[How'd you play?]

Played a Red/White/Blue scramble today.  6 holes on Blue tees(#5), 6 on the White (#4) and 6 from the Red (#1).  I hit the driver well and putted well.  To be fair, the majority of the shots taken came from me and one other player, with the other 2 not really contributing significantly, but....that's golf.  We shot a gross 62, with only one other team shooting a better score (61). Unfortunately, it was a net game and we only had 6.5 strokes (percentages of handicaps) for our 4some.  We ended up in 8th place.  On number 9, we made 4 really nice putts that lipped out or burned the edges to take a par.  I remarked that if we lost by one shot, that putt would come back to haunt us....we were out of the money by 1 stroke!

On a personal level, I did drive the par 4 number 17 from the forward tees (235 yards with water on front, right, and behind the green) and was responsible for the eagle approach shot and putt for the 18th hole (didn't use my drive but only because the angle was better from another drive).    Played the round with a Chrome Soft ball with red and blue markings.  First time playing a Chrome Soft.  It played well, but I'm not giving up my Maxfli Tour balls in favor of it.

[How'd you play?]

Haven't been online a whole lot lately.  My game has been off for the last couple of months...shooting low to mid 80s and handicap has drifted upward to 9.8 as of yesterday.  Today was a good example of what's going on with my game.  Even par through 7 with a birdie and a bogey, then a string of bogies and other to finish 11 over par on the final 11 holes.  Actually went without a par from #8 through #16 (sigh). I'm blaming it on the 97 degree temps...yeah, that's my story!

[PGA Tour 2023 - Rocket Mortgage Classic]

I'm normally a big Fowler supporter, but Dylan Wu grew up on my previous golf club, I know him and his family and have played golf with all of them over the years.  I've watched Dylan play since he was 10-12 years old.  Obviously, I'm pulling for his break through win!  Tied for the lead before the break after birdying 5 in a row, not to mention Thursday's albatross on #14!  Go Dylan!!!!

 

[Golf Truisms]

Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it. 

 

Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

 

When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.
 

If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there.

 

The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

 

No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse. 

 

The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all of your many other errors.

 

Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.

 

A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponents' luck.

 

It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt. For a 10.

 

Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut.

 

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts

 

It's not a gimme if you're still 5 feet away.

 

The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.

 

You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.

 

If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.

 

Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three. 

 

When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.

 

Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.

 

If you want to hit a 7 iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard.

 

To calculate the speed of a player's downswing, multiply the speed of his backswing by his handicap, I.e., back-swing 20 mph, handicap 15, downswing = 300 mph.

 

There are two things you can learn by stopping your backswing at the top and checking the position of your hands: how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.

 

Hazards attract; fairways repel. Keep this in mind!

 

A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.

 

If there is a ball on the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is in the bunker. If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint

 

It's easier to get up at 6:00 AM to play golf than at 10:00 to mow the lawn.

 

A good drive on the 18th hole has stopped many a golfer from giving up the game.

 

Golf is the perfect thing to do on Sunday because you always end up having to pray a lot.

 

A good golf partner is one who's always slightly worse than you are....that's why I get so many calls to play with friends.

 

If there's a storm rolling in, you'll be having the game of your life.

 

Golf balls are like eggs. They're white. They're sold by the dozen. And you need to buy fresh ones each week.

 

It's amazing how a golfer who never helps out around the house will replace his divots, repair his ball marks, and rake his sand traps.

 

If your opponent has trouble remembering whether he shot a six or a seven, he probably shot an eight (or worse).

 

It takes longer to learn to be a good golfer than it does to become a brain surgeon. On the other hand, you don't get to ride around on a cart, drink beer, eat hot dogs and fart, if you are performing Brain Surgery!!!!

 

Just bought a new shaft that’s done wonders for my score, it has lead on one end and an eraser on the other!!! 

[How'd you play?]

Played 18 with my regular group, then played another 9 with my wife and another couple .... 41/40/38. (Front 9, Back 9, Front 9).  The group played a very odd game today.....3 man teams playing 2 best net, with a caveat -- if all 3 players made net par or better, you could carry one over to a later hole.  Carryovers were also cumulative.  We built up 2 carryovers, but had to use both of them on #7.  Used another carryover we'd earned on # 17 and ended up with 2 carryovers.  Problem was, we were making net pars and not enough net birdies to shoot -4 on the front and -2 on the back (-6 for the total) and didn't place on any of the bets.  My team's scores were my 81, then an 88 (10 handicapper) and a 95 (17 handicapper) from my partners.   The course is still fairly wet, but we were off the cart path for the first time in a long time, and the wind was a 1-1&1/2 club effect most of the day.  Anyone know why the wind always seems to be in your face regardless of which direction the hole faces?  LOL

[If you only had one last round of golf to play which course would you select and why?]

Think I'd have to go with The Olde Course at St Andrews, simply because it's an icon and I've never had the pleasure of playing it.   If I restricted it to the US, I'd want to play Augusta National because, well it's Augusta!

