2019 Golf Thread

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
A hawk swooped and grabbed my ball off a green Sunday and dropped it right away. Then starred us down from a tree for a minute. Must have been pissed it wasn't dinner. The animals are getting fiesty.
 

patinorange

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 27, 2006
30,662
6 miles from Angel Stadium
We’ve got a new problem at our local course in So. Cal. The squirrels are eating through very expensive golf bags to get to hidden snacks. Anything left in the open in a cart is gone almost instantly. So we started putting bananas or protein bars in the golf bag. The little bastards figured that out quick. They have a great life. Sometimes that life ends quickly when a hawk grabs them. We’ve seen some pretty brazen coyotes lately, but no attacks yet.
 

TFP

Moderator
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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
I’d be up for Barstool Classic if anyone’s looking. Sitting at a 6.6 HCP right now.
I'm debating playing at the one at Wollaston, but with the new lessons/swing changes I'm not sure where my game will be. Currently I'm unable to get the ball off the ground, so there's only room for improvement. Plus not sure I want to spend the money plus take a PTO day for it. It'll probably sell out before I know for sure anyway.

Parziale said he'd play with El Pres in one. I bet there will be some legit sticks there and also some hackers. What a concept.
 

Phragle

wild card bitches
SoSH Member
Jan 1, 2009
13,154
Carmine's closet
Well you assholes bullied me into buying a driver on 3balls. Honestly I probably needed the mockery so thanks. Got last year’s Mizuno ST180 with 20% off, so I’m happy with the price.
Most underrated driver going.

A hawk swooped and grabbed my ball off a green Sunday and dropped it right away. Then starred us down from a tree for a minute. Must have been pissed it wasn't dinner. The animals are getting fiesty.
Probably pissed it was a Nike Mojo

We’ve got a new problem at our local course in So. Cal. The squirrels are eating through very expensive golf bags to get to hidden snacks. Anything left in the open in a cart is gone almost instantly. So we started putting bananas or protein bars in the golf bag. The little bastards figured that out quick. They have a great life. Sometimes that life ends quickly when a hawk grabs them. We’ve seen some pretty brazen coyotes lately, but no attacks yet.
That's the last thing I'd be worried about in Socal. First there's probably a Mountian Lion within 100 yards of you, and then you also have earthquakes and progressives to worry about.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
I guess a Callaway guy came over to Mizuno a couple years ago per the guy I get lessons from, so the tech is coming up to speed. More than half off the current version of the driver with good reviews from everyone else. Need to get into the 21st century at some point.
 

southshoresoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,249
Canton MA
Any of you fine gentleman play golf in Nashville before? I’m leery because of the affordability of the public courses (28 for 18 plus 12 for a cart). They are all this price (seems to be run by the state).

Bringing a group of my sales reps down for 4 days and we want to golf for one of them. Any recommendations for a course I can get 12 guys on (3-4 of which can actually play a little, but I don’t want a cheap beat up course, especially since it’s on the company)
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
I've played both courses at Hermitage Golf Course in Nashville. Both were very nice, challenging but not impossible, and would definitely be suitable for a work outing. They are more expensive though, $60-80 depending on the day of the week (includes cart and range). I'd definitely recommend there.

My buddy is a member at Governor's Club, which is an awesome course but pretty hard and very private haha. Maybe your club pro can get you a reciprocal though?
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
Any of you fine gentleman play golf in Nashville before? I’m leery because of the affordability of the public courses (28 for 18 plus 12 for a cart). They are all this price (seems to be run by the state).

Bringing a group of my sales reps down for 4 days and we want to golf for one of them. Any recommendations for a course I can get 12 guys on (3-4 of which can actually play a little, but I don’t want a cheap beat up course, especially since it’s on the company)
I can tell you that Midwest golf is both cheaper and better than Northeast golf, don't be put off by prices. There are a ton of courses and you'll def run into your occasional cow pasture, but I've played some fantastic Muni courses (just expect them to be very packed).

