Something old, something new
Like most golfers, I was enormously relieved to resume playing when lockdown eased and we were able to move around more freely. My first ‘away’ game was a return to the downland delights of Purley Downs.
Originally designed by J.H. Taylor, the layout has been modified substantially over the years and is changing again right now. New housing beside the short 8th has necessitated a redesign, with architect James Edwards building an impressive and well-bunkered green further left that means even my most vicious slice will no longer worry the neighbours!
In mid-may, I played my first new course in seven months, my longest barren spell in over 40 years. I thoroughly enjoyed the short but tricky
North Middlesex, which struck me as an extremely friendly club. It’s under 5,700 yards despite back-to-back front-nine par 5s and a really tough but cracking 224-yard finale. In celebration of this resumption, the golfing gods smiled on me with a pair of twos at the 9th and 16th, the first of these an 8-iron to a foot. Boy is it good to be back out and about again!
Did you know? North Middlesex was designed by Willie Park Junior and is the home of Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.