Golf Thread

[hammocity]

On the cheating, not putting cards in, protecting handicaps, at Ashton they always run a yellow tee comp alongside the white ones, it's great for the older guys as there's a distinct difference in difficulty and length. I'm putting my casual cards in now as I'm officially 21.5 but as I said in a previous post I'm about 17 amongst our group. I won't be entering a competition either at my home course or an open until I'm no more than 18 because it would effectively be cheating, no point looking at a trophy on your mantle piece that you haven't earned is there?

I won a lovely trophy many years ago off 15 handicap, I played to 8 that day (best ever round) it was a bronze golfer, Mrs H dropped it twice, the first time an arm fell off, the second time it's head came off, I kept it for a while, just put the head between its legs.

 

[SWP's back]

Going back to Steve Kyi, he was a member at Doha for 7 years and left in December, he played in several Societies including the Dolphins and the Ligs, his last project was the World Cup Stadiums, before that he worked on the highways infrastructure, he said the "wages" were insane. He's the same age as me and now
retired, a bit like you but a lot older :-)

Ah, we would have missed each other like ships in the night (up until Christmas I was only a member of the Academy Course at DGC, moved to full Championship membership in January when I felt competent enough to play it). Yeah Qatar has its benefit and wages are high but cost of living is extortionate, our rent is/was more than 5x the cost of my old mortgage in the U.K. and the monthly bill for the golf for me and the Mrs was $1,000 per month. So the expenses really eat into the wages. Anyway, 3 days to go until I wave goodbye to the place.

 

[hammocity]

Ah, we would have missed each other like ships in the night (up until Christmas I was only a member of the Academy Course at DGC, moved to full Championship membership in January when I felt competent enough to play it). Yeah Qatar has its benefit and wages are high but cost of living is extortionate, our rent is/was more than 5x the cost of my old mortgage in the U.K. and the monthly bill for the golf for me and the Mrs was $1,000 per month. So the expenses really eat into the wages. Anyway, 3 days to go until I wave goodbye to the place.

Nice one, the cost of living in your next domain will be at the other end of the scale, I didn't realise the cost of living was so high, I'd been to Dubai about 15 years ago and spent about £1200 in six nights only having a couple of beers a night but $1k per month on green fees tells its own story, good luck with the move.

 

[bluemonkey71]

I like the WHS, I’ve put in over 240 cards since I started last October. It certainly keeps it up to date and accurate.

240! Jesus Christ. I’ve managed about 10

 

[SWP's back]

Nice one, the cost of living in your next domain will be at the other end of the scale, I didn't realise the cost of living was so high, I'd been to Dubai about 15 years ago and spent about £1200 in six nights only having a couple of beers a night but $1k per month on green fees tells its own story, good luck with the move.

And yet they still spend more on water than they recoup in member fees! But that’s what happens I guess when you build golf courses in one of the driest places on Earth. We’ve not had rain since March last year. Again a little different to the place I’m off to…

 

[SWP's back]

240! Jesus Christ. I’ve managed about 10

But you probably have a real job.

 

[hammocity]

And yet they still spend more on water than they recoup in member fees! But that’s what happens I guess when you build golf courses in one of the driest places on Earth. We’ve not had rain since March last year. Again a little different to the place I’m off to…

I forgot to say Steve had played with Andy Gray who's company he enjoyed but said Keys is well stuck up his own arse and not at all liked by most of the members, is it true Keys lives with one of his friends daughter?

 

[SWP's back]

I forgot to say Steve had played with Andy Gray who's company he enjoyed but said Keys is well stuck up his own arse and not at all liked by most of the members, is it true Keys lives with one of his friends daughter?

She had to move out of Qatar once it became public knowledge about the affair as Keys is well known, a govt employee and it’s obviously very against the law to have sex outside of marriage (loads do it but most don’t have it published in the press).

Steve’s not too far off correct about the two of them although Keys is more shy than up himself to be fair. Takes him a while to open up so he comes across pretty badly at first.

Andy’s a good bloke and very friendly with everyone and it’s through them that I got to be good golf pals with some big name ex pros.

 

[bluemonkey71]

But you probably have a real job.

Sadly yes and of course COVID shut down the courses then the bloody weather.

 

[bluemonkey71]

54 ? Is that his handicap ?

If it is christ glad I not a head greenkeeper anymore lol. Image having about 50 or 60 members playing of that ! They would be no course left after a week or two.

Think when I started as a greenkeeper the max handicap was 18 I think. And we classed those as hackers !

