Tell us about your game today...

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Fresh thread - you know the score: share some of your tales of woe, indifference and banditry with us all.

Played TOC this morning, sitting in the clubhouse now. No wind whatsoever, absolutely dead calm, and the greens were pretty soft as you would expect at this time of year. My driving was a little wayward but I was getting good distance, fortunately you can hit it almost anywhere and not get punished. My irons were spot on though, I was really trapping the ball and fizzing it at the pins. The birdies kept on coming. I drove 9 and 10, was pin high in 2 on both the par 5's, and when I drove 18 and rolled in the eagle putt I was too shocked to celebrate. It wasn't til my mate totted up the score in the clubhouse that I realised I had shot 62. I'm here for the next three days and I wouldn't be surprised if I repeat the same score every day if the calm weather holds.

First board comp of the year today (and the only winter board comp) - 4BBB stableford pairs, randomly drawn and I was fortunate enough to be drawn with a 4 h/c who played VERY well

Winner was 45pts and there were 5 pairs on 43 - of which we were one and got a 3rd place overall on countback. Being a board comp the tees were pushed right back for the first time this year and it came as a bit of a shock after so many generous forward tees so far through the winter. Partner shot -1 gross so he was the dominant force but I did manage to contribute some (particularly par3s). Happy days - that's two 3rd places in team events already this year so now just need to do it solo!

Couple of enjoyable games Fri/Sat.
Out to Craigielaw for a bash on Friday. Gentle breeze if any and the course was there for the taking. Got off to a nice start, 40 yard pitch and putt birdie on the first, then lipped out from a few feet for another on 2. Sand save from a nasty plugged lie on 3, then lost my concentration on 4 to 3-putt bogey from 8 feet. Bounced back on 5 with a super approach shot with 6iron to 18 inches. Straight forward pars at 6 and 7, followed by another 3-putt bogey on 8. Nipped a little wedge to 6 feet on nine but failed to convert. Started well back with a couple of solid pars, missing from 15 then 5 feet for birds. Bit of a brain fart on the 12th tee led to a dropped shot, but bounced back well with another wedge to 5 feet on the next - this time I did convert. Ripped a lovely ball off the next tee, best of the day, but found a nasty fairway bunker and bogey followed. Three putt bogey on the next, and looked likely to drop another at 16 but for a nice up and down from 40 yards short of the green - solid 3 footer to save par. Yet another 3-putt bogey on 17. Hit a nice drive down 18, smashed my hybrid only to find the tiny greenside bunker guarding the front left, so close to skirting it and setting up an eagle putt to finish.. Nasty lie in the bunker and made a comfortable par to finish +3 and pleased with the effort over an unfamiliar course.

Opening comp of the year yesterday - drawn Texas scramble and I was drawn into a team consisting of an 8, 22 and 24 handicappers, all of whom were pretty handy golfers for their rating.
We started well when our 24 knocked in a cracking 20footer for birdie to get things going. 8 knocked his in close on 2 and I matched it to give us a shout of a two on the only 2s counting hole. Sadly we all missed from 6 feet.
Par at the next off my approach, before I smashed a fairway wood to get on in two of the 4th. Two putt birdie, but couple putts were close to dropping. Pars at the next couple, nothing doing. I finally got a solid drive away up 7 and our 8hcp knocked it close from 130 and followed it with a nice putt.
We chose drives tactically on the next, a long p5 and after I'd knocked a super hybrid out of the rough to set up a nice approach, we all missed the green until 8hcp found the front leaving a 15 footer. This was my moment to step up as anchor and firmly knocked it in to go -4.
Pars at the next three and by now we were really off the pace. On twelve our 24 lass took advantage of her 120yard head start off the tee to set up a nice wedge in, rather than the 6i that would have been required off any of our drives. My wedge landed over the hole leaving a wicked 5 footer with a load of borrow down the slope... No problem in first time, and -5.
I hit a nice 4iron into 13, but we all narrowly missed from 20 feet. Then on 14, we all missed again from just 6 feet, this time across a squelchy temp green due to ongoing bunker works around the main green.
15 provided comfortably my best drive of the round, wind assisted leaving just 40yards to the flag. 8 and I both knocked it to 10 feet, electing his I was back on anchor duty and delivered causing some cheesy team fist pumps.
Thought I was all over it on 16 with a solid 7iron, but came up short. We all narrowly missed from 20 feet. Another decent drive down 17, leaving hybrid in. I missed right but 8hcp stood up and knocked it onto the front, tap in birdie followed but so close to one better.
Playing partners all blocked theirs right down 18, two in trouble and the other leaving 200 yards. Smashed mine leaving 95 yards in, setting up a near sensational finale when my pitch landed 2 feet directly behind the hole, spinning back a little to the right to leave a tap in... The 22 commented as we were leaving the green that the most disappointing thing about the round was the pitch on 18 hadn't dropped for a 2!
Great fun, real team effort everyone dovetailing well. Would have needed to be 2 better to make the top 3 and 4 better to win, but a very enjoyable game, with great camaraderie.

