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N. Langley
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September 13 2011
I had a set of playing lessons in the summer, and found them invaluable. It was good to see how golf should be played on the course, and I learned a lot about strategy, shot selection and different ideas about getting out of trouble. Neal is a great teacher, very patient, and a lot of fun too. I look forward to booking some again!
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Dickie Davies
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August 10 2012
I am a high handicap golfer but I love sport. Having been involved with sport on television for over fifty years, and although I am now in my eighties, I am still anxious to improve.
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to play a round with some old friends. My form was appalling and indeed at one point I stood on the tee, so out of form, I could not think how to drive the ball.
My friends were very understanding. That's when I decided to talk to our Director of Golf, Neal Granville.
He listened very intently and eventually handed me an article that he had written which described the difference between 'practice mode' and 'playing mode'. I found it enormously useful and realised that as well as golf it applied to almost every competitive pursuit. It gave me renewed confidence and as my chipping and putting were very weak, I asked Neal for a lesson.
He is a first class teacher. For not only does he show you how to approach both disciplines, he makes you think very carefully about them. He really does inspire confidence with his manner and style.
I am certainly not down to single figures but my game has improved measurably. I am much more confident when standing on the first tee. What is just as important, I am really enjoying myself.
I am now in playing mode even when I'm practicing thanks to Neal.
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Harry White
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May 30 2012
Shoulder Turn - Success!
What a difference that little change has made. I'm now generally hitting longer and straighter with much more consistent ball striking. Still getting the odd one out to the right (2 in the round), but a vast improvement as neither actually caused me real problems.
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John Frawley
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May 23 2011
I've been using my new irons for the last 3 weeks and have been amazed at the difference in distance, forgiveness and control over my old set. The whole custom fitting experience is something I can heartily recommend for anyone thinking of investing in new equipment. FlightScope really helped in giving me a baseline of performance using my old clubs and instantly showed the difference in performance while I was testing other clubs before I found the set I was looking for - in my case PING K15s.
Of course the whole custom fitting session would have been meaningless without your coordination and expertise so many thanks for your efforts in finding me a set of clubs that "fit". My game has already improved as I can now hit the ball higher and further - although it's still a shame about the putting!
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L Bryant
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May 17 2011
My putting has improved so much that my fellow players want to know how. Having told them about your masterclass I am now getting emails to ask for your details and have just passed your details on. Because of my improved assessment of slopes and pace I have sunk some really long putts which definitely gives me a great feeling :-)
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Anthony Paxford
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April 05 2011
Dear Neal,
This is a somewhat overdue email to ask you to kindly thank Chris for the excellent service he provided during my recent visit.
I had decided that I wanted a new driver with a clear white head! He politely suggested that I try the FlightScope before making any decisions. I managed to make my existing square-headed club drive some balls reasonably straight. I then tried the latest new white-headed driver. The FlightScope “read out” illustrated that it had indeed driven the next 6 balls balls further, which was pleasing.
Chris then suggested that I try a couple of the new Cleveland products and explained why he thought they would suit me. The results were outstanding, all the balls being about 20% further than my old square head and at least 10% more than the “whitehead”. Although I have always been pleased with my square headed 3 and 5 woods, I asked Chris if I could try the Cleveland equivalent. The FlightScope also proved how much “longer” they were, and wonder of wonders - straighter!! I bought all 3 clubs on the spot.
I have since used all three in action and they have confirmed what the FlightScope so convincingly showed. All I have to do now is to get my short game together!!
Please thank Chris for his quiet professionalism and the excellent FlightScope.
Best regards
Anthony Paxford
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Philip Case's Comments on Putting Masterclass
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February 03 2010
This was a very useful Masterclass. Having never had a putting lesson before, there was much technique to learn. It improved my confidence and now, with practice, it will help to reduce those wasteful added shots on each round.
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Gill Cain
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November 24 2009
The slight change we made to my swing a few weeks ago is working wonders with my game and I managed to successfully defend the Club Champs at Calcot over the weekend.
