Golf - 2021

[kiethton]

ThunderSpook said:

So after having ordered some nice shiny irons with stiff shafts I am now well aware that my woods are probably not really ideal for me. In fact the guy at the shop described the shafts as being a bit like a fishing rod, so that means I need at least a driver, if not some woods, with a stiff shaft.

Problem is I've spent all my money and have no intention of spending the sort of money that new drivers cost. I've had a look at Golf Bidder and there are about eleventy million options.

How on earth do I work out what I want to look at in terms of 2nd hand drivers if I don't know what I want? All I know is I need something that's less flexible than the 20 year old clubs I already have.

Shame this wasn't a month or so ago - I'd have sorted you out cheaply but try facebook market place - sold my titliest driver/3-wood and hybrid for £150 total

[GloverMart]

fourstardan said:

GloverMart said:

Can agree with that.

1995, played in the County Championships for my handicap category (was 12-18 at the time) and played Queens Park in Bournemouth. Very formal start, announcement of names etc - first hole was about 340 yards, par four. Nervous as hell, I took a 7 iron and played safely down the middle, about 140 yards. Out of sight of the watching spectators, I then creamed a 5 wood off the fairway to 12 feet from the hole and rattled in for a birdie. Leading after one hole....

Finished mid table in the end.

Where do you play now mate?

I don't really play much at all now. Back then, my home course was a little pay & play called Halstock, now sadly closed, but I moved up to Bristol in 1999 and barely get a chance these days. I used to play in the Yeovil Town FC Golf Day at Sherborne every year (and won in 2019, best two of 4 scores, stableford) - these days, taking my lads to Clevedon Golf Course is about my limit.

You?

[HaplessBoyLard]

GloverMart said:

Can agree with that.

1995, played in the County Championships for my handicap category (was 12-18 at the time) and played Queens Park in Bournemouth. Very formal start, announcement of names etc - first hole was about 340 yards, par four. Nervous as hell, I took a 7 iron and played safely down the middle, about 140 yards. Out of sight of the watching spectators, I then creamed a 5 wood off the fairway to 12 feet from the hole and rattled in for a birdie. Leading after one hole....

Finished mid table in the end.

Queen’s Park might be the weirdest course I’ve ever played. I’ve played it twice this year having worked in Bournemouth a fair bit.

The actual park it’s in is very nice, and the course would be nice if it had more maintenance, but it’s the fact you share the course with half of Bournemouth that really throws me. Kids
smoking weed on every other tee box, dog walkers wandering oblivious down the middle of the fairways, hitting tee shots over the heads of school kids walking home. It’s certainly an experience

One of the weed smokers was very helpful when we got lost between tee boxes though, so it’s not all bad.

[bodhi]

ThunderSpook said:

So after having ordered some nice shiny irons with stiff shafts I am now well aware that my woods are probably not really ideal for me. In fact the guy at the shop described the shafts as being a bit like a fishing rod, so that means I need at least a driver, if not some woods, with a stiff shaft.

Problem is I've spent all my money and have no intention of spending the sort of money that new drivers cost. I've had a look at Golf Bidder and there are about eleventy million options.

How on earth do I work out what I want to look at in terms of 2nd hand drivers if I don't know what I want? All I know is I need something that's less flexible than the 20 year old clubs I already have.

Have you got any preference on brands? And what irons did you just pick up?

[ThunderSpook]

I’ve never used well known brands before so have no preference. The irons I’ve ordered are the Cobra Radspeed irons.

I had a look at the Ling and Taylormade suggestions and couldn’t find much decent for sensible money at the moment. I’ve gone on the basis that I shouldn’t lose any money and have ordered a nice looking Nike Ignite 460 that was in decent condition. I’ll give it a go and if it’s not for me I’ll try something else.

[fourstardan]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Queen’s Park might be the weirdest course I’ve ever played. I’ve played it twice this year having worked in Bournemouth a fair bit.

The actual park it’s in is very nice, and the course would be nice if it had more maintenance, but it’s the fact you share the course with half of Bournemouth that really throws me. Kids
smoking weed on every other tee box, dog walkers wandering oblivious down the middle of the fairways, hitting tee shots over the heads of school kids walking home. It’s certainly an experience

One of the weed smokers was very helpful when we got lost between tee boxes though, so it’s not all bad.

