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That’s it full title!

Somehow or other we did manage a 72 hole tounament, the final round was again delayed as predicted. Eventually the wndow for play was so small that the ‘tour’ took the unprecedented step to re draw the pairings and have a shot gun start! Never has this been necessary in a major event, but it was absolutley the correct and only way this great old Championship would conclude with a 72 hole champion.

So, at 12.15 all the field assembled on their various tees, I was at the 200yd par 3 6th in the company of former Open champion Bob Charles, he at 73 still looks and swings as good as ever. I amde a great start over the tough stretch to the 9th and was 2 under par after 8. Then a missed putt, a poor drive! back to level! Another birdie, and then 4 bogey’s in a row from the 18th..what the hell! 2 3 putts and 2 misssed ‘saves ‘ from 7′, all added up to 74 and 11 over for  the week.  Only the 20 shots then, behind the champ’ Carl Mason, his week end scores of 68 & 69 really were different class.

So, onto my 73 year old playing partner; Open Champion in 1963, multi winner on all tours across the globe. He was charming albeit a tad quiet to play with, and funnily enough so peacefull in his demeanour it rubbed off..for the first 8 anyhow. I did not swear all day, strange thing ‘respect for your elders !’ It just did not seem appropriate, like swearing in front of your Dad. He played nicely and hit the ball true, shallow and long too, although his putting was not his usual…to his standards that is. Thoughout world golf this fellow was the renowned ‘best putter’ by all his peers, and in his day that was Jack, Arnie & Gary! My late father used to love the ‘no fuss’ way he played and went about his business, he used to say he ‘collects the ball’ through impact, a phrase I still use in coaching today too. His love of the game still burns bright as he embarks on a golf week at some famous courses on the east coast of Scotland, just for fun he told me. What a life and he certainly embrasses it, fit as a fiddle and an elegant swing. NOW THATS MY AIM!

This week, I have a promotion ‘shoot’ for  Tenngolf, a new junior coaching inititive turning disused indoor/outdoor sports facilities into mini golf coaching areas. Then to Wimbledon on Thursday with the kids, we can’t wait.

cheers

This week

De Vere Slayley Hall is hosting this years Senior PGA for the 2nd year and what a different course it is this time around! Last year was thwarted by torrential rain and a course that played so long for us over 50′s. This year however the course was  a perfect picture for the pre event pro am on Wednesday, fast running fairways , perfect greens and sunshine! I had the absolute pleasure of partnering Paul Collingwood, the England 1day cricket captain[ for those who do not know!]. What an absolute gent he is too, and a hell of a player too. We as a team did not feature in the prizes mainly due to their Pro!

Gordon J Brand is the defending champ this week, so along with the usual suspects Woosman,Mason, Torrance, Smyth was among the favourites. I played well here last year and was just 2 out of the play off, so had high hopes also.

High winds dominated the 1st day, and my 4 over was down mainly to my ‘scoring clubs’, putter & wedges! Day 2 started brightly but then an east coast mist enveloped the whole region, and being 1000ft above sea level, this beauiful part of Northumberland was not to be seen!! A 2 hour delay with 12 holes to play ensued, and when we returned the course was very different indeed. Heavy rain for the last 2 hours made a tough course, even harder. I did manage to make the cut with a 75 as scoring rocketed up. All that with a misbehaving putter too. Day 3  was a tad better on the greens but a horrid run around the turn cost me dear, bogey, double, bogey from the 7th when sub par, prevented a good score, so 74 it was . I am getting better tho’, bets on  a73 on Sunday?

Carl Mason is leading on -6, and will start the final round as hot favourite, that’s assuming we play as the mist has decended again!

I will advise….such a shame all this for spectators , TV & sponsors De Vere who no doubt wanted great pictures of this brilliant resort beamed the world over. Fingers crossed I just hope the met office have got it wrong for Sunday’s forcast. cheers AM

After my recent trip to Ballybunion for the Irish Open, I am hoping to host a 16 person trip back there for 2 days in October. I have arranged a fab deal to play both courses and stay at the best place in town..Kilcooly’s! John & Joan are so looking forward to us returning, so if you fancy it please contact Sandra or myself asap. The other venues mentioned yesterday will be confirmed very soon, although Conway is looking like 12th October…now that is a proper links  course!

See you there!

A bit of a mouthfull of an event title- but what a great tournament! We played at Royal Porthcawl in South Wales, host of many a famous event over the years. A truly great golf course, in fantastic nick- perhaps just a pity the weather was not a tad more kind for the pro am and day one especially. I think the crowds may well have been boosted a little too by some warmth, rather than the chilly breeze off the sea.

Woosie was the favourite, but Sam Torrance was back after injury and Des Smyth always a threat in tough conditions.

I was poor over the back nine on day 1, out in 1 over in the high wind and back in an ambulance for 43!  So 8 over total, day 2 was a little better but more putts than hits hurt again for 75. Day 3,I played with Sam, I putted well…shall I say again …I putted well!! Pity for the treble bogey after a 9 iron over the short 7th into the hay 4 yards behind the green, oh and the lost ball at the 18th! That apart a 75 was ok, Sam should have shot 65, but lost his way after a brilliant outward 31. Woosie was in fact tied the lead after 2 rounds and rather surprisingly did not win, instead Tour School winner  Bertus Smit shot a final round 69 to win by 3, a brilliant win ! A long drive back after my finish, but a  father’s day BBQ was great to come home to.

