Golf Talk Tuesdays 2015-2020

[VanWinkle]

i played a nice course 40 miles away at a casino/resort a couple of days ago. Shot 84 which is not bad considering the greens were lightning fast. So several 3 putts and a couple of chunk chip shots. About to play with my buds at my home course. playing golf sure helps the mind in these mostly stay at home days.

+1

 

[Starsky]

Tried playing for the first tie in two months. My playing partner and I hated it. It takes away all the fun. Might try again next week, but separate carts and distancing changes the game for me.

 

[jcretire77]

I took up golf after years of playing tennis. Leagues, tournaments, etc. It was my focus, but as time passed I lost my interest in the competitive aspect. People can be jerks. I found I love to play golf alone. No competition. Just hitting the ball. Don't get me wrong, I do like playing with DW and other friends, but being alone on a course is quite serene.

 

[pb4uski]

Tried playing for the first tie in two months. My playing partner and I hated it. It takes away all the fun. Might try again next week, but separate carts and distancing changes the game for me.

How so? Please elaborate. I've played several rounds in separate carts and didn't notice much difference.

 

[Midpack]

Tried playing for the first tie in two months. My playing partner and I hated it. It takes away all the fun. Might try again next week, but separate carts and distancing changes the game for me.

It limits socializing but you’re together on tees, greens, presumably lost balls and when you land within talking distance. Not a huge difference to me. It’s sure preferable to not playing at all to me. When my regular course reopened walking only, we walked 18 severally times which is highly social (6 feet apart) but that’s tough on our feet and backs, were very glad to have carts again. We mostly played 9-10 holes walking.

And I understand some courses have installed clear plexi or plastic divider curtains on their carts? Might make sense if this goes on as long as I think it may - I assume many courses don’t have enough carts for all single riders.

 

[jollystomper]

It limits socializing but you’re together on tees, greens, presumably lost balls and when you land within talking distance. Not a huge difference to me. It’s sure preferable to not playing at all to me. When my regular course reopened walking only, we walked 18 severally times which is highly social (6 feet apart) but that’s tough on our feet and backs, were very glad to have carts again. We mostly played 9-10 holes walking.

I still do not get the need to "socialize" during golf play. Perhaps because I am not that good at playing . Other than when waiting for the group ahead before teeing off, we do not socialize anywhere else. We try to play "ready golf" and do not want to hold up folks behind us. When I see a group chatting about during and after putting and not getting off the green when there is no one ahead of them, I wonder if they care that they are slowing down others.

Wednesday I played with 3 friends on a longer course and we chose to ride separate carts. The round went fast. Rarely were our tee shots near each other (mix of lefty and right golfers probably helped ) and that helped speed play.

 

[pb4uski]

.... And I understand some courses have installed clear plexi or plastic divider curtains on their carts? Might make sense if this goes on as long as I think it may - I assume many courses don’t have enough carts for all single riders.

Interesting idea... I know the golf course that we played in Florida was having trouble with not enough carts with single rider carts.

Alternatively, perhaps clubs will get golfboards and rent them instead of carts. Looks like fun to me.

 

[Jerry1]

Interesting idea... I know the golf course that we played in Florida was having trouble with not enough carts with single rider carts.

Alternatively, perhaps clubs will get golfboards and rent them instead of carts. Looks like fun to me.

I soooo hope that more clubs offer those. They do look like fun.

 

[Dawg52]

How so? Please elaborate. I've played several rounds in separate carts and didn't notice much difference.

The guys in my group all own our carts so we always ride as singles. Plenty of social time at the tee and green. But I guess it's what you're used to.

 

[zinger1457]

Don't see any difference in the social aspect of golf, same regular group, we all walk, plenty of opportunity to chat (or trash talk) walking from tee to green.

 

[Huston55]

I have to say that I did miss the post-round socializing when I played this week. We normally have 12+/- golfers who play skins and low net round, then we have a drink in the clubhouse as we settle up. Can’t do that while under Covid restrictions. So, everyone just heads to their car and drives home; somewhat anticlimactic.

 

[pb4uski]

+1 We do compare scores in the parking lot and then head our separate ways. Pre-COVID we would have drinks and lunch together while tallying the scores.

 

[Starsky]

How so? Please elaborate. I've played several rounds in separate carts and didn't notice much difference.

I'm not the golfer that likes to play solo, or paired with strangers. I enjoy playing purely for the time spent socializing and conversing with my friends who also play. This setup was not at all conducive to that, as my playing partner is even older and more cautious than I am; and we tend to hit in opposite directions. The course was also poorly maintained, which made OB much harder to deal with, and mask etiquette was a major distraction. I'm sure for many golfers, everything's almost normal. It just didn't feel right to me. I'll try again next Wednesday and see if my feelings change. If not, I'll stop playing for awhile.