I've played some ridiculous public courses for under $60.
 

southshoresoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,249
Canton MA
I've played both courses at Hermitage Golf Course in Nashville. Both were very nice, challenging but not impossible, and would definitely be suitable for a work outing. They are more expensive though, $60-80 depending on the day of the week (includes cart and range). I'd definitely recommend there.

My buddy is a member at Governor's Club, which is an awesome course but pretty hard and very private haha. Maybe your club pro can get you a reciprocal though?
Yeah I’ve got the email out to him. Seems Gaylord Springs is popping up consistently as a top public and that’s in the 60-80 range as well. I’ll check out the Hermitage, thanks.
 
Following a practice round last weekend with @The Needler near the start of his ongoing Scottish golf tour, I played in the first qualifying round of my club championship yesterday. Conditions were good, although the greens were a bit crusty by the end of the day (my tee time wasn't until 4:51 p.m.); still, apart from three-putting both of the par 3s on the back nine for bogeys, I putted well. I parred all nine holes on the front despite not having any decent birdie chances, but that was followed by four bogeys in a row and ultimately I had to settle for a 76, which is tied for 23rd after round 1. (The leader shot 68; 73 is tied for 6th, and 46 players in total broke 80.) I can't believe that I drove into that same damn bunker on the 14th that I've driven into pretty much every round since I commented about driving into bunkers you don't think you can reach, but at least I managed to make a 25-footer for par there. Anyway, I probably need to shoot a 73 or 74 at worst in one of my two other rounds to have a realistic chance of qualifying - as a reminder, your best two scores out of three count in the stroke play qualifying section - but at least I have one potential score on the board.
 

The Needler

New Member
Dec 7, 2016
1,803
Thanks to CP, who was a gracious host, good company, and a fine golfer. (And definitely only had 14 clubs in his bag.) He’s also a lucky man to play that wonderful course regularly.
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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Started up my lessons at my club today. Gonna be a lot of work to get where I need to be. Back to working on my takeaway again!
So circling back on this. My asst pro is great, he grinded with me for 3 different sessions, all over an hour, to figure out where I was going wrong. I knew my problem (clubface was wide open, top wrist was hinged/cocked at the top) but couldn't for the life of me fix it. I finally got something to click where I basically take a 30% swing and try to feel like I'm dead shut with the club like DJ, even though in reality it's square. I started squaring up irons like never before, and I actually feel comfortable hitting irons for the first time in years. I'll still have a lot of practice to do, but I know what the swing is supposed to feel like now. It hasn't translated into better scores yet, but the ball striking difference is remarkable. I never would have gotten here without the lessons, that's for sure.

Unfortunately, it's put my driver/woods into disarray, but that's fine. I'll keep grinding over them and working with the pro some more. If I can get it to the point where I'm in play off the tee, I could be in for some good things...until another part of my game goes sideways.
 
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ernieshore

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 24, 2006
2,283
The Camel City
This past Friday I played on a course for the first time this year. Somehow, I pitched in on three different holes from probably 30-50 yards on each shot. And I had another one within two inches of also going in - guy I was playing with on the front nine bought me a beer.

But those pitches and distances were a sign of how bad the rest of my game was. I had a very unusual duck hook that I could not correct (I'm usually pretty straight or have a slide fade), so the round was still a disaster and I didn't get to have a good course evaluation of my new irons - a set of Callaway Apex Pros. I've hit them very well on the range, so that was frustrating. I went to the range on Sunday and had no sign of the hook. I just have to play more, but I always play by myself so its easy to not be motivated.
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,461
Worcester
I am getting out for the first time this weekend. Friday, weather permitting, course TBD. Fortunately, tee times in the central MA area for a mid-day weekday aren't hard to come by. Saturday I am playing at Wachusett with my brother and nephews. Hopefully we will have time to hit the range ahead of time. I feel good about my swing in general- I get in trouble when I get too armsy. I either start drop-kicking everything or come way over the top and hit pull hooks. I've been trying to focus on moving my shirt buttons away from the ball on the back swing (that's the thought that works for me)-- but as we all know, what works on the range doesn't always translate to the course.
 

