| 19 October 2009 |
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 comments: 32
In the spirit of Compleat Golfer’s 20-year anniversary, the team came up with a list of 20 things that all golfers should aspire to do before they die. You’d expect the Mole to have cracked all 20, right? But he’s embarrassed to say he only made 15! How do you score?
1. Play at the home of golf, St Andrews
Half point for: playing anywhere in Scotland
2. Attend a Major
Half a point for: Attending the Nedbank Golf Challenge and actually walking the course – as opposed to hiding in the hospitality tents.
3. Go on a golf tour (Not a weekend at your holiday house – an actual golfing trip with your mates.)
4. Book a golf video lesson – really simple, but one of the most worthwhile experiences for an aspiring golfer
5. Crack a pro-am invite, see a pro in action, get some inside info and see how incredibly good these guys really are
6. See Tiger Woods live in action
7. Watch the Ryder Cup live
Half point for: watching The Presidents Cup live
8. Play the Garden Route
9. Play Ballybunion
Half point for: playing an Irish links
10. Buy a new set of irons and feel like a kid with a new toy
11. Get your clubs custom fitted to suit your swing
12. Have one standing up watching the sunset at Humewood
Half point for: enjoying a pint at Durban Country Club’s bar
13. Watch Caddyshack
14. Read A Good Walk Spoiled
15. Get a hole-in-one
Half point for: an albatross
16. Play a medal round at The Links at Fancourt – from the tips!
Half point for: just playing The Links
17. Visit the Golf Hall of Fame in Florida
Half point for: visiting the Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame at Oubaai due to open in December this year
18. Commit to the game – we’re talking daily trips to the range, lessons with a pro and serious time on the course
19. Play a round of golf with an SA cricket or rugby player at a corporate day
20. Play in your club championship – it’s the closest you’ll probably come to competing in a pro golf tournament.
Get hold of the latest Compleat Golfer – our birthday issue – to see why you have to tick off every item on the list and to find out whether anyone on the team made a full 20!
Reader comments: (32)
•....on the 18th
Most recently Zimbali and Sabi River Bungalows quite some time ago.
posted by: Cool on 2009/10/22
•Mr/s Cool
OK Cool, having come this far you're going to need to take one step further - for your own credibility. I have to know, which course was it at?
posted by: The Mole on 2009/10/22
•...on the 18th green
Nice list. 14 out of 20.I do however think that sex on the 18th green at an established golf club should be included (preferably with a member of the opposite sex). That would make my score tie that of the mole's.
posted by: Cool on 2009/10/21
•19 out of 20
Ok, I have never been to the Ryder Cup or Prez Cup. Played K-Club the year before, though. Got the hole-in-one and the albatross and have not been to the big HOF...just the little one - 19 out of 20!
posted by: Santa on 2009/10/21
•albatross
ithink these should count at least five as you know i have had five
posted by: dad on 2009/10/20
•Scotland
I had the pleasure of playing in Tartanday challange on 5 championship courses last being The Old course St Andrews a must on your do to list
posted by: Trevor on 2009/10/20
•What about SA soccer player
I am a high handicaper on this one. Managed only 8. Me thinks the mole should include soccer players for number 18. Imagine playing with Lucas Radebe or Gavin Hunt.
posted by: Phala on 2009/10/20
•SHOOT YOUR AGE
Surely the last thing a golfer would want to do is shoot his / her age - ie have a gross score of under your age
posted by: JACK on 2009/10/20
•extreme 19th
at Legends, in a helicopter, then come down the mountain and do a game drive, see lions and elephant at less than 20 metres, and feast on great meal as the sun goes down
posted by: Simonsky on 2009/10/19
•Scotland
Whilst at The Old Course, why not play the 5 Scotland courses that host The Open:Old Course, Muirfield (let the caddy tell you about Ernie's bunker shot),Carnoustie, Turnberry & Troon. I managed 3 - what a privilege!!!! Maybe next time??
posted by: Len on 2009/10/19
•2 X 2
Only 12 out of the 20 on my wish list. What about 2 consecutive 2 clubs with only 1 hole being a par 3. I saw it happen!
