DEVONGOLF
DevonGolf’s Women’s First Team enjoyed a Skills Coaching Day on Saturday 1st May, kindly hosted by Woodbury Park Golf Club. A number of the Second Team were also invited along to benefit as many as possible. There were two sessions and the women were split into two groups. Woodbury Park Professional Gary Milne led the Short Game and Pitching session. Gary is DevonGolf’s Head County Coach and Manager of DevonGolf’s Under 18 boys and he led his team to a tremendous victory in the England Golf Boys’ County Championship in 2019. It was unfortunate that the Covid pandemic denied the boys the opportunity to defend their title, many of them being “too old” in 2021!
Putting was the focus of the second of the skills sessions. This workshop was led by specialist putting coach Ollie Leetts, a popular and well- respected putting coach in the South West Region. He is currently working with Emily Toy, British Amateur Champion, Becky Morgan a winner on the European Tour and has just started working alongside former two- time Solheim Cup Captain and US Open Champion Alison Nicholas. Putting is arguably the most important skill in golf and green reading is a vital component of that.
This is not the first time DevonGolf women have tapped into Gary Milne’s expertise as he also delivered a first-class day at East Devon Golf Club last year before lockdown. The focus then was on course management, strategy and the skill of course mapping. Sarah Hoff, the Women’s First Team Manager, knows that in these unprecedented times of Covid 19 it is important to value the opportunities that are available to the team and quality of preparation is key. With the important South West Women’s Inter-Counties Championship 2021 at Bristol & Clifton Golf Club looming in July, Sarah has already mapped the course with Gary and they are studying course management strategies.
The South West Women’s Inter-Counties Championship (formerly known as Inter-Counties Match Week,) is Monday 5th, Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th July 2021 at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club, hosted by Gloucestershire. Unfortunately, the 2020 Championships at Dudsbury Golf Course, Dorset was cancelled - much to everyone’s disappointment. After many communications and discussions with all the necessary parties, it has been decided that the 2021 event will go ahead but under strict Covid 19 guidelines. Numerous protocols and reviews have been set up ahead of the event and players will be constantly updated. Fingers crossed that by then supporters and spectators are able to come and support the DevonGolf women. Bristol and Clifton Golf Club is a pretty, parkland course with some good viewing points. Team Manager Sarah and the women would love to see supporters around the course and lift morale and, who knows, add that little spark to their game.
Good luck, ladies!