Wirral Peninsula
May & June 2012
Issue 5
THE
Eagle
Your local golf magazine
Interview Feature... Cheshire Amateur - Johnny Little
Featured Course...
Heswall Golf Club A Demise?
ÂŁ2.50
Public & Private Golf...
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The Eagle
The Eagle
Welcome - A message from the Editor Issue 10 - May 2012
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Contents
3 Interview - Johnny Little 5 Featured Course
8 Teaching in Maine USA 10 A Demise of Golf?
Welcome to The Eagle... - Your local Golf magazine for Wirral - May & June 2012 -
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of The Eagle for Wirral. This magazine was specificaly designed for the local community to share their golfing experiences in an area which is renowned for its World Class facilities. This publication allows each golf club to showcase their course and facilities with stunning photography. The Eagle was established in 2011 and is put together by a dedicated team of journalists all of which are club golfers in the Wirral area.
The magazine provides local news stories from acrosss Wirral with special features and editorials on a selected courses. Last month saw the return of the light nights and the start of the golfing season but May is where everybody starts to come into their swing. This edition provides some brilliant news articles and features, including a detailed interview
with Cheshire amateur and exciting talent, Johnny Little.
We take a look at the this edition’s featured course, the truly stunning Heswall Golf Course situated in Gayton on the Wirral. In this editoral we speak to the public and explore the history of the course. Bromborough member Adam Moore talks about teaching golf in the USA with Robert Passingham. This edition also highlights a problem which has been on the increase across the nation’s golf courses. We investigate the demise of golf in our region’s private and public golf clubs.
The Eagle is aimed at golfers from all levels, from stratch player to beginners we hope you find this local publication an enjoyable read.
The next issue will be available from golf shops, newsagents, driving ranges, societies and other golfing outlets.
Above: Royal Liverpool Golf Club Cover Image: Heswall Golf Club
Publisher Passingham Publications 34 Woodkind Hey Spital
Wirral, CH63 9JZ
info@theeaglegolf.co.uk www.theeaglegolf.co.uk the Editor... Robert Passingham 07584250953
r.passingham@gmail.com 34 Woodkind Hey Spital
Wirral, CH63 9JZ
Senior Staff Deputy Editor Claire Gibbs
07123456789
c.gibbs@theeaglegolf.co.uk Project Manager Caren Carter
07123456789
c.carter@theeaglegolf.co.uk
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The Eagle
Cheshire Amateur
On the tee
Image: Robert Passingham
Johnny Little
Interview by Robert Passingham
Johnny Little is an up and coming Cheshire amateur who has lived and played golf on the Wirral all his life. With a handicap of +2, Little is hoping to follow in the footsteps of European Tour golfer and fellow Wirralian Paul Waring. Robert Passingham investigates his story by speaking to the budding amateur on the Heswall fairways about his summer pros-
Rated as one of the country’s finest talents, Johnny Little took up the game of golf at the age of 12 and has not looked back since. After leaving school at 16 and deciding not to do A-levels he has dedicated all of his time to play golf – a dream to some of us club golfers! Little started the game by playing twice a week at Hoylake Municipal Golf Club. By getting lessons from Heswall’s club pro Alan Thompson, an EGU Elite youth coach, it was obvious Little had a talent for making birdies.
After eventually joining Heswall Golf club in 2005, Little’s first handicap was 12 which was soon lowered to 7 within a year. This was soon rewarded by being alled up to play for Cheshire Boys at 14 years old: “At this
point I could not get enough... To be chosen for Cheshire Boys I knew I had the potential to be a good player.”
Little continued to progress and was playing off scratch at just 16 years old. This saw him win his first piece of major silverware by winning the Cheshire Boys Championship at Eaton Golf Club in 2008. After tasting success at country level Little reached the business end of the game by turning amateur – a hurdle where many golfers fail to produce the goods: “This was really make or break, here I was competing against men so I had to show I had the potential to keep up with the standard”. Little overcame these barriers by further lowering his handicap to +2 at 18 years old and moved up to represent
Cheshire Men.
After leaving Pensby High School Little was determined to play golf professionally: “teachers did not approve of me leaving school to play on a golf course every day, but I left to play competitively and hopefully make a living out of it.” With Little already having the capability to earn from golf it is unlikely he will settle for anything else other than professional golf. His impressive course record at Heswall Golf Club with 64 shots indicates there is no doubt Little, with his humble demeanour and golfing talent, he possesses all the right credentials to go far in golf. This summer he is playing in all amateur county and national competitions. We sat him down and asked him some questions.
Q & A
Summer Prospects
RP: As an amateur golfer, you are widely regarded as one of the Wirral’s most anticipated golfing talents to play professionally. How much do you believe in your own ability, which could potentially see you playing alongside Europe’s elite golfers? JL: I have always believed in my ability and it is flattering to be tipped to play golf professionally, but I have to keep myself grounded. It is important I do not get ahead of myself. I am still a long way from where I want to be so all I can do is concentrate on improving my game for the summer competitions. RP: What do you actually do to improve your game? You are at a point now where your handicap (+2) is at such a high standard it must be difficult to constantly improve?
