Round Report 2011

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]The guys I play with on the weekend come out and play in the evenings. Several of them have seen the score I posted and have called me to congratulate me. It feels good. Thanks to you guys, too. I'm hoping it is a sign of good things to come. What should my next goal be? Subpar?[/QUOTE]
Beating me, i would think ... :-)

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player]Congrats Sooner, that's a great score and even more sweet with the 67's in the bag.
So was it one of those days where you were hitting everything sweet?

I've had days where I hit most fairways and greens and get up and down on most greens I miss. I've had other days when I hardly hit a green but keep getting up and down to save par and the scores are similar.

At three over I'm guessing everything was clicking? i.e. Driving in the fairway, most GIR and no three putts?[/QUOTE]

Yes, everything seemed to be clicking today. I had several GIRs, I drove the ball fairly well, but it was my chipping and putting that really helped me score today.

[QUOTE=daveperkins]Beating me, i would think ... :-)[/QUOTE]

In time, Sensei, in time . . . . . . .

[QUOTE=poe4soul]Wow, one step at a time. I'd just try to keep my head down and don't get too cocky. The golf gods will certainly make an example out of you. Just try to hit fairways and greens. The rest should take care of itself.

Btw goals to me are something you can control. A score has many elements and are results of many things. I just try to keep working on my weaknesses. Who knows the next round it might be blowing 20-30 with 50 mph gusts. I talked to my old man this last week. He shot 33 on the front and was certain he was going to shoot his age. Then the wind picked up and he shot a 40 on the back. One over his age.[/QUOTE]

I hear what you are saying and you're right. I know I'm not going to go out tomorrow and start golfing subpar. The first time I broke 80 (which was last year sometime) I didn't break 80- again for almost 3 months. The last 2 weeks I have not had a score higher than 82, but have only managed to break 80 once before today. So, I know a more realistic goal is to strengthen my areas of weakness, which I will continue to do.

It's funny how much the brain plays into the golf game though. After 9 holes I looked at the scorecard and realized I had shot even par for the first time in my life. I then started thinking about my score. I stepped up to the 10 hole, a 176 Par 3 over a small pond. The pond should NEVER come into play on this hole, but I topped it off the tee box and sent it into the pond. This is where I picked up my only double bogey. I went to birdie the next hole. About hole #15, I was only 1 over par again. I started thinking about my score. I then managed to play tentative instead of loose and bogeyed 2 out of the last 3 holes. As long as I play loose and concentrate on one shot at a time, I do really well. Whenever I start looking at the big picture, I suck. I'm getting better at handling pressure (we play team golf every day where we have 3-5 man teams and take best 2 scores), but I still have a ways to go. Fundamentals can be improved, but the mind play has to improve with the skills in order to get the scores down.

By the way, it's almost always windy here in Oklahoma this time of the year. Today we had a West wind that blew 20-30 all day.

Well done Sooner. Great score and most of all a confidence booster to help you believe that shooting in the 70's regularly is achievable. Granted just about everything has to go right to shoot a score like that and the golfing gods don't allow that to often. However the self belief and the mental attitude have to be there to consistently shoot good scores. so more power to you and keep up the good work.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]I hear what you are saying and you're right. I know I'm not going to go out tomorrow and start golfing subpar. The first time I broke 80 (which was last year sometime) I didn't break 80- again for almost 3 months. The last 2 weeks I have not had a score higher than 82, but have only managed to break 80 once before today. So, I know a more realistic goal is to strengthen my areas of weakness, which I will continue to do.

It's funny how much the brain plays into the golf game though. After 9 holes I looked at the scorecard and realized I had shot even par for the first time in my life. I then started thinking about my score. I stepped up to the 10 hole, a 176 Par 3 over a small pond. The pond should NEVER come into play on this hole, but I topped it off the tee box and sent it into the pond. This is where I picked up my only double bogey. I went to birdie the next hole. About hole #15, I was only 1 over par again. I started thinking about my score. I then managed to play tentative instead of loose and bogeyed 2 out of the last 3 holes. As long as I play loose and concentrate on one shot at a time, I do really well. Whenever I start looking at the big picture, I suck. I'm getting better at handling pressure (we play team golf every day where we have 3-5 man teams and take best 2 scores), but I still have a ways to go. Fundamentals can be improved, but the mind play has to improve with the skills in order to get the scores down.

By the way, it's almost always windy here in Oklahoma this time of the year. Today we had a West wind that blew 20-30 all day.[/QUOTE]

Good new is that things are always easier the second time. You won't be a nervous 'cause you've been there before. Nerves are crazy. I remember miller saying dusten Johnson is a flat liner. He never gets nervous or excited. That's hard for most of us to do but I can see its advantage in golf.

Well, I went out today in a rare almost windless day in Oklahoma and shot an 86. Everything that could go wrong today went wrong. After about the 6 hole, realizing I would not be having a repeat of yesterday's score, I lost a bit of concentration. I was scrambling most of the day behind trees, duffing chips, and just not getting the ball in the hole. I absolutely self destructed.

Good news is that it is done and I can now settle down and go back to concentrating next week. I will go back to playing loose and trying to just hit each shot well.

Well, I went out today in a rare almost windless day in Oklahoma and shot an 86. Everything that could go wrong today went wrong. After about the 6 hole, realizing I would not be having a repeat of yesterday's score, I lost a bit of concentration. I was scrambling most of the day behind trees, duffing chips, and just not getting the ball in the hole. I absolutely self destructed.

Good news is that it is done and I can now settle down and go back to concentrating next week. I will go back to playing loose and trying to just hit each shot well.

Guys, I shot ANOTHER 74 today! That is two 74 rounds in the last 3 rounds of golf I have played. Today I had two eagles and one birdie. I eagle came off a chip from just off the green and the other came on a 20 foot putt that capped another guy's cat who had a 2 foot putt for eagle. I ended up winning the only two cats today out of 10 players. We tied on teams so there was not any money exchanged that way.

The thing is I was able to do it today while having one of my worse rounds yet from off the tees. I just couldn't get my driver to do what I wanted it to do. But, the MP-67s were right on target and my putting was very good.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]Guys, I shot ANOTHER 74 today! That is two 74 rounds in the last 3 rounds of golf I have played. Today I had two eagles and one birdie. I eagle came off a chip from just off the green and the other came on a 20 foot putt that capped another guy's cat who had a 2 foot putt for eagle. I ended up winning the only two cats today out of 10 players. We tied on teams so there was not any money exchanged that way.

The thing is I was able to do it today while having one of my worse rounds yet from off the tees. I just couldn't get my driver to do what I wanted it to do. But, the MP-67s were right on target and my putting was very good.[/QUOTE]
This is the part when I tell you I told you so. If you can do it one more time within the month you are a bona fide 70s shooter.

[quote=SoonerBS]Guys, I shot ANOTHER 74 today! That is two 74 rounds in the last 3 rounds of golf I have played. Today I had two eagles and one birdie. I eagle came off a chip from just off the green and the other came on a 20 foot putt that capped another guy's cat who had a 2 foot putt for eagle. I ended up winning the only two cats today out of 10 players. We tied on teams so there was not any money exchanged that way.

The thing is I was able to do it today while having one of my worse rounds yet from off the tees. I just couldn't get my driver to do what I wanted it to do. But, the MP-67s were right on target and my putting was very good.[/quote]

Good job Sooner. Sounds like your game is really coming together but I do have to ask, what is the length of the golf course? Second question...what the heck is a cat? I've heard of skins but not cats.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]Guys, I shot ANOTHER 74 today! That is two 74 rounds in the last 3 rounds of golf I have played. Today I had two eagles and one birdie. I eagle came off a chip from just off the green and the other came on a 20 foot putt that capped another guy's cat who had a 2 foot putt for eagle. I ended up winning the only two cats today out of 10 players. We tied on teams so there was not any money exchanged that way.

The thing is I was able to do it today while having one of my worse rounds yet from off the tees. I just couldn't get my driver to do what I wanted it to do. But, the MP-67s were right on target and my putting was very good.[/QUOTE]

Congrats Sooner, another great round. Two Eagles in one round will definitely help out the score card!

Great that you have done it twice with the 67's in the bag! :cool:

Where is Edgey on this? The silence from across the pond is deafening! :D

[QUOTE=famousdavis]Good job Sooner. Sounds like your game is really coming together but I do have to ask, what is the length of the golf course? Second question...what the heck is a cat? I've heard of skins but not cats.[/QUOTE]

It is 6,318 yards from the tips which is what we play from.

