New Post: #3 - Feature Friday

Hi Friends

This week we have another interview with a very successful club golfer, None other then Sion Spencer

(pronounced Sean in case you’re wondering - I was when I first met him and called him Si-on) he is Welsh so that explains it.

There are some real nuggets of golfing wisdom in here, which I know Sion feels is giving away his trade secrets - so grab a tea or coffee(or 2) and try to pay attention as Sion likes to talk.

1. Give me a little overview of your golfing background? 

(How long played, why you took it up etc etc) 

I first started swinging a club as a very small child & I have vivid memories of striking a plastic golf ball with a plastic club and watching the ball ricochet of the walls in the lounge much to my Dads delight & my Mums dismay! Then at the age of 6 my Dad took me for lessons at Chipping Sudbury Golf course Near Bristol & I can clearly remember hitting real golf balls for the 1^st time with my cut down Wooden Headed “Billy Bodger” 3 wood which is still in his garage today.

I can also remember going to the course with my dad and sitting on his trolley as he dragged it round the course whilst he played a round & letting me hit the odd shot on each hole. My dad then joined a new club which had been built slightly nearer to where we lived called Cotswold Edge, he joined me as a junior & taught me everything you needed to know as a golfer, etiquette, rules, speed of play! 

I Can also remember going to watch the exhibition match played to officially open the club by The owner of the club at the time the Professional who was teaching me, the touring pro Brian Huggett & Sir Henry Cooper it was packed with people and there was a real buzz. This club is where I have my earliest memories of playing golf & being dropped off in the summer holidays & playing golf all day with 2 of my mates. We also went on holiday to Scotland around this time which was my 1^st visit to the home of Golf. we were passing Gleneagles one day and by chance A Round with Alliss (Ed Note, did they copy my newsletters name??) was being filmed so obviously my Dad drove straight in and we spent the rest of the day there. It was Ritchie Benaud & Sean Connery playing with Tom Watson & Greg Norman, I couldn’t believe it watching these Golfing icons of the time close up. I remember finding a ball in the heather which Greg Norman signed for me at the end next to his white open top Rolls Royce, I kept that in my bag for months after & occasionally had to use it if I ran out of balls, I was terrified every time I struck it that I’d loose it. I remember looking for it for about an hour once.

We also visited St Andrews for the 1^st time on that holiday & I remember standing over the 18^th green & feeling the historic power of the place to which I’ve done several times since, I managed to play The Old Course 2 years ago as well which was magical, but each time I’ve been there it’s always taken me back to being the 12 year old lad it’s a special place. 

From that moment I always watched the Open Championship & The Masters staying up late to watch the conclusion of the Master's every year with my parents & can clearly remember the feelings of excitement elation & despair as the players battled it out down the stretch. It was real drama being played out and always entertaining to watch 

I actually then pretty much didn’t play a lot of golf as we moved from Avon to Hampshire briefly where I was a junior member at Corhampton Golf Club the 1st time I had an interview to get into a club. But I think you could count on one hand the number of times my Dad & I played there over that 2 year period. Shame as it was a decent course. 

 We then moved from Hampshire to Surrey & my golf reduced further, and I only played a few times a year paying green fees on local courses with the occasional visit to Wentworth to watch the BMW championship & The World Match Play.  I followed Seve & Monty, Nick Faldo one year all the way round 18 holes & lost count how many times I followed Ernie in the match play. 

I finally realised it was time to start playing properly so at 29 I joined Westerham Golf Club in 2000 & got given my 1^st ever handicap from that point I was addicted.

Several years later in 2006 Ron Noades had also purchased The Addington & after a couple of courtesy rounds gifted by Ron as a Westerham member I realised I had no choice but to upgrade my membership to include this amazing old brute of a golf course & have remained in The Altonwood Group ever since. 

2. Biggest golfing achievement? And have you won any club championships? 

I’ve won 2 Club Championships.  !!

I remember desperately fighting my way round Westerham golf course for several years in all the monthly competitions trying to go lower than my handicap & then to dare to go even lower the holy grail in my mind then would be shooting a level par round. I didn’t achieve that for a while!

I remember getting so close many times getting to the16th then the 17^th level par & blowing it then getting into the same position playing 18 & blowing it! but always putting out however short the putt as I couldn’t count it as my lowest ever round unless every putt found the bottom of the cup.

I remember having short putts to shoot my lowest round and gradually as I started to reduce my lowest score I began to love the feeling of getting into that situation & embracing the tension of the moment.

Then finally one day in 2004 I did it in a society day at Farleigh Court I shot a 71 gross which was 1 under par it was a great feeling knowing I’d conquered it, it gave me a huge confidence boost that after so many attempts I’d finally done it & I think its that sort of work & effort you have to put in to really trust yourself under pressure in competition rounds, I felt like I’d earn it. 

I entered my 1^st Club Championship at Westerham & finished 12^th I was pleased and excited to be competing against all the best golfers in the club with no handicaps, to me it felt like this was the the one to win, I started to think could I actually win one. This fired me up even more to start the process of working out how I could do it.  I then played every year finishing closer but never winning it at Westerham.

