***Official 2025 Golf Thread, The Gator is FINALLY serious *** (9 Viewers)

[CGRdrJoe]

this time next week I'll be slamming down a few drinks in the united lounge waiting to board my flight for palm springs. Land at 10am and my buddy should hopefully already have our TURO so we can jet to a course and play. I'm hesitant to book a tee time until we know both our flights will be on time so that we don't get screwed but as of now the plan is to play the Classic Club around 1130. The other option is to play one of the pga west courses and hope that the courses aren't packed and play near a 4 hour round to beat the sun. First world problems

Report back on the Classic Club. We’ve been going to Palm Springs for 20+ years. 24 guy Ryder Cup type tourneys. Played at Classic Club one time. Fun layout. Water on 13 holes. Risk is it’s near the 10 freeway which is a wind tunnel some days. We are playing Stadium course this year and excited because it’s after the renovation. If you are looking for another course I highly recommend Desert Willow. Great hospitality. 2 courses. Firecliff just opened after renovations. Beautiful.

firecliff was originally plan b but they are closed for overseeding. Wind forecast for now is great but then again the forecasts are forever changing, **** it wasn't supposed to rain up here on Sunday and I spent the first hour playing in the f'n rain even though my app said it was clear.

Classic club gives an active duty discount so our round will only be $50 instead of the rack rate of $200 so it makes it a no brainer. Looking forward to pechanga Thursday as we are playing with 2 buddies that live down that way so it should be a fun round. Friday is the date I've had circled for a while, Rams Hill which just underwent another renovation and by all reviews is in perfect condition. Saturday will be at La Quinta Celebrity course for our end of year member guest, just need the body to hold up and get through the first 7 or 8 holes then I can hit the whiskey and numb the pain while maintaining the ability to see 1 ball~

 

[belljr]

Shot a 90 today. 36 degrees and 20mph winds. And some Frozen greens.

Got a little frustrated late with another fat shot. My streak of 70s came to an end. Back was sore and lots of layers so we'll call it a wash so stupid

 

[Zow]

Shot a 90 today. 36 degrees and 20mph winds. And some Frozen greens.

Got a little frustrated late with another day shot. My streak of 70s came to an end. Back was sore and lots of layers so we'll call it a wash so stupid

Kudos to you for just getting out there.

 

[belljr]

Tomorrow will be the same temps and wind but will be my 100 played round in a calendar year. Probably shut it down on super cold days after that

 

[CGRdrJoe]

shot a 93 today, first 14 holes in the fog with maybe 150 yards of visibility which was crazy since we teed off at 730 and we couldn’t see our shots until 3 hours into the round.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Well that was a fun and adventurous trip, pull away from the gate wednesday morning at SFO and get to the runway only to sit there for 30 minutes and return to the gate for a comms issue. Took an hour to fix then push away and sit for another 15 only to return to the gate because the comms issue is still broken so we went from leaving at 840 to waiting for another plane and having no idea when we would take off. Luckily we were able to get another plane, bags loaded and out of SFO by 1215 which meant that while we missed our 1140 tee time we were able to get to the classic club by 220 and tee off at 240 which gave us roughly 2 hours to beat the sun. The course was wide open in front of us and we were able to get in 15 holes before playing a best ball for the last 2.5 holes in the dark. We picked up our approach shots on 18 because it was pointless at that point.

So I have no real review of the course other than to say there is a **** ton of water (lost 4 or 5 balls) and the course was in excellent shape. No idea what my score was and it didn't help that with all the delays I was easily in the 9 to 12 drinks range by the time we teed off.

Next time I'm flying spirit instead of united!

