New Golf Season - High Hopes?

Up in nosebleed territory after dropping 4 shots off the hc last month or two. Down to 12 from 16.5 at the start of the year after and broke 80 a couple of times. It's nice to finally make some progress after a couple of years stagnating.

Top 100 wise.

The Old Course
Muirfield
Dornoch
Carnoustie
Kingsbarns
Castle Stuart
Trump Intl
Cruden Bay
Gleneagles Kings
Machrihanish
Nairn
St. Andrews New
Brora
Elie
Rosemount
Fidra
Dunbar
Gullane 2
Fraserburgh
St. Andrews Jubilee
Leven
Dirleton
Monifieth
Kilspindie
Crail Balcomie
Roxburghe
Blairgowrie Lansdowne
Fortrose
Musselburgh
Tain
Glen
Cragielaw
Gullane 3


Made some pretty good progress this year. Been a good golfing year :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Hibs90

Up in nosebleed territory after dropping 4 shots off the hc last month or two. Down to 12 from 16.5 at the start of the year after and broke 80 a couple of times. It's nice to finally make some progress after a couple of years stagnating.

Top 100 wise.

The Old Course
Muirfield
Dornoch
Carnoustie
Kingsbarns
Castle Stuart
Trump Intl
Cruden Bay
Gleneagles Kings
Machrihanish
Nairn
St. Andrews New
Brora
Elie
Rosemount
Fidra
Dunbar
Gullane 2
Fraserburgh
St. Andrews Jubilee
Leven
Dirleton
Monifieth
Kilspindie
Crail Balcomie
Roxburghe
Blairgowrie Lansdowne
Fortrose
Musselburgh
Tain
Glen
Cragielaw
Gullane 3


Made some pretty good progress this year. Been a good golfing year :thumbsup:

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Well done you. My golf season has been hampered with various health issues and I'm only really starting to get back to competitive golf now.

Played Dunblane for the first time yesterday. A few funky holes on it and a bit scruffy . Not surprising given the weather. Every par three tough.,
Didn’t score. Not content with just bogeys they had to be doubles. All 7 of them.

Got down to 6.6 yesterday at age 62 but it’s going to be harder to get much lower as counting scores are now pretty consistent having gradually got rid of all the outliers

Been as low as 5.5 but that was 45 years ago under very different regime

I wish I knew as much then about how to manage my way round a course as I do now

Castle Stuart and Nairn this weekend. Can’t wait.

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Originally Posted by AugustaHibs

Castle Stuart and Nairn this weekend. Can’t wait.

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Never played Nairn but Castle Stuart is excellent. It’s gonna be some golf destination when the other course opens.

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Originally Posted by AugustaHibs

Castle Stuart and Nairn this weekend. Can’t wait.

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Jealous. Lived in Nairn for a while and was a member at Nairn Dunbar (loved it) but because of my postcode I could have played Castle Stewart cheaper and because of my Dunbar membership I could have played Nairn cheaper. Unfortunately at the time I wasn't enjoying my golf so never bothered. Would love to play them now.

Finally after over 10 years of struggle I'm playing better and getting some confidence. Broke my mental block of breaking 80 multiple times competitively so back down to a hcap of 8 for the first time since I was 17 after sitting at double figures for over a decade until the start of this year.

Moved to East Lothian so joined Haddington. Enjoying getting out 6.30am before work for a quick 9 holes a few times a week.

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Originally Posted by frazeHFC

Finally after over 10 years of struggle I'm playing better and getting some confidence. Broke my mental block of breaking 80 multiple times competitively so back down to a hcap of 8 for the first time since I was 17 after sitting at double figures for over a decade until the start of this year.

Moved to East Lothian so joined Haddington. Enjoying getting out 6.30am before work for a quick 9 holes a few times a week.

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I like Haddington as a course layout. No two holes the same, a fair test and I regularly play one or their two or three opens every year. The pro Scott is a top guy too.

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Originally Posted by greenlex

I like Haddington as a course layout. No two holes the same, a fair test and I regularly play one or their two or three opens every year. The pro Scott is a top guy too.

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Yeah been saying the same re. the layout. Like how each hole is isolated from the rest and unique. Quite a short course so birdie opportunities if hitting it well off the tee but plenty trouble and bunkers within driving range makes it a good challenge.

Oh well, I got round without any shanks today which is an occasion to behold. I shot 79-6=73, Rome wasn't built in a day but at least it's a start after my lay off.

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

Oh well, I got round without any shanks today which is an occasion to behold. I shot 79-6=73, Rome wasn't built in a day but at least it's a start after my lay off.

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:thumbsup:

Sad news to hear The Hirsel has shut its doors and declared bankruptcy.

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

Sad news to hear The Hirsel has shut its doors and declared bankruptcy.

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Very - and from what I hear there's little chance of a viable solution.

Hirsel is/was a decent enough course but was always susceptible to flooding and I know it was closed on numerous occasions over the summer.

Pat Nevin was a keen member there.

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

Sad news to hear The Hirsel has shut its doors and declared bankruptcy.

