It was Rich, the sad ending of a once great aiming point

[Noel Freeman]

For any who played golf on the Kent Coastline the outline of the Richborough Power Plant 3 cooiing towers (coming in at 97 meters) were a constant reminder of man's plight on the landscape.  Yet, they were actually relevant to golf at Deal as I used to use them as aiming points for holes like #7.  In fact, I grew used to them over the last 10 years (at least at Deal where they were far enough away to invite curiosity rather than fear--they burned coal and oil, not nuclear).. At Sandwich and Princes they were much closer and I can say only in Swansea where the Baglan Power station sits cheek by jowl near the Swansea Bay Course had such a man vs. nature effect on a course.. So when I was at Deal this past weekend and I walked up to the 7th tee it amazed me that I had nothing to aim at.  I looked incredibly at the horizon and saw a blank horizon--well except for 747s doing touch and go maneuvers at the Manston Airport, it was not until then I realized the towers were gone, blown up in the video below in March 2012. Sadly, like a past love I lamented their passing but then got on with it like the plunker Tuco Ramirez is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIvJ69Bhmzw

[David_Elvins]

Noel,

Don't worry too much, at the rate the wind turbines are going up, there will be an individual aiming point for every hole at Deal soon. 

[Mark Chaplin]

David - there are two massive windfarms in east Kent but fortunately they are well out to sea!

[Rich Goodale]

Tuco

I thought this thread was going to be a paean to my laser like accurcay off the teee.  Most caddies who are privileged to play with me tell their loop when asked: "Just hit it where the old fat geezer just did."

Mark

Those turbines will march steadily towards Deal until they take over the sea walls.  If you are not careful they may end up in the middle of your fine course, just like at Royal Aberdeen....

[Mark Pearce]

At least you don't overlook the Thames Estuary.  The windfarms being built there aren't massive, they're bigger than that.

[David Davis]

Surely a (Dutch) windfarm is far more pleasant to look at than a cooling tower or smoke stack? Just thing it's providing green energy rather than pollution. Deal seems a relatively flat area with not much views, not that I'm criticizing in anyway, how could I living in the flattest country in the world. However it does seem that a few windmills might spice up the mix. You guys don't seem to think so in favour of spewing smoke stacks...

[Jon Wiggett]

David,

I think windfarms would be more accepted if they provided energy to the community they were planted next to. If this meant no giant power stations and the removal of giant powerline masts with the benefit of cheap clean energy. However, the local community rarely benefit from such schemes as the power generated is used many miles away. Still, they have to be better than coal or gas or bio plants.

As for aiming point, maybe Deal should plant trees  some nice giant firs would fit the bill

Jon

[Craig Van Egmond]

Windfarms would be great if they actually produced a steady reliable energy source. I live in one of the windiest states with lots of windmills and we have large spikes in the Spring and Fall, but low winds in the WInter and Summer when we actually need the power the most.

[Bob_Huntley]

If I had to rely on wind power to help pump out flood waters from my house, I think I would be out of luck.

In an emergency nothing is quite as useful as a Diesel engined generator.

Bob

[Bill_McBride]

If I had to rely on wind power to help pump out flood waters from my house, I think I would be out of luck.

In an emergency nothing is quite as useful as a Diesel engined generator.

Bob

A John Deere?   

[Wayne_Kozun]

David,
I think windfarms would be more accepted if they provided energy to the community they were planted next to. If this meant no giant power stations and the removal of giant powerline masts with the benefit of cheap clean energy. However, the local community rarely benefit from such schemes as the power generated is used many miles away. Still, they have to be better than coal or gas or bio plants.

The power goes into the grid and then it is generally indistingiushable where it came from.  It is not like there is a physical entity, like a barrel of oil, that actually moves from place to place.  Electircity doesn't work like that.

[Jon Wiggett]

David,
I think windfarms would be more accepted if they provided energy to the community they were planted next to. If this meant no giant power stations and the removal of giant powerline masts with the benefit of cheap clean energy. However, the local community rarely benefit from such schemes as the power generated is used many miles away. Still, they have to be better than coal or gas or bio plants.

The power goes into the grid and then it is generally indistingiushable where it came from.  It is not like there is a physical entity, like a barrel of oil, that actually moves from place to place.  Electircity doesn't work like that.

Wayne,

Electricity is usually generated in one place and then transported to another through the grid. Just because you cannot see it moving does not alter this. I believe you have not understood my point.

Jon

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tuco is the only man I can think of who would have a  tear in his eye at the loss of a nuc power pant tower coming down. lol Oh well there will be other aiming points for you .

[Mark Chaplin]

Tiger - Richborough power station was built in the middle of the old Kent coal fields, not a split atom in sight.

[Marty Bonnar]

The old Methil power station has also gone from the Leven skyline - replaced by a turbine. Same old, same old, eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5a80qHJBw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oRB0wH8n-U&feature=relmfu

F

[Rich Goodale]

The old Methil power station has also gone from the Leven skyline - replaced by a turbine. Same old, same old, eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5a80qHJBw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oRB0wH8n-U&feature=relmfu

F

...or, as the Auctermuchty twins so beautifully sang, "Methil no more...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9GmieAEaQ