The Grove & Caddies

Vardon11LDN

Vardon11LDN

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We have just booked up to play The Grove for our Xmas golf trip. Does anyone have any tips on playing there as we want to get the most out of it? Also we have booked caddies and none of us have had one before so I would be keen to hear peoples experiences with caddies at the Grove or elsewhere.
 
i have never had a club caddy but i know of many who have used them .from what they say it would be very wise to listen to what they tell you as they obviously know the track better than anybody ,also they will soon get a picture of your game after a couple of shots so will help you get the job done in as few amount of shots they can.
good luck at the Grove ,its a bucket list course for me ,hopefully soon to be ticked off.enjoy.
 
If you're not staying in the hotel drive straight through the big hotel car park and at the back is free valet parking for golfers.
I recommend getting there early. All the facilities are top notch. There is a driving range and chipping area a 2 minute walk from the clubhouse.
I've never used a caddy myself but once a playing partner had one. I think he was called Guy. Very friendly and I think he definitely helped. He used a laser to measure distances which I wasn't expecting but I guess that adds to the accuracy.

Also on the first hole (the old 10th) everyone seems to take a driver but a 200 yard tee shot short of the bunkers leaves you a simple 120ish shot in. There's heather down the left, right and you can run out of room if you're long so it always surprises me how many people whip out the driver.
 
You will enjoy the Grove its a first class venue with American levels of service, so let them pamper you. A caddy is always enjoyable, listen to his advice and you will get the best from the round, treat him at the halfway hut and don't forget to tip him.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way (not intended to sound nasty!!) but are you good enough to hit it where the caddy tells you to? The reason I ask is I used to play in a society with a lot of guys who had cash to burn and very little golfing ability. They would often get caddies then slice the ball 50 yards right of where they were told to hit it.

If you can hit it where they say then great, go for it. If not, you are paying a lot of money for someone to carry your bag.

As for the course itself, personally it's not really my cup of tea. I played it in the 'Back on black' competition a few years ago as I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Great facilities, OK course.
 
drive4show said:
Please don't take this the wrong way (not intended to sound nasty!!) but are you good enough to hit it where the caddy tells you to? The reason I ask is I used to play in a society with a lot of guys who had cash to burn and very little golfing ability. They would often get caddies then slice the ball 50 yards right of where they were told to hit it.

If you can hit it where they say then great, go for it. If not, you are paying a lot of money for someone to carry your bag.

As for the course itself, personally it's not really my cup of tea. I played it in the 'Back on black' competition a few years ago as I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Great facilities, OK course.
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No offence taken mate. I would like think that on a good day I could. But not even the pro's get it right everytime. I think it is more about the experience than anything else.
 
Vardon11LDN said:
No offence taken mate. I would like think that on a good day I could. But not even the pro's get it right everytime. I think it is more about the experience than anything else.
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I'm sure you will enjoy the experience, just hope the weather is kind to you :thup:
 
drive4show said:
Please don't take this the wrong way (not intended to sound nasty!!) but are you good enough to hit it where the caddy tells you to? The reason I ask is I used to play in a society with a lot of guys who had cash to burn and very little golfing ability. They would often get caddies then slice the ball 50 yards right of where they were told to hit it.
Click to expand...

I played a strange course on Sunday. On one hole my PP, who had played there before, suggested the best line off the tee was either 10yds left of a fairway bunker or 10yds right of the same bunker. I stopped, looked at him and just started to laugh. Being that precise off the tee is not an option for me. I can't remember where I ended up but I aimed for dead centre of the bunker and I didn't end up in it!

I think having a caddie is a fun experience that we should all try at some point. It would make the day extra special no matter if you can exactly follow their instructions.
 
Played with a caddie twice now, both times at Wentworth. They are good for the old ego as give you praise etc and certainly make the round easier.

However, they do not know your game, your club yardage etc. So, sometimes don't be worried about arguing/debating and playing your own game. don't let them sway you into making a shot you are not 100% certain. They will know the course yardages and greens though, which is incredibly useful if you haven't played there before.

All in all, enjoy the day and believe you are Jason Day strolling down the fairway with your faithful caddie in tow!
 
Lucky enough to play there several times. Never had the use of a caddy and to be honest it didn't detract too much. If you have the option and the cash to pay for one then enjoy the experience. Why not?
 
I've played in Japan a number of times, caddies are part of the deal, always a little old lady who's been doing it for years. Absolutely amazing service, one caddie for 4 players but she somehow always seems to be beside you for your shot with the right club in hand. Goes scurrying off after balls in the brush, usually returning with a hand full dropped in the buggy for everyone to use again.... Clubs cleaned after every shot, balls marked and cleaned on the greens, and their reading of the greens is second to none - so good that my playing partners don't even crouch for their own look, they just play it as she tells them. The Japanese caddie san is awesome, don't know about the guys at the grove though......
 
Played in South Africa where its compulsory to have a caddie and i have met some nice ones in fact I can't remember having a bad one. Most valuable for me on the greens for giving you a read. Treat them like your best mate and you will get good service.
 
Doh said:
Played in South Africa where its compulsory to have a caddie and i have met some nice ones in fact I can't remember having a bad one. Most valuable for me on the greens for giving you a read. Treat them like your best mate and you will get good service.
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Likewise for Thailand where all the caddies are female. Invaluable if you get one who can read the greens well.
 
Played The Grove today. It was much better than I remembered it to be. The staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful, the course was in great condition and I played a reasonably good round - made all the more awesome by the Golfboard rental that I'd promised myself. Just added a review of the Golfboard in the review section here http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?80557-GolfBoard-getting-gnarly-on-the-golf-course.

By the way, we played the full course in 3 hours 10 mins....
 
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Tarkus1212 said:
Likewise for Thailand where all the caddies are female. Invaluable if you get one who can read the greens well.
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Friend of mine played in HK last year and he's of below average level and he knows it. Anyway, as they commenced the round the lady caddie was suggesting what club to take and my friend wasn't listening much and being adamant he knew best (3wood off the deck to get on in 2 on the par5 etc) and a few holes in she had got the measure of him so from the 6th hole he never saw her again. Just saw a club on the floor by his ball every time he walked up to it. Turns out they were having bets between themselves on the people they were caddying for!
He shot one of his better rounds too from the 6th onwards too!
 
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