Author Archives: Calum Wilson

After a few week’s break, tournaments are back on and it’s down near Birmingham this week at Blackwell Golf Club with the Masters Pro Tour.  I had a practice round today which went well so looking forward to the next couple of days.  Blackwell is a members’ club with a beautiful parkland setting just south of Birmingham, oh and the greens are fast and slope a lot!

As well as practising with Coach Pete during the break, we played in the Alan Tait Back to Golf Tour up at Strathmore.  Our scoring could have been better but the course was in great shape.  If you fancy some competitive golf with your friends,  Alan’s Tour is worth a look. 

More excitement this week, new wedges in the bag from Sandy at Ladybank Golf Club. Titleist SM8’s – shiny new and full of some great pin peppering shots I’m sure!

Will let you know how we go.
Calum

The sun is shining, people are happy and the heatwave continues.  The Senior Open starts tomorrow at Sunningdale Golf Club’s Old Course and while I hoped to be there, my plan to qualify didn’t work out.  
I didn’t score that well last week at Donnington Grove in the build-up and that continued on Sunday at Bearwood Lakes. I prepared well and felt good but just couldn’t build a solid foundation to the round over the first six holes.  It’s tough when you’re on the back foot that early in an 18 hole qualifying round.  The result was a big number and no Senior Open for me.  Qualifying was a big target for me this year and to miss out was just awful.  I can now talk about it, but at the time, wow it hurt.  Me and my playing partner, a top bloke from Ireland, let off some steam after the round by looking to increase Peroni’s share price as much as we could!
I’m still encouraged and upbeat though – I played some great golf and felt comfortable in that environment, which is good for me.  We have a break now for a few weeks, so looking forward to sitting down with Coach Pete on Monday and working on what I’ve learned and the plan for the coming weeks.
I spent yesterday having a day off in the heat reflecting on the goods and not-so-goods of the last few weeks, so me and Pete have plenty to go at.  I was also thinking how lucky I am to be in the position I’m in, being able to challenge myself and keep learning along the way with so much support from everyone around me.
Catch up soon….
Calum

Last week it was golf in the sun down in Leeds – I even had my legs out in the practice rounds.

We had a great week at the Gordon Brand Memorial Tournament over Wikeridge and Moortown. I was swinging it good and managed a top 20, 17th place and I’m glad to say a cheque – so earnings increasing too.

It was then across country to Lytham for The Open Pre Qualifying on Sunday where my son, Gav, and I were both trying to qualify for the next stage. I won’t say who won the family spoils but see who’s smiling most when you meet us next! A highlight was the genuine Blackpool experience we had on Saturday night, fish and chips with bread and butter at Pablo’s on the seafront – dinner of champions!

I was 5 too many shots for the playoff, where 19 players on 1 under par vied for 7 spots in final qualifying. However regardless of the outcome, the experience and being part of it has moved me on a little bit further, showing me that I can “fit in” and compete at that level. Another step along the way.

I have a couple of weeks’ practice and play before the next event down at Donnington Grove, Newbury and then qualifying for the Senior Open at Bearwood Lakes.

Watch this space

All the best

Calum

How cool is it to be playing golf in the sun again? I had a great few days last week with three friends up at the Fairmont St Andrews, we played Dumbarnie and the two Fairmont courses, which were all in great shape. In the evening we did what golfers do – eat, drink and talk each other through our “great” shots from the day.

I would have been playing in Lisbon this week but had to pull out with the changing travel restrictions. I was looking forward to it, as the resort course on the coast would be windy – so like a warm St Andrews was my thinking.

On another matter, Stephen from The Edinburgh Golf Podcast contacted me a few weeks back, interested in my story of turning pro at 57. I was pleasantly surprised and we recorded the episode last week which is now live on his site. So if you fancy listening to me share it all with Stephen jump onto the site and have a listen at :-

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3ByZWFrZXIuY29tL3Nob3cvNDM0Mzk5Ny9lcGlzb2Rlcy9mZWVk

Also at The Edinburgh Golf Podcast on Facebook and Twitter.

Stephen also has some great interviews on the site worth a listen – why not follow The Edinburgh Podcast on Facebook and Twitter for up to date releases.

