What 23 Handicap Golf Actually Looks Like | Newbridge Golf Club

What 23 Handicap Golf Actually Looks Like | Newbridge Golf Club

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of Diary of a High Handicapper with me, still your resident high handicapper. Really exciting one for you this week. I’m down in Newbridge Golf Club, which is a lovely parkland here in County Kildair. It’s actually the last episode in our subscriber series. So after this round, we will know who has won that prize of a round with me at the K Club. Today’s subscriber is the only person who can topple Davey from their park, who’s the current leader with 42 points. So I’m not going to waste any more time. I’m going to invite our latest subscriber in and that’s Joe from Newbridge. Joe. Joey. Good to see you again. Nice to meet you. Yeah. How are you keeping? I’m grand. Yep. That’s good. H first and foremost, thanks very much for the invite. No worries. H really appreciate it. Course looks in fantastic condition. Yeah, it’s in it’s in a good good uh condition for considering the conditions recently we’ve had. So yeah, cuz for anyone not from Ireland, we’ve had pretty horrible weather all week. Yeah, exactly. So we’ve been blessed with this here today. First question, what’s the handicap? It’s 16.6. six 16.6. So, the bad news is I don’t think you qualify for the high handicappers union. Okay. You’re just a bit too low now for a high handicapper union. All right. Two questions about the course. Um, what’s your favorite hole and what’s the hardest hole? I would say the hardest hole is probably the tent because it always plays into the wind. It’s a par four. It’s almost the same length as the first hole, which a par five. Okay. So, a five on your day and that is good. My favorite hole, I’d probably have two in that. I’d have the 14th which is a par three. Okay. Or the second hole which is cuz you have to be kind of very accurate off the tea. You have to be landed in the right spot to have a second shot into the hole. Accurate isn’t always my strong point. So that’ll be a fun one. Uh then if you just had to give someone playing the course for the first time a general strategy to get through the round, what would it be? There’s a lot of trees in this course. So staying out of the trees because if you get into the spinnies, you know you’re coming out sideways. Okay. I read actually read on the website that apparently there’s 40,000 trees here and there’s also water firmly in play on 13 holes. So my ball’s usually a magnet for both of those things. So this could be fun. Exactly. Like so like there on the front nine you know there is a lot of trees. The back n is a little bit easier. Okay. Um but there is a little bit more water on the back n as well like so. Okay. Let’s see how we get on. Anyway, look all I have now to say is play well and thanks again. Cheers. Yeah, straight down the middle. Perfect. Take that. Hi, guys. Good start. Just looking to hit a five iron down the middle. Got snagged on the way back. Super. Come on. Stop. Stop. Sit down. A bunk. Into the bunker. Hi, guys. That’s Joe’s ball. Almost chipped in. Fortunately, I just ran off the back into a bunker. Just need to get out here. Yeah. All right. Still running, but giving ourselves a chance. Right. This will be a nice bogey for two to start after a slightly nervous opening hole. It looks a little left to right. So go for one to start. Is that to left? It’s in play though, is it? Grand. She’s struck it well. Left. Oh, lads. Oh, I didn’t catch it at all. My dad’s just taking a sand wedge. Really don’t like this distance. Go, go. Yeah, not bad recovery. Okay, guys. Have this for double to save a scratch. Take that any day. [Music] It’s happening again, Joe. All right, guys. Not a good start. I don’t even know if I can. I think I’m going to have to take an unplayable here. I get one club length, don’t I? Come on. Well, okay. All right, guys. Again, similar story just to save a point. Triple not a good start playing crap. All right, lads have an audience. for a left. All right, lads. I’m all over the place. Really struggling. Very nervous. Need to calm down. Need to slow everything down. Just looking to punch this out here. Yeah, that’s about as well as I could have done from there. Don’t. It’s in the hazard, isn’t it? All right, lads. I actually could see the ball, but uh it was in the hazard, so I’ve uh take my stroke penalty. So, this is for six. Needs to go. All right, guys. Familiar story. This to save a point. Maybe right edge. So unlucky. Thanks. Another scratch. Not bad. Yeah. Yeah, that’s pretty good now, I think, after what’s gone before it. Right, guys? Let’s see if we have