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

Very - and from what I hear there's little chance of a viable solution.

Hirsel is/was a decent enough course but was always susceptible to flooding and I know it was closed on numerous occasions over the summer.

Pat Nevin was a keen member there.

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Played it for the first time about three years ago. Followed that up with another couple of visits the following years. They did a three day golf festival I was a fan of. Nice wee layout with tricky wee scoreable holes on the original nine hole layout, even though not a fan of a blind par threes and some tough holes on the newer holes. Real shame.

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Originally Posted by greenlex

Played it for the first time about three years ago. Followed that up with another couple of visits the following years. They did a three day golf festival I was a fan of. Nice wee layout with tricky wee scoreable holes on the original nine hole layout, even though not a fan of a blind par threes and some tough holes on the newer holes. Real shame.

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I wasn't a fan of the 4 holes when you "cross the road" - probably because I've never played them very well. 😆

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I wasn't a fan of the 4 holes when you "cross the road" - probably because I've never played them very well. 😆

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Tough holes. You certainly had to golf your ball. I never either. :greengrin

Trip back to the states planned for next year. Looking forward to getting back to Baltusrol and Philly cricket on the east coast and San Francisco golf club, cal club and MPCC on the west.

Merion and Cypress Point are new to me and can’t wait to try them out.

Managed to get down to 11 from 16 at the start of the year. Happy with that as i’m only out once a week and being on the atlantic coast we can get som pretty whacky weather. When i lived in Scotland i got down to 7 but was playing nearly every day. 11 or 12 is fine although when i started playing again after 16year gap didn’t think that was gonna be possible.

Father in Law has finally invited me again to play the Burgess been a while but can’t wait.

Played Turnhouse yesterday. Really enjoyed it lots of interesting holes and all very different.

Probably going to look for a new course to join next year this definitely goes on the list.

Great clubhouse also.

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Originally Posted by patch1875

Played Turnhouse yesterday. Really enjoyed it lots of interesting holes and all very different.

Probably going to look for a new course to join next year this definitely goes on the list.

Great clubhouse also.

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A good few Hibs guys in there. Including .net guys.

I think that’s me finished for the year. Back in the spring. Didn’t play anywhere near the amount of golf I usually do. I even didn’t play a medal final at my home club on Saturday and passed a trip down to Turnberry yesterday. No idea what the hell is wrong with me. I’ve certainly lost my mojo.

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Originally Posted by greenlex

I think that’s me finished for the year. Back in the spring. Didn’t play anywhere near the amount of golf I usually do. I even didn’t play a medal final at my home club on Saturday and passed a trip down to Turnberry yesterday. No idea what the hell is wrong with me. I’ve certainly lost my mojo.

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I've not played as much this season either. 90% of that has been the pish weather and welcoming a new daughter.

Hopefully get more in next season.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Just_Jimmy

I've not played as much this season either. 90% of that has been the pish weather and welcoming a new daughter.

Hopefully get more in next season.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

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Congratulations. :thumbsup: I’m sure most of my indifference is weather related.

After not playing much at all this year i have really got the bug again, weekend away in Spain will do that to a man. When I get back out in the sideways rain I will remember why I didn't play much!!

I left Dunbar this season as i just didnt get the chance to play as much as I wanted to down there, moved away for a few years and even being back in Edinburgh it was still a real effort to get some golf in. Been looking at courses more central to Edinburgh to get back playing more regularly. Duddingston looking like a good offer just now.

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Originally Posted by Godsahibby

After not playing much at all this year i have really got the bug again, weekend away in Spain will do that to a man. When I get back out in the sideways rain I will remember why I didn't play much!!

I left Dunbar this season as i just didnt get the chance to play as much as I wanted to down there, moved away for a few years and even being back in Edinburgh it was still a real effort to get some golf in. Been looking at courses more central to Edinburgh to get back playing more regularly. Duddingston looking like a good offer just now.

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I am a member at both Dunbar & Duddingston & Craigielaw.

Following the appointment of a new GM, Duddingston has been much better this year and I am very hopeful that progress made will continue next year.

However as with all parkland courses winter golf is challenging condition wise.

Duddingston has just gone onto Preferred Lies with optional mats throughout course, I would imagine mats will be compulsory if we get any sort of wet weather.

Duddingston is a great summer course, IMHO the best layout by quite a distance of City of Edinburgh courses, but I will be honest enough to tell you that I have extremely limited appetite for winter golf there and will play Dunbar even of mats for the months they are in force in preference.

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Originally Posted by BSEJVT

I am a member at both Dunbar & Duddingston & Craigielaw.

Following the appointment of a new GM, Duddingston has been much better this year and I am very hopeful that progress made will continue next year.

However as with all parkland courses winter golf is challenging condition wise.

Duddingston has just gone onto Preferred Lies with optional mats throughout course, I would imagine mats will be compulsory if we get any sort of wet weather.

