Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

Congrats Super!

Sadly not JAS, it was just a bounce game off the medals but one of those very rare days when virtually everything you do is on the money.

Had a bogey, and missed a straight 5 foot putt for another birdie so could have been better still, but that lack of perfection is why we keep playing.

Got a new putter and driving technique and it's producing great results. Just hope I can keep it going into the season.

Be_the_ball wrote:

McLaren wrote:How much did you pay pay for it, I am interested as I am thinking about getting the 16 model?

I got a €250 voucher over Christmas and put €100 to it, so got it for €350 from www.halpennygolf.com. I've just checked their site and they are now advertising the new 2017 model for €450. I'm not sure they have any left, but i'm sure you would will pick one up somewhere.

You've been done there BtB.

The new M2 is £330 everywhere, and you can pick up the 2016 version for £250. Look at American Golf. £250 = €290.

raycastleunited wrote:

Be_the_ball wrote:

McLaren wrote:How much did you pay pay for it, I am interested as I am thinking about getting the 16 model?

I got a €250 voucher over Christmas and put €100 to it, so got it for €350 from www.halpennygolf.com. I've just checked their site and they are now advertising the new 2017 model for €450. I'm not sure they have any left, but i'm sure you would will pick one up somewhere.

You've been done there BtB.

The new M2 is £330 everywhere, and you can pick up the 2016 version for £250. Look at American Golf. £250 = €290.

I looked at that and thought halpenny were ridiculously expensive (although the voucher makes it cheap), but I'm not sure whether there's a huge tax on some stuff in Ireland. My XR19 was £250 in a local pro shop months ago and looks like it's showing up as £296 on there currently.

Roller_Coaster wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:

Be_the_ball wrote:

McLaren wrote:How much did you pay pay for it, I am interested as I am thinking about getting the 16 model?

I got a €250 voucher over Christmas and put €100 to it, so got it for €350 from www.halpennygolf.com. I've just checked their site and they are now advertising the new 2017 model for €450. I'm not sure they have any left, but i'm sure you would will pick one up somewhere.

You've been done there BtB.

The new M2 is £330 everywhere, and you can pick up the 2016 version for £250. Look at American Golf. £250 = €290.

I looked at that and thought halpenny were ridiculously expensive (although the voucher makes it cheap), but I'm not sure whether there's a huge tax on some stuff in Ireland. My XR19 was £250 in a local pro shop months ago and looks like it's showing up as £296 on there currently.

Halpenny golf were the only golf outlet that I could use the voucher in unfortunately, so I didn't have any other options for golf gear, I have bought stuff from www.onlinegolf.co.uk in the past and just checking I see them for £249, then between £0-5 for shipping there's no additional customs or taxes when shipping within the EU. So ~€290 all in. Without the voucher that's what I would have gone with, but with it I essentially got the club for €100, or ~£90 I can't complain with that...

Be_the_ball wrote:

Roller_Coaster wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:

Be_the_ball wrote:

McLaren wrote:How much did you pay pay for it, I am interested as I am thinking about getting the 16 model?

I got a €250 voucher over Christmas and put €100 to it, so got it for €350 from www.halpennygolf.com. I've just checked their site and they are now advertising the new 2017 model for €450. I'm not sure they have any left, but i'm sure you would will pick one up somewhere.

You've been done there BtB.

The new M2 is £330 everywhere, and you can pick up the 2016 version for £250. Look at American Golf. £250 = €290.

I looked at that and thought halpenny were ridiculously expensive (although the voucher makes it cheap), but I'm not sure whether there's a huge tax on some stuff in Ireland. My XR19 was £250 in a local pro shop months ago and looks like it's showing up as £296 on there currently.

Halpenny golf were the only golf outlet that I could use the voucher in unfortunately, so I didn't have any other options for golf gear, I have bought stuff from www.onlinegolf.co.uk in the past and just checking I see them for £249, then between £0-5 for shipping there's no additional customs or taxes when shipping within the EU. So ~€290 all in. Without the voucher that's what I would have gone with, but with it I essentially got the club for €100, or ~£90 I can't complain with that...

Absolutely

BlueCoverman wrote:Feeling chuffed today. Invite received to join the Suffolk Senior squad meetings during the winter. Being held at Bungay GC in January, Flempton GC in February and Woodbridge GC in March. Best I get some practice in!

And so the day of the first trial arrived on Thursday and with temperatures predicted to be only just above freezing in Suffolk I knew we were in for a cold one. Despite the normal rush hour traffic delays on the A12 I arrived at Bungay Golf Club in good time for the usual coffee and bacon roll. After a quick chat and welcome from the Senior Captain to the assembled group I headed out to the practice area for a warm up. I had bagged a good draw, second group out paired with a 2 and a couple of 5 handicappers and after introductions and handshakes on the first tee it was time to go. The format was scratch off the back tees and feeling a little nervous I hung on to my opening tee shot a bit and found myself down the left blocked out by a couple of fir trees and an opening bogey therefore ensued.

