|
Country: United Kingdom Where you play: Swindon GC Handicap: 16.0 Irons you play: Taylormade Burner 09 Driver you play: Ping G10 Draw Bias 10.5 degree Shoes you wear: Lindeberg,DC collection Stuburts, Puma, Adidas 360 Golf Magazines you read: Gi, Mojo Your favourite player: Seve Ballesteros Your best round: Two over gross. Chesterton Valley. Double Bogey on last..... Your favoutite drink: Spiced Rum |
| Description:Golf His-story I first played golf way back in 1984, on a golf programme for kids at Brandhall GC in the West Midlands. I loved it, & came third in the final comp!!…But don’t forget at the time golf was seen as an old, stuffy rich mans game, and coming from a football only community, let’s say my peer’s had plenty of ammunition for my derision. My clubs went under the bed with my karate suit, magic set,bull worker and Rubik’s cube never to see the light of day again. Fast forward to April 2004…I used to combine Tiger Woods PGA Tour tournaments on the playstation with mega booze sessions that went on until the early hours with mates…after one particular session (5.30am) we decided to get some old clubs out of my mates garage and go over the park opposite to play for real….armed with a set of 1970’s blades, a vinyl bag that weighed a ton, a dozen balata balls and an eight pack of Stella Artois, and a few confused looks from early birds getting their newspapers, we played our own competition and that was it. It all came flooding back; I was hooked again on this great game. Clothing in Golf I was immediately aware that fashion in golf could be so much more than stone washed chinos, a Tesco polo neck and a navy slip (now charcoal blue/grey through a thousand washes) finished off with shoes that looked like they were prison issue. I still see these guys playing every week. But I must admit club players are getting more adventurous, maybe salmon pink knitwear, striped trousers or a pair of my-joys. You can see the influence of tour player’s fashion in your own club nowadays, from Ian Poulter and Jesper Parnevik to dare I say it Tiger Woods. (His trousers are horrendous though) Brands like Bunker Mentality inject a bit of fun into the game, but more importantly incorporate good design and a feel good factor into their clothes. I certainly feel like a good golfer when I wear quality, well cut clothes out on the course. Even if I play like a tool, it doesn’t matter. I also like the fact that I am known mainly for my attire at the various clubs I play, and only a little for my golfing “ability”. I strive to improve my game every season and update my wardrobe accordingly because surely that will knock another shot or two off my scorecard!! Rock & Roll Playa |
I think I have plateaued with golf. The 'wall' has been hit. If I was a club thrower/smasher at least 3 would be in bits right now. I seem to have lost 70yds of the tee. (I blame shaving the beard off)No matter what I try, it just compounds the glitches in my swing. I know I am off plane, there is a lack of shoulder turn, poor weight transfer, over the top etc. But...nothing I try will work. A break maybe?...I have neglected my guitar for quite a while......
Anyway, society comp Ryder Cup style at The Shropshire Golf Complex. Three loops of nine, silver,blue and gold. Gold being the better track. Played here at least 6 times, have to say, it is not great. I never look forward to playing here, and will not rush back any-time soon.
Morning session better-ball pairs. My team lost 4-1. My pair being the only one to gain a point. Played fairly poor, but scratched round. Afternoon session. Singles. Had to hole last putt on the 18th to halve the match. Lost. Not sure on final team score, although fairly sure we lost. Points scored, 29 off a 13hcp. Actual handicap is 16, so not terrible..apart from off the tee......and approaches.......and chips.......(sigh)
Played Shirley GC in an assistant pro competition. We started well, going -7 after seven, but heavy rain kicked in after nine and we ultimately finished a disappointing -3. My long game is still as fragile as a child's tear, but once again the short game is saving my blushes. Four birdies, which included a thinned 5 iron into the wind to about 6 feet, a 20ft snake putt, and a 9 iron lazer tagged to 5inches for a win in the nearest the pin in 2 comp. Shirley is a great course about 20 miles outside of Birmingham, I would definitely play it again, not in rain though!! My driving needs to be sorted. Fast. Otherwise I may take up tennis.......(not really)
www.shirleygolfclub.co.uk
Thinned 5 iron hole (into wind mind!)
www.walsallgolfclub.co.uk
Am-Am Walsall golf club. A great course, designed by Dr Alistair Mackenzie in 1907, which always looked intimidating from the dual carriageway, a private road leading to the black gates of No Entry……
Pro in shop..”Alright mate, long time no see,..you’ve bulked up a bit, been hitting the gym”…Me” If by ‘hitting’ you mean beer, and ‘gym’ you mean curry, then yes” Vorderman style de-carb in immediate effect.
The whole day was fantastic, again I got better as the round progressed and finished extremely well birdying the 18th. We finished 9th out of 28 teams, not a bad effort considering we had never played there before. A very good mix of holes which give you the chance to use all of your clubs.
www.oxleyparkgolfclub.co.uk
Am Am Oxley Park. A very heavy Saturday night did not bode well on the first tee. “You okay mate?”..Me..”Yeah, why?”..”You’ve still got your cowboy boots on”
Turns out to be the best game of the year for me personally. Not scoring on around only 3 holes, getting 2 birdies, missing around 5 birdie putts, chipping it stiff from everywhere, rolling in monster putts & nearly getting 2 holes in one. Mental.