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Martin Mackay
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November 24 2009
I have worked with Neal for the last couple of years. I cannot imagine a better golf coach! He brings imagination, flair and humour to the teaching process and works with each of his pupils with great individual insight. He takes the trouble to work out the way in which each of us learns and tailors his teaching style accordingly. Having improved my long game enormously, he has taken on the challenge more recently of addressing my short game failings - no easy task - and has developed creative and effective coaching techniques to help me improve. I would recommend him as a coach unreservedly, whether it is to a beginner or a low handicapper looking to take the final few strokes off his game.
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Alistair Cheyne
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November 24 2009
I have a permanent back condition called—Ankylosis Spondylitis.
Last year I found that after some 13/14 holes that I was feeling real pain and suffered all the next day. I decided to visit Neal for an analysis to see what he thought. Following a thorough diagnosis he felt he could do something for my posture and stance which in turn would put less pressure on my back - not to mention what it might do for my swing and my golf!!
So let battle commence - within 6 weeks we had the beginning of real hope - after 8 weeks I could finish a round without pain! Now this was really good news!! The pleasure returned to my game.
As a result I have continued the lessons - largely because I felt positive about the whole experience. We have worked on my swing, my long game, my short game and my putting.
For me this is a real ongoing experience — enjoyable and beneficial and I would (and have) recommend Neal to my friends and golfing pals.
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Frank Masson
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November 24 2009
One of my better decisions of 2005 was to team up with Neal. I had lost the desire to embark again on competitive golf and allowed my handicap to lapse (previously 6).
Since our partnership Neal has definitely helped my mental approach and with it my skill level, we have had regular sessions together since 2005 and I have every intention of keeping that momentum going for the upcoming season.
During 2006 I played to a 5 handicap competitively on 4 occasions and I know the credit for that has to go to Neal. He has enabled me to look and behave very differently in the area of course management and psychology, arguably this is the key area that has contributed to my success of last season. He has helped me change posture for my long game whilst at the same time being sympathetic and understanding to proposed changes that simply did not suit or work for me. Add all that up and I feel that I have a good and trusting sporting relationship with Neal. He has great interpersonal skills, a good listener and in my opinion a great asset to Sandford Springs.
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Chris Gotham
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November 24 2009
During the last few weeks, I have had a number of golf lessons with Neal Granville at Sandford Springs. Before returning to Australia, where I now spend 6 months of the year, I wanted to write to you to commend Neal's teaching skills.
Neal communicates very clearly and is extremely thorough and patient in explaining and demonstrating all his golfing "messages". During my golfing career of more than 50 years, I have had lessons from many Professionals, both in the UK and Australia. I can say without hesitation that Neal is the best coach I have ever met and my game has already improved significantly during the few weeks we have been working together. In addition to set up technique and swing mechanics, Neal has introduced me to the mental side of golf in a way which I have never previously understood. My mental approach to golf has changed to an extent I didn't believe was possible, especially as I have previously read many highly regarded texts on the mental game which have never really helped me much at all. The difference with Neal is that he takes the time and trouble to instil his message until it has properly sunk in. There is no substitute for face to face personalised coaching and I look forward to further lessons from Neal when I return to the UK next April.
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Stephen Luff- Smith
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November 24 2009
I started lessons last spring, effectively a novice golfer.
I found all the lessons extremely helpful, setting me on the right track. Neal was always clear in his explanations, guiding me and quickly able to focus on the key elements (and my deficiencies) making immediate improvements in all aspects of my game – not just the basics of swing, but also state of mind and how to play each hole, ‘reading’ the golf course. As a result I have gained confidence and become much more consistent.
Neal was very professional, and his supportive friendly manner made learning easy. I felt after each lesson that I had made a real and tangible improvement, and taken as a whole the lessons have achieved all that I hoped for and were well worthwhile.
I can think of no way in which the lessons could have been better and I am a totally satisfied customer!
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Pete Ryan
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November 24 2009
Re: Short Game Masterclass
A thoroughly enjoyable and fun afternoon out on the golf course doing things you would not normally get the chance to do. Before this Masterclass I was very nervous when it came to chipping and pitching due to the shanks. After this Masterclass I went back to my club full of confidence to the point where I now enjoy the challenge of the short shots. As a result of this session my handicap is on its way down. I cannot recommend this class highly enough. It is worth the fee just for the afternoon out but comes with the added bonus of improving your short game.
