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***Official 2025 Golf Thread,, woz humblebrags he's secretly a plus hcp*** (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter belljr
- Start date
Zow
Footballguy
Not impossible, but very unlikely.
I say this because my handicap has currently spiked up 8 strokes over my normal handicap (went from a 10 to an 18) because of like 6 months of atrocious play and my most recent 20 scores or whatever are way up (including a triple digit tourney score). It's plausible (for the love of god at least I'm hoping it's plausible) that I can "find it" again and shoot 83-84 like I was doing no problem prior to my issues. I'd feel badly about it in a tourney, but it'd be legit. I also think that variance is far more likely for youngish guys like me who can hit the ball a lot farther but are more erratic. My BIL, who is my age and can hit +300 off the tee, just upset his entire club because he went 72-73 and went in legitimately (I know this because a lot of those score were with me) at a 6 but just simply had a good weekend where he was hitting it straight and rolling in putts. I think it'd be a lot harder for a more consistent but shorter player to do this, but not impossible for a long but erratic player.
That said, it's far more likely this guy sandbagged.
Zow
Footballguy
Yeah my club posts any club tournament scores for me automatically. And yes they count for a greater number in the formula (or they stay with you longer or something).
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encaitar
Footballguy
The average golfer beats his handicap by 2.1 strokes as his best score over 20 rounds. He just beat his handicap by 6 & 7 in back to back rounds. If that happened at my club I would be pretty skeptical and probably remember his name. If it happened at another tournament later on at our club, I bring it up... loudly and for all participants to hear.
I find that reverse sand baggers are more common though. There's a guy at our club that I usually play with 4-5 times a year. He's usually a single and just jumps on with groups and he'll jump on with us when one of our normal foursome can't make it. His handicap is 3 strokes better than mine, yet in the last 10 rounds I've played against him, I think he's beaten me twice and that was when I had below average rounds myself. He always seems to be "playing poorly today". I just don't get it, why not just be honest about your handicap. Being a 7 instead of a 4 isn't going to change anyone's opinion about you, but claiming to be a 4 when you should be a 7 or higher is.
I find that reverse sand baggers are more common though. There's a guy at our club that I usually play with 4-5 times a year. He's usually a single and just jumps on with groups and he'll jump on with us when one of our normal foursome can't make it. His handicap is 3 strokes better than mine, yet in the last 10 rounds I've played against him, I think he's beaten me twice and that was when I had below average rounds myself. He always seems to be "playing poorly today". I just don't get it, why not just be honest about your handicap. Being a 7 instead of a 4 isn't going to change anyone's opinion about you, but claiming to be a 4 when you should be a 7 or higher is.
sheerterror
Footballguy
41 on the front...48 on the back. 41 putts. 
-disclaimer: I'm a low-mid 90s golfer, so I'm never too upset when I break 90. But I gotta fix this damn short game.
-disclaimer: I'm a low-mid 90s golfer, so I'm never too upset when I break 90. But I gotta fix this damn short game.
Zow
Footballguy
Exactly encantair.
I played in a big cash tournament put on by a casino. Teams were randomly created and tiered by handicaps. At the time I was like a 12 and was the "a" player with the worst handicap. "B" player was a 16 and c and d were upper twenties. This isn't bad b/c we are being given the most strokes and my erratic game works well in a scramble.
We are on the first tee talking. Our b player is instructing us where he wants us to stand when he hits. He then proceeds to tell us he's really more like a 23 but he "feels" like he's a 16 and he told himself he'd never enter a tournamt higher than that. Me and the other two guys were looking at each other like WTF.
Guy was ####### terrible. We maybe used like two of his shots all day and had to take his ####tier drives when I was like 100 yards up farther b/c we ran out of holes. Me and the c player played well (c player made some nice putts) but we finished out of money by a fraction of a stroke. Easily would have won a few thousand had this joker not reverse sandbagged. And he was a total took on top of it.
I played in a big cash tournament put on by a casino. Teams were randomly created and tiered by handicaps. At the time I was like a 12 and was the "a" player with the worst handicap. "B" player was a 16 and c and d were upper twenties. This isn't bad b/c we are being given the most strokes and my erratic game works well in a scramble.