Duddingston is a great summer course, IMHO the best layout by quite a distance of City of Edinburgh courses, but I will be honest enough to tell you that I have extremely limited appetite for winter golf there and will play Dunbar even of mats for the months they are in force in preference.

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Thanks for the comments mate I appreciate it. Winter golf in Edinburgh is pretty limited one of the reasons why the offer isn’t that appealing.

Agree with you about the layout it’s great for mixing up rounds, managed to get a couple of rounds there over the summer.

Still got some friends down at Dunbar so hopefully can get a game or two over the winter.

You would be better off taking Edinburgh’s council winter membership and finding somewhere in the spring.

I’m at deer park which is a struggle in the winter looking for a winter membership elsewhere to hopefully get some decent golf in.

It's slim pickings around East Lothian/Edinburgh for memberships on the links courses. Waiting lists galore everywhere.

I've heard a rumour about Monktonhall apparently in some sort of financial trouble, asking members for some help. Real shame if so. Must admit, two years on the bounce I played in their open and the condition of the course was extremely poor.

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Originally Posted by Hibs90

It's slim pickings around East Lothian/Edinburgh for memberships on the links courses. Waiting lists galore everywhere.

I've heard a rumour about Monktonhall apparently in some sort of financial trouble, asking members for some help. Real shame if so. Must admit, two years on the bounce I played in their open and the condition of the course was extremely poor.

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I heard talk that the members of Winterfield Golf Course in Dunbar are looking into the feasibility of taking over the running of the course from East Lothian Council. Given the demand for golf in East Lothian I don't think they will be short of members should it come about.

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Originally Posted by Hibs90

It's slim pickings around East Lothian/Edinburgh for memberships on the links courses. Waiting lists galore everywhere.

I've heard a rumour about Monktonhall apparently in some sort of financial trouble, asking members for some help. Real shame if so. Must admit, two years on the bounce I played in their open and the condition of the course was extremely poor.

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Rumours are true

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/open-...threat-4814293

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I heard talk that the members of Winterfield Golf Course in Dunbar are looking into the feasibility of taking over the running of the course from East Lothian Council. Given the demand for golf in East Lothian I don't think they will be short of members should it come about.

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Dundee's only municipal course Caird Park to close:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yd35dz3l4o

It was always very well used back when we stayed in Dundee, but that was a good number of years ago now.

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Originally Posted by He's here!

Dundee's only municipal course Caird Park to close:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yd35dz3l4o

It was always very well used back when we stayed in Dundee, but that was a good number of years ago now.

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That's a shame, hopefully pressure can be put on the Council to reconsider the decision.

I've heard that the Winterfield members at Dunbar have voted overwhelmingly to take over the Management of the course from East lothian Council.

Does anyone have a centre shaft putter?

Putting is the worst part of my game, ive changed putters a few times, had a few putting lessons, but i'm still sheite.

My mate has one and he's decent, i tried it and it seemed more sensible hitting the ball with the shaft being right behind the ball.

I did seem to put better with it, but only had it for 10 minutes or so, i just wondered if anyone else has one and whats their opinion on it?

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Originally Posted by Hibs90

It's slim pickings around East Lothian/Edinburgh for memberships on the links courses. Waiting lists galore everywhere.

I've heard a rumour about Monktonhall apparently in some sort of financial trouble, asking members for some help. Real shame if so. Must admit, two years on the bounce I played in their open and the condition of the course was extremely poor.

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Heard that up to 50 of their members havent paid the requested levy and 75+ have intimated decision not to renew

Nearly 30 have already joined Duddingston

Captain & Vice Captain have apparently resigned

Hard to see it surviving

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Originally Posted by BSEJVT

Heard that up to 50 of their members havent paid the requested levy and 75+ have intimated decision not to renew

Nearly 30 have already joined Duddingston

Captain & Vice Captain have apparently resigned

Hard to see it surviving

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Yes there have been some resignations, possibly over their decision to scrap the joining fee to lure new members! Subs for a full membership this season just short of £1200! There is better options for less money out there


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Originally Posted by gordie18

Yes there have been some resignations, possibly over their decision to scrap the joining fee to lure new members! Subs for a full membership this season just short of £1200! There is better options for less money out there


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Tbh they need members urgently and will have to do anything they can to encourage folk to join.

Leaving because of scrapping joining fees seems to me like hastening the inevitable and makes no sense, you have paid yours and wont get it back and will likely need to pay another one at any new course.

There cant be many courses in the area without joining fees now as for most demand far outstrips supply and may have either huge or closed waiting lists, so there is maybe a market for them to tap into.

I don't mind Monktonhall once a year as there are some decent holes and would be sad to see it go.

Duddy will go to well over £1200 this year too but is an infinitely better course than Monktonhall, but is also far far too expensive for what amounts to 5 months decent golf.

Those of us who were lucky enough to join East Lothian clubs before the most recent boom can consider themselves very lucky or extremely prescient.

I hear Scotscraig are in difficulties with legal disputes with their lifetime members over there being charged fees once again and there is talk of their being purchased by Kingbarns owners.

Prestonfield are also apparently feeling the draft as are many more of the non coastal borders clubs.

