How'd you play?

[cnosil]

Cold morning; temps were in the 40s when I started but it warmed up into the 60s but was still a bit breezy and chilly.   Ball wasn't carrying as far and I failed to adjust until about halfway through the front 9.   

43/40:83  9 FW, 8 GIR, 32 putts (2 3 putts)   

Most of the bogeys and worse happened when I missed the green.  Ball contact on finesse wedges was good but I didn't get the ball close enough to 1 putt.   The 3 putts were greens hit but not in any area remotely close to the hole    

Approach game needs some work.

 

[Kenny B]

Second day playing without my wife who in the 2nd day of her tournament.  I played with a friend of mine and his buddy.  My magic continued on the front nine with one bogey and one birdie for an Even Par 37.  Had a chance for a really, really good score but all of a sudden my putting fell off and I went bogey, bogey, bogey on 10, 11, and 12.  Add a 3-putt bogey (1st one in weeks) on 15 and I finished the back nine with a +4 score of 39... so a 76.  The good news is that I started to see the line on my putts better on the last two holes, so I hope to carry that over to my next round.

I don't remember ever having back to back rounds shooting my age; maybe it happened once before, but I don't think so.  

55 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Why is it you start playing your best toward the end of the season.

It seems to happen, and I'm not sure why.  I have not been playing very well (scores in the low 80's) until Wednesday and both days this weekend.  For some reason the game just started to click.

[Jim Shaw]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I know my season doesn’t end. In my area of the country. But I do look forward to a break. Playing twice a week or more for 11 months takes its toll. Especially since I mostly walk. That puts me at over 530 miles walking the course this season.
Why is it you start playing your best toward the end of the season. I slept in a bit today due to the temperatures. Went and played at 9:00 am instead of my usual 7:00 am and there was hardly anyone out playing but a handful of golfers. I got in behind a twosome but they were riding. I took my time. Waited for them to get on a green before teeing off. All cylinders were firing again. I made 4 birdies and one bogey for a 69. 
The twosome of 20/ 30 somethings kept looking back as they got off each green to see my ball roll up to wedge distance hole after hole. I can only imagine what they were thinking or saying. I put up a fine display to show the young guys that an old guy still got it. 
 I want to take some time off but playing this good makes me want to keep going. 

great playing...

[Blaine Dye]

Went out and played started off hot on the front 9 finished at +2 then i fell apart got behind a slow group that through me off my groove and timing and ended up finishing at +7 

[MrBandit]

Played on Saturday, and this was my first bad putting performance in a long time. I couldn't judge speed or lines.  Someone pointing out that I was all of a sudden lifting up as I was about to putt, once I was aware of this motion i putted fine. but then i only had 4 holes left.. could have mention this earlier, but they were loosing at the time.. bastards 

[Parshooter36]

I shot an 8 over 78 at my dad's course yesterday.  I'll take it considering I only hit 3 out of 14 fairways.

[Byrnzee]

I was able to play three times this past weekend:

1. Friday I played a Ryder Cup style match with my Brother-In-Law @Swood1994 and two of my cousins. The teams were my BIL and me against my cousins. We played 18 holes, with the format switching every six holes. Holes 1-6 were best ball, 7-12 were captain and mate (or scramble) and 13-18 were alternate shot. Our team was down early in best ball and captain and mate, but we ham and egged to perfection in the alternate shot to be down 2-1 after day 1. Day 2 included singles matches that we won 2-0 for a total victory of 3-2. Such a fun format and something we hope to continue as an annual tradition.

2. Saturday was my family's annual golf tournament. This was the 29th consecutive year of the tournament. The event is hosted at Vesper Hills Golf Club in Tully, NY. Rained all day with gusting winds, but we made the most of it. Happy with my score of 82 (41-41) given the conditions. Driver was pretty solid all weekend and I made some incredible par putts from 10+ feet. Aside from a few bad breaks, I played fairly well.