Next week I’m off down to Leeds for the Gordon Brand Memorial over Wikeridge and Moortown then to the Open pre qualifying at St Annes Old down in Lytham St Annes. I was down this week with my son for a practice round – great links course with brown fairways, lots of bunkers and thick rough. Very scoreable so looking forward to it. It’s fun that both my son and I have ended up with the same pre qualifying course.

Will let you know how we go.

Cheers

Calum

Okay. So my plan of following Richard Bland and Phil Mickelson into the “experienced” golfers’ winning enclosure didn’t quite happen. But overall I did okay on the Masters Pro Lakes Swing this week over Kirkby Lonsdale and Carus Green.

Monday at Kirkby Lonsdale was challenging. I was like my old Ford Escort – firing on three cylinders, and not able to fix it during the round. No matter what I did I couldn’t put a decent strike on my irons. You can only imagine how disappointed I was and how confidence goes so quickly in that situation – particularly as my hopes were high after my 2 under at Pollok the previous week. An hour spent at the range and I managed to sort it out after going through my list of what it could be (I was standing a fraction close to the ball and leaving no space to swing). I was quietly pleased with myself for sorting it on my own. Only possible due to the knowledge that Coach Pete has given me over the last few months. A great confidence builder.

Tuesday was better but I made one or two errors in shot prep and execution. Result was a big 11 over for the two rounds over Kirkby Lonsdale.

Then on to Carus which starts with a 9 iron par 3 and finishes with a 6 iron par 3 – over water. I can tell you it focuses the mind on that first tee having been introduced and with a nine iron in your hand. I felt nerves in places in my body I didn’t even know I had places. Give me a driver on the first tee any day of the week!

I struck my irons real good and gave myself lots of birdie chances, however a few errors resulted in me carding 3 over for the two days. Finished 14th and just outside the money which goes up to 13th place. But it was my highest finish on the Masters Pro Tour, so really pleased and something to build on for the next event. Confidence renewed I can’t wait to get out there again.

Relaxing weekend planned and back on it next week.

All the best

Calum

These are interesting times and after a year of lockdowns I now sense an air of excitement at the easing of restrictions, but also some nervousness at mixing again. One thing is for sure, it has forced us to look again at lifestyles and what’s important. 

As golfers, I would say we’ve been fortunate that our sport has been allowed to continue for much of the time. This good fortune was again evident last week when, through the commitment and diligence of the Tartan Pro Tour Team, the Pollok Open went ahead – given that Glasgow is still in Level 3.  Rigorous precautions were in place and we received the warmest of welcomes and support from the Club and its members who provided a bunker raker with every group to allow us to play the ball “as it lies” again in raked bunkers – another great step forward.  The course was in really good condition and I’d recommend you play it if you get the chance.    The club also laid on a great barbecue for the competitors.

I really enjoyed the event and felt it was another step forward in my development in this arena.  I stuck to my process and routine in terms of preparation and also in play on all but a few shots.  My commitment level on shots once I had decided what I wanted to do has also increased.  In terms of scoring I was 5 over par on day one and 2 under on day two.   It’s clear that the work Coach Pete has been doing with me on process and approach is starting to pay off.  The 2 under was the best I’ve scored in a Tartan Pro Tour event so I’m immensely proud of that.

As a footnote I now add the back nine at Pollok to my favourites. Why? – because I shot 7 birdies over the two days!

I’m now down near Kendal for the Masters Pro events next week at Kirkby Lonsdale then Carus Green – home club to Gary Wolstenholme.

I’ll let you know how it goes.
Cheers
Calum

Not just the weather, but now that the Covid restrictions are starting to ease, tournament schedules are filling up – great news. I’m looking forward to the trip to Pollock Golf Club next week for the Paul Lawrie Tartan Tour Pollock Open. I’ve not played there before so practice round early Monday then 36 holes over two days.

Meantime Coach Pete and I have been busy working on my wedges and getting better at feeding the ball into different pin positions, a skill I hadn’t developed enough before.  To be honest it’s great fun trying – and even better when it comes off! 

I’ve also been working on improving my bunker play, focusing particularly on gaining more control and developing shot types.  It was all a bit of a flash and bash before so I’m loving my new world in the sand. Adding these new skills into the mix is what it’s about, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how I do under competition conditions next week.

