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
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Spangles and I played our match at Kinghorn last Friday, accompanied by Niall Carlton.
The course was in wonderful condition - beige, firm and very fast. The standard of golf was reasonable, though Tony took advantage of early trouble for me at 2 (my drawn tee shot ending 60 yards down the hill on the left) to take an early lead which he never surrendered. After he took advantage of the shots he was receiving around the turn, I found myself 4 down. A back nine fight back culminated in a birdie at 15 bringing it back to one down with three to play but Tony drove the short par 4 16th and his birdie made it 2 up with 2 to play. The finishing par 3s were, in these conditions, brutal. My bogey at 17 was enough to take the game down 18 but between the three of us 5 tee shots failed to find the putting surface (I have no idea how, in those conditions, the 18th can be held, and with the short grass and first cut running as they were, I think the best play was to aim for the right side greenside bunkers). We both found our first efforts in thick rough but Tony did a far better job of extracting his and he took the match two up.
Hopefully others will be getting their games played so that we can get this competition completed this year.
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Yes well done Tony and hard luck to Mark. Kinghorn was as much fun as the first time I played it. Maybe not a great course but great fun to play.
Niall
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Yes well done Tony and hard luck to Mark. Kinghorn was as much fun as the first time I played it. Maybe not a great course but great fun to play.
Niall
Great to see you both and what a day we had for it. More on the course below but it's a brilliant match play venue and even at 4 up, once Mark found his game and made a strong challenge, I never felt comfortable.
What fun! Kinghorn is hard to recommend to people you don't know well, because its definitely quirky.
Against?.
Yellow tees play at just over 4636 yards.
There are 7 holes "listed" as Par 3's ( ;D ) (But 2 par 4's are over 420, and a third 460 - no par 5's)
I struggle to single out any of the holes as 'great'.
For
Proper links turf
Smallish greens with interesting slopes.
snow mogul fairways
interesting elevation changes and intelligent blind shots.
Not a single hole is a clanger. Even the 3(?) post war holes were interesting (certainly when the course played f&f like that/).
You'll have to decide for yourselves if the difficult No 2 and "impossible" No 18, are pluses or minuses. To me they are the former and next time I play them I'll change at least one of my club selections and see if that helps??? The experience of playing here is far greater than the sum of its parts.
Forget Anstruther etc. At £25, yes I'll repeat that, £25! standard weekday summer green fee this is the bargain in Fife and one of the best bargains in the whole of the UK&I. It maybe hard to hard to make the case for it being a great course, but equally if you aren't obsessed with conformity, its hard to argue it doesn't provide excellent, exciting golf? Can't wait to get back.
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While Mark, Tony and Niall were at Kinghorn last Friday, David McIntosh and I were just a few miles along the road at Burntisland.
It really was a glorious summer's day and the ground was running as fast as the pro who checked us in had ever seen. Morris, Park and Braid have all had their hands in creating the course we see today and, sparing their blushes, they have done a fine job.
We played off the yellow tees and it came in 5,554 yards. It's a parkland course with a pretty good smattering of trees but the ground always runs fast I am told so the ground game is your friend here.
There was a delightful amount of quirk to enjoy all of the way round. The 10th is one of the most bewildering holes I've seen for a long time. The pro had warned us before the round that, given how fast it was running, it would be a mid iron over the pole and then another blind shot with a short iron in. What he didn't warn us about was the wall very tight behind the green, the 'reverse' wall in front and a devilish bunker just in front. Glorious!
Another highlight is the 17th. Optically bizarre from the tee, you are hitting a wedge into a 'really cool/funky suspended punchbowl green' (the words of Clyde Johnson rather than me). It was glorious. A driveable par 4 to finish things off just added to the fun.
I knew nothing about Burntisland before turning up but will be recommending to folk on a Fife trip in the future. £20 to play, smiles on our faces all the way round.
To the vulgar matter of the result...we both turned up for our early tee time a little rushed which didn't make for the highest quality of play out of the traps, as evidenced by our initial tee shots. But things settled down and we had a good game. I was able to close David out with a couple to go but we spent more time yabbering than worrying about the match safe to say! Great company on a cute course on a lovely summer's day - what more could we ask for!
I look forward to playing the winner of Gallant/Reader in the next round. Both players I have lost to in style before.
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Sounds like a firm fast Summer Burntisland/Kinghorn double would be a great short trip!
I must get to Burntisland. Anywhere that Rihc was a fan of must be worth a visit. Next Summer, maybe.....
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Folks
A gentle reminder. We're a good way through the season and still quite a few matches to be played.
Niall
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Niall,
After several efforts to arrange a date (but mostly inactivity from me I'm afraid) I've given Ian our match. Unfortunately my diary didn't pan out as I thought it would this year and I've not been north of the border as much as I thought I would.
