I just want to see what folk think about this latest piece of English bullshit.

 

So Monty doesn't bother looking to Faldo..the least successful, least inspirational Ryder cup captain in living memory for advice...and so Monty is a cunt...

 

I'm no golf expert but that seems beyond pathetic from what I can see!

 

Was going to take my sticks over to Tenerife next month, FUCK THAT! 90 odd euros for 18? Fucking dearer than Gleneagles!

 

Crikey. is that the average cost of a round there or just the course where you're staying?

Crikey. is that the average cost of a round there or just the course where you're staying?

 

It is one of the dearer courses but it is the one nearest where we're staying but the rest are pretty much round about that price.

 

The green fees near enough double in the winter,

Is that the course near Playa de las Americas/Los Cristianos?  If so, it certainly looks nice!

I go to Tenerife every year Funster. Golf Del Sur is average except for the links of the 3 9 holes. I like Amarilla, a right good test of straight hitting but the greens were pish last year.

 

Adeje is probably the best course and yes, in winter that's the going rate.

 

We tend to block book and you can usually wangle a deal, especially now as the island is not half as busy as it used to be.

Is that the course near Playa de las Americas/Los Cristianos?  If so, it certainly looks nice!

 

It does Kow, very nice, played one round since November, going off my head!

 

Bilbo, I just couldn't bring myself to cough that dough for a round, I'd rather pay that for an excellent links here during the season but I liked the look of Adeje and Amarilla.

Tried to play the first round of the year yesterday but had to give up after 5 holes cause my new sheen were rubbing, disaster. One monster drive but other than that it was complete garbage, must of 3 putted every green.

Tried to play the first round of the year yesterday but had to give up after 5 holes cause my new sheen were rubbing, disaster. One monster drive but other than that it was complete garbage, must of 3 putted every green.

 

I really cannae be ersed putting out on our winter greens, fucking heart rending stuff.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12265120

 

The new Castle Stuart golf course near Inverness has pulled off a major coup by winning the right to stage the Barclays Scottish Open in July.

 

The event has the potential to attract tens of thousands of spectators and be watched by a TV audience of millions.

 

The links course on the Moray Firth only opened fully last year.

 

The open has been played at Loch Lomond for the last nine years but financial difficulties there saw the European Tour begin the search for a new venue.

 

Anyone played on the Castle Stuart course?

 

looks bonny in the pictures and the Firth sets it off, http://www.castlestuartgolf.com/photogallery.html

 

Reminds me a bit of Buckpool GC which I grew up on, but much nicer.

There's already a golf thread Mizer! EFF EFF ESS.

 

Clowns, ban this Mod!!

There's already a golf thread Mizer! EFF EFF ESS.

 

Clowns, ban this Mod!!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12265120

 

Anyone played on the Castle Stuart course?

 

looks bonny in the pictures and the Firth sets it off, http://www.castlestuartgolf.com/photogallery.html

 

Reminds me a bit of Buckpool GC which I grew up on, but much nicer.

 

Bad news for me as Loch Lomond is only a couple of hours away from me and the Scottish Open was easily the closest world class sporting event. Still, if it helps get Tiger to play then I'm sure Barclays will get over the fact that I won't be there to watch.

 

Not quite as disappointing as sitting in the clubhouse yesterday with a new record score for our winter league's two-ball better-ball competition, which last for a full 10 mins until the last game of the day came in a beat us with a better inward half 

Great work by Luke Donald in the WGC Match Play last week to get himself to 3rd in the world.  The rankings certainly make good reading now.  When was the last time, indeed has it ever happened, that the top 4 in the World are all European?  On top of that 6 of the Top 10 are European and we have 2 Scots in the Top 100 for the first time in a number of years 

 

Men's world rankings, 27 Feb

1 Martin Kaymer    Ger  8.36 pts ave

2 Lee Westwood      Eng  8.16

3 Luke Donald      Eng  6.64

4 Graeme McDowell  NI  6.44

5 Tiger Woods      US  6.32

6 Phil Mickelson    US  6.23

7 Paul Casey        Eng  6.02

8 Rory McIlroy      NI  5.65

9 Steve Stricker    US  5.49

10 Matt Kuchar      US  5.20

Last happened in 1992 when Woosnam, Faldo, Olazabal and Ballesteros occupied the top 4 spots.

Great work by Luke Donald in the WGC Match Play last week to get himself to 3rd in the world.  The rankings certainly make good reading now.  When was the last time, indeed has it ever happened, that the top 4 in the World are all European?  On top of that 6 of the Top 10 are European and we have 2 Scots in the Top 100 for the first time in a number of years 

 

Men's world rankings, 27 Feb

1 Martin Kaymer    Ger  8.36 pts ave

2 Lee Westwood      Eng  8.16

3 Luke Donald      Eng  6.64

4 Graeme McDowell  NI  6.44

5 Tiger Woods      US  6.32

6 Phil Mickelson    US  6.23

7 Paul Casey        Eng  6.02

8 Rory McIlroy      NI  5.65

9 Steve Stricker    US  5.49

10 Matt Kuchar      US  5.20

 

Never been a big fan of Donald, always suspected him of being a bit weak but he has played some excellent stuff in the last year and was arguably the best player at the Ryder Cup.

Getting to that time of year again, reluctantly bought myself a shiny new driver yesterday because my old one's not really legal any more.

 

What are you boys hitting off the tee, and how's it working out for you?

 

FORE!

Getting to that time of year again, reluctantly bought myself a shiny new driver yesterday because my old one's not really legal any more.

