Lest Westwood on Close House Filly Course

[Lord Tyrion]

Very, Mendie.

Vastly over-rated in my opinion. Don't get it at all.

The Colt course is better, more interesting and tougher. The Filly course is pretty mundane. The issue with Close House is also about the experience of the whole place, not just the course. In this part of the world it is the standout set up. Not the stand out course but the whole package is very well put together.

 

[JV24601]

The Colt course is better, more interesting and tougher. The Filly course is pretty mundane. The issue with Close House is also about the experience of the whole place, not just the course. In this part of the world it is the standout set up. Not the stand out course but the whole package is very well put together.

Agree with most of that too Lord. They make you feel special up there and the little touches are very well done.

Rockliffe is much the same and will continue to get better and better over the years.

 

[Jimaroid]

(presumably and hopefully thinking, I'd love to whack these tossers).

Now you're just inventing how one person perceives another person and then getting annoyed by what you've come up with.

 

[JV24601]

Now you're just inventing how one person perceives another person and then getting annoyed by what you've come up with.

mmm Ok, Jim :mmm:

 

[GB72]

I have watched quite a few Crossfield videos. Always reminds me a bit of a golfing Timmy Mallett. Not really for me.

 

[garyinderry]

Everyone knows what they are going to get when watching a crossfield video. If they don't then they soon find out.

He doesn't force people to watch.

I don't watch all his videos as there is too many and he does grate a bit but I know exactly what I am in for when I do.

Mark pretends that everything is the funniest thing in the world and he always has to been seen to be having amazing 'bantz'. Tbf to him, he treats everyone the same. His buddies and Lee so you can't accuse him of treating Lee any differently. In this case, Lee is the performing monkey and mark is trying to extract as much as he can for his own gain. That is a big part of his job.

 

[Alex1975]

Everyone knows what they are going to get when watching a crossfield video. If they don't then they soon find out.

He doesn't force people to watch.

I don't watch all his videos as there is too many and he does grate a bit but I know exactly what I am in for when I do.

Mark pretends that everything is the funniest thing in the world and he always has to been seen to be having amazing 'bantz'. Tbf to him, he treats everyone the same. His buddies and Lee so you can't accuse him of treating Lee any differently. In this case, Lee is the performing monkey and mark is trying to extract as much as he can for his own gain. That is a big part of his job.

Pretty much....

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Agree with most of that too Lord. They make you feel special up there and the little touches are very well done.

Rockliffe is much the same and will continue to get better and better over the years.

I'm hoping to play Rockcliffe next year as your comments mirror what I have heard. Probably off the yellows mind as I hear it is a long old haul.

One other thing to add to the MC debate. My 15yr old watches MC videos and thinks he is great. Multiply that across the Youtube medium. MC is tapping into a new generation of golfers in a way that they like. Not in newspaper or magazine articles but on social media in a way people like to view it. Sponsors, and so tournament directors love this new media and MC is right at the top in this field in golf. He wont care about old duffers moaning about him, they are not his market, nor the sponsors. He is a very smart cookie, whether by intention or not.

 

[GB72]

May be opening the debate too much but I do now have a concern as to where a number of youtube 'stars' now stand in relation to reviewing gear. Time was that they were everyday golf pros posting what appeared to be honest gear reviews that often when contrary to the cagey, nothing is bad these days view of the established print media.

From what I see now they have become a part of the establishment themselves now with free gear sent to review, invites to events, invites to launches and the reviews seem to reflect this. What was once a great alternative to establishment golf media views that could be given with no rellliance on the continued support of manufacturers seems to have disappeared and that is a pity.

 

[JV24601]

I'm hoping to play Rockcliffe next year as your comments mirror what I have heard. Probably off the yellows mind as I hear it is a long old haul.

One other thing to add to the MC debate. My 15yr old watches MC videos and thinks he is great. Multiply that across the Youtube medium. MC is tapping into a new generation of golfers in a way that they like. Not in newspaper or magazine articles but on social media in a way people like to view it. Sponsors, and so tournament directors love this new media and MC is right at the top in this field in golf. He wont care about old duffers moaning about him, they are not his market, nor the sponsors. He is a very smart cookie, whether by intention or not.

I'm not an old duffer - I am 28 and he's not tapping into me!
I understand what you say though and I must add that I was mightily impressed by his game. Very nice swing and effortless. No messing about either (golf swing only!).

As for Rockliffe, if you're not a big hitter then most certainly play off the yellows as you're right, it's a long course.
I always want to play the longest course I can for some reason, despite not classing myself as a big hitter, but I've learnt that if I'm playing well then it doesn't matter what the distance is, I can still score. So it's a test against myself.

