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Echunga ( S.A.) golf course is set in the Adelaide Hills, near the tourist town of Hahndorf.
The course is well watered and has lush fairways and good greens. Direction to the next tee were clear. It has rolling hills and uses gullies in the fairway to add to the tee shot pressure. Several tee shots required accuracy with corners close by, or narrow gaps between tall trees. There was a deep layer of fine sand in the bunkers ( big tick from me) making splash shots possible.
Green fees mid week $30 and they have several carts available for hire at $28.
It took about 30 minutes via the freeway from the Southern Suburbs to get there.1 user liked this post.
The Chiropractor and a change to warm dry climate has done me the world of good. I feel a lot better.
Today Geoff and I played the Echunga golf course in the Adelaide hills, teeing off at 8 a.m.
It was quite busy , even that early on a week day. The group in front of us was late teeing off, and the group following us didn’t wait until their allotted time to start. Geoff being a beginner, is a bit erratic, but the two guys in front were more so. The 4 old guys behind were putting a bit of pressure on us, but this stopped after one of them lobbed the ball onto the green as we were putting. My death stare did the trick!Geoff was using his TE set of clubs for the first time. . He has good off the tee skills, but not so good off the deck. He tends to hit everything a bit fat. He knows he needs lessons,but has deferred that until he retires next week.
I was having fun with my TE half set of Bazooka iron-hybrids ( IH) (3,5,7,9,PW, SW) and a 5W. I wasn’t keen on the putter that came with the set at first.The only shots I left out right side were tee shots with the Nike Driver, when the push draw shots didn’t draw much.We started to score, but it got a bit embarrassing. It was a fun morning. We liked the course. It had a bit of everything, with good lush fairways and fast greens.
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for a beginner golfer 5 clubs
5w or hybrid
6 iron
8 iron
PW
putter.thats all they need, as progress in game add in a SW to get out of sand (not LW),.
5 clubs is enough to use to break 100 which is first golfing goal of any beginner.I agree with this list.
I had my fist game with the Bazookas I picked up. The Tour Edge 5W is a slicers dream. I cannot get the ball to fade with all that offset. I had to aim way right to get it to end on the left rough. I have to admit I am having the same issue with my Cobra 5-6 wood too, but not to the same degree.
I found I could hit the 21 degree 3 Iron-Hybrid (IH) quite well. The 27 degree 5 IH gave me some good shots too. The 33 degree 7 IH flew well. I only hit one 9 IH shot, and mainly chipped with the PW. They all are draw biased.
Strangly I hit the SW pretty well out of sand traps ( good thick loose sand) , but I conceded that hard lies would be a bit tricky. I took my LW 60/04 along on the game we played in the Adelaide Hills and used it for hard pan chipping shots.
In summary, these are great clubs for a beginner, but now for me they are not allowing me to shape the ball. I can play with them , by aiming right , but there are times that won’t work. Tour Edge make beginners sets that have Driver, 3 and 5 Woods, Hybrid 4&5, IH 6&7, then cavity backed 8-SW, which makes more sense that an all IH set.
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The 4BBB event was a success. We attracted a good field to Portland, despite the threatening weather. I think players are happy to get out and travel after 2020.
My game was the same as the last two 9 hole games would suggested ( 45+46) which is the same as the 91 I posted yesterday.
Tee shots mainly missed left, except for the ones that I aimed right hoping for a draw that didn’t eventuate. Too many recovery shots that resulted in 6 doubles or was it 7? 91 OTS/ 28 pointsTwo steps forward
1) my putting was good at 34; 4 pars and one birdie.
2) I am visiting the chiropractor this arvo to see if she can’t alleviate my stiff neck. Then a trip to Adelaide to play golf with my mate while he tries out his new Tour Edge golf clubs. I also picked up a half set of Tour Edge clubs with iron -hybrid style clubs (5W, 3,5,7,9,SW and putter) for $90. I am wondering if they are old and worn, or whether the widow sold her late golfer husband’s clubs for what he told her they cost him?One step back
1) I can’t think of any. I had low expectations yesterday and the score wasn’t a disappointment.1 user liked this post.
Much as I enjoy reading these reports, can I ask that the real name of the courses you are playing are written, rather than an abbreviation or nickname.It will help those of us that don’t live locally work out which course you are playing , hopefully for future reference when travelling. Thanks.
