Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

Congrats Super!

Ball position in your stance? Is it right thru the bag or just certain numbers??

super_realist wrote:
I hit 14 out of 14 fairways the other day, but only hit 18 greens

Is it possible to hit any more than 18 greens?


As for your issue have you considered that your hip rotation might be a bit ahead of the rest of your swing through impact?

Played Los Arqueros in Benhavis, Spain last week whilst on hollybobs. Family holiday but have a mate living in Gibraltar who came up and took me round for a knock. No bats so ended up with a set of Wilson Prostaff pigiron and a putter that wasn't aligned square to the grip. (Can you tell I'm getting excuses in early...)

Seve's first design project apparently. Tight, fiddly, wayward punishing, shortish plotters course. Up, down and around the hillside it's set on. Lovely course, well set out, superb greens and fairways, quite a few risk/reward holes (where I chose badly and got a right shoeing from it!). Tee boxes were in poor condition, though which was the one bad mark I'd give it.

Played OK to start, out in 15 points including a "worldy" 6 iron approach to 2 foot for a birdie on a par 5. Confident (enough) that I was hitting it OK (putter was not agreeing with me) to move away from 5 iron tee shots and then mid-irons in to par 4s (plotting sensibly) to longer clubs off the tee on the back 9. Needless to say that was an idiotic decision as I lost balls, shots and the will to live by the end coming back in 8 or 9 points.

I'll save you the effort of telling me...

"There's a reason you were scoring better on the front, you idiot"

Still, an enjoyable few hours and worth a visit if down that way.

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:
I hit 14 out of 14 fairways the other day, but only hit 18 greens

Is it possible to hit any more than 18 greens?


As for your issue have you considered that your hip rotation might be a bit ahead of the rest of your swing through impact?

My mistake, 8 greens. Not sure how I made that error.

I find it incredibly hard to diagnose the reason for it Mac. I think I might have been putting too much weight on the right foot.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be the guest of BlueCoverman at his society day at Thorndon Park Golf Club.  Billed as one of the best courses in Essex it is a throwback to an almost bygone era; think Peter Alliss babbling on about the Titherington Foursomes and a shout out to Mrs Foskett's victoria sponge cake.  In a change to the regular format the meal was before golf and that meant a jacket and tie was not required for the after golf food.  You can get an idea of how stuffy the place is as we saw a number of members wearing a formal shirt whilst playing the course!

The weather was glorious in the morning, the afternoon not so much.  Spotty showers was the forecast but that really meant a real soaking as it would urine down for 5-10 minutes at a time and in between those showers the sun would come out.  I think Blue had more changes of outfits than  a fashion model as different wet weather items would be on display at various times.  I suppose I should tell you about the golf.  The first was a relatively gentle opener but a bit of a pull saw me miss the green left, bounce off the back of the bunker, and before I knew it I had introduced myself to the group in front by ending up on the next tee box; sorry.  Mr Steady Eddie was regulation for the first few holes while Mr Wayward was venturing into some interesting spots on the course.  Good up and downs followed at the fourth and regulation pars on the next two saw both myself and Blue level twos through the first six.

As we walked to the seventh a heavy shower came through and that started the carving into the bundai; think Lions and Tigers, Oh my!.  Both my tee shot and provisional found the heavy, thick, and now soaking rough before the wooded areas.  Found both of them but was blocked out by big trees and more annoyingly a big-ass bough of one of the trees at about 6 feet off the ground.  Thought I had a chance of getting it out, thought wrong.  Had to play another provisional from that spot and that one still didn't get out of the bundai.  Managed to hack out onto the fairway eventually.  Needed to hole the next shot for a point, found a wet bunker instead.  The masochist in me played on, took a ten!  Luckily it was stableford so not too much damage; Blue was still level twos.  

The next hole was stroke index one and that was where I managed to drag Blue down to my level and beat him with experience.  His second shot was lost to the right and he was then blocked out by a big tree and cavernous bunker.  Two shots later he's on the green but an explosion off of the putter face meant he three jacked for a blob.  I was back on track with another two pointer so we were level again.  The only par five on the front nine saw a regulation par for both and sixteeen points for each of us on the front nine.  

