funky_nomad

This simply shows how far from reality your opinions lie - I play for the handicap team at Ladybank and all our opponents tell us their away matches at Ladybank are the only games they can field at least two teams for and never have call-offs, even those who play there most years. If it was "flat and boring" why on earth would this be the case?

I actually agree that the Old Course is nowhere near as good as it's cracked up to be, but that's just arrant nonsense.

Back to your village, it's missing an idiot.

Fact check: you're wrong - if a club decides that an artificial surface is an integral part of the course, that rule is not applied. There are plenty of courses where you don't receive a free drop from artificial paths/roads on the golf course - Ladybank just along the A91 for example.

Scott (the young blonde fella in the video) did my club fitting at Wellsgreen - nice guy.

(to be fair, though, the 9th at the Old Course is a bit of a nothing hole...)

I can't work out whether you're joking or not, more clarity please!

Give it a whirl, you won't be disappointed. I reckon I had last played there in a junior open about 35 years ago. Only recognised two holes, and one of them because you can see it from the A92 on my way to Ladybank...

Played Dunnikier for the first time in decades yesterday evening. I'd forgotten what a cracking layout it is, lovely rolling terrain and lots of elevation changes. You could almost forget you were in Kirkcaldy at times... Shame the greens were seeding, though - I would reckon they were running at around 6 or 7 tops on the stimp. Didn't stop me enjoying the course.

That's a quality comedy double-take from Rory, there.

I mean, that's poor form, but

Don't think it works like that. At the Irish last week when Forrest was tied 2nd with 2 other players, he would have missed out on the Open spot as he had the lowest world ranking of the players he was tied with. Yeah I know, I was being wistful, but the potential scenes a la Local Qualifying a couple of weeks back would've been a sight to behold.

Twilight play-off on Sunday evening for the last spot between 5 or 6 folk who finished in Top 10 might be fun...

Is it not top 3 finishers who haven't already qualified get in, same as at Irish Open last week? Potentially letting in 40 or 50 non-qualified players seems a stretch...

Cheers. Aye, the course is terrific just now, and the new bunkers have made a real difference to the look of the place. Having said that, the heather and wispy, hosel-grabbing rough have shot up over the last week or two, so there's a real premium in keeping it on the short stuff.

Played in the midweek medal last night at Ladybank, defending a Top 8 score (differential of 8.3). Broke 40 on both 9s, which is always my baseline target, for a +7 round and a 5.2 score differential - pleasingly, this gave me a 0.4 reduction in my Handicap Index, exactly the same cut as the old system. Hurrah! Oh, and a 3rd place for my first prize-winning round of the season, and could've been better but for a double and a triple at fairly straightforward holes (both caused by slightly wayward drives into Position Z). The new sticks are lovely to play, but (as predicted) it's the Vokey wedges making the difference - I reckon I made 6 up-and-down par/bogey saves which just kept the momentum going, and 3 of those were tap-ins. At least 2 maybe 3 shots gained, I reckon.

Remember the old Maxfli HT100 Tour Balatas? One mishit and they were fucked. I had to stop using them as I had a Tom Watson Cobalt Wedge which absolutely shredded them. Titleist Professionals were a revelation when they came out. Indeed. Those Maxflis were for people made of money. I was a Z-Balata man (boy) - the only good ball Top Flite ever made.

Should fit right in...

All of the premium balls scuff up pretty badly tbh (although not as badly as the old Balata balls of the 80's and 90's...) - if I get 3 rounds out of a TP5 or a ProVI without some form of scuffing I reckon I'm not hitting the ball hard enough...

Was sitting on a 5.2 for Score 20 this morning with a new set of sticks in the bag and managed to exactly match the gross score due to drop, which was pretty pleasing. Failed to properly capitalise on a free hit this afternoon with a poor first 5 holes (3 doubles in 5 holes, FFS... ) but started really connecting with the driver on the back nine, so fairly satisfied with my day (albeit not good enough this afternoon for a double Club Champs qualification this season ) The new Vokey wedges are a thing of marvel - such a good look and feel to them, had me oozing with confidence with them right away. I can see me picking up a shot or two round the greens on a regular basis with them - I'm already close to giving them names...

I often look down at my putter on the green and seen 3 balls. It's usually at that point I put the hipflask away...

Took delivery of the rest of my new clubs tonight to go with the Taylor Made P770's. Titleist TSI driver, Srixon ZX fairway woods and hybrid, plus 3 Vokey wedges. The wedges in brushed steel are sex on a stick - I don't know whether to swing them or try and get them drunk. Phwoar. The weekend can't come soon enough...

As expected, got papped out 5&4 at the first Knockout stage. Actually played solid stuff for the most part and kept it to all square after 5 holes, but I think this made him angry as he crushed his drive at the 380-yard 6th to just shy of the fringe. Ok, it was downwind, but still... I'd definitely have taken my card in a Medal, so no shame (other than a shank out of a bunker that nearly hit him on the shins ), and only a couple of regrets where I should have won a couple of holes when he was a bit wayward off the tee. Next year...

Feck, it's happened again... What is wrong with all the Cat 1 players at Ladybank not having the bottle... So, instead of being 2nd seed in the Handicap section and fancying my chances (and a decent pay-out!), I'm 15th seed and playing a scratch golfer off bare feet.