GOLF - 2022

[kiethton]

Flew back from holiday (no golf for 13 days!) on Saturday evening and played Sunday afternoon.

Managed a double on the par-3 first but managed to get around the course in +3 gross, helped by a birdie on the 420yd par-4 18th.

I'll take that, lets hope this continues to the medal next week (I doubt it....)

[48Valves]

danneth said:

Under 3 weeks to go until I play Valderrama.

Currently playing my best golf at the moment so hope it continues, having the sim in the garage and being able to hit 1000+ balls, is really paying off.

Rounds of 77/79 this week with shots left out there, mainly due to the short game (as shown below) had a lesson up at Pete Cowen's place last week, so need to work on this now.

Chasing ball speed seems to have paid off, I'm up to 180-183mph when flat out which is seeing around 290-295 carry. Which even when not flat on the course is seeing 300 easily.







New PB on toptracer

Excellent. That kind of driving will make the game easier.

[48Valves]

Andy 308GTB said:

Chris Stott said:

I don’t expect their sponsors will be very happy… they are getting a load of coverage now, but they’ll quickly disappear in to obscurity if the LIV Tour can’t attract more top players or decent TV coverage.

Rocket Mortgages dropped DeChambeau when he announced, for example.

They’ll probably make more money out of the signing payment, but it’s not without any consequences. Will be interesting to see what reaction they get from the crowd at the US Open this weekend.

Personally, I think their games will deteriorate pretty quickly when they are only playing a few events and it’s not a very high level of competition… which for someone like DeChambeau, who wants to compete in the majors, will be a problem.

Totally agree with you.

As has been said, if it does fold, will the PGA accept them back with open arms. Or will their be a sting in the tail?

Which of the players would the PGA Tour be desperate to have back?

[sxmwht]

48Valves said:

Which of the players would the PGA Tour be desperate to have back?

Bryson I reckon. Marketable.

[theplayingmantis]

theplayingmantis said:

Well today was a bit crap to be fair! The outer reaches of the course were dead and there was no excitement of a final day at a normal tournament something that I struggle with seeing how they can ever fix felt way more like an exhibitionnow thr novelty of yesterdaywore off. Due to drop outs I went as Billy no m8s today so wasted 4 tickets but got talking to a very pleasant Canadian chap who i spent most of the day with who should have been in the corporates having lunch with scottie scheffler at the RBC...instead his son took that onerous task on as he was here on short notice business. He was not at all impressed with a lot of it compared to a PGA tour normal tournament and thinks it will be a struggle. Also mu or annoyances were more profound today.

Revisiting my previous assesment, i think it will struggle. Key is the US events. Saturday was awful. No one cared who won, fans no interest after a while, poor standard of play, most people there for the Jessie J concert.

[Challo]

sxmwht said:

48Valves said:

Which of the players would the PGA Tour be desperate to have back?

Bryson I reckon. Marketable.

Bryson, DJ would be welcomed back. Cash is king, and I wonder if more PGA players start to move across especially if the LIV tour can keep going over the next few years. Why would a player have to grind out a career on the PGA tour, when they can easily make more money on the LIV tour for less work. As more players come across it will be more competitive.

As more players leave the PGA it will no doubt hit their advertisers, as less people will be interested in watching the event live or on the TV.

[Chris Stott]

Challo said:

Bryson, DJ would be welcomed back. Cash is king, and I wonder if more PGA players start to move across especially if the LIV tour can keep going over the next few years. Why would a player have to grind out a career on the PGA tour, when they can easily make more money on the LIV tour for less work. As more players come across it will be more competitive.

As more players leave the PGA it will no doubt hit their advertisers, as less people will be interested in watching the event live or on the TV.

'Grind out a career'

Firstly, you're not attractive to the LIV Tour long term unless you're ranked in the World top 50 or so. If you're in the World top 50 you're not exactly grinding out a career...

You're playing around 25 events a year (exc. Majors), you're earning a minimum $2.3M a year in prize money (excl Majors), you're getting appearance fees to play in some tournaments, and you have major sponsorship deals that vastly outweigh your prize money earnings. You rock up on a private jet (may be shared with a couple of your mates) on the Tuesday, your accommodation whilst playing is provided by the venue & sponsors, along with a free car and your room service tab. You play a practice round on Tuesday and Wednesday, and if you make the cut you're back on your private jet and home by Sunday night.

The person ranked 150th on the 2021 PGA money list still made $650k in prize money alone.

The people who are grinding out a career are those on the feeder tours and those struggling to hold on to their Tour card (because they aren't good enough)... and the LIV isn't interested in those players... the only way these players become interesting to the LIV Tour is if they go on to be successful on the PGA Tour.

