Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

Congrats Super!

puligny,
Did you ever read Leslie King's instructional stuff?
Best golfer I ever played with reckoned he read it as a youngster - in his case that would have been the 50's or 60's - and never bothered with anything else. Said it simplified everything about the golf swing and he was a 60's shooter well into his sixties.
In our local (CNY) sports Hall Of Fame for golf and long distance running!

Looking it up right now. I'm all for simple and relish Jacob's view that the only thing a golf swing needs to be is repeatable! Thanks for that.

Well that's my reading sorted for a day or two. Seems it's all available online as a PDF! Read a few comments, and it looks really interesting.
Mind you, just watching Rahm hit 4 irons out of a pot bunker! My knees wouldn't take that!!

puligny wrote:Well that's my reading sorted for a day or two. Seems it's all available online as a PDF! Read a few comments, and it looks really interesting.
Mind you, just watching Roller throw 4 irons out of a pot bunker! My knees wouldn't take that!!

Fixed it for ME

puligny wrote:Navy - interesting one. I saw a John Jacobs video on local tv just after he died. He had chap taking normal set up, then closing his shoulder line slightly. "You'll never slice it again!' Not sure if that was your problem, but I can confirm it's a good tip, or at least works for me.

Yeah, I've always hit a baby draw, but have struggled with it ever since the modern 460cc drivers became the norm. Don't really know why. Also, I don't think I have the feel for hitting a driver on an upwards attack angle - I know it's meant to give more distance and all that, but it feels very unnatural to me and is a different swing mechanic to every other club. I've also been teeing it down with the driver the last week or so and I feel I'm hitting it more like every other club - better weight transfer, no spinning out of the impact. Much better .

Probably be back to the normal scheiss off the tee in a week or two though!

kwinigolfer wrote:puligny,
Did you ever read Leslie King's instructional stuff?

Leslie Neilsen's instructional stuff much better, and a quicker route to lower scores.

LordPutt and I had a fantastic day yesterday playing in the inaugural Mixed Open at the Dukes Course, St Andrews. We actually only entered it because the entry fee was £50 a couple and green fees are £90 each so we thought it was a bargain and had no great expectations although felt the betterball format would at least give us a chance of both playing the course with our own ball.

All started a bit iffy with a not very good opening hole but then himself putted in off the green for a 2 at the par 3 third (four points). At this point he was scoring on each hole and I was an admiring spectator. Then the wheels came off his game and I came into my own with some good scoring around the middle of the round including pars at the 12th and 16th (both par 3s) and he came back with a par at the 17th (par 4). He managed to lose 4 balls (but he found 2 others) but I was amazed to play the whole round with the same ball and despite my phobia about bunkers, I was able to play perfect shots out of the four I found myself in - two fairway ones and two greenside (so it's not me, its the poor state of the bunkers I've been trying to play from).

We came a very creditable 9th out of 26 pairs with a Stableford score of 37 (the winning score was 41, followed by 3 on 40, one on 38 and five of us on 37). The weather, and the course, were perfect and we felt really chuffed with ourselves as we were by far the highest combined handicappers (and probably the oldest!) and with only 90% allowed, had the most shots to lose. Roll on next year's competition!

How do you find the course LP? I've always found it a bit of a slog, although this time of year the greens are probably quite good, they've always been hopeless when I've played it.

Well done LP (and LP).

super_realist wrote:How do you find the course LP? I've always found it a bit of a slog, although this time of year the greens are probably quite good, they've always been hopeless when I've played it.

We'd been warned about it being quite a walk from green to tee in places and so we had a buggy which no doubt helped a lot! The course is quite long (LordPutt was off the white tees - 6550 yards) but pretty favourable off the red ladies' tees - 5216 yards. The greens were very good and quick (well, a lot quicker than Lundin Ladies and a bit more so than Leven Links) which meant I missed out on quite a few points with chips shots onto the green either coming up 10 yards short or being 15 yards past! Very frustrating. I just couldn't get the speed. But apart from that I loved the experience and we can't wait to go back next year.

