The 19th Hole

I am in the process of testing balls to game this year and happened across a box of the TP5 Practice balls. I didn't know that existed. I bought a dozen to use in my home sim. Nice to be able to use a premium ball without having to pay premium price.

Having a club that fits your swing can really help both in the improvement and enjoyment of the game. Having a draw biased club doesn't mean anything really. Most people who get fit have some adjustment. I have irons that are 2* upright and a driver that is set up open a degree. Does that mean I cheated and should have just worked on my swing? No, it means that is what works best for me right now. If my swing evolves over time I'll have the clubs bent and adjust the driver to fit. That said, don't expect the club to do everything. I say it is important to find clubs that help match your swing, but you should still work on your swing to improve the consistency of it. If you can make the same move every time and have clubs to match and create a straight ball flight then do that. End of the day it is about what works for you.

I just tested and placed an order for this club on Sat. Got the 8* head with Tensi AV Raw White 65gr x Shaft. Was able to knock 1,000 rpm off my M5 that has been costing me distance. And surprisingly was actually MORE consistent in dispersion (I think that was more the shaft than the head though). Can't wait for Titleist to ship it to me to go use it out on a course!

My father was in a similar spot with Lockheed before he retired. He had hit the salary cap for the position he was in so regardless of what he did he could not make any additional pay. Up until he retired, and they called him back to be a "Consultant" and basically doubled his fee I do enjoy the extra pay from being in an upper position at my company, but I do miss doing my old work in the warehouse sometimes. I look forward to days where they are short staffed and I "Have" to go out and help...Kept me in better shape when I was out there too. The office added a few pounds.

With the Preface being that I know nothing about your current Company, Position, or work duties. I can say as a person at my company who has to make some of the promotion/raises decisions, There is definitely a point where a certain job just isn't worth any more money (regardless of how good that person is at doing it) and in order to keep them happy we have had to offer them to move into a more challenging position (provided we also felt they were capable of doing the new job). In some instances the person liked moving into a new role, in others they did not and ended up leaving. Some people just like what they are doing and don't want to do anything else, even if it means we can't pay them any more than they currently make. Is there a reason you don't apply to be promoted to a Higher Position?

@Chip StrokesWhat is wrong with T-Rex arms....?

Newest update: For the returned club, I am happy to report that Tour Edge issued a refund with no problems. Thinking about getting the 3 wood to fill that distance gap and hoping it plays remotely close to the hybrid we tested. For the Tested club my latest round was AWESOME!!! Best performance yet! After having my newborn I finally got to go out and play golf again after a month or so off. It was for our club championship. The course we were playing was a bit short so my driver was too much for most holes (Cinnabar Hills Lake-Mountain). As such, I leaned heavily on this hybrid and boy did it pay off. I used it 9 times in that round and it was just about perfect. I ended up shooting a 71 (-1) and won 1st place. I think this club won it for me no doubt. Thinking about trying their 3 wood next. Hole 1 - Approach (Par 5, Pin High, just right of green - Over a canyon) Hole 3 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 4 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 5 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 6 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 7 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 13 - Tee Shot (FW) Hole 17 - Approach (210 out into the wind, GiR) Hole 18 - Tee Shot (FW) (so 7/7 on tee shots finding the fairway and 1/2 on approach shots, but the missed green was for sure the safe miss. Going left would have been a lost ball all carry over a canyon. Would take this result all day)

Thanks. yeah I saw it pop up about 2-3 weeks ago and managed to snag one. That said, I have not been able to test out any of the weights as the air quality was terrible for a while, and now I have a new born so may not be out playing a lot anytime soon...Hopefully I am wrong on that part though wife permitting...

Congrats @golfish! on the wheel spin edging us out. It was a nail biter!

While I agree that people should practice the shorter shots more than they currently do, I disagree that it is always easier to be closer. Even watching the tour, they don't always just hit it as close as possible. They lay up to "their number". differences in people's swings and comfort levels as well as pin locations and green firmness will determine the best place to lay up from. There are for sure times I would much rather have a full swing in so that I don't have to think about back swing length, or so I can get extra height on the ball, or so I can generate more spin.

Sad news...Got the new hybrid in, and was able to test it briefly. The lower loft and loner shaft gained me about 8 yards avg, but not enough to justify dropping the 3 wood from the bag. That said I got to test out the customer service a bit more and they did AWSOME! Extremely fast response times to emails and promptly provided a return shipping label. I would not hesitate to order from them again to test out other clubs. I hit their hybrid so well I might just have to try the comparable 3 wood...If that happens I'll keep you all posted. Unfortunately, I live near all the fires going on in CA so the air has not been conducive to any golf for the last few weeks and doesn't look to be getting any better so no new updates on the original hybrid other than I want to go hit it as soon as possible. I am having withdrawals from seeing those perfect shots over and over again!