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

[Andy 308GTB]

Andy 308GTB said:

Rosscow said:

Just had the details through regarding marshalling at the Open.

They’re currently working on 15,000 attendees per day.

We get 8 days unlimited access, loads of Hugo Boss gear, £15 food per day, water bottle, car parking etc. all for free!

Can’t wait!

Is 15,000 a significant drop in the attendance from what they expected?
I was very quick out of the blocks back in 2019 (when I first bought the tickets for the cancelled 2020 event). I'm concerned that they will cancel my tickets, having had my money for nearly 2 years. Plus I've paid a fair deposit for a hotel which I won't get back.

But pleased for you, that sounds like a great experience.

Edit. Just googled 'the open attendance' and the usual number is 200,000+ over the whole week. So my concerns are justified

Just received an email from 'The Open'. Looks like I'll be there on the Friday, Saturday & Sunday - can't wait!

We are pleased to confirm that following discussions with the government, public health authorities and our health and safety advisers, The 149th Open at Royal St George’s will be included in Phase 3 of the UK Government’s Events Research Programme, which will permit a capacity of up to 32,000 spectators per day.

This means that all ticket holders who have already secured tickets can be accommodated and your ticket(s) for this summer’s Championship will therefore be valid*. No further tickets to The 149th Open will be sold.

[Smiljan]

Me too

I'm praying for a heatwave for that weekend and not a Troon style episode of horizontal rain.

[GloverMart]

Rosscow said:

Just had the details through regarding marshalling at the Open.

They’re currently working on 15,000 attendees per day.

We get 8 days unlimited access, loads of Hugo Boss gear, £15 food per day, water bottle, car parking etc. all for free!

Can’t wait!

I'm going to try to go for this next year, it's the 150th Open at St Andrews. Would love to volunteer up there.

[Rosscow]

Anyone see the final of the Amateur Championships today?

A lad from my club won it! 36 hole final, was 8 down after 17 but took it to the 38th hole and won! Some comeback!

[kiethton]

Played in a medal today - stared brilliantly, with a 6i to 7ft on the 1st (par-3)...I left it short...that became the story of the round. Barely missed a fairway but inside 150yds, where you should be hitting the green, I wasn't.

Had 3 eagle putts, one where I drove the par-4...made none of them....didn't make the birdie putts either!

Still finished +10 for the day, +1 vs handicap and finished up T12

[simoid]

Rosscow said:

Anyone see the final of the Amateur Championships today?

A lad from my club won it! 36 hole final, was 8 down after 17 but took it to the 38th hole and won! Some comeback!

Didn’t see it but heard about it - incredible comeback. Would love to know what both players had for lunch!

[HaplessBoyLard]

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

[Tycho]

HaplessBoyLard said:

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

I’ve got a golf day on Friday at Bramshaw in the New Forest. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve not played a heathland course with livestock on it before. Has anyone played here and got any tips and tricks?

[Blackpuddin]

Tycho said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

I’ve got a golf day on Friday at Bramshaw in the New Forest. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve not played a heathland course with livestock on it before. Has anyone played here and got any tips and tricks?

Yep, my old lot go there every year at the end of the season, although we gave the 'wild course' a miss for the last two years (1) to try the other conventional course and (2) because the year previous to that the wild course was so boggy to be practically unplayable. The more vulnerable greens are railed off to protect them from the pigs/cows/horses, if you hit the rail you get another go. I never got on with it really, the novelty of watching wild beasts roaming the plains wore off after the first visit. Worrying about carrying a herd of cattle off the tee was distracting too, though according to the members a golf ball just bounces off a cow's head and they don't even notice.

[abzmike]

Decided I should apply myself a bit and get a HC again.. I was 21 many moons ago, but kept playing casually since then. My local course is a shortish 9 hole, but tight, and par 68. First 9 was 38 (including a 7), and with the state of the greens I was pretty chuffed. Then reality and a few unlucky breaks handed me a 48 on the second 9. A true game of two halves.

[Tycho]

Blackpuddin said:

Tycho said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

I’ve got a golf day on Friday at Bramshaw in the New Forest. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve not played a heathland course with livestock on it before. Has anyone played here and got any tips and tricks?