Thursday drove over to Temecula and played Journey at Pechenga which was phenomenal, the fact that the tee times are every 15 minutes was such a huge bonus because we never had to wait and never had pressure from behind. Greens were rolling at an 11.5 so they were fast as **** and there were some false fronts that if you caught would drop your ball back 40 to 50 yards back down the fairway Lots of elevated tee's with great views but somehow we picked the one day where it never got over 63 and the wind was blowing close to 20 mph with gusts to 40 mph. This course might not have the views that torrey pines does but conditions wise it's one of the best courses south of orange county.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Played Rams Hill on friday and I can see why it gets its high ratings, the fairways are very forgiving and every shot is like hitting off the most perfect lie ever. The greens on the other hand, we thought the day before was fast but these were on another level of fast. The sign in the pro shop said they were rolling at a 12.8 but they were like cement and being above the hole or on the wrong tier was a recipe for disaster. I look forward to playing it again now that I know where to miss and the slopes of the greens, it's definitely worth the out of the way drive to it's location.

 

[The Gator]

Got my last 9 in before Maui and played pretty well. Shot 48 with 4/7 fairways and 17 putts. Had a nice play through, too. A group of 4 let me through as a single, I walk up with my 4 iron on a par 5 and pipe it right down the middle 220 yards. One of the coolest feelings walking away from that lol. Only better one i've had is a couple guys let me though on a par 3. Smooth 8I to within 20ft, two put for par.

 

[The Gator]

Kapalua The Bay was awesome. I arrived about an hour and a half early so I could get some extra time in with the rental clubs (Titelist T350s). They were pretty slick, but i really disliked the grips; they were tiny and slippery. That took a little getting used to and I really had to make sure my hands were completely dry. Still couldn't hit a driver....for the life of me. Tried the woods....nothing. So I played and teed of with a 5iron

The course itself was pretty straight forward and not that difficult, just beautiful views all around. I ended up shooting 99 with 41 GD PUTTS!!11 with one birdie* and two pars. Highlight was getting a par on #17 (160y par 3) after clearing the ocean, just a beautiful hole and 16 leading up to was just as nice.


* I didn't realize I had birdied this whole until after the round. I don't really track my score total while playing, just enter the score and move on. I thought that hole was a par 4, but evidently I played that one from the wrong tee box So that 500+y par 5 became a 489y par 5 with 60 feet of drop to the green. I went 5i, 5i to get the green in two and then two putted for what I thought was par

overall it was a blast, playing as a single and still took my time for the scenery with the 4+hr round....loved it.

My Link

 

[Zow]

So I apparently drunkenly committed to a Pebble Beach trip last night.

 

[The Gator]

So I apparently drunkenly committed to a Pebble Beach trip last night.

In

 

[TLEF316]

There are worse things to drunkenly commit to

 

[Thorn]

So I apparently drunkenly committed to a Pebble Beach trip last night.

Don't worry I'll take your spot.

 

[Zow]

So I apparently drunkenly committed to a Pebble Beach trip last night.

Don't worry I'll take your spot.

Nah I'm good. Or, at least I'll be good after I clear the days and the cost with Mrs. Woz.

Timing is good here as she just got fitted for very nice, not cheap irons for Christmas so I have some good will built up.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Pebble Beach was better than I thought it would be. I thought it was all views, which you can get in Carmel. It's a very good and fun course. Hopefully you hit some others ... Spyglass is great. Pasatiempo that you can hit on the way is excellent. Two unknown courses up the hill (Blackhorse and Bayonet) are also really good if you can't get on like Monterey Pennisula. I did not like Spanish Bay for what it's worth.

 

[3 hour lunch]

So I apparently drunkenly committed to a Pebble Beach trip last night.

A single tear rolls down my cheek! Ha, you’ll love it. About half of the holes are not that interesting in a vacuum (half are amazing) but because I’ve seen it on tv so many times, it made every hole cool. I was lucky enough to get on as a single without staying in property but if you do, that’s a pretty significant part of the expense…..

 

[belljr]

Hitting the ball great but my scores are the same as when I ham and egg it lol

 

[belljr]

Not sure why I'm practicing and stretching my game is getting worse. 4 doubles on the front 2 on the back for a 91.

