Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Niall C on February 16, 2022, 11:23:40 AM
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Could anyone interested in entering a UK singles matchplay comp as in previous years, please make themselves known. As previously I imagine the initial draw might be in two halves, one for the north and one for the south, so it would be handy if you could indicate a preference.
Niall
Those signed up so far;
Mark Pearce (N/S ?)
Tony Muldoon (N/S ?)
Niall Carlton (N)
James Boon (N/S)
Tim Gallant (N)
Mike Whitaker (N)
David Jones (N ?)
Sean Arble (S)
James Reader (N)
Adam Uttley (N/S)
Ben Stephens (N/S)
Robin Hiseman (S)
Duncan Cheslett (N/S)
Ian Galbraith (N)
David McIntosh (N)
Richard Fisher (S)
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Count me in Niall!
And isn’t there a rule that if you create the OP, you ARE the organiser?! ;)
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Well said Tim and well volunteered Niall! ;)
Please count me in!
If numbers arent ideal and it would help, I could probably arrange to play most of my rounds north of the border if that helped, as I've regular visits that way.
Cheers,
James
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Niall - I'd like to participate as I'm going be in country late May until late Sept. If those dates work for me to be a participant, then please include me. If it would be cutting things too fine, then leave me out. No worries.
I will be based in North Berwick again this year, so I would be in the "Northern" bracket.
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As an unbeaten finalist from 2020 (no matched played though) I feel compelled to enter. Thanks for organising us Niall!!
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I am interested as a southern bracket guy.
Ciao
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Count me in.
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Count me in. I live in Sheffield and happy in either bracket depending how many we need from each bracket.
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Add me in - I am in the Midlands so could either be in the North or South bracket
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Add me to the Northerners please.
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Count me in.
Sorry, should have said that the North bracket would be best for me.
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Thanks James, duly noted.
There are still a few well kent faces who have yet to throw their hats into the ring but hopefully they will do so.
Niall
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Mainly South. Thanks Niall.
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In the South please.
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My preference would be South
Cheers
Ben
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Count me in Niall!
North or South. Manchester is bang in the middle!
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Well done Duncan. Ideally we could do with 3 more entries to bring us up to 16. Any other candidates ?
Niall
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I’ll have another go Niall and thanks for organising. North bracket for me please.
I think Ian also put his name down but isn’t on your list in the OP.
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Thanks David and yes Ian has reminded me !
Niall
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We could do with another southerner to balance things up nicely.
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Agreed. If we get one more then we'd have 16 which would be an ideal number for the draw.
Niall
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Niall
Happy to be the missing Southerner
Thanks v much for organising...
Richard (based in Cambridge and can offer the Gogs but also Huntercombe in England)
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Good man Richard. I'll organise the draw with the help of a couple of able bodied Committee men (Whitty/Mark - expect an email).
I should say that the idea behind this is obviously to give GCA'ers the excuse to meet up for a game but also to try and take the road less travelled by going to courses neither have played before and then reporting back on them. If you can drag along a couple of other GCA'ers to make up the fourball then all the better.
Niall
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Well done Mike, and I look forward to playing you in the first round !
Niall
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Bump, just as a friendly reminder now that we are getting into better weather and longer nights.
Niall
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Another bump. Anyone played their first round match yet ?
Mike W - when are you arriving so that we can get our game organised ?
Niall
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Niall - I’m currently in Deal. Arrive in North Berwick on 30th. Good to organize match anytime after that. Call or text 07482162681.
Whit
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Niall - I’m currently in Deal. Arrive in North Berwick on 30th. Good to organize match anytime after that. Call or text 07482162681.
Whit
I have $20 on Whitaker!!
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Niall - I’m currently in Deal. Arrive in North Berwick on 30th. Good to organize match anytime after that. Call or text 07482162681.
Whit
I have $20 on Whitaker!!
Lightweight. I'd put my mortgage on Whitaker ! ;)
Niall
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Niall - I’m currently in Deal. Arrive in North Berwick on 30th. Good to organize match anytime after that. Call or text 07482162681.
Whit
I have $20 on Whitaker!!
Lightweight. I'd put my mortgage on Whitaker ! ;)
Niall
Oh yes. The smiling assassin charms you with that dazzling Southern accent (and LOUD socks) all the while grinding you down so easily you don’t even notice that you’ve just been shafted 10 and 8.
F.
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Niall - I’m currently in Deal. Arrive in North Berwick on 30th. Good to organize match anytime after that. Call or text 07482162681.
Whit
I have $20 on Whitaker!!
Lightweight. I'd put my mortgage on Whitaker ! ;)
Niall
Oh yes. The smiling assassin charms you with that dazzling Southern accent (and LOUD socks) all the while grinding you down so easily you don’t even notice that you’ve just been shafted 10 and 8.
F.
STOP IT!!! I have no chance now!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, Mike and I played our match yesterday on Gullane 1 with Ally McIntosh accompanying us as scorer and architectural adviser ("yes Niall, I think you're in a bunker").
