Move Is On!!!

Finally....at last....we have a definite date.
The last of the work is being completed this weekend. We can start cleaning and moving stuff in next week.
It's been a long wait but we're finally there. It looked like another postponement was on the cards as the painter was late getting to house but he got there so all is good.

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Howya now

I know the posts have slackened off over the last couple of months or so but with good reason. I've been busy. That and the fact I've had no internet connection at home.

There's a few things I've wanted to write about. First, is my new house. It's nearly finished. After nearly 20 months of slogging at the weekends, of deciding what colour kitchen to what colour paint for each of the rooms. The last decision was made last week and that's it. No more changes or looking at something else, or being asked for my opinion on whether this unit would look better in this room or that room or will we change it altogether. I know I'm whinging and sound like I didn't enjoy being so involved the the building of the house but I actually loved it. There is something very rewarding about looking at some part of the house and know that I had something to do with getting it done, however small it may be. Hoping to move in Friday week. I'll post a few pics in a bit.

Next on my list is the Vodafone 3G Broadband modem. On their website they have a map of the coverage that they provide a service for. Athenry, where I live, is supposed to have their 3G broadband speeds. I say supposed. No where near broadband speeds. I've tried the modem in a few different locations around the town and I can't get speeds anywhere near what they say is available. I got the modem last week but only got it hooked up on Thursday last. I have to contact them regarding it, because it's not cheap.

Next up is my golfing. I got to play the Monty course at Carton House a couple of Sundays ago. Class layout, course a bit dull but very testing. If you have the misfortune of finding the bunkers you'll need a ladder to get in and out of them. I had only managed 18 holes on the course and 45 mins on the range since the Cecil Ewing final. The 18 holes I played were an awful mixed bag, ranging from ok to dreadful. So to be honest I actually thought about pulling out of the trip to Kildare. Was I glad I didn't. I managed to play pretty good for the day. I had 21 points at the turn, and although I only managed another 10 on the back 9 it wasn't solely because of bad shots. I did have a few bad ones, with my short game really showing up my lack of regular play. I hit alot of good shots only to find bunkers or a bad lie. All in all I was very happy with how I played and was glad I went. I'm really looking forward to when my time i my own again and I get get back out playing regularly. (House nearly finished so I'll soon have my weekends back).

Last but not least, if you know of anyone looking to buy a house in the West of Ireland you could do alot worse than the house I'm moving from. Up for sale now with Remax. If you know of anyone interested mail me at pleader@mac.com

Later

Been a While

I know it's been a while since my last update but I'm in the middle of moving to my new house.
As a result I have has to cancel by broadband connection while Eircom gets me set up.

Hopefully it won't be too much longer......

Connaught Champions

We went down to Carrick-On-Shannon yesterday for the 2nd leg of the Cecil Ewing shield. We had a 3-2 advantage from the 1st leg and were looking to win at least 2 matches to make sure we could go to a play-off.
Myself and Jim were up in our match from the 2nd hole. And bar 2 holes that we halved when we should have been lost them we were never in any danger of loosing the match. (We kept our 100% record together. The 5 matches I played with Jim and the match win in the first round gave me a 100% record for the whole competition. )
We were well beaten in the first 2 matches and were down in the other 2 after 10 holes. A come back in both of the matches before mine gave us a 3-2 win on the day, with a 6-4 win over the 2 legs.
It was a great feeling to win. Well worth all the time spent traveling and preparing for the matches.

Athenry Golf Club. Cecil Ewing Shield Champions 2007.

Class

iPhone gets launch date for UK

Apple and O2 have revealed that they are to release the iPhone in the UK in November. Apparently O2 are taking a big hit to be the ones who carry the iPhone. No word of when it will hit the Irish market yet, but with alot of unblocked phones readily available to buy on eBay and run on any network in Ireland it can't be too long before Apple cop that they are loosing money.

I've bought one of the new iPod Touch's so I'm not in as much of a rush to buy one of the phones but if it were to launch here next week chances are I'd be in the que to buy one. Can't beat a good gadget and the iPhone is THE gadget.

My New Ping Raptures

I recently aquired a set of Callaway X20 irons. I got them through my uncle. I hit them ok but wasn't really tempted to leave Ping irons.
The option came up to trade them in against a new set of Ping Raptures. I've been hitting my G5's really well lately so the raptures had to be at least as good before I'd consider changing. I hit them at the range and I could definitely see an improvement. At least 15 yards longer.
So the decision was made - the x20's for the raptures. Still have my G5's and I'm not sure that I'll start using the raptures till after the final next Saturday. I'm going to play 9 holes tomorrow evening and see how I get on.