 

[Is it really the toughest field in golf? Debate away.]

2 hours ago, Jim Shaw said:

this comment resinates with me, if LIV does fold in the next 5 years, I wonder what will happen with the players on their tour? any thoughts on that? 

I would think that they would be able to return to the PGA Tour, but may have to undergo some sort of qualifying route to gain a spot (i.e. Korn Ferry, sponsor's exemption, Monday qualifying round, etc).  I think the players of the PGA Tour would want the best to be able to play and several of the LIV players are among the best.  I could be wrong, but I don't see a permanent ban being upheld by the players.

[Is it really the toughest field in golf? Debate away.]

3 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Is that because they went to LIV or you never liked/rooted for Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Graeme McDowell, Brooks Koepka, Abraham Ancer, Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen, Kevin Na, HV3, Sergio Garcia, Taylor Gooch, Marc Leishman, Matthew Wolff, Lee Westwood, Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter, Brendan Grace, Carlos Ortiz, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, or the others?

Lot's of characters in that group who have provided lots of great tour event history.  I like and root most of these players and miss seeing them playing tour events.  I look forward to a day beyond two grown men's personal pissing match having needlessly created the steaming pile we're currently experiencing.

Has nothing to do with LIV, for me.  You could add Ancer to the list I'd root for.  There are just other players that I'd be pulling for ... would I watch Johnson, Woolf, Koepka, et al?  Of course!  And if one of them were to win, I'd say good for them.   But, you're correct that I never liked/rooted for Reed, DeChambeau, Watson, or Garcia.  

[Intro]

Welcome to the forum from another retired sailor. 1970-1990,  Submarine Service!

[Is it really the toughest field in golf? Debate away.]

18 minutes ago, GaDawg said:

Well here's a toast hoping someone from LIV wins the Masters.

Other than Cam Smith, I don't see me rooting for any of the LIV players to win The Masters.

[How'd you play?]

The group played a Shamble today, so the score is not one that I can post since I wasn't always playing my drive.  In any case, I drove the ball well, my iron play was good, my putting was just a hair off--burning the edges constantly.  Just wasn't seeing the line well, I guess, as the putts were good putts that just didn't go in.  Anyway, had 3 bogeys and nary a birdie (despite many attempts) to shoot a 75 (again, not always using my tee shot).  Due to the wet course conditions, we opted to play from the tees one forward of my usual, which left me with a lot more iron shots into the par 4 holes than woods/hybrids.  I could get used to those tees!   2 of the 3 bogeys was due to my infamous wedge game, or lack thereof, the other was a poor putt from the fringe that left me with a 9 foot putt that I failed to convert.

[Longer shaft in a 7 wood?]

On 3/3/2023 at 8:39 AM, golferdon said:

Anybody playing with a 5 wood length shaft in a 7 wood?  I am considering this due to the tight winter time lies in Florida. 
Any advice?  What should I expect?  

That's essentially what my Heaven Wood is.  You will maintain the launch characteristics of your 7 wood and add a bit of length (in theory, anyway)

[How'd you play?]

Finally got a nice day without rain and I got out to play.  The course is still water logged from all the rain we've had so far this year and you get absolutely zero roll on anything you hit.  With all the rain, the greens crew hasn't been able to get out and prep the bunkers nor do much with the greens.  We are playing lift, clean, and cheat due to course conditions and sometimes having to take some fairly generous drops (placements) to find some place that isn't borderline casual water or worse.  In any case, I shot two over my handicap with an 83, having missed 3 reasonable birdie opportunities.  I did make one birdie on #6, only to follow it up with a double when I pushed my 6 iron and it rolled down into a grass hazard bordering the water hazard.  Wouldn't you know it?  The proverbial PBFU.

[Red Rooster Gloves and Glove Compartment]

Nice writeup!  I play with the Red Rooster Feather and it fits "like a glove!"   I get good wear out of the gloves and the subscription model is easy to work with.  When I don't think I'll need a glove before the next shipment, I simply go to the website and indicate such.  At Christmas, I bought my wife a red glove and the glove compartment.  She likes the fit of a men's small, so when I placed the order, they sent me an email questioning my choice to go with a small rather than the XL I normally order.  Good service right there!!!!

They're not the least expensive premium gloves available, but they are a quality product and I've been very happy with them for the last 6 months I've been using them.  I recently changed my regular order from the Feather to the Ice (essentially the same glove, only the accent coloring is different).  I don't use the glove compartment as I have another product that does the same thing (it's actually called a "glove humidor", complete with cork lining and does an awesome job of keeping the gloves from getting hard prematurely.

[How'd you play?]

3 hours ago, Rickp said:

7:00 Tee Time with the Boyz.  Don’t know how the Pros are doing at Bay Hill in the wind but around 3rd hole it was 20 mph.  We were all consistent, lousy.  I got into a greenside bunker sand was harder than hitting off concrete, couldn’t get the club under the ball, twice…….  
Anyway it was windy enough to just laugh about it.  Always a great time.  I think I was about +7, lost count!

