Royal St David’s Golf Club Preview

Nish: 0:01

Every story has an ending. Does our quest to play the top 100 courses in 10 years have a good ending? I’m Nish. I’m Jim.

Chris: 0:08

And I’m Chris.

Nish: 0:09

And we’re here to guide you through this golfing journey. This is the Top 100 in 10 Golf Podcast, episode 22. The Royal St David’s Golf Club Preview.

Nish: 0:20

Well, gentlemen, welcome back for what feels like a special episode.

Chris: 0:25

I was going to say I’m pretty sure. Last time I was here it was like episode 12 or something, or episode 22 already.

Nish: 0:30

You’ve missed a few.

Jim: 0:31

That’s a fair point A little break, and it’s actually quite good that we’re talking about actually playing golf, actually playing golf, actually, yeah, yeah. Well actually you playing golf, not just about other people playing golf.

Nish: 0:42

Yeah, not talking around golf. Well, actually you playing golf, not just about other people playing golf. Yeah, not talking around golf.

Jim: 0:44

Not golf in Japan or?

Nish: 0:45

Yeah, Actual golf we might actually play. Yeah, but this is great, Like it’s a special moment, because what’s it been three months since we’ve actually sat down together as a trio, All three of us yeah, yeah, which is pretty crazy.

Chris: 1:05

I was going to say in a professional setting but it’s not really that professional, to be fair.

Nish: 1:06

The peace is still flowing, but you know we’re doing a double header. So back to back courses with Royal St Davids, which we’re going to preview today, and Abu Dhabi. We’re going to do a weekend away, which this week’s episode was about golf trips. I don’t think it’s going to be quite as booze fuelled, although it might be. I don’t know. It’s going to be quite as booze-fuelled, although it might be, I don’t know. Are we going to Jim’s not?

Jim: 1:28

coming anymore. I’ve been sold a dud here.

Nish: 1:34

I think it might be actually.

Jim: 1:36

Well, the first Well the Saturday’s going to be about. Well, the Friday’s going to be about the anticipation, the build-up, the excitement. Then Saturday for me is going to be probably drowning my sorrows and then trying to get myself mentally ready and prepared, playing sunday as well well, I mean, you know my troubles with my new irons, jim, so I think I’ll join you. I’ll join you in that on saturday it’s right, I’ll be the third or fourth out in my then.

Nish: 2:00

So, as you said, chris, yeah, you’ll have, you’ll have mastered them, you’ve mastered them, but yeah I went to the sim on monday and I was hitting it pretty well again, nice, which was going to message you, and I thought don’t do this again, don’t say you’re hitting it well again and it’s going to happen.

Chris: 2:13

But yeah, what you need to do is go to the sim and just have an absolute fucking. I tried shank it into the next door’s bay. Yeah, I can’t miss it on the bay.

Nish: 2:21

That’s the thing At the Sim. I just can’t Like it just goes. I was like I worked out my average on my 7.9 was 175 yards, which probably take 10 off because it was indoor versus playing outdoors. That’s decent, not bad is it that. Yeah, decent yardage. The numbers were all good, like the spin rates and all that kind of stuff that the guy at Clubhouse was telling me about what it should be, and I was like it’s looking all right. So here’s what’s going to happen on Saturday at Royal St David’s.

Jim: 2:49

Never tempt faint.

Nish: 2:52

And it’s also special because you’re playing with us, Jim, this time, both courses.

Jim: 2:56

I am special when it comes to playing golf.

Nish: 2:59

Have you ever played?

Jim: 3:00

a Lynx course before? No, it’ll be the first time.

Chris: 3:08

Oh, and back to back. Nice in wales. Baptism of fire in march in in wales it could really improve my game.

Nish: 3:10

You never know as long as it can hit it I mean the wind could carry it. Your driver doesn’t go up but like it goes straight and and rolls, so perfect that should.

Jim: 3:21

So just need dry conditions, otherwise it’s going to go about 50 yards and then stop in a puddle.

Nish: 3:26

Well, interestingly for you. On one of the videos I watched about Royal St David’s it said it’s a really dry course generally, even when it’s really wet. Everywhere else it dries pretty well and I don’t think it’s been particularly wet Is that dry by Welsh standards or by actual standards? That’s a good point. Yeah, I by Welsh standards or by that’s a good point yeah.

Jim: 3:45

I suppose it’s going to be blowing a gale from the Irish Sea, so it’s going to dry pretty quickly.

Nish: 3:50

Yeah, very true Do you think it’s going to be windy.

Chris: 3:52

Yeah, yeah, I think it’s quite. It’s renowned for being a pretty windy, shit windy part of the Welsh coast. That I think, isn’t it? Oh God, basically. But then again, you did say that about sylith as well. Yeah, you did actually.

Nish: 4:06

Yeah, yeah maybe I should say that about every course. Then it’s gonna be really wet really windy.

Chris: 4:08

Yeah, it’s gonna be miserable that’s a good tradition to keep, I think every single course we play.

Nish: 4:14

Uh, I mean, we’ve sort of alluded to it, but how have your off seasons been? What have you?

Chris: 4:19

maybe chris can my off season has been 100 off because you’re doing lessons. I was doing lessons until back in the last year, so up to December basically, and then I’ve injured myself first week of January. I’ve not been able to play golf since, or tennis, which is really frustrating, so I’m going to be unfit, I’m going to be out of touch with my golf game.

Chris: 4:41

So yeah, I’m well prepped to start the season again it’s the perfect prep yeah, but I’m back now, so I’ve got I’ve got golf balls this weekend, which is great. So, yeah, I’ve got a couple of weeks to get my, get my mojo back love it so you can get my mojo just something.

Nish: 4:59

Just we were absolutely buzzing, like this week we’ve been messaging, just going we’re gonna be playing golf in two weeks at that, properly playing golf, like actually doing the challenge again.

Chris: 5:09

Like it dead excited, yeah, I think I kind of forgot the excitement from the actually just going on those days last time around. Was that really like palpable, wasn’t? It yeah yeah, I feel like I’ve kind of forgotten that a little bit, because most of it’s just been essentially me listening to you talk about golf for the last two months, because, iish, because I’ve not been on the podcast, I’ve not been playing any golf, but that’s as close to golf as I’ve ever been.

