2021 Golf Thread

Over Guapo Grande

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Is it time for a 21 thread?

I cashed in some "thank you" company points to pick up a new set of irons. Wilson G7's versus 10+ year old Mizuno TZoids. I figure that I don't play with a permisson wood anymore (except if I put the 5w in the bag), no need to keep playing old tech.
 

TFP

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New thread!

I've officially joined Marlborough CC after laughing at the Internationals offer for returning members. Although they're gonna turn IGC into a ridiculous golf haven, it's just too expensive for me. Coore and Crenshaw are going to completely re-do the Pines in 2023, I can't wait to see what that looks like.

Marlborough has the back 9 open with temp greens/pins walking only in the winter. I've already played 3 times in January alone.
 

jercra

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Alright, 2021 Golf thread!! I used a combination of book money from men's club/tourney wins, selling old shafts and clubs and winning a survivor pool to get a new driver and 3-wood for $0 total out of pocket. After 2.5 hours at the fitter I went Titleist TSi3 Driver and TSi2 3-wood. Driver is stuck in USPS hell and could be anywhere on planet earth and the 3-wood arrived at the pro-shop where I ordered it today. Either way, it doesn't look like I'll get them in my hands in time to get them into the fitted shafts prior to leaving for Bandon in a week. It's a bummer, but they'll be close enough with the stock shafts that it won't matter to my drunk/hungover game for 5 days.

My fitting experience was good, because Covid has the whole place shut down except for appointments (it's a lifetime fitting, so I paid once 7 years ago and go whenever I want for no cost). It's usually about an hour of time on the Trackman but I got 2.5+ hours since the fitter didn't have anywhere to go and loved talking golf. With that being said, I really hate fittings as a mechanism for selecting clubs. It's mostly about making sure you don't end up in something terrible for you rather than making sure you don't end up in something great for you. Once you get to a certain level of golf, it's pretty easy to say what won't work, so there's not a lot to be gained from a fitting. If mine wasn't free, I wouldn't have paid for one and don't think I'll pay for one for any other clubs. I really want a self-serve, AI-driven fitting. I want to be able to go whenever I want for as long as I want and beat balls on the Trackman. I then want to take my chosen setup out to the course for a few rounds before deciding to purchase that set. In other words, I need to be filthy rich so I can afford a Trackman, a driving range, and a shitload of clubs/shafts.
 

PedroSpecialK

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So, sounds like there are no new memberships available this year for the City of Boston golf pass... which just blows. From $1,500 for the season including weekends, to $41 per round weekdays/$50 per round weekends. Given the proximity of both courses to me in Fields Corner, I am probably just gonna bite the bullet and pay as I play, but I was planning at least 2x weekly early AM 18s, with a couple other rounds sprinkled in... that'll run ~$180/week now and likely $4k+ for the season assuming a couple weeks off here and there.

Driving elsewhere seems unlikely given I'd need to be back at my desk by 10 AM weekdays - South Shore Country Club seems like a good 20-30 minutes each way with more tacked on for rush hour returning, and not seeing anywhere else that wouldn't require a bit of a jaunt down the highways in either direction and run < $3-4k.
 

terrynever

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Phragle

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Alright, 2021 Golf thread!! I used a combination of book money from men's club/tourney wins, selling old shafts and clubs and winning a survivor pool to get a new driver and 3-wood for $0 total out of pocket. After 2.5 hours at the fitter I went Titleist TSi3 Driver and TSi2 3-wood. Driver is stuck in USPS hell and could be anywhere on planet earth and the 3-wood arrived at the pro-shop where I ordered it today. Either way, it doesn't look like I'll get them in my hands in time to get them into the fitted shafts prior to leaving for Bandon in a week. It's a bummer, but they'll be close enough with the stock shafts that it won't matter to my drunk/hungover game for 5 days.

My fitting experience was good, because Covid has the whole place shut down except for appointments (it's a lifetime fitting, so I paid once 7 years ago and go whenever I want for no cost). It's usually about an hour of time on the Trackman but I got 2.5+ hours since the fitter didn't have anywhere to go and loved talking golf. With that being said, I really hate fittings as a mechanism for selecting clubs. It's mostly about making sure you don't end up in something terrible for you rather than making sure you don't end up in something great for you. Once you get to a certain level of golf, it's pretty easy to say what won't work, so there's not a lot to be gained from a fitting. If mine wasn't free, I wouldn't have paid for one and don't think I'll pay for one for any other clubs. I really want a self-serve, AI-driven fitting. I want to be able to go whenever I want for as long as I want and beat balls on the Trackman. I then want to take my chosen setup out to the course for a few rounds before deciding to purchase that set. In other words, I need to be filthy rich so I can afford a Trackman, a driving range, and a shitload of clubs/shafts.
Yeah the new Titleist stuff looks sweet but USPS delays seem to be maxing out to around a month. The new Ping stuff might be enough to redo the top of my bag.

Trackman access alone is worthy but yeah I agree that fittings aren't some perfect process. If you swing really hard or have an abnormal body they're more important.


