The Golf Thread - 2015

[SpeckledJim]

Rosscow said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

SpeckledJim said:

I was braced for that being >£200 like everything else you boys buy for golf, but at £18.99 I think I'm going to have one too!

It really is a great piece of kit. For anyone that's got kids, it'll make a fun adventure for them wandering around the woods at night.

If you do get one, a couple of tips from my first outing...

Think about where YOU lose balls. I guarantee you're not the only one.

Hedgerows and bushes are easier to find balls than deep rough. I found very few in thick grass.

The edges of water hazards are good too. I think people just see it's gone in the hazard and don't bother looking.

Wear gloves and a non Snaggy top, like a cheap waterproof. My hands got stung to hell and my hoody got caught everywhere.

I don't have enough time to actually play golf, let alone scrubbing around in the dark looking for half knackered Pinnacles!!!!

This is a bit of a confession but I get a real thrill from finding golf balls. Sometimes it even happens in good dreams.

Can't believe I've admitted that.

[Rosscow]

SpeckledJim said:

Rosscow said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

SpeckledJim said:

I was braced for that being >£200 like everything else you boys buy for golf, but at £18.99 I think I'm going to have one too!

It really is a great piece of kit. For anyone that's got kids, it'll make a fun adventure for them wandering around the woods at night.

If you do get one, a couple of tips from my first outing...

Think about where YOU lose balls. I guarantee you're not the only one.

Hedgerows and bushes are easier to find balls than deep rough. I found very few in thick grass.

The edges of water hazards are good too. I think people just see it's gone in the hazard and don't bother looking.

Wear gloves and a non Snaggy top, like a cheap waterproof. My hands got stung to hell and my hoody got caught everywhere.

I don't have enough time to actually play golf, let alone scrubbing around in the dark looking for half knackered Pinnacles!!!!

This is a bit of a confession but I get a real thrill from finding golf balls. Sometimes it even happens in good dreams.

Can't believe I've admitted that.

[ManFromDelmonte]

I like finding Pro V1 or Pro V1x, most other stuff I just chuck back in or use on the driving range.

I know noone cares but aren't lost balls normally property of the course?

[PatrickOUFC]

Just got back from a week's golf break in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Absolutely fantastic golf and weather (mid 20s all week)

Played the three courses at Palmetto Dunes - which were a good challenge, and varied.

The highlight though was a round at Harbourtown Golf Links which features on the PGA Tour as the host venue for the RBC championship. Best course I have ever played, and was happy to shoot a 94 here (not from the Pro tees obviously!)
Some photos from Harbourtown below - including one with the legendary course designer Pete Dye who was at the 18th when we finished, and one with our Caddie for the round Bob

[Rosscow]

PatrickOUFC said:

Harbourtown Stuff!

Wow, very jealous! One of the most popular tracks on tour I believe, always looks lovely on the TV!

And Pete Dye - brilliant! The Pete Dye course at French Lick where the US Senior PGA was held this year looked astonishing.

[cheddar]

Rosscow said:

Don't have time for scrubbing around in the dark looking for half knackered Pinnacles!!!!

Same here.

Some of the people I play with wander off at any opportunity DURING a round to look for old balls while I wait for them on the green. Then they turn up looking triumphant with a brown, water stained Top Flite. When they cost 2 a penny to buy used why bother?

I'll admit that stumbling across a 'hit once' Pro V1 on the 1st hole is a different matter

[PatrickOUFC]

Rosscow said:

PatrickOUFC said:

Harbourtown Stuff!

Wow, very jealous! One of the most popular tracks on tour I believe, always looks lovely on the TV!

And Pete Dye - brilliant! The Pete Dye course at French Lick where the US Senior PGA was held this year looked astonishing.

Well, according to the caddie, though I realise he might be biased, the Pros chose Harbourtown as their second favourite track on tour after Augusta! Make of that what you will..

Agree - French Lick looks another Pete Dye designed stunner..

[Rosscow]

PatrickOUFC said:

Well, according to the caddie, though I realise he might be biased, the Pros chose Harbourtown as their second favourite track on tour after Augusta! Make of that what you will..

Agree - French Lick looks another Pete Dye designed stunner..

So, out of interest, what handicap are you if you shot 94 around Harbourtown?

[bridgdav]

Probably single figures if I go by my experience. Having played there a few times, it's not the difficulty of any particular hole, just the sum of all of them. Not allowing any errors. I have always played from the back tees though, shooting low 80's.