Cheers,
James
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James
Sorry to hear that but hopefully we'll see you some time before the years out.
Niall
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kDQ112XLSMXXS9uLXPQz30jWPndLvvAYxuGK_Z9RpZ4-OksnBXY5_FuuRs0cEYbx4-6uFdVDro-wdBGrplF0_kTrmFHjymAYVMZ_yI9C1QpmdeByU45c7UcDvyHb2Wyake_HfrdwHctR6XcVh8d_NgrCOAAarlRu6ajmcDqfnij2U68c49hOTXXmyPEeKSg2cXzH8nSikgMvx16E5ekz5y6aR4WLxIMgD_MVVHb0KXlB_0GGz1GrEZwY7JZoy3qhXWID0jkFi6pGceG4T1oyuTqcb09VD0DgCwYfcLIqacUYs-FgghsSccs4QvCX32dYeC69hklRaOzHeBrjrv43bP6uXbT0T18NgXXHx4AupajwHA6s9aD7ww29mqPbPm1dlMxn3cqvx6Gy5PbQ--6CNGHFArELq69CadvR2un4pq_2tiZednwadCOA6-qnXDiYQnV4BGTHcaIIFLYNoo_jwl5eYQR9v3ibQnfqEm0fAym-aJguuyrY-P5Rw4qcXuvRZj4EA5KkAzAvHOnNRQ2pzaPNyzRclEHkPRxpoDKRtwgFTe4YNCLoFEfBJc7xqQEVWv2Fo6diyzWRnCAWNWYUeOheAesm0C8chx9wgiJjI2-lWqjn5VfPUxU6AaSGp974pGIAyroaYAi3DEG9FT97XbyUNVjHs0DzbhLa8RsDZOFRi5iQFfTD7mosGJPIGmqpG3c6GW3DK-CcFsThyO6Jt3NjXpXvrB9qoiSU36Xdn8FM-rynAwsLf_96b2xJFD2NcunxX63Ttu5hIoyQpxilkhYZX2UQ_v1GX8p6=w1213-h937-no?authuser=0)
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I’ve been trying to contact Tim Gallant for a while with no success. Has anyone heard anything from him in the last few months?
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I’ve been trying to contact Tim Gallant for a while with no success. Has anyone heard anything from him in the last few months?
I'm alive! Just came back on your DM :)
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Likewise ongoing family crise at this end and other work stuff means that I am going to have to cede our tie to Adam.
Many apologies all round and good luck for the next stage!
Richard
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I’ve been trying to contact Tim Gallant for a while with no success. Has anyone heard anything from him in the last few months?
I'm alive! Just came back on your DM :)
Delighted to hear it Tim! I’ve replied and look forward to getting our match played soon.
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Repeated attempts to get a game organised with Sean have proved fruitless and I have reluctantly accepted his offer to concede.
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A glorious November day for golf, James Reader and I finally met for our much overdue match (entirely my fault!). I lured James to the West Links in the hopes of taking advantage of home course knowledge, but his play proved to be much too strong as he took the match 1up.
The quality of the golf was very strong, and I can't imagine James was more than a few over par the whole way around. The best shot of the day was James' superb iron into Redan, which landed and trickled out to about 5 feet.
Well played James, and I look forward to seeing where you and David play your next match.
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Thanks for a great day Tim. It’s always an absolute treat to play North Berwick and it was great to finally meet.
My shot into the Redan was definitely the highlight although Tim was too polite to mention that I missed the putt. In fact thinking through my round as I was driving back I realised that I didn’t actually hole a single putt in the entire round. I know we often complain that “i didn’t hole a thing” but today that was literally true - 18 gimmes! I hope David is feeling equally generous with his concessions in the next round!
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The practice Round at Ladybank must have helped!
;)
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Since I'm out of the country until May 2023 I'm out... obviously!