A fantastic course only 20 mins from me, never played it before, but will make a regular trip there no worries.
We finished 6th (-16) medal score, out of 42 teams, with the first five teams coming from Oxley Park. A great achievement to finish in the prizes. The 1st team was -23, with 3 of the 4 playing off, 1,1 & 2 respectively. That was an awesome display of golf. Good work fellas!!!!
www.worcestergcc.co.uk
Am-Am season time. Played better ball pairs & we shot a frustrating 31pts. The course was a bit...tin hat time, with greens & tees close on a fair few holes, cries of "Fore!" left,right and centre, but pleasant enough overall and in good condtion. The 2 guys we played with were great company, & played off 2 & 5 hcps. They basically reduced their own course to a pitch & putt course, booming out 300+ yard drives, cutting corners and playing golf off the tee to a level I don't see that often.
www.cirencestergolfclub.co.uk
Three out of four scores to count here, a great course with a good variety of hole designs. We came 3rd out of 23 teams, winning a box of Pro V1's each. All of us played well, and personally I shot 12 over, with 2 doubles in there too. Shot of the day was from Luke Butler.....a 4 iron bunker shot from 200 yds to 3 feet...good work fella!!! Defo go back here to play again.
Medal @ Swindon.
22 over. No par's until the 18th. Duffed approach, duffed chip and a slapped putt from 5 feet. Terrible.
www.nailcotehall.co.uk/golf/index.html
Missed a comp at Harborne GC, due to going to a wedding at Nailcote Hall. Which has a great par 3 course....Beer flowing, I went and stood by the first tee and watched a few people slap one down the 116yd 1st hole. Not one reached or hit the green, with a bit of bravado I asked to hit a shot.."only got a 9 iron or a SW mate" Me.."Erm...Sw cheers."..."If you hit the green with that, I'll give you a fiver". Cue a flushed shot to 8 feet.....wearing cuban heels..maybe a tad thin, but dancing!
www.bdgc.co.uk
A round at a beautiful course with its own Amen Corner...not too shabby!...We played on the day of their Open, & the course was in fantastic condition, & much prettier than I remember it from about 3 years ago. The forestry commission has chopped some areas down, which now gives fantastic views of the surrounding area. I played the round with BBC golf broadcaster, Andrew Cotter and my friend Tom. Andrew was great company and a fantastic golfer who plays off a 3 hcp. Many 300+ yard tee shots off these guys, sort of dwarfed my 3 wood efforts. Tom hit some ridiculous 350+ yard soaring drives, and also had shot of the day...a 3 wood to 8 feet on a par 4, 255yd hole. Thanks to the Captain, Secretary and club for it's hospitality. A hidden gem of a course Beau Desert, if you get the chance play it.
A golf jolly to Bristol with a couple of stop off's was a much needed getaway after playing nothing but my home course for 2 months. (& about 6 others!!) First up was Stinchcombe Hill GC. It is a mid level difficulty golf course, set on the southern edge of the Cotswold Escarpment above the Severn Valley. The late Henry Longhurst rated Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club among the top most scenic courses in Europe. I can agree the views were fantastic. Many of our group also agreed they were the best greens we have played on this year. I played quite bad shooting 30 stableford points.....doh! A late Thursday night did not help, but normally that slows my swing speed to a blur.
Saturday….a late night crawl, and an early-ish tee off meant today was a gamble golf wise. The Bristol, a golf club which is very young, having only opened in June 2000. It does have stunning views across the Severn estuary, which you can see for most of the round. It is a nice overall layout, combining long holes, short dog legs and so on. The last few holes go uphill, so if you are unfit, a buggy is needed for the climb to the 18th tee!! I played like a demon scoring 43pts, leaving a good 5 or 6pts out there, a couple of blobs ruined a bandito score! Just goes to show if you blast through the booze, a nice easy but queasy swing will follow!!!
Final day was at Cleeve Hill, near Cheltenham. An old course with interesting hole layouts and ‘wind’ as a hazard!!! Cleeve Hill is definitely worth playing at least once if you like quirky golf. The views are stunning - you can see as far as Stratford to the north and the Severn Bridge to the south. The course itself is full of character. You find yourself firing at a green within an Iron Age fort and another short hole in a quarry. The turf is just like a links course - great to hit iron shots from. There is no irrigation but the greens are okay, just give them a bit of a rap, and mind the electric sheep fences!!. The bunkers tend to double as windbreaks for the sheep, if they are not lying under the various tractors scattered around. If you like manicured, windless, flat courses, then Cleeve Hill is not going to float your boat, but if you like getting out and about and trying different tests of golf then go check it out. I shot 34pts overall on a really tough windy day, so I was very pleased with that!!!
