Richard Whitford

A great response to start!

We're halfway through now and we've been delighted with the initial response. Thank you to those members who have already topped up their Pro Shop account!

For anyone who missed it, we want to give something back as our way of saying thank you for your continued support whilst the Pro Shop is shut. So, if you top up your Pro Shop account (using the link below) during April 2020, we will add an extra 10% to your deposit!

You'll be able to spend this as soon as the Pro Shop is back open. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.

top-up your account here >

Club news

Click here for the latest Knock Golf Club promo video.

An interview with the newest member of the management committee Mr Andrew Gilmour

Question 1 : What do you miss most about the club during this lockdown?

Getting up on a Saturday especially during this great weather and having craic with ‘the boys’. I miss the banter during and after the round.

Question 2 : Your favourite hole at Knock and why?

For those that know me and my game I would say the 3rd Hole not just is it a great par 4 but I can hit it as far offline as possible and usually still find it and have a shot to the green. Purely on looks I love the 7th hole from the back tee it’s just looks great.

Question 3 : When we do get back to ‘normality’ what’s the first thing you will do at the club?

Apart from having a beer. I will stand on the first tee and try and hit it as hard as I can and try to drive the green.

Question 4 : Has this time away from golf increased your appetite to play more?

For those that know me over the last few seasons I have been in and out of golf with starting a new job etc. My handicap has gone up a bit and the enjoyment levels went down a bit. But this lockdown has made me realise how much I want to play, especially when I know I can’t tee it up. So yes it has definitely increased.

Question 5 : Apart from playing golf what else have you missed about the club?

Without doubt the ‘boys’ and the endless banter we have. I also miss the friendly environment. In my time working in the Pro Shop I got to know the vast majority of the members and love stopping for a simple chat.

Question 6 : Name your dream Fourball

It would have to be Seve, Garcia and Jimenez.I love the Spanish flai

Question 7 : You are now a member of the Management Board and helping me wit advertising and marketing strategies. What would your message to the members be at this time?

Covid 19 is not to be messed with. We must all adhere to government guidelines and stay safe. But sitting here today (Monday 20th) looking down the 17th hole I can assure all members that Lee and his team are preparing a magnificent golf course with brilliant putting surfaces. We as a club will be working as hard as ever in rewarding/compensating our members in some way going forward when we know our financial position, but at this time we all need to be patient and pull together.

I would like to thank Andrew for doing this small Q&A. I am looking forward to working with him on improving the clubs social media presence and exploring his ideas on increasing Societies and corporate outings etc. In relation to Question 3 he let us know what his first thing would be ....... from experience I can tell you the second thing he will do is to HIT A PROVISIONAL!!!!!

Shop news

KGC Shirts

Just before the lockdown I took stock of some new K.G.C shirts, they look amazing and you don’t need to iron them. I have all sizes in stock if any members would like a size or colour held over let me know..

Home Deliveries

Remember if you would need or would like anything from the Pro shop just get in touch I can home deliver free of charge!!!

Back to golf changes

What golf will look like

When we do get back to some sort of golf, we may have to start again with bunkers not in use and or even flags not in the holes etc. Before you turn your nose up at the idea of no flags it may actually help, HOW ?? I hear you say.

During my time as an Ulster Provincial coach for the U18 boys squad, we used to play 9 holes with flags in and 9 holes without. It was amazing when the players just aimed at the center of the greens how many times they scored better. It took the players (all scratch and below handicaps) a while to accept the training session merits, but they soon realised ‘what it was all about’ and many now wearing a green Ireland top still use this idea to this day. Food for thought people!!!!

Test yourself

QUARANTINE GOLF QUIZ QUESTIONS No 3

1) Your ball is in Penalty Area - Can You :-
a) Play it as it lies – without penalty?
b) If ball embedded can you replace it to improve lie?
c) Take practice swings reasonably close to ball and eg hit long grass?
d) Ground your club in addressing ball?
e) Remove leaves, sticks, stones, loose impediments lying close to ball?

2) Your ball is unplayable in a bush – where do you drop?

3) You play your 2nd shot – it finishes jammed against the Pin but no part of ball below ground level
If you jiggle the Pin or Remove it and in doing so :-
a) The ball falls in to the hole - are you down in 2?
b) The ball moves a couple of inches away from the hole
In either case – what is situation – any penalties incurred – what do you do now??

4) Ball is in Bunker on right of 8th green – you thin it out into the river.
Where do you drop? What are your options?

5) You hit a great drive down right side of 8th – you find it about 3-4 yards short of the Bell at edge of fairway. Bell is absolutely directly in line with your shot to the green. What is ruling – can you take relief?

QUARANTINE GOLF QUIZ ANSWERS No 3

1)
a) Yes
b) No
c) Yes
d) Yes
e) Yes – but be careful – if ball moves its a one shot penalty

2)
a) Two club lengths from ball not from edge of bush not nearer hole
b) directly behind bush in line with Pin as far back as you like
c) back from where you last played

3) You are certainly NOT down in 2. In both or either case there is no penalty involved but ball must be replaced on edge of hole – then tapped in for a 3.

4) Hard luck It may seem harsh but you have to drop on the far side of the river ie on the fairway side of river on a direct line between Pin and where last crossed.
Alternatively – you can drop it back and play from bunker again - but you can rake it?

5) No Relief - only available if obstruction interfering with Swing or Stance.

Course images

Check out these pictures. The badger damage along the driveway has been fixed and the perimeter of the car park has been edged. The small attention to detail makes such a difference, I only wish you could all see and appreciate the hard work.

Remember to get more photos and information about the club you can follow me on twitter @rickytwhitford or @KnockGolfClub or follow us on facebook

It's quiz time

In theory, this week's quiz is one that we should ALL do well on, so we've thrown a few curveballs in there to really test you!

Fancy yourself as a Rules know-it-all?
Are you the go-to Rules person in your roll-up?

Put your knowledge to the test and see how you get on this week. You may have found yourself in a few of these scenarios before - the question is: did you do the right thing?

Good luck!

take this week's quiz >

Weekly challenge

We want to get as many Knock Golf Club golfers attempting this week’s challenge as possible! It’s a pretty straightforward one so give it a go and let us know how you get on. Who will be the champion?

What to do

Grab your wedge and a golf ball. Head to the garden or give yourself some space inside the house. Now, try to do as many keepy-ups as possible without the ball touching the ground.

Sounds easy, right?

Get adventurous

If you’re a bit of a show-off, try hitting the ball off your thigh or stopping the ball on your clubface before starting again. You can do this with tennis balls too, or even toilet rolls (apparently).

We want your videos sent in!

send us your scores >

Golf at home

If any of you are missing golf as much as we are, you’ll be straight onto the course as soon as it’s safe to do so. Well, until that time comes, here’s a little drill for you to try that’ll keep those competitive juices flowing.

The set-up

We’ve used a mug as our makeshift hole, but feel free to use whatever you have lying about the house!

Set your balls down in a straight line from the hole, at one-foot intervals from each other. Starting with the closest, hole each putt without missing. If you miss, go back to the start and try again!

Too easy?

The simplest way to make this drill harder is to increase the distance between each of the balls in your line.

If you’re simply too good and are putting like Tiger, you could try finding a sloping putt or make the target (your makeshift hole) smaller.

send us a message >

Video of the Week

A brilliant interview with one of the game's greats. Has technology gone too far? Will anyone dominate the game like Tiger once did? Watch this video as Greg Norman gives his thoughts on today's game. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading and have a great weekend. Richard

Knock Golf Club
Summerfield
Dundonald
Belfast
BT16 0QX

Phone: 028 904 83825

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