2021 Golf Thread

voidfunkt

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I seem to have forgotten how to read greens and putt over the winter. Thats real annoying.

The good news so far is that I have not yet wanted to snap my driver over my leg. The bad news for the driver at least is that I still plan to ditch it and get fitted anew later this month.

Anyone have any opinions about World Wide Golf Shops / Golfers Warehouse for driver fitting? I got my last driver fitted at my club by the then pro but I wasn’t impressed by the process or outcome. We brought in a new head pro for this season and he cleaned house so im a bit iffy getting refitted with a green staff as well.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Jul 31, 2006
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If they don't charge for fittings, then why not try it? You're not obligated to buy anything if you don't think they did a good job.

They are definitely limited by the options they have available to fit you into, though. A place that specializes in fittings will have a lot more options.
 

voidfunkt

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They are definitely limited by the options they have available to fit you into, though. A place that specializes in fittings will have a lot more options.
I think this is mostly it... I want to do a comprehensive fitting... run through a couple drivers with different shaft options. Use my current driver as the baseline. I know the retail place has a simulator setup (I think trackman or GCQuad). Club pro might have something like GC Quad but unsure how it performs in an open range vs a closed bay setup where the light and everything is ideal.

My big problem with my current driver is that I seem to generate a fuckton of backspin. Also its four years old and I'm honestly just tired of it. We've never jived.
 

Zomp

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Depending how far you want to drive, There are two good fitters in RI that I could recommend.

Newport Indoor Golf and Spargo.
Spargo would be my first choice.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Nov 29, 2005
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I am hoping that next week will cooperate weather-wise in Central MA. I took the week off, figuring the week of April vaca (the following week) I'd have to ...err, get to spend a lot of time with the mini OGG.
Goals for the year:
"Where the @##% did that shot come from?" (e.g. Pull slices)-- 3/round to 1
"GO TO YOUR HOME!!!!" (3 putts from < 10 feet) - 2/round to 1
"I am not JULE6" (tee markers smashed) 0/year to stay at 0
 

jercra

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Jul 31, 2006
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I am hoping that next week will cooperate weather-wise in Central MA. I took the week off, figuring the week of April vaca (the following week) I'd have to ...err, get to spend a lot of time with the mini OGG.
Goals for the year:
"Where the @##% did that shot come from?" (e.g. Pull slices)-- 3/round to 1
"GO TO YOUR HOME!!!!" (3 putts from < 10 feet) - 2/round to 1
"I am not JULE6" (tee markers smashed) 0/year to stay at 0
Only 2 of those things impact your scores. I say smash those tee markers if you need to!
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Only 2 of those things impact your scores. I say smash those tee markers if you need to!
I should add that my shot is usually a high draw, so (a ) is a total 'WTF?' shot. Which in turn leads to a (c ). But C was more of a shoutout to the RMPS crew who actually had the pleasure (?) of witnessing it ( 7th tee at Highfields)
 

Kliq

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I bought new clubs with some of my stimulus money and will attempt to get somewhat serious this year. I'm a novice player, with the goal of getting under 100 eventually (my current best is 109). I had previously been using ancient clubs so finally getting new (if not particularly expensive) clubs will hopefully lead to some improvement. It will also encourage me to play more frequently.

I haven't played a game yet this year; it looks like it might be a bloodbath getting a tee time again as it was last year. I did look yesterday for tee times on Saturday and there was nothing available, even at some of my old standbys (Sassamon Trace and Pine Meadows) in the Greater Boston area. So it looks like I'm going to have to plan a week in advance for any Saturday games. Anyone got any local courses that are less-popular? I'm not a fancy man.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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I bought new clubs with some of my stimulus money and will attempt to get somewhat serious this year. I'm a novice player, with the goal of getting under 100 eventually (my current best is 109). I had previously been using ancient clubs so finally getting new (if not particularly expensive) clubs will hopefully lead to some improvement. It will also encourage me to play more frequently.