We are on the first tee talking. Our b player is instructing us where he wants us to stand when he hits. He then proceeds to tell us he's really more like a 23 but he "feels" like he's a 16 and he told himself he'd never enter a tournamt higher than that. Me and the other two guys were looking at each other like WTF.
Guy was ####### terrible. We maybe used like two of his shots all day and had to take his ####tier drives when I was like 100 yards up farther b/c we ran out of holes. Me and the c player played well (c player made some nice putts) but we finished out of money by a fraction of a stroke. Easily would have won a few thousand had this joker not reverse sandbagged. And he was a total took on top of it.
belljr
Footballguy
I should have walked you through the whole course 
how were the greens
Bauer
Footballguy
They were in good shape, we all thought they were fair but some of the pin placements were pretty difficult. Some of the views on the course were awesome though, definitely suggested if you are in the area.
Corporation
Angry Bovine
This is really late but I live near Ross Bridge and it is a really nice course, hosted a Champions Tour major for 5 years or so. Oxmoor Valley is my home course and is pretty good as well. I've played Capitol Hill, Grand National, and Silver Lakes as well, with only Silver Lakes being sub par (which I guess is ironic in that I mean it's my least favorite).
It's a great trail, hope you have a chance to do it. I'll now skip to the end of the thread to see if you've already done it
Corporation
Angry Bovine
belljr
Footballguy
Had sort of an epiphany today. Went and hit balls. Maybe the second time this year. I just need to accept the fact I'm not as good as I once was. I used to practice a ton. Now I just show up and play. I remember how I could play and I frustrate myself because I'm just not that good anymore
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
That's bull####. Focus on feel, being a good putter, shorten your swing, focus on your tempo.
mr roboto
Footballguy
Whats bull####, that as you get older you can play as good as you used to by just showing up and playing? I agree with belljr. The only way I can keep my game at the same level is to practice at least a couple times a month. If I just show up and play once a week I get worse
Apple Jack
Footballguy
This is an important moment in a golfer's life and should be celebrated. Now you can just go out with the guys and enjoy yourself without acting like you are in a US Open qualifier. Just be the guy who is happy to be out there. Or practice. Can't have both.
tommyboy
Footballguy
I dont know. I used to practice a lot, and last year i just stopped practicing and tried to play at least 2-3 times per wk. I still practice once in awhile but scoring in golf is just as much game mgmt as ball strikingEta: for me playing meaningful shots, playing for a score, is better practice than hitting ballsWhats bull####, that as you get older you can play as good as you used to by just showing up and playing? I agree with belljr. The only way I can keep my game at the same level is to practice at least a couple times a month. If I just show up and play once a week I get worse
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tommyboy
Footballguy
belljr
Footballguy
yeah if I was playing 2 or 3 times a week I'm sure I'd score and play better. I show up Sunday morning to play with an occasional round during the weekI dont know. I used to practice a lot, and last year i just stopped practicing and tried to play at least 2-3 times per wk. I still practice once in awhile but scoring in golf is just as much game mgmt as ball strikingEta: for me playing meaningful shots, playing for a score, is better practice than hitting ballsWhats bull####, that as you get older you can play as good as you used to by just showing up and playing? I agree with belljr. The only way I can keep my game at the same level is to practice at least a couple times a month. If I just show up and play once a week I get worse
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
I'm just saying....don't give up. You can still play smart, good golf as you age.mr roboto said:Whats bull####, that as you get older you can play as good as you used to by just showing up and playing? I agree with belljr. The only way I can keep my game at the same level is to practice at least a couple times a month. If I just show up and play once a week I get worseurbanhack said:
mr roboto
Footballguy
Agreed there.I'm just saying....don't give up. You can still play smart, good golf as you age.mr roboto said:Whats bull####, that as you get older you can play as good as you used to by just showing up and playing? I agree with belljr. The only way I can keep my game at the same level is to practice at least a couple times a month. If I just show up and play once a week I get worseurbanhack said:
belljr
Footballguy
I think you misunderstood. I have to realize I'm not going to shoot 77 78 as often as I have in the past. I'm going to have more mi####s now than before. I just have accepted that. Instead of getting angry at my 84 85 I just need to know its going to be that way
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urbanhack
Fight The Power!
