Derek Watters

Welcome to another weekly newsletter, I had been hoping that I would be writing to you all today talking about OUR return to the fairways but it's looking unlikely for another few weeks. I'm not going to get political as it's not my forte but I can

Hello Golfers,

Welcome to another weekly newsletter, I had been hoping that I would be writing to you all today talking about OUR return to the fairways but it's looking unlikely for another few weeks. I'm not going to get political as it's not my forte but I can assure you we at Gourock will be ready to welcome every member back to the fairways when it is deemed safe to.

As a staff and committee we are talking daily to ensure all the procedures are in place to make you feel safe and secure on arrival - during - and after your round. Again this week I will be in the shop to continue my preparations for opening, with that in mind IF anyone needs anything done e.g. how about a new set of grips on your clubs or a nice new GGC top to get you looking the part on your return. I have a few pairs of 2019 shoes left over ready to go on a very special SALE price, if you would like to see these or just to reserve then get in touch.

The governing bodies of GOLF are talking and communicating and we all want the same thing - our members golfing on their fairways.

I came across this last week and thought it good to share it with you:

"Last week a friend said to me that the first thing he'll do when it's safe for golf to return is put all his energy into his opening tee shot. The second thing he'll do is hit a provisional!"

Stay safe folks and enjoy the read.

Pro's news

Looking ahead

We’ve added a new feature to our weekly emails called ‘Thoughts for the course’. Each week there’ll be a handy tip that will (hopefully) give you something to think about ahead of your next game of golf. Be sure to scroll down a little further to give it a read.

We are also going to start reintroducing a product or two that you’ll be able to find in the pro shop when we're back open. If you’re interested in finding out more about anything we stock or just want to have a little browse, there’s lots of information and some great videos on our website – simply, click here and head to the ‘Shop’ tab.

It's quiz time

This week we have a brilliant quiz for you to indulge yourself in.

'Guess Who' Quiz

We will give you three short statements, which you will need to use to work out who the golfer is. It's multiple-choice so if you can't work it out then you can at least have a guess!

From now on, we'll be doing these quizzes in our first newsletter of every month so be sure to keep an eye out!

take our 'Guess Who' quiz >

Thoughts for the course

When you get to hit your next golf shot, it's highly likely that you'll be battling with a little bit of rust that's set into your game during lockdown. So, to help you out when you do get back out on the fairways, here’s something important you might want to pay particular attention to.

Why is alignment important?

When we talk about alignment, we’re referring to where our clubface, feet, hips and shoulders are all aiming. If these areas are disjointed before we start our swing, hitting a straight shot is quite a bit harder.

For example, if a right-hander’s body is aiming left of the target with the clubface straight (as in the image above), it encourages a swing path to the left and will often result in a fade/slice that ends up to the right of where you want it to.

How to perfect yours

Playing lots of golf is something we all look forward to in the coming months, so make sure you have solid foundations at address.

If you ever see professional golfers on the range, they usually lay a stick or club down on the floor between their feet and the ball that aims at their target. By using this as a reference point, it ensures their alignment is spot-on. Try it the next time you practice - you might be surprised!

send us a message >

Visual aids are key

Carrying on with the theme of alignment, it’s really important to get it right when putting too. Golf brands have come up with some clever ways to help golfers on this front, from the original 2-ball putter to today’s intuitive colour-contrast sightlines, but there are also some things you can do on your golf ball to help.

Grab a marker

Lots of golfers draw a line on their golf ball with a permanent marker to use when putting (and driving in some cases).

This has been a popular method for decades as it aids alignment with where the golfer intends to start the ball rolling, taking into account the slope of the green.

Instant feedback

If the line rolls over itself and stays pointing at your target for the duration of the putt, it indicates you've hit a pretty good putt.

However, if the line ends up rolling towards the hole pointing elsewhere, it usually means your stroke was a little off - something we can help with.

New ball to try

If you're a fan of Wilson Staff's DX2 Soft balls, they've been replaced by DUO Soft+ for 2020 and wow, what a golf ball!

We have some of these in-store for you to try once we re-open - and we recommend you do - but you can find out more before then by visiting our website.

learn more here >

Video of the Week

The European Tour has produced some brilliant videos in recent years and this is one of our favourites. Wondering what happened to elicit this response from Andy Sullivan? Watch the video to find out! Enjoy.

European Tour: Most frustrating video ever

Gourock Golf Club
Cowal View
Gourock
PA19 1HD

Phone: 01475 636834 op4

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