12.07.2010
Hi, sorry it’s been a while, been a busy chap. mid season in all. So, played on the Pro 66 Tour 3 times in the last two months. Firstly at Royal Cinque Ports one of England’s finest in my opinion, front 9 plays down wind and the back 9 does the opposite. Got off to an early start at -3 through 6 then hit a couple of poor iron shots, saved a few with some good short game and finished for a level par 72. Good enough for 7th place and my second top ten of the year.
On to Camberley Heath the next day, I‘d won the junior open there as a youngster and shot a 65 in the practise round so had a good feeling coming into the event. Unfortunately my putter let me down a bit, played some solid golf but momentum was impossible and ended up with 73 and 26th place. Valuable order of merit points scored though, I’ve secured my place in the Tour Championship at Walton Heath already.
British Open Qualifying the week after at Old Fold Manor, not much to say other than got completely bamboozled by the greens once again. 76 scored and missed out by 3, real shame considering my ball striking was so good. And thank you once again to Stew Crombie for his caddying services....I know what you’re thinking....But he is a good green reader, I should listen more.
The Grove Pro – Am last week was great. A phenomenal service and golf course, they’ve really got it cracked there. A corporate money making machine. I’d like to thank my team- Robert Drake, Richard Steer and Stephen Brook. We had a good run but were beaten by dubious scoring. There’ll be more we can win in the future. The tournament itself the day after was a similar story for me again, great striking but a lack of scoring demonstrated. A few clubbing errors and a couple of bounces on cart paths and that was that, tied 40th. Not a great result for me but a lot learnt. A result is around the corner. Keep knocking...
Finally a run on the Euro Pro Tour coming up, Players club, Formby Hall, Hever Castle to name a few. Sponsorship has been really helpful, just trying to secure for the remainder of the season. Poster still remains in the club house.. Check it out.
Cheers
Tom
15.05.2010
Hi all, First full Euro Pro event of the year didn’t go quite to plan. Not such a glamorous venue in not so glamorous condition. The officials at the venue were discussing whether to put preferred lies in play....on the greens (I’m not kidding, unfortunately). You may have seen it on TV on Wednesday, quite a treat.
Anyway when you play bad on a bad course, you get a bad result. A missed cut and work to be done. So, back in the office and on the range to prepare for my next event.
A new Tour started this year called the ‘Pro 66 Tour’ comprising of one day events on really good quality courses. A productive way to fill the gaps, between the bigger events I thought. The first stop was Princes in Sandwich, which I couldn’t make. And the second was Purdis Heath in Ipswich, Great little course, very tight and tricky with firm fast greens!! I drove up in the morning of the tournament, walked the course, made a few notes then got on with it. A nice double bogey on the first hole and two birdies to finish for a 72. Good enough for 9th place. Nowhere near my best. But progress.
Next event is May 26th – 28th at Burhill, Surrey. The second stop for the Euro Pro Tour. I’ve played loads there and am looking forward to it. I still don’t have a sponsor for that event, a great opportunity for advertising a local business. The poster still remains in the main clubhouse.
Thanks Tom
20.04.2010
So, first event of the year for me was the Euro Pro Tour Qualifying. Two stages to this process. First being a 36 hole event with the top 65% of the field going through to final stage. It started at the Players Club in Bristol, the weather was awful. 30mph freezing winds, plenty of rain and even some sleet. The course stroke average for the event was 81 with a par of 70!! Based on that I was loads under par and booked my place at final stage.
Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxford. What a great place. 3 courses, 3 practise areas, massive clubhouse and great weather, quite a contrast to the previous week. I lead the first round in birdies with 7 of them, but I struggled to a +3 start . Not great, and the second round got worse, but I already had a previous ranking from 2008 and only needed to improve it. So as my coach said to me after I told him how rubbish I played ‘Job done Tom’. He’s right. First event is April 27th at Wensum Valley, Norwich. Wish me luck.
Still looking for sponsorship for the first event at Wensum. There’s been so much positive feedback towards the poster already; I’ve officially sold 3 entry fees, only 10 to go.
As the sponsor you are entitled to a return.
I can offer;
• A percentage return of prize money for the sponsored event.
• Or, to entertain your clients/friends in a four ball.
• Or, Advertisement during the sponsored event i.e., logo on the hat, shirt etc.
Should you choose to sponsor me, please write your name next to the event on the poster, or alternatively contact me via email or phone.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tom
Email – tomreid27@hotmail.co.uk
Mobile – 07890 065124 07.03.2010
07.03.2010
Happy new year to you all,
I wanted to use my first blog of the year to inform you all that the club and I have been in discussion over sponsorship ideas for my 2010 season. As a result the committee have agreed that I put a poster in the main clubhouse, asking you the members to be kind enough to ‘Sponsor me an entry fee’. I have 14 tournaments this year and already two members have been generous enough to sponsor me two events. So, only 12 left to go!
