Foliage Finder
Head Pro
Hope you got a score you're happy with! Bonus if you finished well 
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PGA Pro Q+A: Ask Our Expert For Advice On Improving Your Golf Game ⛳
Just entered the County Championship
- Thread starter louise_a
- Start date
louise_a
Money List Winner
First of all, I did enjoy the day and I didn't come last!!
On the first round my ball had a fatal attraction for bunkers, I have never been in so many on a round before, which probably cost me around 15 shots.
By contract in the 2nd round I didn't go in a single bunker, but I did manage to lose 5 balls in gorse bushes.
So I took 107 shots followed by 101 shot, which left me 41st out of the 52 entrants, however only 42 finished so I was really next to last.
And of course I got 0.2 back on my handicap.
Well worth the £15 entry!
I reckon that if I was a member of a links course my handicap would be nearer 18 than the 11 it is.
On the first round my ball had a fatal attraction for bunkers, I have never been in so many on a round before, which probably cost me around 15 shots.
By contract in the 2nd round I didn't go in a single bunker, but I did manage to lose 5 balls in gorse bushes.
So I took 107 shots followed by 101 shot, which left me 41st out of the 52 entrants, however only 42 finished so I was really next to last.
And of course I got 0.2 back on my handicap.
Well worth the £15 entry!
I reckon that if I was a member of a links course my handicap would be nearer 18 than the 11 it is.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
It can be a tough gig, S and A.
Maybe next time, take a 3 wood/hybrid off the tee to take the fairway bunkers out of it and go into the greens with longer clubs.
Some days the bunkers have magnets in them.
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louise_a
Money List Winner
Sensible advice LB, despite the high scores I actually played a lot of the holes well with a couple of birdies and a good number of pars.
The problem with links golf is that if you miss the fairway there is generally no easy shot.
The problem with links golf is that if you miss the fairway there is generally no easy shot.
chellie
Tour Winner
Sounds like a tough day Louise.
If S&A was as hard as its neighbour across the railway and it sounds that it was then that still represents some decent golf and sounds like you enjoyed the day. You trying again next year??
I can't enter the Nairnshire County championship this year as going to a stag do instead. Last year though it was two almost 5 hour rounds which is far too long for me. Plus its always a case of good round bad round.
One of the guys i played with last year was leading after the first round at Nairn Dunbar, using a 3 wood off the tee. in the afternoon at Nairn he used a driver and shot over 100 gross and ran out of golf balls, i even had to lend him a couple.
it can be a tough gig these CC
One of the guys i played with last year was leading after the first round at Nairn Dunbar, using a 3 wood off the tee. in the afternoon at Nairn he used a driver and shot over 100 gross and ran out of golf balls, i even had to lend him a couple.
it can be a tough gig these CC
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
I'm very tempted to enter ours - played with the current county champ yesterday afternoon and said I would be dangerous in the KO but it's tough getting to that stage - think next year might be a better shout
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Firstly good on you for giving it a go and don't be downhearted about the scores. It really is true that you need to play a slightly different game for links and if you're used to mostly playing parkland it can really bite you sometimes. Plus we're generally not used to playing 6000+ yard courses so hitting longer clubs into greens is always going to make a difference.
Has taken me a few years, and a second membership, to approach links golf with any confidence.
You going to enter again next year?
Has taken me a few years, and a second membership, to approach links golf with any confidence.
You going to enter again next year?
louise_a
Money List Winner
I might enter next year, its going to be at Formby Ladies, so links again.
I didn't actually play that badly despite what the scores say, the big thing was that on a parkland course if you just miss the fairway you are usually not to badly off, but on a links course its generally a good as a penalty shot, plus we are just not used to the big deep bunkers.
A good example was on hole in the morning, I hit a decent drive and then a 3 wood which pitched just short of the green, ran across it into a bunker and finished right at the back of the bunker so it so I hardly had a swing, I got it out but only just and it ran back down the slope and back in, I did this 4 times before I eventually got it out, then 3 putted. so from being pin high in 2 I walked off with a 9!
I didn't actually play that badly despite what the scores say, the big thing was that on a parkland course if you just miss the fairway you are usually not to badly off, but on a links course its generally a good as a penalty shot, plus we are just not used to the big deep bunkers.
A good example was on hole in the morning, I hit a decent drive and then a 3 wood which pitched just short of the green, ran across it into a bunker and finished right at the back of the bunker so it so I hardly had a swing, I got it out but only just and it ran back down the slope and back in, I did this 4 times before I eventually got it out, then 3 putted. so from being pin high in 2 I walked off with a 9!
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
Depends on the courses, though, Louise. My home (parkland) course is much more punitive for narrowly missing the fairway than most links I've played.
louise_a
Money List Winner
Fair comment Karen and in fairness my home course ( and a lot around Manchester) are more forgiving.
I have just had another look at the entries for yesterday, 52 players from 22 different clubs, however 28 of them were from just 6 links courses.
I have just had another look at the entries for yesterday, 52 players from 22 different clubs, however 28 of them were from just 6 links courses.
FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
They always play the "bigger" events up here on links. I think it's noticeable that a high proportion of the players who do well are members at links courses. One of the reasons I have resolved to play more links golf!
alexbrownmp
Head Pro
whats the h/cap limit on these county events? I always assumed - possibly wrongly - that they were for sub 2 handicaps, not based on anything apart from some local 36 hole events were for max 5 h/cap
up here now, you can get in with just a single fig handicap, but in years gone by you were balloted out if you were over 5. the entry is dwindling year on year. first time i played the Ross-shire one I was told that, a few years before my PP was balloted out off 2.
Also you have to be a member of a club in that county.
our one for instance is only open to members of two clubs, The Nairn and Nairn Dunbar.
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alexbrownmp
Head Pro
yes that's the type of scenario I have been privvy to. Is this another sign of the economies affect on golf club membership and thereafter with the number of players and the quality therein?
not sure that is the case here. we must have 50 plus members who are 2 or lower, with at least 20 scratch or better, its just most don't want to play. The Nairnshire one is only 60ish places up for grabs, when i looked at the entry sheet in our locker room on Monday, there were 2 names down
alexbrownmp
Head Pro
Thats interesting, any ideas why golfers with so low a handicap are avoiding their main event?
no idea, ours is 18 holes on both courses which takes the whole day, last year i had two almost 5 hour rounds.
We do have a bit of a problem with lack of people entering comps.
louise_a
Money List Winner
Nearly 5 hours for a round! Is it played in 2s or 3s?
