OT-UK golf

[John Mayhugh]

As a high capper who has never played this format, I'm curious from a practical perspective how making ur way up the fairway works. Especially in the UK where they don't exactly have many trees and such to take cover...

How does one protect themselves from wayward tee balls?  Or is there a minimum HC requirement? 

Kalen,
You don't walk up the middle of the fairway. Take a look at an aerial view of a course like Muirfield or Rye. You will often see two paths exiting the green. One goes towards the next tee and the other towards the fairway of the hole. It's more of a head start than it is being in the fairway ready to hit when your partner's ball stops rolling. I can also tell you - from experience - that you don't want to walk too far ahead if I'm your partner.

[Kalen Braley]

As a high capper who has never played this format, I'm curious from a practical perspective how making ur way up the fairway works. Especially in the UK where they don't exactly have many trees and such to take cover...

How does one protect themselves from wayward tee balls?  Or is there a minimum HC requirement? 

Kalen,
You don't walk up the middle of the fairway. Take a look at an aerial view of a course like Muirfield or Rye. You will often see two paths exiting the green. One goes towards the next tee and the other towards the fairway of the hole. It's more of a head start than it is being in the fairway ready to hit when your partner's ball stops rolling. I can also tell you - from experience - that you don't want to walk too far ahead if I'm your partner.

Yes, that's what I was referring to.  Even if your 40 yards away from the middle of the fairway walking thru the rough, my tee ball can still easily find you!  And that could be anywhere from 50 to 200 yards off the tee to boot. I'm not trying to make light of this, but one of the very first things I learned is not be anywhere in front of someone teeing off, even if you think you're well out of harms way.

P.S. Statistically speaking one would probably be best off walking right down the middle cause I'm not there very often. 

[jeffwarne]

As a high capper who has never played this format, I'm curious from a practical perspective how making ur way up the fairway works. Especially in the UK where they don't exactly have many trees and such to take cover...

How does one protect themselves from wayward tee balls?  Or is there a minimum HC requirement? 

Kalen,
You don't walk up the middle of the fairway. Take a look at an aerial view of a course like Muirfield or Rye. You will often see two paths exiting the green. One goes towards the next tee and the other towards the fairway of the hole. It's more of a head start than it is being in the fairway ready to hit when your partner's ball stops rolling. I can also tell you - from experience - that you don't want to walk too far ahead if I'm your partner.

Yes, that's what I was referring to.  Even if your 40 yards away from the middle of the fairway walking thru the rough, my tee ball can still easily find you!  And that could be anywhere from 50 to 200 yards off the tee to boot. I'm not trying to make light of this, but one of the very first things I learned is not be anywhere in front of someone teeing off, even if you think you're well out of harms way.

yet somehow players and clubs have managed this format for centuries.......
you pay attention, they pay attention....

[John Mayhugh]

yet somehow players and clubs have managed this format for centuries.......
you pay attention, they pay attention....

Hahaha what a concept.

[Garland Bayley]

And I can assure you that playing alternate shot with your spouse prepares you for anything.

Words like brave, heroic, undaunted, fearless and courageous all come to mind.
 
Atb

Oh yeah?

At my former  club, they called it hit and giggle.

[Sean_A]

As a high capper who has never played this format, I'm curious from a practical perspective how making ur way up the fairway works. Especially in the UK where they don't exactly have many trees and such to take cover...

How does one protect themselves from wayward tee balls?  Or is there a minimum HC requirement? 

Kalen,
You don't walk up the middle of the fairway. Take a look at an aerial view of a course like Muirfield or Rye. You will often see two paths exiting the green. One goes towards the next tee and the other towards the fairway of the hole. It's more of a head start than it is being in the fairway ready to hit when your partner's ball stops rolling. I can also tell you - from experience - that you don't want to walk too far ahead if I'm your partner.

Yes, that's what I was referring to.  Even if your 40 yards away from the middle of the fairway walking thru the rough, my tee ball can still easily find you!  And that could be anywhere from 50 to 200 yards off the tee to boot. I'm not trying to make light of this, but one of the very first things I learned is not be anywhere in front of someone teeing off, even if you think you're well out of harms way.

yet somehow players and clubs have managed this format for centuries.......
you pay attention, they pay attention....

Seriously. Watching the ball so you can find it quickly is a major plus of the game. I can't understand the modern idea of 4somes with both guys essentially on the tee. A very boring way to play 4somes. May as well play Greensomes....which I generally prefer.

Ciao

[Ken Moum]

And I can assure you that playing alternate shot with your spouse prepares you for anything.

