How'd you play?

[ole gray]

I shot  81 today in some pretty nasty wet swampy muddy slip down and bust ya arse sucky kind of conditions. My driver was pretty much on sick call today so my new Cleveland CBX Zipcore wedges hopped on a hoss and came to the rescue. These things are awesome off wet mushy turf! The bounce on these puppies is perfectly suited for soft conditions.  I'm looking forward to some dry weather if we EVER see it again so I can give these wedges a spin or two in normal conditions. 

[Bang60]

On 1/29/2023 at 1:55 PM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

 I even managed to play the same ball for the entire round.

It doesn't seem right not losing at least one ball in a round, been a long time since I've done that, jealous...

[funkyjudge]

9 holes today in mixed precipitation (light rain with some intermittent snowflakes) at a rather challenging local muni. I shot 44, with too many bogeys and one double where I reached the green in regulation only to putt my ball off the green (horrible pin location at the top of a ridge). Playing 18 holes tomorrow at the same course to get ready for my winter tour event on Thursday. At least the temperatures tomorrow are forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees warmer!

[Kenny B]

On 1/30/2023 at 2:25 PM, chisag said:

 

... I know this time of year it's tough to get a tee time in Phoenix but McCormick ranch would not be on my list of top 75 courses to play. I would be hard pressed to make the drive if the round was free.   I can't imagine the green stimp when the speed is set for a PO qualifier. Was there any sand at all in the bunkers? I tip my cap to you. My home course has their pre qualifier this Thursday and we play Friday afternoon when they will still be very fast but a hair slower than the qualifier. We did it last year and it was awesome and looking forward to this year. 

... Speaking of tee times. The week of the Super Bowl one of the courses I play occasionally in summer for $22 that includes a free drink is charging $99 for twilite Monday and Tuesday. It goes up to $299 Wednesday through Sunday for twilite!!! 

McCormick Ranch was actually quite nice.  I was one of the courses that I could actually hit pitch shots decently because the grass was nice; even the dormant bermuda (or maybe I just figured it out now that I left).  

Bunkers were decent, but parts of the course were still a little wet from the last rain.  On one hole we had to look hard for my wife's Yellow Ball that found it's way into one of the many puddles in the fairway.  Fortunately, he was saved... for a couple more holes when she sent him swimming.  

We played for $129 which was a little steeper than many of the courses we played, but it was one we hadn't played before so wanted to give it a try.  I think the prices are going up already for the WMPO and SB.

[Bang60]

1 hour ago, funkyjudge said:

9 holes today in mixed precipitation (light rain with some intermittent snowflakes) at a rather challenging local muni. I shot 44, with too many bogeys and one double where I reached the green in regulation only to putt my ball off the green (horrible pin location at the top of a ridge). Playing 18 holes tomorrow at the same course to get ready for my winter tour event on Thursday. At least the temperatures tomorrow are forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees warmer!

At my previous club there's one par 3 many people including me have done the very same, also easy to do from the tee and I've gone side to side a few times...

[Kenny B]

10 hours ago, funkyjudge said:

9 holes today in mixed precipitation (light rain with some intermittent snowflakes) at a rather challenging local muni. I shot 44, with too many bogeys and one double where I reached the green in regulation only to putt my ball off the green (horrible pin location at the top of a ridge). Playing 18 holes tomorrow at the same course to get ready for my winter tour event on Thursday. At least the temperatures tomorrow are forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees warmer!

There seems to be more than just intermittent "snowflakes" at our course lately.  

[Rickp]

Played Monday & Tuesday

Wednesday morning 65*, light breeze & sunny.  Different day and different results, +1, 37 with 1 birdie & 2 stoopid bogies.  All 4 of our group made at least 1 birdie on different holes.  
one of the guys this morning made it back from the IR list.  He was out since Thanksgiving with life threatening problem, good to have him back!!
 

[Grand Stranded]

On 1/30/2023 at 6:55 PM, Bang60 said:

It doesn't seem right not losing at least one ball in a round, been a long time since I've done that, jealous...

I know you’re in New Zealand, but yeah, it’s the same down here in coastal Carolina. So many holes with water hazards and forced carries over environmental areas or swamplands.

