Is Golf bang in trouble ??

Yeah similar to my gross score

 

Hillside and Downfield are two that I never got to despite just living down the road from Hillside. I constantly checked on prices for Hillside, Birkdale, Formby but they were always way too high. I don't mind paying big fees for the odd course as the focus of a holiday but £200 plus always seemed excessive when it was just a 45 minute drive away and didn't feel like a big occasion. They never had Opens either where you can usually play for a decent price.

 

Our gang did a couple of package tours involving Birkdale and Hillside in the early nineties and I’m pretty sure Birkdale was £50/£60 which, as a one off, seemed reasonable.
Alan Hansen took our team photo in front of the clubhouse at Hillside.

 

Nice! I could never price it at below £160 or thereabouts other than maybe the depths of winter off mats. I think that's about as much as I've ever payed to play anywhere. I'd have loved to play Birkdale, Hillside and Formby though.
Best value and least pretensiousness was the first time I played Royal Dornoch. I turned up for my tee time and the pro said "ahh, they're out there sanding some of the greens. Tell you what, go out and play it then come back in and pay what you think it was worth".
The sanded greens were as good as most courses normal ones.

 

PGA and DP tour do not run any of the majors. The clamour from LIV to get OWGR points is to try to ensure that their players can still compete in the majors.

 

LIV tour is two events old and has already made massive in roads in to the the talent on the US tour. Give it time, three announcements this week with at least another major holder moving over to LIV.

 

Good grief Ganton must have changed since I played it last albeit some 20 yrs ago . Met at the car park by a steward instructed where to park ( round the back ) told we could only go in the club house where the green carpets were , red carpet areas were members only , no ‘nibbles’ ( crisps and nuts ) served at the bar , if staying for evening meal ( we were playing two rounds ) jacket and tie must be worn . The Steward was jokingly asked if they had female members to which he replied “oh yes we have a few’ , where were their changing facilities, her pointed to a portaloo in the car park

 

Played there last year, seriously they could not have been more accommodating. In fact on our little Yorkshire tour of Alwoodley, Ganton, Lindrick and Moortown they could not have been better hosts.

The month before we played Lytham, Birkdale, Formby and Hillside. Again they were excellent hosts. I do think that many of the old established courses are far more welcoming to visitors than they were a decade ago.

 

Stenson signed for a reported £40 million. He's 171 in the world and not had a top ten finish in the last year. It's no wonder he's taken the cash because he won't make anything like that in the rest of his career as he's past his prime.

 

Worst case for me was I think Dunham Forest or maybe Prestbury at an amateur open. It was HOT. I turned up in tailored shorts looking perfectly respectable. Captain wanders across the car park looking like Eric Morecambe in voluminous shorts to his knees, tells me I need to be wearing knee length socks like he was wearing and I could buy some in the club shop.
I told him I didn't see the point as he only had about two inches of bare skin visible and said I'd change back into trousers thanks very much.

 

What did you think of Alwoodley? I love it and it's such a fabulous clubhouse. I used to live near Lindrick so I've played that a few times. Wasn't so keen on Moortown to be honest.
what was your favourite on the Lancashire trip?

 

Alwoodley was my favourite, some great memorable holes and the members were very welcoming. Ganton played on a beautiful summer’s day was also spectacular. The views were pretty unanimous across the group.

Lancashire was much more divided, I really liked Formby and Lytham. Formby probably impacted by playing well and Lytham just a real tough test of golf. Hillside and Birkdale were both good but golf, like many things, is about personal choice.

The most bonkers course I played last year was Ardfin, now that is something else.

 

I'll have to look up Ardfin now.

 

Southport and Ainsdale at side of Hillside is worth a visit too mate…..

 

My experiences have been pretty much the same but talking more like 30 yrs ago

 

Totally agree with you. Played it just before the Open at Birkdale a few years back. Tried to book on our last visit but they had a pro event on and had to give it a miss. Often overlooked next door to some of the other big names but another great course.

 

Jeez I’ve just looked at the course hole by hole video of Ardfin for first 2.

It frightened me so didn’t watch rest

 

I know very little about Golf, I don't know what the authorities can or can't do, but I do know it's a game steeped in history. I would tell the breakaway players you can play for big money with a Mickey Mouse trophy if you want, but you can't play for trophies that have Harry Vardey, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer's ( et al ) names on them. Your choice Guys...the game will continue without you.