Three pars followed as I began to strike it down the middle and I found myself thinking that I can probably compete with these guys. It was freezing cold and we even got treated to a couple of sleet showers on the front nine as I annoyingly twice three putted on the unreceptive, hard greens. I also missed the green on the par 3 7th which resulted in, as it turned out, my only double bogey of the day. As we walked off the 10th tee the 2 handicapper, an established team member, asked me about my availability for selection in the side. I took that as a huge compliment and it was a massive boost to my confidence. Despite the conditions I managed a couple of birdies for level par on the back 9 and a gross 75 which was the best score in my fourball.

Better was to come after lunch when the Captain announced the results. My 75 was the 3rd best score, beaten only by two 74's one of which was shot by last years Suffolk Senior Champion. Now I'm certainly not counting any chickens, far from it, and its only one round. However, I do think that if I can perform reasonably in the next two trials I now have an excellent chance to make the squad for the County Side this year and that would be great!

Well played Blue. Fingers crossed for you.

Well done Blue

Cheers Guys

Blue - entries for English Seniors (both courses at Staunton in June) opened this week. Are you going to have a dabble? Also check out the UKSGA website - some great venues this year including Ganton, Princes, Hallamshire, Ashridge, Woodbridge, Liphook etc.

Hi Puligny, unfortunately not I'm in Mallorca that week golfing with friends. Are you playing? Thanks for the UKSGA info, will be looking to enter at least a couple.

Blue - I'm entered but all depends on the ballot. English is done on handicap at time of the ballot and I've got approx 20 qualifiers before then so a bit like stock market, could go up or down.....!
UKSGA site includes a calendar of all events, EGU, UKSGA, and club. So far I'm entered for 25 two and three day events between April and Nov plus club events - just hope knees and back hold out!

Good luck Puligny...that sounds like a very well planned and balanced calendar to me!

Two sub par rounds this week. Looking good for the coming season.

super_realist wrote:Two sub par rounds this week. Looking good for the coming season.

Better than Tiger.

pedro wrote:

super_realist wrote:Two sub par rounds this week. Looking good for the coming season.

Better than Tiger.

True, better keep up the reps, maybe I'll get a "W" this year.

Played a 22 hcapper in our winter league. He shot a nett 54 which was a bit much but only lost 3 & 2. Squeaked through to the knockout tho...

What a bandit.

Super

You forgot to tell us how your club champ defense went?

It was a long time ago Mac, but I got knocked out at the QF level, had a lesson since then and got myself back on track. Hopefully have a better go at it this year, plus my new putter is suiting me very well.

What a weekend of Golf.

Freebie at Kingsbarns on the opening day of their season. 18c and not a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky. Golf doesn't get much better than that.

Played Gullane No 2 on Saturday.

Decided beforehand to leave my driver in my bag.

So my 3 wood, became my driver for the day.

1st, straight down the middle, next shot onto green, 3 putts
2nd repeat of the 1st.

After 3 putting the first 2, I thought this was not going to be my day.

But I persevered with my plan, & it all worked out in the end.

Every drive went straight down the middle (couldn't believe it at times), even out driving my 2 mates with their drivers & these 2 can strike a mean driver.

Stood on 17th tee, with my 3 wood out ready to go. However we had to delay, as the group in front were searching for a ball in the cabbage. As I waited, I decided to change club, out came my 5 iron instead. At this stage I had already accumulated 36 Stableford Pts.

The green cleared, hit another straight shot, but failed to clear the last few feet of rough & the ball got caught up. Sand Wedge onto the green & a 15 ft putt followed for my birdie. As this was a stroke hole, another 4 pts in the bag.

3 wood off 18, missing the fairway to the right. (I did miss the middle for once). Gap Wedge onto the green to 10 ft. Went for the birdie, ran passed 3ft, but managed the one back for the par, & another 2pts.

42 pts on the day, my best ever for several years & surprisingly winner of the sweep.

First medal of the year yesterday off the whites (winter comps including qualifiers tend to be stableford off the yellows)

Two holes to play and I was only 1 over handicap - then proceeded to finish with 2 snowmen (the 17th is a notorious card-killer but the par 5 18th should be fairly straightforward)

Only made worse by the fact that my division was won by a nett 74! At least the CSS went to 73 though (par 70) so at least I made buffer

Gutting Davie. Been there.

Another great weekend of golf, down another 0.4. Not far to go now.

super_realist wrote:Another great weekend of golf, down another 0.4. Not far to go now.

Not far until what? You are a 40 year old virgin?

Is that the best you can do Mac?

Congrats Super, i missed a 1 inch putt and hit someone on the head with a really errant 3 wood approach shot (I did shout fore). Still managed to get up and down for par though

How did you miss a one inch putt?

Are you close to cat 1 now super?

A ball hair off scratch Mac.

super_realist wrote:How did you miss a one inch putt?

A mixture of making sure i did t step on anyones line and frustation at 3 putt meant i wasnt really looking wheb went to nudge it in one handed and skimmed the top of the ball.

Ball went didnt move

0.4cut? Did you have a weekend on the pi55 easy Old Course Soops?

Handicap massager!!!



<joke!>

That's some going super, tremendous consistency (I'm assuming it was more than one cut).

