***Official 2024 Golf Thread, pick up the pace, HCP be a changing *** (2 Viewers)

[Andy Dufresne]

Chipping - I could never make work the simple advice of "just keep your arms straight and swing it like a putter" until yesterday. To make it work I had to do two things: a super strong grip with my left/upper hand and then use a baseball grip of all things.

I think those two things helped me square the face better.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

played Friday-Monday at local courses and played decent overall but I still have a few holes that I mentally seem to lose focus on and kill the scoring. Handicap is down to a 12.4 and still inching in the right direction, I was a bit frustrated yesterday as the course is getting ready to punch their greens and so they were a tad shaggy and slow. I wish they would just discount the round when the course isn't as it should be.

 

[The Gator]

Ok, I'm officially on board with needing a cocktail or some booze to golf.

Saturdays round started with a bloody marry before we went out, but I also took a tall gin and club soda for the front 9 and grabbed another for the back.

Shot a PB 99, didn't lose a ball and had three pars.



Played yesterday morning with both my sons, completely sober.

Shot a 112, 5 balls went OB and lost 4 of them

Time for a golf bag flask

 

[Zow]

Ok, I'm officially on board with needing a cocktail or some booze to golf.

Saturdays round started with a bloody marry before we went out, but I also took a tall gin and club soda for the front 9 and grabbed another for the back.

Shot a PB 99, didn't lose a ball and had three pars.



Played yesterday morning with both my sons, completely sober.

Shot a 112, 5 balls went OB and lost 4 of them

Time for a golf bag flask

Welcome to the club!

Was just coming in here to lament the fact that I played a wonderful four days of golf but didn't play any of them sober and now I'm paying for it. I need to figure out a way to enjoy a weekend of this sport without destroying my liver. Only saving grace is that each day I stopped drinking as soon as I left the course and hydrated heavily thereafter to ensure some semblance of decent sleep.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Well, Drunken Boxing is a real thing...

It probably does make you swing looser - which is a good thing. But that is accomplishable without "help".

 

[belljr]

I know when I go over the line with drinks when my putting is not normal. The first thing I lose is proper speed lol

 

[The Gator]

Looking into lessons for this week or next; what’s the going rate for an hour?

Local place here has a Steve Wolff who is a former pro I believe. He charges $115/hr for up to two people.

 

[Zow]

Looking into lessons for this week or next; what’s the going rate for an hour?

Local place here has a Steve Wolff who is a former pro I believe. He charges $115/hr for up to two people.

That sounds like a reasonable rate. Was going to say between $100 - $150/hr. probably qualifications depending.

 

[Instinctive]

Looking into lessons for this week or next; what’s the going rate for an hour?

Local place here has a Steve Wolff who is a former pro I believe. He charges $115/hr for up to two people.

That sounds like a reasonable rate. Was going to say between $100 - $150/hr. probably qualifications depending.

I pay $90/hr and I think that's a fantastic deal. Agree with Zow.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

need to figure out a way to enjoy a weekend of this sport without destroying my liver.

Here you go

 

[Judge Smails]

Having one or two pops on the course can loosen you up. But I’ve never seen it when hammering vodkas in a tourney has helped either me or my partner score better. Quite the opposite.

 

[Zow]

need to figure out a way to enjoy a weekend of this sport without destroying my liver.

Here you go

Nope. Tried that a couple of times and it eliminates my competitiveness and focus.

 

[Zow]

Having one or two pops on the course can loosen you up. But I’ve never seen it when hammering vodkas in a tourney has helped either me or my partner score better. Quite the opposite.

My playing partners commonly suggest I drink more on the course.

I swear what I'm about to say is not hyperbole nor is it something I'm proud of, but if my kids' lives were on the line and I could only save them by shooting a good golf score, I would 100% play with several drinks in my system. In fact, it's such a thing for me, that I have a regular drink schedule for competitive tournaments.

 

[TLEF316]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

 

[BeTheMatch]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

I have a buddy dealing with the yips right now. No fun.

 

[The Gator]

need to figure out a way to enjoy a weekend of this sport without destroying my liver.

Here you go

I did get my first birdie on 10mg. You might be on to something.

 

[belljr]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

You haven't quit like I did 3 times last year

 

[Instinctive]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

My answer is always an hour with the pro

 

[Instinctive]

Looking into lessons for this week or next; what’s the going rate for an hour?

Local place here has a Steve Wolff who is a former pro I believe. He charges $115/hr for up to two people.

That sounds like a reasonable rate. Was going to say between $100 - $150/hr. probably qualifications depending.

