KENT TOUR 18/19/20 November

[Blue in Munich]

Back home; today's multiple layers of sodden clothing washed, soaked DryJoys drying and clubs from the supposedly waterproof bag airing. Lucky we were only playing a pitch and putt in a mild breeze rather than a proper golf course...

Thanks to Glyn, Cameron, Chris & Simon for organising the event, and my playing, drinking & currying partners for their company. Always good to meet the old mates and welcome the new ones. Thanks for the linguistic education Lilyhawk, sounds much better than Cameron's efforts, hope to see you again at other meets.

Hopefully we can do this again, but as others have said at a different time of year where we stand a better chance with the weather; I'm coming to the conclusion that I'd rather pay more & stand a better chance with the weather. We were particularly unlucky, as the bloke in the halfway hut today was at pains to point out how great the weather was last week; thanks mate...

 

[Hooker]

After blueinmunich told me it was the first time he played in 5 layers, I counted myself 5 layers. Lined trousers plus waterproofs, 2 hats, snood, winter gloves, rain gloves, mitts and my hands still blummin cold.

Thanks to Rosecott, paperboy, paddyc, Chrisd, swingalot, backwoodsman my playing partners. Thanks especially to the organisers and everyone who attended for their company over the whole trip. It was a enjoyable experience sharing the experience with like minded forummers.

RCP can't help but be impressed by this course despite being beaten up by it ever time I have played it. Have to echo Phil, it is my favourite links course.

 

[Badger]

Same thanks extended to the organisers for their hard work on our behalf and to playing/drinking/curry partners for making it the usual cracking meet despite the weather.

Nothing I can add about the weather, think that if there had been an easier way back to the clubhouse at RSG I would probably have walked in and not been alone but really glad that we stuck it out in the end.

As for the golf, while all the carnage of balls in the clubhouse/car park, trolleys blowing over (not mine this time) was happening at RCP, I started like the priest in Caddyshack and had 16 points after six, the brutal back nine and torrential rain slowed me down after but my 30 points was enough for a maiden forum meet victory. I had a quick look around the clubhouse but couldn't find an honours board on the walls but no doubt ChrisD will sort that out

 

[chrisd]

After 3 days of brutal battering I plan to to do absolutely nothing today but rest, that was as hard as I've ever experienced bearing in mind that in previous years we haven't played all 3 days in those conditions 😣. I decided to stay down there this year (I only live 40 minutes away) and so pleased I did as the 2 evenings with the guys was really great and epitomizes what the forum at its best is about. The regular members are always great company and the new guys fitted in really well and I hope that they liked it enough to come to other meets.

My thanks to Mike Chapman, 94stegsi and Paddyc for their company at Princes. Well done Stegsi (Martin) for his win with 32 points and to the others for their company. I played RCP with Jobr1850, Norfolkshaun and Autumn Wind and but the conditions just beat me up and I couldn't play a chunk of the back 9. The other 3 played well given the conditions but Autumn Wind was on a different level imo and I'd buy his game if he put it on EBay 😁. Day 3 I was out with Hooker, Swingalot and Backwoodsman who finished a creditable 3rd and looks better than his handicap.

I just want to thank Simon, Glyn and Cameron for all they did to make this meet run smoothly and echo other comments about trying to sort a return to those magnificent courses in better weather.

Just a few short observations:
Lilyhawk fitted in real well (mad as a box of frogs)as did Dando's mate
Can't believe Jobr has only played for a year
Autumn Wind had a game I'd die for
Swingalot is now a deserved single figure golfer
Reviewing the employment of my carer and assistant carer as they are both gobby individuals
Anyone who doesn't think that Europro Tour player Coups rounds over 3 days was anything short of amazing is a knob

Thanks to you all

 

[User2021]

Reviewing the employment of my carer and assistant carer as they are both gobby individuals

I don't know about Rich, but my carers allowance has not been paid yet.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Sounds like another great forum meet.......but somehow I am glad I didn't have enough holiday left to attend

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Was the weather worse than last years meet, when we played in the beast from the east, sounds like it

RSG is the best meal at a golf club, drooling. Nice pics and RCP is such a great fun course would like to be a member there.

Thought I would mention if you are considering moving the date to warmer months, RCP do a twilight rate after 3pm iirc, think I paid £90 this year(no food) when I played it in August.

 

[chrisd]

I don't know about Rich, but my carers allowance has not been paid yet.

Didn't you read the employment contract? "Pay according to ability" 😁

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I seriously think you guys should look at Deal week in August, there is a mix of individual and pairs events over several days. Plan it right and you could also squeeze in games elsewhere

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Wow, what an incredible 3 days golf.

Wind wind and more wind, just what we ordered

Really enjoyed RCP and RSG, both are miles ahead of Princes.

We played all 3 loops at Princes, not sure I like the Himalayas, for some of the Woodhall lot they enjoyed it, for me its got way too much water on.