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KfYRRt4LJRG8zOyvbo2cNJfkwgskK_Tmu3DrdOE-Sp9F7ooPL1rYeU7tCt-gC2kVRnTZDNB2Ua7PHYbCBblEjcmabU7YQcmgU50aSGn_WfE4-IoAOP_f-DwOzvSXymxwQ_PK50qDD9I4QnzVm5eueDIpoRZXMCOsLMOf23q1rhSBwNIbRrrUPNaXnMSqXWBnp95_udckOnE0dG_TLnOE_wJ7Cm3j8QfPKDYrkAAyXJn-TPX9yrme6xJNnmNCCa7LIBLvVjXqZ3_5vRy7oxvy7LViskdqmqKirFX8SgjHYacyE6ccJ0GanlSGVIO_LYQrJvkcjhNMVj8ON_GNkcGoZdHbZb7pIYagZsrKuDRnj1DbjivER74cT7Kgv3ch75jc3-yPTIzjcJQx3aUeohKPynIT-J0LHwSmByfSVI3oRWxuAuzFBFfX6nXzKNNEgNLbsg9oV4Z61tieY98eTD3cbeTxIxuW7QbxvESIQpUiuqREyFFig3oy4W-0x-kRr4BzcwtH4cDJcBFLFELJAIX5WHA5rJM-qfO8zl8kOJyD9xS3JCYGsomayloKxs3TKLdqDQ68e3ix0UIssAauboK-qmtP3myjHWX4I2jcQ70PNwgNDB0uREWo-ltFBChHZJ7441Ad21IYDs272Cc4inTZPVZvcLf4r0qBw5M9py-YrJBkV1beK_kKt-G7xYtDO_Nldy93FIeC9UO2zvwowbRFvRLa9RPSYEmh-TQE2ojb39bTC0MfvznR-iqIeCnQKEkvds-QgcGaNFdjaUHuS7VMVCyQIJ1Tv4QQbeJopsDYFkftRDsINMGpLf5jzxc6fUFqMwO64uGYUgyOirlvgP1kYOfdkzdXJKOvsv3rmLgQIGi87r1VdSg7ERLUvHijGwQDREjwKBK99j1wFYo1NwXsx-F_zDku2BC9Cud7hjw8DsiSn5FKtkoei7jRCZ2hzasYv3CSCrDVU21FWAyZTRwtvA=w1213-h937-no?authuser=0)
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In case anyone fancies joining us, after an aborts attempt pre-Xmas, Tony and I have scheduled our match for Monday 6 March. We will be playing at Royston GC on the Herts/Cambs border.
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David and I are hoping to play our match in March as well.
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I believe it’s commonly accepted by all educated people that there are two occasions where there are no set rules on the format:
1 a knife fight
2 matchplay
Thus it was that when Adam Utley and I finally managed to arrange our match over the 9 hole Reigate Heath, we agreed the front 9 would be played with Hickories and the back whatever took your fancy. Both of us immediately regretted this saying haven’t hit them in ...
Come the appointed day and it was threatening rain, but our referee Professor Lupin ordered us to start off the Blue tees. Those who have played with Adam will know what a fine golfer he is and by the 3rd hole he was on a run of Pars. One difference was that I found bunkers and Adam wisely avoided them! I felt fortunate to be only 2 down at the turn.
So we moved back to the White tees and adjustment took a little while. Adam completely flew the first green, flirting with OOB at the back. Meanwhile my failure to putt up the false front meant a missed opportunity. I got one back at the second/11th and now the match only had one hole in it.
This was enough to awaken the inner Utley. The 3rd now 12th was playing 216 yards uphill – 2 shots. The 13rd is SI 1, 446 yards - 3 shots! I got strokes on both and was now 3 down! I got one back but the good Professor observed our handshake on the 16th green giving Adam a fine 3&2 result.
This is the second GCA knockout in a row where he’s put me to the sword. The good news is that he’s now emigrated to the North, so at least delaying when we might next meet in “the Quaich”.
The scorecard states “Take care – walkers and riders on the course; make sure no one is in range before playing a shot.” This is easier said than done on a Friday morning, never seen so many dog walkers ambling wherever they fancied with no care! The course played well despite a long cold winter and recent rains. The fairway coverage is a bit patchy, but I’m sure will quickly recover and the greens were true.
Reigate Heath is close to the M25 and is well worth visiting. Yes it’s a bit short but all holes have interest. The run of 3,4,5 is the most interesting and testing stretch, though I also really like 7 a well bunkered short par 4, where we faced a challenging rear pin. Some lovely views, and its worth noting a £40 green fee for a Surrey Heathland Course is a very pleasant surprise in 2023.
Congratulations Adam, my hopes rest with you.
(Note Adams 3 on the 4th/13th would have been an eagle if either he'd achieved it on the front nine or had self declared a change of sex PRIOR to playing the hole. ;) )
PS Professor Lupin has confirmed she has accepted my invitation and will attend Buda 2023.
Nice tour here
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64197.msg1593670.html#msg1593670 (https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64197.msg1593670.html#msg1593670)
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Well done Adam and hard lines Tony.
By my calculation only 5 more games before we have last years champion !