I just got back from playing in Texas. Was nice to get out in some warm weather and play a round. So nice I think I have to go back again soon. Back in like October I tried changing my swing to get a steeper plane and less arm action, and then I barely played so I wasn't expecting much. I scored well on the back 9 and maybe had my best day ever for iron striking. When in Rome -- I used the putter from off the green a lot and I was pretty successful. I had a bunch of great lag putts and 2 putted from 55 yards on 18. I can't do it as often up here but I'm going to use it when there's an opportunity.

I'm looking into spending some time at the Pure Drive simulator to see if I can pound the swing changes into my brain. They have a trackman for I believe 40 an hour
 

Koufax

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Played my first round yesterday in Bourne. I played poorly but had loads of fun. This year I will join a private club so that I will have better access to tee times. It's an expense I've avoided for most of my life, but I've gotten to the point where I have more money than time and golf is my sole escape so what the hell.
 

TFP

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Played my first round yesterday in Bourne. I played poorly but had loads of fun. This year I will join a private club so that I will have better access to tee times. It's an expense I've avoided for most of my life, but I've gotten to the point where I have more money than time and golf is my sole escape so what the hell.
Where’d you play in Bourne? Brookside?


Where are you thinking of joining?
 

FL4WL3SS

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Alright, 2021 Golf thread!! I used a combination of book money from men's club/tourney wins, selling old shafts and clubs and winning a survivor pool to get a new driver and 3-wood for $0 total out of pocket. After 2.5 hours at the fitter I went Titleist TSi3 Driver and TSi2 3-wood. Driver is stuck in USPS hell and could be anywhere on planet earth and the 3-wood arrived at the pro-shop where I ordered it today. Either way, it doesn't look like I'll get them in my hands in time to get them into the fitted shafts prior to leaving for Bandon in a week. It's a bummer, but they'll be close enough with the stock shafts that it won't matter to my drunk/hungover game for 5 days.

My fitting experience was good, because Covid has the whole place shut down except for appointments (it's a lifetime fitting, so I paid once 7 years ago and go whenever I want for no cost). It's usually about an hour of time on the Trackman but I got 2.5+ hours since the fitter didn't have anywhere to go and loved talking golf. With that being said, I really hate fittings as a mechanism for selecting clubs. It's mostly about making sure you don't end up in something terrible for you rather than making sure you don't end up in something great for you. Once you get to a certain level of golf, it's pretty easy to say what won't work, so there's not a lot to be gained from a fitting. If mine wasn't free, I wouldn't have paid for one and don't think I'll pay for one for any other clubs. I really want a self-serve, AI-driven fitting. I want to be able to go whenever I want for as long as I want and beat balls on the Trackman. I then want to take my chosen setup out to the course for a few rounds before deciding to purchase that set. In other words, I need to be filthy rich so I can afford a Trackman, a driving range, and a shitload of clubs/shafts.
Doing Bandon twice in the next 4 months (March and May). I'm gonna get fitted for a new driver as well and have my eyes on the new Titleist drivers. They look so good.
 

jercra

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Doing Bandon twice in the next 4 months (March and May). I'm gonna get fitted for a new driver as well and have my eyes on the new Titleist drivers. They look so good.
Awesome! I'm going back in October as a makeup for my brother's covid canceled 50th birthday trip too. It will be the first time going where I won't expect it to rain every day. I've only played in the south winds when I played opening day of Old Mac and, even though it was June, it was still like 40 and drizzling. I can tell you that #4 at Mac is a LOT easier downwind though. You may get that in May, but I think it's still too early for the winds to turn around.

The TSi3 is an amazing club. They absolutely nailed the look and it sounds as good as it looks. I was averaging 1.49 smash factor with both it and the 3-wood. I liked the TSi2 3-wood better than the TSi2. It's ridiculous how hot that club is and I don't need need to mess with weights and such nearly as much with a 3 as with a Driver. I think you'll love it when you hit it.
 

Koufax

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Yes, I played Brookside for the first time in many years. I've always liked it, but was surprised at just how enjoyable it it and it was in very good condition, considering it is January.

I'm considering a number of private clubs but at the top of my list right now is the Golf Club of New England in Stratham NH. Also in consideration: Ispwich CC and Haverhill. There are other lovely clubs but they mostly have waiting lists and I'm not in a mood to wait.
 

Phragle

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Yes, I played Brookside for the first time in many years. I've always liked it, but was surprised at just how enjoyable it it and it was in very good condition, considering it is January.

I'm considering a number of private clubs but at the top of my list right now is the Golf Club of New England in Stratham NH. Also in consideration: Ispwich CC and Haverhill. There are other lovely clubs but they mostly have waiting lists and I'm not in a mood to wait.
When my buddy joined GCNE Turner Hill and Winnipesaukee were included. The under 35 membership is a no brainer
 

SaladParmesan

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New thread!

I've officially joined Marlborough CC after laughing at the Internationals offer for returning members. Although they're gonna turn IGC into a ridiculous golf haven, it's just too expensive for me. Coore and Crenshaw are going to completely re-do the Pines in 2023, I can't wait to see what that looks like.

