Love Golf?

[BruceH]

Can't find a 52 but... I did rediscover a Callaway X 3 wood, Cleveland 3 wood, and a Titleist 17 degree 4 wood. Put the Callaway 3 wood in the bag and will give it a whirl. I have good memories of the club, iirc it was replaced with a 2i hybrid that I hit pretty well.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

One of the reasons I wanted a 60 degree, beyond hitting high-loft shots when I didn't have a lot of green to work with, was that I knew I needed to start dialing distances for everything short of a PW shot.

My PW is about a 140-145 yard club. Literally (because I don't practice my SW enough) I didn't have any "full swing" club below that. I'm working now on my SW, which appears to be maybe 85-90 off the turf and 90-100 off the tee. Based on the shots I hit with the 60 degree yesterday, it's about a 65 yard club off the tee.

I'm hoping that as I get playing more often, it'll be easier to know "oh, I'm at 50 yards, so it'll be a lot easier to hit a light swing 60 degree than try to figure out how much to take off the PW or SW with a half-checked swing".

 

[HoppyDaze]

Judging by the distances you’ve said you hit. A comfortable, not too aggressive full swing with a 60 degree would be perfect at 55-65 yards.

 

[HoppyDaze]

My last nine. Ignore the tee club. Never remember to choose that. Check out the app Golfshot. Like $40. Gives you all the info you’ll ever need. Way beyond tracking scores

 

[bracconiere]

when did they start rating clubs in degrees? i have my dad's old bag of clubs, and they just go from 1-9, and three woods.......

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

when did they start rating clubs in degrees? i have my dad's old bag of clubs, and they just go from 1-9, and three woods.......

Modern drivers / fairway woods are usually given both a number and labeled in degrees. Modern wedges are often labeled in degrees. Irons usually are not.

Sounds like your clubs might be a tad old... Are your woods made of wood?

 

[bracconiere]

Are your woods made of wood?

yes they are! i feel like happy gilmore now, because i keep the bag in the trunk of my car....back from when i used them....

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Took a nice hour drive west out to the hills of Western Mass. Played Crumpin Fox that use to always get rated in the top ten of public in the state. Faded recently but new owners are putting money back into the course and clubhouse. A couple of holes could be tweaked but a nice test. Hit my driver well. Back nine I had 7 pars and two double bogeys :/ I don't want to describe what happened on the doubles after great drives

 

[applescrap]

Woot! Nice looking course.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Played 18 yesterday at Newport Beach Golf Course... Which is a lot less fancy than you'd expect for being in Newport Beach lol. It's a par 59 executive course, with most tees hitting off range mats and generally in mediocre shape.

Man, what a slog.

When I played two weeks ago, my warm-up on the range was perfect. Everything was hitting pure and straight. That carried over onto the course where [9 holes] I hit 6 GIR and finished only 5 over. Only one double bogey on the day. I walked off the course thinking "this golf thing isn't that hard, just aim for the green and hit it" lol.

Nope. I warmed up on the range yesterday it it just wasn't working. None of it. And that carried over to the course. I had some very good shots [even set myself up for a nice birdie], but my game was completely inconsistent. Had the birdie and three pars on the front, but also three double bogeys. And then it just got worse on the back. Par on 10, and every other hole was a bogey or worse. Even a triple-bogey on a 125 yard par 3 where there weren't even any hazards. Finished with a 77 on the round.

I guess there's a lot more work to do.

 

[BruceH]

Played 18 yesterday at Newport Beach Golf Course... Which is a lot less fancy than you'd expect for being in Newport Beach lol. It's a par 59 executive course, with most tees hitting off range mats and generally in mediocre shape.

Man, what a slog.

When I played two weeks ago, my warm-up on the range was perfect. Everything was hitting pure and straight. That carried over onto the course where [9 holes] I hit 6 GIR and finished only 5 over. Only one double bogey on the day. I walked off the course thinking "this golf thing isn't that hard, just aim for the green and hit it" lol.

Nope. I warmed up on the range yesterday it it just wasn't working. None of it. And that carried over to the course. I had some very good shots [even set myself up for a nice birdie], but my game was completely inconsistent. Had the birdie and three pars on the front, but also three double bogeys. And then it just got worse on the back. Par on 10, and every other hole was a bogey or worse. Even a triple-bogey on a 125 yard par 3 where there weren't even any hazards. Finished with a 77 on the round.

I guess there's a lot more work to do.

Bogey golf, 18 over. Could of been worse but you know the saying "That's Golf".

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Played an old Donald Ross course from the 20's. Built ona hill on an old farm overlooking a reservoir. Nice mix of sneaky long and short par 4's. Some good long par 3's. Short par 5's tho I made it on on 2 on all the 5's.

I think the classic Ross greens were tamed down for a public course but you could still see remnants of his designs around the green. Just no turtlebacks. There were a couple of the smallest greens I've seen in a while.

Falls coming quick up here. Ride home and all the trees were on fire red

 

[bkboiler]

Love reading this thread.
Finally got another set after having sold mine last year just prior to our third kid...
Life's calmed down a bit, so I got out on the course last week..6:35am tee time as a single.
Horrible round but I still had a blast!