Wednesday 16th June. Little Lakes Society day. A course I have played around 6 times, always doing okay. I do enjoy this course; it is a very good day out if you play in a society. Many different shots are required to score well. The greens are always pretty good (in summer). I have never, ever putted better for 18 holes. I felt everything was going to drop. Supreme confidence with the flat stick. 38pts with 3 blobs, which were down to club & shot selection mistakes, but I did win by 2 points!! & that puts me top of the Order of Merit. A society cut of 3 shots for the next day out. Doh
Rock & Roll Playas
I turned up via Tom Tom satellite navigation, with what I thought was plenty of time to grab a quick drink & a bite to eat. As it turned out Belton Park was a pleasant enough course, but unfortunately it was 3.5 miles from Belton Woods!
A great turnout made the whole two days fantastic. The Bunker guys supplied a goodie bag on arrival which was in itself superb, this along with a few complimentary bevvies on the first tee settled the nerves & I smashed it down the middle! I walked off with a double after finding sand, unfortunately a portent for the rest of the two rounds. It was great to meet some other ambassadors, and with players from Germany, Sweden and Denmark that made it a truly international event.
Personally I scored 33pts on the first day and 32pts on the second day, 18 of which were scored on the back 9 of The Lakes course, so I was fairly pleased with that, once the brandy sweats had gone! Too many double bogies ruined the score, but overall the golf was great, my fourball hit some fantastic shots & from what I witnessed and heard out on the course there was some stellar golf. Roll on September for BFest 2.
The whole of April has been a golf blitz, playing approx 4 months of golf in one. My new course took a serious hammering, and I played in various pro-am's, team & society events. A mixed pairs game against The Vale ended up with us winning 5.5 - 2.5. Our match was halved on the 18th, a great game with never more than 1 hole in it. A pro am at Bewdley Pines was personally a mixed bag, 12 great holes 3 awful and 3 average, finishing -10 as a team. The winning team was my pal Phil Downing, his team finished -17!! Good Work Fella!. Other scores, society day at Bromsgrove 32pts, comp at my new course 26 stableford points…..shocking. It was cool to beat my golf buddy Carl this month (twice!) he generally hammers me, because he has found some real consistent form in his game at the moment….Ha!
Highlight of the month was a game at Astbury Hall in Shropshire. A new course owned by KK Downing of Judas Priest. I played with (Ken) KK & my friend, writer and golf journalist Tom Cox, author of Nice Jumper & Bring me the head of Sergio Garcia. A great afternoon peppered with funny stories & (sometimes) great golf. A really big thank you to Tom, & Ken for letting me hack around his beautiful course, it will a stunner when he opens this year. Tom’s article will appear on the ft.com address below soon.
Check out Tom's site for his other books www.tom-cox.com
Tom’s article (& others) www.ft.com/arts-leisure/pursuits/golf
KK’s site www.astburyhall.co.uk
I played 148 holes at my new course between Sunday 4th and Monday 12th. Mixed bag of shots, but mainly okay, driving is getting more consistent and putting too. Greens are horribly slow at the moment.
Getting used to my new Taylormade Burner 09's too....a much flatter flight and at least a club longer. So the 4 iron is going around 220 yards!!
A win!!...it was a team event betterball, I came in with a few 4 pointers and a hatful of 3 pointers to help the cause. We scored 90pts with 2nd place scoring 85pts. The event was the Bill Yardley Memorial Trophy. He was one of the the starter's at our club, a top guy, it was nice to win the trophy. Playing with new sticks at the moment, Taylormade Burner 09's, a good set but they come cranked 2 degrees as standard and half inch longer, so the ball flight is flatter and longer, but fairly easy to hit. On the golf front an interesting April, Bromsgrove on the 21st, 22nd, mixed pairs on the 18th, and a round with KK Downing from Judas Priest on the 15th, at his own course in Shropshire. The 3rd in the group is Tom Cox, golf journalist & author of Bring Me The Head Of Sergio Garcia, Nice Jumper, The Lost Tribes Of Pop, Under The Paw and the new Talk To The Tail.
The sun is breaking gently through the trees, a plethora of empty fairways, a set of new shiny irons in the boot, the hook disappears for the afternoon, and a barbershop quartet of "Fore right" harmonises in the middle distance. The season starts here.
Played in a Pro Am on the Arden course. I wish I could of blamed my crap-ness off the tee on a man cold, but clearly that has nothing to do with a swing that resembled someone chopping wood in a telephone box. Disappointing, second time I have played there, both times rubbish.
Joined my new club Swindon GC on Sunday, the amount of work being carried out is excellent. Revamped driving bays, new range balls, new practice area, better drainage in certain areas and plenty of new people to play golf with! Had a matchplay pairs game (lost 2&1), the dreaded duck hook still evident, but not bad overall. Maybe some new sticks will help me out of a rut, and help to scratch the new gear itch.
