Golf 2021

[RobDeer 45]

How about that win by Phil yesterday. I can't believe he pulled it off. Pretty crazy scene and a fun tournament to watch. Wish it got a little harrier down the stretch but either way it was fun. Not quite as exciting as Tiger's last win at the Masters, but it was up there for me.

[homer]

That crowd was nuts and not in a good way. Since when do they allow people on the fairway as the golfer is approaching the green? He looked like Danny Noonan in Caddyshack.

[RobDeer 45]

That crowd was nuts and not in a good way. Since when do they allow people on the fairway as the golfer is approaching the green? He looked like Danny Noonan in Caddyshack.

 

Ha! Noonan. That is a great call and reference.

 

I don't think they were allowing it, they just rushed the 5 people holding a rope and there was nothing they could do.

[MrTPlush]

I’m don’t really watch golf, but for some reason I always get golf highlights on Facebook and watch them. Phil is by far my favorite guy to watch. Typically Sundays I am at family get together time and people tend to put on golf. It was cool to see when they tuned in that Phil was on top. Watched the last five or so holes.

 

I love watching the golf highlights on Facebook and I’m marginally liking it on TV. Now I just need to pick up some clubs and learn how to play.

[JohnBriggs12]

Amazing that he kept it together for four rounds on that tough course that beat up the guys you'd have expected to be there, like Rahm, Rory, and DJ. Helped that Koepka isn't yet in top form and Louie isn't a great closer though. Phil does feed off the fans better than anybody and that played a huge factor.

[nodakfan17]

It’s funny how a golfer can go from winning a major one week to missing the cut the next week. I’m sure Phil is not the first golfer to experience those highs and lows, but I can’t think of another sport with that kind of volatility … maybe a NASCAR race, I guess?

 

And Kudos to Phil for honoring his commitment to play in the Colonial. He could have easily withdrawn and taken a victory lap.

[LouisEly]

It’s funny how a golfer can go from winning a major one week to missing the cut the next week. I’m sure Phil is not the first golfer to experience those highs and lows, but I can’t think of another sport with that kind of volatility … maybe a NASCAR race, I guess?

 

And Kudos to Phil for honoring his commitment to play in the Colonial. He could have easily withdrawn and taken a victory lap.

The #1 in the world has missed the cut of the last two majors.

[LouisEly]

Should this be in the Other Sports thread?

 

John Rahm, who was leading the Memorial by 6 strokes after the third round, was forced to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test.

 

It is not known if he's vaccinated, but tour officials said that vaccinated players are not subject to the contact tracing that Rahm was after he was in close contact with a person who tested positive, suggesting that he is not vaccinated. If so, choosing to not get vaccinated may have just cost him $1.675M.

 

A tour spokesperson said that "slightly above 50%" of players are vaccinated.

[nodakfan17]

I didn’t realize that vaccination status impacted the frequency of a golfer’s testing. Either way, I feel bad for Rahm. At least this is an established pro with 5 PGA tour wins and not someone just on the cusp of breaking through. 6 stroke lead going into the final round? Ouch.

[RobDeer 45]

Ya maybe should have put that in the "other sports" thread, but wasn't sure.

 

Man what a tough break for Rahm. I agree, at least it wasn't his potential first win. I think he'll do fine but that must be tough to swallow.

[nodakfan17]

Nice win for Jon Rahm today.

 

I always root for guys who have been on tour for a while, but haven’t won a major championship. Now he can put that disappointment at the Memorial behind him forever.

[homer]

I finally bit the bullet and bought a new putter this year. The one I had been using for probably 15+ years I purchased at Play It Again Sports for 13.99 (it still has the price sticker on the shaft).

 

Holy cow what a difference. I am kicking myself for not spending a bit of money on this before given that it's the club you literally use on every hole. I didn't want to spend $400+ on a Scotty Cameron so I did research on best putters under $200. Cleveland Golf came out with a new line recently and that's what I went with and I couldn't be happier. I used to dread the 4 - 5 footers but now I'm very confident that I can knock those down which helps you be a bit more aggressive on the longer putts. If you are on the fence, I highly recommend upgrading to something else.

[OldHeidelberg]

That is interesting because a lot of the reason I don't play golf that much is I suck at it but I have been using the old clubs I inherited from my Dad. I always tee off with a 3 wood on longer holes because he didn't use a driver. I remember being at driving range and using a friends Big Bertha and what a difference that made. I do enjoy the game but it stresses me out not being any good so I stick to disc golf as it is more forgiving. Maybe an investment will work wonders for me too.

[homer]

That is interesting because a lot of the reason I don't play golf that much is I suck at it but I have been using the old clubs I inherited from my Dad. I always tee off with a 3 wood on longer holes because he didn't use a driver. I remember being at driving range and using a friends Big Bertha and what a difference that made. I do enjoy the game but it stresses me out not being any good so I stick to disc golf as it is more forgiving. Maybe an investment will work wonders for me too.

 

You might just want to try getting your old clubs re-gripped and see if that helps. A lot of people never think to do that but new grips can almost be like new clubs at a fraction of the cost.

[BillScottCanRake]

Buying new clubs won't make you better, but replacing older or otherwise ill-suited clubs with equipment more suited to you will help play to your true skill level. I am not a good golfer, but tweaking my equipment has limited my badness and made the game more enjoyable.

