viscount17
Money List Winner
(This is a long post, for which I make no apology)
I have returned from my first foray to foreign climes in search of a different golfing experience, courtesy of Marriotts who were seeking to inveigle me into purchasing a vacation home. (They failed.)
The visit occurring as it did over Easter, I was a little concerned at their (Marriotts) laissez faire attitude and it needed some prompting to get a tee-time booked. As it was my first choice of course was not available and I got an 8.00 am start at La Quinta (near Marbella). With just the one round to play, I decided to rent a set of clubs rather than pay the ransom to EasyJet.
I arrived at La Quinta early, planning to have time to visit the practice range and the putting green. It was at this point that things started to go awry. La Quinta proshop doesn't open until 8.00 am. So there was I with a set of Callaway's, woods and irons and an Odyssey putter, none of which I had ever held before and to cap it all the 4-ball that was next off were already at the tee, waiting.
The first attempt off the tee was inevitable - a good hook into the garden. The second, a slice which ricochetted off a tree into the fairway. Suffice to say that the first hole was a nightmare, the greens (also untested) were the fastest I've ever encountered and it took to the fourth before I marginally settled. I did eventually get some three holes up on the four-ball, which allowed me to settle a little more, however I never did properly get to grips with the clubs, which was not assisted by my having lost my swing some time beforehand.
The 8th offered some light relief. A hole-in-one competition was being conducted on this hole (par 3, 150 m over water) - if you made one you got a paid trip to LA for the 1 million dollar final, if you got the ball to stick on the green you got a minor prize - I got a sleeve of AD333's.
For those that don't know La Quinta, it has three 9-hole courses which can be played as three separate 18's. The holes are quite varied with some, if you are not driving accurately, a little intimidating as the narrow fairway is lined with houses on both sides; and the builders are knowledgable commentators.
Consequently, having gained a lead on the 4-ball I now found myself blending in with others and if you're not playing well . . . Still I was by then hitting the drives better (at least getting a reasonable distance) but oh those irons! The greens I never really got to grips with but somehow ended up under 100 just (par 71) and even managed to tally a birdie!
Lessons to be learned:
Don't get the first tee-time, you need time to practice.
Investigate the possibility of exchanging the hire set if they don't suit (they had Callaway, Ping and Titleist).
If you have the opportunity print off the yardage chart from the web - fortunately I had done so as they didn't have any.
Try to find out the layout before you visit. La Q has no practice facilities (that I found) for woods but has two putting greens, one near course C, one between A and B.
Take great care if you happen to visit in the wet - buggy paths (which you will also use with trolleys or carrying) can be steep and with little grip.
Would I go back - absolutely!
Would I buy a set of Callaways (I'm in the market for irons) - not likely
I have returned from my first foray to foreign climes in search of a different golfing experience, courtesy of Marriotts who were seeking to inveigle me into purchasing a vacation home. (They failed.)
The visit occurring as it did over Easter, I was a little concerned at their (Marriotts) laissez faire attitude and it needed some prompting to get a tee-time booked. As it was my first choice of course was not available and I got an 8.00 am start at La Quinta (near Marbella). With just the one round to play, I decided to rent a set of clubs rather than pay the ransom to EasyJet.
I arrived at La Quinta early, planning to have time to visit the practice range and the putting green. It was at this point that things started to go awry. La Quinta proshop doesn't open until 8.00 am. So there was I with a set of Callaway's, woods and irons and an Odyssey putter, none of which I had ever held before and to cap it all the 4-ball that was next off were already at the tee, waiting.
The first attempt off the tee was inevitable - a good hook into the garden. The second, a slice which ricochetted off a tree into the fairway. Suffice to say that the first hole was a nightmare, the greens (also untested) were the fastest I've ever encountered and it took to the fourth before I marginally settled. I did eventually get some three holes up on the four-ball, which allowed me to settle a little more, however I never did properly get to grips with the clubs, which was not assisted by my having lost my swing some time beforehand.
The 8th offered some light relief. A hole-in-one competition was being conducted on this hole (par 3, 150 m over water) - if you made one you got a paid trip to LA for the 1 million dollar final, if you got the ball to stick on the green you got a minor prize - I got a sleeve of AD333's.
For those that don't know La Quinta, it has three 9-hole courses which can be played as three separate 18's. The holes are quite varied with some, if you are not driving accurately, a little intimidating as the narrow fairway is lined with houses on both sides; and the builders are knowledgable commentators.
Consequently, having gained a lead on the 4-ball I now found myself blending in with others and if you're not playing well . . . Still I was by then hitting the drives better (at least getting a reasonable distance) but oh those irons! The greens I never really got to grips with but somehow ended up under 100 just (par 71) and even managed to tally a birdie!
Lessons to be learned:
Don't get the first tee-time, you need time to practice.
Investigate the possibility of exchanging the hire set if they don't suit (they had Callaway, Ping and Titleist).
If you have the opportunity print off the yardage chart from the web - fortunately I had done so as they didn't have any.
Try to find out the layout before you visit. La Q has no practice facilities (that I found) for woods but has two putting greens, one near course C, one between A and B.
Take great care if you happen to visit in the wet - buggy paths (which you will also use with trolleys or carrying) can be steep and with little grip.
Would I go back - absolutely!
Would I buy a set of Callaways (I'm in the market for irons) - not likely