Cecil Ewing Connaught Final

Well, we won the home leg 3-2. It gives us a slight advantage to bring with us to Carrick-On-Shannon next Saturday. I won my match and played fairly well doing so. Bar on duff chip and a couple of wayward drives I was very happy with how I played.
Hopefully we can get the result we want on Saturday and bring the title back to Athenry with us.

The Captain's prize presentation as held on Saturday also. For my 4th place finish I won a nice set of cutlery. Very fancy indeed!!!

New Taxi Service for Dublin

Cecil Ewing Connaught Final

We play the first leg of the final tomorrow against Carrick On Shannon. First pairing goes out at 1.30pm, with the first leg been played in Athenry. 2nd leg to be played in Carrick on the 22nd.

I'm out in the last pairing. Keeping the fingers cross we can bring a decent advantage up to Carrick with us next week.

Come on Athenry!!!

Time for Stan to Go

While I have always been a fan of Steve Staunton, both as a Liverpool and Ireland player, I couldn't believe it when he emerged the successor to Brian Kerr as Ireland manager. He appeared to me to be the cheapest the FAI could get that they thought the fans would accept. I know people will point to the run of unbeaten games that Ireland have gone on during the last 10 games or so as proof that we have made progress under Staunton. Some other people may ask that if not Staunton, who? But it is, plain and simply, time for Staunton to go.

While he was a good player he is not even an ok manager. It's hard to criticise him too much. Who wouldn't, if asked, not want to manage their country? The fault lies with the FAI. Delaney and Co. should also get the bullet. Look at the way the English FA run their association. They have a proper set up. Not people looking after their own skin. Delaney should have gone after the whole Saipan incident. Paid a fortune for the Genesis report and then practically ignored it. Typical.

We've fallen to about 36th in the world rankings and after the draw last Saturday coupled with tonight's defeat I'd say we're going to slide even further back. I think we have a decent enough squad - not great but good enough.

We need to get someone in who has experience - the more the better. And the sooner the better too!!!

I gave in!!!

I watched Steve Jobs' keynote presentation from last week over the weekend. The ipod touch looks so class I couldn't resist. I bought myself one of the 16gb versions today. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well the wifi works in the hot spots around town. The widescreen display really makes browsing the album artwork look class.

I was going to hold out for the iphone but with Ireland not likely to be included in the first european countries it's launched in I splashed out. They're shipping for near the end of September so should have it some stage during the first week in October.

Can't wait!!

Miss Teen South Carolina

This thing is doing the rounds on the net now. The video of Miss Teen South Carolina making an ass of herself.
Ben and Eric from benanderic.com have done a version of the Plain White T's Delilah. Absolutely brilliant.

Liverpool FC to Launch TV Channel

Liverpool are to launch their own tv station on the 20th Sept. All of Liverpool's matches will be shown on the channel (not live coverage, though I might add). What will be shown liver will be all the reserve team matches as well as some of the youth team games.

Along with the game coverage there will be interviews with the current squad of players and management. They will also feature some of the former Anfield greats.

All in all I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be included with the Setanta Sports channels. Got it in for the PGA Tour this year so I'm all set.

Bring on the 20th!!!

Dilemma

Apple have launched a new iPod called the iPod Touch. Very similar to the iPhone.
I have decided that I'm definitely getting the iPhone, whenever it makes an appearence on the Irish market.
My problem is that the new iPod Touch looks the business. Don't know if I can resist.....

New Direction

I've decided to take the blog in a different direction, well, many directions.
I'm going to post about whatever I want, from golf to football, from whatever is happening on the world that takes my fancy to whatever is pissing me off.

Stay tuned.

Captain's Prize. Day 2

Well I'm not going to go into as much detail as I did for last week's round as I don't have the time to write that much and it wasn't as good a score as last week's either. At saying that though, it wasn't that bad. I was out at 9.30 on Sunday morning. Weather was good and the course was again looking great. I started by drilling my drive right down the middle of the 1st fairway. I went on to par the 1st and the 2nd.

A pulled shot on the 3rd put me in the trees. And although I found the edge of the green with my second shot I ended up 3 putting for a double. It was the first of three par-3s that I would double bogie. Although I had alot of bogies and some pars I finished up shooting a net 73. That included a quadruple bogie on the par 4 11th. I wouldn't mind but I hit a good drive and came up just short of the green with my second shot. Ball ended up in a bunker, which took 2 to get out of. Ball ran off the back of the green. I then chipped about 14ft passed the hole and then proceeded to 3 putt. Not my finest moment.

The 73 combined with the first round score of 66, giving me a combined 139 was well good enough to get me in to the last 9-hole playoff. I was 4 shots back at the start of the 9 holes. I shot a net 1 over for the nine holes which meant I finished with a level par 175.

An that score was good enough for 4th place. Not to bad if I say so myself. Well happy with that. If I don't sound that excited about it, it's probably because I should have come 2nd. But that's another story........

