New PGA season!
TGL has kicked off.
Calendar has flipped to 2025.
And there's currently snow on the ground in many places. Oof.
Time to post about new equipment, swing changes, goals for 2025, trips planned, all the good stuff to get us to the green grass of a solid golf season outdoors.
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Replacing my irons this spring... Going to Ping and PXG fittings and go from there. I really like my titleist driver and 3 wood, so I'll likely keep them unless the numbers are crazy elsewhere.
I got a push cart last year and find that I use it a lot.
So now I'm looking into getting an electric one. Can't decide on remote control or not. Pretty flat here in FL so I'm not too concerned about the all terrain types.
All thoughts/recommendations/experiences appreciated.
I would think you'd want the remote control option if it doesn't add a lot to the price.
It does add a lot but it's still w/in budget. My concern with a remote is physically having to fiddle with it and in June-Sept, I'm going to have a shade umbrella on the cart that I need to be under a lot. So I'm going to walk with the cart most of the time. My primary goal with the electric is to not have to push the cart on soggy ground or with the umbrella up in a breeze; and be able to walk with it hands-free while I take off my glove and get a drink...I'm constantly doing that in hot weather. I'll go thru 4-5 bottles of Gatorade when it's hot and I'll be cycling thru 3 or 4 gloves hanging under the umbrella. The remote is in play because I'm afraid I'll find a really good use for it that I haven't considered.
MGI Zip X3 is looking tempting right now...Moto M1 as well
update: M1 on order
Took the 3w out of the bag, added a PING G430 5w and 7w. I really like both those clubs. I'm not sure what goal to set for myself this year now that I broke 100. I think I might just coast since I'm not going to have a quarter of the time I used to to play and breaking 90 is a ways off.
Although I am gonna get my annual winter round in on Monday. It's gonna be a brisk one 😬😬
Breaking 90 can come quicker than 100.
absolutely.
If you can break 100 you are probably making a few pars. If so, you can probably break 90. You are basically trying to make more pars than doubles/worse. Orient your tee to green game around what you do most consistently and manage your risks. Focus your practices on your short game.
Now breaking 80 is a pretty steep hill.
2 ways to break 90... no lost balls, no 3 putts. It's that simple. Keep the ball in play- not in the water or unplayable deep hazards and don't 3 putt. On a par 72 course, that alone is bogey golf realistically- right at 90. Now, if you par every par 3- hit the green, 2 putt (see above), you break 90. It is very realistic if you manage to do those 2 things.
DC Consulting LLC
Want to have a good football program? Sign 5 star players
Want to shoot lower scores in golf? Don't hit bad shots.
Love it.
That's why I charge a premium too. Common Sense and chasing your tail are bad habits but ignored by hacker golfers and wanna be major college football programs. Business is good these days! But in terms of golf- I was being dead serious and not a smart ass- for example - 170 yard par 3 over water. You are trying to break 90- that is going to be hampered if you rinse this shot and card a 5... soooo what do you hit 170? 6 iron? cool. Do you hit your 5 iron rock solid most of the time? Yes? hit the 5, aim for the center of the green. You are inconsistent with the 5? OK can you hit a 4 hybrid solid a little teed up? Oh yeah thats my favorite shot... hit that- center of the green. 2 putt and lets get the fuck out of here. Orrrr- you can try to step on your 6 perfectly, which you never do and come up 10 yards short in the water, have to hit an akward 80 yard drop shot close or make 5 or worse. That is what I am talking about- not trying to be a smart ass. You are chasing a score- penalty shots and 4 putting blows said score up- quickly.
Score also balloons if you're blasting a 4-hybrid twenty yards over the green because you took two extra clubs....
And sorry but saying just don't three putt is laughable. Pros three putt all the time even when they're trying to lag putts. You're just saying "get good"
1. A 28 HCP doesn't hit 4 hybrid 195... so lets stop there. 2. How would you suggest someone break 90? hope and pray and hit bad shots OB? Nail the one good 6 iron dead to the pin when you do that 1 in 100 at the range? I'd like to hear your plan . And here is the nuance you are either ignoring or missing.... Hooked drive totally over the top shit turn swing- bad shot. Horrible. Stays on this side of the cart path? bad shot BUT playable- no need for a drop (read extra shot that blows up my score ) Another drive- shit turn, swipe accross it- right of right into the houses. Can't find it. Bad shot, bad swing - penalty stroke AND we have to lay up just like we did with the shit drive that stayed in play. I am not being captain obvious and saying no bad shots- not what Im saying at all. I'm saying control the fucking 100 yard right slice a bit- or shoot 110- I don't care. In terms of 3 putts - same thing. Take a shitty stabby bad stroke all day long- how about don't hit your lag off the green? I could have answered- Hire a 200 dollar an hour top pro to teach you how to actually play golf to a plus 3 index over a years time- sure. But if you think about what I said in the context and nuance of high HCP golf, it makes perfect sense.
*sigh* I based the hybrid distance off what you said they hit their 6.... But as always, you've changed the hypo. Should have just listened to the the glossary. There's a reason you're an entry.
And my advice to a 28 handicap trying to break 90 is the opposite. Probably gonna be inconsistent enough anyway that playing it safe is not actually safe so just fucking go for it and have fun with it. Because you'll damn sure remember that one you do actually hit close every once in awhile more than grinding out a bogey or two. Thats the last I'll say on it.
Your response is why most recreational golfers can't break 100. Go straight for the pin every time. Don't practice lag putting, Fuck your 50 yard slice- aim that far left. you will card 89 in a couple rounds. Now go follow the glossary and look up where I was wrong about that stat. I wasn't but try to change the topic and prove me wrong.
I was thinking about posting this thread later this week.
Goals for 2025
Handicap back down to 12 (it's 14.1 right now) with a stretch to single digits
Break 90 by the end of April at my home club (my year always starts off slow and that about a month of outside golf)
Break 80 by end of season - I'll take this anywhere as the only place I did it was at the old VT course on campus back in 1992.
Play 60 rounds
Play 10 or more courses besides my home course
Alter swing path to inside out (taking a lesson or 3 to help with this)
Develop a wedge matrix (4 wedges by 4 swing lengths/types) after I replace my 52° and 56° wedges in April.
Golf trip I am trying to organize for this year is French Lick, Indiana. Two courses there a new Pete Dye course and a revamped Donald Ross course, plus Sultan's Run nearby. All 3 are top 10 in Indiana. We'll throw in the Pfau course at IU (played it twice last year) or maybe hit a private track we have some access to in Columbus, IN.
May try to hit a couple courses in northern Michigan.
Excited for the season to start, but in the meantime the sim will have to scratch the itch
All great goals and jealous you think you'll get up to close to 60 rounds. I'll consider myself happy if I crack 20 on the year.
Totally you do you but am generally curious how others feel regarding four wedges. I'm rolling with the PW from my iron set, a 52° and a 60° so I'll call that 2.5 wedges since the PW isn't really a wedge, just a high lofted iron shape-wise. But I've never felt the need for an additional wedge. Those with four (assuming roughly 48, 52, 56, 60) has it really helped having the differentiation?
I pretty much play my 52 anywhere from 40-115, and 60 for anything inside 40
Belonging to a private club has its perks and I have no kids and my travel schedule should be pretty light this year. I usually play 9 on Wednesday after work (league), 9 on Thursday after work ($20 blind draw 2 man net game) and then usually 18 Saturday and 18 Sunday. The season runs from April through October so lots of time to get in rounds.
Regarding wedges, I have PW (44°), Approach Wedge (48°), 52° and 56°. I have mostly used the 52 for any thin that is not a full swing or bump and run. I actually use it for bunker shots. It's all feel, though and some days it's really and some days it's not. Trying utilize the other 3 for more than just full swing shots. I won't consider a 60° because I feel that I can hit any shot that I need with 52° and its margin for error is much greater.
How you feel about your 52 is exactly how I feel about my 60. I find the extra loft super helpful and something about the bounce on it is perfect, even hitting flops off tight Bermuda
what is the bounce/grind on your 60? I do not own said flop off tight Bermuda and I'm faced with that shot a lot.
If you are not a 3-4 HCP or better, bounce is very overrated - especially playing on different/public courses. You can get similar results- very similar with a proper flop technique with varying degrees of bounce. Technique is most important for that type of shot- open face, accelerate through the ball, etc. Bounce- esepcially on better wedges- Vokey, etc is for professionals. Just like Mizuno Blades, Titleist blades- they are for pros. They will do you more harm than good. Focus on practicing flop shot technique vs. dialing in bounce.
When I was 55, I was a 4...briefly. But that came from hitting fairways and greens, not a Mickelson level short game.
In my 30's I could hit a 56 degree wedge almost straight up off hard pan. Somewhere along the way I lost that. And I'm turning 70 in June so there aren't a lot things that are going to improve from here on out. But yeah, practice over specs for sure.
Some of that could be the clubs too. Club building has changed a ton the last 30 years... meaning wedges are more forgiving than ever and build for swiss army knife- bunkers and fringes more than they were 30 years ago. I used to hit a great consistent 5 wood years ago. Now, the way those clubs are built- with a much lower center of gravity- its a different swing. And I haven't hit that club as well since.
very good point
Your blade comment made me laugh. My personal feeling is that if you have the time and desire, blades are the best way to get good. Either you become a better ball striker or you quit playing golf.
