Wednesday 20 August 2014

Coaching and Club Fitting Testimonial



The secret.... An excellent teacher (with the patience of a saint), regular lessons and a proper set of custom fitted (Tom Wishon) clubs. No surprise – just common sense I suppose.

I always wanted to play golf and just before I was 50 made a decision to take up the game in preparation for retirement. A good friend and work colleague, who is a well known local amateur playing off a 1 handicap, recommended that I go and see Carla at the Sycamores golf range. Here I was provided with a 7 iron complete with training grip and the first lesson in “throwing the ball”.

Within a few months I had progressed to a beginners set of clubs procured from Carla for under £100 (which she got most of back for me later by re selling) that I proudly thwacked round some local courses, and even some prestigious venues such as Macclesfield (under the watchful eye of Carla) in the illustrious company of all who make up CCGS. (The members epitomise what the game is about – fun, sticking together to further enjoyment and improving our standards as a group).

After a couple of years Carla was reasonably satisfied that my swing had developed and stabilised sufficient to warrant an investment in some new custom fitted clubs, which would last me a lifetime. Various options were discussed but I had seen the response of others at the range that had selected Tom Wishon so it was an easy choice (and surprisingly one of the least expensive).

A custom fit form (which is golf’s version of anthropometrics) is produced, but luckily all you have to do is stand, be measured and drink coffee as Carla completes all the entries, and at the same time notes preference for grips and so forth, aided by the wide variety she holds in stock. Then it is onto the range where swing speed , angle etc etc (all technical stuff) is determined. Two weeks later a club arrives for trial and approval. In my case it was a seven iron. Once Carla is happy you are striking consistently bits of tape are attached to the head and various measurements taken for adjustment. About 2 weeks after that the full set arrives. They then become part of you and would never consider changing. However if the worst should happen Carla and Tom Wishon retain a copy of everything and an exact replacement can be readily obtained.

Since starting I have undertaken a regular weekly lesson – or in my case corrective therapy. This is something I would do anyway as it makes sense, and when the weather is unfavourable you will always turn up for a lesson whereas can easily put of going to the range or the course to re- enforce the bad habits that I naturally (to Carla’s despair) seem to pick up. In hind sight it is also probably much more cost effective than aimlessly hitting 400 balls to try and correct something that is not happening but you don’t know where it is going wrong. Many a time I have had a lesson where a minor issue has been corrected that I would not attribute to the cause and hey presto away we go again until the next lapse. On the positive even my bad shots I now regularly get lucky. With lessons you also get to try all the latest training aids (and there are many of them).

I actually look forward to the lessons as Carla is an excellent coach and they are undertaken in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with plenty of laughter, and you always leave feeling you have achieved something. Not so sure Carla shares this experience, but the above shot was only possible because of her dedication to her profession and her proven teaching skills.

So thanks again Carla,

John S.


Nearest the pin and I even managed make the putt to take the “two’s.

Look at that - July 30th 2014, St Annes Old Links, Hole 9, Par 3, 164 yards, wind blustery, with a headwind at approximately one o-clock direction.