 

What are you boys hitting off the tee, and how's it working out for you?

 

FORE!

 

3, mostly... 

 

I desperately need a new driver too, the one i have just now is too whippy for how fast my swing is and as a result I hit it right half the time. Trying to correct that has taken about 20-30 yards off my drives.  So if anyone can recommend a good, affordable driver with a stiff shaft (oo-er) I would appreciate it.

 

what kind did you get CtS?

I was hitting a Callaway ERC Hot, now not allowed in competition due to the technology (although the pro I spoke to said it was ridiculous), so I went with the Callaway Diablo Octane...

 

 

It worked ok in the demo bay down at the driving range anyway.

 

It's a pity because my driving has always been sound, best part of my game, just hope this one works on the course as well as the last.  Now if only someone could teach me to putt...

I use the Titleist 909D2 with Voodoo shaft last year. It's best driver I've ever played and I wont be changing any time soon.

 

 

Paul Lawrie won the Andalucian Open.

 

Good luck to Martin Laird tonight 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/9437454.stm

 

Paul Lawrie won the Andalucian Open.

 

Good luck to Martin Laird tonight 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/9437454.stm

 

Scottish double 

Paul Lawrie for a couple of majors this year 

Scottish double 

 

And Laird is now #21 in the world! 

http://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/index.html

 

Seems a bit weird that the BBC only have the Saturday/Sunday live coverage now.

Sky's coverage was quite good last night, with Monty doing some commentating.

 

Anyone going up to the Scottish Open?  We're going up on the Friday! 

Seems a bit weird that the BBC only have the Saturday/Sunday live coverage now.

Sky's coverage was quite good last night, with Monty doing some commentating.

 

Anyone going up to the Scottish Open?  We're going up on the Friday! 

 

Thought Monty was good at the old commentating lark, good hearing it from a player's perspective and why certain shots are played the way they are.

The jingle they've got when they go to the adverts was seriously doing my nut in last night.

 

Article here about the BEEB and the Masters:

 

There will be one battle being fought on the fairways at Augusta this week but another, just as fiercely competitive, being fought off it.

 

In a move some regard as controversial and others view as key for the future, the BBC will go head-to-head with Sky, which will screen live Masters coverage for the first time, as the tournament reaches its key phases on Saturday and Sunday.

 

At one stage last summer, Sky walked away from discussions relating to Masters rights due to their unwillingness to share the event with the corporation.

 

Sky's return to and subsequent completion of negotiations delighted Billy Payne who as chairman of Augusta National has pioneered fresh media and technological advancement at the Masters.

 

Against that backdrop, Sky's ability to replicate the 3D coverage that proved such a success at the Ryder Cup is crucial. The availability of Sky Mobile TV and Sky Player could be added bonuses.

 

"If ever there is a venue made for 3D and HD, it is Augusta National," said a spokesperson for Sky Sports. "What the viewer will see for the first time is, for example, how steep the course is on the back nine and how small some of the greens are."

 

Sky will have between 45 and 50 crew members on the ground in Georgia. Key talent is provided by the successful Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who will offer a mixture of studio analysis and commentary.

 

Ewen Murray, Sky Sports' voice of golf, will again be in situ, as will Butch Harmon. A further feather in Sky's cap is Harmon's coaching links with the defending Masters champion Phil Mickelson. He was also Tiger Woods' coach for 11 years.

 

"It's difficult to explain to viewers just how hilly Augusta is and that it's not just the greens that defend the course," said Murray. "It's rare to get a totally flat lie and that tests the skills and talents of those playing. For those who will watch in 3D, they will be able to read the putts for themselves and appreciate more the quality the players have in shaping the ball off uneven lies and trying to find the correct portion of the greens, which is so important if they are to record under-par scores."

 

Woods is the most high-profile figure to endorse the 3D experience on Sky Sports. He even claims to have "watched some of the soccer" in that format during spare time in the United States locker room during the Celtic Manor Ryder Cup.

 

Sky's commercial commitment to golf was also key, although offset by the routinely small audience that watches it live on the station. By keeping the BBC in the Masters set-up, albeit in its diminished form, the Augusta management has ensured the broadest audience possible in the UK.

 

Where this all leaves the BBC in the longer-term is another matter. The non-appearance of its director general, Mark Thompson, at Augusta last year, when contracts were up for negotiation, did not help.

 

The corporation has denied suggestions that the watering-down of its Masters output is the first step towards complete withdrawal. Multi-platform coverage this year will appear on BBC Two, the BBC HD Channel, the BBC Red Button, online and Radio 5 Live.

 

The BBC's commitment to golf, though, has clearly receded in recent years and the spectre of up to £150m – or 20% – worth of cuts due to be made cannot be ignored when considering a sport that has never been cheap to cover. The BBC has had an association with the Masters stretching back to 1967.

 

"We are delighted that our long-standing partnership with Augusta has continued – we secured an agreement that represents the best value for licence payers, that still ensures that the climax of this event remains available to the widest possible audience," said the BBC.

 

"We are fully committed to golf and have a very strong portfolio. On television we broadcast live coverage from The Masters, The Open, The Women's Open, The PGA Championship, The Scottish Open and The Walker Cup. In addition we broadcast TV highlights from The Ryder Cup.

 

"Radio has commentary from all four major championships, with news and reports from around 20 tournaments worldwide, and our BBC website features golf year round."

 

Although nothing has been formalised, Sky are already thought to be planning for the Masters of 2012. Only unlikely and unforeseen disaster this week would stem a seemingly inevitable tide.