Golf Talk Tuesdays - 2021

[zinger1457]

I've seen plenty of good scores shot when all things aren't clicking, somewhat dependent on which part of your game is off, it is hard to shoot good scores if putting is off. Key is to have a really good short game, good pitching/chipping and putting can overcome mistakes in other parts of your game.

 

[Koolau]

The islands are very expensive for tourists and we cannot afford to play there "almost" every day.

A lot of our courses are perpetually dry (we do water them but it's never enough.) So playing in Paradise on your vacation may be a big draw, but some of the courses aren't that great. It's more about the "experience."

Military courses seem to be the best.

 

[RetiredHappy]

A lot of our courses are perpetually dry (we do water them but it's never enough.) So playing in Paradise on your vacation may be a big draw, but some of the courses aren't that great. It's more about the "experience."

Military courses seem to be the best.

I normally play at Ko Olina and Kapolei. Gets pricey...

 

[frayne]

Carded my 12th round in the 70s for 2024 on the local Donald Ross course. My average for the year so far is around 83, playing on eight to ten different courses and averaging two rounds per week, weather permitting. The key to breaking into the 70s instead of the 80s comes down to consistent putting and sinking those nerve-wracking six-foot knee-knocker putts.

 

[Huston55]

I've been away from here for awhile (traveling) but, it's great to read about everyone's adventures at what my good friend calls 'pasture pool'! Quick update on my game: got my index down to 6.9 but, it's back up to 8.2; putting is still a strong point but, I'm still eyeing those LAB putters; won a new Titleist GT3 driver in a charity scramble, got fitted and LOVE it; headed down to 'Golf Heaven' in Palm Desert again in March-April & looking forward to that. But, the most significant development is that I was selected in the Old Course lottery so, a buddy & I are headed to St Andrews in July 2025! I'm so excited I can't stand it! We're playing 10 rounds in 12 days so, I'd love to hear any advice from those who've played there.

 

[Midpack]

^^ I have a LAB DF3, and I absolutely love it. BUT no torque is a subtle but significantly different feel, and it takes some time to get used to it. [I doubt anyone casually picks one up off the rack and loves a no torque putter, it doesn't happen that way for most] I couldn't make anything for the first 4 weeks but then suddenly my putts/round dropped substantially, and my confidence increased dramatically. If you read player experience posts on MGS, you will find many people need at least a few weeks to 'get the hang of it' but it's worth it then.

Further evidence, I took my old favorite Evnroll ER5B to the practice green a while back, and it felt absolutely horrible - like it was fighting me. Unstable path. So LABs are different animals, you can't go back and forth to toe hang putters.

The OZ.1i is tempting too...

 

[Huston55]

MPack - Thx for the LAB putter feedback. I've tried them (DF3, Link & Mezz) at my local GolfMart, and I like the DF3 the best. However, I've been disappointed in how little the GolfMart staff knows about them regarding a fitting. I've read all the MGS stuff and watched several Youtube videos, and I'm thinking that a Zoom remote fitting with LAB might be better than at the store. How did you get fit and what are your thoughts on that?

 

[jollystomper]

A golf first for me: taking my golf clubs on an airplane trip.

Usually, if I wanted to play golf at a destination I was flying to, I would rent clubs at the course. But DW had to go to Florida "suddenly" for a few days to help get some things in order for her 93 year old mothers care (looong story), and with recent cataract surgery and not yet getting a new prescription, she could not drive. So I came along to be the designated driver. However, it also meant I would have some free time to hopefully play some golf. So I decided to bring my clubs along.

I bought a soft travel bag for the flexibility and luxury. But after doing some detailed reading about hard vs soft bags for airline travel, I thought about getting a hard case, even though it would be heavier and more of challenge to transport based on the rental car we would get. But then I read about the soft travel bag "hack" of using a five gallon bucket, with towels wrapped to protect the drivers, woods, hybrids and putters (while turning the irons upside down in the bag), instead of removing the club heads. So I gave it a try... and it worked well, at least on the way down.

We flew Southwest, I had also read that Southwest might make one sign a liability waiver if one checked a soft golf bag. But that did not happen. At the check-in machine I just indicated one of my checked bags was a golf bag, it gave me a tag, I brought it over to the staff, they weighed and put it on the belt, no questions asked or additional forms to fill out.

When we arrived, at the baggage claim there were about a half dozen other golf travel bags, all were soft side. I do not know if they also used to bucket method, or removed the club heads.

Anyway, one round down (shot an 82 on a par 64 course, decent for my game ), hopefully 2 more to go before we return home

 

[frayne]

I've travelled a number of times with my clubs in the past with no issues, both with hard and soft cases. That said, in this day and age I believe I would use "Ship Sticks" as opposed to checking them at the airport.

 

[Midpack]

MPack - Thx for the LAB putter feedback. I've tried them (DF3, Link & Mezz) at my local GolfMart, and I like the DF3 the best. However, I've been disappointed in how little the GolfMart staff knows about them regarding a fitting. I've read all the MGS stuff and watched several Youtube videos, and I'm thinking that a Zoom remote fitting with LAB might be better than at the store. How did you get fit and what are your thoughts on that?

My DF3 is a custom color and shaft, but otherwise a stock 35” (lie, press grip, head weight) - based on trying same several times at PGASS. And I had a putter fitting at TrueSpec for my last Evnroll, so I have a good idea what fits me. However if I buy an OZ.1i, I will send in a video and buy direct from LAB. Very simple process as you know.

 

[Huston55]

Jolly-

Just buy a 'stiff arm' to use in your soft golf bag; it's ~$30; I like Club Glove's version. I've done this for years and it works great.

 

[jollystomper]

Jolly-

Just buy a 'stiff arm' to use in your soft golf bag; it's ~$30; I like Club Glove's version. I've done this for years and it works great.

Thanks. I might try this in the future. For now, though, the bucket method is working great for me. We have returned and it protected the golf clubs without issue. If the bucket should fail me... it will be an excuse to buy new clubs .

 

[klec]

The Islands are kind of a golfer's paradise. You can play almost every day, though the winds may be a factor. But at least the temp. will be okay (if a bit warm from time to time.) YMMV Only way most can afford golf is if they know someone in the military that can get them into a military course.

I enjoyed playing out there. We played several courses … including the Bay Course at Kapalua. Unfortunately, the Plantation course was closed. It was a great time!