Weather has been good so far this month. I have been able to get some nice courses in. Played Penn, which is over 100 yrs old. (And bizarrely only 2.5 miles from me and never played it!) I found the members very pleasant and welcoming. The pro, Guy Dean even reduced the fees slightly as the greens were all on temps because; "the green staff go home at 6.00am." The greens were all playable however, & it did put a slight downer on the round. I played really well shooting 34pts. I highly recommend this course, but go in the summer and maybe not on a weekend unless with a member.
www.penngolfclub.co.uk
Spring Fourball. Mark Atko & I shot 43pts, we in came 2nd or 3rd, 44pts won it. We played great but I missed a 2ft birdie putt, that with an OB off the tee on the 10th, and a three stab on the 13th cost us another 3 pts. Doh.
Society day at Copt Heath in Solihull. A great old championship course, where they hold the Peter McAvoy trophy every year. Among the past winners are Justin Rose & Lee Westwood. With long and some driveable par 4's (yellow tees) it was a real good all round test of golf . Shame again about the greens, heavily sanded and suffering from a bout of Fusarium. I scored 37pts coming third and won a nearest the pin. (approx 6ft….yes I missed the putt) How they will get it ready for the McAvoy in 2 weeks I don't know! Weird clubhouse, built in the 70's. It looks like a science block annexe. Again highly recommend this track.
www.coptheathgolf.co.uk
Best of all I played Chesterton Valley yesterday in a Matchplay against my two Uncles. Me and Andy Foz stuffed them 7 & 6. Dog License duly posted. Bragging rights for the next 5 years I think.
Had a complimentary round at Swindon GC just to check the new layout etc. Tough, tough, course but they are doing a hell of a lot of work on it, greens, bunkers, beds, tees and so on. But the best thing is the new chipping/putting area. They have turned the old members car park into a practice area which will be awesome. The prospect of 13 months for the price of 12 and a much shorter journey is also a good incentive. The only thing is...Am/will I be good enough to play there?....and do I join my old club on a silver membership to play in comps or buy a skycaddie?
Got 3 playing tickets for Bunkerfest...!! happy daze.
Just realised I have paid 2 months full subs for 3 rounds of golf! ?44.30 per round..DOH!
An interesting day at the pro am at Bewdley Pines on the 17th Feb. 12 holes of constant cold rain, then 6 holes of sleet and driving snow. We played crap but had a really good laugh out there. Our pro had a steady round shooting 6 over, fairly good considering the conditions. My swing coach Mark Butler won the pro event with a -2 score. Good work fella!!!
Really looking forward to Bunkerfest in May, just deciding on one or two tickets!!!
Loving the new yellow stella t shirt guys!! 
Paul Goydos, a loveable berk. That is the 2nd time I have watched him blow a tournament, the first was in the players championship in 2008. A playoff against Garcia. It was good to see him being chatty etc, but in the "5th Major"?. He seemed to lose focus like a Sunday morning hacker i.e.(me). Exactly the same for him last weekend, chatting to Dustin Johnson about "not making a big score like a 9" on the 14th at Pebble Beach like the guy in front of him, and boom, a 9. Tournament gone. Glad he is a vice captain at the Ryder Cup though, maybe he can put players off by just yapping on. 
Talking of losing focus, I have been playing very well recently, lessons going great and so on. But why has my game gone to rat s**t in the space of a week?. Tee shots no longer a soft draw, but a whippy hook or cutty Sally Gunnell. Hoping a session up the range today will give me something back for tomorrow's pro-am at Bewdley Pines. My golfing mantra better be back in synch!!
holes in one (nearly)..and wolf whistles,If you had said to me on the first tee that I would get 40pts, I would have ripped your hand off. It turned into one of those rounds where you walked off thinking it should have been 46pts…at least.
Great front 9, lazer like approaches that only resulted in 2 birdies…& 3 pulled birdie putts, Grrrr…3 over par. Daft fat shot on the first & a crap putt on the 2nd hole cost me. Nearly got my first hole in one on the 5th, a 148yd par 3. Me rhetorically….."What club should I hit?"…Atko.."Just f***in' hit it!". A lovely draw into breeze with a 7 iron….pitched 2ft behind pin and sucked back to 7"….Doh!!!
Back nine…10th OB off tee….4th shot…fat to 20yds short of green. Lob wedge that pitched & rolled straight in for nett par!!!...Ballsed it up on the 13th and 14th with 2 double bogeys. Got wolf whistled on the course because I did look resplendent in my sky blue bunker polo and bag twinned IJP blue tartan troos…My mate Luke won the comp I think with 42pts…he plays off 5 so shot one under gross…Well done fella!!!...
"12 over par after 12 holes. Threatened beard with a west coast rapper goatee makeover. Shot 1 under gross for the last 6."
Phil, John daly & Fake Clubs....and erm..frozen greens,Just what is going on at the moment in the world of golf? Big Phil allegedly using wedges that are "technically" legal, due to a loophole….he has been accused of cheating, using a ping eye 2 wedge that was made 20 years ago and has square grooves.
