***Official 2025 Golf Thread, tbd*** (2 Viewers)

[Instinctive]

Felt like I got annihilated this morning on Streamsong Blue. Lost all three points. 3/2 on the front. Went dormie with 3 to play on the back...lost 16. Game over. Everything fading hard right. Most lost balls I've had in a long time.

 

[belljr]

My game is a mess right now. Just all over the place. Scores are creeping up with my HCP each round. I haven't sniffed the 70s in 2 months even when I score ok it doesn't feel like I'm hitting the ball solid. Getting frustrated and the one swing change I was working on feels completely foreign all of a sudden

 

[3 hour lunch]

Felt like I got annihilated this morning on Streamsong Blue. Lost all three points. 3/2 on the front. Went dormie with 3 to play on the back...lost 16. Game over. Everything fading hard right. Most lost balls I've had in a long time.

Yuck. Sucks, especially on a nice trip like that. What do you think of the courses and property? We go down there in January.

 

[Instinctive]

Felt like I got annihilated this morning on Streamsong Blue. Lost all three points. 3/2 on the front. Went dormie with 3 to play on the back...lost 16. Game over. Everything fading hard right. Most lost balls I've had in a long time.

Yuck. Sucks, especially on a nice trip like that. What do you think of the courses and property? We go down there in January.

I played outstanding this afternoon and still lost. Scramble. I have a problem with the formula we use. They took .35 * better handicap plus .15 of worse handicap, and then the difference was strokes received.

We got six strokes. Because our captain made us the sacrifice against the former LPGA player.

Played even through 8 holes. Lost 9, lost four on the back nine, won a couple, lost the match on 15 and the back after 16.

It was bonkers. I played excellent. My partner was solid for being a 20. A couple putts, he had some fairway finders that let me get after it a bit and I put some 270 center fairway as a result.

Playing a pro is ridiculously unfair. Her partner, who is definitely better than me, contributed almost nothing. Five holes we got strokes before it was all over...she solo birdies four of them. We won one with a real birdie net eagle and the one she par'd we netted birdie.

It was both amazing and disheartening after this morning. I played exceptionally well. We combined to go one under par.

The courses are excellent. It's a bit windy and the afternoon rain showers suck. But it's a gorgeous property with good food.


ETA: regarding the formula I think we should have had like 10 or 12 strokes. If she and I played a singles match from the same tees I'd get 15 strokes.

 

[Zow]

Shot a legit 49 in a scramble today. I was the worst player on our team as a 6 handicap. Lost to a team who shot 48. They did chip in an eagle on a par 4. Nonetheless we know the guys.

I offered them to go back out and play 1k/hole in same format. They declined.

 

[Zow]

Felt like I got annihilated this morning on Streamsong Blue. Lost all three points. 3/2 on the front. Went dormie with 3 to play on the back...lost 16. Game over. Everything fading hard right. Most lost balls I've had in a long time.

Yuck. Sucks, especially on a nice trip like that. What do you think of the courses and property? We go down there in January.

I played outstanding this afternoon and still lost. Scramble. I have a problem with the formula we use. They took .35 * better handicap plus .15 of worse handicap, and then the difference was strokes received.

We got six strokes. Because our captain made us the sacrifice against the former LPGA player.

Played even through 8 holes. Lost 9, lost four on the back nine, won a couple, lost the match on 15 and the back after 16.

It was bonkers. I played excellent. My partner was solid for being a 20. A couple putts, he had some fairway finders that let me get after it a bit and I put some 270 center fairway as a result.

Playing a pro is ridiculously unfair. Her partner, who is definitely better than me, contributed almost nothing. Five holes we got strokes before it was all over...she solo birdies four of them. We won one with a real birdie net eagle and the one she par'd we netted birdie.

It was both amazing and disheartening after this morning. I played exceptionally well. We combined to go one under par.

The courses are excellent. It's a bit windy and the afternoon rain showers suck. But it's a gorgeous property with good food.


ETA: regarding the formula I think we should have had like 10 or 12 strokes. If she and I played a singles match from the same tees I'd get 15 strokes.

Lolz I played against a former LPGA pro today. On a 148 par three she offers 2-1 nobody gets closer than her and we can pick her club but for her putter. I tell her to hit her 58 degree. She's 50 yards short. I bunt a wedge for the easy win. Thanks, lady.

 

[Instinctive]

Felt like I got annihilated this morning on Streamsong Blue. Lost all three points. 3/2 on the front. Went dormie with 3 to play on the back...lost 16. Game over. Everything fading hard right. Most lost balls I've had in a long time.

Yuck. Sucks, especially on a nice trip like that. What do you think of the courses and property? We go down there in January.

I played outstanding this afternoon and still lost. Scramble. I have a problem with the formula we use. They took .35 * better handicap plus .15 of worse handicap, and then the difference was strokes received.

We got six strokes. Because our captain made us the sacrifice against the former LPGA player.

Played even through 8 holes. Lost 9, lost four on the back nine, won a couple, lost the match on 15 and the back after 16.

It was bonkers. I played excellent. My partner was solid for being a 20. A couple putts, he had some fairway finders that let me get after it a bit and I put some 270 center fairway as a result.

Playing a pro is ridiculously unfair. Her partner, who is definitely better than me, contributed almost nothing. Five holes we got strokes before it was all over...she solo birdies four of them. We won one with a real birdie net eagle and the one she par'd we netted birdie.

It was both amazing and disheartening after this morning. I played exceptionally well. We combined to go one under par.

The courses are excellent. It's a bit windy and the afternoon rain showers suck. But it's a gorgeous property with good food.


ETA: regarding the formula I think we should have had like 10 or 12 strokes. If she and I played a singles match from the same tees I'd get 15 strokes.

Lolz I played against a former LPGA pro today. On a 148 par three she offers 2-1 nobody gets closer than her and we can pick her club but for her putter. I tell her to hit her 58 degree. She's 50 yards short. I bunt a wedge for the easy win. Thanks, lady.

