Welcome to the new forum.

Let us know if you spot any celebs on the course.

I've seen Scott Cranfield, and Gus Poyet at the London Club.

Played in a charity event at my club 3 years ago, and Geoff Hurst was playing in the group behind me.

He presented me with the first place prize of a set of Callaway golf clubs, which I gave to my son.

We often get Ed Stewart (Radio D J) playing there..

And Colin Montgomery opened the course and has been there twice to give demonstrations.

Gary Lineker has played there too

I went to the Belfry for a custom fit & was watching the Open on the big screen tv & when I turned around Paul McGinley was standing beside me & said "I wish I was there"

Saw Nasser Hussain at the Warren Golf Club in Essex.

He was not happy though, stuck behind about 8 four balls!

I might have let a few celebs play through, but I wouldn't have seen them, too busy looking in the rough for my ball!

Russ

So this is the name dropping thread is it.

I have played with Tony Jacklin, Henry Cotton, Christy O'Connor Snr, Brian Hugget. Been presented with the John Courage Trophy at Calcot Park, Reading by Dai Rees, Ryder Cup player. Played a round at Vale de Lobo with Dennis Waterman (Minder Actor). Partnered John Paramour (PGA head Referee)at Chart Hills G.C. in a Diners Club annual event.

Played a fourball at Muswell Hill golf club with the local Pro Keith Hockey, my friend Abe Walters, stage name Don Carlos(Bandleader), Billy Eckstine Famous singer) and Bobby Locke, British Open golf Champion, 1949/50/52 and 57. Partnered Howard Clark at Penina, Portugal in a Pro-Am.

Brian Barnes, Gordon Brand Junior played against both as an Amateur in the West region, both of whom turned Pro successfully.

You have also played with Charlie Drake and Eric Sykes..

Come on John....Give us more

I told you I am on the way to Alzheimers, David, how on earth did I forget those two as well as the other one Spike Milligan.

What about Donald Houston of Deadline midnight fame. Another real famous one whilst I was at St.Georges Hill was Trevor T Stanford (Russ Conway).

Now for the coup de grace - Simon Overland past captain of the defeated South Team 2008 and David Marshall, winning captain of the 2009 South Team

Had a game with (now Sir) Terry Leahy once, not particulalry a celebrity, just runs Tescos...

Nobody could beat that!

I once spotted Nick Faldo shopping with his family in Windsor.

Last year I was best man at a wedding where one of the ushers was Alan Bradshaw, grandson of Harry Bradshaw who came second to Bobby Locke (mentioned above) in the 1949 Open Championship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Bradshaw_(golfer)

As I said, nobody could beat John's list, least of all me.

The mind boggles - Charlie Drake played golf?

I may not be able to match John's list of golfing greats he's played with but (to go off thread a little) Abba have been to see me in concert.

I played golf with a future star today - The winning 2009 North captain

Chris,

How did you all get on today?? Anymore falls or rounds of applause on the 1st??

John.

Neither.  Absolutely pizzed down at the turn for a couple of holes but apart from that the weather pretty much held.  We halved the last three holes to finish all square and my putts were allergic to the hole again (I lipped out a putt for the win on the 17th and 18th).  Tim had a good round (low 90's) and I beat Paul again (waste of money those new clubs!).  Great to finish the 18th in daylight too!

You must be a very talented musician, Jon and I am jealous.

I taught a friend to play golf who could play the guitar exactly like David Gilmour. I used to sit and watch him play completely spellbound.

Well I wouldn't go that far John.  I was in my school choir which was good and we used to sing carols at various places around Southampton including hospitals, hotels, Winchester Prison and the cruise liners in Southampton Docks.  Abba were on one of the Swedish Liners and were kind enough to come and hear me and about 40 other boys sing.

Chris, in your own words, you changed to fitted irons 6 months ago, and its only in the last 6 weeks you've been getting the results that you are now! Hence it does take awhile to "learn the clubs".

Writing mine off after 7 days is a little harsh! even by your standards.

Here's a side bet for you: £20 says with-in 6 weeks from now i beat you "twice".

From where your standing that's tempting, but 6 rounds have to be played, IE : 6 Fridays.

