What did you shoot today?

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by C-Tech

Game returned. 39/40 at Haven Golf Club and I had a triple on a par 3 because I fourputted!

Nice shooting!

[GolfSavage]

Played yesterday, had been a couple of weeks. Wasn't hitting great drives but kept out of trouble. My chipping and putting were very good, and I shot a 41 on the front, even with one "snowman" on a par 5. On the back I played well, just one over after 4 holes, then I started getting tired. This course has a lot of hills and I think I walked up and down most of them helping look for my playing partners shots. Some of my lies made for unsteady stances, and my back started complaining on the 15th hole, so I ended up shooting 48 on the back. This is still a good round for me, so I can't complain. Sank two putts over 20 feet, chipped in once. I've joined a new gym that is opening this week, so I am going to work on losing weight, gaining flexibility and stamina.

[JimSomebody]

88 on my home course. Played my usual game, basically: bogeys and a few pars, but doubled two of the four closing holes (my home course's "Amen Corner").

42* when I teed off, but sunny and very little wind. Played as a single behind a threesome (that was behind another threesome). I caught them on the fifth hole, but having had a chance to observe their play, I lingered rather than have them invite me to join. At the turn, one of them dropped out; I continued leisurely play till I was caught by the single behind me. I'd been observing his game him as he was catching up, so I was happy to have him join me for the last six holes. A good day.

[Leaguegolf]

Golf in Minnesota in mid November is always a good day!

[1RYDER]

50-44 for 94 at MS National

No Ida to blame,no consistensy at all...Hit a few good shots and made some putts,just can't get it togather.

[Wazmankg]

I played 18 today at my new home course, Lakes of Taylor. It was in the mid 40s and the wind was howling. They don't have windshields on their carts so I decided to walk... and wear my skull cap. The wind was good for 40 yards carry off the tee + or - depending upon whether it was with me or into me, to give you an idea. Fortunately it wasn't swirling so I was able to adjust and it was fun hitting 9 iron into a hole I'd never hit less that 4 iron into. It also turned 2 par 4s into 3 shot holes though. I started well, going +1 over the 1st 4. Then I yanked my 6 iron OB on 5, hit my 3rd into a trap and walked away with a triple. That sort of took the wind out of my sails and I fell into a stretch of bogey golf.

Putting was a problem most of the day. I don't think these greens are going to completely recover this season and I just can't get comfortable with them. I went back to my old standby over the last 4 holes. Keep my head down and still until well after I've putted the ball. I finished strong after hitting my drive dead right on the 414 yard 15th, the 2nd of 3 par 4s well over 400 yards. It nearly went through the adjacent 16th fairway. It seemed like a shank but it went too far. I must have had the face wide open somehow. I nutted a 3 wood back into the 15th fairway and hit a 73 yard SW to 15' which I sunk for par.

I lipped out an 8' par putt on 16 and a 20' birdie putt on the par 3 17th. 17 is 165.. a peninsula with water front, right & back. That was a fun shot in that wind. It was blowing off the water though and I hit the green , not bailing out left for a change. I parred the 18th, a par 5, just missing another 15 footer for bird. I went away feeling I figured out something on the greens.

It was the 1st time I've walked since I can't remember when. While it's not an easy course to walk it's not too bad... a lot of elevation changes. But it didn't faze me a bit and I finished strong. I'll probably feel it tomorrow, though.

45/42 - 87, 31 putts, 3 penalty strokes.

[Wazmankg]

Lake of Taylor again today. 46/45 - 91, 33 putts & 3 penalty strokes. A very up & down round. I had a triple & and a handful of doubles, but also several pars where I had good birdie looks. Made nothing, though.

Some of the highlights -

#6 355 par 4 - drive, 9 iron to 7'... miss the putt
#13 387 par 4 - drive, 7 iron to 4'... miss
#16 412 par 4 - drive, 4 iron to 6'... miss
#17 159 par 3 - 6 iron to 8'... miss

I concentrated on making a full turn today. It's always been a weakness of mine. It resulted in some of the longest straightest shots I've hit all year. I carried a few drives 230+, which is a good 15 yards longer than usual. More distance distance through the bag. Significantly more considering it was in the mid 40's and wet. But I also topped a few. It's going to take some work getting used to it. Unfortunately I think our season will soon come to an end.

[Pistol]

I played in a 2 person blind draw today. I hit the ball really well with a 73 but missed at least 6 putts that could have easily gone in. I had a 0 handicap so my net score was 73. I drew a 22 handicap who didn't play very well and we finished with a 71, 11 strokes out of first.

[Wazmankg]

Played 18 today in what could be my last round of the season...but maybe not. The forecast is iffy with a rain-snow mix predicted for Thanksgiving and highs in the low 40s next week. We'll see. It was actually quite pleasant today... in the 50s, cloudy but very little wind. I played with a couple of guys about my age on the front. I started with a double, but played quite well otherwise on the front, going out in 41. The guys I was playing with were very good company and it was nice to play in a group for a change. On 9 they asked if I minded if a friend of theirs joined. Of course I didn't. Heck they asked me to join them. Then they both started up warning me about this guy. How he's a real motormouth who never shuts up ... and he really might get on my nerves, etc. He was but he was a very nice guy and only a little bit annoying. These guys don't know annoying if they think their buddy is bad. That said I wouldn't want to play with him regularly. 3 penalty strokes and a 3 putt after my best shot of the day on the back for a 45. 41/45 86, 28 putts & 3 penalty strokes. The greens there obviously aren't going to come back this season and they aren't going to roll them which is what they need. But I'm finally getting used to their slow bumpiness. Anyway playing golf in late November in Michigan... I can't complain.