"It's cheating, and I'm appalled Phil has put it in play," Scott McCarron said in yesterday's edition of The San Francisco Chronicle"
Missing the cut again this week was John Daly. After a 71 on the North left him 9 shots off the line, Daly told a crew from Golf Channel, which is filming his reality show, "I'm done. . . . I can't compete. . . . Just can't play like I used to., it's not fair to other guys, im taking their place" No you are not, you are John Daly for F***s sake. I think it's a better place with him playing even if he has a bad time on the course, but then again it is the 2nd time he has quit in 6 months.
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger. After reading many articles in the golf press over the last week or so, I am actually not bothered by him anymore. If he plays again or not, or next year, or whenever. He was one of my favourite players, I wanted him to win every week, and smash Jacks record. But I kinda forgot that there are other great players out there. I think we should just get on with the season and spend time in the column inches reading & writing about the great golf being played by the other top 149 players. It turns out not many people actually like him, and this is an opportunity for them to sharpen the knives. It seems that he has been protected because he was a superstar, athlete, role model etc, and that his life style was heavily suppressed in the media. Now the gloves are off and maybe a lot more revelations will surface.
Elin Woods…….
I have been burned 5 times on flea bay, buying fake items. 3 of which were excellent copies (2 x Yes Callie putters, one of which won 2 Club Championships) The other found its way into my 28 hcp cousins bag. A Taylor-made rescue club which was so good even the guys at the Belfry were not sure, a Cleveland rescue which Ray Charles could have spotted & a Callaway Fti driver which was excellent until it split after 3 rounds. No one knew it was fake until Callaway UK said so. I love the way that guy from Essex has got burned for selling millions of pounds worth of gear, but the police still think they will never be able to stop him!! He was buying all brands of clubs for ?3 each and flogging them for ?100 + on auction sites….Git.
The moral is "If it's too good to be true…it probably is". But there are some genuine Ebayers out there, mainly the pro shops from smaller golf clubs. You can get some great bargains if you research the sellers. Heads up to Craig from Coxmoor GC in Nottingham who got me a Ping G10 for around ?70.00.
First proper game tomorrow morning 9.42am. 18 holes with actual greens….fingers crossed. Its just not the same on temps/fringes. I hate it. Also booked first lesson of the year for Tuesday…..Fitness going well, 7lbs dropped in 2 weeks…….trousers less tight. Arms and shoulders as tight as a snare drum.
Well we are officially back into the groove, not a lot to report golf wise. The snow ruined what could have been a great golf break over new year, but it never and still hasn't happened. I did play on the 3rd January, the tees were fine, as was the fairway, but it was on temps and it was like firing wedges into a car park...Urban Golf style!! I was striking the ball great tee to green, tested a new 5 wood which I love (at the minute).
A new club on the golfing horizon, Swindon GC in the West Mids. A tough but great course, which I am hoping to get better all round on. It's also a lot closer so I can nip down for practice or a quick 9. A fitness drive has started to get me back in shape for the new season, strides a bit tight after 3 months of no cardio!!! So lets hope the weather has turned and golf is back in the timetable.
Tiger...well we didn't need Columbo to figure he had an almighty ruck with her indoors. How many woman would use a club to smash the back window to get him out?.....Also the guy weighs around 14 stone..that was a weapon of destuction!!!
Nothing to report really on the golf front, shot 35pts in a Monthly Stableford on the 29th Nov at home course. And then 28pts in 3/4 handicap Pro Am at Kidderminster Golf Club on the 4th Dec, nice track. Had Sunday off golf after a late, late night playing in my band, followed by a madras then much jazz scatting.
Saturday 14th. It felt like you guys sent me a birthday card... until my lass said "It's your kangaroo skin golf glove thing...urrghhh". Thanks guys it looks great...feedback to follow!!!
Sunday morning come down. Kris Kristofferson style. We played in a bogey comp, I shot an 84, which was ok, & finished +1 for the day. Driving was poor due to lack of timing, and severe stiffness. Our putting green has no drainage so the pace of putts took a few holes to get used to, after the downpour of Friday & Saturday. The best part was two of my group were also hungover, and they dug up the biggest divots I had seen for a while. So quips relating to pet cemeteries and hamster burials were quickly dispatched. I also hit a putt so bad it nearly dropped in an unused hole 4 feet in front of me. (They should have filled it in, but it would have been funny if I had sunk it!!)
Looking forward now to 4 weeks of R&R, golf lessons and practice. Hopefully not seeing 3 balls on a Sunday will help my quest to knock 2 shots off in time for next season.
Sore Head & a 79,Saturday night was a good all round giggle. Even though I had won nothing this season, I went along to support my pals Kev and Mark, who as Club Captain (Kev) won the mixed pairs and came 2nd in the Captains singles. Mark "Shrek" Atkins deservedly won Club Championship for the first time, after four 2nds, and a third over the last few years. Not bad to say his home course is rather swampy!!
I arrived at the course the next day with a sore head, a new driver and no expectations. Okay it was off the yellows (around 250yds difference), but a 79 gross was fairly exceptional considering. That included a double on the front nine too.