First qualifier of the season on Saturday, although there was much debate over whether it should have been. It was announced as a NQ at the start and then apparently someone complained that as we were playing a measured course CONGU stipulated that it has to be a qualifier so it was. The wrangling in the bar would have you believe it was more important than an UN conference.

I'd scored 35pts against a SSS of the yellow tees of 38 so having spent the whole Winter as CAT1 for the first time I was heading back to my usual level and was trying to be dragged into the debate.

Unfortunately to those who like to complain about everything my response of "As life issues go going up 0.1 doesn't really register" didn't help their cause.

As luck would have it the tough conditions meant the CSS ended up as 36pts and I remain as a five handicapper for one more week.

I played much better than I had been recently thanks probably to a week off work and a midweek round using just irons. I often find that having constantly hit half shots and low punches during Winter when it comes to Spring trying to hit a proper full iron is beyond me for a few weeks.

Playing partners decided on an early start (7.30) on Saturday, not my idea of a good idea and it was bloody freezing as was my golf. Bogey, bogey, bogey start 60% of handicap gone and looking like a long morning. Another bogey on 5 after a classic duffed wedge and a huge pull hook down 6 to far side of 7th fairway (ie a long way off line). Ripped a rescue to get close to the green and up and downed for a par. 2 good up and downs on 7 and 8 and a regulation par on 9 kept me on +4 at the turn. Superb 5 iron to 2 foot set up a birdie on 10 and hopes were back for some kind of play badly but score day. Obviously I bogeyed 11! Oh, and 12. First chip in for ages brought a welcome 2 on 13 to have me clinging on again back at +4 with 5 left. Parred 14. Is it on? Could I get away with it?

Hell no. Bogey (3 jack), Double bogey (thin, duff, putt, putt, putt), bogey (mangoes, drop), bogey (3 jack) finish.

A bit of work on fitness and concentration methinks!

