The Golf Thread - 2017!

[Rosscow]

Played some solid golf yesterday in a good 2 club wind.

Shot 81, for 38 points. And that included a 7 for nothing on the 8th.

So close to sub 80! Should be good to get me down to 14.1

[SpeckledJim]

As a general rule in a perfect world, flying it through the air is more accurate than rolling it along the ground - but only if you're able to actually deliver the shot you intend.

There are no rabbit scrapes, hidden breaks, etc in the air, but there certainly are on the ground.

So that's why the best players are tending to use wedges more and more now, in areas when in times past, a bump and run would be their choice.

However, for we mortals who cannot necessarily just summon-up the exact lofted shot we intend, each time and every time, then the lower rolling shot often has a lower average error.

20 drop-and-stop shots to the same target might see a handful within an exhilarating couple of feet, but it'll probably also see a good few either very long or short, and maybe even an embarrassing chunk or a thin. Ouch.

Whereas although 20 bump and runs to the same target might not deliver any gimmes, but shouldn't include any disasters at all.

As always, the correct choice of shot can only be made with realistic reference to one's own talents and weaknesses. What Would Rory Do is an irrelevant, or even counter-productive thought to be allowing.

'Low where you can, High where you have to' might be a good maxim.

[Rosscow]

14.1 confirmed. Goal is now to get to 13 over winter.

[bodhi]

Spent the past couple of weekends at a couple of lovely courses in Cheshire.

Last weekend went to Mottram Hall for a Spa weekend with the wife - I'm quite lucky in that she realises I'm really not a Spa kind of guy, so whilst she was getting pampered I braved Storm Brian and went out for 18 - it was a bit windy, and started pissing it down after the 15th, but was an enjoyable enough day - am a big fan of the layout at Mottram, and definitely want to play it again in better weather. You could tell they try to get a few too many fourballs out (some of the tees weren't in great condition), but overall I was fairly impressed.

Then on Saturday just gone I played in an Open at Carden Park on the Nicklaus course again - love that place, with some great risk or reward holes and overall a great test of golf. Shame the week before we played they hollow tined and sanded the greens, meaning putting was a lottery, and my ticket sucked. Had 5 or 6 putts that were tracking straight for the hole, only to hit a bump 2 feet away and miss by inches. Ended up doing the bull dance (feeling the flow) when one finally went in, I was getting that frustrated.

Oh and, he's baaaaaack (again).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/41811560

[Blackpuddin]

Just seen edited highlights of Tiger's first round in the HERO tournament. Very interesting. He ended up 1 over but he was 3 under on the first 9. The big difference was in the amount of effort he was putting into the swing compared to what he used to do. I'd put it at 7 out of 10, much less physical than before.
I think he must have started believing he could add a bit more power on the second nine. That's what it looked like he was doing, and that's when things started to unravel a bit. Four over on the back nine but overall he must have been pleased. Some of the short game stuff he was doing on the front 9 was lovely.

[SpeckledJim]

bodhi said:

Spent the past couple of weekends at a couple of lovely courses in Cheshire.

Last weekend went to Mottram Hall for a Spa weekend with the wife - I'm quite lucky in that she realises I'm really not a Spa kind of guy, so whilst she was getting pampered I braved Storm Brian and went out for 18 - it was a bit windy, and started pissing it down after the 15th, but was an enjoyable enough day - am a big fan of the layout at Mottram, and definitely want to play it again in better weather. You could tell they try to get a few too many fourballs out (some of the tees weren't in great condition), but overall I was fairly impressed.

Mottram Hall is a nice course. Very different front 9 and back 9. The back 9 features the two hardest holes I ever play with any degree of regularity. The 13th and 17th are so difficult it's unreal, like playing 2 US Open holes in the middle of a nice normal amateur golf course. Card-wreckers both, especially the 17th.

bodhi said:

Then on Saturday just gone I played in an Open at Carden Park on the Nicklaus course again - love that place, with some great risk or reward holes and overall a great test of golf. Shame the week before we played they hollow tined and sanded the greens, meaning putting was a lottery, and my ticket sucked. Had 5 or 6 putts that were tracking straight for the hole, only to hit a bump 2 feet away and miss by inches. Ended up doing the bull dance (feeling the flow) when one finally went in, I was getting that frustrated.

My home course, and the more I play other places the more I appreciate the Nicklaus. It's a lovely course, spacious and well thought-out, with lots of variety in terrain. Can't handle wet weather though.

How did you tackle the 17th? Wind depending for me it's either a 6 iron and 9-iron/wedge in, or a 3 or 5 wood to take on the green if the wind is following. That's off the yellows. Off the whites it's a 5 iron then 8-9 iron, no realistic option to take it on.

