Castle Stuart weekend....many, many thanks!

[Dodger]

Just back.....what a fantastic 3 days golf.Fridays golf at Crieff and Rosemount was really enjoyable then Saturday brought the splendour of Castle Stuart....simply awesome,never once did my mind wonder,it has slotted it's way into number 3 behind Royal County Down and The Old Course in my list of Favourites.It has many simlarities to Kingsbarns but to me the few weaker holes that it has are way stronger than Kingsbarns weak ones and it has for me more quality holes and as for those infinity greens and the views well, what can be said other than utterly spellbinding!

Cheers to my partners Tommo,Kenny and Anthony..great craic and well done for putting up with my God awful golf,I think Tommo transplanted Homers arms onto me for the first 7 holes!

Nairn today was a wet wet affair but we flew round in 2hrs 45mins and even had to wait for the 2 members in front...the way golf should be played.Sadly the condition of the course was not great,the harsh winter appears to have had a big effect and the greens were bloody awful,as poor as I have seen at any track in a long long time but it didn't take away from a great day.

Thanks to The Golf Monthly team for making the trip happen and for their great company in the evenings,it was great to hear the news and views.
A big ta to John also for his input to the weekend,great to catch up with you and so many old and new faces!

Here's to the next one and looking forward to Goswick!

 

[madandra]

I am gutted to have missed this. I didnt even get to go on a jolly with work due to tonsilitis and chest infection.

It sounds like one hell of an experience and I look forward to reading more and seeing more pics.

 

[Screwback]

Echo dodgers comments re the courses...would also like to thank GM and john for their time and effort in making the trip possible my playing partners mike and alan for the game yesterday. also a big thanks to driver and navigater for the driving, dano airways was exceptional .

Really plesed to put some faces to names and the crack is as good on the course as on the forum

Excellent weekend with some excellent courses and some average golf.

 

[Dodger]

How could I forget Dano Airways? As always it was a pleasure to travel with Dano Airways despite the front seat domestic on the way to Blairgowrie!

Quote of the weekend,or at least the one that is postable, came from Vig....a broken man after a torrid round at Castle Stuart he was trying to find some positives from his game and he pipes up with 'At least my putting stats were good...I only had 16 putts...mind you, I only holed out on 4 greens!!'

 

[DCB]

Yes, I to have to add to dodgers already gushing praise of this wonderful course.

It was a truly awesome place to play golf. It looks as if it has been there for many many years, yet it is only relatively new.

As to the welcome and the treatment we recieved from the staff at Castle Stuart, it was top notch. From the chap who met us at the door on arrival to Tom who started us off on the first tee, they were all exceptional. Many many thanks for giving us such a welcome and for being so attentive to us during our visit.

Finally to the Golf Monthly staff, who started the ball rolling on this one. This was truly an awesome event. The location was superb, the organisation great. You've now set the benchmark !

Many thanks Mike and his team.

Dave.

 

[brendy]

We are sat at Troon port waiting for the boat.
Spey valley is a sprawling monster with a very unfortunate weather system all to itself. We left Troon on Friday and the sun was shining, we drove through snow and sleet to get to avienore and it just didn't stop raining the entire time we were there. Was great to put a lot of names to faces and thanks for those that stepped forward and introduced themselves, I suppose it was easier to spot the northen Irish accents than vice versa! Steve, neil, toad, mike, vig, Steve, the big lad john Findlay, dcb, viscount, dodger, screwback, atticus finch, Ali, sammebee and if I forgot anyone it is only because I am dead on my feet.
Castle Stuart was something else, generous fairways (in places!) fantastic bunkers and greens larger than the carpark at work.
The meet and greet, the starters cabin staff and even watching the greenstaff cutting new holes on the practice putting green were very professional. The grub was great and the clubhouse itself is gorgeous.
As mentioned at castle Stuart, many thanks to Mike and the rest of the guys at gm for an unforgettable weekend.
Nairn was a little soggy with out of sorts greens but it didn't stop us from hitting a few good shots between us.

 

[DCB]

Just as an aside, you may have noticed that there was a SPGA caravan at the course last night. There was a Scottish PGA event on there today.

I don't feel too bad now knowing that only 5 pros bettered par on the day. Best score in was -3

See here for details

 

[algar5]

In total agreement with everyone else regarding Castle Stuart. It truly lived up to the pre match hype and then some. Everything about the place is sheer class, from the welcome given by the staff, the clubhouse and practice facilities and ending with the unforgetable course itself it never fails to impress.

Already planning another visit.

Thanks to Mike and the Golf Monthly Staff for arranging this event. A Big Thank You also to John Findlay for his part in making the trip to Spey Valley a great day as well, even allowing for the artic conditions.

Any budding inventors out there, if you can design a golf buggy with central heating and heated seats, Spey Valley are in dire need of purchasing some.

It was great to put a lot of faces to names and to all my playing partners, Scott, Gerry, Alec (E. Bay/Del Boy), Crawford and Mike it was pleasure.

Can't Wait till the Next One !!

 

[Bunkers]

What a weekend!

Firstly thanks to Mike and the team at GM and to John F for organising such a successful outing...hats off and well done.

Castle Stuart was magnificent. Warm welcome, excellent facilities, great practice range and superb course. Weather on Saturday couldn't have been better for golf. Little wind and warm...lovely. Thanks to Jezz, Clark and Nigel for you company and a prize winning score! Cherry on the cake...