Played the semi of our pairs better ball knockout on Saturday. Me off 10, my partner off 15, the oppo off 16 and 17.
We were asked if we could start on the 5th (don't ask), which is a long dogleg right and needs a good drive. So my mate top slices one into the bushes 50 yards away and I put mine in a nasty fairway bunker. They both nail their drives down the middle. I make a 5 and they make a gross par and a net par, 1 down, nice start.
On the next I get up and down for par only for the guy off 17 to match it, but thankfully par at our 3rd (the 7th) is enough to get back to all square.
It stays that way for some time until my best stretch to that point of 4 pars on the spin results in us going from AS to 2 down thanks to a net birdie and a gross birdie on our 9th and 10th.
No more shots from there until our 17th and we manage to win 11 and 12 to get back to AS.
On the 13th, a short par 3, my mate misses the green and then chips in for birdie, only to be followed in from the fringe by the chap off 17. Humph!
The 14th is a par 5 over water, I try to make the green in 2 and come up just short, chip it to about 8 feet. The other 3 have all made par and my birdie putt goes in the bloody hole and jumps back out (a touch too pacey in truth) which hurts, especially after the chip in half on 13.
We dodge one on 15 when they miss a 2 footer with some break to win the hole, and then we blow a good chance on 16 when they have both missed the green and we both have birdie attempts. Neither go in and the guy off 16 gets up and down for a half.
On our 17th, par 5, I get up and down for par which leaves the guy off 16 with a 6 footer for 6 net 5 which he makes for a half.
All square on the last (the 4th really), a short par 4, usually a 4 hybrid and a wedge, my mate hits a good one down the middle leaving about 100 yards in. Wind is helping and I've been driving well so we decide I should give the driver a bash and try to get somewhere within pitching distance of the green. I push it a bit, touch and go whether it's gone OB and I hit a provisional to almost the same spot! They've both hit it safe but in the rough. Them to play first and both hit the green. My mate next and what I thought was decent actually ends up in a greenside bunker. Thankfully we find both of my balls, the first about a foot from OB, 80 yards to the back of the green and in the poopie stuff. I give a sand iron a hard smash and breath a sigh of relief to see it heading a) straight and b) high!
We get up to the green and it's stopped 10 feet away, the closest of the lot. My mate has some fun in the bunker and ends up making 5, both of the oppo make par 4s, leaving me and my putt. Straight up the hill, tiny bit of break off the left. I really think I can hole it but desperately do not want to leave a 3 footer back! I decide to make sure it gets there and deal with whatever is left. Luckily it goes straight in the middle  
Looked a certainty to be going extra holes and we've pinched it on the last! They were sick!
Pairs finals for the 2nd year running here I come and a nice little round of 76 for me

Yesterday, somewhere between walking off the 10th tee and reaching my ball, I lost any golfing ability I had. Faced with a straight forward 100 yds to the pin I left it 50 yds short,
duffed the next and that was that. On the 11th (par 3) chunked a greenside chip. On 12 - 3 stabbed, 13th repeat what happened on 10, 14th played well, for a bogey. 15th - 3 stabbed, 16th see 14th, 17th (par 3) see 11, 18th duffed drive and thankfully it was all over. 7 stableford points on the back 9, 18 on the front so was playing OK to that point.

I will try to forget it now until next weekend.

Eyetoldyouso wrote:Yesterday, somewhere between walking off the 10th tee and reaching my ball, I lost any golfing ability I had. Faced with a straight forward 100 yds to the pin I left it 50 yds short,
duffed the next and that was that. On the 11th (par 3) chunked a greenside chip. On 12 - 3 stabbed, 13th repeat what happened on 10, 14th played well, for a bogey. 15th - 3 stabbed, 16th see 14th, 17th (par 3) see 11, 18th duffed drive and thankfully it was all over. 7 stableford points on the back 9, 18 on the front so was playing OK to that point.

I will try to forget it now until next weekend.

You are Tiger Woods and I claim my £5

First genuinely pleasant day.

First day of minimal breeze.

First drive OOB.

Pah. Double.

+5 after 5 and a(nother) day of significant talent deficit. Bumbled to +6 through 9. Need to come back in -1 to be level handicap...

Bogey 10. That's that out of the window then. But was level from there on (exchanged a nice bird and a 3 jack bogue [sic]) and actually lipped out on 17 & 18 for 2 more birdies that would have seen me scrape back to +5.

Lovely day though.

First medal of the year on Saturday. Back tees and ironed greens. 4 over through 9 with a shank and a 3 stab. Par 5 10th into the breeze - walk off with an 8. Bugger. Need to steady the ship... Smash a biggy down 11 (si 7) - only 70 in, shank. Then thin into bunker. out and 2 jabs. Nice. Par 3 next. Massive push oob, followed with a snap hook well left of the green. Not crying but almost... Then par in. 86 Poopie in total. Bugger.

cheeky 9 holes this afternoon. double on 2, bogey on 3, birdies on 7 and 9. hightlight undoubtably a nice flick from 93 yards on the 9th - landed 10 feet past the hole and spun back...oh so close to dropping for an 8 inch tap in.

Following the discussion on max distance I've started hitting driver more often. Hard to to tell if the benefits I've gained are as a result of winter conditions/tees or from increased distance and the practice I've been putting into the sub 150 yard shot, but I'm hitting lower scores and fewer bogeys. Time will tell, but -4 on the 17th tee yesterday. Finished -2.