I pay $90/hr and I think that's a fantastic deal. Agree with Zow.

I'll add a couple things:

1. It's worth it to talk to a guy for a bit and see if you like the guy's style. I tried a few different ones, and I found someone who is excellent at working on feel vs "arm should be here and leg should be here" but instead is tapping into natural athleticism, lots of cross-sport analogies, and he coaches very similarly to how I coached basketball. I had tried another and the lesson was all positioning this and that and it doesn't work for me, and another who wouldn't really engage on what's happening at all once my body was doing it ok, and I need to understand things (pathologically)

2. Intro lesson usually is longer, and it's usually a good deal. e.g., my guy is $90/hr but only $120 for the 90-minute intro

3. I always make sure I leave the lesson with 1-2 drills to focus on a specific part of the swing on my mat or at the range, working every day for a bit, and used to ask for things I could do with a towel in a hotel room or with anything in a hotel gym. Has made a huge difference to have a specific goal or drill in my practice time vs just trying to hit balls.

4. I find things work better when we pick a focus area and hit it hard for a lesson (e.g., all chipping, or ball striking, or eliminating fade/slice)

 

[Schmeabs]

Golf is a crazy game. I hate it one day then love it the next day. I has been relatively well the past month and avoided double bogey in three of 4 rounds. Then yesterday I played a brand new course and shot a 48 on the front with 3 double bogey and a 44 on the back with 2 doubles. I was so frustrated I had no desire to golf for awhile.

Mt Dad called today and asked me to play 9 holes so I agreed. I pared the first 7 holes. The 8th hole was the number 1 handicap long par 5 with ob on both sides. My drive went left but playable behind some trees so no clean shot. I tried to punch a 5 iron out a gap but chunked it 10 years and still in crap. I decided to hit a wedge through a small gap to give me around 110 for my 4th shot. Perfect shot so I was 110 out. Just need to get up and down for another par. I hit my wedge perfect 5 feet to the left of the flag! Nice! I put my club in the bag and start walking when I notice my ball somehow spun backwards 25 feet and rolled down the hill so I was now 35 yards from the hole. Such crap. My ball mark was 5 feet from the hole. I chip on green and 2 put for double bogey 7. I putted where my ball mark was and made it of course. Pared hole 9 so I would have been even par for 9 without the backspin on 8.

 

[The Gator]

Looking into lessons for this week or next; what’s the going rate for an hour?

Local place here has a Steve Wolff who is a former pro I believe. He charges $115/hr for up to two people.

That sounds like a reasonable rate. Was going to say between $100 - $150/hr. probably qualifications depending.

I pay $90/hr and I think that's a fantastic deal. Agree with Zow.

I'll add a couple things:

1. It's worth it to talk to a guy for a bit and see if you like the guy's style. I tried a few different ones, and I found someone who is excellent at working on feel vs "arm should be here and leg should be here" but instead is tapping into natural athleticism, lots of cross-sport analogies, and he coaches very similarly to how I coached basketball. I had tried another and the lesson was all positioning this and that and it doesn't work for me, and another who wouldn't really engage on what's happening at all once my body was doing it ok, and I need to understand things (pathologically)

2. Intro lesson usually is longer, and it's usually a good deal. e.g., my guy is $90/hr but only $120 for the 90-minute intro

3. I always make sure I leave the lesson with 1-2 drills to focus on a specific part of the swing on my mat or at the range, working every day for a bit, and used to ask for things I could do with a towel in a hotel room or with anything in a hotel gym. Has made a huge difference to have a specific goal or drill in my practice time vs just trying to hit balls.

4. I find things work better when we pick a focus area and hit it hard for a lesson (e.g., all chipping, or ball striking, or eliminating fade/slice)

Appreciate the feedback.

I've been kicking lessons around for a while, local muni online site had a link to email them about lessons, but never heard back. So this will be at a sim with Trackmaster. He said they go over before and after stats from that too. Pretty excite actually

 

[TLEF316]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

My answer is always an hour with the pro

Been there. He recognized something I was physically doing wrong (grip too weak, enhancing my wristy tendency) but its 100% mental at this point. I'm emotionally defeated the first time a drive goes wayward on the range. You can feel the tension just overwhelm my body when I stand over a driver. (and going down to a 3 wood doesn't help, as all I tell myself is "what if i can't hit this club either?").

