Northern UK GCA Winter Get Together?

[Mark Pearce]

Back in 2016 and 2017 (yes, really that long ago) we held Winter get togethers for Northern UK GCAers (at Gullane and Goswick, respectively).  Any interest in starting these again?

[Niall C]

Yes


Niall

[James Reader]

Sounds great 👍

[Tim Gallant]

Count me in!

[Clyde Johnson]

Tentative.

[Sean_A]

Depends on dates, but interested.


Ciao

[Adam Uttley]

Yes

[James Boon]

Thanks Mark, yes certainly interested!
Cheers,
James

[Simon Barrington]

If the dates work, would love (as a newbie) to meet you all

[Ian Galbraith]

Yes, let's find a date that works.

[Mark Pearce]

Excellent, I make that ten of us potentially interested, with time to add.  Would a weekend at the back of January or in February work?  We'd want decent conditions, so I assume we're looking at links golf.  Given the range of locations (from Nottingham to Fife and Glasgow) of those who have put their hands up, does Northumberland or East Lothian work best?  Or could we head to Fife?  Any other ideas?

[Niall C]

Mark


Early next year would work for me as would a (long) weekend. I'll also happily to go wherever. However as a suggestion, what about Angus ? I know it's a bit further north and therefore further for the English contingent to go but in recent years BUDA has done Northumberland and Fife, while East Lothian is home turf for many.


In terms of Angus, I recently played Arbroath and was hugely impressed. I'd be keen to go back and see if I was just imagining how good it was. It's not far from Carnoustie, Monifieth, Panmure etc. and from memory Broughty Ferry isn't a bad place to base ourselves.


Niall

[Mark Pearce]

That's not a bad suggestion.  I've stayed in Broughty Ferry before and it's a fine place to be based. 

[Michael Graham]

Mark,


Great idea. I’ll do my best to make it. Always good to have something to look forward to post Christmas.

[David McIntosh]

Mark,

Thanks for taking the lead on this. I’d be keen on joining too and end of January or February should be fine. Also like the sound of Niall’s Angus suggestion, including Arbroath.

[Tim Gallant]

Arbroath could be a good shout - I've not seen it. Does that mean smokies are mandatory at lunch?! 


The only other place I was thinking of was Appleby. I've not played it, but will be hoping to see it in the next few months. Not sure what sort of condition it would be in come Jan/Feb, but could be an option.

[Mark Pearce]

Arbroath could be a good shout - I've not seen it. Does that mean smokies are mandatory at lunch?! 


The only other place I was thinking of was Appleby. I've not played it, but will be hoping to see it in the next few months. Not sure what sort of condition it would be in come Jan/Feb, but could be an option.

Smokies are always mandatory at lunch if on the menu.  Unless the choice is Cullen Skink.


If you want to get to Appleby, I'd be very happy to join you but wonder how logistics would work for the group? I suspect that Spring might be a better time to be there, though.  It can be hostile in them thar hills in January!

[Simon Barrington]

Niall's Angus idea is a solid one, v. cold but drier on the East Coast

May I throw Montrose into the mix (before it falls into the sea).
We used to play Scottish Universities there back in the day, a great matchplay course.

Don't know how but have missed out playing Monifeith, as well as the Burnside at 'Noustie

So much choice, and happy to go wherever.
One thing I know from this site is the choice will be a good one architecturally, and with knowledgable company should be fun.
Cheers

[Thomas Dai]

Interested too.
Angus/Fife area would be a decent choice.
Usually drier than further west.
Easterly wind best avoided though ….. brrrrrr….
Arbroath is an underrated course.
Atb

[Tony_Muldoon]

Also interested and I'd throw into the mix Seaton Carew and Cleeveland GC.


We can stay at......

[Ben Stephens]

Adam Uttley has mentioned Abbeydale (Fowler) and his home course Hallamshire (Colt) which could be a good combo and GCA penchant of playing hidden gems at reasonable price. It may be too far south for my northern comrades.

[Mark Pearce]

Given the crowd, and the "northern UK" title, I'm not convinced that Seaton Carew or Cleveland meet spec, but am happy to be persuaded (I need to get to Cleveland). 


No sensible definition of "Northern UK" includes Hallamshire.  Sheffield is halfway between London and Newcastle, so mid-England and Southern UK.  Which is not to say I wouldn't be interested in a trip there, just not under this banner.

[Ben Stephens]

Given the crowd, and the "northern UK" title, I'm not convinced that Seaton Carew or Cleveland meet spec, but am happy to be persuaded (I need to get to Cleveland). 


No sensible definition of "Northern UK" includes Hallamshire.  Sheffield is halfway between London and Newcastle, so mid-England and Southern UK.  Which is not to say I wouldn't be interested in a trip there, just not under this banner.

In terms of Northern UK is the line north of Hadrians Wall?

[Mark Pearce]

Given the crowd, and the "northern UK" title, I'm not convinced that Seaton Carew or Cleveland meet spec, but am happy to be persuaded (I need to get to Cleveland). 


No sensible definition of "Northern UK" includes Hallamshire.  Sheffield is halfway between London and Newcastle, so mid-England and Southern UK.  Which is not to say I wouldn't be interested in a trip there, just not under this banner.

In terms of Northern UK is the line north of Hadrians Wall?

I'm open to persuasion on Cleveland, which is a fair way short of the wall (astonishing how many people don't join the dots and realise that, on the coast, there's a reason Wallsend is so called).  But that's an apperaling suggestion.  On balance, though, I wonder if the Tees or Wear aren't better boundaries than the Tyne.   But that's not a bad shout, as it does give you most of Northumberland.

[Niall C]

Two further comments;


- given the time of year that we're looking to play, we've surely got to be looking at links only which would probably take out the two courses that Ben suggested. It would also be better if we weren't playing from mats. I don't mind playing from rough, which tends to be my natural habitat anyway, but mats is a drag.


- as with BUDA, whoever organises gets to call the shots, so happy to leave it to Mark to make the decision.


Niall