Figured we were getting deep into the Winter one, and now that spring has sprung for most of us, a new thread is in order. Fill it up, hit em straight, and birdies to everyone!
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For the Mizuno fans out there
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CofswqfNkdw/?igshid=ODM2MWFjZDg=
Had a weird occurrence with the GHIN site this morning. My last two scores (from Sunday and Monday) which showed as posted yesterday disappeared this morning.
They also happened to be the first two scores I posted through the Arccos app. I heard that GHIN was down for a bit last night. Anybody else lose a score from Sunday or Monday?
P.S. I contacted GHIN support through my state golf association.
Hmmm...that is weird. I posted my Sunday score on Monday, and it's on GHIN.
Did you check today? Mine were there Tuesday, but not today.
I see you aren't in New England or upstate NY, so you are in-season...GHIN should be accepting posts.
I'd just go right to the GHIN app and post. Use Arccos to track stats, but manually input scores into GHIN?
I'm in NE, on the Cape. Posting season began on April 1st.
upstate NY, Maine, and Vermont are the 15th.
Surprisingly Delaware is April 1 as well. Maryland is March 15. Virginia:
I believe ours used to be 4/15, and they moved it up a couple of years ago.
I posted 3 scores already this year, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, through the Grint app. Those scores are there.
Arccos added functionality to upload to GHIN last month. Last year I used the Grint to upload.
Hey guys- bumping up from the old thread-
I go camping in Cape Henlopen delaware for a week every year. Last year, me, VTnerf, and MasScott got together that week and played a round in Ocean City MD. We are planning on doing the same this year at a southern DE or Ocean City MD area course (yet to be determined) during the week betwwen 7/22 to 7/29. VT nerf thinks he might have a VT fourth person, but I was thinking if there were 4 more of you guys that are in that area and are interested we could put together a little 8-person team tourney type of event-
Are any of you guys also in that area and possibly interested?
I had something happen to me on the golf course this weekend that I've never seen before.
Playing the second hole, OB left and I yank one. It's headed out and hits a tree squarely just off the course and drops straight down. Get up to the ball and it's out. Sadly that's not the part that I've never seen before. I take a drop in the fairway at a cost of two strokes.
There is a chocolate lab that is kinda wandering around the fairway. Looks lost or frightened. My buddy gets the dog to come over to him to see if he has a collar. Well the dogs attitude changed instantly and he decided that my yellow ball that I just dropped in the fairway belonged to him as he grabbed it and took off.
We couldn't stop laughing. Hope the dog found its way home and enjoys the Pro V1 he stole from me.
I'd be convinced that owner has him trained to go find balls on the course.
Bandon Dunes was incredible.
We're junkies Joe. Don't just tease us with that. Give us the details.
Yeah Joe, gonna need a full recap!!!!!!
Plz.
The views are better in person than you can even imagine. These courses, they were designed by some all-time greats, and that still hasn't sunk in for me. The courses all piss risk/reward and it's just so fun to play them as 103 one-hole courses. I walked 18, 18, and 31 on three successive days. Don't do that. I didn't find out about the
Theragun in the room until after 27 holes. That would have really kept my legs together. Even so, it's hard to really enjoy the experience with that much golf stacked and there are plenty of non-golf things to do in the day.
I did Preserve on the last day, which you should, but we did it in the morning. Next time around it will be the last round of golf we do so we can let loose at the end.
On any day you play multiple rounds, pack an extra set of socks in your bag. Order the fucking meatloaf.
These are my personal course rankings:
1. Bandon Dunes
2. Bandon Preserve
3. Pacific Dunes
4. Old Mac
5. Sheep Ranch
6. Bandon Trails
The entire experience is top-shelf and they do everything right.
I'm happy to answer any questions you all have. Just let me know!
Thanks for sharing!
We currently have the following as our itinerary for next April:
1 - Bandon Trails + Preserve
2 - Old Mac + Bandon Dunes
3 - Pacific Dunes
4 - Sheep Ranch
Ending with Sheep Ranch since I heard that is the easiest walk and best views (also the random dates I picked had some course closures we had to schedule around). Still I am anticipating that making it through all the golf we have scheduled will be a stretch. I'm trying to get my group to start training now.
Questions for you:
How was the weather?
What were the non-golf things you enjoyed or wanted to do if you had time?
Did you fly in/out of Eugene? Any issues there, particularly with your clubs?