[C-Tech]

Walked Dell Urich this afternoon and tried out my Sun Mountain V1 Cart for the 2nd time. I am not sure it is going to help my back pain or not. I didn't notice any difference in my back pain the last few holes, but I was still really stiff. We caught up with some slow groups and waited anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes on the last few tees. That really got my lower back tightened up. I struggled in with an 82, 40/42, but the 42 wasn't indicative of how poorly I played the last few holes. I scrambled to keep my score down, but my ball striking went south with my stiff back.

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by C-Tech

Walked Dell Urich this afternoon and tried out my Sun Mountain V1 Cart for the 2nd time. I am not sure it is going to help my back pain or not. I didn't notice any difference in my back pain the last few holes, but I was still really stiff. We caught up with some slow groups and waited anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes on the last few tees. That really got my lower back tightened up. I struggled in with an 82, 40/42, but the 42 wasn't indicative of how poorly I played the last few holes. I scrambled to keep my score down, but my ball striking went south with my stiff back.

Is your handicap still 12.7 C-Tech ? I know you've been much lower but the reason I ask is that I'm at 11.7 currently and an 82 is a 10.5 differential for me and would make me quite happy. Just curious.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

Is your handicap still 12.7 C-Tech ? I know you've been much lower but the reason I ask is that I'm at 11.7 currently and an 82 is a 10.5 differential for me and would make me quite happy. Just curious.

Maybe carrying all those sandbags around is the cause of the back problems!?!

[Bigvivec]

Nov 16

So I played from the start with the sock on the handle again…not the same as yesterday…my hand was sore from the beginning and probably a little worse than yesterday (I imagine from the exertion) and I couldn’t make a very good grip…anyway, being the addict that I am I wanted to play and play I did…

Highlights:
• Pitched in from 20 yards for par on a par 5
• Frustrated by my wildy inaccurate driver (which hurt pretty bad to swing) I hit 3i/3i and made birdie on one par 4…
• Got a massage near the end of the round with some of the Chinese bottled herbs (that stuff that everyone pushes for all ailments) from the pro…he did the whole reflexology pressure point thing and was pushing spots in my elbow that I could feel in the palm…pretty cool and amazingly the hand feels much better now…he claimed that a western medical doctor advised surgery for his back but he just got massages and feels totally healed…I’m still not sold but I succumbed to the peer pressure today…
• I was a beautiful morning…

Not too much else positive golf wise came out of the round…I was +7 after three holes and knew that it was going to be a long day…hand feels better after the massage, all the same I’ll probably rest the hand for a day or two, maybe get another massage, put some herbal oils on it and see where I’m at…irons stung and I thinned a three iron that I thought I was going to go over on it hurt so bad…like I said before, stupid, stupid, stupid…that the massage made the pain go away and it’s more or less stayed away relieves me in that apparently there are no broken bones or torn tendons…I have a bruise on my leg from the fall that is a rainbow at the moment…stupid, stupid, stupid…

3/9 fairways, 3 gir, 21 putts, 1 birdie, +12 for 14…

[Bigvivec]

Nov 24


Played today…haven’t since Saturday which was more of a practice round playing multiple balls anyway due in part to my still sore hand and the flu that I’ve been down with…as it turns out my caddy hadn’t been to the course for a full two weeks because of the flu as well…when it goes around down here EVERYONE gets it and usually conincides with the change of seasons (wet to dry or as it is right now, dry to wet)….

Anyhow, I’ve been drilling hard on my footwork that I was taught in my first lesson with the new pro, and it’s starting to pay off…I’ve dropped my hybrids for long irons, have much better balance and tempo, feel the swing better and am hitting the ball with an easier feeling…had 4 gir / -1 on the par 3s today and was -2 on the par 5s which normally would indicate a special day…stiil too inconsistent though and my misses were more like blunders; I think it is to be expected and I just kept plugging away using the “moves” recently taught…drives me crazy that I can hit a shot stiff on one hole and birdie just to be faced with a very similar shot on the very next hole and blunder my shot right or left…that’s golf though…truth be told I am getting more consistent but it’s a long road and I just don’t have the “feel” over the ball shot to shot…I don’t mind missing so much as standing over the ball and knowing that something is missing and not knowing what to do about it, then biting the bullet and swinging away…I imagine it all comes down to my address posturing so that’s where I’ll start anyway…

The new swing is producing some different looking shots…the ball has a different character than what I’m used to seeing, even on well struck shots that I’d been capable of before…hit one approach with a pw today that looked all the way a fade but more penetrating than fades I usually hit with a lower starting trajectory (which I didn’t want) and then rose quite a bit and cut to the right 2/3 of the way to the hole…I wouldn’t call it a draw either…it was more like I rubbed the ball down with Vaseline the way it was dancing, but the end result wound up on the intended line…weird…


Been working on delofting the face of the club and was hammering my woods today…had an eagle putt (made a birdie ) on one par 5, was in a greenside bunker that I got up and down for birdie on another (gotta make those bunker sessions more a part of my regular routine…spent a half hour in one on Monday; I needed the practice badly…)…

