The Official NPR Golf Thread

[Sandstorm]

Just come back from the Trevose May Festival. 3 days tournament, 48 teams of 4, the winning team won by 14 shots from nearest challenger. Absolute disgrace.

There's always one group who take it seriously, stay off the booze and play the front 9 better than the rest of us fun-types.

[Blackmac]

Just back from our trip to Spain. The courses were a refreshing change from what we are used to in Turkey. Torrequebrada, Santana and Rio Real being the highlights. It was interesting that we appeared to have got a grip with the Turkish courses and regularly played too or better than our handicaps. Spain was a different kettle of fish and the best stableford score all week was 33.

Is there still that incredibly odd mural of Michael Jackson in the men's loos at Torrequebrada - freaked me out....!

I never saw it. The oddest thing on the course was an annoying prick of a Marshall who harassed everyone despite the pace of play being surprisingly quick.

[Blackmac]

Just back from our trip to Spain. The courses were a refreshing change from what we are used to in Turkey. Torrequebrada, Santana and Rio Real being the highlights. It was interesting that we appeared to have got a grip with the Turkish courses and regularly played too or better than our handicaps. Spain was a different kettle of fish and the best stableford score all week was 33.

Interesting - what was the difference between the courses to explain this? Ive played in Spain a few times - La Cala, PGA Catalyuna - and really enjoyed the courses, never played in Turkey though thinking about it.

Off on our annual trip to Le Touquet in a couple of weeks time. Playing 7 rounds - La Mer (x2) and La Foret in Le Touquet, Pins and Dunes in Hardelot, Belle Dunes in Fort Mahon and Wimeroux. Hopefully weather is kind for us.

It's hard to put your finger on it. Turkey quite flat, mainly completely tree lined with little or no views. All the test is in the length and artificial hazards like water and bunkers.
Spain had far more variety and the challenge was mainly in the course routing through the natural landscape. Always great views.
I enjoyed La Cala Asia but it was the poorest of the courses we played with a lot of unfair bounces and run off areas.

I would still recommend Turkey to anyone that hasn't gone and by all accounts they have taken a massive hit this year so prices expect to drop back down.

[dpedin]

Just back from our trip to Spain. The courses were a refreshing change from what we are used to in Turkey. Torrequebrada, Santana and Rio Real being the highlights. It was interesting that we appeared to have got a grip with the Turkish courses and regularly played too or better than our handicaps. Spain was a different kettle of fish and the best stableford score all week was 33.

Interesting - what was the difference between the courses to explain this? Ive played in Spain a few times - La Cala, PGA Catalyuna - and really enjoyed the courses, never played in Turkey though thinking about it.

Off on our annual trip to Le Touquet in a couple of weeks time. Playing 7 rounds - La Mer (x2) and La Foret in Le Touquet, Pins and Dunes in Hardelot, Belle Dunes in Fort Mahon and Wimeroux. Hopefully weather is kind for us.

It's hard to put your finger on it. Turkey quite flat, mainly completely tree lined with little or no views. All the test is in the length and artificial hazards like water and bunkers.
Spain had far more variety and the challenge was mainly in the course routing through the natural landscape. Always great views.
I enjoyed La Cala Asia but it was the poorest of the courses we played with a lot of unfair bounces and run off areas.

I would still recommend Turkey to anyone that hasn't gone and by all accounts they have taken a massive hit this year so prices expect to drop back down.

I will have to give Turkey a look! What's the reason for the hit they've had?

[Jim Lahey]

Rory laying the groundwork before taking the Saudi money?

[Blackmac]

Interesting - what was the difference between the courses to explain this? Ive played in Spain a few times - La Cala, PGA Catalyuna - and really enjoyed the courses, never played in Turkey though thinking about it.

Off on our annual trip to Le Touquet in a couple of weeks time. Playing 7 rounds - La Mer (x2) and La Foret in Le Touquet, Pins and Dunes in Hardelot, Belle Dunes in Fort Mahon and Wimeroux. Hopefully weather is kind for us.

It's hard to put your finger on it. Turkey quite flat, mainly completely tree lined with little or no views. All the test is in the length and artificial hazards like water and bunkers.
Spain had far more variety and the challenge was mainly in the course routing through the natural landscape. Always great views.
I enjoyed La Cala Asia but it was the poorest of the courses we played with a lot of unfair bounces and run off areas.

I would still recommend Turkey to anyone that hasn't gone and by all accounts they have taken a massive hit this year so prices expect to drop back down.

I will have to give Turkey a look! What's the reason for the hit they've had?

Price rises. 2019 we paid £1200 All inclusive, 6 rounds of golf. This year they wanted £2150, 5 rounds of golf. I've also said before about the issues with the resorts being full of Russians from May onwards which was a complete pain in the arse.

