Golf Talk Tuesdays - 2021

[threeonesix]

Watching the US Open yesterday inspired me to get out and play for the first time in 2 years. Our local 9-hole course isn't a difficult course at all, it just isn't taken care of. The fairways are basically cow pastures. The greens are the size of a dime and fungicized. Two friends and I played after work yesterday. I shot a 76. Used to be a scratch golfer. 2-time state champion in high school. Still couldn't get any colleges to even talk to me about their teams. Was very disappointed, I'm only 2 hours from Oklahoma State and they were the premier college program back then. Coach never even returned my calls.

Par'd the first hole with a lucky putt. On the 2nd hole my drive went around 290 yards. Pulled out my 3-wood and caught the ball perfect. I lost track of it after it bounced 20 yards in front of the green. Certain that the ball rolled over the green into some tall fescue I was walking around for 10 minutes looking for it. A fiend on the green asked what ball I had hit. "Titelist 1" I said. He held up a ball and said, "It was in the hole."

ALBATROSS! My first one ever. And I have played tens of thousands of holes of golf in my life. Never hit a hole in one, amazingly. Witnessed many, mostly lucky worm burner shots. At this course you get a free lunch and your picture in the local newspaper for a hole in one. When we made the turn we stopped into the clubhouse for drinks. I asked what do you get for an albatross. Sadly, the attendant just looked at me like I just spoke Chinese. "What's that?" I said it's a score better than a hole in one. Turns out you get exactly nothing for an albatross.

The odds of a hole in one are 12,000:1. The odds of an albatross are 6,000,000:1.

At least I got two free beers from my buddies, I guess. And a great memory!

 

[Doolish1]

I went out yesterday at Contraband Bayou at L'Auberge resort in Lake Charles yesterday. If you are law enforcement or military you get 1 free round with a friend every quarter. I think I ended up at 84. My rules are loose with some do overs here and there.

Better than average and good enough not to get to negative.

Never had the hole in one or albatross. I do have three 300s in bowling though............ BAHAHA

There is a casino in the middle of no where called paragon in Marksville, LA which has a really good course that gives anyone with a players card free round every quarter also. If you have a wife, friend, etc. who has a card they can let you play their round. So, in Louisiana, you can play a couple great courses for free.

 

[Dawg52]

People actually playing golf? It’s rained all week here and next week only looks slightly better.

 

[RetiredHappy]

People actually playing golf? It’s rained all week here and next week only looks slightly better.

Yep. We are at highs of 110-115 from here to eternity/end of summer and people are golfing everyday.

 

[Doolish1]

I was just in PHX maybe a month ago and it was 105 and we were out there playing at the course on Luke Air Force base. We had all that rain you are getting in MISSISSIPPI on Monday and the course was amazingly playable yesterday, it drained really well.

 

[frayne]

I completed my 75th trip around the sun this past week the only proper way I know how, by squeezing in three rounds of golf on three different courses. My goal this year is to shoot my age and at 75, that's a lot more attainable than it was at 65. Next week Mother Nature plans to remind us we're living in the South, with highs in the upper 90s, triple-digit heat indexes, and humidity thick enough to butter your toast.
I'm also scheduled for hand surgery in early July to fix a trigger finger on my left hand, which means I'll be on injured reserve for 3–6 weeks. Naturally, the first question I asked the surgeon wasn't about the procedure, it was, "So...when can I play golf again?"
It's funny how those of us afflicted with Geriatric Golf Disorder plan vacations, doctor's appointments, family events, and even surgery around our tee times. But then again, retirement is all about priorities. As long as I can still chase a little white ball around for four hours with my buddies, I figure life is good.

 

[TripleLindy]

I'm also scheduled for hand surgery in early July to fix a trigger finger on my left hand, which means I'll be on injured reserve for 3–6 weeks.

I can relate! I have a pending cervical spine fusion surgery scheduled for 7/6. My presurgical visit is next week and I’ll get a better feel for my time on the IR. I have one more round scheduled prior to surgery.

 

[robnplunder]

Many of my golf buddies have some form of health issues. I guess it comes with aging. A few have new knees, others have gone through cancer surgeries, and a few are starting to forget their tee times. At age 65, I am the youngster among the group. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[Fotodog]

I also had hand surgery, for Dupuytren’s contracture. It’s the perfect opportunity to work on your short game. I was able to start putting after a week or two, working up to chipping and then pitching. You can never practice your short game enough!

I also have the goal of shooting my age at 72, but my best score this year is 77 so it’s going to be difficult.

 

[Midpack]

I also have the goal of shooting my age at 72, but my best score this year is 77 so it’s going to be difficult.

+1. Hope springs eternal but I'm doubtful I will get there. Shot 72, best round ever, at 69 yo. Now 72 yo, best round this year was 76. They day I shot 72 I was a little buzzed and dehydrated and could do not wrong - never felt that before or after.

 

[chemEguy]

So I’ve been cautiously playing a round here and there post PT for my partial rotator cuff tear in the left shoulder (I’m right handed).

My son and I played yesterday and there’s no pain today but the minor pectoral muscle feels a bit tight. This I can live with.

What Ive found is that instead of taking full extension at the top of my swing, I’m focusing on rotating my hips and not taking a full backswing. That relieves some of the shoulder stress.

You know what? I’m actually playing better. I’ve given up some distance but my accuracy and control has increased significantly. I don’t hit a driver, I take a 3 wood off the tee. With this reduced backswing extension my clubs shape up like this:

Gap wedge, 90 yards
PW 105
9i 110
8i 120
7i 130
6i 140
5i 150
4i 160
Hybrid 170
5W 180
3W 200

I was never a long hitter and I know a lot of guys in their early 50s can out hit me. But I shot a clean 11 over yesterday on a tough course and was thrilled.

Apparently rotating your hips and hitting easy lowers your score.

 

[jollystomper]

I played my first "free" round of the year at the course I am a member of. As of yesterday, I played enough rounds so that the membership fee equaled what I would have paid for the rounds. Today's round, and all my round from the rest of the year at the course are "free" - yay!

With family visiting now (I got away with it since my tee time was before 7am, while folks in the house were barely up ), and more family and grandkids coming to our house in about 10 days through the end of August, my playing time will be somewhat curtailed until September. I will just have to make an extra effort then .

 

[Cassius King]

Lots of low scores at The Open. Hopefully the wind shows it's teeth over the weekend.

 

[frayne]

I'd love to see Tommy Fleetwood win the jug this weekend.