Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

.. or yesterday or whenever your last game happened.

I played this morning - just a bounce game with one of my regular partners.

There had been a big competition yesterday at the club so the course was a bit quieter today than one might expect for a Sunday. 11:20 tee off as a two-ball and lots of other two balls out there with a couple of quick 4-balls so pace of play was brisk.

Those who have read my posts recently will know that I've been suffering with a nasty foot/ankle injury for a few months and it's just great to be out there at all at the moment. Thankfully the foot came through with flying colours though I think I've been favouring it for the last couple of weeks still and after the game today my knee was playing up but with luck that will just be a temporary setback.

A glorious day though in the Thames Valley with above average temperatures and the course was in remarkable nick for mid March.

The match itself was close for a long way. I felt I was playing reasonably well after not playing much of the winter and after losing the 2nd I levelled it on the 3rd and was one up after nine. Though I felt I was playing better than my opponent I couldn't shake him and he hung in there until I went 2 up on 15. Closed it out on 16 but was made to work for it.

Although it was matchplay I kept an estimated Stableford score and came in with 32 (estimated) points which I wasn't too disappointed with given lack of recent regular play. One NR and a couple of holes where a 3 pointer was well withing my grasp and ended with 1 point (short game was actually pretty good apart from those two nightmares)

Now looking forward to next weekend and a Stableford competition where I've been drawn with last year's captain and next year's!

Played in the regional final of a national knockout tournament (howdidido) at Botley Park in Southampton yesterday. Format, following 4 rounds of matchplay, was 4BBB off 3/4. Didn't expect great scoring given the windy conditions and we set out with the approach that the first thing we needed to do was beat our playing partners. They played some great golf, so we were chuffed to get 21 points to their 20 on the outward half. They however reversed that on the back 9, and my partner made a great par on the last to level the scores on 41. There were a total of 16 pairs, and the top two won through to the overall final in Portugal in February. Knowing we were second on countback made for a stressful few minutes while we waited for the rest of the field to finish but nobody else came in with more than 39, so we're off to Vilamoura next year!

Excellent stuff SJ, well done!

Superb SJ have a or 10 for me to celebrate

Cheers guys. Haven't been to Portugal for about 15 years, so looking forward to reacquainting myself with the Old Course and playing the O'Connor and Victoria courses for the first time. Other 2 rounds are Millenium and Laguna.

Don't normally post on this thread, but I have something special to report. Last game was on Sunday, at Finca Cortesin. The place was absolutely stunning, combining a spectacular setting, pure luxury and a really challenging golf course.

First the course. The routing through a valley results in some large changes in elevation and many challenging carries off the tee. Although a very long course, there is a real risk / reward element to many holes, with driveable par 4's, reachable par 5's and doglegs that tempt you to cut the corner. It is the perfect matchplay venue. Kudos to my mate for driving the green on the par 4 4th, taking on a 280 yard carry over water (if you remember Donald tried and failed in the world matchplay). The greens were lightening fast and very true, remarkable given the heavy overnight rain which forced every other course in the area to shut. There were also some very severe slopes to negotiate and some tricky pin positions and clever run off areas.

Secondly the service. The staff treat you like royalty and there is an attention to detail and service ethos that I have never experienced in Spain. When we drove into the car park, someone was on hand to unload our clubs and take them to the practice ground, where a pyramid of quality practice balls awaited. Our buggies had a cool box with bottled water and a marshall drove out during the round to restock the water and bring us a bag of fresh fruit. After the round the locker rooms were filled with the most luxurious towels and toiletries and they kept the bar open for us even though we were the only people in the clubhouse.

The other notable thing is the isolation, as the course is in the middle of nowhere with no housing around it. I hate playing resort golf where you feel like you are playing in the middle of a housing estate. We only saw 2 other groups all day, and were probably the only people on the course on the back nine. The holes are really spread out as well, I never normally use a buggy but here it is worth while.

As for my game, well I had an off day with the driver, and this is a course where you really need to drive the ball well. Luckily from 100 yards in I was inspired and managed to rescue a respectable score, playing 4BBB we walked away with a 3 and 1 win. I don't expect many people shoot anywhere near their handicap round here.

In summary,the most fun course I have ever played, and second only to Loch Lomond in terms of the overall golf experience. Not sure what the doak/joke rating is, but should definitely be in the top 5 in Spain.

Howdidyoudo? Very well as it happens.

A few days away playing golf in Portugal, just what the doctor ordered.

