GOLF - 2022

[deckster]

Tycho said:

My course has a bit of an issue with clover at the moment so if you roll just off the fairway into it then you'll have to stand on your ball to find it. They've also let the rough grow knee high from about 10 yards off the fairways and have it really tight around the greens. I had 7 blobs on my card in the last comp and you will hardly ever find your ball if you are off line and if you do then you'll be lucky to even be able to get it out sideways. It sort of takes the fun out of the game TBH.

I have a feeling we are members at the same club

Spraying the clover on one of the courses today so fingers crossed we'll see some improvement soon.

[Tycho]

Greenie said:

Tycho said:

kiethton said:

Tycho said:

My course has a bit of an issue with clover at the moment so if you roll just off the fairway into it then you'll have to stand on your ball to find it. They've also let the rough grow knee high from about 10 yards off the fairways and have it really tight around the greens. I had 7 blobs on my card in the last comp and you will hardly ever find your ball if you are off line and if you do then you'll be lucky to even be able to get it out sideways. It sort of takes the fun out of the game TBH.

Mine have done the same (but are reportedly cutting it al back this week!) - didn't make for a great medal round - lost balls, elongated pace of play and hayfever

Playing Meon Valley this weekend and staying on site - should be fun!

Have fun, I'm playing Bramshaw on Friday and I'm looking forward to it even though it could be showers.

Might see you down there! Rough is very fair at the moment - few areas of heavy but most near the fairway is fine. Tough to stop it on the greens but probably the same for most courses at the moment. I assume you are playing the manor. Enjoy.

Thanks, we are playing 11 holes on the Manor in the morning and 18 on the Forest in the afternoon. We did the opposite last year and we all wanted to try the full Forest course.

[Tycho]

deckster said:

Tycho said:

My course has a bit of an issue with clover at the moment so if you roll just off the fairway into it then you'll have to stand on your ball to find it. They've also let the rough grow knee high from about 10 yards off the fairways and have it really tight around the greens. I had 7 blobs on my card in the last comp and you will hardly ever find your ball if you are off line and if you do then you'll be lucky to even be able to get it out sideways. It sort of takes the fun out of the game TBH.

I have a feeling we are members at the same club

Spraying the clover on one of the courses today so fingers crossed we'll see some improvement soon.

Sherfield Oaks? I really like the courses but the clover and rough are infuriating at the moment. There are good plans for the course from what I've heard though. Digging out some of the cross ditches should be interesting.

[deckster]

Tycho said:

Sherfield Oaks? I really like the courses but the clover and rough are infuriating at the moment. There are good plans for the course from what I've heard though. Digging out some of the cross ditches should be interesting.

That's the cookie

The clover is awful, but fingers crossed they will sort that. I don't have an issue with being punished with really wild shots but losing your ball in the first cut just a couple of yards off the fairway is incredibly annoying I agree. At least they have changed the medal comps to stableford to try to keep things moving. They do need to sort out the irrigation as well, some of the tees are looking pretty rough at the moment.

[Kneedragger95]

I've just entered the ballot for next year's open. The day I have applied for is Thursday, anyone know how likely I am to get tickets? Or is demand usually quite high?

[theplayingmantis]

Very high demand. But fair chance. Always tickets available anyway via other channels.

R&A policy of limiting attendance since Portrush, is a double edged sword for them and rubbish for the consumer.

[Charlie1986]

Played this evening at Kings hill in Kent… £40 and greens like a councils pothole repair. Luckily managed 36 points of 12.

Would not recommend at all currently.

[fat80b]

Kneedragger95 said:

The JCB course does look fantastic from what I have seen on YouTube.

Just to follow up. The course was immense again - On arrival I thought, oh the rough doesn't look too bad........got that wrong!! It has been grown for the upcoming event and was brutal ! Trickle out of the first cut and I reckon there was only a 30% chance of finding your ball. Land straight in it and it was <10%. Bring back forecaddies!

