Ganz unverhofft spiel ich morgen nun mein erstes Turnier. Ich war zwar im letzten Sommer und Herbst schon das eine oder andere Mal auf der Bahn – und hab auch dieses Jahr schon zwei Runden gespielt. Aber nun wirds ernst und ich weiß nicht, wie ich das finden soll. Ich kram jetzt erstmal das Regelbuch raus und such ein sauberes Hemd (mit Kragen!)…aber woran muss ich wohl noch alles denken? Mein Niveau ist ungefähr das von Anke – minus ein paar Schläge. Bei lockeren Bierrunden hab ich auch schon mal eine Runde auf dem Niveau Hc 40 gespielt. Die Regel ist aber eher Hc 50. So werd ich wohl dem einen oder anderen der vielen Medien-Vips mit meiner Ballsuche den Weg versperren und am Wasserhindernis peimlich im Regelbuch blättern. Wenn ich wenigstens ein Chefredakteur wäre…

Nunja…bin nervös und werde nach der Schlacht berichten. Drückt mir die Daumen, gebt mir Tipps und wünscht mir das Gemüt meines großen Vorbildes Hawkeye P.! L.

I always felt good playing the East Course of GC Stolper Heide. Somehow this course suited me and my game. So yesterday it was time to put the money where the mouth is as I played my first tournament there.

The title of the tournament was “Schnitzel-Cup” as the organiser is the owner of a Schnitzel restaurant here in Berlin. At least you didn’t have to worry about a decent halfway catering.

The tournament was played with a simultaneous start (is there a word for “Kanonenstart” in english?), and we started at the third tee, a 156m par three that was also venue for the mens “Nearest to the Pin”-valuation. I was joined by Manek and Dirk and as a threesome we made us on the way.

And I started with the best result ever in a tournament. My six iron landed within two meters of the flag, and so my first shot of the tournament won me the “Nearest to the Pin”. A two-putt secured par.

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Last november, I played my first matchplay against Christopher. Actually, this was part of a little matchplay tournament of our Berlin golf group and that game was the quarter final. We then had to suspend the tournament because of the winter, but we now take off with the semi-final. That is against Daniel and the venue will be the GC Stolper Heide on saturday.

As there will be a regular tournament here, Daniel and I signed up for the tournament and asked to be put in the same flight that we can play our matchplay parallel. I am not sure if this will be confusing me or if that will affect my game strategy (as if I had any in the first place). Maybe I’ll just whack the ball and see where it lands.

Daniel will go out with a playing handicap of 24, mine will be 40, giving me a 16 stroke advantage. When my game comes together like the last time it did when I played the course I should give Daniel a hard time. Wish me luck!

The Bowler Tour is around since 2004, I just bumped into one of their flyers two days ago on the driving range. On March 6th – upcoming saturday – they will play their first annual tournament at GC Prenden: the Caddie Cup.

It looks like this won’t be your ordinary tournament as the flyer clearly states Dresscode: Goldfinger. Two player team up and share a bag that will be carried by the teampartners alternately hole by hole. Apart from your usual special valuation there will be one called “Best Outfit”. So you better get those knickerbockers and hickory clubs out and play in style. Players Party will be celebrated in the Capitol Yard Golf Lounge.

The Bowler Tour plays two more tournaments this year, the Martini Cup on the am 15. of July 2006 and the Bowler Golf Cup on October 7th.

According to a news bulleting of Langer Sport Marketing, the German Masters will be continued in 2007.

The tournaments future was insecure after longtime Sponsor Linde ended it’s title sponsorship end of last year. The tournament was established in 1987 after Bernhard Langers first US Masters victory and will celebrate it’s 20th birthday next year.

The tournament includes past winners such as Sandy Lyle (1987), José Maria Olazábal (1988), Sam Torrance (1990), Seve Ballesteros (1994), Darren Clarke (1995), Colin Montgomerie (1998), Sergio Garcia (1999), Michael Campbell (2000), K.J. Choi (2003), Padraig Harrington (2004), Retief Goosen (2005) as well as host and only multiple winner Bernhard Langer (1998, 1991, 1997 und 2001).

The new tournament concept and further details will be published lateron this year.

Hole 11, a 155m par 3

The GC Kallin (satellite view) is besides Prenden, the course I played most of the time in my short golf career. My wife and I played the – very narrow – nine hole course very often and after my handicap got below 45, I played the 18 hole course more often. Last sunday the GC Kallin was venue to my second tournament of the year, including the Red Bull Final 5 valuation (as already introduced).

After my disastrous tournament at GC Semlin it was time to overcome the disbelief in my game and give things a new shot. Playing on home turf surely helps there. I arrived way ahead of my tee time and took all the time it took to warm up. The plan was clear: no woods, only solid irons, no experiments. Luckily, my 4 iron felt good at warmup, so it earned a spot in the relevant set for the tournament.

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Check back for more later here!

We are trying to put a team together for the Matchplay League Germany.

The idea is to form a team of at least two to a maximum of eight players. On each tournament day, two players of one team play against another team in a best-ball-match.

Tournaments will be played in three leagues: 1st League, 2nd League and Regional League. In the first seaseon, teams can choose in which league they start. In the following seasons teams can descend and ascend through the leagues according to their performance. The best 16 teams will play a national finale.

Should be fun! Anybody interested to join us? Then e-mail me at ah (at) golfers-delight (dot) de.

The Wynn Las Vegas resort-casino will host “The Ultimate Game” golf finals next year, with the winner taking home the biggest prize in golf, company officials said Tuesday.In the tournament, players pay a $50,000 entry fee, then compete for the pooled funds. The winner will take home $2 million.

Organizers noted the winner’s purse was the best in golf, topping The Players Championship at $1.44 million and the British Open at $1.21 million.

Those who win at least two match-play rounds will win back their initial stakes. Half of the starting pool of 160 players will be eliminated in each of the first four rounds of match play.

The final 10 players will compete in a two-day, 36-hole winner-take-all stroke-play competition June 6-8 at the Wynn Las Vegas Golf Course and Country Club. (via)

Well, Las Vegas just invented something new they can bet upon. And I bet that the revenues will by far outnumber the $2 million purse.

… at least today, playing the first tournament of the year at Golfclub Semlin. I totally left my short game at home, best score was a bogey on a par three, I won’t talk about the rest. Alongside me fellow golf blogger Tyler Durden playing a solid round with some good iron play. That’s what I should have done. Maybe I just go and chop down a tree in terms of anger management.

Update: 33 gross points and 15 net points won the tournament. Still made last.