1) Electronic diary – Always up to date / removes printing costs from the club
2) Competition results – Quickest way to get the results of competitions
3) Course status – The greenkeeping team will now update the course status
4) Push notifications – Allows the club to send important messages such as course closure due to bad weather / social events and other promotions (you will have the option to opt-out of these communications)
5) Your golfing stats – So you can show your fellow golfers your stats and help you track your progress
6) Update your personal information – You can update your telephone number, address details or even add a selfie to your profile.

We had a small window of opportunity to reduce the costs of running the club’s website and moving the membership features over to the Members Hub, it was tight, but we are happy to say that we managed it!  This does mean however that you may notice a few duplication’s on the diary.  Over the next few months we will be working on the processes for updating the diary so it is always up to date and allows you to keep on top of all the events happening at the club.

The October Survey showed that you wanted modern means of communication and this is our first step towards that.  The upgrade gives us the ability to distribute news via the app rather than email (we will continue with email for the short term as we train the office staff on using the new system), it also allows us to send urgent push notifications either for course-related information or for other activities that are happening at the club – this will remove the need to dig out the newsletter in your email for the important information.

Keep an eye out for new features in the Members Hub as we continuously improve the platform.

Ready to get on board?  Here’s how:

1) Android SmartPhone or Tablet
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clubsystems.clubv1hub

2) Apple SmartPhone or Tablet
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/clubv1-members-hub/id1247886260

3) Computer / Laptop
https://greatbarrgc.hub.clubv1.com/

Once you have installed the app, simply log in using your HowDidIDo passport account.  If you do not have a HowDidIDo passport account then simply head over to https://passport.howdidido.com/Account/Register and register for an account.  Please make sure the email address you use for this account is the same email address we hold for you in the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) Can I still use the calendar that is synchronised with my GMAIL account?
A) No, the GMAIL calendar synchronises with the old calendar system.  Whilst disappointing, it was clear only a handful of members used this feature because of the complexity of setting it up.  The old diary is no longer updated and therefore please remove the synchronisation from your devices.

Q) What about the HowDiDIDoApp that I have already got installed?
A) You can continue to use this if you like, however it will not contain all the club information that gets published.  We would recommend only using the ClubV1 Member Hub app to get the best user experience.

Q) Do I need to keep the Whole In One Great Barr Golf Club App?
A) This app only was provided by a company who generated the flyover videos for the course.  Whilst you could keep this on your device please note the Club do not actively update the app.  We are asking Whole In One Golf to remove this app from the app store to avoid confusion.

Q) I can’t link my HowDiDIDo account with the Members Hub.
A) Please check with the secretary that you have used the same email address that the clubs holds for you.

A Rugby Hero

The book is about a teenage boy, Barry Carr, living in a council house in Birmingham, has his life changed when his Father comes into money. A good footballer, but dreams of playing for his beloved Blues are shattered when he has to go to a Rugby playing private school. He becomes very good at Rugby, and eventually plays for England schools and turns professional. One of the main characters is Kevin “Chalky” Carr, a real person, a real hero, who lost his fight with cancer, but set up the Chalky Carr foundation. The book tells of the trials and tribulations of Barry’s journey and the influence Chalky has on him. A percentage of the profits from this book will be donated to the Chalky Carr foundation. The book does contain some strong language
Ian invites you to bring your your copy of the book down to the club where he will only be to happy to sign it for you!
The book is available on Amazon now – you can get the book in both paperback and Kindle formats.
Great work again Ian!

I have really enjoyed writing my 2nd book, and I think I now have the bug for writing more! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Barry Haywood for his valuable contribution in helping me write this book. Author of A Rugby Hero – Ian Neal

We know many of our members have talents outside of golf. If you have an interesting story to tell, then please get in touch just like Ian did as we welcome the opportunity for you to talk to your fellow members about what you get up to outside of golf.

Barry’s golfing colleague Paul Marston, thought it was such a special achievement that he contacted the Sunday Mercury to see if they would be interested in featuring Barry in an article around his amazing achievement, as you can see from the write up below they were only too happy to oblige.

Well done Barry, we are sure number 11 won’t be too far away!

Click on the image below to see the article.

