2018 Golf Thread

TFP

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Had a hell of a night in my golf league last night. First round of the playoffs, we are the first place seed. It's 2 man team match play, but individual matches (handicapped).

Anyway, our opponents had one guy out on vacation, and another had to bail last minute to take his wife to the hospital. So we're playing 2 fill ins in the first round of the playoffs. These are guys who have played/filled in before, and we're all friends, but it's definitely a little weird. Naturally, they play with no pressure and go out and play well. My brother and I are up most of the match, but I'm giving my opponent strokes on 4 of the last 5 holes, and he wins 2 of them with the via way of the extra stroke. So we come into 18 (we played the back) all square in the match. I'm down 1, my brother is up 1. I fly my tee shot well over the uphill par 3, my opponent (who is about a 20 cap) miraculously puts it to 10 feet. My brother and opponent both miss the green. I have a brutal downhill, breaking, flop shot with a ridge/false front behind the hole, and I hit a great shot to get it to 6 feet. My brother and his opponent both make bogey. My opponent 2 putts for par, so I have to hit this 6 footer to keep our season alive. On to sudden death playoffs we go.

We now have about 12-15 guys following along in the playoffs, and ostensibly rooting for us because it's going to be a shitty situation for the league to have the 2 fill ins advance and have the other guys come back and play without having won a match. I hit a good drive on the short par 4 10, and have a flip wedge in from a good angle. My opponent is behind some trees, and both my brother and opponent are in decent spots. They both miss the green. The opponent gets up and down for par, my brother makes bogey, so I need to win the hole to stay alive. My opponent hits a skulled wedge through the trees that somehow misses a green side bunker, hits a hill, pops up, and goes to about 7 feet from the hole in the rough. I'm borderline shaking over my wedge shot, and I didn't dare go at the pin, so I hit a weak but safe shot to the front of the green, probably about 30 feet away. I hit a putt that tracks the entire way to the hole and JUST falls off at the end, leaving about 3 feet for par. My opponent makes bogey, so again, I hit a putt to extend the match.

I lose the par 5 11th with a bogey to his par, and my brother wins easily with a par to my opponents concession (he was lying 7 or 8 and not even on the green yet). So we're on to the island green par 3 12th. Everyone still watching. My nerves were actually gone now, my adrenaline was pumping, and it was actually quite fun. It's about a 150-155 shot, but always plays longer than you'd think. There's a creek all around the green, with a bank on the front sending balls back into it. I had hit 8 iron the last 3 times I had played it and just got onto the green or hit the bank. The tees are a little further up (maybe 5-8 yards) and I had hit 8 iron earlier in the match and been pin high. I debated hitting 9, but I would never have forgiven myself if I came up short. Naturally, I flush one over the green that finds the little bit remaining of the creek that runs behind the hole. My opponent hits one fat, it carries to the top of the bank...and somehow stays there. I'm flabbergasted. I take a drop, hit a chip to about 5 feet, barely miss my putt, and he chips on and 2 putts for bogey. My brother has a 4ish footer tester, downhill breaker for par, with his opponent in for bogey. He nestles it down..and it catches the low edge of the hole and lips out. Devastating way to lose and end the season.

After getting over it though - man that was fun. I hit some great shots under pressure, and the adrenaline of that competition was unlike anything I've felt in a while. And I'm still fired up thinking about the up and down on 18. I knew I needed to have it, it was insanely difficult, and I got it. Pretty rewarding. Most of the guys in the league think we got screwed by playing fill ins, but they beat us fair and square which I don't mind. I do mind that the guys who missed the week get to play in the semifinals next week though, that's the only thing that annoys me. But in the end, it was still a ton of fun.

Anyway, figured I'd share.
 

Zomp

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I think thats bullshit. The guys who missed the round should have forfeited. You can still play a friendly match or whatever but fill ins shouldn't count in the playoffs.
 

TFP

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I didn’t know both guys were missing until 10 mins before our tee time. So I just had to play and couldn't voice my opinion beforehand. But in hindsight I would have argued to have the next seed who missed the playoffs play us. Forfeiting sucks too since we’d basically get a free pass.
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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I agree with zomp. If you’re not going to be there and be gone on vacation during playoffs, don’t join the league. If the other guy had a legit emergency, then ok, but you should have had more notice on both, especially the former. When I used to be in league and someone was out, you ‘played against the card’; ie the course was set to a negative handicap (depending on level of flight) and then the handicaps were applied. So let’s say my flight was set to -3, we had a difference of 6, I get six strokes when the other guy doesn’t show up, then you play to the scorecard. Kind of a happy medium.
 

