The blonde Golf thread

[tikay]

Thanks for that always wondered what an eclectic was when I see it on our HOWDIDO app. If you need a hand keeping it Tony I'm a plus handicap with excel just send me your card everyday and I'll send you a monthly automated update

Been getting out at least once or twice a week during all this depressing weather and playing a load of winter greens at times as it's raining so much up here. Been playing ok, Had a remarkable round couple of weeks ago. 13 normal greens 5 winters just in front of normal greens. Tees are up to the  front of yellows and a couple of the longer ones on the reds. Turns what is par 71 of white, 69 0f yellow to a fairly easy 68. Shot 70.

Lovely, thanks James, I may just take you up on that.

"Shot 70".

Blimey, proper golfer. The limit of my ambitions - realistically - is to shoot mid to high 80's. The most Pars I've ever had in a round is 6, & I'm at the age where I'm highly unlikely to improve much. Having said that, the Golf Handicap is a thing of beauty, & even high handicappers can compete with proper players like you. Just need to remember when having a chirp that I'm getting double figures shots off most of my golf partners/opponents.

[tikay]

I've always wondered how Trump was so good at golf, he's using your eclectic scoring, oh that and just plain cheating.

I'm going to take up golf again when I retire, after a sabbatical of nearly 40 years (barring one Top Golf adventure in Vegas, but that doesn't count, surely?)

I'm aiming to turn pro within 12 months using this method.

Ha, don't think that Vegas Top Golf affair counts, unless we are measuring it by the fun we had. I'm very socially uncomfortable in "alcohol-fuelled" environments, despite which I really enjoyed that night.

You take up golf again? Let me know when you do, I'd love to come down & have a round or two with you for old times sake.

PS - it suddenly occurs to me - you could build a golf course in the grounds of Tune Hall, your Sussex Estate. Water hazards & all sorts.

[Eck]

Dunno about proper golfer but I'm getting a bit more consistent, doubt i'll repeat that on the full course but gonna enjoy trying.


In other golf news and in quite a bit of a contrast to Verndog's trip I've talked six of the morning game boys into a long weekend in the North.

Off to Muir of Ord for there seniors open stableford on the Friday. 3 hour drive to get there but hey what a drive    https://muirofordgolfclub.co.uk/   

Staying outside Elgin in a big converted farm building looks lovely. Not been out for a drink in Elgin since I played in the under 18 rugby sevens looking forward to it

Saturday is at Buckpool for a gents open and were are on to strokeplay (think some harsh realities will appear when some can't get a gimme).
Buckpool recently listed as one of the top 100 courses in Scotland, really linksy https://buckpoolgolf.com/

Sunday- Hopeman, just a delightful course to play, click on the link and there will be lots of shots of the 12th their signature hole which is a short par 3 where the green is 100 feet below you. Now I've played this course twice and we've had at least one buggy so I've had a Taxi all the way back up, at least there will be a nice view when i'm gasping for breath.


All this great golf, they are all cracking courses played them all before, for the ridiculous price of £65.  (plus accomodation £200). Gonna set up a travel business   "By Eck Travels"  'copyright Red Dog'

[Karabiner]

That looks like a wonderful outing Jim, and incredible value too.

I have a real fondness for James Braid courses and his trademark short par4's.

[Kev B]

That looks like an excellent trip Eck. Have a great time.

I love playing new courses. I have a couple of trips in April and May with my son in Killarney and Kent. Will post them when they happen.

[Eck]

Cheers lads, its not till late in the year but hopefully will remember and get a few good pics.

Agree Ralph can't think of one I've not really enjoyed and you can hardly move up here for Braid courses. My club is one and I know there is the association where you can get reduced fees but we generally are playing opens when we go somewhere else so have never used it to see if it works well.

[Kev B]

Managed 2 games this week, one at a new course for me. Nothing to shout about but it was good to be back out. Booked a round for Tuesday.

