Drove back from Scotland yesterday, bit earlier than planned but think my plan was bad
I realised mid-week that I was kinda dreading the drive back, no stops planned so ~375 miles and ~7.5-8 hours and had planned to do that on Sunday. Issue being that would leave me getting back late afternoon Sunday probably knackered and I didn't want to then go straight back to work Monday. So changed the plan to come back Saturday, but then the weather forecast was decidedly meh for Friday so I thought sod it I'll head back on Friday, in time for poker night
Long drive though, ended up stopping briefly in Gretna Green before driving the next ~6 hours back home without stopping, oof. But, put my bucket seat in the MX-5 and I was surprisingly fine!
Anyway, to the golf!
So 8 days, 8 rounds, 5 were NCG comps and 3 were solo rounds, thought I'd put a brief note for each cause why not:
Wallasey - Home of Stableford! Can see why with the 2nd being a ~450 yard par 4 into the wind... Nice course, fast greens, absolutely stunning 'presentation', the little bits like the mown paths between green to tee, the bunker rivetting, the flags, the logo in the hole cups, tiny things that just elevated it as 'an experience' imo
Caldy - Had only really heard of it via a Peter Finch quest for the open video, nice little course and ended up being my best round points wise for the holiday at 38 points, also sealed my place in the NCG Grand Final (it kinda was already in there but that got my 6th place and a bunch o' points for the order of merit)
Seascale - Solo round, really nice course, bit of everything with some nice views and then some views of Sellafield and warning signs which are something at least, windy and basic clubhouse but decent. Good food after the round as well. Would happily go back.
Girvan - Finally in Scotland, another solo round, felt the course was in decent condition, especially for the price, but I have a thing about long par 3's, and Girvan has a bunch of long par 3's, so me and Girvan will never get along
Kilmarnock Barassie - First of the 3 day NCG comps, played the same 3 courses last year as well so 'knew' the course. Played solidly I'd say, nothing spectacular, but solid. One thing was the previous year I think I went in with 'expectations' for the course and came out unfulfilled, this year I think I got a better impression of the course and it was good really, glad I went back and saw it with a bit less of a filter.
Dundonald Links - Similar to Barassie in terms of impression/revisiting it as well. Wind though was brutal, felt like 35-40mph gusts and was just hard work.
Prestwick St. Nicholas - Last year I came away feeling positive about this course and I think that sticks, I like it, maybe not to the extend I'd rate it above the other two, they're all good courses, but I do still like it. Except the last hole. Sod that. Again really windy, again really tough, made a bunch of my points on the back 8 or so that were downwind tbh.
Belleisle - Decided to visit
@booyaka's home course to see what's up
Pretty different to all the others which were links to some extent or other as I'd class it as a parklands course but it's a lovely park/area, really pretty environment to spend a few hours playing golf. I felt the front 9 was distinctly easier than the back 9, but maybe I just started playing worse
Overall a really good trip, very little rain really with just 1 hole at Caldy and Seascale and the first ~10-11 of Girvan but I had waterproofs so it was fine, everything else was dry and sunny with maybe a touch too much wind for me.
In general I played decently I'd say, Caldy was 38 points, I think Belleisle was 36, rest around the 30 mark give or take which seems 'ok', never really hooked up that 'everything clicks for a bit' round but some good golf.
Several of the comp rounds counted and my handicap dipped as low as 15.7 after Kilmarnock Barassie but now back up to 16.2. Still lowest it's ever been.
Biggest issue felt like the wind, I have zero ability to control my ball flight/hit a knockdown shot and it showed! Playing Dundonald and Prestwick St. Nicholas especially, both times playing with people who were consistently hitting low penetrating shots and mine were balloooning up and going nowhere. Last hole at Prestwick St. Nicholas one guy hit a 5 iron, admitting he wasn't getting there but basically playing it as a par 4. I hit 2 iron basically doing the same. His 5 iron was marginally ahead of my 2 iron, and I don't think there was a big difference in swing speed or anything, his just launched lower and didn't get as badly hit by the wind. Something to work on.
The NCG grand final is at Northamptonshire County Golf Club on the 14th, should be fun, winner gets a TaylorMade fitting at The Grove plus a nights stay and a round of golf, just need to have that day where everything clicks
At which point I was six over through twelve, despite two horrible three putts on the front nine, and on a roll (-1 for the last six holes). Sadly the only way from there was downhill and I duly obliged 
. Two more terrible three putts contributed to coming back in 44 for 87 total and 32pts in the monthly stableford.
Regulation par at the 3rd and then a great up and down at the next after pulling my tee shot long and left to leave myself short sided. Gross level at this point for myself and with my partner making 3-3 we were on 13pts after four holes. Made a mess of the next after hitting a good drive, partner bailed us out with points. Both of us par'd the 6th for 5 more points. A solid close to the front nine had us on 25pts at the halfway stage.
(playing off 6). We ended up 2nd with an M&S gift card as our reward.