Very impressed with RCP as it way exceeded my expectations, the green complexes were superb, get the ball near the green and you've still got bags of work to do to get a par, the clubhouse is lovely and the meal afterwards was just

Didn't feel like I got the best from the visit to RSG, really wasn't keen on going out in the rain so just chucked waterproofs on and headed for the 1st tee, really good course and again great green complexes, not as good as RCP but still very good, the greens were brilliant to putt on, as for the food afterwards, its up there with the best, Sunningdale for me just pips it though.

50p for a cup of proper soup at the halfway hut is a 1st for me, this is my new favourite half way hut.

Superb work by Chris, Simon and Cameron for getting it all organised, Cam did a great job as its his 1st proper meet he has done

Sorry that I never got down to Deal for the evening, with staying at the lodges at Princes it was the wrong move to pick as it was way more than I expected to go back and forth, and after getting blasted with wind and rain all the time it was the last thing anyone wanted to do was go out, we only went to the bar one night and the other night we just had drinks in the apartment.

Oh and the M25 Dartford crossing

 

[chrisd]

Have to agree Glyn, Cameron was great over the 3 days

 

[Blue in Munich]

Wow, what an incredible 3 days golf.

Wind wind and more wind, just what we ordered

Really enjoyed RCP and RSG, both are miles ahead of Princes.

We played all 3 loops at Princes, not sure I like the Himalayas, for some of the Woodhall lot they enjoyed it, for me its got way too much water on.

Very impressed with RCP as it way exceeded my expectations, the green complexes were superb, get the ball near the green and you've still got bags of work to do to get a par, the clubhouse is lovely and the meal afterwards was just

Didn't feel like I got the best from the visit to RSG, really wasn't keen on going out in the rain so just chucked waterproofs on and headed for the 1st tee, really good course and again great green complexes, not as good as RCP but still very good, the greens were brilliant to putt on, as for the food afterwards, its up there with the best, Sunningdale for me just pips it though.

50p for a cup of proper soup at the halfway hut is a 1st for me, this is my new favourite half way hut.

Superb work by Chris, Simon and Cameron for getting it all organised, Cam did a great job as its his 1st proper meet he has done

Sorry that I never got down to Deal for the evening, with staying at the lodges at Princes it was the wrong move to pick as it was way more than I expected to go back and forth, and after getting blasted with wind and rain all the time it was the last thing anyone wanted to do was go out, we only went to the bar one night and the other night we just had drinks in the apartment.

Oh and the M25 Dartford crossing

And that was before the curries!!!

 

[wookie]

As per all the above comments that was a tough tough few days to play golf but still had a good time thanks to good playing partners and the time off the course.

Thanks to Cam and Glyn for the assistance with RSG, Cam for sorting Princes out and Chris for RCP as usual.

Hopefully we can get some decent deals to do something in what should be (in theory at least) warmer times.

 

[Rlburnside]

Course was in stunning condition today and the wind was brutal and the scores reflected that . Winds hitting 25-30 mph and ice cold

The Euro Pro winner shot 72 and in those conditions was a stunning round of golf.

Bunch Jessie’s 25-30mph that’s nothing you want to try playing in 40mph winds 😉😉.

Good to hear you all enjoyed the courses have to try and play them when I’m down.

 

[chrisd]

Bunch Jessie’s 25-30mph that’s nothing you want to try playing in 40mph winds 😉😉.

Good to hear you all enjoyed the courses have to try and play them when I’m down.

I'm not sure where the wind strength was obtained given that the BBC weather app was giving it as 40 mph especially on the last day. Typically, the wind had died to almost nothing as I drove out of Royal ST Georges car park to go home

 

[The Autumn Wind]

Thank you to Glyn, Cam, Chris and Simon for all the organising. Top job, lads !

It was great to meet a lot more forum members, on and off the course.

Special thanks to all my playing partners over the 3 days :

Princes - had an enjoyable round with Dan, Andy and Glyn. I was in awe of Dan and Andy's golf, especially their short games. I really liked Princes as a course and as a club. A particular highlight was all four of us making birdie on the 2nd hole, I can't remember that ever happening in a fourball before. Great bottle showed by Glyn to roll in his 4 footer for birdie after the other 3 of us had already made ours.

Royal Cinque Ports - in my opinion this was easily my best course of the 3 we played, and ranks as one of my all time fav courses played. The hole designs were excellent, the conditioning was absolutely superb, and the clubhouse and lunch were top notch. Despite the brutal wind, I had a really enjoyable round with John, Shaun, and Chris and enjoyed the day hugely. Thank you for the top company, boys.