Hey. It’s good to have an ex head greenkeeeper on here. Most members treat them like shit which I find insulting considering the work/hours/pay they do.

When you were working did you always roll then cut the greens or the other way round? Always thought of maybe doing it part time when I retire.

 

[hammocity]

Hey. It’s good to have an ex head greenkeeeper on here. Most members treat them like shit which I find insulting considering the work/hours/pay they do.

When you were working did you always roll then cut the greens or the other way round? Always thought of maybe doing it part time when I retire.

Our green keeper is a member as well, plays off 4 and a Blue, never treat any of them with anything less than respect, good lads.

@give it to gordon, 18 handicappers, hackers! You cheeky fucker :-)

 

[SWP's back]

Re “hackers”, I’ve always wondered what people mean exactly. Are we talking people that take deep divots? It’s always worried me as I do take quite the divot but it’s ball first (usually) and decent contact (and I always fill with sand mixture and/or the actual turf I’ve taken), but I do always worry that I’m considered to be damaging the course. It’s certainly on my mind as I have to undertake an 18 hole plying assessment with a pro at the new place before the committee will accept me as a member. (Even though I’ve printed off my handicap cert - 11.1 currently)

 

[give it to gordon]

Hey. It’s good to have an ex head greenkeeeper on here. Most members treat them like shit which I find insulting considering the work/hours/pay they do.

When you were working did you always roll then cut the greens or the other way round? Always thought of maybe doing it part time when I retire.

I was made redundant in 2010 and for members clubs rolling wasnt wildly done. If we wanted to speed the greens up for the club open or a special event we would cut morning and afternoon.

But to answer your question you would roll after cutting

Normal the greens would run at about 10 in the summer which was more than enough for club and society golf.

You are right greenkeepers are treated like shit , nearly everyone I knew have quit because of it. Plus there is a shortage of young greenkeepers

I have always found it odd how golfers will shout fore when another golfer is in the way. But wouldnt shout fore for greenkeepers.

In my 25 years in golf I can honestly say I only liked around 5 or 6 members sadly. Had a few threatened to punch my lights, and my staff. Just for asking politely why they didnt shout fore.

The best thing that happened to me was being made redundant. I would never go back. Like alot of my ex greenkeepers we had enough. Lots of very skillful and knowledgeable greenkeepers have walked away.

The sad thing is I really enjoyed producing a good course and greens but you were always fight the committee who, wanted to ruin it with their lack of knowledge

Edit 27 yrs !

 

[crublue1]

Re “hackers”, I’ve always wondered what people mean exactly. Are we talking people that take deep divots? It’s always worried me as I do take quite the divot but it’s ball first (usually) and decent contact (and I always fill with sand mixture and/or the actual turf I’ve taken), but I do always worry that I’m considered to be damaging the course. It’s certainly on my mind as I have to undertake an 18 hole plying assessment with a pro at the new place before the committee will accept me as a member. (Even though I’ve printed off my handicap cert - 11.1 currently)

Perfectly acceptable to take a divot as long as it's repaired properly, which you are doing. Unless on the tee of course, dont repair them.
The term hacker comes from new players sometimes needing several "hacks" at the ball to get it moving (I believe) which certainly doesnt apply to you.

 

[give it to gordon]

Our green keeper is a member as well, plays off 4 and a Blue, never treat any of them with anything less than respect, good lads.

@give it to gordon, 18 handicappers, hackers! You cheeky fucker :-)

When I started greenkeeping in the mid 80's 18 was seen as hackers lol ;). The club sweet spot was the size of new 5p not like today with big sweet spots making golfer easier ;)

 

[give it to gordon]

Re “hackers”, I’ve always wondered what people mean exactly. Are we talking people that take deep divots? It’s always worried me as I do take quite the divot but it’s ball first (usually) and decent contact (and I always fill with sand mixture and/or the actual turf I’ve taken), but I do always worry that I’m considered to be damaging the course. It’s certainly on my mind as I have to undertake an 18 hole plying assessment with a pro at the new place before the committee will accept me as a member. (Even though I’ve printed off my handicap cert - 11.1 currently)

People who take a shot about every 100 yds or less re hackers lol plus take more than two shots to get out of a bunker ! The only place you dint replace a divot is on the tee.

 

[hilts]

Re “hackers”, I’ve always wondered what people mean exactly. Are we talking people that take deep divots? It’s always worried me as I do take quite the divot but it’s ball first (usually) and decent contact (and I always fill with sand mixture and/or the actual turf I’ve taken), but I do always worry that I’m considered to be damaging the course. It’s certainly on my mind as I have to undertake an 18 hole plying assessment with a pro at the new place before the committee will accept me as a member. (Even though I’ve printed off my handicap cert - 11.1 currently)

A divot after the ball is the way to play the game, a hacker is just a term for a really bad golfer. Not all divots are acceptable though.

