Golf?

BattleFlag said:
Well done sir! I haven't played in a Member/Guest tournament in a while. They're always fun though.
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Thanks! It was super fun, but still feeing a little worn out from all the drinking/sun/golf. Starting to perk back up. Another 3 day trip planned for next week for a friends 50th birthday.
 
BattleFlag said:
I would absolutely recommend finding a spot where you can go in and do a custom fitting. You don't have to buy anything from them, although you can and they usually wave the fitting fee if you do. But even going in and getting to hit lots of different brands, styles, and shafts will give you an idea of what you want to be looking for.
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There's a place up here call Miles of Golf that fits clubs. My brother-in-law just spent some time there last weekend and loved the service and was impressed with time they spent with him. He bought a set from them, custom fitted. That's what gave me the itch to get new irons. Bummer part is that it'll be about 8 weeks until he gets them. They also mentioned that by next year their prices will almost double because of the steel industry.
 
My pick 6 (my golf crew does this for every major, I won the Masters pool thanks to a Hideki pick):

Brooks - Speith - Hovland - Fleetwood - Mcintyre - Brendan Grace

Should be a fun weekend with lots of early morning coffees.
 
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OnTheRoad said:
My pick 6 (my golf crew does this for every major, I won the Masters pool thanks to a Hideki pick):

Brooks - Speith - Hovland - Fleetwood - Mcintyre - Brendan Grace

Should be a fun weekend with lots of early morning coffees.
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Nice! Go Koepka.
I love golf betting. My friend and I have been doing weekly PGA bets for like 10 years. I was in a fairly large pool for a couple years with a few hundred people, that was pretty fun too.
Maybe we should form a N&G fantasy golf league or pool next season…
 
I feel like I'm right on the edge of playing good golf. But there's always that one breakdown to prevent that from happening. In other words, my mental game sucks.

For example - I'll go: par - bogey - par - par - 9! - 7! - par - bogey - bogey
That turns a nine hole round that I might flirt with breaking 40 into a 47 or more. Granted, this is in my Friday beer league, so there are distractions and I don't really show up to be all serious or intense about it.

I'm playing 18 Sunday for the first time in a few weeks at 6:30 a.m. It's the first tee-time, so I can get a good rhythm and pace going, that should help. I really hope to focus on each shot and see where I'm at in my game.

Unrelated to that - I got a new bag and shoes. There was a clearance on Ping bags at my local golf shop; they had 10 white bags lined up for 40% off. the guy said nobody wants white...but had no problem with that, so I grabbed one. And I switched from Ecco to New Balance shoes...I loved the Eccos but seven years was their max, they were cracked and leaking. These are super comfy and 120 bucks less!
 
ranbalam said:
I feel like I'm right on the edge of playing good golf. But there's always that one breakdown to prevent that from happening. In other words, my mental game sucks.

For example - I'll go: par - bogey - par - par - 9! - 7! - par - bogey - bogey
That turns a nine hole round that I might flirt with breaking 40 into a 47 or more. Granted, this is in my Friday beer league, so there are distractions and I don't really show up to be all serious or intense about it.

I'm playing 18 Sunday for the first time in a few weeks at 6:30 a.m. It's the first tee-time, so I can get a good rhythm and pace going, that should help. I really hope to focus on each shot and see where I'm at in my game.

Unrelated to that - I got a new bag and shoes. There was a clearance on Ping bags at my local golf shop; they had 10 white bags lined up for 40% off. the guy said nobody wants white...but had no problem with that, so I grabbed one. And I switched from Ecco to New Balance shoes...I loved the Eccos but seven years was their max, they were cracked and leaking. These are super comfy and 120 bucks less!
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There is nothing worse than starting to figure it out, but in the back of your head you know a blowup hole is coming. When that goes away, this game becomes super fun.

I love the Ecco shoes, just bought a pair a few weeks back on a sale with some credit. Good deal on the bag there too!

Good luck Sunday!
 
Matt M said:
There is nothing worse than starting to figure it out, but in the back of your head you know a blowup hole is coming. When that goes away, this game becomes super fun.

I love the Ecco shoes, just bought a pair a few weeks back on a sale with some credit. Good deal on the bag there too!

Good luck Sunday!
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Thanks for the encouragement. At my home course I've parred every hole at one time or another, so I keep thinking that one of those special rounds is coming! But we all know it's the stringing together of good shots, then of good holes that makes this dame so damn difficult.
 
ranbalam said:
I feel like I'm right on the edge of playing good golf. But there's always that one breakdown to prevent that from happening. In other words, my mental game sucks.

