Just been to Hardelot

[Baloo]

Four of us spent last weekend in Hardelot, France, I know many of you have been there.

Though the two Hardelot courses are well marshalled it appears that others in the area are not. many of the golf societies that go over from England seem to make their numbers up with non golfers who take ages to get round. Talking to other guys in the hotel and the bars it seems that 5 hour rounds are common on many of the courses in the area.

We had to abandon our Sunday round at Wimereux as we were in danger of missing our train back. We played 15 holes in four and a quarter hours!! A group about four in front of us were well over a hole behind the group in front of them, when some guys pointed this out they were told that three of the group were playing 'proper' golf for the first time that weekend, they were there for the beer.

I realise that travel companies can't vet everyone that they book but wouldn't it be a reasonable idea to ask for the skill levels of the group so that they are booked on appropriate courses. Newcomers can't enjoy taking more than ten on every hole and losing several balls.

Or am I just being a snob?

Rant over

[Foxholer]

Only 1 hole behind? That's pretty good for 'proper golf' virgins.

Plenty of courses this side on the channel have 5 hour rounds too.

So probably a little sensitive to the time. Not unreasonable given the circumstances though.

Ross

[Spookyfish]

Everybody has to start somewhere

[Baloo]

I agree that 'everyone has to start somewhere' that is one of the points I was trying to make. Had whoever booked the trip paid due regard to the ability of the players he/they could have booked a course more suitable to their ability, the society players wouldn't have been so frustrated at losing so many balls and spending their day looking high and low for them. Wimereux is a links course where the wind can play havoc. There are other courses in the area which are more straight forward with wider fairways and bigger greens. Those guys may have been put off for life, if indeed they ever intended to play again.

Not letting other groups through is discourteous beginners or not.

I was being generous when I said that they were only a hole behind. I appreciate that there are five hour rounds in this country but if we accept them without comment they could become the norm.