2025 End of term report

[Bunkermagnet]

my old man is murder for things like that.
70 year old & thinks he’s still 40.
Got to look after yourself mate

We all want to think we are 21 again
I'll be 60 in just about 2 months, and definitely have started to realise my shortcomings now, and I admit I dont like it.

 

[clubchamp98]

I’ve had a mare of a year.
Gone from 7 to 12.
Mainly due to a few injuries but arthritis in my fingers is the killer.

Am finding it hard to enjoy the game atm.
But the lads keep me sane, don’t really want to pack it in but it’s getting to me!

 

[Pin-seeker]

I’ve had a mare of a year.
Gone from 7 to 12.
Mainly due to a few injuries but arthritis in my fingers is the killer.

Am finding it hard to enjoy the game atm.
But the lads keep me sane, don’t really want to pack it in but it’s getting to me!

If you weren’t golfing what would you do?
It’s better than being sat at home.

 

[IanMcC]

Qualifying rounds played - 33 (probably round about 90 rounds in total. I play a lot of opens, and we don't play qualifiers in the Winter.)
Lowest Gross - 76 (6 over) off whites, and 76 (4 over) off yellows.
Index Movement - 9.3 to 5.7
Highlight - getting down to 5.7, and also winning the one Matchplay comp that has until now eluded me. I have now won all 5 of the Matchplay comps possible at our club.
Lowlight - none. I'm still healthy and playing.
2026 goals - It would be nice to stay single figures, but I wont lose any sleep over it if I don't. Also, to improve my refereeing skills.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

Rounds played: 164 (13 more than 2024)
Courses played: 12
Lowest gross: 63 (par 64) or 71(par 72)
Index movement: 5.3 to 5.7
Highlight: 1st an Hole in one with a driver on a 190 yard par 3, a close 2nd was winning the Cottesmore Pro-Am with the son, the pro & son's uncle shooting my best score at Cottesmore in the process
Lowlight: Any of the days planning to play golf and staying in cause it's teeming down

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I’ve had a mare of a year.
Gone from 7 to 12.
Mainly due to a few injuries but arthritis in my fingers is the killer.

Am finding it hard to enjoy the game atm.
But the lads keep me sane, don’t really want to pack it in but it’s getting to me!

One of the chaps who used to be in our group changed his grips to those pimple style grips that are supposed to help that. He said they defionately helped, as did going up a grip size.
He still plays, but now only 5 days.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If you weren’t golfing what would you do?
It’s better than being sat at home.

I have a pp who talks about packing in every season. Similar to @clubchamp98 in that he has played for years and his h/c is going north now, although he isn't as good as cc . I give him the same reply as you have given and he has yet to have an answer. It's a great question

 

[louise_a]

Not the best year
Rounds played 200 ish
qualifiers 36
Course 42, 9 new
Handicap13-4 - 14.2
lowest round 12 over, first year I haven't had a sub 80 round for several years
highlight - nothing really

 

[rudebhoy]

Rounds played - 33 qualifiers, I’d guess circa 100 rounds in total
Courses played - 20 in total, 8 new ones
Starting index 18.3, ended 18.8
Best gross 83 (par 70), 39 in 9 hole comp (par 35) - both in the last fortnight, neither were qualifiers as we don’t play them in winter
Highlight - first ever hole in one

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Rounds played…30 recorded. At least same again not recorded (as weekly rollup isn’t recorded) and many part rounds
Courses played: 8?
Lowest gross: 75
Index movement: 7.7 to 5.8 (lowest of year and ever being 5.7)
Highlight: winning H4H at Blackmoor
Lowlight: Losing semi of 2024/25 Winter KO when I could have won it were it not for my stupidity and carelessness.

Generally feeling positive for 2026 and looking forward to even better things in my 68th year - all being well.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not the best year
Rounds played 200 ish
qualifiers 36
Course 42, 9 new
Handicap13-4 - 14.2
lowest round 12 over, first year I haven't had a sub 80 round for several years
highlight - nothing really

Louise, you've played 200+ rounds, 42 different courses, 9 new ones. That alone suggests a pretty darned good year

(I know it's about perspective and expectations are different but looks at those numbers. Must have been lots of fun in there?)

