Brookdale Golf Club
Back in day when I first started playing golf, I played mostly at Marsden Park Golf Course, a newly opened municipal course in Nelson Lancs. A while ago I noticed they were having an individual open there and so entered it, I played in it last Sunday.
I didn't play very well, but I was very impressed with the course which had matured nicely over 40+ years. The course was well maintained, which is very good for a muni, as often they aren't in the best condition. The newly planted trees I remember from the past are now mature trees which create barriers which didn't exist previously, some water has been added if my memory is correct and it really was a pleasure to play the course and I would recommend it to anyone in the area.
View of Pendle Hill from the 16th fairway At Marsden Park.
Monday saw me visit a course I hadn't played before, when I played in the team open at Brookdale near Failsworth to the east of Manchester. I played a little better but too erratically, in fact it wasn't until the 17th that I took less than 5 on a hole. I did par the last two holes though which made me feel a little better. Brookdale is a very nice course set on either side of the valley of the river Medlock and several holes incorporate the river as a natural hazard. It was unfortunate that they did not sell course planners especially as I had forgotten to bring my GPS with me, the course is certainly one that you need to play more than once to feel more confident.
The weekly competition at Ellesmere was a stableford this week and I played with one of the ladies that is a good run of form. Once again my short game let me down especially from bunkers and I visited more than my fair share of them. Needless to say I did not score very well, while my partner won the competition. We were very even from tee to around the green, but where I was taking 3 and 4 more shots nearly every time, she often chipped close and hole the putt, underlying the importance of a good short game.
I wasn't feeling very confident on Friday, when I had my 3rd round match in the Nike Matchplay, I was playing a guy off 9 and so with the handicap difference plus the difference in SSS I was receiving 8 shots. Fortunately for me, he wasn't at his best and my short game was a lot better than it had been and so I was happy to win the match by 4&3 to reach the final of my group, the winner of that match will go forward into the regional final. The guy was accompanied by his 10 year old son and he asked on out 203 yd 12th if it would be ok for the boy to have a shot, I said sure, and was stunned when he took his dad's driver and hit the green, something me and his dad failed to do.
Sunday was he President prize to the ladies and I was hoping the improvements from Friday would continue. things didn't bode well when after 5 holes I had already dropped 3 shots against my handicap but then things started to improve and although I did 3 putt 4 times and completely messed up one hole I finished with a respectable 34 points which was only one behind the winner, I also parred 7 holes something I had not been doing recently. Which is encouraging for the last few week of the season.
The details of President prize round.
Hole 1, I hit a decent tee shot which took a wicked bounce on landing and found a bunker, I did get out first time but a little too strong and it ran off the green, a chip on and 2 putts for a double bogey 5 for 1 point.
Hole 2, A decent drive into light rough, but an awful 3 wood left to behind a tree, I knocked it back onto the fairway and hit a nice 9 iron that finished 8 feet from the hole, the bogey putt just slipped past so a double bogey 6 and 1 point.
Hole 3, A nice drive then a lay up 140 from the green, I then topped a 5 iron into a hazard, I was able to play the ball and found the green with a wedge, 2putts for a bogey 6 and 2 points.
Hole 4, A 7 iron off the tee finished just off the green I left the putt 6 feet short but holed the 2nd for a par and 2 points (no shot here).
Hole 5, A good drive and a nice 5 wood which rolled across the green and into a bunker, I just got it out but left my putt from the fringe way short and missed with the 2nd so a double bogey 6 for 1 point.
Hole 6, A good drive and a slightly topped 3 wood left me 90 from the green, a wedge found the front of the green and 2 putts gave me a par 5 and 3 points.
Hole 7, A nice drive, then a 7 iron found the fringe of the green, another first putt left way short and again missed the 2nd so a bogey 5 and 2 points.
Hole 8, A drive a little right left a decent lie and a 3 wood left me 70 yds short of the green, I pitched to the front of the green and 2 putts gave me a par and 3 points.
Hole 9, A 9 iron found the fringe of the green and although I left another putt quite short I did hole the 2nd for a par 3 and 2 points (again no shot).
So 17 points for the first nine, a lots better than what was promised, but with better putting it could have been more.
Hole 10, A nice drive, but then a mishit 3 wood was followed by a poor chip, I found the green with my next and 2 putts gave me a double bogey 6 an 1 point.
Hole 11, A good drive and a decent iron left 120 to the green, I caught the back of a tree and fell short of the green but a chip to a foot gave me a tap in for a par 5 and 3 points.
Hole 12, For the only time in the round I hit a very poor drive which left a pitch over trees and a bunker, unfortunately I found the bunker and failed to get out the first time and finished with a blob no points.
Hole 13, A good drive and a then a lovely 5 wood found the green, 2 putts gave me a good par 4 and 3 points.
Hole 14, A 7 wood found the fringe of the green, but my putt barely got halfway to the hole and I missed the next so a bogey 4 and 1 point, (no shot).
Hole 15, A good drive and a decent 3 wood left a wedge to the green I hit the green but sadly 3 putted again so a bogey 6 and 2 points.
Hole 16, A decent drive which kicked right on landing so I had over hanging branches which stopped me going for the green so I hit a wedge to short of the green, a decent chip and run ran on to 10 feet past the hole and the putt just rimmed the hole so a bogey 5 and 2 points.
Hole 17, A decent drive then a lay up which was a little too far to reach the green in 3, a decent 3 wood left a chip and run down to the green and my par putt just missed so a bogey 6 and 2 points.
Hole 18, A 6 iron found the fringe of the green and a decent putt left a sdhort one for a par 3 and 3 points.
So another 17 points for a total of 34, again a couple of 3 putts where I should have got pars and a mess of the 12 cost me a few extra points but all in all I was close to my handicap which I haven't been since my holiday.
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