** Hanbury Manor Centenary Day Tues 5th April - UPDATE **

[JezzE]

Dear all,
Just a quick message to let any forumers playing at Hanbury know that we have been experiencing some technical difficulties with the server here at IPC Media the last two days, where all the data for this event is stored, and are currently unable to access it.
That said we hope to be in a position to provide all entrants with further details by close of play today.

In the meantime I can confirm that the first tee-off time will be 10.28am, and with an approx entry of around 40, the last time is likely to be around 11.48

With regard to directions, the link below will help, although essentially it is just off the A10 north of Ware in Hertfordshire

http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/maps/travel/stngs-hanbury-manor-a-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/

We hope to email futher details and a startsheet to all entrants by close of play today

 

[USER1999]

After receiving Jezz's email this morning I have been looking into the Hanbury Manor details, as I am looking forward to playing a new track, with a good reputation, with some fellow forummers from here.

Full course length 7000 yards. Bit long for the time of year, and also for the handicap mix who have signed up, so fair enough, we're playing off the yellows. But, the yellows are 6124 yards (par 72, SSS70). That's a bit short! Bit of a difference there between the Tiger tees and the yellows. Heck, there's even a 440 yard par 5.

Now I haven't played there, and I assume it will still be a good test of golf, but it would have been nice if there had been tees around the 6500 mark, to stop it being a driver/wedge course, with most of the par 3s at around 150 yards.

However, if any one has played there, may be they can tell me different.

Pieman, leave the big stick at home!

The other thing which struck me is that some people have apparently requested to play together? This seems weird, as I thought alot of the point of these things was to mix and match. If I wanted to just play with my usual 4 ball, then I could go on a two for one or something. May be they aren't off the forum, but from the magazine readership?

Feeling grouchy this morning, so may be it's just me.

 

[chrisd]

I did a weekend there a few years ago and found it a good test in every way. The 4 of us were made up of 3 single figure handicaps and me off about 14 and the starter let us go off the back tees on the second and third rounds which made it a better course.

I have to say it is somewhere that I would be delighted to play anytime and sure that you will like it too



Chris

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Pieman, leave the big stick at home!

Murph - don't be silly!!

 

[viscount17]

murph, have to agree but there are tees at 6678 according the card I have found - the whites. We played Luton Hoo off a similar length I think and I don't too many were overly disadvantaged there - anyway with groupings it's all relative.
anyway the real killers would be long Par 4 (5th)/Par 3 (11th) and they are that only off the blues
http://www.marriottgolf.co.uk/CourseInfo.asp?custid=MHL&part=&lang=en&courseid=CSS3403

 

[pokerjoke]

I thought myself it would just be drawn and you could be playing with anyone,which to me would have been better,and it would have added to the pressure.Even though you think it will be a bit short,it will definately be a test for anyone who has never played it.Also with only 40 entrants its a great chance to qualify for the final,good luck to all.

 

[rickg]

Agreed Murph....was disappointed to find out we're playing off the yellows.

 

[Crow]

Realy looking forward to the day but was also a little disappointed at the tees chosen, the white yardage seems ideal.

I'm a bit concerned at the 8 minute interval on start times as well, fourballs going round a course that most won't have played before could see some waiting around.....

 

[chrisd]

I'm a bit concerned at the 8 minute interval on start times as well, fourballs going round a course that most won't have played before could see some waiting around.....

That won't be helped by the 1st being almost driveable from the forward tees. The long hitters will want to wait until the green is clear. If memory serves me, you can slice or hook close to the green as it can be approached from either side, a straight shot can be in deeper clag but with the exit point off the tee being to the left as you stand on the tee that is the direction most players will (slice) to.



Chris

 

[fundy]

Yellow tees definitely a disappointment, would be much better off the whites. Played it many years ago off the very backs, expect it plays a lot different from the fronts. As for choosing who you play with seems very strange, personally just asked for a late tee time (to avoid traffic) so if you end up in the last group youve probably got to put up with me

 

[ADB]

I'm a bit concerned at the 8 minute interval on start times as well, fourballs going round a course that most won't have played before could see some waiting around.....

That won't be helped by the 1st being almost driveable from the forward tees. The long hitters will want to wait until the green is clear. If memory serves me, you can slice or hook close to the green as it can be approached from either side, a straight shot can be in deeper clag but with the exit point off the tee being to the left as you stand on the tee that is the direction most players will (slice) to.

Chris

Agree Chris, I played in a society a couple of years back and, being the last group out I saw everyone (40 or so) play the first. We were off the yellows from memory and nearly everyone had a shy at the green. Can't remember it being that short, but my ball striking wasn't the best that day

As a tip, there is a hole (think it is the 15th or 16th) that has the a car park directly over a hedge on the right - perfect slicing territory . It was so 'in range' that there were signs up saying that if you hit it over the hedge, you should report to the Pro Shop after your round. Needless to say, I didn't want a costly bill so hit a lovely snapper into the left rough.