Nish: 5:28

I’ll add a little bit onto that Me talking about golf incorrectly largely. That’s why I get guests on to try and correct me and tell me the right thing, jim your off-season how’s it been?

Jim: 5:41

I’ve got some new clubs. Yeah, as I got some new clubs, yep, as some of the listeners may have heard On one of the podcasts recently. Then we had a. I’ve had a couple of rounds and then I’ve been on the sim which was okay.

Nish: 5:55

So first Go over Link’s course. What’s running through your head? Because there’ll be people out there who will be in the same boat. They’ll have booked a good course and they’re like it’s a Lynx course. Are you going to say something that’s going to resonate with them, or are you just going to be like what the?

Jim: 6:13

fucking hell have you done? I think he’s probably the first thing that runs through my head. Why have you dragged it?

Chris: 6:18

You’ve just got to get the little white hole. What little white ball of the hole. That’s all you’ve got to do.

Nish: 6:22

I swear you’ve been going wrong.

Chris: 6:23

Chris, this whole time.

Jim: 6:26

No, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be an immense challenge, because I’m nowhere near even amateur status.

Chris: 6:35

Are there like different levels of amateur status?

Jim: 6:38

What’s below amateur. Rank Amateur Rank amateur, it’s that that’s kind of a misnomer in some respects because it’s that. I think that’s kind of a misnomer in some respects because it’s like you’ve got a rank, a ranking.

Chris: 6:49

Yeah, they’re ranking you amateur, the rankless amateur, that’s what we should call you, that’s a good, that’s a good moniker.

Nish: 6:56

I like that better than the usual ones.

Jim: 6:58

Yeah, unrankable, unrankable, that’s probably probably more, more appropriate. Yeah, no, I think. I think it’ll be a great challenge and it’ll be good to start the season with you guys. In terms of the, the return to the challenge yeah, I’m looking forward to it.

Nish: 7:13

First one we’ve all all done together, it’s gonna be gonna be epic well I mean we should talk about the off-season generally, because courses for this year yeah, yeah, it’s been a busy one. We’ve got I think we’re playing five courses in the next five weeks once we start playing in wales pretty quick succession, isn’t it? Yeah, because it’s the two welsh ones. There’s hoy lake and then there’s glen eagles which it’s too cool boy, does that look special which I found out, the 41st best hotel in the world, glen eagles it’s pretty good that.

Jim: 7:44

Yeah, it’s probably priced as the 41st best hotel in the world. Red Eagles it’s pretty good that.

Nish: 7:48

Yeah, it’s probably priced as the 41st best hotel. It was interesting actually. So we well, we booked it. We had this chat and Lucy made a really good point. She was like I sort of expected the 41st best hotel in the world to be like in the £1,000 a night, something like that. It really wasn’t so when you told £1,000 a night something like that.

Jim: 8:05

And it wasn’t. She was like ooh, bargain, let’s stay for a week.

Nish: 8:08

I can’t believe the amount of money that I’m thinking is a bargain now. I suppose that’s what this challenge does to you, doesn’t it?

Jim: 8:17

Get those new golf clubs quick.

Chris: 8:18

Yeah, that’s a good point actually, jim, I need to do that.

Nish: 8:22

Is that on the radar? Then New clubs.

Chris: 8:27

I’m going to ditch. I’ve got a three in my bag that’s completely useless to me, so I’m gonna ditch that. Uh, and I might stick a driving iron in my bag as well at some point, just because we’re just we’re gonna be playing a lot of links golf, so it’s kind of it’s low and out the wind.

Nish: 8:39

It’s a nice little weapon to have yeah, you’re gonna replace the three wood with another three wood, or yes?

Chris: 8:44

we’ll get another three wood and then I’ll have a choice between a firewood and a driver. Nine, depending on where we’re playing.

Nish: 8:49

I had a funny moment on monday. Actually you’ll have this. So the guy who runs the sim, yeah, um, there was nobody else in there and the first first thing. So he kind of like walked over. He’s like all right, mate, how you doing? I was like this is eating into my hour, but fine, if you pause it, great. Um, and he’s like oh, so what, what have you got in the bag? Then he’s all uh, oh, uh, taylor made p790s, I see. So he must have. I didn’t know this, but he must have obviously just gone. Oh, he, he knows about his kit, went into a whole 10 minute thing about like, oh, what else have you got? No, you got. Oh, yeah, do you find it hard to hit your three wood? I was like don’t have one, but yeah, he’s like, try five wood, that might do it, spending more of my money, this wasn’t the pro from the shop, was it by any chance?

Nish: 9:38

I didn’t want to say I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about here, but I’m happy with what.

Chris: 9:42

I’ve got you don’t know what a three-wood or a five-wood are.

Nish: 9:44

I know what a three-wood or a five-wood are, but I was like when it’s going on, it’s much easier to. I’m like whatever, it’s fine. But yeah, it was. Yeah, sizing up the equipment in the bag Got nice wedges apparently.

Jim: 9:57

Okay.

Nish: 9:57

Yeah, and yeah, he was kind of like you know I’m not precious about this sort of stuff, but he was kind of like picking everything up out of the the bag and like giving it a good fondle and I was like, oh, don’t touch my wedges, mate. You said he’s not precious about that I know, yeah, I don’t believe you I was like don’t I got them half price on the callaway recondition site.

Nish: 10:19

So come on, mate, all right, don’t touch a man’s wedges just without consent, like have a feel, like that’s fine. But yeah, maybe I am precious about my clubs. I washed them enough, fair enough, um right look, you want to wash mine as well?

Jim: 10:37

I’ll bring them around.

Chris: 10:38

Okay, aaron, I’ll do it, aaron I’ll do it yeah yeah, maybe that could be the forfeit for the loser of every round.

Nish: 10:45

This is like like 1970s football club. You know the apprentices need to do the football boots and all that sort of stuff get the tooth push out well, look, should we talk about where we’re going to play raw saint david’s why we’re here? Yes, that is the purpose of why we’re here, you’re right yeah absolutely.