I played poorly at the Vets at Portland yesterday. The weather as threatening, but held off. The wind was moderate for half of the game , then built to around 30 kph. We had a good field of players, especially ladies who are slowly building in numbers.
My stiff neck still has not eased. Had it not been for me treasurer’s role in signing up members I would have stayed home and sulked! I was glad I didn’t because we had good social game. They changed our partners in the 2 man/ person 4BBB comp ( best total score won event). Last game I played with Lyn ( my partner in that event) I told him to ditch the SLDR driver he was spraying all over the place. He used his old TM driver and had a blinder with 38 points. I could not hit a fairway all day ( well 8/14) and my approach shots were not all that good. The closer I got to the green the better I went, but recovery shots and poor strike on some approaches left me with 6 doubles. I managed 4 pars and one birdie ( nearest the pin on a par 3 and a tap in)
I am off the see the Chiropractor this arvo. She used to be our neighbour out of town on the farm. I used to babysit her! It makes me feel old. She has a lovely smile ( I did that) and a great bed side manner though .It is great to see the young professional ranks in town being filled with returned ex-residents back from Mebourne.
I played a social 9 holes this morning with fellow Rotarians. My neck was slightly better, but I still tended to pull my tee shots into the left rough on the first 5 holes. Oh well, a bit of recovery practice never goes astray.
I spent some time prior to the game to work on distances for my 5H ( 140m), 6 H ( 133m/ I need to choke down 1/2 inch to get closer to 130 m ) and 7 iron 120m with good contacts. My mind wasn’t on the job today. Hopefully I will fell better and be able to swing a bit more easily in the Vets 4BBB event tomorrow.Two years ago if someone had told me that we would be keeping bees, I would have told them they were dreaming.
My daughter started keeping bees out on her farm, then my wife purchased a Flow hive that she wanted to put in out back yard. I won that argument and it was put out at the farm. Then I received a bee suit for X-mas. “What would I need a suit for”?, I thought? It seems there are times when there is a bit of physical work needed, and I was ” it” Long story short, the hive at the farm did not thrive and so when another swarm was located the hive was put in our back yard. It went gang busters! I found out that as long as you didn’t stand in the bee’s flight path, they left you alone. Two nights ago ( after breaking 80 game) I was enlisted to shift shift three more hives and 6 blocks of limestone to sit the hive upon to the block next to our house ( it is a huge deserted block= 8 house blocks) The drill was to duct tape the entrances to the hives on dusk, then strap them the hive up and slide it into the Ute. Easy! Sliding the blocks of limestone, not so much. That must have been when I strained my neck muscles.That is the point of my narrative today. Have you ever tried to play golf with a stiff neck? It isn’t easy. Today after we manned the BBQ van at the Surf Life saving carnival at Bridgewater Bay, Adriano and I braved the crap weather to hit 9 holes.
Two steps forward
1) It only took 4 holes to work out how to compensate for a stiff neck induced pull shot.
2) the 6 hybrid gave me 136m, 135m and 133m shot distance ( excellent)One step back
Can’t think of any today, I scored 45 despite the neck issue.I am in a happy place tonight. Today I played the Stableford comp at Heywood gold club and broke 80 for the first time in a proper competition. I didn’t break 80 by much ( 79 OTS) with 42 points, but I can say that I finally hit a score with a 7 in front of it.
Conditions were good, with little wind on the front 9 , but it built as the round progressed. The fairways were grassy and greens smooth and fast, compared to my home club. My tee shots were accurate, but still shorter than ideal. I got the hybrids to work today and hit more GIR than usual with my irons.
I hit 3 birdies, 7 pars, 6 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. Both doubles were results of poor choice on clubs pitch/ chip shots. One were I should have used LW to avoid the ball running off a green and taking three putts to recover. The other I used the LW instead SW for a full shot into the green. It came up 5 m short of the green, needing another chip to get on the green.
Congrats – that’s a big milestone
Thanks Weetbix. If it is anything like when I broke 90, it will be a while before I do it again. Still, I at least I have done it once and not on my home course.
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Six games in the last Eight days, I’m tired.
Started Wednesday week ago, regular comp at SLGC, playing off 17
Don’t know what happened but I started off with a big slice and it lasted all day, even the irons.
Finished with 27 points.
Thursday Friday was the Goolwa Masters, a fundraiser for the club and lot’s of Beer and Food
Sliced both days and scored 27 points both days. Good fun days.
