Discussion
bodhi said:
Just wait until Aphrodite 
But yes really enjoyed Secret Valley, was in great condition everywhere and a challenging layout - really good value too.
I enjoyed the course overall. Greens were much easier than Eléa (much flatter, still quick). I played much better around SV, I found it much easier to work out where to go than Eléa, the tee shots suited my eye more (apart from hole 7; even then my playing partners all said my tee shot should be good, and it transpired it was too far left ie. lost). Weather was better as well which always helps But yes really enjoyed Secret Valley, was in great condition everywhere and a challenging layout - really good value too.
s94wht said:
I enjoyed the course overall. Greens were much easier than Eléa (much flatter, still quick). I played much better around SV, I found it much easier to work out where to go than Eléa, the tee shots suited my eye more (apart from hole 7; even then my playing partners all said my tee shot should be good, and it transpired it was too far left ie. lost). Weather was better as well which always helps
Oh, knew there was something else to say... bit of a negative but I thought the bunkers were really poor and not in keeping with the rest of the place. But so as not to end on a downer, the clubhouse was very smart Back from Cyprus now. Final round was at Aphrodite Hills. Fantastic place and great weather, helped by the fact that I shot my best round of the week. 91 off the whites which I'm really happy with. Tee-to-green, it was probably one of the best rounds I've ever played. Was just let down by my putting. The marshall did say, after watching me three-putt for bogey from 10 feet, that the pins had been put in pretty hard positions that day.
First time driving a buggy, which was good fun! Bit disconcerting the way it kept chiming at me and making me think I did something wrong, only for it to say "repair pitch marks". The Stelvio Pass-esque route down the valley was superb!
Pic unrelated
Anyway, it's my 30th today. The present from my dad? A stay at the Belfry, with a round on the PGA course, a round on the Brabazon, and a meal. For Monday and Tuesday! Not a long turnaround time then, bearing in mind I'm at his now and need to get clothes washed! I think he might be looking at changing it to Tues/Wed, but if he can't then I'll just be wearing dirty clothes
Hopefully the weather plays ball. I daren't look at the forecast!
EDIT: Ok, it's Tuesday and Wednesday now. That makes things a bit easier!
First time driving a buggy, which was good fun! Bit disconcerting the way it kept chiming at me and making me think I did something wrong, only for it to say "repair pitch marks". The Stelvio Pass-esque route down the valley was superb!
Pic unrelated
Anyway, it's my 30th today. The present from my dad? A stay at the Belfry, with a round on the PGA course, a round on the Brabazon, and a meal. For Monday and Tuesday! Not a long turnaround time then, bearing in mind I'm at his now and need to get clothes washed! I think he might be looking at changing it to Tues/Wed, but if he can't then I'll just be wearing dirty clothes
Hopefully the weather plays ball. I daren't look at the forecast! EDIT: Ok, it's Tuesday and Wednesday now. That makes things a bit easier!
Played at the Belfry the last couple of days, PGA course on Tuesday and the Brabazon today. The Brabazon was a much better course in my opinion. Both were VERY wet though, particularly the PGA. My course wouldn't be open if it was that wet.
I shot a couple of rounds in the 90s but both could have easily been in the 80s if conditions were better. The greens on the Brabazon looked awful but rolled really true, much better than the PGA which were very inconsistent.
Stayed in the hotel overnight, in one of their suites which was very nice. The bath was much appreciated after a cold day on Tuesday!
It was my new driver's first outing and all I can say is wow! Thoroughly enjoyable to hit, goes a mile and SO straight compared to the old. Liking the stiffer and slightly shorter shaft, it makes the whole club feel much more connected to my swing.
I shot a couple of rounds in the 90s but both could have easily been in the 80s if conditions were better. The greens on the Brabazon looked awful but rolled really true, much better than the PGA which were very inconsistent.
Stayed in the hotel overnight, in one of their suites which was very nice. The bath was much appreciated after a cold day on Tuesday!
It was my new driver's first outing and all I can say is wow! Thoroughly enjoyable to hit, goes a mile and SO straight compared to the old. Liking the stiffer and slightly shorter shaft, it makes the whole club feel much more connected to my swing.
We don't talk about the tenth...