The Needler

New Member
Dec 7, 2016
1,803
@The Needler - are you going to give us a full report of your Scotland trip, I hope?
Sure. Even if nobody’s too interested, I wouldn’t mind have some record while the trip I still somewhat fresh.

Background re my golf game: I’m probably playing to about a 19.5 right now, but submitted a couple of generous scores in recent weeks to make sure my handicap met Muirfield’s minimum requirement of 18 (currently at 17.4). As it turned out, the (surprisingly very friendly and helpful) staff never asked to see my card, so I’ve shot myself in the foot for my club’s upcoming member-guest for no reason.

My foursome included a good friend, his dad, and brother. I was in his wedding, have spent time with them on family vacations, etc., so nothing too uncomfortable about being somewhat of a family tag-along there. We started planning the trip last September or October, and planned it largely around securing a tee time at Muirfield, which was the hardest get of the courses we wanted to play. So we tried to get a time there as late in the Spring as possible, which landed us at April 23 (Muirfield only permits non-member play on Tuesdays and Thursdays). After that, we applied for the advanced lottery at the Old Course at St. Andrews, and once that returned us a morning tee time on 4/25, we set about filling in the rest of the dates, with a goal for about a 10-day trip.

The trip started for me a couple of days earlier than everyone else because I had my heart set on playing Royal Dornoch, which is about a 4-hour drive from the Edinburgh airport, and the rest of the group was concerned about the timing and driving. So I got into EDI the morning of 4/18, picked up a (manual transmission; probably a minor mistake) rental car, and immediately got on the left side of the road, and headed up north to a small B&B in this small town. I spent the day walking the town and the two golf courses, having a pint or two, while trying to stay up late enough to manage my jet lag and be prepared for my morning round at Royal Dornoch the next day.

For those of you who might not be familiar with Dornoch, many consider it to be the best Scottish course never to host an Open. And it’s never hosted any pro tournaments, either. But it just may be the single most beautiful and enjoyable course I’ve played. It’s one of the oldest courses in the world – they’ve been golfing on the site since the early 17th century – and a tradition links style, but with pretty brutal inverted bowl greens on many holes, attributed to Donald Ross, who was from Dornoch, and was head greenskeeper there before moving to the US. I was absurdly lucky to get to play RD on an April day with at most a 1-club wind, sunny blue skies, and the gorse in spectacularly full bloom. The views of the course with gorse-lined fairways and the sandy beach below were simply incredible. I shot a pretty-good-for-me 92 in my first round in Scotland, which included a birdie 3 at the 422-yard par 4 4th hole into the contra-prevailing wind. After a pretty good drive, I hit a low 4-hybrid about 185 yards to within 12 feet or so and made the putt. That was probably my best approach of the trip.

Immediately after the round at Royal Dornoch, I jumped back in the car for the ~4-hour drive back to East Lothian, where I booked a small hotel in North Berwick for the next two nights until my playing partners arrived. On 4/20 I accepted CP’s gracious invitation to join him at his club, Dunbar Golf Club. Dunbar was a highlight of the trip not just because of its very underrated course, which has an Old Tom Morris pedigree, some lovely views, and very traditional links feel. But also of course, for CP’s company, and it was really my only chance on the trip to play a course that truly felt like a locals spot, that was not crawling with other American tourists. CP and I had a nice conversation with the friendly bartender who was an unfortunate but knowledgeable and enthusiastic Eagles fan, and told us a story about a recent visit by Matt Ryan (which oddly turned out not to be last time his name was dropped by a staff member on the trip). As for the golf, I shot a 90, which would have been better had I not bounced an approach into the ocean just minutes after telling CP my only golf goal for the round was to play it with the same ball. CP is obviously a much better golfer than I am (I want to say he shot a 76?), but I did make a bunch of pars and was able to steal the honors from him once or twice. And my tee shot avoided (and went past ;) ) his infamous bunker.

