***Official 2025 Golf Thread,, belljr quits Again!?!*** (2 Viewers)

[Instinctive]

My coach is a big believer in the same pattern with me.

1. Analogize to other sport I have played (he tries to avoid basketball because I coached it, so the point can get lost a bit if i don't buy it)
2. Do the motion using something other than a golf club to show how it works. Another one for the topspin is he gives you a tennis racket and says now pretend to toss a ball up and hit it with topspin, then it's like "what did your hands do? What did your shoulders do?" and we talk about what they did and why golf is not any different.
3. Do the motion with a short club and a short target
4. Do it with a short club and a normal distance full swing
5. Do the motion with a short target and the longer club
6. Do the whole thing full

He has a strong philosophy that it's stupid that golf is the only sport around where we try to just do the full and complete motion and teach it that way and then try to tweak parts of it, instead of working on form or technique in chunks and pieces. Which is what the pros do.

A basketball analogy for me is you don't practice shooting form by running out to the top of the key. You do form shooting from like 6 feet, then 8 feet, then 10 feet, all set with one hand. Then maybe you ad in your guide hand, then maybe you add n the jump, then you start moving back further, etc. Golf practice should kind of be no different.

 

[Schmeabs]

Great lesson today. Fully driver focused for the first time (first time I think I ever hit 10 varying iron shots in a row all flush in warmups for a lesson too).

We did a ton of movement pattern drills and ingraining patterns, then reviewed videos of before during after swing stuff, then made it bigger and tried it for real.

Then I played the course from the range (visualize hole 1, driver, estimate what's left and hit that iron, then hit a wedge, then an iron off tee for a par 3, then driver 3h iron for a par 5 etc etc). Tried to put the driver stuff into play without just hitting it ten times in a row over and over.

Worked really well. Have a little mantra now that works for me. "line up tall, stay loose, tilt, then try to put topspin on it"

Of the last 15 drives, 14 were long and straight. The one missing was a dead pull, also super long. Feels amazing. Have to keep practicing but I think I should be flirting with the 70s this summer as this stuff all comes together.

Little mantra? That's like 5 swing thoughts!

Not really. It's more a pre shot setup routine.

I was joking.

Oh. I thought you meant that was ONLY five swing thoughts.

(Also joking)

Haha

Honestly, my goal is to have zero swing thoughts other than "crush this."

Mine is "Don't miss"

My swing thought ends up being the last bit now, everything else is a setup reminder, pre shot.

Driver swing thought: Topspin
Iron swing thought: don't overswing, nice and easy
Wedge swing thought: ball first
Putter swing thought: I don't think i really have one I just put these babies right next to the hole or right in it from any distance. I'm so damn hot with the putter right now.

Seriously if these driver lessons work and I practice and get it in play 250+ instead of either not in play with driver or in play at 200 with a lesser club I really feel like I will be breaking 80. I already feel like i can birdie every hole, but if this works out, some par 5s become eagle-able, par 3s are already way more reliable, and I can play par 4s with a short iron or PW in instead of a 6 iron.

I'm so excited.

How does one practice to get topspin on driver? I ask because I get absolutely no roll on my drives as they go very high and the ball mark is usually farther than where my ball ends up

With the disclaimer that I don't know how to teach someone golf and I understand it to be very personal and unique to the swing you come in with...here's what we did, in order:

1. Kick a soccer ball back and forth only a couple times, but to illustrate the goal of getting it to spin nicely with top spin, vs being "skippy" or having backspin
2. Putt from about 10 yards off the green to the far pin at practice green, with the goal of making the putt have top spin.
3. Same spot, but with a 3 hybrid, same goal - get it close to the pin with topspin
4. Same thing, but with a PW - this was really interesting, and might open up my short game some too. I only really play one or two chips - basically a stock 54 where I can land it 90% of the time where I want (definitely has backspin) and it usually releases after spinning and checking a bit. Or, I hit like an 8 iron bump and run using a putting stroke. This showed me that the ball still goes in the air and is a much more predictable roll - just a side thought worth practicing. if this works and really improves my tee game, the next bits of improvement then will come from much better chipping. Right now my chipping Arccos rates as that of a 10 or 11 handicap.
5. Same thing, with the driver. Ball on ground, easy swing, just try to put it by the pin with topspin
6. Move to the range itself, ball on ground, driver in hand, try to hit it with topspin, bit bigger stroke, to a flag about 40 yards away
7. Then try to go about twice as far
8. Tee ball up really low, try to get to like 150 yard flag, again working on topspin
9. We watched the videos, showed me old setup, I had zero tilt or anything and looked super stiff, and it kind of caused my shoulders to be a little like as if I had opened my stance in baseball, kind of like aimed at shortstop with shoulders but intended line and club face are center field. Used this to demonstrate the value of adding a few degrees of tilt from the beltline to head. When i did that, it moved my shoulders back more in line, put the left arm slightly higher than the right instead of the right slightly higher than the left. Seeing the change was cool - it was easy to see how my body needed to throw the club out a bit and hit in from the earlier setup, and how much more naturally it wanted to be in to out with the new setup.
10. Teed a couple up for real and went after it.
11. Repeated step 7 whenever it felt like the slice creeped back in, then repeat step 10 and see.