So far they've got 3 big names (Phil, DJ and Bryson), by paying them massive signing fees ($150-200M)... they can't pay everyone that signs up $100M+... that would double the $1.6bn Norman has to play with. And in any case, what do they then do with the also rans they've already given multi year contracts to?

If they don't find a quality broadcast route quickly it will just wither away... golf doesn't make it's money from the spectators at the event, it makes it from sponsors and TV rights.

[Patrick Bateman]

danneth said:

Under 3 weeks to go until I play Valderrama.

Currently playing my best golf at the moment so hope it continues, having the sim in the garage and being able to hit 1000+ balls, is really paying off.

Rounds of 77/79 this week with shots left out there, mainly due to the short game (as shown below) had a lesson up at Pete Cowen's place last week, so need to work on this now.

Chasing ball speed seems to have paid off, I'm up to 180-183mph when flat out which is seeing around 290-295 carry. Which even when not flat on the course is seeing 300 easily.







New PB on toptracer

What are you launch conditions with driver? That ball speed is easily over 300 carry with the right spin and launch.

[Slaav]

danneth said:

Under 3 weeks to go until I play Valderrama.

Currently playing my best golf at the moment so hope it continues, having the sim in the garage and being able to hit 1000+ balls, is really paying off.

Rounds of 77/79 this week with shots left out there, mainly due to the short game (as shown below) had a lesson up at Pete Cowen's place last week, so need to work on this now.

Chasing ball speed seems to have paid off, I'm up to 180-183mph when flat out which is seeing around 290-295 carry. Which even when not flat on the course is seeing 300 easily.







New PB on toptracer

Have you played Valderama before? If not, you will love it!

I am a bit of a hacker to be honest in that this year (only 1 game ‘in the bag’ before our trip) I was allowed to play off 26…. Poncho and 6 shot pistol at the ready. My golf is very erratic.

It was our 3rd game of the trip and compulsory caddy.

Format was pairs comp, better ball stapleford. Everyone but me (for obvious reasons) got extra shots due to the Slope (?) ratings and adjustments.

Won ‘our match’ but not the whole with a purple patch on 2 thru 7 by hitting +3 across those 6 holes. Shame about 1,8 & 9 - 20 pts for front nine and a horror show on the back - picked up often if my partner (off 8) was in A1 and guaranteed to score well. Should have tried for a better card

Point of whole story is long and straight (funnily enough) will set your game up well!

F**king expensive (got on through Eligo members) but what a day out.

Fabulous and stunning course, clubhouse and staff. Utterly superb - don’t have a hangover!!! Doh…..

Above all, ENJOY

[Deesee]

danneth said:

Under 3 weeks to go until I play Valderrama.

Currently playing my best golf at the moment so hope it continues, having the sim in the garage and being able to hit 1000+ balls, is really paying off.

Rounds of 77/79 this week with shots left out there, mainly due to the short game (as shown below) had a lesson up at Pete Cowen's place last week, so need to work on this now.

Chasing ball speed seems to have paid off, I'm up to 180-183mph when flat out which is seeing around 290-295 carry. Which even when not flat on the course is seeing 300 easily.

Good luck, best course in ‘Europe’.

Last time we went two pals off +3/4 played off the backs (ouch) shot in the 80’s, Spanish caddies were laughing at them teeing it up, caddy master made them hit two tee shots to make sure that could not hold the field up (not that me with my weak iron ball striking ).

We played half the fair ways mowed back then forwards ( so then your trying to hit one half the fairway then the greens on at least 12 stimp..

My playing partner off 8 (me 9) somehow managed an 83 gross.

Enjoy your trip..

Btw if you have 180 ball speed.. trackman measured ball speed.. fair play..

Edited by Deesee on Monday 13th June 23:32

[theplayingmantis]

Fine course and lot of fun i've heard but best in europe is a mighty stretch!

edit i understand you mean best non UK&I, and my comment is a reflection on that in case anyone thought that was my beef!

Edited by theplayingmantis on Monday 13th June 23:38

[Deesee]

theplayingmantis said:

Fine course and lot of fun i've heard but best in europe is a mighty stretch!

edit i understand you mean best non UK&I, and my comment is a reflection on that in case anyone thought that was my beef!

Edited by theplayingmantis on Monday 13th June 23:38

GB & Eire are not European when it comes to
‘Best golf in Europe’ ( ) Ireland and Scotland rule the roost there..

Played hardelot pins and Le mer in tournament conditions (very tough) super super courses, but Valderrama was just a cut above.

[Bob-iylho]

Hi, can someone tell me what handicap a non player would get in a stableford comp.
Not played for 20 years, previously never broke 100.

