Off-season golfing
Having gone seven months to May last year without adding a new course to my tally, I managed to add more than 40 during the playing season. Late autumn and early winter then tend to be something of a personal downtime for playing inland golf. The leaves are down and occasionally conspire to steal a Titleist or two, the ground is claggy and the ball somehow sits just that bit lower than you would like.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed returning to old haunts such as Pyrford Lakes and The Grove, as well as Royal Mid-surrey, whose JH Taylor course is a fine test. There, I spent time with host manager Carl Rutherford and fellow guest Stephen Follett, CEO of the London Club. It’s always fascinating to discover just how much clubs do and do not have in common.
I was also grateful to spend a little more time at my home club, Tandridge. Here, the winter programme of course works is seeing some interesting changes to the bunkering at the 1st and 9th under the guidance of Tim Lobb, president of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects. It was also great to catch up with friends and do what golfers do best, talk about everything and nothing.
Did you know?
Royal Mid-surrey has had not one but three Open Champions as professionals – JH Taylor, Henry Cotton and Max Faulkner.