http://www.johngallaghergolf.com en-gb johngallaghergolf.com 2011-6-8T00:00:00Z johngallaghergolf.com http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#95806 I woke on the morning on May 20th and all I could hear was the blustering wind and rain against the bedroom window and I cant lie...I was worried that people might not turn up to my golf day. We got up early although not as early as the greenkeepers and headed up to Swanston to set up. I couldnt believe the weather but I shouldnt have worried because in typical Scottish fashion the sun came out after 20 minutes and shone brightly for the rest of the day although the wind decided to hang around all day The course and clubhouse were stunning and the staff at Swanston looked after us all so well and for the 159 people to came to play in the event and the countless other who came at night they were all able to see how far Swanston has come over the past 3 years. The entire day went by in a flash as I tired to get round and see with everyone but my sincere apologies for anyone I didnt get a chance to speak to. I was completely overwhelmed by everyones support and generosity and for that... 2011-6-5 19:59:13 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#95805 I arrived in Florence just in time to walk the course and first impressions were good it was a long tree lined course in fantastic condition. Not only was getting a call from the Challenge Tour a great oppurtunity to play it was also a chance to catch up with some of my old Scotland team mates and they helped me out by offering lots of advice and taxiing me here and there J I started storngly with a 72 and I followed that up with a great 69 and made the cut with a few shots to spare . My thrid round did not go according to plan and after a few slack shots I carded a 79 and fell sharply on the leaderboards. I then went out in the last round in the toughest of the weather but was able to shoot a 70 and climb back to a respectible position 2011-6-1 19:48:59 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#95804 After the amazing success of last years event I was really looking forward to Bunkerfest 2 and it didnt disappoint. Played over 2 days at the lovely De Vere Belton woods it was a great mixture of good golf good food and great company. Lisa and I enjoyed catching up with everyone from Bunker Mentality and meeting the other Bunker Ambassadors and it is one of the few times where I get to relax on a golf course and just have a bit of fun. So thanks to everyone we met ... already looking forward to next years Event On the way back up the road from Bunkerfest we stopped in to meet my new shoe sponsor for the season www.redfiregolf.co.uk who make hand made Italian leather shoes which are all named after famous British golf courses...I am currently sporting a white pair of Birkdale shoes While driving back up from Nottingham I got a call to say I had got into the Challenge Tour event in Florence so we had to book flights and accommodation while sitting in a motorway servic... 2011-5-25 19:42:06 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#95803 Yet again sorry for the late update but I really dont know where the past month has gone its been really busy and it looks like its set to continue. On the 2nd of May I headed to Norwich to Play in the first Euro Pro Tour event of the Year at Wensum valley. It was my first time at the course and due to the dry spring and lack of water the course was very fiery and played very trick indeed. I opened with a 77 and struggled in difficult conditions but judging by the scoring which was pretty high everyone felt the same. I came back in the second round with a 69 to make the cut comfortably and was I the mix for the final day. The last round started poorly and I never really got it going at all I finished with a 79 having putted poorly. In the end I was tied 33rd and although I would have liked to have done better I was able to take away a lot of positives from the week. 2011-5-20 19:35:29 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#91019 Just back from the Valenti Pro Am where I had the pleasure of partnering Richard Walker at Hacienda Del Alamo. 24 teams took part around the European Tour School second stage golf course. Myself and Richard worked well together and we opened up with a 66 team score I managed a 71 to lie 3rd after round 1 in the pro scores. The weather was tough we had heavy rain and wind only to find out it was blue skys back in Edinburgh and I was pleased with my effort in the opening day. The second day saw much better weather and scoring was going to be lower. I came in with a 69 ...never a bad score at Hacienda although I felt a little disappointed as I missed a couple of great chances coming in. Our team score again was 66 and lying third going into the last day we knew we needed something special to catch the leaders. The last round started slow and the wind had change which made the front 9 play harder. I dropped a shot at the 8th hole par 3 to go 1 over and after having a chat with Richard ... 