Comfortably Lomb

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Mid-season change time! I added a 4-iron (20.5) to my bag and pulled out the 4-hybrid (22). The g400s are so easy to launch that there wasn’t much reason to keep the higher lofted hybrid in play given how I spray it. I’m about as long with the iron and significantly more accurate. Misses tend to lose distance but I don’t have too many of those and I would rather that than get the distance and curl forever. Off the deck I seem to carry it about 190-200 depending on contact and from a tee I’m getting a slightly more carry (but I’m noticing it spins a bit more too... good into a green but less good into a fairway). On a par 4 that’s around 380 or under it’s looking like a decent choice off the tee if I want to stay safe and only have a mid-iron in. I could probably get away with it on slightly longer holes if I wanted to guard against real trouble.

I’ve been spending some serious time at the range lately working on my hybrids (the 3 is still in the bag). Grip and alignment were issues (to my eye closed at address looks square and square looks wide open) but it’s tough to trust my swing too. When I pay attention I hit it pretty straight but the second I get lax it’s a mess. Totally the opposite of my irons that I can take relatively thoughtless cuts with all day. My stupid brain is getting in the way.

I think thats bullshit. The guys who missed the round should have forfeited. You can still play a friendly match or whatever but fill ins shouldn't count in the playoffs.
Agreed. How is a fill-in even an option? Very strange. Fortune favors the bold, I guess. You’re riding the whirlwind when you decide to play in those club leagues.
 

Zomp

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I’ve been spending some serious time at the range lately working on my hybrids (the 3 is still in the bag). Grip and alignment were issues (to my eye closed at address looks square and square looks wide open) but it’s tough to trust my swing too. When I pay attention I hit it pretty straight but the second I get lax it’s a mess. Totally the opposite of my irons that I can take relatively thoughtless cuts with all day. My stupid brain is getting in the way.
.

Man can I relate to that. In my case I think the club looks wide open and its straight but its so tough to adjust.
 

Phragle

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Mid-season change time! I added a 4-iron (20.5) to my bag and pulled out the 4-hybrid (22). The g400s are so easy to launch that there wasn’t much reason to keep the higher lofted hybrid in play given how I spray it. I’m about as long with the iron and significantly more accurate. Misses tend to lose distance but I don’t have too many of those and I would rather that than get the distance and curl forever. Off the deck I seem to carry it about 190-200 depending on contact and from a tee I’m getting a slightly more carry (but I’m noticing it spins a bit more too... good into a green but less good into a fairway). On a par 4 that’s around 380 or under it’s looking like a decent choice off the tee if I want to stay safe and only have a mid-iron in. I could probably get away with it on slightly longer holes if I wanted to guard against real trouble.
Yeah that's good. Hybrids are a nice option but they aren't for everyone. They have higher launching and spinning heads, with lighter and longer shafts. For some they can exacerbate swing flaws for some and spin too much for others. I know the 4 isn't for me because most of them go straight to the moon. The Srixon I bought a few months ago launched and spun as high as my gap wedge. I don't know why there isn't a type of hybrid that's more for a higher speed and spin player. Like the same length, shaft, and swing weight of a 4 iron but with a hybrid head.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Yeah that's good. Hybrids are a nice option but they aren't for everyone. They have higher launching and spinning heads, with lighter and longer shafts. For some they can exacerbate swing flaws for some and spin too much for others. I know the 4 isn't for me because most of them go straight to the moon. The Srixon I bought a few months ago launched and spun as high as my gap wedge. I don't know why there isn't a type of hybrid that's more for a higher speed and spin player. Like the same length, shaft, and swing weight of a 4 iron but with a hybrid head.
Isn’t this essentially what the Titleist T-MB is? I know it’s not as forgiving, but it sounds and looks like an old school ‘driving iron’ to my eye, though I’ve never hit it. Cleveland has the Launcher HB as well.
 