3. Sunday I was able to play my home course that I grew up on. The course is Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, NY - a beautiful Donald Ross-designed course with plenty of trees lining most fairways. My 2-iron was the MVP of the day as a lot of the holes don't require driver. Besides a couple shots that weren't struck flush, I was able to put myself in good position and was proud of my smart play. I struggled with some irons throughout the day, but my driver and chipping were solid. Ended up shooting an 83 (42-41), which I was quite happy with given the swirling winds (10-15 mph). 

Hoping to get some more rounds in this year, but with the weather quickly turning, it's looking unlikely. If this is the end of the season, I'm extremely proud of getting to my lowest recorded handicap (9.1). Looking forward to improving even more next year!

[ZoonORama]

Got out to a local track today. First time there. Par 71 course - shot 86. But then I was also experimenting on the course some too. The greens were surprisingly fast and VERY firm. Couldn’t stop a ball on them so had to play very strategically.
I really enjoyed the course. Practically nobody there and finished 18 in 2 hrs. 15 min.
Also, 18 with cart was on special from GolfNow for $21. Gonna hit that course again later in the week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shlax]

Played a very good round under miserable conditions (windy + constant drizzle at 10°c/50F).

Got my second eagle ever on the relatively long par 5 7th with the help of a very strong tailwind! Bombed my drive right down the middle and executed my 5-iron shot from 218 yds out perfectly. My ball settled roughly 15-16" behind the cup (the albatross must have been a close call, see photo below) and I almost lipped-out on my eagle putt because of the nerves.

 

Ended up shooting 80(+8) as my hands were frozen because of the cold, wind and rain. However, I beat my historically much better than me playing partner 5&3 in matchplay (and by 5 shots in stroke play) straight up, no given strokes, which is a testament of the progress that I have made this year.

Noteworthy, 8/14 FIR, 11/18 GIR, 35 putts and 2 penalty strokes. I should really work on my putting (and maybe nerves) as I left two birdie putts comically short.

Overall, good things are happening during this last leg of the season.

Edited October 9, 2023 by Shlax
Typos

[PrismFlopper]

Played a quick 9 when I found some free time in my hands on Friday. When the guys I got grouped with pulled up, talking about how one had shot a 69 in league the night before and 5he other said he shot a 76…. Let me tell you real confidence killer but they were nice enough. Hadnt swung a club on the course in like a month and a half, just with life being busy. Nervous I teed the ball up too high and came under it and the top of the driver chipped the ball straight into the air landing in the small pond about 30yds infront. 1st hole I just basically conceded cause it was abysmal. Game got alot better after that. Had a few mistakes that hit my score kinda hard but felt good to get out there and not look like absolute trash infront if these two sticks

[cksurfdude]

On 10/8/2023 at 2:01 PM, BallsLeon said:

On top of that, they had everyone wait to tee-off as the greens thaw, not something I've heard of before but I haven't played in this weather before.

Frost delay - grass gets moist overnight so the blades can actually freeze in low temps. If you were to walk on the greens you'd literally break the blades of grass .. leaving a brown, dead footprint...

Hence the delay until the sun can hit the greens and allow the grass blades to thaw.

Anyway sounds like it turned out to be an ok round despite all the extra time!

[Big moose]

Shot 42 with an 8 on a par 5. I birdied the previous hole which is a harder par 5 then I do that. Oh well try again tomorrow. Hit them well. 

[GaryF]

Played on Sunday with mixed results shooting 41/41 for 82.  Still struggling with my eye issue and being windy was exasperating the condition.  Drives were mostly good to very good but had a 3 hole stretch where I had the pulls.

 Had 2 birdies and on the par 5 18th, I mentioned to my playing partners that I had what I thought my longest drive ever on that hole at 249 yds.  My Ping G430 Max 4w has become my automatic second shot on par 5s.  I crushed it with a straight but slight pull - was aiming a bit left as there is water on the right.  Found the ball  about 15 yards to the left of the green and about 20 yards long.  Ended up with a par, but should have lasered for my second shot and would have accounted for the pin being at the front of the green and should have used my 7w. Regardless, was a great way to finish.  

Edited October 10, 2023 by GaryF

[BallsLeon]

12 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

Frost delay - grass gets moist overnight so the blades can actually freeze in low temps. If you were to walk on the greens you'd literally break the blades of grass .. leaving a brown, dead footprint...

