Basically, we've been a bit busy here at golf101.co.uk.
Building works, a family holiday, yoga, and a bit of golf has gotten in the way.
Also, the dog ate my homework, the laptop slipped down the back of the fridge, and my bus was late...
With much to catch up on, here is a download of all things 'golf101' since that last dodgy piece with the tenuous link to Guess Who?
And as a picture paints a thousand words...let's mostly use those to cover the ground...
22nd April: golf101 starts 'marshalling' at East Sussex National Golf Course.
I've worked in offices with worse views...
A few hours 'starting' golfers from the first tees of the East and West courses at ESN is now part of the weekly routine.
It's quite a laugh and like airports, golf resorts tend to be populated with people excited and pleased to be there...unless things start backing up at the departure gate or on the runway...
23rd April: Eastbourne Downs plays Slinfold Golf Club (at Slinfold) in Round1 of the Sussex Birchwood Team Competition.
Slinfold win...but Eastbourne Downs GC go into the Plate draw...and beat Chartham Park in the next round...
Good luck against Royal Eastbourne GC this Saturday...a local derby, and on home soil!
24th April: A day of golf at Royal St George's.
What a treat, what an experience! Very kindly, a former colleague and I had been invited to be guests in a friendly fourball at RSG. A Sunday was selected in order that, in addition to first class golf, we could enjoy first class dining in the club house at lunch time!
I'd been a spectator at The Open in 2021, so to actually play the course was really special as it felt like I already had a little affinity with the place. The golf was great, lunch was fantastic, the company outstanding and all in all a truly memorable experience. Many thanks to Kevin for wanting to make this happen, and to Rob and Mick for your company.
5th May: It's a family affair at Moortown Open team competition (nr Leeds).
Youngest son caddied for oldest son who, after an eight month break from golf, birdied the par 5 opening hole. Matched by son-in-law Jack we were off to a good start. The two of them continued to hit massive tee shots backed up with tidy short games and putting skills.
I was largely a passenger as we combined to put together a team score that resulted in a creditable fourth place finish.
Moortown, a truly great track, (was designed by the renowned course architect Alistair MacKenzie and in 1929 it hosted the first ever Ryder Cup to take place on European soil.
Abe Mitchell and Henry Cotton were amongst those on the Great British side with Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen headlining the American team. Great Britain won the match 7 and 5.
Another bit of Moortown history also got our attention.
Being big fans of Wayne 'Radar' Reilly we were 'stoked' to find the card from his 3rd Round of the 1985 Car Care Plan International displayed in the club house.
A '2' and five '3's' on the front nine set up a brilliant 29! He would finish tied 3rd with Sandy Lyle - the Tournament eventually being won by Brummie David J Russell.
Lyle would go on to win the Open at Royal St George's later the same year...with Radar finishing T33 - his best finish at a Major.
In that1985 Open Riley (largely unknown at the time) was only a couple of shots back at the half way point. And this after to having to qualify the week before at Littlestone Golf Club.
This is how he described the challenge at Royal St George and The Open:
“All links courses are exposed, but Sandwich is seriously exposed. You can play Birkdale or Troon in bad weather, but Sandwich and Muirfield are so open. It just hums through there and it’s cold. The Yanks come over and halfway down the 1st must be thinking: 'What am I doing here?’ . You’re playing for the Claret Jug. That’s what!
I played ten. The Open was always the one for us Aussies. We had it on TV all the time. We talk about The Masters, but that’s 90 players. The Open has a full field that tees off at 6.30am and finishes at 4.20pm. Everyone gets a chance to win. You can get done over by the weather, but it’s the truest form of the game.
You go back to the hotel and the peace hits you. It really is the Holy Grail. The Dutch Open was always the week after and I slept for most of that week.”
6th May: spectating at British Masters The Belfry
Our golfing trip to Moortown was followed by a day at The Belfry. It was a chance to watch some of Europe's finest pros on the Brabazon course at The Belfry.
This year the tournament 'host' was Danny Willett. We followed his group for much of the morning and witnessed him put a fine seven-under-par 65 together - the low round of the day.
In the afternoon we mostly followed Robert MacIntyre and Lee Westwood's group. B Mac got it going on on the back nine to get himself above the cut line and into the weekend. Westwood was set to join him until his tee shot at the signature 18th hole found a watery grave. The weekend off for Lee then, but clearly he was already set for bigger pay days with his decision to participate in the new LIV (54) events no doubt already made...
11th May: Prince's Golf Club
I retraced my journey back to Sandwich from last month's trip to Royal St Georges. This time the destination was the club next door - Princes.
Son-in-law Jack and I had a spot in a Mizuno Pairs event played over the Shore and Dunes 9's of the 27 hole complex.
We didn't come first, but there were plenty of other 'firsts' for us during the day...
...first time playing Princes -which proved to be an excellent links course - befitting of a venue that hosted The Open back in 1932.
...first time playing in a Mizuno event. Pretty well organised and with plenty of 'extra' competitions to sign up to on the day (2's, Par 5s, longest drive, best four hole score...).
...first time using an 'on course' digital scoring system. One player in each group updating a bespoke event scoring app on their phones - creating a live leader board viewable out on the course.
We came in the top third of a field consisting of nearly 100 hundred teams - not too bad for our first go as a pairing. I'm sure we'll do some more of these in the future.
18th and 25th May - Inter League matches
Another opportunity to play team golf for Eastbourne Downs Golf Club. This time in the form of a local (East Sussex) Inter League competition.
A first match for me against Willingdon GC results in a win for me and my partner (and team captain - no pressure!) in the first match out. The overall team result is a tie.
The following week we play Mid-Sussex G.C on a very blustery evening - typical downs weather but not something our opponents are used to at their home track.
Captain Martin and I manage another win in the opening match - and this time the team result is a healthy win.
Next up is an away fixture down the coast at Cooden Golf Club - should be fun - but always challenging to play away from home...
And finally...
A couple of blogs ago I referenced DP World Fantasy Golf.
Here's the latest table in our little 'Swindle' league.
Good work 'Shoey' - the front runner for a number of weeks now.
Next time...
golf101 is resolved not to leave it another two months between posts.
Next time we will give you a rundown of last weekend's GIT Cup 2020.
It's like the Ryder Cup, with slightly smaller crowds, but, and if only fleetingly, with more space hoppers.
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