SoSH Golf, 2022

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
I have that problem too. If I go into a round focused on trying to shoot a score, it gets in my head and I inevitably play worse. If I don't focus on a score and just go out and play, I can do OK but once I realize I'm shooting a good score then it goes kaput.

I'm trying to break 90 for the first time in a long time this summer. I had some health issues that limited me to less than 5 rounds last year so the game is pretty rough. I took some online lessons to help with some practice routines. It's helping with my swing and iron play. I really need to carve out time to practice my short game. I shot a 96 on Sunday and thought I drove and struck it well just threw shots away around and on the greens. Mostly a decel problem on chips. I have started to toy around with a 8-iron bump and run which has been helping but I've really only used it a handful of times (one of which I got up and down for a birdie on a par 5).

Does anyone use yellow/orange golf balls? Are they easier to track than the standard white ones? I had some eye issues last year and as a result tracking the golf ball can be tricky for me. It's mostly on the longer shots where I'm taking a bigger swing and there's more ball speed. I tend to lose them half way. I might try a different colored ball to see if that helps a little. I'm not sure if anyone has any opinions. I get the odd highlighter yellow one at the range from time to time but those are ususally well faded and not much of a test.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
Yep, yellow balls are great, especially when there is cloud cover. They're a lot less great in the fall when leaves start dropping.

I'm a big fan of the yellow Callaway Truvis balls. The black bits don't cut down on visibility.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Bragging time but got a 108 hole weekend shaping up

18 this AM at Franklin Park
6:10 GW, 12:20 FP Saturday
6:00 GW, 12:27 Wachusett Sunday
6:20 FP Monday

rain possible tomorrow afternoon but can’t wait - been looking forward to regular 36 days
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
Bragging time but got a 108 hole weekend shaping up

18 this AM at Franklin Park
6:10 GW, 12:20 FP Saturday
6:00 GW, 12:27 Wachusett Sunday
6:20 FP Monday

rain possible tomorrow afternoon but can’t wait - been looking forward to regular 36 days
Those 6am tee off times sound trouble :D

I've never played any of those, but that's a lot of golf. As it should be, enjoy.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Shot 91 yesterday at Scottish Highlands. Game is coming around. 49 on the front, 42 on the back including a quad. I made the quad on 14 after a perfect drive left me 115 in from the middle of the fairway. Went birdie, par, par, par to finish after that though so a nice bounce back.
 

BroodsSexton

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2006
12,630
guam
After 15 years off raising kids and never having time (and little access, in the city), I picked the clubs back up last summer and I’m ready to play more often this year. I need new clubs, though—playing with a friend’s old bag right now. Any reason not to just get fitted at my local Dick’s and buy whatever feels good/is on sale? I see that the Callaway Mavriks And Taylormade M4s have both been on sale. I know it depends on the individual, but any thoughts there?
 

voidfunkt

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 14, 2006
1,461
/dev/null
Played George Wright in Boston for the first time despite living here for a decade… what a nice course but wow there are a lot or blind shots. I felt very timid with my driver because I had no idea where things were gonna end up. Ill take the 92 tho. Also I was rushing to beat the rain. Greens are in really good shape.

3.5hr round on a municipal course is fantastic too. Id definitely play this one again.
 

voidfunkt

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 14, 2006
1,461
/dev/null
After 15 years off raising kids and never having time (and little access, in the city), I picked the clubs back up last summer and I’m ready to play more often this year. I need new clubs, though—playing with a friend’s old bag right now. Any reason not to just get fitted at my local Dick’s and buy whatever feels good/is on sale? I see that the Callaway Mavriks And Taylormade M4s have both been on sale. I know it depends on the individual, but any thoughts there?
I think only concern I would have with a Dicks fitting is how skilled the fitter is. If its just some high school kid operating the computer dont do it.
 

