John_Findlay
Tour Winner
Just wanted to post a big thanks to fellow forumers Owen_Thomas_14, IainG & bigslice for yesterday's game at Owen's home course of Broomieknowe in Bonnyrigg.
Especially to Owen for hosting us so well and showing us all how to hit the ball!
And I'm gonna break a promise to Iain. I had to. It's priceless.
It was a crisp winter day with a threat of rain when IainG and bigslice (Davy) turned up in style from the west in the chauffeur driven limo.
Always arrive in style.....and come prepared for any plumbing emergency, that's what I say.
After a quick coffee and intros it's off to the tee, and since Owen and I are off 6 (more of this later), and Davy and Iain off 19 & 20 respectively the teams are set with me partnering bigslice and Owen off with Iain.
I knew we were in trouble when Iain pinged a lovely wedge in close on the first. But we managed a lucky half as his short putt slid by.
Sadly, on the 2nd it seems that a 319 par 4 is well within Owen's reach off the tee. He pinged it to the heart of the green and got an easy birdie. 1 down and I can see a tough match ahead.
After a bit of toing and froing that's how it remains at the turn.
Some nice holes at Broomieknowe. Quite a few tricky doglegs, a bit of water and plenty of trees to hide behind. Here's Iain at a short par 3.
Around the turn Iain and Owen are pulling ahead through some good play by both and are 3 up after 12. Iain must have played well below his handicap (or it felt that way at least) and Owen's power and accuracy was beginning to tell. Junior club champ, you know. I can see why. Hopefully one day I'll hit the ball like him.
My partner tried his best for me but we're struggling against the dynamic duo. Bigslice won the 14th for us to bring the match back to 2 down and I feel a name change required because he didn't hit any all day. Some nice shots in the arsenal. Well played, Davy. You carried me all day.
Bigslice pings another non big slice away.
On the short par 3 15th I then laid up half way down the fairway! (note to self, must work on irons over the winter).....but played my best pitch in 5 years which hit the flag for a half. Doggonnit I then rolled in a nice birdie putt on the 16th for a win and the match is back to 1 down with 2 to play. But we're not out of the woods yet.
Lost ball for me on the next and my partner's on his own. Sorry, Davy. Owen then pings a beautiful wedge in stiff (to be honest, we thought he'd holed it for eagle) and the match is over, 2 & 1.
Great game and good banter and I'll have to reciprocate when the weather's better. Thanks all.
Just a wee word about Owen... and I'm sure the other boys will agree. Wow! Don't play him for money. If he's not down to scratch at some point in the next few years it'll be a shock to me. Big hitter with a lovely short game and it makes me embarrassed to say I'm (currently) playing off the same handicap. Stick in Owen and great things will come. In the video at the end Owen played a wedge pin high into the green (155 yards) against my own 7 iron!!
And now for that broken promise to Iain, who had been chipping very well all day. I think it will be obvious if you watch this. A wee example of Owen's cracking swings....with a wee treat at the end. Does this make me a bad person?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tju4mK5g64
Thanks again lads.

PS Owen. Any chance you can play for Scotland against the English at Goswick next year. You'll scare the bejeesus out of them

Especially to Owen for hosting us so well and showing us all how to hit the ball!
And I'm gonna break a promise to Iain. I had to. It's priceless.
It was a crisp winter day with a threat of rain when IainG and bigslice (Davy) turned up in style from the west in the chauffeur driven limo.
Always arrive in style.....and come prepared for any plumbing emergency, that's what I say.
After a quick coffee and intros it's off to the tee, and since Owen and I are off 6 (more of this later), and Davy and Iain off 19 & 20 respectively the teams are set with me partnering bigslice and Owen off with Iain.
I knew we were in trouble when Iain pinged a lovely wedge in close on the first. But we managed a lucky half as his short putt slid by.
Sadly, on the 2nd it seems that a 319 par 4 is well within Owen's reach off the tee. He pinged it to the heart of the green and got an easy birdie. 1 down and I can see a tough match ahead.
After a bit of toing and froing that's how it remains at the turn.
Some nice holes at Broomieknowe. Quite a few tricky doglegs, a bit of water and plenty of trees to hide behind. Here's Iain at a short par 3.
Around the turn Iain and Owen are pulling ahead through some good play by both and are 3 up after 12. Iain must have played well below his handicap (or it felt that way at least) and Owen's power and accuracy was beginning to tell. Junior club champ, you know. I can see why. Hopefully one day I'll hit the ball like him.
My partner tried his best for me but we're struggling against the dynamic duo. Bigslice won the 14th for us to bring the match back to 2 down and I feel a name change required because he didn't hit any all day. Some nice shots in the arsenal. Well played, Davy. You carried me all day.
Bigslice pings another non big slice away.
On the short par 3 15th I then laid up half way down the fairway! (note to self, must work on irons over the winter).....but played my best pitch in 5 years which hit the flag for a half. Doggonnit I then rolled in a nice birdie putt on the 16th for a win and the match is back to 1 down with 2 to play. But we're not out of the woods yet.
Lost ball for me on the next and my partner's on his own. Sorry, Davy. Owen then pings a beautiful wedge in stiff (to be honest, we thought he'd holed it for eagle) and the match is over, 2 & 1.
Great game and good banter and I'll have to reciprocate when the weather's better. Thanks all.
Just a wee word about Owen... and I'm sure the other boys will agree. Wow! Don't play him for money. If he's not down to scratch at some point in the next few years it'll be a shock to me. Big hitter with a lovely short game and it makes me embarrassed to say I'm (currently) playing off the same handicap. Stick in Owen and great things will come. In the video at the end Owen played a wedge pin high into the green (155 yards) against my own 7 iron!!
And now for that broken promise to Iain, who had been chipping very well all day. I think it will be obvious if you watch this. A wee example of Owen's cracking swings....with a wee treat at the end. Does this make me a bad person?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tju4mK5g64
Thanks again lads.
PS Owen. Any chance you can play for Scotland against the English at Goswick next year. You'll scare the bejeesus out of them