BLOG: Early bird or late show?

Opinion is often split in this particular debate - when is the best time to play golf? Tee off early and you get the best of the greens, the rest of the day to yourself. Play late and you might be struggling to get round before nightfall and held up by other like-minded nine to fivers. Give me the latter any day of the week.

A friend last week made all manner of excuses why he couldn't make a post-work tee-time before finally admitting that he feels 'very anxious' when playing golf any time after three o'clock and that he struggles to relax throughout the day.

Each to his own and all that but I am firmly in the other camp. Any tee-time before 9am normally follows a similar pattern for me. Stiff and awkward for the first couple, too hungry to concentrate by halfway and, by the time we are back on track, the final putts are being taken.

Play late and you've got the whole day to dream and argue over shots. Much of the day is spent clock-watching but plenty of that can be spent wisely kidding yourself that tonight will be different. Torrential rain and three hours of light were two small drawbacks as we set off at Leeds Golf Club last night at quarter to six.

Time might have been tight but this is another plus, in book anyway, as there isn't time to spend 10 minutes in the undergrowth or double-checking yardages and lines of putts. For those of you unaware of Leeds GC, or Cobble Hall as it is affectionately known, it is the oldest club in the city. Dr Alistair Mackenzie, architect of the Old Course, Augusta, Troon and Prestwick to name but a few, was one the club's former members at the turn of the 20th century and, during that time, gave advice on the layout and bunkering so it is no surprise that the course is a cracker.

A mature, parkland track it is beautifully maintained with generous greens and some stunning views of north Leeds. It is also, thankfully, not overly long so a threeball can just about scrape round in approximately three hours even if the last was played out in near darkness.

There are two other benefits of a late start. Most of us tend to play a bit better than normal by not over complicating matters and, better still, you can then head straight to the bar with a clear conscience. If you still think clubhouses are stuffy and pretentious try Cobble Hall if you're in the Leeds area and be ready to be surprised.

By Mark Townsend

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