Golf Talk Tuesdays 2015-2020

[Big_Hitter]

What the heck? Why is C F S all together in ***?

I suppose acronyms can be profane?

 

[golfnut]

I was looking at my clubs today and wondering how much I should budget for new clubs in the future. I bought the set about 5 years ago but they still seem to be very good (better than me). They are Ping G25's (the irons). I'm not worried about the driver because of course I'm going to by a new one frequently in the hope that some day they'll make a driver I can hit straight 300 yards. But back to the irons. How often do you think a set should last? What are some of the things that lead you to look at replacing irons. It wood be nice to think they can just be regripped and used for another 10 years but I'd like to hear from some experienced golfers. FWIW, I golf a couple times a week for about 6-7 months of the year. Less per week in the spring and fall. So, maybe 50 to 75 rounds a year.

Ping irons (at least the prior models) are almost indestructible. The G25 irons have a great reputation and if the grooves are not worn and you still hit them well, suggest you keep playing them. I do not buy into the new technology bs. It's mostly a marketing ploy to separate money from ones wallet. However, if you got the itch to buy something new, there is no helping you as it is a terminal condition suffered by alot of us golfers

 

[Midpack]

I walk if I am alone or with others walking, but I usually take a cart for league play (required in one league but not the other). Walkers in decent shape aren't necessarily slower than two players in a cart. The walker goes directly to one ball, instead of two, and the walker can go some places a cart can't. In our league, differences in pace seem to be more related to how fast/slow folks walk (age), how good or bad their game is (lost balls, excessive shots) and especially how organized they are more than purely riding a cart vs walking. Some players are so disorganized they don't get around 18 as fast as they should whether walking or in a cart. Leaving push or motor cart in front of a green, chipping and then going back to the cart for a putter, holding up play scoring, etc. - we've all seen it.

I was surprised at how many miles you still walk with a cart (Golf Digest pic below), especially if you make a point of walking when it makes sense. I'd rather walk, but you can get some exercise even with a cart.

 

[Music Lover]

I rode with my friend today but got in a fair bit of walking. When I was close to the green with an approach shot I would get off the cart with the required clubs and then walk the rest of the hole. If we hit to opposite sides of the fairway we'd ride to his ball and then I'd walk to mine and he'd pick me up after he hit...most times I had already hit and started walking. On some of the par 3's I'd hit my ball and then walk to the green and let him drive the cart.

 

[Jerry1]

Tomorrow will be a special golf Tuesday for me. I’m going to one of the nicest courses in Michigan. Maybe not the best course in Michigan or the U.S., but for sure one of the nicest I’ve ever played. Certainly one of the most expensive. Definitely a spending money day. I’m sure we’ll be going out to a nice dinner afterwards. Hopefully the least expensive part of the trip will be the trip to the casino afterwards. Only luck and my self control will determine that. Anyway, first thing’s first - golf well. I’m not a good golfer but I’ve been breaking 100 lately. Hoping to do so tomorrow. Will give update on Wednesday.


https://arcadiabluffs.com

 

[Kelor]

Jerry, that's a gem!!! We were considering going there again in August, but are heading up to the UP instead. You can put Arcadia Bluffs up against almost any golf course in the country.

I played Minikahda today here in Minnesota. It's a gem! Playing Dakota Dunes in South Dakota tomorrow evening.

 

[Huston55]

Tomorrow will be a special golf Tuesday for me. I’m going to one of the nicest courses in Michigan. Maybe not the best course in Michigan or the U.S., but for sure one of the nicest I’ve ever played. Certainly one of the most expensive. Definitely a spending money day. I’m sure we’ll be going out to a nice dinner afterwards. Hopefully the least expensive part of the trip will be the trip to the casino afterwards. Only luck and my self control will determine that. Anyway, first thing’s first - golf well. I’m not a good golfer but I’ve been breaking 100 lately. Hoping to do so tomorrow. Will give update on Wednesday.


https://arcadiabluffs.com

Looks stunning!

Let us know what you thought of it....and, of course, how you did @ the tables.