Irons were inconsistent…I blame my flu for some of it…I hit the ball beautifully for the first 5 holes and then started to feel worn out and while I still was hitting good shots I started to lose control of my movements and wasn’t hitting the ball like I had been…showed up in the driver as well which I started to get sloppy with and missed three fairways before I could stop the fire…

I hit my 5 wood about as good as you could hit it today…my newly re shafted three wood gets more height like I wanted and is plenty long, but I think I out thought myself with it…first shot of the day was perfect right down the pipe with a little draw just as planned…second shot was an ideal fade that fit the hole from the tee and left me with an easy direct approach at the apex of the dogleg…third shot hooked 20 yds left of where I was planning on, and from that point I paid too much attention to grip, face angle, thinking about it being a new shaft, etc and stopped thinking about just hitting the ball…I’m so gunshy of hooking the ball I hold off on release if I think it’s going to happen…today my driving went to rot I feel because I stopped coming through the shot and was holding off because I hooked the three wood and then a driver to the edge of the fairway on the ensuing hole; I was a basket case for a few holes after just those two shots…just need a little more familiarity with the club, the flight and distance were killer, just need to feel it out a little and learn to trust it and stop thinking that it is something new…gotta figure that it is a swing flaw that caused the hook and not the club, and after that was a mental flaw…got back on track with both later in the round but was shaky for awhile there…something to work on…

Short game is still not where I want it to be…still don’t have the feel of the new swing and hit consistently long with all short pitches…I’ve changed trajectory as a standard and am not throwing it up in the air like I used to, but the stronger loft of the delofted face is still something that I’ve got to get used to, and when I hit a 58* wedge 95 yds when I never hit it more than 80 no matter how hard I swing, it is still a surprise and something that I haven’t accepted yet…

Took a birdie on a par three with a three iron…haven’t played a three iron in a long time (years) but put one in the bag last Saturday after discovering that I could hit it better than my hybrids with the new and improved swing…it’s not saying a lot though; my hybrids have plain sucked for the last month or so…at least I know where the long irons are going even if contact is less than perfect sometimes…

Putter wasn’t as hot as it had been recently, but still knocked in some good ones…was off a little at the beginning and missed a couple real birdie chances, but made up for it later on…even though I love the YES putters I have and feel that they put a superior roll on the ball, I’m sticking with the Bettinardi because there is a little magic in it…I’m just a little more accurate with it on the line though my distance control is up and down which I attribute to lack of familiarity as my last putter was the go to stick for nearly 4 years and though I’ve played the bettinardi for the last month it is still a work in progress…

Got up and down on a par 5 that I pushed my second shot into the trees and had a punchout recovery to 70 yds…hit the low flying, high spinning high lofted wedge (58*) shot that I’ve been so keen to add to the bag…I really like how you can swing positively with the shot and be aggressive…I’ve had issues in the past with half swing shots that I de-cellerate on trying to feather into the green…the slightly opened face negates any digging so you can really hit down and dig out the ball and the forward shaft lean makes for both very positive ball first contact (it makes a pretty distinct sound) and a lower ball flight which from where I’m standing is more controllable and predictable as well as being less affected by conditions (other than soft ground)…

Really felt good on the course though, despite the few blunders I hit some nice shots today and more importantly, I know why I made the blunders and why the good ones were good…just have to keep practicing…baby steps…


…btw my hand is sore!!!

I’ve got a second lesson with the pro on Thursday…I’m looking forward to it…the things that he said were in the future for us was working on trajectory control (I’ve managed to bring down my ballflight and have been working on hitting low flighted approaching wedges already on my own with good results) and getting my hands into the swing more which he said would give me more power…I’ve added distance (about a club to a club and a half) since the first lesson across the set just from the footwork and hitting it a little lower…ready for more…


8/11 fairways, 10 gir, 28 putts, 3 birdies, +3 for 15…

[Bigvivec]

Nov 27


So I played today fresh off my lesson yesterday…I’ll just put it in a word: WOW!!!

The stuff the pro showed me works…and it translates to the course…really felt good out there and shots came off feeling easy…effort was reduced and I had less anxiety over the ball…

Stats don’t show the whole picture…the quality of ballstriking today was very high; I really hit it solid with a lower trajectory and more spin (essentially playing the ball back from where I was and swinging more shallow…felt like I was plowing through the ball)…the improving swing has made a big difference and I’m coming into the ball more shallow, taking a different kind of divot and can feel the ball compressing much better off the face…it’s early days yet, I just was given these movements (at least a refinement of them) yesterday and am still tentative, not really trusting them yet, but I can see the potential and the good swings felt so #$%#$ easy and natural I feel a little dumb that I had to work so hard to learn something that feels as natural as throwing a ball…not yet sorted on the aiming...the ball goes right at what I’m aimed at, sometimes to my consternation…

So it wasn’t all roses…I overshot a few greens because I surprised myself and hit the ball better than I thought I would, and followed up those with some shots coming up short due to taking less club as a compensation…those kind of misses are a lot easier to live with than mishits though…the misses were on the fringes or in greenside bunkers anyway…my alignment with the irons was off for the first 5 holes or so until I figured it out and started to play better…I hit a lot more greens the last time out, but wasn’t hitting the ball like I was today…just goes to show that in golf known quantities are the way to scoring, regardless of their quality; it’s the consistency and predictability that wins out…