Phragle

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Isn’t this essentially what the Titleist T-MB is? I know it’s not as forgiving, but it sounds and looks like an old school ‘driving iron’ to my eye, though I’ve never hit it. Cleveland has the Launcher HB as well.
Yeah I think all the driving irons are designed to be in between but why when they were designing hybrids were they like "We need long irons that are easier to hit, let's start my making them longer."
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Yeah I think all the driving irons are designed to be in between but why when they were designing hybrids were they like "We need long irons that are easier to hit, let's start my making them longer."
Just speculation, but same reason drivers and fairway metals have gotten longer - distance? Average Joe goes to try the new club, he hits fifteen balls on the range to try it out and bombs three of them off of turf and thinks ‘I can do that regularly, this club is great!’ I’ll admit known ignorance on this, until this season is never realized how much longer they’ve made drivers; I forget actual number of inches but it’s a solid 2-3” longer than the average shaft on tour. I got mine chopped down and it’s the best season I’ve had with a driver in years, even giving away some yards. I’ll take 10 yards less but a much higher percentage of fairways hit any day.

I agree with you though, especially since a hybrid is meant to be swung like an iron. The longer shaft certainly lends to swinging it like a fairway wood, so yeah, it certainly seems counter intuitive.
 

southshoresoxfan

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Fired a PR 76 today at Kettlebrook in Paxton. Awesome course. Hit 13 greens. 39 full shots, 37 putts. Sigh.

Not upset with a 76 but could have gone even lower very easily. By far the best I’ve struck a ball for 18 holes.
 

Phragle

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Just speculation, but same reason drivers and fairway metals have gotten longer - distance? Average Joe goes to try the new club, he hits fifteen balls on the range to try it out and bombs three of them off of turf and thinks ‘I can do that regularly, this club is great!’ I’ll admit known ignorance on this, until this season is never realized how much longer they’ve made drivers; I forget actual number of inches but it’s a solid 2-3” longer than the average shaft on tour. I got mine chopped down and it’s the best season I’ve had with a driver in years, even giving away some yards. I’ll take 10 yards less but a much higher percentage of fairways hit any day.

I agree with you though, especially since a hybrid is meant to be swung like an iron. The longer shaft certainly lends to swinging it like a fairway wood, so yeah, it certainly seems counter intuitive.
Also I think I forgot a hybrid is code for a mix of a fairway wood and a long iron, and fairways are longer. I swing mine like an iron sometimes but a fairway other times. There's a solid distance difference, like 20 yards.

BTW speaking of driving irons I just picked up a Srixon U45 4 iron with a PX shaft with the ebay discount code. Pretty excited that I may finally have a 200-215 club I have confidence in.
 

TFP

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I'm very very frustrated with golf right now. That is all.
 

Zomp

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No I don’t cheat so I don’t win.

We finished at -10 and that’s about as good as we could have played. The winners were -14...wearing jorts...
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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No I don’t cheat so I don’t win.

We finished at -10 and that’s about as good as we could have played. The winners were -14...wearing jorts...
Those things drive me nuts. I used to play in a lot of them in the DC area for the liquor companies. We'd stay relatively sober and play by the rules and shoot like -16. Then they'd announce the winners at like -23 who were so shit faced they could barely stand.
 

TFP

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Haha. I’ve been taking lessons as I’ve mentioned. They’ve been helpful in indentifying what I’m doing wrong, and what I’m supposed to do. I haven’t yet been able to bridge that gap or even get the physical feel of what I’m supposed to do, even though mentally I get it.

After a horrible round Sunday and a bad round Monday where my old (bad) swing came out in full force, I was super frustrated mainly because I was right back where I started. That’s what led to my post and general frustration, combined with my realization of how much time and money I spend on golf to be bad and frustrated. Was a tough day.

But the last 2 days I went to the range, worked on what my lessons said by taking half swings and getting everything working together. I probably hit 2-3 small buckets each day of just half swings with my pitching wedge then slowly worked up to full swings. I finally feel back on track again, and while I have a long way to go I actually feel like I have something to build upon.

The last 2 days at the range have been the most important two days of my summer.
 

TFP

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On a related note - my back is fucking killing me today.
 