Repeat step 11 until it felt like it really sunk in. Then I went and did a simulated round as the hour was up.

Thanks. Not sure if I will remember all of that detail but will try a few if I can remember.

 

[Instinctive]

Great lesson today. Fully driver focused for the first time (first time I think I ever hit 10 varying iron shots in a row all flush in warmups for a lesson too).

We did a ton of movement pattern drills and ingraining patterns, then reviewed videos of before during after swing stuff, then made it bigger and tried it for real.

Then I played the course from the range (visualize hole 1, driver, estimate what's left and hit that iron, then hit a wedge, then an iron off tee for a par 3, then driver 3h iron for a par 5 etc etc). Tried to put the driver stuff into play without just hitting it ten times in a row over and over.

Worked really well. Have a little mantra now that works for me. "line up tall, stay loose, tilt, then try to put topspin on it"

Of the last 15 drives, 14 were long and straight. The one missing was a dead pull, also super long. Feels amazing. Have to keep practicing but I think I should be flirting with the 70s this summer as this stuff all comes together.

Little mantra? That's like 5 swing thoughts!

Not really. It's more a pre shot setup routine.

I was joking.

Oh. I thought you meant that was ONLY five swing thoughts.

(Also joking)

Haha

Honestly, my goal is to have zero swing thoughts other than "crush this."

Mine is "Don't miss"

My swing thought ends up being the last bit now, everything else is a setup reminder, pre shot.

Driver swing thought: Topspin
Iron swing thought: don't overswing, nice and easy
Wedge swing thought: ball first
Putter swing thought: I don't think i really have one I just put these babies right next to the hole or right in it from any distance. I'm so damn hot with the putter right now.

Seriously if these driver lessons work and I practice and get it in play 250+ instead of either not in play with driver or in play at 200 with a lesser club I really feel like I will be breaking 80. I already feel like i can birdie every hole, but if this works out, some par 5s become eagle-able, par 3s are already way more reliable, and I can play par 4s with a short iron or PW in instead of a 6 iron.

I'm so excited.

How does one practice to get topspin on driver? I ask because I get absolutely no roll on my drives as they go very high and the ball mark is usually farther than where my ball ends up

With the disclaimer that I don't know how to teach someone golf and I understand it to be very personal and unique to the swing you come in with...here's what we did, in order:

1. Kick a soccer ball back and forth only a couple times, but to illustrate the goal of getting it to spin nicely with top spin, vs being "skippy" or having backspin
2. Putt from about 10 yards off the green to the far pin at practice green, with the goal of making the putt have top spin.
3. Same spot, but with a 3 hybrid, same goal - get it close to the pin with topspin
4. Same thing, but with a PW - this was really interesting, and might open up my short game some too. I only really play one or two chips - basically a stock 54 where I can land it 90% of the time where I want (definitely has backspin) and it usually releases after spinning and checking a bit. Or, I hit like an 8 iron bump and run using a putting stroke. This showed me that the ball still goes in the air and is a much more predictable roll - just a side thought worth practicing. if this works and really improves my tee game, the next bits of improvement then will come from much better chipping. Right now my chipping Arccos rates as that of a 10 or 11 handicap.
5. Same thing, with the driver. Ball on ground, easy swing, just try to put it by the pin with topspin
6. Move to the range itself, ball on ground, driver in hand, try to hit it with topspin, bit bigger stroke, to a flag about 40 yards away
7. Then try to go about twice as far
8. Tee ball up really low, try to get to like 150 yard flag, again working on topspin
9. We watched the videos, showed me old setup, I had zero tilt or anything and looked super stiff, and it kind of caused my shoulders to be a little like as if I had opened my stance in baseball, kind of like aimed at shortstop with shoulders but intended line and club face are center field. Used this to demonstrate the value of adding a few degrees of tilt from the beltline to head. When i did that, it moved my shoulders back more in line, put the left arm slightly higher than the right instead of the right slightly higher than the left. Seeing the change was cool - it was easy to see how my body needed to throw the club out a bit and hit in from the earlier setup, and how much more naturally it wanted to be in to out with the new setup.
10. Teed a couple up for real and went after it.
11. Repeated step 7 whenever it felt like the slice creeped back in, then repeat step 10 and see.

Repeat step 11 until it felt like it really sunk in. Then I went and did a simulated round as the hour was up.

Thanks. Not sure if I will remember all of that detail but will try a few if I can remember.

I mean I would just take my phone with me or write it down

 

[Zow]

Great lesson today. Fully driver focused for the first time (first time I think I ever hit 10 varying iron shots in a row all flush in warmups for a lesson too).

We did a ton of movement pattern drills and ingraining patterns, then reviewed videos of before during after swing stuff, then made it bigger and tried it for real.

Then I played the course from the range (visualize hole 1, driver, estimate what's left and hit that iron, then hit a wedge, then an iron off tee for a par 3, then driver 3h iron for a par 5 etc etc). Tried to put the driver stuff into play without just hitting it ten times in a row over and over.