Hence the delay until the sun can hit the greens and allow the grass blades to thaw.

Anyway sounds like it turned out to be an ok round despite all the extra time!

That makes sense! But I've heard other golfers around here say they never stop playing over the winter unless there is snow. We don't get the heaviest winters around here, but I'm sure it must be frozen most of the time.

Does it ever transition to frozen only? Sorry if this is a stupid question lol.

Also, how late in the season do you all go? 40° was a little brisk.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Got out on the course yesterday evening with my boys in tow to play a few holes. I think there's a pretty good chance I have played my last 9 or 18 hole round for this year, but will maybe be able to squeeze a few more in. If not, we will just keep going out when we can since we live on the course and play some holes here and there. Played two par 3s and a par 5 last night, got pars on both of the 3s after missing the green on both. Had a bump and run to about 5' on the first and made that putt, then on the second par 3 I hit a 60* wedge to about 13' after missing the green just short and left to a front pin. It was a slightly downhill, left to right breaking putt. Made the right read and it dropped in center cup. On the Par 5, I left my par putt just short and tapped in for bogey. Obviously very small sample sizes, but over 10 holes the Scotty is performing very well for me. Already has me looking forward to next summer where I can play a full season with it. Until then, I'll be practicing as much as I can indoors once this year's season comes to a close.

[NubianRugby]

Finally played Bulle Rock yesterday! Shot 98 but actually played 1/2 decent, a couple of 8s and 7 nuked my score. As usual, I wasn't able to convert any birdie opportunities but was able to sink a few par putts.

The course is gorgeous and immaculately maintained; greens rolled true, the sand in the bunkers was fluffy, and the fairways were nicer than some greens I've putted on this season. All of which makes it so strange that they don't have ball washers or hole markers; there's virtually zero signage on the whole course. The only yardage markers I saw was where they had a blue horseshoe to mark 200 yards out from the green, but there was nothing other than those blue markers that I was able to identify.

The main grill is closed on Mondays and it was a holiday, so there was no beverage cart on the course but (as my friend pointed out) the course was pretty empty, we didn't have to wait at all, and were able to play in slightly less than 4 hours so it was a fair trade off. It wasn't quite the "country club for a day" experience that I was expecting, but someone else did put my clubs on my cart and that was a nice change.

I was too busy enjoying the day to take pictures, but I'll definitely go back next season once my game is in shape. Considering that full price at some county courses near me is $75, the $100 we paid yesterday was a pretty good value. 

[cksurfdude]

3 hours ago, BallsLeon said:

That makes sense! But I've heard other golfers around here say they never stop playing over the winter unless there is snow. We don't get the heaviest winters around here, but I'm sure it must be frozen most of the time.

Does it ever transition to frozen only? Sorry if this is a stupid question lol.

Also, how late in the season do you all go? 40° was a little brisk.

Most private clubs will close before the ground freezes, while some .. along with some munis .. may stay open. Also if a course is open, assuming no snow cover, they may have temporary greens - an outlined area in the fairway in front of the regular green - in addition to later starts after the sun is up.

Personally I enjoy winter golf .. course isn't crowded, you can keep moving .. down into the 40s as long as it's clear or mostly clear and little to no wind! I used to ski when I was younger so I'm good at layering for warmth, plus the newer high tech materials in clothes make it much easier to stay comfortable.

The biggest hurdle for me is keeping the old hands and fingers warm.....

[chisag]

3 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Personally I enjoy winter golf

 

... Me Too!    

[cnosil]

33 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Me Too!    

That’s because in AZ the temps get into what the 70s? 

[chisag]

9 minutes ago, cnosil said:

That’s because in AZ the temps get into what the 70s? 

