bellairemi

Here's the description from the website: In 2017, the historic Belvedere Golf Club turned back the clock thanks to a find that has purists and golf aficionados alike looking to experience the fine layout. In the summer of 2016, the demolishment of an old building in Charlevoix led to the discovery of the famous architect’s original drawings of the historic course. While aerial photos existed from the late 1930’s, there was no actual documentation of the original parkland design with its classic flowing fairways, strategic bunkers and subtle greens. After 95 years, with the genius of William Watson having resurfaced, the decision was quickly made to begin a restoration that would restore much of what had been lost over the decades. Under the watchful eyes of golf architect Bruce Hepner and course superintendent Rick Grunch the restoration project will be completed for the 2017 season. Hepner, a former Tom Doak disciple, has been highly regarded in the industry as a specialist when it comes to classic course restorations by legendary designers such as Ross, Tillinghast, MacKenzie and now Watson to name a few. Hepner and Grunch spent a great deal of time studying the plans and walking the golf course. That led to changes like expanding putting surface areas on many of the holes that were lost over time, and strategic tree removal. The tree removal has opened up the winding creek that meanders through the front nine and brought it back in play in certain areas. Other changes included restoring and expanding lost fairway and approach areas, as well as bringing back lost bunkers. The work has brought back some of the strategies for playing the course that Watson originally intended. The new design strategies are most evident at the historic 16th hole, a favorite of legendary golfers like Gene Sarazen, who spoke highly of the hole even late into his life. The classic short par 4, known for its well-positioned green set in the hillside, lost some of its green complex over the years, as well as a strategic bunker and fairway approach area on the left side. Hepner has brought the expanded putting surface and left side bunker back in play challenging the golfer up the left side for the best approach angle. Examples like the 16th hole can now be found throughout the golf course. The restoration has clearly brought the course’s historic strategy and challenges back into play while still maintaining the playability and fun for all levels of players. Belvedere was recently named 2016 Michigan Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association. The course is also ranked among the Top 10 courses in Michigan.

Not really a fan of the Legend but love Cedar River

Be careful - you might not make it back out!

I have not seen a distance increase with my irons though - the MTB-X are probably 1-2 yards shorter than the ProV1x. Has that been your experience as well?

Obviously I cannot answer the aerodynamics question but I can confirm that it is the longest ball off the driver that I have ever hit. Simply put, I have hit the Snell in places that the ProV1x never got to (and this has been in cold, wet conditions - I'm wondering what will happen in July). I like it very much around the greens too. The only negative is that it does "feel" hard - much more so than the V1x.

Your swing sounds like mine. I moved back to older fairway woods because they tend to spin more than the newer ones and that helps with launch for me. My favorite is the TM 2007 Burner but certainly the VSteels are legendary. As for the XTD TI fairway woods, I found them relatively low launching and low spin (I do play the XTD TI 17* hybrid as my "driving iron" in windy conditions).

Sort of late to this but agree that Otsego Country Club is a fun course - really underrated given all the more publicized courses in the area. Have you played Belvedere since the 2017 redo? Last I was there (2015 I think) it was in sort of disappointing condition, especially given the reputation.

Anyone playing the hybrids?

Thanks, lots of good info here. I am having the same issue with tangling, especially because of the mid sized grips. Can't imagine what someone with the JumboMax grips would do!

Can I have more than one? My G25 driver head was an Ebay refugee and I paired it with an Attas 3 that was on clearance at Dallas Golf. Still in the bag 5 years later and nothing has clearly beaten it during fittings. My TE Forged irons have been a real blessing. I actually score better with them than the more GI irons I had previously and they were $250 new (and custom built). Finally there is my 2007 Burner 7 wood - wrong flex, too light of shaft, stupid good. Both my son and best friend have the same spec 7 wood in their bag.

Good article by MGS and sure, if I could afford even the cheaper version, I would test them. I am intrigued by a progressive set but I wonder from a fitting perspective if you can test all the different heads?

No, that was not me. I had asked about the performance of the 5 from the poster who stated he had one. I'm certainly interested in it though and liked the one (prototype I suspect) that I saw at Golfworks.

I'm confused now as I did not think they were going to make a 5 (only 2,3 and 4) - or at least that is what I was told when I went through Newark at the end of March.

How is your trajectory on the driving iron versus a 5 iron or 5 hybrid?

I do prefer the MTB-X off the driver in particular and think it fits my short game better than the ProV1x. I do like the feel and iron performance better with the Titleist but overall I would say they are pretty equal. If performance is equal, then I am glad to save the $15 a dozen.

Mostly played ProV1x but also a few from Bridgestone and the TP5x. Did not see any strange ball flights and today saw that they held their line in the wind better than the ProV1x. Driver swingspeed is 100-102.

I have the M+ in 52 (tour sole), 56 (mid sole) and 60 (mid sole). They work very well for me on both full shots and around the green. I like the "fuller" grind (think along the lines of the Vokey F grind) which I open just enough to hit some nice spinners. I bought the Club Pak so the three wedges (even with upgraded grips) cost under $150 and they nailed the custom build.

I know you are looking at Mizuno but I will suggest that Golfworks has excellent forged irons that are quite affordable. You can buy everything you need to build a club/clubs through them or they will build to your spec. I play the TE Forged which replaced a set of Mizunos. I like the TE Forged better and they were $600 less than the Mizunos to boot.

Thanks to the test, I decided to try the MTB-X balls. Definitely longer with less spin off the tee than any other ball I have tried previously. Low trajectory with wedges and partial shots but plenty of spin. Very well mannered around the greens. Will be playing this the rest of 2019.

I'm pretty shallow into the ball and I have not liked any of the V-soles that I have tried (which include Srixon, Hogan and Scor). The feel into and through the ground just is not right for me and my contact is just as not as crisp as it should be.

What complicates the bounce discussion for me is that sole width does affect the overall bounce - hence the term "effective bounce". Some companies take that into account when listing their bounce numbers, while others do not (at least according to my fitter). My current SW has "only" 8 degrees of bounce but a wider sole and is actually more effective from bunkers than my former one with 14* but a narrower sole.