TFP

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So in the midst of my swing struggles, I do have some golf related stuff to look forward to. I post it every year, but we have our annual Ryder Cup weekend coming up the weekend of September 7-8th. 16 guys, five 9 hole matches over 2 days at a driveable destination. It's mostly a group of two hockey teams I play with, with some people having filled in over the years. This is our 4th official year of doing it with 16 guys after doing it 2 years with 8 (including @NickEsasky the very first year). Prior years were in Plymouth (Crosswinds/Pinehills), Portsmouth (Links at Outlook/Breakfast Hill), and Newport (Newport National/Links at Outlook on the drive home). Usually it's head down Friday, play 27 Saturday, 18 Sunday then drive home. The 27 is 2 man teams, best ball, alternate shot, scramble in order. Then we do a blind draw for day 2 and you play an individual 9 hole match against each of the 2 opponents you draw (as does your partner).

Anyway, it's always a ton of fun even though we've lost all 3 years (last year we lost 14.5-13.5...we're close). This year it's the opponents' turn to "host" and they upped the game this year. We're going to Turning Stone for a long weekend. Drive up Thursday night, play 36 Friday, 18 Saturday, then stay Saturday night and drive home Sunday. 3 night stay, 3 rounds, 2 guys to a room in the resort lodge, $600/person. Steal and a half. Playing Shenandoah (Best ball/alternate shot) then Kaluhyat (18 hole scramble match) on Friday then Atunyote on Saturday for singles. Can't wait to win a match on the same course that Tiger and DJ have won on. The resort is treating it like an outing, so they're printing up scorecards, getting personalized carts ready, doing closest to the pin, etc.

It's going to be an absolute blast of a weekend. I'm working towards getting my swing back to reasonable for that weekend. Has anyone played/stayed there before and can give me any idea of what to expect both on and off the course?

Next year for the 5th anniversary we gotta go bigger.
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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We do something similar with 8 guys, also going on our fourth iteration. We play Samoset, Belgrade Lakes and Sunday River. I highly recommend looking into it. Make a note to PM me when you’re making plans next year, I might be able to help you out with some tips on reducing greens fees and rooms. We usually come out at about $350 per guy, but I have hook ups at Samoset that get us reduced rooms and free golf there, so ballpark I’d expect closer to your number. And the courses blow the shit out of Links or Breakfast Hill (it pains me to hear you picked that place, ugh. So many better around here).
 

TFP

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We do something similar with 8 guys, also going on our fourth iteration. We play Samoset, Belgrade Lakes and Sunday River. I highly recommend looking into it. Make a note to PM me when you’re making plans next year, I might be able to help you out with some tips on reducing greens fees and rooms. We usually come out at about $350 per guy, but I have hook ups at Samoset that get us reduced rooms and free golf there, so ballpark I’d expect closer to your number. And the courses blow the shit out of Links or Breakfast Hill (it pains me to hear you picked that place, ugh. So many better around here).
Thanks and will do. As to those options, it was only year 2 and we were still establishing the tradition. It’s been a slow build to nicer courses, and we didn’t realize back then you could book as an outing vs just booking 4 tee times, so we didn’t gravitate to the nicest courses. Plus people weren’t then ready to spend too much either, whereas now we’re more committed budget-wise.

Belgrade Lakes is definitely on my bucket list.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Thanks and will do. As to those options, it was only year 2 and we were still establishing the tradition. It’s been a slow build to nicer courses, and we didn’t realize back then you could book as an outing vs just booking 4 tee times, so we didn’t gravitate to the nicest courses. Plus people weren’t then ready to spend too much either, whereas now we’re more committed budget-wise.

Belgrade Lakes is definitely on my bucket list.
In the Portsmouth area -at least as far as you’re gonna travel to go to the Links (which is is a fine course; I love the front, which they built first, then added the back later, across the street, which I think completely flies on the face of the concept of the front, but it bothers me more than others, ymmv - I’d recommend Old Marsh in Wells and The Ledges in South Berwick. Portsmouth is a fine course I just find it boring and overrated, but that’s my own beef. It just long and the greens are all flat. I like a little character. Ymmv. Rochester is just as good and a lot cheaper in my opinion.

But yeah, Belgrade is amazing. I was just driving back from a business meeting in Bangor today and my boss/playing partner and I realized we pass the exit for it when we go north once a month. Not just the course, but one of the best experiences I’ve had at a course. The staff and hospitality is beyond amazing.

Edit: anecdotal evidence of how cool Belgrade is - you can bring your dog. Like, you go to clubhouse and there’s a half dozen dogs roaming around and then you get out on the course and you’ll randomly see a group with a dog in tow. I almost shit myself one year because I was standing over my tee shot on a par 3 and heard a hard rumble through the woods, half expecting a friggin black bear to emerge and it was a yellow lab.
 

