[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies on a beautiful last Sunday in May in WNY, perfect for a second day of mulching, this time my own gardens having completed the in-law's gardens yesterday.  Hot coffee is already making it a better day  and seeing the Clicgear 4.0 push cart test announced, what could make it even better?!  Maybe someone else to do the mulching haha hope golf is a part of your day 

[Why did you join MGS?]

5 minutes ago, sloshko said:

I joined to gain some knowledge from your testing of the best new golf clubs and balls. Very informative. 

And congratulations are in order for your first post, and what an auspicious post it is!  Welcome in to the Forum and post as often as you want to in whatever threads you want to comment on.  It is after all as much your forum as it is mine and I hope you find as many good friends here as I have.

[The Good Morning Thread]

7 hours ago, Jnoble89 said:

Good morning Spies! Happy Memorial Day weekend, especially to those who have served and are currently actively serving. My family and I are very grateful for the sacrifices you make to provide us the life we live. 

Memorial Day in the US is Monday.  Please remember to be careful how you interact with Veterans and families of Veterans on this weekend and whenever the focus is on the Nation's Fallen and their families.  Any reference to a Gold Star family is national recognition of a family who lost one of their own in military service.

Memorial Day is to remember the service of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms of all Americans.  For those of us who have combat experience it is a day we remember those we served with who did not come home to family alive.

I had a well meaning acquaintance say "Congratulations!" at a Memorial Day parade as we were gathering to organize our Boy Scout Troop for marching.  It confused me and caused internal anger because it was the wrong thing to say. I had been a senior staff officer in a task force headquarters during the Iraq war and in the 5 months in that position took every opportunity to serve on Ramp Detail.

Ramp Detail happens between midnight and 3 AM on the airfield apron.  Participants are all volunteers to pay Honors and Respects as casket draped with flag is moved to an aircraft and carried inside to begin the final trip home for the fallen in the casket.  Participants then go into the aircraft and assemble around the casket along with the air crew and a Chaplain says a brief prayer service.  The moment it is complete, the airplane engines start, everyone not leaving departs the rear drop ramp, a pallet of gear is loaded and secured to the ramp as it lifts, and the aircraft buttons up as it turns onto the runway and is airborne before participants have time to walk off the apron back to duty.

I served on Ramp Detail for 20 of our fallen Task Force warriors.  The stories for a few I heard, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time tragedies.  There is no happy for me on a Memorial Day but there is peace.

The best wish for anyone in service on Memorial Day weekend and Memorial Day itself is, "Have a peaceful Memorial Day."

The friend's good intentions essentially congratulated me for living.  Those of us who come back when others didn't have some form of survivor guilt and Memorial Day is not for us, our day of recognition for our service is Veterans Day in November.

This is also a splendid thing to say Barb,

7 hours ago, BKervin said:

Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.   Don't forget to think of our veterans and service members!  They are why we live like we do!  I'm greatful to all our Service Spies (current and past)!

To serve is an honor and privilege.  God bless all our Veteran warriors past, present and future, God bless all of the fallen military people who sacrificed themselves from every nation for all time, and God bless America 

[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies on this weekend that marks the "official start of Summer" in WNY that runs through to Labor Day weekend.  Brilliant sunshine already in the low 40s that is forecast to high 70s going up to the 80s through to next weekend.  Hot coffee  keeping the calm going while getting the enthusiasm engaged to get mulch from HD for in in-laws gardens and our own.  

Thankful for comments in Random Thread for yesterday's round "atrocity" of the random player who made my threesome into a foursome, on the 4th green approach, pulled my 6 iron from my bag to talk about it while I was chipping on with my 9 and later I discovered he had put it back where the 9 goes so pulling what I thought was the 6 for the par-3 6th hole, the cleanly hit shot splashed the sand bunker short of the elevated green, and my disappointment in my club became an internal outrage that the creep had caused the switched clubs and I chose to let the creep act that way alone.  I can read numbers and letters as easily forwards as backwards, upside down, and inverse so 9 and 6 are easily missed.  I believe someone doing something similar will not evoke unpleasantness from me because golf is my peaceful place and I refuse to let anything disturb my serenity.  I will never however extend anything more than a social greeting as 9 holes of association exceeded my tolerance.

Hope your day and those in it are agreeable and pleasant and hope golf is a part of your day 

[Random Thread]

A tale of playing with a favorite threesome and a tag-along fourth.

