Tag Archives: dunes golf centre

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New Online Golf Superstore

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Even times of crisis can throw up good things and the Covid19 situation has given us a kick up the backside to do something we have been planning to do for a long time…

We aim to provide the locals with the very best golf equipment at the very best prices. To do this we need to grow our business so we can buy cheaper, offer more discounts and improve the facility further.

We recognise that many people now choose to shop online or at least research the produts before making a buying decision.

“The amount of online shopping is growing year on year and shows no sign of slowing down. We can sit back and watch our business dwindle away or do something about it. I think anyone who knows what we are about as a company will know that we are going to do something about it!”

Peter Myers, PGA Professional and owner of Dunes Golf Centre

We have added many of our in store porducts to the new website which can be found at www.dunesgolfshop.co.uk

More stock is being added everyday including a new Second Hand/Clearance clubs section which we know is going to prove popular.

“We are noticing lots of new golfers coming to the range to hit balls with a view to start playing golf. Typically these are people that would be playing football and cricket but whilst those sports are not back in action golf is seeing the benefit. Our second hand section is a perfect place to start for these new golfers where they can buy top brands at hugely discounted prices and our staff will also take the time to make sure they are a good fit before a purchase is made!”

Peter Myers

To check out the new store click the image below…

Dunes Golf Shop Online
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Your 2019 season starts now…

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Yes, the 2018 season has only just finished but if you want to make 2019 your best year ever than you should start taking steps in the right direction today!

What type of winter golf practice are you going to embark upon in readiness for next season?

Important Note: Putting the clubs away and dusting them off in the Spring is a sure-fire way to get off to a slow start!

If you have kept statistics for your golf this past season, now is the time to review them so you can set a plan to improve your game this winter.

  • Hitting a low percentage of fairways?
  • Having trouble finding greens in regulation?
  • Missing too many short putts?

Your stats will tell the tale, and let you know what areas to focus on as you practice.

If you haven’t kept detailed statistics simply look back and reflect upon your strengths and weaknesses. Identify where you feel the biggest improvements need to come from and spend some time working on those areas.

This is the time when I discuss with my clients a winter plan which will involve fewer playing rounds with increased technical work on specific aspects of the game.

This usually involves a greater focus on blocked practice as opposed to randomised practice.

So, what is the difference?
Have you ever noticed that you hit the golf ball great on the driving range, but when you go to the golf course, it’s the complete opposite – just terrible?

Why is that?
A customer at the range commented to me as they were leaving recently.. “When I’m at the driving range I hit the ball great; but when I go to the golf course, I really struggle to repeat what I was doing on the driving range.”

First, let me tell you about blocked practice.

Blocked practice should be used when changing a certain part of your swing or when trying to learn a new movement.

This would be when you have a large bucket of balls and you hit all of them to the exact same target with the exact same club.  

You aren’t really working on your routine or doing much visualisation.

Instead, you are trying to get a feel for the new swing and get comfortable with it.

For many of you this is exactly where you will need to start you winter practice plan if technical flaws have caused problems with your consistency this season. 

Once the new move feels natural and you are not thinking about the swing as much, that’s when you would move onto random practice.

Random practice is completely different than blocked practice.

In random practice, you are never hitting the same shot twice.

An example of this is when you are going to practice hitting a 7-iron to one target, a 4-iron to a different target, and a pitching wedge to another target. This forms the basis of our 54 ball driving range practice game (Game sheets are available free of charge – just ask at the counter when you get your range balls)

The ideal goal in random practice is to simulate on the driving range what you will be doing on the golf course.

Random practice is used once you feel you comfortable with a swing change.

You are not standing over the ball thinking about it. It’s automatic.

Studies have shown…

People who use blocked practice typically have better practice sessions in that they are much more confident and happy when they leave the driving range.

This is largely because they have successfully hit the same shot over and over again.