Would have to double check exact specs of mine later but it's one of the stock Mizuno t24's. Got it last spring to finally replace my 13 year old ping wedge
I'm not sure if I'm in the minority or not but TGL is awesome. Thoroughly enjoyed watching it especially watching Kisner nearly kill someone.
It's got great potential if they continue to tweak it to be a TV show. it won't last of the plan is for people to tune in to watch Tiger and Tiger only hit into a screen. They need to keep it fast paced, fun, lean into gambling, keep the rules to a minimum and think outside the box regarding the SIM courses. Make it a TV show- keep that as the focus. No different than how BBQ shows and home improvement shows work. Show the cool stuff- not sanding the drywall- but cutting cool angles and hanging it on the wall with the right technique. Don't show the pork butt sitting on the grill- show the prep, the seasoning, the cool stuff. If they keep it a TV show, it will work. If they tailor it to boring hard corps golf, it won't.
Yupp, they have to continue to creatively differentiate from watching a tour event. I'll happily watch golf Thursday-Sunday so I know I'm not the market they need to win over.
My one complaint was the audio seems like its a 50/50 split with the announcers and the players and they talk over each other quite a bit, gotta figure that out.
Great entertainment. Fun to see the pros not taking themselves seriously and letting their hair down for a bit. It's more like peeping in watching them play darts with a pitcher than actual golf, but really getting to see a few great shots from them from time to time.
My issue is that it's great now, with snow on the ground, it's cold, the tour has been in Hawaii but the NFL playoffs are in full swing...but the regular season runs until Mar 4. Then throw in 3 weeks of playoffs and you're into March Madness timeframe. Hoping they slide this to Nov/Dec/Jan next year for the silly season type not overlapping with the full tour season. Might be interesting to see how things go when they have to hop a flight Tuesday night after a match at SoFi to make the pro-am at the tour stop, or even worse, try to get to SoFi after practicing at at tour stop, then getting back. (Can't miss the pro-am or you get fined and DQ'd byt the tour...) There's the Cali swing coming up.
But overall, straight entertaining. It's not real golf. The holes prove that. It's simulator golf on steroids, just like how the pros get to play on top level courses and conditions that we'll never see. Not sure I'll catch every match, or work my schedule around it being on, but for now, given the weather and winter doldrums, I'll tune in.
My Christmas gift to myself was a replacement for my 54 degree which was sorely needed. Previously had the SM9 and went to the SM10 (bent down to 53 to help with gapping) and loving it so far.
Currently thinking about pulling 3 wood out of the bag - never hit the thing well and I've got a 17 degree 2H from Cobra that I hit pretty well as my 230 club right now. Launches pretty well so I can probably adjust it down to 15.5 and treat it like a 4 wood since I know a lot of folks game a 4W in place of the 3W. No idea what do with the 14th spot in the bag though.
I moved my bag around a lot last year and ended up on 13 and figured I'd play and find out what I'm missing....still playing with 13. Only thing I've come close to putting in my bag is another putter incase I miss with one I can blame it on that and switch.
Yeah I might settle on 13 for the season and do the same - see what I'm missing.
My only thought right now is to add another hybrid as a replacement for my 5-iron (longest iron in the bag) because I hate hitting full shots with 5i, but keep it for punch shots either out of trouble or to keep it low when it's windy. I've got a naturally high ball flight so having a low lofted iron might be useful, but I can probably hit punch shots with my hybrid with some practice.
I used to keep my 4i for just this. New irons didn't have a 4...I just learned how to hit a really low 5i and it does about the same if not better, I'm a lot more confident with my 5 so I took some chances I never would have with my 4 and a low stinging 5 is one of my better alternate shots now.
I just can't make good contact with my 5 iron on full shots. Hate the ball flight and strike feels off. Usually ends up going my 6 iron distance anyways because it'll launch too low or fall out of the sky from too little spin. I'll swing out of my shoes on a few and that's the only time I manage to hit it well. But that's inconsistent and not enough control for a stock shot, let alone trying to hit a stinger.
At this moment- lol- My 3 wood is an awesome fairway finder if needed. It's a titleist TSR - sounds and hits great. I didn't have one in the bag for years, but brought this one in. At my club there are also a couple holes that it is perfect for.
I've currently got a Taylormade Stealth 3W and I've just never been confident with it off the tee or off the deck, and it sounds awful to me. I'm pretty solid with driver (Callaway Rogue Triple Diamond) and don't usually play with a lot of penalizing rough, so I'll just pick a reasonable target for my shot shape and send it to where I don't mind if I miss the fairway by much.
I'm only hitting less than driver if I have to hit a specific number to a corner of a dogleg, or if the fairway runs out and there's trouble beyond it. My 2H gets a better ball flight, and finds target better than my 3W currently. Probably a skill issue but it is what it is.
I was a taylor made driver guy forever and i'm decent with the driver- until the M1- I could not hit that thing for shit. Replaced it with a titleist and never looked back.
Built my first "real" set with the Rocketballz driver back in like 2013. I was in grad school and got a good deal on it from Cox's driving range in Blacksburg. Did OK with it but my swing was way different back then.
Didn't upgrade the bag until I got fit a few years back across the full bag - I couldn't hit whatever Taylormade had either. Went to Callaway and I've been pleased so far. Hopefully going to demo the new Callaway drivers soon to see if the Elyte is all it's hyped up, or maybe get one of the Paradyms now that they're "old news" and cheaper.
Golf fittings now are amazing. They can swap out shafts, change the weights etc. Im due for new irons and I'm going to get a full bag fitting from PXG- I live in PHX. I'll see which ones work- and most importantly which shafts. I have my numbers from my current clubs saved from my home SIM (relatively accurate) and we shall see. Its a huge help to get fitted- for any handicap golfer.
I'd say, generally, might be better to carry the 13 instead of adding a 14th which you aren't confident in, and be tempted to hit it, or worse, feel obligated to try to hit it, and it not work out for you. Bad decisions can cost strokes, so if you take out the temptation, it might work out better.
Sitting here watching the golf at Pebble now and wanted to provide a couple updates.
Trip to French Lick is booked and I am stoked. Going in late August so it will be a bit of a sweat fest, but that Pete Dye course is as close to a bucket list item as I have (I don't really think in terms of bucket list). 8 guys going and we'll be playing the Dye Course and Ross Course at French Lick and Sultans Run. There will be a fourth course thrown in on the way home but that's TBD. Might head to Indy a day early with buddy whose brother is flying in from Charlotte and hit a course or two around there.
Took a lesson to try to sort out what's sapping driver distance. Was going over the top and failing to close the face so worked on correcting path. Interesting thing is that swing change has me hitting my irons and hybrids really solid now but the driver is still not there. Going to schedule the next lesson soon.
"going over the top and failing to close the face"...keeping food on the table for teaching pros
was able to get out a couple times last week. driver is starting to get in a groove; happy with fairway woods and putting; but irons are terrible and I don't have a clue. Lies are so skinny right now that there is really no room for error...and I have a lot of error
game is coming together...79 today...and that was with a double on 18
made a slight change in my setup (starting my swing with the club over the ball)...hitting the ball MUCH better...really helps keep my left shoulder from flying open too soon
Golf has been frustrating so far this year. I worked pretty much all last year on minimizing penalty strokes in a chase to break 90 had a lot of sub 45 9s but could never put together 18. Most of my struggles were off the tee. In the last 36 holes I've played with the same ball with a single OB...and still managed to shoot 97 and 98 because of horrid short game (multiple 4 putts, disastrous bunker play). Fix one thing and another goes. Guess I'll be spending some hours in the short game area.
Part of this has definitely been figuring out my winter club selection. The first 18 I was under clubbed consistently due to the cold air. The next 18 I over adjusted and was consistently long which put me in tough positions around the greens.
Keep grinding - it's a tough game. I was playing very well a couple weeks back, but this last weekend- sloppy AF. Not a lot of big numbers but bonehead shots- skulled 7 irons, etc. No excuse.
Couple of friends scored back to back practice days tickets for the Masters this year and were kind enough to invite me. Very excited. Anyone been and have any tips?
1. Take your most comfortable shoes. Course is much hillier than it looks on TV. 2. If you are going 1 day only, go to the merchandise stand first, deal with the crowd to find your sizes, etc. You will drop mucho coin in there. 3. Also buy a masters branded tailgate chair. Find a good spot- 12 tee, 16 tee, 18 green, etc. Place your chair there, and nobody will move it or sit on it- go roam the course and it will be there when you get back. 4. Don't yell anything out after a shot, you will be escorted out. 5. Don't sneak your phone in, you will be escorted out. 6. You will have an amazing time and drink a pretty decent lager for 4.00 if you choose. Also the peach ice cream is tremendous.
Going Monday and Tuesday. I appreciate the wisdom. I'll start saving now for the merch stand!