Sure it's was 34 degrees but I don't know how to chip any more. Like complete mental case now. I whiffed on 2 today

 

[The Gator]

Not sure why I'm practicing and stretching my game is getting worse. 4 doubles on the front 2 on the back for a 91.

Quick, we need a round together while we’re both shooting 90s

 

[coopersdad]

I've think I've finally passed the torch. 59 years old w/ a 21 YO son. Been able to beat him consistently until this past summer. Then my age and his distance (plus he's working on "scoring" now) got to me. He was able to beat me most of the summer from the 1 up tees. For fun on NYE we played from the 2 ups and he was able to beat me by 2 (79-81). I think that will be a challenge for me to beat him, but I told him when I get to 60, I get to play the grandpa tees. Hopefully I'll give him a run for his money.

Hit em straight, and if not hit another one.

Here's to 2025.

 

[Zow]

Not sure why I'm practicing and stretching my game is getting worse. 4 doubles on the front 2 on the back for a 91.

Sure it's was 34 degrees but I don't know how to chip any more. Like complete mental case now. I whiffed on 2 today

I've come to terms with two things:

1. Unless I hit the lotto and can practice daily, I'm never going to be a scratch and a 3 index is probably the best I'll ever do.
2. The game comes in waves. Some days it seems like pars are easy. Some days, despite feeling the same, a par seems like an achievement as three putts abound and seemingly perfect approach shots are inexplicably nowhere close.

I say this because I've felt great/normal my last 5 rounds, have avoided large numbers and am driving the ball with 60% fairway accuracy, but I haven't broken 80 in any of the rounds.

 

[Judge Smails]

All of a sudden having trouble releasing the club. Especially irons. Started to use a Scottie Scheffler chip shot where he holds the face open to get more spin/check. But that sort of feeling has crept into my full swing. No bueno. Ball is fluttering right and not going as far. Good news with very iffy ball striking I can still score. Shot 41-39 on Saturday with few GIR. I think I need to go out and have a session where I try to exaggerate and hook the heck out of the ball. It’ll take that feeling just to go straight.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

hit balls for the first time in a while saturday (not counting a pre xmas round with my dad's clubs) and could not hit the ball with any club. Hosel rockets right, duff chips, woods were a disaster which was the whole reason for the range trip because I bought a ping G430 5 wood to replace my 3 hybrid. Welp, had a 722 tee time yesterday in the freezing cold and cart path only conditions and shot an 83 which could have been lower had I not had 3 lip outs and a double. Otherwise everything was solid and I was flushing almost all of my clubs I have 0 clue anymore and am just gonna enjoy the ride

 

[Zow]

hit balls for the first time in a while saturday (not counting a pre xmas round with my dad's clubs) and could not hit the ball with any club. Hosel rockets right, duff chips, woods were a disaster which was the whole reason for the range trip because I bought a ping G430 5 wood to replace my 3 hybrid. Welp, had a 722 tee time yesterday in the freezing cold and cart path only conditions and shot an 83 which could have been lower had I not had 3 lip outs and a double. Otherwise everything was solid and I was flushing almost all of my clubs I have 0 clue anymore and am just gonna enjoy the ride

That's golf.

 

[The Gator]

Not sure why I'm practicing and stretching my game is getting worse. 4 doubles on the front 2 on the back for a 91.

Quick, we need a round together while we’re both shooting 90s

Too late! I'm back in the 100s

Absolute shocker of a weekend trip with 103, 104, 108


The second two scores were part of an 18 man group tourny that i have no idea how they scored it (outside of using hcp for net scores) . However, i won $300 on that third day because I got paired with a guy who shot 80 and netted 73

 

[belljr]

Not sure why I'm practicing and stretching my game is getting worse. 4 doubles on the front 2 on the back for a 91.