Presidents coming up in a few weeks so looking forward to that one. Until then though I'm going to revel in my glory...........

Quick Apology

I just wanted to say sorry for the long winded post on my last update. I'm not sure how many people read this blog, if any at all. Mostly I write it for myself but if you do read it then hope I didn't bore you too much!!!

I found out today that I'm out on Sunday morning at 9.30. I'm playing in Newcastle Golf Club in an Am-Am on Saturday morning so hopefully it warms me up for Sunday and doesn't use up too much of my luck. Fingers crossed.

Later.....

Captains Prize 2007 Day 1

The Captains prize format this year is over 45 holes. Round one consists of 18 holes with the top 64 players qualifying for another 18 holes a week later. The top 27 then proceed to play a final 9 holes that afternoon with the winner coming from that.

The first round was played on Saturday and Sunday last. I had put my name down for 2 - 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Any of the names in that hourly slot were drawn out into groups of three. I got drawn with a guy I didn't know and Philly, one of my friends I regularly play with. Both of got out on the Thursday previous for a bit of practice and we both said we'd have a quite night on the Friday.

Our tee time was set for 2.56. Off we went. My first drive was not too bad but it put me in a spot where I couldn't go for the green. I had to knock it out about 60 metres. I was left with about 120m in. I hit a decent 8 iron right at the pin, but with the pin placed right behind the bunker I came up just short. With the sand very heavy I didn't get it out at the first attempt. A 2 putt followed. A 7 at the first. I thought it was going to be one of those days. On to the 2nd...

My drive on the 2nd was worse than the first. Into heavy rough, and behind trees. I took my pitching wedge and let fly. I got it out over the trees and onto the rough on the left of the fairway about 90m from the green. All in all, a good shot if not a bit lucky. With the wedge in my hand again I got it to 10 feet. I read the putt well and in it fell. Par. 3 over through 2. A bit happier headin to the 3rd.

I hit a good rescue club off the tee to about 25ft. Another 2 putt nets another par. I felt the confidence brewing.

With hardly a wisp of air blowing I decide on a 3 wood but I don't connect well and I pull it slightly to the left. I had a decent line into the green and went at it with an 8-iron. I hit the green but it runs off onto the first cut. I was left with a 25ft putt with about a 4 foot break - left to right. In it rolls. 1 under for 3 holes - 2 over through my first 4 holes. Not too bad at all.

A bogie on the fifth , bogie on the 6th and a bogie on the long par 4 7th followed. 5 over through 7.

With a decent drive on the par 5 8th I was in good nick for my 2nd. I was hoping to leave it about 90m short of green. I cut across the ball with my 3-wood and knock it in under trees. I had a bit of room under there to knock it out. I was in the rough about 60m out. A bad wedge shot saw me with a difficult putt. A rush of blood on the putt saw me knock it about 12 ft passed the hole. Another 2 putts saw me leave with a 7. 7 over through 8.

A decent drive on the 9th gave me a good chance of reaching the green in 2. A slightly pushed 5-iron left me just off the right edge of the green. I chipped to 12ft and 2 putted for a bogie. 8 over through the first 9 holes. Going good.

The 2nd 9 got going with a cut drive and more trees. I managed to find the fairway another 100m up. A 5-iron found the rough in the right hand side of the green. A chip and 2 putts result in a bogie. Going good.

My drive on the 11th ended up on the right hand side of the fairway. I was left with about a 5 or 6-iron in. I deceided on the 6-iron and let fly. It was hit well but a little off line. It ball rested on the left hand side of the green, down on the first tier. The pin was about 30 feet away with a nasty hill to climb. I sized up the putt, decided on my line and hit it. To my absolute delight it rolls in - another birdie. Back to 8 over.

The re-designed tee boxes of the 12th waited. I hit a rescue club off the tee. The ball stopped on the rough just at the back of the green. I tried a little chip shot but the ball caught the first cut and didn't release. A 2-putt followed which put me at 9 over through 12.

I hit a great drive off the tee on 13. A slight draw which suited the right to left dog-leg layout of the 13th hole. I was about 160m out so I attacked the ball with my 7-iron. Too much. The abll ran through the green and finished pirched up on the bank. I now faced a very tricky shot. I would have to hit down on the abll to get it up onto the green - too hard and it would end up in the bunker on the far side - too easy and it wouldn't make it out the rough. I managed to hit it somewhere in between. The ball came to a stop about 30ft passed the hole, but at least it was still on the green. I was thinking I could manage a 2-putt no problem. I picked another good line and hit it well. Par. Absolutly over the moon.

