Allan Knox

Hi everyone,

We hope you’ve had a good week’s golf amongst all the snow showers. We have been busy in the shop trying to get all the new stock priced up and making sure we price match online stores. I’ve got to say I’m really impressed with some of the new equipment coming out this year and excited to hear the feedback.

We have a great new range from Cobra now in-store, check out this review by clicking here and pop in for a shot.

Junior golf

Golftown Funk!

I had a great lesson with 7-year-old junior member Jack Small this week. Jack is getting his game ready for the European boy’s championship at the end of May.

Jack qualified for the 7 and under section by reaching the Wee Wonders British Championship final at St Andrews last year (under 8), going through qualifying rounds at North Berwick and Carnoustie and coming second in the Scottish South and West Regional Final at Brucefields (beaten on countback). The European Championship is played over 3 days, 9 holes at Longniddry Golf Club.

He was tied 41st last year (in the same section when he was 6) but it was a great experience getting to play with other kids from America, Italy, England and Holland, making new friends (his friend from California lives next to Pebble Beach so he's hoping for an invite when they're a bit older).

Hopefully he's going to have fun this year and try and not go in so many bunkers!

Jack’s talent is really starting to show and he will be one to watch for the future.

He was good enough after the lesson to teach me a few of his funky dance moves, check out the video by clicking here!

Please check out the new junior section on the Aberdour GC website by clicking here.

Coaching news

Ladies Group Coaching

It was a bitter cold day on Tuesday but we had a good turn out for the ladies group coaching and managed to get some great work done on long game and bunkers, well done ladies.

Next week we are focusing on some long game then putting.

Look forward to seeing you all then and hopefully it’s a bit warmer.

Pro's news

Waste Management Phoenix Open

Well done to Aberdour member Craig Hempseed on working at the Waste Management Phoenix Open here’s what he had to say about this exciting experience;

“It has been a dream of mine to work a PGA Tour event, especially after working at Wentworth & The Open last year and I’ve definitely caught the bug.
After a 12 1/2 hour journey from Edinburgh to Phoenix, AZ, via Heathrow, I arrived in Phoenix on the 27th Jan.

We had a team meeting the following day to get everyone introduced (there would be a total of around 80 staff, including volunteers) and a drive around the course to get familiarised with it , as we’d be starting at between 5-5:30am for the week and it’s dark.

We had two shifts every day with time in between to do as we please but this consisted of watching the golf and staying in the shade as it was 26 degrees every day.

At 5am on the Monday, we arrived in two shuttles to a breakfast of doughnuts and bagels (must be an American thing to have Doughnuts for breakfast...). When the jobs were being handed out, I wasn’t sure what I would be doing but having just being able to be there in the first place, I didn’t care what job I was given. The Job I was given was the best possible one I could get, hand cutting greens!!

I hadn’t hand cut a green since July last year, so it was a bit daunting but just got on with it. So turning up to my first green which was the 2nd at 5:30, I got my mower off the trailer and headed to the green.

I had never cut in the dark before so that really set me back as it was pitch black and I couldn’t see anything. (See attached pic for proof!).

It was extremely difficult as I found it very hard to see where I had cut previous but I managed to get through it without too many hiccups fortunately.

In the afternoon, I divoted fairways which was a nice easy job to do, having walked around 6 miles in the morning doing the greens.

I was given these jobs for the rest of the week and it got easier as the week went on.

The crowds were unbelievable. So much so from the Thursday onwards, we needed a police escort to get back onto the course for the afternoon shift!

Over the whole week they kept breaking records with the numbers and on the Friday & Saturday alone there was 170,000+ and 216,818. Over 700,000 for the whole week!

We were all fed 3 times a day and their hospitality was fantastic. Couldn’t have been better.

The whole experience was amazing and I can’t wait to do it again (hopefully!) With the exception of the Majors, I don’t think I could have worked at a better tournament.”

Club news

Roadworks

Fife Council is carrying out roadworks on Shore Road. The works will take 4 weeks and will affect access to the Golf Club.

Stage 1 Pavement from Cedar Inn to bottom of Shore Road Park – 12 February for 1 week. 2 way traffic lights will be in operation.

Stage 2 Pavement (both sides) from High Street to Cedar Inn – 19 February for 8 days. Diversion via Livingston Lane with traffic lights.

Stage 3 Road resurfacing from High Street to Cedar Inn – 1 March for 2/3 days. Diversion via Livingston Lane with traffic lights.

Stage 4 Road resurfacing from Cedar to bottom of Shore Rd Park – 5 March for 2/3 days. Road Closure between 9am and 3pm.

Stage 5 Road resurfacing from bottom of Shore Rd Park to Shore Front – 7 March 2/3 days. Road closure between 9am and 3pm.

Vehicle access to the Golf Club will be possible during Stage 1 to Stage 3 (12 February to 5 March) however during Stage 4 and 5 vehicle access will only be possible before 9am and after 3pm. Members and visitors will have to park in the village and walk down to the Club within those hours.

During Stage 1 to Stage 3 members and visitors will need to allow extra time to get to the Golf Club due to the traffic lights and the diversion.