The Golf Thread - 2017!
Discussion
GTO-3R said:
After having best intentions to play more last season and buying some new irons and wedges, sadly it was a write off. I've struggled with a bad neck for years (couple of car accidents and playing golf full time for 8 years did the damage) and it came to a head in June and I had to stop playing due to Chiropractor work. But this season I'm fit, well and ready to go! I'm a Callaway fan and my mate at the local range has just gone to them after being with Nike so I'm going to get fitted out for the new driver soon 
Quite sad reading until the end, good news about your back being better, good luck this year DuncanM said:
GTO-3R said:
After having best intentions to play more last season and buying some new irons and wedges, sadly it was a write off. I've struggled with a bad neck for years (couple of car accidents and playing golf full time for 8 years did the damage) and it came to a head in June and I had to stop playing due to Chiropractor work. But this season I'm fit, well and ready to go! I'm a Callaway fan and my mate at the local range has just gone to them after being with Nike so I'm going to get fitted out for the new driver soon
Quite sad reading until the end, good news about your back being better, good luck this year GTO-3R said:
Yes I was on the Challenge Tour for a bit but never quite made it to main tour!
Cheers for the good comments chaps
Still hugely impressive to a regular hack like me!!Cheers for the good comments chaps
Glad you're getting back into the swing of it.
Any stories of players that are now household names that you played with?
roboxm3 said:
Still hugely impressive to a regular hack like me!!
Glad you're getting back into the swing of it.
Any stories of players that are now household names that you played with?
Thanks Glad you're getting back into the swing of it.
Any stories of players that are now household names that you played with?
There was a few I played with who are still around on tour but the season I finished, Martin Kymer and Raffa Cabrera Bello were on challenge tour. I'm of a similar age to Rose, Donald, Casey, Garcia etc so played in quite a few amatuer events (British am, Lytham trophy etc) with them back in the day! Played with Nick Dougherty a few times and he was just rediculous. How he's not gone on to do more I'll never know!
Hi guys and girls , I don't know if this has been suggested before but would any of you be interested in a PH golf day in the summer when hopefully we have better weather , we could play it at my home course which is the shire in Barnet ( it's seves only uk designed course) and is a tough test of handicap with twelve holes having water in play . I'm sure I could get some sort of deal if there were enough of us ! Let me know what you think I'm open to any suggestions or ideas regards Craig
The golf thread - 2016! said:
SpeckledJim said:
StescoG66 said:
HaplessBoyLard said:
There's some confusing stuff going on here.
Less loft on a driver will not create more spin. With a lower loft you reduce spin loft, so spin is lower.
The reason why most amateur golfers need more loft on their driver is for increased launch angle to create the desired flight, and enough spin to keep the ball in the air long enough.
Too much spin, and too little are both killers of distance.
Beautifully explained - thank you. In that case my theory may just be correct, as I suspect I am putting too much spin on the ball as I have lost a lot of run - it pretty well lands and stops nowLess loft on a driver will not create more spin. With a lower loft you reduce spin loft, so spin is lower.
The reason why most amateur golfers need more loft on their driver is for increased launch angle to create the desired flight, and enough spin to keep the ball in the air long enough.
Too much spin, and too little are both killers of distance.
Like many things I suppose the difference is minuscule and small changes can make a big difference
Thats a good thing most of the time, with most clubs, but usually not in driving where greater roll is desired.
The rainbow profile is ok, but ideally a low, boring flight that peaks later than halfway is better. But you dont want so much spin that you get a soaring ballooning flight, as that costs distance and puts you at the mercy of accidental sidespin and the wind.
No functioning apostrophe on this bloody keyboard, sorry...
It's been an enjoyable wee bit of tinkering
HaplessBoyLard said:
2017 isn't starting as well as I'd hoped. I've got an extra week off before i go back to work and the greens on my course are frozen solid.
I hate temporary greens, so a range session it is for me.
LOLLL. I made the mistake (being new to golf) or not phoning in advance to check about winter greens etc. I hate temporary greens, so a range session it is for me.