I hit the Adams driver with the axivcore red in it for the first half of the round and then my usual driver the second half (yes, I had extra clubs in the bag, but wanted to test them out on the course using the same swing I had for the day)…I officially don’t care for the axivcore…I nutted one and the ball went as far as a mishit with my usual, and later in the round I proved it to myself when I caught one with my burner driver and sent it nearly as far as I’ve ever hit the ball on that particular hole…I’m going to put some lead tape on the head of the Adams and give it a few more chances; it is pretty accurate, but it’s not looking to threaten the first string at the moment…

Had the 13* TEE fw in the bag today with a prolaunch platinum shaft in it…first time I’d hit it save for the net at the shop to check the swingweight feel…it’s a keeper! Trajectory is up from the last shaft and control was good…felt solid off the deck as well…the 15* also feels good with its respective reshaft, but not as good as this one, and the gaps between the 13* and 18* 5 wood that is a permanent fixture in the bag are better…one big thing that is a good thing in terms of matched clubs that fit is that I can use the same address face angle from wood to wood now (three of them, just not all at once) and get similar flight and shape from club to club…that’s huge when thinking about consistency over the course of a round…if I hit a shot with one club that doesn’t come off like I thought, I can adjust for it the next time a fw shot comes up regardless of the club choice…the driver (burner) matches pretty closely as well and was using identical face angle addresses for all three for similar shot shapes today…I think that’s part of the problem I have with hybrids; I haven’t found a setup that matches closely enough to irons or woods that allows for continuity of adjustment from shot to shot; I setup differently with the hybrid than with either of the aforementioned types of clubs and have to depend on trying to remember the feel of that club on that day from shot to shot, which could have an hour or more between them…haven’t tried a hybrid with the new adjustments yet; maybe it’s sorted as well but I doubt it…anyway, as far as the 13* fw prolaunch plat goes, one time out and it got a starting position in the varsity, it fit that well…if I have a bad day with it I’ll have to remind myself that it isn’t the club…feel that way about all the clubs in the bag now save for the putter and hybrid/3i spots, and the putter is holding its spot pretty good at the moment…

Putting was off and on…distance control was good and I’m probably just expecting too much…narrowly missed a few good birdie chances from distances that have been in the wheelhouse lately…unless I practice putting more I can’t really get upset about missing 10-15ft putts though; they’re just not all going to drop anyway no matter how much boring putting practice I do…I made a 35 ft birdie putt (stepped it off) which only negatively added to my expectations…

With the new mechanics I’m better able to feel the pressure on PP#3 at impact and was able to direct the energy into the shot better towards the end of the round…still a long way to go with the new swing but balance was better, swing speed up, ballspeed up, contact much more crisp and I’m a happy man at the moment…I know the direction that I need to go…

Short game was a struggle…all of the full swing practice has taken the feel out of my hands…need a little time around the practice green to touch things up…was long on most every chip and was only saved by good putting…I did get up and down 2 times from the sand…one needed a 10 ft putt and the other was 3 in from the cup and only required a laugh…

Been struggling with long irons most of the year…kept getting lessons and trying different things in an effort to improve, but managed to lose my iron swing in the process for most of the year, the long irons being the worst part of that equation…soldiered on using hybrids but have always felt that when I’m “on” nothing beats a long iron, and for enjoyment’s sake, there is nothing like hitting a pure long iron shot in golf for me…anyway, like I said, the swing still isn’t quite there, and the scrappiest shot I hit today was a 3 iron that I pushed to the right of the green…it was high and straight right though, and I managed 200yds with it into the right bunker that I managed an up and down from…hit two four irons that were good but not great…flew high and straight anyway, just a little tentative with them still, didn’t snap them like I wanted to and was short of where I ought to have been with them both times…really need to cut loose a little more but these clubs have been breaking my heart all year, tough to give them the unconditional treatment one day after the revelation…


Things are looking up though…I got the pro to put his thoughts and my practice plan on my phone’s voice recorder…he got a kick out of that…

A bright spot at the end of the round; unsolicited, my caddy made the comment that I’m sure he was reserving until he was sure that we were done for the day as after I walked off the final green of the day and announced that we were done and took off my glove, he immediately made some comments about my play (he knows to wait)…he said that I looked a lot better swinging, more stable, no lunging forward, more power with less straining…I told him I cheated on the course pro and saw an outside instructor yesterday and he laughed and said that it looked like it was working out…I told him to keep it to himself and laughed inside to myself for feeling like the backdoor man in the situation…

The bad news is that my nanny is taking a week off to go home for a family wedding…I’m off the course until she gets back though I’ll drag the kids to the range every chance I get in the interim…


10/11 fairways, 6 gir, 24 putts, 1 birdie, +1 for 16…

[C-Tech]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

Is your handicap still 12.7 C-Tech ? I know you've been much lower but the reason I ask is that I'm at 11.7 currently and an 82 is a 10.5 differential for me and would make me quite happy. Just curious.

Actually, mine is up to 13.7 right now, but should come down on Tuesday when they re-rate us. I had a terrible stretch where my scores went through the roof, but now they are coming back down. I suppose that once I got down to a 6.6, that now any score starting with an "8" seems like a bad round. I know I am capable, just not doing it. At least I know how David Duval must feel.

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by C-Tech

Actually, mine is up to 13.7 right now, but should come down on Tuesday when they re-rate us. I had a terrible stretch where my scores went through the roof, but now they are coming back down. I suppose that once I got down to a 6.6, that now any score starting with an "8" seems like a bad round. I know I am capable, just not doing it. At least I know how David Duval must feel.

