I started this blog to chronicle my attempts to hit a little white ball around the countryside; unfortunately it was some considerable time since my last post before I went out for some ritual humiliation. For this reason, and sheer laziness, I have failed to update the blog.
In the intervening period we went on holiday; Michelle and I went to Helsinki for a week at the end of January. We had a fantastic time, took in an ice hockey game and discovered a brilliant restaurant. As usual, we stayed at the Hotel Torni, the bar at the top of the tower giving a wonderful view of the city. There are some great photos below, including from the ‘loo with a view’
We booked our restaurants before leaving home, the Kappelli and Aino being two which we always visit. Kappelli isbeautiful, it is wonderfully lit and really is like dining in fairyland. Aino is just a fabulous place with excellent food. The third one was found by Michelle on line, the Chef and Sommelier and what a restaurant it is. It is tiny, only 20 covers, and the kitchen isn’t big enough to swing a mouse let alone a cat! But the food is unbelievable, most definitely Michelin class. The chef came out to explain every course but the price was about the same as the Aino and Kappelli. We will definitely be going back.
On the day before returning home, we went to see a Jokerit ice hockey game and experienced something no Pompey fan had done for months, celebrated a win, a 3-1 defeat of SaiPa.
The following day it started snowing, it didn’t appear too bad but on the way to the airport it started getting heavier. We arrived 2 hours before our flight was due out and in that time the snow became very deep. Our departure time was put back by half an hour, which wasn’t too bad, but unfortunately the snow had caused a lot of delayed flights due to the need for the planes to be de-iced. By the time we left we were over 3 hours late; just showing that snow affects even countries who are geared up for it not just the UK, albeit they cope better.
The Pompey ownership saga was finally resolved, with the fans now owning the club. Michelle and I both made a small contribution and have bought our season tickets for our sojourn in League 2 (4th Division to all us purists!) Our last home game of the season had an attendance of over 18,000, not bad for an already relegated club! We both went to the last game too, at Shrewsbury, and had a fabulous weekend away.
I have been working locally recently, in Southampton, which means I have been able to get out and whack some little dimpled balls, of various colours, into inaccessible areas of the golf course.
My last couple of rounds have, for me, been exceptional. I have posted scores of 104 and 105 (with a little creative scoring, mainly due to a few duffed tee shots) and with a little more care I could have been below 100.
Last Sunday I actually achieved a genuine birdie on the the par 3 thirteenth. It was a magnificent tee shot finishing less than 3 feet from the hole. I did, for one brief glorious moment, think I was going to get a hole in one, but alas the ball went just past the hole. The day started with rain and it looked like we were going to get soaked, but by the time we were able to start the weather had picked up and we finished in glorious sunshine. We were delayed as there was a men's match scheduled to start not long after we arrived, so it was decided to wait until they had all gone out before we teed off. This allowed for a spot of lunch and a couple of pints, guaranteed to make for a more relaxed game!
We left it for 20 mins after the last match had started before we set off, I shot a 6 on both the first two holes, both par 5s so I was immensely pleased, especially as both tee shots had been wayward, one very short, the other long but into trees. The third hole was a disaster, 5 on a par 3. On arriving at the fourth we found that we had caught up with the match, there was a four ball on the fourth and another at the fifth tee waiting for the green to clear. It was clearly time for a break and the chance to enjoy the scenery in the now much improved weather. We knew there were three ladies following us, so we waited for them and allowed them to play through, not re-commencing until they had teed off on the fifth. The fourth hole is interesting; the green in over to the right, and set below the level, of the fairway. It is possible to take on the green but there is rough around and before it, and a stream to the right. We took it on, Ross finished about 3 yards short in decent rough, and I was about 20 yards further back, again in easy rough. Unfortunately I duffed my second shot which went completely off the the other end of the green which is easily 100 feet long. I managed to rescue a one over par 5, Ross finished with a par.
I shall draw a discreet veil of the next three holes, they were unpleasant, from a golfing point of view, but I did recover with a 5 on the par four eighth. The ninth was its usual disaster but the tenth was a creditable 1 over par 5. A so-so eleventh and twelfth were followed by that wonderful birdie on the thirteenth. I had the chance, albeit a small one, of another on the par 3 fifteenth. My tee shot landed on the green 40 feet from the hole but I 3 putted for a 4. It was business as usual on the next two holes, however the last hole beckoned and since I had parred it on my last visit I was hoping to repeat the experience. The only problem was there was a gallery from, the now completed, men's match. The tee is much higher than the green, indeed you cannot see it from the tee, but it is a straight hole with the clubhouse right next to it. From the tee you can see the balcony of the clubhouse and on Sunday it was full. I hate playing with anyone watching, now there were nearly 30 people watching us play that last hole. To say I was nervous was an understatement, I was worried about standing on the tee with my feet apart! I did hit a reasonable shot, however, which landed a couple of inches off the fairway, leaving me with a clear 150 yard shot to the green. I took out my 5 iron and plonked the ball just short of the green but it rolled magnificently onto it just 20 feet from the hole. Ross had hit a truly brilliant tee shot and was aiming to put the ball close to the flag. Unfortunately, he completely duffed it and took two shots to get to the green, and promptly rolled off the other side. He hit a great shot to finish inches from the hole and finished with a 1 over par 5. I then took three putts to finish, as I said I hate a gallery, but was very pleased with a 5.
