It is one of my proudest golfing boasts that in 36+ years of playing golf I have never had a No Return (NR) in a competitive round. This isn’t because I am some brilliant golfer, I’m just a steady club player and I’ve had some horrendous and embarrassing scores in my time, but I have ALWAYS completed my round and submitted my scorecard. I just feel that having entered the competition you should keep going no matter how well or badly you are playing and that you have an obligation to your playing partners, opponents and competition organisers.
I bring this up because shortly the qualifiers will be underway for the Open Championship and when you read the results in the newspapers or online at the bottom of the scores will usually be a significant number of uncompleted rounds.
Pay careful attention to these and notice they are usually along on the lines of
Joe Bloggs (Xyz Golf Cub) 84 NR.
Nobody ever shoots 67 NR do they?
These golfers are spineless quitters who should be politely asked not to enter the Open Championship again and it should be made clear that when you tee a ball up in a competition you are expected to last the course.
If you shoot 84 84 show a bit of professional pride, pick yourself up, dust yourself down and knuckle down to some more practice so you can come back next year play good golf and qualify.
Honesty is always the best policy and that’s certainly what Ben Rhydding Golf Club believe. They trust their visitors to leave their green fee in the “honesty box” when they visit this beautiful golf course in West Yorkshire, though it will hardly break the bank as green fees are very reasonable.
Situated in the shadow of the famous Cow & Calf rocks at Ilkley in West Yorkshire the course is short but very demanding requiring accurate placement of shots and a deft short game.
With a yardage of only 4621 Par 65 SSS 63 you will forgiven for thinking each hole was a drive and a flick. However, the nine hole layout has 8 Par 3s when you go around twice with the 9th/18th being one of the most difficult anywhere. An uphill semi blind shot of 208 yards to a green protected by an OOB lake on the right and a severe slope all down the left it takes a brave or foolhardy shot to attempt the green.
Ben Rhydding has a number of blind shots and a risk & reward factor comes into play on most holes. None more so than at the intimidating 4th/13th, it’s name of Khyber Pass give you an idea of what lies in store here. A blind tee shot, usually into a prevailing wind, over a hill into a deep gully leaves a tricky uphill pitch to an undulating green. All this under the watchful eye of the Cow & Calf.
Off the course the members are a particularly friendly crowd happy to share a pint and post round inquest in their comfortable clubhouse.
Another great green fee deal in West Yorkshire.
The 4th/13th Khyber Pass hole with Cow & Calf in background