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Lesley Scott
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November 24 2009
As a late starter to golf (aged 48) I assumed it would be hard to pick up, especially as I had gone through quite a few years of back surgery that left me with the belief that I would not be able to swing a golf club effectively. On the advice of a friend who highly recommended Neal's way of teaching, I was persuaded to have lessons as a complete beginner. Neal's way of teaching is a breath of fresh air. Being quite self-conscious I thought it would be a very painful and embarrassing experience, but I was made to feel relaxed from the start and soon believed in Neal's teaching method. It is a method that makes you think about what you're doing rather than someone telling you you're doing it the wrong way. There doesn't seem to be a 'wrong way' in Neal's world - just your way with some thought behind it. I have reached a stage that I thought it would be impossible to get to and I'm still continuing to improve. As Neal quoted, “There is a golf swing in everyone” and I am proof that it can be found! I am very excited that in a few months I will be competing with my friends on the golf course enjoying a good day out. Thanks Neal!
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Kevin Rayner
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November 24 2009
The Masterclass was excellent. It provided the appropriate tools to assist me in achieving my target for good and consistent results with chipping around the greens. The drills and knowledge provided have given me the focus for practice and I am well on the way to achieving good results.
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Nigel Sillick
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November 23 2009
During 2009, I had a series of 8 lessons over 6 months with Neal covering all aspects of my game. I found his teaching method simple to understand and his suggested practice routines very helpful. He focused on the essential elements without going into complex technicalities – very essential in my case to make improvements to my game. Now all I have to do is practice what I’ve been taught!
Email from Nigel on 26 November 2009:
"Hi Neal,
I won my first trophy yesterday – see attached picture. I scored 38 points and that was with missing 4 three foot putts.
Well done on the coaching!
Regards,
Nigel"
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Nigel Bourke
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January 24 2011
After 8 years with my old clubs I thought it was time to replace them and booked a FlightScope session with Neal. Having tried alternate systems that predict ball flight and having bought clubs based on that analysis only to find they subsequently failed to perform on the course, I was a little skeptical.
However, I have to say that the analysis provided by FlightScope was amazing and extremely comprehensive. More importantly, it was based on where the ball actually went! The results identified the problems I was having with my old irons and through trying a number of makes of clubs I found a set that brought my shot grouping down from 17 yards (old clubs) to 3 yards with the clubs I now own as a result of the session. Additionally, having the shaft flex, length, head lie and grip width tailored to me seems to be paying dividends on the course as well. The clubs feel comfortable and easy to use and above all from the first rounds use they are giving me more distance and accuracy.
I shall be back soon to get my hybrids sorted!!!
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Eleanor Masson
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January 18 2011
On looking for a set of new irons, I felt sure I knew what was going to be right for me. That was until I met up and had a chat with Neal and the team at Sandford who suggested I use FlightScope to find if my choice was the best for me. Needless to say, I found that it clearly wasn’t!!
FlightScope was incredible; it had the ability to track my shots for distance, trajectory and all other measurements required to make the right choice of club. It allowed me to sample various manufacturers and compare them with the clubs I was hoping to replace. I did buy new irons custom fitted to me and my golf swing.
I must admit that the new clubs were not the ones that I had initially thought were right for me. FlightScope told me all I needed to know and I would recommend to anyone looking for clubs to use the custom fitting service with FlightScope at Sandford before going and spending money on something that isn’t right for them.
I made my choice two weeks before Xmas and the order was placed. Despite the extreme weather they arrived within 8 days!! Personally I found it to be one of the best tools available and the service also second to none.
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Norah McPhail
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January 18 2010
Hi Neal
Just thought that I would prove to you that sometimes I do listen to what you tell me in my lessons. This is the 18th hole on the North Course at La Manga - in for 5! Here's to perfect putting in 2010 - if the snow ever goes, that is.
Kind Regards,
Norah McPhail
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