Love Golf?

[passedpawn]

Years ago I was in Scotland on business with a buddy who'd played golf at Stanford when Tom Watson was team captain. My buddy was pretty good. Anyway, he somehow got tee times at the Old Course at St. Andrews, so of course we ditched our obligations for the afternoon to squeeze in a once in a lifetime round. You MUST play with a caddie.

It was a first for me. First true links course and first time with a true caddie. Those guys are UN-caddy. After one or two holes, they know your game better than you do. For my caddie, that was no challenge. I spent the majority of the round "in the heather". He knew a hack in over his head (me) from the outset.

My friend however was in his element, and knew his game. On one hole later in the round he reached his drive and prepared his approach shot. He called for a 6 iron, but his caddie handed him a 4. My friend called him out and firmly requested the 6. The caddie, without saying a word, still proffered the 4. My friend, a bit miffed, demanded the 6, so the caddie silently complied. My buddy hit what looked like a clean shot.... and came up 20 yards short!

Damn caddies.

Brooo Brother

I'm also on a drone forum. One of the guys there filmed this sweet scottland course flyover. Take a look, it's pretty unbelievable (and difficult). Ardfin in Jura Scottland. Make sure to select the 4k video quality

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

My friend however was in his element, and knew his game. On one hole later in the round he reached his drive and prepared his approach shot. He called for a 6 iron, but his caddie handed him a 4. My friend called him out and firmly requested the 6. The caddie, without saying a word, still proffered the 4. My friend, a bit miffed, demanded the 6, so the caddie silently complied. My buddy hit what looked like a clean shot.... and came up 20 yards short!

Damn caddies.

I should point out I was never that good of a caddie lol.

But who says "Damn caddies"? If your buddy had listened, he'd have been on the green ;-)

Despite being a caddie as a kid, I've still never played a round with a caddie on my bag. I think that would be really cool.

 

[Broothru]

I should point out I was never that good of a caddie lol.

But who says "Damn caddies"? If your buddy had listened, he'd have been on the green ;-)

Despite being a caddie as a kid, I've still never played a round with a caddie on my bag. I think that would be really cool.

Oh, that was me saying, "Damn caddies," since clearly they have forgotten more about the game of "galf" than I'll ever know. I have no doubt they could play the game better than me as well.

It really was quite an experience however. Any one of them could have been Old Tom Morris himself, or at least a direct descendant. Stoic, men of few words, yet obviously very observant and knowledgeable. If I could only understand what they were saying when they talked. I swear I've had less difficulty communicating with people in France or Italy than in Scotland. Did I mention I don't speak French or Italian?

The countryside is beautiful, the history is remarkable, the people are friendly (albeit, unintelligible). The weather can turn on a dime from sunny to blustery, from balmy to damp miserable. But if you love golf and appreciate a good single malt, you owe it to yourself to visit just once.

Brooo Brother

 

[beersk]

Years ago I was in Scotland on business with a buddy who'd played golf at Stanford when Tom Watson was team captain. My buddy was pretty good. Anyway, he somehow got tee times at the Old Course at St. Andrews, so of course we ditched our obligations for the afternoon to squeeze in a once in a lifetime round. You MUST play with a caddie.

It was a first for me. First true links course and first time with a true caddie. Those guys are UN-caddy. After one or two holes, they know your game better than you do. For my caddie, that was no challenge. I spent the majority of the round "in the heather". He knew a hack in over his head (me) from the outset.

My friend however was in his element, and knew his game. On one hole later in the round he reached his drive and prepared his approach shot. He called for a 6 iron, but his caddie handed him a 4. My friend called him out and firmly requested the 6. The caddie, without saying a word, still proffered the 4. My friend, a bit miffed, demanded the 6, so the caddie silently complied. My buddy hit what looked like a clean shot.... and came up 20 yards short!

Damn caddies.

Brooo Brother

That's a neat story!

 

[passedpawn]

Really nice day out there today. Had some fun with the pano on my camera. I was pretty much the only person on the course at this time. And yes, it was 80F out there, sorry you guys in the cold places.

 

[Broothru]

Really nice day out there today. Had some fun with the pano on my camera. I was pretty much the only person on the course at this time. And yes, it was 80F out there, sorry you guys in the cold places.

