What it's like to play one of England's hardest golf courses

As another week passes us by, it's another week where golf has gotten the better of me, but this time it just left me a little to hang onto as we head into another week. 

Firstly, I wanted to start with a thank you. 

As I was about to tee off in my second round of The Seaton Robson on Friday at Aldeburgh Golf Club, there was a gentleman member volunteering as an afternoon starter. I didn’t catch his name, annoyingly, but as I approached the tee he asked me if I was in fact "the Matt Holbrook that writes for Golfshake" - usually when someone asks me if I am THE Matt Holbrook, I don’t know whether I should say hello or run away, but thankfully, this particular encounter was on a more positive note. He tells me he reads my articles, that it’s nice to have someone doing this sort of thing in the local area and that I should (his words, not mine) "keep up the good work".

In true Holbrook fashion, I thanked him for his kind words and asked him if he required either an autograph or a selfie, both of which were declined (he will regret that one day) and I proceeded to pipe my mini driver down the middle of the 1st fairway on my way to a second par of the day on that particular hole.  

So, the day itself on Friday...

Playing One of England's Most Difficult Golf Courses

Aldeburgh, on any day, is a tough golf course. The combination of playing 36 holes of medal, a consistent 15/20 mph wind all day and playing it off the blue championship tees (just under 7,000 yards) doesn’t make for a day of low scoring. 

Then, when you sprinkle a topping of a game that doesn’t even resemble something close to your C game - let alone A or B - it will leave a specific taste in your mouth that will linger around for far too long. 

A couple of mid 80 rounds that weren't helped by a handful of bigger numbers - and believe me, it's easily done around there - won’t do the job I’m afraid. 

It took me a while, but you try to take some positives from a day like that. There were lots of scores worse than mine from players that own a lower index. I managed to get round 36 holes only three-putting once, and that was from off the green too, so that’s a serious positive.

Ultimately, playing 480-yard par 4s and 235-yard par 3s into a stiff breeze is both mentally and physically demanding. But we know what we sign up for and take it for what it is - still, a little cry in a dark room was all it took for me to move on. 

Reaching For The Positives is Essential

Sunday’s golf was slightly better, but it was again one of those frustrating ones where I’m looking at the +7, I shot at Diss that featured a triple and two double bogeys. 34 points with two blobs. Definitely feeling it should have, and could have, been a lot better. Managing to par all five of the par 3s is something to hold onto for me - those that have read all the weekly updates will know the struggles with par 3s this year. And a birdie-birdie finish took that particular count to three for the day. 

Ultimately, golf is true to form this week, giving me that finish to hang onto and feel good about as we head into a week that consists of a trip to The Centurion, which I am really looking forward to, and hopefully a spot of caddying for my coach Sam, as he is playing in an event locally to me on Wednesday, which will be a good experience. 

Oh, and as if all this wasn’t enough, this week is also US Open week. Buzzing for that!