Gusset

At the risk of raising the ire of someone who is superior to me, I will ask a question that might piss them off.  Yes, I have searched the database for a thread that covers this, but could not find one.  Please excuse my egregious error if there was one and I did not find it. What have you bought, golf related, that you really wanted, but after you bought it, you now consider it a waste of money?  As for myself it is a laser rangefinder.  Since I have started using a gps app on my phone, I cannot remember the last time I’ve used my laser rangefinder.

For me it's a laser rangefinder. I am not accurate enough to need that level of precision. My phone app that shows front middle and back of the green distances is good enough for my purposes, and easier to use.

I was a 1 ply user until the 'shortage' had me buying some two ply to stockpile.....
stumbled into a roll after a month or so and whhhoooooo baby.......lawdy lawdy that 2 ply is really livin' high and I ain't never going back!!  
@Lacassem ya only live once.....splurge on 2 ply!!

2021:
started playing semi-consistently, 2x/month, after 10-12 years away. Bought a net to hit into. After seeing my swing on video for the first time, and semi-slow motion at that (thank you iPhone), identified a couple of things that were likely causing problems for decades and (hopefully) improved them. Broke 90 for the first time, twice. Clubs: using old Tommy Armour 845s. Found a club to use off the tee that I can keep in play much more (Teton hybrid driver, I suppose some will laugh, that's OK). Found a putter I like (Axis1 Umbra), changed to claw grip. Rotator cuff injury. Playing with a brace since October, can't swing at 100%, inconsistent. In PT. Joined MGS. 🙂 Went on my first golf vacation, to Bandon Dunes. 2022 goals:
Rotator cuff recovery, so I can play without a brace. Get GIR up around 30% (currently around 22%) Short game: average <34 putts/round. Get handicap down to 10-15 range. Play a round with one or more of y'all. Re-visit Bandon Dunes at season's end, shoot in the 80s at least once.

2021:
started playing semi-consistently, 2x/month, after 10-12 years away. Bought a net to hit into. After seeing my swing on video for the first time, and semi-slow motion at that (thank you iPhone), identified a couple of things that were likely causing problems for decades and (hopefully) improved them. Broke 90 for the first time, twice. Clubs: using old Tommy Armour 845s. Found a club to use off the tee that I can keep in play much more (Teton hybrid driver, I suppose some will laugh, that's OK). Found a putter I like (Axis1 Umbra), changed to claw grip. Rotator cuff injury. Playing with a brace since October, can't swing at 100%, inconsistent. In PT. Joined MGS. 🙂 Went on my first golf vacation, to Bandon Dunes. 2022 goals:
Rotator cuff recovery, so I can play without a brace. Get GIR up around 30% (currently around 22%) Short game: average <34 putts/round. Get handicap down to 10-15 range. Play a round with one or more of y'all. Re-visit Bandon Dunes at season's end, shoot in the 80s at least once.

After 25+ years addicted to this game, 2021 produced two of my first hole in ones.  They were about 2-3 weeks apart from each other.  I'd have been so close over the years, but never could get it done.  This year, twice.  I still can't believe it.  
For 2022 I've set my goals to shoot more rounds in the 60's and to beat my career low round of 67.  Of course, another HIO would be a welcome site as well! 🤣
Here's to hoping we ALL hit our goals and exceed them in 2022!  Let's make this an incredible year. 

