Tags: Golf, Round, Play, Carnoustie, Course, Championship, Scotland, Stableford, Birdie
As I write this edition, my mates & I have just finished booking 3 days play at Carnoustie (Scotland) in May 2008.  This is in the form of a package deal with the Burnside on the 3rd, Buddon Links on the 4th, finishing on the 5th with a round on the Championship course.  Caddies are a must for the whole experience.  (we are also getting older, bag getting heavier).  The cost to each of us is a staggering £145.00 ($299) Cheap as chips! 
I hear tell if you manage to play to your handicap (stroke play) on the Championship course you are presented with a medal in celebration of the achievement.
http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/ind ex.php

A £1 coin & a Pro V1
I played with a friend on Wednesday, he insisted we play Stableford.   He is reluctant to give any shots if he can help it.  It started out as a frosty morning, cold but no breeze.  Wrapped up against the weather, I tee'd up on the first, pulling the shot to the left.  Second shot went straight into the heart of a collection of gorse (ball gone) I was not looking for that one.  From then on it was all good.
My card.
Hole           1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18    Total
Par             4   4   4   4   3   5   3   4   4    5     3     4     4     4     4     4     3     4       70
Score         7   4   4   5   4   5   4   5   3    6     6     5     4     5     5     5     4     3       84
Points        0   4   3   2   2   3   2   2   4    2     0     2     3     2     3     2     2     4       42

To cut a long story short, he won the £1 for overall points (beat me by 1), but I took his Pro v1 with my birdie on the last.

Tags: Bogey, Birdie, Round, Lob wedge, Golf, Putt, Tee, Green.
Yesterday (Sunday) I went down to the club for our weekly dose of self-abuse (was at a football match on Saturday). 
As we walked into the clubhouse to register for the Comp, we spied the notice board. It read "Winter Tees now in Play, Preferred lies on all fairways (mats = horrible immitation grass strips).  We were filled with shock & awe. 
Our Greenkeeping staff have managed the course in a fantastic way this year with one exception (I feel).  They didn't roll the tee boxes during last winter.  Hopefully they will take advantage this year.  They have prepared Teeing areas in front of or beside the normal boxes, but they are still very uneven for the most part. As a result we are either standing above or below the lie of the ball.  We can take great consolation in the fact that we still play the normal greens.
The comp was an "Enter on Arrival" played to "Bogey" format.  Easy enough for the brain cells, it's a + for birdie, 0 for par, and - for bogey.  It dosen't take a lot to keep track of the scores.  My playing partners play off 7 & 16, while I am still off 20 (age & medical condition dictates), they were not very amused with the format, at least in stableford they have a chance to score at every hole even when they aren't playing so well.
I played a steady round, but only managed to return a score of +1, but they were feeling totally dejected after carding - 6 & - 9 respectively. 
Back in the club house we performed our usual autopsy on the round, and much to my delight I found I hit 12 out of 15 fairways from the Tee & 10 greens in regulation.  My Putting was a bit haphazard in places, but my chipping around the green was very good.  I was only in one bunker from which I was up & down.
65nlovenit gave me some great advice for using my lob wedge on this site (big thanks & respect) which has helped me immensely.
All in all it was not a bad day, with the only real downside being having to play off the mats on the fairway.  I do make some poor iron shots from them.  I do play very good F/way woods from them though. 
At least I have gotten over my recent injury (thanks to all who showed concern) and can now fully enjoy the game again.  My days off work fall mid-week so I will be back!

Tags: Stableford, Par, Birdie, Bogey, Golf, Course, Card, Round, Score, Points
Today I arranged to play with a couple of friends who had time off work.  We made the 1st Tee at 09.00am with great weather, no wind, none of the predicted rain, broken sunshine.  We decided to play Stableford format.  Now this is something to my advantage as I am currently playing off 20 while they are off 10 & 16 respectively.
My drive off the 1st was ugly, in the light rough to the left of the Fairway.  I thought the Golf Gods were going to take their revenge for my previous outing, but I managed to scrape a bogey for it.  From then on all went well and I finished with a very impressive 44 points.  However, we were all square on points on the 17th when John pulled off an incredible Chip-in for Birdie.  I thought OKay, I am the only one of the group to have a shot on the 18th and usually not far away, so might pull off the draw.  Sadly it was not to be as John again pulled out another Birdie.  I ended up losing a £1 coin & my Pro V1 to him as did Gary our other companion.  John carded 47 points & Gary had 39.  All in all, it was a very good mornings golf.