Nish: 11:01

Uh, I do have a loose structure, but I think, rather than me just read stuff out, I’ll maybe I’ll drop a few points in and see what sticks. So a few things I know is that I’m looking forward to it. Watched a few videos. Harlot Castle sits proudly overlooking the course, which I think is going to be nice. There are going to be some nice pictures as a result of that.

Nish: 11:22

I think this is the first one, jim’s going to bring his GoPro. We’re going to film the whole round, okay, which we’ll then bring his gopro. Yeah, we’re gonna film the whole round, okay, which will then decide dependent on how we play whether that’s something that we share or not?

Chris: 11:34

does it? Does it come with audio on the gopro or not?

Nish: 11:37

we’ll maybe omit, we’re just thinking like the audio, the thing’s gonna be gonna put the gopro on your, on your person I think we’ll, we’ll, we’ll, just we’ll.

Jim: 11:45

We’ll have a discussion closer to the. How much of the?

Chris: 11:49

audio will have to be bleeped out. Jim playing his first round of Lynx Golf. For fuck’s sake.

Jim: 11:56

Look at that TWAT with the GoPro.

Nish: 11:59

I remember we could strap it to a bag, can’t we? If we know it’s on a bag, then we could always just position that bag accordingly, can’t we?

Jim: 12:05

Yeah, accordingly, can’t we? That’s probably the best way to do it. I’m not going to be too busy wrapping clubs around trees or to search for my golf ball, so I think I’ll pass it to you.

Nish: 12:14

We can strap it to the umbrella holder. That’s upright then, isn’t it? Yeah we can do that. Do we know what the forecast is doing in the next few weeks?

Chris: 12:23

I think it’s a bit far away.

Nish: 12:32

I mean it’s Wales and it’s changeable.

Chris: 12:32

I mean it’s wales and it’s march so I think we’ve probably got the idea probably gonna be wet lizard. It’s really gonna be cold, isn’t it? I think it’s gonna be a bit. It’s also warm at the minute, so that would suggest that that’s not gonna hang around by the time we get there, it’ll be arctic blast.

Nish: 12:40

Yeah, okay, right, prepared for everything then, basically, but um, yeah, okay, we can strap it to the, the, the umbrella holder, and we’ll just see how that goes. It’s a total experiment. I mean, it could be one of those funny ones where we play so badly. It’s like this is just comedy. Yeah, we should. We should put this out there for posterity.

Jim: 12:59

Or there’s like, yeah, jim’s new clubs end up in the Irish scene apparently there’s dunes and which are kind of protecting you a little bit, something to trap the clubs.

Nish: 13:11

Yeah, exactly not on top of the dunes though, jim, then you’re in business so the castle, the castle was made in that the thousands, something like that year, thousand, 13th century, 13th century was it and apparently the area that the golf courses are now was totally underwater at that time. So where we’re playing would have been the sea that the golf courses are now is totally underwater at that time. So where we’re playing would have been the sea when the castle was built.

Jim: 13:33

So you’re basically saying that climate change doesn’t exist? Yeah, because the seas are actually not. They’re receding. It’s actually going the other way, yeah.

Chris: 13:40

The ice caps are building up, not melting. Yeah, is that what we’re saying here? Yes, that’s what I’m saying, perfect, yeah.

Nish: 13:49

Fact. Yes, that’s what I’m saying. Perfect fact. I’ll take that um but. But I think as a result of that, it’s got the. The bunkering is quite natural, which, yeah, I gather is a good thing. Like they’re not like manicured. Yeah, like I said, I’ve I have played there before, so I’ve got some very vague memories of it because I was quite young, but but yeah, it’s quite.

Chris: 14:03

It has a kind of rugged feel to it. Yeah, for sure, like it doesn’t have that manicured, you know kind of lynx feel to it. It does feel quite wild. I would suggest like it’s very, it’s nice, it’s pristine, but it does have a wild feel to it.

Nish: 14:17

Okay, I mean one of the things I said as well, that it’s it’s. It felt like a respected grown-up, golf course all right okay do you feel that’s an accurate?

Chris: 14:25

I mean. Respected and grown up are just two words that I’m really.

Nish: 14:28

Can’t resonate.

Chris: 14:29

I struggle with both those this might resonate.

Nish: 14:33

The back line is supposed to be really, really difficult. Yeah, I mean, I am quite difficult, so yeah, we know that. But also they did say that this was the Cookie Jar Golf video that they did and they said it was the last 10 holes are just epic.

Chris: 14:50

Yeah, it was. Um, the last 10 holes are just epic. Yeah, as it builds. So they’ll say this to you, because the devil’s not I played there and I can’t. It feels like it’s in two halves. I couldn’t remember which half was was the first half of the second half, but it’s kind of some of it’s really flat and then some of it’s quite juni, so you kind of have like this real lynx feel and then this I mean it’s still kind of lynxy, but it’s heathland you can just see it.

Nish: 15:09

Yeah, okay, so it’s kind of you know it’s. I mean the fairways look quite ripply still, but yeah, they’re not like I don’t know. I mean I don’t look, I don’t know, I don’t know enough.

Chris: 15:19

Yeah, but yeah it doesn’t have that kind of you know, I think like when you play at sylith I think you mentioned it, I think on every hole you feel like you’re just completely on your own. Yes, you don’t see anyone else? You don’t see anybody else, you’re just completely isolated and there could be hundreds of other people out on the course and you wouldn’t see them. But I don’t think you necessarily get that at St David’s because there’s a bunch of holes where you can see them kind of next to each other.

Nish: 15:41

Right, okay, a weck.

Chris: 15:50

People are going to see us then, aren’t they Lovely?

Nish: 15:51

See Jim chucking his new clubs into the Irish Sea from the clubhouse. You have got a round of golf the next day as well. Jim, don’t chuck your clubs. There’s no promise there. There’s no guarantee. He’s like no, no, no, of course I’m not, I’m not going to do it.

Chris: 16:05

Of course I’m not, but that’s not something we you differ jim.

