How'd you play?

[Kenny B]

Hot, no wind, lots of smoke.  Not the best of golf days.  My wife and I played with two singles who both played from the tips, Black tees.  I played from the Blues as usual, and my wife played from the Forward Red tees, as usual.  

I shot 84 and my wife shot 89... No, wait!!  I got that wrong!!!  My wife had the 84... I had the 5 doubles!!!    Yep!  She kicked my a$$.  I told her a couple of years ago, that as we get older, my game will deteriorate faster than hers (I've got 9 years on her).  Her game has really improved the last few weeks as she has been playing match play in the ladies league.  She plays for the championship next week.

The two guys shot in the 90's; should have played the Blues with me.  This was the first time I played in a 4some where I played alone from the Blues.

[fixyurdivot]

13 minutes ago, juspoole said:

Golf wise - very close.  I jog 15 - 20 miles per week and have gotten most of my speed back, but my stamina is still lacking.  I'll have to stop at times around the 2 mile mark to restretch.  

I've not attempted basketball or tennis at this point and will still wait a while for those.  Also, I've been care not to do much jumping or "fast twitch" effort for the most part.

So in my mind, I'm probably around 75% - 80% recovered.  Don't get me started on the atrophy.  Still a lot of strengthening to do in my calve as well.

Hey, you're running, playing golf and moving the right direction .  

[Grand Stranded]

Today was a struggle.

I teed late in the morning yesterday (1130) and played really well, but it was a really hot and humid day. Today was just as hot, and I had a 740 tee time.

I had no energy whatsoever this morning, and I couldn’t loosen up the back of my legs, no matter how much stretching I did. I popped a Meloxicam, but I don’t think I ever really got rehydrated from yesterday.

I also had to use a driver the pro shop lent me, and since I’m lefty, the only.rental they had had a 65g a stiff flex shaft. That’s a little above my pay grade these days, and I struggled off the tee.

I shot 43-48/91, and that was with a pretty good day with the putter, It was just one of those days you knew you should never have played, but when you commit to a league, it’s considered bad form to drop out at the last minute, so I sucked it up.

Got home, drank plenty of Powerade showered and took a nap. I need to take it easy tomorrow and Monday since the heat won’t be letting up, and I’m playing Tuesday, Thursday, and a tournament Saturday and Sunday.

I realize the young guys will think complaining about a heavy golf schedule is a first world problem, but a lot of us older players really need to listen to our bodies, especially when the heat indexes go over 100.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

2 hours ago, tchat07 said:

Alright played today and have two questions out of it:

1. Whenever you are playing with a 4-some do you play different tees or for pace of play purposes do you play the same tees? I ask this more as a do you move up.

2. Does anyone else struggle with "casual" rounds? I feel like going and just playing with friends or a random group I struggle being focused and scoring well

I play within my comfort zone. If the other three are playing whites at 6500 or less im fine with that. If I'm playing with a group playing the senior tees I'm good with that as well. Im old enough and enjoy hitting different clubs into the greens. If they are playing blues I just tell them I'm playing up one. I'm not long enough or young enough to play from the back any more. Can I, yes, but it isn't as enjoyable for me. It hurts to much at the end of the round. 

I don't struggle with casual rounds. I always try to play my best no matter the circumstances. You only need to focus for a very short period of time. The most distractions are on the tee box and the green. Once your off the tee your group is going different directions. Worst case there is one person with you if you took a cart. I usually just go as a single and if I get paired up, its  ok. I just got used to tuning out distractions. When it's my turn to hit or putt I get in the zone. Do my pre shot routine, focus on the target, practice swing, then step up and swing. Focus over. 

One thing I do struggle with is captains choice / scrambles. Since  I'm usually one of the better players in the group they always want me last. Someone hits a good one in the fairway then they want me to pound one out there. Or no one did well and they all turn and say no pressure but we need you. I always hold my tongue. So much want to say OK captain obvious. There is no added pressure, I always try to do my best. But I am just beat to crap at the end.

[GolfSpy TCB]

2 hours ago, cnosil said:

Hang in there,  you are doing things that are uncomfortable and it will take some time to incorporate those new things into your swing.  

Thanks for the encouragement cnosil!

[TBS]

On 8/13/2021 at 5:05 PM, Ben_Howell34 said:

I will say the heat and humidity was brutal which did not help the grip on the driver. 

I used to struggle with this but I have found 3 things to be really helpful.

1. Wash your grips after every 2-3 rounds. Take a wet towel and scrub. Then a dry towel and scrub. You can even take dish soap and brush to them to give them some new life, but make sure that they get a good rinse and dry to make sure all the soap is off.

