Others have tackled the racism part (and appropriately so) but where’s the outrage on playing a bunker shot during a scramble!?!? Did they hit all their shots in the sand? Were the others OOB? Chunked? Swings and misses?
2018 Golf Thread
- Thread starter jercra
- Start date
Demoralizing is exactly the right word. The good news is that it's only a small fix away. I had this happen at the end of last season too and fixed it, so it's possible to figure it out. That's what I'm hoping my lesson does, gets a trained set of eyes on it just to get me back to even.
Jesus, that part didn't even occur to me, great point... I guess we'll never know?
My son plays in the JR PGA league, which operates as a two person scramble. His team actually took a whiff over a struck shot once. Other shot went into water closer to the green, which they'd have to chip over again. They decided to do the longer shot w/o penalty stroke. Funny, but also the right call if they kept their next shots out of the water (which they did).
Sounds like what happens when my swing plane gets flat and inside going back. Results in an over-the-top swing that has no power and ends up short and right (or pulled).
Pretty much my only swing thought lately is to get the club upright at the top. Lots of great contact when I do that. YMMV (a lot).
I fight this occasionally too, but my hands are fast enough that it just turns into a snap hook or a mega block.
When I checkpoint halfway back in the backswing and at the top, of the club is pointing down the target line at these two I’m able to release the club confidently. Loosely translated, it’s Lombs swing thought.
Upright backswing and chest covering the ball usually fix all my clubs when I start spraying. That and slowing the Eff down.
I just returned from our Ireland golf trip. It’s difficult to put into words how great it was. It was awesome to play at all the courses. The three you mentioned were outstanding. I think Portstewart was my favorite in terms of scenery, but damn it was difficult. We had great weather. Only one windy day at Portmarnoc and that was the day I woke up sick and couldn’t play.
It’s really a different game on the links courses, isn’t it?
We had caddies every day except the last day at the European. Electric carts that day, and my arthritic knees were grateful. The caddies were great and they were busy looking for our balls in the high stuff. They were invaluable in getting a line on all the blind shots and a couple of them were excellent at reading greens. Not that it helped my mess of a putting game. Those greens are fast!
The rough gave me fits, I just don’t know how to get out of it effectively. I started to get the hang of it towards the end of the week. The same for the sand, although I was pretty lucky, probably in only 5 traps all week and only one was a tragedy.
The good news was the roll on those fairways. We are used to pretty grassy fairways in Southern California. In Ireland the fairways were hard and fast. Got some extra distance on the drives.
I’m a 14 handicap but I only broke 100 once (at the European.)We had a mixed group with a few 10s and a few 20’s so we stuck to the forward tees. Still tough.
Some of the guys had great rounds. That was fun. A group of 10 of us and we had all kinds of games and matches going on.
Ireland and Northern Ireland are beautiful places and I loved Dublin. The people are just fantastic.
I have a new appreciation for the British Open. I have no idea how they are going stuff all those people into that little town of Portrush in 2019. When I watch it, I’ll be keeping a close eye on hole number one. I cracked a drive down the middle, floated a perfect iron 12 feet right of the flag, and dropped a nice putt for the birdie. Easy game. Then the course woke up. I had a half dozen great shots I will never forget. I have already forgotten the bad ones.
I’m going back. Someday.
The flipping hands and chicken wing lead arm have been killing my swing for like 5 years. Never should have read that golf article in my doctors waiting room. Pretend the club is a paint brush and flick the paint at the ball? Yeah don't do that
Odyssey Rx 2-ball is out of the bag after two seasons of never impressing. My old Ping Anser 3 is back in the game after an hour on the practice green today. It's cut to 33(ish?)" with a blackout Pingman grip and a ton of lead tape on the bottom. Looks like hell but it always claws its way back from the bench.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-best-teachers-in-your-state-2015-2016
Some good ones there if you're willing to travel an hour or so.
Some good ones there if you're willing to travel an hour or so.
Interesting. Southborough is on there which is super close.
But so is Sandwich Hollows which blows my mind.
Not quite sure to put this, but Coore and Crenshaw have been given permission to design a new course just beyond the far (north) end of Royal Dornoch:
https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2018/6/20/coul-links-plans-passed-coore-and-crenshaw-design-near-dornoch-to-proceed
Which sounds pretty fantastic to me!
https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2018/6/20/coul-links-plans-passed-coore-and-crenshaw-design-near-dornoch-to-proceed
Which sounds pretty fantastic to me!
Interesting, I had no idea. Obviously I'm not judging the instructor by the course, but I just found it funny that Sandwich Hollows was on the list...seemed a bit out of place.
