Marcella and Lynn win PING Plate Final 

Links pair Marcella Tuttle and Lynn Lambert won the Plate Final at the 10th anniversary PING fourball betterball championships. 

They scored 43 points and won by two points at PING's Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire. "It's really, really great, so special said Lynn. "It's a lovely honour for the club," added Marcella. 

Their closest challengers were Pam Bailey and Mel Davey from Ballston Golf Club in Staffordshire, who scored 41 points. 

Marcella and Lynn teamed up for the first time this season for the PING tournament, which is run by England Golf, and they came through an initial entry of over 16,000 women from almost 850 clubs. The top 50 pairs in the country qualified for the Grand Final while the next 50 pairs went through to the Plate Final. 

"In the qualifier at Newmarket Lynn sank a 40ft putt on the last green for four points, which gave us 42 points and we only scraped into the final on the back nine score," said Marcella. 

At the event Marcella boosted the score with three gross birdies, on the 7th, 13th and 16th - and missed a two-footer for a fourth. "We dovetailed really well," she said. "When I had a bad hole, Lynn took over and when I had the birdies she had a par in order for me to go for the putt." 

The last few holes were testing for the pair, who were well aware they were amassing a good score, but they held on well to finish strongly. 

Marcella has played in national finals before, but this was a first for Lynn who said: "I am chuffed to bits". The PING Fourball Betterball tournament began in 2006 and, because of its popularity, the Plate Final was added in 2009. 

For their efforts Lynn and Marcella won a PING golf bag, plus they were custom fitted for a driver and putter each together with an engraved vase as well as the plate trophy. 

All in all a golfing day they will never forget! Congratulations Ladies!

Captain Pro Challenge Matches 

The Captain and I resumed our series of challenge matches this week when Peter Beckley and Jack Alletson laid down their challenge. As always the match was very competitive with a lot of banter from both sides. Thank you Peter and Jack for the challenge. There is now a new set of dates up on the board for this Autumn. If you would like to make a challenge please get in touch with me at the Pro Shop or sign your names on the list on the clubhouse noticeboard. The matches are open to all categories of membership from within the club so choose yourself a partner and put your names down. We have a spare date available next week on Thursday 17th September at 1pm.

Pictured: Peter, Ray, myself and Jack ready for action.

 

GPS measuring devices 

The benefits of devices in the distance measuring market, either a viewfinder or golf GPS device can be very confusing. Which type is best and why? How do I register and set up my device! My unit no longer works! These are all situations that members are having problems dealing with. Recently we have been helping a number of the members both with advice on which model is specifically best for them or sorting out registration or renewals to existing memberships. As a generalisation if you play most of your golf at The Links, then a basic centre of the green measurement might be all the information you need, in which case a watch starting from £129 would be enough. 

If on the other hand you play quite a bit of golf away from home then information for example to carry water or bunker hazards could prove invaluable so a view finder or higher spec GPS might be required. Either way we have demo models available for you to try in a number of units plus a lot of experience in how the devices work and how to get the best from them. 

If you need help do not hesitate to get in contact.