I intend on playing a full season on the ‘Euro Pro Tour’, you may have seen the coverage on Sky Sports. They show a three hour programme on each event and it’s a great breeding ground for the young professional. The top five finishers at the end of year order of merit progress onto the Challenge Tour, where there’s bigger prize money and 20 exemptions onto the European Tour. A few players to have gone through this process are Ross Fisher, Robert Rock and Lee Slattery.
Due to lack of sponsors on the Euro Pro Tour the entry fees are high, and make up the majority of the prize fund. I still have to pay for three night’s accommodation, petrol and food per event. But not having to worry about entrance fees would take a huge weight off of my shoulders. I can then focus on my golf and play a full season un-interrupted, giving me the best chance of succeeding.
As the sponsor you are entitled to a return.
I can offer;
• A percentage return of prize money for the sponsored event.
• Or, to entertain your clients/friends in a four ball.
• Or, Advertisement during the sponsored event i.e., logo on the hat, shirt etc.
Should you choose to sponsor me, please write your name next to the event on the poster, or alternatively contact me via email or phone.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tom
Email – tomreid27@hotmail.co.uk
Mobile – 07890 065124
Sunshine Tour School - 27.11.2009
Hi all, I’ve been back from South Africa a week now, still licking my wounds. Was a bit of a nightmare tournament as far as the weather was concerned. We had two thunder and lightning storms every day, and came on and off the course all week, in an attempt to get as many holes in before the storms came over. It meant we were on the tee at 6 am for a shotgun start every morning.
The format was set as two rounds on both courses and then after 72 holes there would be a cut from 220 players to the final 80 to play in the fifth round. But due to the weather there wasn’t a cut and only four rounds in total.
Both courses held up well with all the rain. We played at ‘Vaal De Grace’ a Nick Price design and new course; it was one of the widest I’ve ever played but very long. With the high altitude in Johannesburg it really pays to have a very high ball flight, mines a little too low and cost me yards, the local boys had the right idea. I have to say I didn’t enjoy being 30 yards back of them off the tee; I’ll have to work on that! Gym for me!! The other course was ‘Parys CC’ named after the small town itself. Pretty average but I think it played its part!
The town was very quiet, set about 100km south of Johannesburg. Our farm/guesthouse accommodation was quite something, dead mice in the cupboards, leaking roof onto my bed and also live mice running across the floor! Lovely! Needless to say I was glad to come home!
All the players including myself were a bit fed up by the end of the week, it had been a long frustrating event and really tough to get any momentum going! But that’s golf. I’ll come back for some more!
So I’m back to plan B for the winter, which means the office temping job and saving up for next year’s season. And not forgetting brainstorming for sponsorship ideas. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’m thinking golf day? Let me know your thoughts.
Tom
27.10.2009
Dear all,
This being my first instalment of my very own blog, I should bring you quickly up to date with my progress in the last few months. Ten Jamega Tour events this year, and an average finish of 28th. It’s consistent stuff but not enough top 5s, as the year began in not so sunny Spain.
So a quick putter change and a new coach and things started to brighten up. I’ve moved over to a ‘two thumb grip’ which allows me to maintain the pendulum type putting action, mixed with a new ping centre shaft putter and some ‘Jeremy Bennett power lines’, they’re going in from all over the place – happy days.
A return to the British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall on August 5th and not quite as successful as I’d hoped for. I finished tied for 26th out of 61 Professional, 48 being current or ex- European Tour members. I had difficulty controlling my back spin all week, a barrage of rain before the start of the tournament softened everything up and even my knocked down soft shots could spin up to 25 feet!! My playing partner on the second day Rob Dinwiddie had the right idea in using a ‘Pinnacle extreme’ it landed like a sack of potatoes on the green. ..Know it all!
So the next month consisted of me saving my pennies up and getting my game in shape for the all important European Tour School. I decide a warm up Jamega event at Caversham Heath in Reading a week before Q school was a good idea to get the competitive juices flowing.
A first round 70 in the company of Former European Tour player Warren Bennett and my top caddy, Fulwell’s own Stew Crombie. I was left in the final group, one shot off the lead going into the final round. Unfortunately the heavens opened around the 6th hole, I struggled with a few wind shots and I didn’t get the job done. But it was certainly a positive week and gave me plenty of feedback going into European Tour Q School the very next week.
Tom
