I played today and..(Rolling) -originally created by JohnnyDee

[jamiet7682]

Early morning round with my mate who is a total beginner. Teed off at 0644 just as the sun was coming up, nice relaxed round and played pretty well, shot 48 (par 33) which is bang on handicap.
The work ive being doing on my short game is really paying off, feel so much more confident standing over chips and dont think i had any 3 putts.
Next thing to work on is my approach play, very rarely hit a green from 80-120 yards out.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Well well well
A blob free 36 points off the whites at Ellesborough today
Played pretty solid all round with any poor shots followed by decent recovery shots
had a couple of short downhill putts go walkabout, so could have been even better

I wont gloat about the others but CVG gave up after 15 having walked the previous 2 holes
Imurg stuck in there but was a full 10 points behind todays victor.

Happy Fragger

 

[BrianM]

Found it quite nervy, in fact was more nervous than the first at the Old Course. Maybe because there were so many people around, maybe because I'm partial to a left hook and was worried about losing it in the hotel garden..... fortunately, I nailed it straight into the green side bunker, so thought it a decent starting hole ?

I really just loved being out there.

It’s even more nervous when you get your name read out before you tee off and there is people everywhere watching you ??

 

[Imurg]

Strange day at the office today..
Played 5 holes well, 4 holes acceptably and the rest like I'd never swung a club before....
That I accumulated 26 points is a miracle of Lazarus-like proportions...
Fragger played well...but it's a good job he has 2 playing partners who can find his ball in the rough...

 

[need_my_wedge]

Another day out in the Highlands today, playing Brora. Another lovely course, really enjoyed playing it, and played better than I did at Dornoch coming in level handicap. Tough breeze again today, making the way way back in a bit of a slog. Maybe not quite as scenic as Dornoch, but still some fantastic views and some fabulous par 3's. The greens here were a little faster than Dornoch and a bit trickier we thought. A very enjoyable round though and look forward to playing it again next time we're up here.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Squeezed into an empty slot in a four ball this afternoon as course closed after 3:30pm preping for the Club Champs this weekend. And it was very enjoyable. Just played a half set of 4 irons, 2 'woods' and my putter. This seems to be working keeping my expectations set sensible - and reduces pressure to hit the shot. Lipped out on two holes for birdies but got another three. Still a couple over my handicap but that's just fine as the dropped shots were mostly sillies - only a handful of shots that were rubbish. Hit some nice crisp sweet irons and for someone who is battling to get out of 5+ yrs of grim sh**king that is really good news - and I didn't hit one.

 

[davidy233]

To the range at St Andrews Links Academy this evening - busy - had to use an outside bay. It was very windy.

Was a beautiful evening so had a wander and hit on the Balgove afterwards - good fun and was hitting my hybrid really well, looking forward to first ever visit to Kirriemuir tomorrow.

 

[davidy233]

First ever visit to play Kirriemuir today, what a lovely course and in immaculate condition. Had booked for the wife and myself via Golf Now and the starter told us that another pair had been booked in the same slot by them and asked if we would like to play on our own.

Greens were very, very good and it was nice to play a course where all the bunkers had been freshly raked - the club championship final was out a few holes ahead of us and I'd guess they had someone raking bunkers for that - either that or the locals never go into the sand.

Nice sunny day, bit windy at times, and I'd highly recommend a visit to Kirrie if you are in the area - I'll certainly be back at some point.

Pics don't do the course justice at all - there were a good few times I wished I'd had a proper camera with me.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Half hour traipse out to a garden centre but when we got there we could see there was a long queue to get in so we just turned round and did the half hour traipse home ?

 

[patricks148]

1st round club champs, blowing a gale, 4 at least, harder downwind as you just could not hold the green and forget any down wind puts, putted two off the green when they had stuck the flags at the front. great time for the green staff to double cut and iron the greens, shot mid 80's.. def won't have to worry about the match play not having time to get round next week

 

[Rlburnside]

Another day out in the Highlands today, playing Brora. Another lovely course, really enjoyed playing it, and played better than I did at Dornoch coming in level handicap. Tough breeze again today, making the way way back in a bit of a slog. Maybe not quite as scenic as Dornoch, but still some fantastic views and some fabulous par 3's. The greens here were a little faster than Dornoch and a bit trickier we thought. A very enjoyable round though and look forward to playing it again next time we're up here.

Also played Brora when I toured the highlands lovely course really enjoyed it , I had a highland pass where I played Dornoch/ Struie, Tain, Brora and Golspie, I enjoyed Tain and would recommend playing there if you ever get a chance, lucky man knowing someone in the area ?

 

[Italian outcast]

To the range at St Andrews Links Academy this evening - busy - had to use an outside bay. It was very windy.

Was a beautiful evening so had a wander and hit on the Balgove afterwards - good fun and was hitting my hybrid really well, looking forward to first ever visit to Kirriemuir tomorrow.

