2018 Aims and ambitions

It's that time of year again. New year, new hope.

So far the winter has been terrible and I've probably only played 20% of the time I played this time last winter.

This year I'd like to get over the final hurdle of getting down to scratch and getting further than my disappointing 1st Round Knockout in the Club Champs, but might be hindered by living further from a practice facility.

What have you all got in mind for 2018 golf?

Usual for me, just to get a few rounds in. Always have a weekend away with a mate, might see if I can stretch it to 4 days and a trip abroad!

I have a 3 year old, and a 9 week old, with a wife on statutory maternity pay for most of the year. I will be lucky to play much if at all.. But when I do, just make sure I enjoy it whether I shoot 80 odd or 120.

On a side note, anyone got their kids interested in playing, at what age did you start them?

I just want to play. For exercise & fun if nothing else.

ben,
A friend put my son's hands on a plastic club when he was about 18 months old and we lived in a house with a forgiving basement. By his third summer he was hitting balls in the back garden and I was catching the well-struck ones, about forty yards. On the course by four, and I'd just use a wedge so we'd hit it the same distances. Fortunate to have a friendly club-maker who fitted him out with half-set left-handed clubs every year. He moved on to other sports but is now (in his late 20's) a good player again.
We were very lucky to live in a town where golf was very affordable. Too bad we moved!

Happy New Year y'all.

Just to be able to play again and be pain free!...the last couple of months have been a bit of a nightmare for me.

Towards the end of the season I had what I thought was a badly sprained ankle that didn't want to seem to heal, but when I began to hobble at the end of the round I thought some medical advice might be appropriate. A couple of X-rays and an MRI scan followed but I still wasn't particularly concerned. I thought that the consultant would say I needed to rest the ankle for a couple of weeks or at worst he may need to do an arthroscopy.

When he told me that my ankle cartilage was completely gone, that I has acute osteoarthritis caused by bone on bone together with a ruptured tendon and severely frayed ankle ligaments I couldn't quite believe it. He described my ankle joint as "hanging together by threads". Still struggling to get my head around it I decided, unwisely as it transpired, to have a game playing in a buggy around mid-November. It was only a few holes into the round when my ankle collapsed as I attempted a drive and a further MRI scan showed that I had now cracked my peroneal tendon.

Since then I have been in and out of an Aircast boot and have to rest until at least the middle of January, I then see the consultant again at the end of the month. I was one of only 18 golfers invited to the Suffolk Senior County squad meeting at the start of December in preparation for the team selection for the 2018 season, it was so incredibly disappointing and frustrating to have to withdraw.

Anyone else had or know anybody who has had similar ankle problems?

Hope to get down from 6 to 5. I'm going to alter my swing over the next 3 months to try and make that easier by improving my spin rate and trajectory.

My daughter has lessons every Sunday morning for £7 at our local pay & play course. I bought her a half set when she turned 5 in August 16 and she started just after that. She also has lessons after school on a Tuesday (from the same pros) for £38 per term.

Great value Smithers.

Get to a single digit handicap again.

Schedule a golf trip to Ireland.

Practice my short game as much or more than just hitting the driving range.

One thing I WILL NOT do is exercise nude and in the dark like Greg "the ego" Norman.

Kwin -32F at Big Moose this morning!

Shotrock wrote:Get to a single digit handicap again.

Schedule a golf trip to Ireland.

Practice my short game as much or more than just hitting the driving range.

One thing I WILL NOT do is exercise nude and in the dark like Greg "the ego" Norman.

Kwin -32F at Big Moose this morning!

At least you can walk across the Lake - nude if you prefer. Good for one's short game, no doubt.

What's not "good for one's" imagination is envisioning "The Ego" doing his thing. I'm guessing his golf cart venture goes the way of his World Tour.

Makes it easier to emigrate to Canada I guess..

beninho wrote:I have a 3 year old, and a 9 week old, with a wife on statutory maternity pay for most of the year. I will be lucky to play much if at all.. But when I do, just make sure I enjoy it whether I shoot 80 odd or 120.

On a side note, anyone got their kids interested in playing, at what age did you start them?

Eldest is 11 and got interested for the first time last year, still seems keen. Club starts up the junior programme in April I think so if she's still keen then perhaps a mini set for May birthday. Youngest is 5 and a bit interested and did some putting last year and seemed to enjoy that.

Super

Roughly where about in Edinburgh do you live because there are courses and practice facilities all over the place?

McLaren wrote:Super

Roughly where about in Edinburgh do you live because there are courses and practice facilities all over the place?

I doubt he can afford them...