Royal St Georges - I think I'm obviously in a very small minority here, but I thought RSG was terrible value for money. The weather was obviously dire, but putting that to one side, the course conditioning was really poor. The fairways were very bare and scabby in a lot of patches, every bunker I saw on the 8 holes before I walked in was GUR (playing an Open Championship course and picking the ball out of all the bunkers is not what you pay top dollar for), and I wasn't overly impressed with the welcome from the club either. I'm really sorry to my great playing partners Shaun, Richard and Simon that I decided to bail out and walk in after the 8th, I didn't feel good doing it, but I really didn't enjoy the course experience. I wanted to go in the pro shop and complain about the conditioning and ask for a partial refund, as £120 or whatever our deal was represented really poor value to me. However, Simon and Richard asked me not to do that as it may jeopardise future deals, so I just got changed and left quietly as I didn't want to harm your future negotiations to return.

Thanks to Phil and Craig for being great housemates in Deal. I think the accommodation was great, although Phil needs to be more careful not to tread in so much cat *** next time. At least with his winnings from his very steady golf over the 3 days he can afford to buy a replacement set of footwear .

 

[patricks148]

Thank you to Glyn, Cam, Chris and Simon for all the organising. Top job, lads !

It was great to meet a lot more forum members, on and off the course.

Special thanks to all my playing partners over the 3 days :

Princes - had an enjoyable round with Dan, Andy and Glyn. I was in awe of Dan and Andy's golf, especially their short games. I really liked Princes as a course and as a club. A particular highlight was all four of us making birdie on the 2nd hole, I can't remember that ever happening in a fourball before. Great bottle showed by Glyn to roll in his 4 footer for birdie after the other 3 of us had already made ours.

Royal Cinque Ports - in my opinion this was easily my best course of the 3 we played, and ranks as one of my all time fav courses played. The hole designs were excellent, the conditioning was absolutely superb, and the clubhouse and lunch were top notch. Despite the brutal wind, I had a really enjoyable round with John, Shaun, and Chris and enjoyed the day hugely. Thank you for the top company, boys.

Royal St Georges - I think I'm obviously in a very small minority here, but I thought RSG was terrible value for money. The weather was obviously dire, but putting that to one side, the course conditioning was really poor. The fairways were very bare and scabby in a lot of patches, every bunker I saw on the 8 holes before I walked in was GUR (playing an Open Championship course and picking the ball out of all the bunkers is not what you pay top dollar for), and I wasn't overly impressed with the welcome from the club either. I'm really sorry to my great playing partners Shaun, Richard and Simon that I decided to bail out and walk in after the 8th, I didn't feel good doing it, but I really didn't enjoy the course experience. I wanted to go in the pro shop and complain about the conditioning and ask for a partial refund, as £120 or whatever our deal was represented really poor value to me. However, Simon and Richard asked me not to do that as it may jeopardise future deals, so I just got changed and left quietly as I didn't want to harm your future negotiations to return.

Thanks to Phil and Craig for being great housemates in Deal. I think the accommodation was great, although Phil needs to be more careful not to tread in so much cat *** next time. At least with his winnings from his very steady golf over the 3 days he can afford to buy a replacement set of footwear .

never played RSG and i get what you are saying, but don't you always take a chance when you play a top course over winter? £120 is quite expensive for many, but i bet that's greatly reduced compared to the summer fee?

 

[The Autumn Wind]

never played RSG and i get what you are saying, but don't you always take a chance when you play a top course over winter? £120 is quite expensive for many, but i bet that's greatly reduced compared to the summer fee?

Yes, I understand that and I agree : I've played many of the top 100 courses in the UK on Winter deals, and I obviously lower my expectations in return for a reduced green fee. Many of my favourite courses I've played have been in Winter conditions. Courses like St Andrews Old, The Alwoodley, Burnham and Berrow, St Georges Hill, Royal West Norfolk, Gleneagles Kings, The Berkshire, and Hankley Common stand out in my memory. I played Saunton East in the exact same weather conditions as Royal St Georges was, but when we walked off the course at Saunton frozen cold and soaked through we were marvelling at what a great course and condition it was.

But I just found the RSG course conditions unacceptably poor, even allowing for the fact it was Winter. But that's just me though, and I accept I'm in the minority with this opinion.

 

[User2021]

I don't think you would have got much joy out of the Pro at RSG, Andy.
Before leaving, I went in and purchased a few bits.
He just about spoke when serving me.

On leaving, I thanked him for a great day and said goodbye etc - the silence back was golden.
It may be an exclusive club and one I would love to go back to, but manners cost nothing.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I don't think you would have got much joy out of the Pro at RSG, Andy.
Before leaving, I went in and purchased a few bits.
He just about spoke when serving me.

On leaving, I thanked him for a great day and said goodbye etc - the silence back was golden.
It may be an exclusive club and one I would love to go back to, but manners cost nothing.

The Pro at RSG is awful - no politeness about him at all , blunt to the point of being rude and plenty of the members we have bumped into are the same. The caddiemaster and guy at halfway hut are ok

When you then compare it to Andrew and his guys at RCP and everyone there is night and day - they just couldn’t do enough for you - a real warm welcome

It’s why if given the choice I would prefer to be at RCP even if RSG is a better course