The Springs Golf Club – Off the beaten track episode 25
for this week I in Oxfordshire and we’ll be staying for a few nights at a golf course and spa resort that I’ve heard a lot of good things about [Music] [Music] before we go any further the first thing we got to talk about is the sun is almost shining but it’s most positively not raining right so before I take on what looks an interesting fourth hole I’m going to talk about the first three which interesting enough I have shot level par so I think we started off with a par four the then you’re going to see a par three and then you’re going to see a par five I think I’ve had one bad shot but I’ve been playing very much Within Myself and it’s important because I want to talk to you about amongst other things the World handicap system and I’m really worried about what it’s just done to my own handicap but more importantly I want to know what you all think of it cuz what I’m gathering nobody’s that Keen right let’s see if we can get one going down here so the manage just leaving my Fairway is my tar Target line with a bit of left to right my course management has been pretty decent in recent weeks and one of the reasons I think I’ve been doing reasonably well come back Paul yeah just shaping back now that’s pretty damn good to be fair [Music] got my sky CAD out to see what uh I picked driver as you normally do anything that uh isn’t a par three go straight for driver but I’m looking at two big bunkers on the right and in terms of some course management I need 210 to those bunkers and the ho only place 300 so I think logically and I want to talk about course management and getting your handicapped down and things like that in this video so I’m going to switch up to a forward and uh if I can get something down there with this I should only leave a fairly short iron in so I know I can pretty much drill at those bunkers and I can’t really I can’t reach that should be good you know I didn’t get it perfect but yeah I think that’s well short of everything with him and uh shouldn’t leave too much in good decision and my iron shot was also well short of the green course management at its finest day as however this series is possible due to the support from our partners at pxg Big thanks to them and also for all of you who continue to tune in every Monday night [Music] we got our whole eight we’re doing okay A bit of uh Scrappy stuff but I’ll talk about the scorecard in a bit cuz that’s Mega important as well uh with this whole 180 into the breeze to say the least so it’s only 180 yards we’re going to play Four W and the reason I’m doing that is because for me all the trouble mainly being water on the left is shter the green so I’m happy if I can get this one going slightly long if anything so how cute can we be I’m actually going to go in off the left as well which is a bit of a brave one oh wow and that’s a shot that’s a shot right just sit down now stay oh I don’t know whether it’s gone into the bunker on the right the flag it was quite a big high uh fade which is what the intended shot was and I can’t quite work out if it’s gone into the bunker or if we’ve just stayed on The Fringe but either way I’m dry well the good news is we stayed above ground but uh it’s a real awkward one just over the little knob here I think maybe before I play this one I think the springs is an incredibly good playing Stay venue and uh just have a little look around at this place and then come back and we’ll see if we can make well I think if I can get up and down I’d be happy the springs is one of the best PL stay venues I’ve visited first of all they have multiple options for accommodation several options to stay in lodges from one bedroom to four bedroomed each is a mix of modern styling comfort and luxury if you prefer a hotel room then you can choose that option as well and as you can see they are also super luxurious the hotel building is where you’ll find find the 1893 Spa facility the perfect bit of post round relaxation or if you fancy a bit of pampering every aspect of the spring Spar and golf resort ooes a bit of quality and I can’t tell you just how good this setup is right this is a delicate one sit down you know what I thought I played that really really well it’s rolled on a little bit and I certainly need the putter just left myself a little uh little bit further than one but the Chip Shop was one of them ones where you don’t want to get too cute and uh leave it in the long stuff still so should be straightforward nice and bold positive I mean by bold oh no I keep leaving the putter blade just a little bit open and it seems to be when I miss I leak it just a tad out to that right hand side anyway that’s a bogey unfortunately I think I deserved a par there there was no such thing as deserving a par birdie on the previous hole and I want to talk about my scorecard right so before I get on to my ninth hole I just want to let you to let me know in the comment section down below what are your opinions of the W8 s the World handicap system what are your thoughts on it right now before I give you mine and how it has impacted on my own handicap in the last couple of weeks in an incredible way I’m blown away as to what I’m going to tell you I’m playing off right now but before we get to that what are your thoughts on it we’ll use someone else’s TEEG I think there that’ll do nicely uh it seems to me like the par 3es might be a bit of a a feature cuz this is uh playing 160 from these yellas can go a bit further back as well