Greetings

Firstly, Amy & I wish you all well and hope that your friends and family are safe.

Well, we are into the 54th week of "lockdown". There was never any doubt that it was going to be extended, quite rightly in my view, but hopefully at the end of this three-week period there will be sufficient evidence to ease restrictions. Golf, if played sensibly regarding distancing, has got to be one of the safest environments in which to take exercise.

Just before the lockdown, we were coaching and custom fitting, easily keeping the required spacing between us and the customer. Just like any local store currently open, we can also install, when we are back, sensible measures in the golf shop to ensure safety for our customers and staff.

I went to a local, well-known supermarket recently, which I have to say was absolute chaos. It was impossible to keep to the 2 metre distancing within an aisle. There was no one-way system so customers were entering aisles from all directions and tempers were certainly frayed.

Bizarrely, later, Amy & I went to Cuckfield cemetery to lay some flowers on her parents’ grave and the whole site was closed off, absolutely ridiculous. I hope some common sense prevails soon and we are allowed to use our own sense of self preservation and self-protection to take the necessary precautions but still function within our society. If the small minority of idiots then flout the guidelines, they need to be sorted out, severely.

Anyway, enough of the rant. We are busy daily, undertaking the coaching videos, racking one’s brain to think of way to keep the business financially ticking over, and going for our daily walks. The scrabble tournament has become quite intense. My initial 6-2 lead has now evaporated and I am trailing by one game, most disturbing.

As I have said before we have found many new walking trails in our locality. For me, being a boring "Birder", the opportunity to pursue my hobby, now that I have more time off, has been at least one benefit of this situation. (I WOULD STILL RATHER BE AT WORK!) The volume of sound from our feathered friends seems greatly amplified, perhaps without the usual distraction of car & plane noise.

Shop Raffle – Drawn Sunday 19th April

This draw was undertaken and posted live on video. If you have not already seen it please visit Youtube and enter Michael Henning golf. This video along with all my coaching tips are to be found there.

The response was excellent. I hope you had a bit of fun entering. The total pot of £560.00 was divided accordingly:

Winner - £280 shop voucher – Olga Jeffs
Runner Up - £168 shop voucher – Mark McGregor
Third place - £112 shop voucher – Ben Colbourne

I have emailed the winners separately and their credits will be added to their shop accounts as soon as we return to the club.

For this week I have two more raffles for your perusal.

Raffle 1 – Prize 6 x 1 hour lessons with myself to be taken at any time of your choosing. This package has a value of £295.00 with a reserve price of £295.00.

If we do not reach this figure I will divide the total into single lessons of £35 each from the balance and award the winners from the draw. If we exceed the reserve price the winner will receive the main package and any excess funds will be awarded in 30 minute lessons to other entrants drawn from the hat.

Raffle 2 - £500 shop credit – If we reach this total it will be a fantastic prize for the winner to put towards a set of clubs or electric trolley etc. Again, if we do not reach the £500 total, whatever the total is will be awarded to the person drawn. If we exceed the £500 the winner will receive the main prize and the residue will be offered in smaller prizes to the other winners.

All tickets £5 each. You may wish to purchase tickets/s for one of the raffles or perhaps from both. EVERY PENNY OF BOTH RAFFLES WILL BE ISSUED TO THE WINNING NAMES IN LESSONS OR SHOP CREDIT.

To purchase tickets just contact me at mikehenninggolf@gmail.com

Bundle offer

Our two bestselling items in the shop, apart from chocolate! Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls and FootJoy GTX gloves. Purchase a bundle pack of a dozen Supersoft balls, any colour, and a FJ GTX glove at just £29.99. This saves 15% on the normal price. Just let me know and when we re-open you can collect the golf balls reserved and try on a glove to ascertain the correct size.

Callaway Chrome Soft - Their premium golf ball. Normal price £34.99 – I have around 30 boxes left – Deal price - 1 dozen £25.00 2 dozen £45.00

Just let me know at mikehenninggolf@gmail.com if you wish to take up any of these offers. Again, these are separate and distinct from using shop account monies.

Lastly, in terms of offers, the shop account "top up" continues and has been very successful. Add an amount to your account and I will increase it by a % bonus. 5% for £1-£99, 7.5% for £100-£249 and 10% for anything above £250.

The e-vouchers have also done really well and very simple to produce. Ideal for a gift to a friend or family member for a shop voucher or lessons.

I apologised in my last newsletter about the content being sales-driven but I am sure you can understand that if I have not got footfall currently, I have to be inventive. We WILL be back at the club soon and I want my business and team of staff to be intact!

Answers to the 1960’s quiz
How many did you get without help?