Besides re-sale badges, Merch is the only thing there priced in 2025. Also, they have never/don't sell that stuff officially online, so everyone goes to the store to buy a gazillion things for their families etc. You will pay 135 for a good shirt, 160 for a 1/4 zip, 40 for a hat, etc. It's not the food stand where a chicken sandwhich is still 2 dollars.
Ahh the exclusivity pricing, got it. Thanks again for the heads up! Very Excited.
It's amazing. Not a blade of grass out of place, and the hospitality is second to none. It's really taking you back in time in many ways. The Practice area is nicer than most muni courses.
All good advice. Also you can have cameras on practice rounds. It's also cashless and there's not a a line you will stand still in. Place runs like a top.
https://meh.com/deals/perfect-practice-collegiate-edition-9-5-putting-mat
$30 for a VT putting mat is a steal. Promo FSDEALS got me free shipping (not sure if it's still valid)
Shot an 87 earlier this month on the one warm day we've had in NoVA - 2nd best score ever and only 2nd time breaking 90.
Hopefully going to get a few rounds in later this month since I'm travelling down to Cocoa Beach to visit some folks. Itching to test a couple of updates to the bag; gaming a "new" Cobra Darkspeed X driver, and replacing my 5 iron with a hybrid.
Which courses?
Not sure yet. It's not a golf-specific trip so I'm just looking to play something nearby to scratch the itch that won't break the bank. I think Cocoa Beach Country Club is nearest to where I'm staying.
That course has three 9 hole sections, so for 18 u can pick 2. Its a fun typical municipal track. It's close to Minuteman Causeway, so centrally located. Driving range is in the middle.
Winter in FL is tough on courses, the winter tourist season pounds them and the greens start looking like the surface of the moon. Some courses have time limits there in winter, im not sure about CBCC. Weather is typically great in winter. Don't expect perfection but enjoy. The bermuda grass is WAY different than VA courses grass, so prepare for that.
Have a great time!
If ur travel and golf plans allow u to drive 30 minutes or so there are several nicer courses just inland.
Turtle Creek
Viera East
IRCC
Baytree
Duran
Thanks for the info! Flying out tonight and have a tee time tomorrow morning for Turtle Creek. Might squeeze in another round on Monday before leaving depending on schedule, so I'll check out the other courses you mentioned.
Sweet! Enjoy the warm environs!
I think I'm gonna pull the trigger to get fitted for a new set of irons. Anyone know exactly how that works? Do I tell them which sets in interested in? Do they just bring a bunch of different clubs and I try them all? Will I have to forcefully tell the fitter which clubs I'm purchasing?
You go in and hit whatever ones you want to hit that are available. Take some swings to get a baseline, then they will swap out shafts, etc. Repeat this for all brands you want to try.
Appreciate it DC, that's a load off of my mind
Don't be partial to a brand is my advice. Go in and get fitted, and pick the brand with the best numbers/tightest dispersion. They have all of the numbers on the computer. It's a pretty cool process, not stressful at all.
if you go to a place like Club Champion that specializes in fittings (that you pay for), they'll be evaluating a suite of different heads and shafts to see what works best. They have dozens of shafts and heads, and can combo about anything. A good fitter should be able to take the data and quickly move you into the right head and shaft; and then tweak length, loft and lie. You'll need to decide the composition, e.g., 5-PW, 6-Gap, etc. Again, you'll be paying for the fitting and obviously they'll want you to buy from them as well; but you absolutely don't have to.
If you don't think you have a consistent enough swing to warrant that level of intensity, then go to a place like PGASS; they'll have plenty of stuff to try but not the extent of a place like CC. They can also get you decently fit for length/loft/lie and you won't pay a fee for it. Finally, they won't press you hard to buy and PGASS does (or at least did) have a return policy; and I can attest that they honor it.
Wherever you go, just tell them what you are interested in, what you typically shoot (don't lie...they won't laugh), what your goal is (e.g., fix a slice or a hook). If you think you know what you want, tell them and then go from there. Regardless, they'll have suggestions based on what they see (and if they don't, go somewhere else).
Whatever you get, just remember a mat is WAY more forgiving than the ground. Back in the day Edwin Watts would have clubs you could demo...so if you have the chance, that's also not a bad thing to do before you buy.
edit: and everything DC said
To piggy-back, if you want to see what's out there, make sure they have plenty of options of Manufacturers. If you desire to have one over the other, you could seek out a fitting day for that maker. Some fitters have EVERYTHING, and that can be overwhelming to you and them as a fitter. But the good ones can cut thru the junk and get you pretty tight between 2 options within trying 5 different set ups. Be prepared to swing. And if you feel yourself getting tired and swinging lazy at the end, ask for a short break or if you could finish at another time. No need to get fitted to clubs for a swing that isn't your typical.
I really appreciate the feedback everyone, learned a lot from y'all. I'm looking at either end of March to early April for this so I'll let you know what I end up getting
Keep us posted, I am an equipment nerd! I'm getting fitted for PXGs soon- unless I totally can't hit them!
Please let us know how that goes! I have had somewhat of an aversion to PXG for some reason but people rave about their clubs
I live in PHX and play at a private club in Anthem. Every other dude/gal has them- they all rave about them. We shall see. They are headquartered 20 mins from my house. Ping is also here- and they do amazing fittings as well- you can hit outdoors if you want too.
UPDATE: After a vet bill and a car repair bill. I could've called off my fitting appointment. I refused.
I got fitted into the Mizuno JPX 925s with the standard regular flex shafts. I also hit the 7i further (farther?) than any 7i I have ever hit.
Y'all weren't kidding. Those suckers feel like butter. The best feeling hits with the Mizunos feel better than any of the best hits with the other clubs.
Straight butta. Never hit anything else that felt like a mizuno iron.
You really can't explain the difference to someone. You just have to feel it for yourself
congrats and enjoy!
Thank you! Now to go shoot 112 on my next round 😂
gotta get your money's worth!
I'm heading down to Myrtle Beach at the end of April for a family golf outing. It's looking like 8-10 folks. We've done this a few years now, but this is our first time in the Myrtle Beach area. I'm looking for some recommendations from folks that know the area.
We usually play team scrambles and play 1 round per day. Our group has folks ranging from 40 to 82 years old, with a few beginners, so the scramble format keeps the outing less serious and more about getting together and having a good time.
I started looking at courses and there's quite a few. I'm sure we'll enjoy just about anything but I always like to hear what fellow Hokies, and even more so, fellow TKPers, have to say.
Avoid Legends. At all costs. It's the pinnacle of bro trip golf and not in a good way. You will be looking at 6 hour rounds. And if you buy the package- the breakfast sucks and the lunch is a choice of hot dog or chicken salad sandwich. The Witch is a fun novelty course which wouldn't be bad to try. Other recommendations are: Fazio Barefoot, The "Big Cat" courses are decent but actually in NC. Long Bay is a Nicklaus design if you are so inclined and Pawley's plantation is a very good course.
From my initial searching, the Barefoot and Pawley's were already in my short list, so that's great feedback.
Intrigued by the Witch, I'll do some searches after work and let you know if I have additional questions.
We'd likely play a round Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so three total.
Also pay attention to where you are staying. From Barefoot resort to Pawley's plantation is an hour drive. (And might be more deeper in the season...) The courses are stretched out across quite a bit of land and travel times can be an hour or more depending on time of day and such.
The Witch is closed and now a subdivision.
The Witch is closed and now a subdivision... damn, did not know that. It's been a few years since Ive been there obviously
Our airbnb is almost deadsmack in the middle between Barefoot resort and Pawleys. I'm looking at booking Barefoot Fazio on Friday, Pawley's Saturday, and Blackmoor early Sunday (it's very close to our airbnb). Some folks that are driving back Monday are interested in a small group playing another round Sunday afternoon. In the interest of convenience, it looks like International Club of Myrtle Beach would work (I know TPC is also close, but prices are above what we'd like to pay by a fair amount).
Any thoughts/feedback would be awesome.
Any fire issues?
I think they've subsided and are either contained or out.
My advice would be to try to get tee times ahead of time. Things fill up quickly. And if you are teeing off at 11ish or so, just be prepared for a 5+ hour round. It is what it is with that many people out there. The courses that are more expensive have space tee times a little more, but are making up for the lost 4somes in the other times across the board.
I haven't played any of the 4 you mention. (5 if you include TPC) But all are name brands down there and don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Pawleys Plantation is a Nicklaus design which makes me iffy on it, but that's my issue overall with his golf architecture.
Edit: if you wanted breakfast before Pawley's check out BisQit. Might need a reservation, but they have spiked milkshakes. (Although if it's hot, milkshakes before golf might not be ideal.) But if you need a dinner recommendation for after Pawley's check out Chive Blossom.
"between Barefoot resort and Pawleys"- that's like literally the whole strand
The legends package isn't bad if you go for golf, not just to myrtle beach. We're headed down in 2 weeks, and 5 rounds, 4 nights, including the meh breakfast, lunch, and 2 beers a day is 850. The condo is on campus and we're one of the first 3 groups out each day after the first. Re-rounds are in $40 range for the afternoon too. Now, the courses aren't tidewater or Caledonia, but coming from 40 degrees and snow this winter, it serves the purpose.
