My Blog

The Pro Am was yet again a great success , blessed with superb weather the course was a picture. Stu the green keeper had it really good, stripped fairways, whitened hole cups, ironed greens..it was great. And the scoring reflected it too, leading Pro was -8 , 63 Graham Cox, with several others close too, Dan Wardrop 65, Pete Barber 67, the host 68 [ with a shocker of a finish!] Team score was my Irish sponsor Declan and teenage boys, the 1st time they had played an event together, they had 90 points and won on a count back. Great stuff, mind you they did have one Graham Cox as their Pro!

The whole object of the day though was to raise funds for the various causes, Genesis & The Together Trust, this, we all did and had fun doing so too. None more it has to be said, than the crowd that watched Jeremy Dale’s golf show, an amazing show that had us all spellbound, big thanks to him for all his efforts too!

Lymm Golf Club did us proud, and thanks to Karen, Stu & The Captain for hosting our event again. it’s off to St Andrews now for me with the 5 live team, I can’t wait to hear what our interview man Rob Nothman asks Tiger Woods!

cheers A

My son Ben and I were guests of The RRG Group , my car sponsors at today’s 20/20 cricket at Old Trafford. What a fantastic evening we had, helped by us beating the ‘yorkies’ with an over to spare! A great game and spectacle though, it was my first experience of the game at this level, a fab atmosphere and a real treat.

Next up is my charity pro am event at Lymm on Monday, I can’t wait to greet old friends and clients to share the day with me and ‘my team’. There are lots of guys traveling from wide and far to share the day. Noel Hunt, a former player on tour with me way back is flying in from the Far East, Brian Evans from Portugal, Declan and team from Dublin and several others making a huge effort to help raise funds. I am especially looking forward to greeting Jeremy Dale the world renowned trick show golf show artist. He will perform for us from 5pm.

Then..straight up to St Andrew’s for me for BBC 5 Live and a historic Open championship the 150th  Open at the home of golf..can it get better than that?

cheers A

What a fantastic day we all had there on Monday, we managed to see the top 4 men play too. Federer opened proceedings on Centre where Matt & I were, whilst Tom & Hannah were on No 1. We switched tickets and so all shared just about all the top players, Men and women a fab day albeit a long one. My name sake was in great form, it’s the first time I have seen him live and you really could feel the expectation and hope and anticipation of the whole crowd- quite a pressure to handle! We wish him well in the Semi’s.

It was my birthday this week, my choice was to play at Delamere Forest with Tom and 2 pals, what a treat it was too. My game was good too, so back on track I think!  The course was a picture, bleached and fast with the greens stimping at 13.5 , now that folks is fast! It’s their Centenary this year and they host the Cheshire champs next week.

My annual Pro Am is approaching quickly too, Lymm GC will host it again on 12th July, the course there is desperate for rain too. This year has been a real freak weather-wise for golf courses, first 6″ of snow then the driest 6 mths since 1919! Anyhow , I can’t wait for the Pro Am its a real buzz to have 25 really good pro’s alongside 75 clients & friends and raising money for great causes- and having a great time on the golf course! What better way to raise money for others.

The Genesis Appeal is one beneficiary and has been for the last few years, they are a breast cancer prevention centre based at Wythenshaw Hospital. The Together Trust are the other main charity we support and have done for many years. They are a children’s charity based locally to my home town in Manchester.

cheers A

Well talk about highs and lows of the game we love!

Recently, a consultant friend of mine told me that the content of my blog was very negative, especially when referring to my own golf. So I assured her I would endeavour to make it sound ‘more positive’…here goes. The PGA Senior Championships held at Slayley Hall hold good memories, as 2 years ago I came close to winning, I like the course, the people up there who assist are without doubt the nicest most genuine folk around. So far so good? The 1st round started well from the 10th tee, 3 birdies in my first 8 holes-  top of the leader board! A couple of poor shots and 2 very short missed putts and I was 4 over and in for lunch with a 76. No probs, an uneventful level par 72 second round and I wasn’t that far away. A serious practice session on Friday until 7 and my game should be back on track…not at all!  A 5 over 77 on Saturday was a shocker, and then today…well talk about a confidence bypass! A very wayward driver, some poor pitching and a horrid finish[ how positive is this sounding now!] 82 Dead last having made the cut by a couple of shots. Now Miss Consultant please tell me how I can be positive after that!

Only joking, but what a frustrating few days, I can’t seem to get a swing thought to get the ball in play from the tee.

Anyhow, my wrist is really being irritated by lots of practice and the hard ground and I have withdrawn from the Swiss open, will take time out and review my game. Before that though, a day at Wimbledon with the kids on Monday.

I am all revved up and positive Andy Murray will fare well there!

Also on a positive note Tom had 2 runner up spots last week , so he made a few bob for his shareholders!

cheers

a

The regional Open qualifier in which Tom played was at Mere G&CC, Cheshire on Monday. Unfortunately he didn’t make it through this year after a 4 over par 75.  I was ‘on the bag’, and I was gutted for him. He struggled a little from the tee and  uncharacteristically pitched the ball poorly , for him that is!