(full disclosure: I know that none of what I'm about to say is news to most of the folks here, and I wasn't surprised by what I experienced, either, having read up and watched any number of videos about this place...but this was my first time playing this sort of golf, so please indulge me. 🙂. )
Just arrived home a couple of days ago. Wow, what an amazing time! I played about like I expected: some good shots and holes, some that I'm anxious to play again, and some outright whiffs. Overall scores I won't be bragging about. But the truth is that the beautiful courses, amazing views, the experience of playing links golf, and the overall vibe here couldn't be overshadowed by some poor shots and scores. I really liked having to approach things differently than on my usual inland courses.
It's such a different game. I expected that, though I could not really internalize it until experiencing it. The tight fairways really magnify contact issues on both the approach and short game, and wearing a shoulder brace to limit my backswing and follow through the whole time didn't help (right rotator cuff issue). Plus the courses are just tough- so many blind tee shots, undulated fairways and greens, the wind, etc. But while my approach and short games weren't always up to the challenge, at least my tee shot game on most of the par 4 & 5 holes was pretty reliable...I think I only put two balls into the gorse, and hit just one fairway bunker the whole trip, so I'm calling that a win.
On a lot of approach shots and chips, though, when I managed to correctly select a club that would get the distance I was targeting (the brace made distance regulation difficult), I simply couldn't hold the green. Then there was Pacific Dunes #17, when we had a one-hole monsoon roll in just as we walked up to the tee. Went from calm to pouring rain and 30+mph wind left to right and slightly in our faces, about 190 to the pin. Couldn't play under the wind there, so we all ended up attempting 50-yard wind-slices. Great fun!
A few highlights:
Bandon Dunes #15: Par 3, ~140 yards dead into the wind, bunker of death right of the green and ocean to the left. I managed to bounce a low 3/4 4-iron off the hill running down the left side of the "fairway" and run it up on the green.
Pacific Dunes #13: Par 4, #2 handicap hole, dead into a 30mph wind, so too long for me to reach in regulation. Good tee shot, if a little short. On the second shot I managed to keep a 3-hybrid low, to within 40 yards in front and maybe 15-20 feet below the green. 8-iron bump/run under the wind to within 20', two putt for bogey. Sounds weird to say this about a bogey, but this might have been the most satisfying hole I played throughout the whole trip.
Pacific Dunes #14: short par 3. I hit my tee shot fat. It went maybe 60 yards and ended up on the "cart" path. Dropped next to the path, tried for a chip to land on the front of the green. I pulled it off and leveraged a bit of luck on top of that- landed up front and released toward the hole, stopped 2' short for an "easy" par.
Sheep Ranch #18: short par 5. I had a string of bad shots going when I stepped up to the tee. I turned things around with a good tee shot. For the second shot, the pin placement and bunkers scared me, so I laid up with a 6 iron. Ended up about 55 from the pin, slightly off the fairway in the right rough. The ball was on a lie that's pretty similar to what I'm used to playing, and I have a 50 yard shot in my repertoire with my 52-degree wedge. I executed it well. The ball still rolled out to 20 feet past the pin, but the 2-putt par was a nice finish to the round.
I got a real kick out of putting from 30 yards off the green at times. Tough greens! I managed to sink a number 8-15 footers, but I also had a lot of 3-putts as well. I somehow avoided having any putts roll off a ridge and end up 20 yards off the green, though my playing partners did on a couple of occasions.
It's an opinion that will probably change with future visits, because there are sooooo many beautiful holes and views to be had here, but my favorite holes might have been Sheep Ranch #6 (pic below, my brother teeing off), and Bandon Dunes #16 (pic below, me on the tee), just based on the view...turns out I'm a sucker for a hole that follows the coastline/cliff.
I can't wait to go back and do it again.
 

(full disclosure: I know that none of what I'm about to say is news to most of the folks here, and I wasn't surprised by what I experienced, either, having read up and watched any number of videos about this place...but this was my first time playing this sort of golf, so please indulge me. 🙂. )
Just arrived home a couple of days ago. Wow, what an amazing time! I played about like I expected: some good shots and holes, some that I'm anxious to play again, and some outright whiffs. Overall scores I won't be bragging about. But the truth is that the beautiful courses, amazing views, the experience of playing links golf, and the overall vibe here couldn't be overshadowed by some poor shots and scores. I really liked having to approach things differently than on my usual inland courses.
It's such a different game. I expected that, though I could not really internalize it until experiencing it. The tight fairways really magnify contact issues on both the approach and short game, and wearing a shoulder brace to limit my backswing and follow through the whole time didn't help (right rotator cuff issue). Plus the courses are just tough- so many blind tee shots, undulated fairways and greens, the wind, etc. But while my approach and short games weren't always up to the challenge, at least my tee shot game on most of the par 4 & 5 holes was pretty reliable...I think I only put two balls into the gorse, and hit just one fairway bunker the whole trip, so I'm calling that a win.
On a lot of approach shots and chips, though, when I managed to correctly select a club that would get the distance I was targeting (the brace made distance regulation difficult), I simply couldn't hold the green. Then there was Pacific Dunes #17, when we had a one-hole monsoon roll in just as we walked up to the tee. Went from calm to pouring rain and 30+mph wind left to right and slightly in our faces, about 190 to the pin. Couldn't play under the wind there, so we all ended up attempting 50-yard wind-slices. Great fun!
A few highlights:
Bandon Dunes #15: Par 3, ~140 yards dead into the wind, bunker of death right of the green and ocean to the left. I managed to bounce a low 3/4 4-iron off the hill running down the left side of the "fairway" and run it up on the green.
Pacific Dunes #13: Par 4, #2 handicap hole, dead into a 30mph wind, so too long for me to reach in regulation. Good tee shot, if a little short. On the second shot I managed to keep a 3-hybrid low, to within 40 yards in front and maybe 15-20 feet below the green. 8-iron bump/run under the wind to within 20', two putt for bogey. Sounds weird to say this about a bogey, but this might have been the most satisfying hole I played throughout the whole trip.
Pacific Dunes #14: short par 3. I hit my tee shot fat. It went maybe 60 yards and ended up on the "cart" path. Dropped next to the path, tried for a chip to land on the front of the green. I pulled it off and leveraged a bit of luck on top of that- landed up front and released toward the hole, stopped 2' short for an "easy" par.
Sheep Ranch #18: short par 5. I had a string of bad shots going when I stepped up to the tee. I turned things around with a good tee shot. For the second shot, the pin placement and bunkers scared me, so I laid up with a 6 iron. Ended up about 55 from the pin, slightly off the fairway in the right rough. The ball was on a lie that's pretty similar to what I'm used to playing, and I have a 50 yard shot in my repertoire with my 52-degree wedge. I executed it well. The ball still rolled out to 20 feet past the pin, but the 2-putt par was a nice finish to the round.
I got a real kick out of putting from 30 yards off the green at times. Tough greens! I managed to sink a number 8-15 footers, but I also had a lot of 3-putts as well. I somehow avoided having any putts roll off a ridge and end up 20 yards off the green, though my playing partners did on a couple of occasions.
It's an opinion that will probably change with future visits, because there are sooooo many beautiful holes and views to be had here, but my favorite holes might have been Sheep Ranch #6 (pic below, my brother teeing off), and Bandon Dunes #16 (pic below, me on the tee), just based on the view...turns out I'm a sucker for a hole that follows the coastline/cliff.
I can't wait to go back and do it again.
 