Worked really well. Have a little mantra now that works for me. "line up tall, stay loose, tilt, then try to put topspin on it"

Of the last 15 drives, 14 were long and straight. The one missing was a dead pull, also super long. Feels amazing. Have to keep practicing but I think I should be flirting with the 70s this summer as this stuff all comes together.

Little mantra? That's like 5 swing thoughts!

Not really. It's more a pre shot setup routine.

I was joking.

Oh. I thought you meant that was ONLY five swing thoughts.

(Also joking)

Haha

Honestly, my goal is to have zero swing thoughts other than "crush this."

Mine is "Don't miss"

My swing thought ends up being the last bit now, everything else is a setup reminder, pre shot.

Driver swing thought: Topspin
Iron swing thought: don't overswing, nice and easy
Wedge swing thought: ball first
Putter swing thought: I don't think i really have one I just put these babies right next to the hole or right in it from any distance. I'm so damn hot with the putter right now.

Seriously if these driver lessons work and I practice and get it in play 250+ instead of either not in play with driver or in play at 200 with a lesser club I really feel like I will be breaking 80. I already feel like i can birdie every hole, but if this works out, some par 5s become eagle-able, par 3s are already way more reliable, and I can play par 4s with a short iron or PW in instead of a 6 iron.

I'm so excited.

How does one practice to get topspin on driver? I ask because I get absolutely no roll on my drives as they go very high and the ball mark is usually farther than where my ball ends up

Sounds like you may be playing with the wrong equipment (driver head, shaft most importantly, and ball).

 

[Schmeabs]

Great lesson today. Fully driver focused for the first time (first time I think I ever hit 10 varying iron shots in a row all flush in warmups for a lesson too).

We did a ton of movement pattern drills and ingraining patterns, then reviewed videos of before during after swing stuff, then made it bigger and tried it for real.

Then I played the course from the range (visualize hole 1, driver, estimate what's left and hit that iron, then hit a wedge, then an iron off tee for a par 3, then driver 3h iron for a par 5 etc etc). Tried to put the driver stuff into play without just hitting it ten times in a row over and over.

Worked really well. Have a little mantra now that works for me. "line up tall, stay loose, tilt, then try to put topspin on it"

Of the last 15 drives, 14 were long and straight. The one missing was a dead pull, also super long. Feels amazing. Have to keep practicing but I think I should be flirting with the 70s this summer as this stuff all comes together.

Little mantra? That's like 5 swing thoughts!

Not really. It's more a pre shot setup routine.

I was joking.

Oh. I thought you meant that was ONLY five swing thoughts.

(Also joking)

Haha

Honestly, my goal is to have zero swing thoughts other than "crush this."

Mine is "Don't miss"

My swing thought ends up being the last bit now, everything else is a setup reminder, pre shot.

Driver swing thought: Topspin
Iron swing thought: don't overswing, nice and easy
Wedge swing thought: ball first
Putter swing thought: I don't think i really have one I just put these babies right next to the hole or right in it from any distance. I'm so damn hot with the putter right now.

Seriously if these driver lessons work and I practice and get it in play 250+ instead of either not in play with driver or in play at 200 with a lesser club I really feel like I will be breaking 80. I already feel like i can birdie every hole, but if this works out, some par 5s become eagle-able, par 3s are already way more reliable, and I can play par 4s with a short iron or PW in instead of a 6 iron.

I'm so excited.

How does one practice to get topspin on driver? I ask because I get absolutely no roll on my drives as they go very high and the ball mark is usually farther than where my ball ends up

Sounds like you may be playing with the wrong equipment (driver head, shaft most importantly, and ball).

Well I got fitted for my driver so who knows.

 

[Judge Smails]

Playing a lot with the nice weather.

Recent rounds of 88, 92, 89, 83. Through the offseason I popped up to a 15.2 handicap after reaching a low of 13.6 end of last summer.

I would say I am playing MUCH better on the whole, in that I am far more consistent striking the ball, but my off-the-tee game still murders me. Averaging 6 off the tee penalty strokes in these rounds. Arccos has my breakdown vs my goal of a 10 handicap over the last 10 rounds as:

-2.2 driving
-5.1 approach
-0.6 short
+1.6 putting

I think that mostly jives with how I feel, although if I narrow it to just this season's 4 rounds, the approach is -3.8 and the driving is -2.5, short game becomes -1.0 (makes sense, lost the touch a bit and took a couple rounds and practices but felt dialed in the last 2 rounds). I'm less concerned with the approaches - that's been much better recently and my first lesson of the year was focused on fixing the error, which is my bad iron tendency (worse the longer the iron is) to pull them an insane amount or slice a bit.

Really interesting cause of that (which I imagine causes my off the tee troubles too) identified as standing too far from the ball. Causing a couple issues: first, it throws off my aim and basically forced me into a stance more closed than what I think relative to intended swing path and club face. Second, that means I throw my shoulders out and come over the top to line up the path as intended, which means I hit it clean and it goes WAY left, or I don't quite get it clean and it slices. Did a bunch of drills on weight shift and general advice of "stand closer" and that's helped a lot. The swing thought that's helping is "don't overswing."