JL: It is difficult to have a consistent level of improvement at this standard. I just try to practice as
much as possible. Because I live next to the golf club I am lucky that I can play when I want. At the moment I am not happy with my short game so I am trying to get that up to standard! RP: With May being the start of the golfing season, what competitions can we expect to see you play this summer?
JL: It is a busy time of year, there are a lot of competitions to play. The Brabazon, English Amateur, Cheshire Stokeplay, Four Counties just to name a few...they are all massive competitions and I am looking forward to playing. RP: What competition do you regard as the most important?
JL: Well, they are all important really. Prehaps the most challenging competition is the Brabazon and the English Amateur, simply because they are national competions and there are so
The Eagle
Johnny
Little
many other great golfers.
RP: With the Brabazon and the English Amateur being the most difficult, how do you rate your chances?
JL: Like I said I always believe in my ability. I had a solid first day at the Brabazon last year, but messed up on the second day. I believe I can be in contention if I keep focus and concentrate. RP: Overall, what are your hopes for this summer? JL: My aim is to hopefully finish in the top 10 of competitions, and if possible challenge at the top of the leaderboard. RP: Johnny, thank you for your time and best of luck for the summer. JL: Thank you, Robert. Nice talking to you.
Image: Robert Passingham
Do you have a story for The Eagle? Do you need advertisement? Please contact us at:
info@theeaglegolf.co.uk or 0800 1234 123
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Image: Robert Passingham
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The Eagle
Heswall Golf Club
A Unique and Breathtaking Experience
With almost 7,000 yards the club has held a number of country, national and international tournament. This parkland course presents challenge to all handicap players; with breath-taking views of the Welsh hills Heswall Golf Club is one of the Wirral’s most prestigious golf clubs. As such the course enjoys stunning views throughout the round.
Featured Course
The Eagle
Situated in the Gayton area of Wirral, Heswall Golf Club is one of the very best golfing venues in the North-West. Do not be fooled by the parkland setting; sitting on the banks of the Dee Estuary this course experiences winds which can trouble even the best pros – giving the course a links aspect.
A round at Heswall offers all that you want on a day at the golf course with stunning scenery of the Clwyd hills, fantastic wildlife with an internationally recognised bird sanctuary and of course, golf which troubles the lowest of handicappers. Heswall is a member of England’s Golf Coast; home to 20 of the most naturally beautiful golf courses in Britain with further 3 courses being in Wirral (Caldy, Royal Liverpool, and Wallasey).
From the 4th
Image: Robert Passingham
Image: Robert Passingham
Image: Robert Passingham
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The Eagle
The Clubhouse
Image: Base2Stay
What the
Public Say...
Heswall has always been a traditional club; with a members waiting list as long as Tiger’s drive. We talk to some of the public and members about this excellent golf club. It is easy to see why people are attracted to this club; with a brand new club house and an extended course completed in 2006, Heswall has some of the best facilities in Wirral matching that of Royal Liverpool and Caldy Golf Club. With one of the best teachers as club professonial, EGU Elite coach Alan Thompson has taught European Tour professionals. Under his supervision he has overseen Heswall grow into spectacular golfing venue. Glenn Trimmer, a recently joined member from Chester Golf Club believes everything about the club is
Image: Robert Passingham
second to none: “Situated on the river front, Heswall is a different challenge everytime it is played. With a driving range, 2 practice greens and a practice hole it has facilities that can improve my game.” The course was chosen for the Junior Open in 2006 and has held a number of country and national tournaments in the past so it is easy to understand why the demand for memberships is high.
With an active membership of around 900, Ryan Garland had to wait 4 years before he received membership: “I was getting lessons from Alan
Thompson before I joined the club so it is much easier now I am a member. It was worth the wait because it is a great course.” Niall Davey, who has played at Heswall on a number of occasions believes the course is a hidden gem: “The club is brilliant. It is friendly, lovely scenery... and very underrated. I always enjoy coming back.” Heswall, throughout its history has always welcomed visitors; in the summer tee-off times are regularly booked up.
A regular visitor from nearby Royal Liverpool; Daniel Power says Heswall is his favourite course to play after the famous championship venue in Hoylake. “Heswall is a great round of golf. Other than Royal Liverpool I enjoy 18 holes here more than anywhere else in Wirral.”
With fine views of Moel Famau, Point of Ayr and Hilbre Island, Heswall’s scenery is second to none. Facilities are among the best in the North West and a club pro who is one of the most succesful coaches in the North of England. Heswall Golf Club has everything to offer.