Easy money for you! But from my perspective as i learn my new irons my confidence and ability will grow, plus in the the last month I'll have near enough changed every club in the bag! I personally think i'm capable of it! And if i don't I'll happily give you the £20.

Paul.

My God ,there's unbelievable  amount of name dropping going on here . I remember when I was out for dinner with Robert De Niro (Bobby D to his mates) one time,and he said name dropping was not the done thing................       John,don't give out to many snippets from your forth coming book.

Yeah well...I've played golf with the biggest bestest celebrity ever...And been on holiday with him...Total flaming nutcase, but I luv im to bits.

I've also played golf with some on the lunatics on here...And wouldn't have missed it for the world..

UNLESS....

It was....................

Natalie Gulbis

Who Nat? I'll give you her number Dave.

Saw Poulter at the range and he gave me some tips

He said take up fishing

Ill load up the video later

Col

Once played behind Duncan Norville on Golf Del Sur in Tenerife, but couldn't catch him. 

ahh shucks

I have played a round with Russell Proudfoot about 10 years ago and gave him a few tips. After when we had a beer he mentioned we was on tour until he had an eye injury (only has use of one eye, the other is partial). Still, what a player he was. 

Played the South Course at Andrews Air Force Base in 1994 and our foursome got to shake hands with then President Clinton.  We had just asked one of his security team members if it was the President coming up the fairway and he said yes and asked us if we would like to meet him.  He was playing that day with his daughter and two young junior senators.  He was very friendly and well spoken.

about three years ago i was playing with a friend at longcliff loughborough when a one ball caught us up we invited him to join us and he did we all played the next sixteen hole he was showing me some new shot and my friend said that is mark bright so i want into the pro shop to see who had signed in behind us and it was MARK BRIGHT

Played the Cheshire Course at Carden Park a few years ago. We'd seen Ryan Giggs earlier on the course and by the time we came to the 10th tee he was playing down the 18th. We assumed it was his drive that had layed up nicely about 20 yards short of a small pond in front of the green. Deciding to watch Mr Giggs take his next shot we all sat down on the edge of the tee. He must have sensed us all watching him and promptly duffed his "chip" into the pond much to our amusement and shouts of "stick to football" etc. Saw him in the club house later on with many a laugh shared between us all.

I was at last years Dubai desert classic and bumped into Frankie Dettori on the 7th in tow was his caddy who looked like a shaggier version of Rod Stewart!!

Once saw Martin O'Neill at Stoke Park. He was Wycombe Wanderers manager at the time.

Once stood next to Sevvy Ballesteros in the players tent at the OPEN that Sandy Lyle won at St Georges when I was caddying for my amateur friend..Also saw Mark Hughes(Man City Manager) at Mill Ride when he was playing for Chelsea...and lastly saw Gus Poyet playing on his own at Wexham Park GC !!!!

ronnie o'sullivan took a jog around the course i was practicing on.. he was staying in the hotel and playing an exhibition match with jimmy white... 3rd frame he shot 147 so white stepped up and shot a 147 in the next frame. great stuff.

I've not really commented on this but 3 years ago we had (I think, as i don't support Liverpool) Roy Evans on the plane to the Algarve.

Bob Anderson (Darts) was at the same courses as us at the same time.

And someone called Mick who was Coventry manager at the time also on the plane.

Bit vague I know but having grown up in London and been close to many celebrities on a daily basis almost daily, you kinda get blase about things.

Spoke personally to Bobby Moore in his capacity as ambassador for blue arrow a temping agency that I used when I worked for Commercial Union in Croydon, and also used his pub "Mooro's"  at weekends in Stratford (E15) where I lived, I also used the Britannia Pub in plaistow grove, Plaistow/West Ham which Lampard Senior ran when I lived locally in Cridland st.

Played darts against Andy "The Viking" Fordham when he played for the Railway pub in Plaistow High St.

I've known many a colleague get tongue tied and stood in awe of celeb's, but I see them as normal human beings.

Norman Hunter is a member at my club and I often see him around.

I have been in the company of many Celebs over the years, too many to list here. I'll just name a few of the golfers I've had the pleasure (mostly) to play with.