Barry Thacker In The News

So, without further ado let’s get into this post.  We are delighted to speak to Ian Neal, a member who has been at Great Barr Golf Club for over 20 years.  Ian was proud to announce the launch of his book “The Gypsy Golfer” which was launched on Amazon earlier in the week and we wanted to help him shout about it and spread the word about this fantastic news so we thought it was only right to put him in the spotlight and let him tell you all about it!

Ian decided to write a book as “there wasn’t much on TV” and always fancied the idea of writing some fiction.  One day he set about that task and found creating this piece of fiction to be quite a therapeutic activity and had a great deal of fun in letting his creative mind run loose on a story around his love of golf.

The Gypsy Golfer

The book tells of story of a young traveller who falls for the game of golf, as you can imagine it’s not a simple tale of  “boy goes to the driving range and falls in love with the game”, it’s a much more entertaining story beginning with a bit of trespassing onto one of the best courses in the world and being “a bit nosey” as to all the shenanigans going on that lit the spark for main character in the book to fall for the game of golf.  The book covers many highs and some lows but one thing for sure, Ian’s writing style and his hilarious anecdotes around the fictional characters journey will keep you laughing all the way through the book.

Perhaps grab yourself a copy and bring it to the club, I’m sure Ian will only be too happy to sign it for you!

The book is available on Amazon now – you can get the book in both paperback and Kindle formats.

Great work Ian!

I have really enjoyed writing this book, it’s been a really fun experience writing it and I definitely want to do another book soon.  Can I take this opportunity to thank our Lady Captain Debbie Copper and Micheal Howard for their valuable help in making this a reality for me.

Author of the Gypsy Golfer – Ian Neal

Mr Kitsis

It could be your driving, your approach shots or your putting that is stopping you getting the handicap you want – but surprisingly enough the answer to better golf could be in your own hands!

If hand or wrist injuries are preventing you from taking the correct grip of your clubs then your golfing problems are really starting before you even tee-off, says Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon Mr Christos Kitsis.

“When you visit your golf pro one of the first things he looks at is your grip – that is how important it is. Yet many players struggle on with injuries that really are hampering their chances of improving at the sport.”

Here Mr Kitsis, who will be making a presentation at Great Barr Golf Club on November 19, looks at some of the most common complaints experienced by golfers around the West Midlands.

Dupuytren’s contracture

This is very common and can be quite debilitating but it can, on most occasions, be treated reasonably easily and with a short recovery period.

It occurs mostly in men over 50, when one or more fingers become permanently bent in a flexed (fist-like) position.

“While not usually painful you can see the problems this can cause for someone wanting to grip anything properly, never mind a golf club. There are several procedures I can perform to restore use of the fingers and you should have full use of your hand soon after treatment – although a return to golf would obviously take longer,”

Mr Kitsis

Trigger finger

Symptoms include pain at the base of the affected finger or thumb along with stiffness or clicking when you move it.

If the condition gets worse, your finger may get stuck in a bent position and then suddenly pop straight. Eventually, it may not fully bend or straighten.

“Medication, such as steroid injections can sometimes be enough to resolve the problem but, in some cases, surgery may be required. That means freeing up the affected tendons allowing them to work properly again.”

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Symptoms include an ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm, numb hands, tingling or pins and needles or a weak thumb which makes it difficult to grip things. Again, physio or steroid injections can help but sometimes surgery is the best option.

“Surgery, under local anaesthetic, involves the carpal tunnel inside your wrist being released so it no longer puts pressure on the nerve. The operation takes around 15 minutes and success rates are very high,”

Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow

Symptoms of pain and reduced grip which can be debilitating. It may co-exist with trapped nerves in the elbow and wrist. Usually, it is caused by injury or, degeneration of muscle origin but sometimes can be the result of overuse or poor technique. Treatment consists of Physiotherapy, Orthotics, Equipment modifications, Injections and Surgery

Tendon and Ligament acute and chronic injuries

A multitude of tendons in the forearm, wrist and hand can be affected by sports. As they are associated with movement and grip they cause significant functional problems and often remove any enjoyment from sports and other activities. Early recognition and prompt treatment is the key to successful outcomes. A multitude of treatments is available.

