ErikT Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Hi, just joined the forum. I am 47, from Germany and I am living (and playing...) in the Frankfurt area. Having a job in a global chemcial company makes me travel a lot globally - especially to the US, Korea and Japan.... Last year I started with golf - mainly because a purchasing manager convinced me to play in their customer tournament... (Before that, I was mainly into endurance sports like running, biking and triathlon and never had considered golf as a real sport ;-) I then got my handicap index last year in spring after taking an exam (yes, you have to pass an exam to be allowed to play golf in Germany...) and joining my local club. In the process I actually started to like playing golf and now approx. one year later I am kind of addicted... Our entire family is now also playing and we are living next to a golf course (directly next to a driving range :-) which also makes a quick practice session in the evening pretty convenient. Therefore I now also discovered MyGolfSpy as great source of information! Best Erik Keep calm and play golf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommc23 Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome Erik Sent from my SM-G950U using MyGolfSpy mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miboy62 Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to the site ZX5 MKII LS 8.5 Stealth 2 plus 3 wood Stealth 2 plus 5 wood Stealth 2 plus 19.5 Hybrid ZX5 MKll 5 / AW Dart stiff MG3 black 52 9b 58 12b 7.5 Phantom 34” Z Star Diamond 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole gray Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome aboard Erik! Ping G430 Max Driver 10.5 Degree Titleist TSR1 4, 5, & 6 Hybrids Titleist T350 Irons 7 - W48 Cleveland CBX ZipCore 52 56 & 60 Degree Wedges LAB Mezz Max Broomstick Putter / TPT Shaft (Platinum @ 45/78) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadian Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome Erik! What was the golf exam like? Was it mostly rules and etiquette? -Cascadian Driver: Cobra BioCell Orange, 10.5*, Aldila NV Stiff Flex 3 Hybrid: Adams Idea Tech V3, 19*, Stiff Flex Irons: Callaway RazrX 4-PW, Std Loft/Lie, Callaway Uniflex 52*: Taylormade ATV 56*: Callaway RazrX Forged 60*: Nike Engage, Dual Sole Putter: Odyssey O-Works Tank #7, 35", Std Loft/Lie Ball: Bridgestone B330-RXS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony@CIC Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome from Ohio. I use to run a business north of you in Hilden so I'm familiar with the area. As Cascadian mentioned tell us more about the exam., Left Hand orientation SIM 2 D Max with Fujikura Air Speeder Shaft Cobra Radspeed 3W/RIptide Shaft 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter V3 NX9-HD - 4 Wheel EZGO TXT 48v cart - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Vice Pro Plus 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome from Hamburg! SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome Erik! What was the golf exam like? Was it mostly rules and etiquette? -Cascadian It consists of 2 parts: A multiple-selection part where you must put your etiquette and rules knowledge to test. A practical part where you play 9 holes and only the 6 best are taken into consideration. Within these 6 holes, you must get 12 Stableford points, which would be a triple bogey on each hole calculated with HCP -54 (3 extra strokes on each hole). SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPattGolf Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to MGS from Oregon! * Staff Professional* Driver: Stealth Plus+ (7.25*) - Fujikura Ventus Black 6X Tipped 1" 3 Wood: Stealth Plus+ (14.25*) - Fujikura Ventus Blue 7x Tipped 1" Driving Iron: P790 UDI 2 iron - HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 4 Iron: P790 - KBS C-Taper 130 X Irons (5-7) P7MC - KBS C-Taper 130 X Irons (8-P) P7MB - KBS C-Taper 130 X Wedges: MG3 Black 50.09 / 55.11 - KBS TOUR FLT 130 X 60* Wedge: High Toe Raw - KBS Tour 130 X Putter: Custom Black ER2 or Custom Black Del Monte Bag: FlexTech Stand Bag Glove: Tour Preferred Glove Ball: TP5X #11 RangeFinder: R1 Smart Rangefinder Instagram: @dpattgolf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one0wonder Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to MGS from Ohio! WITB: Driver - Callaway BB Alpha 9* Kuro Kage 50g. Reg. Shaft - 45" 3 Wood - Callaway X-Hot 3 Deep Pro 14.5* Project X 5.5 5 Wood - Callaway XR 19* Project X 5.5 3 - 5 Tour Edge Exotics EX9 Hybrids 18*, 22*, & 25* w/ AeroTech i80 SteelFiber Reg. Shaft 6 - PW - Callaway Apex w/ AeroTech i80 SteelFiber Reg. Shaft - Standard length & lofts GW, SW & LW - Hogan TK - 49*, 54* & 58* - KBS fst - Wedge flex Putter - Ping - Mid Ketsch Heavy - 33" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDGolfHacker Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome! Interesting