I haven't played a game yet this year; it looks like it might be a bloodbath getting a tee time again as it was last year. I did look yesterday for tee times on Saturday and there was nothing available, even at some of my old standbys (Sassamon Trace and Pine Meadows) in the Greater Boston area. So it looks like I'm going to have to plan a week in advance for any Saturday games. Anyone got any local courses that are less-popular? I'm not a fancy man.
Getting a weekend tee time at any of the popular courses around here in southern NH has been an absolute nightmare so far this spring. I have to drive like an hour into the boonies tomorrow morning to play somewhere that has tee times and wouldn't be a miserable 5+ hour round. Hopefully once things go more back to normal the insane demand will recede a bit.
 

Koufax

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That's what made me throw in the towel and join a private club. I'd rather flit about from course to course but that has become impossible.

If you show up as a single and are willing to wait around, most places will fit you in but yeah, a 5 hour round on a weekend may be the result.
 

Kliq

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Yeah obviously if I could afford a membership somewhere that would be great. IIRC, it wasn't that long ago where it felt like a bunch of golf courses were closing down and there was all this discussion about how they had overbuilt, and now it feels like every course is instantly filled up.
 

Koufax

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If you can get on as a single at Butterbrook, I recommend it. Great bang for the buck.
 

Scott Cooper

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Hi I posted this elsewhere, but was told to post it here...

Hi folks,

So years ago I liked to golf every so often. Then raising a family blah blah blah stopped playing, but looking to now get back into it. I've been to the driving range a couple of times, and played a couple of rounds last year.

So my question is this. My irons are over 20 years old, and I'm thinking of buying new ones. Should I?

What technology changes have been made over the years?

My clubs were probably an average set price wise, and I'd probably be looking for the same. 500-1000 Range?

any suggestions on what might fit the bill?

Thanks
 

TFP

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You definitely could get new ones and they will very much help, but it also depends on your goals. Are you planning to play a lot? Do you expect to improve a bunch and/or change your swing?

Your best bet is likely to go to a PGA Superstore or the like and swing a bunch of different ones for free in their bays. Pay most attention to the shafts at first - those will make more of a difference than the heads. Then figure out the heads that look and feel the most comfortable combined with the best results. Feel free to go a couple different times too. Note what you like and often times you can find them on the secondary market instead of buying new off the rack too.

There are a ton of options out there - you’ll find something you like.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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The biggest technological advancements over the past 20 years are the ball and drivers. The ball is straighter and longer, and drivers made in the past few years are significantly more forgiving than even 5-10 years ago. Both have probably maxed out distance-wise for mere mortals. You don't need a current model year driver but getting something used from the past few years could be cheap and incredibly helpful.

The changes in irons have been more subtle. Some people are still playing muscle-back blades but even high level players are more accepting of "help" than they were 20 years ago, especially with long irons. The days of buying a 3-PW set are basically over. Many players replaced long irons with hybrids, high lofted woods, or crossover/driving irons. Or they go right on the blade -> cavity -> game improvement (GI) -> super game improvement (SGI) spectrum with long irons.

If you're looking at equipment it's worth knowing newer GI/SGI irons don't behave like older irons. They're designed to launch higher with lower spin to maximize distance. They tend to be lower lofted than in the past too. Manufacturers want to sell you a longer hitting 7-iron but in reality they stamp 7 on a 30 degree club now that might have been 35 degrees in 2000. Then you end up with 3-4 wedges.

What do you have for clubs right now?
 