Off the tee...I'm all over the place. Sometimes dead straight but skyball, most common miss is a minor slice or big fade depending on how generous you feel (it's not a big slice, it's WAY better than me a year ago, but being a few yards right and being 30 yards right both mean "punch out" or "in the water" so the improvement hasn't transferred so much to scoring. The biggest change from a year ago is maybe 40% of drives are now that miss instead of 70%, 30% of them are BOOMING 250-300 yarders on the intended middle of fairway line (carry is probably 240-270) that if I could do every time I would be amazing at this game, and 20% are some combo of faded but playable and more line drive fading right and playable, and 10% are like a bullet so far left as to never be seen again no matter the hole setup.

I've committed to using the driver on any hole where I need driver distance to have a reasonable approach distance. Last year, my fix was just hit 3h off the tee every time, get 190 yards in the fairway, and accept that I will be laying up some par 4s. But that was also when I hit the driver 215 on a good one, so the risk reward was way off. Now I'm hitting that 3h like 200, but I'm giving up 50-100 yards instead of 20 yards (and possibly not even getting those 20 because of how rarely I hit a good drive).


In sum, I think my approach game only looks bad because of my tee game. The approaches are just too long. When I hit a good drive (say 230+), and I'm left with a wedge, 9, or 8 iron in...I feel and play awesome. But when the drive leaves a punch out, or a 5 or 6 iron or 3h to get to the green, I basically always miss the green. And often by a lot. And sometimes it's just punching out or dropping and STILL needing a 3h that's gonna be 40 yards short anyway.

Arccos stats would back that up, on approaches from 50-150 yards I'm losing around half a stroke. Anything longer, I'm losing more than a full stroke. Which, to me, is interpreted as "if you're in position, your approach isn't a strength but it isn't murderous. When out of position, you get killed." That's not a surprise, but seeing it so starkly helps me focus in what I need, I think. You can see it on par 3s too - short of 150, decent GIR%, longer and things get murkier.

Another cool insight - when I do hit the GIR, I'm 10% closer to the pin than the average 10. But when I miss, I'm 50% farther from the pin.


Short game - I'm great at getting on the green, but not as good as I need to be getting up and down. Putting is phenomenal. Just a bunch of green on any distance putt, and my work over all of last year to become automatic in the 3-6 foot range has made that the strongest part of my game. I am pretty much automatic from 6 feet and in. Almost never three putt, 32 putts a round average. I think that can be even better with better chipping.

Hope you enjoyed my improvement essay journal entry for the week (LOL). I feel like I'm the precipice of unlocking the good golfer that's somewhere inside me. It's all marginal things now, whereas a year ago I'd have said I really need to trust that I won't fat the living hell out of 1/3 of shots where they only go like 25 yards forward and I gain nothing.

Edit - just saw your post about the lesson and improvement - right on!

Have you worked with an instructor? My bet is you have one or two things with set up that are causing the issues. Not saying it's easy to be Rory-like, but hitting a driver off a tee should be pretty forgiving. Huge head, big sweet spot. I can usually tell if someone is going to be solid off the tee just by their setup. Obviously grip has to be good. Ball position must be up off of left heel. But shoulders can't start too open so pull the right shoulder back. If shoulders are too open you are DOA. No need to overly tilt. Just having the ball forward will induce the needed tilt. Good turn getting depth and width, let the club drop while you start to shift and post up on front leg and hit up on the ball while rotating. 6 penalty strokes off the tee is a ton. You can narrow your misses a bunch with the right set up. Will get down to a 10 in no time.

 

[Instinctive]

Playing a lot with the nice weather.

Recent rounds of 88, 92, 89, 83. Through the offseason I popped up to a 15.2 handicap after reaching a low of 13.6 end of last summer.

I would say I am playing MUCH better on the whole, in that I am far more consistent striking the ball, but my off-the-tee game still murders me. Averaging 6 off the tee penalty strokes in these rounds. Arccos has my breakdown vs my goal of a 10 handicap over the last 10 rounds as:

-2.2 driving
-5.1 approach
-0.6 short
+1.6 putting

I think that mostly jives with how I feel, although if I narrow it to just this season's 4 rounds, the approach is -3.8 and the driving is -2.5, short game becomes -1.0 (makes sense, lost the touch a bit and took a couple rounds and practices but felt dialed in the last 2 rounds). I'm less concerned with the approaches - that's been much better recently and my first lesson of the year was focused on fixing the error, which is my bad iron tendency (worse the longer the iron is) to pull them an insane amount or slice a bit.

Really interesting cause of that (which I imagine causes my off the tee troubles too) identified as standing too far from the ball. Causing a couple issues: first, it throws off my aim and basically forced me into a stance more closed than what I think relative to intended swing path and club face. Second, that means I throw my shoulders out and come over the top to line up the path as intended, which means I hit it clean and it goes WAY left, or I don't quite get it clean and it slices. Did a bunch of drills on weight shift and general advice of "stand closer" and that's helped a lot. The swing thought that's helping is "don't overswing."