A cat to us may be what you guys call a skin. We play skins on the weekend where if you win a skin, you win every hole from the last skin up your skin. Cats are what we play during the week along with our team games and that is simply where you win the hole outright among all the players playing. Today, we had two teams of 5 players, so I won 2 cats off 9 players. We play 50 cent cats, so I won 9.00. It's not a lot of money, but it helps you to keep your competitive edge throughout the round.

We had south winds today from 15 to 25 mph.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]This is the part when I tell you I told you so. If you can do it one more time within the month you are a bona fide 70s shooter.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, NaH, but I'll consider myself a 70s shooter whenever I am consecutively golfing more rounds in the 70s than I am any other numbers. One thing is for sure, with my last 10 scores being mostly in the low 80s and two rounds of 74, I might be seeing my handicap break into the single digits soon.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]Thanks, NaH, but I'll consider myself a 70s shooter whenever I am consecutively golfing more rounds in the 70s than I am any other numbers. One thing is for sure, with my last 10 scores being mostly in the low 80s and two rounds of 74, I might be seeing my handicap break into the single digits soon.[/QUOTE]
You should be off single digits already. You are probably right about the true definition of a 70s shooter, wioth the addition you need to be able to shoot regularly in the 70s away from home.

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player]Congrats Sooner, another great round. Two Eagles in one round will definitely help out the score card!

Great that you have done it twice with the 67's in the bag! :cool:

Where is Edgey on this? The silence from across the pond is deafening! :D[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Kiwi, the 67s have been sweet for sure. As far back as I can remember, this is the first round I have shot two eagles in.

One thing is for sure, golfing these low numbers give me more confidence with every shot I take. I have found that to be very important in this game.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]Thanks, NaH, but I'll consider myself a 70s shooter whenever I am consecutively golfing more rounds in the 70s than I am any other numbers. One thing is for sure, with my last 10 scores being mostly in the low 80s and two rounds of 74, I might be seeing my handicap break into the single digits soon.[/QUOTE]
One thing is for sure; you are now allowed to review clubs on GR as "shoots in the 70's" since you've done it more than once.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]You should be off single digits already. You are probably right about the true definition of a 70s shooter, [B]wioth the addition you need to be able to shoot regularly in the 70s away from home[/B].[/QUOTE]

I agree.

The new handicap calculation should be coming out soon.

[quote=SoonerBS]Thanks, NaH, but I'll consider myself a 70s shooter whenever I am consecutively golfing more rounds in the 70s than I am any other numbers. One thing is for sure, with my last 10 scores being mostly in the low 80s and two rounds of 74, I might be seeing my handicap break into the single digits soon.[/quote]

If your handicap gets down to a 6 or 7 then you're a 70's shooter. Looks l like you're on your way there. My problem is just not playing enough. I find that playing instead of practicing helps the most. I go to the range and I'm almost guaranteed to have a bad round. I think I don't practice correctly.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]If your handicap gets down to a 6 or 7 then you're a 70's shooter. Looks l like you're on your way there. My problem is just not playing enough. I find that playing instead of practicing helps the most. I go to the range and I'm almost guaranteed to have a bad round. I think I don't practice correctly.[/QUOTE]

I have been playing at least 4 days a week for the last 6 months. This has without a doubt helped my golf game. It has also enabled me to lay aside crutches like the niblick and learn to play the wedges better which we all know is more versatile for our game. Still, the putter and chipping is what brings scores down. Once those get in good form, low scores are always possible.

My last GHIN report was April 1st and I was an even 10 handicap. My next one will not be out until next week, the 15th.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS[B]][B][U]I have been playing at least 4 days a week for the last 6 months[/U][/B]. [/B]This has without a doubt helped my golf game. It has also enabled me to lay aside crutches like the niblick and learn to play the wedges better which we all know is more versatile for our game. Still, the putter and chipping is what brings scores down. Once those get in good form, low scores are always possible.[/QUOTE]

This is probably the single most important reason you are shooting low scores now. I am a regular 70's shooter and I doubt at my age I could have got there with out playing 3 regular games a week.

[QUOTE=daveperkins]Beating me, i would think ... :-)[/QUOTE]

Whats your best score? Hell, I've even shot under par-and I was a 11 back then, they were pissed. Eventually anybody (if they practice it helps) puts together a round that they will covet forever-if they practice and have the ability to.

[QUOTE=oldplayer]This is probably the single most important reason you are shooting low scores now. I am a regular 70's shooter and I doubt at my age I could have got there with out playing 3 regular games a week.[/QUOTE]

I play once a week (11-14 hcp it depends), practice when I can in summer (2 times a week if lucky), can't wait until I can retire and play that much. Good for you...........enjoy

It's finally decided to quit snowing (for now) and the courses opened up this week.

I got out for my first round in over 6 months. 38 / 46 for an 84. I shot my handicap which is encouraging for my first round back. I had a lost ball and a duff on the last hole for a triple. I usually have a draw and a hook when I miss hit. This time out the driver was a 15 yard fade. I did get a new driver, the R9 Supertri TP with a neutral setup. I don't want to mess with the settings so hopefully with some range work I can get a little draw happening again.

I have two and a half weeks to get some good rounds in before I meet up with Famousdavis and DaveP in Vegas. I'm hoping to at least keep up with them. I'm not sure what their handicaps are but I assume its lower than my own.

I'll update everyone on my interrogation efforts of DaveP and this entire episode of letting grandmothers play through on the last GR outing. I might have to mic up a Vegas working girl and send her to Dave's room to get to the bottom of this controversial issue.

[quote=Riverologist]It's finally decided to quit snowing (for now) and the courses opened up this week.

I got out for my first round in over 6 months. 38 / 46 for an 84. I shot my handicap which is encouraging for my first round back. I had a lost ball and a duff on the last hole for a triple. I usually have a draw and a hook when I miss hit. This time out the driver was a 15 yard fade. I did get a new driver, the R9 Supertri TP with a neutral setup. I don't want to mess with the settings so hopefully with some range work I can get a little draw happening again.

I have two and a half weeks to get some good rounds in before I meet up with Famousdavis and DaveP in Vegas. I'm hoping to at least keep up with them. I'm not sure what their handicaps are but I assume its lower than my own.

I'll update everyone on my interrogation efforts of DaveP and this entire episode of letting grandmothers play through on the last GR outing. I might have to mic up a Vegas working girl and send her to Dave's room to get to the bottom of this controversial issue.[/quote]

84 is a heck of a score with a triple and the fact that you haven't played. We will keep the video to a minimum to maintain a good pace of play. We can provide updates on every other hole or so as well. As much as I want to bag these Taylormades, Ping is calling me. I may need to find a set of S58 irons or Ping i10 irons. Someone needs to represent Ping.

[QUOTE=Riverologist]It's finally decided to quit snowing (for now) and the courses opened up this week.

I got out for my first round in over 6 months. 38 / 46 for an 84. I shot my handicap which is encouraging for my first round back. I had a lost ball and a duff on the last hole for a triple. I usually have a draw and a hook when I miss hit. This time out the driver was a 15 yard fade. I did get a new driver, the R9 Supertri TP with a neutral setup. I don't want to mess with the settings so hopefully with some range work I can get a little draw happening again.

[B]I have two and a half weeks to get some good rounds in before I meet up with Famousdavis and DaveP in Vegas. I'm hoping to at least keep up with them. I'm not sure what their handicaps are but I assume its lower than my own.

I'll update everyone on my interrogation efforts of DaveP and this entire episode of letting grandmothers play through on the last GR outing. I might have to mic up a Vegas working girl and send her to Dave's room to get to the bottom of this controversial issue.[/B][/QUOTE]

Grandmothers my big fat pink azz.. they were evil biyotches from hell. It's like they were in a rudest club member contest with Qtong.. they were hitting from the fairway before we even knew they'd teed off. It was a feckin' conspiracy... EVIL BIYOTCHES.

Nice opening round Riverologist! 38 on your first nine out is awesome. I have no idea what my cap is. I have sucked for the past few months and struggled for a workable bag, but now I'm back to my Adams irons and hitting it crisp. The nine holes I played seriously on Thursday, I hit every fairway with my newly created driver. Got a lot of confidence back. I was smacking that driver exactly where I wanted... really good line.. I stumbled on one par 4, hit it to 110 yards out and took three to get on from there for double.. stupid chops.. and I didn't make any putts until a 4 footer for bird at the end.. shot 38 and was disappointed with the score..

the new driver is the HiBore XLS head on a V2 Stiff but tipped a bit to make it a between S and X flex. Sounds awful but goes really straight and predictable.