Hahahahaha

 

[Judge Smails]

Haven’t played in 3 weeks. Played 9. 1 over 37. 2 birdies. Greens were punched a few weeks ago so I missed some par putts I should have made. But I’m off rarely now. And I’m thinking way less. Much more fun way to play

 

[The Gator]

Shot a whacky 104 today (34 putts, 3 three putts). 48 on the front 9 with three pars (SHOULD HAVE EFFIN BEEN FOUR) Parred 1, then 4 and 5 back to back before I had a par putt lip out on 6.

Then I shatted the bed with 56 on the back. Short game kinda let me down today, chipping was off leaving some longer putts

48 is the best i've done on the front 9 and still could have easily been 2 strokes better. Still only using 4I to drive, so baby steps

 

[Instinctive]

So I won my Modified Alternate Shot, lost my singles match.

I am super proud of the MAS win. I got paired with my same scramble partner, who was really not good, and I think others don't want to play with...mostly because in the scramble I kept encouraging him and being a good teammate and we came much closer than I thought to taking down the best pair they had. So he was very excited and wanted to run it back. I didn;t wanna be a jerk, and I had a good time, so I didn't object.

MAS = both drive, whichever one you use, other person hits. You're alternate shot from there.

On about hole 6, my partner and the other two were in this weird "are you gonna give us that putt or not?" on a putt that was absolutely within the "circle of friendship" in the prior 2 matches and the first five holes. But since we had unexpectedly taken hole 5 (partner hit a 90 foot putt...ROCKETED into the pin and landed 2 inches away, they 4-putt, we took it) I think they were getting tight.

Since for 12 months now I have putted out every single shot from every single distance, I said "all of you can quit whining, if I'm putting, you don't need to give anything inside six feet all day. They'll all go in." I then rushed it and missed the putt.

So we lost six to go back to even, halved 7, and lost 8 and 9. I played 9 horribly. Cost us halving the front nine. I was pissed. Partner had cost us basically every other hole we hadn't won, drives were awful, so I was just like man you gotta chill, this is supposed to be fun. grab a beer. Let's do it like yesterday, expect nothing, and have a good time. He agreed, and downed a beer.

In the next 9 holes:
A. I drain a 4-7 foot putt to halve or win 10-16. Every single hole. On 17, they just give us a 6 foot putt because I'm automatic. After each putt they get increasingly tight. I start talking a lot of ****. "You got lucky on 6. I won't miss again." "Told you I wouldn't miss." "Don't need to give anything, I'll take every one of these down." etc etc

At one point I said to my partner "Hey man easy putt here just get it within 8 feet, we'll win." They were like 10 feet out to win the hole and the other guy goes "Wait, isn't this to win it?" His partner nudges him "I think he means he doesn't believe you'll make it." (I did not, in fact, mean that, i was focused on our team LOL) He got nervous and blasted it past the hole, I stepped up and sank a 7 footer. Just smiled.

B. I put it within 15 feet of both par 3s
C. We take the back 9. We go into 18 tied for the match

Now if you've ever been on 18 at streamsong black...it's a cool hole. It's a par 5, but if you drive it 270+, you can go 180-ish over water to the green in two. Fall short at all, and you're likely screwed, although you could end up in a bunker that is challenging but playable.

I hit a drive that must get in the speed slot, because it goes 280 and ends up a yard or two shy of the water's edge. Basically a perfect drive, right where you would choose to drop the ball if you could. Partner's drive is 50 yards shorter. The other team, both drives are the same distance as mine, about ten yards left (slightly better angle in). Both pairs are strategizing. My partner wants to use my drive and go for it. "It's 180, wind is at our back, it's downhill, probably truly only like a 160 carry, I can do it." I have ZERO faith in that. So I calmy said as much. "No offense, but I'm not gonna lose because we get aggressive beyond our ability and go in the water. We need you to stick this up the left side, 120-180 yards where there's tons of margin for error, I'll put us on the green, you get it close, I'll make the par putt. If we lose because these guys make it over the water and birdie...well fought match. I haven't seen them hit that shot all day."

So he acquiesces, and hits his best shot of the day. 150 yards, right in the spot i wanted, gives us 110 to the pin, my favorite wedge full swing easy peasy. I look at the other pair with bated breath. The worse golfer steps up to take the shot, rips a long iron low, slicing, just clears the water but not up the hill, so they're 70 feet below the green, right by water's edge, on a slope. I'm feeling like we have it locked up. I go put the wedge on the green. Not as close as I'd like, but definitely two-puttable.

They find the ball. They hit the ball and actually get it up...over the green in a bunker. They could still go up and down and halve the hole and match. They're away, so next guy goes to bunker. Doesn't get out. Super frustrated. Partner goes in the bunker...hits it out, over the green, in the other bunker. Very frustrated. Other guy goes into bunker, takes a different angle, hits it out...over into the third bunker behind the green. VERY frustrated. Other guy hits it...doesn't get out. Guy who put it there goes back and hits again...out, over, back in a bunker.

I not-so-politely heckle them. "Do y'all just want to take a 12, or want us to putt this one out?"

Match over. We win. 2-1.

 

[Instinctive]

Singles match: Our captain put me against a guy WAY better than me. Which was weird. So as a 13.6 (14) handicap...I got 14 strokes.

I stayed in it for 10 holes. I was 1 down. Lost the front 9 by one, but was bogeys and pars galore. My opponent had a double, a birdie, and 8 pars through 10. I just lost steam. I think I stopped playing my own game, pushed too hard off the tee, and got in some tough spots. Lost match by like 5 holes.

Opponent finished even par (15 pars, two birdies, and one double). So to have a chance to halve I would have needed to play pretty much my best round of the year, and probably go under 80 for the first time ever.

I thought I had an opening on one of the par 5s. He hit it into the bunker in middle of fairway, I had a solid drive. Then he hit a TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY yard wood out of the bunker onto the green. Missed eagle putt. Birdied it.

 

[Zow]

Mrs. Woz broke 100 for her first time today. She’s pretty excited.

 

[Zow]

Singles match: Our captain put me against a guy WAY better than me. Which was weird. So as a 13.6 (14) handicap...I got 14 strokes.

I stayed in it for 10 holes. I was 1 down. Lost the front 9 by one, but was bogeys and pars galore. My opponent had a double, a birdie, and 8 pars through 10. I just lost steam. I think I stopped playing my own game, pushed too hard off the tee, and got in some tough spots. Lost match by like 5 holes.