The one downside to these “better” blocked practice sessions is that when they take it to the golf course, their performance is not as good as those people who employed random practice.

Generally, people who use random practice typically leave the range saying, “Oh, I hit it just OK.” However, when they go to the golf course, their performance ends up being much better than those who used blocked practice.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I want to play better on the course!

Here is a good analogy for you…
If you ask someone, what is 6 plus 9, for a split second they have to think about it, calculate it, and hopefully give you an answer of fifteen. If you immediately asked them the same question again, they have to think even less because they already ‘know’ the answer. Then if you continue to ask them the same question they won’t have to think at all about solving the problem, they already know the answer.

This is what happens with blocked practice: You hit two or three 7-irons in a row and groove a swing pretty quickly; consequently, you stop testing and challenging yourself – you go ahead and continue to hit ball after ball.

What is happening here is that you are not challenging yourselves enough in practice and you actually stop learning.

Therefore, when you go to the golf course it’s a lot more difficult because you have not practiced effectively.

I’ll leave you with a final thought: The most important thing to remember when practicing is to always be learning and challenging yourself.

You want to make your practice as difficult as possible, so that when you go to the golf course, you’ll be ready.

Make 2019 your best ever season…

To highlight the technical aspects of your swing that you need to change over the winter, and to improve the quality and productivity of your practice sessions then get in touch with us.

The 1 hour initial lesson with one of our PGA Professionals is just £30 and is a complete game analysis using industry leading technology in The Golf Studio at Dunes. We use a GC2 with HMT that provides us with highly accurate ball flight and clubhead data as well as C-Swing video analysis so we can show you exactly what you are doing.

Telephone 01346 510693 or use our new online lesson booking system at www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/bookalesson

Dunes Golf Centre is open Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.

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Golf: A game for life…

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Make no mistake about it, getting your kids involved in golf will be one of the greatest and most valuable gifts you will ever give them

I grew up in the 80’s and sure we had video games like Space Invaders and Pac-man but it was an afterthought, not a lifestyle. Today’s kids need more than ever to get away from the computer games, like FORTNITE, and get out and socialise with real people not virtual people.

Fortnite Golf. Do your kids spend too much time in front of a screen instead of getting outdoors to do something healthy?

Perhaps you are concerned about the amount of time your kids are spending in front of the screen?

Do you, like us, have to fight a battle to get your child off games like FORTNITE?

I am not saying computer games are all bad but like many things in life it is about moderation. However, the  lack of physical exercise and fresh air is a concern of mine when it comes to the long term health of our children.

Junior Golf with a PGA Professional at Dunes Golf Centre in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Golf is by far the best way to help your kids lead a healthier lifestyle and set them up for success in life…

Here’s why:

  1. Anyone Can Play: Golfers come in all shapes and sizes. You don’t have to be particularly strong, tall, lean or fast to succeed. Golf champions come in every shape and size imaginable. It’s never too early to start, and unlike most other sports you can enjoy golf your entire life!

  2. Minimal Risk: Unlike many other popular sports like football and rugby, the chances of injury, especially serious injury, are almost non- existent; golf is a non-contact sport.

  3. Safe and positive environment: The golf course is a safe place to spend the day and often facilitates mentoring relationships with successful adults.

  4. Lifelong friendships: You never know who you will meet on a golf course, but it’s one of the easiest place in the world to make friends. Success breeds success and people who play golf are by in large more successful than the average bear. Those are the people you want your kids hanging out with! Best of all, golf creates a unique bond so those friendships can be developed all over the world and last a lifetime! 

  5. Prepare for business: It’s hard to think about it now but kids grow up and the people they meet as children can play a huge part in their success later in life. Golf is a sport that helps prepare kids and teens for careers in the business world. Even at 12 I was learning about real life business every day from all the adults I played with.

  6. Time Spent Outdoors: In today’s world of video games, smart phones and child obesity, it can be hard to drag your son or daughter off the couch. Golf is the perfect excuse to spend an entire day enjoying nature and presents the opportunity to develop healthy lifelong exercise habits!