I'm in a similar boat and I look forward to the drinking and time with buddies and try to post a decent number and hit some good shots during the round.
mr roboto
Footballguy
I was a high 70s-low 80s high school golfer from a small town. Never had real lessons or coaching at all. At 17 my mother asked me if I was serious about golf. If I wanted to try to play in college or make a career out of either playing or managing a course (ie attend a golf college). I said sure, that would be fun but I'm not nearly good enough and I would need a private instructor etc.
My grandparents bought me a weeks worth of private lessons from a top 50 instructor at a resort in New Jersey (somewhere up in the hills near Pennsylvania - forgot to name of it). After 1 week of 8-10 hours of lessons, range and practice rounds I was breaking par from the tips at the resort course. We asked the instructors if I had any meaningful chance at trying to make a living playing golf. He said 'sure, you and about a thousand other kids your age. You have the natural ability to play great golf but you need to devote the next 10 years of your life to it and there's still a relatively low chance of making a living on any tour. '
This was in 2000 during Tigers dominating stretch at the U.S. Open. I remember hearing the announcers talk about how he had been a prodigy and had spent his entire life playing and practicing golf. For some reason, at 17 I just knew that I didn't know enough about myself to commit to a single sport or pursued with a low chance of having a payoff.
So when I play now I'm about as good as I was in high school before those lessons. I'm 32 years old and I'm a better golfer from a course management perspective but not quite as talented as I was. I've always wondered if I could've made it but then think back to all the kids that had private lessons since childhood and were going to college on full ride scholarships and realize that I was probably so far behind the curve that it was highly unlikely. If you've ever played golf with a guy who has a handicap below scratch and watch them shoot a 66 at your local course, realize that there is still a wide gulf between his skill and the average tour player.
I quit playing for about five years after high school and college and after college and got back into the game at about 24 years old. My only goal is to have fun and to keep my skill at the level I'm at now so that I can continue to play well and enjoy golf in my 40s and 50s.
My grandparents bought me a weeks worth of private lessons from a top 50 instructor at a resort in New Jersey (somewhere up in the hills near Pennsylvania - forgot to name of it). After 1 week of 8-10 hours of lessons, range and practice rounds I was breaking par from the tips at the resort course. We asked the instructors if I had any meaningful chance at trying to make a living playing golf. He said 'sure, you and about a thousand other kids your age. You have the natural ability to play great golf but you need to devote the next 10 years of your life to it and there's still a relatively low chance of making a living on any tour. '
This was in 2000 during Tigers dominating stretch at the U.S. Open. I remember hearing the announcers talk about how he had been a prodigy and had spent his entire life playing and practicing golf. For some reason, at 17 I just knew that I didn't know enough about myself to commit to a single sport or pursued with a low chance of having a payoff.
So when I play now I'm about as good as I was in high school before those lessons. I'm 32 years old and I'm a better golfer from a course management perspective but not quite as talented as I was. I've always wondered if I could've made it but then think back to all the kids that had private lessons since childhood and were going to college on full ride scholarships and realize that I was probably so far behind the curve that it was highly unlikely. If you've ever played golf with a guy who has a handicap below scratch and watch them shoot a 66 at your local course, realize that there is still a wide gulf between his skill and the average tour player.
I quit playing for about five years after high school and college and after college and got back into the game at about 24 years old. My only goal is to have fun and to keep my skill at the level I'm at now so that I can continue to play well and enjoy golf in my 40s and 50s.
Angry Beavers
Footballguy
First nine of the year yesterday... 
- Don't judge - it is all I had time for.
started triple and Bogey.. played the next 7 in one over... for a 41. Better than I expected. Could have been even better as missed two make able birdie putts. I still need to invest in new equipment - the driver is 10 years old and the irons are older than my kid ( who is 14) - but not this week. Playing with the boss on Thursday so now is not the time to screw around.
Other than putting I would say the key to helping scores - know your game. If you hit shots you are comfortable you can pull off, you may not go super low, but you won't blow up either.
- Don't judge - it is all I had time for.started triple and Bogey.. played the next 7 in one over... for a 41. Better than I expected. Could have been even better as missed two make able birdie putts. I still need to invest in new equipment - the driver is 10 years old and the irons are older than my kid ( who is 14) - but not this week. Playing with the boss on Thursday so now is not the time to screw around.