My newish Ping G10 was exactly as I had hoped, the "graffaloy red" shaft doing as it said on the tin and keeping the ball flight lower, & the draw bias keeping me towards the centre/left of the course. I was worried after reviews said the s flex may be a little too stiff, but it was fine and was similar in feel to the Aldila NV.
If anyone has trouble off the tee with high right shots, I would recommend this driver/shaft combo. The sound is very pleasing too, with a nice "ting" off the clubface. The distance was much further than my recent try-outs with a solid, hot feel on centre hits, and reasonable dispersion/distance with off centre strikes. The Nike 5900 Sq2 (distance problems) Callaway Fti (sound & distance) Taylormade Burner 09 (shaft, Proforce V2, too high) all underperformed. The best of the bunch was the Macgregor Mactec NVG2 draw, even though a few years old, it was fairly consistent (& cheap!), but no where near as forgiving as the Ping. Lets see if I can keep it up!!.
Arrived at the course 9.18am, courtesy of traffic jam. Teed of at 9.24am. 250yds down the middle (surprise on my face), set me up for a reasonable round of golf. Played with 2 guys never seen before, the best thing about comps, playing with new guys. Terry and Des. Probably the best laugh in ages on the course. Des was a 75 year old who only took the game up 4 years ago, he loves it!. The downside (not really), to the amusement of Terry was that I was appointed spotter and finder of every shot!!! Terry was a retired barber who just loved playing golf, neither of them was bothered about the score. In fact it was the first medal in years they had played in. They thought I was Bubba Watson as I could hit it more than 200yds!! I played some great golf and some really bad golf, but overall pretty tight. My game improved on the last 6 holes where I switched to a pink Maxfli noodle & only dropped 1 shot coming in. 35pts overall (easily could have been another 5-6 pts, I four putted one green,
2 duffed drives and two crap P wedges). Terry (36pts) Des (31pts). The didn't even bother filling their cards in, they left that to me to do for them as they had to go and "test" the beer in their local!!
Rock & Roll golf from two OAP's!!
Weather was crap across the board on Sunday, a day for Ebay, WGC Championships and Pro Evolution Soccer on the Ps3. (right thumb completely knackered!!) A great afternoons golf viewing at the WGC, both matches in fact. Allenby shot -10 thru 19 holes!!. Glad Fisher won too, he will be great at Celtic Manor.
Ebay:- I tested a Ping G10 draw with a prolaunch red shaft a few weeks ago so decided to bid on one.Won it. Time to shift the old driver again!
Overall this season, I am quite disappointed with my golf. Well my handicap anyway, I was hoping to get down to around 13-14. It has gone up from 15.8 to 16.0. A few bad holes in monthly medals have cost me. I have been scoring low to mid 80's regularly, but not in comp's! One thing which is an improvement is my course management, I have never chipped out sideways so much!! (see driving) Looking at my stats, it's the tee shots which really damage my score. Too many missed fairways, and a too many attempted Seve saves!, my short game has however improved, with drop & stop and pitch & run shots really working. My putting is still really solid. So a winter programme of practise with my new driving bats and golf pro will hopefully change that.
Tomorrow.......(HOMER J SIMPSON)....mmmmm.....midweek medal.......DOH!.
On Sunday I played behind the comp at my club for champ of champs...I wasn't in it, but annoyingly shot a nett 65 (81 gross) the same as the guy who won it. Doh..
Played in a pro am at Stourbridge GC. A very tough course for a mid handicapper off the back stones. (I played off 12) Heard a lot of bad things about the course in the sense that it crossed over a lot and once held the longest course in the smallest acreage. I was however pleased overall, the tin hats were not required and only a few holes on the back 9 really caused problems. Our team came 2nd in the event and our pro (Mark Butler) came third. Well done to our man "Wilf" who had 5 nett birdies on the back nine!!..I didn't play great but putted really well, and had a bunch of nett pars..a few NR's and a couple of double's. I had a great nett birdie on the last to take the team to -10, we came 2nd on countback!! Would defo play this course again, but length and accuracy are needed for a reasonable score.
www.stourbridge-golf-club.co.uk
Going through a tough time off the tee...time for a club fit methinks & a few lessons....Winter programme sorted.
Great match at Bewdley Pines on the 18/10, a most enjoyable game. We went 1 down straight away...and we were 3 down after 9. After a great drive on the 10th, a good 2nd, I flopped a lob wedge 1ft short of the hole and in it rolled!. We progressed steadily with birdies here and there and by the time we stood on the par 3 18th we were 1up.
"Whatever you do Pat, DO NOT hook this 5 iron into the pond next to the green, a 4 will be good enough"
I didnt hook it into the pond next to the green,, but the pond to the left of THAT water hazard!!...a crap flop and 2 putts for a 5...we halved the match as my playing partner also got her tee shot wet. Overall a fair result, but lack of positive thinking and poor club selection cost us. I should have hit a 7 iron short or 6 iron to the right of the green.
Something to work on..closing a match out. Make them win, not give it away.
