Well, that was fun.
We played Stableford, with own choice of three clubs and a putter. And, surprise, surprise, very little difference from the usual Stableford scores.
Plus the added advantage that there was no dithering over which club to use. Forget whether it's a six iron or a seven. Or maybe even an eight? No, probably a six after all?
Just hit it, and see where it goes.
And talking of a fast game, do you sometimes wonder if you're not taking long enough over that putt? Watch how the pro's do it:
Does the new layout still do your head in? Are you having conversations about how you hit into the trees on the thirteenth, that's the old thirteenth, what is it now, the fifth, no the new fourth, you know the one I mean, that long one?
And at long last they've got the handicaps for the girls sorted out on that one. You know, the old thirteenth. It's index five, like it should always have been.
Last week's caption competition brought a flurry of entries - the golf ball went to Jeanie for this one:
And now, here's the picture for this week. Captions to Derek by Friday, please. A golf ball for the funniest.
Now down to business - the novelties.
A very disappointed John, who'd hoped to get his name on all four markers, only to put his drive into the water on the ninth, I mean the eighteenth.
But the competition winner this week. And last week. And runner up a couple of weeks earlier...
Next week, Par Bisque on the Old Course. A game that always seem to favour the higher handicappers. If you've forgotten how it works, here's a summary:
 |
| You don't fool us, Greg. You're still playing off the blokes' tees. |
We played Stableford, with own choice of three clubs and a putter. And, surprise, surprise, very little difference from the usual Stableford scores.
 |
| You have good days....and then you have bad days |
Plus the added advantage that there was no dithering over which club to use. Forget whether it's a six iron or a seven. Or maybe even an eight? No, probably a six after all?
 |
| We offered to caddy for him, but he still won't play... |
Just hit it, and see where it goes.
And talking of a fast game, do you sometimes wonder if you're not taking long enough over that putt? Watch how the pro's do it:
Does the new layout still do your head in? Are you having conversations about how you hit into the trees on the thirteenth, that's the old thirteenth, what is it now, the fifth, no the new fourth, you know the one I mean, that long one?
 |
And at long last they've got the handicaps for the girls sorted out on that one. You know, the old thirteenth. It's index five, like it should always have been.
 |
Last week's caption competition brought a flurry of entries - the golf ball went to Jeanie for this one:
 |
| You know what they say about men with Big Feet... - They have BIG SHOES! |
And now, here's the picture for this week. Captions to Derek by Friday, please. A golf ball for the funniest.
 |
Now down to business - the novelties.
NOVELTY
|
HOLE
|
CONTENDERS
|
WINNER
|
|
NTP in 2
|
6
|
John
|
Shelley
|
|
LD
|
9
|
Rob, John
|
Max
|
|
NTP in 3
|
11
|
John
|
Peter
|
|
NTP
|
18
|
Rob
|
Kerry
|
|
Golden Hole
|
No winner
|
A very disappointed John, who'd hoped to get his name on all four markers, only to put his drive into the water on the ninth, I mean the eighteenth.
But the competition winner this week. And last week. And runner up a couple of weeks earlier...
 |
| Whatever he's on, I want some too.. |
PLAYER
|
SCORE
|
BIRDIES
|
||
Max
|
24
|
|||
Vickie
|
26
|
|||
Greg
|
28
|
|||
Stephanie
|
28
|
|||
Lynne
|
30
|
|||
Kerry
|
30
|
|||
John
|
30
|
|||
Richard Y
|
31
|
|||
Derek
|
32
|
|||
Paul
|
32
|
|||
Richard O
|
33
|
|||
Ian
|
33
|
|||
Earle
|
34
|
13
|
||
Shelley
|
34
|
15
|
||
Jeanie
|
34
|
|||
Keith
|
34
|
12
|
||
Frances
|
35
|
|||
Peter
|
35
|
16
|
||
Rob
|
39
|
18
|
 |
| Malcolm shows us the money |
Next week, Par Bisque on the Old Course. A game that always seem to favour the higher handicappers. If you've forgotten how it works, here's a summary:
Normally, when using handicaps, golfers allocate their handicap strokes according to the handicap on the scorecard. If you have four strokes to use, you will use them on the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 handicap holes.
 |
| Poms v Aussies. Who's your money on? |
But in Bisque Par, it is up to the golfer to decide on which holes to use his or her handicap strokes. Even better, you don't have to elect to use a stroke on a given hole until after you've completed that hole (but before teeing off on the next).
Also, you can use as many strokes as you like on a given hole. So let's say you play the par-4 No. 3 hole and it's a disaster, you score a 9. But you have 13 total handicap strokes to use. You can use six of those strokes on No. 3 (you must announce the decision before teeing off on the next hole) and, there you go, you've turned a 9 into a net birdie.
But: Once you've used all your available strokes, that's it. You're done using strokes for the round. So you have to make wise decisions about where to use your strokes. (Maybe a single disaster hole isn't the best place, and you should save your strokes for more critical holes in the round.)