My card.
Hole           1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18    Total
Par             4   4   4   4   3   5   3   4   4    5     3     4     4     4     4     4     3     4       70
Score         5   4   5   5   3   5   3   5   3    6     4     5     6     4     5     6     4     5       83
Points         2   3   2   2   3   3   3   2   4    3     2     2     1     3     3     1     3     2       44

Tags: Golf, Round, Score, Putt, Par, Birdie, Bogey, Swing, Hole
I am currently on a weeks holiday (vacation) from work.  I am getting in as much golf as possible (wife permitting).  Over the past 4 days I have played 1x9 holes & 3x18 holes.  I have played in one tournament (the Bogey) and the rest have been Bounce games off the Yellow Tees.  Yesterday (Monday) I played out of my skin and went round 10 below handicap. 

Hole  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18   Out   In    Tot

Par    4  4  4  4  3  5  3  4  4   5    3    4    4    4    4    4    3     4     35   35    70

Score 6  5  4  4  3  6  4  4  4  6    4    4    5    5    5    4    3     4     40    40    80


My swing was consistant, my putting near perfect, my mindset was clear of any negativity.  The weather was very mild for our time of year, with no wind & some sunshine.  I could almost see every shot I intended to make.  My playing partner didn't fare so well and my game seemed to have an effect on his.
Who knows when the Golf Gods will exact their revenge.  usually when you least need it.

Tags: Golf, Round, Score, Par, Birdie, Bogey, Coffee, Handicap
Being a Sunday, our club holds an "Enter on Arrival" comp for its members. 
Todays format was 'Bogey', that is to say you record a + for a Birdie, 0 for a Par, - for a Bogey.  (handicap adjusted)
I played to front nine reasonably well and had a score of +4, then I began the homeward stretch.  Try as I might, I could not improve my score and was getting annoyed with myself (I tend to mumble a lot to myself or go really quiet) so much that my playing companions actually commented on it (sorry lads).  I played holes 10 - 15 to par and then "the worm turned".  I Bogied the 16th & 17th to drop two points.  The 18th loomed ahead, I pulled out my driver, determined not to leave my self anywhere short.  My tee shot finished about 20yds in front of the Green, I chipped on only to see my ball run 20+ft past.  I then 3 putted to finish on +2 for the round.  I shook hands with the lads and walked silently back to the car.  I was constantly looking around for a dog to kick (no such luck).   My companions recorded scores of +5 & +7.  They both played very well and steadily through out which with hindsight is amazing given my demeanour towards the end of the day.

The only ray of sunshine in my day was that I didn't have to pay for the Coffees & Bacon Rolls.

Tags: Card, Score, Result, Round, Play, Birdie, Par, Bogey. Course, Golf
Todays  (Sat) Card
Hole         1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12   13  14  15  16  17  18
Total Par  4  4  4  4  3  5  3  4  4    5    3    4    4    4    4    4    3    4    70
Score       5  4  5  4  3  7  4  5  4    7    4    3    4    5    5    5    4    4    83
I came off feeling I could have done a lot better.  2 x 7's which are card busters, plus 9 other bogies. 
I did have 1 birdie and felt good for a while.  Golf is the cruelest of sports.
My Drives were all on the fairway but my short game & putting really let me down. 
I was either lifting up or rushing through the swing. 
To cap it all off, I had to buy the Bacon Rolls but not the coffee (we play farthest  from the pin with 2nd shot on the 18th pays), that was down to Vic this time. 
The weather was Sunny, a warm 14*, slight SE breeze. 

No game on Sunday as the Ladies Section are holding their annual Open.  But I will go down to give moral support.  Some very talented female golfers in our club & have a fair following.

Mid-week Medal on Wednesday to look forward to.

Tags: Round, Score, Shot, Par, Bogie, Birdie, Course, Golf
Well here it is, Todays round.  The weather was very good, sunny with no wind.
I played with 2 other guys one of whom brought a new twist to the game.  He explained that when he plays with his usual squad, they play for the ball on the 18th.  I had never heard of this before, it was either beers, coffee, or lunch, even a quid.  I noticed he teed up with a different ball when we got there.  But he won the lot any way.

Hole    1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18   Total
Par      4  4  4  4  3  5  3  4  4    5    3    4    4    4    4    4    3    4     70
Score   6  5  5  5  3  5  4  5  4   7    3    4    5    6    4    5    3    6     85

It's a strange game!