  7. Important Life Lessons: Golf is a sport that will teach your child life changing traits like integrity, discipline, persistence and respect. As they learn to conduct themselves on the golf course, these lessons will translate directly into everyday life.

  8. College Scholarships: Avid golfers have a lot of opportunities when it comes to college funding. The earlier your child starts, the greater his or her chance is of gaining access to scholarship money.

  9. Spend time with family: Golf is a game that can be enjoyed by the entire family from young to old. When children are young, they enjoy doing just about anything with you (but it doesn’t last long, so start now). Golf is an opportunity for quality bonding time and it’s one that can last a lifetime.

  10. It’s FUN: This should probably be at the top of the list, but one of the best reasons to get your son or daughter involved with golf is that they’ll have an absolute blast. They’ll have the chance to learn new skills both physical and mental, make new friends and discover new opportunities. 

In a recent interview with ESPN magazine, Annika Sorenstam – the Worlds’ most successful female golfer, had this to say when asked what the best advice she received was…

“That golf is a game for life. It’s a game that everybody can play, and it’s very, very similar to life, meaning it’s difficult, you have to adjust, it will test your patience. I think you learn a lot about a person’s character when you’re out with somebody on the golf course.”

Junior Golf – Our Philosophy…

One of the aims of our junior golf programmes is to create an interest in playing golf.  Said another way, one of the goals here is to make learning and playing golf much easier than some may believe it can be.

At Dunes Golf Centre we believe that golf can be uncomplicated, interesting, and fun to learn and play, which leads to developing other physical and mental skills.

Golf lessons for kids in Fraserburgh. Junior Golf classes are the perfect way for your kids to enjoy a healthy, outdoor activity.

The programmes are designed to help students learn “what to do,” (a positive) and avoids any “How to” directions that try to fix poor outcomes.  Studies into the nature of learning show that fixing is a negative approach to progress, and has never supported developmental learning.  By focusing on “what to do,” long-term learning is encoded through the students’ own reasoning and deduction skills.

There are a million things you can buy your kids or gift your kids in the hope that it helps them learn and grow, only a few make a real impact – encouraging them to play golf is one!

Next Steps: 

Dunes Golf Centre prides itself on being one of the best facilities in the UK for encouraging and developing youngsters into golf. All of the golf sessions are provided by highly trained PGA Golf Professionals ensuring the highest standards are maintained at all times.

Go to www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/newjuniorgroups for the most up to date availability and to book a space or call us on 01346 510693.

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Hotter than an Ed Sheeran Concert Ticket!

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Statistics show that across the UK golf club membership numbers are down and the number of females playing the game is especially low, but in the far North East corner of Scotland something different is happening, something very special indeed….

On Saturday 22nd September, the seventh ladies love.golf Scramble took place at the beautiful Inverallochy Golf Club just outside Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.

The Scrambles are now famous amongst the women of North East Scotland as the community of female golfers has grown to such an extent (217 women to date have started love.golf so far!) that it’s said to be easier to get an Ed Sheeran concert ticket than get in to a love.golf scramble!

All the women who played have started golf within the last two years as part of the love.golf coaching programme run by PGA Professional, Peter Myers, at Dunes Golf Centre.

What makes the events so special?

The idea of the Scrambles is to get the women out playing in a friendly competition but the way the day is structured means there is a big emphasis on the social side of the game.

This sums it from in an email from love.golfer, Ashley Ritchie….

“Another great day!
“I remember the feeling when I signed up for my first scramble.  I was anxious and nervous.  I even wished for torrential rain so it would be called off!

“As soon I as played my first hole, I realised that it wasn’t about perfection it was about a group of girls looking for a good, fun day out. 

“Now it’s the opposite, I pray for no rain although that doesn’t always work 😂
Yesterday, I played horrendous. Did it matter?  No nae really, the only person disappointed was me. 