I really like Rockliffe and would consider being a member if I lived closer. For what it currently lacks, it more than makes up for it in overall quality (tee boxes, fairways, greens, just general upkeep of the place). It's always in great condition and still on its own right up there with the best at present.
In 15 years time with a few hundred more trees and definition, it will be simply superb.

Let me know how you find it.

 

[Alex1975]

May be opening the debate too much but I do now have a concern as to where a number of youtube 'stars' now stand in relation to reviewing gear. Time was that they were everyday golf pros posting what appeared to be honest gear reviews that often when contrary to the cagey, nothing is bad these days view of the established print media.

From what I see now they have become a part of the establishment themselves now with free gear sent to review, invites to events, invites to launches and the reviews seem to reflect this. What was once a great alternative to establishment golf media views that could be given with no rellliance on the continued support of manufacturers seems to have disappeared and that is a pity.

The OEMs have closed any loop to an honest review. When did you last see a poor review? If they say ANYTHING slightly negative they risk never getting equipment from that company again. Even our hosts here are guided very carefully on what they can and cannot say. The reviews now are just a run down of what the OEMs have said. The likes of Golf Monthly have staff and rent to pay and a huge amount of that is done with advertising. If brand X takes out a big add in GM they also expect friendly reviews.

Only thing to do is find out for your self what the kit is like.

 

[JV24601]

May be opening the debate too much but I do now have a concern as to where a number of youtube 'stars' now stand in relation to reviewing gear. Time was that they were everyday golf pros posting what appeared to be honest gear reviews that often when contrary to the cagey, nothing is bad these days view of the established print media.

From what I see now they have become a part of the establishment themselves now with free gear sent to review, invites to events, invites to launches and the reviews seem to reflect this. What was once a great alternative to establishment golf media views that could be given with no rellliance on the continued support of manufacturers seems to have disappeared and that is a pity.

Hi GB

I've always took those review things as a good way to see the new gear and get it explained to you, rather than watching it for an opinion.
After all, I've never bought golf kit based on a review without trying it myself.

 

[GB72]

The OEMs have closed any loop to an honest review. When did you last see a poor review? If they say ANYTHING slightly negative they risk never getting equipment from that company again. Even our hosts here are guided very carefully on what they can and cannot say. The reviews not are just a run down of what the OEMs have said. The likes of Golf Monthly have staff and rent to pay and a huge amount of that is done with advertising. If brand X takes out a big add in GM they also expect friendly reviews.

Only thing to do is find out for your self what the kit is like.

True enough but in the early days of youtube you had people getting the kit themselves and reviewing it and so they were outside of the loop and were free to comment without fear of losing out. Sadly that seems to have disappeared as the popular youtube personalities are absorbed into the same routine of freebie review kit and press junkets as everyone else.

 

[Rooter]

May be opening the debate too much but I do now have a concern as to where a number of youtube 'stars' now stand in relation to reviewing gear. Time was that they were everyday golf pros posting what appeared to be honest gear reviews that often when contrary to the cagey, nothing is bad these days view of the established print media.

From what I see now they have become a part of the establishment themselves now with free gear sent to review, invites to events, invites to launches and the reviews seem to reflect this. What was once a great alternative to establishment golf media views that could be given with no rellliance on the continued support of manufacturers seems to have disappeared and that is a pity.

Exactly, and probably why MikeH was savvy enough to get Finch and Shiels on board. We all know that at some time in the future print media will fizzle out, there is so much content available online for free that even paid for digital media is heading the same way. Which is a shame, as the quality will drop but it will be free..

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'm hoping to play Rockcliffe next year as your comments mirror what I have heard. Probably off the yellows mind as I hear it is a long old haul.

One other thing to add to the MC debate. My 15yr old watches MC videos and thinks he is great. Multiply that across the Youtube medium. MC is tapping into a new generation of golfers in a way that they like. Not in newspaper or magazine articles but on social media in a way people like to view it. Sponsors, and so tournament directors love this new media and MC is right at the top in this field in golf. He wont care about old duffers moaning about him, they are not his market, nor the sponsors. He is a very smart cookie, whether by intention or not.

Agree with almost everything. Apart from the fact that Me and My Golf have 40 odd thousand more subscribers than Crossfield. So they are the daddies.

 

[woody69]

The whole thing is summed up for me in Part 5:
Crossfield asks him a question about Turkey/Portugal and is left with a bit of egg on his face (fair enough, no harm done)
Westwood takes the pee a bit for not knowing
Crossfield and chum make an embarrassing joke out of it with lots of loud giggles (presumably for the good of the video!!) and Westwood looks away not cracking a smile (presumably and hopefully thinking, I'd love to whack these tossers).
Crossfields chum then says (away from Westwood) - having bants with Westwood there.

Just unfunny, annoying little no marks. How's that for an assumption and a formed opinion on someone?