Sheep Ranch is an easy walk. Old Mac was the hardest walk. I walk every round of golf I play, and I play at least 27 holes a week, and I wasn't prepared. Definitely use the compression pants and Theragun every night.
We had the best possible weather. It should rain a lot there in April. It poured up until we got there, and then rain was all in the forecast after we left. We teed off into a 10 minute hail then rain storm, and after that there wasn't any precipitation and it hit 50°F every day. I would pack and prepare for wet weather though. Better to have it and not need it.
100% hire a caddie. We used Jay Jordan and he was terrific.
The only non-golf things I did was shop, eat and drink some beers. I wish I had time for a massage, or to walk around the property (trails) or venture into town.
We flew into Portland, direct, and drove down. I also put an AirTag in my bag to keep track of things. We stopped at the Salishan Coastal Lodge for the night to break up the drive and it had great food and a nice warmup course. I had no issues with my clubs, I took the head off my driver, used a Club Glove Stiff Arm and I wrapped everything up in towels and packed it nice and tight.
Awesome and thanks!
Good call on the caddie. Booking that is something I have not done yet. Were there any other caddies in your group that you'd recommend?
We carried and pushed our clubs around so we only needed a single caddie.
man, I wish I could play 27 holes a week! I haven't even played 27 holes this year
I'm pretty fortunate to have the flexibility.
One more follow up. Any recommendations for dining? Did you have any favorite dinner spots? I've heard dinner needs reservations, but did you have any trouble eating breakfast or lunch?
We only made reservations for The Forge. I forget which restaurant serves it, but definitely eat the meatloaf. Lunch and breakfast is really easy to find.
Meat does not belong in loaf form. Thank you for coming to my ted talk
This is a bad take, that meatloaf was heavenly.
Of all the ways to eat meat.... A loaf? It's unnatural.
Nah...it's just a burger without the bun.......
A sausage without a casing
It absolutely is not. You find me a burger that has breadcrumbs and ketchup as key ingredients of the patty itself. Disgusting.
OK. Maybe not exactly like a hamburger, but you get the idea.
Maybe more like a meat version of a crabcake?
which is uncoincidentally the worst way to eat crabs
I can think of a worse way...
live? try me -- i deal with people around here daily who are way crabbier than a literal actual crab
I'm crabby I can't get out to play golf this weekend. And tomorrow afternoon is jamming up as well. Ugh.
On second thought, you really don't want to know what I was thinking
via GIPHY
to be fair, I've never eaten crabs in this manner...and I wouldn't want to
Oh i don't even like crabs- just making the comparison.
I bet you and French would have great culinary discussions.
me 🤝 French
pit beef
Unless you eat meat like a lion (fresh off the bone, raw, with fur and tendons and all) all meat is unnatural
I'd have sheep ranch higher personally, but you cant go wrong. I'll never forget my trip there. Amazing
As already requested, a full recap would be greatly appreciated. Our trip starts on 4/14/24 at Bandon Trails and I cannot wait.
Bandon Trails is probably the toughest course out there.
He aint lyin!
Relevant. Bandon building 6 new courses in Colorado??? https://www.instagram.com/p/CrMoDu3uB8c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
My old Cobra Fly-Z finally kicked the bucket this past weekend, RIP.
Snuck down to Golf Galaxy this evening...proud new owner of a TM Stealth. 8 degrees, HZRDUS 70X extra stiff shaft...cannot wait to get out on the range/course with it. If what the trackman was showing is legit...woooo buddy.
I'm in love.
On the range was love at first sight. Twice on the course...need to figure this bad boy out.
You are obviously not messing around :-0
Swing hard just in case you hit it 🤷♂️
One of our reps at work invited me to a charity golf tournament, but I've never played a course before - just done the range/TopGolf. Anyone have advice on finding a decent left handed set for a n00b that won't break the bank?
You need to look used or one of the direct to consumer brands.
Look on FB marketplace. There are some good preowned online stores but you pay quite a bit more once they get their hands on them and "grade" them. I'll always suggest getting used clubs first, playing for a few years then getting fitted once you're ready to make the commitment.
Shot my career best round this weekend after barely playing for a couple weeks and my course had punched greens. Might be the definition of "I'd rather be lucky than good". 25 putts on those bumpy things!