that you have to take an exam to play golf! Is that just for club entrance or to actually play golf at any public course as well ? MDGolfHacker What's In This Lefty's Bag? Driver: TSR2 11° Project X HZRDUS Black 4G 60g 5.5 Flex Fairway Woods: F8 3W Project X Even Flow Blue 75g shaft Fairway Woods: Hybrid: TSR2 18° Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 Shaft Irons: 2021 T200's 4-GW AMT RED shafts Regular Flex Wedge: Tour Satin RTX 4 Wedges in 52° and 56° 2 Dot Putter: Gray Matter TDP 2.2 32.75" Bag: Three 5 Ball: PRO V1 / Z*Star RangeFinder: In search of new range finder Social Media: Facebook: MD Golfhacker Twitter: @mdgolfhacker Instagram: mdgolfhacker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PING Apologist #9 Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Greetings from Idaho, USA! Willkommen an Bord! In my DLX Cart Bag: Driver: G410 SFT, set to 9.5*, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60, stiff (MGS Official 2019 Tester) 3W: G-Series SF TEC, set to 16*, Aldila Tour Blue ATX, 65g, stiff 5W: G400 SFT, set to 19*, Aldila Tour Blue ATX, 65g, stiff 7W: G410 SFT, set to 22*. Alta CB 65 Red, stiff Irons: GMax, Green Dot, 5-PW, Project X Graphite Blue 6.0, 80-90g , stiff Wedges: Glide 2.0 Stealth, 50* SS, 54* ES & 60*/8 Forged MGS Special from the Wedge Wizard, Green Dot, Alta CB graphite, 84g, stiff Putter: Vault 2.0 B60 Copper, 33", black dot w/GP SNSR grip (PING Sigma 2 Fetch under "see-trials") Ball: MTB BLACK (MGS Official 2018 Tester for the MTB RED) Shoes: Classics Tour w/Black Widow Softspikes Disabled Marine Veteran. Semper Fi! #No apologies, just Play Your Best #Powertotheplayers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny B Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome from the USA Pacific Northwest! Glad you joined us Erik. “We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palvord Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to MGS from Metro-Detroit. I would love to see the uproar it would cause if the USGA mandated a test to allow someone to golf. Would love to know why it is required in Germany. Are there not enough courses so they have to limit the amount of players? In my Ultralight Stand Bag: Driver: Rogue 10.5° - LH - Project X EvenFlow 60 Stiff Woods: King F9 - LH - 3/4 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff King F9 - LH - 5/6 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff Irons: King F9 - LH - 5-GW - KBS C-Taper Lite Stiff Wedges: King Black - LH - 52° 56° 60° - KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Stiff Putter: - Impact No. 3 Ball: Maxfli TourX Rangefinder: LX5 Watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawgDaddy Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to My Golf Spy! Driver - Rogue ST Max Woods - Rogue ST Max 3, 5 & 7 Woods Irons - Rogue ST Max Wedges - Zipcore RTX 6 50° CBX2 54* & 58* Putter - Evnroll ER2 Rangefinder - NX-10 Slope Ball - Pro Tour Drip Bag - Xtreme Cart 7.0 Bag Heather/Red/White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tttullyt Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome! herzlich willkommen! Sent from my Pixel XL using MyGolfSpy mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome! Interesting that you have to take an exam to play golf! Is that just for club entrance or to actually play golf at any public course as well ? MDGolfHacker Just the way Germans do things... there has to be an exam / rule book for everything. You also need to take a test for fishing. Go figure... The idea is to keep hackers from destroying the course and holding up the groups behind them. Crowded courses will require a minimum handicap during weekends or at least be accompanied by a member. Now, that's just the official version. If you already know how to play, just talk to the club and they won't make you take the test. If you are a total beginner, most clubs will have a nice pro that will help you pass the test, even if it takes several tries. Some clubs offer a guarantee that you will pass. The idea is to grow the game, not fail people. Some beginner 9 hole courses (pitch and putt) won't ask for the golfing license, so just go and play. Golf exams are just a part of what the DGV (German Golf Association) enforces. They are also in charge of the entire handicap system for the whole country. All clubs that are affiliated access a common database with all player's data. So it doesn't matter where you play your competitive round, your score will be uploaded by the host club and made available to your home course for handicap calculations. IIRC, this is what the global handicap system is attempting. SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Welcome to MGS from Metro-Detroit. I would love to see the uproar it would cause if the USGA mandated a test to allow someone