Marlborough has the back 9 open with temp greens/pins walking only in the winter. I've already played 3 times in January alone.
Wow, I missed the news of the Int'l being sold. I had been looking into joining last year, before.... everything happened. Looks like details are pretty scarce online, is there anywhere to read about the course updates?
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Bad news here in the SE Mass/Pawtucket region. Rehoboth CC was sold in early December to a real estate company. The Atlantic Driving Range was also sold and will be converted into housing. COVID-19 probably rushed these decisions for both golf businesses.

https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/rehoboth-golf-course-sold-to-new-owners/article_efb53056-83e5-5b8f-9462-9cd354f9e0fb.html
Damn that's depressing, I got married in Rehoboth 10 years ago and played 9 at that course the morning of the wedding.

Edit: Fuuuck, just kept reading and see the Atlantic Golf news as well. That was my primary range when learning the game around 11-13 y.o. And the pitch and putt was my "graduation" from mini-golf and a big milestone when I could carry my own pitching wedge and putter purchased from Building 19 rather than their clubs.
 
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jercra

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It's strange to see all of these courses going through such a hard time after COVID has created a huge boom in golf. I wonder if the damage done was just too much before the past year.
 

TFP

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Wow, I missed the news of the Int'l being sold. I had been looking into joining last year, before.... everything happened. Looks like details are pretty scarce online, is there anywhere to read about the course updates?
Nothing is public yet. As a former member I got the updates and had a zoom call with the new ownership group before Christmas.

Long story short, they’re gonna sink money into the oaks to lengthen it, fix the bunkers, and just spruce it up. Will reopen late 2021.

Gonna have C&C redo the Pines in 2023 and build a whole new clubhouse/PRo shop overlooking the 18th green also opening in 2024. Expanding the putting green into a full putting course, redo the practice area, and turn Twin Springs into a short course. Fully private and golf focused, no more weddings and tournaments.

It sounds like golf Heaven, just a really expensive golf Heaven.
 

Koufax

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When my buddy joined GCNE Turner Hill and Winnipesaukee were included. The under 35 membership is a no brainer
Turner Hill is quite the course, but its relationship with GCNE is history. I'm told that lots of Turner Hill members went to GCNE to play, but nobody from GCNE wanted to go play Turner Hill. Whether that's true or not I can't say, but that's what I was told. The relationship with Winnipesaukee continues, however, so that's a plus.

I live much closer to Turner Hill than to GCNE and love the course. My reason for not looking seriously at it is that I strongly prefer to walk. When I brought that up in talking to Turner Hill, I was told that if I joined I'd be permitted to walk, but I might be the only one. When I took a tour at GCNE, the majority of players were walking. That's my kind of club.

Sadly, I am far, far removed from an under 35 membership. That's why I say I have more money than time. I figure I've probably got 10 years or so left before I can't walk a course any more, or possibly even play at all. When your horizon is short like that, the calculus changes.
 

thestardawg

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Nothing is public yet. As a former member I got the updates and had a zoom call with the new ownership group before Christmas.

Long story short, they’re gonna sink money into the oaks to lengthen it, fix the bunkers, and just spruce it up. Will reopen late 2021.

Gonna have C&C redo the Pines in 2023 and build a whole new clubhouse/PRo shop overlooking the 18th green also opening in 2024. Expanding the putting green into a full putting course, redo the practice area, and turn Twin Springs into a short course. Fully private and golf focused, no more weddings and tournaments.

It sounds like golf Heaven, just a really expensive golf Heaven.
I may actually bite the financial bullet and join. I suspect they will make one more offer to former members. Restoring the Oaks should be as simple as restoring all the waste bunkers (5 used to be one of the most photogenic holes in the world with its waste bunkers) and putting some care into the maintenance. im not sure the Oaks really needs to be lengthened. For every short 4 lie the 5th, there are beasts like 9 and 10.

THe Pines redo sounds interesting. I hope they leave some holes alone. 3-7 and 10-11 and 14-16 don't need much other than care, bunker work and proper irrigation. 1-2 8-9 12-13 and 17-18 could use some work and rerouting. I never liked the shared green on 9/18. They could also make better use of the pond on 8/18.

Love the idea of the practice facilities, but I wish they'd leave Twin Springs as is and open to the public. Youth golf was huge there, and that option will go away with their idea for a short course.
 

TFP

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I may actually bite the financial bullet and join.
I’ll happily come play as your guest if you do.

I’d love to join and I’ll be curious what they get for membership because I just don’t see that many people, especially under 40, signing up at those rates. I do see it being market rate in 4-5 years when everything is done, but not now and there’s really not much incentive to come back early and suffer the growing pains.

Once C&C are done with the Pines, their goal is to have this be the Old Sandwich/Boston Golf Club of Central MA I think. Which is very possible and would be awesome.

