Love Golf?

[TheDudeLebowski]

It is. It's a working harbor and you see every kind of boat. The course is on a nice lot of land with elevation. The fairways may look open but theyre shaped for challenges. Trees are there for a reason and there's a couple of streams that meander at 200 yds. The back nine goes up and back into the woods but keeps giving glimpses of the harbor. One of the greens where I didn't bring the camera a beautiful sailboat was going by and as I walked off the green and looked down off the cliff a couple of lobster boats were pulling up traps.

The turf was in great shape. Usually being on the coast you get a little crusty or wild but it was pure on and off the green. Great weather too. Almost a little bit but then crisp fall nights and maybe some fog in the morning.

You can rent that cabin in the 9th and 3rd pic. it was avail and at a great rate. Just a little above a dirt cheap rate we got for our room. I told my buddy if I was forced to do "together time" I'd be more than happy sitting on the deck cooking, eating and drinking. Only issue would be to get three couples agree to go in together.

 

[passedpawn]

It is. It's a working harbor and you see every kind of boat. The course is on a nice lot of land with elevation. The fairways may look open but theyre shaped for challenges. Trees are there for a reason and there's a couple of streams that meander at 200 yds. The back nine goes up and back into the woods but keeps giving glimpses of the harbor. One of the greens where I didn't bring the camera a beautiful sailboat was going by and as I walked off the green and looked down off the cliff a couple of lobster boats were pulling up traps.

The turf was in great shape. Usually being on the coast you get a little crusty or wild but it was pure on and off the green. Great weather too. Almost a little bit but then crisp fall nights and maybe some fog in the morning.

You can rent that cabin in the 9th and 3rd pic. it was avail and at a great rate. Just a little above a dirt cheap rate we got for our room. I told my buddy if I was forced to do "together time" I'd be more than happy sitting on the deck cooking, eating and drinking. Only issue would be to get three couples agree to go in together.

Oh man, rent a cabin on that course? Talk about heaven.

 

[Kee]

Yesterday I had my best round since I started playing again last year. (Admittedly, that's a low bar, but still . . .). With only a few exceptions, I was hitting my irons in the sweet spot, instead of hitting thin, fat or off the toe.

I can't say that I've "found my swing" because, just as I can't always figure out what I'm doing wrong, I'm not sure what I was doing right. But I'll take it, until the next time when the golf gods may decide to have a little fun with me.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Played today at my par-60 course, and shot a 75. Pretty good to finish +10 in the last 16 holes when I was +5 in the first two holes lol...

 

[passedpawn]

Finally getting some cooler weather down here. 75F as the sun came down. Pic below is the 16th hole, where I hit a whopper drive. I was heading toward it then stopped to take a photo of the sun setting between the trees, then noticed that some yahoos were inspecting my ball. You see them up the fairway, right of the bunkers. Elevated green is behind those bunkers, which is why I stay right on this hole.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Cooler! Cooler!? I just made tee times for Friday! Early tee times! Thursday and Friday night is gonna hit in the 20's in my town. Well actually the course is just down the road from the new Treehouse brewery on Cape Cod. Suppose to be only lows in the 40's there. High of 50.

I actually like this time of the year as the crowds are smaller and if you wear black it's perfect temp. Only problem is the shortening of daylight. No tee times after 12 following this weekend.

 

[passedpawn]

Cooler! Cooler!? I just made tee times for Friday! Early tee times! Thursday and Friday night is gonna hit in the 20's in my town. Well actually the course is just down the road from the new Treehouse brewery on Cape Cod. Suppose to be only lows in the 40's there. High of 50.

I actually like this time of the year as the crowds are smaller and if you wear black it's perfect temp. Only problem is the shortening of daylight. No tee times after 12 following this weekend.

Haha, I didn't even leave the house until 4. I finished, but skipped two holes - ran into a slow group. I'm not in a hurry, but I play fast. My golf watch says I played for 2:20.

 

[passedpawn]

BTW, I upgraded my watch. This thing is stupid expensive, so don't say I didn't tell ya.

I could go on and on about what it can do, but you'll google if you're interested. Anyway, I highly recommend. Garmin Approach S62. Replaces my S60.

Amazon.com: Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch, Built-in Virtual Caddie, Mapping and Full Color Screen, Black (010-02200-00) : Everything Else

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Haha, I didn't even leave the house until 4. I finished, but skipped two holes - ran into a slow group. I'm not in a hurry, but I play fast. My golf watch says I played for 2:20.

Best thing I ever did was ditch my Sat 9am tee time group for late after noon weekday tee times. A round on sat would take 6 hours sometimes. Weekdays I'd watch the online tee sheet and could get done and play in 2 hours. The only problem now is if I play with that group and it's slow? I lose concentration and play like cr*p.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

BTW, I upgraded my watch. This thing is stupid expensive, so don't say I didn't tell ya.