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Originally Posted by BSEJVT

Tbh they need members urgently and will have to do anything they can to encourage folk to join.

Leaving because of scrapping joining fees seems to me like hastening the inevitable and makes no sense, you have paid yours and wont get it back and will likely need to pay another one at any new course.

There cant be many courses in the area without joining fees now as for most demand far outstrips supply and may have either huge or closed waiting lists, so there is maybe a market for them to tap into.

I don't mind Monktonhall once a year as there are some decent holes and would be sad to see it go.

Duddy will go to well over £1200 this year too but is an infinitely better course than Monktonhall, but is also far far too expensive for what amounts to 5 months decent golf.

Those of us who were lucky enough to join East Lothian clubs before the most recent boom can consider themselves very lucky or extremely prescient.

I hear Scotscraig are in difficulties with legal disputes with their lifetime members over there being charged fees once again and there is talk of their being purchased by Kingbarns owners.

Prestonfield are also apparently feeling the draft as are many more of the non coastal borders clubs.

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I think most of the parkland courses around here really suffer from wet conditions in the winter, last time I played at Prestonfield it was like a swamp with flags!

I’m with you, as an ex member at Monktonhall I like to go maybe once or twice a year for a change of scenery, I’m just wondering how much they are going to charge me as a “members guest” going forward


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Originally Posted by gordie18

I think most of the parkland courses around here really suffer from wet conditions in the winter, last time I played at Prestonfield it was like a swamp with flags!

I’m with you, as an ex member at Monktonhall I like to go maybe once or twice a year for a change of scenery, I’m just wondering how much they are going to charge me as a “members guest” going forward


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No doubt re Parkland courses, in the last year after spells of wet weather in the winter I played both Royal Musselburgh & the Roxburghe and neither should have been open.

I am not renewing at Duddy this year as I simply can't stand winter golf there.

Even after a very dry autumn it was very soft and muddy and greens have got some sort of fungal disease.

Golf is getting very expensive and counter intuitively it is bringing the premium courses like Archerfield that can still be joined (i.e. have no waiting lists) but have all year facilities much more into the conversation.

I hope it's not a sign of things to come but yesterday I was looking at a possible entry for a Seniors Greensomes Open at Goswick GC in Northumberland. The entry fee was £95!( £47.50 per head)

The prize fund was not great either so it's a case of nice course but on this occasion no thanks.

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I hope it's not a sign of things to come but yesterday I was looking at a possible entry for a Seniors Greensomes Open at Goswick GC in Northumberland. The entry fee was £95!( £47.50 per head)

The prize fund was not great either so it's a case of nice course but on this occasion no thanks.

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I think courses are finding every way they can to raise revenue just now, I fear that a lot more courses will go to the wall and that golf will be far pricier on those that remain through demand and supply.

There was strong evidence before Covid that more and more courses were struggling but the rigors of Covid isolation turned that on its head temporarily

Climate change and the fact that greenkeepers can no longer just dump whatever cheap chemical they wanted on courses to resolve a myriad of issues has made course maintenance far more intensive at a time where costs are driven up by a real shortage of folk wanting to get into the industry driving up wages.

It's the perfect storm and when those burgeoning members / waiting lists start to drop and income falls then the fertiliser will really hit the fan.

I have just joined Archerfield as for what it offers it's no longer as relatively expensive as it comparatively once was

By the time I give up Duddy and Craigielaw I will be about £20 PW worse off for infinitely better courses and facilities and experience and year round playability

I am pretty sure there will be growth potential in the underlying debenture over the next few years

Just received my welcome pack from lundin GC. Can’t wait to get started! The winter work they’re doing looks like it’s gonna take the course up a couple notches.

1st time with a club in my hand today at Archerfield since 1st September. It really is a nice place to play your golf.

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Originally Posted by greenlex

Played Dunblane for the first time yesterday. A few funky holes on it and a bit scruffy . Not surprising given the weather. Every par three tough.,
Didn’t score. Not content with just bogeys they had to be doubles. All 7 of them.

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Really fun course. Agree on the par 3s. One of them I was about a foot from making the green from tee, rolled off the bank and ended up with about an 8 😂

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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Well done you

If you can do it once ........

The difference between golfers isn't so much improving their good shots, its closing the gap between their good and bad shots

For a while I used to play with 3 goals - to break 90, to keep 7s off the card and to get a birdie.

Never managed to get all 3, would be a big ask now.

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to golf again though. I’ll definitely not be able to play a lot but a wee bit more than recent years would be nice.

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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Small goals and it will come.

I had my best round of the winter last week. Scratch 76 net 63 no double bogeys and no 3 putts makes a massive difference :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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:thumbsup:

Thanks everyone, I just go out there to defeat myself and my best score. I'm trying to limit the bad shots and blow up holes, I just get myself in stupid situations some times :hilarious

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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Well done, that's something else you can tick off.

Golf is a frustrating game to say the least , nobody has ever totally mastered it and nobody ever will.