2011-4-4 21:33:38 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#91014 I had the pleasure of playing West Lancs a couple of weeks ago in the 1836 Pro Tour. Its a mini tour that has started up this season. Me and my girl caddy Lisa left to go down and take part in the 18 hole event on Monday the 21st of March. It was a bit of a journey down but to be honest getting a chance to play the beautiful Links again was a must. I had narrowly missed out in the open qualifying in 2006 so I have some great memories of the course. My round started with a great 3 at the first holing a nice 20 foot put was the start of things to come. I quickly picked up a birdie 4 at the 2nd and I was well into my round and feeling good. Another 3 birdies followed in the first 7 holes and I was 5 under I dropped my first shot of the day at the touch 9th hole and I had covered 9 holes in 4. I started the back 9 with a close wedge shot and another birdie I had a little slack spell over the next few holes but managed to up and down a couple of times and I was heading to the 15th hole ... 2011-4-2 21:25:51 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#91012 PING I made my annual pilgrimage down to Gainsborough to visit PING HQ at the beginning of March and as usual I woke up at day break because a trip to PING is the equivalent of Christmas morning to a young kid...to stay I was excited is an understatement I spent the entire day with Geoff Waddington trying out the new wedges irons and woods and looking for the perfect combinations to complement my game. Geoff is an expert and works with the best names in golf I trust his views and opinions completely and by the time I left I was happy with my tools for the season. He was also kind enough to give myself and Lisa a tour of the factory to see first hand where the clubs are made its an impressive facility and all the clubs destined for the UK Europe and Africa are all made by the same tight knit workforce at Gainsborough. It was a really interesting tour and to actually meet the people who made my clubs what pretty cool So HUGE thanks to everyone at PING...I hope I can do you all pro... 2011-3-30 21:24:29 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#86861 Got back last night from two and a half weeks in Murcia where I was taking part in my first tournaments of the season and my first outing since the disappointment of 2nd stage of European Tour School last December. I was playing the Hi 5 tour and it kicked of at Hacienda Del Alamo where I played well enough tee to green over the 7000 yard course but my short game could not have been more rusty I had rounds of 78 amp 74 and I missed the cut by a couple of shots. But I managed to get back in quickly and put in a lot of good practice...especially on the short game I was based at Hacienda and for those who havent been its a must. For me I dont think I have ever seen better golf facilities the range chipping area and putting greens are first class and I couldnt have wishes for better weather in February...tshirts all the way. For my last week in Spain I was lucky enough to be joined by my girl and part time caddy who managed to get the week off work and flew out for my second Tournament ... 2011-2-13 20:05:08 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#85232 On Friday 20th may I am hosting a golf day at Swanston Golf Club to help raise funds for European Tour School 2011. If you would like more information or an entry form you can download them below or just drop me an email at johnjohngallaghergolf.com and i will email them out to you. Thank you for all support and hope to see you on on the 20th May All the best JG httpwww.johngallaghergolf.comGolfDay.pdf httpwww.johngallaghergolf.comEntryForm.pdf 2011-1-22 16:39:20 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#85230 Hey Guys just a quick update on my preparation for 2011. I have been hitting the gym to try and loose that xmas spirit and get my fitness levels up for the long season ahead. So on the 2nd of January I went down to Boroughmuir Rugby club in Edinburgh and joined the Energy gym I was really looking for somewhere I could get the peace to train with great facilities and work with a trainer. I have never really had a proper fitness programme I usually just stick to running and cycling but when Craig Smith the fitness instructor asked if he could help me I thought the extra instruction would help keep me motivated and since I had no idea what half the hightech machines did I thought he would come in handy J See what he had to say below.... ..................................................................................................................................................... My name is Craig Smith and I am a Personal Trainer and the manager of Energy Gym. I first met Joh... 2011-1-22 16:07:37 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#79271 Last year a good friend of mine Stuart Hutchison lost his life in a tragic accident he was a great guy who loved his golf and is sadly missed... I will always miss Stuarts Old Firm banter he was a rangers fan...and a good one at that To celebrate his life Stuarts family have put together the Stuart Hutchison Memorial Calendar which has some fantastic pictures of Stuart his friends family and his love of golf. All proceeds from the Calendar are being donated to ClubGolf to be used to promote youth golf in the Lothians and Borders area. If you would like to purchase a calendar