Last year in my first match with FD, on a course we had not seen, I was 7 over when we wrapped it up without playing the 18th. I think I'm playing a bit better than that now.

Judging by what I see on the course map and Google Earth, I think I can break 80 on Snow Mountain at Paiute if I pay attention. It will come down to putting, because I'm hitting it well.

If you send a working girl to my room, send a defibrillator too. She'll need to be revived, if experience is any guide.

if FD plays his best, he will probably beat me. I think his best is better than mine. But it all comes down to who brings it, so... should be fun.

[quote=daveperkins]Grandmothers my big fat pink azz.. they were evil biyotches from hell. It's like they were in a rudest club member contest with Qtong.. they were hitting from the fairway before we even knew they'd teed off. It was a feckin' conspiracy... EVIL BIYOTCHES.

Nice opening round Riverologist! 38 on your first nine out is awesome. I have no idea what my cap is. I have sucked for the past few months and struggled for a workable bag, but now I'm back to my Adams irons and hitting it crisp. The nine holes I played seriously on Thursday, I hit every fairway with my newly created driver. Got a lot of confidence back. I was smacking that driver exactly where I wanted... really good line.. I stumbled on one par 4, hit it to 110 yards out and took three to get on from there for double.. stupid chops.. and I didn't make any putts until a 4 footer for bird at the end.. shot 38 and was disappointed with the score..

the new driver is the HiBore XLS head on a V2 Stiff but tipped a bit to make it a between S and X flex. Sounds awful but goes really straight and predictable.

Last year in my first match with FD, on a course we had not seen, I was 7 over when we wrapped it up without playing the 18th. I think I'm playing a bit better than that now.

Judging by what I see on the course map and Google Earth, I think I can break 80 on Snow Mountain at Paiute if I pay attention. It will come down to putting, because I'm hitting it well.

If you send a working girl to my room, send a defibrillator too. She'll need to be revived, if experience is any guide.

if FD plays his best, he will probably beat me. I think his best is better than mine. But it all comes down to who brings it, so... should be fun.[/quote]

That's the great thing about match play is that you can screw up a hole and still be in it. On Sunday I had a triple on a par 3 and here's how it went: 9th hole, 200 yard par 3 with the green on top of a hill. I yank my shot to the left so I've got an uphill shot to the green over the bunker. I hit my lob/pitch too far and it goes over the green and down the other side of the hill. I then try to hit a lob shot and chunk it about 15 feet. I'm scared of leaving it short again so I hit it well past the flag. Two putt for a 6. i was one over before that.

In match play I would have just lost the hole.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]That's the great thing about match play is that you can screw up a hole and still be in it. On Sunday I had a triple on a par 3 and here's how it went: 9th hole, 200 yard par 3 with the green on top of a hill. I yank my shot to the left so I've got an uphill shot to the green over the bunker. I hit my lob/pitch too far and it goes over the green and down the other side of the hill. I then try to hit a lob shot and chunk it about 15 feet. I'm scared of leaving it short again so I hit it well past the flag. Two putt for a 6. i was one over before that.

In match play I would have just lost the hole.[/QUOTE]

Yep. I remember in Belgium there was a Dutch veterinarian who was a member at our club, had an 18 year old son, thought his kid was a golf god.. we arranged an international one day, Euros against expat Americans, and I drew the kid. He had a great swing, hit the ball a ton.. but he was not experienced in competition.. It was epic, his dad caddied for him and whispered in his ear in Flemish the whole way 'round, which didn't help, I'm sure..

I remember I had a one hole lead and came to 16 and three jacked it for double, the kid made par.. we both parred 17 and we were tied on the 18th tee box. Downhill par 5, water in front right. Two good tee shots, both with a run at the green... he took out the fairway wood but clenched his buttcheeks and hit a waterlock pull away from the pond. I bunted a 3 iron to the front of the green, got up and down for bird, he had a 10 footer for bird after his pitch from left.. yoinked it, never even got a look at the hole...

we both shot 80 but I won, 1 up. My double to his par on 16 was the only hole where our scores differed by more than one stroke.

[quote=daveperkins]Yep. I remember in Belgium there was a Dutch veterinarian who was a member at our club, had an 18 year old son, thought his kid was a golf god.. we arranged an international one day, Euros against expat Americans, and I drew the kid. He had a great swing, hit the ball a ton.. but he was not experienced in competition.. It was epic, his dad caddied for him and whispered in his ear in Flemish the whole way 'round, which didn't help, I'm sure..

I remember I had a one hole lead and came to 16 and three jacked it for double, the kid made par.. we both parred 17 and we were tied on the 18th tee box. Downhill par 5, water in front right. Two good tee shots, both with a run at the green... he took out the fairway wood but clenched his buttcheeks and hit a waterlock pull away from the pond. I bunted a 3 iron to the front of the green, got up and down for bird, he had a 10 footer for bird after his pitch from left.. yoinked it, never even got a look at the hole...

we both shot 80 but I won, 1 up. My double to his par on 16 was the only hole where our scores differed by more than one stroke.[/quote]
You're lucky you weren't pitted against a 70 year old lady.

Played Sunday (May 1). Shot 82.

Hit 10 of 13 fairways (including one intentionally aimed to miss) and 9 greens (including two deliberate misses).

First fruits of my new regimen of sessions with a pro, then practice, then play.

Played Sunday (May 1). Shot 82.

Hit 10 of 13 fairways (including one intentionally aimed to miss) and 9 greens (including two deliberate misses).

First fruits of my new regimen of sessions with a pro, then practice, then play.

If I hadn't had to putt the last 3 greens in near dark...

[quote=alangbaker]Played Sunday (May 1). Shot 82.

Hit 10 of 13 fairways (including one intentionally aimed to miss) and 9 greens (including two deliberate misses).

First fruits of my new regimen of sessions with a pro, then practice, then play.

If I hadn't had to putt the last 3 greens in near dark...[/quote]

An 82 is bad enough but do you really have to post it twice? You intentionally missed a fairway? You're blaming your score on night putting? Mitch Cumstein didn't have a problem with night putting. No round over 80 should be posted on the round report thread. I find this very disturbing.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]An 82 is bad enough but do you really have to post it twice? You intentionally missed a fairway? You're blaming your score on night putting? Mitch Cumstein didn't have a problem with night putting. No round over 80 should be posted on the round report thread. I find this very disturbing.[/QUOTE]
I agree.
My last four rounds have been 74, 76, 77 and 75 and I haven't even mentioned it until now.
What's the point of shooting good scores if you can't be a snob about it?
I think "B" graders should have their own "Hackers round report" thread.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]An 82 is bad enough but do you really have to post it twice?[/quote]

Blame the site's software: I only posted it once, then edited it.

[quote]You intentionally missed a fairway?[/quote]

Yup. Par 5 with reachable water down the left side when my driver move that day was a power fade. Aim left and if it fails to fade: wet.

Instead, aim right, try to draw, actually hit straight, hit it low under the limbs, then on, then two-putt for par. :)

[quote]You're blaming your score on night putting? Mitch Cumstein didn't have a problem with night putting.[/quote]

Bully for him, but for me, near darkness led to two three-putts and one indifferent chip and a two-putt.

[quote]No round over 80 should be posted on the round report thread.[/quote]

So you don't post much, then? :D

[quote]I find this very disturbing.[/QUOTE]

"This bickering is useless! Vader: release him!"

[quote=alangbaker]Blame the site's software: I only posted it once, then edited it.



Yup. Par 5 with reachable water down the left side when my driver move that day was a power fade. Aim left and if it fails to fade: wet.

Instead, aim right, try to draw, actually hit straight, hit it low under the limbs, then on, then two-putt for par. :)



Bully for him, but for me, near darkness led to two three-putts and one indifferent chip and a two-putt.



So you don't post much, then? :D



"This bickering is useless! Vader: release him!"[/quote]

Real men are not afraid of water. When I drive the ball on a water hole I try to see how close I can get without going in. Afterwards the rest of the men in my group look at me with envy and disbelief. Sometimes I hear them whisper amongs themselves "can you believe how incredible a player FD is?". Actually, this is a true story. Last Sunday I played golf with a buddy and two guys joined us. One was a complete hack and the other guy shot mid 90's. Probably very similar to Sooner's game. Anyway, after the 8th hole the mid 90's guy said to me "I've been playing this game for 5 years and you are easily the best player I've ever played with." I said thank you and tried to ignore his substandard play for the rest of the day.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]Real men are not afraid of water. When I drive the ball on a water hole I try to see how close I can get without going in. Afterwards the rest of the men in my group look at me with envy and disbelief. Sometimes I hear them whisper amongs themselves "can you believe how incredible a player FD is?". Actually, this is a true story. Last Sunday I played golf with a buddy and two guys joined us. One was a complete hack and the other guy shot mid 90's. Probably very similar to Sooner's game. Anyway, after the 8th hole the mid 90's guy said to me "I've been playing this game for 5 years and you are easily the best player I've ever played with." I said thank you and tried to ignore his substandard play for the rest of the day.[/QUOTE]

I have a good buddy that I don't get to golf with very often any more (because he moved to Calgary for a great job, the bastard), but when we play I can almost always count on him choosing some high-risk play at some point. And as he steps up, I know he'll say, "God hates a coward".

