2014 SoSH Golf Thread
- Thread starter Duende Roomer
- Start date
Okay so first let me say, next to getting married, it was the best day of my life. The only reason its #2 and not number 1 is because I shot 86 and blew up on the back after playing relatively well on the front.
Since I wasn't a resort guest, I could only get a guaranteed tee time on Pebble the morning before I wanted to tee off. They assured me it wouldn't be a problem seeing as though I was a single and would be able to latch on to any group, but I took no chances, got up at 3:55am in Honolulu and called the reservation center to get my guaranteed noon tee time. Why noon? First off we wouldn't be arriving to our hotel the night before til around 2am, and secondly I wanted warm enough weather so my wife wouldn't be cold waking the course with me. We arrived around 10am after I got maybe 2 hours of sleep from being so excited and had breakfast at the restaurant that overlooked the first tee. I was getting more nervous with every good tee shot I saw as there is always a crowd of 30-50 people watching you tee off. Some aren't even there to golf, they just want to walk around the place.
After being picked up by the shuttle with leather reclining chairs I got to the practice area around 11:20. The employee at the Pro Shop told me to arrive in front of the first tee 15 minutes before my tee time to meet my caddy and playing partners so I hit balls for 25 minutes and was ready to go. I actually hit the ball really well at the range and was pretty psyched to get started. Since it was a uncharacteristically slow day, I met my playing partner and we went to the first tee as a twosome. The guy I played with was Colin Montgomerie's twin except for being a 25 handicap or so. On the first tee, the starter asked me what my handicap was, I told him I was an 8 while the guy I was playing with was a 25 or so. He told me that I could play whatever tees I wanted but he strongly recommended playing the golds, which on that day were playing around 6500 yards. I considered playing the blues but I was really nervous about holding up play since on some holes there are completely different paths to the tees so I agreed that the golds would be best.
I won't go by every single hole but I found myself nervous on the first tee. It didn't help when the 25 handicapper busted his drive down the middle of the fairway. I opted to hit my stinger on the short hole (playing around 340 that day) and hoped to get it out there around 230 in the fairway. I put the tee in the ground, tried to play as fast as I could, and TOPPED THE FIRST SHOT OF THE DAY. There were a few groans but thankfully the ground was hard and the ball rolled 100 yards so I didn't have to hit the next one in front of the crowd. I hit my hybrid into the greenside bunker, hit it out to about 20ft and missed a 4 footer for bogey. Doubled the first.
The second was the reachable par 5 that played 490 yards that day. I believe in the US Open the pros played it as a par 4 but my caddy wasn't sure. Anyway, driver to the first cut, 5 iron to the right side of the right bunker, flop shot to 12 feet and a holed putt meant I birdied the second to settle me down.
I made par on the next 5 holes in a row, hitting the green in regulation on every hole but missing the birdie putts. To be fair to me, some of the pin positions were very tough and I never realized how sloped some of their greens are. One shot I'll brag about was my tee shot on 3. From the tee box we were on that day the hole played about 360 and the bunkers at the beginning of the fairway were about 235 to carry. For those of you that don't know the hole, if you hit your tee shot more than 260 or so you'll go through the fairway as the hole doglegs sharp to the left. I hit my 3 wood, carried the last bunker on the left with a little draw, and watched my ball funnel down the middle of the fairway to about 70 yards from the green. The caddy couldn't get over where the ball ended up...not to be all Chris Farley, but yeah, that was awesome.
I doubled 8 and parred 9. 8 isn't fair. We played it at 370 yards but you can only hit your tee shot around 200 before you have to hit your second shot over a cliff to a green thats about 60 feet below you. Adding to the difficulty is a stiff wind that according to my caddy is always in your face. I had 170 yards, took one extra club and hit my 6 iron into the bunker that was over the green. The pin was in the back as well and my caddy stressed how fast the green was sloping down. I tried to get too cute with it, got the shot out of the sand but left it in the rough. Flop shot was next as I saw my ball literally trickle by the hole, almost stop, then gain speed and end 15 ft from the cup. Double bogey. 39 on the front.