The next morning, my partners arrived, and the trip was officially on. I won’t bore everyone with course by course details, but in all, I played 17 rounds in 11 days. We stayed in three different locations, first at the incredible hotel Greywalls, which is adjacent to Muirfield (my room looked out onto the course) outside of Gullane, then a few days at an AirBNB in St. Andrews, this one situated along the 18th fairway, just about even with the Swilken Bridge, and finally 3 days at a house on the water in Troon we found through VRBO.

The Courses:

4/19 – Royal Dornoch

4/20 – Dunbar

4/21 – Gullane #3 (a.m.); Gullane #1 (p.m.)

4/22 – North Berwick (a.m.); Musselburgh (p.m.)

4/23 – Muirfield fourballs (a.m.); Muirfield foursomes (p.m.)

4/24 – Carnoustie

4/25 – St. Andrews Old Course (a.m.); St. Andrews Old Course (p.m.)

4/26 – Kingsbarns (a.m.); St. Andrews Castle Course (p.m)

4/27 – Turnberry (Ailsa)

4/28 – Prestwick

4/29 – Western Gailes (a.m.); Royal Troon (p.m)

It probably will come as no surprise that the absolute highlights to me were Muirfield and the Old Course. The entire experience at Muirfield was just magical. We got another spectacular weather day; the place just oozes history without having to display Open memorabilia on every inch of the property, and if it’s possible, I found the actual course to have been somewhat undersold. It was among the fairest tests we played, without hidden bunkers everywhere swallowing up what you thought was a good spot. The contrasting brown of the high grass with the green fairways was really beautiful, and there was a moderate wind which allowed for the play of some of the creative shots I had tried to practice some before I went over. And the LUNCH. I know some people aren’t into the perceived stuffiness of having to change into a jacket and tie, but I thought the tradition and history and formality just brought the day to a completely new level. The food was actually ridiculously good – probably the best meal we had on the trip, and we shared a long table with a group of Norwegians who make the trip twice a year. Eating a five-course meal with wine and post-lunch drinks before going out to play a second round of foursomes is just how golf is meant to be enjoyed.

As for the Old Course, we had one of the first tee times of the day at 7am, and again found ourselves with ridiculously good conditions. Probably not more than 7mph winds, sunny, about 60 degrees. Just phenomenal. And there’s not much I can say about the course that hasn’t been said a million times. It was just such a fun round of golf. And it wasn’t enough. So we asked if there was any chance in hell we could get back on later in the day, and sure enough, we were able to get on at just after 4, with a reduced rate because it was “dark time.” So after a nap, we played it again…in the POURING rain. We had no problems getting around before we lost light, but we were absolutely drenched. And I would do it again in a heartbeat. I’ll never turn down an opportunity to play that golf course. It’s just an absolute privilege.

My biggest disappointment was Carnoustie. It was a cold, windy, and occasionally wet day, and my game had gone to a dark place, so I just wasn’t in the right mindset. After putting my ball not once, but twice into the Barry Burn on 18, I just wanted a break. I know my opinion of the place was colored by the weather and my atrocious play, so when I get back, it’s going to have to be among the first places I play.

Pleasant surprise was Troon. It’s obviously one of the top courses in the world and full of history, but for whatever reason I wasn’t expecting too much. But I found it to be an absolute first-class course and property. Those bunkers are everywhere, but mostly visible, there were none of the gimmicks that I saw at other places (e.g. Prestwick had a number of silly blind shots), and the rough was largely avoidable with smart play off the tee. Really liked it there, and it was an excellent bookend to the trip.

All in all, a bucket list trip that absolutely lived up to expectations. I feel incredibly lucky.
 
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TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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My word that sounds like a dream trip. Completely agree with the decision to play Royal Dornoch, it's #2 on my Scotland bucket list (after the Old Course). It looks almost like golf heaven in everything I've seen.

Awesome writeup.
 