Pro Am at Droitwich 21/10. A great start for our team, Phil Downing (the pro), me, Big Carl Ashmore, and Big Bri Hodgetts. A formidable team....lol. I started with a birdie (nett eagle) and Carl (nett birdie) This continued throughout the front nine and we scored exceptionally well. The back nine we collapsed a little, only on the greens though, not picking shots up where we should have.
Overall we did great, Phil came joint first in the pro comp (70 level par). We came third in the team comp (131) The other pro (Craig) from Ombersley won the team event (129) so our club got three of the prizes. Looking at the scores, we should have easily won the team as well......if's, but's and missed putts !!!!
Played my favourite course this year, Shifnal Golf Club
www.shifnalgolf.com
A great clubhouse with a fantastic track. Shot 32pts after a pretty horrific start. I would highly recommend this course.
The Bunker Special edition skull polo went down well, twinned with my John Daly black "shagadelic" trousers. The members there had a good giggle at my outfit....at least I hit some good shots with them watching me all the way round!!
I played an interesting format yesterday, Florida scramble. Basically you can use anyone's tee shot, but they miss the next shot, this is the same for approach shots, chipping etc, the other 3 take those. Our team came second with a score of 60.3 nett. Winning team had 57.0.
Playing Droitwich in a pro am event next week, report to follow.
It was a bit short notice, but cheers to the guys who mailed back!!!.
The team scored 73 pts (best 2 overall stapleford scores)
Winning team score was 85pts, individual score 47pts, (26hcp player, "I only played twice this year"...mmmmm)
I shot 36pts and Big Rog 37pts. He got a 6 pointer!! Eagle on a par 5 with 2 shots!!! nett hole in one. I hit a 530yd par 5 in 2, a great drive and a 250 yd 3 wood to centre of green. Missed eagle putt by a mile. Great day was had overall.
WANTED!! Golfer for society day tomorrow @ Cleobury Mortimer(Kidderminster) (PAID ALREADY....FOR FREE!!!) . Must be.....1. Sober-ish. 2. Have own clubs (70's blades & slazenger vinyl bag accepted). 3. At least played golf once this year (Tiger Woods on the PS3 does not count). First come first served!!!!!
ATTENTION!!! Any BM Amabassadors in the Midlands area!!! Free game for you if you message me ASAP...open to BM staff as well. My anchor player broke his finger today & I need 1 more urgently for a society day Cleobury Mortimer tomorrow morning!!!
000,000 chq for Tiger,
Really pleased Phil Mickelson won, he drove well and putted great, a really good final round. Tiger well, yawn...say no more. Steve Williams looked more pleased than him!!, and why wouldn't he?....I bet he gets a good 10-12% of that!!!
The Vivendi Trophy was much more exciting, a stunning round by Soren Hanson...10 under through 12 holes!!!!..that is unreal.
Really good also to see pro's shanking and putting the ball over the place...I think Karlsson was 100yds right of one fairway!! ...hacker!!!
Rory and Gmac....Stella performance's throughout. I really hope the Presidents Cup is as exciting as that.
Not much to report on the golf front for this week, had a Sunday off, but watched over 8 hrs of golf!!!
Putting a team into the Batham's Brewery Golf Trophy on Wednesday at Cleobury Mortimer. Historically full of bandits and people who forget how many shots they have had, what ball they are playing, how to score stapleford, where to drop etc, but should be a laugh if nothing else.
This years fed ex comp is a complete snooze fest....the race to dubai seems rubbish also....I feel they need to rethink for next year.
Played Puckrup Hall,Tewkesbury. (thanks to my pal for a free round though!!) a Hilton hotel/golf course. I wasn't overly impressed with the course design, or condition. At ?35+ a round it is a little overpriced, as was the bar tariff!!! A few good holes, but I for one will not rush back. It also boasts the smallest pro shop I have ever seen, approx the size of the small bedroom in semi detached house. Mental.
Not even wearing all black BM clothes (G.Player style) could help my reality golf check. Purple Patch lasted exactly 2 rounds. Played pairs match @ Bewdley Pines yesterday, and played fairly poorly. Even had a great session at the range on Monday, what a difference a day makes. Mental side of the game is better though, i can let it go much easier than a few months ago. Playing in a mixed pairs game this Sunday. Going to be totally BM top to bag. Update to follow.
45pts !!!!!!!!!!
Great corporate day with Tetley/Prima food group. I won't need any teabags for a while!!! Cheers fellas.
On the plus side I won nearest the pin, a great 8 iron with a soft draw to around 5ft (missed putt)
My team won the event, I missed out on single's comp on countback. Bandits.
Never had an eagle on our 12th before, a 525yd par 5 slightly uphill. A great 3 wood off the tee, another 3 wood smashed just 3yds shy of the green, and then a lovely 3yd swing downhill on the putt. happy days.
I played a cracker of a course on the 2nd Sept.
http://www.fulfordheathgolfclub.co.uk/
A great mix of design & length. I had a crap front 9 ( I blame screeching on the car park at 12.52 & teeing off at 12.56) but shot 20pts on the back nine. Greens were superb. Apparently it's in the top 100 in the UK.