For example - I'll go: par - bogey - par - par - 9! - 7! - par - bogey - bogey
That turns a nine hole round that I might flirt with breaking 40 into a 47 or more. Granted, this is in my Friday beer league, so there are distractions and I don't really show up to be all serious or intense about it.

I'm playing 18 Sunday for the first time in a few weeks at 6:30 a.m. It's the first tee-time, so I can get a good rhythm and pace going, that should help. I really hope to focus on each shot and see where I'm at in my game.

Unrelated to that - I got a new bag and shoes. There was a clearance on Ping bags at my local golf shop; they had 10 white bags lined up for 40% off. the guy said nobody wants white...but had no problem with that, so I grabbed one. And I switched from Ecco to New Balance shoes...I loved the Eccos but seven years was their max, they were cracked and leaking. These are super comfy and 120 bucks less!
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It'll come around! When I have a few rounds like that, I go back to something I heard some "big name" golf teacher say on the Golf Channel way back in the day: If the average golfer can strive to play a round with no OB shots, no 2-chip holes, and two putt most of the greens, they'll improve their score.

Also, good score on the shoes and bag! I have not yet tried NB golf shoes, but I'm intrigued as to how they work for you. Also, Ping bags are the best. I've had an Ogio for the better part of 8-9 years now that I love, but I will definitely go back to a Ping Hoofer (or Hoofer Lite) when I get my next one.
 
BattleFlag said:
It'll come around! When I have a few rounds like that, I go back to something I heard some "big name" golf teacher say on the Golf Channel way back in the day: If the average golfer can strive to play a round with no OB shots, no 2-chip holes, and two putt most of the greens, they'll improve their score.

Also, good score on the shoes and bag! I have not yet tried NB golf shoes, but I'm intrigued as to how they work for you. Also, Ping bags are the best. I've had an Ogio for the better part of 8-9 years now that I love, but I will definitely go back to a Ping Hoofer (or Hoofer Lite) when I get my next one.
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All great advice. Nothing worse than an OB drive after a par...although a double chip is pretty frustrating as well.
 
Just finished up back to back 36 hole days in central KY. 90+ degrees and humid. Fun as hell but man, we have another 18 tomorrow and...

TMI below!
My ass is so chaffed I'm surprised I didn't bleed through my golf shorts. Gold bond me ASAP!!

Doesn't bode well for Railbird Festival Saturday and Sunday
 
Been playing golf (mostly par 3's) here and there for years but played Rustic Canyon in Ventura County, CA last week and it was a game-changer for me. Beautifully designed course-- the 18 holes really wore me out. I played with a friend who was a college team golfer and another mid-level player which was helpful. I think I need to finally invest in a set of clubs, anyone have tips for putting together a beginner's set? A few friends have mentioned I check out Play it Again Sports. Also, where can I get a cool-looking golf bag- I need some swag on the links!
 
McGlam said:
Been playing golf (mostly par 3's) here and there for years but played Rustic Canyon in Ventura County, CA last week and it was a game-changer for me. Beautifully designed course-- the 18 holes really wore me out. I played with a friend who was a college team golfer and another mid-level player which was helpful. I think I need to finally invest in a set of clubs, anyone have tips for putting together a beginner's set? A few friends have mentioned I check out Play it Again Sports. Also, where can I get a cool-looking golf bag- I need some swag on the links!
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Step 1 - set a budget.
$200 is kind of the low end unless you're willing to go with stuff more than 10 years old or you have some friends donate or give great deals on old stuff. But $500 can get you a really great fairly modern full set of clubs. They drop in value as quickly as cars.
Now if you have the cash and you feel confident you will stick with it, brand new clubs are very fun. But a whole bag of brand new current model stuff is pretty much always going to cost $1,500+. There are box sets for like $300-500, but personally I would always advise used over a new box set. The driver is the best place to save money going used or outgoing model. Followed by irons. But if you want to get one thing brand new and the rest used, I'd go for irons. For used clubs, play it again, golf stores have used sections, facebook market place, craigslist, etc are all great resources. No shortage of clubs out there.

Step 2 - Decide if you really need a full set. You'd be surprised how many places you can play well with just a set of irons and wedges. If you can hit a 4 iron/hybrid 180-200 yards decently constantly, you can reach pretty much any par 5 in 3 strokes. I have to remind myself when I'm not playing well that a driver into the woods is a harder shot into a par 4 when I can take a 6 iron and an 8 iron to get there in an easy 2 on a normal par 4. Everyone loves the driver, but you really don't need it if you can hit irons with very average distances.