Then just after he's hit and the ball is heading for the water hazard, or out of bounds, or whatever, he'll invariably say:

"But he's not to fond of an idiot either".

;)

[quote=alangbaker]I have a good buddy that I don't get to golf with very often any more (because he moved to Calgary for a great job, the bastard), but when we play I can almost always count on him choosing some high-risk play at some point. And as he steps up, I know he'll say, "God hates a coward".

Then just after he's hit and the ball is heading for the water hazard, or out of bounds, or whatever, he'll invariably say:

"But he's not to fond of an idiot either".

;)[/quote]

I like that one. Every once in awhile I have the pleasure of playing with a guy who plays moron golf. This is the guy who thinks golf is about hitting an 8 iron 180 yards and goes for every par 5 in two regardless of how far away he is. I've actually played with guys that do this the entire round. They swing as hard as they can at every shot. Well, except for putts. You can't say anything that will stick with these guys either. For them, golf is about how far you hit it.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]Real men are not afraid of water. When I drive the ball on a water hole I try to see how close I can get without going in. Afterwards the rest of the men in my group look at me with envy and disbelief. Sometimes I hear them whisper amongs themselves "can you believe how incredible a player FD is?". Actually, this is a true story. Last Sunday I played golf with a buddy and two guys joined us. One was a complete hack and the other guy shot mid 90's. Probably very similar to Sooner's game. Anyway, after the 8th hole the mid 90's guy said to me "I've been playing this game for 5 years and you are easily the best player I've ever played with." I said thank you and tried to ignore his substandard play for the rest of the day.[/QUOTE]
In matchplay it can be a very demoralising ploy to deliberately start it out over the water then bring it back to the fairway. The rollercoaster of emotions of your opponent, going from the relief of an easy hole to suddenly being under pressure, plus thinking your shot was a fluke and the golfing gods are against him, can make a weak opponent crumble.

P.S. I also agree that ahooting over 80 is nothing to brag about, and certainly othing to get excited about after shelling out wads of cash for lessons. Did you get a money back guarantee Alan?

[quote=Not a hacker]In matchplay it can be a very demoralising ploy to deliberately start it out over the water then bring it back to the fairway. The rollercoaster of emotions of your opponent, going from the relief of an easy hole to suddenly being under pressure, plus thinking your shot was a fluke and the golfing gods are against him, can make a weak opponent crumble.

P.S. I also agree that ahooting over 80 is nothing to brag about, and certainly othing to get excited about after shelling out wads of cash for lessons. Did you get a money back guarantee Alan?[/quote]

The best thing you can do in matchplay is play with courageous timidity. There's really nothing you can do to intimidate your opponent except win holes. The most demoralizing thing you can do to an opponent is make a bunch of putts.

[quote=alangbaker]Blame the site's software: I only posted it once, then edited it.
[/quote]

So then why wouldn't you delete the duplicate?

[QUOTE=famousdavis]The best thing you can do in matchplay is play with courageous timidity. There's really nothing you can do to intimidate your opponent except win holes. The most demoralizing thing you can do to an opponent is make a bunch of putts.[/QUOTE]
But playing shots that just land in play and pretending it was just pure luck, time after time, fuks with their minds.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]In matchplay it can be a very demoralising ploy to deliberately start it out over the water then bring it back to the fairway. The rollercoaster of emotions of your opponent, going from the relief of an easy hole to suddenly being under pressure, plus thinking your shot was a fluke and the golfing gods are against him, can make a weak opponent crumble.[/quote]

Hey: when I trust my driver, I'll happily play that shot...

...but you won't demoralize anyone by putting it in the water.

[quote]P.S. I also agree that ahooting over 80 is nothing to brag about, and certainly othing to get excited about after shelling out wads of cash for lessons. Did you get a money back guarantee Alan?[/QUOTE]

I haven't shelled out wads of cash, yet. I've had precisely two half hour sessions and the first one was free. :)

So far, I'm pretty happy with the progress.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]The best thing you can do in matchplay is play with courageous timidity. There's really nothing you can do to intimidate your opponent except win holes. The most demoralizing thing you can do to an opponent is make a bunch of putts.[/QUOTE]

Sinking a chip when your opponent is on the green in reg works pretty well, too.

:D

[quote=alangbaker]Sinking a chip when your opponent is on the green in reg works pretty well, too.

:D[/quote]

Yeah, that's probably the worst. Larry Mize's chip comes to mind. That skinny little nobody got so lucky with that chip. Norman was the man and that geek stole his thunder.

Played Wednesday, shot a 77 (course rated at 71.8/138) with a OB drive on a 600 yard par five but saved out a 6 with a great approach and a good putt. Had a 20' eagle putt with too much speed that lipped out. Good round, greens are still bumpy so it could have been better but for my third full round this year I'm not complaining.

[quote=poe4soul]Played Wednesday, shot a 77 (course rated at 71.8/138) with a OB drive on a 600 yard par five but saved out a 6 with a great approach and a good putt. Had a 20' eagle putt with too much speed that lipped out. Good round, greens are still bumpy so it could have been better but for my third full round this year I'm not complaining.[/quote]

Well done. 77 is a good score for one of your first rounds out.

[QUOTE=poe4soul]Played Wednesday, shot a 77 (course rated at 71.8/138) with a OB drive on a 600 yard par five but saved out a 6 with a great approach and a good putt. Had a 20' eagle putt with too much speed that lipped out. Good round, greens are still bumpy so it could have been better but for my third full round this year I'm not complaining.[/QUOTE]

Great score, Poe, what is your handicap?

[QUOTE=SoonerBS]Great score, Poe, what is your handicap?[/QUOTE]

Thanks, currently a 6. I did take a refresher lesson 3 weeks ago with a pro that I've been using for about 6 years. He tweaked my arm positions a bit. I was basically letting my front forearm and arm get below or under my back arm. I couple of minor tweaks and I was back on plane and hitting the ball well again. In addition I took that change to the putter and I made 2 20'+ bombs and some respectable 10'+ putts. Best hole of the day as a sand save from a 10' deep bunker. I almost holed it and made the 8 footer coming back.

The other good change is I've been doing physical rehab for my back. It turns out it was caused by a weak left glute. I've been doing exercises for it and my turn and transition is better now than it ever has been.

[QUOTE=poe4soul]Thanks, currently a 6. I did take a refresher lesson 3 weeks ago with a pro that I've been using for about 6 years. He tweaked my arm positions a bit. I was basically letting my front forearm and arm get below or under my back arm. I couple of minor tweaks and I was back on plane and hitting the ball well again. In addition I took that change to the putter and I made 2 20'+ bombs and some respectable 10'+ putts. Best hole of the day as a sand save from a 10' deep bunker. I almost holed it and made the 8 footer coming back.

The other good change is I've been doing physical rehab for my back. It turns out it was caused by a weak left glute. I've been doing exercises for it and my turn and transition is better now than it ever has been.[/QUOTE]

I think it is good to constantly analyze your golf game and see where you can improve. I have a "note" program on my HTC smartphone that allows me to add journal entries. I text in things to remember and work on after nearly every round.

[quote=SoonerBS]I think it is good to constantly analyze your golf game and see where you can improve. I have a "note" program on my HTC smartphone that allows me to add journal entries. I text in things to remember and work on after nearly every round.[/quote]

I'm surprised you don't need an external hard drive by now.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]I'm surprised you don't need an external hard drive by now.[/QUOTE]

What makes you think I don't have one?

I'm going to do something different and go right out on a limb here. I'm not going to tell you about my round of golf, I'm going to throw out a number before I go out. Today is the monthly medal and first round of the club champs. Hopefully the greens will be slick and the pins will be tough, just to seperate the wheat form the chaff.