Well done SJ ( you seem to be making a winning habit - just with me that you lose then?)

raycastleunited wrote:Don't normally post on this thread, but I have something special to report. Last game was on Sunday, at Finca Cortesin. The place was absolutely stunning, combining a spectacular setting, pure luxury and a really challenging golf course.

I had the pleasure of playing there last spring, and I concur with everything you say, Ray. Had to play off the yellows because of the strong wind that was blowing straight into your face on the practice ground, and I felt like I played out of my skin in managing to play to my handicap.

oldshanker wrote:Howdidyoudo? Very well as it happens.

A few days away playing golf in Portugal, just what the doctor ordered.

Well done SJ ( you seem to be making a winning habit - just with me that you lose then?)

Don't blame me, blame the ringer!

SmithersJones wrote:

oldshanker wrote:Howdidyoudo? Very well as it happens.

A few days away playing golf in Portugal, just what the doctor ordered.

Well done SJ ( you seem to be making a winning habit - just with me that you lose then?)

Don't blame me, blame the ringer!

I wonder how their day at Woburn went. In the end, I was laid up on that day anyway, so even if I could have swung it round work, I still would have missed it.

Had a quick nine holes this morning.Hi 8/9 GIRS.Had five 3putts on these holes.

Argh, snow flurries already this morning. Bar steward forecasters calling for a shed load of snow. Still umming and arring about whether to risk it this morning. Would only manage or attempt holes 7-16 on the mountainous terrain we have anyway. Should I go for it???

Could be your last chance before the white stuff is up to your oxters 1GG!

Get yer orange balls out!

If its anything like last year, your course was off limits until April wasn't it?

OS. I might have to play with my missus's balls, they're pink by the way! That might not sound right, I mean golf balls she's not a lady boy.

The poopie is beginning to settle now, too late for today. It is supposed to warm up so I might get lucky next weekend. This course, if they reopen it, probably won't be officially playable until April.

However I am contemplating joining somewhere else next year due to the shenanigans that have surrounded the club this year. Would be a shame as the course is right on my doorstep.

Played TOC again today, actually really enjoyed it, got a round of applause from a dozen or so Southern visitors after a rasper of a drive on the first so that's always a nice way to start.

Only sullied by being stuck a couple of holes behind some snotty St.Andrews University students intent on holding up the course.

Pretty ordinary day today but with good company. It was our annual "Turkey Trot". 4BBB Stableford off 3/4 handicap.

Makes me realize how lucky I am to be normally off an over 18 handicap - I hate not getting 2-shot holes, and today our index 18 hole where I didn't get a shot at all! (and it's far from the easiest hole on the course)

Didn't play particularly well but help my partner out on a few holes where I was still getting a shot and he wasn't. We only finished with 34 pts (I think) - winner was something like 43pts.

Had some decent holes though and as I said, good company

shot 1 under par today around lochgreen and i was delighted as i got upand down from evrywhere. should finish the season on 2.4.

incedently my playing partner had 13 putts through 12 holes today !

You wouldn't want to know too much about my game yesterday - it was the stuff nightmares are made of. Fairway shots were going astray - mainly to the left, and my chipping was coming and going throughout the round. So frustrating as I have been quite consistent with my ball striking lately - where do these changes come from???

golf is evil mary.

i started back this summer hitting an average of over 13 greens a round for the the first 6 rounds , 3 putted everything. got my putting back and started averageing 8 greens in reg

I seem to have lost my putting altogether mystiroakey - to be fair though, I have been playing for 50 years and never really found it.

While everybody is talking about belly and broomhandle putters, I have just shortened my putter to 32 inches, put a very thin grip on it and an extra 30g of weight. Still have to use it in anger, but it does give me a workout.

Played in a 4 club comp today. Carried my 19deg hybrid, 6 & 9 irons and 56 deg wedge, using my hybrid as a putter. Had a very good front nine (20 pts) but the wheels fell off on the back nine (12 pts). Hit my irons very poorly but had no 3 putts.

well now you're just tempting me to use a hybrid as a putter!

i allways blade my lob wedge as a putter in those scenarios- basically use the leading edge and hit the middle of the ball- you may be surprised how easy it is

Club stableford today, the usual 10 of us that play in our swindle all entered and put our fivers in a pot (in addition to comp entry fee) lowest score takes the money. Wind was seriously blowing, which are my favourite conditions being a former links man. Though wasn't happy at being in the last group out and off the 10th tee, and with the club captain who seriously needs to update his views on everything in life.

