TXL
Q-School Graduate
As some of you know, I marshal at some of the tour events during the year, well, last week I was marshalling at the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath.
There was a bit, well a lot, of rain just prior to the start of the championship which provided us marshals with some entertainment - not only did the car park entrance turn into a mud pit, a truck delivering the beer got stuck in the mud right outside the Marshals HQ.
Took them 3 hours to get it out
On the last day, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was invited to participate in the am-am that was held today. The event was very low key as there was no real competition. The R&A/European Senior Tour had the course booked in case of weather delays, so they simply invited the companies that provided support for the event to send a team to play the championship course. The course was a composite course, 16 holes from the Old course and 2 from the New.
We were allowed to use any tee we wanted, the club had put all the normal tees back out but had left those used on Sunday out in case anyone wanted to play the course as the Senior had on Sunday. I teamed up with 3 other marshals, 2 of which were Walton Heath members.
Notice the GM Centenary sweater and head cover!
and yes, the polo is the GM polo!
Yes, we played from the championship tees. There was a breeze that kept the temperature on the cool side for the first half dozen holes. The course was playing very long even though it was dry and firm. On the holes where the drives were being measured, I managed to hit my drive 227yds into the wind and 271 yds downwind. The greens were firm and quick, just over 11 on the stimp, even the members said they were faster than usual.
Although I did not play very well, found too many bunkers, I managed to get round in 90 with the same ball!
The golf was rounded off with a great carvery lunch with wine - a really great day
There was a bit, well a lot, of rain just prior to the start of the championship which provided us marshals with some entertainment - not only did the car park entrance turn into a mud pit, a truck delivering the beer got stuck in the mud right outside the Marshals HQ.
Took them 3 hours to get it out
On the last day, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was invited to participate in the am-am that was held today. The event was very low key as there was no real competition. The R&A/European Senior Tour had the course booked in case of weather delays, so they simply invited the companies that provided support for the event to send a team to play the championship course. The course was a composite course, 16 holes from the Old course and 2 from the New.
We were allowed to use any tee we wanted, the club had put all the normal tees back out but had left those used on Sunday out in case anyone wanted to play the course as the Senior had on Sunday. I teamed up with 3 other marshals, 2 of which were Walton Heath members.
Notice the GM Centenary sweater and head cover!
and yes, the polo is the GM polo!
Yes, we played from the championship tees. There was a breeze that kept the temperature on the cool side for the first half dozen holes. The course was playing very long even though it was dry and firm. On the holes where the drives were being measured, I managed to hit my drive 227yds into the wind and 271 yds downwind. The greens were firm and quick, just over 11 on the stimp, even the members said they were faster than usual.
Although I did not play very well, found too many bunkers, I managed to get round in 90 with the same ball!
The golf was rounded off with a great carvery lunch with wine - a really great day