I am pretty sure it is f**cking snowing.  This is hardly the weather post clock change that I was hoping for.  The masters approaching a more light in the evening should signal the start of the golf season.

I agree Mac, we had snow yesterday and there's more snow coming today. It's b.s. Should be a law against it especially as my course is looking to open on Friday. Might have to go to work on Friday after all....

Don't get me started . . . . . . . . .

But, then again, I remember sitting in an office in Hitchin in June 1976 watching snow come down. And we went on to have a glorious summer.

Sorry Kwini. Can you see any grass or is it still frozen tundra in the north?

Grass still dormant, ground still frozen. But most of the snow has disappeared . . . . . to be replaced by a forecast "3-5 inches" on Saturday.
We'd open in a couple of weeks but really need a warm rain to kick-start the growing season.

We're crossing our fingers that courses here will open up at the weekend. It's been a long snowy winter !

Plunky, Grumps,
I just got an email flyer that Ferry Point should open by this weekend - big weekend for The Bronx what with Ferry Point and Opening Day at The Stadium on Monday . . . .

Kwini, Plunky, Grumps - too bad. Must be some compensating factors? Got back from Oz back end of Feb, and played 3 times a week since then. Did get wet a couple of times, and expecting more of the same for first day of 2 day comp on Friday, but hey ho!

We noticed at the weekend that Ferry Point now has a big sign proclaiming "Trump Links". We watched the course take shape and at first it looked like a giant "nutty putty" -- very fake. But now it has weathered and endured a NY winter it looks pretty good. I'm sure we'll check it out sometime this season although I think it's going to be pretty expensive even for NY residents. On the plus side, I have to go to Bermuda on business in an couple of weeks time so will be taking husband and clubs !

Clubs in business class next to you and husband in the hold!

As it should be...

Busy weekend for me - club match Saturday, first medal of the year Sunday and a "fun" mixed team event Monday!

Zimmer frame on Tuesday....

Possible first medal of the year on Sunday for me too. Forecast looks good.

Played at the weekend. Not bad at times, but still have the stupid holes, and my chipping is woeful. But was fun though.

I was iffy at best.

4 6's including a par 3 (yowkes)

couple of runs of solid pars and run of bogeys not a tweetie bird to be seen.

The epitome of early season inconsistency.

But yes, fun.

First round for 4 months tomorrow morning at a local course as ours isn't opening until next Friday. Hopefully I'll have some semblance of a swing and not a touch like a r@pist.

Not long after we got the email about the delayed opening we heard that some Kumquat had taken a dirt bike out onto the course and ripped the Poopie out of one of the greens. Meat trombone soloist!

Was up North Monday to Wednesday on "England's golf coast". Anyone in Britain would know it's been a bit windy, with gales and heavy rain. Well I just thought I'd let you all know that it's not a good idea to play Royal Liverpool in 65mph winds. There must have been gusts of 80mph+ as well. The course is the flattest most desolate and exposed piece of land, with bouts of rain and hail as well I can't say I enjoyed the experience. You really can't appreciate a course when you are battling into a wall of hail, all the strategy goes out of the window. I found the holes near the clubhouse uninspiring, especially the ones around the practice ground, but at the far end it was much more interesting. Such a shame to visit the scene of Rory's Open triumph in 2014 and then find this.

Played 2 other courses as well... More to follow

Sadly lost my Dad a couple of weeks ago. Decided to get away for a few days over the Easter break with Mrs Blue before Dad's funeral this coming Friday. Took a couple of days off work and flew to Faro on Wednesday morning and then had about an hours drive across the border into Spain and stayed at the Islantilla Golf Resort on the Costa de la Luz.

It is a beautiful area this was our first visit to that region of Spain and weather was fantastic for this time of year, 27c when we arrived cooling to 22c yesterday. Not a bad golf course, 27 holes and quite challenging in parts. It was the venue for a European Tour event in 1995 won by Alex Cejka.

We played every day, four rounds in total. Putts were flying in for me on the first day from every angle and I managed 5 birdies including 3 on the spin. Only then managed another 2 in the next 3 rounds! Mrs Blue had her highest score of 38 points on the last day playing off 24 handicap.