I booked it on Teeofftimes. turned up and I might as well have brought my ice skates, the whole 18 holes was just annoying and boring as hell and to make matters worst my 12 hours of youtube watching and practice made me worse LOLLLLL.
SpeckledJim said:
Main restaurant is very good, though it's a good while since I ate in there. The whole resort is pretty plastic though, IMO. It's got one of everything, and it's all very nice, but it's all a bit cold, IMHO.
Lovely grounds to walk/jog around, nice views over Wales, and you can walk both the courses to have a good look at them if your good lady will indulge that kind of nonsense.
Well I've gotta say, if Carden Park is your local I am profoundly jealous - had a cracking weekend, crowned by 18 holes on the Nicklaus which has jumped straight into the top 10 courses I've played. Loved the layout, and the greens were in superb condition for the time of year. Almost seemed a more american type course, with lots of bunkers and lakes guarding everything, and with the wet consitions it really was target golf, which I love. Lovely grounds to walk/jog around, nice views over Wales, and you can walk both the courses to have a good look at them if your good lady will indulge that kind of nonsense.
Loved the No Guts No Glory shots as well - primarily the 6th and 17. I had a go at 6 and ended up about 5 yards short, but by the time I'd got to 17 I had joined up with some Scouse lads, so we all had a mulligan at 17. I caught it right out the screws and ended up 30 yards through the back (there was no real wind to worry about). Bizarrely after missing the lake at 17 I signed for a 5, but after getting wet on the 6th I ended up with a 4? Bizarre game..
Ended up signing for an 81, which I was chuffed with for the first game of the year. Missed a couple of silly putts and chunked a couple of chips due to the conditions, but managed to not lose a ball (other than being silly on the 6th), so the new backswing seems to be working well.
Enjoyed the rest of the resort as well, it was a bit corporate, but not enough to think I was there for work rather than with the OH. Had a lovely meal in the restaurant (and a lovely bottle of wine which made the first tee a challenge), great room and the OH loved her spa treatments. If I had to find something to criticse, the worst I can find is that I wasn't a huge fan of the chips they served with the steak. Otherwise fantastic, and I think we'll be booking in again later in the year.
bodhi said:
SpeckledJim said:
Main restaurant is very good, though it's a good while since I ate in there. The whole resort is pretty plastic though, IMO. It's got one of everything, and it's all very nice, but it's all a bit cold, IMHO.
Lovely grounds to walk/jog around, nice views over Wales, and you can walk both the courses to have a good look at them if your good lady will indulge that kind of nonsense.
Well I've gotta say, if Carden Park is your local I am profoundly jealous - had a cracking weekend, crowned by 18 holes on the Nicklaus which has jumped straight into the top 10 courses I've played. Loved the layout, and the greens were in superb condition for the time of year. Almost seemed a more american type course, with lots of bunkers and lakes guarding everything, and with the wet consitions it really was target golf, which I love. Lovely grounds to walk/jog around, nice views over Wales, and you can walk both the courses to have a good look at them if your good lady will indulge that kind of nonsense.
Loved the No Guts No Glory shots as well - primarily the 6th and 17. I had a go at 6 and ended up about 5 yards short, but by the time I'd got to 17 I had joined up with some Scouse lads, so we all had a mulligan at 17. I caught it right out the screws and ended up 30 yards through the back (there was no real wind to worry about). Bizarrely after missing the lake at 17 I signed for a 5, but after getting wet on the 6th I ended up with a 4? Bizarre game..
Ended up signing for an 81, which I was chuffed with for the first game of the year. Missed a couple of silly putts and chunked a couple of chips due to the conditions, but managed to not lose a ball (other than being silly on the 6th), so the new backswing seems to be working well.
Enjoyed the rest of the resort as well, it was a bit corporate, but not enough to think I was there for work rather than with the OH. Had a lovely meal in the restaurant (and a lovely bottle of wine which made the first tee a challenge), great room and the OH loved her spa treatments. If I had to find something to criticse, the worst I can find is that I wasn't a huge fan of the chips they served with the steak. Otherwise fantastic, and I think we'll be booking in again later in the year.