posted by: Alf on 2009/10/19
•Come now
Is that the best list you can come up with? Boring. We are planning a tour of ALL good 9 holes in SA ....Tiger Woods, you'll be so tired off listening to his "gesanik" while looking for my ball, no thanks.
posted by: ETT on 2009/10/19
•Right Up There
A year ago I would have had 7... ...since July 2008 I have moved to 13,5. Ah come on. Carnoustie, Muirfield, Turnberry, Royal Dornoch and St Andrews were all fantastic!!!!
posted by: Potter on 2009/10/19
•Golf
Hey Rude, kry 'n lewe.......... translation, get a life..... For the rest, St Andrews or my local club, I just enjoy the game, I don't need a hole in one or Tiger Woods and certainly no cricketer or rugby player to enjoy it, maybe we should just do what golfers do and stop worrying about a bucket list.
posted by: Arthur on 2009/10/19
•14 and more to come
You should have more points for playing Carnoustie , Kingsbarns and Turnberry . You are in heaven after those courses
posted by: Russel on 2009/10/19
•comment to 'rude"
Lee,not selfish to write in afrikaans..this is south africa YOU living in..they speak china in china when I visited Beijing..get a translater..groete ou vriend..what a list..working on that!!!
posted by: pieter Els on 2009/10/19
•Jan scored 15
Play a round with one of the top 10 golfers in the world. Priceless.No hole in one but witnessed 6 in the last 3 years.
posted by: Jan Hanekom on 2009/10/19
•the perfect 20
Got to 14,getting there for sure. You could add Kingsbarns to anyone's wish list, Ask Roger Wessels, he'll tell you! It's like Pebble Beach to the mere mortals.
posted by: Francois on 2009/10/19
•rude
its rude , rude , rudeto write in afrikaans, its also very selfish, consider the people who dont speak that language
posted by: lee chang on 2009/10/19
•???
More ??? Holy mouly
posted by: Wimpy on 2009/10/19
•What about
Playing Leopard Creek with your son in Summer, enjoying a drink in the bar afterwards, followed by a braai in the Kruger!!!
posted by: Ryan on 2009/10/19
•Augusta
Augusta would probably have made the list, except it's open to members only. St Andrews is however open to the public - you can put your name in a ballot and if you're drawn to play you fork over R1 500!
posted by: The Mole on 2009/10/19
•Gary Player country club
Great list! One of MY 'golf list' high-lights was the only time I ever played the awesome Gary Player country club...which was a few weeks before the Nedbank Challenge...the grand stands were already up and it was as close to simulating playing the course as you see the pros play it as I could ever hope for. The added bonus for me was that i coincidently played one of the best rounds of golf I've ever played, including a birdie on the 3rd. As a 19 handicapper i was well pleased that day!
posted by: Budd on 2009/10/19
•13( better than I thought)
Playing at St Andrews deserves a 10 pointer.Augusta should also make the list
posted by: Nick on 2009/10/19
•Snobisties
Ons gewone sterflinge kan net punte maak op die items wat in SA ter sprake is - 10
posted by: Pieter on 2009/10/19
•pete must be a ballet dancer...
A fairly sunjective list perhaps, but certainly not 'junk' if you're a golfer. 12 - and working on it!
posted by: Golf Cynic on 2009/10/19
•Nice Frik
You should get bonus points there Frik.
posted by: Mad Bob on 2009/10/19
•st. andrews
And I thought playing St. Andrews with your sons and having your hole in one whilst playing with your sons was the ultimate, (I scored 10).
posted by: Frik on 2009/10/19
•13 and a half
OK Mole you've got me on this one. But I am coming for you. Just one question, has the Mole ever got a hole in one?
posted by: Mad Bob on 2009/10/19
•20 oneday
Pete must have score a big fat ZERO. I scored 11 but working my way to a full 20 one day. Would have thought playing the Gary Player country club whould have been on the list.
posted by: Leon du Plessis on 2009/10/19
•albatross
I think you should be awarded two points for an albatross. I read that for every albatross a 100 hole in one's gets hit.Plus you need two hit two good shots to achieve an albatross
posted by: Frank on 2009/10/19
•junk
what a load of Junk
posted by: pete on 2009/10/19
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