Felt a pang of guilt for one of our guys plays off 18, hand his best stavleford round ever with 43points and from what I can tell was excited at walking away with the pot of gold and his division for the day the first time he'd have done either. You can only imagine the look on his poor face when my score of 44points was put onto the the board. Distraught was not the word. Still he'll get vouchers from his division just not the bragging rights for the next 7days!

In all seriousness though I would say today was the round of my life. Played the best golf I can ever remember playing, never hit the ball so well on everyshot. Which is amazing as I'd been playing pretty crap until today. Everything was bang on today, every strike felt sweet, had 14fairways in reg (that's every one) 18GIR and 28putts, didn't leave a single thing on the course and irrespective of stableford score shot a -8, 63 for course record score. (Is now current record as were reduced to par 71 due to previous vandalism of a par 5 tee box)

Feeling a very happy Mav today. You watch though next week be back to shanksville and playing crap.

There you go Mav, nothing like a dose of the shanks to get you hitting the ball well!!

Was it a qualifier and if so, does it get you down to your target of +1??

Top effort, well done!

drive4show wrote:There you go Mav, nothing like a dose of the shanks to get you hitting the ball well!!

Was it a qualifier and if so, does it get you down to your target of +1??

Top effort, well done!

D4S, I think the shanks did help the other week as I went out on course just looking to enjoy the day and play a bit of wind golf. I always feel comfortable in the wind and as a result everything fell into place.

I thought our final qualifier was the monthly medal at start of october, but turns out today was the last qualifier after checking the club diary. So based on what css sgould be today will mean +1 is now achieved with a couple of 0.1's to spare. So this injury riddled year has actually been one of my best competively and goal wise

Congrats Mav - sounds a helluva round

My own game today was defeating Scotland in a traditional (if unofficial) England/Scotland match 3&1

First two holes were nightmares but my partner kept us level after two - played well after that though

Putting, and Irons really letting me down badly.

As a result another frustating round for me today

Davie indeed it was, cannot remember the last time i broke 40 point barrier, got to be at least 8/9 years ago.

Well done Mav.
Wouldn't be eleigible for a course record at my place - can't do course records in Stableford competitions. A policy with which I 100% agree. It's to do with the mindset as the worst that can happen to you in Stableford is no points so you take on shots that you wouldn't do in Medal.

Eyetoldyouso wrote:Well done Mav.
Wouldn't be eleigible for a course record at my place - can't do course records in Stableford competitions. A policy with which I 100% agree. It's to do with the mindset as the worst that can happen to you in Stableford is no points so you take on shots that you wouldn't do in Medal.

By and large i'd agree with that and as it should be, in defence of my round, card signed by club captain, every putt holed, and every hole completed tee to green, the record will only stand for 6 months max as were due to go back to par 72 when works are completed to restore us back to a full length par 5 on the hole thats been sanctioned to be shorted by county, so will try again then

Maverick wrote:No game, but a trip to the range.... I've felt for a while something is brewing since my return to play in september. I had the round where I somehow had a 69 playing awful, then last time out hit the ball like I was swinging a python using orangans arms.

Well tomight the problem hit and I suffered, shanked my first 15 wedges! Decided goto the 8 iron for comfort, 7 shanks! Upto 6 iron, 2 shanks. Switched to hybrid 5 straight pull hooks! Took the driver out sliced 3 straight out of the range! Clubs packed away rest of range balls given to oldman mav. No point standing there suffering walk away forget it hopefully and see how get on in stableford sunday! If its still off! May need lessons as things are definately not right!

From that to a course record 63 in 10 days?

That is some remarkable improvement in confidence and form Mav!...

Well done Mav.
The perfect round, not many folk achieve that.
I meant to post on your Stats post to say that they were pretty impressive.
Is it all down to the bionic knee?

Aye...that's the one we all strive for Mav, congrats and very well done. Did you feel you did anything different e.g in your warm up, preparation. When did it dawn on you that you were on something very very special?

Jas/Mav
I had the perfect 11 holes once it was a scratch matchplay semi-final against a bloke I did not like. We shook hands on the 11th green.

Funny game golf I have had some very low scores in my life but can't remember playing particulary well when compiling them, generally a birdie run or 3 twos etc.

Cheers guys.