I’ll let you all know how it goes.
Cheers
Calum

It’s great to have had a couple of days’ competitive golf over a marvellous course and to test the work Coach Pete and I have been doing over the winter.  As always the latest Paul Lawrie Tartan Pro Tour event over Dornoch on Monday and Tuesday was really well run.   

I had a great couple of days, shooting 74 and 76, playing some shots that made me proud and some that quite frankly disappointed me.  What’s starting to dawn on me is that the poor shots weren’t necessarily down to a lack of skill, but more about my lack of my discipline in terms of routine and set up.  The really positive thing was that my shot choices were generally much better.

I would have liked to post better scores but there were just not enough birdies, which means that the bogies hurt like hell.  However I refused to give in on Tuesday in some challenging conditions. I stuck to my routine while holding on to my belief, and managed to claw back a reasonable score with three birdies in the last four holes. The fourth was in the jaws but a little short at the 17th.  So I’m thinking: “Calum it can be done”.

Now I’m just excited for the next event, yet to be confirmed.

……and another bonus was four cans of St Andrews Beer from the sponsors, which helped with relaxing in the Airbnb on Tuesday evening.

All the best
Calum

I’m delighted to say that my first tournament is just around the corner, up at Dornoch this coming Monday and Tuesday in the Tartan Pro Tour Royal Dornoch Masters. This is just one of a great schedule put together this year by Paul Lawrie.

The gradual easing of restrictions means that competitive golf is coming back. The senior schedule down south kicks off in May and it looks like European events will start in June.

I’m really excited to be getting back to it after a winter of working on my game with my coach Peter Whiteford. We’ve made some great improvements so now’s my chance to take them to the competition and see how I do – after all that’s the purpose of the hard work.

I’ll let you know how I go, and if you’re playing this weekend have fun out there.

All the best

Calum

My first blog for a few weeks so apologies for not keeping in touch better – I will improve. Honest! I was prompted to put finger to keyboard after watching the PGA Golf at Bay Hill this weekend. In fact, they’re still battling it out as I post this.

A few aspects of the golf commentary on SKY have been niggling me for a while then it came to a head yesterday. So I’m interested in what you think – so please feel free to send me your comments.

Maybe it’s just me but increasingly I hear members of the SKY commentary team use phrases like “amateurs couldn’t play that shot”; or “you amateurs at home ….”; or “that swing just now was like golfers at their municipal course on a Sunday morning”. It really annoys me the seemingly condescending way that the commentators refer to amateurs as if they are lesser beings. At the end of the day, golfers play golf and we all try to be as good as we can be.

And while I’m at it, we have a situation where a brilliant talent in Bryson DeChambeau decides to change how he plays the game – all within the rules – and comes out this year and entertains us. However it seems the establishment commentators can’t cope with the different approach. I’ve heard phrases like “it’s not how golf is meant to be played” which to me is so very narrow minded and quite frankly boring. Would they have us still wear tweed suits, shirts and ties and use hickory shafted clubs!!

The best and worst example of this came yesterday at the 6th hole at Bay Hill when Bryson nailed his drive 360 yards over the water at the par 5 to within 80 yards of the green. He was whoopin’ and a hollerin’ as were the crowd – exciting to watch and an adrenaline rush. To his credit, one commentator was positive about it and was enjoying the moment however the other clearly doesn’t like it for whatever reason, and was heard to remark “but how close will he get his second”. Sour grapes or what??

This just about sums up to me why youngsters and adults alike are often put off golf before they get started. It’s as if when players are seen to celebrate or dare to make a noise they are told that they are not here to enjoy themselves, they are here to play golf!

If the game is to grow it needs to be more exciting and positioned as such, including TV coverage and commentary. The days of the viewer being told that “so and so has put on his sweater so it is getting chilly out there” needs to be over. It’s not easy when many top class professionals can’t bring themselves to even smile when something good like a birdie happens. But commentary teams, c’mon you need to try not to suck all the excitement out of it.

This is a great game we play but please let us have some fun along the way.

I’m off to hit a driver and shout yeehaar!!

Cheers

Calum