1–8 November 2008

We arrived at the resort of Valle del Este and much to my surprise it was +20, which was so nice to see as it was +3 when we left the UK!

Our first day we hit the range in lovely +21, again a nice surprise as the rest of Spain was covered in rain. We started with a chipping clinic and then practiced some long game shots and also completed a video session. Some of my group had never seen themselves on video before, so that was nice for them and it helped me to explain the things they needed to work on during our week away. After lunch we played a Texas Scramble just to get everyone going, it was good fun!

Day 2 the rest of the group joined us. We started with pitching, and more long game. We worked on drills which help make practice more real and help us to focus on practicing with a purpose.  This helps so much when playing, as lots of people just go to the practice ground and simply hit balls... with no real view of what they are trying to achieve or improve and that can be a waste of time and effort. After that we hit the course to consider course management and lining up drills.  Best player on the day was Yve with a great 37 points.  The main group had a day off, and I worked with Lin, Yve and Chris on chipping and long game with video in yet again bright sunshine.

Day 3 started well with the group on the putting green. Again working on good set up and routines, keeping still, not following the ball, and keeping their hands passive and light on the club. We then did the par 18 game, this all ways goes down well with my groups, and proves to them how much their score will improve with the help of this game.

After lunch we played the course where I got to play 4 holes with every one. The best score of the day was Viv with 34 points... yet another good day.

Of course the idea of the schools I do, is to understand what goes wrong on the course and to work on the changes that are needed.  Of course if you play and score well that is a Billy bonus, but I am always pleased to see everyone trying to do something different that we have covered together in the teaching, even though it’s hard to be out of your comfort zone on the golf course!

Day 4, what a great day, I am sure it got up to+24, so the golf got hot too! We started with bunkers and pitching techniques, I gave the group some real challenges, which they were all up for, so we practiced for real as I got them to pitch over trees and bunkers, just like on the course, it was a great challenge for them all….good fun too.  A bite of lunch and off we go again, this time working on distance control, and once again Viv came out on top.

As the last day came round all too soon the group were really up for a great day on the course. We had a round-up clinic on the range plus chipping and putting. The competition was as usual the running stableford but this time with a secret 9 holes which is where I pick 9 holes were the score will count, and we had a secret pairs too, to give everyone a chance.

Overall winner was Vivian Ward, the secret 9 holes was won by Anna Burns, and the secret pairs winners were John Heart and Lin Gowdy.

A great big thank you what a great group, keep practicing, and thanks again for a good fun week!!

Team Valle del Este November 2008

17-24 May 2008

Vivian Ward and I headed off to Spain one day before my May school began.  I wanted to make sure everything was ready and Viv wanted to top up her tan!!

The rest of the school arrived between 11.30 am and 10.30 pm and after a good nights sleep, we all hit the practice ground to do some warm up exercises, a long game clinic and focussed on getting the direction of our shots right.

This is some thing I feel all the schools need to work on as it’s easy some times to line up on the range, but not so easy on the course. So we worked on drills, and some short game too before enjoying a light lunch and getting out onto the course. This was a new venue for most of my group, and they found it challenging to say the least.

Day 2 we talked about the Par 18 challenge which they all did and enjoyed but most important they saw just how much it would improve their short game and overall score in time and with practice.

We also talked about the importance of having routines both on the practice ground and then how to take them to the course. After lunch we started off the stableford competition, it was great just to see them practice and play properly, and enjoy a nice day in fine sunshine. After a day of rest it all started again, with both long game and bunker practice.

Bunkers... I always think that this is the least practiced part of the game, so we had a good session on it and I feel all the group found it helpful. After lunch we were out onto the course again and I got to play a drop back game with them all. Again, I think the group enjoyed this part of the school, (it’s always good to have some on-course tuition) and I enjoyed it too.  It’s always great to get my clubs out on a fine day.

I was very pleased to see Derek playing well, with a great 34 points. At the end of 3 days Vivian Ward was in the lead by 4 points from Chris Brownsdon, so that meant it was all to play for on the last day.

Next day we started with pitching, that important 20 to 30 yard shot, which is so hard to judge the distance, then we did some work using drivers and fairway woods. Then off we went onto the course for more course management.

As we came to the last day they were all working well and enjoying the sunshine. We had a round up clinic, and went through some more putting drills.

We had an early tee time for the last round which meant we had more time to relax afterwards. Winner on the day was Mel Dix with 35 points.  The overall winner was Vivian with 120 points and Chris 2nd with 119 points.

So a good time was had by all and it was a great group to be with. I thank you all for the fun!!!

13–20 March 2008

As the sun got hotter my new group arrived, and some got their shorts on straight away and were out hitting balls before 3pm!!

The next morning, my group of 10 were up for it and ready for golf in their shorts, so we got to work with some chipping and then a session on the long game and set up.

Going over the basics, and of course alignment - something everyone struggles with from time to time. After a spot of lunch we hit the course in lovely sunshine. We worked on course management, and ran a stableford, just for fun with Linda Clark winning with a great 34 points on this challenging course.

Day 2 we started off with long game, and video tuition, followed by a pitching test, where we had 5 different stations with 10 balls at each one. This was something they all enjoyed, and then we took our new skills out onto the course and tried it out for real with great success. Another lovely day at Valle del Este where I got my clubs out and played a drop-back game playing with everyone in turn. We worked on alignment and course management as we went round.

Day 3 we hit the road to Desert Springs where we worked on bunker shots and pitching. This is something I enjoy teaching as I feel not many people practice bunker shots.  For most people the only bunker they go in is on the course during a game and yet sometimes you can play 3 or more rounds of golf without going in one at all.  However it always seems to be that when you play in a competition you seem to go in every one!!  So we had a good session and then we hit the course and played a Texas scramble with the team of Neil, Geoff and Caroline coming out on top with 71.1, well done guys!!

After our day off we got to work with drivers, fairway woods and putting. Working on drills to improve consistency, technique and distance control.

After lunch we again hit the course, again in great sunshine, and all the group worked on their stats. How many fairways hit, how many greens in regulation and how many putts.  Plus how many up and downs from around the green!! Now this was a great exercise to see where the weaknesses are so we could all know what to concentrate our practice on!

Day 5 came around only too fast. We went over all the things we had covered and did some work on sloping lies too. There was time for a bit of lunch and then we were out onto the course for the last day competition with Jenny coming out on top with 31 points. Linda came out as the overall winner with 119 points... well done to everyone!

Once again a great week with fab people, thank you all and hope to see you soon !!