Greatgolfholidays - we love golf.

Last Saturday, I was looking forward to my second round of golf in a few days and was invited by a friend to play at Letchworth. 2 members with 2 trolleys and 2 guests with 2 carry bags assembled on the 1st tee in a queue. When it was our turn to tee off, we patiently waited for the 1st fairway to clear when a 3-ball virtually ran up the 18th hole in a vain attempt to tee off before us. We stood our ground as was our right in this particular instance with staggered tee times.

However, one of the 3-ball walked up to us as we were about to tee–off and informed us, rather vociferously, that trolleys were not allowed on the tee box and that ‘you should know better’!! Fact: the trolleys weren’t on the tee box and the condescending arrogance of the man dumbfounded us all!! I have to say that after my first 2 shots travelled a total distance of 20 yards I was tempted to go back to the tee and use his head for the rest of the round. We later found out that this ‘gentleman’ was on the finance committee – which I guess puts him one below God!

Let’s get this straight; the attitude of this individual was disrespectful to the members and downright embarrassing for their guests. We are all good golfers who understand the rules and respect the game of golf. Letchworth is an ‘OK’ course. It has OK holes, OK fairways and OK greens. And paying £20 green fees as a guest on the weekend is OK! But, it certainly isn’t a course where one should feel privileged to be walking its hallowed turf! So why do certain committee members think otherwise?

Perhaps it is because this particular ‘jobs worth‘ had waited 10 years for his membership that he felt it his god given right to be an asshole! Or, perhaps he is naturally, just an asshole! Whatever the reason he represented a snob value that is unnecessary and out dated - and his behaviour left a sour taste in the mouth.

Letchworth GC web site states - ‘The Club welcomes all who visit this web site be they members, visitors or societies‘. It’s a pity that this welcome is not extended to visitors when they actually turn up to play the course. It only takes one person with the wrong attitude to make one feel distinctly ‘unwelcome’.

A final point; it is well documented that visiting golfers are made to feel very welcome at golf courses throughout Wales, Scotland and Ireland - it is now time for their England counterparts to follow suit!

I have played Lamerwood a few times before and after a month off golf it was great to be back on a course that held some familiarity. Lamerwood is what I would describe as a decent, middle of the road, parkland strip. It is not a ‘must play course’ by any stretch of the imagination, but if you are in the area it is certainly worth giving it a go - a very pleasant 18 holes.

It is however, unfortunate, that being in the ‘London catchment area’, Lamerwood believes differently and the green fees are a bit steep. Unless you go for one of the ‘deals’, you might not choose to play the course again, especially if you are limited to weekend golf which will set you back £50 (£45 in the winter)….. and I believe this is rising next year! However, if you go for a ‘weekend winter twilight’ round (after 12.00pm) than it is only £18 (£15/weekday) and then it is definitely worth the green fee. They also offer a ‘Loyalty Card’, where if you play 6 games, you will get the 7th round free which is a nice touch.

The only other real disappointment is the club house. Whilst it looks impressive from the outside, the bar is extremely poor and the cost of a pint prohibitive. Take my advice and drive to one of the many country pubs nearby for better service and better value. I believe the Japanese restaurant is quite good but can’t comment as have never eaten there.

In addition to this, my golf was poor…. but that’s another story and certainly no fault of the course!

4 days after the culmination of the greatest sporting event in the world, I am just about recovering, though have vowed to become tee total, at least until the weekend. I am, of course, referring to the Rugby World Cup! You see, my two sporting passions are rugby & golf and for the past month, one of them had to give – needless to say, in this instance, the round ball lost out.

What an event!! There were some massive highs – I was fortunate enough to be in Marseille when England beat the Aussies which rates as my No. 2 high. My No. 3 high was when England beat France a week later in Paris. What was my No. 1 high?? I will tell you; it was watching France beat the All Blacks on a TV in a French street in the middle of a tiny fishing village just outside Marseille. This was followed by a street party of repute with, amongst others, English, French, Welsh, South African, Australian, American & Canadian fans. World in Union – you betcha!! My only regret was that I wasn’t in Cardiff to see the reaction of the New Zealand fans.

Having been on the Lions Tour to New Zealand in 2005, and having witnessed first hand how ungracious their fans and press (if you can call them that) were in victory, I always wanted to know how they would react in defeat. Their reaction to this defeat had to be the No. 1 low of the whole tournament - one word….. Pathetic!! To put this in context, the behavior of the Aussies after losing to England was exemplary and we all drank together afterwards. Further, I was at the final last weekend and again the behaviour of both fans after the game was one of camaraderie, fun & festiveness. And guess what…. I am a staunch English fan and South Africa deserved to win that game, they deserve to be World Champions.

I shall be going to South Africa in 2 years time to follow the Lions – it promises to be a fantastic tour with the best of the British & Irish playing the World Champions. Will I be going to New Zealand in 4 years time – no way! I shall certainly be watching it on TV supporting Rugby first and England second, but I shall spend by hard earned pennies playing golf. Which reminds me, address, head down, swing……