[robmatic]

It's hard to put your finger on it. Turkey quite flat, mainly completely tree lined with little or no views. All the test is in the length and artificial hazards like water and bunkers.
Spain had far more variety and the challenge was mainly in the course routing through the natural landscape. Always great views.
I enjoyed La Cala Asia but it was the poorest of the courses we played with a lot of unfair bounces and run off areas.

I would still recommend Turkey to anyone that hasn't gone and by all accounts they have taken a massive hit this year so prices expect to drop back down.

I will have to give Turkey a look! What's the reason for the hit they've had?

Price rises. 2019 we paid £1200 All inclusive, 6 rounds of golf. This year they wanted £2150, 5 rounds of golf. I've also said before about the issues with the resorts being full of Russians from May onwards which was a complete pain in the arse.

I dunno about golf but I live in Bodrum and the tourist prices this season are pretty steep. £50 for a bottle of mediocre wine, £5 for a pint, expensive meals etc. I wouldn't expect that to change this year unless there is a currency devaluation event.

[dpedin]

I will have to give Turkey a look! What's the reason for the hit they've had?

Price rises. 2019 we paid £1200 All inclusive, 6 rounds of golf. This year they wanted £2150, 5 rounds of golf. I've also said before about the issues with the resorts being full of Russians from May onwards which was a complete pain in the arse.

I dunno about golf but I live in Bodrum and the tourist prices this season are pretty steep. £50 for a bottle of mediocre wine, £5 for a pint, expensive meals etc. I wouldn't expect that to change this year unless there is a currency devaluation event.

Ah I see!

For comparisons - we are £1,150 for 7 nights B&B in small family run 2 star hotel, 7 rounds of golf and eurotunnel for 2 cars for our trip to Le Touquet. Beer is also £5+ a pint (same as here in Edinburgh!) but better, about £35 for 3 course la menu du jour but good cheap table wine. No buggies included - they are available but we prefer to walk plus they are expensive ie £40. No Russians in Le Touquet, Macron has a family home there, but lots of Essex boys at the weekend who can be a bit noisy and leery and when they start shouting for pints of bitter or their steak cooked to a crisp that's when the French suddenly decide they cant understand English!

[Blackmac]

Scottie Scheffler arrested on his way to the golf course. Tried to drive round a police road closure at a fatal accident and alleged to have hit a police officer who tried to stop him.

[Sandstorm]

Scottie Scheffler arrested on his way to the golf course. Tried to drive round a police road closure at a fatal accident and alleged to have hit a police officer who tried to stop him.

[Insane_Homer]

What has happened to South Africa golf?
for as long as I can remember since the Ernie days we've always had someone up there or in form and competing.

Just had a look at the world rankings and we don't have a single player inside the top 50

[Insane_Homer]

Scottie Scheffler arrested on his way to the golf course. Tried to drive round a police road closure at a fatal accident and alleged to have hit a police officer who tried to stop him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/ce7r83p87r3o

[Sandstorm]

Scottie Scheffler arrested on his way to the golf course. Tried to drive round a police road closure at a fatal accident and alleged to have hit a police officer who tried to stop him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/ce7r83p87r3o

Channelling Tiger off the golf course too.

[Blackmac]

Scottie Scheffler arrested on his way to the golf course. Tried to drive round a police road closure at a fatal accident and alleged to have hit a police officer who tried to stop him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/ce7r83p87r3o

Channelling Tiger off the golf course too.

He comes across as an insanely chilled and polite individual. Hard to imagine him behaving the way he has been charged. Onlookers saying a complete misunderstanding.

[fishfoodie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/ce7r83p87r3o

Channelling Tiger off the golf course too.

He comes across as an insanely chilled and polite individual. Hard to imagine him behaving the way he has been charged. Onlookers saying a complete misunderstanding.

But he got booked, & if they still did so after finding out who he was, I'd bet he behaved like a dick, as otherwise he'd have probably gotten away with an apology.

[Insane_Homer]

What has happened to South Africa golf?
for as long as I can remember since the Ernie days we've always had someone up there or in form and competing.

Just had a look at the world rankings and we don't have a single player inside the top 50

Dean Burmester enters the chat

[fishfoodie]

What has happened to South Africa golf?
for as long as I can remember since the Ernie days we've always had someone up there or in form and competing.

Just had a look at the world rankings and we don't have a single player inside the top 50

Dean Burmester enters the chat

Did he defect to the LIV tour ?

There needs to be a re-balancing of players that won on the PGA, & then defected being allowed back, with their relative ranking being dropped by by .75, because, you know LIV !, & then weighted by the number of players on that tour versus the PGA !

