Had a bad round today

[EaseNgrace]

I played the Wensum course at Wensum Valley today, The course was in absolutely terrible condition with bare fairways and spongy over-watered greens. I keep playing courses for the first time expecting to do well but without knowledge of the layout I shouldn't expect too much.
To cut a long story short I went round in 90 (I would have been pleased with 85) due to poor tee shots and wayward approaches which is unlike me. Also 5 double bogeys in a row doesn't help. There was a couple of decent holes, I was 2 under for the par 5's, one of which (565 yards) I was on in 2 with a 3 Hybrid 250 yards into the green and 2 putted. On the last par 5 I was in a greenside bunker for 2 with a very awkward shot and got up and down for birdie. My pitching was spot on throughout and I played some great shots with my new Mizzy wedge.
Im playing all the different courses in the area to decide which to join next year and I can safely tick Wensum off the list, I like the Valley course (shot 83 there last month) but the one I played today has a horrible layout, You have to play 14 holes till you get to a par 5 and it's just one long par 4 after another 4 of which are over 450 yards (1 is 497) most holes have blind shots over the crest of hills which doesn't help first time round.
Still I haven't played that much lately and I don't expect to start improving my scores until I get settled down somewhere, My goal for next year...BREAK 80

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

i played badly today nett 78 and still got third won a trionz bracelet

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think it may be a little unfair to mark a course for bare fairways after the unusually dry period we've had. I guess though if the layout doesn't inspire you then you'll not get excited about your golf which is what its all about. Mind you if you played well on the other course and it ticks any other boxes your are looking for in a set up it might be worth giving it another shot.

 

[EaseNgrace]

Yeah you're right HJS, I guess most courses are a bit on the brown side at the mo' but this was the worst i've seen of late with large patches of bare dust in the key areas of the fairway.
I think in terms of joining a club, my heart is telling me to go back to Costessey Park which is where I played as a junior, although I haven't played it on a green fee yet this year I know the course like the back of my hand and they do an intermediate membership for £375.

 

[RGDave]

I too had a bad round today. Travelled miles to play in a fairly serious comp. The fairways were fine but the greens were terrible. Shaved to minimum height and top dressed with sandy stuff.
Balls landing on the greens ran straight through the back. Pitch shots had no check whatsoever and balls missing the hole (downhill) which had almost stopped rolled on 5-6 foot. And the bunkers? about 5mm of sand "dusted" on top of hard pan.

I think the designer of Augusta National would be turning in his grave.

 

[jammydodger]

EaseandGrace mate , Everyone who plays golf around our area knows that Wensum Valley is a pile of pooh. Never ever go there and expect to play a course in good condition.

Have you tried my course yet (Weston Park) ? Costessey Park is ok but gets very very wet when theres a bit of rain. Give me a pm if you want to try Weston and i'll get you in for a reduced fee and show you the way round. Might even get you in for free if you say you might be joining and can play in the week !

Eatons not too bad but a bit on the short side , dont go near Royal Norwich cos the course is being run down ready for the merger with us in a few years.Sprowston and Dunston are a bit corporate minded as is Barnham Broom. The Norfolk would be good and Bawburgh too.

All the courses around here are browned off cos we havnt had any significant rain for months now

 

[EaseNgrace]

Hi JD, I was seriously considering a game at Weston yesterday (or phoning up to ask for a tee time at least) but I wasnt sure if they took 2 for 1 vouchers and I can't afford the full price. Thanks for the offer, im sure the missus will let me out again next weekend some time, i'll drop you a pm some time soon because that would really help me out, and give me a chance to play a proper course.
I think I could potentially consider a membership there, do they do an intermediate rate? Now that I went for a £200 set of irons rather than saving up for posh ones that leaves a bit in reserve.
The only thing with Weston is it's a fair distance from me and I dont drive, so I rely on my brother to be available for a game.

 

[Smiffy]

Don't go near Royal Norwich cos the course is being run down ready for the merger with us in a few years.
Sprowston and Dunston are a bit corporate minded as is Barnham Broom.

Shame about Royal Norwich. A group of us went on a weeks holiday in your area a few years ago and played there. Thought it was a cracking parkland track.
Barnham Broom??????? What a pile of cack. We were really looking forward to playing there after what we had heard, but were very disappointed. Every single fairway was covered in bloody clover, so deep that if you took your eye off the ball for a second you could quite easily lose it. And that was on the fairway!!! Two fourballs and the round took nearly 5 hours because of all the time spent looking for balls. Wouldn't ever go back there.

 

[EaseNgrace]

Don't go near Royal Norwich cos the course is being run down ready for the merger with us in a few years.
Sprowston and Dunston are a bit corporate minded as is Barnham Broom.

Shame about Royal Norwich. A group of us went on a weeks holiday in your area a few years ago and played there. Thought it was a cracking parkland track.
Barnham Broom??????? What a pile of cack. We were really looking forward to playing there after what we had heard, but were very disappointed. Every single fairway was covered in bloody clover, so deep that if you took your eye off the ball for a second you could quite easily lose it. And that was on the fairway!!! Two fourballs and the round took nearly 5 hours because of all the time spent looking for balls. Wouldn't ever go back there.

I played Barnham Valley course a couple of weeks ago and I must admit I enjoyed it, Probably because I played OK but other than leaves everywhere I found the condition of the fairways to be quite good. I wouldn't consider it much of a members club though.

 

[Andy]

Gourock is on the brown side with mud, not bloody burnt grass. We'll need a few months of African sunshine up here to dry the place out.

Andy

 

[jammydodger]

@ EandG , depends what age you are for the membership , follow this link http://www.weston-park.co.uk/pages.php/how_to_join.html

@ Smiffy , Norwich was very good going back a couple of years apparantly. However its starting to deteriorate with the lack of effort being put into it. Played it in a county comp earlier this year and the tees were a disgrace and there were bare patches around the edges of the greens , small things but you can see the slippery slope theyre on.

 

[EaseNgrace]

Thanks for the link JD, I turn 24 in January. I wonder if it would be £305 if I joined before then. If so thats very reasonable.

 

[jammydodger]

You've still got to be able to get there and it wont be easy if you have to rely on your brother for lifts. Get out there and get some wheels mate

 

[EaseNgrace]

If I had a car I wouldn't be able to afford to play golf.
Or pay the rent etc