Everything is greening up and healing up nicely. This last bit of rain should ensure the turf is healthy for a while into mid summer, as long as the supers can manage it right. Hard to believe the bermuda is popping and almost full out when it took until the second week of June last year. Mild winters will do that.
With that being said, I have to remind myself that it's not June yet, so the little mistakes aren't mid-season frustrating ones, but rather the early season still shaking the rust off ones. Still broke 80, but a couple of 3 putts on the back would have been super infuriating if it was June or July. But since it was still April, and my 5th round of the year, I can be happy with the final result. Hit em well everyone and take a day or 2 to let the courses dry out. We got over 4" in some spots between Friday and Sunday.
Finally broke down and upgraded driver, 3 wood, irons, and hybrid. Went from Ping G10 driver, Cobra F speed 3 wood, Cobra King Cobra 4 hybrid, and Cobra FP irons, to a Ping G425 Max driver, Ping G425 3 wood, Ping G425 4 hybrid, and second hand mint condition Mizuno MP-H5 irons (which I got for free from my cousin who used to work at Kinloch). Extended and regripped the irons myself. I've played the irons but haven't hit the others yet. Hopefully this weekend. I'm hoping that having 12-15 year newer technology in the bag will help some.
Anyone had any experience in getting fit for a putter? Looking to do it at golf galaxy but wasnt sure if its worth paying to do or just go hit putters and pick one that feels good.
I was gifted a full bag fitting to Club Champion a couple of years ago, which included the putter.
I enjoyed it but not sure I'd pay the $100, or whatever just the putter costs, to do it.
The machine they use to see what you're doing with your stroke was cool. Based on several factors in there I was recommended to get a mallet (I had a blade and consistently lined up ~1 degree to the right) and then a face-balanced putter based on my stroke path. He started me with a $400 Evnroll, which I thankfully did not like, then he put a double bend TM Spider in my hands and I made 10 in a row from 10ft. I bought the Spider from golf galaxy since I had a gift card to there.
Overall, cool experience and useful to learn about my stroke's preference for face-balanced. But the whole process was like 10 minutes, which makes the price tag seem extra harder to swallow to me.
The one at golf galaxy is only $40, the description on the website seems like they use some technology to help recommend a preferred putter. I have a blade currently but very curious about switching to a mallet for the forgiveness factor. I figured if I was going to drop a couple hundred for a new putter might as well get fit to make sure it works.
I would do it for $40. I now will only but face-balanced putters because of my fitting.
Easy, cheap option to see how your putting is going...buy a putting mirror from Amazon. Can be the $8 plastic one, but it will give you a quick analysis of where your eyes are and how you are set up. Fix that fist, then see what type of arc/stroke you have. Go to Scotty Cameron and research which type of hosel and set up is best for your stroke. Which toe hang and how much, center-shaft or plumbers neck, etc. Then go roll some yourself and see which one you like. Much easier than having someone staring at you, crouched around you, while you're trying to putt. Those results don't typically feedback well.
I bought a putting mirror at the beginning of last season and it helped so much it's not even funny.
My $.02.
Need feels good, sounds good, inspires confidence, and (critically) rolls straight coming off the putter face. If you can't comfortably make the alignment line(s) on the ball go straight end over end, then no matter how good the putter looks and feels, you'll be looking for another putter next year.
I think that head weight, face inserts/feel, alignment lines, etc are an individual preference thing. But it is important to at least have the right length and lie angle to have our eyes over (or close to over) the ball and our arms comfortable in our stance; the putter head balanced to match the arc of our swing (or lack thereof); and the offset/loft to match our hand position.
Do you need to pay for that? PGA Superstore in Jax has an older gentleman on the floor who is exceptional at fitting people (because they don't want the putter to be returned) but I don't know if that is common in other stores.
Don't know if I mentioned it in the old thread, but I finally replaced my old Callaway wedges with the Mizuno S 23's (54/8/D grind and 58/12/D grind) . I'm a nothing special wedge player but life around the green just got noticeably easier. D grind doesn't facilitate the crazy artful shots (that I lack the skill to pull off) but it is way more versatile than S...and both of my wedges are stupid easy out of the sand.
The S 23 puts the sweet spot in the middle of the wedge face instead of toward the heel...and you will likely notice the difference when you deliberately play the clubface either open or closed.
First Member-Guest of the year later this week at Ballyhack. Current handicap has not been adjusted up enough to reflect the effects of a long winter layoff and having our first child last spring. Buddy of mine is coming up from Raleigh. Nothing better than setting that "out of office" reply on Outlook and closing down the laptop for 3 days of golf and transfusions.