I'm going to shoot my best score at this course and be within 3 shots of the lead in the open stroke. My prediction is 4 over or better. Today is the first sunnt day in weeks and I am hitting off in the afternoon instead of rushing to the first tee at sparrows. I will also be absolutely honest with my score when I post tonite.

[quote=Not a hacker]I'm going to do something different and go right out on a limb here. I'm not going to tell you about my round of golf, I'm going to throw out a number before I go out. Today is the monthly medal and first round of the club champs. Hopefully the greens will be slick and the pins will be tough, just to seperate the wheat form the chaff.

I'm going to shoot my best score at this course and be within 3 shots of the lead in the open stroke. My prediction is 4 over or better. Today is the first sunnt day in weeks and I am hitting off in the afternoon instead of rushing to the first tee at sparrows. I will also be absolutely honest with my score when I post tonite.[/quote]

You're bragging about your aim to be within 3 shots of the lead? What kind of half arse goal is that? Sounds to me like you're acting like the chaff. Damn, "open stroke" is right....for all of us to see. Don't forget to bring your 4th place little league trophy as a good luck charm.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]You're bragging about your aim to be within 3 shots of the lead? What kind of half arse goal is that? Sounds to me like you're acting like the chaff. Damn, "open stroke" is right....for all of us to see. Don't forget to bring your 4th place little league trophy as a good luck charm.[/QUOTE]
There are guys there who shoot par or better every week. I'd smoke their sorry arses in matchplay, but in strokeplay they should beat me 10 shots. I think sitting 3 or 4 off the pace after 18 holes of a 72 hole championship is a good goal. You can't win the club champ in the first round, but you can lose it.

[QUOTE=lorenzoinoc]You're lucky you weren't pitted against a 70 year old lady.[/QUOTE]

If I had been, she would have hit ahead without asking and been putting out the 18th while I was still making the turn. Evil biyotch from hell.

I am hoping never to be pitted against a 70 year old lady. I'd like to think I can always do better than that, even when I'm a 71 year old man.

So I shot a pathetic 9 over and shuld sit well back. The worst aprt is that I drove the ball like a scratch golfer for the most part. I made 2 birdies, but was on 2 greens on par 4s in one (the 2 birdies), was on the fringe of another 2 par 4s for one, and within 10 yards of another par 4 in one (yeah I await the flaming of short course but all but one were over 290 yards, and the best drive of the day was on the fringe just short on a 315 slightly down hill.

I made the huge mistake of giving my wife a break by letting the near 4 year old tag along. Big mistake. She was a constant nuisance and broke my concentration on every hole. I honestly would have birdied all 5 short par 4s with a bit of concentration, I was on the green or just off for one on every one of them. I also hit a couple of great approaches and didn't make birdie on either. My goal of 2 over should have been achieveable the way I hit the ball today.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]So I shot a pathetic 9 over and shuld sit well back. The worst aprt is that I drove the ball like a scratch golfer for the most part. I made 2 birdies, but was on 2 greens on par 4s in one (the 2 birdies), was on the fringe of another 2 par 4s for one, and within 10 yards of another par 4 in one (yeah I await the flaming of short course but all but one were over 290 yards, and the best drive of the day was on the fringe just short on a 315 slightly down hill.

I made the huge mistake of giving my wife a break by letting the near 4 year old tag along. Big mistake. She was a constant nuisance and broke my concentration on every hole. I honestly would have birdied all 5 short par 4s with a bit of concentration, I was on the green or just off for one on every one of them. I also hit a couple of great approaches and didn't make birdie on either. My goal of 2 over should have been achieveable the way I hit the ball today.[/QUOTE]
You took your 4 year old with you in the first round of the club champs.:confused: ??
Man, now I've heard everything!

[quote=oldplayer]You took your 4 year old with you in the first round of the club champs.:confused: ??
Man, now I've heard everything![/quote]
There's only one possible reason to ever bring a female, no less two of them, on the golf course with you and it doesn't apply here.

[QUOTE=oldplayer]You took your 4 year old with you in the first round of the club champs.:confused: ??
Man, now I've heard everything![/QUOTE]
I don't know how I got conned into it. I was giving my wife a break, and in defence it's not your typical club, so the champs are not a big deal. She's been whining for ages to come along, and I didn't want to hear another 4 weeks of whining before I could take her. Now it'sover and done with and I can get on with the rest of the champs in peace.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker][B]I don't know how I got conned into it[/B]. I was giving my wife a break, and in defence it's not your typical club, so the champs are not a big deal. She's been whining for ages to come along, and I didn't want to hear another 4 weeks of whining before I could take her. Now it'sover and done with and I can get on with the rest of the champs in peace.[/QUOTE]

I got the feeling you do exactly what your missus tells you to.:p

[quote=oldplayer]I got the feeling you do exactly what your missus tells you to.:p[/quote]

Conned into it = Told when, how, how much, how long and where, without being told why.

[QUOTE=oldplayer]I got the feeling you do exactly what your missus tells you to.:p[/QUOTE]
The missus had nothing to do with it. It was the little lady who conned me into this one, giving my wife a break and getting into the good books was a bonus. I swear, daughters are even more manipulative and persuasive than wives.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]The missus had nothing to do with it. It was the little lady who conned me into this one, giving my wife a break and getting into the good books was a bonus. I swear, daughters are even more manipulative and persuasive than wives.[/QUOTE]
Well they are women after all.

[QUOTE=oldplayer]Well they are women after all.[/QUOTE]


[B]"Women, . . . . . you can't live with them, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pass me the beer nuts, Woody."[/B] -- [I]Norm on Cheers[/I]

[QUOTE=SoonerBS][B]"Women, . . . . . you can't live with them, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pass me the beer nuts, Woody."[/B] -- [I]Norm on Cheers[/I][/QUOTE]
Sums it up pretty well from where I'm sitting.

Had a bad round today. Actually, it was more of ambivalent round than anything else. We tee'd off early only to be behind a very slow foursome. We were only a twosome so we started hitting 2 balls and things went south. Just couldn't concentrate today at all. I demoe'd the Taylormade Superfast 2.0 out on the course. I hit two drives with it then stopped because it was wild and the trajectory was all wrong. However, on the back 9 I demoe'd the Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 9.5 with Project X 6.0 Graphite and it's one of the best feeling drivers I've ever played. Great looking at address.

Women... ya cain't live with 'em.. and ya cain't chainsaw 'em into pieces of manageable size, drop the pieces in steel drums of mild hydrochoric acid, weld the tops shut on the drums, load em in the flat bed and dump 'em into an active volcanic fissure.

Unless... you live in Hawaii.

Hilo realtors, this could be the pitch.

[QUOTE=famousdavis]Had a bad round today. Actually, it was more of ambivalent round than anything else. We tee'd off early only to be behind a very slow foursome. We were only a twosome so we started hitting 2 balls and things went south. Just couldn't concentrate today at all. I demoe'd the Taylormade Superfast 2.0 out on the course. I hit two drives with it then stopped because it was wild and the trajectory was all wrong. However, on the back 9 I demoe'd the Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 9.5 with Project X 6.0 Graphite and it's one of the best feeling drivers I've ever played. Great looking at address.[/QUOTE]
My playing group decided to avoid the morning crawl and played yesterday in the afternoon. We finished half a hour quicker than a morning round and we didn't even feel like we were rushing. We just played at a normal pace but weren't held up much by the group in front. I didn't score great but I hit the ball super. I think the waiting between shots definitely affects your long game. You need to stay warm and loose on the course, and you can't do that waiting up to 10 minutes to play a shot. I know this a dead horse on GR, but slow play is such a cancer on the game but nothing really ever get's done about it. You get committees occassionally talking about new measures but nothing really ever get's done about it. It needs to be written into the local constitution that if you lose your place in the field, you let the group behind through if they are ready to hit. Fulls top, no exceptions. Keep up or get played through. The group I play with isn't super fast, and they get the cranks if I mention that we need to speed up play. They only watch the group behind and make sure ot stay in front of them, but the only ting you need to do is keep up with the group in front. I don't know how many times I've played behind a group that has lost multiple holes, but won't let anyone hit through. If I was on the committee the first rule I would bring in is that groups who lose holes MUST let the group behind play through. Any group who is found to have lost holes and din't call through is dq'd and forced to play at the back of the field the following week. And it would be done by way of being on the noticeboard, and the starter reminding each group before they hit off. I think it would take less than a month for the pace of play to speed up by half an hour to an hour for 18 holes.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker]My playing group decided to avoid the morning crawl and played yesterday in the afternoon. We finished half a hour quicker than a morning round and we didn't even feel like we were rushing. We just played at a normal pace but weren't held up much by the group in front. I didn't score great but I hit the ball super. I think the waiting between shots definitely affects your long game. You need to stay warm and loose on the course, and you can't do that waiting up to 10 minutes to play a shot. [B] I know this a dead horse on GR, but slow play is such a cancer on the game but nothing really ever get's done about it. You get committees occassionally talking about new measures but nothing really ever get's done about it.[/B] It needs to be written into the local constitution that if you lose your place in the field, you let the group behind through if they are ready to hit. Fulls top, no exceptions. Keep up or get played through. The group I play with isn't super fast, and they get the cranks if I mention that we need to speed up play. They only watch the group behind and make sure ot stay in front of them, but the only ting you need to do is keep up with the group in front. I don't know how many times I've played behind a group that has lost multiple holes, but won't let anyone hit through. If I was on the committee the first rule I would bring in is that groups who lose holes MUST let the group behind play through. Any group who is found to have lost holes and din't call through is dq'd and forced to play at the back of the field the following week. And it would be done by way of being on the noticeboard, and the starter reminding each group before they hit off. I think it would take less than a month for the pace of play to speed up by half an hour to an hour for 18 holes.[/QUOTE]

