PGA Tour: Twelve Days of Christmas: Notes from the Ballwasher

by kwinigolfer Wed 17 Dec 2014, 16:52

First topic message reminder :

With the time of sunset, here at least, now becoming later by the day there is northern hemisphere optimism that one of the most dismal facets of winter is at least improving, (even if sunrise is still also creeping later for another week or two).

And the Twelve Days of Christmas will be starting soon so here are some thoughts as to what else is going on apart from:

1).A partridge in a pear tree? Or the number of Tour wins each for Fowler and Spieth. Extend it to stroke play Tour wins and include Day and Poulter too. Wouldn't bet against at least three of those four (sorry Poults) securing win number two in 2015, but we'd've thought that last year also.

2).Two turtle doves? Or the number of times Tiger Woods completed 72 holes in a Tour event in 2014. Surely we can expect more in 2015, but how much more?

3).Three French hens? Or the number of notable golfing trees removed from the landscape this year.
~The Eisenhower Tree on #17 at Augusta.
~The tree overhanging the 6th tee at TPC.
~And last week's storm brought down one of the cypress trees guarding Pebble Beach's 18th fairway.

4).Four calling birds? Or Augusta National, Chambers Bay, St.Andrews, Whistling Straits, major venues all in 2015. Very interested in seeing Chambers Bay - don't know anything about it. Not sure I much care for Majors being played at courses that haven't been tried and tested by Father Time or the Pros, but more of the same due soon when the US Open rolls in to Erin Hills.

5).Five golden rings? Well, not all golden exactly, but we should know fairly soon if the Olympic golf course will be ready in time for the five Olympic rings to be circling around it in Brazil. What a farce it will be if the course is not suitable, or in suitable condition, for Gold Medal competition.

6).Six geese-a-laying? Or the six strokes by which Jordan Spieth won the Aussie Open. Not sure whether the appropriate yardstick for this was a 6-stroke win over luminaries such as Scott and McIlroy, or that his closest pursuer was Rod Pampling. Remember him?

7).Seven swans-a-swimming? Or the number of strokes Brad Fritsch won by at web.com Q-School. Good for him, very unlucky to have lost his PGA Tour card each of the past two years having had to withdraw from several events due to back problems. The perils of journeymen playing while nursing injuries.

8).Eight maids-a-milking? Or just eight months (more like seven full months really) for Tour Pros to earn their cards for 2015/2016. There are two more events this season than last, but so far no-one has accrued sufficient points to qualify to join otherwise exempt players. Lots of speculation that the West Coast Swing will be weaker this year as players take a break, but the other side of the coin is "notable" pros adding early events to their schedule in the hope of achieving some sort of comfort level asap. Messrs Donald and Poulter may fall in to that category.

9).Nine ladies dancing? Or nine plus three ladies dancing with the Solheim Cup as battle is joined in Germany; Carin Koch and Juli Inkster are the Captains, and if the competition is half as exciting as last year's, it will be some show. So long as the Europeans win, of course.

10).Ten lords-a-leaping? Or the ten drinkies consumed by Jeff Overton at a College Basketball game recently before being escorted from the premises by Madison Square Garden arena security. Boom Baby more likely to receive a gardening leave notice from Tim Finchem than a Christmas Card.

11).Eleven pipers piping? Or eleven US Ryder Cup Task Force members piping the "Call for Freddie" tune. Who knows what will come of that; will Fred even answer the phone (as he's usually loth to do "in case there's someone there")?

12).Twelve drummers drumming? My favourite drummers in 2014 were named Bjorn, Donaldson, Dubuisson, Gallacher, Garcia, Kaymer, McDowell, McIlroy, Poulter, Rose, Stenson, Westwood.

Perhaps by the time these notes resurface Tommy Fleetwood will have qualified for The Masters, Tony Jacklin will be celebrating a much-overdue knighthood and all of us will have enjoyed a safe and festive off-season.
Happy Christmas.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 15:40

Special News Bulletin: USA is a different country and a different culture than the United Kingdom. There may be a lot people (me included) with ancestors from GB&I but we have a melting pot of Native Americans, and ancestors from China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia, Scandinavia, Continental Europe, etc.