We wandered in and reflected on our round with a couple of pints, sat on the, now vacated, balcony. I never tire of the beauty of this golf course and sat in the sun with a pint in hand it looks even more magnificent.
This week we are going to try and get a few holes in one evening as Michelle and I are away in Devon for a wedding at the weekend. By the the end of the summer I am determined to be below 100, without the creative scoring. I shall try and relate my attempts, but then again laziness may take over again. If I get below 100, however, laziness will be residing in the nasty rough with most of my previous golf balls
I have been working locally recently, in Southampton, which means I have been able to get out and whack some little dimpled balls, of various colours, into inaccessible areas of the golf course.
My last couple of rounds have, for me, been exceptional. I have posted scores of 104 and 105 (with a little creative scoring, mainly due to a few duffed tee shots) and with a little more care I could have been below 100.
Last Sunday I actually achieved a genuine birdie on the the par 3 thirteenth. It was a magnificent tee shot finishing less than 3 feet from the hole. I did, for one brief glorious moment, think I was going to get a hole in one, but alas the ball went just past the hole. The day started with rain and it looked like we were going to get soaked, but by the time we were able to start the weather had picked up and we finished in glorious sunshine. We were delayed as there was a men's match scheduled to start not long after we arrived, so it was decided to wait until they had all gone out before we teed off. This allowed for a spot of lunch and a couple of pints, guaranteed to make for a more relaxed game!
We left it for 20 mins after the last match had started before we set off, I shot a 6 on both the first two holes, both par 5s so I was immensely pleased, especially as both tee shots had been wayward, one very short, the other long but into trees. The third hole was a disaster, 5 on a par 3. On arriving at the fourth we found that we had caught up with the match, there was a four ball on the fourth and another at the fifth tee waiting for the green to clear. It was clearly time for a break and the chance to enjoy the scenery in the now much improved weather. We knew there were three ladies following us, so we waited for them and allowed them to play through, not re-commencing until they had teed off on the fifth. The fourth hole is interesting; the green in over to the right, and set below the level, of the fairway. It is possible to take on the green but there is rough around and before it, and a stream to the right. We took it on, Ross finished about 3 yards short in decent rough, and I was about 20 yards further back, again in easy rough. Unfortunately I duffed my second shot which went completely off the the other end of the green which is easily 100 feet long. I managed to rescue a one over par 5, Ross finished with a par.
I shall draw a discreet veil of the next three holes, they were unpleasant, from a golfing point of view, but I did recover with a 5 on the par four eighth. The ninth was its usual disaster but the tenth was a creditable 1 over par 5. A so-so eleventh and twelfth were followed by that wonderful birdie on the thirteenth. I had the chance, albeit a small one, of another on the par 3 fifteenth. My tee shot landed on the green 40 feet from the hole but I 3 putted for a 4. It was business as usual on the next two holes, however the last hole beckoned and since I had parred it on my last visit I was hoping to repeat the experience. The only problem was there was a gallery from, the now completed, men's match. The tee is much higher than the green, indeed you cannot see it from the tee, but it is a straight hole with the clubhouse right next to it. From the tee you can see the balcony of the clubhouse and on Sunday it was full. I hate playing with anyone watching, now there were nearly 30 people watching us play that last hole. To say I was nervous was an understatement, I was worried about standing on the tee with my feet apart! I did hit a reasonable shot, however, which landed a couple of inches off the fairway, leaving me with a clear 150 yard shot to the green. I took out my 5 iron and plonked the ball just short of the green but it rolled magnificently onto it just 20 feet from the hole. Ross had hit a truly brilliant tee shot and was aiming to put the ball close to the flag. Unfortunately, he completely duffed it and took two shots to get to the green, and promptly rolled off the other side. He hit a great shot to finish inches from the hole and finished with a 1 over par 5. I then took three putts to finish, as I said I hate a gallery, but was very pleased with a 5.
We wandered in and reflected on our round with a couple of pints, sat on the, now vacated, balcony. I never tire of the beauty of this golf course and sat in the sun with a pint in hand it looks even more magnificent.
This week we are going to try and get a few holes in one evening as Michelle and I are away in Devon for a wedding at the weekend. By the the end of the summer I am determined to be below 100, without the creative scoring. I shall try and relate my attempts, but then again laziness may take over again. If I get below 100, however, laziness will be residing in the nasty rough with most of my previous golf balls