(full disclosure: I know that none of what I'm about to say is news to most of the folks here, and I wasn't surprised by what I experienced, either, having read up and watched any number of videos about this place...but this was my first time playing this sort of golf, so please indulge me. 🙂. )
Just arrived home a couple of days ago. Wow, what an amazing time! I played about like I expected: some good shots and holes, some that I'm anxious to play again, and some outright whiffs. Overall scores I won't be bragging about. But the truth is that the beautiful courses, amazing views, the experience of playing links golf, and the overall vibe here couldn't be overshadowed by some poor shots and scores. I really liked having to approach things differently than on my usual inland courses.
It's such a different game. I expected that, though I could not really internalize it until experiencing it. The tight fairways really magnify contact issues on both the approach and short game, and wearing a shoulder brace to limit my backswing and follow through the whole time didn't help (right rotator cuff issue). Plus the courses are just tough- so many blind tee shots, undulated fairways and greens, the wind, etc. But while my approach and short games weren't always up to the challenge, at least my tee shot game on most of the par 4 & 5 holes was pretty reliable...I think I only put two balls into the gorse, and hit just one fairway bunker the whole trip, so I'm calling that a win.
On a lot of approach shots and chips, though, when I managed to correctly select a club that would get the distance I was targeting (the brace made distance regulation difficult), I simply couldn't hold the green. Then there was Pacific Dunes #17, when we had a one-hole monsoon roll in just as we walked up to the tee. Went from calm to pouring rain and 30+mph wind left to right and slightly in our faces, about 190 to the pin. Couldn't play under the wind there, so we all ended up attempting 50-yard wind-slices. Great fun!
A few highlights:
Bandon Dunes #15: Par 3, ~140 yards dead into the wind, bunker of death right of the green and ocean to the left. I managed to bounce a low 3/4 4-iron off the hill running down the left side of the "fairway" and run it up on the green.
Pacific Dunes #13: Par 4, #2 handicap hole, dead into a 30mph wind, so too long for me to reach in regulation. Good tee shot, if a little short. On the second shot I managed to keep a 3-hybrid low, to within 40 yards in front and maybe 15-20 feet below the green. 8-iron bump/run under the wind to within 20', two putt for bogey. Sounds weird to say this about a bogey, but this might have been the most satisfying hole I played throughout the whole trip.
Pacific Dunes #14: short par 3. I hit my tee shot fat. It went maybe 60 yards and ended up on the "cart" path. Dropped next to the path, tried for a chip to land on the front of the green. I pulled it off and leveraged a bit of luck on top of that- landed up front and released toward the hole, stopped 2' short for an "easy" par.
Sheep Ranch #18: short par 5. I had a string of bad shots going when I stepped up to the tee. I turned things around with a good tee shot. For the second shot, the pin placement and bunkers scared me, so I laid up with a 6 iron. Ended up about 55 from the pin, slightly off the fairway in the right rough. The ball was on a lie that's pretty similar to what I'm used to playing, and I have a 50 yard shot in my repertoire with my 52-degree wedge. I executed it well. The ball still rolled out to 20 feet past the pin, but the 2-putt par was a nice finish to the round.
I got a real kick out of putting from 30 yards off the green at times. Tough greens! I managed to sink a number 8-15 footers, but I also had a lot of 3-putts as well. I somehow avoided having any putts roll off a ridge and end up 20 yards off the green, though my playing partners did on a couple of occasions.
It's an opinion that will probably change with future visits, because there are sooooo many beautiful holes and views to be had here, but my favorite holes might have been Sheep Ranch #6 (pic below, my brother teeing off), and Bandon Dunes #16 (pic below, me on the tee), just based on the view...turns out I'm a sucker for a hole that follows the coastline/cliff.
I can't wait to go back and do it again.
 

