Hello golfers,

Members are asking me about, Ella, my baby daughter who was born at a very early 24 weeks. As I write this she is 73 days old and is gaining weight (and personality) each day. The hospitals and nurses have been amazing and Ella is now up to 2lb and 10 ounces ... she is fighting away in the High Dependency Unit in the Ulster.

Thanks for all the kind words, cards and messages and let's hope for continual improvement.

Coming up at Knock...

This weekend, weather permitting, we will be running the last Monthly Tankard of the year. This is your last chance to qualify for the McMullan Cup. The following weekend, the weekend of Friday, 8 September and Saturday, 9 September is President's Day. I will once again be running my Titleist Golf Ball Challenge on this weekend, so look out for some information to follow next week. I know for a fact that Kenny Graham has some great prizes on offer for his President's Day.

Remember, the next two weeks will be the 'Club Scratch Medal Championship' open to members with a handicap up to nine. The player with the lowest gross score over the two rounds will win the Scratch Medal. The entry will be £5 and can be paid on the day.

President's Day Time Sheet

Can I remind everyone that the normal Saturday time sheet will be in operation for Saturday, 9 September. If you are not using your time or indeed need a change give me a call at pro shop and we can try and accommodate everyone.

Social Events

Over the next few weeks there are several dates for your diary, including:

• Saturday, 9 September - President's Night.
  
• Sunday, 17 September - Children's Fun Sunday.
• Saturday, 23 September - End of Summer Blues Party with Grainne Duffy and the Ronnie Greer Band.
• Sunday, 1 October - Jazz Sundays are back. Bob's delicious carvery and top class background music from Ken Haddock trio.

Booking necessary for all these events on 90480915. Come along and support YOUR club.

It’s official: golf is good for you

There's been a lot of focus on Public Health England’s One You campaign in the media over the past week, which challenges each person to complete just 10 minutes of continuous brisk walking per day to help boost their health and reduce the risk of early death by 15%.

At the same time, a unique study assessing the benefits of golf on health was announced that, when combined with the above campaign, makes interesting reading. The project – the most comprehensive study on golf and health to date – found improvements in life expectancy, a decreased risk of more than 40 major chronic diseases, as well as positive impacts on cholesterol, body composition and mental health.

So, what's the take home message from all of this? Keep playing golf!

Ladies President's Prize

The results from the Ladies President's Prize event were as follows:

First place - Jill Kennedy (37 points), second place - Elaine Morrow (34 points) and in third place - Ann Spence (33 points). 
Best gross - Katie Poots (22 points). 
Best first nine - Rosemary Greene (18 points).
Best second nine - Rosemary Nixon (20 points).
Nine hole winner - Doreen McVitty (13 points). 

The twos paid out £15.60 each and all monies have been added to your pro shop accounts. Congratulations to Jill for her victory. The CSS was 77.

McCutchinson Cup for Juniors -  Thursday, 24 August

First place - Scott McOuat (40 points) and in second place - Matthew Gibson (39 points).

Sunday Sweep Results

First place - Mark McMurray (39 points, gross 66), second place - Stephen Hughes (38 points, BB9) and in third place - Gary Boyd (38 points, BB9).

The twos paid £6.40.

Club Sweep

A Club Sweep was played on Saturday, 26 August because the course was waterlogged on the Friday. Results were as follows:

Winner - Paul Kelly (40 points).
Best gross - Colin Fairweather (70, level).
Anno Domini Prize - Brian Best (35 points).
Category One - First place - Stephen Jefferson (38 points, BB9) and in second place - Shaun Fleck (38 points).
Category Two - First place - Gary Kennedy (37 points, BB9) and in second place - Ian Killen (37 points).
Category Three - First place - Kelvin Swaffiels (40 points) and in second place - Ian Clarke (39 points).
Category Four - First place - Mark McKelvey (36 points) and in second place - Ronnie Geddis (34 points).

The twos paid out £14.30 each and all monies have been added to your pro shop accounts. The CSS was 71.