Joint and bone problems

Bone and joint problems: such as stress fractures, osteochondritis, osteoarthritis, Triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries, post-traumatic problems. All can be complex to diagnose and treat. Keyhole or open surgery may greatly improve outcomes. Wear and tear arthritis affects most people but this does not mean they have to compromise with a life of pain and misery. Modern hand surgery provides highly effective solutions for most wear and tear conditions in the hand, ensuring great reduction or abolition of pain and preservation of function. A modern multi-disciplinary approach by a dedicated Hand surgery team led by Mr Kitsis at Spire Little Aston Hospital will ensure excellent outcomes and patient satisfaction.

The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride, needing to win our last two games.  First up, Halesowen were our rivals, we wanted a big win, and we achieved it with a 6-2 result.  I was biting my nails to the bone!!  Ellis Muckley showed what a player he is; 5 down at one stage, turning it around to win 3-1.  Our youngest player, Ethan Ives came into the team and I never once doubted this kid and his ability.  He rose to the occasion and won his match.  He will be a tough guy to beat!  Jason, Matt, Myles, Jim and Aaron all emerging as strong Scratch Team members.

Scratch Win

We then moved onto our last game of the season against Perton Park, another good team and another victory required.  Our team of Ellis Muckley, Jason Sturmey, Warren Dempster, Myles Dudfield, Dean Mellings, Ethan Ives, Aaron Guarini, Jim Dudfield all stepped up to the task with a 6.5 1.5 win which secured the league title….proud Captain!

Lastly, Joey Jones retired from the Scratch Team due to injury.  Over the years, Joe has been a fantastic player with dogged determination and great enthusiasm.  The team will miss him and we wish him well.

A quick mention to Stu Munn and Martin Nugent for sponsoring the team.  Also thanks must go to our Chairman, Graham Dudfield, his mate Kevin and Glen Muckley for their support on and off the course, thanks guys.

From me personally, a big thank you to my Vice Captain, Dean Mellings; but mostly thanks go to Ellis, Jason, Wozza, Milo, Dean, Steve, Aaron, Jim, Ethan, Joe, Dan, Matt and Andy.  Sorry if I’ve missed anyone!

Thanks also to Steve and the girls for looking after us and the away teams.

From a proud Captain, thank you all!

Mick Cooper

Under the sturdy leadership of Mick Cooper and his Vice-Captain Dean Mellings it has been a hugely successful season so far.

GBGC Scratch Team

The team had a tension-filled match in their penultimate fixture last Saturday to secure promotion and guarantee second place.  A 6-2 win was required to put the team in a strong position to challenge for the title and to enormous relief, the lads got the result!

This Saturday (28th October) sees the team enter into their final match of the season against Perton GC.

For what will be another nerve-wracking match, the team would love for you to support them as they enter the final fixture of the season.  Another 6-2 win will see the lads pip the Halesowen GC team to win the league on points.

Mick and the team welcome you to come along and be part of the build-up and absorb the atmosphere of what is sure to be a top drawer display of golf, your support around the course will be more than welcome.

The first match tee’s off at 1 pm – we hope to see you there.

Come on lads – you can do it!

Myrtle Beach World Amateur 2019

Great Barr Golf Club has a World Champion!  Nigel Palmer entered into the 2019 Myrtle Beach World Handicap whilst visiting his brother in the USA.  Needless to say the long journey was worth as they golfing siblings came away as this years winners in their category.

Watch the video below to hear how the guys went about winning this competition.

From all the team at Great Barr Golf Club – Well done Nigel Palmer!

There is only one event on the golf calendar that can attract more than 3,200 amateur players from across the globe for four days of golf and good times.

The Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship.

Heading into its 36th year, the World Amateur remains the game’s most unique and inclusive event, giving amateur players of all skill levels the opportunity to test their mettle against golfers from across the globe.

A 72-hole event, the World Am flights players based on age, gender and handicap. More than 3,200 participants will descend on Myrtle Beach for this year’s event (August 26-30, 2019) in hopes of emerging from the field to be crowned World Champion.

https://www.playgolfmyrtlebeach.com/world-am/

The format is simple in that it’s a Texas scramble format over 6 short holes which helps build the confidence of golfers who are just getting into the game. It also encourages juniors’ sections to create teams so there is a sense of belonging at the club and of course the honour of representing Great Barr Golf Club acting as ambassadors of our club and of course Tom Palmers ever-growing junior academy.

