Play Your Best Grand Final October 1 - do you deserve a place?

[Lump]

Just back from the Final PYB Day.
First off I need to say a huge thank you to Mike, Neil and PING. Was a 1st class day with alot of very nice people (Nice to put a few more faces to names and finally meet Jaymosafehands). The course was playing fairly long with a lot of tee shots into the wind. It wasn't an easy day for the PYB boys to attempt PB's. I won't say much about them as thats for the mag (Was nice to see them all striding up the 18th all perfectly ping though).
Personally I shot a 76 nett with 3 shots dropped in the last 2 holes (76 nett seems to be a very popular score from today) Nailed my drives on all but 3 holes but I lacked any touch on the greens. Only 1 birdie from 8 chances, not good. Congrats to the 3 winners from today, 5 peeps that I know of shot a 76 nett.
Was a very nice touch getting a ping goody bag each before we left, very much unexpected but very gratefully received. Another top job from Ping and golf monthly.
(Grub was fantastic too )

 

[AmandaJR]

A great day at Gainsborough so a huge thanks to Mike and all involved from GM and Ping. It was lovely to put faces to names although was confused most times until peeps gave their forum name! My game was awol until the back of the back 9 apart from my putting which saved me more than once. Finally found my swing and finished with 3 straight pars which was nice. Moment of the day was Derek holing out from 100 yards for a birdie - at which he swung me round and off my feet but Rick and Greg decided a handshake was more appropriate!!

I enjoyed the course and will return on a day when I can find the middle of my driver as the neck is hopefully worn out by now. Not a course to be losing significant distance off the tee for sure! I did finish with the same ball I started with which may well have been worth a prize :clap:

A Ping goody bag to finish the day off nicely - thanks again to everyone involved.

 

[GB72]

I can only what Amanda has already said, as with all GM events, great organisation, great company, great banter and great fun. Add to that great food and a Ping goodie bag and it was a superb day. Thanks to all at GM involved and to my playing partners, Rick, Amanda and Derek.

I had a pretty bad front 9 but was happy with the back 9 so must not grumble.

It would be rude of me not to mention Rick's changing fortune on the par 3 holes, nearly has a hole in one on one hole then manages and 8 on the par 3 17th without hitting the water or losing a ball. Still I carded a 9 on a par 4 having made a ball skip more than a dozen times across a lake before sinking so I am no better.

 

[Paperboy]

Just got back, Like to thank Mike, Neil and everyone from GM for a fantastic night, last night and for the fantastic day today.

Congratulations to the winners. Didn't play my best golf today, but had moments of brilliance aswell. Need to keep my head down more and not look for the ball before i've hit the silly thing

 

[AmandaJR]

I can only what Amanda has already said, as with all GM events, great organisation, great company, great banter and great fun. Add to that great food and a Ping goodie bag and it was a superb day. Thanks to all at GM involved and to my playing partners, Rick, Amanda and Derek.

I had a pretty bad front 9 but was happy with the back 9 so must not grumble.

It would be rude of me not to mention Rick's changing fortune on the par 3 holes, nearly has a hole in one on one hole then manages and 8 on the par 3 17th without hitting the water or losing a ball. Still I carded a 9 on a par 4 having made a ball skip more than a dozen times across a lake before sinking so I am no better.

Poor Rick! Your ball skimming skills are awesome - I thought it was never going to stop bouncing :thup:

 

[rickg]

had a truly memorable couple of days and just want to once again acknowledge Mike and Neil for all the selfless and tireless work they do ensuring we forummers have a great time.

Last night was just incredible and a great bonding session with the other players with the European team providing the perfect backdrop (with the GM bar helping of course)......

Woke up this morning with a thumping hangover but somehow managed to card a 3 over gross through the 1st 11 holes and everything looking rosey. How the ball didn't drop on the par 3 will remain a mystery to me to my dying day!

Amanda, Greg and Derek were great company and we had a fantastic laugh....especially when I carded a 6 at the par 3 on the back 9 to just about scupper my card......never really recovered from that and has already been mentioned managed to rack up an 8 at the 17th par 3.........cleared the water, ...just, but it landed in the reeds.....i could see it but couldn't get a club on it......decided to try and hit it without a backswing with the club starting at shoulder height........air shot!!.....tried again but just managed to drive it straight down into the mud.......at this point I thought it was sensible to take a drop.......now playing 5, i thinned that one and managed a 3 putt to cap off a forgettable hole....

so those 2 par 3's cost me dearly.

Food after was superb and generous prizes as always from the GM & PING team.

Special thanks also to Tom the photographer, who let slip that he is travelling to Arizona soon for a photoshoot that will involve him dressing as a cowboy.......not sure if Jezz, Neil and Mike are going as the Policeman, construction worker and Sailor!!!

