GatesheadGolfer
Club Champion
Isn't it always?!
Played our 2nd Society game of the year yesterday for a mere £12 at Parklands (attached to Newcastle Racecourse). Not the longest course (5816 off yellows), but 10 holes with water features and 11 with OOB's (avoided all) made it interesting.
My estimated 'real' handicap is 13/14, but Society handicap 9 (they have been adjusted on last years results, and are to give the higher handicaps a fair chance of winning a given round).
Started off 4 over gross first half, and couldn't do much wrong - missed birdie from 6ft on 2nd as had addressed putt, the wind was getting up, so hit it quickly in case it may have moved! Lipped out par putt 3rd. 4th SW from 50yds hit flag but not in (after duffing PW 2nd!), driving and short game in pretty good shape.
Sadly couldn't quite keep it up 2nd half, starting with double bogey on very long 453yd Par 4 after a spot of tree problems, and another double followed 3 holes later on a dog-leg right (always tough on a new course that you and your playing partners have never played before, although I did look on Google Maps!). After 3 * 1 putts on 1st 9, came unstuck with 3 * 3 putts coming back for 9 over, 13 over overall to tie my best (8 footer lipped out for what would have been my best score).
Still very pleased overall with 32 points and confident I can push on for the rest of the season, and with better conditions (from a handicap around 5 below my true handicap). Came 2nd out of 12, 3 points behind someone playing off 31! (32 max in our society!!).
So with our 'unique' handicap system (a great leveller), I am down to 7 now!!
I am the secretary of the society for my 2nd and final year, and although looking forward to choosing and playing 17 different courses this year, looking forward to joining a club next year, and determining what my real handicap is (aiming for 10 by the end of the year - well you have to have a stretching target!)
Played our 2nd Society game of the year yesterday for a mere £12 at Parklands (attached to Newcastle Racecourse). Not the longest course (5816 off yellows), but 10 holes with water features and 11 with OOB's (avoided all) made it interesting.
My estimated 'real' handicap is 13/14, but Society handicap 9 (they have been adjusted on last years results, and are to give the higher handicaps a fair chance of winning a given round).
Started off 4 over gross first half, and couldn't do much wrong - missed birdie from 6ft on 2nd as had addressed putt, the wind was getting up, so hit it quickly in case it may have moved! Lipped out par putt 3rd. 4th SW from 50yds hit flag but not in (after duffing PW 2nd!), driving and short game in pretty good shape.
Sadly couldn't quite keep it up 2nd half, starting with double bogey on very long 453yd Par 4 after a spot of tree problems, and another double followed 3 holes later on a dog-leg right (always tough on a new course that you and your playing partners have never played before, although I did look on Google Maps!). After 3 * 1 putts on 1st 9, came unstuck with 3 * 3 putts coming back for 9 over, 13 over overall to tie my best (8 footer lipped out for what would have been my best score).
Still very pleased overall with 32 points and confident I can push on for the rest of the season, and with better conditions (from a handicap around 5 below my true handicap). Came 2nd out of 12, 3 points behind someone playing off 31! (32 max in our society!!).
So with our 'unique' handicap system (a great leveller), I am down to 7 now!!
I am the secretary of the society for my 2nd and final year, and although looking forward to choosing and playing 17 different courses this year, looking forward to joining a club next year, and determining what my real handicap is (aiming for 10 by the end of the year - well you have to have a stretching target!)