Play well, but most of all, enjoy it!!!
I've heard nothing but great things about Ballyhack, definitely on my VA bucket list.
How do you like Dormie Club?
It's top of my list to try to find a way to play!!!!
(We are staying in Roanoke for almost a week around Labor Day...)
Contact me close to labor day and maybe we can work something out! cream06 at VT.edu
Will do!!!
Played it last Friday. It did not disappoint. Probably my favorite course I've ever played.
Happy to host you or vtnerf or anyone on here sometime.
I just became a Dormie network member last year and have only been to Ballyhack and Dormie Club. So far it is top notch in all aspects of lodging, food, service, courses, etc. I'm not exactly sure on the cost/value equation. It is an expensive weekend and there are so many great courses out there that you can enjoy for less. My membership is somewhat unique. Feel free to email me if you want more details. You have my info!
We're hosting the USGA Amateur 4 Ball where I work at Kiawah Island Club in Charleston, SC May 20-24 and we're still looking for some more volunteers. If anyone's interested, reach out to me @ jp(dot)nelson(at)kiawah(dot)com.
Here's some info about the tourney in case anyone is interested. Should be a fun time!
https://championships.usga.org/usamateurfourball/2023/articles/fast-fact...
Had a few guys I know go over to Carnoustie for the Craw's Nest Tassie. HUGE match play tournament, with 384 guys competing for 64 spots in match play. One guy barely qualifies in the 64th spot for the match play, and his reward is to get the 5 time champion of the tournament, who plays out of Carnoustie. Turns out, he's a +5.6 and the #35 amatuer in Scotland and top 1200 in the world. He had 5 birdies in 12 holes from the tips at Carnasty to win in the first round today. At least my golf buddy has a cool story to come home with.
Joined Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston. Kind of pissed it's been there the entire time but apparently the name checks out. Going to start walking since cart fees would pile up. Looking for any push cart recommendations please and thank you!
I played that course a few times 15-20 years ago, as a dear (now departed) friend of mine was a member. Yes, the name of the club is appropriate, as I remember several holes where a somewhat hidden, wandering creek cuts across fairways. Another interesting point, at least back then the pro shop sold everything at cost to members, as the annual dues included a single pro shop fee of around $200.
Each has their pros and cons. Some of that is price...
https://www.independentgolfreviews.com/best-golf-push-carts/
https://www.golfmonthly.com/best-golf-deals/best-golf-push-carts-197384
Have a CaddyTek 4 wheel design. I like because it's lightweight, sturdy and folds up compactly. I have seen the 3 wheel design and would recommend it too.
Thanks to all who responded. Greatly appreciate it!
I have the cheap/basic Caddytek 3 wheel I got off Amazon and it works just fine. I tend to carry my bag for 9 holes and bust out the push cart for 18. If I had any gripe it's I would prefer one with slightly larger wheels as I feel like it would roll/push easier.
It was a gorgeous day yesterday at the beach and was fortunate enough to get 18 in with a fellow Hokie. He works for a golf course design frim, I work in coastal resiliency, and both are firms are designing and permitting changes to about 7 holes at Eagles Landing in west OC. I was trying to keep things together since I've had a stomach bug for a few days, so I didn't have great energy. But, we made it. I've been on the stupid bogey train lately. Not hitting it poorly, just not able to score. I know it will break loose at some point, but I've been blowing the whistle on this train for a bit and it's frustrating. At least the next score I post will kick a 72 out from last summer, so the vanity cap will slowly normalize to a current status of my game.
BTW, he's a scratch, plays at a nice club in MoCo, and routinely plays with the A-team guys. Solid player. And hit his 3 wood past my driver a few times. I'm getting old.
Thats a nice course. Some great holes out there. Good opening stretch
7,8,9,10,17, & 18 are going to get raised. Some spots in the fairway are below elevation 3, which floods in the king tides and heavy storm surges routinely now. Cool project and cool to be a part of it.
Heading to a concert next Sat (June 3rd) at Jiffy Lube in Bristow. Looking to do some old man tailgating before hand (ie - play 18 and consume several transfusions). Considering Bull Run or Stonewall primarily due to proximity. Any local advice / recommendations for a hacker from Richmond?
Haven't played either but have heard good things about both courses. Would say I've heard more positives about stonewall recently.