.... that should drop the juicer deChambles down to the level where the prick doesn't get invites to Majors....

[dpedin]

Wee Boab fae Oban is doing well! Hope he has a decent final round and gets the confidence he needs to go with his huge skills set!

[Blackmac]

Wee Boab fae Oban is doing well! Hope he has a decent final round and gets the confidence he needs to go with his huge skills set!

He seems to be slowly finding his feet in the US. I have a customer who is a very close friend of the family and by all accounts his biggest problem is he is lazy and doesn't really have the drive to press on to the next level.

[Enzedder]

If you're going to shoot a 59, do it on the last day of a tournament.

Congrats Dan Hillier

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350282800 ... -making-59

[dpedin]

Wee Boab fae Oban is doing well! Hope he has a decent final round and gets the confidence he needs to go with his huge skills set!

He seems to be slowly finding his feet in the US. I have a customer who is a very close friend of the family and by all accounts his biggest problem is he is lazy and doesn't really have the drive to press on to the next level.

Im not sure he is lazy rather than just being normal guy but blessed with huge amount of golf skills? My mate from Oban also knows him well and says he is a really nice guy but a home guy who is happy in Oban playing shinty with his mates. I'd agree that he doesnt quite have the drive, single mindedness and ambition that I have seen in some other international sportspeople but I also think he has a degree of self doubt and at times doesn't believe in his own skill set. Hopefully his top 10 performance in this PGA will convince him he can play at the highest level with the best golfers in the world.

His move to US is really his last chance to make it really big in golf, he has a couple of years to cement his place on Tour and win some big tournaments and a major. However he is still a very successful golfer with a DP World Tour event win and Ryder Cup win under his belt and will already be a multi millionaire.

[dpedin]

Well, after a very nice few weeks of golf in shorts and T-shirts the heavens have opened again and my Edinburgh course is closed ... again! Rain started yesterday afternoon and hasn't stopped since. I have also booked a round at Cardona, Peebles for tomorrow morning via GolfNow but have a strong suspicion that might be cancelled, it's well known for getting very wet! I did play yesterday in pissing rain as my partner still works and was desperate for a game, if he wasnt I would have never gone out. Course was pretty wet with lots of lying water by the time we finished. I have spent the last 24 hours trying to dry out all my gear, even had to turn the heating back on for a few hours. I am getting really pissed off with this weather but with climate change this is now the new norm?

[fishfoodie]

Bobby in the lead, & with a healthy lead in Canada; time to see if he has the bottle to close it out.

[fishfoodie]

Bobby in the lead, & with a healthy lead in Canada; time to see if he has the bottle to close it out.

And he does it !!!!

... but but by Dog does he make everyone suffer, as he pisses away his lead; but he rescues it all with a superb 2nd into the last

[Blackmac]

On holiday so couldn't watch it, but my mate was texting me shot by shot commentary for the last 6 holes. It was incredibly nerve wracking

[Biffer]

Bobby in the lead, & with a healthy lead in Canada; time to see if he has the bottle to close it out.

And he does it !!!!

... but but by Dog does he make everyone suffer, as he pisses away his lead; but he rescues it all with a superb 2nd into the last

He didn’t really piss away his lead, one bogey. Other fella made three birdies in a row. Bob then made three birdies in five holes.

[TedMaul]

Box office 7 iron from 185 yards to close the win, chuffed to bits this should give him the confidence to know he's good enough. Love his ball flight.

[dpedin]

Watched most of his final round from hotel in Le Touquet whilst on golfing holiday. Brilliant win in a top tournament with strong field. Hopefully this is the step up he needs to confirm for himself he is good enough to play with the best in the world and beat them.

[Blackmac]

Watched most of his final round from hotel in Le Touquet whilst on golfing holiday. Brilliant win in a top tournament with strong field. Hopefully this is the step up he needs to confirm for himself he is good enough to play with the best in the world and beat them.

Ballsy decision not to play in The Memorial but completely understandable when he explains it. He seems to have really endeared himself to the yanks with his attitude.

[Biffer]

Watched most of his final round from hotel in Le Touquet whilst on golfing holiday. Brilliant win in a top tournament with strong field. Hopefully this is the step up he needs to confirm for himself he is good enough to play with the best in the world and beat them.

Ballsy decision not to play in The Memorial but completely understandable when he explains it. He seems to have really endeared himself to the yanks with his attitude.

I understand the not playing, I’d worry about the jet lag of a quick trip home

[Insane_Homer]

Rory properly shat the bed. His to lose with 4 to play and drops 3 shots to hand it to Bryson.

Not all his fault though, Sky all but doomed him by invoking the mockers just before it all started to unravel .