Advice - PARK AS FAR AWAY FROM THE HEDGE AS POSSIBLE

This roughly shows where I mean - tee at top-right of picture, car park to the middle.

Car Park

Enjoy though, it is a pretty fun course.

 

[JezzE]

Few quick points in response to some of the comments here.

1) Ref the tees. I pushed hard to get us the next tee back from the yellows, but apparently as we are technically classed as a 'society' in terms of the booking, we have no choice - all societies are off the yellows. I imagine this is a pace of play thing as much as anything as there are a few holes with quite lengthy walks from green to tee (eg 9th to 10th, 14th to 15th) and I guess they have to guard against things grinding to a 5-hour halt when people are going out in fours playing their own ball all the way round.
2) A handful of people have requested to play together if possible (one father/son combo for example) and we are more than happy to honour those requests if possible. There are no fourballs of friends playing together, so rest easy on that front, and the vast majority will be playing with people they don't know/haven't met before.
3) Just so you know, the hole on which you don't want to cart it miles right into the car park is the 17th! That said, it is our longest drive hole and people may well be tempted into giving it a good larrup. My car will be parked around the other side of the hotel.

Think that's it. Haven't been in the office today and I understand there were still some major server issues, but very much hope to get everyone's tee-times to them tomorrow by one means or another.

See anyone who's playing at Hanbury next Tuesday.

 

[rickg]

1) Ref the tees. I pushed hard to get us the next tee back from the yellows, but apparently as we are technically classed as a 'society' in terms of the booking, we have no choice -

Do they not know who you are Jezz??

See you next Tuesday..

 

[JezzE]

I did try the old "Have you any idea who you're talking to?" trick, and the bloke replied, "Yes, you're that Jezz Ellwood from Golf Monthly - the answer's still no!"...

 

[rickg]

lol Jezz....should have pretended you were Mike...they wouldn't have dared say no....

Will still be fun off the yellows except for watching PieMan & Fundy driving all the par 4's..

 

[fundy]

not me Rick, won't have any more than a 3 wood with me driver won't have arrived in time and the previous one just can't be trusted lol

 

[DCB]

I did try the old "Have you any idea who you're talking to?" trick, and the bloke replied, "Yes, you're that Jezz Ellwood from Golf Monthly - the answer's still no!"...

Should have said you were Jake Elwood from the Blues Brothers, so let us on.... or else !

 

[jammydodger]

Big huge disappointment travelling 200 miles round trip to then be playing the yellows at 6100 yards. Thats just drive and pitch golf for most of us BIG hitters on the forum

I've got to be honest and say I wish i'd known this before signing up for the trip. The most expensive comp of the 6 at £60 plus petrol and we're playing pitch and putt

 

[fundy]

Few quick points in response to some of the comments here.

1) Ref the tees. I pushed hard to get us the next tee back from the yellows, but apparently as we are technically classed as a 'society' in terms of the booking, we have no choice - all societies are off the yellows. I imagine this is a pace of play thing as much as anything as there are a few holes with quite lengthy walks from green to tee (eg 9th to 10th, 14th to 15th) and I guess they have to guard against things grinding to a 5-hour halt when people are going out in fours playing their own ball all the way round.
2) A handful of people have requested to play together if possible (one father/son combo for example) and we are more than happy to honour those requests if possible. There are no fourballs of friends playing together, so rest easy on that front, and the vast majority will be playing with people they don't know/haven't met before.
3) Just so you know, the hole on which you don't want to cart it miles right into the car park is the 17th! That said, it is our longest drive hole and people may well be tempted into giving it a good larrup. My car will be parked around the other side of the hotel.

Think that's it. Haven't been in the office today and I understand there were still some major server issues, but very much hope to get everyone's tee-times to them tomorrow by one means or another.

See anyone who's playing at Hanbury next Tuesday.

Im amazed that members of the biggest golf magazine in the country are deemed as "any other society" for one of their centenary days, and even more surprised that GM are happy with that.

Considering that GM are putting multiple events forward to the Marriott venues, and that Marriott are getting the associated marketing from it, that this is acceptable. To play a course 1000 yards short of its potential for a day thats been marketed as it has just strikes me as wrong.

 

[thecraw]

Bloody moaning gits, you'd never catch me moaning, as per the first hole. Its simple.


You get to the green, you mark your balls and stand to the side, you then wave the game on the tee to hit, you then proceed to putt and by the time you have holed out the game behind should be at their balls getting ready to hit.


Good luck to everyone who's playing. Looking forward to the reviews and photographs. Enjoy your day.