CarlH

Tried to play the other day at Granada Golf Club in Hot Springs Village, AR, but got rained out after 10. Started out real strong with a birdie on the opening par 5 draining a 15 foot putt, followed by a 3/4 sand wedge into the #2 par 4 for a tap in birdie. Then the trouble started. On the 3rd tee, I drove it into the right sand trap. It had a high lip and I hit the next shot that came up short into the green side bunker....flubbed that sand shot and left it in the trap -- made double. Next hole, I hit into another fairway trap, but this one was against the forward lip and my only shot was sideways, hoping that the toe of my club didn't hit the bunker face. I did manage to get it out of that trap, but it was a cluster of traps and ended in the next trap. Again, a high lip prevented me from choosing a club that would get to the green, so I hit a 7 iron. Wasn't enough loft and I caught the top of the hill. Hit my 4th shot on the green, but a long way from the pin on slippery greens...yep--3 putt triple bogey. So, I go from 2 under after 2 to 3 over after 4! Managed to make the turn with a 41 (5 over). And then the rain came. We'll be heading back to Medford and It's an 8 day trip (We don't do over 300 miles a day of driving with the motorhome -- just too tiring). So, no golf for awhile again.

I personally don't care what's stamped on the bottom of my club other than as a way to determine which club I'm grabbing out of my bag. It's only important to me as to how far I hit that club. I've never been one to compare what club I'm hitting in relation to my playing partners. When I ask distance, I don't want to hear that it's an easy 7 iron, because that doesn't tell me anything. And yes, I have 5 wedges in my bag.

Played Diamante Country Club in Hot Springs Village, AR, with my good friend and previous neighbor of 18 years. Hit the ball pretty solid most of the day. On the front, I birdied the last hole to shoot 37. Not sure why, but the back was a bit different. I was still striking the ball well, but wasn't making putts. Seems that speed of the greens was different and I was having difficulties with speed control. Anyway 42 on the back with 6 bogies, most of which were due to poor distance control or not well read. My approach shots left me longer putts or missed the greens requiring some delicate chips. 79 for the day and my friend edged me out with a 78. Overall, pleased with tee shots and irons with a few exceptions here and there.

Spent my birthday on the road. Traveling between Weatherford OK to Sallisaw OK in the motorhome, enroute to Hot Springs AR. For the highlight of the day, I awoke to a dead battery in our tow car. Had in jumped when we arrived in Sallisaw and then checked. Bought a charger at Walmart because I left mine at home and it's charging now. Relaxing in the coach now, eating some chicken casserole and a slice of cheesecake awaits. Life is good, but not much golf this trip. I'll likely play at least once at Diamante, but that's about it. Thanks guys!

Per-zactly!

Fantastic finish!!!! And a shout out to Dylan Wu for making the cut in his first PGA Tour event!!! He came in with a -5. Dylan grew up on my home course. His brother, Jeremy, is caddying for him. I've known them since they were both pre-teens and played with Jeremy the week before this tourney (he shot -1 from our tips)! His dad is a good golfer in his own right, as well. Way to go Dylan!

Yep....when I lived in Fargo ND, there was a great little par 3 that was excellent for working on iron play. I used to play that quite often just as a way to work on approach shots and short game.

Like @Tom the Golf Nut pointed out....this is highly course dependent! On my course, missing the fairway by much will put you into tree issues in most cases. Other courses that I've played, there's limited penalty for missing the fairway other than heavier grass.

Member-member tournament scheduled for today was rained out, which is a good thing here. We certainly need the rain!

It's the #1 ball, so everyone thinks that they need to play them, further feeding into the #1 ball position. If people can buy them refurbished cheaper than the $50 new cost, they will --- but, buyer beware. Sometimes, they're not what they're advertised to be.

I loved playing Stallion Mountain when I was in Vegas, but that was probably 15 years ago. Great course.

No picture, but today I had a handful of long tees, a switchblade divot repair tool, one poker chip size marker from TPC Sawgrass (normally, I'll also carry a couple of smaller plastic markers, as well, but we were playing a scramble and I wouldn't need them), and an extra golf ball.

We played a scramble today and I decided to give heads up a go .... 2 man tournament tomorrow and, after today's experiment, I'll be going back to my normal method.

Senior scramble day....3 man team. I had a 14 and 22 handicap player with me. We pretty much stunk it up -- as in, they didn't have an A player show up today (me!). I struggled with my wedges and putter all day. I was fine with mid irons and off the tee, but the short game turned its back on me today.

I tend to use a 10 degree loft in my sand and lob wedges. Years ago, I used a high bounce sand wedge and a low bounce lob wedge, but found that the medium bounce worked best for my game.

Putts per round doesn't always tell the story properly. For instance (extreme example)....suppose you chipped it close enough on every hole to save bogey with a 1-putt. You would have had 18 putts, but you still shot 90. What if you hit every green in regulation and 2 putted every hole...you shot even par but had 36 putts.

You're not the first person that has had a fitting, bought the clubs, then had second guesses and negative thoughts. It always baffles me that if you're not happy during the fitting, why make the purchase? Assuming that the fitter dialed in the right shaft and clubheads for you, go out and enjoy them. Trust that the clubs are fit for you and work on your swing. By your own admission, you're not a good ball striker -- why not? Have you taken lessons? If it's not the clubs, what is your next step in improving your game?

Struggled on the front with 2 doubles, one caused by an OB the other just not focused, along with just poor ball striking, shooting a 44 for the front 9. Found my stride on the back and started hitting the ball better, as well as draining some nice putts. 37 on the back 9 to come in with an 81. Not great, but I was just glad that I was able to right the ship and bring home a better back 9. I did make a 30 foot and a 45 foot putt to save par. 2 doubles on the front (one was an OB) and 2 birdies on the back. Birdie on 18 was a nice drive dead center fairway, a well struck 9 iron that hit and stopped 3 feet to the right of the pin and rolled it in the heart to close the round. Always nice to finish strong.

Congratulations @RollingGreens

From the movie Meatballs.....Bill Murray said: "sometimes ya just gotta say F*** it!"

I've toyed with heads up putting a few times over the years. I tend to do it more on the practice green than when they count, but it does free up my stroke (i.e. not thinking about the stroke and instead focusing on distance and line). You know, it's a lot like tossing a ball and it makes sense. You don't look at the ball when you toss it to your friend. Long putts are another story though. I'm just a creature of habit and have putted with my head down for so many years. I consider myself a decent putter, but I may play with heads up on shorter stuff again during the winter months. I'll withhold judgement about the "others".....been there, done that, got the tee shirt. A lot more people would make triples if they putted everything out until holed. I see far too many people pick up and say "gimme a double" in non-tournament play. We had a tournament the other day that required putting everything out. One 15 handicap player in our group missed at least 5 putts inside 3 feet.

I wish I knew!

Another night of poor sleep and another poor performance on the golf course. I'm seeing a pattern here!

Since we (private clubs) have little non-member play, we have no one to blame but ourselves. I'm sometimes taken aback with the number of divots not repaired, pitch marks on the greens, and traps not raked. Yes, it's easy to blame the high school kids that we host for practice and play, the few outside tournaments we host, etc...but, in the end, it's our own members who fall into the trap of thinking the greens crew will fix it.