 

... We suffered through quite literally he!! on earth this summer in Phoenix so those winter temps are well deserved. It can get in the mid 50's on a few days and plenty of 60 something temps but yea, 70's are pretty normal too. Kinda funny we went through a cold spell last winter with upper 50's and low 60's but the week of the Super Bowl temps jumped up into the mid 70's and everyone acted like that had been the norm in the Valley Of The Sun. But I will never complain about temps in the 60's after spending 42 winters in Chicago. And I just don't play when it is in the 50's because it is too cold for my boiled blood. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

1 hour ago, cksurfdude said:

Most private clubs will close before the ground freezes, while some .. along with some munis .. may stay open. Also if a course is open, assuming no snow cover, they may have temporary greens - an outlined area in the fairway in front of the regular green - in addition to later starts after the sun is up.

Personally I enjoy winter golf .. course isn't crowded, you can keep moving .. down into the 40s as long as it's clear or mostly clear and little to no wind! I used to ski when I was younger so I'm good at layering for warmth, plus the newer high tech materials in clothes make it much easier to stay comfortable.

The biggest hurdle for me is keeping the old hands and fingers warm.....

I’m with you Chuck.  For me I will play at 40 degrees or higher, provided there are no other elements going on as well. 

[cksurfdude]

So did get out for 9 yesterday on a really nice, clear and mild Fall day with my honey.

Didn't play great but compared to previous few outings did play much better. Tee shots weren't too hot but everything else after that was mostly ok .. not quite as sharp as I'd like, but again overall not too bad.

Except for one blow-up hole where I couldn't stop compounding mistakes - until I finally got on the green and sank about an almost 20 footer for a (gasp!) Quad - was playing bogey golf.

One nice par on a long Par 4 - solid contact on the tee shot but caught the end of an overhanging branch and ball got knocked down into the fairway; solid second layup to about 115 from the flag; very solid 9i punch into the breeze right at the flag ending about 10 feet below the cup and a nice steady putting stroke to hole out.

Double on the last hole where I pulled the tee shot left into the rough .. where the tall fescue had been cut down and was left like a carpet so couldn't find the ball and had to take a drop. But then a really good punch out rescue shot to get into a good position in front of the green, and a good wedge shot a little past the flag to the back of the green.

So 8/9 holes of decent golf + 1/9 holes of f-l-o-g

 

Oh, PS: finally got to hit my new 5W for the first time - the 2nd shot on a Par 5 - and it worked just as I was hoping it would! Nice high ball flight, pretty straight, and seemed to land fairly softly.

Edited October 10, 2023 by cksurfdude

[chisag]

... Played as well as I can a week ago and shot a 66. Drove the ball extremely well and made just about every makable putt. Then the next two rounds my back was a little tight and I fell into old habits and everything was a little off. I'd hit a shot that turned out OK but neither my body nor contact had that satisfying feeling. Two pretty  frustrating rounds where I didn't hit a single shot as well as I can.    Played today with my 81 yr old good friend and pard and the very first drive felt great. Then I hit a 3 wood just on the front of the par 5 green and barely missed an opening eagle. I was having a good round, shooting under par and then came up a little short into the wind on #16 and putted against some thick grain uphill all the way to the hole, not wanting to take the chance of my LW slamming to a halt into that gnarly grain. Thinking the grain would slow the ball, it hopped off the first patch and jumped in the air over the rest, flying up the hill and 12 feet past the cup. Just missed the comeback for a bogie. Two really good shots and some bad luck, but that's golf. 

... Feeling good on the 18th I cut the corner over some trees and hit it as well as I can expecting it to leave me a 50yd pitch to a back left pin. It was getting dark and I musta hit it just a little more left than I intended and it hit the last palm tree on the dogleg and bounced straight back leaving me 189 to that back left pin. Some wind at my back and the fairways were very firm and I had to clear that palm tree, so I chose a 5 iron and could not have hit it any better. A little draw over the tree landing just short of the front, bouncing on and rolling to 8 feet. Rolled in the left to right slider to end with a birdie and a 69. My 81 yr old pard playing from the forward tees  had a rough 18 taking a triple, but played so well until then that he finished with a 79, and two strokes under his age. 

... It was a good day to play golf.  

