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Post by andersnm on Jul 24, 2020 14:49:18 GMT
We continue in our break before the new game, and travel to Aberdeen and Scottland for the next event on Murcar Links Golf Club. Murcar Links Golf Club was founded in 1909 and the course was designed by Archie Simpson who also had designed the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. This is a classic links course, but not a monster with "only" 6500 yards from the back tees and par 71. The par 5's are however played as par 4 in big tournaments, so the course plays as a par 69 on those occasions. The version we are playing, are par 71. “Murcar Links is as fine a links course as you could wish to play” (Paul Lawrie, 1999 Open Champion) and adjoins Royal Aberdeen to its south side. With Cruden Bay a mere twenty minute car drive north, Murcar is without doubt, “a hidden gem” (Peter Alliss, TV Commentator; Former Ryder Cup Player). As always on links in Scottland - it will be windy  |
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Post by andersnm on Jul 26, 2020 19:37:12 GMT
First round was pretty good, though it was a bit of a mixed bag on the back nine.  |
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Post by polekatt/josia on Jul 28, 2020 1:06:24 GMT
I like the links courses like this but this one is trying to make me upset.
otherwise great rounds, except for a double in R1 and a triple in R2 spoiled everything because some of the greens have such bad breaks at the holes. Two holes put me 5 strokes down. I mean, in R2, hole 12, where I tripled. one of the putts the ball rolled right beside the hole, like three inches away, stopped, then started rolling back towards me. No hole should be on a slope that big.
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Post by andersnm on Jul 28, 2020 15:48:43 GMT
I like the links courses like this but this one is trying to make me upset.
otherwise great rounds, except for a double in R1 and a triple in R2 spoiled everything because some of the greens have such bad breaks at the holes. Two holes put me 5 strokes down. I mean, in R2, hole 12, where I tripled. one of the putts the ball rolled right beside the hole, like three inches away, stopped, then started rolling back towards me. No hole should be on a slope that big.
I do not think you had a tripple at the 12th in round 2 Josia - I think that it was on the 16th. I set medium green speed because of the slopes I knew where on the greens - and so far for me, it has played okay. Not too easy, and not too hard. I got par on that 16th, but I did see that it sloped a bit. Unfortunately, we will come across some bad pins. It is unavoidable - if we don't test every single pin on every course, which no one of us has the time to do. I think you have played this course well Josia on the first two rounds, and are hanging right in there. My second round was a semi-bad round, -1 the same as you Josia. Had a long stretch where I could not get the ball anything close - lots of chips and long lag putts, that followed after i three puttet the 4th for par.  |
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Post by andersnm on Jul 28, 2020 18:25:58 GMT
Round 3 and 4: even and -2 for a -8 total. Given that I don't do well on links courses - that is acceptable. Only bad pin I encountered was at the 12th in round 4 - so beware that Josia |
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Post by hammers1man on Jul 28, 2020 19:56:25 GMT
Won't be able to finish this week as I have a 19 v 19 team matchplay at the weekend and I need to work on my driving at the range. I was talking to a mate yesterday from Scotland who grew up near this course. Really nice looking course and tough greens and slow don't suit my putting so missed a lot of birdie putts but enjoyed the 3 ball with Anders and Polekatt.  |
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Post by andersnm on Jul 28, 2020 20:27:31 GMT
It's medium, not slow greens Paul Good luck on the matchplay |
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Post by polekatt/josia on Jul 29, 2020 0:12:44 GMT
I do not think you had a tripple at the 12th in round 2 Josia - I think that it was on the 16th. I set medium green speed because of the slopes I knew where on the greens - and so far for me, it has played okay. Not too easy, and not too hard. I got par on that 16th, but I did see that it sloped a bit. Unfortunately, we will come across some bad pins. It is unavoidable - if we don't test every single pin on every course, which no one of us has the time to do. I think you have played this course well Josia on the first two rounds, and are hanging right in there. My second round was a semi-bad round, -1 the same as you Josia. Had a long stretch where I could not get the ball anything close - lots of chips and long lag putts, that followed after i three puttet the 4th for par.
Its quite possible I got the hole number wrong! Remember I'm the guy that can't even remember the proper club names, I call them the "194 yard club" and such.
And I do know bad pin locations are unavoidable. I just like to vent sometimes when I come off the course. I never ever blame you guys that pick the courses for things like this though, you do a great job!!