Honestly can't remember the last time I actually played 18 holes and felt good about myself afterwards. Trying to trick myself mentally by just practicing for a while (so i can at least feel a little bit good when i leave the parking lot)

Yeah, I'm a total wreck. My brother carried me to the semis of our all summer net 4 ball tournament (added bonus putting yips that day for yours truly, which wasn't embarrassing at all) but I'm pulling the plug on anything remotely competitive for the rest of the year. Not playing this weekend's net club stroke play event or my flight in the club championship. Need a complete and total no-stress (or as close as I can get) mental rebuild before going to Hilton Head next month.

 

[Judge Smails]

Having one or two pops on the course can loosen you up. But I’ve never seen it when hammering vodkas in a tourney has helped either me or my partner score better. Quite the opposite.

My playing partners commonly suggest I drink more on the course.

I swear what I'm about to say is not hyperbole nor is it something I'm proud of, but if my kids' lives were on the line and I could only save them by shooting a good golf score, I would 100% play with several drinks in my system. In fact, it's such a thing for me, that I have a regular drink schedule for competitive tournaments.

Don't get me wrong in our Ryder Cup tournament we're having beers the entire round. Lots of em. And I do think it helps calm the nerves a bit. Maybe one vodka or bloody mary early is OK too. But in our club tourneys unlimited booze is included. They have cart girl set ups at 4-5 different holes. Dudes get HAMMERED. Never seen one of them make it to the horse race. So my rule is have a few but don't get smashed..

 

[belljr]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

My answer is always an hour with the pro

Been there. He recognized something I was physically doing wrong (grip too weak, enhancing my wristy tendency) but its 100% mental at this point. I'm emotionally defeated the first time a drive goes wayward on the range. You can feel the tension just overwhelm my body when I stand over a driver. (and going down to a 3 wood doesn't help, as all I tell myself is "what if i can't hit this club either?").

Honestly can't remember the last time I actually played 18 holes and felt good about myself afterwards. Trying to trick myself mentally by just practicing for a while (so i can at least feel a little bit good when i leave the parking lot)

Yeah, I'm a total wreck. My brother carried me to the semis of our all summer net 4 ball tournament (added bonus putting yips that day for yours truly, which wasn't embarrassing at all) but I'm pulling the plug on anything remotely competitive for the rest of the year. Not playing this weekend's net club stroke play event or my flight in the club championship. Need a complete and total no-stress (or as close as I can get) mental rebuild before going to Hilton Head next month.

I'm dead serious "quit"....step away for a week or two

 

[3 hour lunch]

As someone who hasn't played a good round of golf in 4 months(even post lesson, the fear of the smother hook and over- correcting off the planet right block) is causing me to tense up in the tee box unlike anything ive ever experienced), I'm considering all options.

My answer is always an hour with the pro

Been there. He recognized something I was physically doing wrong (grip too weak, enhancing my wristy tendency) but its 100% mental at this point. I'm emotionally defeated the first time a drive goes wayward on the range. You can feel the tension just overwhelm my body when I stand over a driver. (and going down to a 3 wood doesn't help, as all I tell myself is "what if i can't hit this club either?").

Honestly can't remember the last time I actually played 18 holes and felt good about myself afterwards. Trying to trick myself mentally by just practicing for a while (so i can at least feel a little bit good when i leave the parking lot)

Yeah, I'm a total wreck. My brother carried me to the semis of our all summer net 4 ball tournament (added bonus putting yips that day for yours truly, which wasn't embarrassing at all) but I'm pulling the plug on anything remotely competitive for the rest of the year. Not playing this weekend's net club stroke play event or my flight in the club championship. Need a complete and total no-stress (or as close as I can get) mental rebuild before going to Hilton Head next month.

I have skipped my club championship in the past for similar, although less drastic reasons. Why play if it’s not fun? I would suggest not pick up a club For a week, then go back to the range and just swing. You’ll find something that clicks.

 

[Truebluey]

Have a sport psychologist walk the course with you. It's amazing how much you can learn about the inner game if they actually see you play.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

Thought I was onto something after last week's 43 and the start of last night's round. Good drive and a great 5W got me maybe 20 yards short of the par 5 in two. Somehow took a bogey, but shrugged it off and had okay bogeys the next two holes. Then things went crazy and I went double bogey, 8, par, triple bogey, birdie. Issues almost all related to squaring the clubface. Carded a 49. We'll see if I can get my timing issues more under control for next week.

 

[Instinctive]

Wow. New ability to hit driver has its ups and downs. Need to work on getting face square every time vs open, because then it fades/slices, but when I square it...I was hitting 225-245 instead of 190-210. Had wedges into a couple holes. Crazy.

 

[The Gator]

Lesson booked for Tuesday.

 

[Judge Smails]

Have a sport psychologist walk the course with you. It's amazing how much you can learn about the inner game if they actually see you play.