After moving to The Addington in 2011 I came 2^nd in my 1^st year by 2 shots then 2^nd again in my 3^rd year followed by more years of just missing out it started to become an obsession & I started working harder & harder as each years ‘Benka Salver’ The Addington’s Club Championship approached.

But still it remained allusive until Finally in 2017 the stars aligned & I think I finally summonsed the inner belief combined with getting all my mechanics under control in my head & in my swing in the run up to it. I almost blew it in the final holes again by pulling drives left at 15 and making a triple from the trees then pulling my drive at 16 and making a double but somehow, I found the courage to par 17 getting up & down from the back of the green & made a regulation par at 18 to win it by 2 shots.

It was the most unbelievable feeling to finally get over the line after all those years trying. I realised its not about beating the rest of the field its about beating yourself & you are the only person standing in your own way if you want to win. It’s trusting your own ability & doing what you know you can do in the situation & letting it happen. It was done.  

I then won my 2^nd Club Championship at Woldingham Golf club after moving there in 2023, this I feel especially proud of as in 2018 I suffered an injury to my left knee which resulted in tears in the cartilage. I battled through several years with not a lot of form due to this but somehow felt I could get my game back in check to win another as had started too show a bit of form in the build up to it, I got up and down 6 times for par on the back 9 on Sunday to win it by 2 shots and felt I drew on all my experiences & the win of 5 years earlier to help me get through it.

It’s hard to win any golf competition & you have to earn it & put yourself at the sharp end if you truly want it.

It’s not a comfortable place sometimes & you have to embrace it and take it on there’s nowhere to hide.

You have to be bold. 

 3. Biggest competition entered? (Open qualifying, English Am  etc etc) - how was that Experience? 

Surrey Mid-Am Championship twice finished 12^th both times, But the 1^st time I entered I was 3^rd after the 1^st round but hit 2 drives into deep rough on the final back 9 & dropped 5 shots, shame as I could’ve easily had a top 5 finish. I loved the experience both times and having been a regular Surrey A team player since 2013 I probably should’ve entered a few bigger competitions.

Maybe I will now. 

My debut for the Surrey A team was against Betchworth Park this team is made up of players from all over Surrey to compete against other Surrey clubs scratch teams.  I remember being really nervous the whole week running up to this my debut match as I felt I wasn’t  playing great & had started to seriously doubt my ability but miraculously in a friendly game with my pal at https://www.tandridgegolfclub.com/ on the Thursday evening before I had my 2^nd hole in one at the par 3 15^th  This luckily gave me a huge confidence boost for the upcoming match & I somehow on the Saturday managed to win both my foursomes match in the morning  playing alongside the captain of the Surrey side & then my singles match both 8&7 which apparently was the biggest win by a Surrey A rookie player at that time & at the ripe old age of 42. I was then asked to play many times for Surrey A and this was all brilliant competitive & fun & it kick started my golf to another level, I started to feel comfortable playing with these guys and I started to believe that I could win more competitions and get my handicap even lower. 

4. Favourite current and all-time golfer? 

Sir Nick & Ernie who I loved to watch but Tiger has to be favourite, all those years when I was trying so hard to compete & get my handicap down or get through the Knockout phases of the board comps at Westerham. I would always watch him late on Sunday night hole putts and chip in to win or get into playoffs it just gave me that desire to emulate his focus such an inspiration to the world of golf as we all know.

When he won the Masters in 2019 it was incredible. Its that inner self belief & relentless never give in attitude that you can never rule out and that’s what you need to win. I loved watching him for this. 

5. Favourite tournament? 

The Masters, The Open & The Ryder Cup are equally as special for me and feel exactly the same about all 3. The Masters as its the 1^st major of the year & The Open as it’s the last & for its roster of historic courses that we can all play & The Ryder Cup because its every 2 years & it’s the Match play. All equally historic & brilliant. Can’t choose I feel the same when I watch them all. 

6. Best golf holiday destination?  

Scotland it’s the home of golf 🤷‍♂️ Love Scotland had some amazing trips up there. 

7. Your top 3 tips for other golfers to improve? 

• Tempo/swing slow to get control  

• Self Belief/believe you can go low/Read Dr Bob Rotella books 

• Play for something every time you go out 

8. What are you currently working on within your game? 

Since Knee surgery in March, I’ve been working on my tempo especially with the wedges. I started back just playing the par 3 course at Westerham which has been fantastic for that. Trying to hit every green in reg, trying to par the course or lower and generally chipping and trying to get some control back. Then gradually upping the power with longer irons & woods. 

I’m now back playing full 18 holes so I’ve been working on trying to carve out a score many rounds have been close but haven’t quite finished them off. A 73 round The Addington’s new Colt course last week was my lowest for a while but still managed to double bogey the last followed by a 1 over par 73 at Westerham on the weekend in the Scratch knockout quarter final so its almost there. 