[Jim Lahey]

Rory properly shat the bed. His to lose with 4 to play and drops 3 shots to hand it to Bryson.

Not all his fault though, Sky all but doomed him by invoking the mockers just before it all started to unravel .

Happens every single major tbf. The Masters is the worst for it obviously as its the one he's missing but the media love a good Rory-hype-train.

And he's the gift that keeps on giving by shitting the bed and keeping the media wanting more

[dpedin]

Rory properly shat the bed. His to lose with 4 to play and drops 3 shots to hand it to Bryson.

Not all his fault though, Sky all but doomed him by invoking the mockers just before it all started to unravel .

Happens every single major tbf. The Masters is the worst for it obviously as its the one he's missing but the media love a good Rory-hype-train.

And he's the gift that keeps on giving by shitting the bed and keeping the media wanting more

He did look nervous for the last few holes and should have closed it out. Up until the missed 3 foot putt on the 16th on Sunday he had holed 496 of 496 putts from inside 3 feet this year! This was not the one to miss.

Problem for Rory is I suspect we hold him to a higher standard than many other players and expect him to win the majors. Scheffler pre match fav was 13 shots behind him and didn't break 70 all week. Aberg, Hatton, Morikawa all fell away and many other fancied players had at least one round in the mid 70s to puncture their chances. Only 13 of the 74 who made the cut had a sub 70 final round and Rory was one of them with a 69. Only Rory and Finau had 3 out of 4 rounds in the 60s out of 74 players. He played and scored well but lost it over the last 3 holes as nerves took over - frustrating!

[TedMaul]

1 foot away from being stone dead on 16 then ending up in a hole 40 feet away took his soul.

[Blackmac]

Well, after a very nice few weeks of golf in shorts and T-shirts the heavens have opened again and my Edinburgh course is closed ... again! Rain started yesterday afternoon and hasn't stopped since. I have also booked a round at Cardona, Peebles for tomorrow morning via GolfNow but have a strong suspicion that might be cancelled, it's well known for getting very wet! I did play yesterday in pissing rain as my partner still works and was desperate for a game, if he wasnt I would have never gone out. Course was pretty wet with lots of lying water by the time we finished. I have spent the last 24 hours trying to dry out all my gear, even had to turn the heating back on for a few hours. I am getting really pissed off with this weather but with climate change this is now the new norm?

Had another round down at Kikspindie on Monday. Absolutely soaked for two holes then glorious weather. As usual I was 5 over through 4 and played the next 14 in 1 over. I absolutely love the course.

[Biffer]

Scottish Open at The Renaissance next week, excellent field once again. McIlroy, Schauffele, Aberg, Clark, Morikawa, Hovland, Fleetwood, Harman, Matsuyama, Kim, Theegala, Homa, Fitzpatrick, that's 13 of the world top 20. Plus Spieth, Fowler, McIntyre, and a host of other well known names.

Not the greatest course to watch on in the world, but there are some cracking spots (grandstand at the 6th and 13th, new grandstand at the 12th/14th this year will be really good, anywhere around the 17th green, behind the 13th looking up the coast) and they're improving the spectator experience every year. And it's a skoosh to get to from Edinburgh, shuttle bus from Longniddry train station is usually really well done.

Going Friday and Saturday.

[TedMaul]

Enjoy! Backed BobbyMac at 50s for next week so be interested to see his form

[dpedin]

Enjoy! Backed BobbyMac at 50s for next week so be interested to see his form

He came close last year so hopefully he can go one better. It will be interesting to see what they have done with the rough, the weather has been perfect for grass growing and the rough on the links courses in East Lothian is thick and deep at the moment! Played Southerness yesterday in rain and wind and it was very, very tough, anything similar at the Scottish Open will result in some high scoring! However this would suit Bob!

[Blackmac]

Instead of our two yearly trip we have decided on a shorter, yearly trip so we are off to Portugal for 5 days next May. Got really cheap accommodation so we could push the boat out on the courses. Playing Dom Pedro Old, Vale de Lobo Royal, Quito de Lago South and the new Ombria course which early ratings suggest could be one of the best.

[Biffer]

Enjoy! Backed BobbyMac at 50s for next week so be interested to see his form

He came close last year so hopefully he can go one better. It will be interesting to see what they have done with the rough, the weather has been perfect for grass growing and the rough on the links courses in East Lothian is thick and deep at the moment! Played Southerness yesterday in rain and wind and it was very, very tough, anything similar at the Scottish Open will result in some high scoring! However this would suit Bob!

Yeah, it'll be interesting, although I'm not convinced that the rough at Renaissance is traditional links rough. It's not really a links course except for about 5 holes. Too many fucking trees.