Hope the Scottish players got home OK after their long drives....

Wonderful day!

 

[louise_a]

It sounds like you had a great day as usual, only a tad jealous, honest.

 

[Jaymosafehands]

Just back from the Final PYB Day.
First off I need to say a huge thank you to Mike, Neil and PING. Was a 1st class day with alot of very nice people (Nice to put a few more faces to names and finally meet Jaymosafehands). The course was playing fairly long with a lot of tee shots into the wind. It wasn't an easy day for the PYB boys to attempt PB's. I won't say much about them as thats for the mag (Was nice to see them all striding up the 18th all perfectly ping though).
Personally I shot a 76 nett with 3 shots dropped in the last 2 holes (76 nett seems to be a very popular score from today) Nailed my drives on all but 3 holes but I lacked any touch on the greens. Only 1 birdie from 8 chances, not good. Congrats to the 3 winners from today, 5 peeps that I know of shot a 76 nett.
Was a very nice touch getting a ping goody bag each before we left, very much unexpected but very gratefully received. Another top job from Ping and golf monthly.
(Grub was fantastic too )

Was indeed a pleasure pal, really enjoyed the day. Always fun watching someone split fairways while I was in the rough/tree/boondocks!!

Can only echo the sentiments to Mike, Neil and Smudge, and the goodie bag will be put to good use. Well done to the PYB boys, hope it's been as great an experience as it looks

 

[DelB]

Just back in the door. Drove straight back up the road without stopping.
Top day out and special thanks to my golfing partners for the day - Rick, Amanda and Greg. Really good laugh the whole way round.

Amanda, I holed out from 102 yards, not 100. The extra 2 are really important.

Good to meet a few of the Forum crowd and thanks to Mike, Neill and Tom for a great day. Lunch was awesome too.

Would I do a ten hour round trip in one day to play a round of golf again? Probably not! Overnight stay next time!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Home, knackered but very very happy and privilaged to have been able to play a part in both the PYB Lee Westwood Day and the PYB Grand finale,

Last night in the Gainsborough GC bar was special. Watching the Ryder Cup with the PYB lads and the GM crew, incredible tension and banter, eased by pints of Tom Woods Lincolnshire Ale.


The course was in good condition, plenty of long par 4's and water, tricky greens, but its much better playing it in the dry, compared to last time when it was under water, Started off with 2 pars, then lost it on the par3's ending up with net 77, so just outside the prizes, Short game was particularly good, with the putter earning its keep (Dont mention the 4 putt on the 6th having got on the green in regulation)

Was great to play with Philly169, (Winner On The Day), BlueWolf (2nd on the Day) and Fairway Dodger , who should be renamed "Bunker Magnet), she was going to start charging rent . A great crowd with some razor sharp banter.

Bluewold was gutted at his 7 on the 17th, then delighted when RickG went one better
Several examples of "Tiger Putts" just wizzing by the holes, plus some lovely golf shots from all of us (eventually)

Big Huge thanks to Mike , Neil and Tom the photographer, (Was great to see everyone holding their follow through poses as he snapped away, whilst trying to hold our stomachs in.

Another great GM event, they are really very special,and thanks to Ping for the goody bag and the chance to be part of PYB

Fragger

 

[FairwayDodger]

Another one made it safely home north of the border!

Just reiterate what everyone else has been saying; a really enjoyable day thanks very much to GM and Ping. Nice course, decent weather (mostly), good food and great company!

Thanks to Danny and the Phils - had a great time playing with you today; good craic. Unfortunately my game is still mostly missing in action - the odd good shot creeping in just to taunt me. No chance of me breaking 70 any time soon, I fear, - couldn't break 80 today and was even worried it'd be over 90 at one point!

How big were those friggin bunkers!!??

 

[PhilTheFragger]

How big were those friggin bunkers!!??

With all that sand and all that water, just like being at the seaside,
surprised you didnt build any sand castles, the amount of time you spent in the bunkers :whoo:

Your turn.....

Fragger

 

[FairwayDodger]

With all that sand and all that water, just like being at the seaside,
surprised you didnt build any sand castles, the amount of time you spent in the bunkers :whoo:

Your turn.....

Fragger

If you insist.....

Still loving the canniest lay up ever...

Par 3 - what was it 170 yards? Bump and run down the path mown through the rough to stop just short of the burn. Perfect range for you to..... errm.... chip it into the bunker, wasn't it?