TFP

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One of my good friends has in laws who live on Old Marsh. I’ve played it once and it’s ok. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it but it’s not a bad track either.

Totally agree on Outlook. The front 9 is incredible. The back 9 is so out of place and jarring.
 

jercra

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I played Belgrade Lakes for the only time in 2005 and it's still one of my favorite courses. I'm coming back east in 2 weeks and playing The Ledges, Granite Links and one other course that's not yet decided (Atkinson maybe). I've played Ledges one time during peak foliage and it was one of the most beautiful courses that I hated more than just about any course I've ever played. Am I mis-remembering or is every shot blind?
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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One of my good friends has in laws who live on Old Marsh. I’ve played it once and it’s ok. I wouldn’t go out of my way for it but it’s not a bad track either.
It could depend on when that was and what you didn't like. There was a 2-3 period where they kinda let it go to shit, basically there was a bad calculation on occupancy in the housing portion of the development and they were struggling to stay liquid. It's in much better conditions these days. I love the layout of that course, so I was glad to see it get back to good conditions. I wouldn't discount it. Harris Golf is kind of a shitshow - they lost Sunday River to the state for not paying taxes - but they rebounded at Old Marsh.

I played Belgrade Lakes for the only time in 2005 and it's still one of my favorite courses. I'm coming back east in 2 weeks and playing The Ledges, Granite Links and one other course that's not yet decided (Atkinson maybe). I've played Ledges one time during peak foliage and it was one of the most beautiful courses that I hated more than just about any course I've ever played. Am I mis-remembering or is every shot blind?
Belgrade...yeah. There's not much I can say I don't love about it. The first time I played it, we were bummed out that there were no cart girls for cocktails. So when I played it again a couple weeks later, we packed a cooler and hid booze in our bags. When they came to get our stuff at bag drop, I preemptively did the "it's just gatorade and water and some snacks" thing and the guy laughed at me and said "you didn't pack any beers? Jesus man, as long as you're not towing an Igloo behind your cart, have fun out there".

Ledges, there's a decent amount of blind shots, but if you're talking about courses in this general area, I'd slap that label on Sugarloaf. That's a course that is great but you're better off having played it before or at least getting a yardage book, as yes, a large amount of shots are blind.

Atkinson is a good track, you'll enjoy it and if you're going with a group, there's a pretty solid par 3 course there to get some extra kicks in.

Edit: If you're sprawling out that much, I'd consider Red Tail as well on the old Fort Devens.
 

jercra

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It could depend on when that was and what you didn't like. There was a 2-3 period where they kinda let it go to shit, basically there was a bad calculation on occupancy in the housing portion of the development and they were struggling to stay liquid. It's in much better conditions these days. I love the layout of that course, so I was glad to see it get back to good conditions. I wouldn't discount it. Harris Golf is kind of a shitshow - they lost Sunday River to the state for not paying taxes - but they rebounded at Old Marsh.



Belgrade...yeah. There's not much I can say I don't love about it. The first time I played it, we were bummed out that there were no cart girls for cocktails. So when I played it again a couple weeks later, we packed a cooler and hid booze in our bags. When they came to get our stuff at bag drop, I preemptively did the "it's just gatorade and water and some snacks" thing and the guy laughed at me and said "you didn't pack any beers? Jesus man, as long as you're not towing an Igloo behind your cart, have fun out there".

Ledges, there's a decent amount of blind shots, but if you're talking about courses in this general area, I'd slap that label on Sugarloaf. That's a course that is great but you're better off having played it before or at least getting a yardage book, as yes, a large amount of shots are blind.

Atkinson is a good track, you'll enjoy it and if you're going with a group, there's a pretty solid par 3 course there to get some extra kicks in.

Edit: If you're sprawling out that much, I'd consider Red Tail as well on the old Fort Devens.
Funny, we played Belgrade coming back from Sugarloaf (which I had played before). That course is infuriating with the blind shots but we were there for a bachelor party so the golf course was being seen in double vision anyway. I do remember hitting a beautiful layup 3 iron off the tee, right down the middle, baby draw, only to find my ball in the river that crossed in front of the green. I had no memory of it being there and was pretty pissed a perfect shot was gone.