“I love the format of a scramble, it gets people out playing when they didn’t think they could.  I find it very little pressure, just enough for you to want to do well. 

“The second part of the day; with the meal, quiz, bingo or whatever is just as important for me. 
I love meeting & chatting with new people, as well as catching up with friends. 

“Thank you to Peter, Emma and everyone behind the scenes who make these days possible. 

“Looking forward to the Christmas Scramble already!”

You’re a golfer as soon as you start love.golf

The opening statement in the first love.golf class goes something like this….

“Congratulations you are now a golfer and my job as a coach is to help you discover your way of playing the game and for you to have the most fun whilst doing it.”

A chance meeting in Tesco the evening before gave one woman the opportunity to play even though she only came to her first love.golf  lesson just 8 days earlier.

A late drop out due to illness meant it looked like one team would be a player short but Peter happened to bump in to new golfer – Jacqui Kelly whilst picking up some shopping and she was brave enough to say yes she’d play…

“I just wanted to thank everyone for making me feel so welcome as a late stand in yesterday. Special thanks to my team for putting up with me and to Peter for giving me the chance to play my first scramble.

“The whole day was so well organised. Playing on such a great course has really inspired me (the weather didn’t even bother me, four seasons in one day!) The meal and evening entertainment were also faultless. Thank you!” Jacqui Kelly

The ladies teed off in a shotgun format, starting at 3pm and then it was in to the clubhouse for a meal, drinks and presentation of prizes.

Finishing as runners up with a score of 34 were Jill Campbell, Moore Bowie, Liz Davidson and Adele Abercrombie
The winners, with a superb score of level par gross (32) were Iona Cameron, Ann Coulman, Diane Buchan and Emma Hadden

“I am delighted to see so many women out enjoying playing the game” states PGA Pro, Peter Myers,
“I very much believe the long-term health of our game is to get more women playing and ultimately more families. I also think most golf clubs still need to do way more to be welcoming to women and families… though that said, Inverallochy and our other local courses are doing a great job right now.”

After the golf the ladies drew a raffle with prizes they had each donated and this raised an incredible sum of £268 which was chosen to go to ‘2 The Nations charity’ which is helping Sefton Children’s Home in the Philippines.

The evening was finished off with music, drinks and the first ever game of love.bingo which provided much entertainment!

Watch a short video of the day by clicking the video play button below…

Why love.golf?

love.golf has been specially developed for women, with a unique approach focused on coaching while playing the game as a group, rather than simply hitting balls on a practice range.

It is helping to transform the game’s outdated image and welcome a new generation of female golfers who may not have considered trying golf before.

The great thing about love.golf is that it provides an environment for women to discover, learn and improve skills. Participants frequently say they are surprised at their achievements and the sense of self-confidence and empowerment that comes with this.

All the equipment is provided so it’s ideal for new golfers, you can wear jeans and trainers and you don’t have to be a club member, or even have played before. It’s relaxed, welcoming and probably not at all what you think golf is like.

love.golf was launched in 2015 on the back of an academic study at the University of Birmingham looking at how golf is taught to women. It also follows a nationwide survey that found more than 640,000 women said they would be ‘very interested’ in taking up golf.

If you or a woman you know are interested in taking up the game then go to www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/lovegolf or call 01346 510693 to learn more.

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Ladies Golf Blossoming in North East Scotland

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Only 12% of golf club members in the UK are female! A shockingly low percentage and one that surely has to grow if golf is to stop the downward trend in popularity.

However, the North East of Scotland is showing postive signs of growth in participation thanks to the work of PGA Professional, Peter Myers of Dunes Golf Centre in Fraserburgh.

Peter, hails from Yorkshire and moved North to take over the running of the Golf Centre, located next door to Fraserburgh Golf Club – the 7th oldest in the World, in September 2015.