Gotcha. I quit the game for 5 years back in the late 90s. I used to break 90 fairly regularly but when I took it up again 100 was the norm. So when I finally started to get it back a bit, the guys I played would congratulate me when I'd shoot in the low-mid 90s and wonder why I wasn't thrilled....and I didn't want to be one of those guys who talked about how good he used to play.

[mr_bogey]

Cool November morning (Sat. 11-28) hi 30's heating to 60, 0858 tee time
Island/Lake - White tees 6500 yds

1 - par 4 5 - 1 - par 4 5
2 - par 4 5 - 2 - par 4 4
3 - par 4 4 - 3 - par 5 5
4 - par 4 5 - 4 - par 3 4
5 - par 4 4 - 5 - par 4 6
6 - par 3 3 - 6 - par 3 4
7 - par 5 6 - 7 - par 5 7
8 - par 3 3 - 8 - par 4 4
9 - par 5 4 - 9 - par 4 4

Score - 39/43-82 (+10)

Big Game Ante $11
Winnings - Blind Draw Team - $2.50 (I was at -3, tied for second best individual after teams - 14 players) Skins -1 - $14 - Close-ups - 2 - $7 Total $23.50
Net +$12.50

With temps hovering around 35, we tee off, me walking w/pushcart - and my opening drive looks perfect, but when I arrive at my ball it is one foot thru the fairway in the hay - er, rough - and the tone was set for my round. I chopped it out left and bogeyed. I slashed my way thru 4 holes with one par when I made a 12 foot saver, and then more routinely parred the 5th. The island green 6th, my nemesis of late, awaited - playing longer than usual at 167. I took a 7 iron and almost flew it in the hole - the pitch mark was 4 inches away - and stopped 15 perilous feet above the pin, a delicate 2 putt par. After almost holing from the fringe on 7, I missed the 4 foot comebacker to go +4. Then at the par 3 8th playing 174, another 7 iron to 8 feet ended up being my sweep of close-ups in the Big Game on the front side, but I pulled the birdie putt. But, out of nowhere I roll in a 40 footer at 9 for a birdie to turn at +3. I put on my clown suit for the 10th, going duck, top, fat, and stub - but the stub took a great hop and rolled out to 2 feet to let me escape w/bogey. The 11th was almost as ugly, but I roll in an 18 footer to save par. Routine par at 12, then at the par 3 13th at 132, I hit PW right over the front flag on the center ridge, but it spins left instead of back - my 35 footer for birdie is a tad sort and catches the ridge and buttonhooks to 7 feet short - argh - 3 putt bogey, +5. Two ducks and a chunk at 14 leave me just short of the greenside bunker. I select my LW for the pitch, and as I address the shot, my pushcart 6-8 yards away starts rolling. As it reaches the cart path I say to my group - "I think it's getting wet". We watched as it rolled 30 yards down the path, then bumped off and continued another 50 down the slope - yes, into the lake. I should mention that with my knees and and their uncertainty on even slight downslopes, chasing was futile. The cart was completely in the water, but my golf bag was completely above it, parallel to the surface. I reached out with my LW and snagged the rear wheel and dragged it out. The towel, headcovers, and bag strap were all wet, but the bag and clubs were totally dry. Who said golf isn't fun? Anyway, the incident did not affect my golf, which continued to be lousy. At #17, my drive rolled right a foot from the lake, beyond the hazard stake, with trees blocking my exit. I took a 6 iron from 125, aimed 30 yards left, and hit a sweet cut that landed just on and fed with the slope toward home - my companions started yelling as it rolled up and just missed, leaving me 3 feet for birdie. I hit the putt barely too easy and it cut low just in front of the hole, and rolled 4-5 feet below - thankfully I jammed that in. Finally at the last hole, my nice approach unaccountably took a huge kick into the back left bunker. I nearly holed that shot, and was left with a 3 footer uphill for par. I knew that if I intentionally missed, I would be -4 for my lost cause round and my points would adjust down 2 next time I play the Big Game, but would only adjust down 1 if I sank it. Even knowing that, I rapped it in, and was rewarded later when my -3 score was a second best tie individually (worth $2.50) on a day when everyone struggled with a really tough set of pins. I played one of my poorest rounds of the year, hitting just 2 fairways and 8 greens, and walk away with a fairly big win in the Big Game - go figure this game.


Please excuse the BigV length of my post....

[Wazmankg]

That sounded like one of my good rounds mr B. You didn't expect having your bag roll into the drink to improve your play did you ? I'm glad to hear there was no real damage.

[C-Tech]

A friend of mine left his two wheeled cart too close to the edge of the lake on a slope. We watched as it slowly leaned and then fell into the water while his back was turned to retrieve a ball. This is a very large lake (3 miles wide x 20 miles long) and his cart was floating toward the middle of it. He had to wade in about halfway up his thighs to get it back. Fortunately, it was in the mid-60's so he didn't totally freeze. Clubhouse was only two holes away, so he played in. He had spare jeans in his truck, bought socks, and wore the wet shoes for the balance of the round.

[1RYDER]

48-42 for 90 at MS National

The front is just giving me fits,only 1 par,5 bogies,2 doubles,and 1 triple.

The back,i was hitting the driver well and putting a little better...i had 1 birdie,2 pars,5 bogies and 1 double.

Well i want get to play next week,having a vasectomybut it was nice yesterday,i hope to be able to play the week after.

