Anyone playing today?

[theeaglehunter]

What can I say I have the afternoon free, the weather is the best it's been all year and I am about to leave for 18 holes with just a polo on (yes and trousers, shoes etc for any comedians!) I played a small pitch and putt with some non golfing mates yesterday and my short game was horrible so I'm hoping the nice weather will help me discover my best summer touch around the greens. I haven't looked forward to a round of golf this much in a while, I'm just hoping the sun stays out and the sky stays blue, and of course that my game is up to scratch.

Is anybody else fortunate enough to be playing in summer conditions today?

 

[USER1999]

No. I am looking out the window at the big yellow ball, hoping it will still be there on Saturday, when I am playing 36.

Have fun.

 

[AliB]

Hi Just got back - yeh, nice though cool at the start down here. Made 38 Stb points for winter comp card - am well pleased as the golf was not pretty at all but got 3 pars in last 4 holes - woohoo!

AliB
(Now twittering!)

 

[TWM]

Well I am just back from a lesson with my pro. He is trying to get me to make a full back swing. Not having much success.

 

[CarpeDiem]

No. I'm stuck in a hot classroom eating starbursts

 

[TonyN]

I played this morning, Was over cast untill about 11, Now its just glorious. HID came to the club for some dinner and we sat outside basking in the sun! Meant to be nice all week but I am back in work tommorow!

Got beat by the assistant 2+1 was a good knock!

 

[Robobum]

No. I'm stuck in a hot classroom eating starbursts

Me too......not playing that is......missed the classroom part by 20 odd years........and it would have been Opal Fruits back then too

 

[stevo]

played in our first qualifier today scored 31 points..Weather was gorgeous,golf was average..

 

[Cernunnos]

Was going to play today, but still a bit stiff from two days golf at Celtic manor, lots of swimming & several hours each way driving.

Will probably play tomorrow instead now.

 

[thecraw]

Played 9 holes in glorious sunshine, course drying out nicely and I had a Nick Faldo style 9 solid pars.

Hit it very solidly only missed one green and that was a simple up and down for par.

 

[Beaker]

I went to the range at lunch time and was in just a t-shirt!

Second time this year as I played on Sunday in polo shirt too!

Lets hope it stays like this for the summer

 

[Leftie]

Played an interclub Vets 4BBB friendly today. Shot 1 under my new h/cap (cut 0.6 in Sat's medal) so very happy with that but our pairing was trounced 4 and 3 by a pair who dovetailed perfectly and were only about 6 or 7 over par gross between them (off 11 and 18!!).

Great day though.

Sitting here with my face glowing, I think that I should have put the sun block on

 

[wackygolfer]

Played in the first qualifier today.

Started with a nice opening par 5, teed up on the short par 3 and shanked it straight into the gorse! Reloaded , got it on the green and sunk the putt for a point. The rest of the round followed a very similar pattern, ended up with 32 points. A bit dissapointing on a lovely sunny day with perfect conditions. Went up.1 Winning lady had 42 points!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No but I'm counting down the days until the clocks change and I can get to the course for an hours practice after work and then a few weeks later a quick nine.

 

[theeaglehunter]

Well my day was brilliant, I played 12 holes on my own before catching up with two members and forming a 3 ball. The course was in great condition and having had no rain and bright sun for the last 3 days the greens were noticeably quicker than they have been, yet the run of them is still not as true as the summer greens.

I played well over the front 9 making 5 solid pars, 3 bogeys and a frustrating double leaving me 5 over. I was striking the ball with my irons very well in parts though; and my driver was on brilliant form hitting 10/13 fairways on the holes it was trusted on throughout the round.

My back nine was a good summary of the inconsistency that blights my game as I went from 10-15: par, double, par, double, par, double before finishing with three straight bogeys. Making me 14 over par for the round which is the sort of standard I am at currently (despite my 21 handicap which would have allowed me to accrue 42 stapleford points today )

I was a little despondent at the number of doubles I had and the way my front 9 form couldn't be carried on, as my back 9 is notoriously better as a rule as it takes me about 6 holes to get into it normally. I managed to play solid from the very beginning today though which definitely gave me a solid base from which to build my round, its just a shame I couldn't do it.

Anyway I recorded various stats during the round which were as follows:

Avg. driving distance (measured on all holes driver was used): 232.7 yards
Average Putts per green: 2 (36 putts for the round was frustrating as on 5 holes my approach shot was within 8 foot and I didn't make one birdie! I only had one three putt though- I would just have expected more 5 footers to drop.)
GIR: 8/18 (44.4%) This definitely needs to improve, too many times I get so caught up in hitting it down the throat of the flag when I've hit a good drive I end up topping it or something similar! Usually it is just a poor contact though as birdie thoughts enter my head, but I did manage 5 very good approaches today where my skycaddie (I will never play without it now) allowed me to pick the perfect club, which when I flush it leaves me a nice length birdie putt. I just need to do this more often than I did today, and I know I can do it as I hit 14 greens not long ago!
Fairways hit: 10/13 (76.9%) I was very happy with this stat actually and I hope it continues.

Overall the round in the gorgeous weather with 6 holes of great company and 12 holes of very enjoyable relaxing golf was superb fun. I haven't felt so relaxed on a course for a long while- it's amazing what being able to walk round with just a polo on and not worrying about mitts, extra layers etc does for your confidence! Bring on the summer and more rounds like it.