I pretty much agree with the rest of your points. I always thought a true waste area on 10 Oaks would be visually stunning instead of the fescue they let grow in. And I’m willing to give C&C the benefit of the doubt on the Pines.
 

thestardawg

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I’ll happily come play as your guest if you do.

I’d love to join and I’ll be curious what they get for membership because I just don’t see that many people, especially under 40, signing up at those rates. I do see it being market rate in 4-5 years when everything is done, but not now and there’s really not much incentive to come back early and suffer the growing pains.

Once C&C are done with the Pines, their goal is to have this be the Old Sandwich/Boston Golf Club of Central MA I think. Which is very possible and would be awesome.

I pretty much agree with the rest of your points. I always thought a true waste area on 10 Oaks would be visually stunning instead of the fescue they let grow in. And I’m willing to give C&C the benefit of the doubt on the Pines.
\
Absolutely Hell anyone who wants to check out the courses this year is welcome.

10 at one point did have waste bunkers. The old ownership just stripped the Oaks bare. 18 was an amazing look from the tee with the waste bunkers. What the Weadock family did to the club was unconscionable.
 

Bosoxen

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I played my best round ever on Saturday. Following a birdie on 16, I was sitting at +4 going into the par 3 17. Even if I finished with bogeys on the last two holes, I would have surpassed my personal best score of +7, so I was feeling pretty good. Then my brother's jinx hit. Hit my tee shot fat, resulting in the ball rolling back to just past the lip of the water, just narrowly averting disaster. The awful lie led to an even worse chip, completely flying over the green. My second chip attempt missed the landing mark by a few feet, resulting in the ball rolling sideways off the hill instead of forward towards the hole. The result was a 60+ foot downhill putt. Three putts later, I stormed away with a triple bogey. I collected myself and finished 18 with a tidy par to salvage the 7-over 77 (this course is a par 70 links style course).

Regardless of the scores being the same, I still think this was my best round. Although I couldn't hit the driver to save my life, resulting in me missing 9 fairways, I was an absolute assassin with my hybrids (which was necessary to recover from errant tee shots) and short game. I left 4 or 5 chips within 3 feet of the hole and even when I didn't, I managed to sink a couple putts over 20 feet. My score tracker app calculated my chipping and putting as gaining a stroke vs a scratch golfer. Had it not been for that disaster 17th, who knows what that would have looked like since that was 5 strokes puked up by my short game.

I can't wait to play this weekend to see if I can follow up a good round with another or see if I do my usual one step forward, two steps back routine and throw up a 90. Either way, I know I'll enjoy it because golf is my one escape. It's literally the only time I leave the house these days. As much as I hate the heat here in Texas I'm grateful for the year-round golf opportunity so I can salvage what little sanity I have left.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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I cashed in some "thank you" company points to pick up a new set of irons. Wilson G7's versus 10+ year old Mizuno TZoids. I figure that I don't play with a permisson wood anymore (except if I put the 5w in the bag), no need to keep playing old tech.
You're going to love that switch. Moving to SGI irons is the best thing I ever did for my game. They don't work miracles but they absolutely bail me out on some less than perfect swings. For anyone who just wants to point and shoot going with a lot of help is a strong choice. Wilson's stuff is supposedly really good these days too.
 

BaseballJones

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I'm getting a new golf bag before this season begins. Haven't picked it out yet. Any suggestions given these requirements:

- Max price of $180 (I'm not looking for a PGA level bag)
- Double shoulder straps
- Expanding tripod base

Would love any feedback. Here in New England, we're a long way from actually playing golf, so golf bag shopping will occupy me. Though maybe I should play a round or two in an indoor facility. That would be fun.
 

TFP

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The Ping Hoofer and Hoofer Lite are pretty much the gold standard for stand bags.

I just got a Stitch SL2 for Christmas which I love but that’s above the price range.
 

CPT Neuron

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My wife and I started playing quite regularly this past summer. I invested in a new set of Cleveland Irons for her and Cobra drivers for Xmas. She is recovering from a rotator cuff repair and isn't going to be cleared to swing until next month, but we are pretty psyched for the summer. I have already booked a Golf School Weekend through Bird Golf in VT, Green Mountain National. A little pricey, but not horrible. They floated a 10% discount for being military which was a nice touch. We'll get out a few times before we go to the training, but I'm really interested to see how it goes.

She likes the idea of "playing different places", but I'm ready to pay for a "home course" and then play other places on occasion.
 

TFP

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It might not be in the pic but it definitely has dual shoulder straps. The description should confirm it.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Ping and Sun Mountain make the best bags. I believe Sun Mountain makes a lot of the big name branded bags too.

I've been using Ping bags back to the original Hoofer and they're great. Very durable, GREAT straps, good pockets, and relatively light. The only issue is club tangle and it's a bigger issue with the smaller Hoofer Lite. I adore the Hoofer though. It's an awesome carry bag.

I'm less familiar with Sun Mountain but they seem to try to be as light as possible and my read of internet impressions is they're less durable than Ping because they sacrifice more for weight. They're a premium product though.

