seochris
Challenge Tour Pro
Played my first round of the Volvo singles matchplay and as predicted, lost 4 and 3!
I dont usually bitch about courses but I do feel very aggrieved at this loss as I was beaten by what can only be described as a dreadful course....a 9 holer in the middle of Lochaber. The alarm bells started ringing when my opponent said 'you will find the greens here a bit different than what you are used to!'
Tee to green was fine but on and around the greens was a travesty. I have played on better winter greens than this! Did not hold any of the approaches despite being soaking wet, did not accept spin, bumpy with bare patches. I must have 3 putted at least 8 times, a complete lottery. My opponent (a very nice guy) apologised for the state of the greens and admitted that he (and his partner) entered all these type of competitions as "its a really cheap way of playing a lot of other different courses and that they had not lost very often at home".
Yes it was the same for both of us but here I believe that home advantage played a far more significant role than would have on a decent course with playable greens and to a point where it was unfair. There was no doubt in my mind that I could have won this match given a level playing field (no pun intended but they ruined a decent croft when the built this course) and perhaps playing on a neutral course.
So a thoroughly disappointing debut to this competition and made even less appealing as I had to drive 120 miles in the rain and got attacked by midges all the way round and still itching this morning. :rant:
I dont usually bitch about courses but I do feel very aggrieved at this loss as I was beaten by what can only be described as a dreadful course....a 9 holer in the middle of Lochaber. The alarm bells started ringing when my opponent said 'you will find the greens here a bit different than what you are used to!'
Tee to green was fine but on and around the greens was a travesty. I have played on better winter greens than this! Did not hold any of the approaches despite being soaking wet, did not accept spin, bumpy with bare patches. I must have 3 putted at least 8 times, a complete lottery. My opponent (a very nice guy) apologised for the state of the greens and admitted that he (and his partner) entered all these type of competitions as "its a really cheap way of playing a lot of other different courses and that they had not lost very often at home".
Yes it was the same for both of us but here I believe that home advantage played a far more significant role than would have on a decent course with playable greens and to a point where it was unfair. There was no doubt in my mind that I could have won this match given a level playing field (no pun intended but they ruined a decent croft when the built this course) and perhaps playing on a neutral course.
So a thoroughly disappointing debut to this competition and made even less appealing as I had to drive 120 miles in the rain and got attacked by midges all the way round and still itching this morning. :rant:
