|   Hey Tug (or others) - off topic - wanna talk some golf | JDaniel
Jun 20, 2003 5:05 AM | | Trying to get some discussion going here.
You mentioned in a thread below you shot your worst round of the last decade. Man, that hurts. I did the same recently while on vacation at the beach, although it wasn't all that bad (86).
Golf is one of my obsessions (like music, HT, fishing, water sports etc..). Although, of all my hobbies, golf has taken a back seat the last few years - work, kids etc.
I grew up playing at least 5 times/week from about 7th grade through college. Played high school and college golf. I still love the sport. My obsession with it causes me to spend way too much on clubs I don't need (sounds like my music obsession). I should send you something out of my collection of drivers, wedges, & putters. I even began building clubs about six years ago (just for myself, not to sell). I change my own grips, shafts etc.
And what did you think of Furyk winning the Open? I like the guy. He's a kindred spirit - ugly, big nose, and a horrible looking golf swing. But somehow it works. He's one of the truly good guys on tour.
And I just mailed out yesterday my application for 2004 Master's Practice Round tickets. I send it in every year, but have only been drawn twice. It's a great road trip though. That place is a golfer's mecca.
Ok - enough boring golf talk. Back to work.
JDaniel
np - Brad H's 1966 Retro Comp |
| 86 was your worst round in a decade? I really, really hate you. | Swish
Jun 20, 2003 5:45 AM | | I grew up in an area where golf was not a "normal" sport, played only by the wealthy at the local country club. That's changed considerably over the last 10 years or so, and it seems everyone is playing, and it's tough to get tee times some days. I only got into it after college, and I rarely get to play more than once or twice per week due to my hectic schedule. With the foul weather we continue to have this spring, once or twice a week would be a good thing. I've played a total of 5 rounds so far this year and I've sucked each time out, barely breaking 100. My short game is the problem (chipping and putting), but I usually work that out after a month or so, when I can start making some pars and an occasional birdie. Lack of PT is killing me, and it's raining today and is likely to continue through the weekend. Where the hell is my sunshine?!
Regards,
Swishy |
| re: Hey Tug (or others) - off topic - wanna talk some golf | BT3
Jun 20, 2003 6:12 AM | | I thought Furyk winning was cool. Only wished he would have sunk that putt for a 271. As far as ugly goes, see his mom? I would've collected empty beers cans, if that's what it took, to fix that honker. Ah, maybe not. Just call it character.
Got an annual tourney this weekend. We call it the Solstice Open. Bunch of guys I grew up with. Cause of the longest day of the year thing, we tee off real early and hustle a round of nine. Goal is to return to work by eight. At five we bomb out, return to the scene, and do eighteen. Falls on the weekend this year, so we're doin' 18 & 18.
Built two new drivers for the occasion, and have been whacking them all week. Wicked 400cc Zero Tolerance head with a stiff Pro Force shaft. Oh, yeah.
See ya,
B |
| Another RR golf nut | JDaniel
Jun 20, 2003 6:31 AM | | and club maker to boot.
Yeah, I tinker with making clubs quite often. I've tweaked mine now to where I play regular shafts in my long irons (2-4), stiff shafts in short irons, and x-stiff in my sand and lob wedge. How's that for tweaking? I use TT steel shafts with Sensicore inserts in my irons and fairway woods.
I waffle back and forth between steel and graphite shafts in my drivers. My driver of the week right now is a Top Flite 330cc Titanium driver with UST lightweight graphite shaft (stiff, mid flex point). I haven't tried anything larger yet (400 or even 500 cc now). I like the 300 - 350 range. Last month it was a Nicklaus Air Bear Titanium. My trusty fall back driver is a self made Dynacraft 300 cc titanium with steel shaft.
Was given a dozen of the Dunlop LoCo (low compression balls) as a gift. Tried them at the beach, and can't stand them.
Your Solstice Open sounds fun. I used to play golf with a guy who every year on his birthday walks and plays one hole of golf for each year old he is. He invites 2 or 3 people to play with him on that day. I played one time. The problem - the guy was 67 years old the time I joined him for his birthday bash. I couldn't play 67 holes in one day on a par-3 course riding in a cart, much less on a regular course while walking. It was brutal. The guys a certified golf (and health) nut.
