On The Course - Round Report

FreakOfNature wrote:

Fluffy wrote:

FreakOfNature wrote:

FamousDavis wrote:Well, now I'm back from my 2-day amateur tournament that was held in Solvang, CA. Very cool place to visit. Too long of a drive, though, as it took me 5 hours to get there and 7 hours to return. LA traffic sucks.

The first day the winds made it close to unplayable. 35 to 40 MPH. I shot 85 the first day for a net 80. I hit it terrible and made all kinds of stupid mistakes. Surprisingly my score was middle of the pack.

The second day was pretty cool because in the cart with me I was paired with Michael Lieberthal who is a former MLB catcher who played for the Phillies and Dodgers for 14 years. I didn't even know who he was until I asked him what he did for a living and he told me on the 14th hole. He's 36 and retired now. Must be nice. Very nice guy who looked exactly what you picture as a baseball player.

The second thing about this guy and another guy in our group is that they hit the ball longer than anyone I had played with before. Lieberthal hit is 300 in the air and I'm not exaggerating. This other guy was about 6-4, had an odd takeaway but hit it even farther. On some holes I was 60 yards behind them. They go for every Par 5 in two and usually get there. On one 495 yard Par 5 they had 160 yards to the green.

I played better on the 2nd day but not much. I hate the fact that I don't swing freely from the get go. Nerves.

Sounds like it was tough out there. Sorry about the score... but at least you got to meet and play with some cool folks.

Now you know how you'd feel if you ever played a round with me, cuz I'd make those musclebound geeks look like effeminate pansies. You don't want any of this, old man. I'm so long I make horses tear up.

That guy who is supposedly not really a hacker needs to take some notes on how to trash talk properly. I shouldn't be too hard on him though, he's pretty abrasive... for an herbivore.

Seriously though FD, any of us would have been intimidated playing with a former pro athlete, there's no shame in that. You did pretty well, all things considered. If ever there was an 85 to be proud of...

I must say. There's nothing better then someone assuming you cant hit far, then they are actually monster hitters, UNTILL ITs MY TURN....

As for intimidation....It only works if one idolizes these people.

The thing is though - you're a HUGE guy and obviously look like you can hit it for miles... I'm just a little 5'11" 185lb squirt who can occasionally blow it by you.

The intimidation of playing with someone famous is real though - you know in your gut that if you got to play a round with Tiger you'd shoot 20 over your handicap. We all would, and that's nothing to be ashamed about. FD played in the same group as a long hitting former pro baseball player. The guy was on US TV 4 times a week for 16 years. Yeah, it's not surprising FD got a bit intimidated... and the guy could really smash it too.

Nerves are the achilles heel of lots of really good amateur players. That's why we're not pros. That's why Bobby Jones never turned pro. It bites the best of us. You're just not seasoned enough to feel it yet, but trust me - you will. That or you'll make it as a pro and then you have to throw a huge party with everyone from Caddyshack. I'll warn you I drink like a fish and smoke like a chimney.

I was fearless and unflappable like you once. The nerves go to sh!t over time. Expect it. It's a rare day where you feel comfortable hitting the ball, everything is a compensation in some minute way. It takes a toll. Don't get me wrong - the game is still fun and I still take risks like a drunken sailor... but it does become more difficult to maintain composure and play within yourself as you age, and especially if your skills are in decline. It isn't easy for anyone to admit to themselves that their best days are behind them. Those of us who are hovering around 40 are dealing with that dilemma every day, and I'm sure FD is confronted by that as well. He's still a great player and can post great scores - it's just more difficult to maintain composure around our age. BTW he's 6 years older than me so he's a real geezer by comparison. Just had to throw that out there.

I'm actually gaining an appreciation for how the old guys on here play the game. As much as I love to rib them for being shortknockers, I understand and respect the way they've persevered through their decline and found a way to take what they still have and enjoy the game. I admire that kind of attitude. We can still learn a lot from those old farts.

Horseballs wrote:FD, what's even more amazing is that this guy was able to shoot such a good round playing alongside a star-struck chopper shooting an embarrassing score.

Nothing worse than contending for a tournament when you are playing with hackers.

FamousDavis wrote:

Horseballs wrote:FD, what's even more amazing is that this guy was able to shoot such a good round playing alongside a star-struck chopper shooting an embarrassing score.

Nothing worse than contending for a tournament when you are playing with hackers.