When I’m up on Long Island though I can sometimes go a few rounds with the same ball, as I play mostly parkland style courses, where unless you hit one deep into trees, you can almost always find it and have some type of shot.

[funkyjudge]

Weather forecast was way off-base for today (we had our first measurable snow of the season and the temperatures never got to 40*, although the forecast called for mostly sunny and temperatures in the mid-40s). Because of that, I played 18 holes on the simulator, following all rules of golf (no “gummies”, mulligans, etc and no free drops — all penalties were taken). I shot 39 on the back nine of Casa de Campo (“Teeth of the Dog”), and 40 on the back nine of Pinehurst No. 2, with two putts that hit the center of the cup at a speed that should have resulted in hole-outs, but both putts bounced out.  It’s not real golf, but, coupled with the 37 that I shot outdoors yesterday, I am hoping that the swings I took and ball flights that I saw on the simulator today have me prepared for my winter golf tour event tomorrow morning — tee times changed to a 10 AM shotgun start because it’s supposed to be 31* between 8:00-9:00. Long underwear and hand warmers plus walking the course to stay warm are on the menu for me for sure!

Speaking of the tour event tomorrow, even with the delayed start, I will need to be up between 5:30-6:00, so it’s time to get ready for bed.

Edited February 2 by funkyjudge

[fozcycle]

Foggy with 63* turned into sunny with 81* today. Shot 45/41:86 with one birdie (Par 5) My drives were off today as I only had 5/14 or 36% where my norm is 54% for 2023. I had 8/18 GIR for 44% and 37 putts. 

[sirchunksalot]

I played nine holes today and as a bonus, got to play with a friend of mine that I got into the game and his brother. Shadoe and I walk in together at work and after hearing me talk non-stop about golf for a long time, took up the game last year. Scheduling a round together has been tough, but we finally made it work.

We played Indian Trace in Chatsworth, GA, a course I've never played before and thoroughly enjoyed. Shadoe also brought along his wife and kids to ride along with us and it was a joy to get to finally meet them. 

I didn't play too well, but both Shadoe and Doug had their best nine hole scores ever. Shadoe is a beast with his driver and once his consistency is there, I think we'll see some great scores out of him. His brother was remarkably good putting, he had several that just lipped out but he was reading the greens so good.

I shot a 67, I was hitting the ball fairly well but I couldn't putt to save my life. I didn't keep my stats, but I would say I had between 25 or 30 for nine. It was the worst day on the greens I have ever had. Funny story, on the last hole I putted toward what I though was the hole and ended up 5 feet short...of a branch. I had about 15 feet to the hole which was to my left. I four putted that one after that terrible mental mistake.

I'm not going to complain, it was the first round of the year and I was making decent contact with the ball. I was actually hitting driver well, just spraying it a little bit. I know that might be a contradiction, but I was picking it off the tee instead of losing one on about every hole. 

My fairways, irons, and wedges were pretty good after I got warmed up. We got to the course and the range was closed due to a lot of rain lately, so the rust was real.

I had a wonderful time getting to hang out with them and chase that little white ball around. 

[CarlH]

 Started out great and was 3 over through 12 holes.  My chipping yips (aka stick your club into the mud shot) cost me dearly, showing up on 2 holes and I go +6 in 6 holes for an 81.  On the plus side, it was the inaugural launch of putting with my L.A.B. DF 2.1 putter and felt like it performed wonderfully.  I'm still adjusting for distance control with it, as my prior putter seemed to get more roll from the same stroke...but I'll nail that with some more time.  I did miss 2 putts that I felt that I should have made (both were due to me getting a bit lazy with my stroke), but I drained several longer putts in the 10-20 foot range.  

[Sluggo42]

Finally got in a round after a 3 eeek Covid forced vacation.. shot ok, 81, but hit a few really good shots that gave me confidence moving forward. Of course it was a cold morning with multiple layers, but I parred 3 of the first holes which usually result in at least 2 bogies.

short game screwed me up for most of my extra strokes, which is to be expected..

moral of this story is one somehow needs to keep the short game active during periods of inactivity 

[Kenny B]

First round yesterday since I returned from Phoenix on Tuesday.  Temps was high 40's and no wind, so not too bad.  Shot 84... 44/40 with one birdie and two triples!!!  Driver was very consistent and I did have some long (for me) drives... one at 240y!!  Ground was still frozen underneath a thawed top layer. Over the past couple of months I have not had a very good short game; haven't spent any practice time chipping and it showed.  Phoenix didn't help; horrible around those greens!!  I'll be in our practice area every day this week.

