Golf Talk Tuesdays - 2021

[Huston55]

I'm sure you know this but Wolf creek and Conestoga are must plays in Mesquite and of course Sand Hollow in St. George area, absolutely stunning. Pauite courses in Vegas are sweet, too.

I’ve played Wolf Creek; enjoyed it but, once is enough for me. I wanted to play Conestoga but, they’re over seeding that time of year. I’ve also played all the Paiute courses, which are wonderful. Our St George/Vegas itinerary is:

-The Ledges
-Copper Rock
-Sand Hollow
-Coyote Springs
-Reflection Bay
-Bear’s Best

I’ve played the first three but not the last three. Looking forward to it. [emoji41]

 

[harllee]

I organized an 8-some to Kiawah for 14 yrs starting in 2004; then we stopped for a few years. This year it’s just a 4-some. It’s a fantastic place for golfers. The only place I’ve been that compares is Bandon Dunes. I’ve played the Ocean Course on each trip and always had a great time even as it was kicking my butt. I love walking with a caddy. This is our backup plan for St Andrews, etc, which we had to cancel due to UK travel restrictions.

When you can you need to reschedule your trip to St Andrews. I have played the Old Course 3 times, what a wonderful experience. When they announce your name on the first tee and you look over that historic ground it is just thrilling. The caddies there are a treat. When I played it a number of years ago you had to have proof of your handicap, for women I think your handicap had to be 20 or under and DH I think had to be 15 or under, it may have changed by now. I have also played the St Andrews "New Course", new being a relative term since it opened in 1895. I toured the Scottish courses 3 times with Perry Golf and I highly recommend them.

If you make it to Scotland there are many other wonderful old courses you should play. My favorite is Machrihanish, an ancient course far out in the western part of Scotland, designed by Old Tom Morris. It is hard to get to but so wonderful and not many tourists. Look it up on their website.

 

[Huston55]

When you can you need to reschedule your trip to St Andrews. I have played the Old Course 3 times, what a wonderful experience. When they announce your name on the first tee and you look over that historic ground it is just thrilling.

Absolutely! It’s a bucket list thing for me so, I will go at the next opportunity. Unfortunately, that will be 2023 at the earliest since The Open is @ St Andrews in 2022 and there are no open spots during the good weather season.

 

[zinger1457]

When I played it a number of years ago you had to have proof of your handicap, for women I think your handicap had to be 20 or under and DH I think had to be 15 or under, it may have changed by now.

If it was that low it would disqualify about half the golfers in the US, believe the requirement now is 36 and under. Haven't played at St Andrews but remember reading that during ~4 months of the year (winter) you have to carry around a hitting mat, they don't want you to damage the fairway turf. Would imagine winter isn't a popular time to take a golfing trip to GB so probably not that big a deal for most travelers.

 

[Huston55]

If it was that low it would disqualify about half the golfers in the US, believe the requirement now is 36 and under. Haven't played at St Andrews but remember reading that during ~4 months of the year (winter) you have to carry around a hitting mat, they don't want you to damage the fairway turf. Would imagine winter isn't a popular time to take a golfing trip to GB so probably not that big a deal for most travelers.

These were three of the courses & their men’s handicap requirements on our (now cancelled) Scotland trip:

St Andrews Old Course-36
Carnoustie-28
Muirfield-18

 

[harllee]

If it was that low it would disqualify about half the golfers in the US, believe the requirement now is 36 and under. Haven't played at St Andrews but remember reading that during ~4 months of the year (winter) you have to carry around a hitting mat, they don't want you to damage the fairway turf. Would imagine winter isn't a popular time to take a golfing trip to GB so probably not that big a deal for most travelers.

I think the point was to disqualify golfers with a high handicap, when I was there it was very difficult to get a tee time (sometimes they had lottery). It is a very difficult course. When I played it I was a 14 handicap and it was all I could handle. A 36 handicapper would be miserable on the Old Course. For sure you would not want to be there in the winter. I played one time in August and it was about 50 degrees and howling wind.

 

[garyt]

I’ve played Wolf Creek; enjoyed it but, once is enough for me. I wanted to play Conestoga but, they’re over seeding that time of year. I’ve also played all the Paiute courses, which are wonderful. Our St George/Vegas itinerary is:

-The Ledges
-Copper Rock
-Sand Hollow
-Coyote Springs
-Reflection Bay
-Bear’s Best

I’ve played the first three but not the last three. Looking forward to it. [emoji41]

Coyote Springs is nice, out in the middle of nowhere. Tough Nicklaus design.

 

[Jerry1]

Coyote Springs is nice, out in the middle of nowhere. Tough Nicklaus design.

We have a Nicklaus designed course near us that is deceivingly tough. Not sure about Coyote Springs, but the local course requires target golf and course management. You don’t just go there and swing away. You have to think about it.

 

[ivinsfan]

I’ve played Wolf Creek; enjoyed it but, once is enough for me. I wanted to play Conestoga but, they’re over seeding that time of year. I’ve also played all the Paiute courses, which are wonderful. Our St George/Vegas itinerary is:

-The Ledges
-Copper Rock
-Sand Hollow
-Coyote Springs
-Reflection Bay
-Bear’s Best

I’ve played the first three but not the last three. Looking forward to it. [emoji41]

We've rented condos at two of those courses and we don't even play golf. The views are to die for.. have you played Coral Canyon, we have rented there too.

 

[Huston55]

We've rented condos at two of those courses and we don't even play golf. The views are to die for.. have you played Coral Canyon, we have rented there too.

I have played Coral Canyon; didn’t care for it as much as the other courses in St G.

 

[NoiseBoy]

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. I'm just getting back into the game, so not sure I will play enough to make a membership worthwhile.
2. Pre-retirement, the main advantage to a membership is the ability to get a tee time during peak periods. Now that I'm playing in retirement, I go on weekdays right after lunch and I just walk onto the first tee at the public courses in the area.