Blue rolled in a birdie putt on ten while I holed a twenty footer or so for bogey after pulling the approach into a holly bush and needed a drop.  The next hole was a par five which was reachable in two.  Blue was front edge, I was through the back.  Blue putted the length of the green and then holed a twenty footer or so for a standard two putt birdie.  I think if my putt had been an inch or so longer I wouldn't have matched him.  The 12th was the nearest the pin hole and I hit one all over it, so much so that there was a little anxiety that it could be expensive shot, and then I nearly three putted it.  Blue had his first one pointer of the day after a three putt.  The next hole saw me visit the thick stuff and then catch to the top lip of one of the deep cross bunkers.  Luckily it rolled back to a flat spot and I was able to reach the putting surface with the next one.  A fifteen footer saw the regulation Grumps par.  I nearly repeated the trick on the next one but it was my first one pointer to drop back to one under level twos while Blue was still on the level twos track.  

A birdie for me on the last par three say me draw level with him and another two standard pars saw both of us on 35 points going into the last.  Cue bundai finding drive for me, center cut drive for Blue.  Hack onto fairway with my second while Blue stuck the approach to about five feet.  Two putts for a point for me while Blue made the putt to put clear daylight between us.  His two under on the back nine saw him shoot 74 with a triple.  I was one over for the back nine for an 81 with a poxy ten.  Blue's round of 38 points saw him take second place from a guy off scratch who also had a blob hole but that was offset by six birdies and an eagle in his gross 66.

The society does a lot of fundraising for charity, most of it through fines from the members, and there wasn't that many that escaped the Secretary's inventiveness.  I'm not sure what Blue's was for, maybe sitting too close to the post round sandwiches?  After winning a bottle of wine for the nearest the pin I felt duty bound to pay out for playing into the group in front.  All in all a very enjoyable round, in great company, on a damn good course just a shame about the weather; thanks for the invitation Blue.

Very nice Grumpy and Pooky.

When you say "stuffy" and "throw back", I'm assuming you are referring to the good old day of golf in Essex:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB_N0Jr_sl4

On Tuesday I made an 80 mile journey, thanks Mrs Grumps, to join BlueCoverman at his second club; Felixstowe Ferry.  Crowded House were the backing band as finally the weather from the States made it to this green and pleasant land.  With near record temperatures and a slight breeze Felixstowe was looking a fairly attractive proposition.  

With an inter club competition going on in the morning we set out mid afternoon after lunch.  After some mediocre shots we both managed to sneak a point on the first.  The second was a par five that became almost reachable after our drives, after the second shots it most certainly was not.  Blue used up a huge chunk of luck to make a five by first finding his ball in the hay, second, by carrying a bunker that his ball looked destined to fall into, and thirdly hitting the flagstick at a considerable rate of knots to leave a tap in putt.  Had I chunked the second shot, like I did the provisional, I would have had a regulation two putt par but it was for a seven and another point.

"This is the shortest par four on the course Grumps, a good drive will get you very close here" Can you guess what happened next?  My provisional did get me very close, fortunately/unfortunately I found my first one in the bundai.  Hack! Then compounding that and not wanting to take on a cavernous bunker I played a safe shot that ran off the green down a steep bank into a collection area.  Blue's second shot out of the wannabe bundai ran through the green, skirted that cavernous bunker (did I mention that he's a lucky bar steward), and left him a tricky pitch.  Played a little firm he too found himself off the green again and down that steep bank.  As usual out came my wedge and I played a little flick, landing on the crest, and rolling to about two feet.  Blue, the big wuss, opted for putter.  The lucky bas, good player that he is made certain of his five.

Regular readers may recall a time when I had just applied sun tan lotion downwind of Blue he started to practice some bunker shots pebble dashing me.  I can't blame him this time, it was all me.  After finding a fairway bunker of soft sand, I caught the lip and watched the ball loop over my head and land as a fried egg at the back of the trap.  My only option was sideways, into the wind; I was still finding sand in odd places on the drive home.  

Blue continued his run of level fives on the scorecard while I hit my first green in reg and three putted.  Blue's one aberration on the front nine was a par four on the stroke index one hole.  My aberrations were plentiful.  Again after a good drive on a par five it was in range.   After the second shot was played, it wasn't anymore.  Anyone wanna buy a 21 degree Titleist fairway wood?  Blue finished the front nine with fourteen points after blobbing both of the par threes.  I had ten points mostly due to the par fives being played at an average of seven and some poor putting.