Off the tee...I'm all over the place. Sometimes dead straight but skyball, most common miss is a minor slice or big fade depending on how generous you feel (it's not a big slice, it's WAY better than me a year ago, but being a few yards right and being 30 yards right both mean "punch out" or "in the water" so the improvement hasn't transferred so much to scoring. The biggest change from a year ago is maybe 40% of drives are now that miss instead of 70%, 30% of them are BOOMING 250-300 yarders on the intended middle of fairway line (carry is probably 240-270) that if I could do every time I would be amazing at this game, and 20% are some combo of faded but playable and more line drive fading right and playable, and 10% are like a bullet so far left as to never be seen again no matter the hole setup.

I've committed to using the driver on any hole where I need driver distance to have a reasonable approach distance. Last year, my fix was just hit 3h off the tee every time, get 190 yards in the fairway, and accept that I will be laying up some par 4s. But that was also when I hit the driver 215 on a good one, so the risk reward was way off. Now I'm hitting that 3h like 200, but I'm giving up 50-100 yards instead of 20 yards (and possibly not even getting those 20 because of how rarely I hit a good drive).


In sum, I think my approach game only looks bad because of my tee game. The approaches are just too long. When I hit a good drive (say 230+), and I'm left with a wedge, 9, or 8 iron in...I feel and play awesome. But when the drive leaves a punch out, or a 5 or 6 iron or 3h to get to the green, I basically always miss the green. And often by a lot. And sometimes it's just punching out or dropping and STILL needing a 3h that's gonna be 40 yards short anyway.

Arccos stats would back that up, on approaches from 50-150 yards I'm losing around half a stroke. Anything longer, I'm losing more than a full stroke. Which, to me, is interpreted as "if you're in position, your approach isn't a strength but it isn't murderous. When out of position, you get killed." That's not a surprise, but seeing it so starkly helps me focus in what I need, I think. You can see it on par 3s too - short of 150, decent GIR%, longer and things get murkier.

Another cool insight - when I do hit the GIR, I'm 10% closer to the pin than the average 10. But when I miss, I'm 50% farther from the pin.


Short game - I'm great at getting on the green, but not as good as I need to be getting up and down. Putting is phenomenal. Just a bunch of green on any distance putt, and my work over all of last year to become automatic in the 3-6 foot range has made that the strongest part of my game. I am pretty much automatic from 6 feet and in. Almost never three putt, 32 putts a round average. I think that can be even better with better chipping.

Hope you enjoyed my improvement essay journal entry for the week (LOL). I feel like I'm the precipice of unlocking the good golfer that's somewhere inside me. It's all marginal things now, whereas a year ago I'd have said I really need to trust that I won't fat the living hell out of 1/3 of shots where they only go like 25 yards forward and I gain nothing.

Edit - just saw your post about the lesson and improvement - right on!

Have you worked with an instructor? My bet is you have one or two things with set up that are causing the issues. Not saying it's easy to be Rory-like, but hitting a driver off a tee should be pretty forgiving. Huge head, big sweet spot. I can usually tell if someone is going to be solid off the tee just by their setup. Obviously grip has to be good. Ball position must be up off of left heel. But shoulders can't start too open so pull the right shoulder back. If shoulders are too open you are DOA. No need to overly tilt. Just having the ball forward will induce the needed tilt. Good turn getting depth and width, let the club drop while you start to shift and post up on front leg and hit up on the ball while rotating. 6 penalty strokes off the tee is a ton. You can narrow your misses a bunch with the right set up. Will get down to a 10 in no time.

That's the plan I see your edit so won't belabor it.

Yeah a lot of it is setup. For me, at the end of the day, all the stuff happening or not basically led to shoulders being a little open and kind of tilted forward instead of backwards. Then shoulders would move first to try and make good contact and end up throwing the club out and then back in.

For the last 18 months I've had probably 8 or 10 lessons. It's just 18 months ago I was wildly inconsistent with irons and terrible with the driver. We kind of broke through end of last summer, then "perfected" things in the last couple months so that I almost never hugely fat or duff an iron. That alone improved driver enough to use it, and now we are making that work.

If it does work, I agree it should get me to my goal for the year. If it's relatively quick, then I'll try to push better by developing more chopping tools vs the two techniques info have, which works, but often leave me 15 feet from the hole and not 5. I chip super safe, center of green, just make sure I get it on at all costs. If the tee game stops being the problem area, I can address that next and really increase any up and downs.

It's so exciting! A someone who really enjoys learning and improving at things golf has been incredibly addictive for me.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

2025 - the year of the mini driver.

Manufacturers, specifically TaylorMade have been in on it but this year it's in the lineup of way more.

I like the concept of it in the fairway but no way could I use one off the tee. The last thing I can afford is hitting my drives shorter.

 

[The Gator]

The driver is getting broken in nicely

Quick 9 at lunch, hit 5 of 7 fairways and hit drives of 300, 289, 278

Also hit two trees off the tee, so there’s that

steroids?

meant to come back to this with a more serious reply.