Out of interest - how practical is it to go to the range there for a warm up (just for 20 minutes or so) before a round on the old course?

Do you/Can you park there, warm up, then drive around again to park in the St Andrews Links clubhouse car park?

 

[need_my_wedge]

Also played Brora when I toured the highlands lovely course really enjoyed it , I had a highland pass where I played Dornoch/ Struie, Tain, Brora and Golspie, I enjoyed Tain and would recommend playing there if you ever get a chance, lucky man knowing someone in the area ?

The boy has another couple of years up there. Have to add Golspie, Castle Stewart and Nairn to the list as well as playing these two again. It did help playing them for guest rates ?

 

[davidy233]

Out of interest - how practical is it to go to the range there for a warm up (just for 20 minutes or so) before a round on the old course?

Do you/Can you park there, warm up, then drive around again to park in the St Andrews Links clubhouse car park?

I've done that when playing the New Course - certainly possible, as is just leaving the car at the academy and walking across the course to the first tee of the Old Course - it's probably twice the distance walk, but you're walking across the Old Course and it's hardly far - two and a half holes or so.

 

[Italian outcast]

I've done that when playing the New Course - certainly possible, as is just leaving the car at the academy and walking across the course to the first tee of the Old Course - it's probably twice the distance walk, but you're walking across the Old Course and it's hardly far - two and a half holes or so.

Cheers = good to know

 

[patricks148]

Out of interest - how practical is it to go to the range there for a warm up (just for 20 minutes or so) before a round on the old course?

Do you/Can you park there, warm up, then drive around again to park in the St Andrews Links clubhouse car park?

you can park there and its only a 5 min drive around to the links car park. I've a feeling they used to have a van or something to take people to hit balls if you have a time at the TOC, but i doubt that will be running under current condition

 

[davidy233]

you can park there and its only a 5 min drive around to the links car park. I've a feeling they used to have a van or something to take people to hit balls if you have a time at the TOC, but i doubt that will be running under current condition

Not sure that the van trip to the range was available for the ordinary punter with a tee time but certainly at least one of the golf tour companies (St Andrews Experience) do that in normal times

 

[davidy233]

It's literally less than 5 minutes drive from the range.

Yep - but don't forget that the car park is level with first green/second tee so you have allow a couple of minutes to walk the length of the first - though surely nobody would have to be rushing to make their tee time on the Old Course.

 

[TigerTime]

Back from Haddington today.

The course itself is very nice, in really good condition however some of the greens were a bit iffy and has some weird spots. Was very busy but I guess to be expected on a Saturday afternoon. Originally got stuck behind a group of ladies for the first 3 holes, was not fun. Then stuck behind two kids, was not fun. Eventually they let me play through after about 3 holes. Then I got stuck behind another group of kids, when I caught up to them on the next tee I asked politely if I could play through and the just turned round and said 'no we are playing matchplay' . So, more or less for every shot I was waiting about for this group of kids which in turn held up the two guys behind me and so on. I must have had about 5 minutes between every shot. Granted I was playing solo so was always gonna be a bit quicker but this was ridiculous. Sigh.

Shot 94 so 23 over. Based on my 9 holes the other night this was much the same really in terms of shots. Strike so inconsistent, lost several balls from straight lefts. Putting was a tad better but still not good as it should be. Short game chipping was okay and irons were generally alright for the most part. Another round with a real mixed bag of shots. I feel as if I'm playing so much worse than what I was before the lesson HOWEVER the scores are roughly remaining the same as before the lesson so I guess that's interesting. This was also a completely new course to me and it was a bit windy but that's no excuse for it. Couple of times I hit one down the middle of the fairway then fatted/topped the second shot. Was a bit tired mentally because of all the waiting about but it is what it is.

However on the plus side. I bought a second hand Cobra F6 to replace my ancient TM driver and straight up to the first tee with it, absolutely ripped it. Gave me confidence with it right away. Had wind behind me on the par 4 8th and I absolutely nailed it. Tracked the yardage through an app and the total distance was 274 yards, obviously the wind carried it a bit but just goes to show that I can hit it and swing the club well. There was a good few tee shots with it and I enjoyed using it. So the driver is a thumbs up from me so far.

I guess the biggest plus point for me was getting par on 3 holes. The 5th, 15th and 16th. In a roundabout way, I'd call it progress. I'm probably gonna play another couple of courses in the area that I've never played before then go back to the ones closer by that I used to play on years ago and just stick with them I feel that will help me having some local knowledge.

 

[patricks148]

Yep - but don't forget that the car park is level with first green/second tee so you have allow a couple of minutes to walk the length of the first - though surely nobody would have to be rushing to make their tee time on the Old Course.

it will take you longer to walk from the car park to the range across the course, so theres no time saving at all, you still have to get to the first tee