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.
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| Waiting for the off |
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| Don't remember there being s much space |
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| Looking over the driving range |
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| One of the uphill tees |
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| Look at the size of the green |
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| Diving ducks |
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| Shark infested ond |
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| Round the 18th tee on the way out |
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| Up and over again |
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| Giant bunker |
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| Ball cam! |