Bizarre game yesterday.

Outward nine, swinging poorly, striking it terribly, poor short game, couple of 3 putts, lost ball and triple bogey on the easiest hole on the course, 1 regulation par and a rare up and down for another one. +9 through 9 (playing off 7).

Bogeyed the 10th as well, including a 6 iron approach that flew like a shank but I swear didn't hit the hosel at all (thank god there isn't video footage of that swing plane/impact position if it did only hit club!). From there, out of nowhere I started to score (note - I didn't swing or feel like I hit it better, just happened to score better). Prime example being birdie on 11 which came from a drive 45 yards left of fairway and proceeded through the rest of the back nine scrubbling (sic) around with one more bogey and a birdie to come back level gross, finishing +9 and making buffer.

Ridiculous game sometimes.

So ... (who was it who objected to posts beginning with "so"?)

A week off work, been away for a couple of days, back home today to a bounce game with an old friend of mine - greens maintenance week so 18 temporaries and at my course the temporaries are just holes cut in the fairway, not even a shorter cut for the temps - but they ARE 20-30 yards short of the full greens. Also my partner is an older senior so we played off the yellows (though they weren't too different to the whites today) - so a VERY sort course

Having said all that I somehow managed to score 48 points! My best round by 3 or 4 shots - now I'm just trying to work out how much difference the temps made! Clearly the greens being 20-30 yards shorter per hole made a big difference but judging distance wasn't easy (I don't carry a laser range finder) and putting as you'd expect was a lottery. Buzzing about it but confused! Maybe converts to 40-41 points on a full course?

Well done Davie.

Sometimes I find playing to temps much harder, because the fairway is slopey and doesn't hold the ball like a flatter softer green. But often it is much much easier because 30 yards shorter also takes out all the bunkers and hazards around the green... the fairway is a much bigger target than the green.

Thanks Ray - yes that was my feeling too .. still very hard to gauge just how good it was - but the reduced distance was a huge factor for a short hitter like me

Temp greens and short course or not, 48 is still a big number Davie, great effort

Somehow managed to reach the final of our club 4bbb knockout last night, beat the club champ and the pro (same pair me and former partner beat in the final 3 years ago) at the 19th. We were both 9 under which is impressive from them as both scratch

Scotland Saturday morning, weather is looking half decent on Ayrshire Coast. Maybe even suncream weather!

beninho wrote:Scotland Saturday morning, weather is looking half decent on Ayrshire Coast. Maybe even suncream weather!

Wonder if there any stats on how much below the national average sunscreen cream sales are in Ayrshire :-/ I'm travelling up this evening Ben, popping in to see my mum before heading over to Edinburgh for a couple of days at the festival. Sadly a weekend without golf clubs, having said that a wee mid season break usually helps my form in n return.

beninho wrote:Scotland Saturday morning, weather is looking half decent on Ayrshire Coast. Maybe even suncream weather!

Ben, I've heard when in Ayrshire you can use the Isle of Arran to forecast the weather. If you can see Arran, it's going to rain. If you can't see Arran, it's raining.

Weather glorious up here, though pretty windy. Anyway birdies two of the first 3 holes at dundonald and a good front 9, back 9...well not so good! Troon tomorrow.

How did you get on a Troon Ben?

Snagged one of the club majors at the weekend.

Of course I thanked god in my speech. Rev Super Bible Basher Realist.

Well I saw a lot of tge course at troon. Great to play, unfortunately my erratic golf was not at its best. But enjoy the good shots and laugh off the bad ones. Really enjoyed it though, its clearly a lot harder then the courses I usually play! Will definitely try and get back again.

I will also add that I got a bit sunburnt,never expected that,had haggis (nachos) , belhaven, whisky and irn bru.