Yep, my old lot go there every year at the end of the season, although we gave the 'wild course' a miss for the last two years (1) to try the other conventional course and (2) because the year previous to that the wild course was so boggy to be practically unplayable. The more vulnerable greens are railed off to protect them from the pigs/cows/horses, if you hit the rail you get another go. I never got on with it really, the novelty of watching wild beasts roaming the plains wore off after the first visit. Worrying about carrying a herd of cattle off the tee was distracting too, though according to the members a golf ball just bounces off a cow's head and they don't even notice.

Sounds interesting although if the cattle are on the fairway then they should be fine 😁. We are doing 9 holes on the wild course in the morning and 18 on the other course in the afternoon. I just hope that it doesn’t rain too much during the week.

[Blackpuddin]

Tycho said:

Blackpuddin said:

Tycho said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

I’ve got a golf day on Friday at Bramshaw in the New Forest. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve not played a heathland course with livestock on it before. Has anyone played here and got any tips and tricks?

Yep, my old lot go there every year at the end of the season, although we gave the 'wild course' a miss for the last two years (1) to try the other conventional course and (2) because the year previous to that the wild course was so boggy to be practically unplayable. The more vulnerable greens are railed off to protect them from the pigs/cows/horses, if you hit the rail you get another go. I never got on with it really, the novelty of watching wild beasts roaming the plains wore off after the first visit. Worrying about carrying a herd of cattle off the tee was distracting too, though according to the members a golf ball just bounces off a cow's head and they don't even notice.

Sounds interesting although if the cattle are on the fairway then they should be fine ??. We are doing 9 holes on the wild course in the morning and 18 on the other course in the afternoon. I just hope that it doesn’t rain too much during the week.

Whoever planned that day has got it about right I reckon. I was going to say that you should be OK at this time of year but you've had a hell of a lot of rain down that way I believe. Good luck anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. ETA on my last round on the wild course I had a very sore wrist and was thinning everything off the tee, including the one with the cattle on the fairway. I was thinking of laying up short of them but decided to give the driver a whack. Sure enough the ball went about three feet off the ground and seemed bound to hit one of the beasties but luckily it took a handy bounce and missed the lot.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Sunday 20th June 11:46

[Tycho]

Blackpuddin said:

Tycho said:

Blackpuddin said:

Tycho said:

HaplessBoyLard said:

fourstardan said:

Meyrick is a bit better for privacy, its a Harry Colt design as well.

We started driving up the road to the New Forest to play Hamptworth. Very picturesque, and reasonably priced.

I’ve got a golf day on Friday at Bramshaw in the New Forest. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve not played a heathland course with livestock on it before. Has anyone played here and got any tips and tricks?

Yep, my old lot go there every year at the end of the season, although we gave the 'wild course' a miss for the last two years (1) to try the other conventional course and (2) because the year previous to that the wild course was so boggy to be practically unplayable. The more vulnerable greens are railed off to protect them from the pigs/cows/horses, if you hit the rail you get another go. I never got on with it really, the novelty of watching wild beasts roaming the plains wore off after the first visit. Worrying about carrying a herd of cattle off the tee was distracting too, though according to the members a golf ball just bounces off a cow's head and they don't even notice.

Sounds interesting although if the cattle are on the fairway then they should be fine ??. We are doing 9 holes on the wild course in the morning and 18 on the other course in the afternoon. I just hope that it doesn’t rain too much during the week.

Whoever planned that day has got it about right I reckon. I was going to say that you should be OK at this time of year but you've had a hell of a lot of rain down that way I believe. Good luck anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. ETA on my last round on the wild course I had a very sore wrist and was thinning everything off the tee, including the one with the cattle on the fairway. I was thinking of laying up short of them but decided to give the driver a whack. Sure enough the ball went about three feet off the ground and seemed bound to hit one of the beasties but luckily it took a handy bounce and missed the lot.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Sunday 20th June 11:46

Cheers, the forecast isn’t looking great but it should be fun. I played East Berks the other week and really enjoyed it. I just need to stop hitting the ball like a single figure handicapper and scoring like a 20 handicapper…

[CustardOnChips]

Anyone fancy picking a winner?

This has to be the best leader board we've had in a major for a very long time.