Mike and I decided we would play from the medal tees which might seem foolhardy for a couple of older geezers with various ailments but with the course having plenty of run, and the wind helping at times, it never felt like a slog or that the course was simply too big for us. As always the Gullane turf was a joy to play off and while I think I've seen the greens in better nick they were more than acceptable. The rough was challenging. Not that we lost any balls that I can remember but because of some of the wispy strands of grass in the semi it was often difficult to gauge how the ball would come out. Overall the course was in very good condition.
As for the match itself I managed to race in to a two hole lead with a birdie par start while Mike just lipped out for his birdie at the first. He struck back immediately with birdies at the 3rd and 4th to bring the match back to all square.
While the rest of the match didn't quite live up to that flying start, other than a couple of holes the golf wasn't too shabby with Mike managing another birdie while I managed an eagle courtesy of a chip in at the 12th.
By the time we got to the last hole the match was all square. Three shots later for each of us, Mike was sitting 10 feet from the hole and I was about 4 feet. Mike duly knocked his in for his par (never in doubt) and I then just about managed to do likewise. So end result after all that huffing puffing is that the match was halved and we will play another match at a venue and date to be decided.
Any suggestions and any offers to come and join us welcome.
Niall
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That was great fun, Niall, wasn't it! Our blazing start had Ally wide-eyed I think, until reality kicked in and we returned to our "normal" games. Your eagle chip-in on 12 was a thing of beauty. Without my hot putter at the end (and my handicap advantage 8) ) I wouldn't have lasted until the end and pulled a draw. Your "new" swing is spot on and I think you have a lot of good golf in front of you.
Really looking forward forward to our rematch!!!
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Ben Stephens and I eventually got around to meeting up and playing our match at the lovely Stoneham Golf Club, on the outskirts of Southampton. Neither of us had ever been there before, which in my case is a big miss, as I only live 45 minutes away.
Our day at the club was arranged courtesy of the Course Manager, Matt Plested. We arrived 90 minutes early to meet Matt and be shown the beautiful new Stoneham Golf Academy, created between the 1st and 18th holes to a design by James Edwards. It is a tremendous addition to the club, created entirely out of imported inert fill up to 25 metres deep in places, which has raised a narrow valley into an expansive, state-of-the-art practice facility. We didn't have time to use it beforehand, but after our game Ben and I went down there for a good session on the range and short game area. Thanks also to head pro Ian Young and assistant Georgie Mundy, who both made us feel very welcome.
To the golf, played on the warmest day of the year. Both Ben and I played respectably well, without firing on all cylinders. Ben went into a 3up lead on the front nine before I pegged him back to all square as we headed into the back nine. It see-sawed back and forth between Ben being 1 Up and All Square through various mishaps rather than sparkling play. Ben lost a couple of balls and I played the wrong ball, until the short par 3 16th when Ben knocked it to 4 feet and my par wasn't enough to prevent him going 1up with 2 to play.
The 17th was notable for a bizarre incident, the likes of which I have never seen before. I was lying 7 feet from the hole in 3, needing to win the hole to have a chance of taking the match. Ben was through the back of the green, also in 3. Putting from the deep fringe, Ben did a double hit, immediately shouting out that was what he'd done. I called back and said it was no longer a penalty shot. In the meantime, the ball tracked lazily across the green and dropped into the hole for a 4! Ben was mortified and somewhat embarrassed with his luck and graciously conceded my par putt. We double checked on my phone that my understanding of the rules was right and went to the gruelling uphill 18th hole with all to play for.
Ben prevailed 1 Up when he holed a solid 8-foot putt to halve the hole.
Well done Ben! He moves on to play the winner of Sean v Duncan.
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Ben Stephens and I eventually got around to meeting up and playing our match at the lovely Stoneham Golf Club, on the outskirts of Southampton. Neither of us had ever been there before, which in my case is a big miss, as I only live 45 minutes away.
Our day at the club was arranged courtesy of the Course Manager, Matt Plested. We arrived 90 minutes early to meet Matt and be shown the beautiful new Stoneham Golf Academy, created between the 1st and 18th holes to a design by James Edwards. It is a tremendous addition to the club, created entirely out of imported inert fill up to 25 metres deep in places, which has raised a narrow valley into an expansive, state-of-the-art practice facility. We didn't have time to use it beforehand, but after our game Ben and I went down there for a good session on the range and short game area. Thanks also to head pro Ian Young and assistant Georgie Mundy, who both made us feel very welcome.
To the golf, played on the warmest day of the year. Both Ben and I played respectably well, without firing on all cylinders. Ben went into a 3up lead on the front nine before I pegged him back to all square as we headed into the back nine. It see-sawed back and forth between Ben being 1 Up and All Square through various mishaps rather than sparkling play. Ben lost a couple of balls and I played the wrong ball, until the short par 3 16th when Ben knocked it to 4 feet and my par wasn't enough to prevent him going 1up with 2 to play.