Like I said, back to work!
JDaniel
np - Slosh's "Aural Sex" - 1st listen - Ilika |
| I also assemble clubs. I just built a 420 CC "Snake Eyes" driver, | Swish
Jun 20, 2003 1:59 PM | | and all my irons, save a Cleveland sand wedge, were self-built. I also have a store-bought putter and 5 wood, but every-thing else was my work. Maybe that's why I suck! |
| Good old "Rusty" Cleveland sand wedge eh? | DLD
Jun 20, 2003 2:51 PM | | I got one of those, 53 loft. Actually bought it new. LIke records, I[ve been buying the odd club here and there at garage sales.
Recent scores, all $5:
Cleveland VAS-1, (PUTTER). Can't stand it. I like an upright putter. This is not the one. Going on E-Bay.
Toney Penna, putter. Now this is more like it. Been practicing on the hall carpet outside the "analogue room". THis will replace my $125 Odessey. A dream feel and quite an upright lie.
Callaway War Bird Strong 3. Absoultely killer. Smoked it in Baton Rouge last week a few times.
King Snake 3. A King Cobra knock off with a Harrison Graphite shaft. $5. Its a toss up between it and the War Bird, but the War Bird looks like its staying in the bag.
Hogan Sand Wedge, 56 degree. Duhhhh!
Another retail score over the last year, Orlimar 17 degree. Sweet but a bit on the light side. I see some lead tape in my future.
I think thats great you've been putting together your gear.
Hell, I don't even regrip my own clubs. Way too lazy. My cousin "built" me a King Cobra driver knock off about ten years ago, King Snake head, Harrison graphite shaft, and Ping grip. 10 degree loft. I loved it at first hit and will prolly drive with it til I'm too old to play. Fantastic combination of feel and distance. If you know what you're doing, I think you can damn near equal store bought pro-line gear. |
| Golf | allears
Jun 20, 2003 6:37 AM | | I took up golf 4 years ago and have only broken 100 once. It was a very memorable morning round with a few friends cheering me on when they realized I had a "good" round going. I've been a bit busy to take any lessons yet this year and have only shot 2 rounds so far, one at my partners club where I shot a 106 (last year 124) so it seems my bad shots are not so bad anymore.
Furyk did a great job at the Open. He didn't seem to get too excited about a couple great shots, just kept his head down and did the job. Who do you pick for the Buick Classic this weekend? |
| Golf | JDaniel
Jun 20, 2003 6:55 AM | | Furyk is looking good after his opening round yesterday. I'd say momentum is with him. And it's hard to bet against Woods, and Buick is one of his major endorsements, so I'm sure they'd love for him to win.
JDaniel |
| A good walk spoiled.... | tugmcmartin
Jun 20, 2003 7:02 AM | | Perhaps the best description of this evil, yet addictive and fun game.
I started playing in my junior year of high school which would've been 1990 or so. One of my friends was a member at a local country club so he sneaked me on the course one weekend and i used his clubs. I actually hit a 92, which is stil the second best round i've ever shot. It was funny too cuz my HS golf team was practicing on the course that day and some of my classmates saw me playing pretty well and kep telling me i should go out for the team. If they only knew! LOL. Anyway, up until a couple years ago, i was lucky if i played 5 times a year. With my current job, i'm able to take clients out for rounds and i go quite often with my bosses, so i've been playing more. Though yesterday was only my second time out this season. I played Father's Day with my boss and shot a 100, which is good for me. I occasionally dip into the mid 90's but average between 105 and 110. Yesterday, i had a good 18 through 9 holes. Was off to a great start, bogey golf on the first 4 holes, then tweaked a muscle on my ribs teeing off on the 5th and it was all downhill from there. Ended up with a 72 on the front 9 after losing 4 balls on the 5th and 2 on the 6th and getting stuck in a trap on the 7th. Had a 55 on the back 9 after i managed to figure out a decent swing without my stomach hurting on the downswing. Ended with the last 5 holes at bogey golf again. So the middle 9 killed me.