Yeah, great writeup - thanks for taking the time! It sounds like you had mostly enough stamina to cope with so much golf in so little time...which would make the Royal Dornoch diversion even more worthwhile than it already must have felt at the time.

Two quick follow-ups:

--Muirfield is definitely popular with many Americans not just because it's an awesome golf course, but because it's also much more what-you-see-is-what-you-get relative to most other Scottish courses: apart from the blind drive up the hill at #11, nothing is really hidden from view, and the fairways aren't as full of hillocks and other bumps to give you the sorts of quirky bounces you might get at other courses. It's a very fair test, and as fairness isn't always priority #1 in Scottish golf (as you'll know from North Berwick in particular), it stands out quite a bit in that regard. And of course the lunch really is all that, as you now know.

--Carnoustie is a great test of golf, but for me, it's not really an enjoyable test. It's not just the weather and your golf game telling you that: the setting is bleak, and the course itself isn't really full of character, unless that character in question is akin to Bill Belichick at a press conference. So I wouldn't be surprised if you felt the same way playing it again as you did the first time.

And I'm delighted you got that local Scottish golf experience with me at Dunbar! Any and all SoSHers are welcome at Dunbar at any time. :)
 

southshoresoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,249
Canton MA
Hey guys gonna post this here before I throw on EBay. I fell in love with Taylormade 790s with a 130g X Stiff shaft today.

I bought some awesome JPX 900 Forged last year. Little club chatter but in great shape. Trade in value is $325 and comp sets are 500-550 on EBay. I’m hoping to offload around 450. Stiff shaft Project X LZ 6.0/120g shaft.

If you or anyone is interested great set for a mid handicap looking to upgrade from starter clubs.

I’ll even throw in a bombtech 5 hybrid and a TM 3 hybrid as well.

DM me
 
I'm just back from another round at Dunbar - didn't hit the ball very well for the most part, and hadn't been driving the ball well at all as I stood on the 14th tee. Into a cold wind, I aimed at my nemesis bunker at the corner of the dogleg, knowing that there was no way in hell I could reach it, and even if I did, I'd never hit it straight enough to worry about it. I'm sure you can figure out the rest...I swear, when I die I'm going to get a plaque with my name on under the lip of the bunker, or maybe get my ashes scattered and raked into it.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
I'll be adding another four top 100 courses to my list at the end of May (bringing my total up to 15 of the 100).

Flying into Milwaukee memorial weekend and hitting up Erin Hills, Whistling Straights, and Blackwolf Run (The River and The Meadow Valleys).

There are some pretty affordable packages on the Blackwolf Run website that we did not do (didn't include Erin Hills), but overall should run me less than Streamsong last year.

I'll report back after the trip, but expect it to be amazing.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Just wanted to add that that’s an awesome write up @The Needler

Added Vegas National to the docket as a Shadow Creek warmup tomorrow. In a nice turn of fortune, my old man is able to join for Shadow Creek. He hasn’t golfed in two years due to his schedule, but I know he’ll get a kick out of the experience
 
Any course with enough land should absolutely install a massive putting course like the one at Erin Hills with ridiculous contours and innumerable hole locations - just like the original and best, the Himalayas (Ladies Putting Course) in St. Andrews:



With a few friends, maybe a few friendly dollars on the line and maybe a few beers in hand, you can hardly have a better golfing experience - and you certainly can't in terms of value for money.
 
Meanwhile, I've somehow wound up part of my club's team for the forthcoming Dispatch Trophy event. I mentioned the East Lothian County Cup previously, which is the oldest foursomes (alternate shot) competition in the world...well, the Dispatch Trophy covers clubs across Edinburgh and the Lothians and might be the most prestigious inter-club competition in Scotland. It's a straight knockout event played over the course of a week, from Saturday to Saturday (with rounds in between on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday), with two two-man teams per club and the same aggregate score format applied across two matches that I mentioned is used in the County Cup; I can't actually play on the Sunday, so I'm basically down to play on the opening Saturday and then on Tuesday, with another better golfer down to play on the Sunday and then Thursday/Saturday at the end if we keep advancing.