It was all down hill from there. Doubled 10, after hitting my second shot in the water, made par on 11 then didn't make another par the rest of the day. Doubled a few more holes, including 17, to shoot 47 on the back. 86.
The greens were unreadable. Fast uphill and sometimes slow downhill. My caddy wanted me to play much more break then was needed and though I usually like my putts to die in the hole, I think he was reading them as being faster than they were.
I loved walking with a caddy and don't want to slam mine too bad because he was a young kid and it was his first year. But one thing I didn't like was him telling me which club to hit off tees. I probably should have been more blunt with him but I tried to drop hints by asking him how far certain things were off tees and too greens. For example, he wanted me to hit driver on #3 but after I asked him what the carry distance was of the bunker and through the fairway, I pulled 3 wood.
The bunkers had some of the softest sand I've ever been in. I had probably 5 bunker shots all day and 3 of them were fried eggs, including one on 18 that I left in the bunker in front of a gallery (however I did hit the next one to 2 feet to applause).
Since I wasn't a resort guest, I could only get a guaranteed tee time on Pebble the morning before I wanted to tee off. They assured me it wouldn't be a problem seeing as though I was a single and would be able to latch on to any group, but I took no chances, got up at 3:55am in Honolulu and called the reservation center to get my guaranteed noon tee time. Why noon? First off we wouldn't be arriving to our hotel the night before til around 2am, and secondly I wanted warm enough weather so my wife wouldn't be cold waking the course with me. We arrived around 10am after I got maybe 2 hours of sleep from being so excited and had breakfast at the restaurant that overlooked the first tee. I was getting more nervous with every good tee shot I saw as there is always a crowd of 30-50 people watching you tee off. Some aren't even there to golf, they just want to walk around the place.
After being picked up by the shuttle with leather reclining chairs I got to the practice area around 11:20. The employee at the Pro Shop told me to arrive in front of the first tee 15 minutes before my tee time to meet my caddy and playing partners so I hit balls for 25 minutes and was ready to go. I actually hit the ball really well at the range and was pretty psyched to get started. Since it was a uncharacteristically slow day, I met my playing partner and we went to the first tee as a twosome. The guy I played with was Colin Montgomerie's twin except for being a 25 handicap or so. On the first tee, the starter asked me what my handicap was, I told him I was an 8 while the guy I was playing with was a 25 or so. He told me that I could play whatever tees I wanted but he strongly recommended playing the golds, which on that day were playing around 6500 yards. I considered playing the blues but I was really nervous about holding up play since on some holes there are completely different paths to the tees so I agreed that the golds would be best.
I won't go by every single hole but I found myself nervous on the first tee. It didn't help when the 25 handicapper busted his drive down the middle of the fairway. I opted to hit my stinger on the short hole (playing around 340 that day) and hoped to get it out there around 230 in the fairway. I put the tee in the ground, tried to play as fast as I could, and TOPPED THE FIRST SHOT OF THE DAY. There were a few groans but thankfully the ground was hard and the ball rolled 100 yards so I didn't have to hit the next one in front of the crowd. I hit my hybrid into the greenside bunker, hit it out to about 20ft and missed a 4 footer for bogey. Doubled the first.
The second was the reachable par 5 that played 490 yards that day. I believe in the US Open the pros played it as a par 4 but my caddy wasn't sure. Anyway, driver to the first cut, 5 iron to the right side of the right bunker, flop shot to 12 feet and a holed putt meant I birdied the second to settle me down.
I made par on the next 5 holes in a row, hitting the green in regulation on every hole but missing the birdie putts. To be fair to me, some of the pin positions were very tough and I never realized how sloped some of their greens are. One shot I'll brag about was my tee shot on 3. From the tee box we were on that day the hole played about 360 and the bunkers at the beginning of the fairway were about 235 to carry. For those of you that don't know the hole, if you hit your tee shot more than 260 or so you'll go through the fairway as the hole doglegs sharp to the left. I hit my 3 wood, carried the last bunker on the left with a little draw, and watched my ball funnel down the middle of the fairway to about 70 yards from the green. The caddy couldn't get over where the ball ended up...not to be all Chris Farley, but yeah, that was awesome.