That's a Joe Pesci putt - it's a mean little 5 footer.

The putting green should be considered as a hazard.  Once the ball lands on the green take a 2 stroke penalty and move to the next hole 

Was there a few years ago in April of 2019.  Played Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Preserve.  Do not sleep on the Par 3 Preserve course!  I did not see it on your list, but it was well worth it and I had as much fun on that course as I did on the other two.  Had cooler weather during my trip in upper 40's with sideways rain coming in at us and still had a blast.  Played really tough due to conditions, but am trying to find a way back as soon as possible.  For reference I was clubbing up nearly 3 clubs at times.   Usually a 155 shot is a 9 iron for me, but I was routinely hitting a 7 and even a 6 iron.
 

I was there for one round earlier this year. My highlight was holes 10 and 11, the two par 3s in a row. Made par on both. 160 yard hole followed by a 130 yard hole, both playing like 180 with the wind. Had to hit a 5 iron on both. Feels nuts hitting a 5 iron on a 130 yard hole but the ball goes into the air and it seems like it hit a while because of the wind. 

hope you and your brother have a great time.   hope to get there some day

The 18th hole at my new home club, Plantation Palms is a very difficult hole for me to navigate.  I have only parred it once before and that was several months ago. Today my drive was placed perfectly and my approach shot was a 5W that landed a couple inches from the front edge of the bunker.  Now the bunker is about 10-12 feet below the surface of the green.  From my stance I could not see the pin, just knew it was a back pin.  I chipped up with my 58* Zipcore and found myself just about 5 feet from the pin.  Made the putt for par, capped a 90 for the round.
 

I'm meeting with my brother for 3 rounds between Christmas and New Year's. Sheep Ranch on Wednesday, Bandon Dunes on Thursday, and Pacific Dunes on Friday. This is the capper to my first year back playing consistently in over a decade, and it will be the first time I've ever taken a purpose-planned golf vacation. It will also be my first time on a links course.
I'm about a 5 hour drive from the resort, my brother is about 3. He's done winter trips to Bandon a number of times when the greens fees have bottomed out, and from the stories he's told me it definitely sounds like it'll be fun to join him. Pretty excited. Hopefully at least one round will be dry weather, but even if not, it's still worth doing. Only slightly dark cloud is that my right rotator cuff has been hurt since September, but I've still played a few rounds since then. I recently was finally able to get into physical therapy, and the therapist "gave me permission" to go.
My usual shots typically get up in the air more than most players, so keeping the ball down is probably going to be more difficult than I'd like, but I'm confident I'll have a great time anyway. I'm even excited about going to a driving range where the balls are stacked in a pyramid. It's the little things. 😉
 

Was there in Nov and had a blast. We got lucky with the weather high 50's to mid 60's so it was shorts for me. Not to burst a bubble but the driving range balls are in a box that you pull out with your club sorry bud. BUT they are Pro V1's. 
Played 4 days, Trails, Sheep Ranch, Bandon, and then Pacific. Each is different and all are in excellent shape. 
 
Hope you get good weather have fun, drive safe. 

