Surrey Golf
U16 Training Camp
Over the Easter holidays, the Surrey U16 League Squad went on their inaugural training trip away to Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire, with lots of anticipation for the season ahead.
The boys all arrived on Monday evening, and after a quick pizza and discussion with head county coach John Noble, everyone went to bed ready for the two training days ahead.
Day 1 began early on Tuesday morning with a team breakfast in the Cumberwell clubhouse. We were greeted with lovely blue skies and sunshine. U16 coaches Greg Brodie and Steve Furlonger gave a presentation to the boys about some key areas to focus on for the season, as well as some real-life examples of things that they are working on with current professionals that they both coach. After that, everyone headed out to the practice areas.
In the morning, half of the squad did wedge work using the Trackman on the superb practice pitching green with Greg Brodie, whilst the other half of the squad went to the range to do some speed work with Steve Furlonger. After about an hour, both groups swapped over.
After that, the whole squad came together again on the practice green to do some very important green reading work using the roll rail putting aids that Greg and Steve had brought with them.
After lunch in the clubhouse, the boys headed to the first tee of the par 3 course at Cumberwell (which includes a replica of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass!) with the coaches. To start with, everyone just walked round the course without any clubs, getting some useful advice from the coaches on what to look out for when playing a practice round, and how to best prepare for an upcoming tournament.
After this, the boys went out on to the course to play a modified stableford game, where additional points would be added/deducted for things such as getting up and down, one putting, greens in regulation, and missing greens in the wrong places. Steve and Greg walked round the course to observe the boys as they were playing. Some great golf was played by all, with some good scores being posted.
After we had finished up on the course, everyone headed back to the villas where we were staying, the boys got changed, and then it was time for dinner in the clubhouse.
Day 2 again began with breakfast in the clubhouse, however unfortunately the amazing weather of day 1 had been replaced by cold drizzle. Regardless, the boys all headed back out to the practice area, where the coaches had set up a 9-hole short game challenge for them. The challenge was that the boys had to play two shots to each hole, receiving 5 points for holing the shot, 2 points for within 1 club length, 1 point for within 2 club lengths, and no points for anything outside this distance. They were required to add their scores for both balls together for all the 9 holes to get an overall score.
For the first 9 holes, the boys could use any club of their choice, and then after that it was no wedges, followed by their most lofted club, and lastly it was 7 iron or less (however no putters were allowed). The challenge was very useful, as it opened the boys up to the importance of creativity and touch around the greens, and it highlighted just how important it is to have a great short game if you want to become a top golfer.
After this, the boys spent an hour on the putting green working with Greg and Steve, using various putting aids including putting mirrors, gates, TempoStiks, and string lines. Following the putting drills, we had lunch in the clubhouse and then headed back to the first tee on the par 3 course, to play the same modified stableford game as the day before. Again, the boys played nicely with some good scores coming in.
After everyone had finished up on the course, we all headed back to the clubhouse for a debrief from John, Greg, and Steve, after which the boys were met by their parents. A thoroughly enjoyable trip and a very promising season ahead!
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