I doubled 8 and parred 9. 8 isn't fair. We played it at 370 yards but you can only hit your tee shot around 200 before you have to hit your second shot over a cliff to a green thats about 60 feet below you. Adding to the difficulty is a stiff wind that according to my caddy is always in your face. I had 170 yards, took one extra club and hit my 6 iron into the bunker that was over the green. The pin was in the back as well and my caddy stressed how fast the green was sloping down. I tried to get too cute with it, got the shot out of the sand but left it in the rough. Flop shot was next as I saw my ball literally trickle by the hole, almost stop, then gain speed and end 15 ft from the cup. Double bogey. 39 on the front.
It was all down hill from there. Doubled 10, after hitting my second shot in the water, made par on 11 then didn't make another par the rest of the day. Doubled a few more holes, including 17, to shoot 47 on the back. 86.
The greens were unreadable. Fast uphill and sometimes slow downhill. My caddy wanted me to play much more break then was needed and though I usually like my putts to die in the hole, I think he was reading them as being faster than they were.
I loved walking with a caddy and don't want to slam mine too bad because he was a young kid and it was his first year. But one thing I didn't like was him telling me which club to hit off tees. I probably should have been more blunt with him but I tried to drop hints by asking him how far certain things were off tees and too greens. For example, he wanted me to hit driver on #3 but after I asked him what the carry distance was of the bunker and through the fairway, I pulled 3 wood.
The bunkers had some of the softest sand I've ever been in. I had probably 5 bunker shots all day and 3 of them were fried eggs, including one on 18 that I left in the bunker in front of a gallery (however I did hit the next one to 2 feet to applause).
cshea said:
Yep. Played Turtle Bay as well. 81 there. Nice course...but Hawaiian courses remind me of Florida golf and thats not a good thing.
One other thing I forgot to mention, the round took about 5 hours and 15 minutes. We actually breezed along quite well until we got to the tenth. There is a snack bar there that cooks made to order sandwiches and apparently everyone gets one. I did not, but my playing partner did as well as everyone in the groups ahead of us. We easily waited 30 minutes to tee off on 10. That was a little aggravating.
How much did the round cost?
I've been trying to plan a trip to Pebble with a few friends for a while now.
I've been trying to plan a trip to Pebble with a few friends for a while now.
Its tough to go with a lot of guys because to make a tee time in advance for a foursome you have to stay on property, and that aint cheap.
Zomp thanks so much for the details on Pebble. I have recently gone through a tough break up and am heading out to the west coast later this summer and plan to rent a car in LA and drive to Portland with only golf courses as the dictator of where I go. It is going to be an amazing mental vacation for 10-12 days and I can't wait.
Also If anyone is looking for people to play with north of Boston, I am always looking for groups to play with. With a flexible work schedule and a lot of free time my weekly golf routine is as follows.
Sunday - 18 holes
Monday - 18 holes (par 3 course)
Tuesday - Range
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - pitch and putt practice
Friday - 9 holes
Saturday - off right now
This is the first year that i have set up a plan and am swinging the golf club 4+ days a week, I can already see the improvement I have been looking for the past few years, and it has only been about 4 weeks of playing weather.
Also If anyone is looking for people to play with north of Boston, I am always looking for groups to play with. With a flexible work schedule and a lot of free time my weekly golf routine is as follows.
Sunday - 18 holes
Monday - 18 holes (par 3 course)
Tuesday - Range
Wednesday - Off
Thursday - pitch and putt practice
Friday - 9 holes
Saturday - off right now
This is the first year that i have set up a plan and am swinging the golf club 4+ days a week, I can already see the improvement I have been looking for the past few years, and it has only been about 4 weeks of playing weather.