We have been on our own for well over 200 years and our values and mores are different than the UK.

(And beside that, we actually practice good dentistry and our cuisine has flavor!)

by kwinigolfer Mon 29 Dec 2014, 15:45

And, talking of religion, golfchannel.com is reporting that Miguel-Angel Jimenez is having second thoughts about going for the Ryder Cup Captaincy.
He reckons it will take away two years of his competitive career (Darren Clarke has already forfeited two years of his career) which might cost him a Maserati or two, would possibly curtail his Rioja intake and cause him to restrict his consumption of Cuban cigars.

GPB,
Did you have to go to wikipaedia for that lot? Smile

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 15:50

super_realist wrote:I'm not saying it isn't reasonable data, I'm saying it isn't comparing like with like.

America usually catches up eventually though, you've less chrome on your cars now and the mullet is a much rarer sight.

True and it appears as though the UK is beginning to advance in modern dentistry, or do you guys still fly over here for that too... :-)

EDIT: Oh crap... I hadn't refreshed and GPB already beat me to the dentistry crack... :-)

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 15:53

American "Cuisine", now there's a contradiction in terms.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 15:59

Don't be dissing our Hamburger Helper Cuisine (right Robo? check PMs)....Better than Tripe and Haggis.

England's contribution to cuisine is Worcestershire Sauce!!

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:03

Never eaten tripe or Haggis.

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:05

kwinigolfer wrote:And, talking of religion, golfchannel.com is reporting that Miguel-Angel Jimenez is having second thoughts about going for the Ryder Cup Captaincy.
He reckons it will take away two years of his competitive career (Darren Clarke has already forfeited two years of his career) which might cost him a Maserati or two, would possibly curtail his Rioja intake and cause him to restrict his consumption of Cuban cigars.

Glad to hear that on Jimenez... IMO just too early for him as I still think he's got a legitimate shot of qualifying for the team as a player if he were to choose to remain playing primarily the Euro Tour over the Champo... And even if he doesn't the pickings on the Champions Tour aren't exactly slim... lots of money to be had, plus he gains entry to the PGAT's retirement program... not that he'd need it or benefit all that much from it at this point in his career... but couldn't hurt either.

by **navyblueshorts** Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:18

GPB wrote:...And beside that, we actually practice good dentistry and our cuisine has flavor!

Sorry. I'll bite on this once, even if it's off-topic. Ridiculous. You practice unnecessary dentistry (assuming one can actually access any dental services that is) and cuisine? Give me a break. Like anywhere, you have good food but plenty is not Earth-shattering I'm afraid. I'd avoid dragging this down any further I think - you have Poopie food (have you heard of vegetables, for example?) as do we. Shall we leave it there?

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:32

Unnecessary Dentistry? You mean the dentistry that enables us to keep our teeth?

I love most Vegetables. Broccoli and Asparagus are my favorite. But I also like Beets, Peas, Spinach, Beans, cauliflower, cabbage, squash and most of the normal fixings in a garden salad.

About the only vegetables I don't like are raw carrots and parsnips and kohl rabi.

by Davie Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:34

GPB wrote: our values and mores are different than the UK.

Not to mention the language. You can be "different to" or "different from" but not "different than"

As for the dentistry thing, that's a myth, probably perpetuated by the American Dental associations. I'd guess it's a small (well heeled) proportion of Americans who go for the Osmond look - the more average American is probably no different to the average Brit in that respect - yet don't forget your hillbilly brethren who have possibly the worst teeth in the world

by kwinigolfer Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:36

I think GPB has been watching too many Shane MacGowan videos over Christmas . . . . . . .

by Shotrock Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:44

I liked haggis when I had it in Scotland.

Probably the worst teeth in the world are beyond the boundaries of either of our countries.

Super/Navy - You are clueless on American cuisine! Smile

Plenty of fine and very diverse food to be had here.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:50

SR, that might be true, but you could say the same for any countries food. I can't think of a country that doesn't do good food, I might not always like it, but it isn't for their want of trying.

the assertion was that there was no good cuisine in Britain and that American "cuisine" was a mile ahead. Not seen any evidence of it.

