Longest Day Golf Challenge

HawkeyeMS

HawkeyeMS

Ryder Cup Winner
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Mar 26, 2010
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While most of you were tucked up in your beds at 04:30 yesterday morning, myself, HTL, Homer and Pieman had just tee'd off on the 1st hole of or Macmillan Challenge for the start of what turned out to be a great day.

I wasn't sure quite what to expect but I can honestly say that it wasn't until the last 4 or 5 holes when my dodgy knees started to hurt that I started worrying more about getting to the end than playing golf.

I think HTL and Pieman were in a similar situation but Homer, who should from now on be referred to as RoboGolfer, played very well from start to finish scoring 30+ points in all 4 rounds which is excellent golf.

We started by playing 36 consecutive holes and then stopped for a very welcome pint of Magner's a big all day breakfast and then went back out for the second 36 and we played off the white tees, just to make sure no-one can say we cheated :D

After the 2nd hole HTL suggested that we play a match so we tossed the balls up and HTl & I were paired together. Unfortunately, this meant we were already 2 down after Homer won both of the opening holes abd we were never up in the match until the 65th hole on the when we took a 1 hole lead. Unfortunately, with HTL and I struggling and RoboGolfer appearing as fresh as he was when we started, the lead only lasted till the 69th hole when Robogolfer made birdie to tie the match. Eventually the match ended as it started with RoboGolfer and Pieman winning 2 up but frankly at that point neither HTL or myself were really that bothered and were glad we didn't have to go for extra holes :)

I know Homer has some photos and will probably post his own report of the day later so I'll finish off by thanking HTL, Homer and Pieman for their great company and a thoroughly enjoyable day.
 
I'll put the pics up later but just to thank the other guys for a great day. It's a long day and so it's crucial to have great company to stop it being a slog and I couldn't have asked for three better guys. There was some great banter. There were also a lot of WOW shots, especially from Pieman off the tee. If we're handing out new monickers I think his should be Quiros as he could give our Spanish friend a run for his money.

There were a few OH NO shots too which over the course of a day is to be expected. HTL hit a 5 yard drive at 17 in the first round. I had a shot that hit a tree and returned to my feet which isn't what you want on the 14th of the third round. All in all though the golf was a pretty decent standard as the match result showed especially when you bear in mind we played off scratch (and Pieman is off 4 so we should all have got shots)

I'm pretty stiff today and dedicated though I am, even I'm not picking up a club but will be back out tomorrow for the stableford. I should have paid more attention to the chaffing thread though as I have sore bits near delicate areas!

I didn't take many pics as it was mainly about getting it round and to be honest as the day wore on I forgot about the camera and tried to keep the ball out of the strength sapping long rough
 
Finally crawled into bed yesterday evening at 11, which meant that I had been up (can't really say awake!!) for 20 hours!!!

My feet hurt, have a blister the size of a melon on left heel, can barely walk, and the rest of my body aches, but what an incredible day and am really glad that I took part.

To my fellow sadists - Homer, HTL and Hawkeye - cheers guys for your excellent company and banter - it was a pleasure taking part with you.

As for the golf, can't really add much more to what has already been said (and don't want to add anything about my shoddy exploits!), but Homer, HTL and Hawkeye played some cracking stuff, with Homer showing amazing consistency (and most importantly stamina!)over the four rounds to post four great scores.

Can't wait to do it all again next year................!
 
Here are some pictures of the day and a write up (plus a link if you still fancy donating)

http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/martinbedborough/Longest%20Day/

http://www.justgiving.com/Hywel-Lloyd

The signs looked ominous as I pulled up at the club at 4.15 to find Pieman and Hawkeye outside locked gates. However an agile bit of body swerving got me through the other side and a quick tap on the keypad got everyone in. The challenge was on.

