50th Birthday Trip

Can't believe how quickly this has come round as its been about a year since we booked it and its now less than 7 weeks away. A proper links fest of Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane 1 to see out my 40s in style. After some indecision about where to play on the way up we eventually settled on Hoylake.

The main reason for the post is that there are now some rumblings in the group about whether or not to have a post round lunch at Muirfield (6 of the group have decided to fly up rather than drive are thinking of the logistics. We're on a package which includes evening meal at the Open Arms as well.

I'm pretty much still set on having the lunch as I'm led to believe its a great part of the whole experience. I suppose my basic question is...is the lunch experience as good as they say it is and worth doing?

Today I learned I'm jealous of somebody turning 50.

Have a great time.

I'm also jealous of somebody turning 50, but for more reasons than this!

PS: Sounds like a great trip whatever you do.

It's a very nice lunch for sure. Old school food like steak and kidney pie and rhubarb and custard. You line up canteen style, and woman on a high stool behind a high desk checks what you have and charges your account. When you are done eating and drinking, she presents the ledger and you settle the account.

It's very formal in there (collar and tie) and you daren't make much noise.

It's nice but you may find the old clubhouse at Gullane or the Open Arms a bit less overbearing.

I suppose my basic question is...is the lunch experience as good as they say it is and worth doing?

Guess it all depends on whether or not you know how to hold a knife and fork!

do you really need to ask JAS?

we all know what the answer is

you're going to eat at muirfield

Am I the only one who is now craving rhubarb and custard ! Can't remember the last time I had a good thick custard -- these days they call it custard but it's like a thin vanilla sauce.

JAS enjoy. Sounds good. Check Worplesdon GC web site for Frame Trophy. Fantastic scratch 3 day event.

Shirt and tie to eat canteen food (all be it decent fare) in a stuffy atmosphere. I'd pay not to do it personally but it's all horses for courses.

Digs its tradition -but probably come in at 3-15 and find that 'food stops at 3'.Ive experienced that a few times.
Sounds like a good trip for the golf though

JAS - I like your style! Way to celebrate.

JAS, as Al Pacino said: "if in doubt: f**k!"

dynamark wrote:Digs its tradition -but probably come in at 3-15 and find that 'food stops at 3'.Ive experienced that a few times.
Sounds like a good trip for the golf though

Oh no, there's none of that. When you arrive in the morning you are met and your credentials checked. Then they'll tell you where you are teeing off, and what time. Don't suggest playing as a fourball. Don't even dream it. They'll tell you how quickly you'll play and what time you'll be back at the clubhouse, and what time your lunch is. The starter leads you out to the 1st or 10th, and watches while you play off. He'll reappear a few times as you go round. When you are all back and changed, you'll be checked to make sure you are respectable, then you'll be escorted to the bar, then to the dining room. Nobody will be "overserved" in the bar. The dining room will be open because you won't be late. There will be members there too, so you'll be discouraged from being noisy. There are some long benches for bigger groups to sit at, like at school. Then you settle your account, and away you go. Some people find it impossibly stuffy, but if you like all the tradition then you'll enjoy it. If there's any incident, you won't be going back.

The HCEG runs through golf terms with Americans before they start, because of the confusion over the term "foursome".

No idea what the Muirfield visitor ticket is but it must be immensely disappointing to turn up expecting to play as a 4-ball only to find that it's a 4-somes format which is fine ... if you're a member ... but incredibly disappointing if perhaps it's the one and only time you're likely to play this course. Added to which, americans are not familiar with the 4-somes format anyway so it's a double whammy as far as they're concerned.

dynamark wrote:Digs its tradition -but probably come in at 3-15 and find that 'food stops at 3'.Ive experienced that a few times.
Sounds like a good trip for the golf though

Lots of things are traditional , doesn't make them fun for everyone though. I fully understand why some would like it but not for me in a million years, its pretty much in a nutshell the elements of "golf" that I can't stand.

I can see both sides guys -places like hunstanton and sheringham I have experienced very good thoroughy enjoyable experience.The other side jackets and tie in the middle of summer for instance is just silly.
George I have no credentials so probably non grata.
Despite carrying one around I have never been asked to produce a handicap certificate

Right, I've had a little look on their website and it seems 4-balls are allowed for visitors but in the morning only. So, if you've bought a day ticket @ £250 (£195 per round), then expect to play 4-somes in the afternoon.

Play on the Course

Fourball games are allowed in the morning only. Afternoon play will be foursomes (alternate shot). Bookings will not be taken for two-balls or singles.

I guess £250 to spend the day with a bunch of fascists is money well spent for some.

Actually we're going the week before my birthday so we can get the last day of the winter green fee (£110). It could be worse Mac, it could be owned by some American bully with a toupe

puligny wrote:JAS enjoy. Sounds good. Check Worplesdon GC web site for Frame Trophy. Fantastic scratch 3 day event.

Cheers Puligny, I might well have a piece of that...do you know if it ballots out at all?

JAS, last year there were more entries than the sheet implies so I reckon so long as entries are reasonable everyone gets in. handicap limit 8, and age 50+. There is a cut after 2 days. Very good standard and superb golf course. Highly recommended for your first 50+ comp! Cheap bUt not free practice round and you can take someone along for that as well. Let me know if you do it. I will so long as "rehab" goes according to plan!!!

I almost certainly will if I get in, working in Reading at the moment so will probably nip down after work on the Thursday and do a practice round in the evening. (should be light enough for long enough in mid June).

Does D4S know about this one?, I'd guess he'd fancy it as well.