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Just became a member at the country club!

Err... At the golf & practice center with a 9 hole 1115 yard par-29 course. I guess this isn't how the 1% live...

Oh well. For $40/mo I get a large bucket of balls every day, and the normal $18 fee for 9 holes is reduced to $6, plus they throw in a beverage with the round (perhaps even beer???)...

If nothing else, it'll give me an excuse to get a lot of range time, and the course is great for working on my wedge/short game.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Day off today so I thought I'd hit the executive course to practice for tomorrow. As a single I played 4 holes in about 25 minutes (+2) but now I've caught the old fogey groups in front. About to slow way down.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Oof. +32 today. Ouch.

 

[doug293cz]

Oof. +32 today. Ouch.

Sounds like one of my scores.

Brew on

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Ugh. Played the exec this morning. First four holes I was +1. Probably could have been even or better if I'd hit the putting green before the round--my wedge shots put me within 10 feet on 3 of the 4 holes.

The next 5 holes I was +10.

WTF happened?

 

[HoppyDaze]

What happened? Golf.

 

[doug293cz]

Why do they call it "golf?"

The other four letter words were taken.

Brew on

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Best in bag beer cooler for smuggling brews onto the course?

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Best in bag beer cooler for smuggling brews onto the course?

Well when you say smuggling, a lot of courses will let it be known that they will be looking for alcohol on the course. Therefore a cooler will be looked for. They're doing this likely in response to local complaints. I've seen people having to pour our bottles of good booze or a case of beer on the course. Meanwhile the side jacket of my carry bag had a bunch of beer in it and not searched.

I know you probably don't mean that. I have a discontinued Callway bag I got at a golf tournament. Easily holds a 6 pack and a couple of ice packs. Can stuff it to 8 if needed. Similar to this one. I like it because it's small and I always keep it in my trunk. Takes a beating and easily cleaned

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264816014949
OT: had 70+mph winds last week and 2" of rain Friday night into the morning. Decided to head out yesterday figuring mid wouldn't be a problem on this hilly course. Good choice as Frost and 30° last night. Some leaves have still hung on.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Well when you say smuggling, a lot of courses will let it be known that they will be looking for alcohol on the course. Therefore a cooler will be looked for. They're doing this likely in response to local complaints. I've seen people having to pour our bottles of good booze or a case of beer on the course. Meanwhile the side jacket of my carry bag had a bunch of beer in it and not searched.

I know you probably don't mean that. I have a discontinued Callway bag I got at a golf tournament. Easily holds a 6 pack and a couple of ice packs. Can stuff it to 8 if needed. Similar to this one. I like it because it's small and I always keep it in my trunk. Takes a beating and easily cleaned

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264816014949

No, I specifically mean smuggling, so I don't have to buy overpriced [and inferior] beers on the course lol...

I ended up with this: Amazon.com

I played yesterday morning and the course had signs up prohibiting outside beverages/etc, and I even heard them question someone with a "just water in that cooler, right?" around the check-in desk. Meanwhile I had this in the big pocket of my carry bag with 3 IPAs and a couple water bottles with some slim ice packs and it was totally unobtrusive.

What I was using previously wasn't slim, so I had to pack beers in multiple rows which made it hard to fit the cooler in and even get that pocket closed. With this I could fit up to a 6-pack with ice and it's completely hidden.

It was helpful, too, as I don't think I saw the cart girl until around the 15th hole. I would have been truly parched ;-)

Played a great round, though, I broke 80! (Granted, par on this course is only 60..)

 

[applescrap]

That thing is sweet. I use my kids Sophia the first soft lunch pail. Its slim and holds half that at about 3 cans. A real caddy daddy tosses his sneaky beers in their cooler on the side after getting it filled with ice. Some of the courses in vegas for example that scare me, I pour in drinking cups. Always weird drinking king sue out of a dri king cup with straw in 120 degrees. Or a 10 percent imperial stout. If I know a course is hardcore I'll pack bud light knowing I have to shotgun a beer quickly somewhere. Haha our local deal where I have played the last 4 or 5 years has been laid back. Most courses here are. But we all know the cart girl and buddha's sister is like her best friend or something and she jokes with us about it. Helps to pack what they sale if you want super sneaky. But yeah that thing is sweet. Oddly enough I rarely see any good players drink, rarely, maybe one. I cant think of anyone I have played with who has shot under 75 while drinking other than myself. My idol being the haig! It was like caddyshack playing in state amateurs while drinking off the beer cart. Next tourney that year they banned carts.

No, I specifically mean smuggling, so I don't have to buy overpriced [and inferior] beers on the course lol...

I ended up with this: Amazon.com

I played yesterday morning and the course had signs up prohibiting outside beverages/etc, and I even heard them question someone with a "just water in that cooler, right?" around the check-in desk. Meanwhile I had this in the big pocket of my carry bag with 3 IPAs and a couple water bottles with some slim ice packs and it was totally unobtrusive.

What I was using previously wasn't slim, so I had to pack beers in multiple rows which made it hard to fit the cooler in and even get that pocket closed. With this I could fit up to a 6-pack with ice and it's completely hidden.