Cuisine isn't a description I'd use, food though would be more apt.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 16:59

FTR....I said our cuisine had flavor. Any food that I have had that is considered British has been bland.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:04

By flavour, do you mean "full of fat"?

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:09

Davie wrote:
GPB wrote: our values and mores are different than the UK.

Not to mention the language. You can be "different to" or "different from" but not "different than"

As for the dentistry thing, that's a myth, probably perpetuated by the American Dental associations. I'd guess it's a small (well heeled) proportion of Americans who go for the Osmond look - the more average American is probably no different to the average Brit in that respect - yet don't forget your hillbilly brethren who have possibly the worst teeth in the world

we didn't invent the English language ....we just perfected it! Smile

Just like Golf!!

And we know that there is a limited supply of "u's". We don't add them unnecessarily to words like "labor" and "neighbor" Smile

But the overall point remains. We are a different country than the UK. and a different culture. What we think is important may not be the same as you think is important. There is nothing wrong being different, but somehow some outspoken people on this board think religious people need to be mocked. Somehow going on drunken twitter rants is a preferable personality trait than being a Christian.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:12

super_realist wrote:By flavour, do you mean "full of fat"?

I guess there are no fat people in the UK....

**cough** Chubby Chandler **cough**

**cough** Lee Westwood **cough**

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:18

GPB wrote:
super_realist wrote:By flavour, do you mean "full of fat"?

I guess there are no fat people in the UK....

**cough** Chubby Chandler **cough**

**cough** Lee Westwood **cough**

Course there are, but I thought we were talking about food. You forgot Shane Lowry by the way, how could you?

When I picture American food, the first thing I think of is not, "wow, so much flavour".

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:21

You forgot Shane Lowry by the way, how could you?

Last time I checked, Ireland is not part of the U.K. But I haven't checked lately.

Did something change recently?

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:23

super_realist wrote:

When I picture American food, the first thing I think of is not, "wow, so much flavour".

You are supposed to eat it, not picture it.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:23

GPB wrote:
Davie wrote:
GPB wrote: our values and mores are different than the UK.

Not to mention the language. You can be "different to" or "different from" but not "different than"

As for the dentistry thing, that's a myth, probably perpetuated by the American Dental associations. I'd guess it's a small (well heeled) proportion of Americans who go for the Osmond look - the more average American is probably no different to the average Brit in that respect - yet don't forget your hillbilly brethren who have possibly the worst teeth in the world

we didn't invent the English language ....we just perfected it! Just like Golf!!

And we know that there is a limited supply of "u's". We don't add them unnecessarily to words like "labor" and "neighbor"

But the overall point remains. We are a different country than the UK. and a different culture. What we think is important may not be the same as you think is important. There is nothing wrong being different, but somehow some outspoken people on this board think religious people need to be mocked. Somehow going on drunken twitter rants is a preferable personality trait than being a Christian.

Religious people DO deserve to be mocked, or rather their beliefs do if brought into the open, especially when in American society you have idiots in the Senate standing up and saying things like "God won't allow Global Warming, because it says so in the bible", and religious people deserve to be mocked in the same way you'd mock the beliefs of someone who said Universe Creating Pixies made it all, or who tried to get creationism into school, or who deny evolution etc etc.

Who ever said drunken twitter rants were a good thing? And who ever said it was preferable to being a Christian? Although, at least there is often logic in a twitter outburst. Less so in being a Christian.

I'd rather go on a twitter outburst, drunk or not drunk than be a Christian, that sounds like the most miserable existence you could possibly have. Worshipping a celestial mafia boss. Screw that.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:38

Do you realize that not all Christian religious people are not Southern Evangelical Zealots that are preaching the fire and brimstone.

And there is nothing to suggest Bubba, Webb, and the other church goers are anything like the Stereo Typical evangelists that permeate your ignorant perceptions. I haven't gone to a church service in 40+ years and I live what you a Bible Belt small town.

I have been asked (but never pressured) to attend church by many of my friends. And no effigies have ever been burned in my front yard nor has it affected my business.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:43

I don't care who they are or what they believe, religious belief is by definition gullibility, if they bring their beliefs out in public then they are just as laughable as someone who claims to have been abducted by aliens or who claims the earth was created by universe creating pixies. Religious beliefs are just as irrational and reprehensible as any other similar belief founded without evidence.