After an interesting session with the Leven pro on the simulator (sadly we don't have a range at the course but it does take out the gale force element which seems to be ever-present) I've treated myself to a new driver, having been getting more and more frustrated at the lack of distance with my old TaylorMade Burner. First I tried the TaylorMade M2 (with a ladies' shaft, of course) which felt good, then a Titleist which wasn't so good and then a Lynx Crystal which to his, and my, amazement, went about 20 yards further than both of them! He only had it in the shop as an experiment as there is not much demand for ladies' clubs and was intrigued to see how it went. It was half the price of the other two and even cheaper when LordPutt then treated himself to an M2 to replace his old Yonex Nanospeed - £400 for the two!

We went out in a howling gale yesterday to try them on the course and they still went a mile, even into the teeth of the wind. Downwind was just amazing! We also bought second-hand gap wedges (his a Titleist Vokey and mine a Ping G30) which proved very successful, too. He swapped his for a Cleveland 60 degree wedge which he didn't get on with and I paid just £25 for mine. Bargain all round

I just hope now that I don't do too well with them because I need just another .3 to get to the handicap I think I should have been given last year when I started playing again after a 10 year layoff.

Played Old Course last Thursday - an absolute treat. Shot 54 (good ones) plus a few others, but grinned all the way round.
Not sure why I mention this next bit, but stick with me. Involved in bizarre accident this morning, and just returned to cottage we are renting for this week after minor patching up at hospital. Walking across bridge in Kelso, with my wife, narrow, and heard vehicle beeping so assumed warning from lorry approaching from behind so stayed in single file. She tucked into side, I kept walking by the wall. Felt an almighty clatter, and thought f..., I've been hit by a lorry! Turns out he had a metal bar protruding from side by about 3 feet, and it caught my arm, but just a bit of a rip, and some bruising to look forward to! Beeping was van behind the lorry trying to get him to stop, as he had already damaged a few vehicles, and then me! Van driver eventually stopped him and got some details, but lorry drive then drove off! Just waiting for boys in blue to come round for a statement. Inch closer my arm was broken, if not gone, and a couple of feet (i.e. Walking in middle of footpath) probably curtains! Warning from what turned out be van driver probably saved one of us a very quiet drive home early next week!!!
Accidents happen so quickly - and small margins make a big difference. Now will I make tee time at Goswick tomorrow? I'm 2-1 up in holiday series and there is no leeway for a no show! Tough school!

Glad you're ok Puligny, that could have been disastrous.

Beers Super. I'm not normally a big reflector - but will admit to a few dodgy thoughts earlier. Apparently different times of day bridge paths are full of school kids!

That should have been cheers!

puligny wrote:That should have been cheers!

Horrible to think what could have been. Could have cut a kid in half, or taken its head off.

How did you enjoy TOC? Sounds like you liked it.

Sounds as if are appropriate puligny, Horrible thing to happen. Working on a bridge replacement project here (only as a community "volunteer") trying to eliminate the chances of such a thing. Hope they find the driver.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Puligny. Hopefully you make your tee time and maintain your lead

Super - absolutely loved TOC. I can imagine playing it regularly would take away some of the edge but, second time in 25 years fantastic. On the day enough breeze to keep us honest - warm and sunny etc. Playing partners from Canada and Argentina and we were round in a smidge over 4 hours. Hit it left left left and straight on par 3s so understand the limitations but really good fun, and I wasn't paying!

THanks Kwini/ Grumps. Had a couple of reds tonight - those New Zealander's and their Pinot Noir!

puligny wrote:Super - absolutely loved TOC. I can imagine playing it regularly would take away some of the edge but, second time in 25 years fantastic. On the day enough  breeze to keep us honest - warm and sunny etc. Playing partners from Canada and Argentina and we were round in a smidge over 4 hours. Hit it left left left and straight on par 3s so understand the limitations but really good fun, and I wasn't paying!

It is a treat to play, does feel nice to be on certain holes, and it is eminently scoreable, just not good enough for a major every 5 years, but still a fine course for the club golfer.