What I've found out this year is that most of the local public courses (city or university) have done away with their 9 hole rates But, when I turn 60 their senior rates kick in

 

[harllee]

Regarding golf memberships, DH and I used to both pay 3-4 times a week and we found the golf membership to be a good deal. As we got older we played less (maybe once a week) and we dropped the membership. One issue I had with the golf membership is that we felt locked into playing at just the one course most of the time. There are so many good courses where we live that we enjoy playing different courses. There are very few courses that are exclusively private--most courses you can get a t-time during the week even if you are not a member.

 

[garyt]

Regarding golf memberships, DH and I used to both pay 3-4 times a week and we found the golf membership to be a good deal. As we got older we played less (maybe once a week) and we dropped the membership. One issue I had with the golf membership is that we felt locked into playing at just the one course most of the time. There are so many good courses where we live that we enjoy playing different courses. There are very few courses that are exclusively private--most courses you can get a t-time during the week even if you are not a member.

Same here, I can't imagine playing the same course over and over. There are some perks to club membership I like like tournaments. But man we have so many courses here in Michigan and I'm still tired of playing some of them. Playing one course two or three times a week doesn't sound like fun to me.

 

[aja8888]

Regarding golf memberships, DH and I used to both pay 3-4 times a week and we found the golf membership to be a good deal. As we got older we played less (maybe once a week) and we dropped the membership. One issue I had with the golf membership is that we felt locked into playing at just the one course most of the time. There are so many good courses where we live that we enjoy playing different courses. There are very few courses that are exclusively private--most courses you can get a t-time during the week even if you are not a member.

Same here. I used to take clients to play on "Men's Guest Day" at my club in California. And here in Texas I had a membership for 10 years but as I aged and retired, I only played occasionally. Now at 77, I play once per week on a semi-private course with friends or we find a public course to visit.

 

[Huston55]

Visited friends in Carmel last week and played Quail Lodge for the first time. Fantastic course! And, it didn’t hurt that I played well. [emoji41]

 

[Music Lover]

I played the other day...I missed 4 weeks after being diagnosed with a damaged meniscus, so I didn't expect much. I also had to ride instead of walking as I normally do. I yanked my tee shot on 1 left into the trees and made double. On the par 4 2nd I went OB and 3-putted for for an 8.

Then I settled down and added a club on every shot hitting 3/4 swings for the rest of the round and I ended up with one of my best rounds ever. Two 100 yard wedges inside 2', plus a 3-hydrid to 4' on a long par 4. I made 3 birdies, missed 2 others inside 10' and shot 79 with a double and a quad on the first 2 holes.

 

[jkern]

Visited friends in Carmel last week and played Quail Lodge for the first time. Fantastic course! And, it didn’t hurt that I played well. [emoji41]

I have been to Quail on multiple golf trips. Absolutely love it. They redesigned it about 15 years ago now and did a terrific job. I started going there on a unlimited golf package in the early to mid 90s. Last year they had a goof Golf Moose deal.

 

[WhenIsItTime]

Same here, I can't imagine playing the same course over and over. There are some perks to club membership I like like tournaments. But man we have so many courses here in Michigan and I'm still tired of playing some of them. Playing one course two or three times a week doesn't sound like fun to me.

I belong to a private golf club for the course quality, access (it’s not busy), range/practice area, way to meet other golfers, and I live on the course. It’s not smart financially. It works out to ~$100/round walking.

I do miss playing a variety of courses, which could be done for about half the cost.

 

[harllee]

I played the other day...I missed 4 weeks after being diagnosed with a damaged meniscus, so I didn't expect much. I also had to ride instead of walking as I normally do. I yanked my tee shot on 1 left into the trees and made double. On the par 4 2nd I went OB and 3-putted for for an 8.

Then I settled down and added a club on every shot hitting 3/4 swings for the rest of the round and I ended up with one of my best rounds ever. Two 100 yard wedges inside 2', plus a 3-hydrid to 4' on a long par 4. I made 3 birdies, missed 2 others inside 10' and shot 79 with a double and a quad on the first 2 holes.

Great playing Music Lover. I have also found I sometimes play better when I have some ailment, maybe my back or knee hurts. I usually play better, I think I slow my swing down and shorten it.

 

[Huston55]

I have been to Quail on multiple golf trips. Absolutely love it. They redesigned it about 15 years ago now and did a terrific job. I started going there on a unlimited golf package in the early to mid 90s. Last year they had a goof Golf Moose deal.

I love golf Moose! I'll have to keep an eye out for that.

 

[jcretire77]

I wondered what happened to Golf Talk Tuesdays. No posts since July.

After seven weeks of PT to strengthen my back and core muscles I've been playing again. Have had good days and not so good days. Yesterday I shot an 81 with four birdies. First time out without a back brace. A little tender this morning. Great score for me.

 

[zinger1457]

I'll give a shout out to the USA Ryder Cup win, been waiting a long time for the USA team to hand out a good whooping instead of being on the receiving end. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

 

[aaronc879]

I haven't watched any golf coverage for a long time. Any word on if Tiger is walking unassisted yet? Any chance he returns to professional level golfing or is he just hoping to be able to play with his Son recreationally and live a relatively normal life with decent mobility?

 

[pb4uski]

I'll give a shout out to the USA Ryder Cup win, been waiting a long time for the USA team to hand out a good whooping instead of being on the receiving end. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

+1 Watched a lot of it.... every entertaining... I thought that Jordan Spieth was going to end up in Lake Michigan in the first round of alternate shots after that incredible shot on 17.

 

[gcgang]

When DJ is the oldest guy on your team, Team USA might be very good for a long time.