FWIW, staying in the Lodge is worth the experience as well. I had a room just beyond the 18th green, and sitting with a buddy after our round, having a couple drinks, smoking a cigar, and watching groups finish from our deck was fantastic.Zomp said:
Do yourself a favor and make sure you play as many Bandon courses as you can on that trip. I'd love to hear the comparison to Pebble. I've never played Pebble and it's mainly because I'd rather play 4 rounds at Bandon than one at Pebble. I only know 2 guys who have played both and neither has told me to spend the money on Pebble so I'd love to hear another opinion.bostonbeerbelly said:
FL4WL3SS said:
Bandon is beyond memorable, so go. But it's really tough to get to from the east coast, so if you go, spend as many nights as you can there.(i am assuming you are an east coaster but I'm not sure) The courses are grueling, too, so if you play two a day, make sure you show up in shape, with very comfortable shoes. Your feel will die on the trip. Many times.
It's not that bad to get to. Fly to Eugene and it's a 2 hour drive from there.
The amount of pain you'll feel in your feet if you don't walk a few times a week is impossible to over-estimate. Man, my feet hurt for days and days after every Bandon trip. I don't ever go without something to dull the pain. By day 3 you'll wonder how you're possibly going to make it through another round, then you get to the tee and remember where you are
The amount of pain you'll feel in your feet if you don't walk a few times a week is impossible to over-estimate. Man, my feet hurt for days and days after every Bandon trip. I don't ever go without something to dull the pain. By day 3 you'll wonder how you're possibly going to make it through another round, then you get to the tee and remember where you are
That experience sounds awesome Zomp. Going to the opposite end of the spectrum...
Played Maplegate last week after getting a discount through golfnow. I'd never played before, but it looked to be an almost completely open course mid-day on a Sunday. That place is in real rough shape, and I could see why $50 covered the round, cart, and range balls. I can't see them staying open much longer.
Played George Wright today for $39. Cart is an additional $20/person so we walked, but it wasn't a tough walk. For the money, there isn't a better deal in the area - the course is in fantastic shape, well-maintained fairways and the rough's challenging without being too patchy. The greens don't hold a lot of shots and are pretty much all crowned, but were also in good shape. Looking like this is going to be the affordable go-to living in Cambridge.
Played Maplegate last week after getting a discount through golfnow. I'd never played before, but it looked to be an almost completely open course mid-day on a Sunday. That place is in real rough shape, and I could see why $50 covered the round, cart, and range balls. I can't see them staying open much longer.
Played George Wright today for $39. Cart is an additional $20/person so we walked, but it wasn't a tough walk. For the money, there isn't a better deal in the area - the course is in fantastic shape, well-maintained fairways and the rough's challenging without being too patchy. The greens don't hold a lot of shots and are pretty much all crowned, but were also in good shape. Looking like this is going to be the affordable go-to living in Cambridge.
So my club's management was just taken over by Troon Prive. I don't really know what it means but I'm assuming its a good thing looking at the list of clubs they manage. One of the benefits is being able to play any of their courses for a cart fee. Here are the ones near me:
Blue Hill Country Club Canton, MA
Ocean Edge Resort & Club Brewster, MA
Manchester Country Club Bedford, NH
and Lake of Isles in CT, which I've played.
Has anyone played any of the 2 in MA or 1 in NH?
Blue Hill Country Club Canton, MA
Ocean Edge Resort & Club Brewster, MA
Manchester Country Club Bedford, NH
and Lake of Isles in CT, which I've played.
Has anyone played any of the 2 in MA or 1 in NH?
Zomp great discription and pics are fantastic
That one of the two of you on the tee should be on your mantel
That one of the two of you on the tee should be on your mantel
I've played the past two days, shooting 81 and 75 in the process. My wedge play is the best its ever been. I'm really concentrating on staying low through the take away and the result has been more consistency with impact, which is allowing me to be more aggressive with the shots. During the 75 yesterday, I had 6 shots from 90-115 yards out, and the farthest I was away from the hole was 12 feet. Two shots I need to brag about:
On Friday I was playing our 550 yard par 5, I had 275 yards to the green. It was downwind, but I figured I wouldn't get there and my dad told me to hit. I smashed a 3 wood and knew as soon as I hit it the ball was going to end up on the green. It ended up 10 ft from the hole. I, of course, lipped out for eagle, but the birdie was nice.
