FairwayOne Golf day plan Single Golf Day · USD 19
Four players, mixed handicaps, one Friday in October
Course shortlist, the right tee time for this group, and the arrival plan that stops a 09:12 becoming an 09:40.
The spread from 8 to a beginner is the whole problem with this day. A course that suits the 8 will humiliate the beginner and slow the group to five and a half hours. This plan picks for the widest handicap, sets a tee time that gives you room behind, and puts the beginner somewhere they will enjoy it.
Parkland, generous off the tee, no forced carries and a green fee that does not punish a beginner having a bad day. Play it off the yellow tees regardless of what the 8 handicap says, and take the 09:12 rather than the 08:00 so you are not pushed by a society behind you.
Courses
Three, matched to the group
| Type | Forced carries | Beginner fit | Fee | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorsemoor | Parkland | None | Good | USD 78 | 4h 15m |
| Carrick Links | Links | Three | Poor | USD 145 | 4h 45m |
| Alderbrook | Heathland | One | Workable | USD 96 | 4h 30m |
Carrick Links is the best course of the three and the worst choice for this group. Three forced carries with a beginner means three lost balls, three drops and a group behind you by the sixth.
Timing
Why 09:12 and not 08:00
- 08:20
Arrive, all four
Fifty minutes before the tee. Not thirty. With a beginner you need time for a bag, shoes, a scorecard and finding out that somebody forgot balls.
- 08:35
Range or putting green, twenty minutes
Range for the beginner specifically. The first swing of the day should not be in front of three other people on the first tee.
- 09:05
On the tee, cards marked
Sort the order now: 8 handicap first, beginner second. Following a good drive is easier than leading.
- 09:12
Away
October, so the course is quiet before ten and busy from eleven. This slot puts you ahead of the mid-morning traffic and behind the early societies.
- 13:30
In, and eat
The clubhouse serves food until 15:00. Booking a table is not necessary on a Friday but telling them four are coming in about 13:30 is appreciated and gets you served faster.
| Slot | Why not |
|---|---|
| 07:30 to 08:00 | Dew, slow greens, and you would all be leaving home at six |
| 08:00 to 09:00 | Society block goes out at 08:30 on Fridays. You would be caught by the tenth |
| 09:12 | Recommended. Clear ahead, nothing pushing from behind |
| 10:00 onwards | Busiest two hours of a Friday. A five hour round with a beginner is not fun for anyone |
| After 13:00 | October light. You would be finishing in the dusk on 17 and 18 |
Practical
Cost, kit and what to confirm
| Item | Each | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Green fee, October weekday | USD 78 | Winter rate starts 1 November at USD 54 |
| Buggy, two shared | USD 19 | Worth it. Gorsemoor is hilly on the back nine |
| Club hire for the beginner | USD 28 | Confirm availability when booking, they have four sets |
| Food after | USD 22 | Clubhouse, no booking needed on a Friday |
| Balls for the beginner | USD 14 | Buy a dozen used at the pro shop, not new |
| Total | USD 161 | About USD 95 lower than the same day at Carrick |
- Tee time booked for four at 09:12
- Club hire reserved, they only have four sets
- Yellow tees agreed before anyone gets out of the car
- Dress code checked: no denim, collared shirt
- Beginner told to pick up after double par and keep moving
- Buggies reserved, they run out on Fridays