 

[zinger1457]

If anyone needs to stock up on golf balls rockbottomgolf is having a good sale on Srixon balls. The tour level Z-Star for $20/doz and Q-Star for $10/doz. Free shipping on the Z-Star if you buy 3 doz. I picked up 3 doz of the Z-Star XV's, very good ball.


https://www.rockbottomgolf.com/search.php?search_query=promo-srixonusopen

 

[Jerry1]

Well I’m back and the course was quite an experience. I’m happy with my performance. I golfed a 108, so I did not break 100 as I had hoped. Though the guy I golf with most who normally shoots in the high 80’s got a 101. The course is beautiful but it is certainly the hardest course I’ve ever golfed. I kept the ball in play though and hit just a few bad shots but if you were a bit off the fairway, you were in trouble. Don’t even think about getting in a bunker. The strangest thing was how many short puts I missed. I’ve never experienced anything like those greens. Something about them that I just couldn’t read. Never just missed so many puts. It might have even been the wind. The wind was strong off the water yesterday and the greens were so fast that it might have been the element I wasn’t used to or adjusting for.

Overall, a great day. I’m glad I was invited. Probably would not go again. It was a great experience and a good time with friends, but I wouldn’t call it fun. It was a tough course.

Did well enough at the casino to pay for the trip! Was down at craps and the start of video poker, but I hit a 4 of a kind right after I switched from $1 to $5 base bet. A little better luck than what I had on the greens.

Finish off with a Kobe burger and a few beers and all was good.

 

[Music Lover]

I'm still experiencing growing pains with my new golf swing, but yesterday's round was a step in the right direction. I lost 4 balls and made 3 quadruple bogeys, but in spite of that only shot a 94 as I played well on 14 of the 18 holes.

Highlights:

- 3 full wedge shots inside 10 feet
- hit a 5-hybrid to 12 feet on a 175 yard par 3 into a 15 - 20 mph wind
- 10 of 12 drives were good or "acceptable"
- 3 pitch shots 40 - 60 yards inside 5 feet

Lowlights:

- hit 4 or 5 balls off the toe, 3 of them went OB
- topped 4 or 5 balls in the fairway
- the 5-hybrid to 12 feet was 3 off the tee as the original tee shot was hit OB

So, I'm relatively happy with my swing as this was just my 5th or 6th round since I took lessons last month. The hardest part so far has been keeping my swing slow and controlled. When I can do that I hit great shots, but when I swing too hard I'm erratic.

Tomorrow I'm playing in a scramble and my goal is to keep my swing slow and smooth as sometimes my tendency is to overswing when there are balls safely in play.

 

[Huston55]

I'm still experiencing growing pains with my new golf swing, but yesterday's round was a step in the right direction. I lost 4 balls and made 3 quadruple bogeys, but in spite of that only shot a 94 as I played well on 14 of the 18 holes.

I think that could be my golf theme song. I’m doing another series of lessons & it’s painful trying to consistently do what my instructor says. I think I really need to spend more time on the range & less time on the course for a while.

But, it’s too much fun playing with buddies.

 

[Music Lover]

It's fun playing with friends, and I'm lucky that my main golf buddy has seen me at my worst so nothing I do affects him. We played on Monday and I was ranged from great to awful but we still had a good time. I played the front 9 like 2 different players: 5, 4, 3, 11, 3, 8, 4, 7, 4

 

[gcgang]

Day 1 in Numbers: 2018 Shot Clock Masters - European Tour

Shot Clock Masters!

19 minutes faster on average, ZERO shot clock violations! Yes!

 

[pb4uski]

I had a great day on the links today. Shot an 84... low gross of 24 players, many who are typically much better than I am. Ball striking was really good... had some great drives and some very good approaches. Putting, normally one of my strong suits, was awful. in a four hole stretch I had three less than 3' putts lip out.... should have been a sub 80 round if I had putted normally.

 

[zinger1457]

Day 1 in Numbers: 2018 Shot Clock Masters - European Tour

Shot Clock Masters!

19 minutes faster on average, ZERO shot clock violations! Yes!

Both the PGA and LPGA tours need it but I won't hold my breath waiting for it. It's been a known problem for years but they don't seem to want to seriously deal with it.

 

[Midpack]

I'm still experiencing growing pains with my new golf swing, but yesterday's round was a step in the right direction. I lost 4 balls and made 3 quadruple bogeys, but in spite of that only shot a 94 as I played well on 14 of the 18 holes.