Monty, Constantino Rocca, Paul McGinley, Antonio Garrido, Howard Clark, Gordon J Brand, Cathy Panton, Chrissie Langford and Seve.

Also had a long chat with two gentlemen at Carnoustir in 1975, Tom Watson and a Mr Jack Nicklaus.

Rocca is one of my favourite players from not so long ago and I also partnered Howard Clark in  Pro-Am at Penina.

I would love to have played with Seve, my kind of player.

I'm the same as Wayne - seen many celebs, does nothing for me really. Not sure I'd even be bothered in front of the Queen.

I know it's ultra cheesy, but Tiger is the only person I'd feel funny around. I've stood less than arms length away from him a few times and must admit my stomach then goes funny.

But then I've grown up watching him in awe, whereas I don't really feel that way about film stars or tv people.

Spoke personally to Bobby Moore in his capacity as ambassador for blue arrow a temping agency that I used when I worked for Commercial Union in Croydon, and also used his pub "Mooro's"  at weekends in Stratford (E15) where I lived, I also used the Britannia Pub in plaistow grove, Plaistow/West Ham which Lampard Senior ran when I lived locally in Cridland st.

Bobby Moore eh?  I would have been tongue tied being face to face with the England and West Ham legend.  Are you by chance a Hammers fan Santo?

I once beat Peter Ebdon at matchplay...hardly a claim to fame

It depends whether they have won or not Matt.  Sometimes he's a Spurs fan too. 

Not golf related but I've just come back from playing squash.  The courts are at our local swimming baths and while waiting for my partner to arrive Rebecca Addlington breezed through the foyer with her coach.  She trains there regularly but I didn't think I'd ever get to see her as she's usually there in the wee hours of the morning.

I'm a SPURS fan through & through Matt, but West Ham is my second team (and my son supports them).

Always had my Pie and Mash at Nathan's which backed onto the hammers ground.

Possibly only 2 people i'd go weird in the company of "Pele" & "Tiger"

Wayne Wayne Wayne - as a Spurs fan myself, how can you have West Ham as your second club - it's worse than having Arsenal as your second team

Now you are swearing pal!!!!!!!!

To be fair I lost a mate at Stamford Bridge in 1969 (stabbed), and went off attending big league matches so would go and watch teams like Charlton/Gillingham and West Ham playing against lower rated teams, once my son was able to comprehend football as I lived in Plaistow I started taking him to West Ham.

Should've heard the tantrum when I pointed out to him at Conwy that West Brom had beaten BOTH of his teams....

And where are you in the table numpty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

West Brom had a great game last night.

Hoho

Boing, boing

We'll be the bottom side.  That's the bottom side who are only TWO points behind Spurs and if we beat Newcastle at home on Saturday we would go above Spurs, and will stay above them when they lose to Arsenal on Sunday. 

Given that we played 8 players who wouldn't normally start and have 13 first team players injured (6 of the centre halves), I couldn't give a monkey's about going out of the cup to a team that has also beaten Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and oh, SPURS this season.

Early days Chris - history tells us that West Brom can't stay up, and spurs can't go down

I will be rooting for you to beat Newcastle this weekend - I'd love to see them go down. I think it'll be a draw though. Spurs will beat Arsenal easily - a brace for Keane.

Now i just cant let moments of insanity like that pass.

Clearly Arshavin and Robin Van Bergkamp will do the job on Tottenham at the weekend.

Spurs will be distracted with their re-union and too busy catching up with their pals they havent seen for 6 months.

Oli - I don't think Arshavin will play - the season ended in Nov for him, he's far from match fit.

As we sing down the Hawthorns at the moment Jonny, "We've done it before and we'll do it again!".  I genuinely think that once our injuries start to subside (10 of the 13 injured players are forecast to be fit in two to three weeks) we will start picking up points.  Plus the fixture list has been quite kind for our run-in. 

No club is too big to go down, as Leeds, Blackburn, Man City, Southampton, etc have found out and Defoe being out for 10 weeks could be a massive blow for Spurs.   It's such a tight league that two good results can see you in the top half.  If results go our way on Saturday (and if you look at the fixture list it's quite possible) then we will finish the day in 14th - that's six places from one win!

