Birdies. bogies, eagles and snowmen - Golf catch-all

I figured I would throw this out there to see if anyone else here plays "a good walk, ruined" as I saw golf described once. Not the video games, but the actual sport out in the not-inside.

I play a couple of times a year at golf courses around the Ottawa area. Not nearly as much as I would like, but wife, kids and other real life things get in the way.

I like that discription of golf. I used to play more often, but now I only play about 1-2 times a year. I'm not good, but I'm not horrible either. My problem is that I either have a horrible tee shot (slice it directly into the woods) or I have a couple of brain fart shots on each hole. The two areas I have recently improved on my game is my short game and hitting with my 5-wood off the grass. I always used to use an iron on my 2nd shot on par 5s, and that would cost me, especially if I incorporated the bad tee-shot and the brain farts. If I went more, I probably would be able to shoot in the low 90s.

Someone once said it's the most relaxing sport in the world. Bullsh*t. It's relaxing it you make it relaxing. If you make no effort to make it relaxing, it's a horrible afternoon.

I will say this, there's always 1 shot per round that makes you excited to come out the next time. Last time out, mine was an entire hole. I played a par 5 hole the was it was meant to be played: Fairway tee-shot, used my 5 wood to get 30 yards out. Put a nice shot on the green, and 2 putted for par.

I used to have a nasty snap slice, in that if I wanted to go straight down the fairway by the time my ball had come to a stop, I would have to aim about 20 or 30 degrees to the left of the fairway. For me, the big realization was that I didn't need to kill the ball. My father-in-law has a fast swing speed, and my brother-in-law has an insanely fast swing speed, but they have both been playing for 20+ years. For me, a nice slow swing speed, and trying to not let my hands get ahead of the club speed, has done wonders.

I played a short 9-hole yesterday morning (Larrimac Golf), and all of my tee shots (except for 8 and 9) were straight down the middle, right where I wanted them to go. On 8 and 9, I started getting too confident and trying to hit hard, so I started getting more errors in my tee shots.

Played some as a kid (never well).

First time I'd played in decades was almost two years ago. It didn't end well.

IMAGE(http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4094/4819689900_89da17874f.jpg)

The clubs I got at our wedding, the first time I swung my driver the same thing happened.

I started off with a bad hole once, and had to play the last 17 holes without a 7-iron, because I took out my frustration on it. That was over 7 years ago, I'm a much calmer player now, and I too realize you don't have to kill the ball to get it to where you want it to go.

I want to go golfing now, lol. DAMN YOU MUDBUNNY!!!

What next, a Texas Hold'em thread?

Just realized that most folks probably won't click through to see the context for that photo:

I struggled the entire day, and the only real success I had that outing was on my drives. On our last hole (we only played nine, since it was 117 outside), I decided to really open up my throttle and hit the hell out of the ball.

I swung through and felt a solid hit, followed by a sudden sensation of lightness in my hands.

Somehow, I'd managed to break the rented 1-Wood, and launched the head a full 70 yards (50 yards further than my ball).

The folks at the rental were extremely nice, and decided not to charge me for the broken club.

I play about 1-2 times a year too. As a very occasional player, I am of course terrible, but my oldest son likes to play and so we go out for some father-son time, which is pretty cool. Even better when I beat him (which has been every time so far - but his day is fast approaching)!

I haven't been this year, something always seems to conflict when I want to go out. Probably won't get out until mid-August when it's nice and too hot.

Ah geez - I started a thread on Golf ages ago and bloody disc golf had more life in it. Now this gets more responses in a day - maybe it was just me.

I play as often as I can. Usually 3 times a month but I have been gorging lately and had about 10 games in the last month before I head to Laos where I think the golfing options are going to be severely limited.

A good day I shoot 70-something. An OK day 80-something and a bad day is 90+

Was fortunate to get out to Royal Melbourne a week ago where they played the President's Cup late last year. A mixed bag, but birdies on 11 and 18 were highlights.

An open invitation to anyone visiting Melbourne to go out for a hit somewhere. Will have to be when I get back from Laos in 2013 some time.

* Found the thread I started which coincided with the last time I played at RM. Please start more golf threads to see if this is correlation or causality (hopefully the latter).