No, that was the only time I messed up with driver really, topped it short of the water (trying to rip the s
t out of it)! But made a par nonetheless. I hit another ball for a laugh off the tee and ended up pin high right, between the bunkers. Just to prove to myself I could get there
No, that was the only time I messed up with driver really, topped it short of the water (trying to rip the s
t out of it)! But made a par nonetheless. I hit another ball for a laugh off the tee and ended up pin high right, between the bunkers. Just to prove to myself I could get there bodhi said:
New Driver?? Did we miss the details of that one? 
Erm, sort of but not really. I posted about 2 months ago and having a bad fitting. I went back a couple weeks ago and got it sorted. It's now turned up, and I really like it. Two decent rounds so far but it's promising. PXG Black Ops, 10.5 degrees, Project X Denali 6.0 Blue 50g, Golf Pride MCC gripEdited by s94wht on Thursday 5th December 15:56
As it's coming towards the end of the year and I suspect I won't get many more rounds in, let alone qualifying ones, I thought it's a pretty safe bet to revisit my original goals for the year...
I played a few rounds with Ashfordian, but not as many as I'd like. With the weather now getting worse, perhaps we'll end up playing a top tracer round again or something. NEXT year we'll do a PH meetup!
Really pleased with what's been my best year of golf so far. Here's hoping that the winter isn't too brutal and I can keep my game in shape...
How does everyone else rate their year in comparison to the last few?
s94wht said:
I would absolutely love to get to single figures this year, but sitting at 18.4 currently, that may be unlikely. So instead I'll aim to get below 14. 12 would be lovely. First objective, though, will be to get all my 20 scores in. That will give me a much better idea of where I currently sit. I think I have about 8 in at the mo.
My ball striking is going from strength to strength on the range lately, and I'm getting more consistent with driver. Got Dan Grieve's book for my birthday at the end of November, so I want to start working on that proper.
Also, I'd love to play more rounds with you guys! 2024 should be the year of the first PH meetup.
My current index is 12.4, so I've managed to cut 6 shots which I'm absolutely delighted with! I still have one round before my qualifying rounds start dropping off, so I'm pretty confident that's where I'll end the year. I've worked reasonably hard so it's nice to see the rewards. My short game is definitely better in terms of technique, but I now need to focus on just making better club selections around the green. I often still end up 15, 20 feet short on greenside chips which means still 2 putting rather than getting up and down. My ball striking is going from strength to strength on the range lately, and I'm getting more consistent with driver. Got Dan Grieve's book for my birthday at the end of November, so I want to start working on that proper.
Also, I'd love to play more rounds with you guys! 2024 should be the year of the first PH meetup.
I played a few rounds with Ashfordian, but not as many as I'd like. With the weather now getting worse, perhaps we'll end up playing a top tracer round again or something. NEXT year we'll do a PH meetup!
s94wht said:
To add to my goals, I really want to play some more new courses this year. I haven't played many in the local area, and I've also really enjoyed my trips away. If that includes playing abroad, even better
I also did my first trip abroad, to Cyprus, and also played at the Belfry this year. Courses in Surrey, Norfolk and Suffolk round off a pretty decent year in terms of playing away courses. Really pleased with what's been my best year of golf so far. Here's hoping that the winter isn't too brutal and I can keep my game in shape...
How does everyone else rate their year in comparison to the last few?
Edited by s94wht on Wednesday 11th December 14:51
DuncanM said:
Staggeringly good year that, well played!
Thank you 
andy_ran said:
DuncanM said:
Nice one Andy, 2.9 is ridiculously good really, your bad golf would be a nice day out for most of us
Thanks Duncan! I am very proud of of low I have managed to get my HCap in the last few years - I do wonder how good I could have been if I started playing properly when I was younger over just the last 7 years
Nice pics!
I played Saturday and Sunday, after not having hit a ball for 10 days (which in turn was off the back of 5 rounds in the previous 10 days) and I was absolutely rubbish Not even the new driver could save me!
Sunday was a pairs comp where our Stableford scores were added together. We shot a whopping 53 points!! The swindle the day before I shot about 24 points. Useless! Damn this game.
I played Saturday and Sunday, after not having hit a ball for 10 days (which in turn was off the back of 5 rounds in the previous 10 days) and I was absolutely rubbish
Not even the new driver could save me!Sunday was a pairs comp where our Stableford scores were added together. We shot a whopping 53 points!! The swindle the day before I shot about 24 points. Useless! Damn this game.
rlg43p said:
My annual report:
Index fell from 21.9 to 18.7.
