The excitement of joining a new golf club

It was a fairly quiet week as far as on course action goes. In fact, I’ve actually only played eight holes of golf this past week. After last week's jaunt up to the North West, a little break was needed, and deserved. 

So, whilst not a lot has been happening on the course, off the course is slightly different. 

I suppose I better start with the big personal news and a change of home club this week. 

Choosing to Join a New Golf Club

Many of you that either know me, follow me or tune into this weekly column will know I have been a member of two courses. Stowmarket being my home and Felixstowe Ferry being a second club. 

Well, after eight years at Stowmarket I decided it was time for a change. 

Without divulging too much information, I can’t put my hand on my heart and say I’ve enjoyed my golf at Stowmarket for the last 18 months or so - for many reasons. It’s a club I have fond memories of; a fair few good friends have been made there and it’s a decision I didn’t take lightly. But now it’s a decision made, I know deep down it’s the right decision. 

I think, when golf plays such a big role in your life as it does for me, enjoyment has to be at the forefront of why you do it and if I didn’t make the decision to move on when I did, I could see myself falling more and more out of love with the place. 

I’ve joined a course a bit further into Suffolk, Diss Golf Club. It’s a course I know well and enjoy. It’s also a course that I already have good memories from. Winning a pro-am last year as part of my pro’s Sam’s team and it was also the host venue for the Suffolk Open last year where I managed to pick up the best net prize on the day. 

It’s a quirky course, tight in places and has great facilities and a driving range next door too. I have already received a warm welcome and I can’t wait to get stuck in once again. I went up on Thursday afternoon to pay up for the year and collect my bar card and members tag and celebrated with a dash around the first eight holes - of which my first birdie two as a member came on the 4th hole. 

Honestly, I’m really looking forward to enjoying my golf to the maximum again. 

Exciting Time to Watch Golf on TV

As I write this weekly ramble, it’s the eve of Major Week #2 of 2026. The PGA Championship to be precise. I’m not sure about anyone else, but this seems to have 1. Come around fairly quickly and 2. Flown under the radar slightly. Maybe because it will be most people’s fourth favourite major from the fourth but nonetheless, it's major golf to look forward to under the cloud of the will LIV go or won't LIV go debate. Aronimink Golf Club (try saying that ten times faster) awaits the best players in the world. Just six yards short of 7,400-yard par 70 it may well be a bombers' paradise. Who knows? But I am certainly excited to see who will triumph come Sunday evening. 

I should also do some shout outs. Shout out to Yurav Premlall for winning on the DP World Tour by a record margin of 14 shots. Yes 14! I don’t care what level of golf you play at, winning by that amount is incredibly impressive. 

Shout out to Alex Fitzpatrick. After securing his PGA Tour card a few weeks back winning the Zurich Classic alongside his brother Matt. Not only did he manage a T9th in his first solo event, but after three rounds of this week’s event he was leading the event at -14 and ultimately finished fourth. It’s been an incredible few weeks for Alex, and of course the rest of the Fitzpatrick family. 

So, what’s coming up for me this week?

I have another day out on Tuesday, once again representing Golfshake at a media day at Walton Heath. A course I have played twice before and always one I am excited to go back to, this time in readiness for the Walton Heath Trophy later on in the year - more on that soon. 

I have golf lined up over the weekend too this week, so fingers crossed for blue skies and 65s and I’ll catch you all next week.