This year's event is at Braid Hills, a quirky course on a hill overlooking Edinburgh with stunning views of the city and a lot of short par 4s. It's the site of the most ridiculous match I've ever played - back when I used to work for State Street in Edinburgh, we had a company-wide matchplay competition every year, with full handicaps applied. Not everyone playing in the event had proper handicaps, so people just listed their handicaps and were taken at their word. So about a decade ago, I played a match in this competition at Braid Hills against an alleged 15-handicapper, and I remember making about a 25-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 10th hole to move to six under par (gross) for the round...and then my opponent made a 15-foot putt for an eagle, net albatross, which put me 2 down for the match. I then birdied the par-3 11th to get back to 1 down, and to seven under par - by far the most strokes under par I have ever been or almost certainly will ever be in any round of golf - before fading a bit and losing the match 3&2. Maybe he was an honest 15-handicapper, but for me to have such a low score going and not to have ever led in the match was just so absurd, I still chuckle ruefully in thinking about it.

Anyway, the Dispatch Trophy event is straight up, with no handicaps applied, and I don't think the four golfers in my team are good enough (myself definitely included) to make too much progress. But if nothing else I look forward to having a bit of fun next Saturday morning...before then coming back to Dunbar for a 5:18 p.m. tee time that same day in the second club championship qualifying round at Dunbar.
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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Any course with enough land should absolutely install a massive putting course like the one at Erin Hills with ridiculous contours and innumerable hole locations - just like the original and best, the Himalayas (Ladies Putting Course) in St. Andrews:



With a few friends, maybe a few friendly dollars on the line and maybe a few beers in hand, you can hardly have a better golfing experience - and you certainly can't in terms of value for money.
Pinehurst has one, and it's awesome. I completely agree.
 

kenneycb

Hates Goose Island Beer; Loves Backdoor Play
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2006
16,090
Tuukka's refugee camp
Played second round of the year oday. First with real driver. Couldn’t hit the ball on the front but figured shit out on the back. Getting a legit 20+ yards when I stripe one with the driver, let alone a miss. Now I just need to play with some regularity.
 

TFP

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The Mass Am Four Ball is at The International (my club) today and tomorrow. Ryan Whitney, Brandon Yip, Matt Pariziale plus others are playing in it.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
Well, I can no longer even hit the ball. Lessons introduced so many swing thoughts that my swing is a disjointed mess and it almost feels as if I picked up an iron for the first time. I feel like an unathletic and uncoordinated mess when I try to hit an iron. I'm at the point now where I can't even get the ball in the air with a wedge and even my worm burners are heading right! I feel like I need to completely reset but I don't know how. I used to love par threes because hitting iron off the tee was the most consistent part of my game. How the tables have turned. @TFP has been very helpful and encouraging sharing stories of his own struggles but I was wondering if anyone else has just completely and utterly lost it and been able to get it back? This sucks.
 

Doug Beerabelli

Killer Threads
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
My club just instituted a policy regarding handicaps that basically requires a score to be put in every time you sign up for a tee time. Makes it easier to do via using an app, but on face, penalties are severe. First offense, a warning. Second offense could get you banned from tournament play.

I play golf in very irregular fashion. Usually golfing with family, often joining them mid round. Usually we play 9. I don't play in tournaments beyond the occasional one day member-guest, but will be doing some more this year, as ceasing to coach baseball has freed up weekend mornings. This will kind of a PIA, although I can understand the policy behind it. At same time, if I go out by myself and want to hit two balls, or work on certain parts of game, that would seem to be prevented by this policy (or you just pick a ball and put in a score = more handicap manipulation).

Anyone else dealing this something like this? I'm sure there are kinks to be worked out, and maybe it won't be so harsh. But this has the flavor of the golf committee now being controlled by militant handicapists, or someone who's lost tournaments to a couple chronic sandbaggers.
 

