[What are you listening to?]

Today I listened to the 4 album set of Fleetwood Mac in Concert 1970.  Also listened to AC/DC Let there be Rock, Edwin Birdsong and a couple of B.B. King albums, three Chet Atkins albums as well as Bad Company S/T and Desolation Angels.

Have not decided what I will listen to later this evening.

[Sunglasses! What do you wear on and off the course?]

For non golf use off the course I have a couple pairs from Jacques Marie Mage, two pairs from Dita out of Japan and 2 pairs of Tom Ford which are made by Dita.

The Jacques Marie Mage and Tom Ford are acetate frames and Dita are metal frames with tungsten nose pieces.

[What are you listening to?]

Just finishing on promo vinyl for the 4th side of Fleetwood Mac in Chicago.  Peter Green along with bluesmen such as Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, Shakey Horton and others.

The sound quality of the vinyl is the icing on the cake.  

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

After 3 years of no golf I have gone to the driving range a few times the last couple of weeks.

Have always been poor with the driver and today started to straighten out with the club.  Hopefully this will carry over when I start playing.

[Debate: Golfers Don't Deserve Free Relief from Fairway Divots]

What I do not understand are all the people who have a handicap.  If you are moving your ball then your score and handicap is not correct.

 

[Which club is untouchable?]

The only untouchable club in my bag is my putter.  Have used it for over 10 years and no interest in using anything else.

Made the mistake a number of years ago got fitted for an Evnroll mallet putter and used for 3 months with horrible results.  Easy to get the putter on line but had no distance control.  Had my Mizuno putter with me after the first 12 holes and switched back to my Mizuno and putted great the rest of the round.  Gave the Evnroll to my oldest daughter.

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

Picked up another JLindeberg golf polo as well as two G Fore polos.  Also picked up another Dormie driver head cover from my course to use on my back up set go clubs.

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

Hit golf balls into a net in my basement today for the first time in 3 years.

[What are your hobbies outside of golf?]

Retired 2 years ago when I turned 50 which allowed me more time for the things I like most.

Muskie fishing whenever I can with some bass fishing once in a while.

Shooting pool and snooker every morning for about an hour.

Stereo I have been working on for the last 20 years and always looking for improved sonics.  

Throwing darts.  I have been working on my stance and throw for the last 14 years due to an injury.  Finally getting closer than before injury.

In the process of getting equipment for woodworking.  Started working at my father's factory when I was 7 and always enjoyed using machines and hand tools.

[What Is The Most You Would Pay For A Putter?]

If the putter was good enough a thousand dollars would be worth it.  Unlike a driver the putter can be used for many years and not have to worry about all the new technologies with the rest of our clubs.

[14 Way Bags - Love em? Or Hate em?]

4 way bags only for me.  I use oversize grips, when I had an Ogio 5 way bag it could be a fight trying to get clubs out.  Currently use a Sun Mountain C-130 stand bag as well as an old Sun Mountain 4Five 14 way bag.  Big fan of Sun Mountain bags.

[Has Anyone Done a Putter Fitting?]

I have had the same putter for over 12 years.  Putter was a Mizuno Black Carbon Mallet made by Bettinardi with the fit face.  Ten years ago I did a putter fitting with an Edel cart.  After over an hour of the fitter trying different combinations he told me my original putter suits me best.  The grip was worn so I had him put on a round grip which I really liked.

Last year I had another putter fitting with TXG (have all my clubs fitted there).  Alex did the fitting and wanted to change the grip very slightly heavier on the Black Carbon putter.  Seemed like it would not be much of a difference but everything fell in place after that.  His parting words to me was never replace my putter. 

A lucky Ebay buy.

[What Wedges Are You Currently Using?]

I currently have Taylormade milled grind 3 black wedges in 50, 54, 58 as well as a SM9 60 degree bent to a 62 for flop shots that I had fitted.

Also have a back up set still in plastic when needed. 

[Sunglasses! What do you wear on and off the course?]

Tried a pair of Oakley Prizm golf glasses but did not like them as it was not always easy to see the ball properly in the air.  I got a pair of Vaurnet sun glasses with yellow lenses similar to yellow shooting lenses.  Easy to see the ball in the air as well as easy to read putts on the greens.  Almost feels like cheating.

[Wood or plastic tees?]

My home course supplies plastic tees so I use them for the driver.  Use short wooden tees for irons.

[What are you listening to?]

Tonight I have been doing an album shootout with nine copies of Tears for Fears, Songs From the Big Chair.  Have a mixture of Canadian copies, US, UK and Europe pressings.

