One year ago Friday (Nov. 6) I received a phone call asking if we’d be “interested in throwing some things in a crate” and move overseas. Total shock would be the best way to describe my response. I pushed away from my desk, thoughts spinning, until I could catch my breath. When I did I rolled forward to my keyboard, opened a Web browser, pulled up Google and entered what any other clear-thinking, priority driven human being would surely have searched: GOLF COURSES NEAR REIGATE ENGLAND.
BOOM! Like stars lighting up the night sky dozens of little red balloons populated my Google map. One year to the day later I teed it up at the Reigate and Redhill Golf Course. A private course on public land. Not sure what that means other than you have to watch for the pedestrians roaming around the course like strolling through a park. And in the UK where there are pedestrians roaming there are dogs roaming. Where there are dogs, there is dog poop. At least the course rules allow for it as noted on the back of the scorecard:
“FREE DROP: If animal droppings (with the exception of rabbits), interfere with a player’s stance or playing of the shot anywhere on the Course, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped within one club-length, not nearer the hole, without penalty.”
Unfortunately, there were no course exceptions for six balls I hit among the ever-pervasive, golf-ball consuming gorse bushes prominent here in Western Europe.
Marc Diaz
Just checked out the golf course website – they had the distances in yards, not meters….or rather metres? How was it – it looked like a lot of the holes criss cross back and forth. Did you put your bag on a trolley and walk? Did you play foursomes?
Chris
This place is kind of screwy in use of metric. Distance in miles/yards (but use meters for some things like cm for shorter), Celsius for temp, liters for volume. The course wasn’t that long and it does criss cross all over the place. Although short, you gotta hit shots. I hit 5 iron off No. 3 to the bend. Go through and you’re in the gorse bushes. Short and no way you get it over the trees. Left and you’re in the woods. Wasn’t overly difficult, if you keep the ball in play. I did trolley. I’m done carrying bags. Bought a Bagboy before I left the states. Nine guys form the office. We played a best ball. First time I’d played in four months with all the transition stuff. Was quite pleased with my new Cleveland Hi-bore 9.5, tour model with high kick pt and stiff shaft. KILLED a few balls (I won’t mention the ones that got away!). Rest of the clubs were borrowed. Mine get here Wed.!!!!