Yoga


Only recently got back into it last month, almost instant impact on my swing. It helps me so much with my body control to be 'still' in my swing.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

played in a scramble today, plenty of gimmicks on the course but my game was on fire. I hit 2 bad drives and pulled a few irons but otherwise carried my team to a win. My putting was the only shaky part but that didn’t matter as the other guys were making them. I made 3 natural birdies and tracked my shots on my score card and we played 85% of my shots. Honestly bummed it was a scramble because I feel like I would have shot probably close to even par.

 

[Zow]

played in a scramble today, plenty of gimmicks on the course but my game was on fire. I hit 2 bad drives and pulled a few irons but otherwise carried my team to a win. My putting was the only shaky part but that didn’t matter as the other guys were making them. I made 3 natural birdies and tracked my shots on my score card and we played 85% of my shots. Honestly bummed it was a scramble because I feel like I would have shot probably close to even par.

Yeah I've had those rounds where my scramble team isn't really in contention but I'm playing super well. Obviously the scramble format frees the mind to swing much more loose and your aim is smaller, but I've had a few "wasted" good days playing in a charity scramble or whatever on a bad team. At least your team won!

 

[The Gator]

The Callaway switch is paying off

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Brutal first "round" of the year. A friend and I played 3 hours for 9 holes. Good thing I had good company.

 

[belljr]

Brutal first "round" of the year. A friend and I played 3 hours for 9 holes. Good thing I had good company.

I would have murdered someone. Me and my buddy can play a full 18 and less time than that

 

[Instinctive]

Very up and down round today. Fighting really strong winds throughout (20mph, with stronger gusts).

there are four par 3s. I went double double double par. Penalty off the tee on all three of the first three. Story of my day - only like 25% of my iron shots were pure/clean. Just couldn't get a rhythm. Short game was fantastic but just couldn't score, even with a great game off the tee on 12/14 of the other holes (first hole I put it into the trees on the left and had to punch one up, and on the hardest hole (super long par 4) i lined up a bit right and the wind pushed it OB. Drive was straight and well hit, should have been smarter and lined up left.

Driving game was the best I have ever had. Averaged around 140 in on the par 4s. It was phenomenal. Had great drives on all 3 of the par 5s I use it on (there's one where it's tight and the extra 50 yards is of no benefit really, can't get there in 2 and it's not a big deal to go 7i-9i instead of 7i-partial wedge or something.

Could not get a putt to drop. Left 17 putts within 1 foot of the hole. Just nothing would drop. Some days it'll be like that I guess.

Hit a THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY yard drive (wind at back, and definitely got a cart path bounce, but still) on a 328 yard par 4 lol. Had a terrible lie 25+ yards past the flag, chipped it a little fat, then chipped to 10 feet, two putt. Bogey. That was deflating.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

played solid today but lately in my short game i’ve gotten overly cocky and i’m trying to hit perfect flops and chips instead of safe shots that let me at worst 2 putt. Instead I’m trying to makes them or cary bunkers by a yard or two vice 5 yards. still shot an 85 but should have been 79/80

 

[Phil Elliott]

Enjoy every shot and the time between each shot.

https://x.com/practicalgolf/status/1914073338898764084?s=46&t=sB97txzPHo78S6e754HUZQ

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Brutal first "round" of the year. A friend and I played 3 hours for 9 holes. Good thing I had good company.

I would have murdered someone. Me and my buddy can play a full 18 and less time than that

Why don't courses at least post recommended tips for improved pace of play?

I know most people are just out having a good time and we don't want to squash that by having a marshall up in their business all day... But there is etiquette that people should know.

I'd start with just three things -
1. If you're a beginner, use the forward most tee box
2. One or two practice swings at the most
3. If you're in a cart, drop your partner off at their spot, go to yours, hit your shots, regroup

Just post those three things in a cart and let's see what happens from there. Once we get that accomplished, add three more:
1. Playing a casual round just for fun? Agree to pick up your gimmes - typically within a putter grip/shaft length
2. Ready golf - Be ready when it’s your turn: Gauge distances, pick a club, align the shot, etc. as your partners are playing theirs
3. Good cart etiquette - Park carts in convenient locations and avoid lingering near greens

No need to race, but keep a good pace!

:endrant:

 

[belljr]

We don't even try to play fast. That's the kicker

 

[Andy Dufresne]

We don't even try to play fast. That's the kicker

I'm sure - you don't seem like a guy that would be oblivious to the other 99.9999999999999% of humanity that's not you.

I'm talking about 75% of the golfers (a higher number in general population) you find on a typical weekend these days.

I'm getting a shorter and shorter fuse to discourteousness.

 

[belljr]

We don't even try to play fast. That's the kicker

I'm sure - you don't seem like a guy that would be oblivious to the other 99.9999999999999% of humanity that's not you.

I'm talking about 75% of the golfers (a higher number in general population) you find on a typical weekend these days.

I'm getting a shorter and shorter fuse to discourteousness.