:whoo::cheers:

 

[PhilTheFragger]

OK You win:cheers:

I cant compete with this abuse

Still buzzing from the Ryder Cup And Today, dont want to sleep coz the day will end

Fragger

 

[Toad]

Just arrived home, man that's a long drive.
Not sure if we are allowed to mention the outcome of our challenge or not, but here goes lol.
Personally I knew it was going to be an exceptionally hard task to break 70, my aim for the day was not to go over my handicap, a tough ask on the day as it turns out as only two of us managed it. I know that sounds a bit defeatist but with all the changes I've made to my game I had to be realistic in what could be achieved in such a short space of time.
Anyway on to my round, I started well with 5 pars, and was hitting the ball great. I had some real birdie opportunities throughout the round but just could not get a putt to drop, i myst have had around 7 lip outs and unfortunately ended up with not one birdie, it got that bad that even Tom the photographer was laughing at my near misses and how they defied gravity to stay out of the hole.
Had a couple of dropped shots before i got the act together again and had a great run of 8 straight pars around the turn.
I did not let all those missed putts affect my game and was only 3 over though 15 holes, I then let myself down on the last 3 holes especially the 17th, did hear that a few if us had water trouble here, I under clubbed and came up half a yard short and ran up a triple that totally ruined my card.
I was a little disappointed that I had failed in the break 70 challenge but am happy with the changes to my game and will give it another go next year after some hard work in the winter.
One highlight was I had the lowest score on the day, which in itself was enough for me .
Sure you will hear all about the others shortly.
Cheers for all your support.
John.

 

[philly169]

Guys, again I would like to extend my greatest thanks to Mike and Tappers, they never fail to put on a great day everything from last night through to this afternoon was fantastic. Thanks to everyone who played today, especially the PYB boys, there was a lot of pressure on you guys today and I thought you all deserve a pat on the back for what you have achieved throughout this journey.

Big thanks to Fragger, Bluewolf and Fairway Dodger for your company on the course today had a really fun day with you guys, and thanks to Rick, Bluewolf and Paperboy, last night was special... Last people left in the clubhouse after a few too many tipples of fizzy water.. I look forward to seeing the photos.. My ankle is still in pain after falling into the road at 1.30am stumbling back to the B&B, great prep to put in a good round.

I was delighted to finish 1st today, but slightly disappointed a let a great front 9 slip away on the back, really thought I was going to smash 90 today, finished up on 91, should have been low 80's.. Few silly mistakes and a dropped shot on 10 and finding my lost ball a couple if yards further up from where we were looking started the scores mounting up. think the whiskey was wearing off. A nice 2 on the 17th as well before making a hash of 18. Driver and irons were fantastic today, really felt in control of my swing. Things are looking good for our Masters comp in 2 weeks time.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[wookie]

As above many thanks to Mike and the rest of the GM team for their organisation and Ping for hosting and sorting out a goody bag.

Kind of gutted I didnt come up the night before but glad I wasnt suffering too much of a hangover.

Nice to meet a few people and thanks to my partners for the day Phil, Matt and James. All played some very nice golf.

I played well for the most part and was very happy to walk away with a new bag. If only I could have lost the 5 or 6 disastrous tee shots (mainly tops) I could have been under handicap. Oh and playing the wrong ball out of the rough didnt help - at least I've learnt from that and it won't happen again!

 

[Whereditgo]

Couldn't get the GM site to load last night but to echo what has previously been said the day was excellent as all GM days are, great company from the forum crew and perfect hosts in Mike, Tappers and Tom.

Played like a complete twonk and couldn't putt to save my life! Plus the bunkers were so wet! - a quick tally on the way home and I counted 8 - got out first time every time but only got close once.

Highlight of the round a GPS measured 311 yard drive!!! .........would have been even better had it been mine!

Thanks again GM and Ping - great to hear that Ping are pleased with the feature and keen to support a similar challenge next year.

 

[bluewolf]

Just to add my 2p, Big thanks to all at GM (especially Mike and Neil) and Ping for a fantastic opportunity. Friday night has to go down as one of the best nights that I can(t) remember. That Tom Woods bitter must have been performance enhancing though..

The day itself was fantastic, even if at times, my golf wasnt. A fairly patchy front 9 cost me quite a few shots. I managed to string together a little run of pars and birdies on the back 9 but this came to a juddering halt on the 17th where a pulled 7 iron landed beautifully in the water. The resulting 7 cost me any chance of winning, even though Philly tried his best to hand it back to me on the 18th. Still, 2nd was a fantastic result and the new carry bag and shoe bag are much appreciated.

Big thanks should go to my playing partners, Fragger, Fairway dodger and Philly. It was a genuinely fantastic day with plenty of banter (cheers fragger) and no end of moral support. One highlight was Karens joy and hugs for everyone when she nailed a 5 wood into the 18th green. It was great to meet everyone in the clubhouse later, and it was even greater to find out that RickG had racked up an even higher score than me on the 17th..

Oh, and Philly, 19? really? not for much longer mate. Some of the best ball striking ive seen...

 

[DelB]

The resulting 7 cost me any chance of winning....

Still giving you nightmares??