Had a bit of time to work on my tribute to Dad at his service. He was reasonably well known in our area through Insurance, Golf and Rotary and we are expecting around 200 people will attend his funeral. Not going to be an easy thing to do to speak in front of that many people but I am determined to do it without getting over-emotional. It will be the last thing that I ever do for my Dad.

Suspect you'll be honouring his memory all your life Blue, Good luck.
(Plus your footie boys are doing their bit too.)

Sorry to hear that Blue. Am sure you will do many more things for your dad over the years.

Costa de la Luz has some great golf and is largely undiscovered by tourists. Montecastillo is the stand out venue in the area which is very popular, but also cracking courses at Costa Ballena, Arcos Gardens, Sherry (all used for Q school), Sanlucar, and about 80 min drive inland Real Sevilla has an attractive but tough Olazabal course which hosted a WGC and the Spanish Open.

Time to revisit the trip to scouseland.

First day we played Birkdale. Winds around 25mph, and then rain swept in for the last 4 holes. What a course! Just loved playing through the dunes, how each hole was isolated, and how every hole you leave the green then walk round or over a dune on to the next tee and excitedly see the next hole laid out in front of you. The conditioning was immaculate, especially the greens. I struggled on the greens to begin with, bit of a shock to go from slow bumpy wet greens I've been putting on all winter to lightening fast firm billiard tables, but once I'd got used to the pace I began rolling them in.

Highlights for me were a punched 8 iron to 10 feet on 4 to set up my first birdie, a 40 footer on 8 for birdie number 2, a delightful punched 6 iron on 12 that was inches from a hole in one (birdie putt lipped out), and rolling in a monster 60 footer for par on 16.

Final day, 1st April, we were up the road at Formby. Cold, sunny but windy (30-40mph), at least this was the only day we didn't get wet. Not quite in the same immaculate condition as the two Open rota courses we had played the previous days, it was still in good nick for this time of year.

Formby isn't quite traditional links, as the fairways are bordered by trees, but these act to separate holes and frame the fairways rather than acting as a hazard. I only had one shot where trees came into play, and that was after I hooked my tee shot trying to hit a big low draw around a dog leg into the wind. Formby has loads of space: the main course plays in a big anti-clockwise circle around the 18 hole ladies course in the centre. A couple of holes at the far end were abandoned due to coastal erosion. Although these lost holes along the coast were probably the most spectacular, the replacement holes were possibly my favourite, a short par 4 and par 5 playing through forested dunes with elevated tees, angled fairways requiring strategic tee shots, and elevated greens.

My game wasn't really on, only real highlight for me was a low punched 8 iron drawn into the wind to a front left pin on the short 115 yard 16th (apparently Greg Norman's favourite par 3). Watching 2 of my mates double bogey the hole showed how short often means tricky.

Of the 3, Birkdale was my favourite, followed closely by Formby, with Hoylake bringing up the rear. This trip also reminded me why we usually go abroad. Although the courses were magnificent, battling gale force winds, torrential rain, and wrapping up in 4 layers is less enjoyable than strolling down a Spanish  fairway in shorts, sunglasses and sun cream!

Sorry to hear your sad news Blue

We played the final of our winter pairs better ball knockout on Sat and got absolutely hammered! Me and my partner both off 10. Them off 9 and 17.
We won the 1st (never a good sign) and then for the next 6 holes they went gross birdie, net birdie, gross birdie, gross birdie, net birdie, gross birdie. Oh, I see!
We lost on the 13th 6&5, a battering.
I shot a gross 76 which is 39 points for me. My partner shot gross 79, which is 36 points. And we lost 6&5. Ouch.

I guess you get matches like that. The better side won to be fair, they played good stuff. The chap off 17 was 1 under gross through 6 and level par gross for the front 9. Had 45 points for the full 18. What can you do?!

Also sorry to hear Blue.

Lost my Mum last year out of nowhere some 6 weeks after my Dad had been diagnosed terminally ill. Right kick in the teeth/balls/gut (delete as applicable, but all 3 together probably closer to it). Went out for my regular Saturday game a couple of days after, head all over the place. That turned into ball all over the place, but not the point. The usual banter and being in a field with only 3 people for company actually helped give me a few hours of respite.