I play as often as I can, which translates to about 3-4 times a month. This summer, due to the ungodly heat and other obligations, I haven't gotten out as much. I average in the upper 80s, and only cracked the 80 barrier once.

I had been playing with hand me down equipment, however I found that my play improved once I began to take it seriously enough that I invested in good equipment. Currently playing a 2010 Nike Sasquatch driver and 3, and 2009 Titleist irons. Lately I've been trying to find a ball that fits my play and budget. I LOVE the Titleist Pro Vs, but they are a bit pricey. I've been playing the Nike Vapor Blacks this summer with good success.

In .au I find that you can get clearance of last year's model balls at really good rates.

Bridgestone B330 series and Callaway Tour balls usually half the price of similar performing Pro V1s. Personally I am getting best bang for buck from the B330RX at about $2.50/ball (new).

That's exactly what I did with my clubs, Bruce. I hit up the winter golf shows and get the previous seasons merch for a lot less. Makes it a little bit difficult since you can't test on a range, but if you do that during the summer you can go into it knowing what you want.

I haven't played in a few years. I really should since I live in an area with a ton of courses. I used to play more when I was in college since I had more free time. The last time I went, I couldn't stop topping the ball with every shot.

obirano - I've never seen your swing but I will bet that your cold topping problem is due to a bent left wrist at impact (assuming you play right handed).

This is the "flip" and is one of the most common faults in golf. I will be fighting it for all my golfing life due to 25 years of ingrained cricket habits.

When I lived in central NJ I played once a week because there are so many good, public courses in that area. Since moving to the NYC metro area about 18 months ago, I've hardly played...the few options in the area seem to be ridiculously expensive :(. But there is a rumor going around that a park within walking distance to my house just received funding for an 18 hole, PUBLIC course...that would be freaking awesome, if true. Can't wait!

mindset.threat wrote:

When I lived in central NJ I played once a week because there are so many good, public courses in that area. Since moving to the NYC metro area about 18 months ago, I've hardly played...the few options in the area seem to be ridiculously expensive :(. But there is a rumor going around that a park within walking distance to my house just received funding for an 18 hole, PUBLIC course...that would be freaking awesome, if true. Can't wait!

The first course I ever played was Tamarack, I assume you've played there before.

Kush15 wrote:
mindset.threat wrote:

When I lived in central NJ I played once a week because there are so many good, public courses in that area. Since moving to the NYC metro area about 18 months ago, I've hardly played...the few options in the area seem to be ridiculously expensive :(. But there is a rumor going around that a park within walking distance to my house just received funding for an 18 hole, PUBLIC course...that would be freaking awesome, if true. Can't wait!

The first course I ever played was Tamarack, I assume you've played there before.

Yup, I have a cousin in that area. The twlight fee was something like $12

Here is where I am playing tomorrow. I predict many lost balls. I will try to take pictures to share.

Bruce wrote:

obirano - I've never seen your swing but I will bet that your cold topping problem is due to a bent left wrist at impact (assuming you play right handed).

This is the "flip" and is one of the most common faults in golf. I will be fighting it for all my golfing life due to 25 years of ingrained cricket habits.

I'll have to remember that next time. I used to not have a problem with it, but being so out of practice I would assume my form was terrible.

Lord I need lessons.

I played today, and ended up shooting 113. 20 over the first 9, 21 over the second. I know where my problems are though. My mid and long game. Last week, I was driving and hitting my long irons pretty straight. This week, any club longer than a 5 iron ended up with a slice. I am very happy, however, with my short game this week. My go-to clubs this week for my short game were my 5-iron (reliably hitting about 150 yards), my 7-iron (reliably hitting about 130 yards) and my pitching wedge (variable, but I always managed to chip it onto the fringe at the very least. My putting was pretty decent as well. Mostly 2-putts, with only a couple of 3-putts over the round, and that was on putts that were 40+ feet.

I am pretty sure that I need to work on the basics (addressing the ball and my stance) and I am pretty sure that will fix a great deal of my problems.

Played in college. Haven't played in 10 years. I'll probably get back to it when my knees hurt too much to do anything else.

PAR

mudbunny wrote:

Lord I need lessons.