Opponent finished even par (15 pars, two birdies, and one double). So to have a chance to halve I would have needed to play pretty much my best round of the year, and probably go under 80 for the first time ever.

I thought I had an opening on one of the par 5s. He hit it into the bunker in middle of fairway, I had a solid drive. Then he hit a TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY yard wood out of the bunker onto the green. Missed eagle putt. Birdied it.

These somewhat lopsided handicap matches can be tough, but the math (and assuming handicaps are accurate) still doesn't shake out to you being a huge underdog here or anything especially in match play as that format permits for a couple of blowup holes without those being so penalizing.

My suggestion next time is to approach such a match with the goal in your head to shoot your handicap. If you do that, statistically speaking you probably have a 75% chance or better to win the match. In other words, just ignore what the other guy is doing (to prevent yourself from pressing/pushing too hard off the tee) and focus solely on your own score and have confidence that your handicap is accurate and you need to target that score.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

played Sunday morning and had a decent round going through 8 when I somehow pulled my lower back on a fairway bunker shot. Barely could turn the rest of the day but still limped home to shoot an 87. I have a round tomorrow on a semi private course and as of this morning my back doesn't seem to bother me anymore but I'll be bringing out an icy hot roller just in case

 

[3 hour lunch]

Out in Monterey for our 20th anniversary and was able to get on Pebble as a single yesterday. Super fun to play it as I’ve seen it on tv so many times. Played pretty good too! Playing Spanish Bay tomorrow……

 

[CGRdrJoe]

I finally had a round all come together on Monday, started in the fairway on 1 when I was waiting to lay up on a par 5 and felt myself casting with my warm up swings. It was an AHA moment and I immediately took a few more practice swings and really worked on feeling my hands getting forward at impact and creating the proper lag. Welp, it clicked and I proceeded to roll off 7 pars, a birdie and a bogey on the front 9 which meant 3 fire balls as we take a fireball for birdies but also for 3 straight pars (turkey).

I channeled my inner Woz on the back 9 and fired off 2 more pars (fireball happened again) before having a set back with a double on a longer par 5 cause by topping my 3 wood on my second and then chunking a wedge from 80 yards out with my 4th. settled down and fired off 4 straight pars (f'n 2 more fireballs) and then going bogey/bogey to finish off the round to shoot a 4 over 76.

All told1 birdie, 13 pars, 3 bogeys, 1 double bogey, 2 beers and 6 fireballs. Golf is fun again

 

[WDIK2]

Landmand Golf Club opened in northeast Nebraska in the fall of 2022. A friend of mine played it a couple times last year.

Tee times opened at 8:00 this morning. I jumped on the site at 8:00 and was able to select a late May Sunday tee time. Site locked up when trying to check out.. Tried a late June Sunday tee time. Site locked up. Finally jumped to September and was able to book an 11:00 am Sunday tee time.

As of typing this there is only a slot for a single on July 4th at 8:00 available. Temping. All other weekend and weekday slots are booked for the year.

that is absolutely wild

Yeah that’s crazy. We played it last year and definitely enjoyed it but I’m not sure it quite deserves that kind of demand. Craziest greens I have ever played on. At the time they had recently had a ton of rain and the bunkers were barely playable. Lots of fun holes though- huge bowl green on 10, couple drivable 4s, etc

Played it the end of September. Played like crap. Had bad back issues so couldn't really swing, but wasn't going to give up the tee time I made back in December. That was a mistake. Haven't been able to play since.

I thought the greens were kind of a joke/borderline hokey. I think it is 15 that has the 2 giant moguls on the front half of the green. Of course that's where I put my approach with a back pin position.

One interesting thing was how much the size of the greens and wideness of the fairways messed with your depth perception. Our group had a few smashed drives that everyone would say, "That's in the bunker." or "That's in the weeds." and the ball would end up 50-100 yards short. By the last few holes the groups in front of us weren't even picking up their balls out of bunkers. I went into the big one by the 18th green and came out with 4 ProVs.

Not sure we will go back. Tatanka was a lot more fun.

 

[belljr]

The Farmlinks at Pursell Farms in Alabama might be the nicest course condition wise I've ever played

Best Alabama Golf Course | Farmlinks at Pursell Farms

Scenic views, top-of-the-line cart technology, and a challenging, yet highly playable course are just a few of the reasons Farmlinks is rated the top Alabama Golf course time and time again.

www.pursellfarms.com

 

[Instinctive]

I haven't played since getting whipped at our tournament.

Playing Friday in Mexico though. Will be nice to get back out.

 

[Truebluey]

I just got my first lesson in 20 years, and the pro improved my stance immensely. He's also working with me to get to a more in to out swing and stop closing my clubface at takeaway.

I'm making great improvements practicing this at the range, but when i took it out on the course yesterday i was a bit all over the place.

I am playing at a good course on Monday as the 4th in a foursome i would like to join on a regular basis. I don't want to look awful in front of them. Any tips on how to play OK while undergoing a big swing change?

 

[CGRdrJoe]

I just got my first lesson in 20 years, and the pro improved my stance immensely. He's also working with me to get to a more in to out swing and stop closing my clubface at takeaway.

I'm making great improvements practicing this at the range, but when i took it out on the course yesterday i was a bit all over the place.

I am playing at a good course on Monday as the 4th in a foursome i would like to join on a regular basis. I don't want to look awful in front of them. Any tips on how to play OK while undergoing a big swing change?

don't take your back swing to far back, keep the arms slow as you drop them on the back swing and then just turn through the ball. It won't go as far but should keep you nice and straight in the fairway and moving in the right direction. Go to a local range/course and practice putting or if you don't have time for that and have carpet then roll some balls in the house just working on your stroke....giggity....

 

[belljr]

I just got my first lesson in 20 years, and the pro improved my stance immensely. He's also working with me to get to a more in to out swing and stop closing my clubface at takeaway.

I'm making great improvements practicing this at the range, but when i took it out on the course yesterday i was a bit all over the place.

I am playing at a good course on Monday as the 4th in a foursome i would like to join on a regular basis. I don't want to look awful in front of them. Any tips on how to play OK while undergoing a big swing change?