And so to the US Open, who put money on Lucas Glover then? No one! Ross Fisher showed his class again and with a tad more fortune may well have been the victor, no doubt his day will be soon though.

For me this week is the Senior PGA at Slayley Hall, last season I missed the play off by 2, so am looking forward to playing the course in dryer conditions this time around.

Sandra back at base is working tirelessly on my charity Pro Am, this year hosted by Lymm GC for the first time, and also is putting together  a series of  our ‘corporate club’ events for October /November. Conway Golf club will host one, hopefully given the support Delamere Forest & Woburn the others. All fantastic courses and in fab nick at that time of the year. Further info will be on our site very shortly, and we will be limited to 40 players. These tend to be great days, a 4 ball better ball format too, so if you have a favoured 4 ball or corporate guests please do join us.

Pilates for me first thing with Emma, so good luck with your games and watch out at Slayley cos the putter is warming up! Cheers

Pictures from the following events now added:

- T.P.P.L. Golf Day – Woburn Golf Club (19/5/09)
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Little Aston Golf Club (18/5/09)
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Crieff Golf Club (12/5/09)
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – Denham Golf Club (23/4/09)

Click to view: http://www.andrewmurraygolf.com/blog/?page_id=10

I am just back from my first visit to the famous links at Ballybunion on the west coast of Ireland…what a place, its no wonder that Tom Watson rates it so highly!

The weather was incredible, cloudless almost every day, a stiff breeze or rather hurricane on Saturday made the course really tough- as if it needed it. The course was full of quirky slopes, run offs and heavy rough, and boy if you were a tad off the mark you were punished, or challenged shall we say in a very big way.

Watson, OMeara & co have played there many times in the ‘run’ up to our Open, to get the feel of links golf. And no wonder they all adore the place. Irish hospitality for one can’t be beaten, and the scenery let alone the course was breathtaking. My week started so well, putting tips from Pete Barber and lots of practice seemed to pay off with my 1st round 69, 2 under. Top Stuff. Then the wind of Saturday got to me, not only eroding my fragile confidence with the putter, but my rhythm went west too! Several poor shots, and 38 putts made up 83! How bad was that! 76 on Sunday was poor as I played nicely again but struggled to score, putting we all know is everything at whatever level.  So a real disappointment after such a strong start, Woosie won in a play off on 2 under par 214. The scoring was good on Sunday as we all got more familiar with things.

The best thing to come from the trip though was our accomadation. Paul & I had booked into Kilcooly’s in Ballybunion, on the ‘net’ and via the tour.  Now,this is officially the best place we have stayed for any event ever! John & Joan O’Connor looked after us so well it was embarrasing, they had us for dinner on Saturday evening after seeing how down we both were, and we have come away with home made jams an’all! And new friends to boot, great folk and the Guinness good too!!

So , back to leafy Lymm and the Ibstock golf event for me Wednesday, before a flying visit to Belfast for VW on Friday.

Any putting tips, gratefully received!

cheers

This week end saw another Euorpean Open Champion crowned at The London Club in Kent. I still can’t believe it is 20years ago that I won it- where has the time gone? Christian Cevear from France won by a shot in really difficult conditions, it seems that the Tour set the course up very tough and then had high cross winds whipping the course too, hence some high scores over the week end. David Gilford my pal  did play and had 150 for 1st 2 rounds, good play especially the 71 on day 2, but a tough school to just ‘dip’ into for 1 event.

Not such conditions at Harlech though for the 36 hole Players Tour event, glorious weather a slight breeze on day 1, but very little on day 2. Cloudless over the 2 days, and there are not too many better places to be than the links of Royal St David’s. A par 69, 6950 yd course that is as tough a par 69 as I know, even in perfect conditions! I played alongside Peter Allen the club pro at Ashton in Makerfield, who has gained a ‘card’ on the European Senior Tour, come his 50th in July, and a relly good guy, and 2 time Amateur champion Gary Wolstenholme. We all played ok, Gary certainly knows how to score, something that  seems to have deserted me just now. They on 73 and me 74 – hardly worldbeating. My son Tom having theatened to pull out the week before, because of poor form scored 69 and played really solidly, missing just 2 greens in regulation. Day 2 I was horrid again with the putter and my head when down to be honest, you may have thought I may have more grit-and I should! 76 was dire! But ….this was Tom’s day, out in 2 under and a birdie at the 12th put him in the lead! A solid finish required! Matt [son3 and my caddy!]  and I went out to follow Tom home,  tied with Rob Harris from the challenge tour playing the 18th, Rob holed for birdie from 25′, Tom followed him in from 12′! Sudden death, 69/67 was great , back to the 18th and Rob holed again from 25′ to win! Damm it! I was so proud of Tom though, and I hope his first 4 figure cheque will give him the confidence to go on and win plenty more!

Off to practice now for an hour or so with Peter Barber the pro from Didsbury, who by the way finished 4th last weeks  senior PGA Club pro championship! He’s the man with the putter so, he maybe he can help me before this week’s Irish Open at Ballybunnion.  Cheers