Here is what Peter has to say…

“I listened to a presentation by Alastair Spink, the founder of love.golf in the January of 2016,” states Peter, “and this made my mind up to join the love.golf coaching community and inspired me to drive ladies golf forward.”

“I ran my first class in August of 2016 and since then it has grown rapidly. Rosehearty Golf Club is next door to where I live and 2 years ago they had only 3 female members! Now they have nearly 50 and that number is growing all the time.”

It isn’t just Roshearty that is benefitting, the other local clubs; Fraserburgh, Inverallochy, Longside and Peterhead have all seen female playing numbers increase significantly with Inverallochy recently boasting that a record 20 women had entered their weekly Thursday evening 9 hole event!

However, the good news doesn’t just stop there. As more women have started playing, so too have their husbands, many of whom had abandoned their clubs in the garage years ago have now found they are left at home whilst she is out playing. On top of this, if both parents are playing the chances the kids will golf too goes up significantly. And, we very much believe that golf is a perfect sport for the whole family to play together.

What better way to spend a weekend than going out to play with the family and then talking about the highs and lows of the round over supper? Beats everyone just retreating to their electronic devices to spend the evening in silence in a virtual world.

Love.golf community continues to grow…

Once again, on Saturday 14th July we had a full turn out of 36 ladies taking part in our love.golf Summer Scramble at Rosehearty.

The spaces for this event were snapped up in just 30 minutes of going live, such is the popularity and strength of our love.golf community!

I have been delivering love.golf coaching sessions at Dunes Golf Centre and on the local courses for just under 2 years and in that time I am proud to have introduced over 200 women to the game!

Love.golf = think differently!

Tradtionally, golf coaching has focused on learning skills on a practice range.

love.golf takes an alternative approach based on proven academic studies and market research that shows many women prefer to learn through the actual playing of the game within a supported environment.

Fundamental skills are still introduced but only when required, and in context, on the golf course.

Congratulations to our winners…
1st Rosemary Morrison, Ann Coleman, Wendy Grant and Jennifer Senic
2nd Jacqueline Hood, Anne Johnstone, Charlotte Hogg and Ashley Lovie
3rd Emma Hadden, Lucy Brown, Adele Abercrombie and Alison Milne

Huge thanks to Rosehearty Golf Club for use of the course and to Debbie and her team at the Masons Arms for the food and hospitality afterwards. Finally, to Dawn Cardno for compiling and running the quiz afterwards, it was great fun as always and it’s much appreciated by everyone!

Check out this short video from the event…

If you or a woman you know is interested in joining the love.golf community then go to www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/startlovegolf

Or, call Dunes Golf Centre directly on 01346 510693

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Yule is the Master

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Dunes Golf Centre played host to the first Mini-Major of the year as the Short Game Zone was transformed in to a mini Augusta National Course.

Dunes Golf Centre Short Game Zone

The nine hole layout tested golfers of all abilities in a chip n putt event spread over the same four days as the real US Masters event.

Each competitor could enter as many times as they wanted right up until the cut off time of 3pm on Sunday.

With sponsorship from Ping and Dunes Golf Centre a prize table worth over £450.00 was up for grabs. Not to mention the opportunity to be presented with our famous green (some say Teal) jacket!

Women’s event
Vic Buchan took the top spot as she shot a terrific score of 25. This was three shots clear of Jacalyn Thoirs and Kathleen Mollison, both on 28 but with Jacalyn taking second place on a countback.

Men’s Event
Final day drama decided the men’s event as long time leader Doug Hastie was pipped at the post by pretty much the last competitor on the course. Doug’s 24 was looking good for the victory until Norman Reid came in with a 23 to win by one. Taking third place was Tommy Reid having also scored 24 but losing out on a countback to Doug.

12 and Under
The performance of the week came on the first day as 9 year old Rhys Yule set the pace for everyone, including the adults, with a blistering 23!