I was informed my new "Who's your Caddy" polo met with literally a sticky end when "she" ironed it inside out & glued the back to the front.gutted.
New driver and 3 woods (15 and 12.5 degree) working well finally after mad auction frenzy, got around 10 of them off ebay...just an excuse to buy lots of new gear really!! In profit also on the resale no go's that went back on Ebay!! more tackle to buy!! a GPS I think...
All drivers currently on Ebay, apart from apparently a "sleeper" club. The macgregor mactec NVG2 driver...good results so far..this club is approx 2 year old design wise...lets see how it goes. Re midweek medal..see first sentence on this blog. (29pts!) I know it said medal but it was a stapleford medal..??..(ah?)that's what i said!.
Hope to put some new pics up soon...its such a ball ache taking a camera to the course and getting your pals to sort it out...but I will make a massive effort..got a lot of BM clothes not documented yet.
August 9th. stapleford comp.....37pts....better but tee shots poor again. noted chipping getting worse..the dreaded "thin".....
Another comp on Sunday 16th. Got practice round today,with a couple of hours chipping,putting & trying to get a tee shot away with new-ish driver.
Had a look at the new BM gear on facespace....gotta say it's all looking good.....like the new polos......
Looking forward to the USPGA tonight..Tiger V Padraig!!...I hope the Brits do us proud. Also really hope Tiger plays well, I don't know what it is about him but it's great tv when he is in contention on the final day.
shot 40pts the weekend, 85 gross (messy triple and a double in there)....but off the tee I was awful, high short and right....going thru new drivers by the bucketload (new t-made burner with proforce stiff, way too balloony for me)...I think once I find a shaft I like it will click, for a while at least...Still raining, but playing midweek medal tomorrow morning and 18 holes at Little lakes on the afternoon...hope we get dryish conditions....my sq nike is going back in the bag.
Summer?......when?
Unlucky to Tom Watson..I was really rooting for him...but I do like Cink....apart from the "God Squad" speech....where was he when I carded a 10 on the first hole of a 36 hole comp?....(it was a 304yd par 4!!)...
Rory and the rest were disappointing viewing...Harrington has gone to pot, Tiger went AWOL.
My quest for the "driver" goes on....2 x titleist and 1 callaway later....just got a 09 taylormade burner from Ebay....lets try this one!!....
Turned up for a club comp against another team in my playa (orange) polo see pics...only to be told by the captain that the club colours are "navy" not tangerine.....he should have said (& known!) ..it's not like I turn up every week in matalan chinos and a primark polo....
I hit a bad shot on our 2nd hole cutting it onto our 7th fairway, only to be told by a "plum" in a golf society that "wearing clothes like that you should be hitting fairways"..(you can guess what he had on)......I said " I am, only its the wrong one"..and promptly smashed a 3 wood into the centre of the green...hehe..glad I didn't top that one....
On the plus side got a pair of Darren Clarke shoes for 70 quid RRP?140..so not all bad.
My golf game at the mo' is up and down....shot 2 84's.....but crap off the tee...i have gone from a booming draw to a high weak slice in around 3 weeks.....
On the trick shot front..I can do keepy ups for ever on a lob wedge now, just need to add more to it......
A friend I hadn't seen for ages was in the bar of the club a week ago, we were shooting the breeze and one of the other guys in the bar said to him "you have got the worst swing i have ever seen, it's all over the place...we were behind you all the way round..you are crap!"...everyone laughed & we continued to chat....turns out this guy doesn't know him!!!...I thought he was part of their group!!....
Come across my receipt from the Belfry for my TaylorMade irons and thought...."I have had these for 2 years..time for a change"....a set of titleist irons and woods later..."mmm..maybe I am not a single figure player with a swing speed of 120mph after all...and I can't average 310y off the tee"....back to my R7's and a great round with a 79 gross....note to self..."don't be such a tackle tart!!"...they are on Ebay now!!
79 gross..shoulda coulda woulda been a 76.... 2 double bogeys....and a crap chip on a par 3....still it's going the right way.
I really hope the British guys do well & we have a pack on the last day chasing Mr Woods...I feel Rory Mac, Poults and Westwood will really contend this year & have something to say....Think I might have punt on Rory.....
Hmmm...don't think I prepared properly for this event. 9.10am tee off an hour away with only 2.5hrs kip after a few bevvies with a pal on a stag......1st tee.....low & left....2nd tee low & scuffed left.....and so on etc...came in on 3 holes & halved a few, thank god the other guys played really well. Our pro came joint first with -1, but could have easily been -5......a real eye opener & a pleasure to see a professional play a round of golf up close. I was "stella'd" up in more ways than one! Roll on this weekend for a teetotal round of golf!!!!
Got a bargain set of Titleist 755's online with a 905TDriver and a 904F 3 Wood.....lets see how that goes!!....Won longest drive in a club comp with a 320yd belter.......team came 5th....
great to see "wild thing" back...2 under on the first round.....great trousers!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|