any more luck with the hybrid. Did it even come down? Ah, this is not good. Well, that one came down. Right. I’m slowly losing the will to live here. I’m so sorry. That’s left. This is so bad. Um, right. Just going to have to kind of bump it along the round. It is into a little bank. Get up. Oh, just took this thing off a bit too much, but it’s okay. A lot of break in it. It’s not going to have the distance. Yeah, nice strike though. All right, lads. Decent effort. Unfortunately, I’m kind of up against the collar here. Using a 52. Oh, it just didn’t roll out on me. But put that apart. Oh, just right. Disappointing bogey. But look, two points. Thank you. Hi guys. Still about 190 from the front. Just taking a five iron. Looking to get it down there. That’s better. Hopefully. Yeah, I think I found a little field to hopefully get me through the round. Um, let’s just see what we can score now. Hi, guys. Sat down a little bit. Just a little bit too much. But look, we’ve put it apart. Tricky one to read. I think it’s just right to left a little. Oh, it didn’t move at all, but started a well outside the right. All right, five for three. That’s the start of the three-pointers, Joe. Yeah. Yeah. Nice little run on it. Yeah. I should have said guys, I was told left is better than right here. So, right guys, the ball is just buried a little bit too much to feel like I can carry the water. So, we’re going to try a little lay up. Yeah. Hi, lads. Lovely golf hole. Got 123 to the back. That pin is a back pain, isn’t it? 125 almost right guys doing an up and down here. Give myself a chance. Oh, just the start of the three-pointers, Joe. Here we go. Yeah. Oh, you might have a shot. All right, guys. Unfortunately, I’m just a little too far left. There’s water blocking my approach. So, I’m going to have to come out right. Yeah. So, if you remember, beautiful sunshine. This is golf in Ireland. You get the four seasons a lot of times. Sit. Yeah. Right, lads. At least we’re starting to get a few puts at pars. They might be long puts, but puts nonetheless. Steady, steady, steady, steady. I mean, not bad. was aggressive. H disappointing seven for one, but let’s move on. Oh, I can’t see that. Did you Right, lads. I’m blocked out by the trees, so I’m going to have to aim left. Just don’t go bunker. Yeah, pretty good from there, I think. Oh, push it right. Yeah. Okay. Right, lads. The ball is absolutely buried. H would be nice to get up and down. Sit. Just a bit too much left to right. It’s going to be quick as well. Let’s Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Oh my god. Gave it too much respect. Making toe work at this disappointing but we move on. Just can’t hit the ball. I just didn’t catch it cleanly. Just not hitting my putts enough. Nothing is going right for me whatsoever. Bogey. Double bogey for one. Yeah, take that. Oh, lads. I tell I got out way better than that, but still blocked out by a tree. Same again. Just short. Sorry lads. I’m not being a good uh commentator on camera now. Just, you know, very disappointed with how the round is going. Um, not going to lie to you. Pretty much just want to kind of get off the course now. So, see you in the next one, maybe. It’s going to be left too much. I think this is a double to save a scratch. Why can’t I just put like that all the time? All my putts, I should just say, are to save a scratch and then I’ll sink them all. Okay. Okay. [Music] Yeah, we’ll take that one. Not that not that much left to right. Starting to turn now, but great put nice part. Five for three. Am I on or just shy? Yeah, it’s hard to tell with the sun, but might be just on, I think. Came out straight anyway, Joe. That’s a win, right guys? About an inch short of a green in regulation, but nice strike straight at it. H birdie opportunity. I’ll just tap it in. And that’s the first par of the day on the signature hole, Joe. I’m okay there. Am I? Yeah. Take that. Oh, did a might have hung on. I think it’s just gone off. It was a nice I’m happy with those strikes now the last few. Right, lads. We just hung on here. Going to take a little pitching wedge. It’s rolling towards you guys, but there’s a bit of a hill I need to get it over first. Oh, sit, sit, sit. Is that under water? Right, lads. Let’s try that again. Bit more loft this time. 52. Oh, I actually have a 58. Oh well. Yeah, should have done that the first time. Oh well. Oh, five for two. Another bogey. I haven’t hit one like that all day, but there’s not a whole lot I can do here. So, I’m just going to try and punch it out this way. It’s a bit buried. Oh, I mean, that is so soft, but my god. Oh, lads, I don’t think I have the heart for this anymore. This could the exact same thing could happen again here. Okay. Oh, might have to close the channel, lads. Right, lads. We’re still over 200 yards out from the front. Yeah, much better strike. Yeah, decent. Yeah, could do with a chipping, guys. Almost got me wishing think that’s a scratch anyway. I didn’t say that. Left anywhere. Went left. I have absolutely no idea. Right, lads. Found fairway. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong fairway. Not bad. Left, right, uphill. Oh, big brake. Okay. Yeah. H started left. Six for two nonetheless. [Music] Okay. Probably the best shot I’ve hit here today, to be honest. Oh, just died. It’s h quite soft, guys. So, once the ball hits, you don’t get any run on it. So, it’s probably not worth the risk. Just because if you what if you faded too much off it and stuff and it might catch up and into the water. So, you’d have shot if you lay up then you have another like under into it or whatever. Not a sexy shot, lads, but probably the smart one. Yeah, cut it. Well, yeah. Pin high. Probably starting to play a little bit now. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go. What a way to finish a par for three. Oh, play that hole well, Joe. And that par meant we finished the round with a diabolical 105 strokes for just 27 points. My worst round on camera that I can remember. I just didn’t have it today, folks. The 105 technically goes down as a 104 due to a net double on the fifth. But nonetheless, it means a hefty handicap increase of 6 out of 22.4. Disappointing to say the least. Unsurprisingly, that score puts Joe in last place. Although I take full accountability for that performance. But that means we have our winner. Davey from Deer Park is the inaugural subscriber series champion and he will be joining me for a free round of golf on one of Ireland’s most prestigious courses, the K Club. See you there, Davey. Right, Joel. Thanks a million. Sorry for putting you through that now. That must have been an ordeal. No, really enjoyed the round though. Really appreciate the invite. I think I’m cursed around Newbridge, but a lovely course. Really nice. Course is in good condition. I know it’s been the wet and stuff and I was bit w in places but yeah like I think it’s actually holding up quite well actually considering the weather. Yeah. Yeah. I won’t get your opinion on my on how you think I played on my round because you know that is one of my poorest rounds to date. Unfortunately that’s the reality but rallied a little bit towards the end there. Finished with 27 points. That’s I mean that’s yeah I mean I think you were striking your arms well when you got them well and stuff. Yeah. And I think Yeah. Yeah. At the start I was kind of going through a few different swing thoughts. So towards the end then I kind of just focused in on one thing and that got me round. Fortunately, it’s not going to get you to the K club by a long shot. It might be the closest course to the K club, but it’s not getting you there. I think that actually puts you dead last, but I want to I’m not placing any blame on Joe whatsoever. Joe was a lovely companion, great company, played really well. What did you have yourself? 36. 36 on the back n you had 20. 20. It was really great golf. I’ll show some of Joe’s shots as well with your permission, of course. No problem. Only the good ones, Joe. Only the good ones. There wasn’t too many bad ones anyway, guys. I assure you. Uh, but no, look, I won’t prolong it any more. I’ said that was a tough watch for a lot of people. We will be back, guys. But Joe, thanks again. I really appreciate it. Pleasure. Thank you very much. Cheers, man.

This is the 6th and final episode in our Subscriber Series Challenge, where our resident High Handicapper travels to the beautiful Newbridge Golf Club, a superb parkland golf course located in County Kildare, Ireland.

This week we were invited down by Joe, a Newbridge member, to see if he can help us beat 42 Stableford Points and topple Davie from @deerparkgolf-howth9690 who currently sits atop our leaderboard.

Joe is the last person who can beat Davie and win that illustrious prize of a free round of golf with me at the K Club, one of the most prestigious golf courses in Ireland which most famously hosted the Ryder Cup back back in 2006 and also hosted this years Irish Open, won by Rory McIlroy

With 40,000 trees and water in play on 13 holes, this will be a true test for a high handicap golfer, with just 23 shots today.

Tune in to see how we got on

#golf #golfhandicap #golfswing #highhandicapgolfer #golfrules #golflife #beginnergolftips #golflessons

Intro (0:00)
Front Nine (2:20)
Back Nine (14:38)
Outro (25:59)