The greens were super fast as you'd expect and some of the pin positions were what can only be described as evil (right on ridges with a severe fall away from the hole). I hit a couple of what felt on contact like career best chip shots only to see them roll like never before and in some cases off the green completely.

17 was configured a further set of tees back compared to last time, and whilst it wasn't as windy, it was still wind straight in your face - 225 yd carry required to the island. Needless to say, I didn't make it. In hindsight, I should have tried a 3 wood instead of persisting with my driver but you don't think straight at the time.

I did hit some great shots on the way round though (My driver mostly behaved) so am pleased that I felt like I played better than last time, even though the lost balls and therefore the scorecard disagreed !!

I've no idea if I'll ever get to go round it again but really enjoyed it second time around - fingers crossed.

[Tycho]

deckster said:

Tycho said:

Sherfield Oaks? I really like the courses but the clover and rough are infuriating at the moment. There are good plans for the course from what I've heard though. Digging out some of the cross ditches should be interesting.

That's the cookie

The clover is awful, but fingers crossed they will sort that. I don't have an issue with being punished with really wild shots but losing your ball in the first cut just a couple of yards off the fairway is incredibly annoying I agree. At least they have changed the medal comps to stableford to try to keep things moving. They do need to sort out the irrigation as well, some of the tees are looking pretty rough at the moment.

Just finished playing the Waterloo course and the tees are pretty brown but I found the greens to be great, nice and receptive and didn’t feel like playing on lino. The rough seems to have been cut back a bit and it was blowing a gale this afternoon so hitting downwind on hard fairways got loads of distance although I put it in the ditch in front of the green on the 9th.

[Challo]

Do you know if they have the option for 9 holes? Trying to see if I can sneak some golf in after work and 18 will be a struggle

[Tycho]

Challo said:

Do you know if they have the option for 9 holes? Trying to see if I can sneak some golf in after work and 18 will be a struggle

I’ve not looked tbh. There doesn’t seem to be an option on the website for non members to do so but members can.

[deckster]

Tycho said:

Just finished playing the Waterloo course and the tees are pretty brown but I found the greens to be great, nice and receptive and didn’t feel like playing on lino. The rough seems to have been cut back a bit and it was blowing a gale this afternoon so hitting downwind on hard fairways got loads of distance although I put it in the ditch in front of the green on the 9th.

Yeah I played both courses this weekend and the greens are playing well. The rough is brutal though, basically play a provisional every time unless you can actually see your ball in the fairway. I think they're planning to it all a bit more forgiving over the next few weeks.

Tycho said:

Challo said:

Do you know if they have the option for 9 holes? Trying to see if I can sneak some golf in after work and 18 will be a struggle

I’ve not looked tbh. There doesn’t seem to be an option on the website for non members to do so but members can.

I don't think you can pay for 9 holes but to be fair it's only 16 quid for 18 holes after 5pm at the moment I think. Also there aren't any official 9 hole loops; 1-6 then 16-18 on the Wellington is probably the easiest if it's quiet. If the course is clear then you can make a few 10/11/12 hole loops as well.

[Challo]

deckster said:

Tycho said:

Just finished playing the Waterloo course and the tees are pretty brown but I found the greens to be great, nice and receptive and didn’t feel like playing on lino. The rough seems to have been cut back a bit and it was blowing a gale this afternoon so hitting downwind on hard fairways got loads of distance although I put it in the ditch in front of the green on the 9th.

Yeah I played both courses this weekend and the greens are playing well. The rough is brutal though, basically play a provisional every time unless you can actually see your ball in the fairway. I think they're planning to it all a bit more forgiving over the next few weeks.

Tycho said:

Challo said:

Do you know if they have the option for 9 holes? Trying to see if I can sneak some golf in after work and 18 will be a struggle

I’ve not looked tbh. There doesn’t seem to be an option on the website for non members to do so but members can.

I don't think you can pay for 9 holes but to be fair it's only 16 quid for 18 holes after 5pm at the moment I think. Also there aren't any official 9 hole loops; 1-6 then 16-18 on the Wellington is probably the easiest if it's quiet. If the course is clear then you can make a few 10/11/12 hole loops as well.