Pedros Midget

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I just purchased new irons after several years of playing a set of Callaway steel head x-14's with graphite shafts. I am 48 and have been a 20-26 handicap for several years, but looking to improve so as to at least consistently be in the eighties. (Lowest recent score was a 90). My best recommendation is to get fitted by a good golf shop with Top Tracer to track your shots and make the best recommendation for your game. So much goes into individual swing patterns, including club head speed, angle of the iron at your set up, etc. I knew going in I wanted the Callaway Mavrik irons, as I had read up on them and they seem to be the most forgiving of bad shots by average to below average golfers. The first thing my pro determined was that I was generating way too much club head speed to be using graphite shafts - the club was coming through the ball too fast, thereby creating too much spin and forcing loss of distance and loss of control, leading to more hooks and slices. He said while graphite was popular several years ago, basically no one would recommend them for a younger golfer these days. I tried several steel shafts and the results were unbelievable, I gained a whole club length with the steel shafts and the difference in feel of the shots as compared to graphite was so solid. They also review your hand size for proper grip width, etc. I bought 5-PW for $730.00 out the door. As noted above, pretty much no one uses 3-4 irons anymore, and I use a Taylor Made M6 hybrid rescue for anything between driver and 5 iron with great results. When struck properly, that club gives me 195 to 200 yards. Only problem now is that I bought two weeks ago and the shafts are back ordered from China, so no new irons until at least June! Good luck with your search.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Bad weather golf is something else. Not having rain to totally shut us down, only one other of my league-mates was brave enough to play 18 instead of 9 holes yesterday for our "practice week" before real matches start next week. Around 4 hours plus of mid 40s and what felt like tropical storm force gusts ensued. Oddly my ball striking was damn good considering, although into the wind I needed a driver and my 1-iron hybrid to reach the front of green bunker on the par 4 first hole (340 yards). In the end my putting, with the wind strong enough to impact this as well, was the big issue and I shot a 50-50-100.

After entering the clubhouse and looking in the bathroom mirror, the mask along with the pink hue of my face and ears had the appearance of someone out on the slopes skiing all day.
 

BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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Played my first round of the season up in Maine this past weekend. 50 on the front with not many bad shots - just couldn't make any pars or birdies and hit a few solid shots that ended up in the water (I didn't think I deserved for them to go in the drink). Bounced back with a 40 on the back where I hit everything pretty well. Missed an eagle chance by a few inches on 10. Good start to the year.
 

cornwalls@6

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Played my first round of the season up in Maine this past weekend. 50 on the front with not many bad shots - just couldn't make any pars or birdies and hit a few solid shots that ended up in the water (I didn't think I deserved for them to go in the drink). Bounced back with a 40 on the back where I hit everything pretty well. Missed an eagle chance by a few inches on 10. Good start to the year.
Solid start. Played my first round on Saturday at an ancient muni in Brockton, DW Field. Kind of yearly tradition to kick off the season there with a college buddy who grew up on that course. Hacked it around for a 97. I'm generally a once a week, 90-95 player, with the occasional, cosmic tumblers in place, foray into the high 80's(though jumping up over 100 is never out of the question either), so I wasn't too dis-pleased. Most encouragingly, the balky back I've had all winter held up pretty well. Kicking off my weekly Saturday rounds locally this weekend. Good to be back out there.
 

inJacobyWeTrust

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Nov 12, 2007
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First round upcoming tomorrow morning at Olde Scotland. I’m a mixture of excited and already upset at the double I’ll inevitably make on 1. Finally installed the same grips on all my clubs (z-grip align midsize) and have a new bag configuration I’m trying out, going with 13.5 and 16.5 degree woods and an 18 degree driving iron, taking the 15 degree and 4 iron out of the bag. Also excited to try out the new putter grip I got from Sweet Rollz, love the feel in the house so far but on course can be a different animal.

I’m on week 3 of my 6 week paternity leave so sleep is unlikely tonight which will be another challenge. Oh well, it’s all about enjoying the few hours out there with friends and a beer or two.
 

4 6 3 DP

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Olde scotland is in good shape. Been there a couple times in the last few weeks. Back nine playing very tough. 1 is a tough hole, that tee shot looks scary missing left
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
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Feb 22, 2004
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For the MA golfers - are your required to wear a mask while playing? I played this weekend in CT with someone who recently played in western MA, abs was required to have one on for play. Which he ignored after the first hole (he’s been vax’d).
MA has golf safety guidance here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/golf-facilities-protocols-summary-english/download

Note that golfers "may remove face coverings where they can easily, continuously, and measurably maintain at least 6 feet of distance from players and other persons present; instruct players that they must wear face coverings when they are unable to remain a distance of 6 feet from others."

