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Sat February 04 2012
Golf is a game that we play with a total awareness of the rules. It has to be like that. (For reasons of seriousness, fairness, and paying attention.) Added to that, a lot of golf clubs like to add lots of other rules. So this lovely game can seem to have a strong finger-wagging aspect. It is so easy to lose the fun. The lightness in playing. The sense of enjoyment, come what may (and we all know the horrors of what may come). If you think of what we do most of the time — play in competitions, take lessons, train (sort-of) — that's all rather serious. But the great big reason why we are members of this club is to enjoy ourselves, just like Evelyn Simpson and Kate O'Neill in the photographs.
Topsy Arlidge, our sparky Ladies' Captain, really understands this. She has built this idea into her year. That's why she organised the trips to Suffolk and South Herts. Then there was that marvellous roll-up when she put us in pairs to play a Stableford with wacky rules.
- 1st hole, putt standing on one leg
- 2nd, use only woods until on the green
- 3rd, shots out of bunkers don't count
- 4th, 10 extra points for going in the ditch
- 5th, only irons until on the green
- 6th, alternate woods and irons until on the green
- 7th, double your points
- 8th, drive from the men's yellow tee
- 9th, putt with your eyes closed
It was an event both silly and serious that was a-buzz with enjoyment. Not only that, it brought everyone together — both before and after. There was the dramatic reading of the instructions, when the mood was not "oh crumbs", or "mad lady", but a delicious hilarity. Someone said that play was a bit slow because they were laughing so much. Utterly brilliant.
Most Tuesdays we have a competition, but watch out for more special events from Topsy on days when we don't. Can't wait.
Hampstead Golf Club, 82 Winnington Road, London, N2 0TU
Telephone: 020 8455 0203 / Pro Shop: 020 8455 7089 - Email us