Quick, we need a round together while we’re both shooting 90s

Too late! I'm back in the 100s

Absolute shocker of a weekend trip with 103, 104, 108


The second two scores were part of an 18 man group tourny that i have no idea how they scored it (outside of using hcp for net scores) . However, i won $300 on that third day because I got paired with a guy who shot 80 and netted 73

I shot an 83 in 25 mph winds and 30 degreees lol...... so stupid

 

[belljr]

All of a sudden having trouble releasing the club. Especially irons. Started to use a Scottie Scheffler chip shot where he holds the face open to get more spin/check. But that sort of feeling has crept into my full swing. No bueno. Ball is fluttering right and not going as far. Good news with very iffy ball striking I can still score. Shot 41-39 on Saturday with few GIR. I think I need to go out and have a session where I try to exaggerate and hook the heck out of the ball. It’ll take that feeling just to go straight.

I have decided to forget how to chip, im a complete mental case now,,,, most of the time i hit them fat somehow I NEVER HAD ISSUES CHIPPING.

Now I'm in my head make an adjustment and then freaking blow it by the hole 20 ft to compensate for the fatnnes. So frsutrating

Just ordered a 4 iron to match my specs and think Im retiring my Hybrid, Just can't hit it anymore.

Ordered a t-200 instead of t-100 from my fitter. Its a touch more forgiving and I barely noticed a difference

 

[CGRdrJoe]

All of a sudden having trouble releasing the club. Especially irons. Started to use a Scottie Scheffler chip shot where he holds the face open to get more spin/check. But that sort of feeling has crept into my full swing. No bueno. Ball is fluttering right and not going as far. Good news with very iffy ball striking I can still score. Shot 41-39 on Saturday with few GIR. I think I need to go out and have a session where I try to exaggerate and hook the heck out of the ball. It’ll take that feeling just to go straight.

I have decided to forget how to chip, im a complete mental case now,,,, most of the time i hit them fat somehow I NEVER HAS ISSUES CHIPPING.

Now I'm in my head make an adjustment and then freaking blow it by the hole 20 ft to compensate for the fatnnes. So frsutrating

Just ordered a 4 iron to match my specs and think Im retiring my Hybrid, Just can't hit it anymore.

Ordered a t-200 instead of t-100 from my fitter. Its a touch more forgiving and I barely noticed a difference

that's funny because I am having the same issue with my 4 hybrid and deciding between a jpx 925 4 iron or getting a 7 wood. I'm leaning 4 iron right now

 

[belljr]

I was smoking the 4 iron on the sim ..... but i smoke everything on the sim.

If I could play off mats I'd be scratch. I know it!!!

 

[CGRdrJoe]

plus if I get a 4 iron then I can throw it further down the fairway than a 7 wood I kid, I kid.

 

[TLEF316]

So in addition to my horrible driving issues (played a quick 9 on NYE to see if maybe 2 months off would magically cure my problems....it did not).....I definitely had some putting problems this year. I've never been an AMAZING 5-10 foot putter but I'm usually at least decent. But this year things really went off the rails at times (including some straight up yips where I literally couldn't hit a 5 footer at the hole. It was REALLY bad).

Since I dont have the ability to actually make full swings in doors during the winter, I decided that this was one area I could maybe make some improvements in. So I got myself this putting mirror and I've been working with it for the past few days.

It has really helped me notice that my setup was VERY inconsistent. My head/eye placement over the ball was probably not right (and was certainly not the same every time) and I was setting up with my shoulders open without even realizing it. And I think all that stuff definitely led to a lack of confidence and a tendency to get WAY too handsy in my putting stroke. (which would take my stroke off-line and cause me to close the face a lot)

Still need to keep working (especially on longer putts, where I had some absolutely laughers on my trip back in October) but I kinda feel like this will be a good tool to practice with during the winter.

Now if i can just get a driver in play so I can actually GET to the green in regulation, we might be in business.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I thought I was done tweaking the clubs in my bag. I was wrong.

Hit a Callaway Rogue ST Max Heavenwood (essentially a 20 degree 7 wood) and had to have it. Will be getting a 3 wood too when I find a deal.

