kp17
Newbie
Played with Marc Warren a couple times. Scary good.
Best player you’ve played with
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Highfade
Newbie
And that’s Marc Warren! Who peaked in OWGR at 48 10 years ago (No disrespect intended) but multiple that 10x for Tiger/Rory/scottie.
Almost unfathomable.
ManinBlack
Tour Winner
Played with the Dutch Open champion aged 16, ten years before he won the Dutch event. Only about 4 handicap at the time, never won our Club Championship but you could see the potential.
cookelad
Tour Winner
Played a match for Shooters Hill against Lamberhurst, as the high handicapper on the team I was 'sacrificed' and put up against their best player, all I really remember about the match was being 1 under through 4holes and 4 down and shaking hands on the 12th.
Lucifer MorningStar
Well-known member
Been very lucky over the years to play with some exceptional golfers with + handicaps.
Played with a young Matt Haines before he played in the Walker cup and went onto finish 2nd in the Challenge tour rankings and having a single season on the ET.
Best lad I played with was a kid called Lloyd Campbell we were in the same junior team but he was a few years younger but still better than all of us. Got a golf scholarship to Tennessee in early 2000s, qualified for the open and great career ahead of him unfortunately injury and a lifelong illness held him back as he struggled to walk the course but seen recently he’s starting to play again so hopefully he can still go out earn some money and have fun, absolutely phenomenal golfer but even nicer person.
Played with a young Matt Haines before he played in the Walker cup and went onto finish 2nd in the Challenge tour rankings and having a single season on the ET.
Best lad I played with was a kid called Lloyd Campbell we were in the same junior team but he was a few years younger but still better than all of us. Got a golf scholarship to Tennessee in early 2000s, qualified for the open and great career ahead of him unfortunately injury and a lifelong illness held him back as he struggled to walk the course but seen recently he’s starting to play again so hopefully he can still go out earn some money and have fun, absolutely phenomenal golfer but even nicer person.
Best I ever played with was a guy at ours, county golfer off +3, whose short game was absolutely ridiculous.
I played with a ladies European Tour pro years ago at the Forest Of Arden, whose short game was woeful in comparison.
I played with a ladies European Tour pro years ago at the Forest Of Arden, whose short game was woeful in comparison.
Lucifer MorningStar
Well-known member
I loved both of those courses when I played them. The former Lamberhusrt pro was the guy who gave me my first ever golf lesson and he was a quality player back in the day.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
That's not really in line with what you see from young pros now though. You wouldn't watch Marco Penge and think he gently places the ball around the course.
AussieKB
Well-known member
Played with Aussie guy's who have won on ET and also caddied for an Aussie who won on PGAT at Pebble Beach.
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Played a +6 in the scratch league I was off 4 so a 10 shot difference.
At his home club he beat me 4&3 .
Given the difference I counted that a decent result.
He was very long but very accurate
His chipping and putting was another level.
He said “ love my job and no intention of turning pro.”
Fabulous to watch but tough to play against someone like that.
At his home club he beat me 4&3 .
Given the difference I counted that a decent result.
He was very long but very accurate
His chipping and putting was another level.
He said “ love my job and no intention of turning pro.”
Fabulous to watch but tough to play against someone like that.
timd77
Assistant Pro
We had a 2 day pro tournament at a previous club I was at, organised by Ian woosnam. Unfortunately it’s not him I played with but…
Turned up for a solo round the day before and the pro shop told me one of the pros was joining me for a practice round, can I show him around the course. Great, not nervous at all! I can’t remember his name, he used to play on the European tour in the 80s and 90s. He told me he doesn’t really play anymore, mainly focuses on his property business.
He was asking me for lines off the tee, told him, bang, nailed it. Asking me for distances to pins, bang, 8 feet pin high. Ridiculous. Such a nice chap as well.
Best player at club level was a lad who was off +1 ish, great player. The one round we could only play 10 holes due to the wet weather, he birdied 8 of them. I was just stood watching him, taking it all in. Unreal.
Turned up for a solo round the day before and the pro shop told me one of the pros was joining me for a practice round, can I show him around the course. Great, not nervous at all! I can’t remember his name, he used to play on the European tour in the 80s and 90s. He told me he doesn’t really play anymore, mainly focuses on his property business.
He was asking me for lines off the tee, told him, bang, nailed it. Asking me for distances to pins, bang, 8 feet pin high. Ridiculous. Such a nice chap as well.
Best player at club level was a lad who was off +1 ish, great player. The one round we could only play 10 holes due to the wet weather, he birdied 8 of them. I was just stood watching him, taking it all in. Unreal.
Wouldn't disagree with that. This guy was around the 60 mark and golfers of that generation played in a different way. He was still long but he wasn't swinging like a madman, he was always in control.That's not really in line with what you see from young pros now though. You wouldn't watch Marco Penge and think he gently places the ball around the course.
In terms of what you can learn, I don't think most of us on here, me definitely, would benefit from swinging like Marco Penge. We don't have the control, or talent, to do that. Hitting the ball with control, good course management, that's what we need to do to improve.
irip
Head Pro
I played a round with Paul Casey once.
