leg (60/40), this shifts my sternum in front of the ball, identifying my strike point.  In addition my angle in to the ball will be steeper making a crisper more consistent strike.

Captain's Charity Day

On Saturday, Captain Peter Goodsell hosted his Captain's Charity Day.  Thankfully the golfing Gods were in full support and laid on some warm weather and sunshine, however in true Rochester & Cobham Park fashion, there was also a stiff breeze just to add to the difficulty.

The eventual winners were Dean Lanning, Eric Baker, Martin Simpson & James Cross with 116 points, winning themselves a Four-Ball voucher at Crowborough Beacon GC.  It seems when Martin isn't bossing the poker table he's winning on the golf course.  Unfortunately the coveted £10,000 cash prize for a Hole In One on the 8th wasn't claimed, but Andy Smith did win Nearest The Pin, which was a nice consolation. The hole was playing its usual difficult self, into the breeze, adding at least 10-15 yards to the hole making it play nearer 200 yards.  You didn't think we were going to give you an easy chance of £10,000 did you?

A fun day was had by all involved and was for a fantastic cause, Teenage Cancer Trust, raising well over £2500!

Club Dates

Don't forget the Rochester & Cobham Park Pro-Am which is on Thursday, 2 July.  Entry forms can be found by click here.

There will be a third instalment of the Poker Night plus BIG screen golf coverage, which will be played on Friday, 26 June, starting at 7pm, third time lucky perhaps for John 'All In' Aughterlony?