Oh, and swapped out a TSi2 driver for a TSr2 because I found a good deal on eBay.

 

[Zow]

Thoughts on the TGL opening match last night? I enjoyed it and will likely watch a few more. I like the banter and the expediency of it all. Also, if I had regular access to that sort of set up where betting and golfing would be so easy, I'd probably be broke and divorced.

 

[The Gator]

Thoughts on the TGL opening match last night? I enjoyed it and will likely watch a few more. I like the banter and the expediency of it all. Also, if I had regular access to that sort of set up where betting and golfing would be so easy, I'd probably be broke and divorced.

*** Official 2022 PGA Tour Thread - Memorial Tournament, LIV list leaked- It's all Paulina's Fault ****

the wut

forums.footballguys.com

 

[3 hour lunch]

Just finished up at Streamsong. Played all the courses in 4 days. Great facility, nice hotel, good restaurants, etc. I didn’t love the golf as much as I’d hoped, but I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of places so it takes a lot to impress me I suppose. It was definitely good but a lot of similar looking holes etc

 

[Instinctive]

Just finished up at Streamsong. Played all the courses in 4 days. Great facility, nice hotel, good restaurants, etc. I didn’t love the golf as much as I’d hoped, but I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of places so it takes a lot to impress me I suppose. It was definitely good but a lot of similar looking holes etc

I felt similarly, though was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Chain

 

[BeTheMatch]

Simulator league of my own starts tonight here in dreary Minnesota. It's a good time.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

played a semi muddy course today, shot a 6 over 78. Golf is so weird

 

[Thorn]

2024 was a weird golf year for me.

Highs:

• Trip to Bandon Dunes. I think if you love golf, you have to find a way to make a pilgrimage there once in your life.
• For the first time ever, I won a gross tournament. Our club's four-ball, as the team "captain" or "A" player or whatever. I shot 74 with four birdies, the B player had three, and we dinged and donged our way to a win by matching cards.
• I shot 74 two other times.
• I attempted our state's amateur qualifier, knowing I had a very slim chance of qualifying, but as a good test. I shot 82 on a pretty tough set up, and I'm pretty proud of that as a pressure performance. Turns out a 77 would have qualified and a 78 would have gone to a playoff. I avoided having a blow up hole but probably played too conservative. I did birdie a 600-yard par 5 though!

Lows:

• Next best round after the 74s was a 77, and I think I broke 80 only a small handful of other times.
• Index went from 6.7 to 9.1
• Got pretty frustrated late in the year where I couldn't seem to get away from multiple doubles every round. Probably just needed more practice time, especially chipping.

 

[Zow]

Having your best gross results then watching your index increase almost 3 strokes is quite the year!

 

[Thorn]

Having your best gross results then watching your index increase almost 3 strokes is quite the year!

The 74s all came early in the year and when they fell off, there wasn't much else. I was a machine of pumping out 82, 83, 84.

Golf!

 

[BeTheMatch]

2024 was a weird golf year for me.

Highs:

• Trip to Bandon Dunes. I think if you love golf, you have to find a way to make a pilgrimage there once in your life.

I'll echo this. I think my trip there cost me six or seven grand. Played all the courses. In hindsight, I would have happily paid 20 grand or more for that experience. So, so great.

 

[Zow]

2024 was a weird golf year for me.

Highs:

• Trip to Bandon Dunes. I think if you love golf, you have to find a way to make a pilgrimage there once in your life.

I'll echo this. I think my trip there cost me six or seven grand. Played all the courses. In hindsight, I would have happily paid 20 grand or more for that experience. So, so great.

Hmmmmm I have that option this summer. I think quoted ~$10k (group offering has a few "ballers" with their own private jets an ****). I already committed $4k to a Pebble trip in November, though. Not sure if I can get away with two trips in one year.

 

[TLEF316]

2024 was a weird golf year for me.