The light on the first was shall we say "murky" and tired muscles needed to be cranked ito life. I think I've found my new start time though as I hit a great 5 wood straight onto the green. Can we start all club comps at 4.30 please? Pieman missed the green left (which was to become a theme) and HTL and Hawkeye hit what I'd describe as looseners.

I took my par at the first and got into red numbers with a birdie at the next. By the time I'd birdied 9 as well I'd 20 points. I woke up on the back nine and was a little iffy until I hit form again and played the last 6 holes in level par. I'm not sure what the others scored but bearing in mind this score had two blobs in it and was played at a ridiculous hour I was pretty chuffed.

The plan was always to play 36 holes straight through which we did. It was pretty tough for HTL and I carrying but we were men and could take it. Even as we started the second round just before 8.00 we were still the only people out on the course. The others had woken up and HTL and Pieman seemed to be engaged in some private driving duel as each hole saw them hitting further and further into the distance.

We'd split into pairs (Pieman and I and HTL and Hawkeye) and the match was an interesting sideshow. We did get up to 5 up during the second round but a strong finish from Hawkeye in particular saw us go into the break and well deserved refreshments only 3 up. I have to say the full english and especially the tea tasted great and it was a joy to get the shoes off for a while. At halftime both HTL and I swapped to the Go-Karts for the battle ahead.

By the time we set out again at 12.30 the sun was fully out and it was stifling. I'd managed to birdie the 1st second time around courtesy of an outrageous 20 yard putt and by the time I hit the green for a third consecutive time I was thinking all was right in the world. I'd scored 37 before lunch and everyone else had improved too especially HTL and Hawkeye.

I have to be honest and say the 3rd round was my worse while the others fuelled by the 18 hole breakfast all seemed to get a second wind and were firing some great scores. It seemed that all of us would go on a great scoring run for three or fourr holes at a time and then fatigue or poor execution would lead to a few bad holes where points were hard to come by. It made for some interesting golf and kept the match score very tight. Shot of the 3rd round would have to be Hawkeyes chip in for birdie at 6 although the huge drive Pieman hit at 16 (well over 300 yards) was equally impressive.

And so to the final round. Pieman in particlar was determined to hit the 1st having found the right hand trap everytime so far. He failed to hit the green but found sand, this time to the left. While 36 consecutive holes in the morning is hard enough, the afternoon shift was a struggle. We were conscious that the front 9 was booked out at 5.45 for a social scramble with shotgun start so we needed to fly. The golf continued to be good for most. but my front 9 was my poorest of them all and I only had 11 points by the turn. I had thought I could have matched the 32 from round 3 but now I was thinking I'd be happy to break 20.

The match was getting very tight and HTL and Hawkeye had battled back to be all square with only the final 9 holes of the epic journey remaining. It remained tight until we got to the 67th (par 3 13th) where HTL fired a great iron into the green and made par to give them the lead. I made par at the next and then birdied 15 for the second time that day to get the match back to all square. We won the 16th as both Hawkeye and HTl hit very tired drives right and lost their balls but both rallied to find the putting surface at the long par 3 17th (218 yards) to get a half and ensure it went down the 72nd.

I managed a par 5 to secure the win and had played the last 6 holes in level par for 20 points home after four rounds! To be honest it hadn't mattered as it wasn't about who did what. It was about 4 guys slogging it around for fifteen hours and four rounds trying to play as well as their minds and bodies would let them to raise money for a great cause.

It really was a great day and fun(?) and we were blessed with a course set up to be challenging especially the strength sapping rough, and greens that were true if not quick. Thanks to everyone who has sponsored us and there is still time to do so. My body is still very stiff and I've a few blisters on hands and feet and a sore back but I'm already thinking about how 2011 can be better still
 
Blimey, if it was Hoebridge you played 4 times, i'm impressed. I have enough trouble getting up the hill on 17th just once in a round. let alone 4 times !
 