2. When I play, I bring 2 towels. One only for cleaning clubs and the other for my arms, hands, and face. The arm/hand towel, I wet one end of it before teeing off. I religiously wipe down my hands and arms with the wet end to clean off the sweat, then I dry my hands and wipe down my grip with the dry end. This gives me a nice dry grip for my next swing.

3. Rotate gloves. Hang them in your cart. Never put them in your back pocket. Put your glove on only right before a shot and then immediately take it off. 

[TBT]

Played Friday afternoon and had the best front 9 in a LONG TIME…..4 pars, 4 bogeys and a birdie for a 3 over 39!

Standing over my tee shot on 10 and the golf gods said “not so fast my friend!” And it started pouring down!!! We sat under a tree for 45 minutes trying to wait it out but then the lightning got really close and we had to call it

[Ben_Howell34]

10 hours ago, TBS said:

I used to struggle with this but I have found 3 things to be really helpful.

1. Wash your grips after every 2-3 rounds. Take a wet towel and scrub. Then a dry towel and scrub. You can even take dish soap and brush to them to give them some new life, but make sure that they get a good rinse and dry to make sure all the soap is off.

2. When I play, I bring 2 towels. One only for cleaning clubs and the other for my arms, hands, and face. The arm/hand towel, I wet one end of it before teeing off. I religiously wipe down my hands and arms with the wet end to clean off the sweat, then I dry my hands and wipe down my grip with the dry end. This gives me a nice dry grip for my next swing.

3. Rotate gloves. Hang them in your cart. Never put them in your back pocket. Put your glove on only right before a shot and then immediately take it off. 

Good tips. I actually usually do 2 and 3 but somehow I lost my extra glove. 
 

I have never washed my grips. That’s a good tip. I don’t really struggle with any grips besides driver, and I got the driver regripped not too long ago and that’s helped tremendously. Just this round being at the beach the humidity was insane, so on 2-3 holes I struggled with the grip off the tee. 
 

My irons are old and somewhat of a mixed bag. Hoping to get some new ones at some point (probably after a few more lessons) and when I do I will get those regripped as well. 

[MattF]

15 hours ago, tchat07 said:

Alright played today and have two questions out of it:

1. Whenever you are playing with a 4-some do you play different tees or for pace of play purposes do you play the same tees? I ask this more as a do you move up.

2. Does anyone else struggle with "casual" rounds? I feel like going and just playing with friends or a random group I struggle being focused and scoring well

1. No. I play from around 6100-6200.

2. Not really, because all my rounds are fairly casual.

[MattF]

6 hours ago, TBT said:

Standing over my tee shot on 10 and the golf gods said “not so fast my friend!” And it started pouring down!!! We sat under a tree for 45 minutes trying to wait it out but then the lightning got really close and we had to call it

Same thing happened to me last Sunday. It's looking good for @CWilson216 and me today though.

[bens197]

15 hours ago, tchat07 said:

Alright played today and have two questions out of it:

1. Whenever you are playing with a 4-some do you play different tees or for pace of play purposes do you play the same tees? I ask this more as a do you move up.

2. Does anyone else struggle with "casual" rounds? I feel like going and just playing with friends or a random group I struggle being focused and scoring well

I'll play whichever tees the group feels most comfortable playing.

My thought is this...I am no longer competing, I want to enjoy the round and if that means we can all stand on the same tee and gas it up then that is far more valuable than playing a certain tee.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

4 minutes ago, bens197 said:

I'll play whichever tees the group feels most comfortable playing.

My thought is this...I am no longer competing, I want to enjoy the round and if that means we can all stand on the same tee and gas it up then that is far more valuable than playing a certain tee.

I think this is why I love walking so much, not only do I typically play better but it allows you to still chit chat alllllll round. You end up hitting in spots as all the guys throughout the round, it’s like multiple conversations going regardless of tee box. With a ride on you rely on being on the same tee because you don’t have those conversations otherwise.

love walking lol

[tchat07]

Thanks all for the answers, glad to hear it's not just me who struggles on the "friendlier" rounds. Definitely going to work on the mindset portion and be able to lock in and lock out more fluidly.

[ST3LTR0]

Overall I played well. Went back to my old irons and hit them significantly better. Had a blow up hole where I hit a pull draw on a par 3 and had a poor lie. Three chips later I was on the green for a two putt triple. Drove the ball well today considering the rough was fairly manageable. Short game could definitely use some work. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Had another good round today. I put the Maxfli Tour and Tour X in play. I'll post more about that in the testing thread later today.  So cutting to the chase, I had two birdies and a bogey on the front and three birdies and a bogey on the back for another round of 68. I'm lighting it up this season. Can I last till December playing at this level? Who knows. But a shout out to the golf gods this season! Thanks for the memories. 