you can email me directly at johnjohngallaghergolf.com or pick one up from the Pro Shop at Swanston Golf Club and for all of you on facebook there is a dedicated page httpwww.facebook.comgroup.phpgid140341514853ampvinfo 2010-11-1 21:25:49 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#79265 I managed to get away to Spain last week to take part in the Glenn Billington Pro Am at Hacienda Del Alamo. The event was held over 3 days a as 54 hole event. I took my team over a few days in advance to get used to the course which proved to be helpful given that we won the overall team prize with a 13 11 and a brilliant 19 to finish. Thank you to Colin McClung of Swanston Golf and Jim and Greg Hamilton my girlfriends dad and brother for taking part and for bringing home the title I myself started well we were playing off the yellow tees so the course was playing just over 6800 yards. I opened with a solid 69 not dropping a shot and carding 3 birdies. On day 2 I had another 69 which saw me move to 6 but a long way behind the clubhouse leader Tom Whitehouse who shot 65 66. The last round started slow for me and considering I was 7 shots back ended any chance of catching Tom but a great back 9 of 5 saw me close with a bogey less round of 67 to fin... 2010-11-1 20:50:31 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#78386 I had the pleasure of playing up at Loch Lomond with my good friend and sponsor Steve Kelly last week. The course was in fantastic condition and I would recommend everyone if they get a chance to play it... you wont be dissapointed. I think it is the most beautiful place in Scotland by far I have uploaded my 2nd shot to 18 after smoking a drive over 300 yards I was left with a 52 gap wedge in. From the video you can see how pretty the golf course is and to think its virtually winter here the course was amazing......Next for me is Spain for the Glenn Belington Pro Am fingers crossed I wont need jumpers for out in the sun..Cmax tshirts at the ready Happy golfing people catch you soon. JG 2010-10-20 18:19:05 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#77232 While at Bunkerfest in May this year I had the pleasure of playing with Mike Lomas the inventor and designer of Smartcaddy.co.uk and after having a go with his hightech sleek trolley I really need to have one As a travelling tour pro my car is always loaded up with cases trolleys clubs which I have to carry into my bampb or hotel at night and by far the most annoying thing is carrying the heavy trolley battery. The new smartcaddy has a lightweight battery about the same as a bag of sugar and lasts 36 holes which means I can put it in my golf bag for transporting around. The trolley is amazing and looks fantastic and after only two rounds of golf I was using the controls with my eyes shut . Here is a picture of me on the par 3 course at Swanston with the new smart caddy...my girlfriend has been told this is a strictly for boys toy after her questionable driving skills nearly sent my clubs in to the burn 2010-10-6 19:32:13 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#77048 At the moment I am using a new Superio shaft in my i15 driver and its going great. I am a typical golfer in that I love trying out new technology and after Dean Marks from Yamada Putters recommend the shaft I had to try it out. It feels solid and I have picked up about five yards but what I like most is the consistency it offers I really feel my strikes are more consistent which makes ball placement so much easy on the course. Oh and it looks sharp httpwww.superioshaft.comindex.html I have loaded up a little video for you to see the Superio in action... gt 2010-10-4 19:10:40 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#77045 I gambled big this season with my choice of tour school venue. After recent efforts at Dundonald and Chart Hills I decided to look further a field and consider all the stations on offer. I consulted my coach Ian Rae and studied all the venues available before finally choosing Ebreichdorf in Austria. From the start I liked the look of the venue a tree lined course with tight fairways and fast greens which I felt would suit my game. It was also relatively easy to get to... it was quicker to get to Austria than it was to drive down south And the potential weather conditions were also a big factor and after my experience at Dundonald 3 years ago where it was so windy that some of the greens could get cut the projected temperatures of 14 16c in Austria was ideal. The night before tour school... After two practice rounds I was as prepared as I could be for the the four days ahead. And after getting the clubs all organised the plan was to grab dinner and have an early night but on return... 