This could not be beaten despite some great efforts from all the youngsters who took part. Callum Milne came closest with his score of 25 for second and in third with a 29 was Andrew Cardno.

In total 202 rounds of golf were played over the four days and we were delighted to see so many families out there enjoying playing together.

Our mission is to grow participation in the game and we know what a wonderful sport it is for families to play together.

The Short Game Zone is a permanent fixture at the Golf Centre and is available to play all year round, 7 days a week. It costs just £2.50 for all day play and with a whole host of different games available it will entertain you and the family for hours. Club and ball hire is free of charge too!

The Mini Majors are going to be a permanent fixture at Dunes so see we look forward to seeing you at the next one:

  • Mini US Open 14th – 17th June 2018
  • Mini Open 19th – 22nd July 2018
  • Mini US PGA 9th – 12th August 2018
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Do you know how to repair a pitchmark properly?

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As a 14 year old and just as I was getting the golfing bug, I did two weeks work experience with the greenkeepers at the World Famous, Ganton Golf Club.

Ganton is located just outside my hometown of Scarborough, with the course famous for being one of only a handful in the World to have hosted The Ryder Cup, The Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.

Me on the 6th tee at Ganton Golf Club

A few years later it would be the venue where I would start my career as a PGA Professional as I took the assistants job at the club.

However, it was in that two weeks as a greenkeeper where I learned lots about maintaining and caring for a golf course and one particular thing stayed with me and I’ve shared it with 1000’s of golfers since…. How to repair a pitchmark, correctly!

Did you know..?

A correctly repaired pitchmark will recover in 24 hours. However, an unrepaired pitchmark left unattended for two hours will take up to two months to recover.

Now that the season has started, the increase in numbers playing on the courses means that inevitably more pitchmarks will be made on the greens. However, there is no excuse for not repairing them after you have made one.

The increased numbers arise despite just about every golfer I speak to speak to saying, “Why can’t people repair their pitchmarks?” Everyone you talk to always claim that they repair 3 or 4 on every green!

As well as looking unsightly, from a golfing point of view, pitchmarks can affect ball roll and cause a player’s putt to bobble and deviate offline. Studies have shown that on average, a golfer will make 8 pitchmarks during a round of golf. If 130 rounds are played per day, that’s over 1,000 pitchmarks per week; no surprise then that it can be difficult to hole a putt!

It isn’t just about attempting to repair the pitchmark… it is about repairing it properly. Many golfers out there do not know how to do it correctly and damage the grass in the process….
In summary, you should take your pitchmark tool and insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the depression. Do NOT insert the prongs into the depression itself, but at the rim of the depression. Then push the edge of the repairer toward the centre, using the tool in a gentle twisting motion. Do NOT insert and attempt to push up the depression as this only leads to tearing the root and killing the grass.

Claim your FREE pitchmark repairer from Dunes

As part of our campaign to spread awareness of the ‘Pitchmark Problem’ we are giving away pitchmark repairers to the first 100 people to come along to Dunes Golf Centre to claim theirs.

Don’t be shy, everyone should carry one of these tools when they play. However, if you do find yourself without one when you are playing, you can still repair a mark effectively with your tee peg in the same way as stated above.

We are blessed with an abundance of great golf courses in the North East of Scotland so let’s all do our bit to keep them in great condition. Pitchmarks (and divots) are not the responsibility of the greenkeeping staff but of every golfer who plays the game.

Enjoy your golf,

Peter Myers
PGA Professional

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Matthew and Alexander set new course record!

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Our weekly junior events at Dunes Golf Centre are proving increasingly popular as we continue our mission to grow golf participation. The 18-hole chip and putt competitions around our fantastic Short Game Zone take place every Saturday afternoon and are completely free of charge to enter.


They are open to anyone under the age of 18. All you must do is turn up to the golf centre by 2.30pm at which point you will be put in to groups to go out and play.

Each hole is around 10 to 20 yards long and are designed to get the kids thinking about shot choice and club selection.