For as much as I like golf I can't imagine wanting to be out there that long to begin with.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

 

[The Gator]

3. Good cart etiquette - Park carts in convenient locations and avoid lingering near greens

This is one of the biggest ones, especially the really lazy people.

They park their cart right in the front of the green, walk to the back, 4 putt, shuffle to the cart and sit there adding up their score....

 

[urbanhack]

3. Good cart etiquette - Park carts in convenient locations and avoid lingering near greens

This is one of the biggest ones, especially the really lazy people.

They park their cart right in the front of the green, walk to the back, 4 putt, shuffle to the cart and sit there adding up their score....

Yes...this is brutal. I don't really play any more but seeing people walk off the green opposite the direction of the next tee to go grab their cart is just maddening.

 

[Instinctive]

We have been known (my buddy and I) to peek ahead and skip to start at hole 3 if the course looks open and whomever just tees off looks slow/foursome. Have always been able to play back around to 1 and 2.

Benefits of being at a place at least 3-4 times a month and the pro knows you and all that.

 

[belljr]

We have been known (my buddy and I) to peek ahead and skip to start at hole 3 if the course looks open and whomever just tees off looks slow/foursome. Have always been able to play back around to 1 and 2.

Benefits of being at a place at least 3-4 times a month and the pro knows you and all that.

Yeah my place just lets us skip around.... obviously we won't if we will hold up other groups

 

[MAC_32]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the golf course employment market, but given what the current environment is like finding low-skill work, my knee jerk to this subject is you get what you pay for. If you're playing a great course, and they're priced accordingly, then I think this is a fair complaint. If the course ain't great, or it's priced to be affordable, then slow-play risk needs baked into expectations.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I finally pulled the trigger on same length irons. Bought a rack set to get used to them before a formal fitting and spending some coin. These are remarkable. Same base swing from 4 to SW. My back is loving them already.

 

[The Gator]

I finally pulled the trigger on same length irons. Bought a rack set to get used to them before a formal fitting and spending some coin. These are remarkable. Same base swing from 4 to SW. My back is loving them already.

How did that effect your long iron distances?

 

[Yankee23Fan]

I finally pulled the trigger on same length irons. Bought a rack set to get used to them before a formal fitting and spending some coin. These are remarkable. Same base swing from 4 to SW. My back is loving them already.

How did that effect your long iron distances?

Not much yet but only 1 use.

And I rarely use my 4 or 5 iron. I can get by most of time with driver then 7 through. Never carried a 3 iron.

 

[Zow]

Brutal first "round" of the year. A friend and I played 3 hours for 9 holes. Good thing I had good company.

I would have murdered someone. Me and my buddy can play a full 18 and less time than that

Why don't courses at least post recommended tips for improved pace of play?

I know most people are just out having a good time and we don't want to squash that by having a marshall up in their business all day... But there is etiquette that people should know.

I'd start with just three things -
1. If you're a beginner, use the forward most tee box
2. One or two practice swings at the most
3. If you're in a cart, drop your partner off at their spot, go to yours, hit your shots, regroup

Just post those three things in a cart and let's see what happens from there. Once we get that accomplished, add three more:
1. Playing a casual round just for fun? Agree to pick up your gimmes - typically within a putter grip/shaft length
2. Ready golf - Be ready when it’s your turn: Gauge distances, pick a club, align the shot, etc. as your partners are playing theirs
3. Good cart etiquette - Park carts in convenient locations and avoid lingering near greens

No need to race, but keep a good pace!

:endrant:

While this somewhat pairs with smart cart driving like you mentioned, honestly this is my biggest noticeable factor with slow players. They don't even start to think about their shot until it's their turn and will then chew up a bunch of time by gunning the flag, discussing the shot with their partner, reading the putt, etc. that could all be accomplished when somebody else is hitting. They're like that fantasy drafter who isn't paying attention and then only starts to look at his list when it's his turn.

 

[Zow]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the golf course employment market, but given what the current environment is like finding low-skill work, my knee jerk to this subject is you get what you pay for. If you're playing a great course, and they're priced accordingly, then I think this is a fair complaint. If the course ain't great, or it's priced to be affordable, then slow-play risk needs baked into expectations.

Yep. This is huge part as to why I joined a private court with 10 minute splits. I'll happily pay a bit extra for the assurance that my round will be 4 hrs. or less even during peak times.

 

[The Gator]

Anyone here deal with a thumb UCL injury? Played 54 holes this weekend and my left thumb is swollen and very tender.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

Anyone here deal with a thumb UCL injury? Played 54 holes this weekend and my left thumb is swollen and very tender.

Did you try to soak it in cider?

 

[CGRdrJoe]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the golf course employment market, but given what the current environment is like finding low-skill work, my knee jerk to this subject is you get what you pay for. If you're playing a great course, and they're priced accordingly, then I think this is a fair complaint. If the course ain't great, or it's priced to be affordable, then slow-play risk needs baked into expectations.

Yep. This is huge part as to why I joined a private court with 10 minute splits. I'll happily pay a bit extra for the assurance that my round will be 4 hrs. or less even during peak times.

