Richard Whitford

!!!WIN A 2020 WATERPROOF CART BAG!!!

Last week I organized a draw to win a Waterproof cart bag (worth £200). Pictured are some of the new Titleist and Callaway bags but I also stock Motocaddy, PING and TaylorMade. So far I have sold 25 tickets. I need to sell 40 tickets to cover the cost of the bag.

Tickets are £5 each and the draw will take place via video in next weeks newsletter. Chris Moutray will pull out the winning ticket.

How to Enter :
OPTION 1 You can PayPal me and send £5 (friends & family) using email: rickywhitford@tiscali.co.uk and in Notes write .. Pro shop draw

OPTION 2 Let me know and I can Take £5 off your Pro shop account.... you can reply to this email, or send me an email to rickywhitford@tiscali.co.uk.

As always, if you won the bag and didn't want or need it, you can exchange it or turn it into Pro shop credit.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL PARTICIPATING

Q&A with your PGA Professional Ricky Whitford

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

I miss the general day to day life of being around and part of a club. It sounds ‘cheesy’ but being a PGA Club Pro is more of a ‘lifestyle’ than a job especially during the summer months sometimes being there up to 80 hours a week. I miss the teaching, the fitting, running competitions, the retail and the general buzz around the place, I miss being busy!

Question 2 : Your favourite hole at Knock and why?

I love the first hole. For today’s modern ‘power player’ it’s driveable and a chance for a birdie 3, but perfectly placed bunkers and trees makes taking a 5 just as easy. Without doubt it’s the trickiest green on the course with some unbelievable pin locations, a brilliant design.

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

Get out of my car smell the freshly cut grass, make a cup of tea, put the flag up and look forward to answering the phone with ‘Hello Knock Pro Shop’

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

As the years have gone on I have played less and less due to coaching and baby daughter commitments. I really miss the buzz of competition and the nerves involved in being in contention. I will definitely enter a few competitions later on in the year if possible, especially around courses I enjoy and have good memories from.

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

My swing Studio, teaching and the people. As you all know I enjoy the coaching side of golf and I love helping people understand their golf swing and how that can help them improve.

Question 6 : Name your dream Fourball

Hogan, Seve and Pete Cowan (a renowned coach)

Question 7 : What have you been doing in lockdown?

My wife is still working so I have been looking after a lunatic 2 year old.. morning, noon and night. It has been amazing but I have so much respect for nursery school workers. I genuinely don’t know how they do it day in day out (Sonia Brown you literally deserve a medal). I have watched so much Peppa Pig that it has put me off bacon for life. It’s been hard to keep her entertained but in a normal world I would never have had this chance to spend this much time with her.

When I do get my own time, I have successfully completed my Level 3 PGA Psychology qualification on line. It’s been great to complete this as I’m massively interested in this part of the game. I have been listening to a lot of coaching podcasts and getting some ‘nuggets’ to use in my own coaching. I have also been communicating with visitors and members alike, answering any questions they may have and also doing some home deliveries of golfing goods.

A BIG THANK YOU

I would like to thank all the members who ‘Topped Up’ their Pro Shop account using the 10% extra promotion. It was a successful promotion and one that is appreciated at this difficult time.
When I get to reopen the Pro shop I look forward to offering you all the latest 2020 golf gear at the best prices!!

Thank you to everyone again who took part.

Freshening up the club

It’s the small things that make all the difference. Peter Truesdale has been ‘at his work’ again.

He painted the air line station as you come off the 16th and the new ‘level plant pots are now in-situ at the entrance ... looks great Peter well done!

The course is looking fantastic. Pictured below is a view of the 2nd hole from behind the green on Tuesday evening. A big thanks to Lee and his team ....it must be strange for them also.

Can you guess where the bunker is located to the left ... what hole??

Thank you

Thank you to our Hon Sec Mr Tom Reid.

During this lockdown and the uncertainty ahead, a special mention must go to Tom Reid our Hon Sec. He has been working tirelessly filling in forms and making phone calls regarding any government grants which the golf club may be entitled too.

He has also been chairing ‘Zoom’ meetings with the management committee every two weeks to keep everyone up to date and to bounce ideas off each other. Tom has been in contact with many other clubs and Managers to keep in touch and to share ideas.