Did nothing different in my warm up whatsoever. The 2 big differences though that I really did feel was firstly since coming back from the surgery to go out open minded and accept whatever comes my way instead of forcing it. The biggest thing though that gave me confidence before teeing off was the weather, is was a touch cold and very windy, I've always been confident in the wind no matter how hard its blowing, I love playing golf in blustery conditions and just feel confident when its like that. So with that in mind I jest felt totally relaxed and because it was blowing quite hard I never once drifted my mind towards my score just the next shot at hand. It was only after putting out on last green that I realised the score I'd put together.

The only time I've had a perfect round and likely to be the only one. But let's see what happens next time aye

Got a game on the Kings at Gleneagles today, for the second week in a row I shot four over my handicap on a tough championship course. It was a bit damp and the greens a bit funny having been cored in the last month.

My long game is getting to be as good as it has ever been. My putting was woeful though and my chipping was hit and miss. I derailed a reasonably good round with a howler of a 10 at the 6th. Pulled a 6 iron out of the bag when I wanted a 9, hit it right out of the middle, right over the flag, right over the green, into a tree and down a gulley. Reload, sclaff, sclaff, thinned chip, 3 putts... head well and truly up a$$! Bounced back well enough but a couple of triples on the back 9 took a bit of the gloss off a decent effort.

Pebble Beach Public Links. Don't know if any of you have played it. But you all ought to try it once. Played it this past Monday. It is better than advertised. The scenery is astounding in person and the course is even better than you thought it was. Yes, you can shoot a good score if your game is on and you are lucky enough to stay out of the trouble spots. But you get into one of the tight places or short side yourself, you are looking at double, triple or in my case a quadruple bogie. The course is set in one of most beautiful piece of land on earth and was absolutely a gem. As you approach the 5 th hole for the first time, and starting to hear the ocean and sea the ocean, you have a tendency to forget about golf. What an experience. I am sure I will play better the next time.

9 holes down at Princes this morning. Played the Himalayas.

Birdied the 1st, then downhill from there. Only other highlight was the sinking of a monster putt on the 5th that Terry Wogan would have been proud of.

Glad when the heavens opened after we had teed off on the 10th, as none of us were playing well, and it gave us a great excuse to walk in and head straight to the clubhouse for a cup of tea and a pastie.

After the premature closure of my course a mate and I decided to go an hour southwest for a game. We ended up in Southmoore, PA in slightly warmer climes.

The greens were certainly quicker than I am used to but were still a little boobly from aeration. After a two week layoff there was a little rustiness but had shaken off the cobwebs until we got called through when playing the 6th hole. Of course that cues the inevitable man sausage up as you rush a little bit. Was expecting no worse than par but ended up with double.

Finished the front nine with a nice sand save. Back nine was a little mixed but included a nice 2 on the 12th and a huge par putt on the 17th. Overall I was quite pleased, scored well but some ropey shots in there and some wild ones that would have cost me dearly at my home course.

Glad to hear that you got a game in GG!

Played a social bounce yesterday - much better than last week. Parts of the course were slightly soggy, due to the heavy rain in the last couple of days.
Particularly pleased as there is a run of 3 x par 4's which have psyched me out since my handicap cut, but they yielded 7 points today! I also birdied a par 3 with a long putt from just off the green.

Yesterday just the 3 holes before the heavens opened so went off to the cinema to watch TinTin with mavette.

Today, monthly medal non qualifier. Really did feel like every hole was into the wind infact only one hole played downwind and that was the 18th. On our par 3, 8th hole ripped a 3wood (usually hit a mid iron) finished 10yards short!

Bunkers were terrible after yesterdays down poor those that weren't flooded were severely compacted. Of the 3 I went in never once managed to get within 15feet let alone an up and down.

Still played solidly in the wind and was happy to finish what was a tough day +2 for a 73gross. CSS hopefully will increase to help me hit buffer, but shows what a difference a week and hell of a lot more wind makes, 10 shots higher than last sunday and hit the ball really well.

First game for 3 weeks and started with a big 8, lost ball.
Played the remaining 17 holes in 6 over so pretty pleased really. Managed three birdies.
Short game still amazingly good, played some lovely soft hand shots today, I know it will end in tears but I am enjoying this short spell.
Long game good today despite two lost balls.
Weather amazing perfect playing conditions.
Managed to beat Deadly on the last 35pts to 34. Despite him birding the last for the fourth consecutive game. He does love showing off in front of the clubhouse windows.
Winter rules so we play off 3/4 handicap now.

Oh and for the benefit of MPB I went in one bunker and took TWO to get out. Mind you I then drained a 30 footer for a par('')

Ha, glad to hear you're playing well Doon and were what 2 under net if playing full handicaps?
 