Played Goswick (Berwick upon Tweed) yesterday. Was refused any extra shots and got nutted! Really good links course if anyone is in the area. Lots of interest, dog legs etc though you can mostly see where you are going. Good condition - looks like money is spent on course, less so on clubhouse! Amazing views.
Leaving Dunbar till next trip.

Played Kilkea Castle Golf course, Co Kildare. Ernest Shackelton is from the local area. Lived there up to the age of 6, then moved to Dublin while his father studied medicine then over to London, Antartic and beyond. Anyway, good parkland course set in the grounds of the 11th centuary Norman castle. Great greens, and a good test.

Frustrating today. Medal round. Hit it pretty good, but radar definitely on the blink. Got away with it front 9, but not on the back 9. Ah well, at least the putter was good, as was chipping.

Agonisingly close to a bogey free round today. Never had one before. Bogey at 17.

first buffer in two years (exlc non counters) on saturday, 11pars, 5bogeys (inc 3x 3putts) and 2 triples postponed the rise to 8 for another few weeks...

Played Royal Aberdeen yesterday in an open. Great golf course, cant wait to get my name in for it again next year. Frustrating round 80 off 5, so a cut but should have been there or there about winning it. Triple on the back 9 trying to go for the green on 2 when it was never on. If id played 7 Iron and wedge likely to be 3 better Couple of 3 putts coming in too.

Still id have been delighted to post that b4 teeing off.

I think this is going to be a long post, might descend into a bit of a rant, but we've not had this type of discussion on here for a while....

Went out by myself the other day. Mid-week, mid-afternoon, empty course, warm sunny day: just lovely. A 2 ball teed off just behind me but after a couple of holes I was well ahead of them and I had the whole course to myself. I think golf is a great social game, but sometimes that total peace and seclusion when you’re on your own on the golf course is a wonderful feeling. Especially precious when you have 3 kids. And are striking the ball sweetly.

I didn't see another soul on the course until 15. By this stage I'm trying to get round quickly so I can pick up my daughter from swimming. As I was walking down the fairway, I noticed this guy teeing off on 16. He hadn't played 15, he just appeared from nowhere. I got to the 16th tee and had to wait a couple of minutes for him then on the fairway I had to wait again while he fiddled around on the green with 2 or 3 balls. As I arrived at the 16th green, he walked off the 17th tee, which is pretty close by and he kept his head down and ignored me. This was his opportunity to acknowledge me, I was going to ask if he wanted to join up for the last 2 holes because it was pretty obvious I was going to putt out and finish 16 before he would finish the par 3 17th.

Anyway, I putt out, step on to the 17th tee and he hasn't even got to the green yet. So I wave to him, and then call out if I could play through, he's only 130 yards away so I don't need to shout too loudly and the course is empty anyway. He hasn't reached the green, it's perfect for him to call me up and then putt out. NO, he calls back. I'm seething now, I wait for him to putt out and literally the second he steps off the green I hit a high iron into the green. I walk up to the green, he has to walk past me. I asked him if he cut in front of me, he asked me what hole I started on. I said I had no issue with him cutting from hole to hole, but if he was going to cut in front of me and hold me up it was common courtesy to let me through. He said he saw no reason why he should let me through and then uttered the golden line: “a single player has no status on the course”.

At this point I’m ready for a long argument, but I’m in a hurry now, so I tell him that what he just said isn’t anywhere in the rules of golf and he needs to brush up his out dated knowledge. I walk off to the green, he walks off to the 18th yellow tee. I quickly putt my ball to within a couple of feet, scoop it up and march off to the 18th white tee, which is 50 yards back from the yellow tee. He’s only just teed off and is still on the yellow tee. So standing all the way back on the white tee I tell him he needs to step aside because I am playing now. Reluctantly he shuffles off to the side, obviously I’m not calm enough to put a good swing on it, but at least I send it 240-ish yards, well past his ball but pulled into a fairway bunker. I was so relieved, I think I would have died from embarrassment if I’d carved it into the trees or duffed it.