Nish: 16:09

Apparently the second hole uh is is one worth like taking shots and stuff like that, because you tee off directly at the at the castle okay as well. So it’s like a lovely backdrop, so that’ll be a good one to good one to do. And then what’s the other one? Now, this is the average golfer. Uh has played there quite a lot. Apparently.

Chris: 16:28

He’s done loads of videos at Rocksteen Davies and he keeps going on about not just the average, not just the average. The average golfer has played there, but he just says great design. It’s a good test of golf so I’m pretty sure this is not factually true, but I seem to remember when we played it, I thought it, I thought and it’s not really something that exists anymore, but I’m pretty sure it was like one of the highest standard scratch courses in the country maybe wales, maybe in the uk okay okay.

Chris: 16:57

So I think it’s a pretty difficult when it’s windy. I mean, like any links course, right, it’s going to be difficult. But yeah, I think it’s a reason. It’s a reasonable test of golf. I’m pretty sure it was up there with the one of the highest standard scratch courses.

Nish: 17:08

It feels like it’s a reasonable test of golf. I’m pretty sure it was up there with one of the highest standard scratch courses. It feels like it’s a tough opener this year, Like it feels like we’ve got to concentrate Definitely Well I mean, we don’t really need to concentrate, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Jim: 17:19

We can play like dickheads, it’s fine, yeah, I’ll remind you of that.

Nish: 17:24

Yeah. When you get an uber competitive and wrapping the glove club around my neck when he’s got his head in his hands and he’s like christopher, what are you doing? So we’ve obviously got the castle overlooking as well. Then there’s a, a famous mountainous range as a, as a backdrop, which, uh, I will leave our resident welsh speaker to uh I don’t speak welsh.

Jim: 17:47

I was just trying to correct you.

Nish: 17:49

No, you don’t, because I heard how you said it, but go on, how do you say it?

Jim: 17:52

Well, it’s not Snowdonia anyway. So like you were going to say it, I didn’t even say it.

Nish: 17:56

I was never going to say the S word oh, you did, you did. Arreri, arreri, bless you. Yes, so that’s the backdrop, so that should be quite nice. That’s the backdrop, so that should be quite nice, picturesque.

Chris: 18:08

Yeah, golf course, is that just happened then in terms of the renaming a few years ago?

Nish: 18:13

Okay, Is that a thing then? Is that becoming a thing in Wales now, where the place names are changing? They do that in India loads now as well, so there’s loads of places just completely changing. You’ve got no idea where you are anymore.

Chris: 18:25

I looked on the map the other day and I was looking for the Czech Republic and I was like it’s no longer the Czech Republic, czechia it’s called now. That just happened without any kind of fanfare.

Nish: 18:34

Yeah, yeah, it just came out of nowhere. Yeah, I know I was looking at the map one day, and it’s a different name. But other few sort of things. That again we got a really nice welcome.

Nish: 18:51

He just rang up the pro shop probably was like really friendly you know, just, oh, yes, of course, sir, I’ll put you through to the right person to make the booking. There’s a lovely lady in the in the office who’s kind of like you know, let us know what the process was and, uh, just felt like we’re going to get a nice Welsh welcome. You know, visitors felt we have had a couple of occasions when we were like I don’t think we felt really welcome, but this feels like a nice. You know, they encourage and they want visitors to come. Yeah, and I think, at whatever what’s the cost of the round? It’s either £70 or £80 for a round.

Jim: 19:25

Yeah.

Nish: 19:25

Shoulder season sort of thing. If it’s a good test of golf, as it’s made out to be, I mean, that feels like it could be a bargain, a bit like Silith, really.

Chris: 19:34

Yeah, I think they have quite a lot of country members, I think, don’t they at St David’s, I think there’s a lot of people have it as a second club, to kind of go and be to use it as a, like a holiday destination for them, which I didn’t when they go to their second home.

Nish: 19:47

They go to their second golf. Didn’t know that was a thing Like yeah, like secondary membership, but as a distance. I think they’ve got it graded as well. It’s like different categories depending on how far your house is from the clubhouse, and they’ve got like a little bylaw of like how they figure that out.

Chris: 20:12

So they could go on aa route map or route planner or something to work out how long it takes to drive. It’s not like the old one. They’ve got to print all the like 10 pages of documents. That’s it travel anywhere. Do you remember having to do?

Nish: 20:15

that going from the days of the a to z to then actually print out your instructions felt like a massive leap didn’t it? And then now you’re like wow, we probably lost without sat nav but my father-in-law is always like what, what? What route are you taking down to wherever you’re like? I don’t, you know, I’m just following it’s gonna tell me wherever waste tells me to go. In terms of course, difficulty, my handicap of 18.7 is bumped up to 21, which I think is not bad.

Chris: 20:40

Actually that yeah, because I think was it sn8 gone up to 23 I think interesting yeah, sn8, was was a tricky one so basically what you’re saying is my fact about the sun had scratched thing was just total bollocks it might have been complete nonsense.

Nish: 20:55

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that was true back in the day, but we end on a par three, which I’m never really normally that keen on you said there isn’t a par three. No, we end on a par, three on a par three, five par threes. I was going to say, yeah, there’s one really short one, but I think it’s into the wind. It’s 132 yards, but it’s into the wind, or well, generally so so get me driving around, could be anything.

Nish: 21:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah could be absolutely anything. There’s a couple of the long par threes are long like over 200 yards, but again, I suppose if it’s not it’s a fucking nightmare playing it as a par 4, I think, and there’s some really short par 4s. I think there’s one that’s like 280 yards, I don’t know, I like that.

Chris: 21:37

I like that on links courses, where you get those nice little short par 4s that just give you a little, a little sniff of a chance, a seizure, a little dangle dangle in that car, but then you get your driver out until you hit your t-shirt.

Nish: 21:50

Yeah, oh, why have I done that? Just play the iron, um, so yeah, so I think it obviously feels like a a good sort of testy course. But yeah, I mean, if we get, we could get very lucky with the weather again, and obviously I’m going to be watching the forecast for the whole week leading up to it. Do you want to know some history of the club? Sure, yeah, the prince of wales at the time, who later became edward the seventh, accepted patronage of the call of the club and they presumpt, they presumptively started calling themselves royal saint david’s rather than saint david’s golf club.