Just need to brush up on that bunker technique.............. 

MPB
The Winter tees make the course considerably shorter and a 3/4 handicap makes it realistic.
I scored an 81 [nett 71] which would have been about right off the full tees. I did play the last 13 holes in 3 over today which surprised me.

I just play for fun now and my playing partner works weekends so is not a member of a club. We manage our own handicaps with an interesting system.
We play Stableford and over 40 points is a cut of one shot. If you lose 3 matches on the trot you go up a shot. I play off 13 and Deadly is off 19.
My last club handicap a couple of years ago was 15.

Played with JAS today at his club along with a pal of mine and a pal of JAS's to make up the fourball. We paired up to make it a Wrag Barn v Broadstone game with the Wrag boys sneaking into a 2 hole lead with 2 play. Looked like my pal and I were going to be heading home with our tails between our legs but a birdie birdie finish by team Broadstone squared the match and it will be a tense affair when the return match takes place just as soon as we can get it arranged.

Oh.......and there was the small matter of the Friday night on the town last night beforehand. Just a quiet beer and a civilised meal in the local chinese. Then another couple of beers in the pub. Then the pub crawl started. Then we ended up in some dodgy disco straight out of the 70's. Finally decided to head home at 2.30am but we got accosted at the taxi rank and 'forced' to go for a curry with 2 bits of local totty. Finally made it into bed at 4.45 with the alarm set for 8.30am.

Oh.......and there was the small matter of the Friday night on the town last night beforehand. Just a quiet beer and a civilised meal in the local chinese. Then another couple of beers in the pub. Then the pub crawl started. Then we ended up in some dodgy disco straight out of the 70's. Finally decided to head home at 2.30am but we got accosted at the taxi rank and 'forced' to go for a curry with 2 bits of local totty. Finally made it into bed at 4.45 with the alarm set for 8.30am

Sod the Golf where was my invite....

Played the first round of our Winter League yesterday..... Played well after my knee operation.

Had to give both of our opponents 16 shots, my partner got 3 from me.

We were struggling to hang on in the front 9 as they had 3 par net birdies & I kept missing 6-8 foot puts for halves.

My partner got a shot at the 9th, putted up to 2 feet and then scooped up his ball as I had a 4 already he forgot he had a shot so we lost that to go 3 down instead of only 2.

Then we lost the 10th & 11th. So e were not looking good..... I then went par, 3. birdie 3, birdie 3 to get us back in the game and blow me at the 15th they were missing the par 3 green by miles & it hit a tree and deflected back to 10 feet - so an easy nett 2

Giving 16 shots to both opponents is way too many

GWR-Golfer wrote:Played the first round of our Winter League yesterday..... Played well after my knee operation.

Had to give both of our opponents 16 shots, my partner got 3 from me.

We were struggling to hang on in the front 9 as they had 3 par net birdies & I kept missing 6-8 foot puts for halves.

My partner got a shot at the 9th, putted up to 2 feet and then scooped up his ball as I had a 4 already he forgot he had a shot so we lost that to go 3 down instead of only 2.

Then we lost the 10th & 11th. So e were not looking good..... I then went par, 3. birdie 3, birdie 3 to get us back in the game and blow me at the 15th they were missing the par 3 green by miles & it hit a tree and deflected back to 10 feet - so an easy nett 2

Giving 16 shots to both opponents is way too many

Totally agree that many shots to give away is ludicrous. They need to bring back the 3/4 difference rule as that gives more chance to all. I've stupidly agreed to take part in a Winter knockout 4BBB. Potentially 10rounds including final if we get that far, only playing as the guy who asked me regular partner is my dad who is out of action this winter due to imminent hip replacement surgery. So I was roped in as substitute, the first round next Satutday my partner is off 12(so nice few shots for us there) however our oopenents are 12 & 18 handicaps repsectively, which means I'll be giving out a stupid amount of shots not fancying our chances

Aren't 4BBB games meant to be off 3/4 difference? 16 is a massive amount of shots to give away although having said that a scratch golfer would be giving me 17 shots even at 3/4 difference.

Davie wrote:Aren't 4BBB games meant to be off 3/4 difference? 16 is a massive amount of shots to give away although having said that a scratch golfer would be giving me 17 shots even at 3/4 difference.

That's what I thought Davie 3/4 difference just hoping the info start sheet is wrong when it says full handicap.

Either way though I'll be giving away sill amounts of shots!