2010-10-3 18:44:06 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#77044 The month of August was a busy one with four Euro Pro events. I got off to a good start at Formby Hall but a disappointing last round saw me drop back to 20th. After that my form dipped and I missed 3 cuts in a row leaving me feeling down beat. But I headed back to Swanston to prepare for my final event at Slayley Hall and although I was strong tee to green the putts would not drop. I ran out of fingers to count the number of putts that lipped out I shot 72 71 for a 1 under total which was not good enough to make the cut. Overall my season on Euro Pro has not been particularly satisfying and while I didnt play as many events as I did last year open qualifying and tour school dates clashed I had expected to do better. My dissapointment lead me back to the range where I spent the rest of the month working hard on every part of my game. 2010-10-1 18:32:20 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#71842 I disappointingly missed the cut in the Players Club at Bristol the tough weather conditions coupled with a poor first round led me to miss the cut by two shots. Only 2 out of a field of 168 managed to break par but the journey back to Edinburgh was still tough on the brain. There were no other Euro Pro Events in July and given my performance at Bristol I decided that rather than just keep practicing it was more important for me to keep playing so I headed down to play a couple of Players Tour Events. The Players Tour is a satellite tour based in the north of England which rather than the usual 8 hours drive I was able to drive 4 hours and get 36 hole of competitive golf. My first event was at Wychwood Park near Crewe where I had a respectable opening round of 70 which put me in the final grouping for the second round. I played well right up to the 17th where I 3 putted and bogeyed the last two holes. A disappointing finish but these things happen on the golf course and I still man... 2010-8-1 13:20:27 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#69662 First of all sorry for taking so long to update my blog. I have been mega busy and it has been golf golf golf I sadly missed the cut at the Scottish Challenge Tour Event at Spey valley but after that I drove straight to Devon for the Euro Pro Event at Bovey Castle. I had three rounds of 72 and played nicely but struggled round the greens on the final day and finished 42 overall. Local Open Qualifying Next up was Local Open Qualifying at Monktonhall near Edinburgh where I recorded my best round as a professional with a 67 second best score of the day which consisted of 5 birdies and a single bogey. I hit 16 greens in regulation made it through to final open qualifying at Ladybank golf course. Galgorm Castle But before that I headed to Ballymena in Northern Ireland for the Next Euro Pro Event at Galgorm Castle. I started with a great opening round of 5 under to lie 5th. But a shaky start to my second round halted my progress and I carded 1 over 5 birdies 1 double bogey and 4 boge... 2010-7-6 11:36:19 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#66480 For over a month now I have been using the Dream 54 putting aid from Yamada it is so simple to use unlike many of the others I have tried and it has only one purpose to get me grooving my stoke from straight back to straight through. I find that having a pendulum putting stroke allows me to get greater consistency over my putting especially those putts from inside 6 feet. I have now incorporated the aid into my daily practice routine using it for about 15 per day as a warm up. On tournament days I have been using it for 10 minutes to warm up and groove my stroke before making some practice putts and heading to the first tee. The photograph below is of me warming up on the putting green at Burhill Golf Course in Surrey you will see that I have put some tees around the hole just to make things a bit trickier. By challenging myself with little tests I can gain greater sharpness especially on faster greens. 2010-5-30 10:47:28 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#66458 Missed the cut at this weeks Euro Pro event at Burhill...there are no excuses just a simple lack of sharpness especially with the new conforming wedges. The course at Burhill was in exceptional condition and on a positive note I putted nicely on possibly the best greens I have seen in many years but a few slack shots cost me dearly.But as usual no matter how hard you try to be organised and prepared for a tournament there are always things out with your control that can frustrate you ... This weeks frustration came when I arrived to play my practice round at 5pm on Monday only to be told they had closed the front nine and that I could only play the back 9 and walk the front ....They say patience is a virtue well mine was well and truly tested especially since I had phoned the day before to book a tee time and planned my journey around it. To play any championship golf course without a full practice round was always going to be hard. There can be no substitute for playing a course a... 2010-5-29 20:43:36 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#66434 Bunkerfest was everything I thought it was going to be and more great weather brilliant hotel and facilities fantastic company of the best dressed golfers you have ever seen. My fourball consisted of Mike Lomas the man with the best looking golf trolley ever Hanjo who kept us entertained with his tails of the San Paulo golf club in Hamburg and Ian Woan the former Nottingham Forrest star. You could not have got a more relaxed fourball and it was great to spend two days golfing with such a good group of guys who in there own right played some good golf. With a marquee hosting stands from hirzl gloves