Also play with a teaching pro. So much wisdom. Teeing up to hit away from trouble. Assessing lies and how the ball will react. Club selection into greens. Safe shots, where you can’t miss, etc. to avoid big numbers. When to lay up vs going for it.

 

[Truebluey]

Have a sport psychologist walk the course with you. It's amazing how much you can learn about the inner game if they actually see you play.

Also play with a teaching pro. So much wisdom. Teeing up to hit away from trouble. Assessing lies and how the ball will react. Club selection into greens. Safe shots, where you can’t miss, etc. to avoid big numbers. When to lay up vs going for it.

Have you seen that Youtube video of the tour caddie (Vijay's, etc.) caddying for a 16 handicapper? Amazing how much they can help.

 

[Judge Smails]

Have a sport psychologist walk the course with you. It's amazing how much you can learn about the inner game if they actually see you play.

Also play with a teaching pro. So much wisdom. Teeing up to hit away from trouble. Assessing lies and how the ball will react. Club selection into greens. Safe shots, where you can’t miss, etc. to avoid big numbers. When to lay up vs going for it.

Have you seen that Youtube video of the tour caddie (Vijay's, etc.) caddying for a 16 handicapper? Amazing how much they can help.

I haven't but will look it up. I believe it

 

[The Gator]

Lesson #1 in the books. I was kind of hoping for more instruction, but he was pretty chill and just let me swing and then chimed in once in a while.

First change was in my takeaway. My club face was good and closed, but my takeaway was too straight back causing me to come in steep. This was pretty much my issue. No way i could do that drill, I'd break many sticks lol.

So I kept my club face the same, but took my hands back over my right foot instead of further back. Instantly improved my downswing approach. Was almost instantly hitting nice draws that came back center. Started with my 8I, and that was pretty smooth and easy to adjust. 3W was a joy to hit, had it going 220-240y even miss-hits were 180-200 but straight.

pretty happy with the first one, will try to put the changes into play now. Want to hit the range and play 9 tomorrow, then I'm booked at Morro Bay with some buddies for Sat.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Going to be a great couple of days coming up. The Wilderness & The Quarry on back to back days for seven if my guys and me. Both are consistently ranked in the top 5 public courses in Minnesota. Been looking forward to this for months!

Gallery

www.golfthewilderness.com

The Quarry

The Quarry was built on the site of an old sand/gravel and iron ore mining operation and is now the #1 public golf course in Minnesota

www.giantsridge.com

 

[BeTheMatch]

Going to be a great couple of days coming up. The Wilderness & The Quarry on back to back days for seven if my guys and me. Both are consistently ranked in the top 5 public courses in Minnesota. Been looking forward to this for months!

Gallery

www.golfthewilderness.com

The Quarry

The Quarry was built on the site of an old sand/gravel and iron ore mining operation and is now the #1 public golf course in Minnesota

www.giantsridge.com

Wilderness is so great. Enjoy!!

 

[Zow]

Played golf at a beautiful course today on a Tuesday. Smooth 78. Coulda been a 98 and I wouldn’t have cared.

 

[Instinctive]

Gonna have a decent sample by end of today how much walking impacts my score. Right now, with a 3-round sample, it appears it's worth between 5-10 strokes.

Guess I'm an out of shape dad now. Sad.

 

[3 hour lunch]

Going to be a great couple of days coming up. The Wilderness & The Quarry on back to back days for seven if my guys and me. Both are consistently ranked in the top 5 public courses in Minnesota. Been looking forward to this for months!

Gallery

www.golfthewilderness.com

The Quarry

The Quarry was built on the site of an old sand/gravel and iron ore mining operation and is now the #1 public golf course in Minnesota

www.giantsridge.com

2 of my faves in MN. Wish they weren’t so far from Mpls…..enjoy!

 

[3 hour lunch]

Got back from Sand Valley last night, enjoyed our rounds. I will say that the courses get a little bit repetitive because many of the holes look the same. Probably enjoyed the Sandbox (17 hole par 3 course) most of all. Similar to Bandon (also owned by Dream Golf), great food, hospitality, and overall experience….just no ocean views of course. Selling food at the turn for $1 is genius as it makes you forget you paid $300 for the round

 

[TLEF316]

Got back from Sand Valley last night, enjoyed our rounds. I will say that the courses get a little bit repetitive because many of the holes look the same. Probably enjoyed the Sandbox (17 hole par 3 course) most of all. Similar to Bandon (also owned by Dream Golf), great food, hospitality, and overall experience….just no ocean views of course. Selling food at the turn for $1 is genius as it makes you forget you paid $300 for the round

How far out did you guys have to book?