Happy New Year all

Still one of the (largely) silent readers that is entertained daily by everyone on here - the Super & Mac show is the only soap I bother with these days.
Kwini's notes are still one of the golfing highlights of the week and hopefully back soon, and the alternative insight (and views) from GPB help give a rounded picture that is greatly appreciated.
My hopes for 2018 are simply to find a new club that feels like home after almost 40 years at my current one. My wife has finally got her long held desire and we are moving over to France to see how long we can survive over there. Move out of our house tomorrow and finish with the job next week, going over the week after.

Probably played the best golf of my life over the last year so need to find somewhere that offers a little interest close to the new home. Will be interested to see first hand how the slope system works prior to its arrival on these shores.

Will still be reading so please all keep up the good works!

Happy New Year turnip,
France's gain clearly LOS's loss.
Bon chance . . . . . . .

McLaren wrote:Super

Roughly where about in Edinburgh do you live because there are courses and practice facilities all over the place?

I live on the same street as the German Consulate Mac.

It's not that the ranges are far away but it's a complete an utter ballache to get through the traffic to Braid Hills, and I don't know anywhere else that I can hit balls. I hate to say it but even Glasgow is better for ranges than here even if they are awful.

I'm not far from Craigie Knowe but I don't really want to join another club, just need a chipping green and a 140ish yard long strip of land. Was thinking maybe some of the private ESMS school grass areas at night.

super_realist wrote:I live on the same street as the German Consulate Mac.

Couldn't resist looking at Streetview. Do you reside in the Travelodge Super?

I'm not Alan Partridge INW.

Also just looked up what street that was. Isn't it a bit of an odd part of town to live in due to how central it is and probably the worst location you could pick for access to golf?

McLaren wrote:Also just looked up what street that was.  Isn't it a bit of an odd part of town to live in due to how central it is and probably the worst location you could pick for access to golf?

I wasn't far off when I said I'd expect to meet him on George Street.

Isn't there a strip of land at the end of the street where you can hit balls?

BlueCoverman wrote:Just to be able to play again and be pain free!...the last couple of months have been a bit of a nightmare for me.

Towards the end of the season I had what I thought was a badly sprained ankle that didn't want to seem to heal, but when I began to hobble at the end of the round I thought some medical advice might be appropriate. A couple of X-rays and an MRI scan followed but I still wasn't particularly concerned. I thought that the consultant would say I needed to rest the ankle for a couple of weeks or at worst he may need to do an arthroscopy.

When he told me that my ankle cartilage was completely gone, that I has acute osteoarthritis caused by bone on bone together with a ruptured tendon and severely frayed ankle ligaments I couldn't quite believe it. He described my ankle joint as "hanging together by threads". Still struggling to get my head around it I decided, unwisely as it transpired, to have a game playing in a buggy around mid-November. It was only a few holes into the round when my ankle collapsed as I attempted a drive and a further MRI scan showed that I had now cracked my peroneal tendon.

Since then I have been in and out of an Aircast boot and have to rest until at least the middle of January, I then see the consultant again at the end of the month. I was one of only 18 golfers invited to the Suffolk Senior County squad meeting at the start of December in preparation for the team selection for the 2018 season, it was so incredibly disappointing and frustrating to have to withdraw.

Anyone else had or know anybody who has had similar ankle problems?  

       

That's pretty harsh Blue. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Rory hasn't contended in a major since his ankle injury, but you are made of sterner stuff!

McLaren wrote:Also just looked up what street that was.  Isn't it a bit of an odd part of town to live in due to how central it is and probably the worst location you could pick for access to golf?

I used to live in central(ish) London when I was younger and single. Lack of access to golf was outweighed by greater access to young attractive ladies. But in those days getting my handicap down was never one of my objectives for the year. Maybe Super has prioritised the search for Mrs Realist in 2018?

ray

In Edinburgh it is not necessary to live that centrally because it is a small city that doesn't take a lot of time to travel around. A bus ride of little more than 15 minutes from the street super lives on will get you into many of the nicer districts that are close golf facilities.

Anyway, my aims and ambitions for 2018.

As with everyone I would like to get better but probably won't embark on lessons or a change of playing routine to achieve this. Making it unlikely I will see a great improvement in my scores. I play a lot in the summer but it is exclusively on the course and not on the range.


So as is usually the case my realistic goal is to play as many decent courses as possible, especially new ones.

At some point in the year a new driver might not be a bad idea.

