Your biggest audience on the course?

[theeaglehunter]

I normally like playing in front of an audience, and have played in front of nearly 2,000 people playing football, and didn't mind at all as I am fairly confident in my ability. Golf however is a different kettle of fish, I am fairly new and lack any sort of confidence so even the slightest attention from an onlooker not in my group and I completely duff it. Having said that, when I teed off in front of about 20 people when I was third or forth group out in a society day I hit a brilliant 5 wood to about 220 yards, before playing over a tree and onto the green.

 

[Dodger]

played for my county as a lad in the english finals where I played against Howell who was the big fish at the time and my partner was Ken Ferrie,must have been anything from 1 to 200 watching at various times and I dont recall being that nervous......fast forward to 2006 and champ final 36 holes and only maybe 30 watching but remember being nervy indeed.......oh to be young and fearless again!!

 

[julsk10]

I played against Ballymena last year in the Ulster Cup. One of their juniors is only 13/14 and plays off 1 or 2. They were saying it always gets a great reaction when he plays belfast and district and the opponent sees this wee boy standing thinking he is in for an easy match. He is meant to hit it an absolute mile. In relation to this post in the home leg mine was the last match on the course and I needed a half to stop it going to extra holes, with 30/40 people following match Iduely obliged although the other boy missed a putt he should have holed

 

[RGuk]

Golf....um....40? maybe....on the first at a busy P & P.

Pool.....150 at a proper tournament

Not golf or Pool......um......26,000,000 (26 million) on some euro TV channel......I kid you not. Needed to buy new boxers the next day.

 

[John_Findlay]

You're Daniel O'Donnell, aren't you, Dave, aren't you?

I knew it, I knew it.

 

[Boabski]

he might be the guy who presents Euro-trash john

 

[TonyN]

Spill dave.

 

[Nico]

Bit like Htl I played rugby in front of few thousand most weeks (sadly I was finished before he was born) and I performed better for it.

As for golf,we won Surrey 5's some time back and I played in the semi. Total of 10 people watching and I was cacking myself! Hands shaking could barely hold my bats,I think the difference is that I could actually play Rugby but know I am rubbish at golf.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not played in front of many people - maybe 30-50 in club champs and South London Cup Final.

I have caddied in front of thousands and whatever the TV audience was. Years ago there use to be a pro celeb charity event at Moor Park which ITV use to televise (think Renton laidlaw did the commentary). Anyway long story short got there early on the premise of getting autographs of top players and celebs (was only about 16). Got to practice ground and this guy was moaning his caddy hadn't arrived.

Without thinking I said I'carry for him. Turned out he was some big shot businessman who had paid to get into the event and was paired with Torrance and Wogan.

Even though I wasn't playing I was scared to death onthe 1st. Hung onto the coat tails of Torrances caddy who really helped me and gave me some great advice on the way round (nearly changed my mind about turning pro and wanted to caddy on the tour instead)

The bloke was OK (can't for life of me remember his name) and Torrance was quite approachable but Wogan was such an arse - so far up himself. Wouldn't sign any autographs or pose for pictures. Never liked him since

 

[Dave3498]

I'm always surprised at those videos we see of nervous celebrity golfers who make a pig's-ear of it on the first tee. The former US Vice President Spiro Agnew comes to mind when he hit 3 successive balls off the tee into the same part of the crowd about 5 yards on his right. Why do they always tee the ball up again? The are perfectly entitled to play the first ball from where it finished. There was a similar clip of a young woman doing this on the Golf Channel. Why do they do it?

 

[viscount17]

That's an easy one Dave. They are used to having editing control with the out-takes ending up on the cutting room floor and think only the good bits will be shown.

That said, you can't blame them for the first tee nerves, no matter what camera or crowd experience they have. Once on a tee they are out of their comfort zone.

 

[MikeTimbers]

I played in a society vs society day and the entire group (around 60 people) congregated at the first to select four-balls. As the low handicap there, I was made to tee off first playing with the two captains and their low-handicapper.

I skied a three-wood to the ladies tee! The opposing captain made a sarky comment about my handicap while the entire crowd called for me to prove my manhood.

I then made the green from the Ladies tee and parred the hole, birdied the second and third then parred the fourth (the stroke 1 hole) by which time the opposing captain was apologising for upsetting me.