 

[The Gator]

Anyone else here use The Grint app for scores/courses? Might be fun to have a FBG group on there.

 

[Instinctive]

Anyone else here use The Grint app for scores/courses? Might be fun to have a FBG group on there.

I did until my wife got me the Arccos stuff. Which is awesome. Some of the notifications are hilarious though I miss them.

 

[Instinctive]

Had a great round. Course is only par 71, so a 12-over 83 was excellent. ESPECIALLY considering: no warmup (probably cost one stroke on first hole), still figuring out driver (sometimes awesome, but 3 holes cost me a stroke going perpendicular back to the fairway LOL), very wet sand (I think 2 bunker shots I could have gotten up and down but the ball didn't come out like I expect and one of them it went over the green...ended with a triple), and RAIN on the final 2.5 holes (which clearly seemed to cost some distance and I think made it a little hard to putt).

Hard to say if walking cost me strokes. The rain started on 16, a par 5 I hit a GIR and then the rain started coming. I 2-putted (likely outcome from like 20 feet but it was uncharacteristically short for the round). Then a par 3, ball took a weird flight even though it felt like a great hit, landed in front of the green and rolled all the way through it. Chip rolled slow and stayed far, 2-putt. 18th was a par four, drive didn't get much distance though again I think strike was ok, and I ended up behind a tree left of fairway and had to punch out :( Then 180 away, pulled out the 180-club, and again think I hit it well but it only went like 165 in the rain. Got on, then 3-putt for a triple. I think rain + walking got me tired, a little out of rhythm, and the combo was probably worth 2 strokes on that hole.

So overall, I think if I'd been riding, I'm likely3-4 strokes better from not being nearly as tired. Hard to say because net net I think the rain cost me two strokes, but those same things might have been tired/losing form errors.

Really happy with where my game is at. The big tournament is first weekend of October, so trying to be peaking when I go into it. If I can be playing really well (e.g., better than my handicap), I'll be at an advantage. I only hit 3/12 fairways, but average first putt was only 15 feet, 31 putts total, and two birdies too (a 10-ft and a 7 ft).

I posted the 83, and it got adjusted down to an 82. I THINK this is because 2-over-your-handicap for a hole is the max? Is that right? So one of my two triples was on like the 16th handicap index hole. As a 14.5, I don't get any strokes, so I'm capped at a double there?

 

[3 hour lunch]

Got back from Sand Valley last night, enjoyed our rounds. I will say that the courses get a little bit repetitive because many of the holes look the same. Probably enjoyed the Sandbox (17 hole par 3 course) most of all. Similar to Bandon (also owned by Dream Golf), great food, hospitality, and overall experience….just no ocean views of course. Selling food at the turn for $1 is genius as it makes you forget you paid $300 for the round

How far out did you guys have to book?

I think we booked in May. We did not stay on site, however; I heard that is booked out quite a ways. Since we can drive there I was willing to take whatever teetime scraps they had available.

 

[The Gator]

Anyone else here use The Grint app for scores/courses? Might be fun to have a FBG group on there.

I did until my wife got me the Arccos stuff. Which is awesome. Some of the notifications are hilarious though I miss them.

Yeah it cracks me up. Love that you can read the slopes of the greens on it too.





Went out and shot a 50 at my local course. Pared the first hole (par streak intact at 5) and hit really well overall. Only hit one slice, but it was the slice of all slices. Went two fairways to the right.

Then I had a chance to break 50 with just the par 5 #9 left, but went OB. Still scored a 6 with a sweet PW then drained a 20 foot putt. Total putts = 15 Now just need to continue work on my long game.

 

[The Gator]

Now just need to continue work on my long game.

Just checked my stats. Hitting 13% of fairways.

 

[Judge Smails]

My chipping/pitching game is usually money. Got complacent - haven’t practiced at all in 2-3 months. I putt before every round but never chip. Yesterday I literally bladed 3 or 4. Sent them screaming across the green. Flippy at impact. Fundamentals must have got off with setup. Reminder to practice the basics.

 

[Zow]

Super fun 3 day member guest starting tomorrow (actually 4 man teams with two members and two guests). Weather is beautiful here and game feels good.

Just gotta get through one last stupid workday...

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Anyone else here use The Grint app for scores/courses? Might be fun to have a FBG group on there.

i do for all my rounds

 

[CGRdrJoe]

There are 0 tee times in so cal wanted to play saturday before 11am and forgot to book weeks ago. Only short courses have tee times available, shrink the game