I have seen few players wearing masks when out on the course. Masks are required around the pro shop.
 

TFP

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For the MA golfers - are your required to wear a mask while playing? I played this weekend in CT with someone who recently played in western MA, abs was required to have one on for play. Which he ignored after the first hole (he’s been vax’d).
I haven’t on the course all year. Anywhere inside yes, but once on the course it’s fine.
 
I played again at Dunbar this morning, and after birdieing the first I faced the very unusual sight of two sprinklers twirling around the middle of the second fairway at full blast. Not very Scotland-like at all! I've danced around sprinklers in America and not minded getting a bit of spray on hot and humid days, but today the temperature was around 50 degrees at most with a bit of a breeze as well. Subconsciously I played my first two shots way to the right and avoided the obstacles, but I pulled my third shot and had to go through the second one...and I mistimed my approach and wound up having break into a full sprint with my trolley to get past unscathed. Now completely winded, I then skulled my pitch through the green and duffed my next pitch back to make a 7. So that was fun. (I wound up playing only 12 holes before running up the back of some slow-moving fourballs and deciding to walk in; it's still too cold out there for me to really feel comfortable on the course.)

On the plus side, the Esmond Trophy competition at North Berwick which I've written about in the past - one stroke-play qualifying round and then up to five rounds of match-play for the qualifiers - is back on this summer, which is great. If the Olympics happen, I think I'll be off to Tokyo before the semifinals, but I'll worry about that when and if the time comes.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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I got out a couple times last week. To those questioning about moving on from 10+ year old clubs.... do it. New irons have me about a club+ longer and launched a lot higher(some is the club, some is a swing improvement). So my first round out, I played great, but didn't score well, as I was long on every approach. I've never been so happy to be in bad spots... The next day I didn't play great, but I started dialing in my numbers a bit more. 84/81 for the two rounds, which is perfectly cromulent for me.

Funny (to me) anecdote. This is the first year I've carried a club labeled "G". I've had various gap type wedges (A in my old Hogans, for instance). First time out I yanked a drive a bit, but had a clear look in from about 95 yards. Reached into my bag... grabbed my 'g' for the first time. As I stood over the ball, I started thinking "hmmm..this seems a bit long. And a shallower face than I was expecting". I shrugged and made a 2/3 swing. Ball squirreled out to the right, thankfully saved by a trap. I took a look at the club, and saw I grabbed my 6i. The 6 and the G were apparently too similar in my sober mind. I laughed at myself the rest of the round, and now this is my walk up song whenever I approach a gap wedge:

 

88 MVP

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Dec 25, 2007
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I chuckled at the spoiled video.

I’ve been out 3 times so far this year, and it feels like I’m on the verge of a big improvement. I have been improving since joining a club in 2018, and last season saw a big jump as my handicap came down from 16 to 11.7 at its lowest (finished the year around 12). I flirted with 80 a few times, but most of my scores were mid-high 80’s.

So far this year I have had two rounds where my ballstriking was noticeably improved but the short game was rusty, and one round where I was hot with the putter. Feels like I’m on the verge of putting a round together where I shatter my previous course low.

I also got fit for a set of irons in early March (Mizuno JPX 921 Forged, Project X 6.0) and waiting for those to come in feels like waiting for Christmas morning as a kid. Can’t wait for the weather to warm up!
 