You only need to look at the Professionals and see how their form can vary so much from day to day. It's a never ending challenge and that's what makes it the game it is.

In the meantime - ENJOY!

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Originally Posted by AugustaHibs

Just received my welcome pack from lundin GC. Can’t wait to get started! The winter work they’re doing looks like it’s gonna take the course up a couple notches.

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is their still a waiting list at Lundin

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I got my first ever Birdie yesterday, I felt like a real golfer for a minute. I still failed to break 100 though :idiot:

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I'm sure there's a stat that 90% of golfers fail to score 90 or less.

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I hope it's not a sign of things to come but yesterday I was looking at a possible entry for a Seniors Greensomes Open at Goswick GC in Northumberland. The entry fee was £95!( £47.50 per head)

The prize fund was not great either so it's a case of nice course but on this occasion no thanks.

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That is steep - but if there is a demand then you can't blame clubs for putting up their Open entry fees. Some popular Opens you need to be poised at the ready the very minute entries open in order to get booked before it fills up.
I started playing Seniors Opens just before Covid. At that time most were £10-15 entry fee, with the odd one at £20-25. The most cost effective way to play other courses. These days, however, it's rare to get one under £20 and the "bigger" courses are up to £35-40. Mind you it's usually still very good value when you compare with their standard visitor fees. What's also a pain is that more clubs seem to be switching to an online entry system which means you can only book one space at a time, meaning you can't book three spaces in order to play with your buddies. Maybe a consequence of some suspected jiggery pokery with scores?

If you're looking for a decent open to enter then I'd recommend Paisley. Cracking golf course

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

If you're looking for a decent open to enter then I'd recommend Paisley. Cracking golf course

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I always try to avoid going further west than Livingston and creeping into Weegieland. Dunbar and Kilspindie are two favourites. Played Crail last summer - first time in 35 years when I had a memorable round - but my much anticipated return round was totally spoilt by the incessant loud whine of engines from the nearby Raceway circuit. It was like playing the whole round with a plague of mosquitos right in your earhole. Maybe we were unlucky with the wind direction that day but I won't be going back.

If my body holds up I’m planning on throwing myself at golf this season. Didn’t play as much as normal last year.

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

Well done, that's something else you can tick off.

Golf is a frustrating game to say the least , nobody has ever totally mastered it and nobody ever will.

You only need to look at the Professionals and see how their form can vary so much from day to day. It's a never ending challenge and that's what makes it the game it is.

In the meantime - ENJOY!

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Thanks, I vary from hole to hole a lot of the time and the smallest thing can make such a huge difference.

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Originally Posted by Itsnoteasy

I'm sure there's a stat that 90% of golfers fail to score 90 or less.

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Found this

According to the National Golf Foundation, 55% of adult golfers can break 100. Only 29% of adult golfers report an average score of 90 to 99. This is much lower than the numbers provided by the USGA and is generally considered to be more accurate.

https://www.golfstorageguide.com/how...-70-80-90-100/

Anyone played much yet this year?

How are the courses looking after the winter?

This is the time of year I start to think about getting back out again.

Anyone played Kingsfield near Linlithgow? Heard today it is an excellent 9-holer with 6 greens staff! £30 for 18 holes on a weekday, £20 for Seniors. Not sure if these are winter rates but it sounds VG value.

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Originally Posted by Greenbeard

Anyone played Kingsfield near Linlithgow? Heard today it is an excellent 9-holer with 6 greens staff! £30 for 18 holes on a weekday, £20 for Seniors. Not sure if these are winter rates but it sounds VG value.

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Haven’t played it but it has some very good players playing their golf there so I would think it will be very decent.

I use the driving range there which has trackman bays and it has enhanced my golf game no end.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

Anyone played much yet this year?

How are the courses looking after the winter?

This is the time of year I start to think about getting back out again.

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I have played a few times in West lothian, I think the courses are in much better condition than last year. I don't think this winter has been as bad.

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Originally Posted by Greenbeard

Anyone played Kingsfield near Linlithgow? Heard today it is an excellent 9-holer with 6 greens staff! £30 for 18 holes on a weekday, £20 for Seniors. Not sure if these are winter rates but it sounds VG value.

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I played it a few years ago. A couple of my mates became members there when it opened although one of them has since moved on.

Good course, well maintained. I think they made drainage a priority when building so they could keep it playing optimally as much of the year as possible.

Downsides - only 9 holes. When I played it, it still felt a bit like a new course, not sure how different it will feel now that it’s had time to mature. It didn’t have a clubhouse then and felt a bit like a 9 holer tagged onto the driving range so had the feel of a practice facility rather than a club - may bother some more than others.

The holes were good though. A couple of tricky, long par 3s iirc. Course was immaculate when I played. My mates who were members became active members of the club straight away and spoke highly of the other members, really liked being members there, liked the people. And as has been said above, the driving range facility is first class.