The back nine started with a par five; cue another fine blob for me and a hard working par for Blue.  Another steady par and another blob, can you tell who got which?  On the par three 12th you hit over a fence and a road!  Blue hit the green for the first time on a par three and three putted for his first par three point.  The final six holes are Blue's favourites, probably because he played them in level par.  The highlight for him was a birdie on the 17th while my highlight was a you're taking the p1ss putt on the final par three for a double.  Blue three putted that one.  Blue shot 36 for the back, and 34 points overall; the par threes were his downfall.  I only just beat 100; setting foot on the course was my downfall.  Nevertheless it was a very enjoyable day with a far too generous host.

Proper mixed bag yesterday.

Arranged game in a comp for 16.50 with a couple of guys. One of which said he'd be a bit late but would be there by 5. At twenty past 5(and with me becoming closer in nature to the username of the previous poster!) I rang him to find out he was still about half an hour away. The third guy got a partner and managed to go out. The other guy turned up at about 17.50 and we went (fortunately the last remaining 4 ball due to go let us go in front of them - didn't stop me from fuming though having arranged to leave work early only to have to hang round for nearly an hour longer than planned!).

Sublime to ridiculous (more of the latter)

Good drive good chip birdie followed by 3 putt from 20 foot bogey. Same pattern next 2 holes.

5th pulled an approach into thick, fluffy rough and then missed the ball, sliding straight underneath it. Frustrating. Double.

6th putting approach from fringe, taking practise putts, eyes on target, hit ball on practise stroke (aaaaarrrggghhh - dumn effing idiot!).

14th pulled approach meant me in middle of gorse bush on hill with nowhere to drop bar back down the fairway to replay the stroke (which I really couldn't be ar5ed with by this time) so somehow conjured an escape whilst on both knees lurching underneath the branches to jab the ball almost right back towards me. Miraculously got it out to the fringe without the ball hitting me. Great shot, but obviously then I couldn't up and down it.

15th huge hook with drive to far side of the 16th (returning parallel to 15) . Massive shank with the approach from that drive OOB right (80 - 85 degrees right of target sailing through the air for around 100 yards. Classic. Walked the rest of that one.

Then, from nowhere, 3 boring, regulation pars to finish.

Shake hands, sign and input card and get the f**k out of there!

A roller coaster of emotion, talent and scoring. 32 points with at least 7 (really) idiotically dropped shots.

Needless to say I'll be back on Saturday for more of the same.

Just got back from my usual summer weekend in Saunton to play the 36 hole Comp. Arrived Friday, there was a small possibility to get out early with a member if one of his 4ball didn't turn up. So got down early (also helped avoid the normal horrendous travel toward the south-west on holiday weekends). Alas the 4ball all turned up but that was fine as it allowed me a lengthy practice session.

So went out mid afternoon on the East and shot a very tidy 75 (off the whites). Good to get a feel for how much run there was/wasn't which allowed me to plan a bit better for the comp on the Sunday. Unusually wind speed & direction was basically the same for the 3 days which made the practice rounds very useful.

Saturday, I played the West, again fairly tidy for the most part, but got a lesson on why I shouldn't be overly ambitious. Went for the first par 5 (3rd) in 2 from 226 out, slightly uphill. Flushed a 21 deg utility from the 1st cut. Saw it bounce on green and thought....ooh that's close. Got up there and it was nowhere to be found, it had kicked on over the back and into fairly thick stuff. Got to the turn and really it was only the 3rd I'd messed up. Then had a right sticky spell 11 through 13 (1 point). On the 14th after a good drive I snap hooked the 2nd into a thick bush/tree left, to my amazement it had gone through and I just about had a shot into the green, scraped it on and canned a 25 footer for an outrageous par, then finished birdie bogey x 2 for 34 points. So felt really well prepared for the Sunday.

What a start on the West Sunday morning...double, triple, double, double, par, double. Killed off any hope of a decent round...good job I prepared well!!. Just used the rest of the round to try and mentally reset myself for the afternoon round on the East.