to golf. Would love to know why it is required in Germany. Are there not enough courses so they have to limit the amount of players? Reason mentioned above is to protect the golf course, the players and speed up play. It's not as serious as letting a person drive a car without a license, but you get the idea. Last year there were 732 courses in the whole country. If I'm not mistaken, I got like 30 courses within 1 hour drive. SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cksurfdude Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Hello from NY! And welcome to this group of gear and golf-obsessed people! WITB of an "aspiring" play-ah ... Driver...Callaway Paradym (Aldila Ascent PL Blue 40/A) 5W...Callaway Great Big Bertha (MCA Kai'Li Red 50/R) 7W...Tour Edge Exotics EXS (Tensei CK Blue 50/R) 4H...Callaway Epic Super Hybrid (Recoil ZT9 F3) 5H...Callaway Big Bertha ('19) (Recoil 460 ESX F3) 6i-GW...Sub 70 699 V2 (Recoil 660 F3) 54°, 60°...Cleveland CBX2, CBX 60 (Rotex graphite) Putter...EvnRoll ER5 or MLA Tour XDream (P2 Reflex grips) ...all in a Datrek bag on an MGI Zip Navigator electric cart. Ball often, not always, MaxFli Tour. Forum Member tester for the Paradym X driver (2023) Forum Member tester for the ExPutt Putting Simulator (2020) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shankster Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkev Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Welcome - love having Euros here Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60 Aldila R flex - 42.25 inches SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft Ping G410 7, 9 wood Alta 65 R flex Srixon ZX5 MK II 5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex India 52,56 (60 pending) UST recoil 75's R flex Evon roll ER 5 32 inches It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTexGolfer Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Welcome aboard! 400 Driver (8*) UST ATTAS Punch 6S F6 Baffler (16*) Matrix Red Tie 65Q4 816 H1 Hybrid (21*,23*) Diamana S+ Blue 82 HY Z765 (5-PW) +2* Aerotech Steelfiber i110cw Vokey SM5 50.08F 54.10M Aerotech Steelfiber i110cw PM Grind 60* Dynamic Gold S400 TR 1966 Anser 2 Z Star ball Pioneer Cart Bag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikT Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Thanks a lot for the warm welcome Kanoito actually gave most of the detail about the German golf landscape and the way to pass the exam - thanks a lot. I had hit balls before occasionally on the range, but never had been allowed to actually play on my local home town course, so I was not a complete beginner (and having played tennis in my youth also seem to have helped with hand-eye coordination and some feeling for the ball)... I (together with my wife) did do the exam during a 5 day course (in a week of vacation) with ~1h teaching with a pro in the morning and the afternoon and then playing after the lesson in the morning and afternoon 9 holes (was only a 9 hole course). We then did do a tournament for the course participants on 2 days where you at least once had to accomplish a 54 handicap (~ on average 3 strokes over par). I think this was actually a pretty effective way to not only pass the exam but also to get some actual golf practice... In addition, you needed to pass a written (multiple choice) exam on etiquette and rules - there is an app which is having all the possible questions so it is pretty easy to study (and the pro during the exam was also not giving us a hard time...) Afterwards, we then applied to join our local club (which was also granted ). We then could go there with our certificate that we had passed this German golf exam and the pro then transferred the scores from the initial tournament to establish our initial handicap. Playing without joining a club in Germany is practically impossible - I only know two (?) 9 hole courses in my area which are open for simple "pay for play". Therefore there is even an association of "golfers without a local club association" which manages the handicap and then enables access to all golf clubs where you then would have to pay a green fee. Most clubs / courses require a specific handicap to play (at least for guests) - I think in my club it is 45 (?) and 36 on the weekend... Golf was (and partially still is) regarded in Germany as a high society / upscale country club thing and some traditional clubs (like mine which was founded in the early 1950s) still behave like this - a lot of very old guys (over half of the German golf population is above 55 years....). Best, Erik Keep calm and play golf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikT Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 One more - there are plenty of golf courses in the Frankfurt area, so I don't think that this is a capacity issue... I have 7-8 in a max. 30 min driving time range... (Since I am