BUDA 2022

[Niall C]

Now that last great US versus the rest matchplay event of the year has finished is it time to start the conversation on next years BUDA ? There has been some off-line chat about venues and also format but it would be good to try and move things along.


Thoughts ?


Niall

[Enno Gerdes]

Niall,
I enjoyed this year's Buda enormously. For me, the criteria are (1) venue within 1-1,5 hrs from an international airport; (2) a nice city as a home base (with enough pubs and restaurants); (3) somewhat under-the-radar courses that one would not see. But I think I would pretty much sign up for anything anyway...

[Mark Pearce]

I thought there was near unanimity on Tony's suggestion of North Wales (Conwy)?

[Michael Whitaker]

I thought there was near unanimity on Tony's suggestion of North Wales (Conwy)?

Me, too! Love the idea. And, it’s definitely a spot I would not visit without the draw of a Buda. It would be nice to get back to that part of the world again.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Here’s where I say “I’ll be on for that” and then don’t end up coming… but…


I’ll be on for Conwy / North Wales. I’ll jump on the ferry over and play Bull’s Bay and Holyhead too.

[John Mayhugh]

Conwy is only 1:15 from Manchester airport. As a base, the town has 15k people so no shortage of places to eat and stay, and the club could support group meals. The course is of sufficient quality to have had Mark Rowlinson as a member, which is a great endorsement. North Wales seems to make a great second course and requires almost no travel. For those looking to add on to the trip, Fowler's Bull Bay (highly recommended) is 45 minutes away. Harlech & Aberdovey are under two hours, and Hoylake and the Southport Open courses are a small detour from Manchester.

This one ticks all the boxes for me.

[Adam Lawrence]

Next door to North Wales is the Maesdu course which was designed by Harry Colt in 1914 (the club believes itself to be by Braid but I have extensive proof that Colt was in fact responsible).

[mike_malone]

Perfect for my prepaid courses in Southport and environs. Let’s do it

[Duncan Cheslett]

Next door to North Wales is the Maesdu course which was designed by Harry Colt in 1914 (the club believes itself to be by Braid but I have extensive proof that Colt was in fact responsible).

I seem to remember you mentioning that Prestatyn is also a Colt. It’s only 40 minutes from Conwy and is a genuine championship links course.

[Marty Bonnar]

Oh joy. Another five or six hour slog up and down the bloody M6. It better be worth it!
 
F.

[Sean_A]

Oh joy. Another five or six hour slog up and down the bloody M6. It better be worth it!
 
F.

If you don't mind rough n ready in exchange for a few crackers, N Wales will do ya.

All

Conwy is light on accommodation. Llandudno may be the better town if we are going try and keep people together at price ranges they are comfortable with. Otherwise, it's a near guarantee the group will be split up. This is the one thing we have been failing on recently. I for one would rather the group stick together.

Ciao

[mike_malone]

Jack Weiner wants to go to the course with 22 consonants and 4 vowels even if it’s only to get a hat!

[Niall C]

Sean


Good point. Is Llandudno close enough to the course(s) so we don't miss breakfast to make the morning tee-time ?


Second to picking the venue, it would be good to be a bit more organised on the playing front. Conrad has volunteered to Captain the UK/Euro team so it would be good if someone volunteered to do the same for North America rather than someone being press-ganged into action on the eve of the match. Any volunteers ?


Niall

[Niall C]

Next door to North Wales is the Maesdu course which was designed by Harry Colt in 1914 (the club believes itself to be by Braid but I have extensive proof that Colt was in fact responsible).

I seem to remember you mentioning that Prestatyn is also a Colt. It’s only 40 minutes from Conwy and is a genuine championship links course.

After 10 mins of googling it appears the nearby Rhos-on-sea GC is a Tom Simpson design. This location is shaping up well as a BUDA venue. I'm glad I suggested it 


Niall

[David_Tepper]

Rhos-on-Sea GC:

https://www.rhosgolf.co.uk/golf/course-plan/
 

[Jerry Kluger]

Does this mean that Mr. Tepper will come down from the north to join in the Buda?

[Sean_A]

Sean

Good point. Is Llandudno close enough to the course(s) so we don't miss breakfast to make the morning tee-time ?

Second to picking the venue, it would be good to be a bit more organised on the playing front. Conrad has volunteered to Captain the UK/Euro team so it would be good if someone volunteered to do the same for North America rather than someone being press-ganged into action on the eve of the match. Any volunteers ?

Niall

N Wales is in Llandudno. Its easy to play there two days and Conwy one. It's about 20 minutes between the towns.

I might be inclined to see Holyhead.

Ciao

[Adam Uttley]

I was there this summer and I think North Wales GC is the more fun course to play twice anyway and I agree Llandudno is the best town (avoid Rhyl at all costs).  Just a couple of things not note:


1.  Llandudno is a very popular seaside town so we’ll likely need to book rooms and dinner a long way in advance to stay together (more so than Buxton). I struggled to get a room of any sorts this summer for last minute trip.


2.  North Wales GC has just had a legal ruling against it so the first hole needs to be amended.  Presently it’s a 150yd walk from clubhouse to 1st tee but they may be digging it up soon (no firms plans when I was there). I don’t think that changes things but worth being aware.

[Sean_A]

Jack Weiner wants to go to the course with 22 consonants and 4 vowels even if it’s only to get a hat!

Thats a whistle stop town. Is there a course there?

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Jack Weiner wants to go to the course with 22 consonants and 4 vowels even if it’s only to get a hat!

Thats a whistle stop town. Is there a course there?
Ciao

Alas no course at the wonderfully named Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch (which is actually located on the island of Anglesey).
Might find a fair few unusually written and pronounced North Wales courses here - https://www.welshgolfcourses.com/north/
There’s even one course that straddles the Wales-England border and has a not so easy to some to pronounce name .. Llanymynech (although it counts as an English golf club not a Welsh one).
Atb

[James Reader]

Rhos-on-Sea GC:

https://www.rhosgolf.co.uk/golf/course-plan/

It’s 30 years since I played Rhos, North Wales and Maesdu in a British Universities Championship (36 holes strokeplay on the first two; top 64 matchplay on the latter).  Admittedly, it’s a very long time ago but I don’t have positive recollections of Rhos and am very surprised to hear that it’s a Simpson.  In fact, I’d completely forgotten I’d played there until Niall mentioned it.  My memory is of a fairly flat, featureless parkland course and the fact that the website says that they’ve recently planted several thousand trees to provide definition to the holes doesn’t make me inclined to rush back.

[Jerry Kluger]

Thoughts on this article
https://www.linksmagazine.com/wales-best-courses-overlooked-golf-destination/?utm_source=sponsoredblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=insider10.4.21

[Niall C]

It's surprising that a specialist golf writer can write about Aberdovey and not mention Bernard Darwin. Lovely photos though, they certainly whet the appetite.

Niall

[Garland Bayley]

Thoughts on this article
https://www.linksmagazine.com/wales-best-courses-overlooked-golf-destination/?utm_source=sponsoredblast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=insider10.4.21

Celtic Manor is overlooked?

[Steve Wilson]

Haven't been to Conwy since 1979.  Time for a return.  COVID notwithstanding.