So, if the likes of Mullet, Simpleton etc are naive enought to want to bring out God in an interview to express how gullible they are or as a reason for their bigotry in the case of Watson, they ought to be asked why they are seeking to cheat by involving a higher being in helping them win a bloody golf game and called out/ridiculed on it.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:51

As I told you before, their belief in God is a just Sports Psychology.

Its a form of mind control.

I have no idea why something like this gets your knickers in a knot.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:53

No, but they actually do believe in an imaginary self resurecting, virgin r@ping, jewish sky zombie. There's actually a PGA "bible group" and they actually "pray" Laugh

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:56

super_realist wrote:I don't care who they are or what they believe, religious belief is by definition gullibility, if they bring their beliefs out in public then they are just as laughable as someone who claims to have been abducted by aliens or who claims the earth was created by universe creating pixies. Religious beliefs are just as irrational and reprehensible as any other similar belief founded without evidence.

Thank God for you providing [hopefully] the last word on the subject.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 17:58

Yeah, I blame Arwan Ackbar for his name dropping bum licking.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:08

super_realist wrote:No, but they actually do believe in an imaginary self resurecting, virgin r@ping, jewish sky zombie. There's actually a PGA "bible group" and they actually "pray"

At least they know that Ireland is not part of the UK and that they are suppose to eat food, not picture it.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:15

You lot could do with picturing food instead of eating it.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:17

robopz wrote:[quote=Thank God for you providing [hopefully] the last word on the subject.]

We could continue to snark for months and months like you and some of your cronies have been known to do.

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:35

GPB wrote:We could continue to snark for months and months like you and some of your cronies have been known to do.

Or better yet we could go years and years deriding Hamburger Helper fans like you and your cronies do... that is if that suits you better... Rolling Eyes

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:38

If Hamburger Helper is the culinary summit of American food, it doesn't say much does it?

lips and bumhole in a bread roll.

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:47

super_realist wrote:If Hamburger Helper is the culinary summit of American food, it doesn't say much does it?

lips and bumhole in a bread roll.

No... Hamburger Helper / Timex fans are terms sometimes used to describe "those kinds of fans"... you know, those kinds of undesirables who might tune in to a golf telecast just to watch Tiger Woods and thus bring nothing of value to the "high class" real golf fan demographic that TV advertisers covet so much.

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 18:50

Ah, I see.
I'm afraid that was lost on us Brits.

by kwinigolfer Mon 29 Dec 2014, 19:18

Wish there was some Golf to write about.
But, hang on, what's this?
pgatour.com lists its "Top 30 Players to Watch in 2015".
Must be plenty of Europeans in that list, wouldn't you think? Seeing as how even the American Team reckons they were beaten by the better Ryder Cup Team.
Well, not really. All twelve US Ryder Cuppers were listed, plus some long-term awol'ers like Dufner, Johnson and Woods.
But only listing six Europeans is surely a touch moronic. Obviously Gallacher & Bjorn should be excluded, but all the rest are PGA Tour members this year. And Robert Streb (#30) is a more compelling figure than Ryder Cup winners?
pgatour.com are having a larf.

by Shotrock Mon 29 Dec 2014, 19:35

Kwin -

How are there thirty US Ryder Cuppers?

I find the Ryder Cup (or any every other year team event) hardly indicative of a player's ability to perform where the majority of top professional golf is actually contested: 4 day medal events. Monty being the poster child of excellent team play, but deer-in-the-headlights when he was on his own for so many years. Conversely, Tiger excellent medal play (and some fine match play), but has shown virtually nothing in RC play.

Puff piece ...

by kwinigolfer Mon 29 Dec 2014, 19:57

Ha! You caught me Sr.

Make that twelve, and I just have. Thanks.