stewart golf golf mission and the latest bunker mentality clothing as well as crazy putting and micro golf challenges there was something for everyone and the BBQ and DJ at the 19th hole made for a great night. You just had to look at those suffering soreheads at breakfast on Monday to see that everyone had had a good time I had to leave early on Monday for my practice roun... 2010-5-27 17:42:36 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#65754 This weekend I am off down to Belton Woods Golf course in Lincolnshire where my clothing sponsor Bunker Mentality is holding its first Bunkerfest tournament. It looks like it will be an action packed couple of days with some fun golfing challenges to test all the competitors. It will also be great to catch up with my fellow Bunker Mentality ambassadors and the perfect way to start the summer...fingers crossed for some good weather Will take some photos and put them online next week. JG 2010-5-20 14:11:37 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#64328 After a good opening round of 68 I was in a good position at one off the lead. My round could have been a lot better as I started with 4 straight birdies and after a careless 3 put from 12 feet at the 5th a birdie at 6 put me back on track to 4 under. I disappointingly dropped 3 shots on the way back but picked up a birdie on 16 to finish 2 under for the round. My second round got of to the best start when I birdied the 1st but I dropped shots at the 2nd 4th 5th and 7th to go out in a very frustrating 3 over. I played the back nine well with my coach Ian Rae watching but struggled around the greens which meant I finished 4 over for the day and 2 over for the tournament. I have to admit that my second round score left me feeling frustrated but on refection I was pleased with my new clubs conforming grooves first outing especially from tee to green although I was caught out 3 times with flyers as the distances and flight on the new wedges is definitely something that I will need to ... 2010-5-1 22:17:50 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#63781 This week I have been preparing for the next event on the XLtec solutions golf tour which is being held at Hilton Park near Glasgow. Its been a good week training wise and I have started using the new irons Geoff Waddington at Ping golf sent up last week. They are the same I15 set I got in December but I now have the conforming grooves in the new set. The new grooves are not essential on the Euro Pro Tour but I wanted to spend time getting used to them and not rush the change and I am glad I did as there is a definite change with the new grooves and it will take time to get pitching and distances perfect although I am confident I can pick it up quick and have a good tournament in Glasgow next week. I had my practice round at Hilton Park golf course on Friday and the greenkeepers have done a great job preparing it. I was impressed with how well presented it was and having been a greenkeeper for 6 years I know how tough this winter has been on courses. Will let you know how I go at H... 2010-4-25 17:02:04 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#63779 While having a practice round at Hilton Park this week I made a small video about the new Hirzl gloves that I have been using sometimes seeing is believing gt The Hirzl glove has been designed to excel in wet conditions 4 times more grip but I have been using it all the time and it works perfect if you have sweaty hands in warmer weather. The glove retails for about 16324.95 which you may think is a bit steep but the Hirzl glove comes with an unbelievable 3 month guarantee. I have been using mine for 3 weeks and the shape is still perfect with no wear and tear...so in the long run will save you money. You can read more about them at www.hirzl.com or buy one at the bunker mentality web site www.bunkermentality.com I reckon Its going to be impossible not to love this glove but it would be great to hear what you think if you try one JG 2010-4-24 16:41:03 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#63261 Well thats me qualified again for the Euro Pro Tour. But truth be told I had a good enough category from last years order of merit position 68 to get a full tour card but making the cut at this years final stage would improve my ranking. After a couple of nice practice rounds at Frilford Heath and a quick catch up with Glenn Billington putting coach I moved to the tee in a good frame of mind... My first round was a complete disaster everything went wrong and I closed out with an 81 and was gutted to say the least. After a score like that I headed back to the hotel to get my thoughts together and after an hours shuteye I heading back to the range to sort my game out...it took a while I was obviously in danger of missing the cut and I knew I needed a great round and thank fully I got that and shot 70 3 under the second best round of the day. After making the cut I was looking forward to my third round and I played solidly enough but I dropped 4 shots in a row which killed my chance... 