Craig Knowles

Hello Golfers,

Welcome to another edition of our weekly newsletter where we keep you up to date on everything you need to know going on here at Arbroath!

This week we head to the 5th hole in our course management section, take a look at what the green staff have been up to, drop into the shop to see the latest arrivals and much, much more.

Enjoy the read!

Course news

Course Maintenance

This past week the Green keeping team have been busy as usual preparing the course for play. The feedback from both the visitors to the course and the members has been great. The greens and approaches have been solid tined and top dressing is due to go down to help again improve surfaces and continue to improve the condition of both.

Although we have had the top dressing and seed for a short while now it is crucial to pick the right time to do it as it is a costly exercise and a lot of the material can be lost if put down when wet. I’m sure the golfing and weather gods will eventually be kind to us and give us a dry spell to get the materials down.

Guess the green?

Course Management - The 5th Hole

As we continue the course guide section of the newsletter this week we are onto the toughest hole on the course. The wind plays a big part on this particular hole, downwind then many can reach this green in 2 but into the wind it can be as many as 4 to get home due to the burn that meanders its way across the fairway around 60 yards short of the green.

Out of bounds all the way down the right and 3 excellently placed bunkers down the left it is clear to see why number 5 is stroke index 1!

For me like any other hole the key is to manage it properly, if you know that you can’t make it home in 2 shots then play it as a 3 shot hole, possibly even a 4 shot if you are a shorter hitter as for almost every golfer out there you will be receiving a stroke and in some cases 2 strokes on this hole.

Once past this hole you have a run of shorter holes so taking a bogey or even a nett bogey isn’t the end of the world. The tee shot is vital so take a club from the tee you are confident with to both avoid the bunkers and out of bounds.

Competition news

The Sophie Trophy

I was delighted to see the results of the Sophie Trophy from this past Saturday, 5 of the 12 players in the prizes have taken lessons with myself over the past month or so which for me backs up my reasoning for lessons and custom fitting.

I won’t name the names! But if any of you not currently in the prizes would like to book in, feel free to pop in and book your slot.

As this was a Links Competition all prize money goes into members accounts in the Pro Shop, so you can use your winnings towards that shirt you have been eyeing up for the last couple of weeks!

Shop news

New Bag?!

We have a cracking selection of bags to choose from in the Pro Shop, from stand, waterproof stand, cart and waterproof cart and even a hybrid waterproof bag!!

My personal favourite is one I have just taken stock of for the ladies which comes with matching shoe and hand bag!

1 gap, 3 options

The term 'gapping' is commonly used to refer to the yardage distance between each of the wedges in your bag. We want to break this thought process and get you to think about gapping for your entire set, because any unequal gaps between clubs will have a detrimental impact on your game.

Gapping at the top end

One part of your set that needs careful consideration is how you transition from your irons into your woods. Lots of golfers struggle to hit their longer irons and instead opt for a replacement hybrid or driving iron, which can lead to large gaps between clubs if you're not careful.

So, what's the solution? Well, take advantage of our services and professional advice, and we'll make sure you have the perfect club/s to fill any gaps at the top end of your bag.

What are your options?

TaylorMade recognised the problem that many golfers have in this area and brought GAPR to market to help them fix it.

There is a GAPR Hi option, which is most like a hybrid in shape and offers extreme distance with a high trajectory.

This is followed by GAPR Mid, which is somewhere between a hybrid and a long iron. It offers a slightly lower trajectory than the Hi and is perfect for hitting off tees or off the deck.

Finally, the GAPR Lo is for the better ball strikers as its smaller profile provides excellent shot-shaping and workability from a penetrating trajectory.

explore GAPR >

Get your kicks on this summer

Now that the better weather is upon us, it's time to pack those waterproof shoes away in the garage and step onto the course in a stylish new pair of breathable kicks for the summer months ahead.

Why not try Under Armour's Showdown SL Sunbrella?

No one wants to take their shoes off after a round to reveal a less-than-desirable whiff.

Fortunately, that is no longer a concern thanks to this shoe from Under Armour, which comes with a water-resistant upper and a breathable memberane for all-round comfort.

However, that is not even the best bit!

There's no sacrifice when it comes to traction with this spikeless offering either, but you do gain the versatility of being able to wear it both on or off the course.

So, what better way to prepare for the warmer months than by coming down to the pro shop and trying on a pair of these Under Armour shoes before you head out for your next round?

shop Under Armour's range >

Video of the Week

Watch as world-renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon explains how there's more than just one way to make a putt.

I hope you enjoyed the newsletter. If you have any thoughts or queries please contact me in the golf shop.

Arbroath Golf Links
Dundee Road
Elliott by Arbroath
DD11 2PE

Phone: 01241 875837

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