I played today, and ended up shooting 113. 20 over the first 9, 21 over the second. I know where my problems are though. My mid and long game. Last week, I was driving and hitting my long irons pretty straight. This week, any club longer than a 5 iron ended up with a slice. I am very happy, however, with my short game this week. My go-to clubs this week for my short game were my 5-iron (reliably hitting about 150 yards), my 7-iron (reliably hitting about 130 yards) and my pitching wedge (variable, but I always managed to chip it onto the fringe at the very least. My putting was pretty decent as well. Mostly 2-putts, with only a couple of 3-putts over the round, and that was on putts that were 40+ feet.

I am pretty sure that I need to work on the basics (addressing the ball and my stance) and I am pretty sure that will fix a great deal of my problems.

How often do you go to a driving range? I've found that playing a course is practically pointless if I don't get to a range and work on basics often.

What about watching golf? Anybody else enjoying the Ryder Cup this weekend?

Been an exciting morning. And now the US is up in 3 of 4 this afternoon.

Stele wrote:

What about watching golf? Anybody else enjoying the Ryder Cup this weekend?

Raises hand.

Also, since this thread seems to be about people and their playing, I'll add to that.

I've been playing for about 15 years now, starting when I was in middle school. Had a cool guy that lived across the street from me who built my first set of Golfsmith clubs for me (and also got me into bowling) and took me golfing a lot. I was on my high school golf team and got down to a 7 handicap at my best (probably more like 15 now, heh). I worked at a par 3 course throughout high school and played almost everyday there so my short game is great but my wood-play isn't so hot.

My dad got started playing after I took an interest in it so we would always go to a nice course during our family vacations. The two coolest courses I got to play on were Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. After college though, I haven't really played a whole lot, maybe 3 or 4 times a year. My clubs are still the original Ping I 3s I had from 10 years ago.

My most interesting round since college occurred last Fall. I hadn't played for probably 6 months and was out in Laguna Beach for a friends wedding. I didn't bring my clubs with me so I had to use rentals, but we decided to play a round at a course there overlooking the ocean. I had the best round on an 18 hole course I had ever shot; a one under 71. First time I had shot under par on a par 72 course. I had shot even par a few times but never under, and here I was using rental clubs on a course I've never played before and 6 months of rust. I'm still not sure how that happened.

Anyways, I'm in the northern Virginia area so if anyone around wants to play sometime, let me know.

Stele wrote:

Been an exciting morning. And now the US is up in 3 of 4 this afternoon.

Phil and Keegan are the new power duo?

ukickmydog wrote:
Stele wrote:

Been an exciting morning. And now the US is up in 3 of 4 this afternoon.

Phil and Keegan are the new power duo?

Apparently!

Since everyone's sharing, I played a bit when I was 7 or 8 but also was playing baseball at the time and my swings were all crossed. Didn't like it. Tried again about 12 or 13 and enjoyed it enough, mostly at the par 3.

A good friend of mine (later best man at my wedding) really loved it, and was on the high school team. He started dragging me out more and more our Sophomore/Junior summer since he already had his license, and then the next summer he convinced me to go out for the team. So I was one of our "senior leaders" despite it being my first year. Still, I was good enough to play every match at least.

I kept playing a lot since then. My dad goes on a weekly group with guys he works with so anytime I was free I would join in on that, which usually netted me a free round and some free beer.

Sadly the last 2 years in Florida I haven't got to go all that much, despite the weather being great for it. Either I'm too busy to get out there, or too short on cash when I have the free time. Ah well. Maybe this winter I'll find the balance to get back out there...

Sadly my skills have deteriorated the last 2 years in Florida.

US is trying to blow it today.

Stele wrote:

US is trying to blow it today. :(

And they succeeded admirably.

In the long vs regular putters it seems like the long guys in the US team missed the important putts that the Euros were making.

Ian Poulter had a blood test following his amazing weekend. Results came back: Ice.

Is this still our golf thread? Anybody watching the Masters?

The 14-year-old kid got penalized for slow play today.

Stele wrote:

Is this still our golf thread? Anybody watching the Masters?

The 14-year-old kid got penalized for slow play today. :shock:

As of right now, he'd miss the cut because of it too.