Doug Beerabelli

Killer Threads
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
After 15 years off raising kids and never having time (and little access, in the city), I picked the clubs back up last summer and I’m ready to play more often this year. I need new clubs, though—playing with a friend’s old bag right now. Any reason not to just get fitted at my local Dick’s and buy whatever feels good/is on sale? I see that the Callaway Mavriks And Taylormade M4s have both been on sale. I know it depends on the individual, but any thoughts there?
Where are you located? You might consider looking at used clubs, especially late model top brand ones. There are places that sell both new and used, and also do fittings. Not sure if there are still supply issues with clubs, especially if the fitting has you getting something that’s not off the rack, so to speak.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Played George Wright in Boston for the first time despite living here for a decade… what a nice course but wow there are a lot or blind shots. I felt very timid with my driver because I had no idea where things were gonna end up. Ill take the 92 tho. Also I was rushing to beat the rain. Greens are in really good shape.

3.5hr round on a municipal course is fantastic too. Id definitely play this one again.
It’s my home course - I love it, definitely a course you need to play a bunch of times to get comfortable with.

Played it in 3:30 today as well, greens were running so smooth. Shot a 75 with 4 birdies, best score I’ve posted there.
 

voidfunkt

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 14, 2006
1,461
/dev/null
It’s my home course - I love it, definitely a course you need to play a bunch of times to get comfortable with.

Played it in 3:30 today as well, greens were running so smooth. Shot a 75 with 4 birdies, best score I’ve posted there.
HMU if you are ever looking for a fourth or just want some SoSH Golf. Id definitely play there again.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
The pin position on 18th green during Iowa high school state golf championship was insane and broken yesterday:


Some poster on Golfwrx is saying the average score on the hole was a quad and average time ON THE GREEN for each group was 20 minutes. Good job good effort whoever set the pins.

Where is John Daly when you need him? He would have just stopped the ball and whacked it back at the hole.
 

BroodsSexton

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2006
12,630
guam
The pin position on 18th green during Iowa high school state golf championship was insane and broken yesterday:


Some poster on Golfwrx is saying the average score on the hole was a quad and average time ON THE GREEN for each group was 20 minutes. Good job good effort whoever set the pins.

Where is John Daly when you need him? He would have just stopped the ball and whacked it back at the hole.
Back in my day the “greens” were made of ICE. Kids today have it easy.
 
Reminds me of a situation we had at Dunbar a few years ago, when a very good player (about a 4-5 handicap) nine-putted the 12th green in competition. The hole location was on a slight sideslope, and the wind was whipping across the green in such a way that if you were above the hole and missed, the ball just wouldn't stop, whereas if you were below the hole and putted uphill into the wind, the ball had just enough grip to stay put. I played the hole that day and was delighted to make a four-footer, but that other guy kept putting from below the hole to about three feet past, then missed the comebacker and saw the ball keep drifting down the slope and to the edge of the green. That sort of thing can happen in the wind...mind you, it looks like there's barely any wind at all in that video. So yeah, GJGE.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
After 15 years off raising kids and never having time (and little access, in the city), I picked the clubs back up last summer and I’m ready to play more often this year. I need new clubs, though—playing with a friend’s old bag right now. Any reason not to just get fitted at my local Dick’s and buy whatever feels good/is on sale? I see that the Callaway Mavriks And Taylormade M4s have both been on sale. I know it depends on the individual, but any thoughts there?
I got fitted at a Dick's and it was fine. It probably depends on who is working. I got a older man who was semi-retired and seemed to just enjoy hanging out in the golf section and helping me understand some of the data. He was the only person working that day though so the process took quite a while because he'd have to leave to help other customersm but overall I was happy with the experience. You can pay ~$50 to walk out with the data and shop around elsewhere, or they'll waive the fee if you buy through them. I think that's fairly normal for club fittings though, not exclusive to Dick's.

FWIW, I ended up with Mavriks and a Callaway Rogue driver and absolutely love them. I tried the Mavriks, Taylor Made and Ping models that were at a similar price point and the dispersion, distance and traj on the Mavriks were the best. You really just have to go and hit a bunch of shots with each and see try to line up what suits your eye and also provides the best contact.
 

Comfortably Lomb

Koko the Monkey
SoSH Member
Feb 22, 2004
12,959
The Paris of the 80s
If there is a dedicated golf store in your area it's probably a better bet than Dick's. Something like Golfer's Warehouse or PGA Tour Superstore.

Any reason to not buy some used clubs? Irons last decades and basically any drivers and woods from the past several years are great. Assuming you keep with it you'll probably have a better idea of what you really want to spend serious money on in a year or two.
 