Scott Cooper

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I just purchased new irons after several years of playing a set of Callaway steel head x-14's with graphite shafts. I am 48 and have been a 20-26 handicap for several years, but looking to improve so as to at least consistently be in the eighties. (Lowest recent score was a 90). My best recommendation is to get fitted by a good golf shop with Top Tracer to track your shots and make the best recommendation for your game. So much goes into individual swing patterns, including club head speed, angle of the iron at your set up, etc. I knew going in I wanted the Callaway Mavrik irons, as I had read up on them and they seem to be the most forgiving of bad shots by average to below average golfers. The first thing my pro determined was that I was generating way too much club head speed to be using graphite shafts - the club was coming through the ball too fast, thereby creating too much spin and forcing loss of distance and loss of control, leading to more hooks and slices. He said while graphite was popular several years ago, basically no one would recommend them for a younger golfer these days. I tried several steel shafts and the results were unbelievable, I gained a whole club length with the steel shafts and the difference in feel of the shots as compared to graphite was so solid. They also review your hand size for proper grip width, etc. I bought 5-PW for $730.00 out the door. As noted above, pretty much no one uses 3-4 irons anymore, and I use a Taylor Made M6 hybrid rescue for anything between driver and 5 iron with great results. When struck properly, that club gives me 195 to 200 yards. Only problem now is that I bought two weeks ago and the shafts are back ordered from China, so no new irons until at least June! Good luck with your search.
Great minds....I went with the Mavrik as well after checking those out vs the Taylor Made Sim. Well within my price point and I've only been to the range with them and I feel the difference. Went with the Steel shafts as well, but didn't have them custom.
 
I'm just back from an early-morning 18 holes at Dunbar on my own - 8:04 tee time, finished in 2 hours and 25 minutes. I really wish I were a morning person and could do this more often; not that I played well, or really enjoyed how I was playing, but it is liberating to get around the course that quickly. (I was third off the tee, and played through one threesome on the 6th.) The highlight/lowlight was me hitting myself with my own ball - a failed attempt to escape a bunker that hit the revetted face and ricocheted into my stomach - and then discovering just now that there's no longer any penalty for doing that. So that's nice, I guess?
 

Doug Beerabelli

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Last weekend, there was a tournament at our club called the Derby, which is always held on Kty Derby day. 2 person teams, randomly selected from A-B players. 8 am shotgun start, Stableford scoring. Top 10 teams make the playoff, with those teams being re-shuffled for the playoff. Which is 10 teams teeing off the first hole, and one team being eliminated each hole, with chip offs for ties.

Wife and I had a 1 pm tee time. 12:50 rolls around, and there's 400 carts on the first tee. Playoff started late, and they decided to tee off 1 instead of 10 for it. We were told to start on 10, which was fine.

We are walking, but moving along at a pretty good clip. The course is putting off the regular tee times on the front, and slotting in groups coming off the back. Luckily we go off 1 before a foursome. We get to the third hole, and see the slightly smaller horde of carts on 5th green. We are going to catch these guys. As it turns out, we just miss catching them on 9. We finished our round in about 3 hours, 10 minutes. The playoff and tee switches basically opened up the course like the parting of the Red Sea. Out club can usually manage a 4 - 4:15 hour round on a weekend afternoon at our course, which isn't horrible, but this was a treat.
 

TFP

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Played at DW Field in Brockton today. What a terrific public muni. Tremendous condition, very walkable, and impeccable greens. Played with the assistant super at Hyannisport and he was even impressed with the greens. Highly recommended for the South Shore folks.
 

voidfunkt

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Played at DW Field in Brockton today. What a terrific public muni. Tremendous condition, very walkable, and impeccable greens. Played with the assistant super at Hyannisport and he was even impressed with the greens. Highly recommended for the South Shore folks.
Used to play this track when I attended Stonehill... it was pretty solid back then. Not sure I would label the greens impeccable, though admittedly, we played mostly in the fall and earlier spring since school was mostly done by May.

I sliced an iron through somebody's window on the hole with all the multi-family homes on the right.

Id like to play this course again just for fun. Mid-summer.
 
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Over Guapo Grande

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A few weeks back I almost jarred one for my 2nd ever hole in one. It the iron maybe a groove low, but dead at the pin. As it reaches ground level the ball shoots dead right. I must have hit the inside of the cup... ball ended up pin high on the opposite fringe . The pin never moved and there didn’t seem to be any cup damage ... but I can’t explain it otherwise unless it was aliens (I certainly don’t spin the ball that much )
 

Zomp

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I’ve only played once so far this year.

preparing to move and having 2 kids under 4 will put a strain on your golf game.

played decent though. 82. I find I’m at my best when I keep a simple mantra in my head.

“waggle that shit. Smack that shit”.