this one but uh yeah nice golf the water really shouldn’t come into play at least I hope I don’t eat me words 160 down Breeze this time I’m playing 7 iron see if I can keep the score going okay that is it’s just a bit left of flag with a real crisp strike sit oh yeah um happy again with that ball flight relatively neutral didn’t do a great deal at all stayed left of the flag all uh throughout it ball flight and I think that’s pretty much come up P ey [Music] [Music] the golf course isn’t too demanding Fairways are plenty wide enough and the roof isn’t too heavy if you do go astray it’s a type of place where all levels of golfer can have some fun there are a few holes that throw in a few water hazards which add a little excitement and drama and the condition of the golf course was superb and seems to me a great venue for society days and groups stay in plays [Music] [Music] right the whs system and how it is massively impacted on my handicap very brief explanation I was 8.6 the last time I was a member of a golf club I haven’t played in official conso maybe two years but I carried over that handicap and I played in two Club competitions and they were only 12 hole comps they were a midweek rollup they were stable for comps I didn’t break par on either occasion I scored 22 points and obviously 24 points would have been par what you’ve got to guess before we go any further is having put those two cards in on this new system what did my handicap go from so from 8.6 what is my current handicap I’ve got a chance of uh salvaging a par on what is stroke one and it’s without doubt stroke one turn in no well it was a misread I think I’ll take a five after the t- shot which was a little bit pulled left I had to hook one around the trees and uh well we finish at a bogey on stroke one so as ever it’s FKS with the week Andy or Tracy in the comments down below [Music] right before I get on to what is another great risk or reward Al the Springs the 17th we’re getting near the end the round and uh this whhs system I went from 8.6 and I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that I then went down to 5.3 is my new handicap after playing two 12 hole rounds off the yellers I haven’t even played 18 H at the club yet but for some reason I have been deducted 3.3 shots I mean I’m going to do a a bigger video when I talk about this was at the club that Lewis is the pro like I said I’ve just joined I just wanted to get back into playing competitive golf again and having not been able to shoot par over 12 houres I’ve been deducted 3.3 shots and I find it absolutely staggering and of all the tales I’ve listened to since all I keep hearing is how people particularly the lower end of the Spectrum in terms of handicap seem to be getting punished more than that higher I don’t know you tell me I’ve been out of this game for too long but uh the certain seems a lot of golfers that aren’t happy and there’s a lot of repercussions because straight away I’m thinking I’ve got another roll up coming Thursday I can’t win playing off eight I certainly ain’t going to win playing off five or at least I don’t think I will and that means am I reluctant now to put money in the pot so there’s a lot of things for a deeper discussion but right now my new handicap is 5.3 and at this stage stood on the 17th I think I’m seven or eight over uh with a couple to go anyway let’s get this one cracking as you can see Par Four 240 yards on the flight to carry to the green might appeal to some big hitters it wouldn’t to me on a good day and it certainly won’t With The Wind in so I’m going for something about 180 on the dog leg and leave myself a flick with a wedge it’s that simple he that’s the plan but it looks a stunning golf hole with the kind of sleepers all uh bordering the green there and water in front that should be spot on yeah we’ve probably got a fair bit still in it’s playing definitely into a strong wind but we’re where I intended and we’ll see if that takes a bit of the angle out but I think we’ve still got to go pretty much over that water well I wasn’t brave enough to go for the back of the green and uh in doing so I’ve left myself on the wrong l level bit more bit more oh right on line haven’t quite got the pace today and then it’s these ones that I’ve kind of left open so let’s see if we can finish off this would be a nice par oh it’s the same again it’s the same missing to the right oh that’s frustrating very frustrating what I got to say is I mean the um obviously the idea is with this show is to off the Beaten Track and for me this was definitely off the Beaten Track it’s not an area I know particularly well um and it’s been absolutely stunning and we took a drive out to Henley on temps earlier today and just have a little look around this place because it’s absolutely gorgeous [Music] henon TS is well as you might expect from the name located on the banks of the river temps an upmarket town which is just 37 Mi west of London it’s filled with restaurants coffee bars and some stunning architecture Henley was a 20-minute drive from the springs and 20 minutes in the opposite direction is the wonderful city of Oxford and we took the short drive the following morning to visit what is possibly my favorite city in the UK it is simply [Music] stunning I could spend hours walking through the University Street and admiring the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings the detail in the architecture is quite hard to [Music] comprehend to have such a fine City so close to