BroodsSexton

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2006
12,630
guam
If there is a dedicated golf store in your area it's probably a better bet than Dick's. Something like Golfer's Warehouse or PGA Tour Superstore.

Any reason to not buy some used clubs? Irons last decades and basically any drivers and woods from the past several years are great. Assuming you keep with it you'll probably have a better idea of what you really want to spend serious money on in a year or two.
I played a fair amount in my high school years and early 20s. I wasn’t very good, but I played enough to enjoy it. Looking for a set I can carry for the next 20 years. I’ve been told fitted clubs make a significant difference. Am I wrong?
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
3,147
Arvada, Co
I played a fair amount in my high school years and early 20s. I wasn’t very good, but I played enough to enjoy it. Looking for a set I can carry for the next 20 years. I’ve been told fitted clubs make a significant difference. Am I wrong?
The answer is yes and no. Getting fit can make a huge difference if you're in very old gear and need to upgrade (like you) or are in the very wrong set of clubs and don't know where to start. It can also be very good for really good players looking to maximize their clubs. But, it can also be very bad. Without even getting into fitters that push certain brands, you can show up to a fitting tired or well-rested, cold or warmed up, swinging great or out-of-sorts, etc. and you're going to get fitted to the swing you have for that particular hour. If you don't have to ability to go back and get clubs adjusted for free for a certain amount of time, then I'd really only use it for a broad fitting for things like shaft stiffness, head types, grip sizes and the like. I'm not trying to steer you away from doing it because it sounds like you're basically just trying to figure out those basic things and not really trying to get too deep into it.

Also, the idea of having clubs for 20 years is probably not a good thought. Based one being off for 15 years to raise kids, I'll guess you're not in your early 20s. Lots of things will change with your body over the next 20 years that make playing the same clubs now as then highly unlikely. Technology is also changing very rapidly in the game now, so you'll be way behind the curve in even 10 years. 5-8 years is probably the maximum I'd expect out of a set of clubs with woods and wedges being the things that change the most often.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,275
I played a fair amount in my high school years and early 20s. I wasn’t very good, but I played enough to enjoy it. Looking for a set I can carry for the next 20 years. I’ve been told fitted clubs make a significant difference. Am I wrong?
I think the answer is pretty dependent on your budget and what you’re willing to spend. If you don’t mind paying, the best option is definitely getting fitted at a golf specific tour (as opposed to Dick’s)
 

grsharky7

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,243
Berlin, PA
I haven't been out much so far this year just a few times, a second kid and bad weather has kept the rounds down. I did make it out yesterday and shot an 85 which I was actually ecstatic about. We played the Peninsula Club which is Arnold Palmer's first course and it is a super tight place. I've played tons of rounds there since I was in high school, but yesterday we played from the tips. I wasn't thrilled about it but all of my buddies wanted to and I didn't want to be the only one to play from the regular tees so I went along with it. Ironically when you play from the back, it makes your drives a little easier since the landing zones are a little bit wider, but not by much. The second shots are just killer though, because of the distance I played it as a par 77/78 instead of 72 I made excellent contact all day, only one bad drive and just a few WTF shots. I feel like if I played from the normal tees I would've shot between 78-80 which is just fine for that place.
 

petefungtorres

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
730
Portland, ME
One of my greatest successes as a parent is getting my kids into golf. My oldest won the individual state championship his senior year of high school and the middle kid made top ten in the state high school tourney this past fall as a sophomore.

Oldest has played in men's league the past few years at our local with his buddy who was co-captain of the (state champion) team. They both just wrapped up their freshman year of college. His buddy is on a long trip to South America for much of the summer so I'm filling in as his playing partner for men's league. We're in the A flight with a lot of good players - mostly guys in their late 20s who hit the ball a ton, like 325+ yards. Neither of us are particularly long hitters and get by with strong short games. Last evening we faced off against the top team and lost the first hole (I chunked a wedge from 80 out on a par 5 and he missed his putt for bird). After tying the next three holes (one with birdies where I rolled in a thirty footer) we picked one up on our fifth hole when he made a nice ten foot slider for birdie. Tied the next three bringing us to the final hole, a par three, all square. All four players hit the green, our two opponents about thirty feet out, me about twenty feet below the hole, and my son was a little past the hole with an eight foot downhill slider - breaking right. Opponents both missed, I lipped out my putt, but my son drained his to win the match and we finished in the money with a gross 33. Damn that was fun.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
One of my greatest successes as a parent is getting my kids into golf. My oldest won the individual state championship his senior year of high school and the middle kid made top ten in the state high school tourney this past fall as a sophomore.