I dropped from 16 to 11 last season. Have put in a bit of work over winter to try get down to single figures. A +8.5 differential at Gullane today leaves me with one more sub +10 round to take me to single figures and my 2025 goal knocked out already. The next challenge will be to maintain and try and improve on that throughout the year. I have only played 3 times this year so was nice to get out and see some evidence of the work I've put in. Not sure playing with traditional blades is helping me to be honest and I might need to switch to something a bit more forgiving in the irons and today could have been even lower.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

I have played a few times in West lothian, I think the courses are in much better condition than last year. I don't think this winter has been as bad.

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I’m a member at Deer Park. Agree probably been in better nick this winter but DP has been closed a lot of the time due to weather or storm damage.

Playing Harburn tomorrow as we might switch there from Deer Park also I’m probably going to join Leven to get another option and better golf through the winter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hibs90

I dropped from 16 to 11 last season. Have put in a bit of work over winter to try get down to single figures. A +8.5 differential at Gullane today leaves me with one more sub +10 round to take me to single figures and my 2025 goal knocked out already. The next challenge will be to maintain and try and improve on that throughout the year. I have only played 3 times this year so was nice to get out and see some evidence of the work I've put in. Not sure playing with traditional blades is helping me to be honest and I might need to switch to something a bit more forgiving in the irons and today could have been even lower.

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That’s really good going. Single digit is my aim currently 14 but slowly creeping down. I think a bit more distance on my drives will help, short game is fairly good but feel I struggle to get onto longer holes in 2. Going to have a driver fitting soon so will see what comes of that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by patch1875

I’m a member at Deer Park. Agree probably been in better nick this winter but DP has been closed a lot of the time due to weather or storm damage.

Playing Harburn tomorrow as we might switch there from Deer Park also I’m probably going to join Leven to get another option and better golf through the winter.

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Enjoy Harburn. My home club for the past 35 years. Don’t play over the winter as I hate mats so no idea what condition it’s in but over the summer the course has been in great nick the last 5 years or so. Best in 35 years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I hope it's not a sign of things to come but yesterday I was looking at a possible entry for a Seniors Greensomes Open at Goswick GC in Northumberland. The entry fee was £95!( £47.50 per head)

The prize fund was not great either so it's a case of nice course but on this occasion no thanks.

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For our annual Aberdeen weekend trip for 8 of us this year I’ve got us three rounds of golf and two nights hotel with breakfast for £185 pp

Hotel - Holiday Inn Express £76

Fri - green fee at Scotscraig on way up £58 (discount for 4B after 12 noon)

Sat - Peterhead Open £25

Sun - Montrose Open 4BBB Pairs on way home £25

Thankfully there is still good value to be had in Open competitions, and even the Scotscraig green fee is semi reasonable and makes for a very affordable weekend trip.

£185 wouldn’t get you 9 holes at some courses!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Carheenlea

For our annual Aberdeen weekend trip for 8 of us this year I’ve got us three rounds of golf and two nights hotel with breakfast for £185 pp

Hotel - Holiday Inn Express £76

Fri - green fee at Scotscraig on way up £58 (discount for 4B after 12 noon)

Sat - Peterhead Open £25

Sun - Montrose Open 4BBB Pairs on way home £25

Thankfully there is still good value to be had in Open competitions, and even the Scotscraig green fee is semi reasonable and makes for a very affordable weekend trip.

£185 wouldn’t get you 9 holes at some courses!

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I like Scotscraig. Good old fashioned course. Enjoy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Carheenlea

For our annual Aberdeen weekend trip for 8 of us this year I’ve got us three rounds of golf and two nights hotel with breakfast for £185 pp

Hotel - Holiday Inn Express £76

Fri - green fee at Scotscraig on way up £58 (discount for 4B after 12 noon)

Sat - Peterhead Open £25

Sun - Montrose Open 4BBB Pairs on way home £25

Thankfully there is still good value to be had in Open competitions, and even the Scotscraig green fee is semi reasonable and makes for a very affordable weekend trip.

£185 wouldn’t get you 9 holes at some courses!

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That's a great deal Mr T.

👍

Had a bit of a bad winter with being poorly and a bad back, so not played since end of October.

Started back on the 3rd of March and off my handicap of 7, hit 88 then 86, but last 2 rounds of 80 and 79 is getting back to normal.

Have a target this season to try and get down to 5, i doubt it if i will make it, but i do like to have a target each season and a challenge, something to aim at.:greengrin

We have a few senior opens we are going to this season, Preston and Clitheroe that i can remember at the moment, both are under £30 and both very good tracks. :top marks

Good to see Min Woo Lee has got rid of the Jambo and got a good Irish lad on the bag. I’m rooting for him at sawgrass after Bob of course.
As an aside I hit my first balls of the year in practice today. Not too many but relatively decent which is a worry.

The world has really been turned upsides down and lost the plot. Scottie Scheffler is chucking clubs around and shouting the odds at himself.

How many times does McGinley want to say Giddy in a broadcast?