Most courses have marshalls on the weekends. I've been to some courses where they did a good job of watching the course and hurrying play where it needed to be hurried. Nothing burns me worse than to see a couple of marshalls sitting by the #1 tee box and never moving much during the day. That is just worthless.

[quote=daveperkins]Women... ya cain't live with 'em.. and ya cain't chainsaw 'em into pieces of manageable size, drop the pieces in steel drums of mild hydrochoric acid, weld the tops shut on the drums, load em in the flat bed and dump 'em into an active volcanic fissure.

Unless... you live in Hawaii.

Hilo realtors, this could be the pitch.[/quote]

Nice. Sounds like you're ready for Mother's Day.

[quote=SoonerBS]Most courses have marshalls on the weekends. I've been to some courses where they did a good job of watching the course and hurrying play where it needed to be hurried. Nothing burns me worse than to see a couple of marshalls sitting by the #1 tee box and never moving much during the day. That is just worthless.[/quote]

I used to play El Dorado Park golf course in Long Beach. They had a starter on the first hole who was not shy about telling people to keep up with the group ahead of them. He'd also tell the people coming off the 9th hole if they were behind. They also had a guy on the 4th and 5th hole that would openly tell people they were falling behind and to speed up. I thought it was great and I didn't take it personally. However, over time many people got very upset and complained. Eventually the marshalls had to stop what they were doing and just act like every other marshall on every other course and do nothing but tell stupid jokes and find balls.

People think they are keeping pace if the group behind isn't pushing them. That's incorrect. The definition of a slow group is one that doesn't keep up with the group in front.

I played in the qualifier for a year long tournament on Saturday and missed the cut, badly. I've always been a pretty natural player who doesn't need to spend considerable time practicing, but I've decided I need to spend some time on the range before I can play something resembling a respectable round of golf. I brought my clubs to sh!thole Kentucky this week and went to the range tonight. I think I've figured out the driver, and it was as simple as moving the ball forward in the stance. Push-slice gone. In fact I was fighting a hook towards the end of the bucket, which is exactly how I like to feel with the tee ball.
Next step is getting confidence back. Weather permitting, I'm playing 2 rounds this week and I plan on spending time with the wedges tomorrow.

[quote=Horseballs]I played in the qualifier for a year long tournament on Saturday and missed the cut, badly. I've always been a pretty natural player who doesn't need to spend considerable time practicing, but I've decided I need to spend some time on the range before I can play something resembling a respectable round of golf. I brought my clubs to sh!thole Kentucky this week and went to the range tonight. I think I've figured out the driver, and it was as simple as moving the ball forward in the stance. Push-slice gone. In fact I was fighting a hook towards the end of the bucket, which is exactly how I like to feel with the tee ball.
Next step is getting confidence back. Weather permitting, I'm playing 2 rounds this week and I plan on spending time with the wedges tomorrow.[/quote]

Once you've learned the swing and understand the fundamentals golf is a pretty simple game. It's usually something like ball position or an irregularity in your setup that's gone astray. One solution is a mental checklist of fundamentals to check when things go awry.

Played 9 last night. I shot 2 under. Easy track rated 68.8/119. I was hitting the ball solid off the tee and making some nice approach shots and saved a couple of pars with good chipping and putting.

[QUOTE=poe4soul;243410]Played 9 last night. I shot 2 under. Easy track rated 68.8/119. I was hitting the ball solid off the tee and making some nice approach shots and saved a couple of pars with good chipping and putting.[/QUOTE]
Great stuff Poe. It doesn't matter how easy a golf corse is, the pressure that comes with trying ot shoot under par is immense, especally n the closing holes. It's a good feeling walking off the golf course knowing you held it together over the closing stretch.

[QUOTE=poe4soul;243410]Played 9 last night. I shot 2 under. Easy track rated 68.8/119. I was hitting the ball solid off the tee and making some nice approach shots and saved a couple of pars with good chipping and putting.[/QUOTE]

Nice job, Poe, why only 9 holes?

[QUOTE=SoonerBS;243438]Nice job, Poe, why only 9 holes?[/QUOTE]

I'm playing in a weekly golf league with a client. We start teeing off after 5:30. It's kind of gay with stupid side games that give everyone a chance to win. This weeks side game was fewest puts. I didn't stay to find out who won but I only had 14 putts.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;243434]Great stuff Poe. It doesn't matter how easy a golf corse is, the pressure that comes with trying ot shoot under par is immense, especally n the closing holes. It's a good feeling walking off the golf course knowing you held it together over the closing stretch.[/QUOTE]

Thanks NAH. Honestly I was pretty hosed by the time we finished. The course doesn't have a driving range so we warmed up in the bar with liquid swing lubricants. I had to get some dinner to sober up before the drive home.

Hole number 8 I actually topped my drive about 100 yards. I could have finished three under. I blamed it on my full bladder.

I've got 3 rounds booked over the next 4 days. Looking forward to it, since I have played so little this year. I did get out last weekend and shot a 79, which is normally unremarkable, but this year is a good score. I hit 2 pop-up drives and 2 snap hooks off the tee. The pop ups resulted in double bogeys and the hooks were bogeys. Could have been a really good round if I could have caught a couple breaks off the tee. Our rough is absolutely brutal right now and I had about 4 drives where I was off the fairway by a few inches and had no control over the ball. Still, I managed 4 birdies.
I'm hoping to be able to be playing well this weekend since I'll have a few rounds to get in a groove.

[QUOTE=Horseballs;244543]I've got 3 rounds booked over the next 4 days. Looking forward to it, since I have played so little this year. I did get out last weekend and shot a 79, which is normally unremarkable, but this year is a good score. I hit 2 pop-up drives and 2 snap hooks off the tee. The pop ups resulted in double bogeys and the hooks were bogeys. Could have been a really good round if I could have caught a couple breaks off the tee. [B]Our rough is absolutely brutal right now and I had about 4 drives where I was off the fairway by a few inches and had no control over the ball.[/B] Still, I managed 4 birdies.
I'm hoping to be able to be playing well this weekend since I'll have a few rounds to get in a groove.[/QUOTE]

You need to transfer your membership over to a course like NaH golfs on where they mow down all the rough. So, until you do, we don't want to hear anymore crying about it.

[QUOTE=Horseballs;244543]I've got 3 rounds booked over the next 4 days. Looking forward to it, since I have played so little this year. I did get out last weekend and shot a 79, which is normally unremarkable, but this year is a good score. I hit 2 pop-up drives and 2 snap hooks off the tee. The pop ups resulted in double bogeys and the hooks were bogeys. Could have been a really good round if I could have caught a couple breaks off the tee. Our rough is absolutely brutal right now and I had about 4 drives where I was off the fairway by a few inches and had no control over the ball. Still, I managed 4 birdies.
I'm hoping to be able to be playing well this weekend since I'll have a few rounds to get in a groove.[/QUOTE]

This is yet another example of how driving is te most important part of the game. For me, scoring all comes down to driving. As my short game isn't that sharp a bad drive means bogey or worse, but when I hit a good drive I get par or birdie. I honestly think that if I drove th ball well all day sub par wouldn't be beyond me, but if I drove like crap I could putt like Crenshaw and still shoot way over par.

Played two rounds on the 20th, two on the 21st, one on each of the 22nd and 23rd.