2010-4-12 16:50:31 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#61636 Had a great time at the Scottish Golf Show today all the big golf companies were there with the latest innovations but what was really great to see was the numbers of juniors who turned up and with the indoor driving range and the pitching and putting competitions nobody seemed bored. I made a beeline for the Hirzl Glove stand to catch up with John Lewis who had kindly sent me a few of the gloves to try. I wanted to let him know that the gloves are by far the best gloves I have ever used in wet conditions my score in torrential weather at Whitekirk on Friday proved that. In the past I have found it difficult playing in the rain this is mainly because of my grip. When I hit shots my hands rotate slightly but in wet conditions it becomes virtually impossible to control I found the gloves amazing...and I am not just saying that It was then on to visit my Clothing sponsor Bunker Mentality where Robert and Tamsin showed me all the new tshirts and to... 2010-3-28 21:23:55 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#61503 I spent this week preparing for my first tournament of 2010 as part of the XL Pro Golf Tour. This meant a trip down to Whitekirk Golf Course for a practice round that I had to abandon after a blustery 9 holes followed by an equally windy back 9 on my second attempt on Wednesday. I might have guessed that all this windy weather was the start of things to come... I teed of at 810 on Wednesday and made two solid pars before the mist and fog descended and play was suspended for an hour. When play resumed we only got to play a further two holes before it was abandoned for the day. It is always disappointing for both players and organisers when a day of tournament play is cancelled but given the severe weather it was the only option. This morning we headed back to whitekirk and while the mist had cleared high winds and driving rain appeared so the waterproofs were well and truly on as we stepped up to the first tee. I started with a couple of good single putts which settled me down but t... 2010-3-26 19:29:19 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#60787 After last weeks experience of being robbed we were all feeling a bit flat but they say every cloud has a silver lining and moving from Las Ramblas to Hacienda del Alamo proved just that. The course and training facilities as Hacienda were amazing the chipping area and golf range are amongst the best I have seen. But more importantly moving allowed me to receive some expert help from Glenn Billington the putting coach based at Hacienda. My results from the SAM Putting lab were a bit of an eye opener but after my 3 hour lesson the improvements came thick and fast. We worked on changing my technique as well as my stroke. His studio is fantastic and his website is well worth a look www.glennbillington.co.uk After my lesson Glenn also came out to watch me play for a coach to do that is just invaluable and allowed him to look at my putting stroke outside the studio and make a few further pointers. It will take a while to grind in the changes but I hope with hard work and top up sess... 2010-3-16 20:11:33 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#59960 Things got serious last night as the house we were staying in was broken into.... my girfirend and I woke up at 430am to find the burgler in our bedroom. The good news is that no one was hurt and that all our clubs and golfing gear which was in the living room upstairs was left untouched except for one of Phils wedges which was taken my the thieves for protection. They did take some money and ipods that were in the lounge but luckily we had all taken our laptops cameras and keys downstairs with us at night so the damage was minimal. We are all a little shaken and to say the experience was terrifying would be an understatement. On the advice of the alarm company and for the sake of our sanity we are moving house this afternoon. There will be no golf today. 2010-3-5 11:15:40 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#59959 It was 23 degrees today So we visited a new practice facility Lo Romero which had one of the best pitching areas I have seen so it was only right that James Phil and I had a pitch off the two hour epic was close but I managed to pip the boys at the post for the title but a rematch is on the cards for Saturday. Below is a picture of the signature 18th hole at Lo Romero the amazing island green is right in front of the clubhouse well worth a visit if you are in the area. 2010-3-4 11:14:01 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#59957 Got to Spain late on Saturday night where we were met by fellow pro James Busby and Phil Jones at the airport the lads have been out in Spain for a few weeks now so were ready to show us around. Woke up on Sunday to blue skies and headed straight to the golf course to stretch off after the long journey and get some practice in. Managed to play Las Ramblas golf course in the afternoon which is a tight tree lined course with some testing holes but due to the cold winter the fairways were a bit scrappy and preferred lies were in use. On Tuesday I had an early tee time at nearby Campoamor Golf Course. The course is built between to valleys which meant it was very sheltered but with a lot of hanging lies I thought it was great and given the time of year the course was in great condition. Also just booked Fridays tee time at Villamartin Golf Course. The Spanish Open was held there in 1997 and so many people have told me it has fantastic greens... I am counting the hours as there ... 