I used to play Atkinson a lot when I was in my 20s but haven't played it in at least 15 years. I remember it being long and narrow and very difficult so I look forward to playing it again. Red Tail is a good call too. I haven't played there in at least 10 years and the last time I played it was the hottest day in the history of earth. I think my IQ went down like 10 points from being cooked on the greens. My no-humidity having lifestyle in Co and Or made me totally unprepared for the reintroduction of crushing humidity to my golf life. Would be fun to give it a go again, maybe Tuesday pre-Pearl Jam show.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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Just booked my bi-annual trip back to Ireland. Doing 5 days only at Old Head (my friend is a member). I find it to be one of the most beautiful 200 acres in the world, but disappointed I won't see any other tracks while I am over there.

4 weeks left to figure out my game off the tee. If I am in play off the tee, I am making more pars and birdies, than bogeys, but getting off the tee has been a crap shoot lately.
 

Shawn O'Leary

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I thought it might be fun/helpful for us to have a thread dedicated to improvement tips and techniques, progress reports on our games, fun courses we've played, etc.

I took up the game seriously 5 years ago and joined a club 4 years ago. My first couple of years I took lessons at Golftec and learned a variation of the stack and tilt method. That got me from my first scores in the sub-100 range.

Then switched to taking lessons from pros at my club and they totally rebuilt my swing to something with more rotation around my spine. Added a lot of length to my clubs. They also helped my shortgame and course management a ton. I've been practicing like crazy and playing 2-3 times a week (in season) the last couple of years.

This season I've been in the low 90s most of the season until about 2 weeks ago. Then developed a terrible snap hook with the driver and the high draw I've been hitting with woods and irons became a start left and stay left shot. My scores ballooned back to the low 100s. Took a few targeted lessons to correct this in time for my Class D championship this weekend (36 holes of match play).

Went out Friday for the first 18 and got off the tee fine but had the yips with my putter and wedges. Shot a 102 and was down 7 holes.

Got to the course Saturday and told myself I had nothing to lose, just make a match of it. Carded a front-9 48 and was down 5 holes.

Decided I needed to be aggressive. Started putting shots close to pins. Got him to 1-up on me after 15, caught him on 17 and won 1-up on 18. Ended up shooting a back-9 37 with two birdies for an 85 and my first round in the 80s. Longtime goal achieved when I needed it most!

New goal is to start playing consistent 80s golf and then target breaking 80.

 
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4 6 3 DP

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That is fantastic!! Now you know you have 80s in you, you'll never be the same!!!

I'd focus on hitting the driver well and on that short game. Then irons inside 150, then long irons. I completely reject drive for show putt for dough. Hitting your driver well is essential for scoring well. And realistically, a good putter and a bad one aren't going to be a hell of a lot different statistically from 20 feet. I think where good putters make a difference is on long putts, leaving themselves gimmes instead of longer putts. But yeah, keep hitting that driver as much as you can.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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Should I post here about how awful my swing is or keep it in the main thread? Because it is AWFUL. Thankfully I was gifted some lessons for my birthday. Can't wait to find the time to go and work with an instructor.
 

TFP

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I’m gonna move these posts over to the other thread once I get back to a computer. So it doesn’t matter!

(If I remember we have similar issues. I’ll share where I am as well once I can type in depth in case it’ll help.)
 

Shawn O'Leary

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1,116
Chicago
That is fantastic!! Now you know you have 80s in you, you'll never be the same!!!

I'd focus on hitting the driver well and on that short game. Then irons inside 150, then long irons. I completely reject drive for show putt for dough. Hitting your driver well is essential for scoring well. And realistically, a good putter and a bad one aren't going to be a hell of a lot different statistically from 20 feet. I think where good putters make a difference is on long putts, leaving themselves gimmes instead of longer putts. But yeah, keep hitting that driver as much as you can.
I totally agree. My best rounds are when I'm getting off the tee fine and my worst are when the snap hook hits. I used to fight a fade but that went away a couple of seasons ago. I've got decent length with my driver (240ish carry, roll depending on fairway conditions) and my home course, with the exception of two long par 4s, is fairly short. So a good drive means I'm reaching for no more than a 8 iron on most of the par 4s. When I get the snap hooks - which seems to be from me getting too far inside on the take away and flattening out - I barely get 100 yards off the tee. It's a rather severe hook. Scrambling for a bogey or worse makes for a long day....