Finally started playing decently for the last round... ...after the tournament was over.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;244582]This is yet another example of how driving is te most important part of the game. For me, scoring all comes down to driving. As my short game isn't that sharp a bad drive means bogey or worse, but when I hit a good drive I get par or birdie. I honestly think that if I drove th ball well all day sub par wouldn't be beyond me, but if I drove like crap I could putt like Crenshaw and still shoot way over par.[/QUOTE]

Driving is definitely important in the sense that you need to leave yourself a shot to the green. However, I think you can drive it just fairly well and still have a great score. As long as you keep it somewhat close to the fairway you should be OK. I hit my driver very well today and didn't score that well. It was windy and I kept coming up short to the green. I got into that same position of positioning myself closed to the target. I opened up my stance a little and started hitting it better. Still lacking in distance on the irons.

[QUOTE=famousdavis;244593]Driving is definitely important in the sense that you need to leave yourself a shot to the green. However, I think you can drive it just fairly well and still have a great score. As long as you keep it somewhat close to the fairway you should be OK.[/QUOTE]

You need to hit the driver into areas you can hit out of. On my home course there really isn't any room off the fairways, and a lot of time you'll be hitting from nearly unplayable lies and at best achieving a sideways pitch out from the woods if you miss the fairways. That or you'll be in a hazard, most often underwater. If you have a bad day off the tee at my home course, I guarantee you won't be able to break 80. The forested areas are wild and unkempt. You'll rarely find yourself with a playable lie if you hit one in there.

[QUOTE]I hit my driver very well today and didn't score that well. It was windy and I kept coming up short to the green. I got into that same position of positioning myself closed to the target. I opened up my stance a little and started hitting it better. [B]Still lacking in distance on the irons[/B].[/QUOTE]

I think I know why that's happening, but it should probably be discussed in a separate thread just to avoid cluttering up this one. I'll sum it up as best I can and just say that your clubhead path needs to be more direct; more straight-line at and through the ball. You're not getting the club on the most efficient plane during your backswing. You're "setting" the club off-plane at the top of your backswing.

That's a great way to throw away potential clubhead speed. Instead of all your effort going into propelling the club toward the ball, some of your effort is being used to re-route the club back onto the most efficient plane. That's a waste of energy.

Work on setting the club more on plane at the top of your backswing and you'll find those missing yards. Just look at the video of your swings here on GR and you'll see it. It's that flat, laid-off set position at the top of your backswing which is robbing you of your power. I guarantee it.



FON

[QUOTE=FreakOfNature;244599]
Work on setting the club more on plane at the top of your backswing and you'll find those missing yards.
FON[/QUOTE]

FON, I have had many lessons, but cannot figure it out. I have watched video of my swing, etc...

How does one know if one is on plane? For me, it is impossible; just an athletic thing you learned if you were fortunate to play golf as a kid.... It is such an esoteric think; staying on plane...

I just got back form the course. I had my best round at the new track, a 72 (par 69). I had 5 birdies, 3 bogies, 1 double and a triple. The triple and the double were the only 2 drives I hit wide all day, ut were in the trees and the triple had an OB second shot because of the poor drive. I putted good but not great, but every birdie came from a good tee shot. If I had putted out of my skin I may have picked up 1 or 2 sots, but if I could hit those two drives again I have maybe 3 or 4 under. Driving is more important.

[QUOTE=spanqdoggie;244600]FON, I have had many lessons, but cannot figure it out. I have watched video of my swing, etc...

How does one know if one is on plane? For me, it is impossible; just an athletic thing you learned if you were fortunate to play golf as a kid.... It is such an esoteric think; staying on plane...[/QUOTE]
Spank, I find that the staying on plane thing is overrated. The best teachers will tell you that there is only one position that's important; impact. Sure there are ways to make it easier to get into a god impact position consistently, but there are also many many successful touring pros with awful siwngs that never look on plane but arrive at perfect impact time after time. IMO form my recent experieince, quiet arms and hands well into the downswing is more important than being on plane. If you get the feeling that the club is dropping straight down from the top with no effort from your arms or hands, your turning body will automatically bring the club through on plane and with plenty of power. I even get the feeling that I'm almost trying to push my hands straight down without breaking the wrists, and I get perfect contact with a divot just in front of the ball every time.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;244603]Spank, I find that the staying on plane thing is overrated. The best teachers will tell you that there is only one position that's important; impact. Sure there are ways to make it easier to get into a god impact position consistently, but there are also many many successful touring pros with awful siwngs that never look on plane but arrive at perfect impact time after time. IMO form my recent experieince, quiet arms and hands well into the downswing is more important than being on plane. If you get the feeling that the club is dropping straight down from the top with no effort from your arms or hands, your turning body will automatically bring the club through on plane and with plenty of power. I even get the feeling that I'm almost trying to push my hands straight down without breaking the wrists, and I get perfect contact with a divot just in front of the ball every time.[/QUOTE]


This is very helpful information. Thank you sir.

[QUOTE=spanqdoggie;244600]FON, I have had many lessons, but cannot figure it out. I have watched video of my swing, etc...

How does one know if one is on plane? For me, it is impossible; just an athletic thing you learned if you were fortunate to play golf as a kid.... It is such an esoteric think; staying on plane...[/QUOTE]


It's easy Spank. Think of it like splitting firewood with an axe, or driving nails with a hammer. The more linear you apply the force the more efficient/on plane the swing.

When you swing a hammer, you hinge your wrist perpendicular to the direction the hammer swings. If you look at that strike from behind at the same angle, it looks like a straight line. That is what I mean by LINEAR. If the swing takes a curved path from the same down the line perspective, then it is less linear - which means some of the force of the swing is being applied in a direction which is away from the nail or golf ball. In essence - swinging crooked and half sideways, which wastes massive amounts of energy.

Here's the cliffs:

-Identify the angle of your clubshaft in relation to the ground from a position behind and down the line.
-Ensure that at all points in your backswing and throughswing, that the clubshaft maintains this orientation to the ground from that same behind and down the line perspective.

That will keep you on plane. But you won't need to think about mechanics to do this, that's the beauty of it. You can really FEEL when you're swinging on plane, just as you can when you're driving nails with a hammer or splitting wood with an axe.

If you really want to just skip the technical mumbo jumbo and get straight to learning this - get a very heavy weighted club (a Momentus or something similar) and swing it. The extra weight exaggerates the correct feeling, and the momentum of the heavier club will keep it on plane - once you get all that mass moving.

It would honestly be easier to just show you than to type it out. What I just wrote is probably about as clear as mud. I'll get back to you on this tomorrow if need be, with some pictures to help explain what I'm trying to say a little better. Right now it's 4AM here and my brain is Jello.



FON

[QUOTE=spanqdoggie;244604]This is very helpful information. Thank you sir.[/QUOTE]

I hope it helps out. It is very easy to get paralysis by analysis inthe golf swing, and start getting worried about all positions in different prts of the backswing instead of just relaxing and concentrating on hitting the ball. Obviously it's beneficial to be on plane and PM may disagree with me, but my point is that you need to be relaxed to generate power through the hitting area, and you can't do that if you are preoccupied with where you should be in every part of the backswing.

[QUOTE=FreakOfNature;244606]It's easy Spank. Think of it like splitting firewood with an axe, or driving nails with a hammer. The more linear you apply the force the more efficient/on plane the swing.

When you swing a hammer, you hinge your wrist perpendicular to the direction the hammer swings. If you look at that strike from behind at the same angle, it looks like a straight line. That is what I mean by LINEAR. If the swing takes a curved path from the same down the line perspective, then it is less linear - which means some of the force of the swing is being applied in a direction which is away from the nail or golf ball. In essence - swinging crooked and half sideways, which wastes massive amounts of energy.

Here's the cliffs:

-Identify the angle of your clubshaft in relation to the ground from a position behind and down the line.
-Ensure that at all points in your backswing and throughswing, that the clubshaft maintains this orientation to the ground from that same behind and down the line perspective.

That will keep you on plane. But you won't need to think about mechanics to do this, that's the beauty of it. You can really FEEL when you're swinging on plane, just as you can when you're driving nails with a hammer or splitting wood with an axe.

If you really want to just skip the technical mumbo jumbo and get straight to learning this - get a very heavy weighted club (a Momentus or something similar) and swing it. The extra weight exaggerates the correct feeling, and the momentum of the heavier club will keep it on plane - once you get all that mass moving.

It would honestly be easier to just show you than to type it out. What I just wrote is probably about as clear as mud. I'll get back to you on this tomorrow if need be, with some pictures to help explain what I'm trying to say a little better. Right now it's 4AM here and my brain is Jello.



