Yesterday was a very odd day. I got my A List letter and learnt that I had a golf handicap of 13. Now for those of you who know nothing about golf and care even less, please look away now.I'm not a bad golfer, but I'm certainly not a good one. And I'm definitely not a 13 handicapper. I handed in three cards with scores of 94, 98 and 102. The 102 card included a blowout 12 on one hole. Apparently they disregard blowout-holes when calculating your handicap and because I parred quite a few they calculated me at 13.
This is despite the fact that a friend of mine who plays with me has a handicap of 20 and beats me nine times out of ten. So being given this handicap probably means I'll never win a game of golf again. However, when I played 9 holes yesterday I scored 15 points in Stableford, which means I roughly played to my handicap. What a frustrating game golf can be. But that's why I love it.
When I was a candidate I didn't have time to play and only started playing again in May this year. I had forgotten what a wonderful game it is and how much I enjoy it. Whatever I do in the future work-wise or politically, I do know one thing for sure. I'm going to make time for golf. So there! Graphic hat-tip to Theo Spark
Well done Iain.Highly deserved for innovation and promotion of public expression.
ReplyDeleteYou should complain to the pro-shop Iain. There is a NO WAY, that three cards like that should give you a handicap of 13. MY bet is they think you're trying to be a bandit and give in crap cards deliberately. Clearly they think you're an untrustworthy bugger.
ReplyDeleteAt the very worst on those cards you're a 26 and at the best you're an 18 I'd say. Hitting to your handicap on Stableford over 9 holes doesn't mean much iehter, could you have kep the consistency up for another 9?
I'm playing golf for the first time in months on Sunday. I'm going to the course where I got a hole in a one. as well, a short 128 yard par 3. Sadly I've never managed to hit a ball quite that well ever again.
Sorry I have been a bit busy this week.
ReplyDeleteIs Iain on the A-List then? Or has that information not been shared with the plebs outside Dave's happy clappy club. When you say you got a letter...was it a "Yes you are in" or "Sorry try again"?
Congrats on the A-listing, but give up on the golf. Anyone with a life can get all the fresh air and frustration they need without resorting to such artificial means. B^)
ReplyDeleteMichael Oakeshott. You see that button that says SCROLL DOWN. Use it.
ReplyDeleteSome people want a handicap that enables them to win games. Others want one that helps them to sound good in the pub.
ReplyDeleteSomeone decided you are one of the latter - clearly would make a good politician. No wonder you're now pitching on the A List.
Iain, now pack it in. Just playing golf doesn't necessarily mean you will end up like on those of those eejits on the Volkswagen advert a few years ago [it's all in the hips!]. But, son, why risk it ?
ReplyDeleteConcerned of Bristol
Iain Dale said:
ReplyDelete"Whatever I do in the future work-wise or politically, I do know one thing for sure. I'm going to make time for golf."
Sounds like you already got it sussed that there's working for a living on the one hand and being a politician on the other!
That fella in the picture with the famous old claret jug - couldn't possibly be Sam Torrance's dad could it?
ReplyDeleteHave you got married without telling us!?! That's a turn up for the books....
ReplyDeleteRussell, not quite sure what you mean by that. But that's probably just as well.
ReplyDeleteYour picture with the Claret jug (and I know it's not really you!) shows you wearing a wedding ring....
ReplyDeleteCouncil of National Golf Unions administer handicaps. The system is flawed particularly in the subsequent adjustment to handicaps. Your club took your 94 and ignored the other scorecards. They then adjusted each hole's score allowing a max of 2 over and then applied a factor to further reduce the resultant score. Your handicap can only be adjusted for cards submitted in qualifying competitions. Tedious and unrepresentattive of your weekly round. Sorry to be a pedant on this. In US SA and Austr you submit a card for every round. Actually you input your score into computer and you have a very current and fair h,cap.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing day you had. Iain Dale MP and 13 H'Cap golfer sounds good. May both be true v soon.
Have better things to do sorry. Well all your sucking up to Rickett and Dave finally paid off. I don't care who he puts on the A-list, the whole idea is bollox and I pray for the end of the Dave interregnum.
ReplyDeleteImagine this won't get printed as it contains criticism of the Boy King and the ridiculous Rickett.
Andrew Woodman said...
ReplyDelete"Something to add to the CV. I've never really graduated from ptich and putt. Zero co-ordination."
Shame... but a little advice for you - try adding Derby County Supporter to your own CV. In my experience it earns the sympathy vote, unless of course you are applying for a job up the A52!
Iain as a Hammer u may be interested to know that at my local Top Golf (Abridge Rd) Hammer legend John Moncur is always on the leaderboard of best daily performances
ReplyDeleteIt's a foreign language to me, just like cricket. But yes, you are right, you should make more time for R&R.
ReplyDeleteMichael, it was easy to miss Iain's news about the A-list, he didn't do a great job about publicising it, it was all vey low key, he obviously needs a press officer!
Well I reckon taxpayers pay MP's enough to employ their own Press Officers. The Tories are in need of some spin, and any press offcier who can spin no policies effectively deserves their money. Local associations must be sick watching this pantomime.
ReplyDeleteEllee Seymour said...
ReplyDelete... he didn't do a great job about publicising it, it was all vey low key, he obviously needs a press officer
I'm sure you're right Ellee, after all Iain's only on TV/Radio about 47 times a week currently!