We arrived at our 5:30 tee time early and watched the 5:20 foursome play out the par-4 1st when we were joined by a very kind and equally vivacious man who quite resembled us in many ways.  Apart from just meeting there was good chemistry and the round started out well through the next 4 holes.

At  the 4th green this fourth, I will call him Bob, reached into my golf bag and pulled out one of my clubs talking about how unusual the design was, First Strike hybrid irons.  Said something about how he has a 6 iron of similar design blah blah blah.  I was not upset because I was right there but thought he was taking liberties reaching into my bag as he was without asking first.

The 6th is par-3 with a guarding sand trap short of the green.  I pulled out the 6 I usually use and hit it clean only to have the ball splash in the sand (low level sun does that kind of display) and I was disappointed my usual club for that hole had failed me this time.  As I put it back into the bag I discovered I had hit with the 9 and the 6 was where the 9 should have been.  When Bob had pulled out the club he had put it back in the wrong place because I was using the 9 to chip onto the 4th green and without thinking put the 9 in the empty 6 slot.

The resentment descended like a curtain on stage in the theater and all the way up the 7th fairway he was walking nearby  as the other two were going up the left rough to the green while I was hitting middle of fairway to right rough.  I filled in my regular partner about the parting of the ways and he said "oh boy" when I pointed out that my friends would never touch each others clubs but this newcomer took liberties to help himself and then didn't take care to undo what he had done without leaving a trace.

What do you think?  Was this an over-reaction on my part and should be accepted as something people do or was it a predictable reaction based on an inappropriate act by someone who should not have reached into someone's golf bag to handle a club belonging to someone else without asking if he could?  

Signed: Not Amused in the Empire State.

[The Good Morning Thread]

3 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

It's going to happen, I was thinking about tomorrow evening or Sunday after I didn't go today. Tomorrow might be a wash as far as playing, the wife has plans for me to do some grilling. 

I have an 8:20 tee time (Central Time) on Tuesday at Fall Creek Falls golf course in Pikeville, TN with some friends at work. Should be a fun round as I have never played there. Lots of bunkers around the greens, the Snakebite wedges may be getting a workout. 

I'm super excited about that round, it's all me and my work buddies have been talking about since Tuesday. 

 

Totally awesome Jason!  Can't wait for the photos and report of your first round!

[What is Your Comfort Level When Standing Over a Putt?]

1 hour ago, jj1010 said:

It honestly depends on the day, but most of the time I'm scared to death if I have a 3-4 footer and that's just because I have no confidence my stroke will be the same each time!

Go to the basics and remove as much movement in your body as possible.  Do it at home standing on a carpet without a ball.  Everything waist down should not move.  Everything from shoulders to clubhead should not move.  Only motion should be shoulders around the spine.  Think of a grandfather clock how it stands there not impressively doing more than not moving except for the pendulum going back and forth.  The pendulum is fixed and doesn't wiggle, just an easy back and forth motion.  My eyes actually follow the clubhead which is why I prefer a mallet design with the longest line so I can see if it is going in a straight line against the background blur of the carpet or grass.  The ball is only important for contact at the leading edge of the alignment line.  Speed of putt is about the amount of backswing that dictates the speed of the clubhead going forward.  Then add a ball and see how it reacts to contact with your putter swing and adjust contact not the swing.

Practice practice practice until it feels wrong to putt any other way.

[The Good Morning Thread]

4 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

Part of my weekend plans which have been in the plans all along come hell or high water. We have the portable Vietnam Memorial up in Dirty Myrtle thru Monday. Remember I have not been to Dirty Myrtle in 2 1/2 years now have no use for it ,it's criminals, the beer baroness Mayor or their politics. But I am going. My friend I knew in the Navy is like the 4 or 5th last name on the wall. I am going Sunday after Church. Yeah Dirty Myrtle is not going to hold me back. 

It's what we do for each other, through the Valley of Death or Dirty Myrtle or wherever we must go, leave no one behind and never forget.

[How'd you play?]

6 hours ago, richk9holes said:

The MGS Forum Tour bag tag looks really good on your bag!

