First win of the season! Crowborough....

[Snelly]

Just won my first trophy of 2010. Played in an event at Crowborough Beacon and managed to knock it round in level par. As ever, could've been better with three 3-putts and a lost ball!

Still, I am delighted that I won the trophy as it is a big silver punch bowl that was donated in memory of a good friend of mine for this event about six years ago.

The course was in super condition today and if you ever get the chance to play then you should as Crowborough is a lovely course. I normally have a poor finish when I play here but managed to make it to the 19th in reasonable form and hit the 18th with a drive and 9 iron. Not bad going as it is a really tough hole- first time in 6 attempts that I have ever parred it in fact.

Apologies for my immodesty but as said above....I am delighted.

 

[haplesshacker]

Level par, at Crowborough. I'm impressed. Well done.

Played there once a couple of years ago courtesy of GM on a rather damp day. I had a shocker as I was duck hooking the ball into the heather on every hole. In fact. I can't believe how crap I was, looking back at it now. Oh the shame!






(Of course, I'm not much better now!!)

 

[JT77]

well done mate, and still time this season for another!!

 

[kid2]

Nice one Snelly
Any chance you'd throw some good fortune this way....I could do with it for sunday

 

[Leftie]

Good shooting mate.

I played there earlier this year in an inter-club vets friendly (or so I thought )

Between us, my partner and I were 7 over gross after the 18. The match was however over by the 14th. 5 and 4

Our opponents were The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Over the 14 holes, The Lone Ranger was 3 over gross and where he bogied Tonto came in for a par or birdie. Anyone who is/was a member at Crowborough knows The Lone Ranger. He is 80/81/82 years old, gets round on his mobility scooter with his faithful dog by his side and plays off 14

 

[Golfmmad]

Well played, good to see a fellow Sussex man winning - even though you're on the 'West' side.

Also, I've heard it's a tough course, well, according to Smiffy it is.

Golfmmad.

 

[Smiffy]

Also, I've heard it's a tough course, well, according to Smiffy it is.

One of the toughest you'll play in Sussex Chris.
If you are off the back tees, a howling wind into your face on the first will see you struggling to make the fairway. And two lost balls is not a very good way to start your round...
It's not a "power" course. You've got to plot your way around it most of the time. Some wicked bounces in the Summer months and lots of long carries over heather too. It's a "ball loser" of a track.

And hit the 18th with a drive and 9 iron.

Christ, you must have given that some clatter off the tee.
Was a member there for over ten years and even with my Sunday best drive up that hole I don't think I ever got home with anything less than a 5 iron. Ever. And that would have been a "drive in a million"....most times I was hitting a 3 or 5 wood into that!!


Congratulations on your win by the way.

 

[Snelly]

Hi Smiffy,

Agree with you completely about "plotting you way around". It has taken me a while to get the right club selected for a few of the par 4's. Without wishing to bore those that don't know the course, here's a few examples of what I hit off the tee...

8th - 8i
11th - 8i
12th - 6i
15th - 5i
16th - 6i

All par 4's and managed par on all of them and I thought that as an ex-member, you might be interested in this...

As for the 18th, I fluked a draw and it must have run around the corner for a good few yards..

Lastly, I think the 2nd hole is one of the best par 4's in Sussex!

 

[Smiffy]

Hi Smiffy,

Agree with you completely about "plotting you way around". It has taken me a while to get the right club selected for a few of the par 4's. Without wishing to bore those that don't know the course, here's a few examples of what I hit off the tee...

8th - 8i
11th - 8i
12th - 6i
15th - 5i
16th - 6i

All par 4's and managed par on all of them and I thought that as an ex-member, you might be interested in this...

As for the 18th, I fluked a draw and it must have run around the corner for a good few yards..

Lastly, I think the 2nd hole is one of the best par 4's in Sussex!

You must hit the ball miles to hit those irons off the tees!!
The only par 4's where I ever contemplated hitting irons were the 4th (where straight down the middle or slightly right is key to playing the hole) the 8th (a nice 5 or 4 iron up the middle) and the 11th, but I would never hit an 8 iron off there. 5 maybe, to get me to the corner but an 8???