They don't know Westwood yet they're acting like one of his good friends where anything goes. If somebody did that to me I'd think the guy was a crank, never mind if I was Lee Westwood.

Egg on his face? Because Lee said, "I won it 6 years ago. See you've done your research". It was obviously a sarcastic response from Lee to make Crossfield look silly in a friendly "banter" kind of way. It's what people do when they are having fun. I rib my mates and they do it to me all the time when things like happen. Lockey then points the same thing out to Mark by belittling him again. There is no malice in it. It's just all good deprecating / sarcastic humour.

You can see the difference in their interactions between the first video to the last. Lee is obviously giving more back and they are all getting along. You have no idea what isn't recorded as the video obviously cuts between shots either. They could have been chatting quietly and getting on like a house on fire!

Did you see video 6 where Westwood stamps down on Crossfield's putting line on the 18th? He didn't smile then either, so it must have been a deliberate and malicious act because he was so fed up with Crossfield, or may be it was just all good light-hearted fun?

You didn't enjoy Mark Crossfields narration/style and that is fair enough, but deciding off the back of these short videos that you think he is a crank or a tosser and Westwood probably feels the same as you is laughable.

 

[Alex1975]

Exactly, and probably why MikeH was savvy enough to get Finch and Shiels on board. We all know that at some time in the future print media will fizzle out, there is so much content available online for free that even paid for digital media is heading the same way. Which is a shame, as the quality will drop but it will be free..

Finch and Shields will be in the same boat though, cant say anything remotely controversial. I think we are seeing less reviews from all these people as all the can do is say the same thing hence the course vlogs, swing reviews and other being more prevalent now.

 

[Hacker Khan]

May be opening the debate too much but I do now have a concern as to where a number of youtube 'stars' now stand in relation to reviewing gear. Time was that they were everyday golf pros posting what appeared to be honest gear reviews that often when contrary to the cagey, nothing is bad these days view of the established print media.

From what I see now they have become a part of the establishment themselves now with free gear sent to review, invites to events, invites to launches and the reviews seem to reflect this. What was once a great alternative to establishment golf media views that could be given with no rellliance on the continued support of manufacturers seems to have disappeared and that is a pity.

Crossfield did not give glowing reviews to the last Nike drivers and it kicked off a bit there. And to be fair to him he does tend to point out the truth that all drivers/irons will go much the same distance due to the restrictions put on them. Where as Shiels does get a bit carried away with manufacturers claims a bit more.

I think the only place you will get reviews and an honest appraisal/critique of all the so called 'tech' and what it actually does (or not as the case may be) where they are not frightened of upsetting manufacturers is mygolfspy nowadays. As mostly elsewhere you are getting rehashed press releases dressed up as a review. But to me Crossfield is relatively good in this area.

 

[Alex1975]

Egg on his face? Because Lee said, "I won it 6 years ago. See you've done your research". It was obviously a sarcastic response from Lee to make Crossfield look silly in a friendly "banter" kind of way. It's what people do when they are having fun. I rib my mates and they do it to me all the time when things like happen. Lockey then points the same thing out to Mark by belittling him again. There is no malice in it. It's just all good deprecating / sarcastic humour.

You can see the difference in their interactions between the first video to the last. Lee is obviously giving more back and they are all getting along. You have no idea what isn't recorded as the video obviously cuts between shots either. They could have been chatting quietly and getting on like a house on fire!

Did you see video 6 where Westwood stamps down on Crossfield's putting line on the 18th? He didn't smile then either, so it must have been a deliberate and malicious act because he was so fed up with Crossfield, or may be it was just all good light-hearted fun?

You didn't enjoy Mark Crossfields narration/style and that is fair enough, but deciding off the back of these short videos that you think he is a crank or a tosser and Westwood probably feels the same as you is laughable.

 

[Alex1975]

Crossfield did not give glowing reviews to the last Nike drivers and it kicked off a bit there. And to be fair to him he does tend to point out the truth that all drivers/irons will go much the same distance due to the restrictions put on them. Where as Shiels does get a bit carried away with manufacturers claims a bit more.

I think the only place you will get reviews and an honest appraisal/critique of all the so called 'tech' and what it actually does (or not as the case may be) where they are not frightened of upsetting manufacturers is mygolfspy nowadays. As mostly you are getting rehashed press releases dressed up as a review. But to me Crossfield is relatively good in this area.

Even the chap on mygolfspy has an agenda... While its not the same as the OEMs he is a little bit of a drama queen. I had a conversation with him the other day. He had made it clear is was regularly bullied and threatened by the OEMs, I asked him in what form this came, written or verbal. He told me "both". I asked him to show us rather than out these people without actually outing them and he cut our conversation short. If your going to say something... SAY IT!