Don't think it can only hurt the ball club

 

[Instinctive]

I just got my first lesson in 20 years, and the pro improved my stance immensely. He's also working with me to get to a more in to out swing and stop closing my clubface at takeaway.

I'm making great improvements practicing this at the range, but when i took it out on the course yesterday i was a bit all over the place.

I am playing at a good course on Monday as the 4th in a foursome i would like to join on a regular basis. I don't want to look awful in front of them. Any tips on how to play OK while undergoing a big swing change?

Don't think it can only hurt the ball club

I got some great advice from @Zow - just play your game

And some great advice from one of our Senior Partners:

Nobody cares if you're bad. People care if you're pleasant to play with, and you don't slow them down. So if I were undergoing a big change, I'm not taking two off the tee, I'm not searching for my balls a lot. I'm smiling, I'm complimenting folks, I'm excited when what I'm trying to do works, I'm picking up and dropping by the green f I'm out of the hole and chipping and putting with everyone.

 

[Zow]

I am playing at a good course on Monday as the 4th in a foursome i would like to join on a regular basis. I don't want to look awful in front of them. Any tips on how to play OK while undergoing a big swing change?

1. First and foremost, maintain pace of play, follow basic etiquette (don't walk in my line, give me just a few moments of silence when I'm at address, be mindful of what your playing partners prefer re: flag in or out, be ready to hit when it's your turn, etc.) and be pleasant to be around. While I do enjoy playing with really good players, I will happily play anytime with somebody who meets these criteria regardless of their handicap. I truly don't give a **** it you shoot 150 provided you do so at the round's pace, with a smile, and having done nothing to impact my score.
2. Hit safe shots. In other words, even if it means you hit it a little shorter, do what you can to get balls in the fairway. If you have any semblance of distance control, try to hit to the widest part of the fairway. This will prevent you from causing the whole group to be constantly looking for your ball. If this means it takes you three shots to get around the green on a par 4, that's totally fine.
3. If people are drinking, buy a round. Who doesn't appreciate that?

 

[Zow]

Nobody cares if you're bad. People care if you're pleasant to play with, and you don't slow them down. So if I were undergoing a big change, I'm not taking two off the tee, I'm not searching for my balls a lot. I'm smiling, I'm complimenting folks, I'm excited when what I'm trying to do works, I'm picking up and dropping by the green f I'm out of the hole and chipping and putting with everyone.

Preach!

(I should have read your post first as we are saying the same thing)

 

[Truebluey]

Thanks for all the excellent advice!!
I won't quote everyone, but genuine thanks to everyone who answered.
I tend to be very positive, so that's what I'll focus on. I don't have unrealistic expectations of my own game, so i won't get upset if i struggle.

I'll focus on a smooth slow swing and not looking for balls too long (the leaves are getting pretty thick on the ground here in New England).

 

[Zow]

Not terribly important golf/general etiquette question but had a somewhat odd situation come up recently.

My office sponsors a scramble team in a charity golf tournament hosted by a big client (who actual put on the tournament with my office as a second tier sponsor or something). It's not cheap and it's hosted at a very nice private course so it's a genuine treat/privilege to play. The last couple of years for networking purposes my office has had me play as I'm the primary regular golfer amongst our partner group as. We also bring one of our associate attorneys who does a lot of the transactional work for said client. We then have extended invites to the client's general counsel and assistant general counsel to fill out the rest of the two spots. Obviously this is beneficial elbow-rubbing and, well, 4 attorneys together tend to nerd out a bit when together and a few cocktails are shared. We probably aren't in the running for winning it (especially in a charity scramble where we likely get pencil whipped) but since I play regularly and the other three play enough to not be bad and contribute we are still competitive (myself and the associate attorney are very competitive people). Also, there's some decent prizes at this tournament so from my perspective the ideal situation is to both network well but also try to win something like long drive, closest to the pin, or maybe even place if the putts drop. Tournament is in a couple of weeks.

Yesterday, invitee general counsel sends us an email telling us that she needs to play on another team for her own networking purposes but that she has picked one of their upper management employees to fill her place. She used the phrase that the new player will "dust off her clubs." This employer is not a lawyer, we don't have direct dealings with her nor really know her, etc. New player is CC'ed to the email and follows up with a reply all shortly thereafter telling us she's looking forward to playing and jokingly requests that we be patient with her poor play.

Associate attorney and I both had the same reaction that while it's totally understandable general counsel jumped ship to rub more important elbows to her, we find it quite brazen and odd that we would just fill her spot with somebody we don't know who apparently isn't even a golfer. Associate attorney even asked me if we should tell her thanks for finding somebody else but we should fill the spot. I think about it for a second as we could likely bring another client, a low digit handicap who could put us in the running or I could even score some major points with Mrs. Woz (who now golfs more than I do) by bringing her. But, ultimately, I decide to just roll with it as it would be awkward to email back telling them no when they're ultimately a client and the new player is already believing she is in. In other words, we're just going to keep the client happy.

Just as a temperature check though, is this a breach of etiquette by our now former "teammate"? I think if I were in her situation - which I frankly have been as I play in a lot of tournaments and sometimes life happens and I need to bail for whatever reason - I would say so and then suggest that I could provide a replacement but ultimately let the person organizing and funding the team make the call. However, I could see maybe giving her the benefit of the doubt and that she was trying to be helpful by doing the legwork of filling the spot.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

suggest I could find a replacement but ultimately let the person organizing and funding the team make the call

This is how I would handle it also

 

[Zow]

suggest I could find a replacement but ultimately let the person organizing and funding the team make the call

This is how I would handle it also

Yeah... I thought this was the obvious etiquette play hereto. Guess maybe the better issue is whether to do anything about it or just let it go.

 

[Cowboysfan8]

suggest I could find a replacement but ultimately let the person organizing and funding the team make the call

This is how I would handle it also

Yeah... I thought this was the obvious etiquette play hereto. Guess maybe the better issue is whether to do anything about it or just let it go.

Yeah, that’s a tough one

 

[CGRdrJoe]

suggest I could find a replacement but ultimately let the person organizing and funding the team make the call

This is how I would handle it also

Yeah... I thought this was the obvious etiquette play hereto. Guess maybe the better issue is whether to do anything about it or just let it go.

