Golf Thread 2016

[RobDeer 45]

I thought I better get this thread started! The season is fast approaching, and the PGA is underway.

 

I hit my first bucket of balls of the New Year yesterday.....so I got that going for me....which is nice.

 

Anyone getting any new toys for their golf bag this spring? I needed to upgrade my whole bag, so I've just been trying to take care of one thing each year. Did driver two years ago and irons last year. I still need wedges, faraway woods, and a hybrid......maybe a putter too. Debating what is most important to get next and having a hard time. Either way, I'm excited to get out on the course.

[jjgott]

I was very lucky during Christmas this year and through a combination of gifts/gift cards/cash upgraded nearly my entire bag this winter. I am more-or-less a Callaway guy and found some great deals on their pre-owned site.

 

I am pretty much set with my bag makeup this year, although after a few bad rounds I will start blaming the equipment again even though I know it's not their fault.

 

This will be my second year in my work's golf league so I'm excited to get back out there and have some actual competition. Living in the DC area has been good for the most part this winter until our most recent snowfall. Hope courses can melt soon because it's tough having 55-plus degree days but not being able to play golf!

[RobDeer 45]

That's awesome! Yes, always the clubs that are holding any good golfer back. Ha.

 

Yes, we've been pretty fortunate to have little snow in Cincinnati this year so far. I'm hoping it stays that way.

[brewcrewdue80]

What to get next....

A putter. Finding the putter for life that will perform for you will lower your scores/win far more money than any other club you'll put in your bag. That putter will pay for the next clubs. A hybrid probably next because how great they are vs the iron version. A 5hybrid, there's no rough lie that club can't handle.

[RobDeer 45]

Anyone do Draft Kings for golf? It's a lot of fun......when you're doing well!

[homer]

I was at the Phoenix Open last weekend. Buddy had skybox passes for the 16th hole. Wow....what an environment.

[superfly]

I did way too much ho'ing in 2015. Finally got myself settled on an all Titleist bag after being a Ping person for 15 years and could not be happier. (I found a near whole set of 714AP2 in the demo bin at $40 apiece). I determined that there was no way to blame my clubs when Jordan Spieth is winning everything with the same ones LOL. Could always upgrade the putter over what I have now but i'm fine with that too right now.

 

Hopefully all the $ spent this year is just towards golf and tournament entry fees and not more ho'ing, but no guarantees.

[JohnBriggs12]

Anyone do Draft Kings for golf? It's a lot of fun......when you're doing well!

 

In fact I do. I probably do a little better with golf than with football but still looking for that big week. Had David Lingmerth a few weeks ago on my team when Dufner pulled off that shot from the rocks and went on to beat Lingmerth in playoff. That hurt. Also had Stenson last fall when he blew a lead on 16 and lost to Fowler. If you can get 5 of your 6 guys to make the cut, you have good chance of cashing. Any less than 4, forget it. Definitely makes watching golf, and following on PGA website fun.

[RobDeer 45]

Homer - that's a bucket list thing for me!

 

Briggs - yes, it really can make for a fun weekend.

[lcbj68c]

I was at the Phoenix Open last weekend. Buddy had skybox passes for the 16th hole. Wow....what an environment.

 

I went in 2015, was there for the Super Bowl and was there on Sat when Molinari hit the ace on 16 and everybody threw their beverage canisters onto the green. Absolutely unreal. I won the Masters lottery for Thursday this year. That is going knock off a bucket list item right there. The badges came in the mail 4 days ago...I almost slept with them.

 

I've played two amateur tournaments this year so far here in southern Utah and took 1st and 7th. I did a complete re-build of everything except the putter. Wife bought me new bag and Nike spikeless cleats. I went with the Taylormade M15 driver and the RSI iron/hybrid set. Really pleased so far.

[fondybrewfan]

Looking forward to going out and hitting some balls here this Spring. I am a terrible golfer, I am usually around a 110 to 120 guy who struggles to make good contact. But late last year I seemed to figure out something with my swing and I am hoping I am a lot better this year. I am 6'7" so my swing is really long and I have never been able to keep it consistent. Problems with the wrists especially. Need longer clubs too.

[superfly]

I've played two amateur tournaments this year so far here in southern Utah and took 1st and 7th. I did a complete re-build of everything except the putter. Wife bought me new bag and Nike spikeless cleats. I went with the Taylormade M15 driver and the RSI iron/hybrid set. Really pleased so far.

 

 

Geez, I wish my wife would buy me something new. Instead I get berated for bringing another club home (or getting one in the mail). Redid everything in my bag as well to Titleist 913D3 / R15 tour spoon / 712Us / 714AP2 / Scratch wedges from my crappy older Ping stuff and dropped 5 shots in the first round I played this spring...hopefully I have as much luck as you did in my tourneys or the wife will berate me again for "needing" all these new clubs lol.

[RobDeer 45]

Superfly - That made me laugh pretty hard. Good rant!

 

lcbj - Super cool. I probably would atlas had them on my night stand! Have fun. Bucket list for me.

