Handicaps

Foxholer said:
Presumably, you are reasonably competitive on your own course.

This is a reasonably common 'problem' for someone brought up on a relatively easy course. If there isn't sufficient danger, an open course encourages smashing Drives, which can cause problems on courses that are more punishing.

One solution is to focus on keeping drives on the fairways - that is a pretty transferable skill. Another is to play other clubs as often as possible.
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You're right about the Driving, home course being in the middle of a racecourse doesn't have a lot of trouble. I will take your advise, concentrate on the drives and play more courses, cheers.
 
G.U.R said:
Home course is Newbury Racecourse which off the Whites is Par 71 SSS 70 which I generally play to around my Handicap. I played Newbury and Crookham on Saturday which is a Par 69 not sure of the SSS sorry and went round in 110 off the Yellows. Also played Ascot back in July and struggled to score 22 points.
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I scored 18 points at Ascot earlier in the year and I play there every week off of 7 so I wouldn't worry about that :D

Maybe you just struggle on unfamiliar courses but I also agree with Foxholer, if your course allows for wild drives to go unpunished then you will struggle on course with more trouble. If you can learn to hit fairways, your h'cap should travel pretty much anywhere.

I guess this does however highlight a flaw with the SSS system.
 
G.U.R said:
My trouble is that I have my Handicap down to 15.9 on my home course yet struggle to play anywhere near that elsewhere. I feel I have been cut to quick because of some decent scores on a relatively easy home course.
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I am guessing for you that you had the same problem I had for years. Its not that its an easy course you have just found your confidence and you can put together a good score without thinking to much, When you go to another course and are left with trickier shots its easy to make a mess of them, now if you was at your home club you know how to handle the shot as you have played it several times before.
 
Canary_Yellow said:
Out of curiosity, if you live in Tunbridge Wells, what made you decide to join Pedham Place? It must be a fair old journey for you. I’m guessing it’s because you have mates up that way, but if you did decide to join somewhere more local in the future you have a lot of choice available!
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Honest answer I'd played there before and really liked the course when I lived in Tonbridge, and they were the 1st one to reply to my email about getting my handicap and Tim was really helpful.

I also like Poult Wood as well, so thinking of joining there sometime in the future. The only problem is I've been told that I won't be able to take my Pedham Place handicap to Poult Wood and that I'm only allowed one home club, so I would have to move home clubs.

Where do you suggest which is more local?

duncan mackie said:
yep - your place or mine :thup:

I do think there may be significant financial advantages to Pedham....
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The advantage of Pedham is that they play a competition every week so I can work on getting my handicap down and hard course.
 
JazzyJust said:
Honest answer I'd played there before and really liked the course when I lived in Tonbridge, and they were the 1st one to reply to my email about getting my handicap and Tim was really helpful.

I also like Poult Wood as well, so thinking of joining there sometime in the future. The only problem is I've been told that I won't be able to take my Pedham Place handicap to Poult Wood and that I'm only allowed one home club, so I would have to move home clubs.

Where do you suggest which is more local?



The advantage of Pedham is that they play a competition every week so I can work on getting my handicap down and hard course.
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I live in Tonbridge so I’m quite familiar with Poult Wood. It’s a decent facility for a council run place, and the first few holes and the closing few holes are nice (the bits in the woods), bit boring in the middle though in my opinion! The downside to it being it can be incredibly slow to get round for a fairly short course, and in the long term I’m not sure it would be challenging enough to keep me interested, not that I would be anywhere close to mastering it at the moment.

The other places I had in mind were my club (Lamberhurst), Duncan’s club (Hever Castle), the Nevill, Sweetwoods, Holteye (although a bit quirky), Dale Hill, Crowborough Beacon, Nizels, and, although these are a bit further away, also very good, Knole Park, Kings Hill, Wrotham Heath and West Malling. I’ve probably missed some too.

Although, Duncan is probably absolutely spot on that the vast majority on my list are maybe quite a bit more expensive than Pedham. However, they’re all well worth a round if you get the chance.
 
Canary_Yellow said:
I live in Tonbridge so I’m quite familiar with Poult Wood. It’s a decent facility for a council run place, and the first few holes and the closing few holes are nice (the bits in the woods), bit boring in the middle though in my opinion! The downside to it being it can be incredibly slow to get round for a fairly short course, and in the long term I’m not sure it would be challenging enough to keep me interested, not that I would be anywhere close to mastering it at the moment.

The other places I had in mind were my club (Lamberhurst), Duncan’s club (Hever Castle), the Nevill, Sweetwoods, Holteye (although a bit quirky), Dale Hill, Crowborough Beacon, Nizels, and, although these are a bit further away, also very good, Knole Park, Kings Hill, Wrotham Heath and West Malling. I’ve probably missed some too.

Although, Duncan is probably absolutely spot on that the vast majority on my list are maybe quite a bit more expensive than Pedham. However, they’re all well worth a round if you get the chance.
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Which end of Tonbridge do you live?

Completely agree about Poult Wood it is a nice course but does get boring.

I really like both courses at West Malling, as they are both really testing. I've not played the other courses you mentioned
 
JazzyJust said:
Which end of Tonbridge do you live?

Completely agree about Poult Wood it is a nice course but does get boring.

I really like both courses at West Malling, as they are both really testing. I've not played the other courses you mentioned
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I live in South Tonbridge, not too far from the station. Whereabouts are you?

My location means I can get on the A21 very easily and get to lamberhurst in 15 mins (early on a weekend morning - as anyone that has used the A21 at peak times will know - it's a very different beast in rush hour). There are other courses that are nearer to me but not really easier to get to.

I haven't played all the courses I've listed either. My favourites of those that I have are probably Knole Park and Hever Castle - although I wasn't too keen on one part of Knole which had intersecting fairways. Lamberhurst is a relatively small members club, the course is decent and well maintained and although it has a couple of sections with parallel fairways, the middle section is very tough (holes 4 - 12) with 6 dog leg holes on undulating ground and tree lined fairways. It's certainly challenge enough to keep me coming back!

There's so many to choose from in our area it's just a matter of finding one that suits what you're after. I love the members club approach at Lamberhurst with no start sheet (other than Sundays 7:30 - 11) as it means my membership means I can play whenever I like, but equally that wouldn't be for everyone.
 
Canary_Yellow said:
I live in South Tonbridge, not too far from the station. Whereabouts are you?

My location means I can get on the A21 very easily and get to lamberhurst in 15 mins (early on a weekend morning - as anyone that has used the A21 at peak times will know - it's a very different beast in rush hour). There are other courses that are nearer to me but not really easier to get to.

I haven't played all the courses I've listed either. My favourites of those that I have are probably Knole Park and Hever Castle - although I wasn't too keen on one part of Knole which had intersecting fairways. Lamberhurst is a relatively small members club, the course is decent and well maintained and although it has a couple of sections with parallel fairways, the middle section is very tough (holes 4 - 12) with 6 dog leg holes on undulating ground and tree lined fairways. It's certainly challenge enough to keep me coming back!

There's so many to choose from in our area it's just a matter of finding one that suits what you're after. I love the members club approach at Lamberhurst with no start sheet (other than Sundays 7:30 - 11) as it means my membership means I can play whenever I like, but equally that wouldn't be for everyone.
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I used to live the other end of Tonbridge, but now living near Dunloran Park so I've got easy access to the A21 as well.

Now I know how Pedham do their competitions, I don't have to worry about having to hope I get a tee time in the competitions.
 
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