Wed 30 April 2014 - 18 Holes at Paultons

The one where we invented half shot golf!

With R after work. The only nice day this week. We were following a 4 ball. They were playing off white tees but seemed to get into a lot of trouble. Still we didn't go too slow. We were followed by 2 players and they nearly hit us on the 7th tee with no shout or apology.

I set off playing c%^p as if the practice had made things worse. After a couple of holes I realised that I was doing a straight backswing, never a good thing for me. Anyway I recovered and played OK over the middle set of holes. In the end it was my turn to win by 1 hole. I only messed up 3 holes. The 2nd as I went left from the tee and stayed there. On the 3rd I 3 putt. And on the last I lost concentration and was in trouble from the tee. I managed 2 pars on the 3's on the back 9. (Always good if I get over the lake .. just!)

This was the game when we discussed the possibility of playing with half shots for those not on the fairway, on the green or 2 putts. Maybe this would show some underlying trends.. perhaps try it on the website?

As usual great fun!

My score is click here.

Bluebells!

Nice weather!

Long shadows on 13th

Dusk on the 16th.

Sun 27 April 2014 - Practice 100+ Balls At CF

I heard on the grapevine that M was going for a practice so I thought I should do the same.

It was just before 5 on Sunday night. As I arrived I was told that it was closing at 6 so I just had an hour for 108 balls. This was a pity as at 5:30 I still had at least 70 balls left. So in a rush I stopped taking practice swings and just hit balls. I have not been for a practice for ages, I was unsure if they were still open.

I am fairly sure it did me no good. I had taken my 3W hoping to unlock its secrets, however I was disappointing. Never mind, my 7, 5 and 4i work quite well, especially off the tee.

I did stand in the bay to the left of the teaching bays and still managed to hit the car 3 or 4 times. I am not sure I could have done this before so perhaps thats improvement. But I think that there is not much point rushing balls.

Not the best practice I have every had but at least I took some swings and will not waste any shots with my 3W in a real game!

Sun 20th April 2014 - 6 Holes at Paultons

This was a bank holiday weekend so there was plenty of opportunity to get in a round of 18 in. Come the Sunday we realised that the weather was likely to be poor, however, no panic, the buggy was booked and we have played in rain before!

This was a game with M. We met early with the rest of the family. The price was a bit steep at 21 quid each plus the buggy but thats bank holiday for ya.  We were pleased to set off with only light rain and no one in-front or behind. For me the first hole went nicely with an easy 5. M's first shot was very close to the green but his second went over the back. The 2nd was also ok for me getting to the green in 5 and making a planned 7. The 3rd/4th/5th and 6th also went to plan. Then the rain came, The rain was so bad that the fairway and greens were soon running streams. We kept going on the 7th even though the weather was not getting any better. I managed to make my planed score on the 7th but on the 8th disaster struck. I played my shot and I think due to the rain and sloppy clubs, it went quite right. M's shot did the same but somehow he managed to let the club slip out of his hand. Luckily for me it went over my head.. needless to say we had to abandon ship.

Sad but only the 2nd ever game stopped due to bad weather in 3 years of golf so can't really complain!

No photos as the conditions we appalling but here is a pic of the newly named "Geller trophy". As you all see the trophy also has a golfer who has let his stick fly out of his hand! Due to the lack of a proper result the trophy stays with M for another day!

Wed 16th April 2014 - 18 Holes at Paultons

With R after work. 16 quid each. We got there early and did a bit of chipping practice before the start, We were meant to be off at 4:44pm but no one was there at 4:30 so we went. We were following 2 guys in a buggy who should have kept in front of us easily but didn't. We were followed by a 2 ball who made good progress and often waited for us to get out of the way.

I started off well on the 1st with an easy 5. I had decided to give my 3w a try on the 2nd. The was an error as I finished in the rough to the left, this cost me 2 shots. Back in the bag for the 3w until I get chance to try it on the range. Most of the front 9 was fine and I even managed a par on the 9th which is normally a nightmare for me. On the back 9, my reasonable form continued and I managed to par the easy par 3 12th and managed to get over the lake on the 15th for a change. I was in the lead for most of the game but R just got ahead by 1 with 1 to play and thats how it finished. My score is click here. Less that 110 is always good for me. I messed up 2 holes, the 2nd due to the 3w and the 14th due to a poor chip that went well over and then went over on the way back.

The weather was very pleasant, the fairways are nice and dry but he greens are quite lumpy. The only problem was the low sun on the last few holes.

Great fun!

Waiting to pay

On the 13th Tee

Looking back at the 12th

The view waiting at the 16th

The 17th tee

Long shadows on the 18th

Tue 8 Apr 2014 - 18 Holes at Paultons

With M after work. This was the one where I said meet at Tescos but we met at Harvesters instead.

At lunch time I had noted a strong cold wind, however by the time we arrived there was a pleasant medium wind blowing down the first fairway. It was 16 quid each and M needed a buggy. We got off a bit early just in front of a 3 ball but following no one. (After I found the reverse gear on the buggy).

The rain earlier in the week meant that the 1st, 10th and 18th fairways were a bit damp. The rest of the course was fine to good. The greens on the front 9 were getting back to being flat instead of lumpy and we both putted better as a result. I set off with my best shot ever on the 1st and managed an easy par. M was too excited about the weekday golf and the buggy. He soon got into the golf and managed to par the 3rd and 4th.  I managed a par on the 3rd and 7th. At the end of the first 9 M was one up.

