My prize report to represent TT in Portugal

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By Russell Y

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  • 16 Replies
  1. I thought that I would let all the other TT members know what an amazing experience I had by winning the competition to play the Staysure Amateur Golf Tour at Vale de Lobo. I enter pretty much all of competitions on TT that I can attend, and was delighted just after my 40th birthday to get the email from Luke and Matt to say I had won. Luckily I got the green light from my wife to attend, but it proved more difficult getting one of my friends to join me through work or family commitments. In the end, Iain one of my old cricketing buddies and a good golfer playing off 10 agreed to come.

    We left Luton Airport not really knowing what to expect from the tour, but by the end we both agreed we would defiantly attend future events, even if we were not lucky enough to win our spaces again!!!

    Each day was cold in the early morning but by 10:00 it was shorts and polo shirt weather. The 4 day event was split over playing the Royal and the Ocean courses at Vale De Lobo with first two days playing with your partner in an individual stableford competition and then playing based on position/score in the tournament. This was a great opportunity to meet other golfers and everyone could have not been more friendly. Each day you could chose to play of the white or yellow tees with additional shots for those playing off the whites. Historically I think they have played all events of the whites but on some courses this was prohibitive to some of the higher handicapped golfers so the new format went down well.

    Having not played much up to the event, it proved pretty tricky to get used to the very fast greens on day 1, and having never played the Ocean course which is a pretty tactical course, some of my course management left a lot to be desired but ended with 29 points. Day 2 we were again drawn on the Ocean course and as I got used to the course my score improved to 31. With the greens being firm and fast you really had to take the spin into consideration with wedge play. My SM7 raw wedges are pretty new and with placing on the closely mown areas I was spinning the ball of the green on occasion. Day 3 and 4 we were on the Royal course and the same course management issues probably cost me on numerous occasions. I should have had more confidence in my TS3 driver rather than plotting my way around as each time you were on the greens 3 and 4 putts was always a concern. Day 3 saw Iain win our side of the draw with 37 points which shows you how tough it was for what was a predominately lower handicap entry list. Day 4 ended on the Royal which in the end I preferred even though I did not score as well on. I never seem to play as well when you are on buggies as sometimes you are too quick to your ball and my back definitely seized up at the end of each day (excuses excuses!!!). In the end I ended 45th out of 86 and Iain was 35th.

    The whole thing ended in the Spikes bar with the prize giving and great thanks to all the organisers and greenstaff for the quality of the course and professional way it was organised.

    So in the end I want to thank all at Team Titleist for letting me have the opportunity to play and hope if I attend again next year that I can spend some more time on the golf course before to be more game ready.

    I have already got the shot of me on the Par 3, 240 yd 16th on the Royal hitting my 818 H2 as my screen saver, to remind me when I look out of the window at the snow thinking this was just a few weeks ago. I made a par by the way.

    Here is to all the TT competitions coming in 2019, which I encourage you all to enter and hopefully attending the UK Invitational wherever it may be, and then maybe the US Invitational one day.

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  2. NMortimer

    NMortimer
    Hertfordshire, UK

    Thanks for write up, pictures look fantastic. Very jealous !
  3. El bandito

    El bandito
    Fife Bonny Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Well done and great write up buddy.
    Thanks for sharing with us.
  4. I agree great write up and insight to your golfing experience.

    Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

  5. Great write up and the photos look stunning
  6. Stuart M

    Stuart M
    Dundee

    Nice one, enjoyed that. Interesting what you say about how you play when using a buggy, I feel exactly the same when I used one last season, feels like you're under pressure to play your shot while the other guy is sitting waiting on you in the cart.
  7. Declan R

    Declan R
    Wexford Rep Of Ireland

    Well done....sounds like a fab time was had.
  8. Tosh.

    Tosh.
    Dundee,Scotland.

    Well done looks great...........unlike the shorts and long socks combo
  9. Some fantastic photos there? Really hoping to get away this year and play somewhere new
  10. James Harris

    James Harris
    Brentwood, Essex

    Great write up. I haven't played in Portugal for years but love those courses.
  11. It sounded like you had great time and the pictures look fantastic
  12. Gaaary

    Gaaary
    Blyth, Northumberland

    Congrats on the tournament, great courses, played there a few year back and you need to be on your game.
    Great experience for yous

    Gaary
  13. Tim U

    Tim U
    Uk

    Played there the week before in the Titleist matchplay finals we struggled all week need to improve to score around there found any practice around home range or playing was a bit pointless be interested to gauge how to improve as weather and course change was something we didn’t take into consideration.Fitness wasn’t a problem as they aren’t hard walking times weren’t quick but weather compensated for that’s! Because it was a big competition to us we were a bit disappointed but I know we had to play well to get there and no one wins every time as the winners prove two years ago played((s—-t) always a couple of bandits you will say but as a high level coach at rugby happy to get opinions or help.
  14. Declan F

    Declan F
    Wexford, Ireland

    Wow what a trip, great photos.
  15. ian e

    ian e
    Liversedge,

    What a place and a great experience a fantastic belated Christmas present
  16. SAnderson

    SAnderson
    Edinburgh

    Great write up about your experience. I made it to the regional finals but missed out on top spot by 2 shots.
    I'll definitely be trying again this year
  17. Rob H

    Rob H
    Manchester

    Great write up and nice photos too.

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