Forum > General golf topics

Darren Ramowski

Anyone got any thoughts on their 2009 ?  courses played, goals acheived ?

Here's mine - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/1/1869/My_2009_golf_review.html

Terry Gardners also done a great round up of his golf played over the last few years - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/26511/1870/Rounds_played.html

How have you got on ?

David Marshall

Darren, got to admit Foxhills was a very nice course. Shame about the weather, but what else do we expect when you organise anything?

Loved playing Saunton. Most definitely going back there in 2010

N v S worked out as planned.

Hope for more of the same in 2010. Hopefully try to get my handicap down a bit.

Looking forward to playing with my golfshake friends, at some time.

Happy New Year to all on here that know me, and even to those that don't

Andy Barnes

Well - mine was an expensive one - getting back into golf at long last..... new mx200's, putter, driver, clothes (of course!)... and Mrs B took up golf too.... so new mx100's for her and everything else that she needs to play golf.... (of course including the clothes!!), and then both little Barnes's got into golf... so Santa was very busy buying clubs, bags, and accessories for them.... then lessons for everyone.... seems like the golfing Brady bunch! Happy days and happy new year to all :-)

Tim Hawkins

David Marshall

You know what that means, Tim...

Martin will be the second North Captain to lose 

Tim Hawkins

David Marshall

Don't let it get to you, Tim. It's not the end of the world. Your team put up a valiant fight, but it just wasn't meant to be this time.

Terry Gardner

Highs for me in 2009 were:
My first ever hole-in-one in May, and being in an official comp meant the insurance covered the bar bill.
Finally got down to single figures after 5 years hanging around the 10 mark - already crawled up from 8.6 to 9.1, so don't know how long it will last.
Made my first ever knock-out final - and won the Vice Captain's Cup (for H/c 10 and below).
Pushed the boat out and bought only my second new set of clubs since I started playing regulalry in 2000.

Lows in 2009 were:
No golf holidays at all this year.
Only got to play 'away' 18 times in 2009; an all time low, and probably less than Tiger did ...... wink, wink.

Goals:
Play over 150 rounds in 2010 - should be able to achieve that.
Play more courses - this is gonna take some effort, but some of my buddies are already planning away days, including Woodhall Spa in April.  Must have a look at Seniors Opens this year - I only played one last year - Newmarket, Links GC, and there are some seriously cheap Seniors Opens at good courses if I can find the time.

Pipe dreams for the future:
Keep my handicap down to single figures - yea right, like that's gonna happen.
Win the lottery/Premium Bonds and buy the flat I stayed at in Pinehurst some years ago.
Not too sure which of those last two is least likely.

Have a great 2010 everybody and play some good golf!

Tim Hawkins

And as a footnote, go to play some cracking courses and some not so good ones..

Foxhills, fantastic course despite the weather.

Chapel-en-le-Frith.  Lovely course in a stunning location.

Flamborough Head.  Two rounds in a day in another beautiful setting, set off with one of the nicest fish and chip lunch's I've had.

Rutland County.  Desperately bad 9 hole course followed by an outstanding 18 holer.  Worth a go if you fancy playing in the middle of nowhere!

The Carrick on Loch Lomond.  Stunning course in stunning location, would have enjoyed it if the course had not been in such an appalling state.  

James Illsley

35 rounds at 26 different golf courses, most of which I wouldn't have played had other people not taken the time and trouble to organise games.

Big highlight - PGA National at the Belfry £35 with Open fairways card, on arrival the lad at the desk gave us £10 vouchers each for the shop as "some work" was being done on the course.  Only saw greenkeepers on two holes and about six other golfers - great day all round!

Had a great day at the Golfshake Open, loved the course and second in the Organiser's Cup behind Tim (that seemed to be a regular occurence in 2009 as most players who play in the CGL games will testify!)

Had two storming rounds - 43 points in a social round in April and 40 on a strange course in a charity competition in July.  A big low was when the organiser began the prize ceremony with "in third place with 45 points...".

Have met loads of golfers through golfshake and am looking forward to this continuing in 2010.  Happy New Year to all!

Stuart Laws

2009 was a pretty good golfing year for me as i played more rounds than ever before thanks to golfshake and CGL, dropping my handicap from 12 at the start of the year to 8.8 now. I've met some great people through playing in these competitions and look forward to the same again in 2010.

Highlight of the year would have to be the Golfshake charity event at Beeston fields where i came 1st with 43 pts  after playing the round of my life where everything just went right and of course the putting comp on the same day which i'm sure Dave Ley remembers well (sorry Dave!!). Just summed up the whole day for me.

