[QUOTE=“chewy louie, post: 988465, member: 1137”]How do I go about getting an official handicap?
I played my second round on Saturday, hit 65 for the front 9 which was pretty shit as I wasn’t concentrating but stepped it up a bit on the back 9 and it took me 50 shots to complete including 10 shots on the par 5 18th which pissed me right off as the other 8 holes were quality golf by me.
I plan on playing another 18 holes tonight and will be very disappointed if I don’t complete the course closer to 100 strokes than 115[/QUOTE]
Dont bother counting scores, get a few lessons so you get the basics grip, stance etc right, go to the range twice a week and play, even 9 holes twice. Itll take a while but you’ll improve.
A round of 106, 34+ par for the 18 holes this evening. Driving was good tonight but a few of my pitches from short enough range were too short and too many 3 putts cost me. I will go round in less than 100 next time, of that I am sure.
At the moment, shooting that kind of score, you’d have to be wearing a skirt to get a handicap. 34 over par on some public flat track in the North of England would translate to about 60 over on a challenging Irish course and they wouldn’t let you near it if you were going to hack it up like that.
Don’t bother your bollix with lessons. A club pro would see a fella like you coming a mile off and would want to block book about 20 lessons for you with the promise that you’ll be hitting it further than Bubba Watson this time next year. If you know a few fellas that are playing to a decent handicap try to fall in with them for a couple of rounds. Any few worth their salt will be able to give you a few tips to help you get to a level where you can shoot decent scores and start enjoying the game. Practice chipping and putting for a start. Then when finished practice chipping and putting some more.
Played 9 holes this morning and despite having two heavily bruised fingers on my left hand I played some wonderful golf, including getting my first ever eagle putt attempt which I subsequently birdied on the 298 yard par 4 from what can only be described as a magnificent drive. The sore fingers actually seemed to help my game as i seemed to concentrate more and take more time due to them and I now have my driving sorted.
4 double bogeys, 2 bogey, 2 pars and a birdie for a score of +9. Need to get some more practice in with the irons though
[QUOTE=“chewy louie, post: 994097, member: 1137”]Played 9 holes this morning and despite having two heavily bruised fingers on my left hand I played some wonderful golf, including getting my first ever eagle putt attempt which I subsequently birdied on the 298 yard par 4 from what can only be described as a magnificent drive. The sore fingers actually seemed to help my game as i seemed to concentrate more and take more time due to them and I now have my driving sorted.
4 double bogeys, 2 bogey, 2 pars and a birdie for a score of +9. Need to get some more practice in with the irons though[/QUOTE]
You were probably trying not to hit the driver too hard with the sore fingers resulting in better contact with the ball. The trick now is to recreate that when your fingers are not sore. Trying to bate the skin off the ball doesn’t make it go any further you’ll soon realise.
Get down to west clare. Spanish Point is nearly always dry.
It is nowhere near as good as lahinch or doonbeg but a nice links challenge all the same and the views are great. If you play midweek, you could have the place to yourself. Although, I think the older members have a comp every Tuesday.
I am no longer a member of a golf club. I had to give up the game when I developed chronic arthritis. Huge choice of courses. Hollystown, Corballis and Elm Green are cheap and cheerful. Luttrelstown is a bit more upmarket and is very good vfm if you are getting it for 30-40euro
St margarets is a lovely course and is often cheap on teetimes as its in nama. Great course. Just beside the airport. Portmarnock hotel and golf links course is same. Round is normally 50 there on teetimes. Very tough links.
