I’m back from my non-golf-based holiday. To be honest, the last month or so has been pretty busy on the golf front with various competitions and trips, so it was nice to head off and do something while leaving the clubs at home and switching off before the next batch starts - which just happens to be this week - but more on that in a bit.
I haven’t stepped foot on a golf course in the UK for nearly a month - although the trips to Ireland and Spain were, of course, fantastic. Therefore, I don’t have much personal golf to report on. Apart from the fact that I have hit some balls since being back which went surprisingly well but have only hit small amounts using the ‘blow up ball between my arms’ training aid. I'm just going to continue with that for the rest of this week.
This coming week, however, I am now going to be playing in the Coronation Cup at my second course - Felixstowe Ferry. I hadn’t originally planned to play in this event for a couple of reasons. When I first looked at the date for this it was listed as a different date. A Sunday I knew I couldn’t play - so instead I found the Coxmoor Cockerel at Coxmoor Golf Club in Nottinghamshire. A course I have wanted to play for a while.
I entered months and months ago, as I do with most of my open events, I try to book them up as far in advance as possible. Some due to the fact the places go so quickly.
Today was the day I was due to get the email with confirmed tee times. Instead, I had an email to say that due to the competition being oversubscribed a ballot had taken place and I had, unfortunately, missed out.
Why Entering Some Opens at Golf Clubs Can Feel Unfair
(Hunstanton Golf Club - Image Credit: Kevin Heggie)
Let me go on record first and say that this mini rant is not directed at Coxmoor Golf Club personally, but why do ballots feel unfair?
It’s not the only open competition I enter that will run a ballot if oversubscribed. The Seaton Robson at Aldeburgh is one, The Hunstanton Bowl is another. But every year - and I know I am not the only one - I enter early, pay my money way in advance in a show of commitment to the event, only to then miss out in favour of people that enter late or need to be chased for money.
A fair few open comps I play in have a handicap limit and entries are based on a first come, first served basis. Get in as quick as you can or you won’t get a place - this surely seems a much fairer way of doing things?
I know in the run-up to these events, people will naturally drop out and it's those that had paid and were waiting patiently, only to then get the rejection email, who will get a call or email to say, ‘we’ve had some dropouts, would you still like a spot?’ - at this point it almost makes you feel like you are a second choice, or a rebound, if you like.
Time to Ban The Ballot?
Whilst I fully understand the benefit for some illustrious competitions, maybe England Golf sanctioned events, have for running a ballot, to guarantee the strongest field, especially if there are WAGR points up for grabs.
But in open competitions at club level - is it time to ban the ballot?
Let the people that enter, pay and commit get the benefit of playing or are ballots still fine in order to get the best field possible?
Anyway, at least I have some competitive golf to look forward to this weekend. It will be interesting to see how I get on given it’s been a month - so no expectations on a course I know really well.
Since my last column - where I had shared the feature I wrote for the trip to Sotogrande - I can now also happily share here links to the two courses I had played - The Alto Club and La Reserva - which has also recently featured on Rick Shiels' YouTube Channel - that guy seems to follow me about everywhere, you know.
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