The second hole is indeed a "cracker" and could hold it's own on any course in the country.
Another favourite of mine is the par 3 6th. A superb hole where if the green is receptive you can fly one straight over the bombhole and hold it, but if they are firm then you need to play the members shot which is up the right hand side, short, and let it roll down onto the green utilising the contours of the land.
A lovely track. I wish I'd never left. I would have been quite happy to see my golf out on that course.

 

[Snelly]

You must hit the ball miles to hit those irons off the tees!!
The only par 4's where I ever contemplated hitting irons were the 4th (where straight down the middle or slightly right is key to playing the hole) the 8th (a nice 5 or 4 iron up the middle) and the 11th, but I would never hit an 8 iron off there. 5 maybe, to get me to the corner but an 8???

Well I do hit it quite a way but also, I should have mentioned that we played off the yellow tees!

In terms of context, what happened was that last year, I wrote a few suggestions into the course stroke saver I had bought after my round to try and help next time I played the course. This year I made sure that I stuck to my own advice and it paid off.

I had written next to the 11th, (which has been my nemesis on three or four rounds there) "hit either driver over trees or 2 x 8i. I have tried all ways to play that hole correctly and have decided that 2 x 8 irons is the best strategy which is what I did yesterday.

I have also struggled on the 12th many times so followed my own suggestion again which was 6i then 3i!

Yes the 6th is a really good hole and I am always right of the green in the grass bunker!

If I lived nearer, I would consider joining the club.

PS - won a nice Goretex rain suit for 1st prize. You will be pleased to hear I will be swapping this for a new Ping Tour SW!

 

[medwayjon]

I absolutely love this course, have played it twice, once on the GM day as previously mentioned (got in the prizes the 1st time I had played it even though I couldnt buy a putt) and then played it as a visitor on a more clement day.

1st hole is an absolutely great starting hole, superb.

As mentioned the 2nd is also excellent.

Dont think there is a dud hole at the place.

Well done on a great performance and a great win.

 

[ADB]

May I join the Crowborough love in....

Played the course half a dozen times and loved it, a real test of golf and the condition of the course was always excellent. I just wish I was as disciplined as you Snelly, as picking the big dog on every tee just doesn't work.

The 1st and 2nd are great holes, although I think the 3rd is probably the weakest on the course. I love the tee shot off the 5th and you won't find a nicer Par 3 in Sussex than the 6th - the other holes aren't bad either!

I think they still do a 2-4-1 voucher at certain times so value can be had.

The balcony overlooking the 18th is probably the nicest spot to enjoy a post match drink with fantastic views. First class.

Congratulations Snelly btw.

From previous posts you play a lot of great 'name' courses in your society - how would you rate Crowborough out of interest?

 

[Snelly]

Hi,

Yes we do play some very nice places. Also, as this year's Captain I have had invites to a few other special places including Swinley, Loch Lomond and Royal County Down! Anyway, enough of that!

My opinion is that the best inland courses in Sussex are as follows and these are in order of preference:

1. West Sussex
2. Crowborough Beacon
3. Royal Ashdown
4. Goodwood Downs
5. East Sussex National
6. Piltdown
7. Worthing

And for what it's worth, the best links courses are Rye and Hayling Island.

In terms of where Crowborough ranks in a wider sense, I would put it in a tier 2 bracket of English courses. This is based on tier 1 including Sunningdale, Woodhall Spa, The Berkshire, Hankley Common, West Sussex, Hollinwell, West Hill, Worplesdon, St Georges Hill etc.

Division 2 would be the likes of Hindhead, Liphook, Wentworth, Parkstone, The Belfry, Tandridge, Burhill, Stoke Park etc.

Crowborough is right up there at the very top of tier 2. Probably only the short length that prevents it being in the top tier.

All just my opinion of course....

 

[ADB]

most in Div 1 I can only dream of playing

Heard great things about West Sussex and it is definitely on my 'to play' list - although I guess it is somewhat harder to get a game than Crowborough.

As for Rye, a luddite like moi can forget it....even the website begins -

"This site is primarily for the use of Club Members"..cheek

 

[PNWokingham]

I would also like some Crowborough love in - missed the chance this year with uncle Smiffy! West Susses is right at the top of my list - was going to do it this summer but never got organised - some great reviews of it on golf club atlas - http://golfclubatlas.com/ - may try and organise it around the Cooden trip next year if anyone fancies it.