Do something about it....

What? Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...

It ain't over now, 'cause when the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin'

 

[belljr]

So I think I'm very close to a breakthrough then have a setback

Anyway I learned a couple things in the last couple weeks.

It doesn't actually matter what tees I play it only matters how I'm playing that day.

My buddy and I usually skip between blue and white tees.

White is like 6200, blue 6600 they have a blue white combo that is nice

Anyway we had an open course and decided to play the tips (7100) and the whites one day .

Then blues and whites the other.

Day 1 white ball. 80. With 3 freaking doubles on the front. Black tips 81. Shot a 37 on the back. Was hot.

Day 2 blue 87 with a god awful 46 41

White 80 with a 43 37

Wtf

 

[The Gator]

So I think I'm very close to a breakthrough then have a setback

Anyway I learned a couple things in the last couple weeks.

It doesn't actually matter what tees I play it only matters how I'm playing that day.

My buddy and I usually skip between blue and white tees.

White is like 6200, blue 6600 they have a blue white combo that is nice

Anyway we had an open course and decided to play the tips (7100) and the whites one day .

Then blues and whites the other.

Day 1 white ball. 80. With 3 freaking doubles on the front. Black tips 81. Shot a 37 in the back. Was hot.

Day 2 blue 87 with a god awful 46 41

White 80 with a 43 37

Wtf

I need Google translate for this, brb

 

[Zow]

So this is a crazy, frustrating, wonderful game we play. To start this off, you need to know that my best score ever was an even par 72. I shot 73 (or one over) probably a dozen or so times. Oddly, the 72 came early on when I had just started playing and I just had a miraculous day on an easier course where I made some insanely luck shots including a hole in one. Shot 41-31 with a bogey on 18 but the other eight holes include something nuts like two eagles and three birdies. Anyway, haven't shot it since.

Due to the season winding down and my wife having a girls' weekend, I did play golf from like 12 days. This is the longest stretch I've gone without touching a club in months. That said, I got in a rare mid-week round because my wife wanted to play golf with me for her birthday. She doesn't make the request though until this past weekend. Nonetheless, I did everything to free up the morning to play with her. However, I had a big court hearing later in the afternoon and a conference call at 11:00 I couldn't move. I prep her that I'll need to take the call and skip holes if needed to do so. She's cool with it and just happy we could make it work.

Now, those of you who know my golf game know that it's fueled by whisky and swinging hard. So, I went into the round with absolutely zero expectations as I had a call and had to obviously stay completely sober for court afterwards. Also, I basically worked two full days straight from wake up to late at night to free up the time so I'm going into the round having not exercised for a couple of days meaning my back is quite stiff. Further, our course just punched and sanded the greens making it tough to putt so basically I had to play by the temporary local rule that for my handicap any ball on the green is an automatic two putt but you can take the first putt to try to make it. Finally, to make matter worse and further decrease expectations, the course initially announced a 30-minute frost delay (which would have set our 9:30 time to 10:00) but the fast-playing weekday crowd teed off quickly and we were on the box at 9:37. So, I only had about a five minute warmup and couldn't even put a clubface on a ball before starting.

Initial tee shot is about what I expected and, given the stiff back and no warmup, I don't get my hands through and shove my tee shot to the right. Now, while I love my home course, one of the few gripes I have about it is that our first hole tee shot is very narrow with easily reachable ob on both sides. I just think it's a bad design as I'm a proponent of making the first tee ball a relatively easier shot to gets guys off the first box - I've watched scratch players pump three balls ob off the first box in the first round of the club championship immediately eliminating them from contention before they could even take a breath. Anyway, I assume my ball is going to hit the hill and/or cart path on the right side of the hole and roll ob. However, I get a very lucky bounce where, seemingly defying the laws of physics, the ball hits presumably right where the right side of the cart path meets the grass and bounces left then straightens out down the path. I wound up being still partially blocked from the green by a tree but I have a reasonable lie, my distance off the tee winds up fine, and I'm able to hoist one up and over to about 20 yards short. I chip up to like 8 feet and miss the putt because the green is like a klinko board. So, I make a ho hum bogey, assume the round won't amount to much of anything, and legitimately stop caring at the point. I'm more focused and encouraging and coaching my wife and answering work emails than anything.

On hole two, one of my biggest pet peeves immediately comes into play - some woman is walking her dog on the fairway (since our course, while private, weaves mostly through homes we get a ton of people who probably aren't even members walking their dogs or going for walks on our course even during play without understanding that they're technically trespassing). I'm immediately annoyed, gauge she's about 200 out , and realize I can easily fly one over her without putting her at risk but giving her a good scare. Without thinking, I do exactly that and pump one down the middle. Wind up making an easy par.

Hole three, a par 3, I hit it to six feet and even with the punched greens I make the putt. Okay, cool, not getting shut out on birdies for the day. Hole three I chip in for another birdie. Holes three through eight I hit every fairway and green and had makeable birdie putts on almost all holes. Didn't make one though but, on hole seven, I realize I'm having a pretty good day. My wife's playing well too, the pace of play is wonderful, and the weather is frankly perfect. At this point, while I'm still responding to work emails, I'm about as carefree as it gets and I'm still not really paying attention to the round even though I'm playing a nice front. However, on hole nine after I hit my drive, when I'm one under and playing a reachable par 5, I get the work call.

Work call lasts thirty minutes and I have to skip the rest of hole 9 and holes 10 and 11 (two relatively challenging par 4s). I start playing again on hole 12 and bogey a tougher par 3. On hole 13 I hit the fairway but in the wrong spot where I'm blocked by trees. Second shot clips the top of a tree and I hit a poor third shot and make a bad double. Nonetheless, at that point, I shrug my shoulders at the good front and am somewhat relieved I'm not in some weird position of going low in a meaningless round and wondering "what if" on the missed holes. Hole 14 though is an easy par five and I reach it in two for a birdie. Can a putt on hole 15 for a good par. Then on hole 16, with the fairway looking a mile wide and the cup the size of a manhole, I crush a drive maybe 25 yards shot of the green and I hole out for eagle. On 17, a nearly 600 yard par five that is nearly unreachable from the tips, I crush my drive again and hit a 297 yard three wood on the green to about ten feet. Putt canned. Second eagle in a row and I'm now under par for the day. Our hole 18 green is under construction so by rule I take a net par which is a bogey for me because of the hole handicap. This leaves me at gross -1 for the round.