Today the weather was not great with rain in Nairn but the company and the course more than made up for it. Thanks to Anthony and Ray for the banter on the way round.

I'll be back to both courses for sure and if the other forums meets are even a fraction as enjoyable then i'll join in for sure.

Bunkers (Raymond)

 

[Toad]

As has been said before truly amazing course, great service and fantastic company.
Again a big thanks to all at GM and JF for the arrangements It was a great weekends golf.
Had a fantastic time at Castle Stuart playing with Paul O, Leigh and Neil we got off to a flier but fell away on the back 9 but was still a pleasure, looking forward to the next time.

 

[stevek1969]

Glad you guys enjoyed youselfs just a pity i missed out due to work,i feel another road trip coming on .

Played at Spey Valley with Ryan who's a member at Nairn and he said the course wasn't in the greatest nick , really good lad to golf with,it felt like -10 degrees and he played in shorts and a jumper the mad rocket.

Anyway roll on Muckhart.

 

[Dodger]

Toad how was Mike this morning?

Screwback says 25 shots and it's game on!

 

[Toad]

Still a little rubbery, could not remember all that went on last night (no surprise) but did remember the bet with Alan.
Said in the car on the way home wonder what he shot because I was 82 so he had to shoot 53 for a tie.
Was pissing myself laughing still maintains it's easy money.

 

[Dodger]

Still a little rubbery, could not remember all that went on last night (no surprise) but did remember the bet with Alan.
Said in the car on the way home wonder what he shot because I was 82 so he had to shoot 53 for a tie.
Was pissing myself laughing still maintains it's easy money.

Superb!!

 

[Screwback]

Still a little rubbery, could not remember all that went on last night (no surprise) but did remember the bet with Alan.
Said in the car on the way home wonder what he shot because I was 82 so he had to shoot 53 for a tie.
Was pissing myself laughing still maintains it's easy money.

Woke up this morning thinking Why, Why did i agree to that

Handicap certificates will have to be produced on the 1st tee

 

[Toad]

Maybe get Ivan to take your place

Are you due him £2 or did you sneak a win

 

[Dodger]

Wilson to take his place and he may be on a winner Toad.

 

[John_Findlay]

Just back from Nairn GC and in the Royal Bengal waiting for my curry! Superb weekend in wicked company. Nairn today was the worst i've ever played it in all of 100+ rounds. Poured from start to finish. But the hospitality was superb in the bar afterwards. The locals even applauded the presentation of the Clarks Trophy.

And IanG may have a wee head in the morning after getting involved in the rusty nails. We will be playing Castle Stuart again next year no matter the cost. It IS that good. Superb company all weekend from old faces and new friends like Brendy & Smiffy and many others who I've been waiting to meet for ages. For those playing ths Boat tomorrow....have a good one.

Back home tomorrow and loads of photos and video to show.

Cheers

John

 

[Tommo21]

What can I say, a super golf course that needs respect and about another 50 rounds to know the lay of the land. A really good draw with Allan, Kenny and Tony and enough good shots to keep me happy….not often that happens.

Anyway, I got there early on and was shown round the club by one of the CS staff, nice touch that. I cant believe it’s pay and play as clearly there has been a huge investment from the moment you drive in the place. Even the paths from one green to the next tee have sprinklers. The course is a little like Goswick in some ways although some of the greens have very little run off before you’re in deep trouble. The fairways are quite generous but you only need to go off a few yards and you’re in deep trouble.

Even before the off I was trying some of the other guys clubs on the range, I liked screwbacks ping s58 irons and I creamed the first three hits with the 7 iron although a mishit 4 iron brought me back to earth. Dodgers 60 wedge has got to be the weapon that no one thought existed…the shaft is bent….honest, ask him. It’s like a bow, and I had to have a shot. What did I do, hole it, first shot right in the can….honest. Dodger’s onto something here with this dodgerbowedge 60 but I cant see it catching on.

Onto the round and what a start, three of us had to reload. It kind of cleared the nerves as I smacked two good shots onto the front edge of the par 5 second. Dodger was having a nightmare start but started to show one or two glimpses of why he’s a 3 HC player. Fair play, he kept cool. Kenny and Tony were good company and they were trying their hearts out. Tony’s 28 HC came in handy while myself and Dodger were playing an alien game and Kenny is definitely a good 14 HC player who should get down further in the near future. Better still, the banter was good and after me almost missing the ball, the guys knew what TP really means…Total Pi$h.

I’m personally gutted, after having three blobs, I finished with 34 points. Don’t get me wrong I would have settled for that before the start on a strange course and I lost count of the amount of arrow straight 5 woods I played.

Big thanks to Castle Stuart, all the GM troops and my playing partners for putting up with me blethering TP.

Anyone wanting to buy 4 Provees…………

 

[brendy]

Anyone wanting to buy 4 Provees…………

I've only got 3 left
then again I did find 5 pro v's while searching for my safe 3 iron off the first way up on the bank. Loved every minute of it, plenty of pars and a birdie, enough to blank out the couple bad holes, even the great 7 iron second intobthe last to 12 feet only to three putt it while trying to force the eagle. Haha.
I have taken a few photies of the clubhouse and panorama of the clubhouse, starter hut and 1st/10th holes. Hope they come out well.