20 mph is a calm day, pard.  You've been spoiled in Florida.  LOL

[Where do tour players get metal spikes?]

1 hour ago, Hook DeLoft said:

Thanks, those may be the ones being used on tour.  I'm not planning on buying any, just curious.  I do miss that sound on concrete, though.

Yeah, but I don't miss slipping and busting my keister on slick surfaces!!!

[How'd you play?]

Finally, a decent day without anything else going on and was able to get out on the course.  My regular course is closed on Mondays, so a friend and I played Granada Golf Club here in the Village (one of 9 courses).  Due to all the rain we've had of late, the course was cart path only and really sloppy.  Drove the ball well, irons okay, my usual crappy chipping, and putted okay.  Had one triple bogey when I hit a pitch too cleanly (a rare occurrence) that traveled too far, went off the back of the green, rolled down the slope, and found its way into the pond to shoot a 43 on the front.  39 on the back to shoot 10 for the round.  Not too unhappy, given the course conditions (except for that darn triple!!!!).  

Good time, none the less!

[Passive Aggressive Golf Sayings]

I've been on the giving and receiving side of many of these.   Normally, they're on a "busting chops" vein.  However, when someone is obviously struggling with their game, it's best to just keep the comments to yourself....that's when they come across the worst.

[Music on the Course]

1 hour ago, Steve061 said:

so I don't disturb others 

 

This is the key, right there!

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

14 hours ago, Grand Stranded said:

Carl, can you take a minute to answer a question for me?

I’m looking at your sig, and our set ups are almost identical, except I have 4&5 hybrids and you carry only a 5.
I just put my first ever 7wd in the bag and I’m not quite sure about the distance it will play yet. Does your 20* HW gap so well with your 5H you’re comfortable going with 13 clubs or have you just not yet found the one you like to put between them? 
My 7W seems to fly on a completely different (higher) trajectory than my 4H, which makes me think I’d like to keep both in regardless but if the distance ends up being the same, who knows?

 

 

My 7W is a HeavenWood, which is 20 degrees on a 5 wood length shaft (I think).  In any case, it actually plays more like a 5W.  There's a pretty good gap between my 5H and my HeavenWood, but I can choke up on the HeavenWood to close that distance.  For the course I play, I haven't found much need to put a 4H in play.  That may change when the weather gets better and my distances are more accurate than these colder/wetter months.  I actually did use to carry a 4H (and a 3H) with only one FW metal.

The reason for only carrying 13 clubs at the moment is more because I'm playing around with different wedge setups and haven't figured that out yet (I dropped the 60 degree wedge, as it gave me more problems in the local wet turf/tight lies than it was worth!).  

 

[Best Golf Games to Play on the Course?]

"Insta-cash" .... a game within a game or on its own.  On par 3 holes, whoever is closest to the hole (on the green) becomes the player.  If the player makes par, everyone else in the group pays the player $1 (on the spot, hence instacash).  If the player makes birdie, everyone pays the player $2.  If the player fails to make par, the player pays all of the others $2 each.  As I said, the payment is due immediately.  Typically, the people having to pay will wad up the dollar bill and throw it at the player in fun   .... The game is played on each par 3, each with immediate payout.  It can be a lot of fun, particularly if it's a large green and the player is far from the hole and likely to 3 putt....I've seen it happen when the first one to hit, lands on the green with a looooong putt and the other 3 players intentionally miss the green to force a possible 3 putt situation.

 

[Why did you join MGS?]

Pretty sure that I joined because I was told that there'd be cake and beer.   Still waiting!

[What is your favorite golf glove and why?]

I've just started wearing the Red Rooster line of gloves and find them to be very nice.  The fit is very good for me, the leather soft and thin.  Wear is good.  Price is on the higher side, comparable to Titleist Player gloves.

I've tried some of the less expensive lines and didn't really care for the feel.  For years, I played without a glove, which saved me a ton of money over the seasons, but started wearing them again after buying one for a full day of club fitting 3 years ago.  Keep thinking about going without again, but so far still haven't done that.

[2023 SQAIRZ Speed Line of Shoes]

@BobW Bob, it was your interaction on this forum that led me to try your shoes last year.  While they didn't work out for me and I had to return them, I can honestly say that the customer service should be the model for other companies.  Kudos to you and your crew in that matter!

[How'd you play?]

Stunk it up today.  The Edison wedges did NOT like the wet sand, at all!  Lost far too many shots out of the sand.  Even when the sand is our normal sand, I've never liked these wedges out of the bunkers....they don't fit my swing well, I guess.  I do much better with more traditional wedges.  I had been playing different wedges before today due to course conditions and just put them back in my back prior to this round ..... Anyway, after struggling big time out of 2 green side traps, I decided to use my A wedge out of further traps and "voila!"...just like the doctor ordered!   Grounding these wedges until further notice!