I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
SpeckledJim said:
Glad you enjoyed it. Driving the 6th is an even bigger ask than driving the 17th. I've given up on that now, having enough failed attempts to know it is bad maths, and so I play a 7 iron iron to the right and wedge in.
I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
I was sorely tempted to have another go at the 6th, as I was only about 10 yards short, but had hit a fade which took some distance off and took it offline, so got a bit wet. I had visions of it turning into the closing scene from Tin Cup however, so just dropped by the lake instead. I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
Hopefully going to do a 2 day visit next time, so I can get a round in on each course - or even grab a couple of buddies from my home course - as we're only an hour away, if the rates are as good closer to the season (guys I was playing with got it for £24), it will be amazing value.
Noticed there are a few nice courses round there as well - Hill Valley, Hawkstone Park, would appear you are spoiled for choice in that neck of the woods
bodhi said:
SpeckledJim said:
Glad you enjoyed it. Driving the 6th is an even bigger ask than driving the 17th. I've given up on that now, having enough failed attempts to know it is bad maths, and so I play a 7 iron iron to the right and wedge in.
I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
I was sorely tempted to have another go at the 6th, as I was only about 10 yards short, but had hit a fade which took some distance off and took it offline, so got a bit wet. I had visions of it turning into the closing scene from Tin Cup however, so just dropped by the lake instead. I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
Hopefully going to do a 2 day visit next time, so I can get a round in on each course - or even grab a couple of buddies from my home course - as we're only an hour away, if the rates are as good closer to the season (guys I was playing with got it for £24), it will be amazing value.
Noticed there are a few nice courses round there as well - Hill Valley, Hawkstone Park, would appear you are spoiled for choice in that neck of the woods
Membership on a 12 month rolling basis is available from £420.00 plus £70.00 Club Dues <--- That's tremendous value! Played there once years ago and had a great experience
bodhi said:
SpeckledJim said:
Glad you enjoyed it. Driving the 6th is an even bigger ask than driving the 17th. I've given up on that now, having enough failed attempts to know it is bad maths, and so I play a 7 iron iron to the right and wedge in.
I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
I was sorely tempted to have another go at the 6th, as I was only about 10 yards short, but had hit a fade which took some distance off and took it offline, so got a bit wet. I had visions of it turning into the closing scene from Tin Cup however, so just dropped by the lake instead. I'll have a go at the 17th though - as long as you are long enough, it doesn't really punish you for being a bit left or right. Whereas the 6th you've got to be long AND straight.
'Tis a nice course, and I'm glad you found it in good condition. Next time you visit it is worth playing both courses. The Cheshire is a nice course (despite opening with a par 3, which is a bugbear of mine).
Anyone who can play well over the last 9 of the Cheshire can play golf anywhere - it's tough. And the drive off the 18th is surely one of the most spectacular holes / views in English golf.
Being a resort though, in warmer weather you need to plan your tee-time early enough to avoid the plagues of buggied (buggered?) fourballs who play 5,6,7 balls off every tee and don't care that their round is 5 hours long, and certainly don't care that yours is either.
Hopefully going to do a 2 day visit next time, so I can get a round in on each course - or even grab a couple of buddies from my home course - as we're only an hour away, if the rates are as good closer to the season (guys I was playing with got it for £24), it will be amazing value.
Noticed there are a few nice courses round there as well - Hill Valley, Hawkstone Park, would appear you are spoiled for choice in that neck of the woods
One course local to you that I know very well and really enjoy is Greenway Hall. Recently transformed, and it surprised me with how well it was prepped when I went back for the first time in a long time this year.
It's a real golfers course - higgledy-piggledy, unconventional and lots of places where you're happy enough to be down in 3 from 40 yards out. Lots of members bounces and bits to be very wary of. Pretty short, but not many places that permit/reward a big drive.