Saturday, regular comp day, watched a video just before leaving home, suggested turning the hips a bit more.
Gave it a go and the ball started drawing a bit on the Range. A few silly mistakes throughout the day saw me finish with 30 points.
Happy.
Monday, Vets day at Willunga Golf Club, a tight course with lots of bends. was going ok till the last three holes when the Heat got to me, faded out and finished with 26 points.
a day off then Wendesday regular comp back at home. started slow but came home strong to finish with 34 points and drop the GA to a new lowest point off 16.7
It may not last long as I drop two rounds off 39 next. Need some good rounds.
Tired but fun week.Hi DavidM,
I am heading up to Adelaide next week again. Last time my golf buddy and I played at Marion off Brighton Road, Flagstaff Hill and Mt Compass. We had played at Willunga in 2019.
What other courses would you suggest we play in the southern areas?
I’m not that skilled in course selection, I like most.
try.. The Vines, Thaxted Park.
If you don’t mind a few minutes extra drive, take a look at..
Aston Hills, Echunga
Or one I have not been to yet but will shortly Links Lady Bay
but that is a bit of a drive.
EnjoyThans DavidM.
The VInes is at Reynella? If so, we have played there already.
I am embarrassed by my typing skills. I need to double check my messages before posting! Sorry. My excuse is that in my day we had typists , usually women very skilled at deciphering illegible long hand writing and touch typing.
I always think it is a good idea that it is good to have something to look forward to. I like to keep busy, if possible.
My membership of Rotary International keeps me pretty busy. Playing golf with fellow Rotary club members got me started in competition golf in the Mumbannar Masters, a great low stress way to get the confidence to enter golf club competitions. I noted there is a golfing fellowship group in Rotary as well. I hope to join that group soon.Things to look forward to in golf for me:
1) Another trip to Adelaide to pick up my late father -in-law’s work bench to go into my son-in-law’s new shed on the farm.
2) Pick up my $90 set of clubs I scored on Face Book in Adelaide. (Tour Edge hybrid-irons).
3) Playing a few games with my mate Geoff, who hopefully will be using his new to him golf clubs from Sydney ( Hunter Express willing). He has been trying to learn using player’s irons without much success. The new clubs should be more forgiving.
4) I have a game planned for the Warrnambool course ( in top 100) with Mr. Relatable Aus. (a You Tuber) next month
5) I want to work on a method of getting my carry distances of my irons in the 6-8 area sorted with good gapping distances. Arccos is telling me that the ” smart ” distance ( distance I hit 70% of the time) in games of the 7 &8 is almost the same, and the 6 iron is closer to where the 7 iron should be. I know with good strike I can get the desired 10 m or so gap, but not in game situations. My thoughts are I can just work on strike or try a different 6&7 iron to see if that makes any difference. Hence my picking up some hybrid- irons to try them out.check loft angle of 6, 7 & 8 irons.
Unfortunately my irons are cast heads, so even if they are out/ need adjustment I can’t change them.
I think I have solved the 6 -7 iron gap distance issue.
During my last game I hit the 7 iron 125m a couple of times, but the 6 iron struggled to get much past 130 m.
One solution I thought of was to drop the 7 iron from my bag and fade a 6 iron if I wanted a mid 120’s shot. I know I can hit the 6 iron 135m if I strike it well..Today I went to our practice range and warmed up using a Tour Edge iron-hybrid PW. Like the Cleveland HB Launcher irons it was so easy to hit well and even miss hits were not that bad. Then I struck a dozen 6 iron shots with my Milford SL-7 club. I got onto about 4 of them, and they landed at 135m. The rest trailed back to my 7 iron length in the mid 120m range, as I have noticed during games, and as Arccos data has been telling me. Then I tried the Tour Edge 6 iron-hybrid that arrived today from USA. I chocked down just about 1/2 inch on the grip. to make it the same as the SL-7 shaft length and hit 5 lovely shaped tight draws to 135m . The loft is the same at 29 degrees.
I think I will game the Tour Edge club for a while and see how it goes.
I am a sucker for a good deal. I noticed on FB Market Place a half set of Tour Edge iron -hybrid clubs ( 3,5,7,9,SW) plus a TE 5 wood and a putter being sold for $90 total. I bought them, really possibly only wanting to try the 7 iron. I might end up gaming the 7 TE iorn – hybrid ( 33 degree) too and then using the SL-7 8 iron up. I watched a TXG channel You Tube video where Matt the bionic tester tried a 6 Hybrid in comparison to his 6 iron and thought he should switch.It got me thinking about the idea having merit.