Both seem to run $200-250 for current year bags. You might be able to find older (still perfectly good) models for cheap.
 

yeahlunchbox

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Damn that's depressing, I got married in Rehoboth 10 years ago and played 9 at that course the morning of the wedding.

Edit: Fuuuck, just kept reading and see the Atlantic Golf news as well. That was my primary range when learning the game around 11-13 y.o. And the pitch and putt was my "graduation" from mini-golf and a big milestone when I could carry my own pitching wedge and putter purchased from Building 19 rather than their clubs.
I don't understand how Atlantic Golf and Mulligan's Island in Cranston aren't hugely profitable, they always seem busy. On the heels of Iron Woods in North Smithfield closing last year all three of the places I would go to practice will now be permanently closed soon. Where do you all go to practice in RI or southern MA?
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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This past year I've honestly just been playing "practice rounds" i.e. getting out with my brother-in-law at the cheaper courses in the area outside of my league play Sundays and Mondays. I see activity at the Cranston Country Club driving range whenever I play there, so I guess that is one option. The couple of TopGolf's in planning for the area are at least 2-3 years away. So in that way it may be a self-preservation move for the Mulligan's owners, due to the competition a stone's throw away. But even with TopGolf, that is more an event/destination, it is not a place most people will go just to hit a bucket of balls on a semi-weekly basis.
 

Doug Beerabelli

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My wife and I started playing quite regularly this past summer. I invested in a new set of Cleveland Irons for her and Cobra drivers for Xmas. She is recovering from a rotator cuff repair and isn't going to be cleared to swing until next month, but we are pretty psyched for the summer. I have already booked a Golf School Weekend through Bird Golf in VT, Green Mountain National. A little pricey, but not horrible. They floated a 10% discount for being military which was a nice touch. We'll get out a few times before we go to the training, but I'm really interested to see how it goes.

She likes the idea of "playing different places", but I'm ready to pay for a "home course" and then play other places on occasion.
My wife got a new set of Clevelands (full set), after a fitting, in spring. She was using my old TM driver, and TM bubble shaft irons and woods older than out kids - LOL. Got em late Spring, knocked 4 strokes of handicap, and won her division of Club Championship and the end of year Green Jacket where all the year's tourney winner and runner ups play. Playing nearly every day for the first time certainly also helped her score. So, yay Cleveland!

We did it: Got a simulator up and operating. We have three car garage, and the first task was figuring out how to fit it in there. I was ready to redo the third bay garage door/opener, or take it out altogether, but we were able to put it in back corner shooting sideways into a wall, rather than down the car length direction. Had a 13' x 10" is space, even with two cars in the garage. There are 11 foot ceilings, so that not an issue.

I went with a package I purchased from Top Shelf golf. Got net/net bracket, simulator with protective case, hitting mat, projector and bracket for projector and software. Went with an 8' by 8.5' net/screen. Bought that size because you could get a bracket for the projector that would sit on top of the net and not need to be attached to ceiling. We got the net up mid Nov, and were ablt to hit balls into it, but had to wait about 11 weeks after the order to get the actual simulator - a Sky Trak,. The IT guy (my 15 year old son) scoffed at me a bit when I decided to go with projector/bracket. Turns out he was right. His golf coach has a practice net set up his house where he gives lessons, one with a lot of space/clearance, and he uses a TV/monitor vs. a projector screen. My son pushed for that, I ignored him. To my peril and additional cost.

Once we got the Sky Trak delivered mid December, he set it up simple first using an Ipad, and then using his older gaming computer (this does better with the graphics), and a 27" monitor to test it out. I held off on trying to set up the projector/bracket, and with some measurements, and later determined it was in danger of being hit by a swing due to somewhat cramped nature of our set up. So I'm sitting on a bracket and projector - lol at me. Bought a 1500 W electric heater to direct at the golfer. Our garage has pretty good insulation (two walls share with house interior, as well as heated bedroom above it), and isulated doors, so it's not been too cold to use. With two cars in garage, we can swing full with most clubs. Pull one car out for driver hitting. Had to purge junk and move stuff out of garage into shed and basement to reconfigure things, which was a project, and my daughter's car is now parked outside when she's home from college, but it's worked out well. I like that I got the screen, even if I'm not using it, because it's an effective additional buffer for shots beyond just what the netting provides. I put those interlocking 2'x2' foam workout squares on floor, double layered, to soften bounces. Not the prettiest set up, but it works. I'm very happy with the durability and operation of the net, as my son hits the ball hard (he's doing over 110 mph swing speed on driver now), and it takes the punishment well.