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Teaching in the USA ...with Adam Moore With jobs increasingly difficult to come across for university graduates; many of our most talented young golfers are looking to travel to see if their skills can be utilised elsewhere. Teaching golf in America offers a once in a lifetime experience to people who want to pass on their skills. Adam Moore, a recent graduate of Liverpool John Moore’s University is one of these talented golfers looking to apply his skills across the pond. As a member of Bromborough Golf Club with a handicap of just 1 he is set to teach budding golfers at a children’s golf academy in the North-Eastern state of Maine, USA. The programme is only 9 weeks in length but Adam tells us it is the opportunity of a new challenge that motivates him; “I am
Image: Robert Passingham
going for the experience more than anything else. The idea of working abroad and teaching kids the game I love is a fantastic opportunity.” With PGA Tour instructors as part of the staff team it is also a chance for talented golfers to improve their game: “Although I am just teaching the basics of golf, I will be alongside some top coaches who teach PGA professionals so hopefully I can come away from America having learnt something from these guys!”
Fine Drive
Image: Robert Passingham
The Maine Golf Academy based in North Belgrade, Maine, is a challenging experience for any golfer who is hoping to teach the game. The teaching programme is a competitive course with applicants from across the globe. Adam, who has applied
Image: Robert Passingham
for a number of years begins his teaching adventure in June. He believes this once in a lifetime exerperience will only benefit him in the future: “I am looking forward to being a mentor to the kids because it is something I can take pride in. This life experience can go on my CV and hopefully impress an employer.” If you are interested in teaching golf in the USA please visit the Maine Golf Academy at http://www.golfcamp.com.
Image: Maine Golf & Tennis Academy
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The Eagle
Hybrid Proficiency ... teaching tips with Adam Moore Adam Moore demonstrates some of the teaching skills he will be using in the United States by showing us how to utilise the largely overlooked hybrid - a mixture of the iron and wood.
The hybrid offers the chance to play a wide variety of shots in any given situation. This can enable you to shoot those heavenly scores you thought were beyond you.
The hybrid allows you to play with precision and consistency which will lower your handicap. Moore shows us two shots which can give you confidence with the rest of the clubs in your bag.
1. Off the tee
The utility club is a great choice from the tee. It provides extra control on tight par 4s as well as staying short of the hazards.
Play the ball slightly forward of the centre. Be careful not to hit down on the ball during the follow-through.
Your body needs to be behind the ball so you can sweep the it off the tee. With weight slightly on your front leg you should continue to finish with a nice balanced swing.
2. From the Rough
A ball sitting in the rough is an ideal shot for the hybrid. The wide sole allows the club to glide through the rough which should sweep the ball out of thick stuff and onto the fairway. It is important to play with a slight fade when using this club from the rough.
By opening the face of your club and adding some loft it helps to get the ball airborne more easily. Image: Robert Passingham
To make sure the club works left of the target you need to have a hard follow-through so it comes round your body.
Image: Robert Passingham
The Eagle
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A Demise of Public & Private Golf? By Robert Passingham
The recession that has plagued Britain since 2008 has had a damaging effect on public and private golf.
Even today people have less money in their pockets, which has given rise to a decrease in memberships. This has been observed at private clubs such as Bromborough, Eastham and Prenton as well as many other clubs across Wirral. Today waiting lists have become a rarity in the UK and it is only a select few courses in our region where they are still necessary. The real problem lies within municipal golf courses that have seen devastating results in the last 4 years. Ken Lamb, the club professional at Brackenwood Public Golf Club believes it is a problem that started during the recession: “People cannot afford to play anymore. Our sales have decreased by 20% and our junior membership which was at 50 plus is now down to 5. It is a shame because most public courses are struggling to break even.”
Public courses such as Brackenwood struggle in wintery conditions like any other club, but it becomes obvious that this is adding to their demise. Poor weather means increased maintenance and little business makes public golf courses difficult to run. Lamb believes that the recession combined with a lack of interest from the younger generation is adding to the difficult times for golf
Empty: Brackenwood Golf Course
Is this damaging club memberships? clubs: “kids would rather have the latest BlackBerry or IPhone than play golf course nowadays.” With British role models such as Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Wirral’s own Paul Waring, it does not seem as though lack of interest is a major contributing factor. Many would argue, particularly on a commercial level, that golf is as popular now as it was in the days of Nick Faldo. With many Brits in the frame of all four majors more and more people are getting gripped by golf.
Tom McMahon, a university student from Neston and former member of Chester Golf Club says you have to look at the bigger picture for decreasing memberships: “I cancelled my membership when I went to university because I was not living locally. I know plenty of people who did this too. I have never lost interest in golf and try to play as much as I can.”
Golf clubs are still recovering as we see fewer rounds being played across the country. It is not all doom and gloom as here in Wirral we have celebrated golf for over 150 years and we are not going to stop yet. As a local magazine for the Wirral golfing community we are offering young children to take up golf lessons at their local course for a special offer. Please contact The Eagle for more information at info@ theeaglegolf.co.uk.
Image: Robert Passingham
Image: Robert Passingham
Enjoy a round from £20.00...
With longer days finally here take advantage and play a game of Twilight golf from 3pm. For just £20.00 per person you can play a full 18 holes on either The Nicklaus or The Cheshire course.
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For Twilight Round of golf call 01829 731 525
Or, become a DeVere Club member today by calling 01829 731 529 and talk to Graeme.
Visit cardenpark.co.uk