Highs:

• Trip to Bandon Dunes. I think if you love golf, you have to find a way to make a pilgrimage there once in your life.

I'll echo this. I think my trip there cost me six or seven grand. Played all the courses. In hindsight, I would have happily paid 20 grand or more for that experience. So, so great.

Hmmmmm I have that option this summer. I think quoted ~$10k (group offering has a few "ballers" with their own private jets an ****). I already committed $4k to a Pebble trip in November, though. Not sure if I can get away with two trips in one year.

Happy to fill your seat if you're too busy.....

Bandon is my dream trip. We were planning to go this upcoming October, but the change in their reservation system (turning it into a total lottery) turned my group off and the trip fell apart. Obviously Pebble is amazing though. Likely better weather, easier to get to and Pebble itself is probably more of a bucket list course than any of the courses at Bandon.

At Bandon you run the risk of blow you off the planet, round-ruining weather and it SUCKS to get there. But the per-round cost is much cheaper (even in peak season, first round of the day only costs like $370...and then 2nd round is half price) and you get FIVE top 100 public courses (plus the 2 short courses). Obviously you can play Spyglass and Spanish Bay, but IMO...unless you have a way onto Cypress, Bandon is the better trip.

I think my dad, my brothers and I are going to Big Cedar Lodge this fall. Nothing official yet, but its at the top of the list. Would LOVE to do the Bandon trip with them, but my youngest brother is only a VERY casual golfer and I dont think my dad (just turned 75) would be able to make the walks there 4 or 5 days in a row.

 

[Thorn]

2024 was a weird golf year for me.

Highs:

• Trip to Bandon Dunes. I think if you love golf, you have to find a way to make a pilgrimage there once in your life.

I'll echo this. I think my trip there cost me six or seven grand. Played all the courses. In hindsight, I would have happily paid 20 grand or more for that experience. So, so great.

Hmmmmm I have that option this summer. I think quoted ~$10k (group offering has a few "ballers" with their own private jets an ****). I already committed $4k to a Pebble trip in November, though. Not sure if I can get away with two trips in one year.

Happy to fill your seat if you're too busy.....

Bandon is my dream trip. We were planning to go this upcoming October, but the change in their reservation system (turning it into a total lottery) turned my group off and the trip fell apart. Obviously Pebble is amazing though. Likely better weather, easier to get to and Pebble itself is probably more of a bucket list course than any of the courses at Bandon.

At Bandon you run the risk of blow you off the planet, round-ruining weather and it SUCKS to get there. But the per-round cost is much cheaper (even in peak season, first round of the day only costs like $370...and then 2nd round is half price) and you get FIVE top 100 public courses (plus the 2 short courses). Obviously you can play Spyglass and Spanish Bay, but IMO...unless you have a way onto Cypress, Bandon is the better trip.

I think my dad, my brothers and I are going to Big Cedar Lodge this fall. Nothing official yet, but its at the top of the list. Would LOVE to do the Bandon trip with them, but my youngest brother is only a VERY casual golfer and I dont think my dad (just turned 75) would be able to make the walks there 4 or 5 days in a row.

I already called dibs on the Pebble Beach seat

 

[Zow]

Update: Bandon trip filled. Pebble it is.

 

[The Gator]

Update: Bandon trip filled. Pebble it is.

PM me your itinerary

 

[The Gator]

Achievement Unlocked!


18 holes, 1 ball.

 

[Zow]

Achievement Unlocked!


18 holes, 1 ball.

That's a good feeling regardless of score!

 

[Zow]

Wife and I are doing dry January. So, I'm playing my first round with some sort of stakes in play stone cold sober in a loooong time.

A guy in the group texted asking me and a few others which whisky to bring (we usually rotate one guy bringing a flask of something nice and it's his turn). I texted that I'm doing Dry January. Pretty much everybody texted back that they don't want to be my partner* tomorrow.

We do 100% handicap and I'm usually the low index and always giving strokes so I'm already not the most sought after partner.