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Which course is it? I've played a few down there with my son-in-law between Clearwater and Sarasota.

 

[passedpawn]

Which course is it? I've played a few down there with my son-in-law between Clearwater and Sarasota.

Chi chi. I play all of them (and there are a LOT). But the one I play at least once a week is the Chi Chi Rodriquez course. Nothing special, but it's very close to my home and I often cut out at 3pm and play it, like above.

Where's your SIL live?

 

[Broothru]

Chi chi. I play all of them (and there are a LOT). But the one I play at least once a week is the Chi Chi Rodriquez course. Nothing special, but it's very close to my home and I often cut out at 3pm and play it, like above.

Where's your SIL live?

They're in St. Pete, Old Northeast a few blocks off Beach Drive.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Played yesterday at the 18-hole executive course. I had done some work on the range Wednesday, feeling GREAT, and then went back Thursday and completely forgot how to swing a golf club. Tee to green was some challenge all damn day. I only hit 3 GIR.

Oddly enough, though, my short game and putting saved me for once. You'd think that those 3 GIR would be 3 pars, but those were my only bad putting holes (4-putt and a 3-putt) so I only managed par on one of them. But I snagged 4 additional pars getting up and down from off the green, including one out of the sand. Even with those two terrible holes I only struck 31 putts in 18 holes, and my pitching game was on point.

Man... If I ever put them all together in the same round...

Taking my 13 yo out to the 9 hole exec course on Saturday. It will be his first actual round of golf on a real course. I'm not sure if I'm more excited right now than he'll be when I tell him lol...

 

[jcav]

That's great you are taking your son out for his first round. I hope you both have a blast!

John

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Had the same problem this week...

Went to the range yesterday and hit off mats, because the grass range is only Thurs->Sun. Everything started to come together on the mats. Not perfect--nothing with my game is. But it was coming together.

Then went again today and hit off grass, and everything went to... Well I can't use that word here.

I wonder if the fact that this range gets SO much use and the grass range basically needs to constantly grow grass, means that it's wetter and softer than pretty much any course in the area? That's not a problem for the club, of course, but maybe is a problem for my 260#+ body trying to hold the turf through my size 13's, given that my swing has a little too much sway and maybe isn't as balanced as I'd like?

I feel like I've completely forgotten how to swing, two weeks in a row, after moving from the mats to grass.

Course conditions here are never that soft--even the day after a rain. Am I just screwing myself by even attempting to hit off a soft grass range?

I sure hope my son doesn't beat me on Saturday lol!

 

[passedpawn]

Course conditions here are never that soft--even the day after a rain. Am I just screwing myself by even attempting to hit off a soft grass range?

Played a course this morning. Soft. You live in an arid area, but they are not all like that.

 

[passedpawn]

Dunedin Golf Club this morning. Very nice course, but almost all the greens are elevated. That adds a significant challenge for the chips, and sometimes the putts.

Pic below shows last of the season's oak leaves sprinkling the tee area. My knurd buddy getting ready to place tee. Fairways are nice and wide here, and hazards are few, but those greens are challenging.

 

[Iowa Home Brewer]

I can finally see grass through the melting snow here in Iowa.
I have the itch !

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

The worse ones are the emails from my southern frost line courses, about an hour away, saying they're opening. If I start seeing Masters commercials that'll send me over

 

[passedpawn]

Snuck in a late round today.

My neighborhood course has been so busy lately. Winter here in FL is our busy season. Great weather for golf, but looking forward to slow season when the north thaws and the snow birds go home.

This is the 10th hole at Chi Chi Rodgriguez course. It's a dogleg left, elevated green. Water is near green but not really a problem here. The ball below was from the sand though.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I've always enjoyed chi chi's courses. Saw him play at the senior open here. Was going to leave and he was bringing up the rear. Ended up walking the back nine because he was so fun to watch.

 

[Kee]

Snuck in a late round today.

My neighborhood course has been so busy lately. Winter here in FL is our busy season. Great weather for golf, but looking forward to slow season when the north thaws and the snow birds go home.