 

[DiscipleofPenick]

Played today and not as good yesterday. Though this course was far wetter than yesterday's round, and I hope they didn't mow the fairways in a few days. Just a local course with my buddy and his wife. I didn't really keep score but I think it was in the 82-84 range. Only 1 birdie and 1 double.

The course itself was...interesting. It's about 15 minutes away from my house and I've played 9 a few times at it, but today was the first time playing 18, and the blue tees.

So as I mentioned the fairways were long. Not plush or grown in, just long. I'm hoping this means they just haven't been able to mow in the last few days. Unfortunately, there was crab grass all over, fairways too. Some of the blue tees were tucked back in a chute, which was a nice feel (and messed with me a bit) but a lot of the big trees have over grown with limbs sticking out into the fairway or hanging right in front of the tee box so you couldn't even use half of it. The par 3 17th, I couldn't even see the flag from the tee as there was a pine tree about 20 years in front that blocked the left third of the green. Trim it back. Also the course is listed at 6985, but when I measured it on Google Earth, it came out to under 6400.

To  top it off, this is the sign that greets you as you drive in. The audacity....

[berkeleybob]

19 hours ago, tchat07 said:

Alright played today and have two questions out of it:

1. Whenever you are playing with a 4-some do you play different tees or for pace of play purposes do you play the same tees? I ask this more as a do you move up.

2. Does anyone else struggle with "casual" rounds? I feel like going and just playing with friends or a random group I struggle being focused and scoring well

Funny, I’ve been thinking about this one. I’ve had rounds with friends and family where I’d spend the first few holes having a great game, then realizing that I was being less than sociable. And then my game would go to pot. Not sure what to do about it. I don’t want to be rude. On the other hand, I don’t want to ignore it when I’m on a roll.

[DiscipleofPenick]

22 hours ago, tchat07 said:

Alright played today and have two questions out of it:

1. Whenever you are playing with a 4-some do you play different tees or for pace of play purposes do you play the same tees? I ask this more as a do you move up.

2. Does anyone else struggle with "casual" rounds? I feel like going and just playing with friends or a random group I struggle being focused and scoring well

I play the tees I want to. My home course is around 6600. When I'm playing well I'll stretch it out, if not, I'll move up. Especially if conditions are sub optimal or if it's a new course.

If it's a casual round, I just don't keep score. I'll note the birdies or a good par save, but then I can ignore the rest. I just focus on hitting good shots and ignore the rest. Tbh don't play enough of these.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

56/51:105

39 putts  4 three putts (two of those should have been two putts max)

two pars  

8 penalties from the tee game  

was my neighbors birthday round and his wife treated us to 18 at Pumpkin Ridge Ghost creek. He shot an 80 which for him he felt like he could have been a 76. First round out with the max ls and it was a disaster. Some heely but mostly great face contact (center high), just poor path. Again, the range prior was great. I need to make the range more like the course and in grain I can swing the sane way when it comes to the tee. At points it felt like I forgot how to swing the driver. Need to put some time in with it. Had one good drive of 280. Sadly fatted a wedge and needed to chip. Then two putted.  Lost too many balls. Had some decent iron play. Short game stunk. Greens were like putting on carpet except you couldn’t get good reads. Had a great pitch (105 yard out) after I had to take a drop from a dried water hazard. You can see my pitch mark below and where the ball ended up. Overall a frustrating yet fun time. Was my first time out in three weeks. 

[CarlH]

Final round of the Club Championship certainly did not go as I had hoped.  As usual, the final round was played on the tougher 18 of our 27 hole course and the pins were in difficult locations for the most part.  Sadly, the course was not my issue.  I was not striking the ball well all day.  Putting was okay with 31 putts, but ball striking and wedge work was pitiful.  Took a penalty on the opening hole when I soared my 2nd shot OB right (only 3 inches out, but out is out!) and started with a double on the par 5 (again!).  Took 2 more doubles during the round.  Did manage to birdie our easier par 5, but the rest of the round was trying to save pars.  I ended up shooting 85 (which was actually the best in our foursome and we were flighted by previous scoring).  Can't speak for the rest of the field, but my 4some played poorly for our handicap level.  Bright spot of the day is that I did have a side bet of a cold root beer with my friend for low net score for today -- he owes me a root beer.