My first aim is to play to my new handicap after I was given a 1 shot cut in the annual review! Doesn't sound much but I was very surprised to receive it as last year was easily my worst year in 8 years I've been a member at my club. I've often wondered why I didn't get a review cut in some of the previous years but this was totally out of the blue! Maybe skewed by my memory of a particularly bad autumn, but even before that I never really showed what I consider my true level.

I still feel 2-3 shots better than even my reduced handicap, but last year's stats don't really bear that out!

Davie

Crucially has the cut moved you out of hacker territory?

McLaren wrote:Davie

Crucially has the cut moved you out of hacker territory?  

Most certainly not Mac! Still chopping away

Pretty much the same aims as usual.

1. Enjoy my golf
2. Try getting lower without forgetting 1.

Bit of a strange year last year, pleasant purple patch June, July & August sandwiched between 2 lengthy 0.1 fests. The early 0.1 streak was caused by a lack of winter work due to a shoulder injury and working away. The tail end of the season my head just wasn’t right.

I’d like to lengthen the purple patch this year and also like to get back to playing well away from home. Didn’t happen even once last year.
2018 will be quite a bit different in terms of schedule. I’ve come out of the weekly grind of my large playing groups order of merit, being competitive I just found it too binding (to have a life outside Golf too!!). I turn 55 in March so looking to do a few Senior Open comps and cut back on the amount of medals at Home.

McLaren wrote:ray

In Edinburgh it is not necessary to live that centrally because it is a small city that doesn't take a lot of time to travel around. A bus ride of little more than 15 minutes from the street super lives on will get you into many of the nicer districts that are close golf facilities.

Such as Mac? It took me 30 minutes to drive to Braid Hills the other week.

Thanks a lot Ray.

I played squash at a reasonable club level until I was 47, so I'm guessing that is the main cause of my ankle's demise. Thoroughly enjoyed it at the time, but wish I had retired from it a lot sooner now!

Playing much golf yourself these days?

Welcome to Senior Golf in March JAS. I reached that milestone a couple of years ago and after initially thinking maybe not for me yet, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Loads of excellent playing opportunities and I have been pleasantly surprised about how good the standard can be. Suffolk Seniors played Kent Seniors at the start of the season and Kent have 15 players at 2 or better to select from...

Super

I meant that if you live in one of the areas away from the center (which are themselves only a 15 minute bus ride from the center of town) you will almost certainly be near a golf club or range. eg newinton, morningside, bruntsfield, stockbridge, blackford, corstorphine, colinton etc

Where you currently live I can't think of any nearby solution unless Murrayfield, Ravelston or carrick knowe have a range you can use.

Hence what I was saying Mac. Edinburgh is not well served for practice facilities. There's plenty courses, but none that have anything have decent for practice.

I'm almost better driving out to Linlithgow.

PS, you need to take off that Yank spellchecker Mac. It's centre.

When I lived there a few years ago I used to drive out to the range at Kingsacre just over the bypass. Fair old trek from where I was tho but it was a great range at the time, no idea what it’s like now.

Jas

I used to play and use the range at Kingsacre quite a bit during a period where I wasn't a member of a club. The range is pretty good and the front 9 of the course was ok. From where super lives it might be a bit of a trek.

Super, how come you chose to live where you do?

I'd forgotten about Kingsacre, it's the driving through town to get to Braid Hills that's awful, out on the bypass might be easier.

What do you mean why did I choose to live where I do? It's a nice quiet street in a good area with lovely housing and it's close enough to work.

Just quite a central location, I have never considered living in that part of town so just wondered what you thought about it?

Depends what you're looking for Mac. I didn't fancy a commute to work, but I'm also just a few minutes to get out of Edinburgh by car back up to play golf in St.Andrews. I can get there in an hour whereas if I lived Morningside area or somewhere like that I'd have a bit further to go and a shedload of traffic to get through.

You once said you lived in the Haymarket area, or were you being dishonest and Mavlike again?

Not sure I ever said I lived in the Haymarket area.

Yes, you did Mac.

The thing about telling lies is that you have to keep track of them otherwise you get found out.

That would probably explain why you are too frightened to reveal what you studied, what you work as and where you claim to have lived abroad.

Super

I am pretty sure I have never claimed to live in haymarket, I think you might be mistaken as I have never lived north of the University.

I could be mistaken Mac, but I'm pretty certain when I lived in Edinburgh 5 years ago and I saw someone with a golf bag in the new town that you had claimed it wouldn't be you because you lived near Haymarket.

Murrayfield always had quite a good short game practice area. I don't think it's 140 yards but for pitching and chipping and bunker play it was good, and it's very convenient from the west end of the Newtown. Haven't been there for a few years now.