Oldest has played in men's league the past few years at our local with his buddy who was co-captain of the (state champion) team. They both just wrapped up their freshman year of college. His buddy is on a long trip to South America for much of the summer so I'm filling in as his playing partner for men's league. We're in the A flight with a lot of good players - mostly guys in their late 20s who hit the ball a ton, like 325+ yards. Neither of us are particularly long hitters and get by with strong short games. Last evening we faced off against the top team and lost the first hole (I chunked a wedge from 80 out on a par 5 and he missed his putt for bird). After tying the next three holes (one with birdies where I rolled in a thirty footer) we picked one up on our fifth hole when he made a nice ten foot slider for birdie. Tied the next three bringing us to the final hole, a par three, all square. All four players hit the green, our two opponents about thirty feet out, me about twenty feet below the hole, and my son was a little past the hole with an eight foot downhill slider - breaking right. Opponents both missed, I lipped out my putt, but my son drained his to win the match and we finished in the money with a gross 33. Damn that was fun.
That was a culminating life moment that you'll never forget. Sounds incredible.

My oldest daughter (8) has been going to the course with me since she was 3, but just this year has started to pick up the game. I signed her up for PGA Jr league and figured she would either love it or we would find out if golf isn't for her. She has had a blast and I couldn't be prouder watching her have so much fun on the course. All this to say I can't wait for more of those moments that you just described.
 

petefungtorres

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
730
Portland, ME
My oldest daughter (8) has been going to the course with me since she was 3, but just this year has started to pick up the game. I signed her up for PGA Jr league and figured she would either love it or we would find out if golf isn't for her. She has had a blast and I couldn't be prouder watching her have so much fun on the course. All this to say I can't wait for more of those moments that you just described.
It's really awesome being able to share the game with your kids like that. Not that you need to hear it from me, but you might consider signing her up for drive, chip and putt next year. My kids have done it for the past few years and had a blast. It can be a real time suck if they make regionals and beyond but it's totally worth it.
 

jcaz

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 8, 2009
383
I’m home in Worcester for a few days. Looking for a round on Monday with dad who’s turning 85 on Sunday. Places I know - Blackstone national, blissful meadows, highfields - only have tee times ~4pm.

Any suggestions for a decent place within an hour? Prefer places that aren’t target golf I.e. fewer forced Carrie’s as dad mostly hits it along the ground.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Highfields doesn't have many forced carries that I can recall, and little water beyond greenside on 7, right side on 12, and left on 16. Seeing a 2:50 twosome there
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Love both of those (playing Wachusett tomorrow in fact) - I think Wachusett's a good call, the only forced carries I can think of are the creek on 5, getting up the hill on 6 (though not dead if you don't), and some fescue on 12. edit to add: fescue on 12 might not be an issue for the second to forward tees actually

Kettle is so much fun. With the elevation changes though I can imagine it not being fun for a player who plays along the ground for the most part.
 
Last edited:

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
I’m home in Worcester for a few days. Looking for a round on Monday with dad who’s turning 85 on Sunday. Places I know - Blackstone national, blissful meadows, highfields - only have tee times ~4pm.

Any suggestions for a decent place within an hour? Prefer places that aren’t target golf I.e. fewer forced Carrie’s as dad mostly hits it along the ground.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.
Update- we just axed our Wachusett time for 1012. It should be on their site if you’d want to book it
 

jcaz

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 8, 2009
383
Thanks guys. Dad is threatening to take me to Holden Hills - where he plays a lot. The price is right for him and his buddies... I'm still optimistic to go some place with fewer rocks in the middle of the fairways.
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,461
Worcester
Thanks guys. Dad is threatening to take me to Holden Hills - where he plays a lot. The price is right for him and his buddies... I'm still optimistic to go some place with fewer rocks in the middle of the fairways.
Green Hill isn't too bad- better condition than HH. You can certainly live along the ground there (not that I speak from experience or anything).
 