Chris: 22:27

It took another 10 years before they got the royal ascent royal accent okay the royal, so they were, so they call themselves royal saint david’s correct for 10 years being royal?

Nish: 22:39

yeah, which I would have thought, knowing royals. Yeah, yeah, they might have gone whoa, whoa whoa, you’re not having that now. Yeah yeah, I’m pretty surprised that it went ahead. Definitely, I mean, that’s it’s influencer marketing, isn’t it? That’s the first thing they’ve gone, oh yeah so they’ve literally just built it they built it and I think right this is royal saint david’s he, I think. Obviously they made him a patron of the club, right, and they just went oh well, because he was a patron yeah, oh, prince of wales is a, so we just start calling ourselves Royal St David’s.

Nish: 23:11

I don’t know if they went so far as printing off their stationery or whatever, but certainly they started saying we’re Royal St David’s now, and then you had to wait 10 years for it all to come through. So it was like okay.

Chris: 23:21

So basically what you’re saying is that any old pitch and putt around the country can just start calling themselves the royal royal adlington royal cheetle nine hole pitching putt yeah, royal heating, more golf 10 years later. They’ll just get that.

Nish: 23:33

We’ll just get that letter through then, yep yeah, so that’s one prince of wales, and then another one, who became the eighth, was actually the captain of royal saint david’s right, and he is bizarre facts really, this but he’s still the only royal captain that there’s ever been of a welsh club.

Chris: 23:54

Now I’m thinking this is one of the oldest now.

Nish: 23:58

Well, this is one of the oldest welsh clubs around, right 1890, something, 92 or something like that. There’s not many older than that. I mean, how many princes?

Chris: 24:06

of wales. I mean how many royals have been, how many princes of Wales have there been? How many royals have been a captain of a golf club?

Nish: 24:10

Yeah, I mean. I would say, Do many of them play golf Apart from the two Edwardses? So what year?

Chris: 24:19

Go on, get your history out, Mish. What year is that, edward?

Nish: 24:21

VIII. So what would that have been? Edward 4.50s? Edward VIII’s the guy who abdicated right, he’s the Queen’s uncle. I’m not big on my royal no. I am not big on my royal family at all, apart from I know that they’re German, that’s it does that change our experience?

Chris: 24:45

do you think?

Jim: 24:47

maybe current Prince of.

Nish: 24:47

Wales, big Aston Villa fans. So you know there’s a link there. Does that change our experience? Do you think? Following in the footsteps of royalty, maybe? Maybe Current Prince of Wales, big Aston Villa fan. So you know there’s a link there.

Jim: 24:53

Sort of crossover.

Nish: 24:56

It’s tenuous, mate, very tenuous. And then my third thing is not even history, but apparently lady golfers have always been an important part of the club, which I think is quite progressive. From a club in the 1890s to have that level of prominence for lady golfers. That’s always quite nice, isn’t it?

Chris: 25:13

I think that tells you a lot about the club then, doesn’t it straight away yeah, and its ethos, because, if I’m right, they’ve not hosted very many kind of top-level competitions, but actually in the women’s game they have quite a few. There were a few opens that they’ve done.

Nish: 25:27

Yeah.

Chris: 25:30

So in the women’s game.

Nish: 25:31

They have quite a few. There were a few opens that they’ve done. So yeah, I guess that kind of follows suit one of the things I found out about golf in Japan. So in Japan the women’s game is bigger than the men’s game. So money in there is apparently crazy, like the sponsorship and all that kind of stuff interesting. So maybe that’s the little thing that the Welsh can go for big in the ladies game. Right, that’s all I’ve got on history. Does anybody know anything else about Raw St David’s? What’s the signature hole, jim?

Jim: 25:55

The signature hole, I believe is the 15th.

Nish: 26:00

Yeah, I think it was difficult finding out that it was this, but it was. A couple of videos came up and then they did mention that this is the signature hole. I mean, it wasn’t that difficult?

Chris: 26:09

Have you just Googled it? I Googled it before we came on live. It just says 15th, 15th, 15th. You came in saying it was the 12th.

Nish: 26:13

Yeah, where did this 12th come from?

Jim: 26:15

I use a different browser and AI obviously doesn’t work. Okay, there’s a glitch in the matrix. You’ve gone into co-pilot.

Nish: 26:21

Yeah, oh it’s, you’re the one. Are you there we go.

Chris: 26:25

Well, I mean, that’s quite a good live example of how rubbish AI is at the minute.

Nish: 26:30

But that is so the signature hole, which that is, brings on to our new signature hole challenge which Chris has set. Yeah, signature hole challenge which chris has set, yeah, so which, knowing what they’re now? But I’m going to tell you what the challenge is and then I’m going to tell you what the score is, and then it makes sense why you set the challenge. But there you go. Well, not that we’re competitive, but, um, so the signature hole challenge is we’re going to do, it’s going to be match play, overall score out of 100 holes on the signature hole only. So, so far unbeknownst to me, but Chris probably knew, which is why he said, oh, we should just do this challenge on the signature hole, shouldn’t we 3-0 up already?

Jim: 27:11

after three goals, the pressure’s going to get to you, mate.

Nish: 27:15

I’m going to do. What I’m going to do is I’m going to pretend I’ve already played one tee shot. Then I’ll just hit the second one.

Jim: 27:20

That’s what I’m going to do.

Nish: 27:21

That’s my tactic, but yeah, so we’re going to do the. We’re going to keep that overall tally on the signature holes. I’m going to film the signature holes.

Chris: 27:28

We are. So we’re going to have a slight change of tack, aren’t we?

Nish: 27:30

in terms of our no filming, on course broke it already after three rounds, and it was your suggestion that’s the one that got me it wasn’t me railroading you into filming you? Just, yeah, I know, I think we should really film these, uh, these signature holes, you know I think I want the rules, though.

Jim: 27:46

No phones, on course is it on some of the courses, but they specify no photos. But we?