Yesterday's 75 included two double bogeys in a row, followed by this gem of a hole...#1 handicap, 450 yard par 4 with fairway bunkers and a tight fairway. I top my drive and it rolls out 100 yards into the left rough. Smoke my 5 wood out and have 108 yards to the pin. Hit a 90% gap wedge, one bunch, BOOM in the hole for a routine birdie.
On Friday I was playing our 550 yard par 5, I had 275 yards to the green. It was downwind, but I figured I wouldn't get there and my dad told me to hit. I smashed a 3 wood and knew as soon as I hit it the ball was going to end up on the green. It ended up 10 ft from the hole. I, of course, lipped out for eagle, but the birdie was nice.
Yesterday's 75 included two double bogeys in a row, followed by this gem of a hole...#1 handicap, 450 yard par 4 with fairway bunkers and a tight fairway. I top my drive and it rolls out 100 yards into the left rough. Smoke my 5 wood out and have 108 yards to the pin. Hit a 90% gap wedge, one bunch, BOOM in the hole for a routine birdie.
You have an open invite to come up to my course. Its in really good shape right now (though with the spring we had, they all should be in good shape).
Cracked 40 for the first time at pine oaks in easton playing the tips. Decent little course for the money. Long par 5 cpl par 3s. Not overly challenging but 4 over is a really good score for me. My mid irons are getting much more accurate. Working on getting more lag and a lower take away. Striking it really flush right now
I played in my local bars golf tournament yesterday and like the US Open this week it was played at a Donald Ross course. Let's just say it's not in the same condition as Pinehurst. It was at Winnapaug CC in Westerly. I always liked the course but did they let the place go. A few years ago they had about 300 members and now they're down to about 100. The best things I could say about the course is the greens weren't horrible. But the tees and fairways were a mess. A real shame it's definitely not worth the $55 rate.
Dan Murfman said:
too bad about a Ross course going downhill, I think I may have mentioned this over the years but there is a course for you Central Mass guys to play out in Athol, Ellinwood GC, its 9 Ross and 9 Cornish. I used to have a customer out there and whenever I'd take that long drive, I'd make sure I had the sticks with me. Reasonable price too as I remember, but its been a few years. One hole I hit my 2nd shot that looked like it was right on the stick, only to land on the Ross false front and have it roll back about 10 yards, still got up n down for one of my few pars
Played 36 on Wednesday. 80-80. I think the next time my revision comes out it will drop a bit, of course keeping it there is another issue all together.
Is your index moving much? Mine is stuck. I play like shit, it stays at 2.5. I play great, it stays at 2.5. I shoot 74, 82, 75, 81, 74, 82. It's really annoying. One thing I've noticed, since I've moved to Colorado I don't have very good golfers to play with like I did in Oregon so I just always play the tips by myself while the rest of my group plays the whites or blues. I think it's hurting my index (in the sense that it's keeping it low). Co sucks for serious golf so it hasn't been that big of a deal but when I head back to Oregon for some real tourneys I'm going to get killed. So, is it worth it to play the blues and shoot 73 instead of the tips and shoot 75 to move the index up? Do the rest of the low handicaps here play tips or play up?Zomp said:
I play the tips wherever I play. I don't like paying money and not seeing the entire course.
I've been stuck at 5.5 for a while. My goal was to be under 4 this year. I could probably get there if I didn't play 7000+ every time I play, but I'm stubborn
I've been stuck at 5.5 for a while. My goal was to be under 4 this year. I could probably get there if I didn't play 7000+ every time I play, but I'm stubborn
When I'm by myself or with better handicapped players, I play the tips. I'd say thats 50% of time. The other 50% is weekly tournaments at my club or with my dad so we'll play the one before the tips. There is a 5 tee set up at my course, but I do like switching it up because some holes it won't necessarily be a longer second shot, but I will have to change my club selection off the tee.