[Kev B]

Good couple of days for golf. I'm off at 12.20, who's playing today/tomorrow while the forecast is good?

[Karabiner]

After last week's bitterly cold weather this week feels completely different.

Played a few yesterday and am back out tomorrow at 1pm

[tikay]

After last week's bitterly cold weather this week feels completely different.

Played a few yesterday and am back out tomorrow at 1pm

Well that never lasted long, a ton of rain again & the familiar "Course Closed" message this morning means no golf for me today.

How did Wednesday's outing go? 9 holes I assume? Hopefully we can hook up again soon for some more of our Monday adventures at WPGC again soon, I enjoyed all of them last year very much indeed.

[tikay]

Went up to St Andrews on Saturday for 3 or 4 days, stayed at a nice hotel, & played 2 rounds at St Andrews. It was a sort of mixed golf & tourist break, most enjoyable.

Sadly, not "Old Course Hotel", it was a Golf Resort Hotel 3 miles outside St Andrews, "Fairmont St Andrews". And I never played The Old Course, I played on the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews which was not remotely in the same league.

To be honest, the Course was a little bland, a sort of Links Course but sodden wet, so never played like a Links Course. The wind howled off the sea like a Links Course though. There was one rather splendid hole, the 16th, a short downhill Par 4 with the Green set just short of the sea, where an overhit 2nd would certainly be on the beach. Fortunately, I rarely overhit any shots...

Gill wanted to come round with me as my sort of caddie, so she did so on one of the two rounds, & I made her hand me my club of choice for each shot to help keep her interested.

"Pitching wedge please"

A what?

The one with a "P" on it".

"What does "P" stand for?"

"Pitching wedge"

Why is it called a pigeon wedge?"

[tikay]

Back home, & thanks to the incessant rain, I think I've only played 2 Rounds at my Club this year.

Yesterday though, I managed a round, though the Lads all cried off with various excuses so I played solo.

Holes 1 & 18 were closed, so just 16, but I managed 5 Pars, which is just 1 shy of my best ever which was on a full 18.

5 Pars is not much to boast about, I know, but it's all relative, & I'm a genuine 27 handicapper, so I was pretty pleased. The front 9 (well, front 8), was particularly good by my standards, with 22 Stabbos from the 8 holes. As always, I fell away back 9 (8), partly due to stamina & concentration issues I think. I eventually ended up with 81 shots/38 Stabbos from the 16 holes. If I give myself a bogey on the 2 closed holes - the Par 3 1st & Par 4 18th - that equates to 90 shots & 42 Stabbos. Does not really count though as I was playing solo, & just 16 holes.

After that, went home, spot of lunch, afternoon nap, then a bowl poker comp at DTD, in which I failed to trouble the judges.

  

[doubleup]

5 pars must help the eclectic along a bit.

Seemingly it will be dry up here next week, so I might take a wander round the course and hit a few balls. I'm fairly sure that my bunker issue will be solved as, over the winter, I've paid particular attention to the pro's playing out of bunkers on the telly and am fairly sure I can precisely copy their technique. 

[Karabiner]

I might always call it my pigeon wedge from now on 

I played solo on Monday as my two regular partners cried off too, can't believe Barry chose to go to Barbados rather than joining me.

Had a nice fourball on Wednesday in really lovely weather. It must have been the nicest day this year. Just played ten holes as a couple are closed on the back nine which we have to play first during the winter, so it's only a back seven really and a couple of those are on temporary greens, followed by a loop of 1,8,9 back to the clubhouse.

Mats are still compulsory and will be for the next week or two until the rain eases, and we'll also start playing the course the right way round, but I must say the greens are looking much more forward than usual at this time of year. I know the committee and greens staff are making a concerted effort the get the course, and especially the greens, in good playing condition earlier than usual as that is often not the case until mid-May.

I'm looking forward to having a few more games with you this year Tony and will keep you posted as to course suitability.