No idea if it’ll help you, but I went to the range today and started by taking 1/2 swings with my feet together. Like literally next to each other. I did this until I was hitting draws/pulls, and getting the feel for the club coming inside to out rather than over the top. Then I’d slowly move my feet apart and slowly up the swing strength. By the end my swing plane felt so much different but I was actually squaring up the club face and hitting things to the right (I’m a lefty). I am going to keep working on it but it’s a huge difference in feel during the downswing and feels much more natural.
First group out so guaranteed perfect pace of play. It can't be beat.
I've heard of golfers starting that early in the morning, but I've never heard of a golf club to have a 5:30 a.m. tee time (and therefore have to staff itself up to accommodate golfers starting then). What time is sunrise, for that matter?
I used to work at a golf course and there was always the option to have a 5:30 tee time but if you just showed up, you were fine and 95% of the time it was members. People typically didn't start booking until 6. The worst were the people giving 18 year old me shit for only showing up 10-15 minutes before sunrise. Actually there were a lost of worse people that I dealt with but that was annoying.
I worked grounds crew for a course one summer in college and on weekends we'd be out there at 4:30 making sure the course was set up for the first several holes before the first group went out. It sucked.
So this snuck up on me, but I ended up turning over my whole bag (including a new bag) since the winter. I didn't even set out to do it. Helping SSSF do his bag got the gears turning, some things fell into my lap, and suddenly I have 12 new clubs. All I need now is a shaft for my Ping 3 wood if any of you guys have a 70-77 gram stiff flex layin around. And if anyone needs a driver or 54-58 wedge set LMK.
Also with my back, I couldn't even swing in November, but now I'm feeling much better and I shot my most impressive round to date on Wednesday. This game is frustrating, but sometimes it ends up being worth it, or at least it's close.
Also with my back, I couldn't even swing in November, but now I'm feeling much better and I shot my most impressive round to date on Wednesday. This game is frustrating, but sometimes it ends up being worth it, or at least it's close.
You know the Black Swan is ready for play?
Such is golf. It's never harder than when you're changing swings. Just gotta practice enough to get the changes grooved in and focus on good contact.
Never struck the ball better for an 86 in my life than today. 3 holes in a row in divots on the fairway. Lipped putts. Awful kicks. Not sure what I did to anger the Gods but I’m sorry. Make it stop
If anyone is interested in mint condition Ping G 3W, 3H or 4H, pm me for details, etc. great clubs but I’m getting fed up with them; they just don’t suit my eye or swing; as far as the face is concerned, they seem too small on face to my simple brain. I think I want to go back to TM.
Hybrids have Alta 70 shafts in them, stiff. 3W has a custom Aldila NV shaft. They genuinely look like they’ve never been hit; probably ten rounds and a dozen range sessions. They’re great clubs and I can see it, I’m just not consistent enough to use them and I’m not looking for workability as much as a hammer/secondary tee option out of those slots.
Love, love, loving the G driver though, as well as my new AP1 718s.
Always tinkering right???
Hybrids have Alta 70 shafts in them, stiff. 3W has a custom Aldila NV shaft. They genuinely look like they’ve never been hit; probably ten rounds and a dozen range sessions. They’re great clubs and I can see it, I’m just not consistent enough to use them and I’m not looking for workability as much as a hammer/secondary tee option out of those slots.
Love, love, loving the G driver though, as well as my new AP1 718s.
Always tinkering right???
Buy the bombtechs. If you want distance they do that. My 3W carries 265-270
It's not the club. My Ping G hybrid is my best club, the only club I didn't replace this year, and it's my 4 iron and 3 wood right now.
Yeah, I know it’s me. Like I said, I love the driver. It’s been years since I’ve felt confident with a driver in my hand until I got the G; I chopped the shaft down for a bit more control and dialed the 10.5 down a bit and I can count on it to be straight and good for 260-270. It’s liberating.
When I made the move last season, I moved off my TM Rocketballz 3w/3H/4H set up. I’m regretting it. The 3W was my driver, essentially, since I didn’t trust whatever one I had in the bag. Dead straight bullet good for 240-250 and usually longer off tee than the driver of the guys I was playing with. The hybrids had a nice size and weight in the head and I felt fully confident hitting them from the tee or rough and being good for 225 (3H) and 210 (4H). Ish. When I got the Pings I loved the look but more I’ve played with them I just don’t have the confidence in them and especially out of the rough I don’t feel like they have the oomph I’m looking for. Last week I was in the rough on a long par 5, in decent but nothing crazy rough and pulled 3H to carry 185 or so of forced carry. I flushed it clean and ended up in the shit. On follow through I remember actually feeling relief, like ‘ok, these are gonna be fine, I nutted that thing’. Only to look up and see one of group giving me the sign that I was in the shit. I think that broke me.