I could go on and on about what it can do, but you'll google if you're interested. Anyway, I highly recommend. Garmin Approach S62. Replaces my S60.

Amazon.com: Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch, Built-in Virtual Caddie, Mapping and Full Color Screen, Black (010-02200-00) : Everything Else

View attachment 747685

I did a lot of research. I bought a Garmin Vivosmart HR like 8 years ago. It's really a health monitor with a golf app. A ton of other useful Geeky apps too. Works perfectly.

I did have to get a return as the first couple of versions of the watch had problems with software. I'm amazed the amount of rounds, heat and sweat it has taken. It's showing it's age with software tho. There's a good possibility that it now doesn't pair with my watch or download the course. To the point where I think I need a new watch.

 

[passedpawn]

Best thing I ever did was ditch my Sat 9am tee time group for late after noon weekday tee times. A round on sat would take 6 hours sometimes. Weekdays I'd watch the online tee sheet and could get done and play in 2 hours. The only problem now is if I play with that group and it's slow? I lose concentration and play like cr*p.

I love playing alone. Fast, no distractions, do whatever you want. I bet I play 50 rounds of golf a year alone. I have a bluetooth speaker, play 40's music haha. I had a dude play up to me and join me, said he loved those old tunes. I dunno, not many do.

Saw a bald eagle while playing tonight, and a bobcat (twice). Bobcat was chasing rabbits.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

BTW, I upgraded my watch. This thing is stupid expensive, so don't say I didn't tell ya.

I could go on and on about what it can do, but you'll google if you're interested. Anyway, I highly recommend. Garmin Approach S62. Replaces my S60.

Amazon.com: Garmin Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch, Built-in Virtual Caddie, Mapping and Full Color Screen, Black (010-02200-00) : Everything Else

View attachment 747685

Nice lookin' watch!

I did a lot of research. I bought a Garmin Vivosmart HR like 8 years ago. It's really a health monitor with a golf app. A ton of other useful Geeky apps too. Works perfectly.

I did have to get a return as the first couple of versions of the watch had problems with software. I'm amazed the amount of rounds, heat and sweat it has taken. It's showing it's age with software tho. There's a good possibility that it now doesn't pair with my watch or download the course. To the point where I think I need a new watch.

I ended up buying a Fenix 3 HR Sapphire years ago (~mid-2016) primarily for hiking/exercise. I was lucky enough to have a contact hook me up with a Garmin employee/friends/family discount, so thankfully it was 35% off MSRP.

Then late 2020 I saw Amazon with a one-day sale on the Fenix 5X Sapphire for I think $299, and snapped it up in an impulse buy and sold my Fenix 3 on the bay...

I think that the Garmin Approach golf watches are better for golf, but the Fenix series is better for everything else.

So if you're looking at an upgrade, ask yourself whether golf is the primary activity you'll be using it for or whether golf is just one of many. If the latter, something like the Fenix might be a better way to go. If the former, the Approach will have more golf-specific features than the golf app on the Fenix.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Nice lookin' watch!



I ended up buying a Fenix 3 HR Sapphire years ago (~mid-2016) primarily for hiking/exercise. I was lucky enough to have a contact hook me up with a Garmin employee/friends/family discount, so thankfully it was 35% off MSRP.

Then late 2020 I saw Amazon with a one-day sale on the Fenix 5X Sapphire for I think $299, and snapped it up in an impulse buy and sold my Fenix 3 on the bay...

I think that the Garmin Approach golf watches are better for golf, but the Fenix series is better for everything else.

So if you're looking at an upgrade, ask yourself whether golf is the primary activity you'll be using it for or whether golf is just one of many. If the latter, something like the Fenix might be a better way to go. If the former, the Approach will have more golf-specific features than the golf app on the Fenix.

Yup. The HR I was able to get for $150. A lot less than their other offerings. A while back there was a good article on how Garmin's algorithm was far superior on determine heart rate. It did everything I needed and really didn't see a difference in the Fenix except for the price/look. Plus the Fenix was a lot clunkier? Larger in size. The Vivosmart is nice and compact. I like the $150 price point. If I had to deal with the hw/sw issues on paying more I would have been pissed. It took a little bit of talking to but Garmin did replace it. I'm actually quite shocked on how long it survived. Just the battery making it is impressive

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Yeah, the Fenix is a bit big, but I have big wrists so it doesn't look out of place.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

Just was on Amazon and saw they were having pre black friday sales. Some Garmin fitness watches but no golf ones yet. I think black Friday was the time I bought both of my golf watches. Keep your eyes peeled.

 

[Kee]

So, does a GPS watch have more or less the same accuracy as a range finder? Most of the guys I play with use range finders.

 

[doug293cz]

So, does a GPS watch have more or less the same accuracy as a range finder? Most of the guys I play with use range finders.