Risky parts is lack of netting above the hitting area, although the side netting provided is pretty good. I've already put one dent in ceiling from getting too far under a driver, and my son had a friend over who was new to the game, and things went sideways a bit. I'll probably work on that, as well as a bigger monitor with a soundbar. But overall, very happy with it, mostly because my son will be able to take swings and work on things as much as he wants during a time he'd normally be limited to a weekly lesson and traveling to an heated outdoor facility.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Worcester
It's strange to see all of these courses going through such a hard time after COVID has created a huge boom in golf. I wonder if the damage done was just too much before the past year.
I think there was a lot of lost 19th hole revenue, plus functions (showers/weddings)/outings/etc. Early in the season in MA, there were strict limitations on cart use-- which is a cash cow. Walking daily fees I think lets places scrape by--- and even then, they lost probably 6? slots a day by going to 10 minute times rather than 8. They bank on the extras. Just my twonee.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
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I think there was a lot of lost 19th hole revenue, plus functions (showers/weddings)/outings/etc. Early in the season in MA, there were strict limitations on cart use-- which is a cash cow. Walking daily fees I think lets places scrape by--- and even then, they lost probably 6? slots a day by going to 10 minute times rather than 8. They bank on the extras. Just my twonee.
Yeah, maybe. I know the rules are different in Ma. than other places and I think were probably pretty damaging. Out here in Colorado, every course is built for outdoor dining and there's at least one beverage cart on every course. That helps F&B revenue a lot. They also removed the 10 minute spacing pretty quickly and courses were only truly shut down for less than 1 day. I believe 2020 was actually the most rounds of golf ever played in a single year in Colorado, by a long shot. As of October (latest data I can find), they had already pushed past the average annual of 1.5-1.7 million rounds and were projecting over 2 million rounds. I think an extra 300-500k rounds would equal a lot more revenue from golf, beverage cart and outdoor dining, not to mention a massive increase in equipment sales and lessons.
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
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Nov 29, 2005
4,461
Worcester
Yeah, maybe. I know the rules are different in Ma. than other places and I think were probably pretty damaging. Out here in Colorado, every course is built for outdoor dining and there's at least one beverage cart on every course. That helps F&B revenue a lot. They also removed the 10 minute spacing pretty quickly and courses were only truly shut down for less than 1 day. I believe 2020 was actually the most rounds of golf ever played in a single year in Colorado, by a long shot. As of October (latest data I can find), they had already pushed past the average annual of 1.5-1.7 million rounds and were projecting over 2 million rounds. I think an extra 300-500k rounds would equal a lot more revenue from golf, beverage cart and outdoor dining, not to mention a massive increase in equipment sales and lessons.
I pretty much only played at one course this year ( I think I had a total of 3 rounds not at my "home" course-- I think in the 2020 thread I outlined the no-brainer of a deal that I got.) And they did have bev carts out this year, which, to my knowledge, was a first for them. I became friendly-ish with one of the mangers, so I will ask her if that will be SOP going forward, or if it was a COVID response (or both).
I have a standing invite to go and crash with my cousin in Grand Junction. If I ever take her up on that, I'll be sure to ping you, have you give me a shot a hole, and still lose to you 9&8. :)
 

Doug Beerabelli

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It think it's also possible higher real estate values in MA due to flight from urban areas may have contributed to the decisions where golf courses are being changed to housing. That being said, MAs overly restrictive policies on golf, coupled with the slow phasing back of those restrictions, certainly didn't help.

It's just asinine to me that MA did what it did, while CT was shut down for all of one day, and ended up having a record year for rounds. The decision by CT came down in part due to the decision making body having golfers on it, and being able to demonstrate to others on that board that golf could be played in a distanced and minimal contact manner (no bunker rakes, pin touching etc). Courses that were able to have or increase outdoor dining also had a better chance of success/survival. https://www.csgalinks.org/content/csga/golf-during-the-pandemic-how-it-got-done
 

jercra

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I pretty much only played at one course this year ( I think I had a total of 3 rounds not at my "home" course-- I think in the 2020 thread I outlined the no-brainer of a deal that I got.) And they did have bev carts out this year, which, to my knowledge, was a first for them. I became friendly-ish with one of the mangers, so I will ask her if that will be SOP going forward, or if it was a COVID response (or both).
I have a standing invite to go and crash with my cousin in Grand Junction. If I ever take her up on that, I'll be sure to ping you, have you give me a shot a hole, and still lose to you 9&8. :)
Any time! I'm always up for a good match, and you'd be surprised how bad my bad can be. Be aware though that Grand Junction is like a 4.5 hour drive from Denver, so you'll have to lay off that beer cart before you head west.
 

kelpapa

Costanza's Hero
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Feb 15, 2010
4,639
I have a standing invite to go and crash with my cousin in Grand Junction. If I ever take her up on that, I'll be sure to ping you, have you give me a shot a hole, and still lose to you 9&8. :)
Redlands Mesa golf course was really nice when I lived in that area 10+ years ago, and according to their web site they are the #1 rated course in Colorado. I have no idea how they come up with that, but I remember it getting rated in the top 20 for public courses in the US by Golf Digest when I lived there. Looks like it hasn't rated that high in a while, though.

Grand Junction is a really cool area to hang out for a few months in the summer. You should definitely do that if you're an outdoors person. Biking, hiking, white water rafting and really cool national parks are all nearby.
 

