Recent content by Retired cricketer

Played Washington (Co. Durham that is) today. I hadn't been there for a few years and it seems to have regressed in terms of quality. It could do with a good old mow, weeks behind other courses in the county. Shot 87, not being able to get used to the slowness of the greens. Apparently they are...

Seconded. As an example (and not for general broadcast obviously) but Slaley Priestman is £20 after 3.00 every day.

Yes, we got the best of what laughingly is referred to as the weather. I've noticed the new course manager is shutting it a bit more than the previous one.

Played Sharpley yesterday evening, we went there reluctantly based on recent experiences but basically there was no other option. Hardly a soul around and it was an absolute pleasure. If only it could be like that more often! Spongy in places but otherwise in good nick. For some reason, the ball...

The Indian Open is a fascinating watch. Such a difficult course to play - that 17th hole! Good to see Manassero on the up after years in the wilderness.

If MBS can name the 1985 European Ryder Cup team without using Google, he's OK in my book.

Selling it out to an organisation that cares deeply about the history and traditions of the game is acceptable. Jumping in to bed with a murderous regime who has no interest in anything other than deflecting the world's attention away from their suppression of free speech is not. Golf should not...

Played at Crook today. Very quiet, just how we like it. Started well and then the course got the better of me. Some confusing greens and fringes. It was very difficult to work out which ones would run on and which ones would plug. So a bit of a lottery but I suppose we're at that time of year...

He's done a good job, the tour is still strong, watching the tournaments around the world is good viewing and the top 10 players have the aim of going to the PGA Tour as and when (they come back to play which says a lot). The advantage that the DP World Tour has is it's variation, something that...

Carpet putting helps me. Our downstairs one is fairly threadbare and recreates fast summer greens. Upstairs is newer and does likewise for the slower ones encountered in winter. Not sure I've convinced the wife of the advantages.

Playing a Roseberry Grange a couple of years ago, I managed to move my ball a couple of feet backwards when topping a 5-iron, much to the mirth of my playing partners. Weeks later I conjured up an air shot, aiming to pop a 4-iron on the 18th green at Sharpley. Things have improved a lot since!

Pretty good, they had been tined I would say about a week ago and were firmer than the courses I have played in the last few weeks. Also quite firm when chipping close to the green. I would have been tempted to cut the fairways yesterday or today.

My first time at Ramside (Prince Bishops) this afternoon. It's an impressive set up and a challenging course. The only let down was that the fairways hadn't been cut, seemingly in a long while. So a lot of time was spent looking for plugged balls. Plenty of subtle dog-legs and quirky approach...

Out in a howling gale this afternoon at Crook. It is exposed at the best of times but my goodness today was something else. A front 9 mostly with the wind of 38 and a back 9 in to it of 48. I possibly played the better golf on the back 9. The course is getting there and with the help of a sunny...

I did, and knocked my playing partners ball (a 5 foot birdie putt) off the green. I graciously allowed him to replace it and he missed. Two pars which I thought was fair enough.