[Chip Strokes]

48/37 85

6 fairways

5 greens

32 putts 

made my first ever eagle on 10!!

[russtopherb]

46/47 for a 93. 10 FIR but only 3 GIR. I left a lot of pitches short today. But honestly, I am THRILLED with 10 FIR. The driver work at the range has finally started paying off on the course. 

Other good stuff - played the same ball until 11, when we all lost it in the sun on an approach shot. I was in the rough and may have hit a flyer well over the green into the junk. Bombed a 267 yard drive on 10 that was dead center of the fairway. That felt GOOD. 4 pars overall on the day, no birdies.

Other bad stuff - three 3 putts, and only one hole with a single putt. Greens were dry and running fast. Didn't hit a single GIR on the par 3s. Left all of them but one short, and the last I hit an unexpected draw that was pin high but in a bunker, my only one of the day. My Heavenwood, usually ol' reliable from the fairway, was a chunk machine today. Didn't lose any balls with it, but while my driver was on, the Hwood was definitely not.

[dlow206]

My iron game is trash right now, just horrible. 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

4 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

My iron game is trash right now, just horrible. 

Ball then turf grasshopper. We schooled do a scrabble. My iron game and your driving should do us well. 

[dlow206]

9 minutes ago, rbsiedsc said:

Ball then turf grasshopper. We schooled do a scrabble. My iron game and your driving should do us well. 

Yeah, but I am living in block city

[TBT]

Got out this afternoon for a round…..really hot!

Started off really shaky but found my grove mid round

48 + 41 = 89

Back 9 could have been even better but I barely tipped a tree limb on a tee shot and the ball kicked dead right into the water and I made double on that hole.

[MattF]

I had the opportunity to play with @CWilson216 at Windmill Lakes yesterday. We both did not play well (but I had 30 putts), but we had a good time. Yes, the mustache is real!

[cnosil]

normal Sunday round; hot and humid and by the 15th hole I was pretty worn out.  Ball striking is still pretty good; putting seems to be continuing down the mediocre path.   Did a little experimentation today; based podcasts and metrics I have been reading my goal was to be pin high or past on every hole.  Essentially the thought process is to hit your 80% percentile for shot dispersion and not always be short.   Ended up short siding myself long a couple of times, but I think the approach is beneficial and results in shorter putts.    
 

42/40:82.  8 FW, 9 GIR, 38 putts.   

[GolfSpy TCB]

After the bloodletting that was my Saturday round, I jumped on the course yesterday afternoon with just me and my mechanics.  

Started out with much better ball striking than the day before, Hit the first 3 out of 4 fairways, and also hit all 3 of those greens.  The 3rd hole was the missed FW - a pushed drive into the trees, and opted for a low running punch with my 3W from 140 that navigated all the trunk trouble and rolled up to the front fringe.  Chip to 5 feet and made the putt for par.  Even after 4 including a 72 foot lag putt that hung on the front lip on the 4th hole.  

On the Par 3 5th, 165 into the wind, the poor swing returned, bad swing path, hit behind the ball, stunted follow through, all and then some... barely cleared the hazard, and had 50 yards to the green.  Decent lob over the trap, but it ran to the back fringe, and two putted for the bogey. 

Next hole - right trees, recovery shot, hardpan lie, through the green, two putts for double. 

Par 3 - 160 into the wind - hit the best feeling iron of the day - to 9 feet, and made the putt for birdie - it has been a long stretch between birds. 

Solid Par 5 (Fairway, Fairway, Green, 2 putts) then a difficult par 4 9th.  430 with an approach carry over a hazard that runs away left to right (nemesis of any fades hit right of the green).  I had 200 in, and managed to clear the hazard into the left grass bunker next to the green.  Hit my chip chunky, didn't give the uphill putt enough credit, lipped the 12 footer, and tapped in for a crowd pleasing 6 to finish the day with a 3 putt.  40.  I am not too proud to say that is a 10 stroke improvement over my front 9 yesterday (though I am a bit ashamed).

But walked away with a much better feeling about the mechanics I'm working on.  Definitely have some highlights and proof that with more practice getting into the right positions, the consistency will follow.  

[MWL_9]

Shot a 78 (+6) yesterday.  Hit the ball well.  Rolled in a couple putts.  First and last time playing this local course, but it was a last minute decision to go out.  Maybe 13-14 actual golf holes.  Lost a couple strokes due to not knowing the course and a few more due to poor conditions around the green.  5+ hour round as people didn't know you could talk and drive a golf cart at the same time, which was very frustrating.  BUT, it was some good golfing weather so I'm glad I was able to sneak a round in!