WEIGHTS ARE IN STOCK TODAY ON COSTCO.COM For anybody who has the putter but has been wanting the weight set (myself included) I have been checking every day since this putter launched and it is in stock right now as of this post (just placed my order)...GOOD LUCK everybody! https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-putter-weight-kit.product.100657236.html

New 16* with longer shaft came in last night and it looks as pretty as the first one did!! Unfortunately, due to many of the raging fires in our area the air quality is not such that I can test it out just yet...Hoping that we get some reprieve soon so I can test it out and compare distance between both specs before my wife goes into labor and I am shut down from golf for another couple of weeks (due date T-minus 18 days...)

Ok after my round last weekend where I hit this club basically perfectly every shot (Again!) I couldn't hold back any more... I just ordered another one before their limited editions run out! Got a 16° / Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.5 / X-Flex w/ a little extra length in the shaft. Hoping that this combo of lower loft and longer shaft will truly be able to replace my 3 wood this time. I just hit my current one so good I have to try...Hoping it comes in fast!

I have been lucky enough to avoid this on both my trips to Pebble, but I have also Played Spyglass (just down the road) twice and never seen the place!!...Could not see more than 100 yards in front of me. Was during NCGA turni's and they don't let you wait. You literally would hit your shot from the fairway or green the Yell back "CLEAR!" so the group behind you knew they could hit. While watching the pro-am you mentioned I was having flashbacks to those rounds..More props to them for managing it so well!

I would vote Bandon simply because you mentioned cost is a factor and in every way it is cheaper for more (more golf for more days). I think the Caddie cost is like $100 + Tip at the end of the round (another $100?). I would say Spyglass and Spanish Bay are both great choices to take a look at. In the same stretch of road is Poppy Hills as well which is pretty decent track. If you drive up the road a bit there is also Bayonet Black-horse Golf (36 holes) that are some of my favorite courses in the area AND at a lower price than any of the ones on 17 mile drive. (Website: https://www.bayonetblackhorse.com/club/scripts/public/public.asp?NS=PUBLIC )...OK I changed my vote...You have already played Bandon before...Go play Pebble (check if off your bucket list), then go play Bayonet Black-horse

Went out to play this weekend at Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course. It was suppose to be a getaway from the heat at my house, but alas, it was not to be. Started the round with temps around 95 with no wind...I don't like heat. Luckily a slight breezed kicked up around the 10th hole that made the back nine much more palatable and the scores proved it. I had a goal in mind to actually try and play this course "Smart" and not just bomb driver all day since this course is pretty relatively short. It started off fine until I dunked 2 balls in the water on the 4th hole en route to a !9!!!. Ouch. But followed that hole up with a great par save, then Birdie, Birdie. Had some confidence back so pulled driver on a hole that only needed hybrid off the tee. Stepped up to the tee which they had tucked on the far right side of the tee box with a tree looming right where I wanted to aim. Still I said "Nah, I can cut it around that...8 sec later my ball was landing inside some tennis courts (luckily nobody was playing on them due to the heat) and I re-teed up with my hybrid as I should have an pared the 2nd ball for a double bogey 6 giving my birdies right back..Grr.. After that I stuck to my plan and it worked out great. Went 2 under from that point on and finished the day with a 75. Was pretty happy I was able to stay in the game after the 9 and claw back to a decent round! Might have to try playing smarter more often! Here is a spreadsheet I was working on while playing (re-typed it after the round) so I can hone in on what needs work.

Ive thought about doing a similar thing myself lol. Looks good!

Went out and played again this week and was the first time I really incorporated this hybrid into my normal round rather than forcing it. I removed my 3i so the top of my bag would be Driver, 3wood, Hybrid, then a drop to 4i. I hit this club on 5 tee shots and 1 approach. I went 4:5 on FiR and 1:1 in GiR. My 1 miss was by about 3 inches just to the right of the fairway. Average drive distance was 226 and my 1 approach found the green from the rough from 229 out with OB along the entire Left side of the hole (Scary shot that came out perfect. Lead to a Birdie on that hole). Once again this club performed Perfectly!

Following the rules isn't the problem. Im just not good enough to not use all my clubs

@B.Boston Well I played this weekend, and kept track of the holes I went Woods / wedges. Now I counted my Pw which I actually think is a 46* so it may not have been correct. But I went Woods Wedge on 11 out of the 18 holes. On those holes I was 2 under Gross score. I guess I Should try this bomb and gouge thing more often!!! (if i don't count the Pw I did it correctly on 7 holes and shot even par gross score)...I think you might have been lucky I didn't do it for all holes against you

Thats rough! So I have 280,250,220, 115, 100, 70... Do they at least allow for putter? Or are we blading wedges too?

I could imagine. Makes you learn those bump and run chip shots! Im more of a "Flopper" myself.

Does a Hybrid count as a wood for this challenge? I was part of the recent Tour Edge EXS Pro hybrid testing and plan to use it a lot on the course this weekend...

Ok I looked it up...Unfortunately, I am playing in a very small turni this week so I won't be able to pick my own tee box... Sounds interesting though...so I'll keep track on how the holes that this plays out to those clubs...