the springs all makes it all the more appealing for golf [Music] breaks now hel on TS was gorgeous as you can see and we’re going to go into the clubhouse later on tonight for something to eat what I will uh applaud um the springs on is their price on the menu because normally com to a clubhouse especially on a resort type of course which had class this as and well without putting it uh too bluntly you get ripped off and it’s far from that it’s really realistic and the fact that we’re sort of down south I’m paying sort of uh well prices that I was associate with up north to be quite honest with you and uh I wasn’t expecting it so fair news and and uh where am I supposed to go here by the way on 18 I can all I can see is trees and they’re right in front of me I’m really confused but I’m going to go I’m going to go left I think left and try and get one to C back I’ve gone too tight and probably at the trees oh oh I got look I went through the tops of them and uh yeah they say trees are 90% air don’t they right for the record um on this whs I finished a shot had a a bad finish we had a double bogey on the back which is Rarity and that last all was a bit weird anyway I bogied it so I was back in 43 out in 39 that means a grow of 82 minus 5 my new handicap cap leaves a net of 77 so in all of those three rounds got nowhere near playing to five and I’m a little bit bewildered but anyway on a positive note just how good is the springs
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25 Comments
I’ve been using the WHS system for 18 months now. It was a bit tough at the start but as the number of cards entered went up it became a much more accurate reflection. I have no real issues with it now and am much happier to take handicaps through this system than the old 3 cards a season system that was a bandits charter. Love the content.
WHS is fine gives a true reflection of your current game, but only if you're playing regularly and only 18 hole scores should count. As you put more 18 hole scores in it will adjust accordingly.
Andy C, great video.
Andy C is my favorite photo. I have never had a handicap before but have had one for the past few years. I think it is pretty fair. I know a lot of guys who still game the system. I keep wanting to get it as low as possible, but still hover around 5.5. If I play a few good rounds it drops, but it rises to that level eventually. It is something for me to gauge my progress.
As far as i understand the WHS is supposed to be a guide as your current form, but recently it seems the slope rating of our course changed over night. Playing off 21.1 I got 22 shots on our couse then all of a sudden and still playing off 21.1 I now only get 19 shots no explanation as to why
I miss having a buffer zone. WHS counts every round. It doesn’t feel right when you can have a good round on the Sunday and wake up to find your hci has gone up because a better differential has dropped out of the 20. I know that in 4 and 5 rounds time I will lose my lowest two differentials and my hci will go up significantly. This all adds to the pressure I feel to perform well in the next 4 rounds. For me it has taken a lot of the fun out of golf. My home club is small and doesn’t have sections so lower hc players have next to no chance of winning competitions.
I got cut by 9 after winning a Stableford with 41 points, I came a distant last in the next one 😂 It's settled down now I have more than 20 cards in.
The whole WHS system appears to be both flawed and inadequate Andy, the system relies on too many variables, you can enter a score over 9 holes also BB comps also qualify which is a farce. Aggregate scoring has ruined my particular enjoyment of competition golf and took away my competitive spirit. I just don't feel that its a level playing field anymore The handicap system started to fail when they done away with Rule 19 many years ago. Now what you find is competition scores or open days are dominated by ridiculous scores often in the high 40's. Record scores in medals are now being recorded we had a net 53 at my course only two weeks ago. My views on this new system is that it is a money maker for someone. WHS will drive away people from the game not bring more people in. An old friend of mine used to say a new to game player " two arms, two legs and head" starts with a handicap of 18 a shot a hole that's enough. If they need more then they have to earn them. Mark
I feel like I understand the system a bit more, it does hold an index longer if form is poor but it is pretty much there in terms of my own golf. Had a bad season last year and added 4 shots. Currently been playing to that standard.
Only thing that is less clear is playing conditions and I think the idea is great but it depends on the club, last year we had some great morning but then storms in the afternoon but no compensation.
Put more scores in, maybe you’ll start to understand the system.
Crazy getting such a chop for a 12 hole comp. WHS is bonkers.
WHS is good when you have enough cards in, Andy c is my favorite snap, oh and by the way, can I play you now at match play before you get your real handicap, that would be great ta.
The entertainment value in your podcasts seems to be you eating or complaining about something, aren’t golf companies sending you equipment anymore?
Rubbish. I’m not a 4. I’m a 6 “if” that and if competition I can handle that 6. If a 4, I’m screwed. It needs to be scrapped and rethought. Like golf, admit faults and correct.
They won’t. Why? Same as golf. Ego.