Not me, my business partner, he's stting himself, agreed to a weekend at Belton woods when drunk.

My advise is to pretend to have a heart attack on first tee.

[theplayingmantis]

Deesee said:

GB & Eire are not European when it comes to

yes i know! hence the edit to make it clear!

[Slaav]

Deesee said:

Good luck, best course in ‘Europe’.

Last time we went two pals off +3/4 played off the backs (ouch) shot in the 80’s, Spanish caddies were laughing at them teeing it up, caddy master made them hit two tee shots to make sure that could not hold the field up (not that me with my weak iron ball striking ).

We played half the fair ways mowed back then forwards ( so then your trying to hit one half the fairway then the greens on at least 12 stimp..

My playing partner off 8 (me 9) somehow managed an 83 gross.

Enjoy your trip..

Btw if you have 180 ball speed.. trackman measured ball speed.. fair play..

Edited by Deesee on Monday 13th June 23:32

Forgot to add that many courses down there have had ‘spring work’ done to them but it didn’t seem to affect Valderama and certainly didn’t lessen the whole experience although one or two piccys may give a different impression.

As I said, enjoy!

Edit to add piccy - a picture tells a thousand words etc (this was San Roque !

Edited by Slaav on Tuesday 14th June 11:26

[sxmwht]

Handicap question - who is authorised to sign my card?

As far as I'm aware, it has to be someone who is a member of a club (or England Golf), but when joining my club last week, I inferred that it has to be a member of _my_ club. Is this only for the first three cards, to get an initial handicap? (I don't currently have one)

[48Valves]

sxmwht said:

Handicap question - who is authorised to sign my card?

As far as I'm aware, it has to be someone who is a member of a club (or England Golf), but when joining my club last week, I inferred that it has to be a member of _my_ club. Is this only for the first three cards, to get an initial handicap? (I don't currently have one)

Some clubs rule that you must have 3 cards from their course signed by a member. Others don’t.

My cards were from 3 courses signed by 3 different people.

[deckster]

From https://www.englandgolf.org/wp-content/uploads/201... :

"it will be up to your home club if they will accept scores from another venue for initial allocation."

So if the club says it has to be signed off by a club member, that's their prerogative.

Edited to add: my club rules say "You must play each of these rounds with another [club] member acting as your marker and who will check and approve your score after each round. The marker must be registered on the England Golf WHS system and hold an existing WHS Handicap Index.". So it seems that this is potentially quite common.

Edited by deckster on Tuesday 14th June 13:22

[Challo]

Chris Stott said:

'Grind out a career'

Firstly, you're not attractive to the LIV Tour long term unless you're ranked in the World top 50 or so. If you're in the World top 50 you're not exactly grinding out a career...

You're playing around 25 events a year (exc. Majors), you're earning a minimum $2.3M a year in prize money (excl Majors), you're getting appearance fees to play in some tournaments, and you have major sponsorship deals that vastly outweigh your prize money earnings. You rock up on a private jet (may be shared with a couple of your mates) on the Tuesday, your accommodation whilst playing is provided by the venue & sponsors, along with a free car and your room service tab. You play a practice round on Tuesday and Wednesday, and if you make the cut you're back on your private jet and home by Sunday night.

The person ranked 150th on the 2021 PGA money list still made $650k in prize money alone.

The people who are grinding out a career are those on the feeder tours and those struggling to hold on to their Tour card (because they aren't good enough)... and the LIV isn't interested in those players... the only way these players become interesting to the LIV Tour is if they go on to be successful on the PGA Tour.

So far they've got 3 big names (Phil, DJ and Bryson), by paying them massive signing fees ($150-200M)... they can't pay everyone that signs up $100M+... that would double the $1.6bn Norman has to play with. And in any case, what do they then do with the also rans they've already given multi year contracts to?

If they don't find a quality broadcast route quickly it will just wither away... golf doesn't make it's money from the spectators at the event, it makes it from sponsors and TV rights.

But looking at the LIV leaderboard there are a number of players outside of the Top50 playing. I mean for someone like Andy Ogletree its ideal. Ranked number 1000+ in the world, finished 48th and picked up £120k.

I agree a large chunk of players wont be grinding it out, but for players like Andy the LIV tour is perfect as it gives them the financial comfort to help progress their career.

Like you say though they need advertising and some media coverage to make it feasible long term, but you suspect the Saudi's have deep enough pockets to bank roll it and give it the best chance.

[Teebs]

Getting fitted for a new driver on Thursday, should be interesting.

Good to know if much difference between my current driver (8 years old) and the new generation. Going to the last place I was fitted at so confident we'll find a good match.