Rory really does make things difficult for himself at the most crucial of times, 3 strokes to play with, with only 5 holes to play, and he's having to go into a playoff today in the players. Hope he wins,but it would not surprise me if he buggered it up again, so much talent, but does not seem to be able to get the job done enough for the positions he gets himself into.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs

Rory really does make things difficult for himself at the most crucial of times, 3 strokes to play with, with only 5 holes to play, and he's having to go into a playoff today in the players. Hope he wins,but it would not surprise me if he buggered it up again, so much talent, but does not seem to be able to get the job done enough for the positions he gets himself into.

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Agree. Short putts missed over the last year has cost him big time. Hope he gets over the line today
As an aside another top ten for Bob Macintyre which is good going

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs

Rory really does make things difficult for himself at the most crucial of times, 3 strokes to play with, with only 5 holes to play, and he's having to go into a playoff today in the players. Hope he wins,but it would not surprise me if he buggered it up again, so much talent, but does not seem to be able to get the job done enough for the positions he gets himself into.

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His lack of a proper caddie yet again cost him on 16. He doesn't need to hit driver their He could easily get there with 3 wood off the tee. Driver brought all the trouble into play.

He could do with getting Foster on his bag but he won't

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hibeg

Agree. Short putts missed over the last year has cost him big time. Hope he gets over the line today
As an aside another top ten for Bob Macintyre which is good going

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Bobs picked up just shy of 1.2 million dollars in the last two weeks. Decent work if you can get it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

His lack of a proper caddie yet again cost him on 16. He doesn't need to hit driver their He could easily get there with 3 wood off the tee. Driver brought all the trouble into play.

He could do with getting Foster on his bag but he won't

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:agree: The daft thing about that is he's wonderful with a 3 wood, why wont he get a proper caddie, it cant be money, it must be ego?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by greenlex

Bobs picked up just shy of 1.2 million dollars in the last two weeks. Decent work if you can get it.

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Just shy of 10m in 61 official events, hasn’t missed many cuts since early last season when acclimating
I see he is going next week to the DP Tour in the Far East , he does some travelling !

3 hole play off now underway. Mcilroy will be favourite but I'd like to see JJ win the title. He seems a quiet unassuming guy and if he does win then it will totally change the path of his career.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

3 hole play off now underway. Mcilroy will be favourite but I'd like to see JJ win the title. He seems a quiet unassuming guy and if he does win then it will totally change the path of his career.

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Clumsy putt on 16 there whilst in the box seat from Rory there.

Peekin at Rory’s bag there did Spaun no favours. I was actually shouting at the telly at Rory he had too much club but a wee three quarter swing was just the job. That’s gotta be job done.
Mind you imagine walking out today knowing you’ve bagged 2.75 million even if you chop it round the three holes.

Played the first 2 holes perfectly, and Spaun has been poor, Rory's to lose now.

Although after that put, what do i know?:faf:

Driver at the last and just smash it up there. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the trees.

He won’t have an easier play off.

The dreaded 17th hole more or less finished JJ's challenge.

He maintains he hit a solid shot but was caught out by the wind and really that was that.

First game in a while and possibly the worst golf in about 40years.

Alright chaps.

I have won a three ball with a member at North Berwick West Links in a charity auction, with the date to be arranged, hopefully in the summer. It's worked out at £200 per person, which is still around £90 cheaper than rack rate I believe. I don't have anyone for the other two spots at the minute so if anyone is interested please send me a PM.

If not allowed I'll delete this post but thought I'd offer it out. :aok:

Brilliant 😃👏…

https://youtu.be/5VDHVCa7zA0?si=KbTxa5QkVyAvwJCP

Holidaying up north this year. Contacted the local golf course who sorted out my 16 year old with an overseas membership for £30. Means he can play as much as he wants for nothing. Not bad for a club that charges £115 a round in high season. Really grateful to the club secretary for sorting this out. They'll make a few quid off me but at least I can relax about the boy's golf addiction bankrupting me.

I'm still struggling to come to terms with the fabled "World Handicapping System."

I'm an auld relic playing from a six handicap and the chances of me winning a prize in a competition are almost zero.
I'm no longer good enough to pick up a scratch prize and with the number of members playing with HUGE handicaps then the handicap prizes are also well out of reach for me.

Under the previous system I always enjoyed the personal challenge of trying to save "point 1" in order to prevent my handicap from increasing but that incentive is no longer there.

In addition, we'll all know that some folk are submitting a load of scores for handicap purposes only in order to inflate their handicaps, wait until there is a prestigious competition, then come in with ridiculously low scores.

So really, I'm wasting my cash on competition entry fees and social bounce games are now more my cup of tea

Grrrr!

😠

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Golden Bear

I'm still struggling to come to terms with the fabled "World Handicapping System."

I'm an auld relic playing from a six handicap and the chances of me winning a prize in a competition are almost zero.
I'm no longer good enough to pick up a scratch prize and with the number of members playing with HUGE handicaps then the handicap prizes are also well out of reach for me.

Under the previous system I always enjoyed the personal challenge of trying to save "point 1" in order to prevent my handicap from increasing but that incentive is no longer there.