[bodhi]

SpeckledJim said:

My home course, and the more I play other places the more I appreciate the Nicklaus. It's a lovely course, spacious and well thought-out, with lots of variety in terrain. Can't handle wet weather though.

How did you tackle the 17th? Wind depending for me it's either a 6 iron and 9-iron/wedge in, or a 3 or 5 wood to take on the green if the wind is following. That's off the yellows. Off the whites it's a 5 iron then 8-9 iron, no realistic option to take it on.

Agree it's a fantastic place, easily in the Top 3 I've played this season, along with Mayokoba and St Andrews Jubilee. Only the greens let it down, however completely appreciate that they have to be done - just wish they could have waited a week

After taking the safe option on the 6th by the time we got to 17 my card was long gone, so got my Driver out and had a go. We were off whites, with a slight crosswind, me and one other member of my group went for it. He cleared the lake by 6 inches (no joke), I ended up halfway up the bank in front of the green - both of us got up and down for birdie.

I also decided to go for it on 15, instead of playing safe down the right I decided to again, get Driver out and try to hit it over the trees in the middle. Hit a slight hook but found it again, actually left a reasonably nice approach in, opening the green up a treat.

There's another Open at the Cheshire in December, how does that course compare?

[sidicks]

bodhi said:

Agree it's a fantastic place, easily in the Top 3 I've played this season, along with [b[Mayokoba[/b] and St Andrews Jubilee. Only the greens let it down, however completely appreciate that they have to be done - just wish they could have waited a week

After taking the safe option on the 6th by the time we got to 17 my card was long gone, so got my Driver out and had a go. We were off whites, with a slight crosswind, me and one other member of my group went for it. He cleared the lake by 6 inches (no joke), I ended up halfway up the bank in front of the green - both of us got up and down for birdie.

I also decided to go for it on 15, instead of playing safe down the right I decided to again, get Driver out and try to hit it over the trees in the middle. Hit a slight hook but found it again, actually left a reasonably nice approach in, opening the green up a treat.

There's another Open at the Cheshire in December, how does that course compare?

I’m going to be there in February - any advice on which courses to play?!

[bodhi]

sidicks said:

I’m going to be there in February - any advice on which courses to play?!

Only one we played whilst over there was El Camaleon, bit pricey at $249, but definitely worth playing - I have never seen a course in such fantastic condition - the fairways were like snooker tables and the greens were impeccable. Course itself is challenging - not an especially tough layout, but it is near the coast, so there is always a lot of wind to deal with, but as it is mostly cut through jungle, you can never actually tell how much until the ball is in the air.

http://www.mayakobagolf.com/camaleon.php

It did get bloody hot when we played it in May, luckily there are the usual buggies touring the course with "refreshments". Lots of interesting wildlife too, we took about 5 minutes to get onto one of the tees as there was an Iguana sunning itself on the cart path, and all the water hazards appear to have alligators in them...Rental clubs were a choice of Titleist or Ping.

Also if you play it, keep an eye out for the bunker on the 1st - more of a cave than a bunker, and if you go in at the wrong angle, it's an unplayable to get back out again!

[sidicks]

bodhi said:

Only one we played whilst over there was El Camaleon, bit pricey at $249, but definitely worth playing - I have never seen a course in such fantastic condition - the fairways were like snooker tables and the greens were impeccable. Course itself is challenging - not an especially tough layout, but it is near the coast, so there is always a lot of wind to deal with, but as it is mostly cut through jungle, you can never actually tell how much until the ball is in the air.

http://www.mayakobagolf.com/camaleon.php

It did get bloody hot when we played it in May, luckily there are the usual buggies touring the course with "refreshments". Lots of interesting wildlife too, we took about 5 minutes to get onto one of the tees as there was an Iguana sunning itself on the cart path, and all the water hazards appear to have alligators in them...Rental clubs were a choice of Titleist or Ping.

Also if you play it, keep an eye out for the bunker on the 1st - more of a cave than a bunker, and if you go in at the wrong angle, it's an unplayable to get back out again!

Thanks - i think there is some hotel special offer to play El Camaleon at a reduced rate, but at that price I’d only be playing once. I will have my own clubs though.

[SpeckledJim]

bodhi said:

SpeckledJim said:

My home course, and the more I play other places the more I appreciate the Nicklaus. It's a lovely course, spacious and well thought-out, with lots of variety in terrain. Can't handle wet weather though.

How did you tackle the 17th? Wind depending for me it's either a 6 iron and 9-iron/wedge in, or a 3 or 5 wood to take on the green if the wind is following. That's off the yellows. Off the whites it's a 5 iron then 8-9 iron, no realistic option to take it on.

Agree it's a fantastic place, easily in the Top 3 I've played this season, along with Mayokoba and St Andrews Jubilee. Only the greens let it down, however completely appreciate that they have to be done - just wish they could have waited a week

After taking the safe option on the 6th by the time we got to 17 my card was long gone, so got my Driver out and had a go. We were off whites, with a slight crosswind, me and one other member of my group went for it. He cleared the lake by 6 inches (no joke), I ended up halfway up the bank in front of the green - both of us got up and down for birdie.