FON[/QUOTE]

I just had a very rare epiphany that may change the way I golf forever... I now know that I have always had a really shallow swing, approaching a baseball swing.

Yesterday at the range, I decided to go too steep instead of too shallow, and it felt wonderful, and I was hitting balls, instead of shanking a bucket of balls. I just said what the hell, it can't be worse... It felt so right!

It feels so natural. My teacher used to tell me to go up instead of back and shallow, and I never understood; the golf swing is actually pretty steep isn't it? ... to begin with?...

This might change the way I golf.

I am really excited about this. I have never had such an OMG moment with my swing ever...

It is really effortless now. No sore elbows, etc... Is it really this easy? I know it is not, but this might help me break 90.

Thanks for the advice.

[QUOTE=spanqdoggie;244705]I just had a very rare epiphany that may change the way I golf forever... I now know that I have always had a really shallow swing, approaching a baseball swing.

Yesterday at the range, I decided to go too steep instead of too shallow, and it felt wonderful, and I was hitting balls, instead of shanking a bucket of balls. I just said what the hell, it can't be worse... It felt so right!

It feels so natural. My teacher used to tell me to go up instead of back and shallow, and I never understood; the golf swing is actually pretty steep isn't it? ... to begin with?...

This might change the way I golf.

I am really excited about this. I have never had such an OMG moment with my swing ever...

It is really effortless now. No sore elbows, etc... [B]Is it really this easy? [/B]I know it is not, but this might help me break 90.

Thanks for the advice.[/QUOTE]

I honestly think the full swing is relatively easy, if you get taught how to do it right. There are literally thousands or even tens of thousands of golfers around the world who hit the ball super most of the time. It's the short game that seperates the tour players from the good club amatuers. Golf is by no means an easy game, but the long game is probably the closest to approaching what you would call easy.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;244711]I honestly think the full swing is relatively easy, if you get taught how to do it right. There are literally thousands or even tens of thousands of golfers around the world who hit the ball [B]super [/B]most of the time. It's the short game that seperates the tour players from the good club amatuers. Golf is by no means an easy game, but the long game is probably the closest to approaching what you would call easy.[/QUOTE]

If the long game is easy then why is it the most difficult for the beginner? Everything in golf is difficult and the short game is definitely not harder than the long game. How hard is it to hit a chip? It's pretty easy if you just practice it. Hitting a 270 yard drive in the middle of the fairway is much more difficult. Remember, this is the reigning North American GR champ who's giving his opinion here. You'd better recognize.

Well, it wasn't an anomaly. I went to the range again today, and it works again...

I have had many lessons over the years, and I now recall being told to bring my back swing higher up (more ferris wheel than merry go round) and I never believed it or comprehended it.

I went to the range today and for the first time in my life understand that one can control their own swing plane effortlessly...

First time in my golfing life... at the top of the back swing, I am looking at the ball and know it is going right where I want it to...

I even was able to fade a ball instead of the constant duck hooks... the shanks are gone, as I have ditched the merry go round swing for a more ferris wheel swing plane... The merry go round swing forced an open club face causing my shanks, I gather....

I have had my heart broken in golf many times, but I think this is different. I am going to play 18 a few times and see...

It is going to take a lot of practice, but I think I am on the right track here...

Damn. I suck at golf but to maneuver the the swing plane and hit a fade or draw? I never had any choice; I would just swing all flat and suck... The golf swing itself is so easy now... I wonder how many thousands of golfers have been trapped doing what I was doing... I am naturally athletic, also, so it never made sense why I couldn't do this naturally... probably because I didn't swing a club until I was in my twenties...

Nothing is better than practice, so I am going to play more, and hopefully do better.

[QUOTE=spanqdoggie;244801]Well, it wasn't an anomaly. I went to the range again today, and it works again...

I have had many lessons over the years, and I now recall being told to bring my back swing higher up (more ferris wheel than merry go round) and I never believed it or comprehended it.

I went to the range today and for the first time in my life understand that one can control their own swing plane effortlessly...

First time in my golfing life... at the top of the back swing, I am looking at the ball and know it is going right where I want it to...

I even was able to fade a ball instead of the constant duck hooks... the shanks are gone, as I have ditched the merry go round swing for a more ferris wheel swing plane... The merry go round swing forced an open club face causing my shanks, I gather....

I have had my heart broken in golf many times, but I think this is different. I am going to play 18 a few times and see...

It is going to take a lot of practice, but I think I am on the right track here...

Damn. I suck at golf but to maneuver the the swing plane and hit a fade or draw? I never had any choice; I would just swing all flat and suck... The golf swing itself is so easy now... I wonder how many thousands of golfers have been trapped doing what I was doing... I am naturally athletic, also.

Nothing is better than practice, so I am going to play more, and hopefully do better.[/QUOTE]

Sounds great Spank. The real litmus test will be when you take this new swing out on the course. I'm looking forward to hearing how that goes. I hope it holds up and goes as well on the course as it has for you at the range. If it does, Murphy's Law deems that your putter will be off that day! :D

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;244802]Sounds great Spank. [B]The real litmus test will be when you take this new swing out on the course.[/B] I'm looking forward to hearing how that goes. I hope it holds up and goes as well on the course as it has for you at the range. If it does, Murphy's Law deems that your putter will be off that day! :D[/QUOTE]

I know. I have a little Charles Barkley in me, and it has nothing to do with basketball.

[QUOTE=famousdavis;244782]If the long game is easy then why is it the most difficult for the beginner? Everything in golf is difficult and the short game is definitely not harder than the long game. How hard is it to hit a chip? It's pretty easy if you just practice it. Hitting a 270 yard drive in the middle of the fairway is much more difficult. Remember, this is the reigning North American GR champ who's giving his opinion here. You'd better recognize.[/QUOTE]

You can go to any range in the world and there will be one or two guys hitting it like world beaters. But when you ask about their cap you find they are 3 or 4.

The long game isn't hardest for beginners in any case. I've played with my fair share of 'going for my handicap' partners in competitions, and I can categorically state that they drop more shots around the green than anywhere else. Sure they won't be splitting fairways at the 270 mark, but they will also not be chipping it anywhere near the pin, and certainly won't be dropping anything form outside 5 feet. The most excruciating thing to watch when paired with a hacker is there complete cluelessness around the greens. And the biggest difference between low caps and high caps is the amount of putts choppers take on the greens. They 3putt at least 6 times a round from my observations.

And as for your claim as GR champion, we all know you got that on a technicality. You were getting your arse soundly waxed by Big Dave before pulling a ruling on the first day.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;244806]You can go to any range in the world and there will be one or two guys hitting it like world beaters. But when you ask about their cap you find they are 3 or 4.

The long game isn't hardest for beginners in any case. I've played with my fair share of 'going for my handicap' partners in competitions, and I can categorically state that they drop more shots around the green than anywhere else. Sure they won't be splitting fairways at the 270 mark, but they will also not be chipping it anywhere near the pin, and certainly won't be dropping anything form outside 5 feet. The most excruciating thing to watch when paired with a hacker is there complete cluelessness around the greens. And the biggest difference between low caps and high caps is the amount of putts choppers take on the greens. They 3putt at least 6 times a round from my observations.

[B]And as for your claim as GR champion, we all know you got that on a technicality. You were getting your arse soundly waxed by Big Dave before pulling a ruling on the first day.[/B][/QUOTE]

This is true. It is also true that NoShuz has never been beaten in GR competition and holds his victory over FD. Therefore, technically, that makes him the North American champion. FD has not only been beaten in GR play, but he has been beaten by two separate competitors. I think a rematch to NoShuz is in order.

And, FD, before you come back firing off on me about how I have never won a GR match, remember -- I'm not the one claiming North American Champion here.

[QUOTE=SoonerBS;244827]This is true. It is also true that NoShuz has never been beaten in GR competition and holds his victory over FD. Therefore, technically, that makes him the North American champion. FD has not only been beaten in GR play, but he has been beaten by two separate competitors. I think a rematch to NoShuz is in order.

And, FD, before you come back firing off on me about how I have never won a GR match, remember -- I'm not the one claiming North American Champion here.[/QUOTE]

That's true that Noshuz beat me while I game him 8 strokes. Also, let's get one thing straight, the only thing I asked Dave was if his putt was for a bogey. He called the rule on himself. I didn't have to say anything. That was an gentlemanly thing to do on Dave's part.

So, with that, I agree and will take down the trophy. I hereby challenge Noshuz to a rematch but I will not be giving strokes this time. GR matches are straight up. So, Noshuz, if you are ever down south or I'm up north we'll go out and hit 'em.