Other than putting I would say the key to helping scores - know your game. If you hit shots you are comfortable you can pull off, you may not go super low, but you won't blow up either.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
I am quite happy if I can post a 43-41. I am around a 14 right now. I play 9 a week in a league and get out 1-2 times a month for 18. I never hit balls or practice putting so I can`t ##### about not scoring better. Most of the time in my league I am right from the car to the tee box.
Zow
Footballguy
Genuinely surprised you didn't play at Bethel. Sounds like you could have easily made it.
While I don't really regret it, I made the decision in high school to focus solely on baseball. I rarely played golf and had no clue what I was doing, but I somehow made the team and started as a Junior. Quit though when it was discovered I was violating rules playing golf and fall baseball at the same time and never looked back. Loved baseball, but it was blatantly obvious I was nowhere near talented enough to make it beyond very low level college and amateur ball even though I worked harder at it than most. Had I devoted that time to golf obviously I wouldn't have gone pro or anything, but playing college golf and being able to remain that good at a sport for theoretically sixty years would have been pretty cool.
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Playing in the MPGA doubles this weekend (w/handicap). I only get 5 shots at Rum River so it's going to be hard to beat that (don't even have a round less than 77 this year), but should be fun to play.
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
I golfed at Minnetonka.
Things have changed a lot since then. Shot a 80 in regions in 1996 and missed state by one shot. Today with an 80 you'd miss by 5-6 shots. Still live around here, Roboto?
3 hour lunch
Footballguy
mr roboto
Footballguy
Actually moving to Eden Prairie in about 8 weeks!I made the state tourney my senior year as an individual (in the small school sectional tourney in Austin - shot a 78).I golfed at Minnetonka.
I'm planning on joining a league in the TCs when I move up though. We should go out and play sometime.
belljr
Footballguy
My Sunday group is 710. I like it minus the fact it's 45 to get there
Zow
Footballguy
It's in northwest Arizona.Which club?So I joined a country club a couple days ago...
Zow
Footballguy
Zow
Footballguy
My college roommate plays in a league at Chaska Town course and loves it. That shouldn't be too far from where you'd be. Awesome course, too. I can get you info if you'd like.Actually moving to Eden Prairie in about 8 weeks!I made the state tourney my senior year as an individual (in the small school sectional tourney in Austin - shot a 78).I golfed at Minnetonka.
I'm planning on joining a league in the TCs when I move up though. We should go out and play sometime.
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
which club?It's in northwest Arizona.Which club?So I joined a country club a couple days ago...
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
I'll make it out there in 30 minutes flat. Coming back into the city between 12 and 1 on a saturday is a complete crap shoot.
mr roboto
Footballguy
Cool. My brother-in-law lives about a half-mile from the course and it's a great track. The problem is I won't move up until the middle of the summer and don't have a handicap established yet so I need to work on that first.My college roommate plays in a league at Chaska Town course and loves it. That shouldn't be too far from where you'd be. Awesome course, too. I can get you info if you'd like.Actually moving to Eden Prairie in about 8 weeks!I made the state tourney my senior year as an individual (in the small school sectional tourney in Austin - shot a 78).I golfed at Minnetonka.
I'm planning on joining a league in the TCs when I move up though. We should go out and play sometime.
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3 hour lunch
Footballguy
Yeah, Roboto- IM me when you get into town. I used to live in Eden Prairie but now live on the north side of the cities. Woz is right about Chaska Town course- Meadows, Legends, Wilds, Stonebrooke and Rush Creek are other nice ones less than 30 minutes away. I'm in the men's league at Majestic Oaks but that's a bit of a hike from EP.My college roommate plays in a league at Chaska Town course and loves it. That shouldn't be too far from where you'd be. Awesome course, too. I can get you info if you'd like.Actually moving to Eden Prairie in about 8 weeks!I made the state tourney my senior year as an individual (in the small school sectional tourney in Austin - shot a 78).I golfed at Minnetonka.
I'm planning on joining a league in the TCs when I move up though. We should go out and play sometime.
Zow
Footballguy
Refugewhich club?It's in northwest Arizona.Which club?So I joined a country club a couple days ago...
tommyboy
Footballguy
A free lesson, assuming you want to drop your handi:
Have a plan. Imagine playing your course and shooting par, or better. How would you do it? Where would your drives go? Play every shot in your mind.