$90 i guess is cheap

 

[MAC_32]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

 

[Instinctive]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Jesus. Walking a muni in Dallas is sub $19-40 depending on which one.

 

[Zow]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the golf course employment market, but given what the current environment is like finding low-skill work, my knee jerk to this subject is you get what you pay for. If you're playing a great course, and they're priced accordingly, then I think this is a fair complaint. If the course ain't great, or it's priced to be affordable, then slow-play risk needs baked into expectations.

Yep. This is huge part as to why I joined a private court with 10 minute splits. I'll happily pay a bit extra for the assurance that my round will be 4 hrs. or less even during peak times.

$90 i guess is cheap

Probably depends on location, course quality, and time of year.

My personal takeaway is that if I'm paying 3 digits the round better be a pleasant experience in terms of pacing and condition.

 

[Zow]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Say what??

I used to play a ton in Vegas. Don't ever recall paying north of $150 for a basic public course.

 

[belljr]

If it ain't 125 plus I'm not playing

 

[MAC_32]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Say what??

I used to play a ton in Vegas. Don't ever recall paying north of $150 for a basic public course.

Before club rental we paid $160 to play Angel Park this time last year Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's not a tier 1 Vegas course.

 

[Zow]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Say what??

I used to play a ton in Vegas. Don't ever recall paying north of $150 for a basic public course.

Before club rental we paid $160 to play Angel Park this time last year Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's not a tier 1 Vegas course.

Holy **** that's insane for Angel Park and I agree with your description.

It's either shot way up in the last 5 or so years or I got a local rate or something. I recall paying like $60 for AP.

 

[MAC_32]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Jesus. Walking a muni in Dallas is sub $19-40 depending on which one.

That's about right for a muni around here too. I expect a slow pace when I play those though.

 

[MAC_32]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Say what??

I used to play a ton in Vegas. Don't ever recall paying north of $150 for a basic public course.

Before club rental we paid $160 to play Angel Park this time last year Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's not a tier 1 Vegas course.

Holy **** that's insane for Angel Park and I agree with your description.

It's either shot way up in the last 5 or so years or I got a local rate or something. I recall paying like $60 for AP.

I'm sure we could've gotten a discount with a package deal, but we were only playing one round out there. Inflation is fun.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

A course I'm playing this weekend emails this to you when you book https://www.meadowlarkgc.com/pace-play-guidelines the issue is that courses don't have marshals out there enforcing it. As popular as golf is now and with Tee times being impossible to get there is no reason the courses can't pay a marshal to do this. Played Sunday and due to the check in guy not showing up and there being a one hour delay we skipped to the third hole to start in front of the colossal cluster **** at the first tee. After we finished 18 we looped around to play 1 and 2 only to be stuck behind a family that took 40 minutes to play 2 holes (par 5 and 4) . This course has a north and south course, the south is cheaper and loaded with casual golfers and the north is more expensive and a legit difficult course. My frustration was that they should have been on the other side of the road, I'm just glad we only had to deal with it for 2 holes or I would have really let it affect me. 16 holes in 3 hours and 2 in 40 minutes

/end of rant

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the golf course employment market, but given what the current environment is like finding low-skill work, my knee jerk to this subject is you get what you pay for. If you're playing a great course, and they're priced accordingly, then I think this is a fair complaint. If the course ain't great, or it's priced to be affordable, then slow-play risk needs baked into expectations.

Yep. This is huge part as to why I joined a private court with 10 minute splits. I'll happily pay a bit extra for the assurance that my round will be 4 hrs. or less even during peak times.

$90 i guess is cheap

Probably depends on location, course quality, and time of year.

My personal takeaway is that if I'm paying 3 digits the round better be a pleasant experience in terms of pacing and condition.

nor cal sonoma/marin. There are plenty of tee times to be found sub 60 and those are the courses I only play if I’m getting out in the first few groups or I go in to it expecting to pay slow and get drunk.

 

[Zow]

$90 I guess is cheap

Depends on where you are. In suburban NE Ohio that's a nice public course summer rate. In Vegas, double that.

Say what??

I used to play a ton in Vegas. Don't ever recall paying north of $150 for a basic public course.

Before club rental we paid $160 to play Angel Park this time last year Correct me if I'm mistaken, but it's not a tier 1 Vegas course.

Holy **** that's insane for Angel Park and I agree with your description.

It's either shot way up in the last 5 or so years or I got a local rate or something. I recall paying like $60 for AP.

I'm sure we could've gotten a discount with a package deal, but we were only playing one round out there. Inflation is fun.

Golf exploded after Covid and in places like Vegas and Phoenix they'll gauge you if they think you're a tourist (which rental clubs would suggest).

 

[belljr]

Come to NJ where the munis are $75

 

[Zow]

Come to NJ where the munis are $75

But Sand Valley is.... ??

 

[belljr]

Come to NJ where the munis are $75

But Sand Valley is.... ??

Sand valley?

 

[Zow]

Come to NJ where the munis are $75

But Sand Valley is.... ??

Sand valley?

Oops conflated it with the Wisconsin course.

I meant Pine Valley.