"I don't think Arshavin will play.....he's far from match fit"

Thats never stopped Tom Huddlestone!!

Anyway, back on thread please............

Jeez, What did I start here....sorry! : )

Anyway, up the Irons!!!

"up the Irons!!!"

At least that one was golf related!

Saw Paddy Mcguinnes (from max & paddy, phoenix nights) at chilli dip golf course (douglas valley) about a month or so back.

One of the greatest compliments I ever received was from Arthur Graham (Footballer). He was playing for Leeds at the time (before moving to Man Utd) and he said he looked up to me because I was a good Golfer, something he admired. He said that he looked at ME like I looked at him when he was playing for Leeds.

On another occasion Denis Taylor and Alex Higgins turned up at Roundhay for a game of Golf during the World Championship at The Crusible. I joined them and gave them some tips, Denis could play, Alex was just starting. Afterwards we had a drink and some sandwiches in the Clubhouse. One of the guys asked them if they would play snooker with him "I hate the game, I only play it because I'm good at it" was Alex's reply. They didn't play.

I sent them both a telegram later (shows how long ago it was) saying "My Snooker was as good as your Golf" and wishing them good luck. Alex won it that year.

Not golf related but I've had a good chat with Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Gordon Banks at a charity dinner a few years back. Lovely people, especially Gordon Banks!

had the chance to see a hero of mine last year at Ashton GC (near Wigan)..

Duncan McKenzie

I was playing with Kim Jong Il! Got 33 on a par 72 and 6 holes in one. He was about to announce to me the new leader of the DPRK when I woke up!

Dave Leyo watches ALL the Asian tour and he didn't know who the hell you were on about Alex

Shows that watching aint learning

Kim Jong Il is the leader of North Korea, but a few years ago he claimed to play golf for the first time scoring 34, including 5 holes in one, on a par 72. Then he announced he would quit golf because he had more important things to focus his mental energy on. Someone asked the PGA about it and they said rather unimpressed, we don't want him, he's too good for us.

As the Algarve beckons it reminds me that Simon Bottery and I saw Kevin Whately of Inspector Morse fame on the flight out to and back from Portugal last year.

I played at Woolston Manor Golf and Country Club a few months ago and in the group in front of us was Teddy Sheringham, plus two other ex West Ham players who I didn't know, but one of them is now on Talk Sport Radio.

Russ

I see Robert Lee & John Beresford (Both of Newcastle FC fame) at Hazlemere GC a few months back..

I saw rob camplisson (played in my Charity golf day plus Gtour/Golfshake event in 2009) on the weakest link last Friday, well I think it was him.

I saw Ian Poulter on Sky Sports this Sunday

4 years ago saw Mick whats-his-name (coventry manager then) and Roy evans ex Liverpool Manager same flight to Faro from Manchester, but they played at Vilamoura, and the year before and that year played golf with Bob Anderson of Darts fame and they were staying in the Dom Joao (same hotel).

I saw John Pettitt a week last Sunday and had a chat and got his autograph, sorry for trumping you all................................................

I once shared a bench with the man after the Midland GS open. Forgot to get his autograph though. doh!

Bumped into Matt Baker at the Pavilion Hotel in London and he was just on his way out the door to play some golf. Gotta love celebrity golfers.
 

Got held up at Newbiggin By The Sea GC by Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi a couple of months ago, and they were in buggies whilst we were walking!

Smith flunked his opening drive, much to everyones amusement, as he was giving it all the BIG I AM beforehand http://www.golfshake.com/scripts/ckeditor362/plugins/smiley/images/teeth_smile.gif" title="laugh" width="20" />

Just thought id try n get this thread going again, its great to see who people have bumped into......

This years Open I asked David Leadbetter for tips on getting out of the thick stuff, he just said 'dont go it'

And when I was a kid we used to go ball hunting at our local club(TrenthamGC,Staffs) for those who dont know it, it has a rather steap uphill 8th hole(this is relivent).......we saw a golf buggy coming up the hill, take a sharp left turn, and promptly rolled over three times.....out falls the snooker legend the late Alex Higgins....