So started much better on the East, bogey, par, par, par then 3 putted the 5th out of nowhere, good recovery at the 6th by stiffing a wedge to 2 feet and tapping in for bird. 2 further bogeys saw me to the turn in 39 but I knew I was playing decent. Regulation par on 10 then on in regulation on 11 albeit 30 feet away, raced the 1st putt 6 foot past, noted that it died to the left, the putt back would therefore drift right right? Nope it stayed straight and then the age old lesson, never try and tap in through red mist!! missed from under a foot...argh!! Refused to let it get to me though and parred the next 2 before dropping another on the stroke 2 14th. Got into difficulty on the par 5 15th. wind carried the 2nd shot into the right rough, buried, no 3rd shot, managed to move it about 20feet back into the 1st cut. Then drilled on through the wind and the green :-( Chipped back and 2 putted for another double. I could now see a decent cut disappearing as the final 3 were all into the wind, however got to the 18th still just 8 over. Leaked a drive into the crap right. Didn't get too ambitious with the 2nd but such was the gnarliness of the lie I managed to chunk it into a bramble patch. couldn't find it so had to go back, drop and chop out. Got up and down for a double and a 10 over par 81, very disappointed with 11, 15 & 18, all avoidable doubles. However everyone else was clearly finding it tough. 43 NRs on the day and CSS's of 75 & 77 So up 0.1 in the morning and a 0.4 cut in the afternoon. In retrospect I'd have taken that at breakfast Sunday morning.

I'm officially out of love with the game .. or at least playing it! But that will probably last until Wednesday or at worst Thursday

Medal yesterday and one of the worst rounds I've even played. First day back on full greens after course maintenance week didn't help and 3 3-putts in the first 5 holes didn't help my mood.

Only the second time I've NR'd a medal round in 7 years competitions .. yet another lost ball on 13 when it looked in a safe place, and I couldn't be bothered going back to play again. Strangely played OK once I'd lost interest!

Next weekend I'll be back as keen as ever - once I've stocked up on golf balls again!

At least you've managed to play Davie, I've been cooped up in the house unable to be away from proximity of my lavatory, severely weakened by some sort of virus.

Illness is surely some sign of poor lifestyle? You've clearly compromised your immune system sufficiently to allow the virus to take hold. I don't know whether it's lack of exercise or poor diet but you've no-one but yourself to blame Super

Nice try Smithers, but virus's are no respecter of lifestyle. It can affect anyone at any time.

Ouch 2nd 0.4 cut in 2 weeks but also the 2nd time in 2 weeks I've doubled the last to spoil a really good score. 1 under gross through 12 playing the best I've played in 2 years then it started to dribble away, bogeyed 13, 14, 15 & 17, all the par putts were agonisingly close, just like the 8 missed birdie putts from 2 through 11. One another day with even a fraction of those 12 putts dropping it have been a very different story.

Disgusted with myself up 18. lifted out of the teeshot and scuttled it forward about 90 yards. The previous week in a scratch matchplay albeit in a slightly different wind I'd caned a 3 wood 270 into a cross ditch from the tee. I was also conscious by now that I was tugging left (not good on a long left to right dogleg hole). So in terms of the teeshot I hadn't cleared my mind before taking the shot. Should have then laid up but took on the ditch 180 ahead that would leave me an easy wedge in. So out comes the rescue, big high cut and it clips the trees and shoots hard right into the bundai. Reload and similar result, reload again and flushed straight this time. Luckily found the original but in the bundai and behind a hedge so no chance of going for the green in 3. Chopped out, wedged on and 2 putted for a 6. In the end a 6 was a good result could easily have been a 9 or worse.
Big task for this week is to build on the way I played for the first 2/3rds of the round. The bogeys 13 through 15 I can take, although thinking about it, the tee shots were all left. 17 was disappointing, snap hooked 2nd shot which meant coming into the par 5 with a 5 iron out the left rough over a pond. Got a flyer, long and right, chipped down to 4 foot and missed the putt. So the work for this week will be to figure out how to not go left when the pressure starts to build.

The 0.4 cut was enough to get me back to Cat 1 though for the 1st time in a few months. Building up for the Tassie now so 4 weeks to work on eliminating the lefts because Carnoustie is one place you cannot go with leftish tendencies in your game.

"lifted out of the teeshot and scuttled it forward about 90 yards"

Actually a bit of a myth that topping is anything to do with lifting.  You probably lost your wrist hinge early or brought your arms towards your body (if you don't extend through impact).  A top for the better player often a sign of a nervous shot when they "choke" ;)

JAS wrote:The 0.4 cut was enough to get me back to Cat 1 though for the 1st time in a few months. Building up for the Tassie now so 4 weeks to work on eliminating the lefts because Carnoustie is one place you cannot go with leftish tendencies in your game.

Mac, you'd better steer well clear of Carnoustie then!

super_realist wrote:At least you've managed to play Davie, I've been cooped up in the house unable to be away from proximity of my lavatory, severely weakened by some sort of virus.