The lord is clearly with you SR

raycastleunited wrote:That's some going super, tremendous consistency (I'm assuming it was more than one cut).

Two cuts. 0.2 each time, one +2 and one level par. Been cut 0.6 this year already and it's only April.

Playing the golf of my life lately, and I can only put it down to improved ball striking by taking a shorter backswing, GIR has gone up and my distance control and dispersion is better than it's ever been.

Played on Easter Monday.
I have been struggling with my putting, kept telling myself it's the greens not you.
The greens have been very bumpy after a wet winter/spring.

Put a new SuperStroke grip in play about 2 weeks ago.

1st : One putt
2nd : One putt
3rd : One putt
4th : 2 putts
5th : One putt
6th : 2 putts
7th : one putt
8th : 2 putts
9th : One putt

Similarly on the back nine with another 3 single out greens. 26 in total
What a difference a smooth putting surface makes.

Played yesterday, first hole a short par 4, not 300 yards. Pulled my iron off the tee left into some thick grass, thumped the pw out straight at the bunker in front of the green, sonehow catches the top of the bunker and kicks it towards the hole, then roll in a short birdie putt. I hit two pretty average sots and get a rare birdie! Ive definitely played holes better and got worse. Strange game. Though did shoot40 on the front 9 which I wasvery hsppy with.

Now starting to play regularly and I'm happy to say (yes, really) that my handicap is gradually going up each time and will soon be at a point where I can play to it. I found it very strange that after almost eight years away from the game due to hip operations and work commitments, apart from the occasional round on holiday, I was given a new handicap only two shots higher than the one I had before (22 as opposed to 20). I've now gone up to 22.6 as of today so I'm creeping up to the 24 I felt I should have been given in the first place.

As well as being a member at Leven GS, where I find the course (especially physically getting out of the deep bunkers with my dodgy knees if thy don't have steps in them), I have taken Super's advice and joined Lundin Ladies (I know I said I wouldn't, Super, but you were right) where it's a lovely 9-hole challenging James Braid-designed course and very friendly members. Sadly Leven GS only has 14 lady members so t Lundin I get more chance to play with different partners at Lundin. Trouble is the competition days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays so I don't get the chance of a day's rest in between .  The Opens season is about to start and LordPutt and I have eight Mixed Opens (some of them for seniors) so I will report on our progress - or not!

What does amaze both of us, is that we can be members at LGS and I can be a member at Lundin Ladies (where he is also a "nearest and dearest" season ticket holder) for about the same cost as it would have been for the two of us to join a decent course in southeast London. When I give up my LGS membership at the end of the year, it'll be even cheaper. And people here complain about the cost of golf membership    They don't know how lucky they are!

Hope you enjoy it LP.

It amazes me how Leven can operate charging members only £460 pa. That's incredible value. Is there a huge number of members?

In my area you would need to insert a 1 in front of the 460 to survive, and I know many clubs where annual subs are over £1,500.

I understand how an Open venue like Carnoustie can subsidise its membership with green fee income. When you can charge £200 a round you only need a handful of visiting 4 balls per day to keep the club running. I also understand that staff costs are higher in England, but not 3 times higher, and other costs like equipment and materials are broadly the same.

Ray, Leven has two clubs and it's a large catchment area.

Most clubs in Scotland are around this price. I pay £630 for St.Andrews as I'm not "local" and I pay £300 for a country membership at another course in that area.

£630 for St Andrews is amazing value, but of course with huge income from visitors I would expect the members to get a good deal.

But with a course like Leven, the income from events and visitors isn't going to be enormous, and there's only so many members a course can support. Beyond 500 (as a guess) it starts to become complicated when you have too much demand for peak tee times. I'm no expert on this, there's probably an optimum number that courses manage carefully.

It gets even better if you're a resident of St.Andrews (£200) or NE Fife (£400)

400-800 is just standard for Scottish courses. English players simply get ripped off with fees in excess of 2k.

super_realist wrote: English players simply get ripped off with fees in excess of 2k.

Or at one course where allegedly the fees are the yearly costs divided by the number of members. Deep pockets required at that one.

I'm never wrong wrote:

super_realist wrote: English players simply get ripped off with fees in excess of 2k.

Or at one course where allegedly the fees are the yearly costs divided by the number of members. Deep pockets required at that one.

Not really, because that particular course charges visitors £230 a round and £300 for a day ticket, which probably means there is almost no shortfall at the end of the year for the members to fund.

super_realist wrote:
400-800 is just standard for Scottish courses. English players simply get ripped off with fees in excess of 2k.

I'm not sure ripped off is the right word. It depends on the structure.

I've been a member of 2 private clubs which are owned by the members. The membership have full transparency over the accounts, I can look at the P&L and see what the club spends money on and what profits the club makes (usually none). Staff is the big outgoing: I don't know how much it costs to employ green keepers and bar staff in Scotland, but salaries can't be as low as a third of what they are in the south of England?

Perhaps Southern courses require more maintenance.
Many of our courses are ancient too, so all the club houses are all bought and paid for.

500 members paying 600 a year is 300k, plus visitors, plus bar receipts. Should be enough to run most 18 hole courses if it's done efficiently.