It's a busy time of year for brands releasing new product and you'll hopefully have noticed the online content in 'My Shop' that contains some must-see equipment videos, including interviews with the big manufacturers at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show.

If you haven't had the chance, go to 'My Shop' and you'll find insightful interviews from the Show - an annual gathering in Orlando to showcase new equipment - that take you through some exciting new releases and provide custom-fitting advice for you should you be wishing to invest in new gear, whether it be woods and irons, or wedges and balls.

So, with a few signs of the weather improving and the prospect of more golf being played, start with a trip to 'My Shop' for some helpful tips and peeks at some fantastic new equipment. Click here to visit my site.

Saturday 8th March - 15 hole stableford

1st Rick Bradshaw 37 points 
2nd Keith Pownall 35 points 
3rd Mark Thompson 35 points 

On Sunday 9th March, we had our Junior 15 hole Texas Scramble, which was sponsored by Geoff Turner. Congratulations to the winners James Glazier, Callum Hughes and Will Rigby.

I will soon be starting my Saturday Junior academy for non members, 2-3pm for children up to the age of 8 and 3-4pm for ages 9 and above.

The sessions are on every week and are totally FREE of charge. The sessions start on Saturday 19th April. If you have or know of and children who may be interested in taking part in these session please get in touch with me in the Pro Shop, or click here.

I have just finished off my group winter coaching sessions at Adlington Driving Range, which have been taking place every Tuesday and Thursday evening over the last five weeks. 58 golfers took part in the sessions and I really did see some great improvements in their golf! A huge thank you to all you supported the sessions, and a huge thank you to my trusty assistant Ben who was there for all the sessions to help with the coaching. We plan on organising some pre season sessions in the next couple of months so watch this space.

All our new 2014 spring summer gents clothing has now arrived! PING, FootJoy, adidas and Nike Golf. Make sure you have a look next time your up at the club.

Thursday 20th March - Fitness and Nutrition evening 7.30pm-8.30pm (FREE of charge) 
Friday 28th March - 10 yard challenge 1pm-6pm (Chance for some tips on how to gain yards off the tee and try out some new products)
Monday 31st March - The Mind Factor Psychology evening 7pm-9pm (£20 for members, £25 for non members and includes supper) 
Friday 4th April - PING Demo day 1pm-5pm (FREE of charge, book a 1/2 hour time slot for a fitting) 
Saturday 5th April - Bridgestone ball fitting 9am-1pm (FREE of charge, book a 15 minute time slot for a fitting and receive 2 golf balls) 
Friday 2nd May - Short game skills test 1pm-6pm (Get some tips on how to improve your scoring zone and try out some new wedges) 

To book you place on any of the above events please get in touch with me in the Pro Shop, or click here. 



Greens Bulletin March 2014 Extra Tolerance Required..Please.

This has been the wettest winter on record. This news has come as no surprise to those of us that have been working outside in the atrocious conditions. In many cases, the Green keeper has allowed play on the course at times when perhaps they shouldn't, having recognised the fact that if play were suspended then there would be no play for long periods.

Unfortunately there could be a serious consequence to this disappointing extreme winter. Most Golfers will only be thinking about 'tomorrows' game or the coming weekends competition, but Mike Davie has been planning what could be a difficult start to the season for some time.

We are now, hopefully, approaching the season of spring, and the lengthening daylight and improving temperatures will kick start the growing season. This, you would think will be a blessing, yet in reality, it could make the start of the playing season a little difficult. Hazel Grove G.C is on heavy clay soils, which have recently been too wet and soft for mechanical equipment to travel on. This situation may not change in the near future especially if the rain continues. We may well get the situation where parts of the course are not able to be maintained to the usual standards due to travelling difficulties. The areas of most concern are holes 1,2,3,17,18 over the brook. These areas are particularly bad, and the rough and tee banks are currently inaccessible. We can manage the greens, tees, and aprons but the above, along with the landing zones are more difficult to manage. There are one or two other areas of rough that are also very soft and may be difficult to travel such as holes 14 and pockets on holes 4 to 13. Along with the above difficulties, there could well be more than usual recovery and restoration work required on the course, especially where excessive winter wear has taken place.

Other difficulties could be that should we get a cold wet spring, recovery may take longer than usual depending on the severity of the damage and winter wear that has been experienced.

All of the above need to be recognised by the playing membership of the golf club and more tolerance than usual should be given to those on the course trying to rectify the situation. The usual mentality that exists in the game, by those organising and playing competitive golf, needs to differ compared to previous years...

During the months of March and April, we aim to begin to prepare the course for summer play with the following programme in mind:

Completion of 5th hole tee area -4 trees to be felled to allow light and air to the tee area

Edging and new sand in bunkers - This work was started 3rd March, and completed 14th March. I will be advising handicaps that normal play from all bunkers, except the LHS of 12th green, can start now.

Debris collection on the fairways - A "sweep" of all fairways will be undertaken in the next few weeks. This operation will pick-up all loose divots etc, ready for our volunteers divoting teams on Monday 14th April at 0830.

Fertiliser applied to fairways, tees and aprons - greens and aprons completed 3-6th March

Greens maintenance programme to begin including;

Fertiliser application, moss control, top dressing for a smooth surface, scarification and inter seeding. NO hollow tining is planned for this period. Greens will be lightly dressed with sand, in the next few weeks, as the temperature increases, the greens will recover very quickly, and we have made a commitment to have our greens the best ever this year.

A greens maintenance programme for the summer will be provided in the next few weeks

The continuing improvement to the short game facilities in conjunction with James Rowlands.

The above measures are all weather dependent, so once again we ask for a little tolerance.

In summary, the winter months have been difficult and the above is the worst case scenario and if we do encounter problems, we ask that the membership be aware and tolerant following this difficult period.

Finally a Divoting Party has been organised for MONDAY APRIL 14TH AT 0830, we need as many volunteers as possible, so if you or anyone you know are available to give up any of their time, it would be hugely appreciated. Notices will go up shortly on all notice boards asking for helpers - flat soled shoes are best, bring your favourite bucket, and a snack lunch will be provided.

Many Thanks, Ian Sandels and Mike Davie HGK.