As I walked up the fairway he started asking if I was a member, how long I had played golf etc. I told him I had played golf long enough to know the rules and etiquette of golf and he could pick up a copy of the rule book in the clubhouse. But otherwise I didn’t engage in any discussion. He said he would look me up in the members’ directory. I hit a good second shot from the bunker, finished quickly and had left by the time he finished.

Part of me really wanted to receive a call from the club secretary so I could have a moan, but I really can’t be bothered to put in a complaint myself. I also recognise that if I wasn’t in a hurry, I would have just done a bit of putting on the 16th green, let him carry on and had no confrontation at all.

What would you guys have done in this situation? Do you get people like this at your club?

I did warn you it would be a long post

I just inform them I'm playing through if they've sneaked on and are holding you up.
I've done it quite a few times.

What sort of tool says single players have no status on a course. Sometimes i think people forget that playing golf is meant to be fun, how can it be fun if you know you are holding people up, if it was me, you would start to feel a bit anxious.

beninho wrote:What sort of tool says single players have no status on a course.

Especially one playing as a single.

Mac, have you been writing graffiti around Edinburgh? I saw a wall which someone had scrawled "UKIP r gay" on.

Lucky enough to play some great courses over the past two weeks ... herewith my observations:

Oak Hill East - Massive course that could still use some significant tree removal. One green was so hard that my ball bounced (no joke) at least 20 feet upon my approach. I thought it hit a sprinkler head. A maintenance worker was right there and watering the green down. Wonderful finishing holes. I hit a hybrid after my drive (obviously) from the more forward tees landed right where Micheel hit his mythic 7 iron. No, I did not birdie, but did luckily par the hole.

Sunningdale Old - Jaw dropping beauty and an amazing test of golf. Played with numerous members who could not have been more gracious and we lost our match on 17th hole. A symphony of outstanding holes. Now a fan of the Vodka Pimms (orange/cucumber drink that was our sustenance after almost every round).

Royal St. George's - Blustery, wind up a bit ... just what you want for a links test. What surprised me were the # of blind tee shots and narrow landing areas. We were in a Captain's Day event and thought we might have placed but lost to Neil Coles. Can't think of a better person to beat the Yanks (once again). Class guy. Bernard Gallacher was there but left pretty quickly, so no chance to rub shoulders with that golfing elite. Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding and more Vodka Pimms. A winning combination.

Chelsea/Man City Game - Final score was 0 - 1, Man City should have won by about 4 goals. Rough outing for the home squad.

St George's Hill - One of my favorite courses of all time. Nuance without the beat up, great terrain, Played Red and Blue first day (the championship lineup I'm told) and Green the second day. The Green is exceptional and I was told that the aforementioned Neil Coles would often warm up there before a big tournament given the narrow landing areas. Cue more Vodka Pimms and more great hospitality.

Sr,
You'll have to get yourself a membership of a "League of the Iroquois" club (OH, Yahn, Bellevue, Wanakah).

Oak Hill East is my idea of a championship golf course; demanding, not overly long (tho' saw a leading pro lay up from the fairway on four par-4's at Dufner's PGA) and fair. Fantastic venue for the '95 RC. Looking forward to the Senior PGA there in 2019.

Went to RSG a few years ago trying to help my lad get on as a student - never been to a more stuck up pro shop in my life. In complete contrast to Prince's where they couldn't have been more welcoming or interested. Anyway, he got on RSG a couple of times thanks to the caddie master and loved it! Hope your experience with the pro shop staff there was better.

What a great trip Shotrock. Sounds fantastic, thanks for sharing. September was very wet here in south east England, so the courses were probably playing a little more lush than normal for this time of year. I really need to play St George's Hill. Only thing missing from your trip was a round on the New course at Sunningdale, which is (for me) a marginally better test than the Old and certainly has more spectacular views.

Kwin - No problems at the pro shop ... but the course was closed save for this event

Ray - Reason to get back to Sunningdale! Saw a little bit of the New from halfway house. Looked spectacular