Golf Talk Tuesdays - 2021

[Music Lover]

Amusing, timely...

I was going to post that but you beat me to it...

 

[Music Lover]

3rd golf game of the year for me...a local easy course. Played well at first in strong winds (40 kph gusting to 50) but collapsed on the back 9. 38 on the front was followed by 3 pars but then made 2 doubles and a triple over the last 6 holes and finished with an 81.

Typical Canadian weather, was 20C and sunny yesterday, woke up to -4 this morning.

 

[Midpack]

^^^ Sounds familiar. I’ve started out great (for me) and fizzled more often than not lately. And historically I’ve scored better on the back. Would be nice if I could figure out how to keep the mo’ going...5 of last 7 rounds

38-41-79

39-44-83

36-43-79

39-43-82

39-42-81

My last round Wed was 40-41-81 with a double bogey on #9 and #18. Stupid game...

 

[frayne]

^^^ Sounds familiar. I’ve started out great (for me) and fizzled more often than not lately. And historically I’ve scored better on the back. Would be nice if I could figure out how to keep the mo’ going...5 of last 7 rounds

38-41-79

39-44-83

36-43-79

39-43-82

39-42-81

My last round Wed was 40-41-81 with a double bogey on #9 and #18. Stupid game...

Those are pretty decent scores in my book. Shot an 82 on Monday and a 96 on Thursday. Same Indian and arrows, difference being a local well known muni and a tough newer and less played course, longer and narrower. Oh how I love this torture called golf !

 

[Music Lover]

^^^ Sounds familiar. I’ve started out great (for me) and fizzled more often than not lately. And historically I’ve scored better on the back. Would be nice if I could figure out how to keep the mo’ going...5 of last 7 rounds

38-41-79

39-44-83

36-43-79

39-43-82

39-42-81

My last round Wed was 40-41-81 with a double bogey on #9 and #18. Stupid game...

I'm usually consistent front and back, this course is harder on the back but I also hit a couple bad shots at exactly the wrong time....and of course nothing is more fun than 3-putting after hitting a 3-iron to 4'

 

[Midpack]

Those are pretty decent scores in my book. Shot an 82 on Monday and a 96 on Thursday. Same Indian and arrows, difference being a local well known muni and a tough newer and less played course, longer and narrower. Oh how love this torture called golf !

Yes, those are better than average scores for me. But it’s silly to do well on the front nine and find a way to give away strokes on the back over and over. And FWIW I am playing well lately, and I have NO IDEA why...

 

[Huston55]

I'm usually consistent front and back, this course is harder on the back but I also hit a couple bad shots at exactly the wrong time....and of course nothing is more fun than 3-putting after hitting a 3-iron to 4'

Well, the secret is to not putt with your 3-iron

Do you really carry (and hit) a 3-iron? More power to you if you can. I went to hybrid longs irons quite a while ago.

 

[Music Lover]

Well, the secret is to not putt with your 3-iron

Do you really carry (and hit) a 3-iron? More power to you if you can. I went to hybrid longs irons quite a while ago.

It was a hybrid, I mistyped.

 

[garyt]

Just got back from Myrtle Beach. The courses were packed. We played TPC Myrtle beach, World Tour Golf, King's North, Long Bay, Crow Creek, Brunswick Plantation, and the two Myrtlewood courses. Excellent conditions at all courses.

 

[zinger1457]

Anyone seeing changes/adjustments to your scores submitted into the handicap system due to unusual playing conditions? I remember reading when the new handicap system came out in 2020 that they would now adjust your score differential for a specific round if playing conditions that day were unusually difficult (windy, rain, cold) that resulted in higher than expected scores for that day. I've probably submitted close to 200 scores since then but don't recall seeing any changes until this week where they subtracted 2 strokes from the scoring differential for the round we played on Monday. It was windy but we have had many far worse days during that period. Not sure, maybe that part of the handicap changes are just starting to be implemented.

 

[frayne]

Yes, those are better than average scores for me. But it’s silly to do well on the front nine and find a way to give away strokes on the back over and over. And FWIW I am playing well lately, and I have NO IDEA why...

Went back and played the course I shot a 96 on two weeks ago and carded an 83. Same Indian, same arrows, go figure !

 

[Huston55]

Just got back from Myrtle Beach. The courses were packed. We played TPC Myrtle beach, World Tour Golf, King's North, Long Bay, Crow Creek, Brunswick Plantation, and the two Myrtlewood courses. Excellent conditions at all courses.

Where do you stay on Myrtle Beach golf trips?

 

[Huston55]

Anyone seeing changes/adjustments to your scores submitted into the handicap system due to unusual playing conditions? I remember reading when the new handicap system came out in 2020 that they would now adjust your score differential for a specific round if playing conditions that day were unusually difficult (windy, rain, cold) that resulted in higher than expected scores for that day. I've probably submitted close to 200 scores since then but don't recall seeing any changes until this week where they subtracted 2 strokes from the scoring differential for the round we played on Monday. It was windy but we have had many far worse days during that period. Not sure, maybe that part of the handicap changes are just starting to be implemented.

I’ve had this occur only twice since the new WHS started. Once a stroke was subtracted, the other time a stroke was added. I don’t remember anything unusual about conditions for either round. However, remember that the WHS uses stats of all golfers posting that course that day to determine adjustments, and it can be course conditions, weather conditions or course set-up. So, any adjustment seems to be a calibration for that day based solely on what ALL golfers scored on that course that day.

 

[zinger1457]

So, any adjustment seems to be a calibration for that day based solely on what ALL golfers scored on that course that day.