[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies on this payday Friday before the Memorial Day Holiday, always a somber time as we remember our fallen.  It's impossible to work in a task force headquarters and not be touched by so many who made their final trip home escorted under the nation's flag    Actually had one exuberant well meaning soul congratulate me at a Memorial Day parade wearing my uniform and though I understood their appreciation it spoke volumes about how little they understood what they were saying because of when they said it, scars come in all kinds leaving indelible traces.   Coffee always helps to make things right and it is hot in the mug 

My FB post about my eagle on Tuesday preceded me to the PGA HOPE session 4 of 6 last night at Niagara Frontier GC and I was encouraged to share the experience with the group, humbling, exciting and energizing because it was practicing a swing lesson by PGA Pro Frank Garcia two weeks earlier at session 2 of 6 that led to the amazing 5-iron hit onto the green that disappeared from view.  Today's tee time is 5:30pm so probably limited to 9 holes at twilight which sounds perfect to cap off the work week.  Hope golf is a part of your day too 

[Random Thread]

6 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Because of all of you (MGS Community) absolutely killing it and creating so much activity and work I finally broke down and got a second screen which is much needed and will hopefully help me keep a little more organized. 

When you're working with multiple apps it's the only way to be able to jump between them easily. This is my at home basement office space (and it's only warm enough to not need extra layers for maybe 3 months a year. (All screen content chosen for the photo)

1 hour ago, StrokerAce said:

I cannot imagine working without one. I actually picked up a 34" widescreen on amazon over the holidays and it's amazing. 

Mine accumulated over time but work supplied a 24" that's perfect for working at home in combination with my 20" and laptop screens. Red Rooster box on the work laptop and screens center and left are 3 screens for my finance office job.

1 hour ago, BKervin said:

Loved 2 screens when I was working!  Good luck

Still just 2 screens with my personal laptop on the right of the Red Rooster box. Kinda obvious with the Forum page showing.

[The Good Morning Thread]

1 hour ago, cksurfdude said:

Nice - I guess they're all full of ...

.

.. wait for it ...

.

HAPPINESS!! 

 

(.. sorry had to get that in before Easy Putter with his Dad jokes... )

I just love all that happiness they leave on my car 

[MGS Polo]

12 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

For when and if we are able to get this off the ground we likely won't be doing much in the way of clothing to start. 

It will more accessories and and patches etc. 

Start small and work our way up. 

The main site will likely have a larger catalog of items and clothing options.

Sounds like a good way to grow the Forum membership by being able to Rep the group.  Starting small might be good to begin with t-shirt and then go to polo design.

@GolfSpy TCB could have a line specifically to the Forum Tour players (though probably best to not put the QR code on the front as people might get the wrong idea taking a photo of someones chest) as the bag tag would take care of that requirement.  Once we get a breakthrough player onto the PGA Championship the demand is going to exceed supplies, just saying,

[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies from a last couple cooler days before the temps move up to the 80s for next week as forecasted for WNY and my neck of the woods.  Community Call at 4pm EST this afternoon for the drive up to Niagara Frontier GC and the 4th of 6 PGA HOPE sessions there that are so good for Veterans health mentally as much as physically.  Everything between HOPE and MGS in my experience is going in the same good direction and I'm thankful for so many positive people to share this lifetime with  Coffee hot in the mug making this zero commute morning one full of recent memories -

- a morning that is so reminiscent of a week ago and my first morning walking the grounds of Oak Hill before gates opened and the Frost Delay was officially on the board... that was an amazing morning walking with steaming breath and sipping hot coffee in brilliant sunshine, empty grounds around me with grounds crews waiting to walk onto grass by the greens, silence in the air and easy conversations with all those who's paths crossed or continued with mine...

Hope golf is a part of your day 

[2023 What is safe in your bag? What's on the chopping block?]

3 hours ago, Q22Golf said:

AW is on the chopping block! I got it to have another distance into the green, but I cannot hit it! It is a Taylormade M6. I'm also for sure keeping my PW TM M6 and other wedges that are Lazrus. I do love them!

Noticed this is your first post and congratulations for choosing to join the MGS Forum and with your photo too!  Keep posting in any thread that interests you and you should get plenty of positive responses as this really is a place full of like minded friends which is my experience.  That's the sure fire way of when you put in to become a tester to be selected  as last check 45% of this year's testers are new to the Forum.  Glad to have you join us and welcome in!

[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies from a warm, though losing some of the heat for the next 36 hours until it builds back into the weekend, WNY on this Wednesday, the day after hitting my first ever Eagle on the Par-4 3rd at Elma Meadows GC with a 189 driver off the Senior tee and 143 5-iron onto the green where the ball disappeared from view heading for the flagstick - such an amazing thing to watch and from my history of play I actually thought it could have rolled off the back of the green but the others in the foursome said it dropped into the cup.