This Golf Sixes league was launched in 2018 and in 2019 Great Barr Golf club entered the newly formed Staffordshire league of this competition. Tom gathered a team of 12 young golfers and put them forward to compete in the league against the 3 Hammers Golf Complex, Branston Golf Club and Trentham Park Golf club.

For all those parents driving the kids to and from the matches it was clear the kids really enjoyed this format and at the same time got to test their skills on other golf courses in the area. It was really encouraging to see the games played with the sportsmanship that we have come to expect with golf, there were plenty of opportunities to embrace both golf etiquette and the rules of the game without making it an arduous task for the kids.

This year’s league came to a close on Saturday 7th September 2019. The Great Barr Team had some fantastic victories over the course of the season and managed to finish in an amazing 3rd place with the 3 Hammer golf complex getting a well-deserved win in the league overall.

A massive thank you to all of the children that have represented the academy this year, they have all done fantastic and have presented themselves very well. Another big thank you must go to all of the parents for taking the kids to their matches home and away. Look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Tom Palmer – Great Barr Golf Club Junior Academy and Assistant Professional

Thanks also go to Trentham Park Golf Club, their Captain and Chairman for putting on the presentation in their fantastic clubhouse.

Tom Palmer

Q) So Tom, when did you start playing golf?
A) I used to play football until an injury at 17 caused me to retire – my mom and dad bought me a set of golf club for Christmas so as I couldn’t play football any more, I thought I would give golf ago…and here I am!

Q) And, where did you first play golf?
A) I started to play at Boldmere with some friends and had some pretty horrendous scores in the early days. It took a while to break 100!

Q) Did you go straight into golf full time?
A) I was studying for my degree in Sports Physical Education and Coaching Science at the University of Birmingham whilst also working part time at TGI Fridays. My career plan at the time was to become a PE teacher, so the idea of a career in golf wasn’t really on the radar at that stage.

Q) So when did you decide to specialise in golf?
A) After finishing my degree I knew I would end up with a career in teaching kids something sport related! I decided to focus on golf because like most golfers, once you get the bug you can’t help falling in love with the game. It was at this point I started by PGA education to ensure I was qualified to do the job properly.

Q) How quickly did your handicap come down to scratch?
A) During my amateur status I got my handicap down to 3.2 when I was about 22 years old. Once I started on my PGA journey I had to relinquish my handicap and now play off scratch.

Q) And what year did you turn pro?
A) Took 5 years to turn pro so it was in 2014 when my status officially changed.

Q) It’s clear you are a very sporty person, what other sports have you played?
A) Until my injury I used to play Football, I also obtained my level 2 football coaching qualification. I also played both Tennis and Hockey to a county level standard, I even have my Hockey umpire qualification. I was also a good swimmer and that’s why I did my teaching qualification in that too. Other sports I have tried are boxing and table tennis, in fact there are not many sports I haven’t tried, apart from Cricket as I don’t think that’s one for me.

Q) Are you the only golfer in your family?
A) Yes – no other family members play golf which is relatively unusual, I only got into it because of the clubs my mom and dad bought me that one Christmas.

Tom Palmer Junior Academy

Q) Your junior academy seems to be gaining a lot of momentum, how long has that been running for now?
A) The academy at Great Barr Golf Club has been going for just over 2.5 years. I’m really proud of how the academy has grown in such a short space of time. When I first started the program we only had 8 members so I feel immensely proud that we have grown this to just over 40 kids in such a short space of time. There is no secret about it, getting kids into golf is one of the hardest challenges in golf at the moment so I’m trying my best to do my bit for the future of the game and the future of Great Barr Golf Club.

Q) What do you consider is a good age for kids to get into golf?
A) Our youngest member of the academy is 3 years old. Some kids are born in to golfing families so it doesn’t take long before a club is put into their hands. At the academy we feel 4 is probably the youngest age that kids can start to get a lot out of the game. Tiger Woods started at the age of 2 and started winning tournaments at the age of 5 against older kids – I think we can all agree that turned out to be OK in the end!