Finished side 1 with a 1st Canadian pressing that easily beat all others.  Currently working on side 2.  Hoping the best side 2 is the same record as the side 1 so I can sell an additional album.  Most often I will have a record for side 1 only and side 2 only as well.  Not ideal but I am only interested in the best sound possible.

Tomorrow I will do the same with 7 copies of Ziggy Stardust.  I have a 1st pressing orange label original, early Japanese and 5 UK copies.  Will be hoping for the best.

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

Earlier today I was contemplating whether to pick up another set of Taylormade MG3 wedges in 50-09, 54-11, 58-08.  They have been the best wedges I ever used.  Slight edge relief has made a huge difference.

 

I went to Golftown this afternoon and picked up the 50 and 54 wedge.  Will place an order online for the 58 tomorrow morning.  I have the gift cards with nothing else I need so I figured why not.

[What equipment are you thinking about?]

Last fall I got fitted for wedges at TXG.  By far the best wedges for me were the Taylormade MG3's in 50-54-58.  Also got a Vokey 60 degree bent to 62.

Do not currently have any use for a new club, apparel, shoes or even golf gloves.  I have some gift cards which will be more than enough to purchase the same 3 MG3's from Golftown.  Who knows what will be available in the future and these work so well for me. 

[What bag do you use?]

Picked up a Sun Mountain Four5 over ten years ago and still in great shape.  Only problem has been a broken towel loop.  Really like the 14 way dividers since I use oversize grips.

Use a SM C130 at my home course when using a supplied push cart that work better with a stand bag.  Only ride in a cart if no other option.

My daughters use a Sun Mountain MCB and a Cobra Lightweight cart bag.

[What are you listening to?]

So far today I listened to Zep IIII, 2 copies I forgot about.  One was Ok and the other very good.

Classical music today - German Overtures on an old Telefunken label.  A very large bombastic orchestra.  Also listened to Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring.  Both albums have a very quiet background and great resolution which helps with finer details in the music.  Love the tempo changes when listening to a large orchestra.

Compared a couple copies of Cat Stevens Teaser and the Firecat to see which had the best sound.  Also listened to Quadrophenia (The Who) and  Benefit (Jethro Tull).

I will now be doing a shootout trying to find the best side 1 and the best side 2 of three identical pressings of Willie Nelson's Stardust.  Hope I find a great sounding side 1 and 2.

[How Long Do You Keep Golf Gloves?]

Fore years I wore Titleist Players glove in an extra large cadet.  Not close to great but best fit I could find.  Palm was never long enough and would wear a hole in 4-5 rounds.

Tried a Mizuno Elite from a small independent retailer and easily the best fitting glove for my hand I have found.

I have a couple of Bridgestone gloves I got in Japan.  I use these on the driving range as they are a bit thicker and wear like lead.

We get some humid conditions in July and August around Toronto.  I always take off my glove between shots and carry it to let any breeze help dry it out.  On the most humid days I may use a second glove somewhere on the back nine.  I never put a wet glove in my bag.  Throw the glove on top of my bag in the car until I get home and then leave it on the counter in the laundry room to dry out.

 

[Do you own a Staff Bag]

Someone I know purchased a house that formerly belonged to an embezzler who went to prison.  They gave me a Titleist staff bag with some clubs that was left in the house.  I kept extra clubs in the bag until my wife started throwing out things when we were preparing to move.  The staff bag ended up in the garbage.  At least she knew better to not throw out my carry bag which I actually used.

[How many sets of clubs have you owned in your lifetime]

First set of clubs when I was 27 was a mixed set of blades, no two the same.

Cleveland Vas

MacGregor Tourney PCB

Nike VR Covert Forged

Srixon Z 565

Taylormade 790

 

 

[Head covers - protection or fashion?]

I use iron covers when I transport my golf clubs.  Do not want more dings on the irons when they are bouncing around in the back of the truck.

[How Much Gear is Too Much?]

Extra golf clubs;

Irons - MacGregor PCB Tourneys, Nike VRS Forged, Srixon Z 585

Drivers - Callaway Rogue, Maltby

Fairway/Hybrid - 2 fairway, multiple hybrids

Wedges - 15-20 Titelst and Cleveland 

Putters - 6-10 putters

Also have a women's set of irons and a couple of drivers my girls no longer use.

I will put a set together to keep at my cabin and the rest will be sold or given away.

The only clubs I will keep are my MacGregor irons.  Once in a while I still pull them out to hit at the range.