My first newsletter starts with a wish for a happy but most of all healthy New Year to all, and we hope all your golfing dreams are met during 2015 from Myself, John and JD.

We had some very cold conditions over the past few weeks, but it allowed us to get some fantastic snaps of the course courtesy of David Brenes.

Click here to view all of the images.

We had a lot of fun New Year's Day picking the winners of the festive draw. Once again the support from you the member, for this event was fantastic, commiserations to all of those who didn't win a prize and below are a list of the winners.

1st - Tony Negal - M1 Motocaddy
2nd - Malcolm Stonehill - 915 Titleist Driver
3rd - Frank Strachan - S1 Motocaddy
4th - Dennis Keeling - G30 Driver
5th - Alan Brewer - Callaway Bag
6th - Martin Turner - G30 Fairway Wood
7th - Darren Dunnett - Oscar Top
8th - Nick Clode - Club Jumper
9th - Steve Sullivan - Club Jumper
10th - Bill Leo - Dozen Pro V1

Preceding the draw, a Texas Scramble was played over the East course to blow away any cobwebs from the night before.

The winners with a fine total of 58.9 were John Hambly, Ray Impey, Bob Impey and Brian Harland. The runners-up in close pursuit on 59.4 were the team of Tony Negal, Richard Tomlin, Colin Murray and Chris D'Souza.

We have a trade in deal for the first two months (ends Feb 28th) concerning all Callaway bags with a value of £90 and over, that's correct, I'm going to give you £25 for that beat up old bag that you know needs changing, so take advantage and get ready for the upcoming season.

New in your Pro Shop

Two new TaylorMade drivers have arrived in store -- the movable weight, multi-level adjustable R15 and the lightweight, swingspeed-focused AeroBurner. The idea, which goes back to previous twin-driver introductions like the R9 and the Burner SuperFast, is that there are two kinds of golfers looking for two types of clubs: the technician and the bomber.

The technician is about dialing in precise launch conditions and navigating his way around the golf course strategically, with planned routes and trajectories. The bomber prefers high, far and straight, a less subtle approach that might be phrased as "swing first, ask questions later." Which one is going to be right for you? Only a fitting will tell you that answer. So please contact us soon to book a session in the studio and let's get you fit for the new season.

Click here to find out more about the new TaylorMade drivers.

Click here to request your fitting.

The European Tour begins 2015 in South Africa for The South African Open Championship Hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni. Denmark's Morten Ørum Madsen defends the title at Glendower GC.

This is one of the oldest events to feature on the European Tour. The first South African Open was contested as an exhibition tournament in 1893 and 2010 saw the 100th staging of the great competition. This year will be the 104th edition.

The most famous South African golfers of the last 80 years have made this tournament their own. Bobby Locke won nine times between 1935 and 1955 before Gary Player took over, winning 13 times from 1956 to 1981. Other South African Major winners - Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman have all lifted the trophy.

Last season Morten Ørum Madsen of Denmark won by two strokes from Jbe Kruger and Hennie Otto. As those around him floundered, Madsen kept his composure to post a closing 67 and pick up his first European Tour victory.

Madsen went into the final round one shot behind tournament and home favourite Charl Schwartzel. When the 2011 Masters champion birdied the second, third and fourth holes to go three in front, it looked like the tournament might turn into a procession. But a triple bogey six at the par three sixth, then a double bogey at the 10th put paid to his hopes of clinching his home Open title.

As you would expect, a strong home contingent will tee it up at Glendower GC this week - Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Ernie Els are among the South African players on the start list.

Ernie Els has accepted the role of host and ambassador for the event this year. His two charities - Els for Autism and the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation will become beneficiaries.

"I'm very honoured to be offered the role and accepted without hesitation," he said. "This is a tournament with incredible history and it has featured strongly throughout my career."

The forecast for the week looks unsettled with thunderstorms a possibility. There could well be some delays to play.

Player Watch:

Branden Grace - Winner of the last tournament of 2014, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Grace is renowned for good streaks of play so could well keep his run going. He has won three times in his native South Africa and will be keen to add to that tally.

Richard Sterne - The talented South African won this event back in 2009. He was tied 11th in his last start on the European Tour and showed signs in the Alfred Dunhill Championship of a return to form.

Trevor Fisher Jnr - He was tied seventh in this event last year and was tied fourth in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December. The planets could be aligning for Fisher.

Click here to stay up to date with all of the latest events.