Now, if I were looking at a get at it golf trip, it would be down at pawleys w Caledonia, tru blue, heritage, pawleys plantation, and maybe toss in tpc myrtle. But that's gonna run double what we are shelling out.
Sometimes just getting out w great friends is worth the squeeze. And knowing what you are getting makes sure you aren't disappointed.
"Re-rounds are in $40 range"- irrelevant as there will not be any carts available when you are done with round 1.
Finally was able to get out for the first time in 3.5 months on Saturday. Near 70 on the first day in March. Gimme.
Took a minute to shake the rust off. I've played long enough to swallow my pride and club up substantially when not in the middle of the summer and full muscle memory. Birdied 18 to break 80. Got up and down from 3 bunkers. Hit my buddies Ping G430 LST and might have found my next driver. Solid day on the course. Here's to many more.
First outing of the year on Saturday. Played 12 holes at Blacksburg CC. Just didn't have time for 18. Just me and a buddy, no warm up, hitting multiple balls just having fun. We get to hole #3 at BCC which is a brutal par 3. Anywhere from 200-230 depending on tees and pin. It was playing about 205 Saturday. I hit a clunky iron that was on line but 20 yards short. Had another ball in my pocket and we were in no hurry so I threw it down to get another swing in. Buckets. The dreaded Fred Couples Par. I am still simultaneously amazed and dejected. I now have 2 asterisk hole in ones without the real deal.
Congrats**.
Two asterisks are better than none, either with or without the *.
I survived. Man it was nice to have temps in the 70's, be on a golf course, no work, and just be able to take a deep breath for a minute. Played 99 holes in 4 days. 18-18-36-27. I'm good for a minute, but will be itching to be back out there soon. Heritage Club greens are in a great shape and rolling for this time of year. And Moorland is a wild animal with 25mph winds. Lots of golf for having only played once since Thanksgiving.
Got to the Homestead last week and played the Old Course for the first time. Was a beautiful early spring day in Warm Springs, great day for golf. So so happy winter is leaving
Weirdest shot I've personally witnessed today. I'll try to describe it...
Hole is a par 4 with a crowned fairway that drains into wooded wetlands on both the left and right. The cart path runs up the left side of the fairway.
I hit 3 wood off the tee to try to stay short of a fairway trap on the left side. My tee shot lands on the left side of the fairway but the fairway is very firm and the ball rolls off to the left, down the slope and across the cart path, but stops maybe 3 feet short of going into the hazard. I have a reasonable lie and can take a full swing. But there is a tree branch ahead of me sticking out that I need to stay under.
Meanwhile, one of the people I'm paired with (a couple from Michigan) hits a tee shot into the hazard right next to me and their backswing is partially obstructed. They are slightly away and hit first, chipping out to maybe 10 yards ahead of us. Their ball stops about 3 inches from the exposed left edge of the concrete cart path (less than an inch of concrete exposed above ground level). They'll be able to get relief from the path and so they wait for me to take my shot.
My plan is to play the ball way back, slightly close the club face and hit a low hook under the limb and run the ball up as close as I can to the green. I take my swing and catch the ball slightly thin; so it only gets maybe 6 inches off the ground with a ton of topspin.
My ball instantly hits their ball and my ball deflects maybe 45 degrees to the right and across the fairway well short of the green. Their ball, however, ricochets into the exposed edge of the cart path, rebounds up into the air and flies back into some thick ground cover in the hazard! It's like some type of trick shot in pool.
To add insult to injury, we can't find the ball. And the lady whose ball it is (was) didn't see this happen; she's getting a club for her next shot. But the rest of us are laughing as she turns around to hit her ball...and it's gone!
Yes, I gave her a new ball.
Game off the tee has improved significantly. Played 9 yesterday and put myself in eagle position on 2 par 5s and a par 4.....and botched my second shot on all 3 and went bogey, par, par. Ended up with a 44 after starting with a double bogey par 4
One par 5 was a hole I normally play very conservative hitting a 7w or 5i off the tee then laying up before crossing the water....was hitting the big stick well so and accidentally took a much more aggressive line than intended but it worked out. My wedge shot was pin high but way right coming off the downslope and barely cleared the water had to play my next shot standing on a retaining wall and barely got any of the ball, two putts for a par smh.
I'm feeling great this year. Shot a 43 yesterday birdied both par 5s but with a collapse on 8 (double) and 9 (triple). Burnt the edge on the same eagle putt on the hole above after pushing a 305 drive. Need to get out and play 18 while the clubs are hot.
Awesome- my mission for the past year was avoiding big numbers. Helps with everything really
Weather was finally good enough to get out this weekend in MI. After playing golf swing in the sim all winter, I can safely say that my swing change is very much not ready for prime time.
Shot a 93 on Saturday where I played very well on the back 9. Sunday was just awful everywhere. I think my problem is that I am stuck some where between my old swing and my new one (and a little bit in my head).
When things were struck well, the results were really good. Unfortunately the poor strikes were often and were absolutely terrible.
Weather is crappy most of the week, so I'll get back in the sim and work some more. Going to try a couple things to more represent on the course play (after I reinforce my swing). First I am going to use my full shot routine. Second I think I am going to take a 30-45 second pause between shots and switch up my clubs, only hitting driver every other shot.
On a positive note, I did hit some really good chips and my putting was general on point even if the greens were in early season form.
Back on the fitting discussion. I'm looking to replace my D and possibly 3w this year they're both 2015 Mizuno JPXs I like them okay but I want to swing some newer clubs since they're a bit old.
Weighing the idea of a fitting vs taking my current D and hitting 4-5 Demo drivers at PGA superstore and seeing if any of them give me significantly better numbers. $100 better spent on a single club fitting or a much needed short game lesson??
Option C- Go get a ping fitting- they are usually free. Also seek out demo days (free) at local courses near you- then you can try things out on the range.
You should be able to find a demo day from an OEM nearbye this time of year. You'll have to make an appointment with them, but it's free and they'll fit you right. Sometimes you will get lucky and see TM and Cally at the same place on the same day, occasionally accompanied by Ping and/or Taylormade.
If you want to do the $100 fitting, it does translate into the purchase price at that store. The value is what you behold yourself, honestly. Don't feel bad about getting numbers or set up from them from the fitting and shopping elsewhere either. It's your dollar.
I just missed TM and Ping fitters.
I'd get fit for the driver by the best fitter you can find...and especially focus on the shaft. While you might get lucky with a stock shaft, if you have the swing speed to get the numbers you are getting, then spend the jack to get the shaft right and the head dialed in to match. And it's probably going to matter most with dispersion. Get a driver/shaft that tightens that dispersion window and then you can focus on developing a very consistent stock setup.
Conversely, I think you can do a 3 wood fitting at PGA SS with one of the stock shafts and be very happy with the results.
This is kinda where I'm laying right now. I don't know that I have the confidence in my consistency to justify a full on fitting but the club is already so expensive that going to a club champion (this is where the most recommended local fitter works) and actually tuning a head/shaft combo seems like a drop in the bucket. Not sure I'll go through purchasing there as I've heard their up charges can be significant but maybe worth a shot
it may come down to the availability of the shaft.
If it is commonly available, then you can probably beat their price.
If it is an expensive upgrade no matter where you buy it, then there may be little difference in price even if CC does it.
it may come down to the availability of the shaft.
Next time my wife suggests a date night I will drop this line on her.
Ended up with booking a fitting at the PGA Superstore. Figured I'm buying the driver and it's better than not being fit. I don't have enough truly local courses to follow the brand fitters they spend most of their time on HHI and some Blufton courses outside of Paris Island where they already came through for the year.
Also scheduled a much needed short game lesson with a pro I haven't worked with before. Looking forward to that because I'm losing a lot of strokes around the green
Glad I went with the fitting I did the guy was straight forward didn't try to sell me on anything. My numbers with my current club weren't drastically improved by any combination he came up with said money would be better spent on lessons to nail down consistency. Didn't end up charging me for the fitting at all.
Good thing I didn't blindly buy the Ping driver I wanted. Absolutely hated it during the fitting. Titlest GT3 was the driver that came closest to my numbers but I struggled to get a good launch angle. Cobra Darkspeed was awesome probably the best feeling club but I got really hooky with it. Qi35 was the straightest but I couldn't get it to go anywhere.
Played my first round with the new clubs. I told y'all it would happen, shot a 109 lol. But I have a brand new problem: I can't chip for shit.
The short game is what killed me today, I attempted more chips today than any round I've played since I picked up golf. I'll figure it out. The score didn't change but the confidence is at an all time high.
the closer you get to the greens, the harder the shots are, for some reason
close to a lot of danger usually. Its like 99% hitting a confident shot (at least for me). The moment I think about blading it over the green I'll decelerate on the down swing and duff it 8 inches. If I think about not chili dipping it 8 inches I'll blade it into the pond 20 yards over the green. If I picture a landing zone on the green and hitting a confident shot there I usually end up safe.
Also playing to my ability, get the ball on the ground fast, putting from well off the green, bump and runs, not trying to fly the ball to the pin if I don't have to.
Deceleration in my chip shots is something I have really tried to evict from my mind. What tripped me up was the difference between interacting with the ground vs interacting with a mat.
100% stealing your landing zone visual idea
Jekyll and Hyde round today.