Both are great. Stonewall would be the easier one to head over to jiffy lube after.
As the weather is turning warmer, my game is starting to take shape. On Sunday I uncharacteristically missed four putts from 5-7 feet, and shot 77 after birdies on 17 & 18. Last night in a 9-hole match in league play, I birdied the first two holes (giving me four in a row, pretty crazy) and ended up with a 1-under 35. I hope my form holds, as my first multi-day Member-Member starts June 9th.
If any TKPers get up to the Cape, let me know.
Well, as expected, the golf gods got me back. I started losing my swing tempo over the weekend and put up some ugly, ugly scores.
My game goes in predictable cycles, always has and probably always will. I play 'normally' for a couple of weeks (81-82), then go on a bit of a tear where I can shoot low for 3-7 days. But, inevitably I will come across a situation where I'm in between clubs, and since I'm swinging well, I take a shorter club, swing just a touch harder and knock it stiff. That slightly harder swing becomes my normal swing. Do that a couple of times within a round or two, and my swing ratchets up even more though it feels normal to me. I'm swinging way too hard and inevitably it breaks down and for a few rounds I can spray more balls than Cruex. Then, it takes me a couple of rounds to get it back, and I have to focus on just dropping the head of the club to my ball. The cycle starts all over again.
If the 'good' cycle hits at the right time, i.e., a tournament weekend, I can so some damage. Hopefully, that happens in about 10 days. I have a few more rounds to work it out, and I'm confident I will get there.
Play in a Wednesday night team play (when work allows it)...this past Wednesday I went -2 on 9 for the first time ever (and took home a wad of cash, c'mon). Ramping up at the right time (hopefully) as that course's invitational is next weekend. Lfg.
Played the River course for the first time today since McConnell took over. The conditioning was noticeably improved. On the other hand there was no one out there. Curious to see what they do to make that property a positive cash flow operation.
Shot 84 without hitting a single good drive. I can hit 10 perfect drives on the range and then go to the first tee and spray it all over the course.
Played The Old Course at Homestead this past weekend. Best shape I've seen it in a few years. Greens beat the crap outta me. Putt to chip a few times. Great experience overall. Pro shop and bar / restaurant are under reno and the pro shop has been contained to the bottom floor, so 19th hole is up the hill.
I was out there 3 weeks ago. Great course. Oldest continually operated tee box in the US on #1. 17 would be an amazing finishing hole - downhill short par 4 with the resort framed perfectly behind the green. Greens were fast but not unbearable. I played by myself and got in 18 in 2hrs 15min.
I love that you don't play a par 4 until the 6th hole if I'm remembering correctly
They keep it interesting with three 3s, three 4s, and three 5s on each nine. Kind of unique for a par 72 layout.
I do like that about the course.
Returning to the game after a ~ 15 year break. Picked up some Mizuno JPX irons off of Marketplace and went out yesterday with a couple of groups from the hood.
We played Worthington Manor in Urbana MD. Nice course. The good players all commented on how the set up was tough yesterday. Greens were pretty firm. That course has lots of hills and missed shots funnel to bad spots.
I had 1 decent hole with a proper par (GIR and 2 putts). Not bad for the second round in the last 2 years. I used some of dcwilson's advice from his AMA and clubbed up on most of the par 3s.
Worthington is one of the top top courses in MD. They can get the rough long, greens firm, and tuck some pins out there. Always a test.
Welcome back to the game. Picking up some Mizzy's was a great move. Enjoy playing again.
Bulle Rock was phenominal and probably my favorite course in MD. I like it more than congo. Woodmont is a great track too if you can get on. I've played wothington, but that was 15 years ago. if I remember correctly its a donald ross course, so greens are a premium.
Worthington is Ault-Clark, but they also put a premium on green-side scoring.
I've heard the same about Bulle. Congo is just a brut, and after every reno, continues to be that.
One of my buddies used to be assistant Super at Woodmont. Never had a chance to play it, but he always has a fondness of it in his heart. Since he wasn't a member, but knew the "crowd" would end up working in the am then driving to Worthington to play in the afternoon.
Man, I've been on the bogey train lately. Not hitting it poorly, just can't score. The 70's have eluded me for the last handful of rounds and it's frustrating. At least my handicap is normalizing again after a 72 from last season got knocked out. We played this morning and I think it rained on us 7 different times. 13 holes w rain gloves on...