Step 3 - Bag. This is one area I think is worth spending money for new if you've got it. You can certainly find decent ones used, especially on local craigslist/facebook markets. Get a carry stand bag. I have so many friends who get bigger bags when they start, and regret quickly. Even if they never walk, just lugging a big bag with a single strap from the car to the cart can be pain. Look at the layouts, find what's comfortable, and don't get hung up on the brand.

Step 4 - SHOES! This is often overlooked. Even in a cart, golf is a lot of walking. Spend your money on good shoes. I think a very comfortable pair of cross-trainers is a better investment then an expensive set of golf shoes that you can't walk 3-5 miles in. And that's what you need to keep in mind. If you walk the whole course, you are going on a literal 5+ mile hike. That's worth buying the most comfortable shoes possible.

The unfortunate part of all this is the barrier of entry is unfortunately very high. Once you have clubs, a bag and shoes, you can always resell to trade up. But it's very very hard to really get everything you need for under $400+. It can be done for cheaper, but most people who do either quit quickly or move up within the first 6 months and end up spending more in the first year. Just know that going in. A lot of people get sticker shock, which is understandable.
 
displayname said:
Step 1 - set a budget.
$200 is kind of the low end unless you're willing to go with stuff more than 10 years old or you have some friends donate or give great deals on old stuff. But $500 can get you a really great fairly modern full set of clubs. They drop in value as quickly as cars.
Now if you have the cash and you feel confident you will stick with it, brand new clubs are very fun. But a whole bag of brand new current model stuff is pretty much always going to cost $1,500+. There are box sets for like $300-500, but personally I would always advise used over a new box set. The driver is the best place to save money going used or outgoing model. Followed by irons. But if you want to get one thing brand new and the rest used, I'd go for irons. For used clubs, play it again, golf stores have used sections, facebook market place, craigslist, etc are all great resources. No shortage of clubs out there.

Step 2 - Decide if you really need a full set. You'd be surprised how many places you can play well with just a set of irons and wedges. If you can hit a 4 iron/hybrid 180-200 yards decently constantly, you can reach pretty much any par 5 in 3 strokes. I have to remind myself when I'm not playing well that a driver into the woods is a harder shot into a par 4 when I can take a 6 iron and an 8 iron to get there in an easy 2 on a normal par 4. Everyone loves the driver, but you really don't need it if you can hit irons with very average distances.

Step 3 - Bag. This is one area I think is worth spending money for new if you've got it. You can certainly find decent ones used, especially on local craigslist/facebook markets. Get a carry stand bag. I have so many friends who get bigger bags when they start, and regret quickly. Even if they never walk, just lugging a big bag with a single strap from the car to the cart can be pain. Look at the layouts, find what's comfortable, and don't get hung up on the brand.

Step 4 - SHOES! This is often overlooked. Even in a cart, golf is a lot of walking. Spend your money on good shoes. I think a very comfortable pair of cross-trainers is a better investment then an expensive set of golf shoes that you can't walk 3-5 miles in. And that's what you need to keep in mind. If you walk the whole course, you are going on a literal 5+ mile hike. That's worth buying the most comfortable shoes possible.

The unfortunate part of all this is the barrier of entry is unfortunately very high. Once you have clubs, a bag and shoes, you can always resell to trade up. But it's very very hard to really get everything you need for under $400+. It can be done for cheaper, but most people who do either quit quickly or move up within the first 6 months and end up spending more in the first year. Just know that going in. A lot of people get sticker shock, which is understandable.
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Yes to everything that @displayname has to say here.

Depending on where you live, there is a lot to find for used golf clubs out there. Play It Again Sports is probably a good place to start (I'm in Canada, and we don't have them up here but I see them often on YouTube channels like Stacked Golf who go looking for old clubs and thrift shops, stores, flea markets, etc.). Find a set of irons in your budget that look good to your eye. I find a lot of Taylor Made and Ping irons from 8-15 years back can be found in really good shape and have a good look to them. Older Callaway irons are massively ugly to my eye, but if they fit yours then great! Tons of drivers out and about in the used market, which is great because driver technology hasn't really changed much over the last ten years.

Also agree about the bag being the component to look at new. Ping, Ogio, and Sun Mountain all make great bags and have for more than a decade, but the traditonal club brands (Taylor Made, Callaway, Mizuno, Titleist, Cobra, etc.) have stepped it up and often get their bags made in the same factories that do Ogio and Vessel bags, so they are good quality as well. If it's swag you want, you've got all kinds of choices!
 