Here's an overview article on the differences between the two devices. It does get one thing wrong - a really good GPS (WAAS enabled + receives US & Russian sats) can have the same 1 yard accuracy as a laser.

Brew on

 

[Kee]

Here's an overview article on the differences between the two devices. It does get one thing wrong - a really good GPS (WAAS enabled + receives US & Russian sats) can have the same 1 yard accuracy as a laser.

Brew on

Thanks. I will start with an app for my phone and see how that works. I just downloaded Golf Pad, but cell phone coverage for one of the local courses might be a little dicey.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

So, does a GPS watch have more or less the same accuracy as a range finder? Most of the guys I play with use range finders.

One advantage of a range finder is that it gives you distance to the pin. The watch only gives distance to front/middle/back of green, since obviously the pin location changes and it doesn't know where it is.

Granted, it's not like that makes much of a difference to someone of my limited skill... If visually I see it's a center pin and my watch tells me it's 125 to the center and the rangefinder tells me it's 127 to the pin, it's not like I can adjust my shot for that perfect 2-yard discrepancy lol...

The other aspect is slope. I do think some GPS watches know the topography of the course and can give you a "plays like" number that takes into account whether it's uphill or downhill. My Fenix 5X does not have that capability. Most rangefinders have a slope calculation built-in. Mine will tell me it's 127 to the pin but it's playing 120 because it's downhill, or playing 135 because it's uphill, for example.

Costco has a CaddyTek rangefinder with slope for $129. I use it sometimes in addition to the watch when I want that slope calculation.

 

[passedpawn]

Just got off the course. LITERALLY, I was told at 3pm when I started that I was the ONLY person on the course. I can confirm, when I got off the course the CEO was walking out and told me I was the only one on there. What a world! (OK, had to play through 6 holes of drizzle, but then the sun came out )

So, does a GPS watch have more or less the same accuracy as a range finder? Most of the guys I play with use range finders.

Here's an overview article on the differences between the two devices. It does get one thing wrong - a really good GPS (WAAS enabled + receives US & Russian sats) can have the same 1 yard accuracy as a laser.

Brew on

Same. Technically, the LIDAR laser should be better, but my buddy who I play with a lot carries one and my watch is always the exact same as what he measures.

FYI, you can lose a rangefinder. I.e., walk out to the tee box, take your measurement, set it on the grass, hit your shot, walk away. Happens ALL the time. And, if it's been raining and the course is cart-path-only, and you have to walk out to your ball in the fairway, have fun carrying that load around the course.

Thanks. I will start with an app for my phone and see how that works. I just downloaded Golf Pad, but cell phone coverage for one of the local courses might be a little dicey.

I used "Hole 19" for a while. Worked great.

One advantage of a range finder is that it gives you distance to the pin. The watch only gives distance to front/middle/back of green, since obviously the pin location changes and it doesn't know where it is.

Granted, it's not like that makes much of a difference to someone of my limited skill... If visually I see it's a center pin and my watch tells me it's 125 to the center and the rangefinder tells me it's 127 to the pin, it's not like I can adjust my shot for that perfect 2-yard discrepancy lol...

The other aspect is slope. I do think some GPS watches know the topography of the course and can give you a "plays like" number that takes into account whether it's uphill or downhill. My Fenix 5X does not have that capability. Most rangefinders have a slope calculation built-in. Mine will tell me it's 127 to the pin but it's playing 120 because it's downhill, or playing 135 because it's uphill, for example.

Costco has a CaddyTek rangefinder with slope for $129. I use it sometimes in addition to the watch when I want that slope calculation.

This S62, just tap the screen and it shows "plays like" to the actual distance. Easy. Here in FL, as flat as it is here, they are always about the same.

 

[doug293cz]

Thanks. I will start with an app for my phone and see how that works. I just downloaded Golf Pad, but cell phone coverage for one of the local courses might be a little dicey.

If you download the course prior to arrival (in a dead zone) local coverage should not matter.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

One advantage of a range finder is that it gives you distance to the pin. The watch only gives distance to front/middle/back of green, since obviously the pin location changes and it doesn't know where it is.

Granted, it's not like that makes much of a difference to someone of my limited skill... If visually I see it's a center pin and my watch tells me it's 125 to the center and the rangefinder tells me it's 127 to the pin, it's not like I can adjust my shot for that perfect 2-yard discrepancy lol...

...

True.

Same.

Brew on

 

[applescrap]

That watch looks effin awesome. Someone gave me a Garmin watch a few years ago for Christmas, problem is, I have never played with a watch on, so it feels awkward. Guess I could learn to get over it for a Rolex . My buddies have those range viewers, and dang they work well, and so quick. S... quicker than checking the phone even and can scan whatever you want, really need it for ranges.