Furyk winning the open was great. He is a great guy and it was good to see someone new win a tournament. Now if only Mickelson can get off the major schnide.
T- |
| 127 - Yikes! | JDaniel
Jun 20, 2003 7:34 AM | | Speaking of "A Good Walk Spoiled", have you read that Finestein book? It's a good read.
Keep on playing. Best golf advice I can give anyone - (1) take a series of 3 - 5 lessons every couple of years. And (2) practice your short game - chipping and putting. Most golfers want to go pound drivers on the driving range. But if you asked me what's the fastest way to cut 10 strokes off your score, it's a no-brainer - practice your chipping and putting - a lot. If you ever add up how many strokes of your final score come via chips and putts, it is easily over 50% for a lot of golfers.
JDaniel |
| Short game... | tugmcmartin
Jun 20, 2003 8:00 AM | | Thats my strong part. I don't hit long, and when i'm at the range, i hit 90% irons, most of those 5 through 9. My strategy of late has been hit an easy 3W off the tees, then no matter where i am on the course after the tee shot, hit not more than a 5I for my second shot. That will usually get me within an easy chip for my third shot. Once i'm on the green, i rarely three putt... so that usually puts me close to bogey golf. Where i get hurt is the occasional duff and the occasional penalty strokes for water, OB, etc. Most of my lost strokes come via the penalty. I probably have 5 shots a game that go OB and necessitate a drop. That adds up pretty quickly. Though i've been really straightening out my shots lately. Yesterday was just one of those days where nothing went right for a couple of hours. Last shot of the day was a chip from 30 yards out that put me within one foot of the hole. That was the one that'll keep me coming back. |
| Furyk's win was nice... | Ex-Lion Tamer
Jun 20, 2003 10:24 AM | | But how about the year Mike Weir is having?
Master's Champion, (first lefty ever I think).
A very respectable 3rd place finish at the Open.
Four wins this year, (and three second or thirds, I think)
First on the money list.
Probable golfer of the year.
And a great guy, by all accounts too. I wonder if <u>anyone</u> predicted that Weir would be the next lefty to win a major, (as opposed to that other notable Lefty). Those putts he made coming home at The Masters showed what he's made of. I mean an 8 footer on 18 to send it to a playoff...Yikes! There was probably a minimum of $10 to 20 million in future earnings riding on that one putt! Double-yikes!! I'm starting to wonder if Mickelson has the stones to ever win a major. Time is definitely running out.
As for my own game, I've been playing for 5 years now and I'm breaking 100 on a consistent basis now. Feels really nice. Very good advice about practicing the short game and taking a series of lessons every couple of years.
Mark |
| Caddied, work at a club, & started playing at 5 | DLD
Jun 20, 2003 3:09 PM | | My worst round in the last year ties JDaniel's 86. Thought I was playing pretty good and entered a tournament. Sucked hippo balls. Had a nice tournament a few years back and finished third in our city championship.
Played all thru hi school and if I had kept up at the pace I had set in 10th grade, I was pretty much assured of a scholarship, but I discovered wine women and song, plus I took a job working at a golf course (and never had time to practice), and my game went way south. Got a loop in my swing, lost that strong inside move. Took me five years to get straight again. Made a few nice showings in the Southern Junior and our State Amateur a few decades back.
Still love the game and keep my score around 80, + or - 5, err, make that 6. Played 15 holes last week (skippped "amen corner") and was 2 over. 4 birds, color me happy, no, make that ecstatic.
Furyk winning was cool. There'll be a whole new group of kids trying to imitate his swing the way that we (us old farts) imitated Palmer's swing a generation and a half ago.
Oh yea, Tin Cup might have been the best golf movie ever, goofy ending not withstanding. |
| One word- 'Caddyshack.' | Finch Platte
Jun 20, 2003 9:21 PM | | "I'll bet you were somptin before electricity."
fp |
| Can I eat your fat? (nt) | DLD
Jun 21, 2003 2:14 PM | | |
| |