2010-3-3 11:05:16 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#59370 I am writting this blog from Newcastle Airport...my flight to Spain was due to take off at 1pm we boarded the plane got comfy in our seats and then sat on the tarmac for an hour before being told the plane had a technical fault...the only positive is the free wifi in the airport terminal The build up to going away has been positive after a lesson with Ian Rae and a great meeting with my mentor Charlie Jackson which has put me in a great frame of mind on regards to working on things while I am away. All I need now is a plane that works and some good weather when I FINALLY get to Spain JG 2010-2-27 15:40:05 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#58643 Its been another tough week weather wise which has meant I have been spending most of my time in the gym I managed to run just over 25 miles last week which has been good for the waist line. In the absence of short game practice I have been spending a lot of time planning some warm weather training I am heading out to Murcia for three weeks at the end of this month and I still need to organise parking and car hire. The forecast is saying it should be 18 or 19 degrees which is just perfect for sharpening my game. My plan is to play four full rounds of golf a week with some intensive practice in between...putting and pitching will be at the top of the to do list. On a lighter note I manged to sneek in a trip to my favourite mexican for valantines day with my girl on sunday at Mariachis on Victoria Street in Edinburgh. The food was absolutley amazing. 12 days till spain... and counting. JG 2010-2-15 19:59:57 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#58046 I managed to catch up with Graham Rankin today and I had the pleasure of playing 18 holes with him at Craigielaw. The course again was in absolutly fantastic condition and I would highly recommend going down for a game if you can. Graham is a former European Tour pro and scottish champion who has played three walker cups so it was great to pick his brains and hear his stories. I also managed to pick up a few tips on my short game which will no doubt help for the coming season. Over the past week I also managed to have a round at Kilspindie Gullane 2 and Dunbar the golf may not have been as good as the banter to be expected in frosty conditions and gusting winds but getting some games under my belt has great for the fitness and long game sharpness. Back to the gym i go... 2010-2-5 12:12:36 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#58044 Phew the snow is starting to clear and the temperature is back in to plus figures...just I have been at Kings Acre golf range a couple of times this week and it felt great to get the swing going again. I was asked by a member yesterday why I havent been to the range over this cold spell and I had to explain that after breaking my hand in 2007 playing in the spanish amateur hitting balls off hard mats in cold conditions can agrivate my hand. I would recomend that anyone going out to a range over the winter months warm up properly and stretch for at least five minutes beforehand. Over the years I have seen so many golfers do themselves and injury on the range. Today I had my first full round of golf since the 15th of December I went down to Craigielaw with one of my sponsors. The course was in amazing condition with calm weather conditions and what a feeling it was to get back out there. I was driving the ball really well and I am loving my new PING I15 driver but I plan to work on m... 2010-1-26 11:38:53 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#58041 There has ben snow on the gound for over three weeks which has made golfing virtually impossible so I have been focusing on my fitness at the gym up at Swantson. This has involved and hour and a half each day with a mixture of cardio weights and stretching. I am running four miles each day to burn calories but if I am honest i actually enjoy this part of my workout. The plus side is that the extra pounds gained over christmas and new year have started to drop off...this can only be good for the golf Desperatly looking forward to hitting some balls JG 2010-1-18 11:29:45 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#57823 Andy Brown from Home of Golf TV got in contact with me last year and asked me to take part in one of his films. We had a great day up Swaston Golf Course and I am really pleased with how it turned out. The response from people sharing there experience of the cack handed grip was great come on you cackers Check out www.homeofgolf.tv for more videos and great tutorials on how to cut your handicap. JG 2010-1-10 02:17:38 http://www.johngallaghergolf.com/page2.htm#57822 2010 New Year New Website New Blog Welcome to my new blog. The aim of my blog is to share my experinces give my opinions and hopefully let you know what its really like to be a touring professional. I hope you will enjoy following my blogs and let me know what you think. Here is to the new season all the best. JG 2010-1-2 02:14:48