+9 on the first nine (normally the back nine); but -1 on the second nine (normally the front)!
Par on 1 and 2; birdie string at 3, 4, and 5; par at 6, bogey at 7, par at 8, bogey at 9.
Nice.
Played 9 this afternoon. Got to the course a bit early and actually went through a warm up routine. A couple of putting drills which didn't boost my confidence putting, about 20 chips in the short game area that were meh and 20 shots on the range which left me wondering if I should even go out. Warm up sessions like that make me want to just walk up to the first tee and take 10 swings with a weighted club and then hit.
Scraped my way to a 48 without hitting a good full swing shot until the 7th tee. Putting, and to a lesser extent chipping, saved about 4 strokes. I finally found the driver swing on the last 3 drives, but my irons still weren't flying right.
oh dear
got out yesterday for my 4th round of the year and broke 100 for the first time with 2 mulligans. Shot 52 on the front and 46 on the back - played better as the day went along. Aside from a couple just bad holes, I shot pretty well up to the greens. I left a lot of good scores there with several 3 putts. But I had a good time and hit some great shots so it felt good. I hope to get out more this year and keep improving in small ways where I can
Good job!! 3 putt are the devil incarnate
Finally got out twice last week. WooHoo! I replaced my old 4 hybrid with a Ping G430. It's perfect in the bag. It's still April, and I have to remind myself of that frequently, but last Tuesday put up a 73 from the shorty tees. (Was playing with my son that just got into the game, so we played at 5500.) Even so, was nice to see a solid score on the card. Played Saturday from the tips, and just couldn't get it going on the par 5's. Sad trombone. 5 over on the 4 holes led to an 81 from the back tees (6450ish) Happy to be out regularly again. Here's to a good season.
Headed to Scottsdale Thursday. Playing Troon North Monument and Grayhawk Raptor. This will be my second time playing desert golf. Lot of 3W and 2iron off the tee to keep it in play. Fly from Scottsdale to Omaha for work Sunday and will play at the dormie course Arbor Links in Nebraska for two days. Its golf season!
You picked 2 good ones. If you want to meet for a beer with a fellow Hokie, let me know!
My son lives in Scottsdale. We played the Raptor course while I was there seeing our new grand-daughter in November 2 years ago. Great course. The water was low in the lakes, but conditions were excellent. Fun track. We played from the Terra Cotta tees with a slope of 130 (Which, to me, is tough!). Great Time!
I finally found lessons that I actually feel like I'm getting something out of. If anyone is ever in the lowcountry for an extended time or even just for a first eval. Mastery Golf Performance is the spot to go. I'm working with Mark Anguiano and its set up perfectly to actually build on lessons. 1 time consult and then you buy lesson packages. I'm through my second one after my consult and my confidence is through the roof, he's not trying to change much but more make me understand where my bad hits are coming from. In the past 3 rounds I haven't hit a ball and wondered 'wtf was that' slowly starting to show up on the score card with a 92 from the tips (the white tee boxes were under maintenance) at a new course (131 slope) yesterday.
Hoping this thread has opinions. What experiences have you had with Arccos? Been debating on this for a couple years. I'm a mid HC. Any thoughts?
My friend has them and I thought they'd be really cool but honestly they don't do anything my 10 year old garmin approach doesn't and they struggled to pick up all his shots.
I've had Arccos for three seasons. Got the sensors free with the purchase of new clubs, so I gave them a try.
Generally speaking, my shots are picked up fine, but I have the link gizmo that goes on your belt. I think the new one goes in your pocket. Using my phone worked fine except I don't like a phone in my pocket when I play. The Apple Watch drained the batter very fast according to my buddy who also has them. Occasionally, they will miss a shot or, more likely a,putt, but editing your shots on a hole is easy. The bigger nuisance is the phantom shot on the next hole from putting your clubs in the bag. Not a big deal to delete it.
Arccos does a lot of stuff for you. Its GPS functionality will provide an adjusted distance (for wind, elevation, etc.) for any target you select. On the course, it will show you your distance from your last shot played which can be helpful if you are looking for your ball. It also has an AI caddie which can recommend how you should play each hole which could be useful if you are playing a new course. After the round, the stats you can analyze are extremely detailed. If you have access to a launch monitor you can add that data for each of your clubs.
I find it to be worth the value.
I know there's a lot of debate about when to get to the course before a tee time, how may swings to take on the range, and what putts to hit to gauge green speed, etc... but whatever the answer is, driving eight hours, sleeping for three, and working a half day is not it
Should not have taken that 3 hour nap. It'll screw up your game every time.
Oh I wish it was a nap. It was a 4:00 am to 7:15 am nighttime
You wasted prime pre-tee time drinking.
Trevor Cone (former Hokie golfer) qualified for the US Open yesterday. Will be awesome to see a Hokie go up against Oakmont
Two other Blacksburg locals fell short. And current Hokie fell short.
Good luck Trevor.
Was hoping my coach would come out of the Duke qualifier. Had a tough day finished + 2 total 72/70 with a double on each of the 18s kept him just out of the cut
Whenever a blow hard at a course or bar claims he's a "plus 3" HCP, etc, etc, etc. Tell him to watch the longest day in golf on the golf channel. Those guys are legit plus HCPs on real courses, not joe douche.
yeah I've had the honor* of playing with a bunch of old collegiate players/Korn Ferry Tour winners/Tour Card carrying members the past two years. The gap between them and the scratches to +1s on the local course is insane and most of the scratch guys are very aware of it.
*not sure that getting wiped up and down the course no matter how many strokes they give me is an honor or not but playing with them has definitely improved my game a lot.
I hear ya. Playing with better golfers is always a good thing unless they are assholes- which is a very high possibility. If not, it will help you. They tend to play faster, know the rules, can show you putt lines, etc.
I definitely believe that the main reason I went from a mid-teens to mid-single digit golfer 15-18 years ago was by playing with the best golfers at my club every weekend morning. $50 game @ 50% handicap, and I forked over a lot of $ the first year or so. If you're a 4 and get cut to a 2, not that big of a deal. But, if you're a 14 and get cut to a 7, it's tough to overcome. You either get better quickly, or help fund vacations for others. I never took lessons or asked for advice, but saw how they played and managed the course.
A million ways to lower scores and thus handicap. Course management is a big one. Being comfortable and confident with who you play with is another one. A ton of golf is mental. I don't play as well paired with condescending assholes or hackers that look for their ball for 15 minutes. Same swing, different mental state. Also dropping a shit ton of putts is what low HCPs do if you notice. Never 3 putt and sink a few bombs a round.
I grew up playing with a +2 and well there are downsides. There are things in course management that you never seen them do when their ball is middle of the fairway every single time. You dont see them in a lot of bunker shots. I got a lot better playing with a couple couple of 9=11s that would make more mistakes and show you how to get out of them. That's not to say I learned nothing from the +2, he taught me the rules and how to swing and putt. But dealing with a course is a lot different that just knowing how to swing.
Everyone picks up little things from the others they play with. For some, the worry of losing a few bucks is enough for them to grind and focus better. Some are going to take steps to get better. I've known guys that went from 12-4 in almost a year by playing with a bunch of low single caps. Also know a few guys that have shaved a stroke or two off their cap for nearly a decade, slowly improving, getting fit for clubs, taking lessons.
Not disputing you, just saying pay attention on the course. You can learn a lot; to and not to do while out there. But also remember, you're out on the course and (hopefully) in a beautiful environment. Enjoy every minute.
Hit it further and keep it in the short grass, seems like he was giving you good examples on how to manage the course to me /s
Made the cut this week and t36 going to final round. Good stretch for Trevor.
He just finished Round 2 at +4 and should make the weekend. Currently T35 with projected cut at +5.
He's in for the weekend. That cut line is gonna move north, maybe even to +7 by the time it's done. (Top 60 and ties.)
He's almost on the first page now!!!!
Cone finishe T42 at +12. Pocketed $73,000 for the effort.
Lanto Griffin qualified for the US Open. I know he's a VCU grad, but he's from Blacksburg and wanted to be a Hokie. And he let our staff know back then they made a mistake.
I hope he does well.
I no joke first glance saw this as Lane Kiffin qualified for the US Open and thought to myself, this guy will stop at nothing for the croots.
SEC guaranteed spots for the US Open
The Deep South inferiority complex is real.
Give me a few bourbons and I'll get into a debate on how VA was the crown jewel of the south and they were always the dead weight. And still are.
Man you guys seen a bit too "programmed".....
I know some people don't like USGA pumping up the course difficulty at an already difficult course like Oakmont but I'm all for it. Watching them battle different conditions from firm (all things considered) thursday to unplayably wet Sunday was fun.
I think it structures the majors perfectly. You get the classic feel at the Masters, historical tradition at the Open Champ, the field of the PGA Championship, and then just everyone getting punched in the face at the USOpen
Very happy for Spaun; really kept his shit together. With the TPC playoff loss this spring and his bad start on Sunday, would have totally understood him hanging it up; but he didn't.