1. What year did Peter Thomsom win his fifth open title? A 1965
2. 18 years after Max Faulkner won the 1951 British Open, which town did the next British golfer to win the Open come from? A Scunthorpe
3. In this year, Kathy Switzer defied official guidelines and ran in the Boston Marathon. When only males could run marathons, but who won the U.S. Women Open? A Catherine Lecoste
4. Anagram: ILUUJS/SROBO was U.S. Open champion in what year? A 1964
5. Tottenham Hotspurs captured the elusive double in this year, who was the U.S.P.G.A Championship? A Jerry Barber
6. How many Majors did Jack Nicklaus win in this decade? A 8
7. England won the World Cup, who won the World Match Play? A Gary Player
8. This year saw Anne Jones win Wimbledon, where was the British Women’s Amateur played? A Royal Portrush
9. Francis Quimet died in 1967. How old was his caddie when he was victorious at the 1913 U.S Open? A 10 years old – Eddie Lowery
10. Ken Venturi was champion in the U.S. Open, who won their fourth U.S. Women’s Open? A Mickey Wright
11. Only one left hander was successful in winning a Major in this decade, who was he and where was he born? A Bob Charles
12. Where was the 1961 Ryder Cup played? A Royal Lytham & St Annes
13. In the Curtis Cup U.S. beat G.B. & Ireland 6 1/2 to 2 1/2 at which course was the tournament played? A 1960 Lindrick
14. Who on the 18th green picked up Tony Jacklin’s marker and told him “I am sure you would have holed, but I was not prepared to see you miss”, this gesture was to halve their match and the Ryder Cup in 1969? A Jack Nicklaus
15. Who signed for a 4, instead of his 3 at the 17th hole of the Masters, losing the championship by one stroke? A Roberto De Vicenzo 1968 Masters
16. In the Grand National, the outsider Foinavon won in this year, who was champion at the Masters? A Gary Brewer 1967
17. In 1962 who won their third U.S. Amateur Championship? A Joanne Gunderson
18. In 1965 Robert Mitera achieved something special in golf, what was it? A Longest hole in one , 447 yards at the 10th hole, Miracle Hills GC, Omaha
19. What year did the Walker Cup result finish 12 - 12? A 1965
20. Who was the non-playing Captain of the 1965 Ryder Cup team? A Harry Weetman

1970s Decade quiz questions

1. He famously missed a four-foot putt, that sent him into a playoff for the British Open against Jack Nicklaus, who was he?
2. In this year, the ‘Fight of the Champions’ took place between Joe Frazer and Muhammed Ali, which player won the U.S. Open in this year?
3. Johnny Miller won the U.S. Open, but who won the British Open?
4. Who was the first lady to win over £100,000 on the L.P.G.A Tour?
5. This year Tom Watson was British Open champion, but who did he beat in the playoff?
6. In what year did Raymond Floyd lead from start to finish to win the U.S Masters?
7. At the Munich Olympics, Mary Peters won the Pentathlon gold medal, who won the U.S. Women’s Open?
8. Who won his third Master’s green jacket, 17 years after winning his first?
9. In the ’Dual in the Sun’, Tom Watson won by one stroke from Jack Nicklaus. What was Watson’s 3rd and 4th round scores?
10. In the 1979 U.S. Masters, which 3 players made the playoff?
11. Which player at the age of 18 years and 8 days, won the English Amateur Championship?
12. In this year, Princess Anne riding Doublet won 2 European gold medals, who was the British Women’s Amateur Championship?
13. In what year did Hale Irwin win at Winged Foot?
14. What was the year and who, at the Memphis Classic recorded the first 59 scored on the regular full-length U.S Tour venue?
15. Who was the first black player to compete in the U.S. Masters and what was the year?
16. In 1978 who was victorious at the Women’s Colgate European Open?
17. How many majors did Lee Trevino win in this decade?
18. In what year did the first European Tour School take place?
19. Argentina won the World Cup, but who was successful at the U.S. Open?
20. Which British golfer beat Jack Nicklaus 4 and 2 in the 1975 Ryder Cup?

People who have influenced my professional life

I am going to split this into two individuals, Bill Woodman & Nicky Lumb.

Having become assistant Professional in 1974 at Cuddington Golf Club, all I knew was this quality private club in Surrey, circa a mile from my family home in East Ewell.

In was in the days before the internet, obviously, and although it was certainly not a retail mecca, most members supported the shop for their golfing needs. I played golf every afternoon and in the winter made drivers from blocks of Persimmon acquired from the USA. We literally shaped the club head, put base plates and face inserts in and attached the appropriate shaft, and then sold them in the summer.

Some years later, having qualified as a P.G.A Professional, I moved to Beckenham Place Park GC, which was then the busiest "pay & play" 18-hole course in the UK. The Pro was Bill Woodman who operated one of the most successful retail shops, literally from the basement of the manor house in which the shop was located. Based on vast amounts of stock and incredibly low prices, we had footfall from all over South London & Kent. The takings were extraordinary and Bill, until his retirement, was one of the sharpest operators in our industry.

From there I ran Pease Pottage driving range with Nigel for 4 years. It was an extremely busy facility and, again, the shop took excellent monies due to the constant footfall.

Not wishing to work until 11.00 every night and being newly married, I was fortunate to be offered the role as Head Professional at Haywards Heath GC. The previous Pro had gone bust and for the first few weeks I literally took no money, the business having been run down to virtually nothing.

In desperation I asked within the industry who was a successful retailer at a private club in the UK. Here is where Nicky Lumb steps in. He was mentioned and recommended by many, many people, so I called him and acquired his advice on a Consultancy basis initially. Later we became firm friends and were part of the same buying groups for many years.

Nicky had built up an extraordinary retail business at Filton GC, Bristol. A standard private club in a very difficult location, he had succeeded by sheer work ethic and being entrepreneurial. I lapped up his advice which was instrumental in the degree of success at HHGC.

Nicky went onto become Captain of the P.G.A and Bill retired some years ago with a few schillings in the bank.

These names you will probably not be familiar with but in life, it is who you meet, that has such an effect on you.

All the best,
Michael, Amy & the team