Now, we had planned to have lunch and I only had about an hour before I had to prep for court. My wife, who also played really well, is boasting to the pro about my eagles and chip ins. I comment that I have never shot under par but I had to skip three holes. Pro comments that I could go back out. I laugh it off and we sit down for lunch. As I'm sitting there some buddies come through on the turn (the path goes right by the restaurant patio at the turn), I tell them what happened, and they all say go back out. I text some golf buddies, explain it, and they all say go back out with warnings that I need to play the 9 hole tee ball where it was and not to warm up. At this point our food arrives but I'm thinking about it and realize it's doable. However, even with the pro's help, there wasn't an opening for me to really get back out on 9 without disrupting groups on the course. I also feel my back stiffening and, timing-wise, I conclude I really just needed to get to work. So, alas, I left the course -1 through 15 holes played with an unrecorded reachable par 5 and a personal best well within reach on a day where I didn't have a care in the world about golf.

Biggest "what if" moment in golf for me to date. Obviously round doesn't count, but the moral of the story seems to be that we play so much better when our brain isn't getting in the way. And, apparently, that doesn't mean one has to get there with whisky haha.

 

[Zow]

Oof that’s long.

Tl;dr = unexpectedly got on pace for the best round of my life when I wasn’t even focused but I had to skip three holes for a work call. Didn’t get to finish with a real chance to shoot under par for the first time.

 

[Instinctive]

Oof that’s long.

Tl;dr = unexpectedly got on pace for the best round of my life when I wasn’t even focused but I had to skip three holes for a work call. Didn’t get to finish with a real chance to shoot under par for the first time.

I enjoyed reading it

 

[joker]

I also enjoyed reading it, and you describing some of the layout of the holes immediately made me think of my own course and its layout.

 

[belljr]

I found it shallow and pedantic

 

[Instinctive]

It did spark an interesting thought for me too. My usual course plays very differently when you start on 10 vs 1. The back nine is on average just way longer and playing to first gave me my best nine hole score there. I may try to do that more often even to explore further.

 

[Zow]

It did spark an interesting thought for me too. My usual course plays very differently when you start on 10 vs 1. The back nine is on average just way longer and playing to first gave me my best nine hole score there. I may try to do that more often even to explore further.

Yeah my course's first hole plays way easier when it's hole ten. I usually hit three wood whereas when it's the first tee shot of the day I hit 5 iron just to give me my best odds of finding the short grass.

 

[Zow]

I found it shallow and pedantic

Fair. I probably should have thrown a club and tried multiple swing changes.

 

[TLEF316]

Got back from 5 days (4 rounds) in Hilton Head on Saturday. First time ever there with my dad (early 70's, 13 index usually playing from the Sr. tees), younger brother (36, 6 index with length and a lot of game) and our youngest brother (32, has probably been on a golf course 5 times, an athlete but really can't complete many holes...lots of pickups but he's at least trying to learn the game a little bit). As I've documented.....I've basically been an absolute train-wreck off the tee all year which has totally sapped my confidence. Basically haven't been playing for the past month and stopped keeping serious score back in August just for my own sanity. Just trying to focus on the good shots and stay somewhat positive until I can take a winter break and hopefully re-set my brain.

Managed to slap it around and play bogey golf the first few days. A few real disasters but most of the holes were forgiving enough to contain my 170 yard smother hooks and the occasional head pick-up 80 yard top. We also played a little shorter tees than we usually do (like 6100-6200 yards) due to the elevation change (closer to sea level, so you lose a little) the wind (which kicked up a few days) and the general state of my game. So I was able to hit some hybrids off the tee when I wasn't feeling the driver (which was often) Wheels fell off on the last day in a major way but at least we had a good time. My dad had a health scare last year and I knew this trip was really important to him, so I did everything I could to just stay positive and laugh off the bad ones. MOSTLY succeeded (again, kinda blew up the last day and snapped at him once in the cart, which was a bad look. He knows I'm really going through it)

Courses we played.

George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes. Ok layout and pretty forgiving but the greens were really fuzzy and not in amazing shape. Would probably skip it if we went back.

North Course at Moss Creek- Private club we were able to get on and play with a friend of my dad. (youngest brother skipped this one to do some work). Apparently the South Course is better but they had an event going on. Good course though. Greens were pretty pure and fair speed. Cool, varied layout. No gimmicks, good shots were rewarded. I liked it.

Robert Trent Jones course at Palmetto Dunes.- FAR Better than the Fazio (which we knew going in). Way better greens and overall conditioning. Really nice practice facility (had shot tracker in all the stalls that you could use. Cool layout with some really pretty holes (especially on the back 9)

Hilton Head national- obviously influenced by my bad play, but I didn't like this one at all. Very meh conditions, some tee boxes were so sandy that it was tough to even keep your footing. Lots of gimmicky features (and not in a fun way) and very tight with tons of trees blocking out everything. A few somewhat interesting holes but wouldn't play it again.

We did not play Harbour Town. Wasn't worth it with brother # 3 tagging along. If my game was in shape I would have pushed for it, but not in my current state. But we did pop over to see the place, hit the pro shop and get dinner nearby. Obviously an insanely beautiful facility. Not a blade of grass out of place and the pro shop had an awesome selection of primo merch. Would gladly spend the $$ to play it another time when I can actually get off the tee box.

Was honestly dreading the trip because I just hate the game right now. Sucks to be so bad right now and not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing I had 4 rounds to play with no potential off-ramp was not great. Its all mental and tempo related and my brain just can't make my body make a nice easy swing on the actual course (spent 45 minutes on the range tonight, hit probably 50 drivers.....90% of which were good) .

Really frustrating. But again...knew how important it was to my dad, so i just tried to enjoy the experience. I know he really loved spending the week with us (brother # 3 lives in Mexico, so he's not around much) and just focused on that. He wants to do Big Cedar Lodge next year, so hopefully I'll be able to actually play the game again by then.