I had to watch the last couple of hours without the sound on the TV (was at a family event) so I don't know what, if anything, was said; but I think they should have gotten pretty liberal with the casual water determinations if they were going finish under those conditions. Looked like two or three of those approach shots splashed pretty bad upon contact with the clubface. Don't know what Burns was asking for in terms of a ruling but he didn't get it and then sent the shot squirting off to the right, iirc.
Also tip of the hat to Hatton for his response while being interviewed when the long putt went in.
https://www.google.com/search?q=terrell+hatton+live+interview+spaun+putt...
The broadcast only mentioned two rejected casual water rulings and I saw quite a few drops being given. With Burns two officials looked at him in his stance and didn't see any water on the surface so by rule they got the call right...he also was already +3 since the restart with a double and a single on cleaner lies, so I'm not sure that that ruling was what collapsed him I was really pulling for him to win too.
that ruling was definitely not the first nail in the coffin but it was probably the last.
just found this video on the interweb...I might be wrong in applying the rule but if you can move water around with a squeegee (or in this case, a shoe), it ought to be considered "temporary".
https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/majors/us-open/2025/06/1...
Yeah, in general, if you can move water from the surface or "splash" with a normal step, you should be entitled to relief. The vid I saw, he should have gotten relief. Not sure why the rules officials lately have gotten tight with everything (I'm still scratching my head over the Rickie ruling when he was standing on the path but TWO rules officials said it was unreasonable for him to hit the shot anyway so denied him a drop.) But, some curious ones lately. And I'm sure I can move more water around than Harman, but that's to my advantage. ;). Fully believe they go it wrong in this case. However, it didn't cost him the Open.
Also, I'd say in general, if he called over Adam Scott and said "I'm taking relief and splashed a bit with his foot, Adam wouldn't have blinked an eye and he could have dropped without recourse. The fact that he questioned it allowed for the rules official to deny it when it clearly was worthy of relief...Knowing and implementing the rules are 2 different things.
The new oakmont has zero water hazards and zero trees. Trim the rough there like Augusta and the winning score would be 17 under. If there were no rough, Bryson, etc would just bomb every tee shot and play from the other fairway if needed. The only thing the USGA does to "trick" up the courses is the greens at places like Shinnecock, where they have fucked up drying them out multiple times. That was a shit show. But growing the rough out? They should do that- reward accuracy.
Yeah I feel like that might be another topic where I think they're going in the wrong direction. Fast greens are fun, destroying the course trying to make it roll a 18 on the stimp and over seeding the fairways just so they look pretty on TV is silly and imo takes away from the skill aspect when you have mudballs and good shots not holding
Pro's love fast greens, but they hate unfair greens- which is what happened at Shinnecock and Pinehurst a few years back. They were too dry and wouldn't hold. But give a pro a choice, he will choose a fair fast green over a slow one every time.
I remember that at Shinnecock. Players with a 2 foot putt on I think 17 would lip it out and it would roll of the green because of where the pin was placed. They actually had to resort to watering the green down between groups which was a huge embarrassment for the USGA. I think Goosen ended up winning over Els IIRC.
They renovated Oakmont over the past few years. They have a strain of poa annua that's re-wired itself to be a shorter stem and smaller flower. This means they are able to get it really short without killing it, like at Shinnecock. Oakmont will 99.99% always have THE fastest greens anywhere because of this, and it will stay green and alive. Saturday at the Open, they quad cut AND rolled the greens. Sort of had to after the 1" of rain to just keep the green speeds consistent with the previous 2 days.
It was a solid open layout. The Pro, the board, the USGA, wants par to win at Oakmont. That's their target. And given the greens and layout, I don't have a problem with it. There was very little complaining about the "newly reno'd" Oakmont outside of maybe the fairway on 12 that kicked too many balls that hit the short grass into the lettuce. Otherwise, they took their medicine and played golf. Love that they are on an 8-year cycle here now.
my critique is less about the course than the decision to re-start when they did. I know there was a lot of pressure to finish on Sun, but at a lesser tournament, I think they might have waited or bit the bullet and restarted Mon a.m. That course needed a couple more hours to dry out.
But congrats again to Spaun for gutting it out better than everyone else. He'll be remembered for the closeout putt (that he didn't have to make) but his tee shot at 17 won it for him.
Hey @LifetimeHokie12 how was your St Andrews trip????
Giving the zero torque thing a try. Went with the Betty SB1 blade style which is primarily steel (versus aluminum in some of the other manufacturers). Their SB2 is really easy (maybe even easier) to putt with as well...if you can get past the looks.
We have come full circle in golf hell now. Douchebag "you tube" golf star Grant Horvath actually turned down a PGA tour invite and would rather "influence" instead. God make it stop.
"youtube star declines an invite to an event that won't let him film" doesn't have quite the inflammatory impact
Oh the headline possibilities are endless fake pro golfer doesn't want to be exposed playing real golf and missing the cut... I mean endless possibilities
he gets paid because people watch his videos -- no videos, no money. all he did was decline an invitation lol
I am opining on the growing insufferable "golf influencer" culture. He personifies it. I have been a serious golfer since well before you tube- when it was a gentlemans game and there were no boom boxes on the course. I cannot stand golf "influencers"... I should blame the no lifes that give him oxygen
Get off my green!
Lol i hear you about culture creep on a lot of things. But understanding there is a difference between a professional youtuber and a professional (anything) is important for categorizing the world. Remember And-1 Mixtape Tournament Streetball? Savannah Bananas? James May got paid to do a cooking show -- is he a professional chef now?
I don't know any "golf influcencers" other than Grace Charis, and that's because she shows up in my feeds. A lot. ;^)
The OG one is Paige Spirinak- google it. She literally started the industry- when you see her, you will see why. She is also a legit golfer- former LPGA card holder
Nooo, I've never heard of Paige Spirinak. ;^)
Jesus. So much more appreciative on a laptop. I love golf.
She has nice bounce, and is very well qualified.
Shot a PB 9 38 two weeks ago. Followed it up with a 51 this week. I love golf. I hate golf.
In other news my neighbor opened a 4 bay sim facility just down the street from our neighborhood. Monthly memberships unlimited 24/7 access. Now part of my morning routine. Wake up go hit 15 minutes of warm ups. 9 holes on a tour course and the remaining time on the range/practice modes, head to the gym, then start my work day. Already seeing nice returns.
I haven't been able to swing a club for 2 weeks. I did something the last time I was at the range. One swing I was fine, next swing there was a lot of pain in my neck/upper back. I'm just about sick of waking up with pain after 14 days. Anyone have any tips on relief?
My tip is to talk to a doctor and not tkp (like that is my honest to goodness advice -- finally getting my knee checked out after a 2019 injury has never quite healed)
Man Gobble, I know you're correct. I just wasn't prepared for *this* advice.
But with that being said I really hope you get relief for your knee. That sounds awful and, roles reversed, I would tell you the exact same thing
My knee makes audible noise going up and down stairs with moderate pain. Like its not just i feel grinding, but you can hear it -- mri came back unremarkable except for minor fluid and swelling, so checking w an orthopedic next week and expect he'll order the mri with contrast
Based on my last round out, I think my driver snuck a half dozen shots. That thing could not keep it straight during its sobriety test. Worst part is, it's still got five years until it's even old enough to drink
Such a frustrating game. I'd been playing alright this spring into early summer. Had several rounds in the mid 70's so felt good headed to the member guest. I don't know what happened, but I lost all my yardage and my typical little 5 yard fade. The first day of the member guest was a struggle; thank small white golf ball jesus that my partner had a career round(s) for the first 3 nines. I shot 44-44-43. Ooof. Somehow we were still leading our flight, but I didn't sleep well knowing that. Then the last 2 matches hit and the wheels fell off. I lost 40 yards off my driver, every iron shot was weak, short right. I think in 45 holes I hit 13 bunkers. I didn't hit 13 bunkers in 6 rounds in Scotland. So out of character. Guess what! We didn't win the flight. Nothing like posting 46-43. After that I took 2 weeks off....no swings, no stewing over it. Just out of sight, out of mind.
Played Saturday and things were close to back to normal. Distance was back. Ball flight was back. Short game was solid. Decent 80 with 2 doubles. Guess we're back to our regularly scheduled programing.
It sure is frustrating! Strange that you lost so much yardage without an apparent injury, but it sounds like the re-set is what you needed. My days of shooting mid-70's regularly like you are probably long gone, but I can still get there on a good day.
I had my own frustrations this off-season, starting with a somewhat botched meniscus surgery in November. Within two weeks of post-op PT, I knew the surgery didn't work and a subsequent MRI showed that my knee was either still torn or re-torn. After consulting a top surgeon in Boston, I was put on a new PT routine involving blood flow restriction therapy, which worked really well. Hopefully I can avoid another surgery for several years. I never should have let a guy on the Cape cut on me when the best doctors in the world are 60 miles away.
