December 2016 Newsletter
www.martinrathbone.co.uk – martin@martinrathbone.co.uk – 07958785326
In This Issue
1) Thank You 2) January Offer
3) 2016 Golf Contoversies
1) Thank You!
Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their support during 2016, it’s been a phenomenal year and I really appreciate your business. Hopefully we can make 2017 an even better year for you and your golf.
I’m really looking forward to seeing you all on the course with this great weather we are having and with that said I would like to wish everybody a happy new year and a prosperous 2017.
Golf Controversies are below after January offer so keep reading!
January 2017 Lesson Offer
Book a 30min golf lesson in January and get a “FREE” sleeve of golf balls!
Book a 60min playing lesson in January and get:
2 x “FREE” sleeve’s of golf balls
3) Golf Controversies in 2016
2016 saw some really controversial decisions in golf along with some bizarre happenings, below are just 6 of those for you to peruse and discuss.
Feel free to pop into the shop and have a chat about any of them!
the incident, the USGA made “a big bogey” in the words of executive director Mike Davis in stroking Dustin Johnson for a moving ball penalty during the final round of the U.S. Open. It was a public relations disaster, one that could have been amplified had Johnson lost the tournament. At least the USGA had the decency to amend the rule for 2017 3b) Luggage-Gate!
At an airport, Ha-Na Jang’s father dropped a suitcase down an escalator that hit Ha-Na’s rival, In Gee Chun, causing Chun to miss 
several tournaments. Some in the game believe it was sabotage, as Ha-Na was angling for Chun’s Olympic roster spot. The incident’s flames were further fanned when Chun felt like she didn’t receive a proper apology.
3c) David Duval Vs. Brandel Chamblee
There’s a difference between a fiery debate and flat out going at each other’s throats. On the set of a telecast from the Ryder Cup, Duval and Chamblee veered towards the latter, letting personal friction boil over on set. The “debate” is about Tiger’s and Phil’s playing records in the Ryder Cup
If you do nothing else you must watch this video!
3d) Muirfield Loses Open Championship Privileges
Following a vote to stay an all-male club, the R&A removed Muirfield — 
arguably the best course in the Open Championship rota — from future tournament consideration. Many players defended the decision, including Rory McIlroy, who commented that Muirfield’s vote symbolizes golf’s “stuffy old image” at a time when the game is trying to be more inclusive. Not the most economical thing to do!
3e) Rory McIlroy’s Olympic Comments
McIlroy was far from the only top name to pass on golf’s return to the Olympics. However, he was one of the more outspoken voices on the topic. “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all. I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game,” McIlroy said. He later added: “I’m very happy with the decision I made. I have no regrets. I’ll probably watch the Olympics. But I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch.”
3f) Sawgrass’ Wacky Saturday Set-Up
After the field went low on the first two days of the Players Championship — Jason Day was a record 15 under through 36 holes — TPC Sawgrass overcorrected in Round 3 with tough pin positions and shaved greens. Rory McIlroy said it felt like a U.S. Open, Kevin Chappell called the greens dead and bald, and Keegan Bradley spoke for some who claimed the speeds of the putting surfaces bordered on the edge of out of control. The third-round scoring average was a whopping 75.59, more than three strokes over par and more than four strokes higher than that of each of the first two days, and seven players failed to break 80.
There is so much more I could add but this email would take you ages to read and digest, I will give you some more things that happened in 2016 later on in 2017.
Once again thank you for your support it really is appreciated.
I look forward to seeing you all soon.