Adirondack jack

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 24, 2008
1,584
I think the answer is pretty dependent on your budget and what you’re willing to spend. If you don’t mind paying, the best option is definitely getting fitted at a golf specific tour (as opposed to Dick’s)
Guessing one can purchase fitted clubs for less then many regularly stocked top end clubs.

I have never bought clubs that were fitted for my specific build, swing , etc.. but I would think (and please correct me if im wrong) if Broods has an average build, athleticism of the common golfer he may be just fine buying something off the shelf.
 

jercra

No longer respects DeChambeau
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
3,147
Arvada, Co
Guessing one can purchase fitted clubs for less then many regularly stocked top end clubs.

I have never bought clubs that were fitted for my specific build, swing , etc.. but I would think (and please correct me if im wrong) if Broods has an average build, athleticism of the common golfer he may be just fine buying something off the shelf.
It's not really about your build. It's about your swing and your ability. Very good players want to control ball flight and that means more of a blade-like club. Pretty good players could seriously benefit from the new "players irons". Higher handicappers could do with "Game Improvement" style clubs that help prevent/correct slices and help get the ball airborne. There are also a number of other considerations around your swing that have little to with your build and more to do with your swing. Things like loft and lie have more to do with swing-plane and stance. Then there are some other things like clubhead speed and tempo that determine things like swing weight, flex and kick-point. With all that being said, if you have a decent sense of your game, you can pretty much fit yourself into the vast majority of those things. Things like lie-angle and gaps/lofts, can be easily figured out at places like Dick's or any place with a lie board and a simulator.

Considering all of that, most places that do detailed fittings will generally make the fitting free if you buy clubs from them so you don't have much to lose so long as you don't go for the upgrades they'll pitch you or don't have any of the concerns I brought up upthread (good day vs. bad day, tired vs. strong, etc.).
 

Monbo Jumbo

Hates the crockpot
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 5, 2003
25,231
the other Athens
Just talked to my brother. He tells me he has never shot his age. Yesterday, he had a five foot putt to shoot his age, and he missed it. He says "I missed shooting my age by one shot or one day!" He shot an 81 yesterday, and I had called him to wish him a happy 81st birthday today. (He's still playing ice hockey, though the rink is closed for the summer.)
 

Over Guapo Grande

panty merchant
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2005
4,461
Worcester
Just talked to my brother. He tells me he has never shot his age. Yesterday, he had a five foot putt to shoot his age, and he missed it. He says "I missed shooting my age by one shot or one day!" He shot an 81 yesterday, and I had called him to wish him a happy 81st birthday today. (He's still playing ice hockey, though the rink is closed for the summer.)
I have gotten old enough that I can shoot my age for 9. Sometimes.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
@Gunca and I had one of our member member tournaments this weekend. I’ve never played the format before but it’s called Betterment or Ringer. Basically two days best ball but you record your best score of the two days and submit one round. So for example if both of you make gross/net par on day 1, you have to try and “better” it with a birdie, if not you pick up once you go over yesterdays score.

Because of our handicaps, net is out the window (some groups on day 1 were -11) but we’re 4th right now for gross. Unfortunately we only made one birdie between us today but the good news is he or I par’d every hole so tomorrow it’s birdie or bust.

It’s an okay format I guess. Tomorrow will be interesting as everyone will be gunning for pins but I guess I prefer a format where if I played well for two days I’d be rewarded. But if I shoot another good round tomorrow as a 7 it won’t matter unless there are plenty of birdies.
 

Dan Murfman

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 21, 2001
4,186
Pawcatuck
@Gunca and I had one of our member member tournaments this weekend. I’ve never played the format before but it’s called Betterment or Ringer. Basically two days best ball but you record your best score of the two days and submit one round. So for example if both of you make gross/net par on day 1, you have to try and “better” it with a birdie, if not you pick up once you go over yesterdays score.

Because of our handicaps, net is out the window (some groups on day 1 were -11) but we’re 4th right now for gross. Unfortunately we only made one birdie between us today but the good news is he or I par’d every hole so tomorrow it’s birdie or bust.