Tracy d
In the current WHS if you have one good round you then get penalised
All of your productions are beautiful
Things are simple. For wahtever reason, you haven't got your old scores transferred. So being treated like a newbie, and got 2 points less for your each of your first 3 rounds and 1 extra point for an exceptional score. The system is treating you like a person new to the game – but this is your clubs fault of not getting your old scores in the system.
Its all set for high handicap players or getting people to start playing. If your mid-low club player you dont stand much chance in comps in my view. Iam back playing was 15 but after a few years break i am now of 24!! Bandit oh yes
Hi Andy, you need to get 20 cards submitted before your handicap evens out. Designed to favour existing WHS’s until you get your own accurate HCI (in the same way new club members aren’t allowed to win their first few comps. I went from 29 at first, down to 19, then evened out at 23. Also mate you need to go back to the Mezz.1😉 love the videos and the OTBT series 👏🏼 👏🏼
As one who really struggled the old system we had before I love WHS. Before I had issues with a good round barely knocked on down the handicap. I could play 6 rounds, each round lowering my handicap by 0.5-0.8….and since I played like 4 rounds a year back then since starting as a junior (anyone remember 36+ struggle as a beginer) ….it would take me 5-6 YEARS to reach the handicap I have today, 26hcp. When I became 20 I did not play for a few years and WHS got introduced here. Introduction of WHS and my HCP got lowered from 34….to 24…from the last 2 rounds before WHS.
Since then when it got introduced 4 years ago here i've played 5-6 rounds and…most have been below average at around 30-33 hcp rounds, so increased my handicap a bit by the index bonus getting removed with every round.
But that good two rounds before will keep with my average until round 21 and I will eventurally get more good rounds to help the average. Now It does not add "help" anymore so I just have to keep have a few decent average rounds ever 2-3 rounds and the hcp will stay stable. If I go 5 rounds dry and then get 2 good in a row then it may jump around a bit but as long as I know that it is my good rounds that matters then the bad rounds don't feel as crappy.
Worst feeling in the old system here when I had a dreadfull round in a junior club competition 10 yeras ago in rain and mud. Got like 19 points in a 18 hole round….lost 3hcp….that round will not matter in a world with WHS.
Also the adjustement after the day also helps sometimes. Last year I only played twice on the course, one round was a bit bad with rock hard ground close to the greens hampering my otherwise decent shortgame. But after the day I got that round I basically got a free shot because the average of the day was worse for all players, so i wasn't alone and was punished less for it.
System can probably be improoved, I think they added better calculations for 9 hole rounds this or last year to not punish people who only play 9 holes.
As a self confessed bandit WHS has been great. Just put in a load of general play cards in the low 90s high 80s and then win the club championship with a couple of 82s playing of a hcap between 16 to 18. You do need to move club every time you win though as members get a bit suspicious.
Come on Andy. The problem is of your own making, playing a lot of golf but not submitting cards. Find the WHS easy to use and the basis on which it functions is clear (if any uncertainty, plenty of help videos and articles available). Clearly when only a few cards have been submitted the handicap can oscillate quite dramatically. However, once a number have been carded, especially once 20 + have been put in, things settle down and it reflects better ones playing capability. I see some low handicap players complaining about high handicappers beating them. There are two principal points to take from this – 1) if the high handicappers have not submitted a reasonable number of cards encourge them/get the club to enforce submission of numbers of cards and 2) the whole point of the handicap system is to to achieve as fair and even a playing ground for all so that a 4 can beat a scratch or a 16 can beat a 3 or 33 or…………..in other words, so all can play together. Alternative might be for all to play off scratch but suspect there might be few takers. Am sure Andy your handicap will be more representative once you have handed in sufficient numbers and you will then realise the principal part to the problem was your failure to card sufficiently often in the recent past
I may not be representative of the majority. The WHS or the past handicap system, to me, are both not important. Yes, I compete in comps. Sometimes I even win, but not often, and my handicap certainly plays a part. The thing is, I'm concerned with getting under Par. I'm not there yet. Handicap doesn't matter, except for scoring in a comp. I don't care about winning or competing, apart from competing against myself. So for me it just doesn't matter a rats tail what the system is.
If you want to win and if that's your goal, You could always sign up for and play in other course comps, where you will certainly have no home course knowledge or advantage on the greens. You will then submit terrible scores and your handicap will grow quite a bit. Then keep practicing on your home course and play a competition at home where you will certainly have a large handicap to help you win. If that's what you want.