At this time of year it can be especially hard to keep a good score going with the course playing longer. You'll find yourself having to get up-and-down regularly to stay in the mix for the Winter Medal but those who go on to win will have mastered their touch around the greens.

One of the most common faults we see amongst amateurs in the chipping department, is that they tend to lean back and try and help the ball up. The result? Fats and thins and lots of blobs on the card!

One recommended drill is to practice while favouring your front leg, as pictured, which helps by getting you to set your weight correctly. This will encourage you to make a crisp downward strike and generate spin which in turn will add an element of extra control. Give it a go and we're certain you'll find yourself getting up-and-down on a far more regular basis.

The short-game department is just one area of the game we can help you with, so be sure to ask about a lesson and click here if you need some guidance.

We had a good entry in week 11 of the shop sweep starting 02/01/2015 after a few disjointed weeks. Straight into the lead in the new year was Kenny Montgomery with 37 points closely followed by Hugh Doyle on 35 points. The best gross score was by Martin LCG Monaghan with -3 and Mark Meenan was chasing him closely on -2. Also in the prizes were Marc McCabe, Bernard McCaughey, Alan Sloan and Colin Bell.

Spare a thought for LCG's brother Rinty! Rinty started by birdieing the first 6 holes before finishing with a 2 under par gross and loosing out on a prize on the last 6 holes. Six birdies in a row is a rare feat and one to be acknowledged.