It’s an okay format I guess. Tomorrow will be interesting as everyone will be gunning for pins but I guess I prefer a format where if I played well for two days I’d be rewarded. But if I shoot another good round tomorrow as a 7 it won’t matter unless there are plenty of birdies.
Im looking forward to Monday. I have a tournament/benefit Monday at Valley.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
Im looking forward to Monday. I have a tournament/benefit Monday at Valley.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think. The greens are a little slow right now, they were surprisingly much faster and harder a month or so ago. Rain tonight may soften them up some more but overall the course is in good shape.

6 looks easy but par there is a good score.
 

Adirondack jack

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 24, 2008
1,584
It's not really about your build. It's about your swing and your ability. Very good players want to control ball flight and that means more of a blade-like club. Pretty good players could seriously benefit from the new "players irons". Higher handicappers could do with "Game Improvement" style clubs that help prevent/correct slices and help get the ball airborne. There are also a number of other considerations around your swing that have little to with your build and more to do with your swing. Things like loft and lie have more to do with swing-plane and stance. Then there are some other things like clubhead speed and tempo that determine things like swing weight, flex and kick-point. With all that being said, if you have a decent sense of your game, you can pretty much fit yourself into the vast majority of those things. Things like lie-angle and gaps/lofts, can be easily figured out at places like Dick's or any place with a lie board and a simulator.

Considering all of that, most places that do detailed fittings will generally make the fitting free if you buy clubs from them so you don't have much to lose so long as you don't go for the upgrades they'll pitch you or don't have any of the concerns I brought up upthread (good day vs. bad day, tired vs. strong, etc.).
Thanks for the feedback, what you're saying makes sense. My original reason for commenting was given Broods background (former golfer on a near two decade sabbatical) I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that fitted clubs would be of limited utility because his swing would in theory evolve somewhat quickly if he started playing consistently. I think your point is that a proper fitting and club purchase could evolve with his game.

The "don't buy your clubs for 20 years bit" is funny given my arc in the game. Currently, with my bum back, shoulders and diminishing rotational abilities has me seriously considering replacing my circa late 90s titleist mb blades. They probably didn't make sense when I played all day every day but they most certainly make no sense now while playing a once a week beer league.
 

BroodsSexton

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2006
12,630
guam
Thanks for the feedback, what you're saying makes sense. My original reason for commenting was given Broods background (former golfer on a near two decade sabbatical) I thought, perhaps incorrectly, that fitted clubs would be of limited utility because his swing would in theory evolve somewhat quickly if he started playing consistently. I think your point is that a proper fitting and club purchase could evolve with his game.

The "don't buy your clubs for 20 years bit" is funny given my arc in the game. Currently, with my bum back, shoulders and diminishing rotational abilities has me seriously considering replacing my circa late 90s titleist mb blades. They probably didn't make sense when I played all day every day but they most certainly make no sense now while playing a once a week beer league.
In the fifteen years I played before my fifteen year sabbatical I’m not sure my swing evolved…Waiting for Father’s Day sales and will probably take advantage next weekend. Played the last three weekends and—except for the very long public course round—enjoyed myself just fine. Without a scorecard, just tracking strokes and putts hole-by-hole. (i.e., don’t add it up because nothing good will come of that.) Even had a few pars.
 
Today I snuck out for a round at Dunbar on a beautifully calm and sunny morning. Parred the first two holes, everything seemed to be in order...and then my swing just completely fell apart. I missed the next 10 greens in regulation, some of them by very wide margins, and bogeyed nine of the 10 holes; this may have been my worst round without a single score above bogey in at least a decade. I was slicing drives less than 200 yards, chunking 3-woods, toe-pulling irons - it was hideous. I nearly walked off the course after duck-hooking a drive on the 12th, but then I took a couple of smooth swings and realized I wasn't laying off the club properly at the top of my backswing, and on the 13th I nailed a laser 280 yards off the tee. I had more than a few hiccups from there to the clubhouse, and I only finished my round with 7 pars (and 11 bogeys) in perfect conditions, but at least I wasn't totally dispirited leaving the course.
 

Dan Murfman

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 21, 2001
4,186
Pawcatuck
Enjoy! Let me know what you think. The greens are a little slow right now, they were surprisingly much faster and harder a month or so ago. Rain tonight may soften them up some more but overall the course is in good shape.

