Played Temple Newsam Lady Dorothy course today with good buddy ProV1x from the forum. What an awesome day for golf! After last weeks 1st round back for a while I was itching to get out again...especially with such a good ball-striker and all round good egg as Mark.

Mark had 3 birdies in a solid round of 78 including two sublime twos. His driving is generally a thing of beauty. Long, but not stupidly so, but everything with a nice penetrating draw. He also putted really well. I think it's fair to say he was a bit foxed at times by the Tempsy flag, which are a little short. This led to some underclubbing and quizzical looks.

I'm still on a mission to break 80 again and thought I'd done it today despite my driver being weak again. Managed to keep it together with some excellent up and downs including a chip in for 2 on the 15th and a pitch in from 30 yards for 3 on the 4th. Putting so much better now, but still just missed out again with my second 81 in a row round there.

One bad hole did me in, and it was REALLY bad. Not often I put an 8 down on the card these days!

All in all though it was a thoroughly enjoyable day in great company. If any of you get the chance to play with ProV1x I know you'll have a top time.

Thats great. All day i been looking out the window in my office thinking that i should be playing golf today. You are so close to breaking 80 so keep knocking on that door and soon it will open. Shooting 81 with an 8 on your card is actually pretty incredible.

How did you manage an 8 anyway?

Jeez Nick, do you pull the wings off flies too?       

The man has a great round with one nightmare hole and THAT's the one you want him to elaborate on?

missed the putt for the 7?

dont say you chipped in for the 8

A combination of terrible ball striking and awful course management!

1 - pulled drive leaving an awkward stance with trees and bushes behind me.

2 - completely f*&ked up my second trying the impossible shot from 200 yards and instead duffing it into the crap 6 foot in front and left of me. Lost ball and it only went 6 feet!

3 - drop

4 - fat and ugly 5 iron

5 - misjudged SW short and left

6 - decent chip that rolled right on me.

7 - great putt from 8 feet that horseshoed around the hole

8 - gimme!

That is how to score an 8!

Missing a target score due to a bad swing is inevitable - where all hackers after all ?

But missing it due to a Mental Error always knaws at me abit.

At least you had a good day and nearly scored your target score .

Good to hear your playing again 23rd.

Cheers, mate.

The best thing is I didn't let it get to me as I knew my short game has been holding up well. I'd really like to be getting my driving back though. It's always been such a strength, but as is so often the case, the changes that have given me an improved iron game has left my driver a little off. Saying that though it's not been hurting me too much.

Well played indeed.  That short game sounds pretty lethal

It was a really lovely day out there.  I played at Sand Martins in Berks today in a Pro Am with the Pro I have lessons from.  Very nice course, enjoyed it a lot.  To be honest neither of us played brilliantly yet we managed a 65.  (Better ball medal).  61 won it!  We picked up 5th on countback.  My Pro is a lovely lad who hits the ball further than anyone I have ever played with.  I know I go on at you guys who brag about how far you hit the ball but he really does.  He had a couple of drives in excess of 320 yards.  In fact, it was too far to see it land, I need glasses I think! It's a completely different game from the one I hack about with.

23rd Man - all that swing knowledge paying off. I shall be paying even more attention to your advice in the near future.

I'm sure breaking 80 again isn't far away. Getting over that hurdle can be tough - I got exactly 90 about 6 times before I broke it!!

The scallywag emailed me to say he'd miscounted the 18th and shot a six instead of the five stated. Just means I beat him by even more

Kev, Mark had lots of really good things to say about your game too, mate. He said, and I paraphrase, "That guys has all the game."

Wow, my ears should have been burning! Didn't even know this thread was here.

Yup in our Indian Summer in Leeds we had a great days golf, very leisurely with shirt sleeves in October. Some good golf played too. Three birdie twos between us and 5 in all.

The kind comments you have all made about 23rd are so positive and I know that during his illness they have been a light at the end of a long tunnel.

As you know he's an intructional and gear junkie so has had lots to work with and has put it together in a good all round game. Seriously good scores are on the horizon.

Maybe at Seaton Carew. See the Fancy a Game forum for details!