luckily living directly next to a golf course the choice which one to join was however very simple). Not sure how the utilization of the clubs / courses is but my club is (theoretically) actively looking for new (younger) members - the "old, established" members are however doing little to welcome new members. In my club, we don't need to reserve tee-times - you simply go and play (okay, on a Sunday you might to have to wait a few minutes) - this is however different in some other clubs. Erik Keep calm and play golf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I know the questions were direct at you, sorry... I had a boring day at work SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanoito Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Not sure how the utilization of the clubs / courses is but my club is (theoretically) actively looking for new (younger) members - the "old, established" members are however doing little to welcome new members. That is pretty much the trend now. Out of the 30 courses I mentioned within 1 hour drive, I think only 3 of the very traditional clubs still ask for initiation fee (about 15K USD) and investment (about 3K USD). All other clubs have basically switched their rates to fit the younger population... some offering great discounts depending on your age. Players under 27 years of age only pay 50% of the green fee. Kids pay a symbolic $100 membership per year and play all they want. Makes me wonder why Germany doesn't have more pro's. I guess the long winters don't help SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0 Pro / H2NO Lite Cart Bag / 3.0 / NX7 Pro LRF My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palvord Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 One more - there are plenty of golf courses in the Frankfurt area, so I don't think that this is a capacity issue... I have 7-8 in a max. 30 min driving time range... (Since I am luckily living directly next to a golf course the choice which one to join was however very simple). Not sure how the utilization of the clubs / courses is but my club is (theoretically) actively looking for new (younger) members - the "old, established" members are however doing little to welcome new members. In my club, we don't need to reserve tee-times - you simply go and play (okay, on a Sunday you might to have to wait a few minutes) - this is however different in some other clubs. Erik Thank you for the information. Fascinating to hear how other countries handle golfing. Makes sense to have an entrance exam if it is still seen as a higher society thing etc. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy In my Ultralight Stand Bag: Driver: Rogue 10.5° - LH - Project X EvenFlow 60 Stiff Woods: King F9 - LH - 3/4 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff King F9 - LH - 5/6 Wood - Atmos Blue TS 7 Stiff Irons: King F9 - LH - 5-GW - KBS C-Taper Lite Stiff Wedges: King Black - LH - 52° 56° 60° - KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Stiff Putter: - Impact No. 3 Ball: Maxfli TourX Rangefinder: LX5 Watch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
808nation Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Welcome Sent from my SM-G955U using MyGolfSpy mobile app WITB: Driver: Sim2 Max w/ Fujikura Motore X F3 shaft FW Wood: F9 wood 14.5* Hybrids: Sim2 Max 3 Hybrid & Vapor Flex 4 hybrid Irons: Z565 - 7 thru PW & ZU85 - 5 thru 6 with Recoil ZT9 F4 shafts Wedges: RTX4 52*, 56*, 60* Putter: Scotty Cameron M2 Newport Ball: Black & Pro V1 Bag: 2018 MyGolfSpy stand Bag & 2021 Greenside Golf stand bag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikT Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 I know the questions were direct at you, sorry... I had a boring day at work No problem, actually thanks a lot for already answering a lot for me... Keep calm and play golf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony@CIC Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 No problem, actually thanks a lot for already answering a lot for me... Very interesting about golfing in Germany. I'm glad to hear that there is a 'token' initiation fee for young golfers. Also curious is the index or handicap system run by the German Golfing Association identical to the US approach ? Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy Left Hand orientation SIM 2 D Max with Fujikura Air Speeder Shaft Cobra Radspeed 3W/RIptide Shaft 410 Hybrids 22*, 26* Cobra Speed Zone 6-GP/Recoil ESX 460 F3 Shafts SM7 54* Wedge Glide 3.0 60* Wedge O Works putter V3 NX9-HD - 4 Wheel EZGO TXT 48v cart - too many shoes to list and so many to buy And BAG Boy Golf Balls: Vice Pro Plus 2020 Official Tester Beginning Driver Speed - 78 2019 Official Tester 410 Driver 2018 Official Tester C300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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