Chris: 27:51

we’re basically we’re asking before we do this. So every course we go to, we’re just going to drop them a quick email say is it okay for us to just fill one hole? We’re not. We’re not going to film the whole round, it’s just going to be literally one hole, both our shots for that hole and everyone’s been obviously fine with it, haven’t we?

Jim: 28:05

and then they spot the gopro. You’re not filming the whole world.

Nish: 28:09

Yeah, have you got a camo one? Just just put those camouflage netting over the camera.

Jim: 28:16

I’m sure you probably get some branded ones by next week.

Nish: 28:18

Oh, yes, yeah, we’ve gone full on brandy. There’s no way about it.

Jim: 28:26

These, these. Honestly, mate, don’t be going to get me or Chris into trouble with you all.

Nish: 28:33

These things, these microphones, like possibly the best thing I’ve ever bought. Oh, wow, it arrived and I was so excited. I was like, yes, is he? I think more than the neon sign and the outside I’m really happy with, I really like that, like that that, you know, just sets that radiator apart now, doesn’t it?

Jim: 29:00

is it their?

Nish: 29:00

consters, no, no, well, I can’t put the radiators on, so yeah, oh we’re getting to.

Chris: 29:06

I am slightly worriedness, just being your neighbor and obviously we’re in quite close proximity. If I ever just kind of like have a little nap in the garden or something, I might just get branded, I might just wake up with a top 100 intent tattoo, have you?

Nish: 29:24

shown the towel that I’ve got.

Chris: 29:25

No, I’ve not seen the towel.

Nish: 29:27

That’s available on the merchandise section of our website I can subscribe.

Chris: 29:33

I’ve got towels, have you? Yeah.

Nish: 29:36

The quality, the greed. They’ve got top 110 written all over them, A little logo in the corner Nice, yeah. So that’s the Signature Hole Challenge. You’re 3-0 up, come on. Only 97 more to go. So what have we got? We’re playing five courses in five weeks, so yeah, could be 2-0 down soon, mate. Yeah. Weeks, so yeah could be. Could be two nil down soon, mate, yeah, true just like that it could happen.

Chris: 30:04

Yeah, I mean, this kind of like makes test cricket feel like a really kind of short and succinct version of any game, doesn’t it? We’ve got a 10 year competition do we need to?

Nish: 30:13

um, I suppose do we need to set some rules of engagement on this signature hole. So are we, do we? Should we do? That the honor should be strictly adhered to, as in whoever scored the lowest of the previous hole gets the honor on the signature hole, because otherwise, maybe we should do it on a signature hole basis, so whoever won the last signature hole goes first on the next one yeah, I like that because so far I’ve been put first and I’ve lost all three.

Nish: 30:39

So so I will I say, put first. I just normally just put my, my teabag in the ground and just see off, but I’ll let right, let’s do that.

Nish: 30:48

It’s always your pace of play mate pace of play I’m a big advocate of pace of play what these played ready golf. You play ready golf. You’re gone, you go, yeah, okay good, I’m looking forward to it I’m looking forward to that I am. Yeah, it’s quite nice researching the signature holes as well, because, yeah, I didn’t really. Obviously gibraltar, we talked about quite a lot, didn’t we? Yeah, but apart from and that’s because they talked about it quite a lot, but the others don’t seem to go on about has it got a name?

Chris: 31:15

I thought it was some quite good names for the signature hole so far, but it’s just I looked at the scorecard it seemed to be names on the.

Nish: 31:22

What I did like on the videos that I did see, is that the, the, t, uh, the hole marker, the whole board, you know. It tells you like its whole one and how many yards it is and all that kind of thing. It’s lovely welsh slate and it’s carved into that. That’s quite nice. That I like that. It kind of blends into the surroundings quite well.

Chris: 31:43

Pretty much everything you get around there is Welsh slate. I did the marathon there and I got the, so normally you get a little gift or whatever afterwards A t-shirt and a little thing.

Nish: 31:53

What did it say on the t-shirt?

Chris: 31:55

It said marathon, marathon, but yeah, I got a little slate cup holder. It said Marathon, but yeah, I got a little slate Cup holder. Oh, coaster, nice, that’s a good gift. It’s quite heavy, though, when you’ve just run a marathon. It’s like this massive slate with a coaster on your back. It’s a good gift to get, after a marathon Still in use at home. Oh, I like that That’s’s good.

Nish: 32:21

Uh, so signature hole done now. Jim, you normally set a side bet for us for each course and I couldn’t remember now because it’s been over five months since we’ve. That’s just mental. It is crazy to think about that. When I was like it’s the middle of october was a lot, we played sna. Yeah, we’ve not actually played any challenge golf, no, since we played god awful golf elsewhere.

Chris: 32:48

Yeah, yeah, but just not challenge golf yeah, I do feel like I’m quite ready to go back and play. Like it’s a bit daunting isn’t it like I? Was playing a little bit of golf back then and I’m like I’ve not played golf for two months and I’m just gonna be chucked straight at the deep end with two. Two also like 36 holes in two days. I’m usually 36 all day, but yeah, I’ve not done. I’ve not played back-to-back rounds of golf I 20 odd years on monday at the golf at the sim.

Nish: 33:13

Yeah, I finished. And when matey boy was fondling my wedges, I finished. I was like he’s, like you’re right, I’m absolutely goosed. He’s like it’s hard work, isn’t it? When you haven’t got a walk between. I was like, yeah, but I’d have to do the walk as well and I’d be this yeah, that’s one hour on the scene. I really feel like I’m not physically prepared for this, so I’m hoping the excitement and the adrenaline is going to get us through. Booze. Yeah, is it hip flask territory, do you think?

Nish: 33:48

Mind you, I’m driving so I’ll drive us to the course. No, no, no. Hip flask no, no, drinking at all on the course, no, wait for the 19th hole, not your thing. No, no, given the subject matter of this week’s podcast, which is golf weekends away and I talked to the american guys and golf trips and stuff like that um, the basic bogeys guys described it as aggressive drinking you do, which I thought was a great phrase. Um, if, if that’s what the weekend was about are you still a no, or you like no, I’ll have a couple of beers on the course, like, would you get all right? Different question would you get leathered on a golf course while you play? Doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, but would you ever do that? Never, say never. I don’t know, I don’t think so. I fall on the nose. I’m so competitive that like like being drunk and playing.