Hope it all goes as well as it can, it's a horrible responsibility to have to sort everything out in the midst of one of the lowest ebbs of your life. I'm sure everyone will be pleased/proud of anything you say.

Back on thread, I was crap again at the weekend, but keeping it in perspective it's always a joy to be out there.

Windy but dry. Battling but inaccurate. Fortunately, the shorter the stick, the better it went. 26 putts and a very good performance from 6' and in for +7 gross (net +1). CSS +1 so first buffer of the year (also thanks to going up to 6 recently - boo).

OOB off the tee on our 5th, the 2 shots dropped there ended up being the difference between winning and the third I managed (must have been a tough day!)

Boys I was playing with were terrible and wanted to go in, so I took great joy in hanging in there by the skin of my teeth to make them suffer by having to stay out with me!

Is it bad I'm REALLY looking forward to tomorrow's game...first in a few weeks since no.2 arrived safely?!
First round of the pairs knockout, hope I don't let my partner down!

We're open at last!!!!

Hope to be out hacking next week, but before we know it we'll be complaining the course is too dry, the grass ain't growin', and we need a warm soaking rain. Can't win.

Played 10 medal rounds in April, 4 at home 6 away, and yesterday lost in final of winter pairs! Knackered - must be getting old! Handicap holding steady, thanks to a couple of reduction only rounds at Moor Park last week!

Played first Medal today.

People I was meant to tee off with didn't turn up, but joined group behind.

After ballooning the first tee shot high and right and being overly concious of not making a fool of myself managed to scramble 5s for first couple of holes. This was followed by a Simple par or par 3 third.

An 8 followed on the 4th. Settled down after this after played decent golf to finish with an 89.

Not great but not terrible so happy with a round in 80s for first handicap counting round.

Just back yesterday from a weeks golf trip to Belek in Turkey playing in lovely sunshine. Played the Faldo twice and once on the Carya, National, Pasha and Montgomery courses. Although we played the Carya during the day, it is now the first golf course in Europe equipped to be totally floodlit, enabling 24 hour golf for those who prefer to play at a cooler temperature.

My best round was on the National a gross 80 yielding 34 points, my worst was an 88 on the Faldo Kings and Princes course for a very average 26 points. Enjoyed the trip, we stayed at the 5* Cornelia Diamond hotel which was very pleasant and all inclusive makes the price very reasonable indeed. I know many of you have played in this area, for those of you that haven't if you get the opportunity I don't think you would be disappointed.

What was the best part Blue? The Turkey trot or coming home to news you wouldn't have to play my turkeys, for another year at least?

I had resigned myself to League 2 football next season some time ago kwini. When I turned the phone on after landing at Stansted yesterday to discover that we had beaten Preston and other results had gone our way and we had survived I was amazed and delighted! We have spent the majority of the season in the relegation zone but I guess its where you are at the end of the 46th game is all the matters. Portsmouth will have to wait I'm afraid!

Interesting day yesterday for the bank holiday mixed greensomes competition.

I knew the format but had never actually played it - and really enjoyed it! This was partly though because my partner was a lady with a handicap of 32 who could hit the ball great off the tee and with very good chipping around the green for a 30+ handicap - yet who claimed her fairway play was awful which explained her high handicap

We were getting a shed load of shots and came in with 41pts for third place

But the way she played and the greensomes format meant that virtually every hole we could take her tee shot, leaving me to get on or close to the green and then all she had to do was chip or putt! So her Achilles heel (according to her anyway - I'd never seen her play) was avoided

This is precious. A 20 odd handicapper saying "good for a 32 handicapper".

What the fcuk is your problem? I may be "20 odd" handicapper - I also know (generally speaking) how a low handicapper or a higher handicapper tends to chip

If it makes you feel any better, the other pair in our group were a 5 h/c man and 9 h/c woman. Both of them also commented how great her chipping was "for a 32 handicapper" - 20-30 yard chips with good flight, and slight check on first/second bounce. Does it make you feel any better to hear it come from them rather than from me?

Thanks davie, it makes sense now that single figure players have made exactly the same point.