I'm meeting with my brother for 3 rounds between Christmas and New Year's. Sheep Ranch on Wednesday, Bandon Dunes on Thursday, and Pacific Dunes on Friday. This is the capper to my first year back playing consistently in over a decade, and it will be the first time I've ever taken a purpose-planned golf vacation. It will also be my first time on a links course.
I'm about a 5 hour drive from the resort, my brother is about 3. He's done winter trips to Bandon a number of times when the greens fees have bottomed out, and from the stories he's told me it definitely sounds like it'll be fun to join him. Pretty excited. Hopefully at least one round will be dry weather, but even if not, it's still worth doing. Only slightly dark cloud is that my right rotator cuff has been hurt since September, but I've still played a few rounds since then. I recently was finally able to get into physical therapy, and the therapist "gave me permission" to go.
My usual shots typically get up in the air more than most players, so keeping the ball down is probably going to be more difficult than I'd like, but I'm confident I'll have a great time anyway. I'm even excited about going to a driving range where the balls are stacked in a pyramid. It's the little things. 😉
 

I'm meeting with my brother for 3 rounds between Christmas and New Year's. Sheep Ranch on Wednesday, Bandon Dunes on Thursday, and Pacific Dunes on Friday. This is the capper to my first year back playing consistently in over a decade, and it will be the first time I've ever taken a purpose-planned golf vacation. It will also be my first time on a links course.
I'm about a 5 hour drive from the resort, my brother is about 3. He's done winter trips to Bandon a number of times when the greens fees have bottomed out, and from the stories he's told me it definitely sounds like it'll be fun to join him. Pretty excited. Hopefully at least one round will be dry weather, but even if not, it's still worth doing. Only slightly dark cloud is that my right rotator cuff has been hurt since September, but I've still played a few rounds since then. I recently was finally able to get into physical therapy, and the therapist "gave me permission" to go.
My usual shots typically get up in the air more than most players, so keeping the ball down is probably going to be more difficult than I'd like, but I'm confident I'll have a great time anyway. I'm even excited about going to a driving range where the balls are stacked in a pyramid. It's the little things. 😉
 

If you can, my FIL caddies there. His name is Jack

I'm meeting with my brother for 3 rounds between Christmas and New Year's. Sheep Ranch on Wednesday, Bandon Dunes on Thursday, and Pacific Dunes on Friday. This is the capper to my first year back playing consistently in over a decade, and it will be the first time I've ever taken a purpose-planned golf vacation. It will also be my first time on a links course.
I'm about a 5 hour drive from the resort, my brother is about 3. He's done winter trips to Bandon a number of times when the greens fees have bottomed out, and from the stories he's told me it definitely sounds like it'll be fun to join him. Pretty excited. Hopefully at least one round will be dry weather, but even if not, it's still worth doing. Only slightly dark cloud is that my right rotator cuff has been hurt since September, but I've still played a few rounds since then. I recently was finally able to get into physical therapy, and the therapist "gave me permission" to go.
My usual shots typically get up in the air more than most players, so keeping the ball down is probably going to be more difficult than I'd like, but I'm confident I'll have a great time anyway. I'm even excited about going to a driving range where the balls are stacked in a pyramid. It's the little things. 😉
 

Hopefully, you will have great weather!!  I grew up in Corvallis and made many winter trips to the beaches.  The weather can be awful, but many times it was better than even in the summer!!  Temps are moderate and sometimes very little wind.  However, I do hope you have some wind... you need the "links" experience!  😂

I'm meeting with my brother for 3 rounds between Christmas and New Year's. Sheep Ranch on Wednesday, Bandon Dunes on Thursday, and Pacific Dunes on Friday. This is the capper to my first year back playing consistently in over a decade, and it will be the first time I've ever taken a purpose-planned golf vacation. It will also be my first time on a links course.
I'm about a 5 hour drive from the resort, my brother is about 3. He's done winter trips to Bandon a number of times when the greens fees have bottomed out, and from the stories he's told me it definitely sounds like it'll be fun to join him. Pretty excited. Hopefully at least one round will be dry weather, but even if not, it's still worth doing. Only slightly dark cloud is that my right rotator cuff has been hurt since September, but I've still played a few rounds since then. I recently was finally able to get into physical therapy, and the therapist "gave me permission" to go.
My usual shots typically get up in the air more than most players, so keeping the ball down is probably going to be more difficult than I'd like, but I'm confident I'll have a great time anyway. I'm even excited about going to a driving range where the balls are stacked in a pyramid. It's the little things. 😉
 

Scuba gear...... for me it's definitely golf related.

As club manufacturers continue to deloft irons, just wait and one day we'll all be carrying 9 wedges. At that point the 9 iron will have a 21º loft, and old timers will claim they can't hit a "9 iron" and opt for a hybrid instead. [Sorry, couldn't resist...]
And for those who scoff, no one carried more than 2 wedges at one time, a PW and a SW. Now we're debating 3, 4 or 5 wedges.
And now we have a new class of clubs - utility irons. More marketing nonsense...instead of offering 2 and 3 irons with iron sets, we get to buy another class of club if we want long irons.
Where we once had wood sets, iron sets and putters - we now have drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, utility irons, iron sets, specialty wedges and putters. Some progress, lots of marketing hype?