Homer Style Round review part 4

[rickg]

Played St Georges Hill yesterday on the warmest day of the year and I have to say golf doesn't get much better than this!!

I was playing in the Aircraft Golf Society with Snelly. We were paired against another member and his guest and we had a comfortable 6 & 4 victory to take the wine at dinner, (a cheeky little bottle of white called Isabel from New Zealand which Snelly chose and now I am a convert!).

Snelly had a terrific round but started with a 4 putt. He quickly recovered and carded a level par front nine assisted by a superb eagle set up by a laser like 2 iron into the par 5, (put my sandy birdie to shame at the same hole!)

The greens were in superb nick and lightening quick. I had a touch like an elephant and had a poor front 9 with 7 over which included 2 doubles and a birdie. I was driving it well however and only had 15 putts and we were 5 up at the turn.

On the back 9 Snelly and I swapped games and he had a 5 over to my 3 over. I sank 2 monster birdie putts and had 14 putts giving me 29 putts overall.

We both finished with 34 points, Snelly's was good enough for the long standing members plate, and mine was good enough for 3rd place on the day winning by countback on the last 6, which I'd played to 1 over. This got me a lovely prize of a presentation box of Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2008 and a Ropiteau Chablis 2009. Snelly missed out on the Past Captains Lowest Gross comp by just 1 with his 75.

Have to say thanks to Snelly for being fantastic company.

St Georges Hill has to be one my all time favourite courses and when the weather was like it was yesterday it just makes it extra special. Martin O'Neill,(football manager) was playing as the Captains guest and he is a really decent bloke.

Snelly was pointing out all the celebrity houses as we went round. The place reeks of money and current and past residents include:
* Claude Makelele
* Theo Paphitis
* Hannah Gordon
* Shilpa Shetty
* Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
* Didier Drogba
* Bobby Davro
* John Lennon
* Ringo Starr
* Cliff Richard
* Elton John
* Tom Jones
* Engelbert Humperdinck
* Gordon Mills
* Jenson Button
* Eric Sykes
* Sue Barker
* Kate Winslet

Hope this makes up for the poorer "Homer Style" reviews from earlier and does Homer justice.....


Here are some photos:

 

[Alex1975]

STUNNING!!!!

 

[richart]

Sounds like a great day Rick, and well played to the two of you. Just about my favourite course,especially on a day like you had. Play once a year in a Surrey Chambers of Commerce day, and also bought an extra round with some mates in an auction.

Did you ask to take that picture of my house on the 9th ? Best house and garden, own lakep and jetty. Not sure what the statue is all about, but probably worth a fortune.

A good interesting read mate.

 

[fundy]

a truly gorgeous course, havent been there for years, glad you had a great day

 

[HRC99]

Course looks ok

 

[Dodger]

Not sure what that stuff attached to the trees is??

We have just got rid of the snow never mind having bloom on the branches!

 

[Tiger]

Homer I want all your reviews to be like this!!!! Brilliant stuff Rick and I'm glad you had a cracking day!

 

[JustOne]

Snelly's was good enough for the long standing members plate, and mine was good enough for 3rd place

Well done on getting 3rd place... you're going to get 2nd place tomorrow

 

[jammydodger]

Outstanding course in a stunning setting. The thing I remember most was the damn heather , it was the first time i'd played a heather lined course and bugger if I could ever get my ball out properly. Was many years ago though.

Tis a wonderful clubhouse and as you say it reeks of money , old and new. Pretty sure that bloke Hess was kept there whilst awaiting his war crimes trial iirc

They also do a very good deal on their 36 hole open every year , something like £70 all in which is an absolute steal if you can make it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A truely glorious course especially at this time of year and in the sun. Some seriously "comfortable" people around there but the club never really has that air of "you need to be rich to fit in". Only been as a guest a few times with my dads old boss but I was made to feel very welcome. Found the heather a beast if you don't keep it straight and the greens are sublime. Lots of tiny but subtle breaks even on the shortish ones

 

[richart]

The clubhouse used to have a thatched roof. Must have been one of the biggest thatched roofs around i imagine. It burnt down, and the club couldn't afford to rebuild it or the top floor, hence the flat roof. Still an impressive clubhouse, with fantastic views over a lovely Colt course. Now there was a man that could design a course, that stands the test of time, a hundred years later.

 

[rickg]

over a lovely Colt course. Now there was a man that could design a course, that stands the test of time, a hundred years later.

I think one of my all time favourite holes in golf has to the par 3 8th, a Colt classic!! (the one pictured with Snelly waving at me)..

 

[Leftie]

That brought back a forgotten memory Rich.

I've spent a little while on that roof - in a professional capacity you understand. Many years ago now.

Used to play the course once a year in September. The only downside was we played 18 holes, then changed for dinner, changed back and played another 18 and then had sandwiches. Always very good weather, always too hot due to every hole (it seemed) being tree lined so little cooling breeze, and a great test of golf as you would expect from a Colt design.

Now, what other course is a Colt design I wonder....

 

[Smiffy]

Love St Georges Hill. Played it quite a few times and always enjoy it.
Lots of great holes, the second on the red is superb. Weakest hole has to be the 7th (red again) (par 5).
Don't like the green course though

 

[bobmac]

Don't like the greens though

Smiffy blaming the greens again

 

[richart]

Love St Georges Hill. Played it quite a few times and always enjoy it.
Lots of great holes, the second on the red is superb. Weakest hole has to be the 7th (red again) (par 5).
Don't like the green course though

The green course is not to the standard of the other two nines, shorter,tighter and the houses overlooking the fairways not as big !! Does have a couple of nice par 3's.

Agree the 8th is some hole, although i don't think i have ever hit it. With all the trouble short, the tendency is to over club.

Can't wait to play again in the summer, when the greens should be nice and fast

 

[Aztecs27]

Looks like a right goat track

*adds St. Georges Hill to the "to play" list*

 

[PNWokingham]

over a lovely Colt course. Now there was a man that could design a course, that stands the test of time, a hundred years later.

I think one of my all time favourite holes in golf has to the par 3 8th, a Colt classic!! (the one pictured with Snelly waving at me)..

I love the 8th as wll, and the the 9th, but the 8th was a lot nicer before they messed with the bunkers - saw some pictures of the original colt bukering and it was far nicer than what is there now - think it might have been on Golf Club Atlas.

Have done a few trips there over the years and the winter offer was great - we got it on 20 April the year before last at £80 inc breakfast roll, soup & sandwich lunch and 2 rounds - they asked me if I wanted the same spot last year and it ha gone up to about £140!! They put back the winter deal to end March, like most clubs, but even that was ear £100 - that is a of of inflation!

 

[richart]

That brought back a forgotten memory Rich.

I've spent a little while on that roof - in a professional capacity you understand. Many years ago now.

I assume you were either a roofer/builder Leftie, or perhaps you were/are Father Christmas ?

 

[Leftie]

Just carrying out a survey of the roof, identifying problems, providing recommendations and budget prices for planned maintenance.

No. We didn't get the job Don't even know if it went ahead.

Father Christmas??? 'avin a larf aren't you? I'm not into having little children sitting on my lap in my grotto and giving them presents