RTJ Course at Palmetto

 

[The Gator]

I found it shallow and pedantic

 

[Instinctive]

It did spark an interesting thought for me too. My usual course plays very differently when you start on 10 vs 1. The back nine is on average just way longer and playing to first gave me my best nine hole score there. I may try to do that more often even to explore further.

Yeah my course's first hole plays way easier when it's hole ten. I usually hit three wood whereas when it's the first tee shot of the day I hit 5 iron just to give me my best odds of finding the short grass.

For me it's more like hole 13-15-16-17-18 are all pretty long and narrower than the long holes on the front nine. So usually I'm hitting like three of the five longest holes when I'm most tired...hitting them when I'm in my best rhythm and not tired is a crazy difference maker.

 

[belljr]

Got back from 5 days (4 rounds) in Hilton Head on Saturday. First time ever there with my dad (early 70's, 13 index usually playing from the Sr. tees), younger brother (36, 6 index with length and a lot of game) and our youngest brother (32, has probably been on a golf course 5 times, an athlete but really can't complete many holes...lots of pickups but he's at least trying to learn the game a little bit). As I've documented.....I've basically been an absolute train-wreck off the tee all year which has totally sapped my confidence. Basically haven't been playing for the past month and stopped keeping serious score back in August just for my own sanity. Just trying to focus on the good shots and stay somewhat positive until I can take a winter break and hopefully re-set my brain.

Managed to slap it around and play bogey golf the first few days. A few real disasters but most of the holes were forgiving enough to contain my 170 yard smother hooks and the occasional head pick-up 80 yard top. We also played a little shorter tees than we usually do (like 6100-6200 yards) due to the elevation change (closer to sea level, so you lose a little) the wind (which kicked up a few days) and the general state of my game. So I was able to hit some hybrids off the tee when I wasn't feeling the driver (which was often) Wheels fell off on the last day in a major way but at least we had a good time. My dad had a health scare last year and I knew this trip was really important to him, so I did everything I could to just stay positive and laugh off the bad ones. MOSTLY succeeded (again, kinda blew up the last day and snapped at him once in the cart, which was a bad look. He knows I'm really going through it)

Courses we played.

George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes. Ok layout and pretty forgiving but the greens were really fuzzy and not in amazing shape. Would probably skip it if we went back.

North Course at Moss Creek- Private club we were able to get on and play with a friend of my dad. (youngest brother skipped this one to do some work). Apparently the South Course is better but they had an event going on. Good course though. Greens were pretty pure and fair speed. Cool, varied layout. No gimmicks, good shots were rewarded. I liked it.

Robert Trent Jones course at Palmetto Dunes.- FAR Better than the Fazio (which we knew going in). Way better greens and overall conditioning. Really nice practice facility (had shot tracker in all the stalls that you could use. Cool layout with some really pretty holes (especially on the back 9)

Hilton Head national- obviously influenced by my bad play, but I didn't like this one at all. Very meh conditions, some tee boxes were so sandy that it was tough to even keep your footing. Lots of gimmicky features (and not in a fun way) and very tight with tons of trees blocking out everything. A few somewhat interesting holes but wouldn't play it again.

We did not play Harbour Town. Wasn't worth it with brother # 3 tagging along. If my game was in shape I would have pushed for it, but not in my current state. But we did pop over to see the place, hit the pro shop and get dinner nearby. Obviously an insanely beautiful facility. Not a blade of grass out of place and the pro shop had an awesome selection of primo merch. Would gladly spend the $$ to play it another time when I can actually get off the tee box.

Was honestly dreading the trip because I just hate the game right now. Sucks to be so bad right now and not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing I had 4 rounds to play with no potential off-ramp was not great. Its all mental and tempo related and my brain just can't make my body make a nice easy swing on the actual course (spent 45 minutes on the range tonight, hit probably 50 drivers.....90% of which were good) .

Really frustrating. But again...knew how important it was to my dad, so i just tried to enjoy the experience. I know he really loved spending the week with us (brother # 3 lives in Mexico, so he's not around much) and just focused on that. He wants to do Big Cedar Lodge next year, so hopefully I'll be able to actually play the game again by then.

RTJ Course at Palmetto

Not a fan of Hilton Head in general

 

[The Gator]

Got in 45 holes at the end of last week.

Played Cypress Ridge over at the coast and that was a blast. Shot a 106 with three pars and only 1 OB with my worst day putting (37 putts, 5 three putts ) . Still trotting out my 4I off the tee, so i was pretty happy with this and easily could have been sub 100 if my putting was on.

On the plus side, hit 47% of the fairways, which was a new high for me.

 

[urbanhack]

Got in 45 holes at the end of last week.

Played Cypress Ridge over at the coast and that was a blast. Shot a 106 with three pars and only 1 OB with my worst day putting (37 putts, 5 three putts ) . Still trotting out my 4I off the tee, so i was pretty happy with this and easily could have been sub 100 if my putting was on.

On the plus side, hit 47% of the fairways, which was a new high for me.

how much time do you spend between practicing chipping / putting vs. range?

 

[ChiefD]

Oof that’s long.

Tl;dr = unexpectedly got on pace for the best round of my life when I wasn’t even focused but I had to skip three holes for a work call. Didn’t get to finish with a real chance to shoot under par for the first time.

Moral of the story: you are thinking too much.

 

[The Gator]

Got in 45 holes at the end of last week.

Played Cypress Ridge over at the coast and that was a blast. Shot a 106 with three pars and only 1 OB with my worst day putting (37 putts, 5 three putts ) . Still trotting out my 4I off the tee, so i was pretty happy with this and easily could have been sub 100 if my putting was on.

On the plus side, hit 47% of the fairways, which was a new high for me.

how much time do you spend between practicing chipping / putting vs. range?

I usually hit a couple buckets of balls then go pitch/chip/putt. My short game is usually what helps me the most, just let me down that day while other parts improved.

 

[3 hour lunch]

So this is a crazy, frustrating, wonderful game we play. To start this off, you need to know that my best score ever was an even par 72. I shot 73 (or one over) probably a dozen or so times. Oddly, the 72 came early on when I had just started playing and I just had a miraculous day on an easier course where I made some insanely luck shots including a hole in one. Shot 41-31 with a bogey on 18 but the other eight holes include something nuts like two eagles and three birdies. Anyway, haven't shot it since.