Take the few holes you hate the most out of double or triple bogey potential. Tee off with an iron or hybrid play 2nd to just short of green, chip and putt for par or bogey.
Practice putting as much as possible. Groove your stroke so you know you are sending the ball at the target on impact. Once you are 95% on this you can isolate your concern to speed and reading lines. Putting is easier with only 2 variables.
Practice chipping. Practice chipping. Just practice chipping. You want to feel like missing the green is no big deal because you can chip to 4 ft and 1 putt.
Work on your driver. Swinging at 70% and hitting 80% fairways is better for your scorecard than swinging 90% and hitting half the fairways. There's also the "how bad are your worst drives?" theory. If your worst drive is OB, work on your shot pattern to bring your spread down. You want your worst drive to be 2nd cut of rough or wrong side of fairway, not OB, in trees or in water. Be able to hit 10 drives in a row in practice within a 30 yd spread. Usually this means slowing your swing and focusing on center face contact.
Try to groove a constant tempo for all your shots. Watching scratch golfers is like watching a metronome. Copy this
Take your medicine. Hit into trees? Punch out, accept bogey.
Track your putts per round. You want +/- 30. You get up to 34 or higher go back and practice some more. Really good golfers make more putts, especially in the 3-6 range. Its the easiest way to pick up 4 shots per round.
Practice playing your course on the range. Once you get warmed up, grab your driver pick a target and imagine its the first tee. Go through your routine and hit the shot. Based on the result hit your next shot. Be honest with yourself, if your drive would had gone into trees, practice a low 5 iron punch out on the next shot. Do all 18 holes. Practicing this way puts pressure on you, which is the best way to take your game from the range to the course. Also, this and my first tip above make playing your course less stressful, since you've played it many times in your head.
Good luck
Have a plan. Imagine playing your course and shooting par, or better. How would you do it? Where would your drives go? Play every shot in your mind.
Take the few holes you hate the most out of double or triple bogey potential. Tee off with an iron or hybrid play 2nd to just short of green, chip and putt for par or bogey.
Practice putting as much as possible. Groove your stroke so you know you are sending the ball at the target on impact. Once you are 95% on this you can isolate your concern to speed and reading lines. Putting is easier with only 2 variables.
Practice chipping. Practice chipping. Just practice chipping. You want to feel like missing the green is no big deal because you can chip to 4 ft and 1 putt.
Work on your driver. Swinging at 70% and hitting 80% fairways is better for your scorecard than swinging 90% and hitting half the fairways. There's also the "how bad are your worst drives?" theory. If your worst drive is OB, work on your shot pattern to bring your spread down. You want your worst drive to be 2nd cut of rough or wrong side of fairway, not OB, in trees or in water. Be able to hit 10 drives in a row in practice within a 30 yd spread. Usually this means slowing your swing and focusing on center face contact.
Try to groove a constant tempo for all your shots. Watching scratch golfers is like watching a metronome. Copy this
Take your medicine. Hit into trees? Punch out, accept bogey.
Track your putts per round. You want +/- 30. You get up to 34 or higher go back and practice some more. Really good golfers make more putts, especially in the 3-6 range. Its the easiest way to pick up 4 shots per round.
Practice playing your course on the range. Once you get warmed up, grab your driver pick a target and imagine its the first tee. Go through your routine and hit the shot. Based on the result hit your next shot. Be honest with yourself, if your drive would had gone into trees, practice a low 5 iron punch out on the next shot. Do all 18 holes. Practicing this way puts pressure on you, which is the best way to take your game from the range to the course. Also, this and my first tip above make playing your course less stressful, since you've played it many times in your head.
Good luck
Outstanding advice!
I started to improve when I learned to make bogey. Why do 20 handicappers try to shoot even par? Start by hitting shots you know you have and gradually add to the bag.
Chopping & putting require almost no talent but lots of practice. Hitting 300 yard drives on the other hand.
Quint
Footballguy
assuming you're looking for Used vs New, i've had good luck with 2ndswing.com (not affiliated).
if you're going New, then be sure to get fitted if you're going to drop that kind of coin for AP2s.
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