 

[Big_Hitter]

Tried playing for the first tie in two months. My playing partner and I hated it. It takes away all the fun. Might try again next week, but separate carts and distancing changes the game for me.

Really? I've hardly noticed - we have these little spring loaded thingys now that pull the ball out of the cup for you instead of the sponge, back to normal

I prefer to ride in a cart alone as do most others at my club - 4 guys 4 carts that's golf baby!

 

[Dawg52]

I'm not the golfer that likes to play solo, or paired with strangers. I enjoy playing purely for the time spent socializing and conversing with my friends who also play. This setup was not at all conducive to that, as my playing partner is even older and more cautious than I am; and we tend to hit in opposite directions. The course was also poorly maintained, which made OB much harder to deal with, and mask etiquette was a major distraction. I'm sure for many golfers, everything's almost normal. It just didn't feel right to me. I'll try again next Wednesday and see if my feelings change. If not, I'll stop playing for awhile.

Golfers wore mask at your course? I haven't seen one golfer wear one around here. We ride alone and easily stay several feet away from each other. Don't see the need in an outdoor setting like this one.

 

[pb4uski]

Around here they are requiring masks in the parking lot and on the first tee... but not from the first tee to the 18th.

 

[Big_Hitter]

we've had more play this year than any time in the history of mankind - our tee sheet is generally full, daily, which is unheard of in April and May

 

[Midpack]

Around here they are requiring masks in the parking lot and on the first tee... but not from the first tee to the 18th.

Masks not required at my course. They just reopened the pro shop, and I wear a mask in there, but leave it in my car once I’m ready to play. There’s no way I’d wear a mask to play golf. Social distancing is almost automatic playing, and I haven’t had anyone forgot and try to shake hands, high five or fist bump in months.

One of the guys I play with tagged into a threesome a few days ago and they kept pulling the pin. He politely told them the course didn’t want players to touch the pins, but they kept doing it. We don’t touch them so whatever.

I did take a wash cloth and rubbing alcohol to wipe down my cart just as a precaution - maybe unnecessary but one less thing to wonder about.

Our league is restarting on May 27, but we’re restricted to 32-40 players once a week (cart availability I assume) where we had up to 60 twice a week before coronavirus. We’ve gone from shotgun start to tee times to promote social distancing, arriving and departing at different times instead of all at once. Team & individual score, and closest to the pin $ prizes are suspended - I’m told some regular players aren’t interested in our league without the $5 ante and prizes, guess we’ll see. And no getting together to swap lies over a beer after will be missed. But some league is better than none for now IMO.

 

[Dawg52]

I did take a wash cloth and rubbing alcohol to wipe down my cart just as a precaution - maybe unnecessary but one less thing to wonder about. DW and I keep hand sanitizer in our cars and use it often - again why not for now.

I keep hand sanitizer in my car too and a bottle in my golf bag. No reason not to be safe. I never owned a bottle of the stuff prior to the pandemic. Ha.

 

[Big_Hitter]

[mod edit] (quoted posts deleted - duplicates)

[masks] aren't required at our club either

 

[Big_Hitter]

here are those spring loaded thingys I was talking about

this is how you get rich people - just invent something like this right before a pandemic

https://sports.yahoo.com/golfers-stumble-on-perfect-product-for-coronavirus-era-034503707.html

 

[Midpack]

I keep hand sanitizer in my car too and a bottle in my golf bag. No reason not to be safe. I never owned a bottle of the stuff prior to the pandemic. Ha.

Neither did we. And we agree why not take the precaution now. Always viewed Purell as an over-reaction. We do need to keep our immune systems up after all. But SARS-CoV-2 has changed our beliefs for now at least.

 

[jcretire77]

Big_Hitter, those are sweet.

 

[Big_Hitter]

tough game...

 

[Librarian]

Oh, wow. Travel forums are my thing, now this...I'm going to have to introduce DH to this thread.

Guess where he is now??

I'll never lose that man to another woman but I MIGHT lose him to golf. Naw, it's good, I support it (and may even get back into it when we retire)

For about 10 years we belonged to a small inexpensive "country club" (I use that term loosely, but it was in the name). $1800/yr for a family for a par 3 18 hole golf course, 2 pools, tennis court (and public restaurant). It was wonderful when the children were younger. And I loved the couples events. But sadly they sold half of it to a retirement development (ironic...). And sadly the other half (with the pools, courts & restaurant) still sits.

DH joined an executive course on the nicest non-country club course in town. It is public but not city owned. He has league there 1x/wk on the regular course plus league on a city course 1x/wk. For about the same price as he paid for his individual membership at our original club.

Makes me realize we need to research golf options in Vegas as well as homes...