Anyway, also this winter and after my youngest son got a new set of clubs, he begged me to go out and play a few holes in 20 degree, somewhat snowy weather in February. This was WAY below my comfort level for golf, but like an idiot I agreed & jumped in the cart and raced out to the par 4 behind my house with no stretching or warm-ups. I took one swing with my driver and dammit, a sniper got me in the lower back. More doctors (turned out to be a very painful injury to the sacroiliac joint), more PT, when the golf season started this year, I had lost 30 yards on my drives and 10-15 on my irons. I was swinging with only my arms for the first few months as I couldn't get my lower body into my swing and I just couldn't reach the greens with my normal shots. My index shot over 10, the worst it has been in 15 years and I was very frustrated. I was in a lot of sand, and I really struggled breaking the mid-80's until the past month as all the PT work started clicking. My legs now feel stronger than ever (I'll never skip leg day again like I did for, oh, 20 years or so), and I can get full rotation with a repeatable swing. I realized I can no longer just race to the 1st tee and go. I now have to stretch, warm up a bit on the range, and be smart. It's really helped. My brother (also a Hokie) and I won our flight in our club's 4-day MG a few weeks ago and made it to one of 3 teams left standing in the shoot-out. I was really proud of him as it was only his 2nd big tournament in 15 years or so. Yesterday, in the semi-finals of our club's Match Play championship, I finally put it all together and shot a 76.
My goals are to get back to shooting in the 70's consistently and one day to shoot my age. I'm 67, so I probably have a few years to go before I can be lucky enough to ever do that.
Good luck, Nerf, hope you continue to play well!
The distance loss and weak right was the frustrating part. I know when I'm tight and not hitting it full distance, but it was warm, I was loose, and using the same pro v's as always. Partner also lost his game so was just assumed someone had a doll they were shoving pins into.
I can feel your pain. Im close to a knee something, whether it's cleaning or replacement. Just stiff and in pain. Can't continue like this.
Haven't posted much this year as I have really struggled. Made a path change over the winter and it has taken 4 solid months of playing to where I feel competent again. Handicap ballooned up to 17 and I was struggling to break 95. Somehow my partner and I won our first two matches of our clubs team match play event (yay strokes).
Last few rounds I found my swing thought and now 90 seems to be the target. Also, started working on lowering my ball flight on my wedge shots and reducing the number of full swings I take with them. Of course, we dropped our quarterfinal match on the 19th hole (after battling back from 3 down with 3 to play).
Got a weekend trip to northern Michigan to play the Dream and Nightmare coming up this weekend. Then in late August I am going to hit Southern Indiana. We're playing Sultans Run in Jasper, the Ross and the Dye at French Lick and finishing off this exceedingly difficult rota with the Pfau course at Indiana University. Hopefully my game continues to improve and then hold together for that trip.
A tale of two nines.
I work with a guy who is a member at 12 Oaks near Raleigh and it legitimately might have the toughest greens in the area. They are brutal. And they were playing really fast when I played Friday because they had their club championship Saturday and Sunday.
I absolutely blew up on the front, posting a 63. I haven't played that badly on 9 holes in probably 4 or 5 years!
I shot a lot better on the back but still couldn't putt to save my life. I think I had one or two good putts on the back and posted a 49. It's a tough course but I was glad to turn around my luck mid-round after playing the worst golf I've played in years. I'm more pleased with the bounceback than anything else.
Must be going around...my short game is a shit show right now.
Friday I hit 9 of 13 fairways; had no lost balls or penalties; hit only one trap; had only one less than solid contact swing (ball stopped on front fringe); and managed a...........+16. Only one up and down, beaucoup three putts, and made only one putt (a 4 footer) that wasn't a tap in. Pure ugliness.
Entered in local long drive comp for the opening of the sim place here. Was the second person to go and my drive held on until the last person up who asked to borrow my driver then got me by 1.5 yards. I should not have lent him my driver. It was a pretty poor turn out as far as anyone that really golfed my drive went for 301 which I figured would finish middle of the pack not 2nd.
The new GHIN 9 hole system seems to be keeping my hdcp really high. I'm down to a 19.4 while my league that keeps an independent handicap (avg best 2 of your last 5 [so likely too low]) is down to 5 strokes for 9 holes - GHIN gives me 10 on that same 9 holes.
301? That's a driver and a sand wedge for this old man, lol. Nice ball!
Sympathize with you all. Have completely lost my ability to hit long irons this year after having no issues in years past. Not getting the ball even close to the distance I was hitting my 5 and 6 irons last year and can't seem to figure out how to fix my swing to get back to that buttery 190-200 5 iron and have replaced it with a push/slice or weak shot about 160.
This is becoming more of a support group!
I went out for a couple rounds for the first time since knee surgery (I agreed to the golf weekend last year before tearing my meniscus in April). I made you an look like pros. I had pretty low expectations because at my best I am a lower 90s player and at this point have a timid swing, but I think the only drive I hit clean and straight was on a dog leg haha, lost that ball. The short game was the most disappointing, hit several 20-40 y chips halfway to hole. On the bright side I did hit some greens from the tee on par 3 and did manage to par one of them. There might still be hope.
if you don't have faith in your knees/legs for transfer of weight, then you're swinging all-arms....especially on the chips. Braces are your friend, tan line be darned.
I had the brace on too. Itwas all mental, knee was only slightly sore after 36 holes over 2 days, but yeah some swings felt like Charles Barkley out there.
Played 2 rounds last week, and the weather was complete opposites. Tuesday afternoon it was nearly 100* when we teed off. Very little breeze, full sun. Ball was flying. First time all year we got the extra distance with the heat. Friday, it was around 72, misty/dewy/foggy with a 15-20mph wind. Felt so awesome after 4 straight days of high 90's. The ball was not flying longer that day. Did get to see a buddy shoot a career round at 73 though on a course he'd never seen before.
I don't get to play 18 often but I got the chance this past weekend. My 9 hole scores have been well below 45 consistently so I go out expecting to be in the 80s maybe low 90s...and played so horribly I'm not even sure what happened. Legit went par, pick up, par, pick up, bogie, pick up. It was like every other hole I completely forgot what a golf club was. Shot my worst round in a couple years and into the triple digits.
If there's any Hokies in the NJ/PA/NY area interested, I have 3 spaces open for a 16 guy, two day guys only golf outing at the historic 1911 Shawnee Inn & Golf resort in Shawnee-on-Delaware PA on September 21 & 22. The course is on an island in the Delaware River and has (3) 9-hole layouts, and was A.W. Tillinghast's first course design. A couple of guys backed out on me late in the game here. We split up in to two teams playing for fun - (5) handicapped 9 hole matches all with different formats (singles, 2 man best ball, alternate shot, 4 man scramble, etc.) over 2 days with overnight double occupancy accommodation and breakfast included. $275 each. Dinner at a separate pub on site we go to is not included. Resort also has the Shawnee Craft Brewery on site. We are all basically in our mid 50's, and range in handicaps from 10 to 25 and just have fun together drinkin' beer and playing some golf. The winning team's MVP gets to display the trophy in their home for part of the year!
man that sounds awesome! I wish I could swing it but I won't be able to. Maybe another time
I'll keep you in mind next year if I have any openings!
Awesome trophy and sounds like an incredible (and reasonable) trip! Having just got back from my own 8-person golf weekend, hope you all have a blast.
2 spots open now.....grab your buddy and take a road trip and stop in Philly for Cheesesteaks! Nerf knows what I'm talking about!
Johns roast pork, other half, and monks. Must hits.
John's roast pork is legit. Leo's too.
This sounds so legit. My daughter's wedding is coming up and her fiance is setting us up for a pre-wedding round at Kiawah. So, I gotta stay focused on getting that done. Hope u fill it. Sounds sooo cool.
Update.....spots filled.......for now......🤞
broke the drought w/ a 79 today. apparently hitting irons straight is conducive to better scoring; who knew? no miracles; just steady as she goes.
I'll have to try that cause pull hooking them 30 yards off-line or blocking 20 yards right isn't getting me below 90.
Nice round.
thanks
been fighting a pull hook with my irons, pretty much all year...which puts more pressure on my short game...which is at best mediocre and lately outright sucks
If you are a good player pull hooking irons, weaken your grip. If you are a 22 HCP, it's probably coming over the top.
Yeah, I will tweak my grip on occasion especially if I need to hit a fade...
Wound up just changing my posture a bit; I was too upright on the shorter clubs. Feels good and I don't have to change or remember anything else. So now the irons are somewhere between straight and a little push draw and I get a little higher ball flight to boot.
Golfed Isle of Skye Golf Club in Scotland today. The golf was completely forgettable; the location was incredible
Enjoy your trip! We spent 10 days traveling around Scotland in July and absolutely loved it. Try some Cullen skink soup and steak and ale pie if you get a chance.
Adding them to my list. I have tried haggis and black pudding so far. Very much to my surprise, they are delicious. Would eat again.
Just got back from my 2 summer golf trips. The first weekend in August I played The Dream and The Nightmare in West Branch, Michigan. The courses were good layouts, but the carts at The Dream were death traps (no motor braking and soft brakes in general on a hilly course). These are premier northern Michigan golf courses, but the Northern Michigan golf scene is really solid.
Last weekend, my buddies and I went to French Lick, IN. We played Sultans Run, the Ross Course and the Dye Course. Sultans Run was a great layouts but the greens were shaggy and bumpy. Overall it was a little disappointing. Shot an even 100 because I couldn't figure out the greens chipping or putting.