Sorry to hear that, Super. LordPutt was similarly struck down about a month ago. It lasted about four days but left him feeling dodgy for a week or so. Kaolin and morphine was the only thing that stopped it in the end. Hope you're feeling better soon.

McLaren wrote:"lifted out of the teeshot and scuttled it forward about 90 yards"

Actually a bit of a myth that topping is anything to do with lifting.  You probably lost your wrist hinge early or brought your arms towards your body (if you don't extend through impact).  A top for the better player often a sign of a nervous shot when they "choke"

Well thank you Mr Knowledgeable PGA teaching pro. All the same, probably as close to what you would call a "choke" that I've ever done. Way too much "destructive chatter" going on in my head on 18th tee. To paraphrase you though....where is your evidence that I didn't lift out of the teeshot? I know what I felt and my playing partners saw it, I clearly lifted out of the shot, desperately trying not to snap it.

LadyPutt wrote:

super_realist wrote:At least you've managed to play Davie, I've been cooped up in the house unable to be away from proximity of my lavatory, severely weakened by some sort of virus.

Sorry to hear that, Super. LordPutt was similarly struck down about a month ago. It lasted about four days but left him feeling dodgy for a week or so. Kaolin and morphine was the only thing that stopped it in the end. Hope you're feeling better soon.

It's grim, but I think the worst is behind me so to speak. Missed a week of golf though when I was on a roll.

JAS wrote:

McLaren wrote:"lifted out of the teeshot and scuttled it forward about 90 yards"

Actually a bit of a myth that topping is anything to do with lifting.  You probably lost your wrist hinge early or brought your arms towards your body (if you don't extend through impact).  A top for the better player often a sign of a nervous shot when they "choke"

Well thank you Mr Knowledgeable PGA teaching pro. All the same, probably as close to what you would call a "choke" that I've ever done. Way too much "destructive chatter" going on in my head on 18th tee. To paraphrase you though....where is your evidence that I didn't lift out of the teeshot? I know what I felt and my playing partners saw it, I clearly lifted out of the shot, desperately trying not to snap it.

JAS, when is the Tassie? I could be free for a game.

it's 11th to 17th Sept Super. I'm travelling up on the Thursday evening, dropping in to see my mum In Ayrshire on the Friday, playing praccie rounds on the Buddon Sat then Champs Sun. Unless I go deep in the matchplays I'll be available Friday 16th & Sat 17th. Possibly meeting up with Ladyputt on the Friday depending on the matchplays, should be free Sat 17th unless I get to the Semis :-p

Not playing Drumps this year as their open is on the 10th, its just logistically more awkward being before rather than after the Tassie.

By the way D4S is up in St Andrews this week in the Eden Trophy, he's on the Eden today & the New tomorrow

Jas, I just PM'ed you.

JAS wrote:By the way D4S is up in St Andrews this week in the Eden Trophy, he's on the Eden today & the New tomorrow

For those who are interested, he's through to the quarterfinals of the handicap Eden Tankard, playing this afternoon after winning at the 20th this morning. We hope to meet up with him this evening - any messages?

Tell him to get his arse back on 606v2.

As the instigator of the "anything goes" thread, tell him it would have been preferable if it wasn't him doing the going

Oh and ask him if he's "Mac" too!

Lol I read that as Mac tool.

MontysMerkin wrote:Lol I read that as Mac tool.

Is that because you are also Mac tool? MacMonty?

Played Essendon Old course over the weekend. Very nice place, 36 holes and lots of space. Interesting recent history as well: It used to be known as London Hatfield, and was in real trouble in 2011 until the former owners of cab company Addison Lee, who live on the course, decided to spend some of the cash from the sale of the family business on buying and running the golf course at the end of the garden instead of watching it turn into housing. They've instigated quite a change - the place is flourishing, and shows what a difference someone with commercial acumen can bring to a golf club.

The greens had been heavily watered which made them very receptive, but the fairways were baked hard and dry, which meant I hit some long drives I can boast about another time on the muscle flexing thread. Was on or around the green in two on 3 of the par 5s.... golf is a bit easier when you can reach a par 5 with driver and 6 iron, and I got an insight into what it must be like for the pros. My golf was a bit rusty (just moved house so not played much recently) but still managed 37 points, should really have been 40+ on such an easy course. No worries, it was a lovely hot summer's day, great to be out in the sun.