All part of the learning curve I suppose , I really did think and hope he would make it through to the final PQ in Scotland. Anyhow, he is very much into ‘have clubs will travel’ and no sooner had the round finished yesterday and he was on the M6 south to play in his first Jamega Tour event in Reading. The good vibes of the closing holes on  Monday were still with him,[ he captured a swing thought] and after a great session on the range this morning he shot 3 under and is just 2 off the lead- great stuff.  see jamegatour.co.uk or tommurraygolf.com

I head to Slayley Hall for the Senior PGA Championship this week, a course I really like and that I came close to winning on 2 yrs ago, so finger crossed for ‘our’ football team and team Murray!

cheers

Andrew

The Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open, to give it its proper title was played this week over the glorious links of Porthcawl in South Wales. What a magnificent place it is too, a true links course and in spectacular conditions. Bright clear skies all week, a strong breeze for the final round that’s all. The home crowds were out in force to support local fav’ Ian Woosnam.

He was not in top form unfortunately, but there was some great golf played by others. My game started ok, a level par 72 was ok and  Iplayed nicely. The 2 nd round however was a ‘shocker’, talk about a ‘stupid game’, devoid of all confidence within 24hrs…how can that be. I really could hardly put the club face to the ball, a bit embarrassing when in the company of two ‘bombers’ in Roger Chapman and Bill Longmuir, anyhow a 74 was a miracle! 77 in round 3 was a sickner as a 5,5,5,5 finish could and should have rescued a decent day…how many times have we all said that!

PGA next week and just praying to get a feeling for the driver to at least compete around the slayley hall course. OFF today , Monday to caddy for Tom [his idea] in the regional Open PQ….fingers crossed!

cheers

AM

Well firstly, I am sorry for the delay to this entry!

My first visit to the Carton House resort for last week’s Irish Senior Open, was a really nice one. I arrived late after hosting a  corporate day at the Forest Of Arden, and was in poor form with expectations very low. A good 1st round alongside Martin Poxon & Aussie, Mike Clayton. A 3 under par 69 around the Montgomerie designed course that, whilst  not to every one’s liking was in fantastic condition, I have never putted a better surfaces that’s for sure.

A poor driving day on Saturday but a gutsy 71, so was -4 going into Sunday, another 71 and job reasonably well done considering! I did however have a good chance to compete at the very top of the leader board but 3 putts at the tough par 3 12th stopped me in my tracks.  Birdies were very much ‘on’  for the closing 2 par 5′s, but unable  to convert, although did make a nice 2 at the 17th from a foot! 9th spot was a decent start to my run of 4 events.

This week is The Wales Open, at Royal Porthcawl, a true classic links course and a terrific layout. Its such a different form of the game this, pitching the ball sometimes 40 yds short and accepting the good and bad bounce that are inevitable. A 9.40 am start on Friday for this really big and prestigious tournament…I can’t wait!

Thursday is practice day and I really do need to try and sort a new driver with the Cleveland tour technician on hand this week is the week to do it!

cheers A

After the week end at The Turnberry Hotel in glorious weather playing with son’s Tom and Matt and a pal Andy it is OFFICIAL..it’s the best place on earth! I just had to do a ‘reki’ here pre our trip in October, we have spots available still by the way!

As if I needed to know anyhow, but seriously the early evening tee time on the Ailsa course on Saturday was just glorious, beautiful conditions to play golf anywhere, but there especially. It is indeed a very special place, the course is steeped in Open history, breathtakingly stunning the sun setting over Arran. Pity my golf did not match. Matt & I were thumped by the others 3 & 2. The coast line around the course is superb, everywhere you look and then one glance back to the Hotel perched high on the slope overlooking the 3 courses, an over used word but on this occasion not-AWESOME!

A 2nd round on the Kintyre course, another beating for Matt & I, and then back home to reality, school for him, work for me; hey ho.

The Irish Open is next for me after a visit to Marriott Forest of Arden on Wednesday, I really do need my golf head on now for 4 weeks.

cheers

Cruel game this golf, especially at the higher levels. Tom was leading this weeks Players Tour event with 10 holes of the 54 to go. 8 under and cruising….then a bad shot, a bad break, a poor shot choice and all of a sudden 7 shots gone! he was gutted , and finished 2 out of the play off. The Roxburgh course sounded great, the only thing apart from the learning curve was his room mate Jason Dransfield from Hoylake won a 7 hole play off with former European no.1 Ronan Rafferty.

A great win for him, congrats. Tough luck Tom!

What a game!

see tommurraygolf.com

Well at last Tom has his site live after a few ‘tech’ issues. For those that don’t know he turned pro last year and is playing on the players tour & jamega tours. This week he is in fact leading after 2 rounds, 72,67 and 2 clear with 1 round to play at The Roxburgh in Scotland. Good luck and fingers crossed for him!

Tomorrow the juniors from Lymm, my local club are going up to Portal G&CC in Cheshire for an away day, so far 16 of them for 2 hours short game coaching, then a 9 hole comp on the academy course, a smashing little course with 6 par 3 and 3 par 4 holes.

Turnberry next then for me for the week end with son’s Matt & Tom and a pal to make up a great 4 ball. There is no finer place in the world in my humble opinion than the Ailsa course on  warm summer evening, in fact ANYTIME! I can’t wait. Next week for me is an Ibstock event at the Forest of Arden, then straight to the Irish Senior Open at Carton House.

I need to get my game head on then for 4 tour events in a row,

cheers for now

Andrew