The club very much appreciates your hard work Tom.

Ella is eager to get going!!

Quarantine Golf Quiz No 5

1. Dropping – Relief Area

a) Can you stand outside the Relief Area to drop ball within it?

b) When you drop the ball it hits the ground in the Area – but then bounces and hits your foot - but stays inside the Area - Do you drop again or is it OK and in play?

c) You forget and drop your ball from shoulder height. Before you play it you realise your mistake – can you lift and drop again properly from knee height without penalty?

d) Can you stand outside Relief Area to actually play ball within it?

e) If ball rolls forward closer to the hole when dropped but still in Area do you drop again?

2. Your ball lies tight against marker post at edge of river/penalty area but it is in play - not in the hazard (now Abnormal Course Condition)

a) Are you allowed to remove post and stand inside line of hazard to play shot?

b) When post is removed it obviously leaves a large hole which is interfering with your shot – can you take relief?

3. Your ball finishes on one of the bridges and inside the lines of the hazard.

a) Do you have any relief ?

b) If you decide to play it as it lies - can you ground your club on the bridge before making stroke?

4. Your ball is on the apron a couple of feet off the green but it's lying well - the grass is quite short and ideally you would like to putt it.

May you remove twigs; loose grass cuttings; leaves; sand or loose soil from your line to enable you to putt?

ANSWERS No 5

1. Dropping - Relief Area

a) YES

b) OK in play, no penalty

c) YES

d) YES

e) NO, it's in play, no penalty

a) YES

b) NO, hole is inside hazard

a) No relief - it's inside the hazard

b) Yes

Twigs ; leaves; grass cuttings YES

Sand & Loose soil NO

Sand & loose soil are NOT loose impediments They can however be removed if on the Green

Did you know?

Fact of the week

In 1971, Alan Shepard – the first American astronaut in space – became the first person to hit a golf ball on the moon. Here’s what he said to the USGA after landing back on earth:

“I shanked the first one; it rolled into a crater about 40 yards away. The second one, I kept my head down. I hit it flush and it went at least 200 yards.”

It's quiz time

What can you remember from the last decade?

We hope you enjoyed last week's Silhouette Challenge; some were certainly easier than others.

The end of 2019 also marked the end of a decade, but how much can you remember - on a golfing front - from those 10 years?

Put your memory to the test with this week's quiz as we challenge you to recall some amazing feats in the world of golf. Good luck!

take this week's quiz >

Weekly challenge

Much like the pitch shot that fizzes onto the green and stops dead on the second or third bounce, the flop shot always looks spectacular when you pull it off. It’s the inspiration behind this week’s challenge, so grab your highest lofted wedge and take to the garden for our Flop Shot Challenge.

The set-up

Like the images above, place a garden trug or bucket on top of a table facing away from the house with the aim of landing the ball inside. You can also play this game by putting something tall in front of you – garden fork or washing line – that you need to get the ball up-and-over.

Not confident?

Flop shots aren’t the easiest shot to play, which is why they do look great when executed to perfection. If you’d rather attempt something different, you can modify this challenge by placing your garden trug on the floor and see how many you can chip in – but it can’t bounce first!

send us a message >

Golf at home

Hopefully, you’re finding our Golf at Home drills useful in keeping your golf game ticking over during lockdown – maybe, even improving it?! For this week we’ve gone back to basics and have found an effective way of checking one of golf’s key fundamentals…

Alignment is key

Getting your set-up spot on is easier said than done, but getting it right more often than not will certainly help your golf game on the course.

One part that often changes over time is our alignment, which incorporates far more than just where the clubface is aiming.

How to check

Find some flooring in your house or garden that runs in straight lines. Place a ball down and set up as if you’re hitting a straight shot.

From here, check whether your feet, hips and shoulders are running parallel to each other by using the flooring as a visual cue.

send us a message >

Video of the Week

If you're a watcher of golf on TV then you'll be fully aware of the brilliant Wayne 'Radar' Riley. In this video from PING, we take a look at the best bits of his 'A Round with Radar' series, including cameos from Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Miguel Angel Jimenez. Enjoy.

Knock Golf Club
Summerfield
Dundonald
Belfast
BT16 0QX

Phone: 028 904 83825

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