Forget stroke play, match play is where it’s at

I love match play (see this article for the difference with stroke play). I’m not quite sure how or why, but for whatever reason, I tend to play well in this format. Maybe I’ve just had a lot of luck. Maybe it’s because I find it hugely fun. You’re not just playing against the course, you’re also playing against another golfer. On every hole, you need to assess not just distances, hazards...

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My amazing eclectic competition workbook

An eclectic competition to encourage people to play over the winter   One of my goals as Captain is to encourage our members to play more. Of course, for most people, winter is a time when a round of golf slips down the list of priorities at the weekend. Who would want to go out on a windy, freezing hill wearing so many layers to avoid hypothermia that they can barely move their arms? A pub...

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Count back: the most common way to resolve a tie in a golf competition

Judy: “She won on count back.” Me, nodding gravely: “I see.” The fact is, I’ve been playing golf for five years and the famous “count back” was still a mystery to me. It’s a side of the game that I leave to more experienced players (like Judy), because I’m not great with numbers. Or anything that doesn’t involve hitting a ball, really. So I though I’d investigate, and it turns out it’s quite...

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Ladies’ Opens in the South-East of England

‘Tis the season to apply for Opens, and I love Opens. What’s not to love? You get fed before, during and after your round and with a bit of luck, you might even win a prize. I also love maps. And cheese. So I was wondering whether I should try and combine everything into one lovely thing. I can’t really work out the cheese bit, but what about a map of Ladies’ Opens in the...

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