[Pistol]

Originally Posted by mr_bogey

Cool November morning (Sat. 11-28) hi 30's heating to 60, 0858 tee time
Island/Lake - White tees 6500 yds

1 - par 4 5 - 1 - par 4 5
2 - par 4 5 - 2 - par 4 4
3 - par 4 4 - 3 - par 5 5
4 - par 4 5 - 4 - par 3 4
5 - par 4 4 - 5 - par 4 6
6 - par 3 3 - 6 - par 3 4
7 - par 5 6 - 7 - par 5 7
8 - par 3 3 - 8 - par 4 4
9 - par 5 4 - 9 - par 4 4

Score - 39/43-82 (+10)

Big Game Ante $11
Winnings - Blind Draw Team - $2.50 (I was at -3, tied for second best individual after teams - 14 players) Skins -1 - $14 - Close-ups - 2 - $7 Total $23.50
Net +$12.50

With temps hovering around 35, we tee off, me walking w/pushcart - and my opening drive looks perfect, but when I arrive at my ball it is one foot thru the fairway in the hay - er, rough - and the tone was set for my round. I chopped it out left and bogeyed. I slashed my way thru 4 holes with one par when I made a 12 foot saver, and then more routinely parred the 5th. The island green 6th, my nemesis of late, awaited - playing longer than usual at 167. I took a 7 iron and almost flew it in the hole - the pitch mark was 4 inches away - and stopped 15 perilous feet above the pin, a delicate 2 putt par. After almost holing from the fringe on 7, I missed the 4 foot comebacker to go +4. Then at the par 3 8th playing 174, another 7 iron to 8 feet ended up being my sweep of close-ups in the Big Game on the front side, but I pulled the birdie putt. But, out of nowhere I roll in a 40 footer at 9 for a birdie to turn at +3. I put on my clown suit for the 10th, going duck, top, fat, and stub - but the stub took a great hop and rolled out to 2 feet to let me escape w/bogey. The 11th was almost as ugly, but I roll in an 18 footer to save par. Routine par at 12, then at the par 3 13th at 132, I hit PW right over the front flag on the center ridge, but it spins left instead of back - my 35 footer for birdie is a tad sort and catches the ridge and buttonhooks to 7 feet short - argh - 3 putt bogey, +5. Two ducks and a chunk at 14 leave me just short of the greenside bunker. I select my LW for the pitch, and as I address the shot, my pushcart 6-8 yards away starts rolling. As it reaches the cart path I say to my group - "I think it's getting wet". We watched as it rolled 30 yards down the path, then bumped off and continued another 50 down the slope - yes, into the lake. I should mention that with my knees and and their uncertainty on even slight downslopes, chasing was futile. The cart was completely in the water, but my golf bag was completely above it, parallel to the surface. I reached out with my LW and snagged the rear wheel and dragged it out. The towel, headcovers, and bag strap were all wet, but the bag and clubs were totally dry. Who said golf isn't fun? Anyway, the incident did not affect my golf, which continued to be lousy. At #17, my drive rolled right a foot from the lake, beyond the hazard stake, with trees blocking my exit. I took a 6 iron from 125, aimed 30 yards left, and hit a sweet cut that landed just on and fed with the slope toward home - my companions started yelling as it rolled up and just missed, leaving me 3 feet for birdie. I hit the putt barely too easy and it cut low just in front of the hole, and rolled 4-5 feet below - thankfully I jammed that in. Finally at the last hole, my nice approach unaccountably took a huge kick into the back left bunker. I nearly holed that shot, and was left with a 3 footer uphill for par. I knew that if I intentionally missed, I would be -4 for my lost cause round and my points would adjust down 2 next time I play the Big Game, but would only adjust down 1 if I sank it. Even knowing that, I rapped it in, and was rewarded later when my -3 score was a second best tie individually (worth $2.50) on a day when everyone struggled with a really tough set of pins. I played one of my poorest rounds of the year, hitting just 2 fairways and 8 greens, and walk away with a fairly big win in the Big Game - go figure this game.


Please excuse the BigV length of my post....

That reminds me of the time I let my self propelled cart go and it obviously thought my clubs were thursty because it made a b-line for the water.

[Wazmankg]

I played my 1st real cold weather round of the year Monday. It was 36 degrees with a pretty good wind in spots. A 2 club wind in the more exposed areas. There were only 2 other groups out there. I think I finally found the threshold that separates the true hardcore from the pretenders there. I've been consistently surprised at how busy they've been on days that were pretty iffy weather-wise. Not Monday. It really wasn't that bad but I wish their carts had windshields. I scraped it around ... hit a lot of great shots and too many poor ones. Nothing particularly noteworthy on either end of the scale. 44/43-87, no penalties and 28 putts. I supposed that last part was noteworthy. I made most everything inside 7' or so. That kept my score respectable. 18 was fun. Any one of these rounds could be my last of the season. 18 is a 500-ish par 5, with a lake right that will catch wayward tee shots & even layups if you get careless. The green curls left into another lake on that side. It was playing into the wind and I hit a decent drive and 5 wood, which left me with 120. I hit a 9 iron, but sort of babied it leaving me with a 40' uphill putt. I left my 1st putt 8' short and was thinking I didn't want to leave with my 1st 3-putt of the day and a bogey to maybe end my season. It had about a foot of right to left break. I thought I'd over-borrowed but it just caught the right side as it was dying and did a complete 360 before dropping. I think the golf gods were smiling on me.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by Wazmankg