Yes, that is my understanding of how it works but not sure on the exact formula they use. From what I recall they limit adjustments to 1 stroke up and 3 strokes down.

 

[Huston55]

I’ve had this occur only twice since the new WHS started. Once a stroke was subtracted, the other time a stroke was added. I don’t remember anything unusual about conditions for either round. However, remember that the WHS uses stats of all golfers posting that course that day to determine adjustments, and it can be course conditions, weather conditions or course set-up. So, any adjustment seems to be a calibration for that day based solely on what ALL golfers scored on that course that day.

Adding further to my lack of understanding when (or not) score adjustments are made, I recently played a round @ Paiute Sun Mountain (Vegas) as they were setting up the course for a Korn Ferry event. The PGA was already at the course giving directions on setup when we played and, according to one of the marshals, they told the course Superintendent to "slow the greens down" (they were 13) because they planned to use more difficult pin placements for the tourney. I would have thought if ever there were conditions that caused a WHS scoring adjustment, that was it. But, there was no adjustment to my score.

 

[Huston55]

A Quick 9

I've started playing (walking) a quick 9 off the back at my club. It's allowed w/o a tee time for ~90 mins after the first tee time off the front. I've found it to be glorious! Most times I play by myself, other times with another single, and finish in 80-90 mins and my play seems to be substantially (2-3 strokes/9) better. And, it's very meditative for me. All round (or 1/2 round ) it's just a wonderful experience.

 

[Jerry1]

Great day for me golfing. It’s still a long way from par, but I posted a 43 for nine in my league today. I’m pretty sure that is the best nine I’ve ever shot. Last week I shot a 53 on the front (today was the back), which the front is a bit harder, but it was a vast improvement on my game. I made a few bad hits but I also did well getting out of trouble and minimizing the damage. Given the remnants of COVID, most don’t stick around for a beer any more, so I picked up DW on the way to a new favorite bar with great burgers. That’s a good day right there.

 

[frayne]

Looking for recommendations on a new rangefinder with slope. My two year old el cheapo RF is slowly giving up the ghost and I'm getting ready to pull the trigger for a new one with slope. Any and all suggestions are appreciated in advance.

 

[zinger1457]

Looking for recommendations on a new rangefinder with slope. My two year old el cheapo RF is slowly giving up the ghost and I'm getting ready to pull the trigger for a new one with slope. Any and all suggestions are appreciated in advance.

Might fall in the 'el cheapo' category but picked up a Caddytek rangefinder with slope at Costco three years ago for ~$100 and it's held up well, works just as good as the Bushnell my partner uses at 3X the cost.

 

[Huston55]

Golf Club Membership

Don't think we've discussed whether we belong to a Golf Club or the Pros/Cons of Club Membership at length here. I currently play at a semi-private (mostly public traffic) course. I don't have a membership because I play there only twice a week and want the freedom to play the many other excellent courses in the SF Bay Area.

I thought about a Poll but, decided to just ask the questions here to keep it in this thread.

1. Do you have a Golf Club membership? Yes/No
2. What do you think the Pros/Cons of membership are?

My answers:

1. No
2. Pros-access, pace of play, course conditions. Cons-cost, repeatedly playing the same course

 

[jcretire77]

1) Yes
2) On line sign up seven days in advance, typically get the time that I want because I'm on line when it starts. Many times I play nine alone and fast. Taking about an hour.

Downside is that over the past year the number of rounds on the course has more then doubled. Membership is full. Tee sheets are full. So some of the benefits of belonging to a private club have lessened. There is a quarterly requirement for food purchase, but that is fine as I feel they have a very good restaurant. My DW takes tennis lessons here too and is on every 4.0 women's league. She has met many good friends.

 

[zinger1457]

Not a private club but I do buy an annual membership at a club, it's a very good deal, even if only playing twice a week it's a big savings. Live out in the sticks so our golfing choices are limited unless willing to drive a good distance. I do travel to Scottsdale/Palm Springs regularly for vacations to get my fix for some different and nicer courses. Not sure if it's a pro or con but with a membership I end up playing in weather conditions that I probably wouldn't if I had to drop cash for the round.

 

[Midpack]

No, but I’m on a waiting list at a local public/private I already play at 1-2 times/week. Membership is breakeven if I play about 1.5 times/week - and there are other perks, tee times, member only tournaments, 10% discounts on all food & merch. I wouldn’t want to restrict myself to playing one course exclusively…
…I’m part of a group of 8 that plays away every Wednesday. We have more than a dozen nice courses we play regularly and we try out new courses from time to time. We also play bucket list courses (mostly within driving distance) 2-3 times/year.

 

[pb4uski]

1) No. Was through 2018. Long story but club that was previously member owned was mismanaged and ended up selling to a private party. Conditions have decayed under a few years private ownership so I'm less keen on joining. For the amount that I play it isn't worth being a member but I still play there occasionally (probably 10-15 rounds a year) and just pay greens fees.

2) Pros are a familiarity with the owners and fellow members but I sort of have that having been a member for so many years. At our club, members have reciprocal privileges at area courses to play at discounted rates. Members get priority for tee times but not a problem. Eligible for member/member, member/guest and club championships but I never played those anyway. Con for me is mostly that I would end up playing more because I don't play enough vs just paying greens fees. I like the freedom to play different courses if I want to.

I typically play 18 on Tuesdays, 18 with a traveling group on Thursdays and occasionally a 9-hole scramble with a social group on Sunday afternoons. And occasionally on top of that with friends and relatives who are visiting.

 

[jkern]

1) No

2) Pros: Country club conditions and atmosphere. Camaraderie with a group of like minded individuals. Cons: Price and limited golf course variety.