Phragle

wild card bitches
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Jan 1, 2009
13,154
Carmine's closet
Turner Hill is quite the course, but its relationship with GCNE is history. I'm told that lots of Turner Hill members went to GCNE to play, but nobody from GCNE wanted to go play Turner Hill. Whether that's true or not I can't say, but that's what I was told. The relationship with Winnipesaukee continues, however, so that's a plus.

I live much closer to Turner Hill than to GCNE and love the course. My reason for not looking seriously at it is that I strongly prefer to walk. When I brought that up in talking to Turner Hill, I was told that if I joined I'd be permitted to walk, but I might be the only one. When I took a tour at GCNE, the majority of players were walking. That's my kind of club.

Sadly, I am far, far removed from an under 35 membership. That's why I say I have more money than time. I figure I've probably got 10 years or so left before I can't walk a course any more, or possibly even play at all. When your horizon is short like that, the calculus changes.
I had not heard that, I'll ask when I see him. Sad news though, we planned to play Turner Hill a lot. He got into GCNE this year and I know that covid played a role in preventing us from going to Turner Hill in the fall, but it was my understanding that it wasn't going to be an issue in 2021.

I feel like I have neither money or time, but the under 35 deal is too hard for me to pass up. I have to scrape together around 15 or so I don't have to worry about paying 60 later. Let me know if you need any help. I'm sure my buddy would be happy to

I'm getting a new golf bag before this season begins. Haven't picked it out yet. Any suggestions given these requirements:

- Max price of $180 (I'm not looking for a PGA level bag)
- Double shoulder straps
- Expanding tripod base

Would love any feedback. Here in New England, we're a long way from actually playing golf, so golf bag shopping will occupy me. Though maybe I should play a round or two in an indoor facility. That would be fun.
I'd recommend anything from Titleist or Sun Mountain. They're made by the same company and I've seen too many other bags fall apart to bother with them. My Titleist has been through hell w no issues. 180 should get just about any bag you want if you shop around or have some patience. I bought a Titleist bag for my dad that retailed around 260 a year ago for like 105 shipped. Got it at Budget Golf w a promo code.

My wife got a new set of Clevelands (full set), after a fitting, in spring. She was using my old TM driver, and TM bubble shaft irons and woods older than out kids - LOL. Got em late Spring, knocked 4 strokes of handicap, and won her division of Club Championship and the end of year Green Jacket where all the year's tourney winner and runner ups play. Playing nearly every day for the first time certainly also helped her score. So, yay Cleveland!

We did it: Got a simulator up and operating. We have three car garage, and the first task was figuring out how to fit it in there. I was ready to redo the third bay garage door/opener, or take it out altogether, but we were able to put it in back corner shooting sideways into a wall, rather than down the car length direction. Had a 13' x 10" is space, even with two cars in the garage. There are 11 foot ceilings, so that not an issue.

I went with a package I purchased from Top Shelf golf. Got net/net bracket, simulator with protective case, hitting mat, projector and bracket for projector and software. Went with an 8' by 8.5' net/screen. Bought that size because you could get a bracket for the projector that would sit on top of the net and not need to be attached to ceiling. We got the net up mid Nov, and were ablt to hit balls into it, but had to wait about 11 weeks after the order to get the actual simulator - a Sky Trak,. The IT guy (my 15 year old son) scoffed at me a bit when I decided to go with projector/bracket. Turns out he was right. His golf coach has a practice net set up his house where he gives lessons, one with a lot of space/clearance, and he uses a TV/monitor vs. a projector screen. My son pushed for that, I ignored him. To my peril and additional cost.

Once we got the Sky Trak delivered mid December, he set it up simple first using an Ipad, and then using his older gaming computer (this does better with the graphics), and a 27" monitor to test it out. I held off on trying to set up the projector/bracket, and with some measurements, and later determined it was in danger of being hit by a swing due to somewhat cramped nature of our set up. So I'm sitting on a bracket and projector - lol at me. Bought a 1500 W electric heater to direct at the golfer. Our garage has pretty good insulation (two walls share with house interior, as well as heated bedroom above it), and isulated doors, so it's not been too cold to use. With two cars in garage, we can swing full with most clubs. Pull one car out for driver hitting. Had to purge junk and move stuff out of garage into shed and basement to reconfigure things, which was a project, and my daughter's car is now parked outside when she's home from college, but it's worked out well. I like that I got the screen, even if I'm not using it, because it's an effective additional buffer for shots beyond just what the netting provides. I put those interlocking 2'x2' foam workout squares on floor, double layered, to soften bounces. Not the prettiest set up, but it works. I'm very happy with the durability and operation of the net, as my son hits the ball hard (he's doing over 110 mph swing speed on driver now), and it takes the punishment well.

