Hello and welcome to the January edition of this week's newsletter…. Only joking, although this week it certainly feels like we have gone back in time! This week has seen a real battle royal between the rain, course and greenkeepers. As normal we have tried to remain positive despite the April showers coming down thick and fast. The course does dry out very quick but please note buggies are off at the moment.

A bit of a contrast to the Augusta conditions..

   

What an end to The Masters Tournament! Did everyone stay awake and watch Englishman Danny Willett take home the green jacket? So pleased for him and hopefully this will help kick on golf in the UK! Hopefully a few of you backed Matt's tips… if so Danny will have won you a fair bit of cash!

Based on those results here are our sweep winners.

1st - Danny Willett - Rob Winnall - takes home an Under Armour UK jumper, shirt and glove with a MRRP £96. 
2nd - Lee Westwood - Nobby Gough - Stuburt jumper and polo MRRP £60. 
3rd - Jordan Spieth - Steve Evans - Under Armour chip in polo MRRP £39.99.
4th - Paul Casey - Adam Cook - sleeve of Pro V1's and golf towel MRRP £25. 

Thanks to all for their support in the sweep we go again in the next major.

New Course Signs 

Some new additions made it onto the course this week, bit of a laugh between me and the golfers of CMGC! There are a total of five out on the course, I wonder who will be the first to find them? Just two people know where they are myself (Dave) and Tom. If you find one make sure you get a picture next to it… or contact me for a lesson.

   

Emily Price Makes It 3 From 3 

Cleobury's England Girl international Emily Price continued a brilliant run of form to win an all-England play-off against Annabell Fuller and become the first Scottish Girls' Open Champion. 

The 16-year-old completed a final day charge when she first scored three-under 69 to set up the showdown and then birdied the first play-off hole to claim the new title. 

"I was a bit nervous, but excited about the play-off, so to keep my head and then hole a putt for the birdie was just unbelievable and I'm really happy," said Price. She adds this success to two other wins in the past 10 days, in the Whittington Ladies' Trophy and The Leveret. 

"My plan was to come here and try to finish off all three and honestly it's just amazing," said Price, from Cleobury Mortimer, who now takes a break from golf to concentrate on her GCSE exams. 

She was three shots off the pace going in to the final round, but played her way into a tie with a final round 69. "I knew I had to go low to give after two solid rounds to myself a chance, although I didn't start well with a couple of bogeys," said Price. 

"But I knew there was a chance to go low on the back nine. I took the chance, didn't really make any mistakes, and it was a great finish" she added. She played the back nine in four under, helped by an eagle and three birdies. 

Fuller (Roehampton) had been co-leader going into the final round, having scored three-under over the opening 36 holes. She slipped back initially with four bogeys on the front nine, but she came back impressively with four birdies on the back nine. 

The championship was a showcase for England Golf squad players. Fuller, 13, was not only runner-up but the winner of the U16 Menzies Trophy, while Sophie Johnson (Telford) and Amelia Williamson (Royal Cromer) shared third place with Norway's Celine Borge.

 

Easter Open 2016 

What a day it was once again for the 2016 Easter Open here at Cleobury. Despite some horrid weather for the early starters the weather improved as the day went on. A special thanks must go to the greenkeepers who were out on the course clearing water off the greens as soon as it stopped.

Although they played in the worst of the weather, the team captained by Bob Lucas rallied on the back nine and they certainly stepped up to shoot a nett 58.4. This score was leading most of the day until the team from Churchill and Blakedown had their say, led by Sam Jessop the lads have played in the Easter Open from day one and although they have been close to winning many times before they have always just missed out.

Not this year, they finished dead on 58 to win by 0.4. 

They had this to say "we always play in this event and have been close to winning a number of times, the conditions were great for us in the afternoon. We look forward to defending it next year".

Final results 

1st - S.Jessop, S. Voizey, M.Shilvock, C.Potts-Perkins - 58 nett 
2nd - B.Lucas, T.Willets, J.Westley, Tram - 58.4 nett 
3rd - H.Williams, T.Ammonds, N.Preece, J.Hooper - 59.2 nett 
4th - O.Finch, A.Newman, L.Lucas, O.Purdy - 59.4 nett 

Mixed 

1st - Pringles and Brydons - 63.5 nett 
2nd - Mel Gilloughly and co - 65.2 

Nearest the pin 8th Foxes - Bob Lucas 
Nearest the pun 2nd Badgers - John Salt 

2's - remember 2 needed in a Texas Scramble: Team Bob Lucas, Team Bob Barlow  andTeam Mark Royston. 

Summer Order of Merit Stableford 

The typical English weather was once again back at CMGC for the first summer order of merit event taking place in…. rain. That however did not impact two of the clubs inform players making a mockery of the tough conditions. 

Ross recorded the lowest gross of the weekend with a 4 over 73, the day before Ross dropped his irons off to me for a last minute re-grip with the Golf Pride MCC4 grips. Thicker at the bottom of the grip to encourage less grip pressure and what a difference it made. 'I struck my irons really solid today, they went very straight and I was hitting greens on a consistent basis'. 

Matt Fairman also hit a milestone, it was his first time breaking 90 on his way to a gross 88. 'As the score suggests it is the best I have ever played at Cleobury, my aim is to get my handicap down to 18, bring on the summer'. 

Both players shot a hugely impressive on 23 points on Deer Park, although Ross had a better last 3 holes, new changes implemented on January 1st 2016 now see it going down to the back six holes which meant Matt picked up the overall win. 

Both Matt and Ross see their handicaps cut on general play, with Ross now a single figure golfer playing off 9. 

Congratulations to both; Ross on left, Matt on the right.

 

Congratulations to Josh Carpenter. 

Last week we mentioned Josh Carpenter had made it through to the final stage of EuroPro Qualifying at Frilford Heath Golf Club and we are happy to report that Josh performed fantastically well finishing inside the top 30 earning himself a full EuroPro Tour Card for the upcoming season. 

Josh shot rounds of 71, 72 and 73 to finish tied 22nd in a field of over 240 players. The EuroPro Tour runs from May- September and we wish Josh all the best in achieving his goals this year.

 

Millward's Merchandise 

With the new release of the Srixon UltiSoft golf ball and a Delivery of the Under Armour Cool Switch glove into CMGC, it seemed a perfect match. 

So for £20 this week! 

You can get a UA Cool Switch Glove and a Sleeve of Srixon Ulti Soft Golf balls. Normally £24. 

The Srixon Ultisoft is designed for golfers with mid to slow swing speeds who are looking for ultimate feel without sacrificing distance. It is Srixon's softest ball! 

The UA cool Switch glove has a Cabretta leather palm for comfort and durability. With the COOLSWITCH technology this glove will actively cool down your hands. 

Give both a go, for a deal with this week's Millward's Merch.