It's interesting to note how most of you would have reacted to something so trivial. Sure, it was kind of neat to be paired with an ex baseball player but I'm really surprised to hear how most of you would have been star struck. Especially HB. I always thought of him as kind of a stoic guy with dry humor. I never thought of him as a blubbering fan. I guess now we know.

FamousDavis wrote:He probably said he retired at 36 or something like that. I wasn't holding onto every word like it was gospel. I think the truth is that most people on this forum would have been star struck and choked and that's why they are making these assumptions. I treated him like any other guy and didn't feel an ounce of envy or nerves. That's probably why he'd like to tee it up again the next time he's in my area. That's the truth, Ruth.

Kiwigolfer wrote:I must admit my golf has been in the doldrums the past couple of years and it's ages since last time I cracked 80. I feel like my game has kind of regressed. Five years ago I was still a relative noobie who was working towards being a more consistent single figure golfer. I have virtually given up on that idea and my cap has hovered between 11 and 14 most of that time.

This summer has been a pretty disrupted one with a lot of weekends away and a lot of travel so I haven't played as much golf as usual this year. Anyway I arrive early yesterday and decided to hit a bucket pre round. I figured out a couple of things and was striping them pretty nicely. First two holes I come up short with my approaches after good tee shots and third hole my (otherwise good) drive leaks slightly right and ends up hard against a tree trunk.

So I'm 3 over through 3 holes and thinking this is going to be another lousy high eighties/low nineties sort of day. Then something clicked and I par all the remaining holes bar no.7 which I bogie for a 4 over 41 front 9. I then bogie 11 and par every other hole in the back 9 for 36 and a gross score of 77. No birdies at all and although I was on the GIR often none of them were great birdie chances. Towards the end, realising I was having a good round it became a bit of a chokefest with my putter and I started leaving everything short. Luckily no three putts though and I was somehow keeping it together with my full swing. It's funny how some days everything just clicks and on other holes you get lucky. On ten, a par 3, I pulled my tee shot left of the green then shanked the chip to the front fringe leaving myself a 30-40 footer. An up and down I could easily screw up for a double but instead I drain the putt for a 3.

Playing again today. It will be interesting to see if I have another good day or whether yesterday was just a one off aberration.

Kiwigolfer wrote:My round on Saturday was a one off aberration. On Sunday I shot an 88!

Kiwigolfer wrote:I must admit my golf has been in the doldrums the past couple of years and it's ages since last time I cracked 80. I feel like my game has kind of regressed. Five years ago I was still a relative noobie who was working towards being a more consistent single figure golfer. I have virtually given up on that idea and my cap has hovered between 11 and 14 most of that time.

This summer has been a pretty disrupted one with a lot of weekends away and a lot of travel so I haven't played as much golf as usual this year. Anyway I arrive early yesterday and decided to hit a bucket pre round. I figured out a couple of things and was striping them pretty nicely. First two holes I come up short with my approaches after good tee shots and third hole my (otherwise good) drive leaks slightly right and ends up hard against a tree trunk.

So I'm 3 over through 3 holes and thinking this is going to be another lousy high eighties/low nineties sort of day. Then something clicked and I par all the remaining holes bar no.7 which I bogie for a 4 over 41 front 9. I then bogie 11 and par every other hole in the back 9 for 36 and a gross score of 77. No birdies at all and although I was on the GIR often none of them were great birdie chances. Towards the end, realising I was having a good round it became a bit of a chokefest with my putter and I started leaving everything short. Luckily no three putts though and I was somehow keeping it together with my full swing. It's funny how some days everything just clicks and on other holes you get lucky. On ten, a par 3, I pulled my tee shot left of the green then shanked the chip to the front fringe leaving myself a 30-40 footer. An up and down I could easily screw up for a double but instead I drain the putt for a 3.

Playing again today. It will be interesting to see if I have another good day or whether yesterday was just a one off aberration.

FamousDavis wrote:

Kiwigolfer wrote:I must admit my golf has been in the doldrums the past couple of years and it's ages since last time I cracked 80. I feel like my game has kind of regressed. Five years ago I was still a relative noobie who was working towards being a more consistent single figure golfer. I have virtually given up on that idea and my cap has hovered between 11 and 14 most of that time.

This summer has been a pretty disrupted one with a lot of weekends away and a lot of travel so I haven't played as much golf as usual this year. Anyway I arrive early yesterday and decided to hit a bucket pre round. I figured out a couple of things and was striping them pretty nicely. First two holes I come up short with my approaches after good tee shots and third hole my (otherwise good) drive leaks slightly right and ends up hard against a tree trunk.