 

Fondy - Driving range can really help if you can put the time in and try to just work on one thing at a time. I've slowly gotten my swing in a better place. The driving range doesn't always translate right away to the course, but if you stick with your plan, it will. Obviously the biggest way to reduce strokes is practicing pitching and putting. Frustrating when you hit the ball all over the course, but if you chip close and 2 putt, you're going to reduce a lot of strokes. Those are also the easiest to get better at in my opinion.

[Patrick425]

lcbj68c have fun at the Masters! I have been lucky enough to go two times (both on Sundays). Was there for Mickleson's first win at Augusta (but had to leave early because we had to get to Atlanta to catch our plane). Then was there for Bubba's first win. I was standing on the opposite side of the fairway on the 10th hole when he hit that shot.

 

Just one tip - when you first get there, go to the main pro shop and buy a Master's folding chair. Then set it up at a location of your choosing (there is a clear pocket in the back for a business card or anything with your name on it). Each time we went we set our chairs up at the 16th hole. A lot of people do this. Then you can walk around enjoy the course, but you'll always have a seat to go to and watch the action (the course is a lot hillier than it looks on TV and you will want to take some breaks). This may not be as necessary on Thursday's but having a Masters folding chair is nice anyways and, if I remember correctly, they are reasonably priced. The only issue is having to deal with getting it on the plane (if you are flying).

[LouisEly]

Bought a pair of Adidas Adicross III (yes, III) on Overstock with 11% discount code for $52. Has anyone worn Adicross, and if so, are they good for walking the course? I've heard that spikeless shoes are a little more comfortable, but I also ordered up a 1/2 size so I could put my full-length orthotics in them.

 

I tried on the Climacools at Golfsmith but they seem really flimsy, not much support at all.

[lcbj68c]

lcbj68c...just one tip

 

Thanks Patrick for the tip. I have been collecting tips since winning the lottery last summer. I think I am resigned to getting to the gate about an hour before they open, going to directly to the merchandise tent, getting what I want and having them hold it all except for the chair. Depending upon the time, I will take the chair with me to #1 and see Arnie and Jack and Gary tee off and then head over and place my chair somewhere on Amen Corner. Then I plan to walk the course completely from back through front watching play. Then after lunch in the afternoon, go back to my chair and sit out the rest of the day just watching shots on Amen Corner, hopefully 12. I read that you can take pictures in front of Magnolia Lane, but I'm not sure how that is going to work...go back to the car and get camera/phone afterwards or ?? I have to at least have one picture somehow, but I'm not willing to lose all rights to winning the lottery in the future for getting kicked out.

[Patrick425]

The first time we went we parked in a neighborhood across the street from the course and close to Magnolia Lane. If you are set on taking a picture of Magnolia Lane (I did not attempt to do this, so I'm not sure how accessible it is or what kind of picture you will be able to take), that is where I would park. If you park in the main lot (where we parked the 2nd time we went), it's going to be a hike to go to Magnolia Lane and back to the car.

 

By the way...food on the course is very cheap. Like $2.50 or $3 for a sandwich and a beverage. The beverages come in nice plastic cups with the master's logo on them. I had a small stack that I took home with me.

[RobDeer 45]

Masters week! Discuss

[RobDeer 45]

Boy, Jordan just melted down there yesterday at the Masters. What a great finish to the tournament. I really can't believe that happened.

[Funketown]

Well, that's certainly documentation that even the best can be victim to the mental side of the game. I'd guess a 10 handicapper member at Augusta at least gets the drop-zone shot in the green area 75% - 90% of the time (it's what, 100 yards?) during a normal round. Just amazing to see that.

[brewcrewdue80]

Gotta say. Boring Masters overall. Spieths 1st rd, Willets final round. Scoring otherwise not there. Nobody was putting a 65/66 out there. And that left it dull. Tournament of Attrition.

[NeedMoreFans]

I am an ok golfer...several years ago, I could shoot in the low 80s, but now I play just a couple times a year and shoot in the mid-upper 90s. I really want to get back to shooting in the 80s consistently and am wondering how valuable a lesson would be to help me get there. Has anyone done a lesson and if so, what impact did it have on your game?

[RobDeer 45]

I think a lesson can really help you. Especially someone who won't try to give you a new swing, but just work with what you have and try to tweak it in the right direction. I've only done one lesson, but I really needed to adjust my outside in swing. I knew what I was doing but just couldn't figure out how to get it going in the right direction. The lesson helped a ton. Minor tweaks but got me to feel what I needed to do. Then you have to bang some balls at the range to make it stick. I would have loved to go back to the guy but we moved, so that wasn't an option. I'd imagine a follow up or two would be pretty nice. Of course the other way to lower your score quickly is just spending some time on the green putting and chipping!

[Patrick425]

Watching the U.S. Open. Wow. Delayed ruling until after the match on Dustin Johnson's putt. Seriously?!? It would be like if during the Super Bowl, the officials approached one of the teams during the 3rd quarter of a close game and said, "Hey, you know that touchdown that you guys got in the 2nd quarter..the one we ruled a completed pass, well, it may not have been completed and we are going to look at it further after the game and make a decision."

 

Just completely silly.

[RobDeer 45]

Yes the USGA really screwed that up. What a joke. Can't even imagine if that actually came in to play for the trophy. Glad DJ won - cool to see.