Q) You are a self-confessed gym addict – do you do any exercises purely to improve your golf?
A) No not really, through my education in sports science it is very clear to see that a healthy and flexible body makes any game more enjoyable. I think perhaps Yoga was a useful exercise when I played a lot of golf to help avoid muscles getting tight to keep my swing loose.

Tom Palmer YouTube

Q) What side projects do you have on the go?
A) I’m currently working on my YouTube channel – it’s partly for a bit of fun but also to try and spread the word about golf. YouTube simply gives me another channel to share my knowledge of the game but also to have a bit of a play with the technology.

You can find my channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIKSp_q7yDe7DqFtjdwxeg/featured

Keep an eye out for some new videos coming soon. I want to try and grow my numbers of subscribers so as all the Vlogers out there say “please hit the subscribe button and like my videos!”

I recently filmed a video with fellow PGA professional Harrison Quirk from Branston Golf Club, I’ve known him since my days at Drayton. Harrison is an up and coming golfer who plays on the Alps tour so I figured he would be the perfect golfer for some of my videos. Take a look at the video “3 key points to improve your driving” as it offers some glorious views of the 13th hole at Great Barr Golf Club.

Q) What is the one tip you would give a beginner golfer?
A) It’s a scary sport to start off with because people feel nervous about making mistakes – everyone makes them even the professionals, just take a look on YouTube!

Q) And what tip would you give an experienced golfer?
A) Golf is a difficult game, the best advice I can give is to “Practice Practice Practice!”, golf relies on your muscle memory which can only happen if you practice and practice properly. To sneak a second tip in there I would also read up on the mental game of golf as this has a huge impact on your approach to the game and is a good way to see your scores start to tumble.

Ladies Group

Q) What do you see the biggest challenges of getting women into golf?
A) Building a strong base of the lady membership is key. It’s no secret that the game is heavily male dominated, that’s why a strong core of lady members is vital because it makes the game more approachable if potential lady members know there is an active social aspect at the club. The recent work by our Lady Captain Debbie Cooper in championing the lady taster sessions which I ran has really opened up the game to people who may have never considered playing before. We are hoping some of those ladies join the club because it was clear in the short time we spent with them that there are some good golfers amongst them. Above all of this though we have to make the game fun and there is no doubt about it that the ladies membership at Great Barr really know how to enjoy themselves.

Q) What is your favourite golf course you have ever played and why?
A) The Berkshire in London, the scenery is stunning with loads of pink heather off the fairway. It’s not something you want to see close up to often, but it does make for a beautiful looking course. Its makes for a challenging round of golf which is rewarded if you keep it on the short stuff!

Q) What is the lowest score you have ever shot?
A) 5 under at Sutton Coldfield golf club, I was playing alongside Harrison Quirk (who features in one of my YouTube videos). It was one of those days where everything fell into place but the real work started on the final 6 holes, 5 of which I birded so I was a little disappointed I ran out of holes as I definitely had more birdies in me.

Tom Palmer with Alex Noren

Q) Who is your golfing idol?
A) This maybe a little surprising but Alexander Noren. I once found myself having a putting lesson from Alexander at Stoke Park golf club just before I turned Pro. I was off a handicap of 7 at the time and the putting lesson certainly helped me reduce my handicap quickly. I like the way Alexander plays the game, he puts a huge focus on technique and in particular not turning the club over left to ensure consistent ball striking and that’s something I have since built into my game.

Q) What do you consider as being one of the greatest shots / moments in golf?
A) It has to be Tiger Woods at the masters in 2005. On the 16th hole he had hit his tee shot long, Tiger made a chip that us mere mortals can only dream of. It was almost like it was scripted the way the ball came to a temporary stop just over the hole and then with the will of the crowd behind it the ball dropped into the hole. An impossible shot made possible.

Tiger Woods chip on the 16th Green at the 2005 Masters

Q) So what clubs are currently in the bag?
A)

Srixon Z785 driver
Srixon F85 3 wood
Ping i500 irons 3-pw
Ping glide forged irons 48, 54 and 60
Spider X putter
We thank Tom for his valuable time in sitting down with us and we hope you enjoyed reading about our amazing Assistant Professional.