Words like brave, heroic, undaunted, fearless and courageous all come to mind.
 
Atb

Oh yeah?

At my former  club, they called it hit and giggle.

There are, of course, events like that.


But I when prize money and cups are being handed out, the giggling usually doesn't last long.

[Mark Chaplin]

Kalen as a full time’ish caddie I always find the most dangerous rounds are fourball with 4 caddies. People get left behind and golfers get in their own bubble so players are often hitting with people 40, 50 or more yards in front of them who aren’t paying attention. I’ve witnessed far too many potentially nasty near misses to be comfortable with that format.
On the other hand foursomes with four caddies and two or more dogs is three hours on the button with a generous stop at the hut and little chance to lose a ball.

[Tony_Muldoon]

One thing I dont believe this thread has mentioned, playing Foursomes really is a different experience.

If you accept that Golf is a mental game, "played between the ears",  Foursomes is INTENSEly COMPETITIVE golf.


Maybe its jUst me but playing my own ball I can accept that somedays I just didn't bring my game.
That's unacceptable to me if someone else is being  dragged down with me. In that situation I'm really motivated to try and try again.
And when the reverse is true and my partner is having a 'mare, how can I help? Well playing my best is helping and keeping upbeat...



In 4BBB most of the 'teamwork' happens on the greens.  In Foursomes it starts with discussions that need to occur before the round and continues to the 19th.

Which reminds me there should be at least one Foursomes round at BUDA. 

[Mark Chaplin]

Tony I remember copping a dog licence to two good mates off 22 and 24. They dropped 2 shots on the front 9 and ran away with the match. Neither was was capable of breaking 45 on their own for 9 holes but as a foursomes pair they shot 38, despite losing it was great to witness. Needless to say the wheel came off in the next round!

[Kalen Braley]

Thanks for the feedback all,

I think the format sounds terrific, I wasn't trying to swat the proverbial hornets nest.    Just curious how the logistics of the round worked out.

Another question would be, my eyesight is not as good as 30 years ago and its a lot easier to follow the flight of the ball when i'm standing directly behind at the start vs trying to spot it from 100+ yards down the fairway.  Kind of like how the best sight lines at a tennis match are from behind the end line as opposed to from the side...

[Thomas Dai]

As a high capper who has never played this format, I'm curious from a practical perspective how making ur way up the fairway works. Especially in the UK where they don't exactly have many trees and such to take cover...
How does one protect themselves from wayward tee balls?  Or is there a minimum HC requirement? 

Kalen,
You don't walk up the middle of the fairway. Take a look at an aerial view of a course like Muirfield or Rye. You will often see two paths exiting the green. One goes towards the next tee and the other towards the fairway of the hole. It's more of a head start than it is being in the fairway ready to hit when your partner's ball stops rolling. I can also tell you - from experience - that you don't want to walk too far ahead if I'm your partner.

Yes, that's what I was referring to.  Even if your 40 yards away from the middle of the fairway walking thru the rough, my tee ball can still easily find you!  And that could be anywhere from 50 to 200 yards off the tee to boot. I'm not trying to make light of this, but one of the very first things I learned is not be anywhere in front of someone teeing off, even if you think you're well out of harms way.

yet somehow players and clubs have managed this format for centuries.......
you pay attention, they pay attention....

Pay attention to others?
Appalling idea. Disgraceful. One you are surely (Shirley) making in jest?
The modern golfer has loud music to listen too, tik-tik videos to film and upload plus beer in the carts cooler to drink!
 
atb

[Joe_Tucholski]

Maybe its jUst me but playing my own ball I can accept that somedays I just didn't bring my game.
That's unacceptable to me if someone else is being  dragged down with me. In that situation I'm really motivated to try and try again.

 

Only time I've played the format was buda Netherlands.  Think I played with Mayhugh.  I was less than a 5 hcp and couldn't hit a fairway the day we played.  I have never felt more afraid on the tee, felt like throwing up.

[Ken Moum]

Maybe its jUst me but playing my own ball I can accept that somedays I just didn't bring my game.
That's unacceptable to me if someone else is being  dragged down with me. In that situation I'm really motivated to try and try again.

 

Which is the True Beauty of the format.


Now play it with your wife.  Hell, my wife and I got married so we could play in the SD State Husband and Wife Championship.


Finished 6th out of ~75 couples. Never bettered that. Still married and playing foursomes 29 years later.

Only time I've played the format was buda Netherlands.  Think I played with Mayhugh.  I was less than a 5 hcp and couldn't hit a fairway the day we played.  I have never felt more afraid on the tee, felt like throwing up.