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Post by SimChars1968 on Jul 30, 2020 17:10:07 GMT
Here are my scores for the four rounds. Pretty chuffed with that.  |
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Post by hammers1man on Jul 31, 2020 16:29:29 GMT
Here are my scores for the four rounds. Pretty chuffed with that. Well played Simon, great to see members raise their game, not sure I'd get close to that  |
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Post by SimChars1968 on Jul 31, 2020 17:17:29 GMT
Here are my scores for the four rounds. Pretty chuffed with that. Well played Simon, great to see members raise their game, not sure I'd get close to that Cheers Paul. Had a break from USE for a couple of weeks but took my strategy from playing this into my normal rounds and I am shooting really low there. I think when we use the aids we tend to overthink it and be too precise, playing USE I just hit the club yardage, I am always surprised how many decent birdie chances I get. I have got my confidence back and decided to come back to this and played really solid. |
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Post by hammers1man on Jul 31, 2020 17:29:59 GMT
Well played Simon, great to see members raise their game, not sure I'd get close to that Cheers Paul. Had a break from USE for a couple of weeks but took my strategy from playing this into my normal rounds and I am shooting really low there. I think when we use the aids we tend to overthink it and be too precise, playing USE I just hit the club yardage, I am always surprised how many decent birdie chances I get. I have got my confidence back and decided to come back to this and played really solid. The shorter clubs 8i up is where I really attempt the 95% and 90%. Good tool to have in the bag. I made alot of birdies in the last 3 tournaments from hitting it close with partials. The danger normally is hitting short not long when the game limits to 100% swing. |
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Post by SimChars1968 on Jul 31, 2020 18:24:59 GMT
Cheers Paul. Had a break from USE for a couple of weeks but took my strategy from playing this into my normal rounds and I am shooting really low there. I think when we use the aids we tend to overthink it and be too precise, playing USE I just hit the club yardage, I am always surprised how many decent birdie chances I get. I have got my confidence back and decided to come back to this and played really solid. The shorter clubs 8i up is where I really attempt the 95% and 90%. Good tool to have in the bag. I made alot of birdies in the last 3 tournaments from hitting it close with partials. The danger normally is hitting short not long when the game limits to 100% swing. Yes I have been dabbling with the partial shots and it's getting there, also getting quite daring with the deliberate fasts(draw) and slows(fade) on occasion, not sure I would risk it when it really mattered though! |
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Post by hammers1man on Jul 31, 2020 18:35:16 GMT
The shorter clubs 8i up is where I really attempt the 95% and 90%. Good tool to have in the bag. I made alot of birdies in the last 3 tournaments from hitting it close with partials. The danger normally is hitting short not long when the game limits to 100% swing. Yes I have been dabbling with the partial shots and it's getting there, also getting quite daring with the deliberate fasts(draw) and slows(fade) on occasion, not sure I would risk it when it really mattered though! Seems your putting is really improving. I do find people don't give no grid a proper chance. It does take alot of time to get a feel for the read of no grid greens. The reward is massive and I get a real buzz from holing difficult putts. - 14 is a really good score this week, I did find the course quite tricky especially the greens. Can't finish the tournament this week as I have alot on with a real team matchplay tournament tomorrow. Playing in a fourball and matchplay single. |
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Post by SimChars1968 on Jul 31, 2020 19:21:00 GMT
Yes I have been dabbling with the partial shots and it's getting there, also getting quite daring with the deliberate fasts(draw) and slows(fade) on occasion, not sure I would risk it when it really mattered though! Seems your putting is really improving. I do find people don't give no grid a proper chance. It does take alot of time to get a feel for the read of no grid greens. The reward is massive and I get a real buzz from holing difficult putts. - 14 is a really good score this week, I did find the course quite tricky especially the greens. Can't finish the tournament this week as I have alot on with a real team matchplay tournament tomorrow. Playing in a fourball and matchplay single. Yes I have found for me it helps on the putting cam to pan back a bit and look at the green obviously, but looking at the green edges and surrounding slopes has helped me massively. Also don't try to second guess yourself! You are right though it is very rewarding when you sink a good putt with no grid. Best of luck for your competition tomorrow. And good to see the 'Ammers end the season on a bit of a high, here's hoping for more improvement next season. |
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