 

The two best purchase I made are my Sterling single length irons and getting fitted for my putter.

 

Having single length irons has helped my practice and simplified my iron play. Hitting my 5 iron is the same as my 7i iron or my wedge, so when I practice with an iron I am essentially practicing with 8 of my 14 clubs. My best shots, when I hit the center of the club, aren't any better, but I have eliminated 2-3 demoralizingly bad shots and replaced them with mediocre ones. Hitting less crap shots isn't the same as hitting more good shots, but it has still helped.

 

The other thing that helped was getting fit for my putter. I had always played a bladed putter of 35", and the putter that came out of my fitting is a 33.5" TaylorMade Spider. The shorter shaft put my eyes more over the ball, and the mallet head plus the alignment line have all helped me start the ball more online. I am putting better and holing more putts. A few weeks ago I found a Triple Track ball and used it on the last few holes of my round and holed two longer putts. I still am pretty bad at golf, but for three holes I felt like I couldn't miss a putt. It was really fun.

[brewcrewdue80]

Hadn't golfed in some time but I do work in the golf industry and can most certainly say you can not buy yourself a golf game. PXGs are terrible from my experience watching people hit them. Do want to say that I have a buddy who had himself essentially fitted and tuned in with the clubs he plays and swears it has helped his game tremendously. This coming from a below 6handicap closer to scratch now.

 

Putters are huge payoff when you find the right one. I'm a center shaft putter. Puts you over the ball more and flatter along the ground. Find a putter that "flows" when you stroke it. Always feel you are extending that putt down the line you have created. Lightweight handles give the club head to much weight and pulls. Lightweight club head with heavy handles become harder to release the putter down the line using the shoulder turn extension. Compensated with wrists and hands to release. Multiple moving body parts with different points of control results in far more inconsistency. Your Putting tip for 2021

[nodakfan17]

I haven’t golfed since I was a teenager, but I’d like to give it another try soon. My wife has even expressed interest in taking lessons as a family. Our son is 4. The ‘golf guys’ at work swear 4 is not to early to learn how to golf, but I think my son lacks the coordination to be successful and would become discouraged before he learns to enjoy himself. What’s a reasonable age to start golf lessons?

[homer]

I haven’t golfed since I was a teenager, but I’d like to give it another try soon. My wife has even expressed interest in taking lessons as a family. Our son is 4. The ‘golf guys’ at work swear 4 is not to early to learn how to golf, but I think my son lacks the coordination to be successful and would become discouraged before he learns to enjoy himself. What’s a reasonable age to start golf lessons?

 

I bet there's a course near you that offers group lessons for little ones. They probably have ideas and games that make it more about fun than accuracy and coordination.

[brewcrewdue80]

I haven’t golfed since I was a teenager, but I’d like to give it another try soon. My wife has even expressed interest in taking lessons as a family. Our son is 4. The ‘golf guys’ at work swear 4 is not to early to learn how to golf, but I think my son lacks the coordination to be successful and would become discouraged before he learns to enjoy himself. What’s a reasonable age to start golf lessons?

7-9 years old is reasonable for 9hole golfing. 10-13 Id progress them to 18holes. If they're good enough entering HS to play on golf team, you would buy them a real set of clubs to pursue that should they want.

[RobDeer 45]

I'd say start him now! Make it fun and easy for him. Start out with the driving range and or just putting together. I think a family or couples lesson would also be great for you and your wife. Just to give you a few tips and get you going in the right direction.

 

I'm very much a casual golfer but my oldest son who is now 8 is really in to it. He has been since he started walking, with his plastic set. He was doing some pretty crazy stuff at a young age, which at the time I thought was somewhat normal, but now seeing what my other two boys are doing as they grow up, it is nowhere near the oldest. So he just golfs with us now. I also have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and they both come golf with us too. The 5 year old, we set up where he can hit his tee shot close to the green and then he can chip and putt from there. When we get close to the green, we let the two year old hit his ball on the green and then putt (with is plastic clubs). It's a lot of fun. Let him help drive the cart, bring snacks, he will enjoy all the other stuff too. If he wants to take a hole off, or just putt, let him do that. Again, the more fun you have out there the more they will get in to it.

 

A cool thing my grandpa would always suggest to people we'd golf with that weren't as experienced was to always tee up your shots, even off the fairway. It makes it easier to hit and more fun for the golfer. Go for it, I don't think you'll regret picking up the sport!

[RobDeer 45]

I absolutely love The Open. Any early risers on here? I enjoy getting up early to tune in.

[homer]

I absolutely love The Open. Any early risers on here? I enjoy getting up early to tune in.

 

I wish I had made my Spieth prediction before he teed off.

[RobDeer 45]

I absolutely love The Open. Any early risers on here? I enjoy getting up early to tune in.

 

I wish I had made my Spieth prediction before he teed off.

 

I'll give it to you! Great start.

[nodakfan17]

I absolutely love The Open. Any early risers on here? I enjoy getting up early to tune in.

I’m ready to watch 30 minutes of golf uninterrupted until my family starts waking up at 6:30.

[homer]

Perfect conditions today particularly for an Open.