Risky parts is lack of netting above the hitting area, although the side netting provided is pretty good. I've already put one dent in ceiling from getting too far under a driver, and my son had a friend over who was new to the game, and things went sideways a bit. I'll probably work on that, as well as a bigger monitor with a soundbar. But overall, very happy with it, mostly because my son will be able to take swings and work on things as much as he wants during a time he'd normally be limited to a weekly lesson and traveling to an heated outdoor facility.
That sounds great. How do you like the sky trak?
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,461
Worcester
Any time! I'm always up for a good match, and you'd be surprised how bad my bad can be. Be aware though that Grand Junction is like a 4.5 hour drive from Denver, so you'll have to lay off that beer cart before you head west.
What is the nursery rhyme? When he's good he is really really good, but when he's bad he's horrid? That's pretty much me... and both can happen in the same round. I can go 4 holes barely making contact with the ball, then play the next 6 at even par, then go 8 over in the next 3 , and come in -1 over the last 5. Jekyll/Hyde on the course
 

Koufax

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Jul 15, 2005
5,936
GCNE has lowered its initiation fee to $27.5k.

I'm probably going to join and would be happy to meet any members. I'm a 21 handicap, so I won't be winning any club championships.
 

Doug Beerabelli

Killer Threads
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That sounds great. How do you like the sky trak?
I like it a lot, but I've not tried anything different for an extended period of time, so I don't really know what I'm missing. I'm not quite into analyzing the higher level data yet (spin rates etc etc), but my son is teaching me. His coach - asst pro at our course -- uses the data extensively in analyzing things, and in turn the boy has taken to it, understands it, and self diagnoses things by it. That coach used and recommended Sky Trak, so we went with that.

I think Flightscope Mevo+ is another popular one in that mid price range, and has gotten some good reviews.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
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Jul 31, 2006
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Arvada, Co
I like it a lot, but I've not tried anything different for an extended period of time, so I don't really know what I'm missing. I'm not quite into analyzing the higher level data yet (spin rates etc etc), but my son is teaching me. His coach - asst pro at our course -- uses the data extensively in analyzing things, and in turn the boy has taken to it, understands it, and self diagnoses things by it. That coach used and recommended Sky Trak, so we went with that.

I think Flightscope Mevo+ is another popular one in that mid price range, and has gotten some good reviews.
SkyTrack and Mevo+ are very different animals. SkyTrack is an optical tracker that was designed for light-controlled environments. Because it uses cameras it has some stats like face to path and face angle and such that are pretty accurate. Mevo+ is a doppler radar-based system that doesn't care if it's indoors or out (beyond needing metal dots on the ball indoors) and that does better tracking ball speed, launch angles, club speed, and spin than optical trackers. Sadly, you need to jump up to something like a GC2, GC-Quad, or real Trackman if you want the best of all worlds. If you have an extra $15-25k laying around, that's the way I'd go.

I've been doing lots of research on simulators because this winter in Denver is killing my golf game (snows 1" every weekend and doesn't melt until the following weekend when it snows again) but I haven't pulled the trigger because I keep pushing the price tag up beyond what I'm willing to spend.
 

SaladParmesan

Member
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Sep 24, 2006
597
Nothing is public yet. As a former member I got the updates and had a zoom call with the new ownership group before Christmas.

Long story short, they’re gonna sink money into the oaks to lengthen it, fix the bunkers, and just spruce it up. Will reopen late 2021.

Gonna have C&C redo the Pines in 2023 and build a whole new clubhouse/PRo shop overlooking the 18th green also opening in 2024. Expanding the putting green into a full putting course, redo the practice area, and turn Twin Springs into a short course. Fully private and golf focused, no more weddings and tournaments.

It sounds like golf Heaven, just a really expensive golf Heaven.
Cool, thanks for sharing this. Definitely sounds like it's in the right hands to make the most of the property from a pure golf perspective- guess it's more rounds at Butternut and Stow Acres for me.
 

TFP

Moderator
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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
Cool, thanks for sharing this. Definitely sounds like it's in the right hands to make the most of the property from a pure golf perspective- guess it's more rounds at Butternut and Stow Acres for me.
If you're interested in joining a private club, Marlborough CC is certainly a possibility. It's not super expensive (but not as cheap as Stow Acres/Butternut). Also Wedgewood is an option too, although I don't like that track nearly as much.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
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Jul 31, 2006
3,147
Arvada, Co
If you're interested in joining a private club, Marlborough CC is certainly a possibility. It's not super expensive (but not as cheap as Stow Acres/Butternut). Also Wedgewood is an option too, although I don't like that track nearly as much.
I just want to say that I'm totally jealous of all the access to reasonable private clubs you have in New England. Private golf sucks here. There are very few clubs and they are all hyper expensive.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
I just want to say that I'm totally jealous of all the access to reasonable private clubs you have in New England. Private golf sucks here. There are very few clubs and they are all hyper expensive.
If Colorado is worse than NE, then I never want to move to Colorado.

Living in the Midwest was a golfers dream.
 

TFP

Moderator
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Dec 10, 2007
20,380
I just want to say that I'm totally jealous of all the access to reasonable private clubs you have in New England. Private golf sucks here. There are very few clubs and they are all hyper expensive.
“Reasonable” is on a sliding scale too. I meant reasonable for Mass prices, may not be reasonable elsewhere.

Additionally, the public golf here stinks compared to elsewhere. Although I’m golfing in January so I can’t really complain.