Chris: 34:44

They just don’t mix right. Although I haven’t said that, when we did play your initial invitation or the first year the first year, maybe it was the second year and we had a beer at the halfway point and I was playing absolute garbage for the first nine holes and then I had a beer and the next three holes I got I’m playing really terribly, but I’m cleaning up all the par three nearest to the pins. Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was just the one. That was the three of us still beating everybody on stable third you know that was that was.

Jim: 35:14

That was the second year of the game that was it wasn’t the initial invitation that was the weirdest contrast ever.

Nish: 35:20

I’m walking up to it going. He’s having a round of his life. This is great. He’s like nailing the points and he’s like this is terrible. I don’t know what’s happened here, but well, must have got the wrong, chris, I don’t know what’s happened. Yeah, I fall on the no. Yeah, I’m definitely a no, I think, and I don’t think it’s competitiveness I just think I can’t play golf if I’m leathered.

Chris: 35:44

Yeah, it’s kind of like, especially with these rounds like I would enjoy it, you’re playing a lot of money to go and play these courses like we want to go, enjoy it right? I don’t want to remember it. I was sticking hangover and me going oh god, I’d rather be doing something else well, okay, take, take playing a top 100 course out of it.

Nish: 35:58

Okay, you’re going on a. They did, it was TJ, it was his stag do. Okay, yeah, so that was part of it. Golf was part of it, so they were all getting nailed. Basically, in that circumstance, would you still in inverted commas aggressively drink on the course, or would you still hold back a bit and go no, I still want to enjoy my golf.

Chris: 36:25

I mean, I think you’ve probably known me long enough to realise that me sitting here in theory and saying I’m not going to get drunk is all well and good, but if you get me on a golf course and just give me beer, I’m not going to not drink that golf course. And just give me beer, I’m not gonna not drink that. So I think realistically, in theory, I’m gonna say no in practice.

Jim: 36:46

Yeah, I’ll be like hammered by the seventh hole. Fine in that, in that situation that you described.

Nish: 36:48

Yeah, I’m on it you’re on it aggressively drinking in that unique circumstance. Yeah well, let me tell you what’s actually. We paid 80 quid for a round of golf and we’re going to get absolutely hammered and not remember any of it. It’ll make for an interesting review. Do you know who won this?

Jim: 37:07

I’ve got no idea. Do you want to be invited on any top 100 golf course?

Nish: 37:12

Did we play all 18?

Jim: 37:14

I don’t even remember getting past the term.

Chris: 37:17

That’s a good point.

Nish: 37:18

We’ll just miss your tee time. We don’t get to figure out if they had a half way up on those calls. We’re not. Are we going to get a chance to do your club sandwich? I don’t think we are, are we? Why not?

Chris: 37:28

or just time, time restraints. We need to get back, don’t we we? Need to maybe I could like pre-order pre to like yeah, get into delivery, delivery, delivery yeah that’s a good point uber eats me a club sandwich as a visitor.

Nish: 37:41

Actually, their website’s really good. It gives you loads of information about the club, which I found quite nice. You know it’s not a surprise as such when you get there, um, but it’s like this. The only annoying thing was it’s like one of these pdf things that it’s like a magazine, the page yeah, and it makes the noise as well, yeah, which I had my headphones on in full volume because I was editing an episode at the time and it was like I was like jesus christ, what’s going on here?

Chris: 38:06

but they’re dated. That feels a bit dated.

Nish: 38:08

Yeah, yeah, I think yeah, somebody’s obviously sold that as a. This is a great little benefit it looks like a magazine, do it as just a web page and yeah, you know, but having that was quite good, I quite, I quite like that because I’ve got a good. I think I could feel for the feel for the club.

Chris: 38:25

You have to send it to me.

Nish: 38:26

I’ll uh, I’ll read it as well yeah, no, I think it’s just, it’s on the side they’ve not, they’ve not sent anything out like they’ve not sent a guide or anything we got from, from sylith, but yeah, so so send them a guide. I digress. Are we doing what is the side bet then?

Jim: 38:43

are we doing a side bet because actually you’re in on it this time, so no, I if I win which is very unlikely then I’ll obviously take all the plaudits, but I think the challenge is strictly between you two. Okay, because you’re doing the whole 100.

Nish: 39:02

Fuck off.

Jim: 39:03

I’m not having that Right. If you’re playing. You’re in. Yeah, okay, so the 15th is 429 yards, yeah.

Nish: 39:15

It’s a tough tee shot that, Because it doglegs a bit Doglegs Rightio.

Jim: 39:19

I think it would be easy for me to say Longwood Strife, but I think that’s a bit boring. I’ve had an idea. I said the challenges.

Chris: 39:28

No, I do you have no power in this position. Number of shots to get on the green.

Nish: 39:33

That’s a good idea. Yeah, Something like that is a great shout. Yeah, I’m up for that and I’m up for that as well, because I’ve seen Chris’s chipping on occasions and it can be pretty shocking.

Jim: 39:45

Notably Moortown. Doink, doink, doink, doink, Backers and forwards. So what were you?

Nish: 39:47

thinking.

Jim: 39:48

The other one was Wait a minute we need to clarify this oh.

Chris: 39:52

When you say get on the green, does the stay on the green or can he just touch the?

Nish: 39:57

green, oh, are you saying lamb.

Jim: 39:58

Well.

Chris: 39:58

I’m thinking Moortown, I would have been on in three. I hit the green in three. It just then went off and then went off again. I mean I’d hit the green four more times than you by the time I stayed on that.

Nish: 40:09

I mean you could have won that at any point, Technically hitting the green.

Chris: 40:13

I love this we’re getting into the minutiae of the words you said hit the green you technically said hit the green.

Jim: 40:21

We must clarify this. I’ll write you a compliance manual for it.

Chris: 40:24

I would like that actually, jim.

Nish: 40:25

If you could do that, that would be very helpful it has to stay in the green can you imagine 96 more times Chris is going to be pulling out the technicality in your side bets now?