I cut my drive on the 14th. The ball ended up on the 15th fairway. I had a line in but with the pin on the right side of the green I had to get over alot of trees protecting that edge of the green. I hit in a 5-iron and caught it well enough - but not well enough to clear the trees. The ball came down in the trees. I had a shot through the trees and managed to get it on for 3. My par putt was decent. It had a look in but never dropped. To be honest a bogie on this hole was a good result. 10 over through 14.

The 15th tee box is well back in the trees so a drive too much to the left or right is in trouble. My drive was down the middle of the opening. The 15th hole bends to the left as you move down it. My ball was on the right hand side rough. In the first cut so I had a decent lie. I hit my rescue club to the back of the green. A decent birdie chance coming up. I gave it a good shot but it just rolled behind the hole. A tap in par. I'll take that any day on the 15th.

As I arrived on the 16th tee box I must admit I was feeling confident and maybe a little cocky. Down to earth I came. I pulled my drive into the overgrown heather running up the left of the 16th fairway. I was in trouble. This could be a card wrecker. I hit a provisional but something was off as I skied that one. As me and my two playing partners searched for the ball I couldn't help but think to myself that it was typical. 10 over through 15 holes. Too good to be true. But then just as I was beginning to give up all hope Philly finds it. Not in too bad a shape. I was hoping to knock it out onto the 15th fairway but with the way the ball was lying in the heather I could only come at it in one direction. I took my 7-iron, decided on my direction and with all my power. I let rip. I kept my head down on this one. When I lifted it up I could see it flying onto the fairway. Someone definitely had my back. Although I ended up taking a 6 on the hole I was very happy to be walking to the 17th tee at 12 over.

The par 3 17th has always been a tricky hole for me. I either stitch it or knock it into the trees on the right. And wouldn't you know it, I had to find the trees. I had a small gap to knock it onto the green and managed to get it on. Another 2 putt and I was heading to the final hole at 13 over.

The tee box on the 18th is further back in the forrest than the 15th. A slightly pushed drive puts me in the bunker on the right. With a 7-iron in my hand I thin it and knock the ball to the front of the green. I chipped it to about 15 ft and narrowly missed the par putt. A bogie gives me a finished score of 84, 14 over and with my handicap of 18 results in a net 66.

Unbelievable. We were met coming off the 18th green by the Captain. Philly tells him my score and to our delight he tells us that it's the leading score. After the rest of Saturday's play and all of Sunday no one could beat my 66. I win the first round and qualify for the next round of the Captain's prize. Best feeling I've had playing golf. Winning the comp last year doesn't come close. I'm really looking forward to next weekend now. I'll have to try and work on my pitching and chipping but if the rest of my game more or less holds then I should be ok. I'm not saying I'll win it. I'd be happy as long as I give it a decent go.

The score also gets me cut to 16.8 which has me paying off 17 now.

Class or what.......

Clubs

Here are a couple of pics of my clubs.
I've the Callaway FT-i driver. My 3-wood, 21 deg and 18 deg rescue clubs are Ping Raptures. My irons are Ping G5's and my putter is a Ping G2 Craz-E. I also 2 Ping tour wedges, a 60 deg and 52 deg.

Up and Down

Hey all!!

I know I said I'd put up a post about my round which got me cut to 18 but I think I've left it too long as I don't remember much.
It was a very windy day, it didn't look like a score much less than par would win. I was happy with my score and happy to get cut.

Alot of my recent good form is down to me giving myself a second shot. I bought the new Callaway FT-i driver, the square one, (I'll stick up a pic or two later) and my driving accuracy has really improved. I'm now hitting fairways, well most of the time anyway. Having a 2nd shot is half the battle. It's not good if you have to knock the ball out sideways 5 or 6 times a round.

I got out for another comp last weekend but I wish I didn't bother. Started off pretty decent. I was 5 over after 8 but it had started raining by about the time we got to the 3rd hole. When we reached the 9th tee box we were well wet. Rain gear is great but when your glove and grips are wet and you're umbrella is going up and down like it's going out of fashion it's not easy to keep a round going, especially when you've only managed to get out 2 times in 6 weeks - I should say that the reason I wasn't out playing for so long is that my wife was pregnant. Our son was born on the 14th May. A future major winner?!!
So from the 9th on things were ranging from decent to absolute rubbish to good. I finished with a score of 29 points. no where near good enough to be even near featuring.

Hoping to get out this weekend. We'll have to see how the new boss is.

The Cut

Just a quick update to let ye know that I'm now playing off 18. After a decent round in the comp last Sunday I got cut .6 which has me playing off 18 now.

I'll stick another post up later about Sunday's round later.

Till then....

We're Back!!!!

Well, now that the long evenings are back we can get out and play some golf. I had intended on updating the blog during the winter months but between one thing and another I didn't.

This is just a quick update to say we're up and running again.

We'll get a right update sorted tomorrow.

Sleep tight.