Due to the season winding down and my wife having a girls' weekend, I did play golf from like 12 days. This is the longest stretch I've gone without touching a club in months. That said, I got in a rare mid-week round because my wife wanted to play golf with me for her birthday. She doesn't make the request though until this past weekend. Nonetheless, I did everything to free up the morning to play with her. However, I had a big court hearing later in the afternoon and a conference call at 11:00 I couldn't move. I prep her that I'll need to take the call and skip holes if needed to do so. She's cool with it and just happy we could make it work.

Now, those of you who know my golf game know that it's fueled by whisky and swinging hard. So, I went into the round with absolutely zero expectations as I had a call and had to obviously stay completely sober for court afterwards. Also, I basically worked two full days straight from wake up to late at night to free up the time so I'm going into the round having not exercised for a couple of days meaning my back is quite stiff. Further, our course just punched and sanded the greens making it tough to putt so basically I had to play by the temporary local rule that for my handicap any ball on the green is an automatic two putt but you can take the first putt to try to make it. Finally, to make matter worse and further decrease expectations, the course initially announced a 30-minute frost delay (which would have set our 9:30 time to 10:00) but the fast-playing weekday crowd teed off quickly and we were on the box at 9:37. So, I only had about a five minute warmup and couldn't even put a clubface on a ball before starting.

Initial tee shot is about what I expected and, given the stiff back and no warmup, I don't get my hands through and shove my tee shot to the right. Now, while I love my home course, one of the few gripes I have about it is that our first hole tee shot is very narrow with easily reachable ob on both sides. I just think it's a bad design as I'm a proponent of making the first tee ball a relatively easier shot to gets guys off the first box - I've watched scratch players pump three balls ob off the first box in the first round of the club championship immediately eliminating them from contention before they could even take a breath. Anyway, I assume my ball is going to hit the hill and/or cart path on the right side of the hole and roll ob. However, I get a very lucky bounce where, seemingly defying the laws of physics, the ball hits presumably right where the right side of the cart path meets the grass and bounces left then straightens out down the path. I wound up being still partially blocked from the green by a tree but I have a reasonable lie, my distance off the tee winds up fine, and I'm able to hoist one up and over to about 20 yards short. I chip up to like 8 feet and miss the putt because the green is like a klinko board. So, I make a ho hum bogey, assume the round won't amount to much of anything, and legitimately stop caring at the point. I'm more focused and encouraging and coaching my wife and answering work emails than anything.

On hole two, one of my biggest pet peeves immediately comes into play - some woman is walking her dog on the fairway (since our course, while private, weaves mostly through homes we get a ton of people who probably aren't even members walking their dogs or going for walks on our course even during play without understanding that they're technically trespassing). I'm immediately annoyed, gauge she's about 200 out , and realize I can easily fly one over her without putting her at risk but giving her a good scare. Without thinking, I do exactly that and pump one down the middle. Wind up making an easy par.

Hole three, a par 3, I hit it to six feet and even with the punched greens I make the putt. Okay, cool, not getting shut out on birdies for the day. Hole three I chip in for another birdie. Holes three through eight I hit every fairway and green and had makeable birdie putts on almost all holes. Didn't make one though but, on hole seven, I realize I'm having a pretty good day. My wife's playing well too, the pace of play is wonderful, and the weather is frankly perfect. At this point, while I'm still responding to work emails, I'm about as carefree as it gets and I'm still not really paying attention to the round even though I'm playing a nice front. However, on hole nine after I hit my drive, when I'm one under and playing a reachable par 5, I get the work call.

Work call lasts thirty minutes and I have to skip the rest of hole 9 and holes 10 and 11 (two relatively challenging par 4s). I start playing again on hole 12 and bogey a tougher par 3. On hole 13 I hit the fairway but in the wrong spot where I'm blocked by trees. Second shot clips the top of a tree and I hit a poor third shot and make a bad double. Nonetheless, at that point, I shrug my shoulders at the good front and am somewhat relieved I'm not in some weird position of going low in a meaningless round and wondering "what if" on the missed holes. Hole 14 though is an easy par five and I reach it in two for a birdie. Can a putt on hole 15 for a good par. Then on hole 16, with the fairway looking a mile wide and the cup the size of a manhole, I crush a drive maybe 25 yards shot of the green and I hole out for eagle. On 17, a nearly 600 yard par five that is nearly unreachable from the tips, I crush my drive again and hit a 297 yard three wood on the green to about ten feet. Putt canned. Second eagle in a row and I'm now under par for the day. Our hole 18 green is under construction so by rule I take a net par which is a bogey for me because of the hole handicap. This leaves me at gross -1 for the round.

Now, we had planned to have lunch and I only had about an hour before I had to prep for court. My wife, who also played really well, is boasting to the pro about my eagles and chip ins. I comment that I have never shot under par but I had to skip three holes. Pro comments that I could go back out. I laugh it off and we sit down for lunch. As I'm sitting there some buddies come through on the turn (the path goes right by the restaurant patio at the turn), I tell them what happened, and they all say go back out. I text some golf buddies, explain it, and they all say go back out with warnings that I need to play the 9 hole tee ball where it was and not to warm up. At this point our food arrives but I'm thinking about it and realize it's doable. However, even with the pro's help, there wasn't an opening for me to really get back out on 9 without disrupting groups on the course. I also feel my back stiffening and, timing-wise, I conclude I really just needed to get to work. So, alas, I left the course -1 through 15 holes played with an unrecorded reachable par 5 and a personal best well within reach on a day where I didn't have a care in the world about golf.

Biggest "what if" moment in golf for me to date. Obviously round doesn't count, but the moral of the story seems to be that we play so much better when our brain isn't getting in the way. And, apparently, that doesn't mean one has to get there with whisky haha.

With the no 3 putt rule and other skipped hole, I’m not sure you could really count it anyway? Hearing some of your stories and shots over time, I’m surprised you haven’t broken par yet, actually. I predict it will happen once and then immediately a few more times after. I couldn’t hit a 297 yard 3 wood if it landed on concrete!