In addition, we'll all know that some folk are submitting a load of scores for handicap purposes only in order to inflate their handicaps, wait until there is a prestigious competition, then come in with ridiculously low scores.

So really, I'm wasting my cash on competition entry fees and social bounce games are now more my cup of tea

Grrrr!

😠

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Yep it's so easily open to abuse. Not sure what the solution is but I'd abolish general play scores to start with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee

Yep it's so easily open to abuse. Not sure what the solution is but I'd abolish general play scores to start with.

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It's an interesting one, I agree entirely that general play scores should not be permitted.

We are now at the stage where those that submit a score every time they play criticise those that don't for not having representative handicaps

I come from an era where you had to put on your big boy pants every month and shoot a score on that given day

How folks handicaps aren't coming down in general is a mystery to me as without that pressure that this is your chance for the month, it must be easier.

There's no doubt that folk don't have the same view they once did, I have always striven to get my handicap as low as I can as more than anything I think that's a measure of the best golfer you can be, but a lot of folk I know want their handicaps as high as they can to have a chance at winning something.

I think they are deluding themselves if they think that that's winning, unless of course they have tried like a bear on each and every shot they have played in every single round that has contributed to their present handicap.

Don't get me started on the changes to course and playing handicaps

All of a sudden I am giving guys at Dunbar 4 more shots than I used to even though our handicaps have remained broadly static

It's a waste of time as Golden Bear says entering much.

One other thing I have found is that in yesteryear those of say 24 were truly terrible golfers who could do very little

That's not the case anymore

A guy at Archerfield won a recent medal by 4 having taken 44 putts of a high handicap!

9 times out of ten I will play a counting round. I do it unless the weather is pretty bad. (Usually don’t even play to be honest)
I’m of the it gives a more representative of your ability at any given time school if you do it most of the time. I qualify that by saying I play most Friday evenings during the summer with three work colleagues with a regular rotation over our 4 different courses. Harburn, Ratho Park, Baberton and Royal Mussleburgh. I also am fortunate enough to have a decent network of friends over some very good courses over the central belt both parkland and links. Add in Golf in Scotland events and I’m fortunate enough to play fairly regularly with a golfing society over high end venues. All these games are more than just bounce games and can more often than not get very very competitive. I caveat that by saying I didn’t play nearly as much as usual last season.
I am very much of the get as low as I can mindset rather than the other way and don’t understand the high to win mindset. Cheating plain and simple.
There must be a mechanism to flag the bandits abusing the system but probably no appetite to address it.
I have been as low as 5 after a purple patch over a good few weeks but I’m getting on a bit now and after a poor couple of years or so am up at 9 (I think). Couldn’t compete at 5 and 7,8,9 has been the default for the last 30 years or so.
This season so far the least said the better. Anyhoo I’m away to peg it up this afternoon. Enjoy your golf as best you can is the answer.

I play monday wednesday and friday with a good bunch of lads, we have our own little society.

We have a scoring system between us that says if you score over 36 points, your handicap comes down point 2 if you are under 10 handicap, point 3 11-20 and point 4 21 and above.

You get point 1 back if you score 33 or under.

My official handicap with the WHS is 10.6 and i put a score in every time i play, yet my handicap with my friends is 6.9.

There are certainly players who manipulate the handicap system, when i was at another golf course society, the amount of times i heard players say i need to score worse than an 85 to go up as an 84 was my 20th score on the list was shocking.

I dont know the answer, but like others, my games now are 99% against friends in our society who are being deducted much more fairly in my opinion with our system.

Agree the WHS system is too open to abuse, indirectly acknowledged by the R&A given their pronouncement earlier this week. Read a post not so long ago from someone saying they were no longer going to play open scrambles because net 48 was the winning score in his last comp.
The other issue that bugs me is that course ratings appear to have been determined by one single visit by two folk and I understand that courses are reviewed c. once every 10 years. Surely there is now enough data collected to assess how accurate a course's rating is. Do players from that club generally score well or poorly when playing elsewhere? And vv, do visitors to the course score well or poorly?

https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news...s4cFAr5Q5fJH3w

Talk of the devil!

Anyone play with a mini driver?

Been looking at the TM Brnr for a while and they seem to be in fashion as a few pros seem to carry them now and other manufacturers are bringing one out.

Driver has always been my weak point these are shorter and feel like a 3 wood with more distance and hopefully control, the shorter the club the better I hit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greenbeard

Agree the WHS system is too open to abuse, indirectly acknowledged by the R&A given their pronouncement earlier this week. Read a post not so long ago from someone saying they were no longer going to play open scrambles because net 48 was the winning score in his last comp.
The other issue that bugs me is that course ratings appear to have been determined by one single visit by two folk and I understand that courses are reviewed c. once every 10 years. Surely there is now enough data collected to assess how accurate a course's rating is. Do players from that club generally score well or poorly when playing elsewhere? And vv, do visitors to the course score well or poorly?

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Won the scramble at my club yesterday with a 52, definitely no cheating on our handicaps going on, just luck that we never had bad shots all at the same time.