Kingsacre is quite a good range, but it's a mission to get there from the Newtown unless you can miss the by-pass traffic. Great to hit over the rugby posts though, and ding that gong.

Turnhouse has good practice facilities. Nice grass range and a couple of practice greens. One of my friends practises her chipping in Queen St Gardens, when nobody is looking

Have started looking at schedule options, did fancy the England Golf over 55s but it looks like it ballots out at a fair bit lower than I am now, need a good early season. Having said that it clashes with the Frame Trophy at Worplesdon which is for over 50s and I’ve fancied doing it for the past 4 years and never got round to it for various reasons.

Tassie application is online Weds at 7.00pm. Already signed up for the Senior Open on the Burnside on the Friday before.

Looks like most Senior Opens are weekdays which is a tad frustrating, Cearly Senior Golf and working don’t go hand in hand!!

\"JAS wrote:Looks like most Senior Opens are weekdays which is a tad frustrating, Cearly Senior Golf and working don’t go hand in hand!!

When I was working, ALL Ladies Opens were weekdays which was even more frustrating JAS. Thank goodness for retirement!
My aims for this year are to consolidate my handicap at the current 24 which is where I think it should be, given the long competitive layoff, and to try and get LordPutt enjoying his golf again, which could be difficult as he can’t seem to find people to play with that are on his same mental wavelength. I hope we can enter and enjoy a few mixed opens again - the Dukes at St Andrews is a definite in July. It was a great event last year and we did surprisingly well.

LadyPutt wrote:

\"JAS wrote:Looks like most Senior Opens are weekdays which is a tad frustrating, Cearly Senior Golf and working don’t go hand in hand!!

When I was working, ALL Ladies Opens were weekdays which was even more frustrating JAS. Thank goodness for retirement!
My aims for this year are to consolidate my handicap at the current 24 which is where I think it should be, given the long competitive layoff, and to try and get LordPutt enjoying his golf again, which could be difficult as he can’t seem to find people to play with that are on his same mental wavelength. I hope we can enter and enjoy a few mixed opens again - the Dukes at St Andrews is a definite in July. It was a great event last year and we did surprisingly well.

Give my regards to Lordputt LP, I thought he was great company on and off the golf course to be fair. I suppose Senior Opens will be good excuses for the odd day off here and there.

JAS wrote:

LadyPutt wrote:

\"JAS wrote:Looks like most Senior Opens are weekdays which is a tad frustrating, Cearly Senior Golf and working don’t go hand in hand!!

When I was working, ALL Ladies Opens were weekdays which was even more frustrating JAS. Thank goodness for retirement!
My aims for this year are to consolidate my handicap at the current 24 which is where I think it should be, given the long competitive layoff, and to try and get LordPutt enjoying his golf again, which could be difficult as he can’t seem to find people to play with that are on his same mental wavelength. I hope we can enter and enjoy a few mixed opens again - the Dukes at St Andrews is a definite in July. It was a great event last year and we did surprisingly well.

Give my regards to Lordputt LP, I thought he was great company on and off the golf course to be fair. I suppose Senior Opens will be good excuses for the odd day off here and there.

Good luck with the Tassie entry and definitely book a few sneaky days off - or how about a few sickies? Sadly. LordPutt's fellow senior members at LGS don't understand his Cockney sense of humour and take everything far too seriously, even when it's the weekly Tuesday roll-up! We've just got to find him a few like-minded mates to play with like those he left behind in Bromley.

JAS - arrangement last year was if you made cut at English you got your entry fee back from Worplesdon. Assume same this year, but details not yet published.
English will ballot at 4.something. Year before I first entered it balloted at 9, and has been reducing ever since.
You’re correct, most Seniors scratch events mid week. There is one at Thurlston which I think goes Sat/Sun. Have a look at Kingsdown, not too far from you?

puligny wrote:JAS - arrangement last year was if you made cut at English you got your entry fee back from Worplesdon. Assume same this year, but details not yet published.
English will ballot at 4.something. Year before I first entered it balloted at 9, and has been reducing ever since.
You’re correct, most Seniors scratch events mid week. There is one at Thurlston which I think goes Sat/Sun. Have a look at Kingsdown, not too far from you?

Ah that’s good to know Puligny although I suspect not that relevant given my chances of getting to 4 before the cut off period :-/. I thought it would be a dawdle getting into the English seniors given that I made the Logan Trophy (over 35s) one year. Having said that I was the last reserve to get called...a mere 16 hours before the tee time they allocated me.

Kingsdown I’ll definitely do, Wiltshire County Champs were there last year and it is really local to me as I’ve recently moved to Chippenham.