I played my 1st real cold weather round of the year Monday. It was 36 degrees with a pretty good wind in spots. A 2 club wind in the more exposed areas. There were only 2 other groups out there. I think I finally found the threshold that separates the true hardcore from the pretenders there. I've been consistently surprised at how busy they've been on days that were pretty iffy weather-wise. Not Monday. It really wasn't that bad but I wish their carts had windshields. I scraped it around ... hit a lot of great shots and too many poor ones. Nothing particularly noteworthy on either end of the scale. 44/43-87, no penalties and 28 putts. I supposed that last part was noteworthy. I made most everything inside 7' or so. That kept my score respectable. 18 was fun. Any one of these rounds could be my last of the season. 18 is a 500-ish par 5, with a lake right that will catch wayward tee shots & even layups if you get careless. The green curls left into another lake on that side. It was playing into the wind and I hit a decent drive and 5 wood, which left me with 120. I hit a 9 iron, but sort of babied it leaving me with a 40' uphill putt. I left my 1st putt 8' short and was thinking I didn't want to leave with my 1st 3-putt of the day and a bogey to maybe end my season. It had about a foot of right to left break. I thought I'd over-borrowed but it just caught the right side as it was dying and did a complete 360 before dropping. I think the golf gods were smiling on me.

Hang your hat on that hole Waz...nice way to leave it for a few months...

[mr_bogey]

Originally Posted by Pistol

That reminds me of the time I let my self propelled cart go and it obviously thought my clubs were thursty because it made a b-line for the water.

Believe me, THAT incident was brought up ....

[mr_bogey]

[essurfer]

It was almost 70 degrees yesterday so I scuttled and fled so I could get some golf in. Hit it straight for the most part. Sho 89. Not bad. Putting was not good.

[C-Tech]

41/41 at Dell Urich. It could have been a lot better if I hadn't gotten stubborn about making a flop shot work no matter how many times it rolled back down to my feet. Triple bogie was the result of that fiasco.

[C-Tech]

38/44 at Dell Urich this afternoon. What a great afternoon to walk. Light sweater and long pants were perfect. Got a little windy toward the end of the round. I played well on the front but took a couple of doubles on the back that wrecked my card.

[Bigvivec]

Dec 11


So here’s the funny thing…this new swing is taking hold in my irons in particular, but I can see my whole game is improving…the rub was that I was in awful physical shape today…I’d played soccer earlier in the week and totally overdid it…hadn’t played in a few months and I went out and played like it was an everyday thing…anyhow, I’ve been having trouble on stairs since, walking wasn’t that great for a day and a half, and I still close my eyes taking the first stair because it HURTS...anyhow, I did range it yesterday and I was a stiff old man out there, barely getting my distances and spraying it a little…played today and concentrated on the basics from my recent lessons and while I wasn’t hitting the ball perfect, it was flying pretty good, straight and had more power in the swing than when I was playing a month ago…something is changing for the better in the swing because I felt like it wasn’t there, but the ball and shots kept coming off…one 7 iron in particular I could really feel my hip getting into position and extended through the shot…the ball spun back a yard and a half on the green which isn’t usual with the 7, and I managed to hit two 5 irons onto the greens which is not my favorite club…

My woods were a little erratic…I played around with posture a little until I found something that worked ok, but they need some time with the new action…

Managed to go 1/1 from bunkers today…the putt was the decider in the up and down but all the same I’m in with a chance from the sand…

Putting was mediocre…if I could only get myself to practice…

Pretty satisfied overall…I’m pretty rundown in general with the soccer injuries on top of the mess, but the swing carried me around the course and I wound up with a decent score all things considered…


9/11 fairways, 9 gir, 29 putts, 0 birdies, +4 fo r 16…

[Bigvivec]

Dec 12


Played today...shoulder was super sore from trying to do the new swing with the driver yesterday and forcing something...legs still sore from the soccer earlier in the week...not feeling the best...



...but...


I played great...the swing is really coming along and my trust is increasing with each round...my shoulder hurt too much to use driver or three wood, seemed like those just felt too heavy for the beat up joint, so I played 5 wood after a couple of misses of the tee...well, it was the five wood and hybrid anyway...


Five wood was spot on all day from tee and deck...the hybrid I hit a 25yd hook with (big, soaring, looping one) so I played that club exactly one more time on a short par 4 that was a right to left dogleg...that big hook was perfect and set me up around the corner...

Irons were great...just seemed easy...sticking to the lesson notes and it is feeling more natural all the time...

Putting was good...I changed putters again...this time is one from the back of the closet, a Yes! Callie Forged...made two nice putts and a handful of shorter ones...

In the bunker once today, and got up and down...I should bottle this bunker technique and sell it...the pro really turned me onto something good...

Practiced chipping and putting for nearly two hours after playing...the course was too crowded and I just called it off as I'd rather hit chips and pitches than wait in fairways on busy Saturday...the pro was repairing the bag trolleys the caddies use next to the green while I practiced about 30 ft from me...he'd look up now and then and say things like "break your wrist", "left shoulder higher", "right knee, right knee"...it was a good Saturday morning...


6/8 fairways, 9 gir, 22 putts, 1 birdie, +1 for 12...

[C-Tech]

Finally broke my string of 82's at Dell Urich....I posted an 83.

[Bigvivec]

Dec 13

I played today and did pretty well…my focus of late has been on improving my iron play and it’s coming around…knee was a little stiff still and my shoulder sore but not like yesterday…one silver lining that can be taken away from this shoulder strain is that I had it a couple of years ago and found that if I swung properly the shoulder was not aggravated, so it is something like a bad swing sensor and I know I need to adjust if it hurts in the practice swing….

