Showing posts with label golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf. Show all posts
Friday, August 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Old Mutual International Pairs–Worcester 12 May 2012
Participated this past Saturday in the Old Mutual International Pairs Competition – Better Ball Stableford Format. Didn’t do all that great, but the day was beautiful, and I didn’t lose a single ball – a minor miracle at Worcester! The course is still in wonderful condition – probably in the top 3 courses I have played imo.
Check out some pics:
… and the drive there from Cape Town isn’t bad either:
Check out some pics:
… and the drive there from Cape Town isn’t bad either:
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Atlantic Beach 26 December 2011
Another pleasant booking experience through lastminutegolf resulted in a visit to atlantic beach golf club. The affiliated fee for playing was a little steep, imo, but there aren’t many courses that have the setting and wildlife that atlantic does, so if you’re into that sort of thing, then it’s well worth the visit, especially if you haven’t played here before.
There are quite a few springbuck scattered throughout the course – we had the pleasure of their escort for the first 3 holes, as well as a visit on the practice green:
View from the first tee: Generous fairway, but landing beyond the fairways will cost you some balls.
Also try and stay out of the bunkers. Much of them have steep faces, which can be pretty hairy to get out of:
Quite a few of the holes have unsighted tee shots. Your only guide is a black and white pole to use as a marker:
The markers are pretty accurate, and I find that the drives are actually better off on these holes – probably something to do with a smaller, more exact target.
The bush a few meters in from the fairway is not very forgiving (as in not at all) – so keep it straight, or you’ll end up doing a lot of this:
The par 3’s are fairly easy, mostly because you don’t have to worry too much about the bush, and from the white markers, most of them are an easy wedge in (120m range).
We were fortunate enough to be playing on a day with very little wind. More often than not, the wind blows quite excessively here, so if you’re playing punch shots to keep it low under the wind, keep in mind that the fairways are very firm, so club down at least one.
There are also a few waste bunkers to contend with:
The course is quite “linksy” – so expect the have a few uneven lies on the fairway:
The springbuck on the course are pretty tame, so remember to bring your camera if you’d like a few rare close-up shots:
The only criticism I have of the course is that a few of the fairways on the back nine resemble more an unkempt sandy lawn, rather than pristine country-club fairway, but given the little rain and beach-front location, its understandable. Given the cost though, and the condition of much improved beachfront course - Milnerton Golf Club – I don’t think that I’d be visiting again too often. It’s definitely worth the visit if you haven’t been here before though.
There are quite a few springbuck scattered throughout the course – we had the pleasure of their escort for the first 3 holes, as well as a visit on the practice green:
View from the first tee: Generous fairway, but landing beyond the fairways will cost you some balls.
Also try and stay out of the bunkers. Much of them have steep faces, which can be pretty hairy to get out of:
Quite a few of the holes have unsighted tee shots. Your only guide is a black and white pole to use as a marker:
The markers are pretty accurate, and I find that the drives are actually better off on these holes – probably something to do with a smaller, more exact target.
The bush a few meters in from the fairway is not very forgiving (as in not at all) – so keep it straight, or you’ll end up doing a lot of this:
The par 3’s are fairly easy, mostly because you don’t have to worry too much about the bush, and from the white markers, most of them are an easy wedge in (120m range).
We were fortunate enough to be playing on a day with very little wind. More often than not, the wind blows quite excessively here, so if you’re playing punch shots to keep it low under the wind, keep in mind that the fairways are very firm, so club down at least one.
There are also a few waste bunkers to contend with:
The course is quite “linksy” – so expect the have a few uneven lies on the fairway:
The springbuck on the course are pretty tame, so remember to bring your camera if you’d like a few rare close-up shots:
The only criticism I have of the course is that a few of the fairways on the back nine resemble more an unkempt sandy lawn, rather than pristine country-club fairway, but given the little rain and beach-front location, its understandable. Given the cost though, and the condition of much improved beachfront course - Milnerton Golf Club – I don’t think that I’d be visiting again too often. It’s definitely worth the visit if you haven’t been here before though.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Bellville 23 December 2011
It’s been a year since I’ve played Bellville – ironic since it’s probably one of the closest golf courses to where I live. The course is a best to play in the summer – it gets a bit wet in the winter. The wind was quite strong today, which made the game rather challenging on this tree-lined course. One of the only down sides of this course, imo, is the uneven fairways. Even if you centre a drive, you could still be left with a tricky shot well above or below your feet. There are also plenty of doglegs and elevation differentials to keep the game interesting.