Niall
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaVtdgwaC94gksl5BFC-4G9X5jhS5PGzRtJBbS2-tlaj8JDKLHWfwKmeJCkPuAq1nF1OEjz1shFzFdqsOupaKMdgkhWBB2fvO4Banv0s6NHlSxsYjXlIqykQ8O26MwcVA4DvGpt9CztCCH4h6tZajOjvXOA2YXOVUorb_Y_n-uGeCvR6-bkl6Gn7xAeK6kOYiGoH7-kG3Sg_PmSvOJihXWx8kmXVjw_C0j1w_BXse5CNWO1Y6WamSvUbznELo3wiSzYvh5bxFhijpyWckG7T-1FEYbC88Pi4YadJSxRsinlYIqcKKrkL2jfLvu9xz_Yy9a2DvZHy4ElPzf5KQVe6g4_3-HnALp4VuLUzJ8pR-UTXMAmgnU4PHm21WNWsf6HMG6qUrt3KZco-idskFhnsH74pKk_r95pgLyX4QRnSfJEVhcQ5YDNQP6QmcJGCRJuWegmEjdkPcwBrjtNk_AFdt7GQ-QXABIZJfzo4proqt0FO3p7pj76Ycqc6YjfA0R46VUEHRFRccKxK3GY_41Z3zpVv1dFdTTGrD2NadGz8hwTifAYfCuJiS017CW8rx90liyQ-9WdAyn4knkFU_4PdOdys1DgE87KJSmAEWWAOw41w1bxsnCb8hRgVSk-BS9Jw_AOegfju2-FZN13giep4SMZN2zliaqIY50nbR6EGK-2mVmGPgzSK8iHq-5XPGCi2XlL1kZWC4ODPUl24HnqVOAaeTBfP1n7JntXrSV_s6NhjcHdGziOzgMPmaGgXRMyvY9jw7g5NbSIxtGiLo_Q_eh3r9CV5APe6kcDBscwCxwkGrRFPntrZywErMk7auQ9EC8kxwg-Yc1Oegj8G3uGszftkeWP72xv4MWA82kIEdDVFuPdDKvpQC5GDr2XDyXE74kvz-UxmwqjvBh_aAnNFWN7gk5WE6bV4YRr7gIQkWfoKspZY7O2guk-tN-HOQA=w1213-h937-s-no?authuser=1)
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Well done Adam and hard lines Tony.
By my calculation only 5 more games before we have last years champion !
Niall
Gosh... I shouldn't have dropped out! It seems I would have been back in time to continue before the 2024 event begins. ;D
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Thanks for an excellent game, Tony, and for your patience in getting the game organised rather than allowing me to concede to you. It was a great way to make my hickory debut and see how the course differed between the two types of clubs.
I quite liked the course, especially on the clubhouse side of the road, without it being top drawer.
On reflection it wasn’t a relaxing place to play golf simply because of the dog walkers coming from any direction at any time. It felt like the first time I tackled the magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead!
I believe it’s commonly accepted by all educated people that there are two occasions where there are no set rules on the format:
1 a knife fight
2 matchplay
Thus it was that when Adam Utley and I finally managed to arrange our match over the 9 hole Reigate Heath, we agreed the front 9 would be played with Hickories and the back whatever took your fancy. Both of us immediately regretted this saying haven’t hit them in ...
Come the appointed day and it was threatening rain, but our referee Professor Lupin ordered us to start off the Blue tees. Those who have played with Adam will know what a fine golfer he is and by the 3rd hole he was on a run of Pars. One difference was that I found bunkers and Adam wisely avoided them! I felt fortunate to be only 2 down at the turn.
So we moved back to the White tees and adjustment took a little while. Adam completely flew the first green, flirting with OOB at the back. Meanwhile my failure to putt up the false front meant a missed opportunity. I got one back at the second/11th and now the match only had one hole in it.
This was enough to awaken the inner Utley. The 3rd now 12th was playing 216 yards uphill – 2 shots. The 13rd is SI 1, 446 yards - 3 shots! I got strokes on both and was now 3 down! I got one back but the good Professor observed our handshake on the 16th green giving Adam a fine 3&2 result.
This is the second GCA knockout in a row where he’s put me to the sword. The good news is that he’s now emigrated to the North, so at least delaying when we might next meet in “the Quaich”.
The scorecard states “Take care – walkers and riders on the course; make sure no one is in range before playing a shot.” This is easier said than done on a Friday morning, never seen so many dog walkers ambling wherever they fancied with no care! The course played well despite a long cold winter and recent rains. The fairway coverage is a bit patchy, but I’m sure will quickly recover and the greens were true.
Reigate Heath is close to the M25 and is well worth visiting. Yes it’s a bit short but all holes have interest. The run of 3,4,5 is the most interesting and testing stretch, though I also really like 7 a well bunkered short par 4, where we faced a challenging rear pin. Some lovely views, and its worth noting a £40 green fee for a Surrey Heathland Course is a very pleasant surprise in 2023.
Congratulations Adam, my hopes rest with you.
(Note Adams 3 on the 4th/13th would have been an eagle if either he'd achieved it on the front nine or had self declared a change of sex PRIOR to playing the hole. ;) )
PS Professor Lupin has confirmed she has accepted my invitation and will attend Buda 2023.
Nice tour here
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64197.msg1593670.html#msg1593670 (https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64197.msg1593670.html#msg1593670)