The experience also provides an opportunity to make new friends and play a competition that is not overly serious. The focus is very much on each child going out to have fun and to try to beat their own best score each time. There are many other benefits such as; learning to keep score and mark a scorecard, dealing with bad shots and outcomes, learning how to win but also how to lose, social skills and playing with new people.

I remember when I really got hooked on golf as a junior. It was when I made a group of friends and we had such good fun going out playing together and improving our golfing skills.

The short game, chipping and putting, is the part of the game I strongly recommend all juniors (if not all golfers) should spend time honing their skills. The long game will improve in time, especially as they get bigger and stronger, but the short game skills developed now will last a lifetime.

The Short Game Zone at Dunes provides a safe environment where parents can keep a watchful eye but without getting too involved. In other words, they can just let the kids learn through play. However, for younger or less experienced children we ask that a parent walks round to help keep score and to supervise.

If your child wants to join in simply come along to Dunes on a Saturday at 2.30pm and go to the reception desk where one of our friendly golf staff will be on hand to guide you. All equipment can also be provided free of charge.

It takes around 45-60 minutes to play the event and as soon as the last group has finished we have a presentation of prizes.

Matthew Cardno and Alexander Wisely – course record holders

Last weekend Matthew Cardno and Alexander Wisely set a joint new 18-hole course record as both players scored 54.

Matthew wins for the second time in a row

This was the second week on the trot that both players tied for first place, so we had a sudden death playoff which Matthew won both times!

Congratulations to Matthew but praise goes to both youngsters for the way they conducted themselves, especially the grace and sportsmanship demonstrated by Alexander despite losing in the playoffs.

Logan claims his first medal

Congratulations also to Logan Mair who won his first medal in the younger age section.

Bring your kids to Dunes to play every Saturday at 2.30pm!

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The secret to longer tee shots!

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In the winter months, the cold air and soft ground means we all lose yardage on our shots.
You can reduce this effect by creating a higher ball flight on your drives, which will mean a longer carry through the air.
The set-up position I have demonstrated here is crucial if you want to hit long, high, straight drives as it will help you to deliver the best angle of attack on the ball.

Angle of attack (AoA) is how your driver head comes into the ball as you would look at the strike from face on.  Either you are catching it at the bottom of the arc, which would be a 0 degree angle of attack, or you are catching it before or after that lowest point of the arc.

Much research has revealed that to hit your longest drives, you need to hit up on the ball about 2-5 degrees.

How big of a difference can there be? 

Well, according to Golf Magazine, the difference between a -5 AoA and a +5 AoA is about 25 yards of distance at a 90 mph clubhead speed.  You would potentially go from around 235 to around 260 without using more effort!  At higher clubhead speeds, the difference will be even more.

To find out your angle of attack and to learn to hit the ball further we no extra effort come and see us in The Golf Studio at Dunes Golf Centre this winter. We use the industry leading GC2 with HMT from Foresight Sports to accurately measure what your club is doing to the ball.

An initial 1 hour lesson with one of our 3 PGA Professional’s is from just £20.00 and during this appointment we will show you exactly what you club is doing and you will learn how to optimise your swing to gain those valuable extra yards!

Book online at www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/bookalesson
Call 01346 510693 or call in to see us in store at the golf centre.

Gift vouchers are available for all our lesson types and make an ideal Christmas gift.

Are you a big hitter?
If so, get along to Dunes for the third annual North East Scotland Long Drive Championship on Friday 8th December.

Previous winners:

Men 2015: James Ritchie 343.84 yards
Men 2016: James Ritchie 359.25 yards
Women 2015: Lyn Morrice 170.00 yards
Women 2016: Georgia Cardno 175.00 yards
Juniors (11-14) 2015: Alex Ritchie 219.00 yards
Juniors (11-14) 2016: Alex Ritchie 255.00 yards
Juniors (Under 11) 2015: Charlie Buchan 125.00 yards
Juniors (Under 11) 2016: Liam McBeath 159.00 yards

Have you got the power to take the title this December?