On to the pics:
The first hole is quite short and down hill. Well advised to take a hybrid off the tee
On the 2nd, favour the left side to give yourself a line into the green.
The par 5 3rd has an elevated green. Stay out of the bunkers.
The 5th is an interesting hole. Long hitters can reach the green when with the wind – but it’s high risk. Off the tee it’s uphill
…but then turns sharply left downhill.
Should have birdied the par 3 7th – putting wasn’t good today:
The 9th is another shorted par 4. Hybrid off the tee will keep you clear of most of the hazards.
The stroke 1 11th is a bit of a challenge, especially into the wind. Keep left of the fairway for a line into the green.
The par 4 13th is another elevated tee shot inviting you to open the shoulders – especially with the wind from behind. Was my best drive of the day – 280m down the middle
Some nice houses look over the course…
Remember to apply the brakes to your carts on this hilly course, else…
Another example of those uneven fairways:
The 18th is also an elevated tee. If you look carefully, my ball is left of the 2 trees on the 10th hole fairway – a good place to be if you want to take the water out of play for your approach.
If you’re looking for a good test of golf for your skills in course management – look no further. I lost quite a few shots to bad decisions which will improve my game with lessons learnt for the long run.
I also used my new (free) sports-tracker application on my windows phone:
Total distance 11.2km – guess I wasn’t hitting all that straight
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Milnerton 20 December 2011
Visited the milnerton golf club for the first time in about 10 years, and wow has the condition of the course improved! Bonus for the day was that the wind wasn’t howling as it usually does at this coastal course.
The club-house hasn’t changed much – and isn’t all that impressive – since it maintains much of what was over the last 20 years:
From the first tee, one gets a glimpse of the generous fairways – which you’re going to need if the wind is gusting as it usually does.
A blind shot over the hill on the 2nd. Aim for the wind-sock
The fairways are firm – offering decent roll on well-placed drives. A word of warning about the greens – they’re rather firm – but in great condition.
The course has recently evolved into an estate with properties scattered through-out the course
Milnerton is probably one of the few courses where the halfway house is actually a completely seperate halfway house. Lunch was decent enough. On the turn home, you’re greeted with some great views of table mountain across the bay
The last 3 holes have the lagoon flanking the left of the fairway, and if the south easter is blowing – a very strong head-wind.
On the last hole – you’re well advised to keep your aim toward the lighthouse.
This was also my first time booking the golf through www.lastminutegolf.co.za – and I was relieved to see our bookings had been made without any issues, and at a reasonable price.
The club-house hasn’t changed much – and isn’t all that impressive – since it maintains much of what was over the last 20 years:
From the first tee, one gets a glimpse of the generous fairways – which you’re going to need if the wind is gusting as it usually does.
A blind shot over the hill on the 2nd. Aim for the wind-sock
The fairways are firm – offering decent roll on well-placed drives. A word of warning about the greens – they’re rather firm – but in great condition.
The course has recently evolved into an estate with properties scattered through-out the course
Milnerton is probably one of the few courses where the halfway house is actually a completely seperate halfway house. Lunch was decent enough. On the turn home, you’re greeted with some great views of table mountain across the bay
The last 3 holes have the lagoon flanking the left of the fairway, and if the south easter is blowing – a very strong head-wind.
On the last hole – you’re well advised to keep your aim toward the lighthouse.
This was also my first time booking the golf through www.lastminutegolf.co.za – and I was relieved to see our bookings had been made without any issues, and at a reasonable price.
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