• 17 October 2024
• 255 Views
• by Unknown Golfer

The Unknown Golfer: Uncertainty is a constant

One of the great things about golf is you don’t know what will happen next. And whatever it is, for sure you won’t have seen it coming. Our unknown golfer shares latest learnings fresh from the cider houses of Bristol.

What a difference a couple of week makes… last time I was busy wrestling defeat from the jaws of victory. This time a fun visit to Bristol to play two well-established and beautiful golf clubs – Shirehampton and Henbury – recording two solid (some might say semi-decent) rounds of golf despite my best efforts to scupper best-laid plans again.

On the first day I managed bogey golf through the first 11 holes – boring but steady and respectable for most normal golfers. Then the golfing gods dangled me a new carrot. Back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12 (for the second week running) before putting for another birdie on 13 – this must be what it feels like to play ‘real golf’ I thought just before I completely choked on the third birdie putt leaving it at least two Somerset farmers’ halves short. 

Our stay in Bristol stopped in at the Cori Tap – famous for its infamous home-brewed Exhibition Cider. In among what felt like the city’s entire student population (who seem to average well over 6ft 4 nowadays), we sampled the local 8.4% alcoholic apple juice.

“No one knows where it comes from, or what’s in it. Two rounds and your legs start to wobble,” was our friendly host’s declaration. Much like my golf game then I thought. The next day began slowly for reasons outlined above. But one hole sums up the fickle nature of this wonderful game we all want to get just a bit better at. 

It happened late on in the round at hole 16 – a tough woodland par 4. With surprising ease, I rope-hooked my tee shot drive into the trees only to see it ricochet like a bullet from deep forest back onto the centre of the fairway – much to the grudging delight of my playing partners. ‘Yet another lucky one’ I could hear them thinking so loud it was audible. The second shot – an easy seven iron to the green – was dispatched horribly high and right into the trees on the other side of the fairway by the green. This hole’s going well so far I thought, trudging into the bushes.

From there I dug the ball out of the foliage with a basic stab/poke that was uglier and more fragile than a Trump comb-over. The ball shot across the green said a quick hello to the flag as it rattled past, coming to rest on the far side of the green’s apron.

Waiting until my partners had finished their more conventional ‘on the green as it’s supposed to be played’ putts, I took aim and putt from 30+ feet off the green. What came out was a tractor beam that never looked like missing and in the ball went for a nice, conventional par 4! A few more ‘…lucky sod’ looks abounded.

And this is where the game is both beguiling and bonkers… you never ever know what’s just around the corner. You next shot could be your best shot.

Roll on the next time 🙂

The Unknown Golfer

www.golfretreats.com is NOT a conventional golf trip company. We create high quality, guided coaching experiences to help all player abilities progress their golf game in a fun and enjoyable way. 

We’re passionate about what we do and the people we do it for. Our promise to you is that at the end of your stay, you will go home a better golfer.