Thought it might be wearing my PGA Championship volunteer uniform items but the rest of the round was my golf as usual.  Hope golf is a part of your day 

[SEASON 2 - WEEK 8 MGS Forum Member Weekly Virtual Championship Tour (VCT)]

Date	05/24/2023
Course Name	Elma Meadows Golf Course
Gross Score	97
Course Handicap	24
Gross Strokes over/under par	27
Net Score to Par	3
Net Score	73
Net Birdies or better	1
Longest Drive	192

Double triple EAGLE single double to start the front 9 and could not get a par to drop after the 2 hits on the 3rd par-4.  Hit driver from the seniors tee 189 and then 5-iron from 143 that bounded up to the green and rolled towards the pin as I have seen many times before but this time it disappeared which I am used to seeing end up over the back.  But the others said they thought they saw it drop so I kept from jumping to conclusions, finished measuring the shot and then changed the phone display to camera handing it to my regular partner before seeing my OnCore Avant with my purple mark in the bottom of the cup.  Didn't drop my handicap down much because there was plenty of "normal" golf going on for the other 17 holes.

[Share your Shot/Hole Of The Day!]

Just hit my first ever Eagle at Elma Meadows golf course Elma NY

Must be the PGA Championship volunteer uniform don't you think?

[Testers Announced: 2023 MGS Forum Test - Callaway Paradym Drivers]

  Congratulations Testers!!!  

 

Callaway Paradym X @cksurfdude 

Callaway Paradym @Invader Zim 315 and @StrokerAce 

Callaway Paradym TD @azstu324 

Looking forward to the testing adventure!

[The Good Morning Thread]

Good morning MGSpies from a cool WNY that's going up to the 70s by my 4pm tee time. Seems like a long while since I played a regular game   MGS Forum tour tag ready to go on the bag on the course, makes for an auspicious day coffee before heading into the office for a view down Lake Erie being downtown. Hope golf is a part of your day

[MGS FORUM MEMBER VCT EXCLUSIVE!!]

5 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

I should have added - 'eat your heart out non-participants' . This is definitely a collectable! 

Well,  the color is right for the Black Market 

[MGS FORUM MEMBER VCT EXCLUSIVE!!]

My unenveloping 

So proud of this moment

[Brand Logo Emojis]

Red Rooster would be a good one to add seeing how much they are interested in our Forum group.  

Maybe going forward that could be a checklist item, add the OEM logo from whatever we are testing into the emoji line-up so it can be clicked and added to reviews.

[The Good Morning Thread]

8 hours ago, Merlin1313 said:

GM Y'all- Hope y'all had a great weekend. The Tournament that I was supposed to play in on Saturday got CNX'd. So, since I was there, and my clubs were there, and the course was beckoning........... I ended up shooting one of my best overall rounds in a LONG time (DESPITE a 4 Putt double. In my defense, that particular green has more dips and changes of direction than a Coney Island Roller Coaster). Everything (except my putting) just fell into place. This was my approach to #4 from about 100 out(yes I DID make that one). Got another tournament (that WILL  actually happen) on Thursday at one of the better courses in the area. Hopefully my putting will improve and the rest of my game will carry over. I was extremely impressed with Michael Block and I was hoping that he was gonna finish a little bit higher than he did. He made a helluva good showing though. Hope that golf is in everyone's day and if it's not,- we'll get there soon.

Really great photo capturing the ball bruise in the grass but also has a Spy VS Spy look to your shadow! LOL

Oh new idea of head to head competition between MGS Forum members, Spy VS Spy on whatever captures the imagination, would make a great thread in the competition threads 

[Got Problems?]

14 minutes ago, tony@CIC said:

Interesting because everything I read says it's a buyers market. I'll bet the window and plumbing problems were just the top of the iceberg. 

6 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I agree, those problems might just be the tip and it was worth the 13 hundred to find out before closing.  

Must concur with these comments, has a real canary in the coalmine feeling to it, glad you escaped that one because for the seller to react that way there must be so much more that was no uncovered that might be discovered once those problems are in process of correction.  

I remember when we were in the home buying position how careful we were to not put our hopes into any one property including older homes and new builds, both can have hidden surprises and I avoid any transaction with someone who has an attitude that triggers warnings.