Spin it how one likes but when it comes to playingh for their Country, and for Europe, the Europeans come to play.
Those golfers of some other nations are found wanting in such circumstances.

by Shotrock Mon 29 Dec 2014, 20:02

Spin it how one likes indeed ... exhibition event that will propel some to the "Hall of Fame". Rolling Eyes

Great event to watch but hardly indicative of individual golfing achievement. Now if the piece was entitled "Top 30 Teams to Watch ..."

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 20:03

kwinigolfer wrote: All thirty US Ryder Cuppers were listed, plus some long-term awol'ers like Dufner, Johnson and Woods.
But only listing six Europeans is surely a touch moronic. Obviously Gallacher & Bjorn should be excluded, but all the rest are PGA Tour members this year. And Robert Streb (#30) is a more compelling figure than Ryder Cup winners?
pgatour.com are having a larf.

All Thirty of them?

=======

And Re: Robert Streb

Have you checked the Fedex Standings lately?

http://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02671.html

That is why is one of the ones to watch. He actually won a PGATournament a couple months ago. How soon we forget.

I suspect the STM turn PGATour members (like Doobie and Donaldson) will get a rude awakening playing on the Big Boy Tour. Like Westwood and Gonzo. And Colsaerts. And Oleson.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 20:08

Sang Moon Bae really needs to win a Olympic Medal.

http://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2014/12/29/sang-moon-bae-denied-extension-avoid-korean-military-conscription-9074/

by NedB-H Mon 29 Dec 2014, 20:29

super_realist wrote:Never eaten tripe or Haggis.

poor attempt at a Scotsman you are, haggis is fantastic. Best thing about this time of year is the massive post-Burns Night sales the supermarkets south of the border have on it.

by **navyblueshorts** Mon 29 Dec 2014, 20:39

GPB wrote:Unnecessary Dentistry? You mean the dentistry that enables us to keep our teeth?

I love most Vegetables. Broccoli and Asparagus are my favorite. But I also like Beets, Peas, Spinach, Beans, cauliflower, cabbage, squash and most of the normal fixings in a garden salad.

About the only vegetables I don't like are raw carrots and parsnips and kohl rabi.

Yup - unnecessary. Simply performed to give that sparkly smile of self-confidence because that's the 'norm' Rolling Eyes

. Vanity. That sort of dentistry doesn't have a lot to do with keeping teeth.
Glad to hear at least one of you over their likes veg. Worst food experience ever - two weeks in Florida and no sign of vegetables anywhere. Had to go to an Italian one night where I could at least get a salad. I'll concede that the area near Disney etc probably isn't a great advert for good food though!

Shotrock wrote:...Super/Navy - You are clueless on American cuisine! Plenty of fine and very diverse food to be had here.

Duh! Didn't I say that it probably wasn't a good idea to draw sweeping generalisations???? I seem to recall saying you have schiess food, same as us, but to say that American cuisine is something inherently special? No. You have exceptional restaurants, same as this side of the Pond. You also have rubbish and we also have plenty of "fine and diverse food".

GPB wrote:FTR....I said our cuisine had flavor. Any food that I have had that is considered British has been bland.

Seriously? Yup. Must be right. No flavour over here. Nope; none whatsoever. Yup, those Americans gone done it again. Wish we had flavour here. That North Indian Chili Chicken I had the other night sure was bland. So was that trout I had in the Reisling sauce - truly no flavour at all. I could go on.
Come on. Stop being naughty. If you're in my neck of the woods, I'll happily take you for a meal to wake your tastebuds up.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 21:11

Ok, exceptions that prove the rule Cool

But it is funny that you used an Indian Dish to prove your point.

by robopz Mon 29 Dec 2014, 21:31

kwinigolfer wrote:Wish there was some Golf to write about.
But, hang on, what's this?
pgatour.com lists its "Top 30 Players to Watch in 2015".
Must be plenty of Europeans in that list, wouldn't you think? Seeing as how even the American Team reckons they were beaten by the better Ryder Cup Team.
Well, not really. All twelve US Ryder Cuppers were listed, plus some long-term awol'ers like Dufner, Johnson and Woods.
But only listing six Europeans is surely a touch moronic. Obviously Gallacher & Bjorn should be excluded, but all the rest are PGA Tour members this year. And Robert Streb (#30) is a more compelling figure than Ryder Cup winners?
pgatour.com are having a larf.

