February 2016 David Short Golf Newsletter

I wrote my January newsletter from a sunny Portugal in December,this time, and I don’t wish you make you too jealous, from the sun drenched V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.  Yes I know, sorry!.
Just a week ago I was in the also sunny Costa del Sol.  It has reminded me of a conversation with Eamon Power a few years ago. Eamon has lived on the Costa Del Sol for many many years, and said, in his opinion, January was one of the best and most reliable months to holiday in southern Iberia. We have now enjoyed a 4th consecutive January in very much the type of climate he predicted. 

Our first event of 2016 was a G&C week using the first class academy facilities and 27 holes of La Quinta and the excellent Melia Marbella Banus Hotel, and followed by the traditional opening Golf Week for the season, this year based in Cala de Mijas Costa. As reported above, the weather throughout was warm and sunny and the golf courses in fine condition.

While our hotel for the second week was not quite to the standard of the Melia it served the purpose well and allowed us to walk into the village each night for several excellent meals. (I would particularly recommend El Olivo – tell Johnny David sent you.)  More importantly, it withstood the 4.9 earth tremor, complete with after shocks that awoke us in the early hours of Tuesday morning! And then,having enjoyed the sunshine all week, we were treated to a spectacular Thunderstorm during the presentation dinner at El Olivo which resulted in a longer and more imbibing stay than intended! A special word for Steve, we hope you are doing well and making a quick recovery.  Our thoughts are with you. 

Congratulations to our main winners, Nick, in the individual stableford, one point ahead of runner up Al and leading lady Cathy. Brian and John in the 4 ball better ball, by one point on the back nine from Al and Jane, both on 40pts.

Hi from a finally sunny Florida where Jennie and I are having a couple of weeks R&R with her mum and dad before the season gets underway.  Jennie’s mum and dad retired out here some 20 years ago and I have to say what a sensible choice they made.  So it has been great catching up with them and golfing with some of our friends out here.

Whilst here we visited the humungous PGA trade show in Orlando and very interesting it was too.  All the great and the good of the Golf Industry from around the world were gathered there and all the latest equipment and gadgets are on display. There was even an opportunity to meet Bubba Watson, but the line was around the block as they say here, so I did the next best thing which was to meet a Masters runner up Chris Di Marco.

He was there promoting a new swing aid to assist our swing path and it is called Golf Slot Machine.  It is well worth visiting their website which has a couple of excellent tips.  I purchased one and look forward to trying it out with some of you at our coaching trips this year.
I am really looking forward to getting out to Portugal in March and then meeting up with David for our Easter Golf and Coaching at Staverton to kick off our UK events.  If you aren’t somewhere warm at the moment then work on David’s excellent tip this month and if you fancy some golf in the sun, then David and I still have some super options to come on a trip with us.  A perfect tonic for this wettest of winters!

SPRING/SUMMER 2016
David will be spending February in South Africa before returning to Europe where Barney is holding the fort at Vilamora for the early part of the season. He will then be joining David at Staverton Park for the Easter G&C event – which is now fully booked.
Moving into April David’s Golf with Clinics week at San Lorenzo, April 2nd, is full, as is his Golf & Coaching week at the Robinson Club the following week. Barney is running overspill weeks to both venues on 9th and 16th April, which are booking up well. Further events for spring include the Vilamoura Golf Week, March 5, la Cala Golf Week with Clinics, April 30, Lisbon Golf Week and Robinson Club, Tavira 7th and 14th May respectively. And while Barney continues on the Academy and Coaching front at Staverton Park throughout the summer, David will be in ever popular Dorset early June and North Wales towards the end of July for two 5 day golf breaks. These are interspersed by Bologna, Italy, which promises to be a rather special 10 days commencing June 29th.

Hi everyone, As Barney has mentioned I have been in seventh heaven looking and trying out the “golfing gadgets” at the PGA trade show and am convinced that with their help (perhaps more from Barney) this is the year my golf improves.  Back to work and I am sure quite a lot of you received “i” products for Christmas, so if you are getting into social media please take some time to like our facebook page or follow us on twitter.  Come on let’s get Social!!

BOOKINGS
As we pride ourselves on personal service we can only maintain this by limiting the numbers .As can be seen from the website tours are filling up quickly and where possible we have added extra weeks to accommodate additional clients. Please book early to avoid missing out on your preferred event and keep an eye on the website as we are adding tours further in advance now to help your planning,
WINTER 2016/17
Moving further ahead, full details of Sri Lanka in November, ever popular Christmas and New Year, plus an overdue return to Fancourt during the South Africa Tour, February 2017, are imminent. Do register your interest with Iain
(no commitment at this stage) as again, numbers will be strictly adhered to ensuring we keep that personal touch.
CANADA
While talking of future events, Canada is regularly mentioned by a few clients for repeat or first time tours. It really is a great experience and obviously has to be a summer event. I understand that limits the number willing to travel for golf that time of year, however, I’m sure you understand we need a core number to make it viable. A return to Predator Ridge in the Okonagon Valley, British Columbia and fabulous Victoria Island is very much on the cards for me to lead a bespoke group. Please get in touch if this is of interest.

FINALLY…Have a look here at the website for a thought or two to help when the better weather arrives….

With kind regards,
 
David and the team