Golf : Stoke Park, Trent Park, and Hatfield London CC

A friend of a friend here has lived in London for 11 years now... With that he has had the time and financial wherewithal to achieve some notable accomplishments as an American in London - the two most impressive in my mind being season tickets at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea's stadium not too far down the road from our flat) and a membership at Stoke Park. (click both links for satellite maps).

Founded in 1908, it has a fairly storied history - and is most frequently known for being the setting for James Bonds' golf match vs. Goldfinger and Oddjob's decapitation of a statue there (some details can be seen here.)

We drove out on a morning that was supposed to be cool and showery, and caught an unexpectedly pleasant English summer day..



The golf, however was not as spectacular as the setting or weather... Having not played for quite some time my chipping was quite bad (way too strong), and my putting was mediocre... I also chunked two wedges and bladed another (a clever chunk-blade combo occurred on one hole and led to a triple bogey 7...)

result: 80



The next weekend Rachel was off to Cardiff for work -- so I thought it would be a good time to tee it up again -- and did twice with a colleague of mine (same guy that played the 36 holes in Scotland).

No car this time - and a 50 minute tube ride to almost the very eastern end of the Picadilly line to play a public course called Trent Park Golf Centre that we had heard decent things about. It was not that long -- and was in pretty good condition... but what dominated the day was a reggae / rap music festival at the university next door to the course. It was funny the whole way around the course, and when the wind was right we also picked up all of the associated aromas.

this is the first audio golf post - and does not really do it justice (I did make the putt though)



Result: 72 (many missed birdie opportunities as well)

Then - we put the golf shoes back in the outer pocket of our bags and walked out to track down a cab to take us to our next time at Hatfield London Country Club. We were unsuccessful so walked back to the tube station, where there was a cab in the car park (thats British for parking lot). I called the number on the side and asked for a car at Oakwood tube station. The guy on the other side of the call said "we are in Oakwood - where are you, are you standing right outside?" - I turned around, waved, hung up, and walked inside.

It was a 25 minute ride out - and worth it.

There are 36 holes there (a member's 18 and a guest/public 18). No one was around, so we teed off on the member's course. I killed a drive, had a sand wedge for my second, and rolled in the birdie putt just as the ranger drove up...

We then walked all 367 yards back - and then over to our designated 1st tee.

I parred the 1st hole there, and then my golf swing basically left. I have no idea what happened as I was still hitting it very solidly, but no longer straight...

Long story short - I was +5 on the front, then doubled 10 and 11, and leaked oil all around that place (but not in the fairway). I lost all 4 balls in my bag.

result: 85 (booooo) and a blister... we finished in the rain, which I had to walk home in, defeated, at 11:20 pm after the long tube ride back