Why golf always gives us something to talk about

In this week’s column, Matt Holbrook reflects on the challenge of settling into life at a new golf club, his recent struggles for form and why golf continues to produce memorable stories - from Richard Sterne’s emotional comeback victory to Nicolas Colsaerts’ farewell in front of home fans.

Let’s be honest - when I started this weekly column, I thought there would be weeks where I would struggle for things to write. So far, after 20 weeks that hasn’t been the case. But this week felt different. The LIV stuff seems to have died down; the PGA Champs is a distant memory and there hasn't been a drop of rain.

Yes, I’ve been playing golf, but quite frankly, very poorly. I played my first 2 full rounds at my new home course Diss last week and didn’t manage to break 80 either time. What I would say, is I am in a period of change and it’s definitely going to take some time figuring a couple of things out there.

What is the usual wind, what clubs to hit off what tees, how the greens play? For me it’s part of the process of changing clubs and getting to know your new home.

For example, the 5^th hole is a shorter par 4 in a ‘semi-circle’ type of shape where you can see part of the green from the tee around 280 yards away. But going for the green is fraught with danger. Between the tee and green is also some (currently) thick long grass which is technically red staked. So then from the tee, I’m still trying to figure out – ‘Do I hit a 5 iron on that line?’ or ‘Is it a 5 wood on that line?’ or do you just whack a driver or mini driver in the general direction of the green and hope for the best

Two things are for sure though, I am really enjoying getting to know it and my lesson with Sam can’t come quick enough this week!

It’s also a little over 2 weeks until my next Suffolk Open event and from there, they come thick and fast.

I’ve mentioned it before – earlier on this year in fact – and no doubt I’ll mention it again, but golf is the only game that throws up stories as often as it does. Another one this week on the DP World Tour where 44-year-old South African Richard Sterne claimed his seventh DPWT title, but his first title in 13 years. He did it in style too, finishing birdie, eagle, par to claim victory by 2 in Belgium.

There were also emotional scenes on Friday, when Nicolas Colsaerts called time on a successful career spanning over 500 events. This was in fact his 505^th time teeing it up on the DP World Tour and to call time in front of your home fans would have been a special moment for him and his family.

Golf is the best – and I will die on that hill.

So very brief from me this week. We are in the midst of a heatwave here in the UK at the moment and as it’s a bank holiday weekend the pool has been out and the garden is beckoning, if you are luckily enough to be playing some golf this week make sure you take plenty of fluids and apply suncream where needed – if you're going to be anything, be safe!