9. Current swing thought/s if any? 

Short back swing then fire my left shoulder high to the sky 

@sirnickfaldoofficial

🔝 Tip for the weekend - Instant slice fix🏌️‍♂️ #golftips #golf #golftiktok #nickfaldo

10. Drive for show, putt for dough or other way round? 

Putt for dough 100% then Drive for show 

11. Do you do any work with your Stats? if so what platform do you use and any further comments? 

Nope I occasionally go to the range but I just work on the strike & ball flight. I can’t stand Trackman its like looking in the mirror! It ruins my perception of my perfect golf swing!  plus hitting against a wall or into a net off a mat is horrible you can perfect a terrible shot in the net. Trackman is useful in the winter if you want to play Royal St George’s in the dark with your mates & a beer. Trust your swing and the ball flight will follow. Just go out & play golf & keep it as simple as possible.

The best rounds I’ve ever had I’ve felt like I’ve chipped it round without forcing any shot. I’ve always worked on mechanics off the course then once I’ve got a feeling just repeat it without too much over thought. You can’t play freely if you’re constantly thinking about your swing mechanics you have to trust it in play. See the shot & your body will automatically do what it needs to do to pull it off obviously there’s factors you have to address such as stance, lie, wind, ground moisture etc but that becomes instinctive once you’ve done the work. If it can get that feeling the confidence you get from one shot you pull off is the enough to get a low round under way.  

12. Do you have a golf coach/instructor? if so who?  Do you follow any swing methods (stack and tilt, rotary, MORAD, one plane etc etc) 

Firstly my Dad has played a key part at helping me from a young age on how to think as a sports man I suppose. He played Table tennis for Wales in the 60’s and has played golf for almost 50 years. He’s always got the right positive mindset & answers on how to conduct yourself whilst competing.  

Secondly My long term pairs partner at Westerham Rick ‘The power’ Moore (Ed note: I hope to get the secret to winning 10 Club Champs from Rick soon - watch this space) was a total inspiration when I started playing the knockout competitions with him. I think my handicap was 8 & he was 1 and a Kent senior 1^st team player when we first joined up as a pair,  I lost the final of the Brasted (board comp) to him at the 19^th hole & we had a humdinger of a match so obviously we became mates after that! he had a reputation as the most fierce competitor at the club he’s won the club championship there at least 10 times and his utterly ruthless short game & relentless fairway finding tee shots were something to behold.

Playing with Rick was the best day of the week for me & I found his calm manor in how he conducted himself on the course whilst competing & some of the shots he pulled off to be totally inspiring. He taught me so much and I started to become more & more comfortable competing with him & on my own & against him. 

The late James Marshall the head pro at The Addington & formally Westerham taught me from the early days at Westerham & was a fantastic swing coach he always kept it very simple & worked with my natural swing. I always felt that after a session with him I could put my trust in his comments & just let the ball fly. I miss his helpful input when I’m struggling to find it sometimes but still try to remember his tips to this day,

I have experimented with Moe Normans single plane as you know JT, It’s had some interesting results, that 9 holes you witnessed using the Moe swing was unbelievable & I found it especially useful before my knee surgery as I was struggling with the weight transfer in the swing but now I’ve had the operation on my knee I feel  I can go back to my usual swing. 

13. Favourite training aids? If any 

The odd range session but I would work on shaping the ball left & right & feeling control off the face. I’ve never been too bothered about smashing it long with Driver its not a long drive competition its usually an 18 hole medal so I’ve always been more focused on the end score as long as the woods off the tee are under control & in position top attack the green. I always felt that as long as I didn’t have an impaired back swing and a half decent lie I could get my 2^nd shot somewhere near the green. I Learnt early from Rick ‘The Power’ Moore (10 times) Westerham Club champion that position on the fairway is key if you want to score on a hole. 

Putting in the lounge before competitions usually into an empty sleeve of pro v 1’s & lob wedges either blading like a putt & flicking the ball over chairs or the wife or anything else that’s stationary in the lounge at the time. Again Just to get that feeling of the ball off the club face. 

But I have also built my own artificial putting green in the garden. 

14. WITB?  Any planned upgrades? 

Taylor Made Stealth 1 Driver  

Callaway Big bertha Alpha 815 3 wood 

Taylor Made Superfast burner 5 wood 

Callaway X16 Pro series Riffle Irons 

Vokey SM8 wedges 48,56,60 

Scotty Cameron Studio design no5 Putter 

Best golf anecdote: 

In 1991 I was at Wentworth watching the BMW and Seve & Monty were in a play off I ran the length of the 1^st hole to get prime position behind the green to get the best view.  Seve hit a 4 iron into the green & left it 2ft away. He then tucked it away to beat Monty giving the famous fist pump that they use as his silhouette image to this day. I was in the back ground of that photo and its even on the wall in the lounge at Wentworth. I was 20 years old had long hair & my wayfarer sunglasses on. I was there! 

Thanks a lot Sion, all the best for the rest of the season

Next time on “A Round with Jerry”

• Technique Tuesday - The “P" position system used by Top pros

Au revoir,