Blimey, if it was Hoebridge you played 4 times, i'm impressed. I have enough trouble getting up the hill on 17th just once in a round. let alone 4 times !
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:D It was Royal Ascot. I'm not sure I'd have made it up 17 at Hoebridge at the 4th time of asking.
 
well one guys - I am already thinking of doing this next year. A couple of questions: don't most people play 4 different courses? How possible do you think it would be to play 5 in a day, especially if you started with a 36 holer and there was no more than 10 minutes between the other 3? Might be impossible but I was just thinking of making it different - I watched a programme about a guy playing 4 courses in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales and I think they nearly did it despite poor weather - I think they did the holes but had to settle for anther English course at the end.
 
A couple of questions: don't most people play 4 different courses?
How possible do you think it would be to play 5 in a day, especially if you started with a 36 holer and there was no more than 10 minutes between the other 3? Might be impossible but I was just thinking of making it different
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Playing 4 different courses was talked about but its too risky living in Surrey, if your stuck in traffic and miss a tee time your stuffed.
Playing 5 in a day is possible, however, I dont know in a 4 ball and defo not carrying.
We did 36, Lunch then another 36, tee off was at 4:30 and finish about 20:00. These were 4 ball times, playing on your own you could defo do 5 or with another fit person. I would be up for trying 5 but would need to loose weight first and get my fat arse out on the course more.
 
well one guys - I am already thinking of doing this next year. A couple of questions: don't most people play 4 different courses? How possible do you think it would be to play 5 in a day, especially if you started with a 36 holer and there was no more than 10 minutes between the other 3? Might be impossible but I was just thinking of making it different - I watched a programme about a guy playing 4 courses in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales and I think they nearly did it despite poor weather - I think they did the holes but had to settle for anther English course at the end.
Click to expand...

Funny, you should say about doing five, the first thing my missus said when I got in was we could have played another round if we hadn't stopped for a drink :D

The ultimate around here would be 4 courses in 4 different counties, we are on the Surrey, Hampshire & Berkshire borders but the 4th would be a bit of a problem. Also, as HTL said, travelling between courses in our neck of the woods would be difficult.

I'm not sure my knees would cope with 5 rounds but I'd give it a go. It would have to be the same course and I suspect a 4 ball wouldn't make it before dark. We could have saved a bit of time as we did have a cursory look for balls in the rough but didn't waste too much time so doubt we would be able to make up enough time to get 5 rounds in.
 
Just a quick aside to say thanks to Pieman for the quick tip about bunker shots. I found myself in a bunker today and setup as I normally do. It turns out the ball wasn't as forward in my stance as I always thought so I got it forward a bit more and hit a Pieman-esque shot which came out high and soft 18 inches from the pin.

Our little chat might not have seemed much but i haven't hit a bunker shot like that in months so thanks mate.

Now can you show me how to hit those jet propelled drives :D
 
The best I could come up with logistically (and those who were prepared to let us play) were Royal Ascot, Downshire, Blue Mountain and Bird Hills. The problem being the journey from any of those as a starting point getting across Bracknell in the morning rush hour for the second game and then the same in the evening for the last round.

I think had we only had 30-45 minutes for lunch, one person looking for a lost ball and someonegoing around giving us priority on the course that 5 rounds would be doable but it would be very, very tight. We were averaging 3 3/4 rounds and weren't dawdling.

Personally I think Ascot was an ideal choice. The course was challenging enough to make each round interesting but it isn't overly taxing in terms of terrain or overly long off the whites. I'm probably going to do it again at Ascot next year (and get more publicity and people involved within the club) but would be up to make up the numbers elsewhere if anyone locally wants to have a go at 4 different courses or counties
 
I would definitely do four rounds again (everything above my ankles are quite keen!) but 5 I think is a no-no unless I have some serious lipo!!!! Playing at just the 1 course also helps.

Hawkeye - you're more than welcome fot the tip; glad it worked, although when you see as much beach as I do, it all becomes second nature!!!

All in all, a cracking day and a top effort from the four of us. Looking forward to next year!!
 
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