Straight in at CAT 3

[tugglesf239]

Good day for me today

My new clubs arrived and i finally (after 10 years of playing the game) received an official handicap.

I imagined that i would be around the 22-23 mark, but i am absolutely delighted to be off 20.

I have played off around 14-15 in a previous life, but that was before a pretty bad back and shoulder injury and a two year lay-off.

My first game back about 18 months ago resulted in a score of 120 odd!

I will be honest and say that my whole game, tee to green had totally capitulated and i have almost had to start from scratch.

The crazy thing is that even though i am about 6 shots of what i (think) i used to play off, but i am really hitting the ball much better and crisper than i ever have done. It really is a funny old game

Another benefit of today is that i was introduced to "how did i do". The good thing about this is i now know what you lot are on about when i see "HDID", because i was pretty stumped before hand

All in all i am really chuffed.

Setting myself a target of 15 for this year. Granted would be a pretty big jump in 5 months, but i will be trying my best.

Really good day today. Bloody chuffed

 

[DappaDonDave]

Welcome, how is haigh hall? I've heard it can get a bit soggy after a bit of rainfall

 

[tugglesf239]

Currently (well before the last few days rain), it was the complete opposite. Fairways and greens have been rock hard

Been a bit frustrating to be honest as approach shots have been flying of the greens at an alarming rate.

It does have a history of being a bit boggy along the canal holes, but there has been lots of drainage work done over the last while.

Definitely better than it was 2 years ago.

 

[Andy808]

Well done sir.
I tried like crazy last year to get my handicap down under 20 and failed. This year I go out to have fun and it's started to drop already, the only time I have a struggle on the course is when I start thinking about my handicap.
Go out, have fun and the handicap will sort itself out.

 

[louise_a]

Well done and keep your eye out for North west meets, we have quite a few.

 

[bluewolf]

Currently (well before the last few days rain), it was the complete opposite. Fairways and greens have been rock hard

Been a bit frustrating to be honest as approach shots have been flying of the greens at an alarming rate.

It does have a history of being a bit boggy along the canal holes, but there has been lots of drainage work done over the last while.

Definitely better than it was 2 years ago.

Keep an eye open for my Uncle, Peter Jennings. He's a member at Haigh Hall and is always playing comps. Gets in the prizes a lot as well... Say hello from me...

 

[pbrown7582]

well done to come back after surgery and restart at 20 is a fine effort good luck with the season and hope you get toward your 15 target.
A pretty active NW group mso plenty of away day opprotunity from on here too. Enjoy

 

[Jack_bfc]

I used to play Haigh Hall a lot when I lived in Standish..

Just after it went to 18..

Always enjoyed it.

 

[anthony]

Played there at the weekend and the greens where hard shame about the. Ondition of the greens though all burnt

 

[Qwerty]

If possible, try to get yourself in to see Alan Crompton down at haigh hall..... Very good coach :thup:

 

[tugglesf239]

Thanks everyone.

Got myself back out today for a bit of casual match play and to test out my new Irons.

Before i begin, i was in a dilemma if i should post this, or not. As i do not want to look like a billy BS'er......

Anyways

Today i have played the game of my life and absolutely smashed my personal best by a good few shots.

Basically my original plan was not even to bother scoring, but after paring the 1st (which i never do) i thought i would record on Golfshot anyway.

so

1st - Boomed a drive to the right hand side of the par 4 green. Normally i would be about a SW approach, but put it to 20ft with my 60 deg. Two putted for par

2nd - Decent but not very long drive into the middle of the fairway, pushed my 7i right next to the base of a rather large oak (put it down to new club excitement ). Managed a 7i chip to the back of the green. 2 put for a single bogey

3rd - Took my PW out but hit a bit fat. Left me about 30 short of the green. Hit a very nice wedge to about 3 foot. Sunk it for par

4th - duffed my drive low and left. First shot with my new 5i was a peach. Pushed my SW approach (nearly hitting another group ). Hit a decent LW to about 20ft. 2 putt for a Double.

5th - Cracked a drive down the right, but it never looked like coming back onto the short stuff. Decent chip and a two putt got me par.

6th - a longish par 3 uphill, into the wind with a slope of to the left that usually punishes my high draw (aka the pull). Determined to make a good effort with my new 7i. Instead a pushed it well right out of sight. Topped my provisional into the cabbage and resigned myself to hunting my first ball. Luck would have it i located it and stuck it into the nearest bunker. Got close with my next and putted for a 4.

7th - Shortish (460) par 5. Creamed my drive which rocketed of the top of a mound in the middle of the fairway. Tracked the shot with Golfshot and am very pleased to report that i broke 300yds for the first time (303 to be exact). Normally i play my approach with a 6i, but played today with a 9i. Struck it really well and hit the back of the green. Missed my eagle putt by about a foot. Sunk the birdie with a bloody big smile.

8th - Caught my 9 iron very thin and put it through the green. My resulting chip flew across the green to the other side. 3 putted for a 5 :-(

9th - cracked my drive pretty right onto the first fairway. Stuck my 60 short and chipped / 2 putted for a single.

At this point i had thrashed my buddy in the matchplay and i think he was ready for the off. We decided to play a few more though as i had scored my lowest ever on the way out with a 42 gross and i think he felt obliged to crack on.

Long story short my next few scores were

10th - single

11th - double

12th - Birdie (another 300yd + er!!!. I think having my tee about 10mm higher is really paying off)

13th - Missed

14th - missed

15th - Par (put it to 5 foot of the tee missed my birdie putt by a baw hair)

16th - Was sure i stuck it oob, so hit a P ball. Stuck my P ball even further into OOB so again, marched up the left hand edge with my fingers crossed. Found the ball was safe and must have been nearing the mythical 300yrd mark. 230 left with wind assistance. Caught my 5i an absolute peach and put it through the back of the green (behind a ruddy tree). Duffed my chip but managed a single bogey 6 (very happy)

17th - Short (100yd) par three. Hit green and 3 putted for a single.

18th -Short steeply uphill par 4 (about 250 of the yellows). I have never for whatever reason managed to hit this
green in 10 attempts. I always leave it pin high to the right. Not today though!!!! no Today i hit it right through the back (by about 20 yards) right into the long(ish) stuff. Miraculously managed to find my ball after about 10 minutes of looking (we were the last guys on the course). Hit my next of a tree and found the green thank gawd. " putted for par.

Now as you know i have only just managed to be awarded a 20.0 H/C.

When i looked at Golfshot i could not believe my eyes. I scored a gross 73 (only played 16 holes)!!!:clap::clap:

The two holes missed were both par 4s, so worst case scenario i would have scored an 85.

Best thing is i had zero penalties and the only two balls i lost were both my provisionals.

I cant quite believe what i have done this evening and (if i am being honest) did not think i had this score in me if i played every day for the next 100 years.

Absolutely made up