 

[upsidedown]

Rounds played 161
Qualifiers 34
Courses 57, new 24
Index 1.9 to 4.0, reached 5.2 at one point
Highlights 2nd hio, played Old Course and Royal Dornoch for first time
Lows, being last at England Seniors at Woodhall

 

[irip]

Back playing after a few years off.
No official handicap.
Hopefully get that sorted this year.
I realise now I am lucky just to be able to play.

Don’t worry about the handicap, it’s just a number, go out with like minded people in the fresh air and enjoy a few selfish hours to yourself.
It’s amazing how much it helps with your mental state which in turn transfers to other areas of your life.

 

[Billysboots]

I don’t really keep records.

I’ll have played well over 100 rounds again, and my H.I has remained fairly steady at around 9.

The highlights have undoubtedly been the new courses, lots of them. I really enjoyed a number of Opens at new venues, and several golf breaks including Gleneagles and an annual trip to Portugal. Some great courses, great company and lots of good weather during 2025.

The lowlight has been the struggle round my home track, which seemed to have issues condition wise through most of the year. There was always something - tees, fairways, rough or greens - I don’t think I played it once when it was all at its best at the same time, and it has started to suck the enjoyment out playing at home.

 

[RichA]

Probably played just under 100 rounds in 2025.
Mostly on the 2 courses I've been a member of this year but a few in the east midlands with friends from here and elsewhere and a couple of local east Herts courses that were new to me.
Only the 9 rounds in comps contributed towards my EG handicap, which went from 15.0 to 15.7.
Another year where I was capable of shooting 80 and 100 on consecutive days with no discernible difference in the golf being played.
Only played a couple of times in early autumn while in between clubs. Now very happy to be back at my old club. It's a sometimes scruffy course in stunning surroundings where you will always get a tee time.
Too many highlights to list. Lots of nice courses played with nice people.

 

[RichA]

I’ve had a mare of a year.
Gone from 7 to 12.
Mainly due to a few injuries but arthritis in my fingers is the killer.

Am finding it hard to enjoy the game atm.
But the lads keep me sane, don’t really want to pack it in but it’s getting to me!

Not arthritis, but I have a nerve issue that affects my hands.
Going to midsize grips has helped.
Wearing 2 gloves has really helped. I don't mean winter gloves or MacWet; just buying a right-hand glove that mirrors your normal preferred golf glove.
It feels weird at first, then you forget you're wearing it. Then it feels weird without it and you realise how stupid everyone else looks, wandering about in one glove.

 

[fenwayrich]

Rounds played 34
Index up from 18.3 to 20.1
Low round 87 (not many years ago my average was around 81 )
Highlight - getting out on the course again after 3 years more or less out of action with spinal problems
Lowlight - realising that never again will I be able to walk the course. Buggying is a poor substitute

 

[upsidedown]

Rounds played 34
Index up from 18.3 to 20.1
Low round 87 (not many years ago my average was around 81 )
Highlight - getting out on the course again after 3 years more or less out of action with spinal problems
Lowlight - realising that never again will I be able to walk the course. Buggying is a poor substitute

And good to see earlier in the year

 

[backwoodsman]

Rounds played - about 120 (cant be sure of exact number..)
Courses played 21 including 7 new one
H/I - from 18.4 to 17.2 (via 21.6)
Lowest gross 80
Highlight - see immediately above. Edit: Blimey, how could I forget my first ever hole-in-one ....
Lowlight - see end of H/I entry ...

 

[The Squirrel]

No idea on stats

Highlight was a trip playing 2 of the Gullane courses in lovely July weather with Little Miss Squirrel on successive days.

I’m a fairly new player. Entering the year my best ever round was 97 and the target was break 90.

Best round of the year was 86 (done twice so at least it wasn’t a fluke!) so mission achieved.

Ambitious stretch-goal for 2026 therefore has to be to hit 80. This would have been a ludicrously impossible dream 12 months ago so I guess that means things are progressing; slowly, but nicely.