Lowlight was definately the N v S where i played poorly and putted even worse losing 3&2 (i think) in the end, but well done to the south, enjoy it while it lasts.

Happy New Year to everyone and hope to see you on the course soon.

Dave Knatt

Highs for 2009

Getting my handicap down to 24! 

Organising another YMCA Charity event!

Attending my first Golfshake event!

Getting my balls to last longer!

Goals for 2010

Hopefully playing in my first NvS competition!

Getting the handicap down to 20!

Meeting more of you guys and gals!

Another YMCA Charity event - bigger and better!

John Flood

Highs for 2009

Coming 1st & 2nd in a monthly medal.

Reducing my handicap by 2.

Successfully defending the YMCA title.

Switching to forged irons.

Goals for 2010

Get my handicap down to 10

Defend the YMCA title

Read more books on course management & pychology.

Win my NvS match

Win more monthly medals

Darren Ramowski

Renamed this post to better describe what it's all about

Highs of 2009

• Here's mine - http://www.golfshake.com/user/blog/1/1869/My_2009_golf_review.html

Goals for 2010

• Play more golf!
• Drop the handicap, watch this space
• Play a course in each of the home countries ie England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland achieved 3 in 2009
• Better support on the site (believe it or not but we get 100+ emails per day (averaged out) across the team of Helen and I)
• Make Golfshake.com the no.1 place for tracking and analysing your game, golf course information and all things golf
• Get out and meet more golfshakers through golfshake events, meet ups and the Gtour events

Lewis Gladstone-buchanan

Well my golfing life began 2009.....at the end of September so that is really my only high so far......but a good one.

2010....First thing to continue on my lessons to get a half decent swing

Practice as much as possible, play as often as I can

If I'm really honest....I'd like to get my h/c down to around 18, not sure how possible that is yet

and of course I'll have my first comp of my life.....The N'v'S !

Darren Ramowski

Lewis that is also one of my goals, handicap of around 18.  To be honest I just don't play enough therefore I plan a little challenge to see if with some focus I can achieve this.  So can I break 90 in 90 days ?

I've not started yet but will be doing so very soon.

http://90in90days.com/

David Long

I had a very mixed golf year in 2009. After years playing off 8 or 9 my handicap slowly creeped up to 15 as the effects of a young family and my own business came into play. The worst was in 2009 when I struggled to beat 100 some days.

So, I took a couple of lessons, practised hard on the local range at lunchtimes and then went out and shot a 76 and a 75 in consecutive comps. Can you believe it - a net 61 and I came 4th and then a net 63 and I came 4th again - aarrgghh!

The funny thing was, on the first tee of the first of those two comps, I told my playing partners not to expect too much as I simply hoped to break 90.

So, my game is on the way back. My plans for 2010 are simple:

1. practice more

2. play more

3. smile more

 Oh, and I hope to get out and meet you all on at least one of the Golfshake days.

Wayne Santorini

John Pettitt

Wayne, Mr Long is a member of my club, Sherfield Oaks and one of the many bandits we seem to attract.

I remember the two rounds that he scored well and still did not win, our club is blessed with this kind of player. He is still a single figure handicap strker and player, take it from me.

Paul Williams

2009 Was a dismal year for me in terms of golf, Handicap slowly creeping up and then a 3 month lay off with the bloody back again, I hope and pray this year all will be sorted.

This year I have set the following targets which I believe are attainable with practise.

Sort out my long game as this is the main area keeping up the old handicap.

Get back down to 18 or near as possible.

Put in a better performance at the N v S.

Avoid late night drinking session with Dave Ley the evening before the N v S, God only knows how I got round last time as I was still two sheets to the wind

David Marshall

Sorry you suffer with the darn back problems too, Paul.

That's why I have to use a trolley. Even though I get a lot of stick about it.

P.S.  Don't put in a better performance at the N v S.. We like you just the way you are  Oh  and feel free to be two sheets to the wind, or even three 

David Long

John

Great to see you here, I look forward to playing with you again this year sometime, are you playing in the roll-up on Thursday (weather and buggies permitting)?

But...it's the first time I've been called a bandit in a long while. And I would also like to add that I think the handicap committee were wrong in only cutting me by two shots for those two rounds. I was a total of 17 under par net for those two rounds and expected to be cut by more. Maybe that explains why I only came 4th or 5th on each occassion.

Regards

David

Paul Williams

Its a killer at the moment, The Belfry is carry only at present so I'm able to just get round, Then spend the next 2 days recovering, which begs the question is it really worth it? But the odd moments of magic keep me coming back.