I'll join in the thread this year. Having played a couple of times per year for the last decade, I've decided to play more this year (target about 15 rounds, but weekly range trip). Have bought some new bats (Nike vapor fly pro irons, callaway XR 3 hybrid), and am arranging some lessons.
SpeckledJim said:
As you say, Hill Valley and Hawkstone Park are local - both nice, but not as nice as Carden Park, IMO. Likewise Portal - very nice, but not quite as 'special' feeling. Wychwood Park is also a good challenge, and usually in good condition. Like Carden it was very expensively built, and a bit plastic. The clubhouse feels like a university technology park crossed with a magistrates court, but it's a well-designed testing course.
One course local to you that I know very well and really enjoy is Greenway Hall. Recently transformed, and it surprised me with how well it was prepped when I went back for the first time in a long time this year.
It's a real golfers course - higgledy-piggledy, unconventional and lots of places where you're happy enough to be down in 3 from 40 yards out. Lots of members bounces and bits to be very wary of. Pretty short, but not many places that permit/reward a big drive.
You seem to be in my part of the world (South Cheshire) - we should play some time!One course local to you that I know very well and really enjoy is Greenway Hall. Recently transformed, and it surprised me with how well it was prepped when I went back for the first time in a long time this year.
It's a real golfers course - higgledy-piggledy, unconventional and lots of places where you're happy enough to be down in 3 from 40 yards out. Lots of members bounces and bits to be very wary of. Pretty short, but not many places that permit/reward a big drive.
Edited by rsbmw on Monday 9th January 15:32
SpeckledJim said:
As you say, Hill Valley and Hawkstone Park are local - both nice, but not as nice as Carden Park, IMO. Likewise Portal - very nice, but not quite as 'special' feeling. Wychwood Park is also a good challenge, and usually in good condition. Like Carden it was very expensively built, and a bit plastic. The clubhouse feels like a university technology park crossed with a magistrates court, but it's a well-designed testing course.
One course local to you that I know very well and really enjoy is Greenway Hall. Recently transformed, and it surprised me with how well it was prepped when I went back for the first time in a long time this year.
It's a real golfers course - higgledy-piggledy, unconventional and lots of places where you're happy enough to be down in 3 from 40 yards out. Lots of members bounces and bits to be very wary of. Pretty short, but not many places that permit/reward a big drive.
I've played Hill Valley and would fully agree - it was a lovely course, but Carden Park beats it imo - think the facilities were better as well. One course local to you that I know very well and really enjoy is Greenway Hall. Recently transformed, and it surprised me with how well it was prepped when I went back for the first time in a long time this year.
It's a real golfers course - higgledy-piggledy, unconventional and lots of places where you're happy enough to be down in 3 from 40 yards out. Lots of members bounces and bits to be very wary of. Pretty short, but not many places that permit/reward a big drive.
Interesting that you mention Greenway Hall, as I will admit I've never actually played it. Before the transformation it didn't have a very good reputation at all, sounds like it's had a lot of work done, so will definitely have to check it out.
A few other decent ones in the area if you're ever desperate for a trip to Staffordshire and want to bring the clubs:
Trentham Park (NOT Trentham GC, which is everything that's wrong with golf rolled up into one very expensive package)
Newcastle Under Lyme
Market Drayton
Brocton Hall (Probably my favourite round here, lovely setting on the edge of Cannock Chase, always in great condition, and a testing layout - no par 5's makes scoring...interesting)
Beau Desert (scariest greens I've played on, speed wise - even scarier than Celtic Manor)
Dislip2001 said:
Hi guys and girls , I don't know if this has been suggested before but would any of you be interested in a PH golf day in the summer when hopefully we have better weather , we could play it at my home course which is the shire in Barnet ( it's seves only uk designed course) and is a tough test of handicap with twelve holes having water in play . I'm sure I could get some sort of deal if there were enough of us ! Let me know what you think I'm open to any suggestions or ideas regards Craig
Just realised that I missed this!Sounds like a great idea - although personally I doubt I'd be able to make this year - I'd be up for something maybe next.
Good suggestion.
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