So I'm 3 over through 3 holes and thinking this is going to be another lousy high eighties/low nineties sort of day. Then something clicked and I par all the remaining holes bar no.7 which I bogie for a 4 over 41 front 9. I then bogie 11 and par every other hole in the back 9 for 36 and a gross score of 77. No birdies at all and although I was on the GIR often none of them were great birdie chances. Towards the end, realising I was having a good round it became a bit of a chokefest with my putter and I started leaving everything short. Luckily no three putts though and I was somehow keeping it together with my full swing. It's funny how some days everything just clicks and on other holes you get lucky. On ten, a par 3, I pulled my tee shot left of the green then shanked the chip to the front fringe leaving myself a 30-40 footer. An up and down I could easily screw up for a double but instead I drain the putt for a 3.

Playing again today. It will be interesting to see if I have another good day or whether yesterday was just a one off aberration.

The problem lies in the irons and your ego. You play Mizuno MP-68 semi-cavity back player's irons and they are way too much iron for you. This is not an uncommon occurrence amongst the fray of golfers who shoot mid-80's yet proclaim themselves 'players'. They have as much business carrying around forged irons as a garbage man does wearing an Armani suit.

I'm being a true friend here Kiwi. A real friend tells it like it is. You need to invest in some cavity-backed Ping irons.

Your friend, FD.

Kiwigolfer wrote:

FamousDavis wrote:

Kiwigolfer wrote:I must admit my golf has been in the doldrums the past couple of years and it's ages since last time I cracked 80. I feel like my game has kind of regressed. Five years ago I was still a relative noobie who was working towards being a more consistent single figure golfer. I have virtually given up on that idea and my cap has hovered between 11 and 14 most of that time.

This summer has been a pretty disrupted one with a lot of weekends away and a lot of travel so I haven't played as much golf as usual this year. Anyway I arrive early yesterday and decided to hit a bucket pre round. I figured out a couple of things and was striping them pretty nicely. First two holes I come up short with my approaches after good tee shots and third hole my (otherwise good) drive leaks slightly right and ends up hard against a tree trunk.

So I'm 3 over through 3 holes and thinking this is going to be another lousy high eighties/low nineties sort of day. Then something clicked and I par all the remaining holes bar no.7 which I bogie for a 4 over 41 front 9. I then bogie 11 and par every other hole in the back 9 for 36 and a gross score of 77. No birdies at all and although I was on the GIR often none of them were great birdie chances. Towards the end, realising I was having a good round it became a bit of a chokefest with my putter and I started leaving everything short. Luckily no three putts though and I was somehow keeping it together with my full swing. It's funny how some days everything just clicks and on other holes you get lucky. On ten, a par 3, I pulled my tee shot left of the green then shanked the chip to the front fringe leaving myself a 30-40 footer. An up and down I could easily screw up for a double but instead I drain the putt for a 3.

Playing again today. It will be interesting to see if I have another good day or whether yesterday was just a one off aberration.

The problem lies in the irons and your ego. You play Mizuno MP-68 semi-cavity back player's irons and they are way too much iron for you. This is not an uncommon occurrence amongst the fray of golfers who shoot mid-80's yet proclaim themselves 'players'. They have as much business carrying around forged irons as a garbage man does wearing an Armani suit.

I'm being a true friend here Kiwi. A real friend tells it like it is. You need to invest in some cavity-backed Ping irons.

Your friend, FD.

LOL - If that truly made a difference I would buy those Ping irons in a flash. Maybe I shouldn't be playing MP58's but a set of Ping shovels isn't going to make much difference. Are they suddenly going to help me hit more fairways, make more putts, knock my chips closer? My rescue clubs and chipping were the main culprits in my poor round on Sunday. I''ve played Ping shovels before and they were truly horrible in both looks and feel. I may go the GI route soon but they won't be Pings.

I might just put the R7 TP's back in the bag and see how they go.

Kiwigolfer wrote:

FamousDavis wrote:

Kiwigolfer wrote:I must admit my golf has been in the doldrums the past couple of years and it's ages since last time I cracked 80. I feel like my game has kind of regressed. Five years ago I was still a relative noobie who was working towards being a more consistent single figure golfer. I have virtually given up on that idea and my cap has hovered between 11 and 14 most of that time.