My instinct was to agree with your top-30 list point... then I went and looked at the list, and maybe my second reaction isn't so much in agreement.

With the exception of Doobie and Donaldson who you mentioned... I really can't see which Europeans were left of the list that should have been there. I mean being a PGA Tour article and all... Westwood and Luke maybe... but can't say as I really see any reason right now for either to be worth much of a watch. About the only two on the list I might question being there are Webb and Chesson... except maybe Chesson might be worth watching on a windy day just to see if maybe a gust catches him and deposits him over a refreshment stand or something...

EDIT: And let me add Poulter... Sketchy performer in medal play, but still a "good watch" when he does get into contention though...

But unfortunately... I suspect GPB is right and Dubuisson and Donaldson could be in for a wake-up call trying to play a limited schedule against all those grinders playing full time. They better make some hay in those co-sanctioned events... or we know how quickly a season can go sideways. Bottom line... Except for the best of the best players... I think most Euro guys are nuts thinking they're gonna play less than 20-22+ events on the PGAT and stand much of a chance of really taking advantage of the opportunity. And to do so, that pretty much means qualifying for most if not all the Majors & WGC's and then playing a minimum ET schedule...

by SmithersJones Mon 29 Dec 2014, 22:55

So, bit bored tonight so have just read the last couple of pages on this thread. My 2 penn'orth;

1) We don't hear from the god squad or Atwal at all when they're not winning, I'm sure if we did, and the question was posed in the right way, they'd mention how their faith/supportive friends are helping them through the tough times. They'd still be idiots though.

2) Dentistry in the UK is just fine, our vanity levels perhaps do lack behind our american cousins' though.

3) American cuisine? Seriously? Hamburgers, with or without helpers, and maybe at a push ribs. If there are other dishes which wholly originated in the US, they haven't been exported which I'd suggest means they're no good. And burgers aren't exactly haute cuisine, ffs. As Navy said, neither US or UK can claim to have originated great food, but both have plenty of great restaurants showcasing great food from around the world.

4) If you have to point out that non-attendance at church hasn't impacted on your business, aren't you implying that it might or has for others? The mafia analogy seems apt, in that case.

5) If it's the big boy's tour, how come its 12 best native players got their donkeys (sic) kicked by the little boys? Could the 'big boys' based in the US double dip any more successfully (accepting that there's no incentive for them to do so)?

6) Church attendance in the UK is at around 10% and falling. Regrettably religion still holds a great deal more power than those numbers justify, and 100% more than it deserves.

7) Non-extremist religious belief is worse than extremism. If you believe you should believe completely, surely? Otherwise, what's the point?

8) Don't think anyone's ever made all 12 pro qualifications for the Masters, Tiger missed the Open top 4 in 2002.

9) Jehova's Witnesses - I usually tell them I can't stop to talk as I have to go and give blood.

10) Thanks Kwini for your excellent weekly posts, which when there's golf to distract us from bickering are brilliant. Happy new year, everyone!

by super_realist Mon 29 Dec 2014, 23:11

NedB-H wrote:
super_realist wrote:Never eaten tripe or Haggis.

poor attempt at a Scotsman you are, haggis is fantastic. Best thing about this time of year is the massive post-Burns Night sales the supermarkets south of the border have on it.

I take no pride in being Scottish, through an unfortunate accident of birth as it was, the only benefit being that I'm neither English nor American and that being Scottish means you have a far lower chance of being religious than any other nation in the UK, other than that, pretty useless, rubbish flag, rubbish anthem, fat countrymen with a poor standard of living and life expectancy for many, horrid accent by and large, terrible climate, and nothing but a few decent golf courses.
Not much to be proud of.

by GPB Mon 29 Dec 2014, 23:37

SmithersJones wrote:So, bit bored tonight so have just read the last couple of pages on this thread. My 2 penn'orth;

1) We don't hear from the god squad or Atwal at all when they're not winning, I'm sure if we did, and the question was posed in the right way, they'd mention how their faith/supportive friends are helping them through the tough times. They'd still be idiots though.

2) Dentistry in the UK is just fine, our vanity levels perhaps do lack behind our american cousins' though.