Ugh, I shot a 91 last weekend. Played a pinch better at times but lots of big numbers, had a lot of birdie putts too, just kinda all went wrong. Still looking to have fun, I think not drinking beer hurt me, I always drink beer. Since no one was drinking beer we were like a cheech and Chong movie out there. Haha, definitely think that played a role.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I think it's Garmin that makes a little tab you can put on your hat and speaks the yardage without fussing around with buttons. I'm shocked other devices don't do that. It just makes sense. I think it even figures out when u stop and are ready for a shot it can automatically call out the yardage. I could see losing or damaging it since it's so small.

Whelp! It was in the 20's and there was ice on the pond when I left yesterday morning and travelled a bit south to the ocean.

Turned out to be a beautiful day down there. Always brisk near the ocean and breezy with a high that just made 50.

Played with members of the course and kicked their butt.

It was over on the 8th for them when I accidently pulled my drive on a short drive able dogleg right par 4. Wasnt aiming at the green but wound up in a canyon and flopped it to 20' of the hole. My partner didn't bring my putter and they were shocked when they told me I made a good birdie putt. I then informed them I made it putting with my wedge

I had 7 pars on the front 9. A double and bogey on simple par 3's. Definitely not hitting my irons well.

Good news is a ton of good breweries are in the area. Now I have two awesome golf beer locations. This location has 3 other quality courses right next to each other

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

So that's what fairways look like when they're watered, huh?

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I was commenting with the guys on how good the turf was. My area has gotten way too much rain and not enough sun. They were a little under average for rain until last month where they also got drenched.. Actually bad as I. Hurricane like winds with it. Crazy year up here. I think we're over a foot above yearly avg already.

 

[applescrap]

I think it's Garmin that makes a little tab you can put on your hat and speaks the yardage without fussing around with buttons. I'm shocked other devices don't do that. It just makes sense. I think it even figures out when u stop and are ready for a shot it can automatically call out the yardage. I could see losing or damaging it since it's so small.

Whelp! It was in the 20's and there was ice on the pond when I left yesterday morning and travelled a bit south to the ocean.

Turned out to be a beautiful day down there. Always brisk near the ocean and breezy with a high that just made 50.

Played with members of the course and kicked their butt.

It was over on the 8th for them when I accidently pulled my drive on a short drive able dogleg right par 4. Wasnt aiming at the green but wound up in a canyon and flopped it to 20' of the hole. My partner didn't bring my putter and they were shocked when they told me I made a good birdie putt. I then informed them I made it putting with my wedge

I had 7 pars on the front 9. A double and bogey on simple par 3's. Definitely not hitting my irons well.

Good news is a ton of good breweries are in the area. Now I have two awesome golf beer locations. This location has 3 other quality courses right next to each otherView attachment 748033View attachment 748034View attachment 748035View attachment 748037

Oh man looks awesome. Sounds like you played great too. Haha, kicked their butt, I love it. What was the game? Looks gorgeous out there. The ocean is so sweet. Dang that course looks nice. Playable to, who is the designer?

I want one of those talking GPS that's cool, nothing going on my head like that, it would eff with me.

Gonna be winter here too soon. I like ice on ponds. Better than a splash. Plus you cant hit it fat, lol.

 

[applescrap]

Towards the end of that last round I came to realize I was just slapping at it. Lol, dang man I tried everything else. Tempo, to hard, not hard enough, standing out of it, etc, had all the thoughts going. Well I get on the tee box today and somewhere I remember, hey turn back a little, dont over think it. Sure as shinola I drive one, downwind, hit a laser 300 plus yard just off and past green. Then skunk chip and 3 putt for bogey. Everyone, especially me was like how da hell did I bogey that. Anyways played super good. Drove 4 too, downwind.

Went on bike ride with son before. I think that helped. My buddies were all up tight and not playing well, I didnt have the energy to care that much. The shoulder turn gave me the leverage and room to deliver the club face square. A quick arm lash at it was doing me in, in consistent, and weak shots.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Played today. Hot as hell. Hit the high 80s by the time we finished up (11:45 AM PT). I wish I had brought the umbrella for my push cart for the shade protection.

Par is 60, and I shot an 81 for +21. One of those rounds where I didn't have a single blow-up hole (i.e. triple bogey or worse), but I simply couldn't convert when I needed to. Too many holes where I turned a chance at par into a bogey, or turned a bogey into a double.

I think it's going to move my handicap back out of the "teens" because it'll age out a +15 in the calculations...

 

[passedpawn]

I have done this (see below). Started on the 10 hole instead of the 1 hole, didn't realize my mistake for 3 holes. Couldn't figure out why the map on the score card was SO inaccurate haha.

Anyway, the interview with the golfers afterwards was dynamite. I know a lot of people for some reason don't like Spieth, but I do. And Stenson is awesome.