I also decided to go for it on 15, instead of playing safe down the right I decided to again, get Driver out and try to hit it over the trees in the middle. Hit a slight hook but found it again, actually left a reasonably nice approach in, opening the green up a treat.

There's another Open at the Cheshire in December, how does that course compare?

Great stuff. Going left/over the middle on the 15th is a VERY bold call, but takes all the sting out of the hole if it goes well. Of course, you're staring at a 6 or 7 or worse if it doesn't go well.

I don't think the Cheshire is overall anywhere near the same quality of course as the Nicklaus. You can tell where they spent the money.

I think the Nicklaus has the feel of a very serious, proper course, with lots of space designed in for spectators etc, but the Cheshire is more of a 'normal' feeling course. A handful of boring, simplistic holes.

But that said, there are a few terrific holes, and the drive off the cliff on the 18th is worthy of any course in the land. If the verandah on the clubhouse is busy your second into the 18th can be a nervy one, with the potential for greatness dangling in front of you. It's a shame that the Cheshire gets the fantastic 'grandstand finish' for its 18th while the overall superior Nicklaus gets a much tamer and more 'meek' par 5 finishing hole to an unsighted green.

The run of holes from the 14th to the 18th on the Cheshire is really very good, making great use of the natural lay of the land. The 16th being very, very difficult indeed.

The Cheshire, being higher up the hill, also copes with wet weather a lot better than does the Nicklaus.

Edited by SpeckledJim on Wednesday 1st November 15:09

[HaplessBoyLard]

Blackpuddin said:

Just seen edited highlights of Tiger's first round in the HERO tournament. Very interesting. He ended up 1 over but he was 3 under on the first 9. The big difference was in the amount of effort he was putting into the swing compared to what he used to do. I'd put it at 7 out of 10, much less physical than before.
I think he must have started believing he could add a bit more power on the second nine. That's what it looked like he was doing, and that's when things started to unravel a bit. Four over on the back nine but overall he must have been pleased. Some of the short game stuff he was doing on the front 9 was lovely.

From last year I assume?

This years is end of Nov.

[Blackpuddin]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Blackpuddin said:

Just seen edited highlights of Tiger's first round in the HERO tournament. Very interesting. He ended up 1 over but he was 3 under on the first 9. The big difference was in the amount of effort he was putting into the swing compared to what he used to do. I'd put it at 7 out of 10, much less physical than before.
I think he must have started believing he could add a bit more power on the second nine. That's what it looked like he was doing, and that's when things started to unravel a bit. Four over on the back nine but overall he must have been pleased. Some of the short game stuff he was doing on the front 9 was lovely.

From last year I assume?

This years is end of Nov.

Oh bugger ha ha I wondered why there was nothing on the news about it.

[Rosscow]

[SpeckledJim]

In fairness The Glorious and Triumphant Return of Tiger Woods has become something of an annual tradition, so getting one November confused for another is forgivable.

[Rosscow]

Wentworth on Saturday, can't wait!

[thebraketester]

Well its certainly getting cold now... What do you guys do about gloves? Do you just wear one as normal or do you wear a pair of winter gloves?

[Rosscow]

thebraketester said:

Well its certainly getting cold now... What do you guys do about gloves? Do you just wear one as normal or do you wear a pair of winter gloves?

I have a pair of mitts that I put on between shots. Still just wear one glove as per usual.

No need for these yet, though, it's still positively balmy down here in Sussex!

[HaplessBoyLard]

Just had an "enlightening" chat with a guy at the range.

He wants to play off single figures. Currently 17 hcp. He told me he'd been regularly shooting 85/86 in the summer using nothing more than a 4i. When I asked him where he loses his shots his answer was "duffed chips around the green". He admits that he tries the impressive flop shots around the green when there's no need. Another one who'd rather look impressive 50% of the time and make several double bogeys or worse, than make no worse than bogey playing it safe.

He's now started playing with a driver in his bag.

He was smashing his driver on the range and the other reason he isn't coming down is obvious. He can't control it. He's hitting the ball 250+ yds, but he's spraying it all over.

It sounds like he could play to single figures without a driver if he sorted his short game out. Another one whose ego won't allow him to score better. He'd rather look good than win.

Golfers are a strange breed

[thebraketester]

Lovely day for golf today. Round in 96 which is par to my handicap of 25 according to the golfshot app. (i know its not a true handicap)

Duffed 2 driver shot, but the rest I was pretty happy with. Short game is getting better. Putting is absolute ste.... dropped so many shots with just really really dreadful putting. Think I need a new putter to encourage me to practice it.