Played the nike driver today…the static weight is lighter than the tm driver and was easier on my shoulder…hit it well save for one shot that I got cute with; had been hitting them straight and I tried a high draw just for kicks and I wound up pushing it right into the trees; that cost me a stroke in the end and proved a point…hit the woods well today; made an adjustment at address and got back on track…

Actually hit everything well today…even putted well though I missed a birdie put that I feel I should have made, but to balance I made a bird putt that I probably couldn’t replicate with 10 more chances…I added a forward press which is something that I did ages ago, but started again and am really putting a good roll on the ball with it…

Irons are great…I need another session with the new pro once he’s back from his honeymoon; should be in a couple of weeks…but all the same I’m straight and longer than I was which is starting to show on the card…still missing something that was there in the lesson that I can’t feel anymore, but I’m doing pretty good all the same…

I fell asleep in the chair at halftime of the Chelsea game last night…don’t know if Chelsea pulled it off, looked to be set for a great second half being the score was 2-2 at the break…ManU was on deck for the following game…just meant that I missed two league games but slept an extra 3 hours last night, so as far as golf was concerned I was more fresh today than I had planned on being…good times…



10/11 fairways, 11 gir, 28 putts, 2 birdies, +1 for 16…

[Leaguegolf]

Hey BigV.........why so many abbreviated rounds?

[GolfSavage]

Finally got to use my new Wilson Spine driver and iGolf Neo GPS yesterday. Drove up to play with friends in Lakeland. Planned on getting there about 45 minutes early to hit some balls at the range. Unfortunately traffic did not cooperate, and I arrived just 10 minutes before tee time. So I went to the first tee, slight dogleg right, new driver in hand, and striped a drive right over the trees toward the green! It was 273 yards to front of green (according to Neo!), and had it not been for one skinny crepe myrtle tree, I might have drove the green! Instead, the ball bounced back into a clump of Spanish moss about 20 yards off the green under some oaks. I scrambled for bogey.

I played bogey golf for 3 more holes, then started sinking putts and ended up shooting 44 on the front, and 42 on the back. I won 12 skins and the overall, so I was pleased.

[Blue_Arc]

Originally Posted by GolfSavage

Finally got to use my new Wilson Spine driver and iGolf Neo GPS yesterday. Drove up to play with friends in Lakeland. Planned on getting there about 45 minutes early to hit some balls at the range. Unfortunately traffic did not cooperate, and I arrived just 10 minutes before tee time. So I went to the first tee, slight dogleg right, new driver in hand, and striped a drive right over the trees toward the green! It was 273 yards to front of green (according to Neo!), and had it not been for one skinny crepe myrtle tree, I might have drove the green! Instead, the ball bounced back into a clump of Spanish moss about 20 yards off the green under some oaks. I scrambled for bogey.

I played bogey golf for 3 more holes, then started sinking putts and ended up shooting 44 on the front, and 42 on the back. I won 12 skins and the overall, so I was pleased.

[Bigvivec]

Originally Posted by Leaguegolf

Hey BigV.........why so many abbreviated rounds?

I play before work and leave before I turn into a pumpkin...

[Dandman74]

Played Yesterday!
Aside from the miracle of Indian summer, I was incredibly pleased with my play. I played forest park in woodhaven, ny, a muni with more issues than i care to comment on. I shot an 88, which is four more than my best on than layout. The thing is that i made three birdies in the round, by far a record for me in a round. I sunk a 25 footer on a par 3 #6 hole which is a miracle because the greens are atrocious. Then I birdied the par 5 #11 hole by pulling my drive in the trees, punching out with a wedge hitting a tree, then hitting a 4 hybrid onto the side of the adjacent tee. Then i hit a flop shot off of this sidehill, downhill lie which majestically took one bounce and landed in the jar. It was a beautiful thing. And finally I birdied the par 5 18.

I can definitely see some of the things that my local PGA Professional has been working with me on starting to creep into my game. My shanking is getting better and my banana balls are straightening out. Definitely a good round to end the season on.

Cheers!

[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by Dandman74

Played Yesterday!
Aside from the miracle of Indian summer, I was incredibly pleased with my play. I played forest park in woodhaven, ny, a muni with more issues than i care to comment on. I shot an 88, which is four more than my best on than layout. The thing is that i made three birdies in the round, by far a record for me in a round. I sunk a 25 footer on a par 3 #6 hole which is a miracle because the greens are atrocious. Then I birdied the par 5 #11 hole by pulling my drive in the trees, punching out with a wedge hitting a tree, then hitting a 4 hybrid onto the side of the adjacent tee. Then i hit a flop shot off of this sidehill, downhill lie which majestically took one bounce and landed in the jar. It was a beautiful thing. And finally I birdied the par 5 18.

I can definitely see some of the things that my local PGA Professional has been working with me on starting to creep into my game. My shanking is getting better and my banana balls are straightening out. Definitely a good round to end the season on.

Cheers!

I'm jealous Dandman74. Golf season ended here in SE Mich., quite definitively, about 2 weeks ago. You must not be hitting too many shanks & banana balls to get it around in 88 and you can't beat ending your season with a bird. Welcome to Golf Rewound btw.

[essurfer]

I got 9 soggy holes in yesterday. 5 bogies 4 pars. felt ok about it.