[Jim Shaw]

34 minutes ago, chisag said:

... Played as well as I can a week ago and shot a 66. Drove the ball extremely well and made just about every makable putt. Then the next two rounds my back was a little tight and I fell into old habits and everything was a little off. I'd hit a shot that turned out OK but neither my body nor contact had that satisfying feeling. Two pretty  frustrating rounds where I didn't hit a single shot as well as I can.    Played today with my 81 yr old good friend and pard and the very first drive felt great. Then I hit a 3 wood just on the front of the par 5 green and barely missed an opening eagle. I was having a good round, shooting under par and then came up a little short into the wind on #16 and putted against some thick grain uphill all the way to the hole, not wanting to take the chance of my LW slamming to a halt into that gnarly grain. Thinking the grain would slow the ball, it hopped off the first patch and jumped in the air over the rest, flying up the hill and 12 feet past the cup. Just missed the comeback for a bogie. Two really good shots and some bad luck, but that's golf. 

... Feeling good on the 18th I cut the corner over some trees and hit it as well as I can expecting it to leave me a 50yd pitch to a back left pin. It was getting dark and I musta hit it just a little more left than I intended and it hit the last palm tree on the dogleg and bounced straight back leaving me 189 to that back left pin. Some wind at my back and the fairways were very firm and I had to clear that palm tree, so I chose a 5 iron and could not have hit it any better. A little draw over the tree landing just short of the front, bouncing on and rolling to 8 feet. Rolled in the left to right slider to end with a birdie and a 69. My 81 yr old pard playing from the forward tees  had a rough 18 taking a triple, but played so well until then that he finished with a 79, and two strokes under his age. 

... It was a good day to play golf.  

What a great post, reading it I felt like I was there with you… congratulations to both of you on a great day!! 

[Big moose]

Shot 47, hard to get excited about a round when you start with 2 double bogeys. The wind was gusting to 25 mph and it was always a cross wind, that said the only clubs I was hitting well were my woods, my chipping was awful and I only hit a couple solid iron shots and the one I did hit well the wind blew it 10 yards right of the green then I chuncked the chip. It's going to be warmer today and a lot less windy hopefully I can play better. Have fun people that's what it is all about for us. 

[Big moose]

17 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... We suffered through quite literally he!! on earth this summer in Phoenix so those winter temps are well deserved. It can get in the mid 50's on a few days and plenty of 60 something temps but yea, 70's are pretty normal too. Kinda funny we went through a cold spell last winter with upper 50's and low 60's but the week of the Super Bowl temps jumped up into the mid 70's and everyone acted like that had been the norm in the Valley Of The Sun. But I will never complain about temps in the 60's after spending 42 winters in Chicago. And I just don't play when it is in the 50's because it is too cold for my boiled blood. 

We were in camp verde for the whole month this past March. The weather was a lot cooler than I was expecting. We couldn't even get to camp verde the first day because route 17 was closed because of the snow. We are going next March again and hopefully it's a little warmer this time. Played golf twice once in surprise and once in Scottsdale. My brother lives in Phoenix and we went there several times and it wasn't that warm there except for the last week. 

[Blaine Dye]

Played in the tuesday night random scramble me and my partner shot a -1 should have been around -4 but we were both leaving alot of putts out there gotta clean that up 

[TG8]

League night scramble 3 man. 
birdied the first 6 holes (I had a chip in from 20yards and a 35ft birdie putt drop). Then the last 3 holes were par(the beer and darkness kicked in).  
Still love fall golf but it is getting a bit chilly in MO. 

[Stuka44]

Played Saturday.   Played very well.  Shot a 43 on the front which is pretty standard.  Backed it up with an even par 36 on the back.  3 birdies, 3 Bogies, 3 Pars.   Had birdie putts of 6,7 &28 feet.  Also rolled in a 9 footer to save par on another.  Too bad this isn't my Birdie Every Hole Challenge course. 

[Josh Parker]

8 minutes ago, Stuka44 said:

Played Saturday.   Played very well.  Shot a 43 on the front which is pretty standard.  Backed it up with an even par 36 on the back.  3 birdies, 3 Bogies, 3 Pars.   Had birdie putts of 6,7 &28 feet.  Also rolled in a 9 footer to save par on another.  Too bad this isn't my Birdie Every Hole Challenge course. 

Nice Round!