Royal Ashdown Forest West Course

So the Old Course tends to get all the plaudits, but the par 68 West Course at Royal Ashdown Forest is more than worth a look at. At 5606 yards off the whites it's not long, but it's a great test, with a fantastic closing run of holes. In fact it's a complete joy pretty much from start to finish, although it's the turn and the back nine that really grabbed my attention.  

It was all going so well for me until the 18th. 5 skins being played for, and I hit a decent enough drive to the right of the fairway. But this is where the trouble starts. At 435 yards you need a bit of length to be in position to get a chance at the green, as there's a dirty great stream 30 yards in front of the green, and water to to the left. Tried to play safe and lay up but hacked it into some rubbish on the left. No dramas as my rival had found some water early on. Got it back in play, but a little too near the new foot bridge that they are building over the stream. Managed to chip straight in the water. Dohhh! Worst shot of the day, 5 skins lost to a bleeding 6. But I'm certainly going back. 

It's also easy to get onto, even at the weekends, and doesn't cost a fortune. At the moment you can  play for £21 after 1.30pm on a Saturday or Sunday. I think that's until the end of May, so I'd suggest you get on with it.

This has to be some of the best golf to be had in Mid Sussex - and like the Old Course it doesn't have bunkers either, which always gets my vote.

JohnD

Golfing at Machrihanish

I'm just back from a wonderful and remote corner of Scotland, which is in parts nearer to Ireland than England. 

From Glasgow you head up to Loch Lomond, and then take a sharp left which takes you over to Inverrary. Then keeping on going and you will come to Campbeltown. It's only a 138 miles from Glasgow, but it will take at least 3 hours - the scenery is stunning though, so it's a wonderful drive. 

Then a bit of a left and a right and you'll find yourself at Machrihanish Golf Club, one of the finest links courses to be enjoyed in Scotland - or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Its most famous feature is the first, where you have to drive out over the sea to reach the fairway. Classic risk and reward shot - you can just chunk it over and find the generous fairway, but be miles from the pin, or you can try and take in on and flight your ball over the water to get in position for a better second into the pin. The one advantage within all of this is that it favours a slice, so I wasn't too troubled. Started it way out and sure enough my consistent slice bought it back in and in fine position for a chance at the green.

The second's not a bad either - drive up to a stream, and then hit a 7 iron into a green that's right on top of a hill. And then the third - you beauty land. Not long, but wonderfully protected by bunkers. 

There's so much more to be said about this wonderful course, but that might have to wait a while. I'm back there in my head - it's a slightly gloomy afternoon, with the treat of a little rain on the back nine - and I'm now walking to the fourth......

More to follow.

JohnD

The Road to Scotland

Journey starts 7.30am Haywards Heath time. Train to Victoria, blag lift with brother and head north. Overnight in York, and then onwards and onwards, and upwards to Scotland. I've got to say it's bloody miles. 337 miles from York alone. We may be some time! But it will be worth it. Machrihanish and Machrie are names I have been savouring all week. Niblicks polished, Srixon Soft Feels at the ready, and several sets of thermals packed just in case. In case - survival kit will no doubt be essential, and I'm not taling about a couple of Mars Bars and bottle of pop. I am expecting Scotland to throw everything at me in terms of weather. I've been fooled before by a few spring days. So I'm prepared, and ready for the off.

JohnD

Royal Ashdown Forest

We got some golf lined up for tomorrow at the glorious Royal Ashdown Forest. It may be raining cats and dogs today but it's bound to clear up for tomorrow. Of course. Well just checked and the weathers no shoe in, but we'll be there in our waterproofs, unleashing hell - well, maybe the odd decent drive.

Royal Ashdown for those who don't know is one of those rare courses with no bunkers on it. It's no that long either, but that still doesn't make it easy. It has been a Open Championship Regional qualifying venue, so clearly the R&A are impressed. Just checked and its still on the list for 2009. I'm sure a part of its attraction for the R&A is that its still a really old school course, in the best sense. The old school test for me is if they have a load of combs in a jar of some strange mixture of antiseptic in the changing rooms. I'll have to get a picture to make my point, but it does hark back to a different era when chaps coming off the course would give their hair a good comb over before getting the blazer on and going for a livener in the bar.

Massive Upside

I've just been invited on the ultimate road trip. Off to the Western Isles to play some golf and drink some whisky - playing Machrihanish and then the Machrie. Some of the best links golf in the world, followed by some fine whisky from the distilleries of Islay. Can't bleading well wait. Will be doing a daily blog and all of that to communicate the outstanding joys of playing golf and drinking grog.

JohnD

Come on Tiger!

It's really not happening for Tiger at the moment - he's currently 3 under, while Michelson is cruising away at 13 under - 2 shots off Watney and 3 off young Mr McIlroy. Now Rory is really getting into boy-done-good territory. One win under his belt after a couple of nearly got there's and his confidence is clearly riding high. Will have to nip off and see what's going on. Would be great to see some Tiger magic, but it's great that the next generation which was Tiger inspired is fighting for his crown.

JohnD

Leeds Road Trip

Friday at long last. Really in a bit of a TGIF mood as it's been a long old week, with an overnight trip to Leeds and back thrown in for good measure. We also got to see Leeds play Yeovil, and what a game it was. 4-o - and a hatrick from Beckford. There is a real nucleus of quality players there with Beckford, Delph and Beccio. Parker wasn't bad either and the new 'Young American' Michael Grella looked very promising.

Now what's this all to do about golf you may ask? Well, nothing. But you have to have the odd look at something else. The real purpose of our visit was to see the nice people at Direct Golf, over Huddersfield way. Great operation going on there, and a really friendly feel to the business. We are going to be doing a ton of stuff with them hopefully in the coming months. Including a competition for a set of John Letters clubs. Better get on and write that copy.

JohnD