There is only one way to find out and that is by coming along to Dunes to give it a go. Everyone gets 3 balls for free with extra balls costing just £1 each.

The event takes place in the amazing indoor Golf Studio at Dunes Golf Centre. You can use your own driver or borrow one of ours.

In keeping with our mission to grow all areas of golf; we are giving away prizes to Men, Women and Juniors.

There is no need to book, just turn up and put your name down on the list. Everyone who gets their name down by the cut off time of 7.30pm will get a go. The winners will be presented with prizes on the night.

Good luck and we look forward to seeing you all on the 8th December!

 

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Love.golf on Tour – Portugal 2017

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Around this time last year I was on the golf course at Rosehearty giving a lesson to a group of love.golf ladies.

We were on the second green, the wind was blowing and it was freezing cold!

One of the women turned to me and said. “Peter, you are going to have to take us somewhere warmer for golf lessons!”

To which I instantly responded, “OK, let’s go to Portugal!”

Thinking this was just a throw away comment, I didn’t take any further action but the following week I was asked if I had put plans in place for said trip to Portugal.

So, having discovered the statement was in all seriousness, I got to work and the love.golf on tour trip to Portugal was conceived.

Just under a year later we were on the plane to the Algarve, Salgados near Albufeira to be more precise, for a week long golfing holiday.

For many on the trip it was the first time they had played abroad and for a few it was the first time they had played 18 holes in a day. The trip was a huge success and everyone enjoyed playing golf in the sun followed by good food, drinks and loads of laughs.

“I’ll never forget my first 18 hole round in the sun at a top course called Morgado in Portugal. Not bad for someone who only started playing just over a year ago!” Thelma Hutchison

“I never imagined that my first love.golf session would then lead on to going golfing abroad with the same group of people. It’s more than just golf, it’s friendly and more than anything, it’s fun!” Diane Buchan

“A fantastic week spent with amazing people. So many laughs and giggles on and off the golf course, would do it again in a shot!” Dawn Cardno

My reflections from the week are; golf is so much more than just a game. New friendships have been formed that will last a lifetime. Golf brings people of all ages and abilities together who may otherwise never meet.

The experience of playing different courses is a real feature of the game. Unlike sports such a badminton or tennis – the variety of court in which we play is almost infinite. Even the same course on two different days can feel and play very differently.

Playing golf is the best way to learn the game. I acted as a guide throughout the week and was on hand to help answer any questions but lots was learned, that cannot be taught on the range, just through playing the game.

Golf is an easy game to play!
Yes, I know many of you may not quite believe this statement but given that nearly all the group have been playing for less than 2 years it was proof that golf is easy to start playing. It is difficult to turn pro, to win majors etc. but just getting out to play the game has never been easier.

Water is a magnet for golf balls!
Now this is certainly a statement you will agree with more strongly than the last one I am sure. Salgados had water on just about every hole and it was amazing how many times the players’ balls seemed to find the drink!
In nearly every instance, the player would state after the errant shot – “I knew I was going to do that!”
….Interesting!
Some of my regular readers may recall the articles I wrote on the mental side of the game where I asked you NOT to think of a pink elephant?

In this instance the player is certainly telling themselves, “Don’t go in the water!”

As I have previously explained the mind does not have an image for, nor understand the command, “Don’t!” Therefore, all you are really saying just before you play the shot is “Don’t go in the water!”

Therefore, you could conclude you are actually better than you give yourself credit for as you acted out your thoughts!

Be careful what you say to yourself, try to focus on what you would like to do and accept that there are many bad results that you don’t want.

I am delighted to report that all of the golfers that came to Portugal with me want to return again next year so the dates are already in the diary. If you are interested in joining in then please contact me at the golf centre or click here if you are a woman looking to get involved.

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