[chisag]

59 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Over the past couple of months I have not had a very good short game; haven't spent any practice time chipping and it showed.  Phoenix didn't help; horrible around those greens!!  I'll be in our practice area every day this week.

 

... I do think practicing the short game produces the best return all things considered. I played everything in the air for 35 years in the Midwest. Soft conditions, long bent grass was perfect and if contact wasn't perfect, hitting just behind the ball the LW slides through the grass producing an excellent shot. Moving to Phoenix with tight lies and Bermuda growing toward you, a LW hit 1/4" behind the ball can stop dead in the Bermuda kind like there is velcro on the ground and face of the club. First time I did that was a real eye opener and had someone told me grass could literally stop a club head in the grass I would have been skeptical. And not only the lie and contact, but if the grain on the green is growing into you when the LW lands it will check immediately and if down grain can roll out more than expected. 

... Bump and run takes the grain out of the equation. I like using the same club for all shots so my 50* is my designated short game club. There are certainly occasion when I still hit my 58* but the majority of the time I bump and run from as much as 50 yards out depending on pin location and lie. I have gotten very good with these shots and the only problem is the occasional bad bounce that can send the ball right or left off line enough to make birdie or saving par difficult. But still preferable to trying to throw a 58* into the air most of the time.  

[CarlH]

An 82 that felt like a 92.  Putted well.  Ball striking, not so much.

[TylorJudd]

Foggy then Sunny February day in the Okanagan today, local course opened up unexpectedly and I was able to carve out even par today which was pretty awesome. It might be +1 but they have done something to their holes over the winter so I don't know which is true hahah.

[Kenny B]

8 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... I do think practicing the short game produces the best return all things considered. I played everything in the air for 35 years in the Midwest. Soft conditions, long bent grass was perfect and if contact wasn't perfect, hitting just behind the ball the LW slides through the grass producing an excellent shot. Moving to Phoenix with tight lies and Bermuda growing toward you, a LW hit 1/4" behind the ball can stop dead in the Bermuda kind like there is velcro on the ground and face of the club. First time I did that was a real eye opener and had someone told me grass could literally stop a club head in the grass I would have been skeptical. And not only the lie and contact, but if the grain on the green is growing into you when the LW lands it will check immediately and if down grain can roll out more than expected. 

... Bump and run takes the grain out of the equation. I like using the same club for all shots so my 50* is my designated short game club. There are certainly occasion when I still hit my 58* but the majority of the time I bump and run from as much as 50 yards out depending on pin location and lie. I have gotten very good with these shots and the only problem is the occasional bad bounce that can send the ball right or left off line enough to make birdie or saving par difficult. But still preferable to trying to throw a 58* into the air most of the time.  

Good advice with one caveat… I’ve found that bump and run is a good play, but landing short of the green usually results in the ball popping straight up in the air and goes nowhere.  I used to always play that shot here with good results, but I have yet to master it in AZ.

[chisag]

37 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Good advice with one caveat… I’ve found that bump and run is a good play, but landing short of the green usually results in the ball popping straight up in the air and goes nowhere.  I used to always play that shot here with good results, but I have yet to master it in AZ.

 

... It took me awhile to learn how to play it. Remember I am the opposite and very rarely played it back in Chicago. I don't normally throw the ball on the green because if I am that close I will use my putter. It takes a pretty aggressive chipping motion but I have gotten pretty good at it, especially from 10-30 yds. Slightly back in my stance but not as far as a standard chip and a little more level contact as opposed to downward contact. The one thing I really have to be aware of is the slightly darker spots where the water runs off the green and the grain is particularly strong into you and you really have to have some momentum to get through it. This all took about a full year to get really comfortable trying different methods til I settled on the 50* bump and run. I will eventually start playing bump and runs with irons and see how that works. 

[Rickp]

52* this morning @ 7:20 Tee Time.  Little chilly but not horrible.  Hit the ball pretty well but hands were cold.  One nice bird on 336yd par 4.  Hit a decent 7wood 2nd shot to about 6’.  Getting used to the 7w and really starting to count on it.