The 17th was notable for a bizarre incident, the likes of which I have never seen before. I was lying 7 feet from the hole in 3, needing to win the hole to have a chance of taking the match. Ben was through the back of the green, also in 3. Putting from the deep fringe, Ben did a double hit, immediately shouting out that was what he'd done. I called back and said it was no longer a penalty shot. In the meantime, the ball tracked lazily across the green and dropped into the hole for a 4! Ben was mortified and somewhat embarrassed with his luck and graciously conceded my par putt. We double checked on my phone that my understanding of the rules was right and went to the gruelling uphill 18th hole with all to play for.
Ben prevailed 1 Up when he holed a solid 8-foot putt to halve the hole.
Well done Ben! He moves on to play the winner of Sean v Duncan.
Thank you Robin for the match - I know I was rather lucky to win the match your putting was not firing on all cylinders and playing the wrong ball on hole 12 was really unfortunate. It was rather hot and dry however Stoneham conditioning has come leap and bounds compared with Sean's photos back in the early 2010's its down to their course manager Matt Plested who has done a great job. It did exceed my expectations and is better than some well known courses in Surrey.
Stoneham is not for the faint hearted as lots of holes are up and down as some courses in Southampton are like (having played Romsey Golf Club 5 miles away) which add spice to the layout which was well designed by Willie Park jr.
The 17th Hole is like a mirror image of the 11th at Merion - with the inert fill banking in the background created for the new Academy and range area makes the green stand out more. However will probably not have a moment like I had from the back of the green by double hitting the ball and put my hand up and alerted Robin it was a double hit then realising that the ball was about to go into the hole which was a fluke! So picked Robin's ball up for a half to carry the game on the 18th.
Would definitely recommend Stoneham to fellow GCAers its worth the trip.
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Whitty - my surname actually ends with a 's' 8)
Look forward to seeing more results coming up on the board as its the middle of June
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Mike and I played our return match on Gullane 3 today and it's fair to say Mike was in charge throughout being 5 up at one point. I was dormie 4 but managed to extend the match to at least within sight of the clubhouse when Mike closed me out on the 16th.
While not as good a match as the first one, it was a pleasure to meet up with a couple of mates (FBD was official scorer this time round) to play on Gullane 3, the first time I've played it for several years. The course was as firm and brown as you'd want and the greens were as good as I can recall.
It was also the first time playing the new par 3 18th which is a definite improvement on what was there before.
Niall
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Mike and I played our return match on Gullane 3 today and it's fair to say Mike was in charge throughout being 5 up at one point. I was dormie 4 but managed to extend the match to at least within sight of the clubhouse when Mike closed me out on the 16th.
While not as good a match as the first one, it was a pleasure to meet up with a couple of mates (FBD was official scorer this time round) to play on Gullane 3, the first time I've played it for several years. The course was as firm and brown as you'd want and the greens were as good as I can recall.
It was also the first time playing the new par 3 18th which is a definite improvement on what was there before.
Niall
Niall - as always, I had a great time with you. I definitely got the upper hand early due to my hot putter, but it was a spirited event the whole way and loads of fun! And, it was a fabulous bonus having FBD along to oversee the match!
G3 was definitely "firm & fast," and with the 15-20 mph winds we experienced it took a great deal of judgement (and luck ;) ) to get round the course. G3 is such fun and deserves more respect than it gets from the general public. I think too many judge it by its card without giving it go, in favor of more "traditionally" configured courses. I've never felt slighted or short-changed by playing G3... just the opposite.
Looking forward to teeing it up vs James or Ian. Cheers!
Mike
PS - sorry for the missing "S," Ben. I know better!
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Mike and I played our return match on Gullane 3 today and it's fair to say Mike was in charge throughout being 5 up at one point. I was dormie 4 but managed to extend the match to at least within sight of the clubhouse when Mike closed me out on the 16th.
While not as good a match as the first one, it was a pleasure to meet up with a couple of mates (FBD was official scorer this time round) to play on Gullane 3, the first time I've played it for several years. The course was as firm and brown as you'd want and the greens were as good as I can recall.
It was also the first time playing the new par 3 18th which is a definite improvement on what was there before.
Niall
Niall - as always, I had a great time with you. I definitely got the upper hand early due to my hot putter, but it was a spirited event the whole way and loads of fun! And, it was a fabulous bonus having FBD along to oversee the match!
G3 was definitely "firm & fast," and with the 15-20 mph winds we experienced it took a great deal of judgement (and luck ;) ) to get round the course. G3 is such fun and deserves more respect than it gets from the general public. I think too many judge it by its card without giving it go, in favor of more "traditionally" configured courses. I've never felt slighted or short-changed by playing G3... just the opposite.
Looking forward to teeing it up vs James or Ian. Cheers!
Mike
PS - sorry for the missing "S," Ben. I know better!
Mike,
Lots of people in England spell my name with 'v' rather than a 'ph' ::)
Also look forward to playing either Duncan or Sean in the next round.
Cheers
Ben