6 looks easy but par there is a good score.
I can see why you like your club. I really liked the course despite my not so good play. It was a scramble but we used my shot on 6. The pin was way up and I just left it short and we just barely missed the chip in. And I have played in too many of these events to count and I can honestly say it was the best food I ever had at one of these events. The group putting on the event can take credit for the food on the course but the meal after the round was perfect.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
Yeah I think I said it earlier but they raised membership prices but 90% of it was a food credit which was fine by me. I love the food there as does my family.

Glad you enjoyed it!
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
41,948
Soo, we had our 4ball championship at the club these past couple of weeks. 2 man best ball, one day of qualifying (about 45 teams) and then the top 15 (plus last year's champs) get into the match play. My partner is a scratch and 2 time defending club champ, so I got 9 shots off him in match play and 11 shots in the qualifier. We seeded 7th in the qualifier, I shot 83, and he was his typical 74.

We won our first match, and really couldn't play much worse. I think I shot 88, and he was 79, which he can do falling out of bed in the morning. Closed out our opponents at 2 and 1 on 17, when I made a 5/4 to halve the hole.

In the quarterfinals, we ran into two guys who play in Florida all winter. Somehow, they always manage to come back with crazy high handicaps for their games, and win a bunch of tourneys. I was getting 9 shots, one of them was getting 9 and the other one was getting 7. Soooo, I was getting 5 shots on the front, and shot 40, my partner shot 36, and we made the turn even.

The opponent getting 9 shots was hitting 3-wood off every tee and 60 yards passed everyone in the group. On the 10th, a short par 5, he had about 165 in, laying zero and made 4/3 to beat our birdie (I made a net birdie, my partner made gross), then his partner chipped in on 11 (a long par 3) for birdie with no shots in the group. I won the 13th hole with a 4/3, and we went into 17 one down, where I missed about a 12 foot par putt for net birdie, and one of those guys rolled his in from 25 feet to close us out.

Through 17 holes, the guy getting 7 shots had shot 72, his partner had shot 74, my partner was at 70 and I was at 76. There wasn't a single double bogey on anyone's card for 17 holes, and not even a single 6, until there was a bogey on par 5 that was playing about 600 yards on the 14th hole. Just crazy good golf, and we couldn't have really played much better, so to get to 17 with those guys getting that many shots was unreal.

Best part was my forecaddy (the junior club champ) had my 14 year old son ride around with him for 3 days, teaching him forecaddying, but it also got my son a chance to watch real, actual competitive serious golf in person with his dad and his friends. My son is really into the game now, but he hadn't really been exposed to that level of competition among adults. He's been playing junior PGA for years, but those are scrambles, and his buddies are there, etc. He had a blast watching us, and did a great job staying out of the way, etc.
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,247
from the wilds of western ma
My inside of 50 yards game is a complete tire fire right now. I’m costing myself probably 5-6 strokes every round by decelerating on chips and lag puts. It’s really driving me nuts, because my ball striking has been better this year than it has been in a few years. Have a lesson scheduled next week with the pro at the club I work part time at. Really hoping he can get me on the road to straightening this out. I’m basically a bogey golfer when things are going well, so any strokes I can save are at an absolute premium for me. I’m sure this started mechanically, and has now become a mental thing. Fingers crossed he can advise some things to address both.
 

TFP

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Dec 10, 2007
20,380
My inside of 50 yards game is a complete tire fire right now. I’m costing myself probably 5-6 strokes every round by decelerating on chips and lag puts. It’s really driving me nuts, because my ball striking has been better this year than it has been in a few years. Have a lesson scheduled next week with the pro at the club I work part time at. Really hoping he can get me on the road to straightening this out. I’m basically a bogey golfer when things are going well, so any strokes I can save are at an absolute premium for me. I’m sure this started mechanically, and has now become a mental thing. Fingers crossed he can advise some things to address both.
The bounce is your friend. I go through this from time to time and just spend 100s of swings thumping the bounce of the club into the turf to remind myself to use it rather than the leading edge.
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,247
from the wilds of western ma
The bounce is your friend. I go through this from time to time and just spend 100s of swings thumping the bounce of the club into the turf to remind myself to use it rather than the leading edge.
That’s definitely on my list of things to discuss. And just some basic set up/ mechanics things, to see if he spots some death move I’m making without knowing it.