I really feel your pain. Also going thru a radical change, hitting straighter but having trouble just making good contact, mishits galore. I am losing fewer balls because I’m hitting much straighter, but I’ve only broken 90 once in the last three week since my lessons started. Last year is was averaging 84 and broke 80 twice. But I am convinced the pro is right and I’m sticking with the new swing no matter how long it takes. Takes a while to undo decades of doing it wrong.

Which brings me to...

 

[Midpack]

...I’ve always lost golf balls before “wearing them out.” With my new swing and hitting straight way more often, I have balls I’ve played for 54 holes - that’s unusual for me. The “permanent” marks I make on my golf balls to distinguish them are fading I’ve hit and washed them so many times - that’s a new one for me too.

Do any of you take balls “out of service” after a while, or do you keep playing them until they have obvious damage (scuffs, etc.)? I’ve read today’s balls are almost indestructible, you can’t cut one anymore like the old days, and their shelf life is in years nowadays.

 

[pb4uski]

I've never had a ball for 54 holes that I can remember... but I have had the same thoughts but then inevitably lose the ball so the "problem" is solved. I will take bad scuffs out of service (like balls that hit the concrete or asphalt cart path on the fly).

 

[golfnut]

..
Do any of you take balls “out of service” after a while, or do you keep playing them until they have obvious damage (scuffs, etc.)? I’ve read today’s balls are almost indestructible, you can’t cut one anymore like the old days, and their shelf life is in years nowadays.

That's one of the reasons why I buy 5A recycled balls from Lost Golf Balls or Golf Balls Direct. They look and play "new" for less than 50% retail and when one is topped into the water I don't get too upset.

 

[Music Lover]

Do any of you take balls “out of service” after a while, or do you keep playing them until they have obvious damage (scuffs, etc.)? I’ve read today’s balls are almost indestructible, you can’t cut one anymore like the old days, and their shelf life is in years nowadays.

I remember when balls had a "smile" on them

I start every round with a new ball. If it lasts the round, it becomes the "next" ball if my original is lost in a subsequent round.

 

[Midpack]

I remember when balls had a "smile" on them

I start every round with a new ball. If it lasts the round, it becomes the "next" ball if my original is lost in a subsequent round.

Yep, I remember when one bad swing could render a ball unplayable.

I think I’ll start each round with a new ball, sounds like a good practice, but I’ll afraid my “next” tier will grow like never before. Last year I went through about 5 dozen balls, this year I’m on my second sleeve after a month...

 

[zinger1457]

I start every round with a new ball. If it lasts the round, it becomes the "next" ball if my original is lost in a subsequent round.

That's the routine I follow also although I've noticed if playing with Pro V1's it's sometimes hard to tell the used ball from the new ones, the cover wears very well as long as you avoid hard surfaces.

 

[Huston55]

I think that could be my golf theme song. I’m doing another series of lessons & it’s painful trying to consistently do what my instructor says. I think I really need to spend more time on the range & less time on the course for a while.

But, it’s too much fun playing with buddies.

Played yesterday @ a course I seldom play (~1/yr); I like the course but, it’s a bit of a drive to get there. Anyway, I was pleased with my progress using the “new” swing. I was able to eliminate (for the most part) my normal fade, and hit driver & long irons straight or with a bit of draw, which is what I’m looking for; 10 FIRs w/ no misses right & 7 GIRs. It took me awhile to get used to the greens...very slow & bumpy but, my putting did improve on the back (35 total putts; 20 front; 15 back).

So, even though I was able to employ the new swing fairly well, I still think I need lots more range time.

 

[Midpack]

I’d never suggest giving a fellow player swing technical advice even if they asked - except for someone clearly trying to kill the ball, IF they ask. I see it fairly often, and I’ve been guilty of it myself.

But on the mental/emotional side I am tempted to try to proactively calm down players who start to berate themselves, get anxious/in a hurry, or let one bad shot/hole lead to another.

Do you? What approaches have you found to be helpful?

I played with a guy yesterday who I’ve played with a half dozen times, and he was clearly his own worst enemy. Could have played better if he would have calmed down, slowed down and taken each shot as a new chance for a good strike. Next time I’m probably going to subtly intervene, should be easy as he was a revered baseball coach when he was younger so I suspect he knows better if I can snap him out of it.

 

[pb4uski]

Good day today... second best score ever on my home course.... -11 net. Drove the ball well other than 3 holes... pared 4 of the 6 par 3's... just didn't putt that well... 8 GIR... same ball all day.