Thanks. I managed to squeeze in 18 holes on Friday at Birds Hill, but Sherfield is my local course and wouldn’t mind playing it again.

[Largechris]

fat80b said:

Kneedragger95 said:

The JCB course does look fantastic from what I have seen on YouTube.

Just to follow up. The course was immense again - On arrival I thought, oh the rough doesn't look too bad........got that wrong!! It has been grown for the upcoming event and was brutal ! Trickle out of the first cut and I reckon there was only a 30% chance of finding your ball. Land straight in it and it was <10%. Bring back forecaddies!

The greens were super fast as you'd expect and some of the pin positions were what can only be described as evil (right on ridges with a severe fall away from the hole). I hit a couple of what felt on contact like career best chip shots only to see them roll like never before and in some cases off the green completely.

17 was configured a further set of tees back compared to last time, and whilst it wasn't as windy, it was still wind straight in your face - 225 yd carry required to the island. Needless to say, I didn't make it. In hindsight, I should have tried a 3 wood instead of persisting with my driver but you don't think straight at the time.

I did hit some great shots on the way round though (My driver mostly behaved) so am pleased that I felt like I played better than last time, even though the lost balls and therefore the scorecard disagreed !!

I've no idea if I'll ever get to go round it again but really enjoyed it second time around - fingers crossed.

Can't see how you can enjoy a course where you can't put a score together, I'd be very frustrated. No need to have rough that severe, just causes 5 and 6 hour rounds.

[oyster]

Tycho said:

deckster said:

Tycho said:

Sherfield Oaks? I really like the courses but the clover and rough are infuriating at the moment. There are good plans for the course from what I've heard though. Digging out some of the cross ditches should be interesting.

That's the cookie

The clover is awful, but fingers crossed they will sort that. I don't have an issue with being punished with really wild shots but losing your ball in the first cut just a couple of yards off the fairway is incredibly annoying I agree. At least they have changed the medal comps to stableford to try to keep things moving. They do need to sort out the irrigation as well, some of the tees are looking pretty rough at the moment.

Just finished playing the Waterloo course and the tees are pretty brown but I found the greens to be great, nice and receptive and didn’t feel like playing on lino. The rough seems to have been cut back a bit and it was blowing a gale this afternoon so hitting downwind on hard fairways got loads of distance although I put it in the ditch in front of the green on the 9th.

I played there a few weeks back, enjoyed it and was surprised at the quality of the greens for a public-ish course. Those cross ditches were ridiculous though - one or two is fine, but it felt like nearly every hole had them.

[andy_ran]

Charlie1986 said:

Played this evening at Kings hill in Kent… £40 and greens like a councils pothole repair. Luckily managed 36 points of 12.

Would not recommend at all currently.

Thats a shame - it normally plays fast in the summer as the fairways get baked, but their green complex's have usually been tip top

[Teebs]

If anyone is around the Greenford / Ealing area, West Middlesex is worth a look. Evening rate of £20 & free drink post round.

Not a long course but tough and tight..

[danneth]

So today was the day...

What an experience, the whole week has been good, but today we were truly spoilt.

Greens were running at 12 (sickface) managed to shoot 85 and 33 points so really happy given the course...

[Teebs]

danneth said:

So today was the day...

What an experience, the whole week has been good, but today we were truly spoilt.

Greens were running at 12 (sickface) managed to shoot 85 and 33 points so really happy given the course...

Looks incredible. A stimp of 12 sounds pretty grim!
Good score and points considering, is it tight or fairly open?

[danneth]

Teebs said:

Looks incredible. A stimp of 12 sounds pretty grim!
Good score and points considering, is it tight or fairly open?

It's only a short course, but very tight and technical.

It's defence is the greens are small with a lot of undulation, the tee shots are also very tight.

I could have been a couple of shots better but I took on a couple of hero shots which weren't really on.

I was desperate to birdie the 17th, hit a monster drive and only left 150 and came up short on the banking which rolled into the water, however, still made par.