Bagger Dave conquers Scotland

[IrishGolfer]

Got word from Dave ireland. He just shot a 78 round Carnoustie, one of the hardest tracks I have ever had the fortune to play.

And it was in the rain! What a sandbagger, 10 h/c my ass!

I'm sure he willl justify it all in his poetic review when he gets back, if he hasn't turned pro in the meantime.

[obagain]

That is a heck of a round on that track in the rain. Congrats.

[DaveE]

Sounds like Dave might be needing a new avatar when he gets back. Impressive round.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by DaveE

Sounds like Dave might be needing a new avatar when he gets back. Impressive round.

If he doesn't get that avatar from you and use it, he should be assimilated. Nice work DaveE!

[Dave Ireland]

Many thanks Dave for the avatar, it has been duly added to the profile !!

Carnoustie, wow, well this was as good as it's gonna get for me. I honestly can't imagine playing any better. Just to put the previous 20 hours in context - I carried my bag around the New Course - I drank the drink of an elephant at a waterhole in the serengeti - I slept the sleep of a dead man. Woke up on thursday morning to the splashing of a tidal wave on the hotel window. Arrived in Carnoustie and made an executive decision to get a caddy - this guy earned his crust - 26 years old and in need of a hip replacement, but he was good - very good.

The front nine is generally regarded as the easier of the 2, tho it's usually played into the wind, but not this day. We played the run on the harder back nine into the wind - the caddies chuckled away as we turned #14 "The Spectacles" straight into the wind and it was all out war as driver/4iron and 8iron with a 5 foot putt saw me shout at them - is this the best ya have, bring it on !!

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Dave Ireland

#14 "The Spectacles" straight into the wind and it was all out war as driver/4iron and 8iron with a 5 foot putt saw me shout at them - is this the best ya have, bring it on !!

Golden Dave, pure golden. Caddyshackesque in fact.

(You didn't get struck by lightening, by chance?)

[Dave Ireland]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

Golden Dave, pure golden. Caddyshackesque in fact.

(You didn't get struck by lightening, by chance?)

LOL ... naw but I did buy a lottery ticket .... I got away with murder on the opening 3 holes - didn't hit one golf shot but still managed to stand on the 4th +1, as the caddie said to me - "yer only asked for yer score not to paint a picture". There's huge amount of work going on there at the moment, remember they got their wrists slapped in '99 for the height of the rough, according to the caddy it grew so fast over a 4 day sunny period there was nothing they could do.

The only slightly critical remark I'd make, was the 17th hole was played as a par3, and the 18th was from the forward tee, so we never got to appreciate Van de velde's demise in 99.

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Dave Ireland

LOL ... naw but I did buy a lottery ticket .... I got away with murder on the opening 3 holes - didn't hit one golf shot but still managed to stand on the 4th +1, as the caddie said to me - "yer only asked for yer score not to paint a picture". There's huge amount of work going on there at the moment, remember they got their wrists slapped in '99 for the height of the rough, according to the caddy it grew so fast over a 4 day sunny period there was nothing they could do.

The only slightly critical remark I'd make, was the 17th hole was played as a par3, and the 18th was from the forward tee, so we never got to appreciate Van de velde's demise in 99.

The last 3 holes of my one and only outing on 'Oustie killed me. I finished 5, 6, 5 after being +1 for the first 15. I didn't really hit any bad shots. 17 is a killer. You are faced with a 220-230 carry over the burn, or hitting an iron to leave a 220-230 approach. I went for the death or glory and got screwed.

Sounds like you got it easy. Still I like the 14th story. Hogan's gap, right?

By the way that rough excuse sounds rough. I think it impossible that the rough can grow that thick in 4 days. I was living in East Lothian at that time. All the courses had major growth caused by a wet and warm spring. But nothing to match Carnoustie. Rumour was they they put fertiliser down in early Spring when they didn't need to.

What did you think of the Eden and Jubilee? Some gem holes in there all right.

[Dave Ireland]

My best drive of the day was to #16, 220 yards or so into the wind to about 15 feet - it would've been asking too much to hole it !! There was a 4 ball , 2 groups ahead of us who went up #17 Island, yeah it's some quandry isn't it ?

Yer not thinking of Hogan's Alley #6 par5 are ya?, the 14th has the 2 great bunkers (spectacles) and plays as a par4 for us meagre amateurs. You got thru 15 holes +1 !!! dog, cat, hairy hole @ me sandbagging

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Dave Ireland

Yer not thinking of Hogan's Alley #6 par5 are ya?, the 14th has the 2 great bunkers (spectacles) and plays as a par4 for us meagre amateurs.

Ah yes Dr. Noaln, you are quite correct. Hogan's Alley is #6. I cannot remember #14. Probably just a kick in par for me, LOL!!!

[Dave Ireland]

The guy that caddied for me played to 8, I got the impression that we hit in or around the same distance - so as he talked me thru my options ... he'd say something like .. a big 3 iron will get you close or you can lay up with a 7 and pitch in .... each time when faced with the dilenma I pulled the big shot out, then on the #14th - he just turned to me and sez don't even think of it, this is a definete lay up and handed a 4 iron to me... but then again you are a far better golfer probably the best I've ever played with ... sartorial no, but a damn fine golfer

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by Dave Ireland

Many thanks Dave for the avatar, it has been duly added to the profile !!

Glad you like it.

That sounds like a great trip. I'll be looking forward to your full report.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by Dave Ireland

"yer only asked for yer score not to paint a picture".

Awesome!! I will remember this one...