I am in my usual late season slump. Bad tee shots followed by lousy approach shots, and yet my short game has been ok enough to bail me out of complete collapse.
Once my league starts winding down and I feel the end of the season coming I tend to play with less focus and care.

So I decided to play 18 early this Sunday morning to better gauge where my game is. Then I have two outings in three weeks. Both are four-man scrambles, which don't really help you see where your game is...but they are always fun with this gang I'm playing with.

If my Sunday round is somewhere north of a train wreck Sunday, I plan to play as late into the season as I can this year. There are a couple courses near me that keep pins in year round and let you play if there's no snow. (of course there are frost delays sometimes)
 
Haven't posted in a bit, but I've been playin!
Recently played a full 18 with my father in law and wife (she's starting to get into it) and scored a 95. First time ever breaking 100. Had a few great +10 feet puts that saved me for par. I also got my wife a good beginners set through EBay, but she was topping out quite a bit and ended up breaking her club head from shaft. So gotta clean it out and replace shaft.
Also, noticed that my approaches around the green are a lot better using my 9iron than a 56 degree. I have my control.
 
Memo said:
Haven't posted in a bit, but I've been playin!
Recently played a full 18 with my father in law and wife (she's starting to get into it) and scored a 95. First time ever breaking 100. Had a few great +10 feet puts that saved me for par. I also got my wife a good beginners set through EBay, but she was topping out quite a bit and ended up breaking her club head from shaft. So gotta clean it out and replace shaft.
Also, noticed that my approaches around the green are a lot better using my 9iron than a 56 degree. I have my control.
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Congrats on breaking 100. Next up, breaking 90! For me that's been tough. I've done it less than 10 times ever, and not with any regularity. But I don't practice or take lessons, so I can't complain about it.

A good friend of mine has been playing every chance he can this summer, (he can flex his work obligations to evenings or nights most of the time) so he has been getting in like 54 holes a week or more and it really has improved his game a ton. He's been in the low 40s consistently at league and mid-80s for 18. I can't be envious, he's putting in the time to get better.
 
Awesome to hear lots of people getting a chance to play and improve! Congrats @Memo on the 95! It's funny how sometimes we shatter those "milestone" scores. When I was young, I had broken 40 for nine holes several times, but could not break 80 for eighteen for the longest time. Then one day along came a good steady round and I shot a 77!

My league is getting down to the last few weeks, but my team has made it through the playoffs all the way to the finals! I'm actually taking a half-day off work this coming Monday to hit the driving range before the round to warm up. Our league course doesn't have a driving range (only a practice green), so I go to the close one to where I live. For years I got so used to hitting some balls and warming up properly before playing, so I'm gonna try that this coming week.
 
ranbalam said:
Congrats on breaking 100. Next up, breaking 90! For me that's been tough. I've done it less than 10 times ever, and not with any regularity. But I don't practice or take lessons, so I can't complain about it.

A good friend of mine has been playing every chance he can this summer, (he can flex his work obligations to evenings or nights most of the time) so he has been getting in like 54 holes a week or more and it really has improved his game a ton. He's been in the low 40s consistently at league and mid-80s for 18. I can't be envious, he's putting in the time to get better.
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Hitting balls with regularity is the best thing you can do. I used to play about once a week, got to averaging low 90s to upper 80s. Never got to the low 80s really though.

This past year I've only been out about 5 times. Between not getting out and getting over some sciatica, the skills fall off quickly. I'm not a natural either so it's an up hill climb. Back to shooting in the hundreds. At this stage the knowledge from lessons can become a burden because I'm thinking about hip angles and wrist rotation and I need to back up and remind myself what simply hitting down feels like, lol.

I've just had to reset my mind and remember things that I tell friends who are just starting. A 6 iron off the tee has been saving me more strokes than anything I've learned in a lesson. But I'm glad it's still fun for me. I have some friends who would probably just stop playing if they back slid that much. Putting your ego to the side and remembering that you're smacking balls in a field is the best golf lesson you can ever get in my opinion.

*And deciding what type of golf you really want to play. Get the ball in the hole or try to drive the ball 300. Most people don't get to play both ways, so you just pick one and have fun, lol.
You can still have fun shooting in 100s if you can crack it 280+ in the air every time. Even if you miss every fairway, it's fun to watch guys who can hit those distances catch one straight.
 
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