3) American cuisine? Seriously? Hamburgers, with or without helpers, and maybe at a push ribs. If there are other dishes which wholly originated in the US, they haven't been exported which I'd suggest means they're no good. And burgers aren't exactly haute cuisine, ffs. As Navy said, neither US or UK can claim to have originated great food, but both have plenty of great restaurants showcasing great food from around the world.

4) If you have to point out that non-attendance at church hasn't impacted on your business, aren't you implying that it might or has for others? The mafia analogy seems apt, in that case.

5) If it's the big boy's tour, how come its 12 best native players got their donkeys (sic) kicked by the little boys? Could the 'big boys' based in the US double dip any more successfully (accepting that there's no incentive for them to do so)?

6) Church attendance in the UK is at around 10% and falling. Regrettably religion still holds a great deal more power than those numbers justify, and 100% more than it deserves.

7) Non-extremist religious belief is worse than extremism. If you believe you should believe completely, surely? Otherwise, what's the point?

8) Don't think anyone's ever made all 12 pro qualifications for the Masters, Tiger missed the Open top 4 in 2002.

9) Jehova's Witnesses - I usually tell them I can't stop to talk as I have to go and give blood.

10) Thanks Kwini for your excellent weekly posts, which when there's golf to distract us from bickering are brilliant. Happy new year, everyone!

I will address some of these:

#2. If you say so....my initial comment was J-O-K-E, it shows how stereo-types are not always accurate.

#3. If you have never been to Louisiana to sample Cajun Cuisine. Do it. Midwest BBQ. Do it. A Prime Rib in Houston. Ditto. Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy from the Deep South. Ditto. A pastrami on rye from a New York Deli. Ditto. A steak from Ruth Chris Steakhouse? Ditto Scrapple from the Mid Atlantic. Delicious. Fresh caught salmon in the Pacific Northwest. Yum. Southern Fried Chicken. Mouth watering.

#4. I don't keep tabs on other people workplaces. Its none of my business, no pun intended.

#5. Because (mostly Team) Match Play over three days is a better barometer of a Tour Depth than a full season. Correct? Rolling Eyes

#7. Yes the Islam Jihadists are much better to have as next door neighbors than 99% of Muslims. Correct? Rolling Eyes

#10. Yes, Kwini...Many thanks for your threads. They are very well research and appreciated.

by kwinigolfer Tue 30 Dec 2014, 02:32

Regarding point 9). of Smithers' post:
But I'd be lying if I told Jehovah's Witnesses that I had to go and give blood. Because those of us who were resident in the UK between (I think I have the years correct) 1980 and 1996 are disqualified in case we were exposed to Mad Cow disease. I ask you.

But it's true; our local Red Cross chapter is only half a mile down the road and I wind up the Director every time he is desperate for (thank you Tony Hancock) an armful. The fact that I have several armfuls donated before they established this utterly absurd rule is beside the point. Effing idiots.

Wonder what Americans do when they need a pint or two when visiting Skelmersdale (for instance)? "Sorry mate, our blood's not good enough for you. Sod off."

by GPB Tue 30 Dec 2014, 02:54

Jehovahs Witnesses called on my house one.

I invited them and offered them a beer, and they didn't know what to do next.

I don't think they ever got that far before!!

by super_realist Tue 30 Dec 2014, 07:31

GPB, I think most people would rather live next door to someone with NO religious views. Who wants to live next door to an adult that believes in fairy stories?

If your house is burning down, I'd rather have someone living next door who might help than someone who would just sit down and pray. What use is that?

By the way, Rye bread and Pastrami are not American. You can't just give a list of non American food that happens to be made or just assembled in America and claim it as your "cuisine". Same goes for Salmon, Steak and a number of other things you've given.

You don't think there's a ton of other countries that have top notch Steak/Salmon/Breads etc? Scottish/Norwegian Salmon? Argentinian/Japanese Steak? Danish/Austrian?German bread. Belgian Beer/Chocolate etc etc

The list is endless, every country has good, flavoursome food. a lot I don't like, such as Lebanese, which i think is revolting, but I'm sure it has flavour even if the consistency is repulsive.

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