This summer has been a pretty disrupted one with a lot of weekends away and a lot of travel so I haven't played as much golf as usual this year. Anyway I arrive early yesterday and decided to hit a bucket pre round. I figured out a couple of things and was striping them pretty nicely. First two holes I come up short with my approaches after good tee shots and third hole my (otherwise good) drive leaks slightly right and ends up hard against a tree trunk.

So I'm 3 over through 3 holes and thinking this is going to be another lousy high eighties/low nineties sort of day. Then something clicked and I par all the remaining holes bar no.7 which I bogie for a 4 over 41 front 9. I then bogie 11 and par every other hole in the back 9 for 36 and a gross score of 77. No birdies at all and although I was on the GIR often none of them were great birdie chances. Towards the end, realising I was having a good round it became a bit of a chokefest with my putter and I started leaving everything short. Luckily no three putts though and I was somehow keeping it together with my full swing. It's funny how some days everything just clicks and on other holes you get lucky. On ten, a par 3, I pulled my tee shot left of the green then shanked the chip to the front fringe leaving myself a 30-40 footer. An up and down I could easily screw up for a double but instead I drain the putt for a 3.

Playing again today. It will be interesting to see if I have another good day or whether yesterday was just a one off aberration.

The problem lies in the irons and your ego. You play Mizuno MP-68 semi-cavity back player's irons and they are way too much iron for you. This is not an uncommon occurrence amongst the fray of golfers who shoot mid-80's yet proclaim themselves 'players'. They have as much business carrying around forged irons as a garbage man does wearing an Armani suit.

I'm being a true friend here Kiwi. A real friend tells it like it is. You need to invest in some cavity-backed Ping irons.

Your friend, FD.

LOL - If that truly made a difference I would buy those Ping irons in a flash. Maybe I shouldn't be playing MP58's but a set of Ping shovels isn't going to make much difference. Are they suddenly going to help me hit more fairways, make more putts, knock my chips closer? My rescue clubs and chipping were the main culprits in my poor round on Sunday. I''ve played Ping shovels before and they were truly horrible in both looks and feel. I may go the GI route soon but they won't be Pings.

I might just put the R7 TP's back in the bag and see how they go.

Player wrote:
Dont listen to that shovel toting chopper kiwi, you have hit the nail on the head with your self diagnosis. The biggest determining factor on scoring imo is chipping and pitching. When I play with pros the starkest contrast inour games is the quality of their shots around the green. Driving and puttingare important, but if you cant consistently knock it close from around the green you wont score. I see plenty of old farts off low single figure caps who are no where near me in ball striking, but as soon as their ball gets hackedup to somewhere near the green they get up and down every time. High cap choppers also drop more shots from poor chipsor especially poor bunker shots than anything else. Im an ok chipper, but if I hadthe time to practise and get good, I woulbe scratch without improvement to any other part of my game. Good chipping and pitching could knock 4 shots off my cap easy, and probably closer to 10 off a high cap.

jmtbkr wrote:Yesterday's company league was awful!
I left work at 3pm at 62* and sunny. By the time I got to the course, which is along the south shore and great south bay, the fog/clouds were rolling in and the temp dropped to a chilly 52*. Combine that with a 15mph wind off the ocean......Brrrrr.
Nobody could get warm. I bundled up with everything I had. 2 shirts, fleece jacket and windbreaker. Hat should of had built in ear-muffs! I had to break out both winter gloves.
Shots were getting blown all over the place. The greens were freshly airated and sanded, combined with the gusting winds, the ball did weird things on the greens. Still, I was putting well. When I hit the par3 8th, over a lake, I was so stiff, I topped it into the water. The homebound 9th was sooo fogged in, you couldn't see the clubhouse. It was a chore to finish the final hole.
Wound up with a 44, which was one of the best scores of the day!
Just miserable!

The best part was my hot-tub when I got home. Stayed in for half an hour! Today I can't move!!!!
Getting old sucks!

FamousDavis wrote:I had a round scheduled today at 9:15am so I went to the range first to warm up. The Callaway X-24 Hot irons with stock steel shafts (Uniflex) arrived this week so I decided to try them out. These clubs feel fantastic. It's a much different feel than past X-series offerings, with more of a crisp feel. Also, the stock steel shaft wasn't nearly as whippy and gave the ball a perfect trajectory.

On the course, I hit 14 of 18 greens in reg and had several putts for birdie and missed all but one. Still, I shot 75 (with 2 three putts and a double). The long irons are silly easy to hit without ballooning. I think they added about 5 yards to every shot. I like the black finish but I can tell it's going to wear off of the face and sole eventually.