I’ll keep trying on them as I’ve invested enough time and money that I do t want to give up, but if I can swap around to get into like an M2 or even a Rogue, with it being minimal expenditure, I think I’ll explore that. Sometimes clubs just get in my head, man.
After yet another frustrating weekend striking the ball well and not scoring I packed my putter and wedges and went to my club for an hour. My thought was to make a note for every missed chip and putt. After an hour I realized around 80% of my misses were to the right.
Got my alignment rod out and wouldn’t you know it. I have been putting and chipping w a slight draw stance for god knows how long.
Went for another 30min or so w an alignment rod down and have never hit so many chips in tight and putts in the cup in my life.
While excited to take this to the course w me, I am very annoyed that this could have been ailing me for my entire golfing life.
Got my alignment rod out and wouldn’t you know it. I have been putting and chipping w a slight draw stance for god knows how long.
Went for another 30min or so w an alignment rod down and have never hit so many chips in tight and putts in the cup in my life.
While excited to take this to the course w me, I am very annoyed that this could have been ailing me for my entire golfing life.
Had a strong outing on Sunday at Brookmeadow. I started off a bit rocky with bogeys on the first four holes, then holed a 12' par putt on 5, with a bogey/birdie on 6/7 respectively to stay at +4 with two cupcake par 5s to end the 9.
I got on in 2 on 8, and blew my eagle putt 15' past the hole, eventually 3-putting for par; I hit a tiny creek on my second shot on 9 to force a penalty stroke and bogeyed to end that 9 on a 41. Kept it together pretty well the rest of the round though - including a 30 yard hole-out after a red-stake drop on 14 to save par - to get to 38 on the back nine and finish at 79.
I'm moving this Friday, but the truck conveniently isn't available until 1 - if anyone around metrowest would be up for a ~7 AM tee time drop me a line (most courses require 2 for a tee time). The prospect of dew-sweeping at Leo J doesn't sound too bad.
I got on in 2 on 8, and blew my eagle putt 15' past the hole, eventually 3-putting for par; I hit a tiny creek on my second shot on 9 to force a penalty stroke and bogeyed to end that 9 on a 41. Kept it together pretty well the rest of the round though - including a 30 yard hole-out after a red-stake drop on 14 to save par - to get to 38 on the back nine and finish at 79.
I'm moving this Friday, but the truck conveniently isn't available until 1 - if anyone around metrowest would be up for a ~7 AM tee time drop me a line (most courses require 2 for a tee time). The prospect of dew-sweeping at Leo J doesn't sound too bad.
I’m off all next week if anyone wants to play a morning round. Located in Mansfield will travel.
I'm close. I've been seeing my pro once or twice a week since my first lesson. The big thing for me now is to trust my swing. A buddy gave me his old Adams Idea Super 9031 18 degree hybrid and I was hitting it about 230 after the lesson. If I can get that down it would be a nice weapon on short par 4s.
45-35 yesterday. For reference my course is 37-35. My only bogey on the back was #10, a par 5 that I hit driver. My ball striking, driver aside, was very good. I hit 3 wood off of every tee and always had between 150-190 to the hole with the exception of 18 where I had 220. I hit almost every green in regulation and those that weren't on the green were close enough to where my short game saved me strokes.
My only birdie was holing out of the sand on 17. I actually had a match against a buddy of mine and was 4 down on the turn. I won 2 up on 18.
My only birdie was holing out of the sand on 17. I actually had a match against a buddy of mine and was 4 down on the turn. I won 2 up on 18.
I’m off Thursday and Friday. What time are you thinking... I’m not an early morning person? I’m coming in from Worcester... somewhere in the 495/90 metro west area? @Phragle
Down for this. Thursday is probably best. Maybe an 11am ish tee time?
In terms of courses I don’t know any in that area
Thinking out loud, Blackstone National or Highfields would be good midpoint-ish options around there
I’ve wanted to play Blackstone for a long time. Supposedly it’s very nice. Couldn’t get a tee time there a few weeks ago—they were totally booked. If we can get on that would be great. Highfields is nice too—played a tourney there a year ago and it was a fun track.
11am, my man, that is exactly the type of “morning” tee time I’m talking about! Thursday is best for me too.
Blackstone is a fun track. It's a little tight with a few blind shots (specifically 9 - what a dumb hole) but overally it's enjoyable to play. Highfields is probably my favorite public course in Central MA so you can never go wrong there. Shining Rock, Wachusett, and Shaker Hills are all other viable options.
I'm booked Thursday, otherwise I'd have had you at my course in Marlborough. PSK can vouch for it's worthiness (or unworthiness).
I'm booked Thursday, otherwise I'd have had you at my course in Marlborough. PSK can vouch for it's worthiness (or unworthiness).
It is indeed worthy, though I can't say the same for my golf game when we played. Is the work on #1 all done?