GolfPro59

I decided to upgrade my Ping I200 irons with new "senior shafts" (getting older 75) and then went on ebay to try out a couple of good buys on new shafts for my driver & 3wd. Also purchased a new pair of FJ Premiers which a very comfortable and stylish. They have great traction even in wet conditions. I am still looking for another golf bag and plan on getting one this year along with a couple of new wedges. Now if there was some way to get a 40 year old body back I would be in business!

My shot today made the 10th time that I have either chipped or pitched the ball into the hole. I hit a very nice drive, then a horrible shot short left and into the rough on hole 13 at Whispering Firs GC. I was lucky that one of our players had to play first and I received a good speed read on the green. I ste myself, imagined the spot I wanted to hit and swung the club from about 30 yards. The ball carried to about 12 feet from the cup, took a short hop and proceeded to roll, roll, and into the cup for a nice birdie.

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. Played golf but missed shooting my age, by 4 strokes (79). Still respectable round, but I am now trying to shoot my age every round.

1. Pasatiempo 2. Copperhead - 3. May River GC - 4. King & the Bear - 5. Slammer & Squire - 6. Gamble Sands - 7. Wine Valley GC - 8. Talking Rock - 9. Thanksgiving Point - 10. Cape Fear National - It's hard for me to pick a top ten since I have golfed over 1000 courses in my lifetime.

I always find a way to find a good shot or experience in each round (particularly tough in a bad round). The other day, I played Tri Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield, WA and it was a hot (95+). The wind was up with 20 to 25 mph gusts and the greens on this course are sloped esquisitely tough. Even though my round was OK until I went quad then triple on the back I was generally hitting solid shots but the putting (my best part of my game) just wasn't there. We came up to the Par 5 18th hole and I hit a great drive into a 20 mph wind. It ran down so I could have a nice layup but hit it fat(whoops). So this leaves me about 135 yards to the hole which slopes right to left and back to front also covered by a couple of big bunkers around the green. I hit my 5 iron into the air and hit it good but it was going at the bunker on the right. The wind stopped it about 8 feet from going in but I had a very tough chip left. Chipped over the bunker hit the fringe and proceeded to run about 13 feet past the hole uphill. I haven't made anything all day over 4 feet and now I am faced with a downhill 3 to 3 1/2 foot breaking putt which is only going to pick up speed. I lined it up, made a great stroke about 3 feet outside the hole and let gravity take it down breaking all the way into the cup. Wow! even when I shoot 92 which is 11 strokes over my average round I have a great finish. The next week we had the finish to our men's club tournament and I was 6 shots back gross and 8 net, but went out and shot 77 to go with my 79 on the first week. Won low gross. It has been a long time.

What the Cut Number Will Be - The Cut Number will be -2 What the Highest Round of the Week Will Be - The highest round of the week will be 82

I currently have two bags that I use although the Burton is my favorite. I also have a custom Cutter & Buck bag. Both are cart bags since I can't walk a full 18 holes. My two previous bags were a Pro Ben Hogan and a Ben Hogan carry bag which I still have to put all the extra clubs that I don't use in. By far the Burton bag is one of the best bags ever made!

Just picked up a pair of FJ Dry Joy Premier-Wilcox(white/blue/black) on Ebay for under $190. The shoes are exceptional!

My most memorable round ever was with two professionals, a scratch golfer and myself (about a 5). We were playing a private 9 hole course (Linden Golf Club) in Puyallup, Washington and it was a $5 skins game. The game was scratch so no handicap. It was one tie all tie but on this one hole it looked like the Pro from the mini tour was going to win. He hit his approach to about 70' from the hole, I overshot the green by about 6' and the others were just short. The pin placement was diabolical since it was on a slope. I was the closest but in the worst position. The mini tour pro chipped up and into the hole for a birdie. The other two players got close but no birdies, that left me. I looked at the landing area behind the green and the slope down to the pin and new I would have to hit a mini flop, get a good bounce and then it would have to kick straight to have any chance . The spot I had to hit was about 3" wide X 3". I pictured the shot in my mind then took my swing. The ball shot up into the air, dropped exactly in the middle of my landing area and kicked straight rolling down the green about 4' into the cup. Everyone was shouting that you just made a million in one shot. It was actually the greatest shot in a competiton I have ever done.

Since I cannot get there in 2 shots I would hit my 3 wood with a slight fade down the left center of the fairway. I would then, depending on the pin placement, hit either my 2 hybrid or 4 iron to lay up to an appropriate position where I would have a good angle to pitch or chip into the flag. Most of the time I would be able to get it from 80 yards in to about 6-10 ft and try and 1 putt for the birdie. This would ensure a easy Par on the hole.

I would most want to win the new Callaway Custom golf bag. I collect memorabilia from my golfing experiences, i.e., 2003 Hogan Staff Bag and matching carry bag, Signed items from Annika Sorenstam, etc. This bag would look great in my golf collection.

If you are looking for more consistency in your driver and the ability to move the ball either way, then I would recommend a Cobra driver. Again, just like the Ping drivers there are different models so find a Cobra that works for you. If you are into distance then probably Taylor Made or Callaway will work for you. In any case. make sure to test and get fitted for the proper driver. Also, the shaft that is standard may not be the right one, try many variations to get the right trajectory and spin rates for optimal performance.

Tier 1 - Patrick Cantlay Tier 2 - Matt Kuchar Tier 3 - Luke List Tier 4 - Jason Dufner Tier 5 - Andrew Putnam, he is new to the PGA and now has his card. Playing very good so far this year, do to break through on a major.