NC Golf: My top highlights from 2018
2018 has been a great year for NC Golf - from launching my new website at the beginning of the year, to offering lessons at Dibden Golf Centre at the end of the year, and everything in between.
You can see my top nine highlights below (as it makes an excellent grid for Instagram!) - what have been your highlights of 2018? Let me know in the comments below…
9. Launching my new website
In February 2018, I launched this new website for NC Golf and it's been great. You can find out what I'm up to on my blog, see a full list of upcoming events (including tournaments and group coaching days) on my events calendar, and buy lessons on my shop. If you think there's anything else you’d like to see on my website, let me know!
8. Events with Colin Murray
In 2018, I've run four events with PGA Professional Colin Murray, and they've all been brilliant. In March, we took 27 golfers to The Dorset Golf Resort (which we're running again in March 2019) followed by a trip to the BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth in May. In October, we ran our third golf coaching holiday to The La Manga Club in Spain and our annual Team Challenge Match at Remedy Oak Golf Club. Both of these will also take place again in October 2019 so just let me know if you'd like to sign up.
7. Benji Ridout on work experience
In July 2018, Benji Ridout spent two weeks on work experience with NC Golf. Benji had a 9 handicap at the time and was keen to lower his handicap. It was a pleasure to have him on work experience, and to see him continuing to progress. Since July, Benji has been practicing hard, he's caddied for me in a tournament and I've started to coach him. He now plays off 7 and is looking forward to next season. Watch this space...
6. Highest order of merit
In October, at the end of the 2018 Hampshire PGA season, I was really happy to finish in my highest order of merit (19th out of 74 professional golfers) with a 2.2 lower stroke average than 2017, and I gained my lowest score of the season (66) at Skylark Golf and Country Club. It's also been great playing with so many members from Boundary, Dibden, Skylark and Southampton - and I love this photo of myself, caddy Benji and teammates Shane Skinner, Raman Prendergast and Anthony Phillips all in our NC Golf polo shirts at Blacknest in August. We finished fourth as a team and Raman won a nearest to the pin!
5. Southampton half marathon
Although a personal achievement, I couldn't recap 2018 without mentioning the Southampton Half Marathon in April. I took part in the run with my father-in-law Paul and brother-in-law Josh, and finished in 2 hours 11 mins. My main achievement was running the whole thing and felt really proud afterwards - although ever-so-slightly worn out!
4. First Pro-Am at Skylark
The inaugural Pro-Am at Skylark took place in September 2018 and I was really proud to represent the club at their first tournament. My team which included three members from Skylark played great and finished 2nd - winning Titelist stand bags. I finished as fourth professional shooting a 3-under par 66 and overall it was a really great day. I'm already looking forward to next years.
3. Teaching at Dibden
Many of you will know that when I first moved to Southampton in 2013, I was an Assistant Golf Professional at Dibden Golf Centre. I moved to another MyTime Active course, Southampton, before establishing NC Golf and offering lessons at Southampton, Skylark and then Boundary Lakes. In November 2018, I was honoured to be asked to offer lessons at Dibden once again. It's been great seeing familiar faces and using the fantastic facilities - such as the floodlit driving range - especially during winter!
2. Albatross at Southampton
I've never had a hole-in-one (not yet anyway!) so getting an albatross on the 2nd hole at Southampton (par 5, 464 yards) in August was brilliant. I hit a decent drive into the wind, leaving me 183 yards to the hole. I hit a full 6 iron. It was looking good in the air, but never thought it was going to drop in, and I actually thought it had rolled into the rough at the back! But as we walked up to the green - and I couldn't see my ball - I checked the hole and it had dropped. It's a feeling that never gets old :)
1. Feedback from customers
The best thing about 2018, without doubt, has to be the feedback I receive from the people I coach when they play well, get a low score or reduce their handicap. It's the reason I coach and it's such a great feeling. I've put a selection below so you can see for yourself. Thank you to everyone who gets in touch to let me know how you've played - it means a lot!
And so....as 2018 draws to a close, it's time to think about 2019 and my plans for the year ahead. I'll let you know those in the New Year…. but for now, let's reflect on another great year, enjoy New Year's Eve with friends and family, and I wish you all, a happy and healthy 2019.
Happy New Year everyone.