Sat 26th July 2014 - Breakfast and 18 Holes at sunny Blue Mountain

With M .. we could not book a buggy at Downshire so this looked like a good alternative. I think it cost 28 quid each including a "club breakfast".

The breakfast was quite acceptable and we had time to go and hit 25 balls each. We were ready to go a few minutes before our tee time and we were told to go when we were ready.

The weather was baking hot, by far the hottest day I have ever played. We arrived behind a pair of golfers who offered to let us go but we declined being in no rush, I think they were following a 3 ball.

The course was quite tricky on most holes (or so it seemed to me) the flag was not visible and several nasty ditches and ponds were hidden from view until it was too late. That said, the fairways were in good condition and the greens were well kept (I commented that most were large enough to be par 3 in there own right... that may just be my putting ability). Progress was slow due mainly to the heat and not knowing the course.

I set off with a nice 3 hole lead but at the first par 3 M steadied the ship and after 5 I was only 1 up. On the 9th M drew level. I was playing very consistently but not scoring many 4's or 5's. M was using his driver and starting on the wrong fairway so he was doing a fair bit of scrambling. It was fairly even right to the end where I ended up winning by 1 hole with M just missing a biddy on the 18th.

For a new course I was very pleased with my score. click here.

My putting was minus one which was OK due to the large and undulating greens. I only managed 6 proper golf scores (all bogeys). But luckily I did not mess up a single hole (0 SP). I could have done a little better on a couple of holes. On the 10th we were caught by a 4 ball playing an extra deciding hole which surprised us and then put pressure on so I went into a bunker instead of the green. On the next par 3 I did a poor tee shot but recovered quite well. On the nasty 13th we watched the 2 in front struggle with the scary green behind a pond. I did a poor duff and then went over the back in sympathy. My highest score was a 7 so that helps the general scoring.

It was so hot that we need extra drinks of water at the 9th.

On the 18th green I found a PW belonging to one of the golfers in front. We had chatted at the 9th and it turns out he did IT as a job too. As a result I returned the PW and suggested that he might give golfshorthand.co.uk a go. We will wait and see.

Waiting for the off

Don't remember there being s much space

Looking over the driving range

One of the uphill tees

Look at the size of the green

Diving ducks

Shark infested ond

Round the 18th tee on the way out

Up and over again

Giant bunker

Ball cam!

Wed 23rd July 2014 - 18 Holes at Paultons

With R after work. Tee-time of 5:24 cost 16 quid each. We were ready at 5:15 and no one was around so we set off following a lone golfer, following a 3 ball. The weather was hot and even at 5:30 the sun was strong.

I set off quite well (for me) and we drew the first 4 holes  both playing pretty much to handicap. At the end of the 1st 9 I had won 2 and so had R. I messed up the easy par 3 8th after getting in the bunker and failing to get out then going over. This was my only mess up. On the other hand I got onto the green on the long par 3 6th with an average shot that just rolled and rolled and finished very close to the flag. I missed my birdy by a smidgen.

On the back 9 I played fine. As usual I lost a ball on the par 3 lake. (Must remember to aim left and trust my left to right shot!) We were label with 3 to go and I managed to equal R's scores as the heat wore him down. So it was my turn to win again. I was pleased to score exactly 100. My score is click here.

I made 7 proper golf scores and only messed up the 8th. My putting saved me 4 shots.. that would be a good trend. I had 2 avoidable penalties and got stuck in a bunker and 1 silly 3 putt so perhaps there is chance for me to get well under 100 yet?

Great fun, the fairways and greens were good.

Pics to follow...

Par 3 12th

Waiting at the 14th

Lone Golfer

Sat 12th July 2014 - 18 Holes at Dummer

The one with the X-Rabbit.

With M during weekend at Fleet. There has been a long break since the last game and even longer since we played at Dummer. We had a 2 o'clock tee time with a buggy.  M paid and I still owe him something or other. The weather was perfect even though it had promised to rain.

We arrived in time for 14 balls each. I did not hit many shots that gave me confidence. We had time for a bit of bunker practice before following a couple of holes behind a 2 ball. This was a mistake.

I was playing off 25 this time as I had won 2 in a row. I set off right as usual but managed to get to the green in 3 and down in 5. A nice start. On the 2nd I had a bit of bad luck getting into my first bunker of the day on my second shot, still down in 5 so no problem. M struggled on the 2nd when he lost a ball which should have been in clear view. On the front 9 I only messed up the most difficult hole on the course but M was on an unbeatable streak using his driver and getting well on the way in the right direction from the tee. At the end of the front 9 M was up by 1 hole.

We were called through the 2 ball on the 8th which we managed ok. Then we got called trough a 4 ball on the 10th playing a competition. M hit his driver well past any of their balls and even mine was equal to the 2nd shot of a couple who had got into trouble. It was tough for me as they stood to watch my second shot (not my best). I also got into a bit of a mess on the tough 10th green and M played like a pro. On the 11h my shot disturbed a large bird of prey eating a rabbit and I was forced to play my ball nearby... not pleasant and in a rush I went in the bunker. This started a rash of bunker shots which resulted in several dropped shots and M went well into the lead. I managed to regain a bit of pride with a par on the par 3 across the sand-pit (so did M) and also on the 16th. In the end M won by 5 clear holes so the trophy returns to "the other" sideboard.

M managed one of his best scores at less than 100 and he only messed up on the 2nd with the lost ball. If the putting had been better this score could easily have been in the low 90's. As for me I was pleased to keep under 110 (just). My score is click here.

I messed up way too many holes(6). On the difficult 6th I was in the bunker and did not get out cleanly. On the 10/11/12 and 13 I had various trips to the bunker and made a mess of getting onto the green. Finally on the last hole I hit a good tee shot, got just short of the lake on number 2 and my 3rd was just short of the green. Thats good for me. Then I messed up getting onto the green. My putting was just worse than average. So I expect with a bit of luck I could have shaved off about 9 points or so and it would have been a bit more competitive. On the other hand my tee shots were working well I got onto the green for 2/3 par 3's.

Great fun as usual!

On the 2nd, next stop the bunker!

 M waiting on the 6th

Pleased to get the Geller Trophy!