This is the 10th hole at Chi Chi Rodgriguez course. It's a dogleg left, elevated green. Water is near green but not really a problem here. The ball below was from the sand though.
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A pull cart on the green? Isn't that sacrilegious or something?

 

[passedpawn]

A pull cart on the green? Isn't that sacrilegious or something?

Haha, I know it doesn't look great. I didn't do it for a long time, but then I realized that my own feet produce roughly 4x the pressure (PSI) than the cart. (4x when comparing a single foot to 3 wheels of cart).

 

[Kee]

. . . I realized that my own feet produce roughly 4x the pressure (PSI) than the cart. (4x when comparing a single foot to 3 wheels of cart).

As long as the course marshals don't mind . . .

 

[passedpawn]

Got out today. Ethan wasn't the only one watching his chip onto the 17th green.

 

[Kee]

Got out today. Ethan wasn't the only one watching his chip onto the 17th green.
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There needs to be a local rule allowing a free drop a couple of hundred feet away from the gator.

 

[beersk]

A pull cart on the green? Isn't that sacrilegious or something?

Exactly what I was thinking! Just doesn't seem right...

 

[passedpawn]

Haha, you northerners. Come to FL, pull carts on greens, golf in your flip flops, it's OK. We're solar powered down here, green and friendly.

 

[mullet6577]

I put up a net and hitting pad in the backyard. It's nowhere near as fun as an actual round, and sure as hell isn't going to help my game but the wife showed some interest in learning how to "properly" swing a club and my 11 year old said he might want to learn. If I can at least get them hitting the ball regularly, maybe I'll have some people to play with later on down the road.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I put up a net and hitting pad in the backyard. It's nowhere near as fun as an actual round, and sure as hell isn't going to help my game but the wife showed some interest in learning how to "properly" swing a club and my 11 year old said he might want to learn. If I can at least get them hitting the ball regularly, maybe I'll have some people to play with later on down the road.

Hey, if they enjoy hitting the net get some plastic or foam balls and a chipping net for some fun competition. Plus will really help the game.

 

[mullet6577]

Hey, if they enjoy hitting the net get some plastic or foam balls and a chipping net for some fun competition. Plus will really help the game.

Got a bucket of foam balls when I got the net. Chipping net will be later on after we've taken care of making contact
All of this is partly for them to learn, but also gives me an excuse to grab a beer and get outside to swing a club to get away from the "office" since I've been working from home for almost a year now.

I took a few swings at a real ball full speed with a driver just to test the net. It held pretty well but I don't know that I'd trust too many hitting close to the same spot.

 

[beersk]

Got a bucket of foam balls when I got the net. Chipping net will be later on after we've taken care of making contact
All of this is partly for them to learn, but also gives me an excuse to grab a beer and get outside to swing a club to get away from the "office" since I've been working from home for almost a year now.

I took a few swings at a real ball full speed with a driver just to test the net. It held pretty well but I don't know that I'd trust too many hitting close to the same spot.

When I was about 13 or so, I had one of these. I lived in town so behind the net was another house (you can see where this is going...). Well, one day, I was out swinging away, obsessing as I am wont to do, and the ball when right through the damn net, flies over and smacks into the siding of the neighbor's house. I said, "****!" and ran inside. A day later, I'm outside, and the guy comes over and says to me, "I saw you hit my house." I didn't know what to say. I think I just said sorry. I can't remember if anything else happened, like if my mom had to pay for the damage or not. Wasn't much, just a little dent I think; the house was across the street. I'm just glad it didn't hit and break a window.

So the moral to the story is, yes, be weary of those nets. I'm sure they're higher quality now than they were 20+ years ago, but still, repeated use would wear it down.

 

[Novacor]

Took the new push cart out for 9 holes this morning, first round of the seaaon. Temps were in the low 40's, all the grass was still dead, and I loved every minute I was out there.

Shot a 48, which was great considering I had putting meltdowns and scored an 8 on 2 holes.

 

[passedpawn]

Took the new push cart out for 9 holes this morning, first round of the seaaon. Temps were in the low 40's, all the grass was still dead, and I loved every minute I was out there.
View attachment 722067
Shot a 48, which was great considering I had putting meltdowns and scored an 8 on 2 holes.

I'll bet those greens were RIPPING fast. Ouch.