Just a totally different game to what the rest of us was playing.
I’m not sure what he scored but was comfortably a few under par and didn’t seem like he was trying/concentrating either.
Very friendly guy that day and generous with his help and praise and good banter as well.
Just a totally different game to what the rest of us was playing.
I’m not sure what he scored but was comfortably a few under par and didn’t seem like he was trying/concentrating either.
Very friendly guy that day and generous with his help and praise and good banter as well.
The Squirrel
Well-known member
It’s certainly nice to read that these unbelievably talented players are, as a rule, very pleasant people to play with. I guess they must be have experienced ‘ordinary’ players going all rabbit-in-the-headlights and dissolving into shank/fat/top/duff city with nerves at finding they’re playing with such a good player - which would certainly disrupt their own round; so make sure they try to reduce that effect.
And well over 90% of people you meet in any situation are basically decent and nice anyway - it’s just the small other group we tend to notice/remembet
.
And well over 90% of people you meet in any situation are basically decent and nice anyway - it’s just the small other group we tend to notice/remembet
.
spongebob59
Journeyman Pro
Currently my playing partners son who's off 1, he aiming to get to scratch.
In the past a +5 golfer at Dartford who went on the Walker cup side and a +4 who played at Worplesden and was in the Surrey squad.
The all seemed to hit the ball miles with very little effort
In the past a +5 golfer at Dartford who went on the Walker cup side and a +4 who played at Worplesden and was in the Surrey squad.
The all seemed to hit the ball miles with very little effort
Mel Smooth
Hacker
During the presentation at Myerscough last weekend the the tutor was telling us about a trip they took the degree students on to Riyadh last year. They went out there to help with the LIV event, and part of the week was assisting in the pro-am. The Saudi sheiks had all stumped up big money to play in the pro- am, but weren't actually that bothered to play, so a load of the students ended up playing with the pros while the Saudi guys just watched on and chatted with the players.
Floodlit golf in the desert with Bryson is a pretty unique experience I'd imagine.
Floodlit golf in the desert with Bryson is a pretty unique experience I'd imagine.
arnieboy
Challenge Tour Pro
Robert Coles, now playing on the Seniors Tour. A really nice guy who demonstrated a load of trick shots at a corporate event before our round.
bobmac
Major Champion
Smiffy was a tough guy to beat especially giving him his full 12 shots around Forest Pines. I worked hard for that tenner. 
But the best player was +3 at High post. 1993 ish. He just hit everything so straight. I decided to ditch the draw that day.
But the best player was +3 at High post. 1993 ish. He just hit everything so straight. I decided to ditch the draw that day.
ManinBlack
Tour Winner
Not played with but photographed Colin Montgomerie & Sandy Lyle. Spent 5 hours with Monty at Slaley Hall doing a "beat the pro" on one of the par threes. He hit the green every time & never lost. He did an outstanding PR job for DeVere Hotels, was a complete gentleman. Did an entertaining talk in with Dougie Donnelly at the evening dinner. Completely changed my view of him, I wasn't a fan before that.
Sandy Lyle appeared at Linden Hall, playing a 140 yard par three for each of the Scramble teams. Missed the green long, short, left, right, almost holed one. Had no conversation. Didn't speak at the dinner, didn't present the prizes. Not surprising he was never Ryder Cup captain.
Sandy Lyle appeared at Linden Hall, playing a 140 yard par three for each of the Scramble teams. Missed the green long, short, left, right, almost holed one. Had no conversation. Didn't speak at the dinner, didn't present the prizes. Not surprising he was never Ryder Cup captain.
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PhilTheFragger
Provider of Entertainment for the Golfing Gods 🙄
Lee Westwood
Ping “play your Best” final about 13 years ago.
Ryder cup Weekend, ( Miracle at Medina) @MikeH was in charge of the drinks , think the expense account got severely hammered .
Played 3 holes with Lee, proper gent,
Playing over a lake on a par 3, I was aiming over the water, he asked why and I said, my slice will bring it in, he said a draw will be a safer bet,
“ I can’t hit a draw”
“Ok set up to the ball, right leg back 6 inches, bring your shoulders to your right leg, hit the ball”
Hit a lovely soft draw that ended about 8 feet from the flag
“That’ll be £50 please”
Oh how we laughed
I have never, ever been able to replicate that shot
Great weekend, great Ryder Cup result and great memories
Ping “play your Best” final about 13 years ago.
Ryder cup Weekend, ( Miracle at Medina) @MikeH was in charge of the drinks , think the expense account got severely hammered .
Played 3 holes with Lee, proper gent,
Playing over a lake on a par 3, I was aiming over the water, he asked why and I said, my slice will bring it in, he said a draw will be a safer bet,
“ I can’t hit a draw”
“Ok set up to the ball, right leg back 6 inches, bring your shoulders to your right leg, hit the ball”
Hit a lovely soft draw that ended about 8 feet from the flag
“That’ll be £50 please”
Oh how we laughed
I have never, ever been able to replicate that shot
Great weekend, great Ryder Cup result and great memories