Definitely not stopping over now, I fully intend on being as sober as a judge for this one.

Thank you David for the words of motivation I needed to hear.

Dave ley

Paul Williams

John Pettitt

Hi David, I have been a golfshaker for nigh on three years now, played in two N v S, victor both times I might add.

Nice to see you on the site, I have noticed how well you have been playing, being called a bandit is an endearment, the system will never let you get to what you are worth in respect of handicap.

I have not played at Sherfield since I renewed my membership on the 1st Novemeber, so it is not good value at the moment and I cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel where buggies are concerned. but we will have another game soon so that you can show me how it is supposed to be done.

David Long

John

I would consider it an honour to share a buggy with you again once the weather permits. I just prefered it when you called me a 'gorilla' rather than a bandit!

David

John Pettitt

David Long

;-)

Maybe I should be known as a Gorilla Bandit?

Tim Stansbury

Keen to drop in highs and goals for 2010!

Highs of 2009

Became a member at Clandon Regis Golf Club – very much enjoying it
Bought a great value set of Titleist AP1’s – and love them!
Playing Hindhead Golf Club with my father (his course, but it’ll always be a high)

Goals for 2010

Practice more
Play in a N v S Golfshake event
Get a single figure handicap at Clandon (this may need to be a 2011 goal!)
Continue to produce quality golf videos for golfers to watch and enjoy

Tim
Visual Golf
www.visual-golf.com

Alex Walls

Highs of 2009

My first game.

My first parred hole.

Parring two holes in the same 9 (One narrowly missing out on a birdie) and the other sinking a 15 ft putt.

Beating my mates who have played for longer than I have, and often remind me of that. 

Understanding the handicap system, vaguely.

Goals for 2010

Not purely for golf, to hit the gym consistently and get bigger. As I say, not so much to better my golf, but it can only really increase the distances I can hit.

Hit the range one evening a week. 

Beat my best score of 2009.

Average no more than 8 shots on par 5s.

Par my first par 4.

Reduce my handicap by anything.

Remember to take my time on short putts. 

Lee Butler

I don't really set myself targets but if I were to set one for this year, its to be more consistant.

Too many times in my rounds do I shoot silly scores i.e 6's on par 3's, 7's on par 4's etc.. If I could eradicate these stupid scores from my game I will be happy.. Its in me, I know it is and I'd love to shift my handicap down a bit more..

Good luck for 2010 everyone!

David Homer

John Pettitt

David Homer

John Flood

David,

now you've gotten used to Handsworth you'll soon start to see your scores tumble. I was exactly the same when I 1st joined.

Hopefully by April we will have forged an unbeatable partnership!

John Pettitt

David Homer

JP - likewise. All though I would love to have an 18 hole round and some time on the practice range with you for your valuable feedback/instruction, I would rather it not be under matchplay conditions.

COME ON THE NORTH

Steve Hogg-maclean

Highs 2009

taking regular lessons over 3 months

Played reasonably reqularly  (family & work permitting) managed

Goals 2010

Play my first competiton

Break 90

Get the wife into Golf!

Tim Greaves

Highs of 2009

Hitting my lowest round ever round of 74.

Playing West Hill GC.

Playing The Addington GC.

Continuing to play with true friends.

 Goals for 2010

Continue lessons with best coach i have found.

keep my single figure handicap (reduce if possible)

Have a golf holiday (missed out in 2009)

keep the north on their losing streak in April !

Continue to play with true friends.

Chris Perry

2009 Highs

• First sub 85 round
• Achieving my target handicap of 18
  
• Improving my short game enough to consider it a strength
  
• Getting some consistency into my game
• Becoming a member of a course for the first time
• Being able to play two or three times a week
  
• Playing some good new courses (too many to mention)
• Getting married (and being allowed to play golf on honeymoon!)
  

2009 Lows

• Losing my job.  Twice 
• Those sub-standard rounds that made me miserable

2010 Targets

• Get at least two more shots off the handicap
• Find a new, challenging course I enjoy playing to join when I move house
• Improve the swing so that I hit more greens
  

John Goodger

2009

Realising my ability with an eye for a a ball and taking up the game.

Getting lessons and improving all the time

Getting my first Birdie that looked like I was a pro off the TV with a sublime chip after skipping through the bunker to a grassy position just off the green.

 2010

To acquire a recognised handicap

To be good enough to play Tylney Hall in Hampshire, that on a village cycle ride last Autumn looked very pretty in a Golf course kind of way, and enjoy the experience v green fee cost.

Have a good time