Had a personal best gross round of 84 at Feldon Valley (my home club)
Played at the following other courses
Calcot Park
Cherwell Edge
Cleeve Hill
Delamere Forest
Drumoig
Dumbarnie
Effingham
Elie
Fairmont St Andrews (Kittocks)
Hellidon Lakes
Huntercombe
Ladybank
Leven Links
Little Aston
Monifieth
Nefyn
Scotscraig
Studley Wood
Tadmarton Heath
The Springs GC
The Welcombe
The Vale (Evesham)
Wychwood
Intention in 2025 is to have another trip or two/three to Scotland starting in May.
Another target is to break 80 somewhere!
What are Cherwell edge and Tadmarton Heath like? They are the courses my Auntie keeps saying I must go and play with my cousin who's not long been playing. Apparently Tadmarton is the better of the two? I have been to a driving range their way which I believe was at Cherwell.Index fell from 21.9 to 18.7.
Had a personal best gross round of 84 at Feldon Valley (my home club)
Played at the following other courses
Calcot Park
Cherwell Edge
Cleeve Hill
Delamere Forest
Drumoig
Dumbarnie
Effingham
Elie
Fairmont St Andrews (Kittocks)
Hellidon Lakes
Huntercombe
Ladybank
Leven Links
Little Aston
Monifieth
Nefyn
Scotscraig
Studley Wood
Tadmarton Heath
The Springs GC
The Welcombe
The Vale (Evesham)
Wychwood
Intention in 2025 is to have another trip or two/three to Scotland starting in May.
Another target is to break 80 somewhere!
A question for the more "technically-minded" of us...
I hit a couple of drives yesterday that felt absolutely nutted, but when I got up to them they'd gone about 220 and 230 yards. The shorter of the two was into a very light breeze (unless it was blowing more up high) on an open links course, so the ground was quite firm (although it's not proper links sandy stuff). I'm normally expecting to carry the ball about 240, so I was really surprised to see them so short. Even with no roll I would've thought they'd be longer than they were.
Like I say, it was a tiny bit breezy, and it was about 3 degrees. Only a couple of holes earlier, I'd hit one about 260 with a strike that didn't seem as good.
Before I go and fiddle with the settings on the driver that I've just had fitted, I thought I'd ask and see if anyone knows if these numbers seem sensible in these wintry condition? I do have a very high ball flight with this driver, and it is 10.5 vs 9.5 degrees. I'm wondering if as I'm hitting it faster, I'm putting too much spin on it and it's climbing too high. I'm loving the driver in terms of confidence, it goes much straighter than the previous one, but I'm not going to give up tens of yards!
Important to note I haven't actually had a range session with this yet, only played out on the course
I hit a couple of drives yesterday that felt absolutely nutted, but when I got up to them they'd gone about 220 and 230 yards. The shorter of the two was into a very light breeze (unless it was blowing more up high) on an open links course, so the ground was quite firm (although it's not proper links sandy stuff). I'm normally expecting to carry the ball about 240, so I was really surprised to see them so short. Even with no roll I would've thought they'd be longer than they were.
Like I say, it was a tiny bit breezy, and it was about 3 degrees. Only a couple of holes earlier, I'd hit one about 260 with a strike that didn't seem as good.
Before I go and fiddle with the settings on the driver that I've just had fitted, I thought I'd ask and see if anyone knows if these numbers seem sensible in these wintry condition? I do have a very high ball flight with this driver, and it is 10.5 vs 9.5 degrees. I'm wondering if as I'm hitting it faster, I'm putting too much spin on it and it's climbing too high. I'm loving the driver in terms of confidence, it goes much straighter than the previous one, but I'm not going to give up tens of yards!
Important to note I haven't actually had a range session with this yet, only played out on the course
milesgiles said:
If it’s like most links I know the fairways are undulating so there will be a big difference in total yardage depending on if you hit an upslope or downslope.. sorry to state the obvious!
I wouldn’t overthink it this time of year tbh
Yeah, this course is pretty flat so I don't think it's that. I'm going to go to the range today and try it out. Not necessarily fiddle with settings, not sure I have a wrench with me, but just seen if the numbers match what I'm expecting I wouldn’t overthink it this time of year tbh
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