Jim: 40:35

I’m prepared for it now. When you say longest drive.

Nish: 40:39

Does that have to be with the driver? You know, yeah, okay, right, let’s do that you bought into it though, Number of shots to get to the green? Yeah and stay on the green. Stay on the green more importantly, oh, this is gonna be a good weekend I’m looking I’m looking forward to it. It’s a good addition, really good addition. Uh, that’s all for me. Does anybody have anything else they wish to add to their royal saint david’s preview experience?

Jim: 41:13

The course looks stunning. It does look stunning, and with that backdrop, yeah.

Nish: 41:22

We’re of an age now where we appreciate the scenery and the beauty and majesty of a golf course Detraction of the golfs, perhaps. Yeah, another video that I watched, and it’s this guy. He calls himself the bad golfer or whatever, and he was having an absolute mare, but he said the same thing. He was like I’m playing terribly, like I’m scoring nines and tens on every hole. However, this is a beautiful place to play golf and I appreciate that and it’s I’m happy, it’s fine. I’d rather be doing this than anything else yeah so that’s always a nice thing to.

Nish: 41:54

I’m not looking at you for any particular reason nines and tens, nines and tens.

Jim: 41:59

But yeah, no, it’s just.

Chris: 42:00

It’s just maybe it’s exciting to be back in the challenge and it’s exciting to be prepping for another another away day.

Nish: 42:07

What are you playing off that first tee? Are you going driver? Yeah, yeah, gotta do it haven’t you.

Chris: 42:12

I’m gonna call my driver for toffee at the minute, but yeah, why not? What’s the first hole?

Nish: 42:16

It’s got to be a par four, hasn’t it? I think it’s relatively straight 440 yards.

Chris: 42:22

428 yards, par four yeah, banging a driver down there. We’ll show them how it’s done.

Nish: 42:27

I’ll let you two go first and then I’ll see see what the conditions are I keep saying this, mate, but I think the way you drive the ball might just come up trumps in this course. You know, I think it might.

Jim: 42:37

Yeah, when we played it when we played in January. It was too soggy wasn’t it soggy?

Nish: 42:41

yeah, yeah. And even then it wasn’t disastrous it was still rolling quite a bit, so I think you know, you get. I whack it, don’t I? As long? Original the, not the original, the initial bit of crap that they put in front of the team I’ve got a very poor memory, but I think there was a little bit of that and again I would have played that off the off.

Chris: 43:01

The championship team, right, yeah, yeah, which one? You generally get just a lot of rough then, and then you’ll stick the championship team a bit further back. But, um, but yeah, there is a little bit of that. I think there’s a few holes where you’ve got a reasonable carry to get onto the fairway I think it’d be wind dependent doing it, wouldn’t it?

Nish: 43:14

if it’s really windy, then we’ll probably give ourselves a bit of a break and you can have an iron off the tee if you want to start from. I mean, I’m for t on links course is always a good, always a good shout, no matter how long the hole is that helped me when I hit my first one and it was like it went straight and where I wanted it to go, I was like yeah I mean, if you play.

Chris: 43:31

It’s a long hole. Anyway, you’re going to be able to drive a three iron to a par four. Yeah, you might as well hit a seven iron, seven iron wedge or something. Do you know what?

Nish: 43:38

I mean yeah, yeah, yeah.

Chris: 43:39

Keep it. You know, keep it on the fairway. Keep your ball in play.

Nish: 43:43

Yeah, but are you making the presumption? I hit my seven iron on the fairway.

Jim: 43:55

Yeah, but they no average 175 yards. Mate can’t believe it. Can’t hit the fire line for toffee.

Nish: 43:58

But tell you what next time we go to the sim I’ll bring the hair dryer and see I did um, I actually, because I had I don’t know how far I hit these clubs at the minute, like it’s a complete journey to the unknown. So my intention was to find out how far these are going to go. If the numbers that I was hitting or anything to go by, go by, I’ve gained 20 yards on each club. Now, that can’t be right. So we’ll see how that translates into real life, because all my oh, you’ve got more things to think about All my data’s gone.

Chris: 44:24

Mate, All my data’s gone because the clubs have changed.

Nish: 44:26

Now, yeah, that’s it, what is it? What is it? Is it a nine? Is it a nine, is it a five? I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. But then also with links of course, is a really good because you can, you can do the. I’ll play a 60% five iron and just nudge it up and it just keeps going and going and going. I just love links.

Chris: 44:45

I like that, I love. I love that shot making. That’s what. That’s what makes golf for me the perfect place to do it. You’ve also got to execute as well, but yeah.

Jim: 44:56

I’ll just think about it.

Nish: 44:58

We haven’t talked about the golf balls and how many we need to take, have we actually? Yet I might go and buy myself some reconditioned. I said to you the other day and I was like I feel like I want to upgrade myself to Pro V1s from my Callaway.

Chris: 45:12

Super Sox. I still can’t play with anything but a pro v1, even though I know I’m just gonna fucking lose them and not actually gain any benefits. I just feel like there’s a, there is a mental blocker there in my head that will not let me play with any of the ball.

Nish: 45:23

There was a dead funny moment when we were talking about this and uh, and lucy said so lucy’s chris’s wife. She said oh, yeah, because chris buys all these reconditioned ones. And chris went no, no, I started buying new ones. Now, yeah, he’s just gone from 20 pounds for a dozen to 50 pounds for a dozen.

Chris: 45:42

It’s coming out the joint account, lucy, so I mean it’s worth it for the extra five yards you get when you do just blast it into the rough and never see it again. I don’t know what that feels like, right, all you need to just wonder is what if itst best hotel in the world?

Jim: 45:55

yeah, yeah, yeah, and he’s paying joint account.

Nish: 45:59

Yeah, absolutely wonderful. Well, look, I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a good start to the year. Oh, it’s going to be a great start, can’t wait very much looking forward to it yeah, next time on the top 100 in 10 podcast we preview the second course in our Welsh trip and that’s Aberdovey Golf Club, and we’ve got a great story about how that has all developed. So stay tuned for that.