McLaren wrote:I guess £250 to spend the day with a bunch of fascists is money well spent for some.

What a ridiculously stupid thing to say. Sometimes I do wonder about you Mac .

Enjoy it JAS, I'm sure you will.

JAS, we have talked about it and I know some of his pals have entered, but he didn't/couldn't last year. Or he's still pretending he hasn't made it to 50 yet!!

Not looking great for your trip this week JAS...hopefully the snow will get going in time for Wednesday's kickoff.

barragan wrote:Not looking great for your trip this week JAS...hopefully the snow will get going in time for Wednesday's kickoff.

Just finished packing...thermals in, extra handwarmers purchased!!

Travel up to Liverpool after work tomorrow and got Hoylake on the Weds (glad I opted for Hoylake rather than Ganton now). Wont arrive in Dirleton until about dusk Weds night. Hopefully any snow will have shifted by the time we rock up to Muirfield Thursday morning.

Have you booked the hookers?

navyblueshorts wrote:

McLaren wrote:I guess £250 to spend the day with a bunch of fascists is money well spent for some.

What a ridiculously stupid thing to say. Sometimes I do wonder about you Mac .

Enjoy it JAS, I'm sure you will.

That's the Socialist Worker coming out again. Mac would give his left ball to play there but would always be too much of a tightwad to pay for it.

McLaren wrote:Have you booked the hookers?

Why? Have you got any personal recommendations?

Fortunately with the adjustable drivers these days hookers can be helped significantly with their ball flight issues.

I recommend a Titleist 913...

JAS wrote:

barragan wrote:Not looking great for your trip this week JAS...hopefully the snow will get going in time for Wednesday's kickoff.

Just finished packing...thermals in, extra handwarmers purchased!!

Travel up to Liverpool after work tomorrow and got Hoylake on the Weds (glad I opted for Hoylake rather than Ganton now). Wont arrive in Dirleton until about dusk Weds night. Hopefully any snow will have shifted by the time we rock up to Muirfield Thursday morning.

Not looking good - still a good covering of snow in our garden - maybe with a bit of luck you'll be on temps...

Trip done...drenched at Gullane today but will report on NB & Muirfield in the next few days...suffice to say...loved every minute of it

Drenched at Duddingston yesterday...no waterproofs...
Glad the trip was a success.

Right...back at work and gutted that its all over but smiling at the same time as there were so many great moments.

Weds 13th Hoylake, light breeze and broken sunshine, this was just a journey breaker but as journey breakers go it was excellent. Made to feel very welcome and encouraged to take time browsing around the history of the club. Thoroughly enjoyed the course although the greens had been sanded and the sand had been brushed in more on some greens than others. Had to look a bit longingly at some of the further back tees but at about 6700 it was still a very good test. Managed 34 points with a bit of a horrific blob on 17. 4 birdies though which was very enjoyable.
Thurs 14th Muirfield, managed to dodge the weather bullets, woke up at 5.00 like a kid on Xmas morning. The place just oozes class. I didn't find it stuffy although it did feel a bit more formal than Hoylake the day before. The condition of the course was absolutely pristine. How can greens be that good in March after the winter we just had/are still having?? The layout is 18 great holes although no outstanding iconic ones, no weak ones either. Was delighted to shoot 36 points. Only the 1 birdie on the 9th but nothing worse than bogey. 13 greens in reg which was also pleasing. Some of the guys in the group were underwhelmed by the course which surprised me. The lunch was fantastic, glad I insisted that our group did it. Oddly the bar prices are really reasonable, I was expecting a fleecing there but no.

Fri 15th North Berwick West Links... Is it possible to have much more fun on a golf course. Muirfield may have had the class but NB has all the charm. Loved every second of it from the clubhouse welcome, friendly members, witty starter etc. The course? There are holes on North Berwick that evoke memories of others (9th reminiscent of Hogans alley at Carnoustie, 2nd evokes a vision of Pebbles 18th and finally of course the 18th and the 18th at TOC. There are also holes at NB that I'm sure you won't see anything close to anywhere else in the world!! All in all the best day of the trip (unanimous in our group). Especially good for me shooting 40 points (a 3 over gross 74 with 3 x 3 putts). Like Muirfield 13 greens in reg, very pleasing

Sat 16th Gullane 1. Ran out of weather luck and took a wet windy sleety pasting, only 5 of the 12 of us faced it and quite frankly I wished I hadn't. 16 points and a drenching...such a shame as it looked like it could have been a really enjoyable test. Spectacular views from the far end of the course.

Worth mentioning our accommodation too. The Open arms in Dirleton. Clean, comfortable and food way above expectation so excellent vfm. Ideal location for the courses we played as well. So all in all a great trip rounded off by a Sat night on the lash in Edinburgh.

Jeez JAS that's some cracking scoring for a trip (sat excl naturally) 34/36/40.

I've done 29 and 25 points on my own course (never mind open champ ones) and they were off yellow over the last 2 weeks (it's been cold but not overly tough).

Good work fella glad it was a belter and you got 3 decent days on the course out of it

Thanks Roller, that's the first time I've actually played to handicap on a rota course in about 18 attempts (although in saying that given the SSSs on rota courses I've probably had 2 or 3 what would have been buffers). Very well pleased with the ball striking and course management but my putter can consider itself lucky to be still in my bag and not somewhere deep in the Firth of Forth!!!

Jas

Good to hear you enjoyed yourself in east lothian. We may come to blows on a lot of things but increasingly - and the more I play it - I think North Berwick may be my favorite course anywhere in the world.

Some mates of mine were down there yesterday, judging by the pictures the conditions were intolerable.