The Golf Thread

[spurs mental]

Game finally starting to click into gear for me.

Played Thursday evening and had 34 points with 2 scratches. All I needed was to hole a few extra putts or cut out the silly mistakes.

This morning was the medal, and I took my own advice. 3 over gross 75 and 5 under nett 67. Had a little bit of luck on the way but no 3 putts, good focus and course management all the way round.

Usually I'd be taking driver where ever I can but hitting 3 wood for position paid off on numerous holes.

Heavy rain on the way for the rest of the day so we'll see where I end up.

Update: Won by a shot.

 

[spurs mental]

Funny game is this golf malarkey.

6 points for the front 9 in the captain's qualifier. Playing in the pissing rain, no warm up as there was thunder and lightning and we weren't allowed on the range. I feel like it caused quite a few very bad shots.

21 points on the back 9 and an even better gross score than I had last week in the medal.

 

[jazz15c]

Despite playing Golf (or something resembling it!) on and off for about 10 years, I've never played a Stableford format round. This is probably because I've never joined a club, so never had access to the tournaments/events. I really fancy giving Stableford a go soon.

I mucked around with a set of Ram clubs for years, but this March i decided that if I'm going to play more then I should get better gear. It's amazing what you can pick up 2nd hand for a decent price if you shop around. I'm left-handed, so there isn't as much, but still plenty of bargains to be had.

My bag now comprises of -

Driver, 3 wood, 21 degree rescue - all TalyorMade SLDR - £80 for the 3 of them!
Irons - TaylorMade R7 Draw irons - £90
Cleveland wedge - 54 degree - £18 (barely used when I bought it!)
Putter - TaylorMade Monza ItsyBitsy Spider - £30
Bag - Ping stand bag - £35 (used once when I bought it!)

I can definitely tell the difference in quality / feel between the Rams and the TaylorMade stuff, even if the irons are a good 10 years old. I'm shooting between 80-90 regularly, and seem (SEEM) to have got my big, distance-sapping slice under control. Basically, I'm enjoying the game more than I ever have. I'm lucky enough to live in Plymouth, and have 4 golf courses within 3 miles of my front door (2 x cheap, 2 x more expensive / proper courses). Might even consider joining a club soon...

 

[spurs mental]

Despite playing Golf (or something resembling it!) on and off for about 10 years, I've never played a Stableford format round. This is probably because I've never joined a club, so never had access to the tournaments/events. I really fancy giving Stableford a go soon.

I mucked around with a set of Ram clubs for years, but this March i decided that if I'm going to play more then I should get better gear. It's amazing what you can pick up 2nd hand for a decent price if you shop around. I'm left-handed, so there isn't as much, but still plenty of bargains to be had.

My bag now comprises of -

Driver, 3 wood, 21 degree rescue - all TalyorMade SLDR - £80 for the 3 of them!
Irons - TaylorMade R7 Draw irons - £90
Cleveland wedge - 54 degree - £18 (barely used when I bought it!)
Putter - TaylorMade Monza ItsyBitsy Spider - £30
Bag - Ping stand bag - £35 (used once when I bought it!)

I can definitely tell the difference in quality / feel between the Rams and the TaylorMade stuff, even if the irons are a good 10 years old. I'm shooting between 80-90 regularly, and seem (SEEM) to have got my big, distance-sapping slice under control. Basically, I'm enjoying the game more than I ever have. I'm lucky enough to live in Plymouth, and have 4 golf courses within 3 miles of my front door (2 x cheap, 2 x more expensive / proper courses). Might even consider joining a club soon...

Great to see people catching the bug.

What i would suggest if you don't think joining a club is worth the money, is to find a society you can join. They might only play competitions once a month but you'll be able to get a handicap from them anyway

 

[jazz15c]

I certainly think I'd get my money's worth out of the membership, but also don't wanna be tied down to playing at 1 course. Some courses near me are now doing partnerships with other courses, so that interests me a bit more.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I certainly think I'd get my money's worth out of the membership, but also don't wanna be tied down to playing at 1 course. Some courses near me are now doing partnerships with other courses, so that interests me a bit more.

I felt the same about the one course thing but have to admit when I became a member and got involved with the men’s section and competitions it was such good fun it didn’t really matter. The different competitions and such are interesting and competitive that it sort of makes up for it. I’m lucky now that the club I’m at actually has two quality courses. Only problem is I’m fucking shite. Have gone from 12 to 14 and like Yazz, the only ****ing way seems to be up.