After a break of seven years, I've finally been given my new official handicap at my new course, Leven Links. Not too happy with 22 (I used to be off 20) as I'm struggling with the course having only played it half a dozen times and still don't know where all the hazards are and it's been so dry there have been some wicked bounces but that's links golf and I can only go up! I suppose it was a mistake to par the first hole (a fluke) on Tuesday when playing with the handicap secretary

How are you enjoying the course LP? I like the layout a lot and it makes you think off the tee, but the downsides are it gets so much play so can be a bit worn at times.

I'm loving the front 9 but finding the back 9 a bit of a challenge still. It would be nice to play the course when the wind isn't blowing a hoolie as well. It always seems that we have calm days except Tuesdays and Fridays which is when I usually play! The course is quite worn at the moment but I don't think it's anything to do with how much it's being played, just the lack of rain (until today's deluge). It'll be interesting to see how it plays tomorrow. I also still need to know the layout a bit better so I know where to hit the ball and, more importantly, where not to because the bunkers, in particular, are brutal.

16,17 and 18 are my favourite LP. Great closing holes.

Luckily for me 17 and 18 are par 5s on the ladies' card! I need all the shots I can get on 18 although it's a great challenge and a triumph to end the hole with the same ball I started with!

Great day for me today. Played in the Suffolk Seniors Championship at Stowmarket, Mrs Blue was on the bag. Despite windy conditions and getting caught out a couple of times on the quick and sloping greens on the front nine, 3 birdies helped me to a 77 which was good enough to see me finish in 6th place. Better was to come after the presentations with an invite from the County Senior Captain to trial for next years Suffolk Senior County squad. I'm a happy boy tonight

Cool Blue

Send a couple of Suffolk's best Senior "sticks" to Chicago and you'll be Number One in no time. Strategerie.


Unfortunately the only presentations that I used to be engaged in at our "affairs" were when I was prevailed upon to crack drunken jokes whilst distributing head covers and such to hapless recipients who never saw the funny side

Well played Blue!

BlueCoverman wrote:Great day for me today. Played in the Suffolk Seniors Championship at Stowmarket, Mrs Blue was on the bag. Despite windy conditions and getting caught out a couple of times on the quick and sloping greens on the front nine, 3 birdies helped me to a 77 which was good enough to see me finish in 6th place. Better was to come after the presentations with an invite from the County Senior Captain to trial for next years Suffolk Senior County squad. I'm a happy boy tonight

Maybe Mrs Blue shouldn't wear such short skirts on the course? At least she made it up to you.

Well done Pooky

Blue

Have you had this form for a while now or have you tried something new recently, like some lessons or more practice?

Thanks kwini/LP

Cheers Ray, I'll have you know that Mrs Blue's short skirts are a vital tactic used to distract opponents during close matchplay games!

Mac I had the good fortune to sell my business earlier this year after 35 years in the Insurance Broking game. Lucky enough to retire in June aged 55, which has given me the time that I have never had before to work with my club pro and practice! Playing a lot more as well both competitively and socially, handicap has dropped to 5 which I am just about managing to hang on to!

Blue

Nice going retiring at 55.

What have you noticed change about your game as you work with a pro more regularly?

Well done Blue. Maybe the Seniors Captain is hoping you bring Mrs Blue along too

Thanks Mac

I would say more consistency, better course management and improved short game skills. For me the biggest plus has been having the time to get to the course an hour before tee-off to warm-up, practice and prepare properly for the round. As opposed to rushing to the course from the office, shoes on in the car park, quick practice swing on the tee and away we go with predictably poor results!

I think you could be right Grumps, I knew there had to be a reason why I got an invite!

BlueCoverman wrote:For me the biggest plus has been having the time to get to the course an hour before tee-off to warm-up, practice and prepare properly for the round. As opposed to rushing to the course from the office, shoes on in the car park, quick practice swing on the tee and away we go with predictably poor results!

I remember that

Blue, consistency must make the game so much more enjoyable. I find that every 3 or 4 rounds I just have a ball striking catastrophe.

Ouch, caned into a 90 by Carnoustie today, including a 9 on 17 and 5 3 putts. So the practice rounds have yielded an 80 on the Buddon and a 90 on the Championship. The thing is they are practice rounds, my challenge now over Mon/Tues is to knock at least 12 off the 170 total. Can it be done? Well yes. Will it be done? Answers on a postcard...

Good luck JAS.

A good end to a good week for me today, finishing runner-up in the Felixstowe Seniors Club Championship with a 77. The winner was an ex-pro who shot 74.

well done blue! wish i could retire now

Thanks Ray, I can recommend it!