The modern day PGA Professional is more than just a highly skilled golfer, he is a wealth of knowledge and has high levels of expertise in all areas of the sport, from the perfect swing plane to the best equipment for your game.

This is why I can really assist you in improving your golf. The knowledge and honest advice from me as your PGA qualified professional, is something you simply do not get on the high street or even on the internet.

Whether it's teaching beginners the fundamentals of golf, giving you advice on swing changes and helping you to choose the right equipment to get the best our your golf I am here to help.

Why not drop by the pro shop and we can discuss any part of your game.

Following on from last month's enewsletter about the importance of the correct golf ball, we are pleased to announce that we have a Bridgestone Golf Ball Fitting Day at Baildon Golf Club on Saturday 27th March.

Fittings are available between 11am and 4pm, each fitting should take about 15mins.

To book your appointment please ring the Golf Shop on 01274 595162.

For more information on Bridgestone please click here

When you need to purchase a new suit, or even just a pair of pants, the last thing you’d do is just grab anything off the rack, it shouldn’t be any different when it comes to golf clubs.

You wouldn’t want to walk around with sleeves or trouser legs that are too short or too long, or a jacket that won’t do up. You take the time to find the perfect size, to ensure a snug fit, which is most comfortable for you.

You should take the same time and pay the same attention to detail when choosing your golf clubs. Golfers come in all shapes and sizes, so it is pretty clear the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach will not be of benefit to you.

Rather than just buying a club or set of irons off the peg why not take the time to book a session where I will take you through an extensive custom fit process to ensure the clubs fit you and your swing perfectly, enabling you to hit longer, straighter and more accurate shots.

The fitting process will analyse a number of measurements from your swing including ball impact position, club head speed, launch angle and ball spin. I will then look at these statistics and be able to recommend the perfect club to suit you and your game.
 

When shooting for the green aiming directly for the flag may seem like the right idea, but in reality there are a number of different factors you should consider before picking a target on the green.

For starters, is the wind blowing enough to affect your golf ball while it’s in the air? If there is a strong right to left wind, then you’ll want to pick a target to the right of the pin and let the ball drift towards the flag on the breeze. Similarly if the wind is blowing left to right, then pick a target the other way.

You might also find that the pin is tucked away in a corner close to a bunker or hazard so the safe shot is pay for the middle the green that way if you hit the intended shot you will still have a chance for that welcome birdie.

Think about your target carefully and take these pointers into consideration and you’ll soon be shaving shots off your scorecard.

At the Ladies get together on Tuesday 13th April we will be hosting a Ladies fashion show.

The show will start at 7pm and will be an opportunity for any ladies to see the full range of Glenmuir's exciting Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

You will be able to order any item from the range on the night, and all orders will be entered into a special prize raffle.

This is open to members and non members so bring your girlfriends along and have a fun night at the golf club.

To preview the Glenmuir range before you attend please click here

The technology of the G15 Irons provides the high launching, maximum forgiveness attributes that bring consistency to your iron play. The stainless steel iron’s cavity design features a new Custom Tuning Port (CTP), which expands the perimeter weighting and increases the moment of inertia.

Weight savings from a thinner face are re-positioned to the toe for added forgiveness on mis-hits and a wider sole produces a higher launch angle. Stronger lofts combine with a centre of gravity located low and farther from the face to produce longer shots without sacrificing the higher trajectory required in a maximum forgiveness iron.

SSP: £499

For more information on the PING G15 irons please click here.

The next generation of Mizuno blades, the MP-58 combines the workability of a traditional muscleback with the forgiveness of multi-material construction.

An 11-gram Titanium insert, forged directly into the outer muscle of the MP-58, increases thickness behind impact for a unique solid feel while dramatically increasing perimeter weighting for stability from off-centre hits.

A thinner top line and sole (than the retired MP-57) anchor the MP-58’s CoG close to the clubface – ensuring that increased forgiveness is not created at the expense of a penetrating ball flight or workability.

SSP: £699

For more information on Mizuno's MP-58 irons please click here.

Building upon the high technology design and resounding success of the original AP irons, Titleist introduces the new high performance AP2 irons for avid golfers. The Titleist AP2 is a multi-material, dual cavity iron that takes the design mission of "Advanced Performance You Can Feel" to new heights.

Titleist’s advanced research group has been conducting extensive sound and vibration analysis aimed at reducing the harsh lower frequency vibration that causes poor feel in irons. This research led to combining several technologies and materials in the back cavity of the new AP2 irons resulting in a new Tuned Feel System to take feel to a new level.

The new Tuned Feel System is a co-moulded medallion of soft elastomer and aluminium plate. This insert has been specifically designed to improve the sound and feel of each new iron. For the new AP2, a softer, more solid feel is achieved.

SSP: £649

For more information on Titleist's AP2 irons please click here.

We have just taken delivery of a new loft and lie machine.

This means we can now custom fit your clubs in store and have them ready for you to play with that same day!

Regardless of your ability, properly fit clubs can help you hit straighter, more consistent shots. By matching the proper club specifications to your swing, we can help reduce or eliminate undesirable shot patterns, like hooks and slices, allowing you to play closer to your full potential and making the game more enjoyable.

To feel the benefits for yourself please contact the Pro Shop to book your free fitting session. 

When visiting the practice ground I would always recommend that you work as hard as you can on your short game and in particular from 80 yards in mainly because that is where you will save shots during any round. Don’t just smash balls with the driver for half an hour!

Take the time to test yourself by simply looking at different shots from certain yardages e.g. 3/4's wedge from 80 yards, 1/2 sand wedge from 40 yards or bunker shots from around the green. Hit between 5 and 10 shots for each and see how close you get to the flag. Make up a simple scoring method and see how many points you score.

If you feel your simple testing uncovers some inconsistency's in your short game there could be a number of different reasons;

1. You don't practice enough

2. Your technique maybe flawed

3. You don't have the correct equipment in terms of a gap or lob wedge

If you feel you require any help in this area of your game please drop by the pro shop and we can book a lesson for you.

The first major of the year, the Masters at Augusta, is only 5 weeks away so its time for our Masters Draw.

Tickets are now available from the Pro shop, and as it is a limited field you will need to be quick to get your pick of the top players.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding his return to tournament golf, Tiger Woods will be in the draw but you will have the option to stick or twist on the world number 1 if you draw out his name until the field is finalised.

There are some great prizes on offer so pop in the shop and have a go!

This month is the turn of 2009 Club Cup Champion Ian Helyar

Handicap:15

How long have you been a member at Baildon GC: 20 years

Favourite Club in the Bag: wedge

Usual Golfing Partners: Mark 'Ozzy' Osborne and my son

Favourite Course: Gleneagles

Best Golfing Achievement: Becoming Club Champion last year

Favourite Golfer: Ian Woosnam or Philip Price  - you can guess why!

Dream Fourball: Me, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and I’d let Mark Osborne play as well because he quite likes Kate.

Predictions for 2010 Majors:

US Masters – Ian Poulter
US Open –Tiger Woods
British Open – Tiger Woods
USPGA – Lee Westwood