Rosscow said:

So, out of interest, what handicap are you if you shot 94 around Harbourtown?

How was the course..? They have just reopened after replacing the entire grass on the course.! Tore up the tees, greens and fairways this summer. Heron Point is another Pete Dye course, the sister to Harbour Town in the same resort.
I played that for the first time last month as HT was closed. Also a very good example of a Dye course, albeit not as tight as HT.

[Rosscow]

Came 9th out of 39 at the weekend, thankfully sneaking into the buffer zone.

Our winter foursomes start on Sunday morning, and then I have a Sussex match at Piltdown on Sunday afternoon - going to be a busy day of golf and driving!

[HaplessBoyLard]

Rosscow said:

Came 9th out of 39 at the weekend, thankfully sneaking into the buffer zone.

Our winter foursomes start on Sunday morning, and then I have a Sussex match at Piltdown on Sunday afternoon - going to be a busy day of golf and driving!

My neighbour and I are waiting on the draw for our winter foursomes. It'll be or first matchplay comp since joining the club. Really looking forward to it.

[Rosscow]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Rosscow said:

Came 9th out of 39 at the weekend, thankfully sneaking into the buffer zone.

Our winter foursomes start on Sunday morning, and then I have a Sussex match at Piltdown on Sunday afternoon - going to be a busy day of golf and driving!

My neighbour and I are waiting on the draw for our winter foursomes. It'll be or first matchplay comp since joining the club. Really looking forward to it.

Good stuff! I find foursomes can be equally entertaining and frustrating.

Great fun playing with a partner and enjoying the highs of the round together, but it's tough to be consistent with your swing when you may only hit a full shot, putt or drive every other hole.

[PatrickOUFC]

bridgdav said:

Probably single figures if I go by my experience. Having played there a few times, it's not the difficulty of any particular hole, just the sum of all of them. Not allowing any errors. I have always played from the back tees though, shooting low 80's.

Rosscow said:

So, out of interest, what handicap are you if you shot 94 around Harbourtown?

How was the course..? They have just reopened after replacing the entire grass on the course.! Tore up the tees, greens and fairways this summer. Heron Point is another Pete Dye course, the sister to Harbour Town in the same resort.
I played that for the first time last month as HT was closed. Also a very good example of a Dye course, albeit not as tight as HT.

I wish I was single figures! No, handicap of 17, par of course is 71. Bear in mind that there are normally 5 different teeboxes in the USA, and we were playing off the middle of these (the whites - which many golfers play from in the US). Playing from the back tees, I would have shot over 100 for sure, so to shoot low 80s is a great effort - I salute you Sir.

Course only reopened on 28th Sept - as you say, after a complete overhaul. It was in simply incredible condition. I would love to play there again one day for sure

[anonymous-user]

Winter Gloves

My dad is looking at getting some all weather/winter gloves. Has anybody got any experience of them - best make etc.?

Thanks
Gary

[Rosscow]

garyhun said:

Winter Gloves

My dad is looking at getting some all weather/winter gloves. Has anybody got any experience of them - best make etc.?

Thanks
Gary

I have these, have found them pretty good. It's always tough playing in gloves!

http://www.footjoy.co.uk/Catalog/Category/46

[roboxm3]

I've had and used (tried to) those FJ WinterSof gloves before but found it very difficult as mentioned above and if you're an "interlocker", forget it.

If I'm likely to play much this winter then I'll be going down the route of some nice warm mittens and removing them for each shot.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks Chaps!

My dad is still very active golfer but at 80 gets painful hands when wet/cold so it's something he wants to try to see if it helps.

Maybe a cheap pair to start may be the way forward just to see!

Thanks again
Gary

[exocet ape]

Gary. The other option is a bit better. Buy a pair of the mitts. I have a pair of Titleist ones and they are fantastic. You can also fit hand warmers in them if yyou need a little bit extra heat. And they last for years!

http://www.clubhousegolf.co.uk/acatalog/Titleist-W...

Just out of interest clubhouse golf has the b330-s for £24.99 with a free tri fold towel.

[Rosscow]

I have mitts as well! If it's really cold, I'll use both!!

[timlongs]

After living in the Alps for a year and not hitting a ball I've been home 2 weeks and played 4 full rounds. First 3 were hit and miss but today I matched my best ever round of 13 over. Was playing off a 17 handicap before I left but always knew I could play lower.

Only hit driver twice, 3 wood off the tee the rest of the time. Had a couple of putts lip out that would've made it even lower. Only 2 doubles on the card which was pleasing