mchase

Thanks all, and hopefully people I'm with will want to play - seems a long way to come just to sit in a downtown bar!!

And just found out I'm down to 14.6, so officially a 15 handicap. So happy, I love this game!!!

Schultz, thanks very much for this and Covered Bridge looks beautiful. If I have enough time it's easily worth a short drive out. Thanks again Mark

Going to be in Louisville, KY beginning of March this year. Its my first trip to KY! I see online a few courses like Wildwood, Crescent Hill, Quail Chase, Big Spring, Seneca and dozens of others. There are so many differing opinions - I wondered if anyone could recommend a great course? We only have one day free for a 4 ball, so recommendations would be very welcome. Thanks.

Happy New Year all! Had a great result today - 17 handicap, shot a gross 79 so gonna be cut. Huge boost to both game and ego! Now all I have to do is play to it!

31 Stableford points yesterday - well below my handicap but a great day out and it looked like a painting. Almost winter golf now in southern England - more days like this over the winter, hopefully…

Played 9 holes today before the storm arrived in southern England - gross 45, 18 stableford points. Putting quite poor but whole thing beats a day in the office. Good luck all…!

Played Worplesdon GC in Surrey, UK last friday. Gorgeous autumn sunshine. I'm a 17 handicapper who hasn't been down there for a long time but amazed myself with 22 points on the front 9, 17 on the back. Gross 85 - the best round I've ever had in 25 years of trying. I'm so blown away, and I started with two 6s plus a 7 on the back. Used a new ball - Titleist velocity - instead of my usual softer Callaway. I have no idea if that made a difference but maybe I drained a few putts where I might have been short as per usual! Whatever happened, it doesn't matter, I'm so HAPPY! The beer and salty snacks at the 19th were so much sweeter!

Yes it is a social sport, but I have to say the more chat I get involved with the less I concentrate, with predictable results. Some people are good at chatting/distracting when I'm doing well! My fault for responding but it's hard to just blank people in order to focus better. I'm a big fan of beer and salty snacks after the game though, plus all the chat you want!!

Hi Russ, thanks for the welcome! Looking forward to reading many stories of bliss and pain - God knows we've all got plenty of those! Bests Mark

Hi All - new boy to TST! Like most of you out there I've been lucky enough to go on quite a lot of golf tours with friends over the years and my most recent was to St Andrews and Kingsbarns. I won't pretend for one minute to be able to adequately describe The Old Course save to say it has a magical feel about it and, as the fourth course we'd played in 2 days, something in its spirit gave my sore muscles the strength to play well! Kingsbarns is sensationally beautiful and we were blessed with the hottest days I've ever known in Scotland. It's tough but aren't they all and I can easily see why it came out top of the list. I imagine it's seriously heavy going in the rain / bad weather but on a hot day it was a little like the Caribbean in certain parts, with a shimmering sea and lush, fertile woodland! I love the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) Old Course in Surrey. Not championship as such but nestles in mature parkland, great views across the Surrey Hills and is generally stunning. I know this is a UK topic but could I just say that northern France - Brittany region - has so many beautiful courses. The French have really got it right over the past 10 years or so and their courses are exquisite. Check out Val Andre, Saint Laurent and especially Chateau des Ormes with its original 18th Century chateau. Obviously they're not hugely famous as such but they're still challenging and a joy to play, set as they are in such beautiful countryside. And of course Le Golf National, just outside Paris, is tremendous; well tough and the 2018 Ryder Cup venue

Hi, I've just found TST and it's certainly my kind of place!! I live in Surrey in the south east of England about 25 miles south of London. I've been playing golf well, badly and all things in between for about 25 years now. In the past couple of years I have fallen back in love with the game! I'd like to offer some views and reviews of great UK and European courses I've been to if that would be of interest. Looking forward to talking with anyone and everyone in the future…! Regards Mark Chase