Not sure if this is the right place to post this - but I actually mentioned to Zomp via PM - I am a member at a course down the Cape (Brewster area) and I was thinking of trying to host a SoSH 4-some over the summer and was thinking 4th of July weekend would work, as I am going to be down there and my normal people are all doing family things.
I am not a very good player, but I play fast and offer plenty of self deprecation, and the round is on me, so it has that going for it. Send me a PM if you're interested and what days you're available. Figured its a small bit of thanks for all the entertainment I get in this place.
I am not a very good player, but I play fast and offer plenty of self deprecation, and the round is on me, so it has that going for it. Send me a PM if you're interested and what days you're available. Figured its a small bit of thanks for all the entertainment I get in this place.
I got the tool/app and while its cool, I didn't find it particularly helpful. I got so that I would consistently get 95+ swing scores, and then went to hit balls with that swing and it was a disaster. At an indoor simulator the club speed was also often 10mph different than the simulator was saying.
I think they have a good idea, but that it needs some refining.
I think they have a good idea, but that it needs some refining.
I got the swingsmart device with similar results. It captures about a third of my swings and is very wrong (swing speed of 4mph) often enough that I never trust that it's right. I'll give it a couple of more tries but it's going on ebay soon if the results don't get better, Great concept, bad implementation seems to be the name of the game for all of these devices.
I have the Golfsense version (I think Zepp bought out Golfsense) and I like it. I don't put too much stock on the overall swing scores and I do think the swing speed registers a little high but I like the tempo feature, plane capture and back swing angle (I have a tendency to overswing). Like most training aides it is useful to a degree but it doesn't take place of working with a golf pro.
Have any of you guys played the Wynn course in Las Vegas? I have 5 nights coming up at the Encore next week.
I hear in the summertime you might get out for around 350.00 or so. (I'm not paying 500.00 unless it's Pebble Beach.)
Is it worth 350?
I hear in the summertime you might get out for around 350.00 or so. (I'm not paying 500.00 unless it's Pebble Beach.)
Is it worth 350?
A guy I play with who is a long-hitting 5 just shot 65, five birdies and an eagle. The odds are astronomical.
Why are the odds astronomical? I'm a ~3 now and my best score is a 65 in tourney play and I 3 putted the 18th from 20 feet trying for a 63. I was probably a 5-ish when I did that. A 5 shooting a 65 is not different than a 12 shooting 74. It happens.Freddy Linn said:
Played George Wright for the first time yesterday. Had a terrific front nine (for me) and then the wheels came off a bit. I think the heat got to me.PedroSpecialK said:
Still, I thought it was a terrific course. Challenging with its changes in elevation and blind shots. Looking forward to playing it again. Thought the staff was friendly too.
George Wright is fun. First two holes are straightforward and easy then you get to 3 and its like wtf. The back is much harder than the front, though so maybe not just tiredness
Been playing brookmeadow in canton a bit. Nice little course and some great deals. Twilight is 16 bucks and after 3 on the weekends is 33 w a cart for 18. Its in really good shape right now. Shot a 87 and an 86 last two weekends out. Its roughly 6600 from the tips.
Because the odds are really long, it is statistically quite different than a 12 shooting a 74, and yes, it does happen.jercra said:
http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/understanding_handicap/articles/deanstable.html
I should add that it wasn't on a dog track, 71.2/130. It was pretty damn near a perfect round of golf.
In your guys valued opinion how quickly should i be able to progress to a 10ish cap? Started two summers ago, 29, hit it pretty long and play 27ish holes per week. Im currently shooting a tick better than bogey golf.
Obv everyone is different but what is a normal arc?
Obv everyone is different but what is a normal arc?
Wow, that's a cool chart that I've never seen. So the odds are worse than 125k:1. That chart on goes to -10 and your buddy was -12 from his index. Assuming the basic trending of that scale you're it looks like he'd be at about 500k:1 odds of that happening. For a single person, those are pretty bad odds. Nationwide it should happen about 1000 times a year (roughly 500 million rounds a year were played in the US in 2012).