The Ross Course has been around for over a century, and is an extremely challenging layout. False fronts, greens on top of hills, bunkers in the middle of the fairway about where your driver would land and a fair bit of heather. Shot a 95 with a 4 hole par streak to end the round.
The Dye Course is the jewel of the 3. Immaculate condition, peppy greens and lots of visual appeal. It's not cheap, but worth it if you like exquisite golf. Also, a couple surprises at the end of the round which I won't spoil in case you want to play it. Shot a 96.
We wrapped up the weekend with a stop in Bloomington, IN to play the PFAU course at IU. If you can keep it in play off the tee, there are opportunities to score. If you don't, you're going to be punished. Managed to scratch out a 97.
U.S. captains pick press conference going on now. Finally get to see if Keegan is playing. First pick of JT is no surprise though
He's going straight down the list...so far.
Sad to see him not pick himself. But it's understandable...
They screwed him last time around and screwed him by naming him captain too early.
Yeah I agree I think he makes this team stronger but I get it. Glad he picked Cam and Burns though. Didn't think he'd take both honestly. And I knew he'd take Cantlay but I could have been fine leaving him out. My ideal (strictly from play) would have swapped Keegan for Cantlay. Rest is the same
Would love to have seen Keegan get to tee it up at Bethpage. US needs someone other than JT to play with visible passion. I understand playing and being captain would probably be too much to ask but I was here for it. I would have left off Morikawa. Don't trust him to make any putts and he's another low energy guy.
Hoping the crowd is out for Cam. And Bryson will pump them up.
Agree on Collin...he's just not in the best form. Hopefully we can play him once Friday and once Saturday and we don't get killed doing so.
Cam and Bryson both play the same unique ball that no one else plays so they are likely paired together in foursomes. That will be a strong pairing at Bethpage. Both are elite drivers and putters.
Best round this year today...a 76 from the blended tees (half regular, half senior). Was even thru 11 but faded down the stretch. Weather the last few days has been tolerable for the first time really since May. Course is in excellent shape (third summer after the renovation) and looking forward to some great opportunities for the next month or two before the snowbirds arrive.
what's the point of Bethpage Black with soft, slow greens and easy pin placements
Can't control the weather....but Keegan things we have better iron play and can take advantage of that. All a general thought until you put the peg in the ground.
just disappointing that a course known for its difficulty is playing like a pitch and putt...one of the alternate shot groups this morning had 7 birdies in 13 holes. would love to see some more scrambling
Disaster class so far from the Yanks. JT looks bad, Henley looks awful (even Scottie can't save him). Rory and Fleetwood are playing insanely good golf.
yup...pitiful display
The fact JT is back out for four balls while Xander is off this afternoon is bonkers.
Edit; JT gets the only full point of the afternoon and makes me look like a big ole dummy
Keegen is probably already thinking maybe he should have played.
I'm liking this Spuan/Scheffler team to start off the afternoon 4-balls.
i'd have Burns paired with Scheffler...don't understand that at all unless it has to do with the ball they play. and Spaun and Griffin out instead of English and Morikawa...again make one of them play a different ball...or Henley and Thomas...anyone but Harris and Colin
The golf ball excuse is the biggest horse crap thing ever from the US. Lowry plays Srixon and Rors plays Taylormade. Don't see them having issues. We seem to generate these little things to match guys, like the both put their left sock on first. The ball doesn't make THAT much of a difference. And after the way we've played, one can definitely say there is ZERO chance it hurts this week.
I agree it's overblown but not entirely negligible at their skill level. Also Lowry and Rory played in fourballs (better ball) so they each played their own balls. Rory was with Fleetwood for Foursomes (alt shot) which is where the ball excuse comes into play
especially when 4 different guys playing 4 different balls will all hit the same iron on a par 3. you adjust to the temp; you adjust to the wind; you adjust to the altitude; you adjust to the speed of the green; hell, take a couple of hours and adjust to the ball.
absolute carnage
Somehow more embarrassing than Tech football
you know it's bad when the announcers are talking up the possibility of [name random American golfer] holing out from the sand or the rough to tie or win a hole.
Absolutely wild that the no-match half point form the Hovland English pairing is going to actually matter. I think I would have liked Hovland in that matchup anyways but that is crazy the almost comeback by the USA today
Definitely was watching more today than I expected. At least they made it interesting.
Thought it would be over a couple of hours ago. Hats off to Young, Thomas, et al
Received a gift certificate for Father's Day in 2022 for Royal New Kent, and just wasn't been able to use it until this past weekend. We tried to set up some extra rounds around Richmond with my buddy's familial contacts, but they all were out of town. (Hermitage, Willow Oak, Kinloch...) Well, I guess that worked out because Sunday wasn't the most conducive day to play, yet alone at any of those big boy tracks. We drove down Sunday afternoon, got splashed on the Bay Bridge Tunnel with the winds and storm surge breaking waves on the pilings, and rewarded ourselves with a few pints and a pizza at Triple Crossing. Got a hotel by the airport, and were the second ones out Monday morning. No rain, a club wind for the most part, and open fairways. I've looked at pics, scooted around google earth, read up on it, know plenty of people that have played it...but nothing prepares you for the real deal.
I know they did a ton of renovations in 2018, converting the greens to bermuda, rebuilding nearly every bunker, redoing the irrigation system. You can see it, for the most part. But now, 7 years later, there are some jungle spots just off the fairway and cart paths out there. Dense, thick, get lost type thick.
After getting the first hole, and the intimidation of the tee shot and the second shot 40' uphill out of the way, the course settles in nicely. It's a second shot course if there ever was one. The landing areas off the tee are generous, but it's the approach (or tee shots on the par 3's) that truly matter most. And my second shots were mediocre on Monday. Managed to close out the round at 2 over for the last 5 holes, so that's something. Neither of us mad a single putt all day outside of 8 feet. But both of us will be back, at some point, even if it's another 3-4 years to do so. Wild place, but knowing the lines now, feel like we both can improve our scores and still have fun.
Scoring season closed today in Michigan so I figured I'd wrap up the season.
Failed on most of my goals this year:
Only played 58.5 18 hole rounds vs a target of 60. Might get some decent weather before the end of the year to push this one over the line.
Started the year with an index of 14 and rather than dropping it to 12, it ballooned to over 17. Never got consistent ball striking after changing the swing last winter.
Only played 8 courses outside my club - wanted to get to 10. Still might hit this one too as my club is closing for the season this weekend.
On the positive side, the French Lick golf trip I took in August was absolutely awesome. The Dye Course is bucket list level and the Ross Course is fantastic too.
Up next, I have to decide if I am going to work on my game over the winter or not. Two years ago when I dropped from 16 to 12 I took most of the winter off (no lessons, minimal sim golf). Last two winters I played a lot of sim golf and took lessons and my game went the wrong direction the following season.
We are starting to plan our junket for next year and it looks like we are going to visit Greensboro and take a run up to Primland. If any of you have played it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Primland is an awesome course. The first hole is my favorite opening hole of any course I've played. Incredible views out there. It's an intimidating course off the tee. Accuracy is a big premium over distance. Big undulating greens. Great set of par 3s. Good chance you'll see deer, turkeys, and a bear all in one round.
I highly recommend staying at the resort if you get a chance.
Thanks for the info. Won't get to stay at the resort this trip as most of our golf is in Greensboro, but that is also on my list.
Went to Charleston, SC to have (and do) our daughter's wedding. Wife planned the entire event and it went flawlessly. I helped a lot, but she deserves the credit. Our new SIL is a great guy and our daughter (and us) are lucky he's a part of the family now.
On Thursday before the wedding we played Shadowmoss so the guys could get a break. Everyone was starting the back nine that day. On the 17th hole (8th hole of the round) I hit a great drive cutting the corner and then choked the 2nd shot for 80 yds into the right rough, but I still have a shot from there. 175 yards out. Hit my 5 hybrid and its right at the cup. See it bounce, but could not see much of the green or the bottom of the pin. Figured I'm on in regulation. Grass is Bermuda. Get to the green, no ball on green. OK, there was a decent wind from behind me so I figure it bounced over (pin was in the back). I go behind the green and am looking in 2-3 inch Bermuda, which will swallow a ball - so you have to be right on top of it to find it. Its busy that day, so as I am looking (took a while) Nick (SIL) and his best man (Jake) finish up. Jake sinks his putt and goes to get it. My Ball is under his in the cup. EAGLE! My third in my life.
Golf game is getting better, but I keep hurting myself (life happens) and have had to recuperate each time - which takes away from my plans. To be continued...
congrats! (on both)
I don't watch a lot of golf, but saw a few Reels where teams of pro golfers were speedswinging (?) holes, with one driving, one in the fairway, and a couple near the green. Is this a thing? This sounds like something I would watch.
The euro tour does it occasionally for their social media. Then a few weeks ago they did a made for tv thing that did this. I was only half watching, but they played the same hole like 4 or 6 times.... It's not a normal, scheduled thing, yet.
That was a Team Rory vs Team Sheffler challenge at some course with palm trees and lights that aired a few weeks ago on ESPN. That was one of the events - how quickly could the team play the hole. They also had a comp where they used every club in the bag to hit the green from like 175 yards. It was interesting but I don't know I would want to watch it every week.