The low sun was a problem as usual on the 7th, 14th, 16th and 17th. Also it was into the wind on these long holes. The wind was behind us across the pond on the 15th but it did neither of us any good. I just went in the drink and M went via the right hand side. When handicaps were taken into consideration it came down to the last hole as we were level. I ended up behind a tree stump from the tee and M was on the 10th fairway again. M won by one point despite going in the bunker.

We had started early and we finished in about 3 hours which is some sort of record for us. Great fun as usual. The Geller Trophy stays with M for another week but the handicaps go back to 26 v 28.

My score is click here. 

In the end I managed another par on the easy 12th. I think it may be useful to count proper golf scores (no worse than a bogey). This week I had 4 pars and a bogey. I messed up 3 holes (0 SP). On the 7th I went into the trees from the tee. (1 wasted shot). On the 11th I hit a nice fairway but ended up behind a tree on my 2nd shot (2 wasted shots). On the 18th I went behind a tree from the tee. (1 wasted shot). My putting was better than average so I could have saved 4 strokes overall.

I noted a few things:

1. When M has a buggy, its fine for him to be on the wrong fairway.
2. I skimmed the ball in a practice swing on the 8th. This should NEVER happen. M let this one go and I ended up with a par.
3. (One of) The trouble(s) with golf is .. you always think that you should improve by changing something .. thats normally where you get into trouble. Probably best to practice NOT changing anything. Just go with what you have got!

Waiting for M to find reverse on the buggy

Sunshine on the 11th Tee

M picks a stick for the 11th.

From here its all up hill to 17th green.

Sat 5 Apr 2014 - 2*9 + 18 Holes at Chichester

The one with the Buggy.

With M at about 2pm. We all met for a Breakfast at the Club House. (Always good!) Then we had to renew our privilege membership cards so that  we can play the 9 hole for free all year and also get some cash off normal green fees. I had forgotten that last time we played M had sore feet. This is now  a medical complaint that needs fixing. Until its fixed M needs a buggy so bring it on!

We went round the par 3 twice as we had plenty time before the start. Not sure why, but neither of us played very well, it was very casual and there were several 5s and a few 6s. I even lost a ball. Never mind it got the arms working a bit.

After picking up the buggy we started 5 mins early as the guy in front was waiting for his mate. At first my sticks were on the buggy and I was walking (for the exercise), this quickly turned out to be a problem for me and I soon had sticks on back as usual. I played well enough for the first 4 holes but M played better. I suspect this was because he left his driver in the car. At the end of the first 9 M was up by 4 holes.

We were following 2 guys in a buggy, they called us through on the 5th but I messed up my second shot and we declined. They were quick enough but still they slowed us down quite a bit. We were followed by 2 guys but we left them behind. We finally passed the 2 buggy guys on the long 12th where they were having a nightmare.

The fairways were a lot better than last time as they had mainly dried out, however the greens were very lumpy in preparation for the summer.

M having the buggy worked out very well, he looks right at home n it!

On the 2nd 9 I made a mini comeback and by the 15th he was only 2 up. On the 15th I played well with a 5 but M played better with a 4 and that was it, especially as I messed up the 16th with a ball on the edge of the lake (I need to get a grip on this hole).

My score is click here. Not a great score as it is just over 110 but lots better than last time. I messed up 4. The 5th as my first shot only made it to the ladies tee and then when we were called through I hit it into the lake (no excuse!). The 7th dogleg was messed up from the tee as I hit it into the fencing (no excuse). The 9th was messed up by going over instead of onto he green (minor). The only other was the 16th where I went into the lake from the tee. Must remember to use a 9i here.

M had a couple of pars on the par 3 3rd and also on the par 4 15th. And a ball in the tree on the 9th (see below).

Great fun as usual. M took home the newly named 'Geller' trophy.

M with his new friend!

Buggy

This made us laugh as M had a nightmare on the 9th.
This was the last straw.

Weather improving on 11th (I think)

Waiting on the dreaded 16th

M waiting on 18th tee.
My 4i (in shot) ready to go.

Wed 2 Apr 2014 - 18 Holes (7 v 5 iron challenge) at Paultons

First game in BST with light until 7:45pm. With R after work. 16 quid each so its not twilight prices.
We were just a bit late getting ready and we ended up following a 3 ball who should probably have called us through but did not.

This was our yearly attempt at a limited club game. I opted for: 5i/9i/pw and sw. R had 7i/9i/pw and sw. So it was 5 v's 7 iron. This worked well for me and after winning the first hole I had some nice shots off the tee putting pressure on R to try harder.  At the end of the first 9 I was 4 up. On the10th I had a mini disaster with a 9 due to a duff off the tee then poor chipping. This was OK as I recovered and played well enough not to mess up any other holes. In the end I won easily we even had similar absolute scores. I suppose the lesson here is that I should mainly use my irons. My score is click here.

The course was in quite good shape. The fairways were dry but the greens were still quite rough and the bunkers were damp. The dry fairways helped a few shots along the ground to go a decent distance. The 3 in front slowed us down and we let a buggy with 2 good golfers in through. The 3 never let the buggy through either.

The weather was warm enough for shirt and jumper. We finished easily in the light (with 45 minutes to spare) so we can start a bit later next week to avoid congestion and pay less.

Great fun!

A small collection of sticks

The 9th fairway

The 17th Fairway