The scores were very close at the top end. The winner of the 0 to 15 handicap visitors’ prize of a bottle of champagne and a 4-Ball at Heythrop Park was Geoff Fisher from Newbury & Crookham GC. Playing off 13, he scored a tidy 37 points. The visitors’ 16 to 24 prize of a bottle of champagne and a 4-Ball at Mill Ride was Steve Dumbleton from Salisbury GC. The home Club prize of a bottle of champagne and 2 dozen golf balls was won by 19-handicapper John Rance with 36 points. A full list of the prize winners can be found by clicking here.

Our thanks go out to all the players who entered and we look forward to welcoming them again to Donnington Grove again for next year’s event. All our visitors are, of course, most welcome any time. Click here to take a look at our website and find an offer that suits you.

What is the Battleback Programme?

The initiative was established in 2009 and uses sport among other things to aid the rehabilitation of wounded service personnel. The scheme is designed to help these brave men and women return to a normal and active lifestyle.

Golf is the perfect sport for a scheme like this as the handicap system allows competitiveness at all levels. It can also be played by golfers with relatively low physicality and can really impact the rehabilitation process both physically and psychologically.

The programme is supported by many clubs across the country, large organisations, and celebrities. To find out more about this fantastic cause visit http://www.golf4heroes.com/

By paying just £350 before the end of July, you can play as much golf as you like between 1st July and 31st October. If you continue your membership through to 31st March 2012, the end of our membership year, you need only pay an additional £350 and we will give you £50 to spend at the Club …….. and there’s more! If you then renew your 7 Day membership for 2012/13 by 1st April, we will give you 10% off the annual subscription.

In addition to the good value for money through this offer, there are many other benefits of membership. Apart from the opportunity to play at 13 other clubs mid-week free, we offer membership discounts on most of our hotel, bar and function services. For a full list of these benefits click here

If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer to join Donnington Grove Country Club, we would love to here from you. Please call Dave Allen on 01635 581000 and select Option 4 or send an email to dave.allen@donnington-grove.com. You will enjoy the experience at Donnington Grove.

The Trilby Tour will be broadcast as part of a summer series on Sky Sports to viewers across the nation. Banners from all of the sponsoring companies will be displayed around the course for the Regional Championship of Berkshire and the qualifying rounds, including the Corporate Day that precedes the main event on 12th May.

Donnington Grove is offering three different sponsorship packages (silver, gold and platinum) that will entitle sponsors to a place in the Corporate Day Qualifier where they can compete for a place in the Berkshire Regional Championship. Gold and platinum sponsors will be automatically guaranteed a place in the qualifier as well as additional advertising on the play off holes.

All sponsors will receive a year’s Executive Membership at the club and all of the benefits that this includes. Donnington Groves’ General Manager, Christopher Strong said, “We look forward to welcoming new Executive members to the club and are very excited about the Trilby Tour. Executive membership is fantastic for businesses looking to reward their customers and employees and we make sure that they get the most out of all of the Executive perks.”

The Corporate Day will be held on Wednesday 11th May 2011 with the qualifiers being invited to play in the regional final, the Trilby Tour Championship of Berkshire, the following day.

To find out more information about sponsoring the event visit http://www.donnington-grove.com/pages/Sponsor-The-Trilby-Tour.html

OR contact
Donnington Grove Country Club,
Grove Road,
Newbury,
RG14 2LA
Tel: 01635 581000
Fax: 01635 552259
Email: Dave.Allen@donnington-grove.com
###

The Trilby Tour was created in 2007 by William Hunt and has since become, probably, the most prestigious amateur golf tournament in the UK. Amateurs equipped with trilby hats, golf shirts, trousers & belts compete under professional conditions with compulsory caddies in uniform and caps – like The Masters at Augusta – for a chance to win the top “Winner Takes All” prize. Each round of the multi-event tour is broadcast as part of a summer series on Sky Sports.

Donnington Groves’ General Manager, Christopher Strong said “The William Hunt Trilby Tour is an exciting event that has grown every year. We are thrilled to be hosting one of the most important tours in amateur golf and are really looking forward to the big day. This is a chance for amateurs to experience the pressures of a professional golfer in a televised event. ”

To involve the local golfing community Donnington Grove will be hosting pre-qualifying events on Tuesday, 26th and Thursday, 28th April. The winners will earn a place in the Donnington Grove qualifier, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports.

Businesses also have the opportunity to become involved too by sponsoring the event and exposing their company and brand to the millions of viewers across the country. All corporate sponsors will be entered into the Corporate Day where the winner will be given a place in the Regional Final event on Thursday, 12th May 2011.

Click to find out more about sponsoring the event or entering any of the pre-qualifiers. Alternatively contact Dave Allen or 01635 581 000 or email dave.allen@donnington-grove.com

This lesson was all about getting my back swing in shape cause if there is one thing Matt has taught me it is that if something is wrong with the back swing then there is going to be something wrong when you follow through.

I started by taking a few practice swings to see what I had remembered from last lesson. My grip was fine but my posture could have been better. Matt was quick to remind me to keep my back straight and to not let my shoulders slouch forward. The correct way to stand is with your legs shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, bum slightly sticking out, back straight and shoulders back.

The next problem was a very obvious and very big one. Instead of hinging my wrists I was bending my arms and bringing them too far behind my back. This meant that when I brought the club back down to complete the shot I wasn’t striking it at the right angle or worse I missed the ball all together. Matt told me that my arms must stay straight during the back swing and shouldn’t go up past my chest. The most important thing is to make sure to hinge the wrists to create an L shape and then be sure to follow through.

Below is the swing analysis video from my lesson. There was definitely a huge improvement from the beginning of the lesson. Got any tips or questions? Then leave a comment on the blog!

If you would like a one on one or group golf lesson contact Donnington Grove’s resident instructor Matt Woods on 01635 581000 or send a request at our Golf Academy page.

We are offering Individual 7-day membership between 1st January and 31st March 2011 for only £150 and if you renew as a 7-Day or 5-Day member by 1st April 2011, we will give you £100 to spend at the Club.

What’s more, if you are planning to join as a full member in the New Year, don’t delay and you can beat the VAT increase and save yourself £50. By paying the annual subscription before 31st December 2010 you will pay at the 2011 year’s rate.

We have an excellent course here at Donnington Grove – probably the best in the area – and a friendly environment, plus lots of added benefits for members. Take a look at the complete list of benefits by clicking here.

Join now and enjoy the experience at Donnington Grove by emailing Dave Allen at dave.allen@donnington-grove.com or call 01635 581 000.

The Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy has some of the countries best facilities which includes an indoor studio, so not even the British weather can spoil your stay.

For more information about this exclusive offer please contact Matt Woods at mw@golfjy.com or call 01635 581000