Honestly for senior players who no long have swing speeds in excess of low 80s with their irons, these iron-hybrid style clubs are a no brainer. Sure they look ugly-ish, but look at the ball flight!
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I played at Heywood with my son-in-law and his parents yesterday. It was a warm day with little wind on the front 9 and a building wind later in the afternoon. I can’t remember this course being in better condition. I play the course every few months and enjoy the challenge of the rolling hills and off camber lies. It was ladies day at my home course, so I took the opportunity to play the Stableford comp.
I had a ripper day, scoring 79 in a proper comp day for the first time ( breaking 80).TSIP 12/14
GIR 8
Up and downs 3
Putts 32 including ( 5 one putts! 2 at 5 m, 1 at 4m, 2 at 2m)My approach shots from outside 100m were a lot more accurate. I hit the 3,4,5 hybrids quite well plus I got good carry with the 7 iron.
3 birdies, 7 pars, 6 bogeys and 2 doubles.Two steps forward
1) 79 and 42 points! handicap down to 13.4 , so I will be playing off 12 now.
2) tee shots were accurate ( still not all > 200m, but the 3H saved my bacon on shot #2). Instead of hitting my 4W on all second shots on the longer holes, I calculated which hybrid to use to lead a 90-110 m approach shot to the green. It was a successful strategy.One step back
1) Doubles were caused by poor choice of pitch shot clubs; one I used SW and it ran off a down hill green and I 3 putted getting back up the hill, the other I used the LW full swing and should have been the SW. It was 10 m short.6 iron is still not performing during games carry distance wise. I have a 6 hybrid-iron to try to see if I can get it at 135m consistently.
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Six games in the last Eight days, I’m tired.
Started Wednesday week ago, regular comp at SLGC, playing off 17
Don’t know what happened but I started off with a big slice and it lasted all day, even the irons.
Finished with 27 points.
Thursday Friday was the Goolwa Masters, a fundraiser for the club and lot’s of Beer and Food
Sliced both days and scored 27 points both days. Good fun days.
Saturday, regular comp day, watched a video just before leaving home, suggested turning the hips a bit more.
Gave it a go and the ball started drawing a bit on the Range. A few silly mistakes throughout the day saw me finish with 30 points.
Happy.
Monday, Vets day at Willunga Golf Club, a tight course with lots of bends. was going ok till the last three holes when the Heat got to me, faded out and finished with 26 points.
a day off then Wendesday regular comp back at home. started slow but came home strong to finish with 34 points and drop the GA to a new lowest point off 16.7
It may not last long as I drop two rounds off 39 next. Need some good rounds.
Tired but fun week.Hi DavidM,
I am heading up to Adelaide next week again. Last time my golf buddy and I played at Marion off Brighton Road, Flagstaff Hill and Mt Compass. We had played at Willunga in 2019.
What other courses would you suggest we play in the southern areas?
I had a good game at Heywood yesterday. Down to 13.4.
New goals ? I am thinking that the next stage will be harder to achieve.
13/12/11I am in a happy place tonight. Today I played the Stableford comp at Heywood gold club and broke 80 for the first time in a proper competition. I didn’t break 80 by much ( 79 OTS) with 42 points, but I can say that I finally hit a score with a 7 in front of it.
Conditions were good, with little wind on the front 9 , but it built as the round progressed. The fairways were grassy and greens smooth and fast, compared to my home club. My tee shots were accurate, but still shorter than ideal. I got the hybrids to work today and hit more GIR than usual with my irons.
I hit 3 birdies, 7 pars, 6 bogeys and 2 double bogeys. Both doubles were results of poor choice on clubs pitch/ chip shots. One were I should have used LW to avoid the ball running off a green and taking three putts to recover. The other I used the LW instead SW for a full shot into the green. It came up 5 m short of the green, needing another chip to get on the green.
Welcome to the break 80 club.
Congratulations you have achievement one of golfs true milestones, which all golfers strive for but few achieve.
your golf has come a long way in last 12 months.
enjoy the moment and keep good form goingThank you Can Break 80. It was a thrill to achieve a goal.