It was helpful, too, as I don't think I saw the cart girl until around the 15th hole. I would have been truly parched ;-)

Played a great round, though, I broke 80! (Granted, par on this course is only 60..)

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Oddly enough I rarely see any good players drink, rarely, maybe one. I cant think of anyone I have played with who has shot under 75 while drinking other than myself.

Believe me, it's not the drinking that stops me from shooting under 75

 

[Kee]

I've known players who could shoot lights out while drinking, although not necessarily consistently. I was at a course I used to play (Fort Walton Beach) and spotted a pro I knew waiting to tee off in the annual pro-am. Tee times were running an hour behind, he was getting more and more nervous, and slammed four beers before teeing off. I was thinking "this guy is toast". He shot a 64 that day.

 

[applescrap]

I've known players who could shoot lights out while drinking, although not necessarily consistently. I was at a course I used to play (Fort Walton Beach) and spotted a pro I knew waiting to tee off in the annual pro-am. Tee times were running an hour behind, he was getting more and more nervous, and slammed four beers before teeing off. I was thinking "this guy is toast". He shot a 64 that day.

Some ducks get all the luck. I think some of the tour pros drink. I see them with the ol straw and cup action and I wonder. The tour probably asks them not to be flashy, idk, maybe they have a rule about that.

As I write this I am reminded of this guy I played a lot of little money matches with. One day I find out that he was club champ. He tells me yeah I use to drink all heavy and when I quit drinking I couldnt play. I cant play sober. Last I heard he was drinking and playing great golf.

For me drinking a good beer, having a nice cigar, and being out there has almost become more important than the act of golfing. I love kicking back in a cart with friends or a snowy fall day at twilight by myself. Crack a beer, hit it, go find it, hit it again.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Why does it seem like the more I practice, the worse I get?

Given that I'm coming off the 5 year layoff, one of the things that's been bothering me lately is inconsistent contact with the ball. So I had two good range sessions this week where I focused completely on my setup and address, to make sure that I'm consistently setting up with the ball in the same position, with my weight balanced equally between the balls of my feet and my heels, consistent back angle, arm angle, etc. I think I was trying to set up with the ball too far away, and a little off balance trying to reach for it.

And it worked... On the range. Which isn't to say that every shot was good, but the horrible mishits (blading the ball, completely chunking it) weren't happening, even with the longer irons. My longer irons were starting to get the loft they should, which has always been a problem because I was previously usually hitting too low on the clubface. And I was actually making pretty consistent contact with the driver, which has, quite frankly, been a while!

So I tried to go out onto the little executive course this morning before work to see if I could apply it on the course. In 9 holes I literally did not properly strike a single tee shot. A few weren't horrible, but still were not properly struck. And this is a course where 7 of 9 holes are PW/SW/60° holes for me off the tee, so it's not like I was hitting long irons. I only hit 2 GIR, one of which was a bad SW mishit that just happened to work out perfectly, and the other was a 200 yd par 4 where I got a off center but not horrific swipe at it with a 5 iron from the tee so I left myself a short pitch from there, not a full shot.

 

[Kee]

Why does it seem like the more I practice, the worse I get?

Given that I'm coming off the 5 year layoff, one of the things that's been bothering me lately is inconsistent contact with the ball. So I had two good range sessions this week where I focused completely on my setup and address, to make sure that I'm consistently setting up with the ball in the same position, with my weight balanced equally between the balls of my feet and my heels, consistent back angle, arm angle, etc. I think I was trying to set up with the ball too far away, and a little off balance trying to reach for it.

And it worked... On the range. Which isn't to say that every shot was good, but the horrible mishits (blading the ball, completely chunking it) weren't happening, even with the longer irons.

I've just started working on my swing again, after a long, long layoff. The good thing is, my expectations (so far!) have been so low that the bad mishits haven't shaken me too much, unlike a younger version of myself.

When I'm not making solid contact, or I'm feeling a lot of effort going into the swing instead of feeling smooth, I like to try a few drills that will get me "swinging" instead of "hitting" (an overused reference, for sure, but handy). I'll choke up on a 5 iron and hit half shots, take a full swing with a short iron and try to hit it half or 3/4 the normal distance, hit shots with my left arm only, hit shots with my feet together etc. Anything to "trick" my mind into doing the right movement.

Working on the set up and takeaway is spot on. To paraphrase Jack Nicklaus, WTF is wrong with people that ignore that part of the game? Expand the definition of set up to include the START of the wrist hinge, (and assuming a correct grip on the club) you've covered 80% of what it takes for a good swing.

The best advice I've heard about taking the swing from the practice range to the course (which I'm prone to ignore, BTW) is to treat the range more like the course. Line up your shot, take your customary one or two practice swings, waggle (if that's what you do) then make it count.

 

[passedpawn]

The best advice I've heard about taking the swing from the practice range to the course (which I'm prone to ignore, BTW) is to treat the range more like the course. Line up your shot, take your customary one or two practice swings, waggle (if that's what you do) then make it count.

Exactly. I even have trouble moving from practice swings to real swing. Dumb brain.