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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Well, I can no longer even hit the ball. Lessons introduced so many swing thoughts that my swing is a disjointed mess and it almost feels as if I picked up an iron for the first time. I feel like an unathletic and uncoordinated mess when I try to hit an iron. I'm at the point now where I can't even get the ball in the air with a wedge and even my worm burners are heading right! I feel like I need to completely reset but I don't know how. I used to love par threes because hitting iron off the tee was the most consistent part of my game. How the tables have turned. @TFP has been very helpful and encouraging sharing stories of his own struggles but I was wondering if anyone else has just completely and utterly lost it and been able to get it back? This sucks.
Yeah that sucks, and I've been there. My only advice would be to take the smallest/shortest swings possible to hit the center of the club face. Just get your body used to that feeling again (and knowing that it's possible) is a huge benefit.

My club just instituted a policy regarding handicaps that basically requires a score to be put in every time you sign up for a tee time. Makes it easier to do via using an app, but on face, penalties are severe. First offense, a warning. Second offense could get you banned from tournament play.

I play golf in very irregular fashion. Usually golfing with family, often joining them mid round. Usually we play 9. I don't play in tournaments beyond the occasional one day member-guest, but will be doing some more this year, as ceasing to coach baseball has freed up weekend mornings. This will kind of a PIA, although I can understand the policy behind it. At same time, if I go out by myself and want to hit two balls, or work on certain parts of game, that would seem to be prevented by this policy (or you just pick a ball and put in a score = more handicap manipulation).

Anyone else dealing this something like this? I'm sure there are kinks to be worked out, and maybe it won't be so harsh. But this has the flavor of the golf committee now being controlled by militant handicapists, or someone who's lost tournaments to a couple chronic sandbaggers.
While I understand the sandbagging fear, I also feel like golf is meant to be enjoyed however possible so you should be able to play however you feel comfortable. Have you tried talking to the pro about it? I think if you just laid out your situation he'd give you the best advice on how to proceed.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
3,147
Arvada, Co
My club just instituted a policy regarding handicaps that basically requires a score to be put in every time you sign up for a tee time. Makes it easier to do via using an app, but on face, penalties are severe. First offense, a warning. Second offense could get you banned from tournament play.

I play golf in very irregular fashion. Usually golfing with family, often joining them mid round. Usually we play 9. I don't play in tournaments beyond the occasional one day member-guest, but will be doing some more this year, as ceasing to coach baseball has freed up weekend mornings. This will kind of a PIA, although I can understand the policy behind it. At same time, if I go out by myself and want to hit two balls, or work on certain parts of game, that would seem to be prevented by this policy (or you just pick a ball and put in a score = more handicap manipulation).

Anyone else dealing this something like this? I'm sure there are kinks to be worked out, and maybe it won't be so harsh. But this has the flavor of the golf committee now being controlled by militant handicapists, or someone who's lost tournaments to a couple chronic sandbaggers.
So are they asking you to post illegitimate rounds? The USGA won't let you post rounds you play by yourself, no matter how many balls you hit. You can, of course, post 9 hole rounds and can even post rounds where you played at least 13 holes.
 

Doug Beerabelli

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All TBD. I'm still recovering from knee surgery, so I'm a week or so away from trying to play a round. I'm sure others will test the policy. I considered putting my name in as "TBD" on the online tee time signup thing. I don't expect major issues -- but I'll raise some of the points you are making. I also think the pros are unwittiing victims in this if a lot of complaining goes on -- it's not their policy decision.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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The Paris of the 80s
My club just instituted a policy regarding handicaps that basically requires a score to be put in every time you sign up for a tee time. Makes it easier to do via using an app, but on face, penalties are severe. First offense, a warning. Second offense could get you banned from tournament play.

I play golf in very irregular fashion. Usually golfing with family, often joining them mid round. Usually we play 9. I don't play in tournaments beyond the occasional one day member-guest, but will be doing some more this year, as ceasing to coach baseball has freed up weekend mornings. This will kind of a PIA, although I can understand the policy behind it. At same time, if I go out by myself and want to hit two balls, or work on certain parts of game, that would seem to be prevented by this policy (or you just pick a ball and put in a score = more handicap manipulation).