 

[spurs mental]

I certainly think I'd get my money's worth out of the membership, but also don't wanna be tied down to playing at 1 course. Some courses near me are now doing partnerships with other courses, so that interests me a bit more.

You're never tied down to playing one course, especially when you get your handicap. There are always plenty of Open competitions you can enter in other courses, and it's a good opportunity to play some of the more expensive ones at a cheaper rate too.

If you join though, as Bear says, it tends to not bother most people. Get involved in the competitions, meet new people and you'll soon forget about it. Plus you want to get value for your money

 

[Mr.D]

I miss being a golf club member.

 

[spurs mental]

Phew. Another morning done on the course. Played well again with 3 poor holes. 36 points and 7 over par gross with 3 double bogeys, 2 of them on par 5s. Equally frustrating and pleasing that I can play to my handicap while having those bad holes. Just have to stop thinking what could have been if I'd not been sloppy on them.

 

[jazz15c]

Phew. Another morning done on the course. Played well again with 3 poor holes. 36 points and 7 over par gross with 3 double bogeys, 2 of them on par 5s. Equally frustrating and pleasing that I can play to my handicap while having those bad holes. Just have to stop thinking what could have been if I'd not been sloppy on them.

That's where this game gets you. No matter how well you played, you always remember the bad holes, and think 'what if those weren't on my card?!'

Infuriating yet utterly addictive!

 

[spurs mental]

That's where this game gets you. No matter how well you played, you always remember the bad holes, and think 'what if those weren't on my card?!'

Infuriating yet utterly addictive!

The one thing I was ultimately happy with thinking back was not losing my head after the 3 doubles. I played the last 6 holes in 2 under par. I also beat the 1 handicapper that I was grouped with which was nice.

Ultimate goal for the end of the year is to be down to 5. Playing a few open competitions in the next few months to expand the chances.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Having had 3 weeks off due to holiday I shot 40 points (+10 gross) on Sunday with 11 pars. Not aggressive enough on the birdie putts, probably getting in my own head a bit in regards to nursing a score. It was a high scoring day so the CSS was -2 so only got cut 0.6 but bad down to 13 (13.4) even if it ends up only being for a week until I next play!

 

[jazz15c]

I've decided to join a club (Boringdon Golf Club, Plymouth). I've never been a member of a club, had a handicap or played in a tournament. I've got no idea what my handicap would be, and all this chat about net and gross baffles me! I'm sure I'll get used to it. The majority of Spurs_Bear's last post may as well have been written in Dutch!

 

[spurs mental]

I've decided to join a club (Boringdon Golf Club, Plymouth). I've never been a member of a club, had a handicap or played in a tournament. I've got no idea what my handicap would be, and all this chat about net and gross baffles me! I'm sure I'll get used to it. The majority of Spurs_Bear's last post may as well have been written in Dutch!

You should get a handicap after submitting 3 cards in qualifying competitions.

Based on your post above, if you're shooting between 80-90 every time you will get somewhere between 12 and 16.

 

[jazz15c]

You should get a handicap after submitting 3 cards in qualifying competitions.

Based on your post above, if you're shooting between 80-90 every time you will get somewhere between 12 and 16.

Shit...that makes me sound half decent! Might need to lose a few balls when playing those 3 rounds

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Shit...that makes me sound half decent! Might need to lose a few balls when playing those 3 rounds

Just to confuse you...the handicap system is changing in the UK anyway from 2020.

 

[spurs mental]

Shit...that makes me sound half decent! Might need to lose a few balls when playing those 3 rounds

Also to add to Bears reply, any score of worse than a double bogey is reduced to a double bogey so as to stop people from saving their handicap etc. So if someone has a great 17 holes and is playing to 6 less than their handicap, regardless of whether they have a 7 or a 77, it will be reduced to max double bogey.

 

[spurs mental]

Just to confuse you...the handicap system is changing in the UK anyway from 2020.

I've read about this system a lot. It makes sense to bring it in. But it's very difficult to understand I think.

 

[jazz15c]

Just to confuse you...the handicap system is changing in the UK anyway from 2020.

Oh for fucks sake! I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough. I'm hoping to have a handicap by the end of the month, so I'll report back...

 

[Spurs 1961]

Just renewed my membership after much thought but I guess it makes sense. Laid up with a bad back though and missing all the lovely golfing weather