 

[SWP's back]

Perfectly acceptable to take a divot as long as it's repaired properly, which you are doing. Unless on the tee of course, dont repair them.
The term hacker comes from new players sometimes needing several "hacks" at the ball to get it moving (I believe) which certainly doesnt apply to you.

Cheers bud and everyone that replied.

 

[hammocity]

I was made redundant in 2010 and for members clubs rolling wasnt wildly done. If we wanted to speed the greens up for the club open or a special event we would cut morning and afternoon.

But to answer your question you would roll after cutting

Normal the greens would run at about 10 in the summer which was more than enough for club and society golf.

You are right greenkeepers are treated like shit , nearly everyone I knew have quit because of it. Plus there is a shortage of young greenkeepers

I have always found it odd how golfers will shout fore when another golfer is in the way. But wouldnt shout fore for greenkeepers.

In my 20 years in golf I can honestly say I only liked around 5 or 6 members sadly. Had a few threatened to punch my lights, and my staff. Just for asking politely why they didnt shout fore.

The best thing that happened to me was being made redundant. I would never go back. Like alot of my ex greenkeepers we had enough. Lots of very skillful and knowledgeable greenkeepers have walked away.

The sad thing is I really enjoyed producing a good course and greens but you were always fight the committee who, wanted to ruin it with their lack of knowledge

That's sad mate, I'd like to think most of the members at Ashton where I play are on good terms with all the staff, could be a Southern thing, the snobbery has definitely gone at our club, still mind your P's and Q's when the ladies are around but it's not much different to a tap room in the Clubhouse.

Anecdote, Mike Doyle's daughter (Steph I think) had her daughter's christening at Ashton, Mike was a member there for many years. Her child was running around the clubhouse like kids do, one of the Lady members asked if she could get her child under control. Steph was a bit pissed and took umbrage at her request and pushed her, she fell into the Lady Captain and broke her arm! Mike got a lengthy ban because of his daughter.

In his biography Mike has a bit where he reckons he got a blow job off the Lady Captain in the Men's Locker room during a social event, we are pretty sure who he meant and if it's right none of us would say no!!

It's well publicised that Mike hated the Rags, I can categorically confirm that, he never held back even with his rag mates, he loved football though, I remember talking to him one Sunday and he had got up at silly o'clock to watch a World Cup final Qualifier, something like Iran v Australia. He could be a grumpy fucker at times but he was well liked, the booze finally got him, good golfer as well, played off scratch to 2 most of the time.

 

[give it to gordon]

That's sad mate, I'd like to think most of the members at Ashton where I play are on good terms with all the staff, could be a Southern thing, the snobbery has definitely gone at our club, still mind your P's and Q's when the ladies are around but it's not much different to a tap room in the Clubhouse.

Anecdote, Mike Doyle's daughter (Steph I think) had her daughter's christening at Ashton, Mike was a member there for many years. Her child was running around the clubhouse like kids do, one of the Lady members asked if she could get her child under control. Steph was a bit pissed and took umbrage at her request and pushed her, she fell into the Lady Captain and broke her arm! Mike got a lengthy ban because of his daughter.

In his biography Mike has a bit where he reckons he got a blow job off the Lady Captain in the Men's Locker room during a social event, we are pretty sure who he meant and if it's right none of us would say no!!

It's well publicised that Mike hated the Rags, I can categorically confirm that, he never held back even with his rag mates, he loved football though, I remember talking to him one Sunday and he had got up at silly o'clock to watch a World Cup final Qualifier, something like Iran v Australia. He could be a grumpy fucker at times but he was well liked, the booze finally got him, good golfer as well, played off scratch to 2 most of the time.

Remember reading that in his book lol , I could write a book about golfers and no one would believe it !

Had one head of greens who kept telling me the irrigation was leaking down the 15th which is a hill. Told him the irrigation was drained down and runs on the other side of the fairway. Basically called me a liar and order we dig it up to fix the leak. Even thou it was a natural spring !.

He work for the water board so knew a leak when he saw on lol. We put a few spade Mark's in the soil to make it look like we had lifted the turf and dug down ;).

Its because of knobheads like them that so many head greenkeepers are or have quit.

The only head greenkeeper that I know and seems happy is Paul at Royal St George's

I do often wonder if it's a southern thing being rude and up their own area's.