Anyone else dealing this something like this? I'm sure there are kinks to be worked out, and maybe it won't be so harsh. But this has the flavor of the golf committee now being controlled by militant handicapists, or someone who's lost tournaments to a couple chronic sandbaggers.
This is lunacy. Courses around Massachusetts are struggling to keep/find members. Even if they're healthy right now the fear is 5 or 10 years out there's going to be a squeeze as golfing numbers decline. Either forcing members to play a certain way they don't want to or edging them out of tournament play isn't a bright move right now.
 

Doug Beerabelli

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I'd agree, CL. Our club is doing pretty well, but certainly doesn't have a long waitlist like in the 90s when I joined. It'll be interesting to see how this goes - I'll follow up.

On an earlier item I'd discussed here, indoor golf simulator in house on hold for now - not sure the room I want to use is quite big enough. Also want to see my son's level of interest after this summer.

One fun development was my daughter playing on high school golf team for first time as a senior (not sure if I'd mentioned she made the team). She's not playing in matches for varsity, but has played in a couple of them as an non-counting extra, and has scored better than the 5th player on team once. Competitive dance and other extracurriculars took up most of her time for golf in HS, but I'm glad for her she's getting a small school sports experience and is having fun. Hopefully she'll want to continue to play for fun in college, where there's a golf course on campus, but a golf season that probably lasts about 3 months total during the school year.
 

TFP

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I also think the pros are unwittiing victims in this if a lot of complaining goes on -- it's not their policy decision.
I'm sure this part is true, which is why if you go in with a "how can I comply with the rules but also keep playing for fun with my family approach" they're likely to want to help, instead of coming in complaining about the stupidity of the rule and putting them on the defensive (not that you would have necessarily done that).

Golf sandbagging is the worst. I'm too competitive, I want my handicap as low as possible, but that's because I suck and want to at least pretend like I'm decent.
 

TFP

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Looking like my company is putting in a foursome at the Make A Wish charity tournament at Salem Country Club later this summer. Would be a great chance to play the course, has anyone played there before?

I'm going to do some damage in the pro shop too - all time logo there.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
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Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
Found it! For a little bit anyway... decided to focus just on swing plane because I know that my swing goes to utter shit when I hinge my wrists. So I went to the range and focused hard on swing plane and hit the ball with little wrist action. It wasn’t the most powerful stroke but damn if my first 25 iron shots weren’t right down the middle. Not terrible distance either...maybe 160ish on my best 7 iron strikes. Lost it after hitting my woods but at least I know a playable swing is in there somewhere.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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Apr 26, 2008
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Looking like my company is putting in a foursome at the Make A Wish charity tournament at Salem Country Club later this summer. Would be a great chance to play the course, has anyone played there before?

I'm going to do some damage in the pro shop too - all time logo there.
Played in many times. It is amazing. I get over 2-3 times a summer and though I haven't played them all yet, I think it is the nicest club in the area.

@TFP if you are looking to try another club in the area, I would love to have a few guys out to Bass Rocks - I paid my bill early this year so I have a few free guest passes. August will be best for me.
 

mostman

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Jun 3, 2003
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After a five year layoff (kids) - I’m finally back on the course. It’s once a week now instead of every morning, like it once was. I used to play at about a 3-5 index, but I’m nowhere near that anymore. It’s going to be a lot more casual now for me, I think.

I had forgotten how important golf was to keeping my stress level down. It’s good to be back.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Jul 31, 2006
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Andy Brickley's potty mouth
Played in many times. It is amazing. I get over 2-3 times a summer and though I haven't played them all yet, I think it is the nicest club in the area.

@TFP if you are looking to try another club in the area, I would love to have a few guys out to Bass Rocks - I paid my bill early this year so I have a few free guest passes. August will be best for me.
I'll be in town the end of July :)