submrnr729

Sorry, not sure why my post above got formatted the way it did and I cannot edit the format out for some reason...

The first one because I am big on first impressions, I always have been, most likely always will be. The staff and the pro shop set the tone for the experience of a first time golfer on any course. I may choose to avoid a course if the staff are particularly ornery or generally unpleasant. The second one for the obvious, it's the reason why we choose a course. The level of maintenance, layout, location, scenery, all play a role in the reputation that a course will develop. There's a reason why we will refer to some courses as a goat patch or a dog track as opposed to some that have awesome views and well-kept greens. I'm in Northeast Ohio as well, and I know joys of the first rounds of April golf. The weather up here is pretty goofy, could be 70 in the morning and 45 in the evening, especially in April. I like to take advantage as much as I can in the early part of the season. I've been very fortunate to play many courses throughout the US while stationed in other states, living in AZ for 10 years, and traveling with friends to play. While I enjoy all the courses I play (generally) I really love golf in NEO in the fall, the last week or so of September and first of October. The leaves are changing colors, the grass is a lush green, and the leaves are not on the ground yet.

My season is probably 50/50 partner(s)/solo; half playing rounds on a regular basis with customers and playing partners, and half playing at a local course by myself. I really enjoy the rounds that I play alone for some reason, surprising as I consider myself very extroverted (I am energized being around people). There is a course that on Thursdays and Fridays in the summer is generally pretty open around 3; I can get on the course ahead of the couples league that starts at 3:30 and finish and be home by 5:15 - 5:30 for dinner with the family. When I play a round by myself, I walk, and I think this is what I like the most about my solo rounds. There is no pressure to get the round in under 2 hours (for 9) and I take in more of the outdoors when I am out there walking the course. I'm not zipping around from shot to shot on a cart trying to get through the round. I am still respectful to the rules of golf, and will let others play through accordingly and as necessary. Or I will pass on playing through so that I can slow down a little more, I just make sure that my play is not negatively impacting anyone else's. When I play with customers or my usual partners we play at a good clip and finish our rounds in ~4 hours. But there is just something about the leisurely stroll on the course with my clubs on my back walking to the next shot. Love it.

I was supposed to be at the game on Saturday for a class reunion but wasn't able to make it. That would have been a heck of a halftime show to see live. Oddly enough none of the people from my class posted anything about the halftime show, just pictures of them drinking at the tailgate... Go Buckeyes!

I voted "Know the basic rules, but will not always follow them in a non-competitive round (i.e. drop a ball near where you think you lost your original when you did not hit a provisional)" but as I think about it more I am probably more closely aligned to "Know the basic rules and ALWAYS try to follow them as much as possible, but may make an occasional mistake or be uncertain as to a more obscure rule or decision." The reality is that I always do my best to play by the rules. From time to time I drop the ball where I thought it went OB (if I did not take a provisional) and the like, but that tends be at the hands of mob (foursome) rule and maintaining course speed.

I think I probably have 4 - 5 dozen onhand, 3 are Bridgestone e6, the rest are single sleeves left from previous boxes or giveaways at outings. On average I probably lose 1 - 2 balls a round to either the woods or water. As a high handicapper I felt as though ball make/model/type was less important than price. Over the past 3 years I have gravitated to sales that were buy 2 get 1 free, like the Nike Power Distance line. Then Callaway Warbirds, then Callaway Diablos. This year I thought I would try to focus on a ball that would work with my (ideally improving) swing and commit to it. So far I really like the e6. I prefer to play the same ball through a round so I keep a couple sleeves worth loose of what I am playing in my bag, a couple extra sleeves of the same, and then 1 or 2 back up sleeves, just in case. Probably more balls than I need to take with me, but after almost running out a couple of years ago on a trip with the fellas I tend to overstock my bag now. Unless I am walking, then I just take 6 balls with me.

Did you win the tele? I think my next guitar, hopefully in a couple of years, will be a tele. I currently have a Yamaha acoustic, a Kona hollow body, and a Dean electric. I related on all too many levels to the posts in this thread. I played guitar when I was in grade school but then did not touch a guitar for 25+ years. My wife got me a guitar for Christmas 3 years ago and since I have been playing around with different styles and makes. Golf seems to occupy my thoughts and time spring through summer and into fall (which takes me into coaching football and hunting), I seem to play guitar a lot more in the winter when there isn't much outside activity to detract me, but try to play once or twice a week so I don't lose too much of what I am trying to learn.

Like you, I see golf as a great instrument of business. Getting customers on a course for 4 - 6 hours, with lunch or dinner included, is a great way to discuss business in a much more focused (i.e. no distractions of email, calls, pop-ins at the office) while have a much more relaxed setting. It has been business opportunities in the recent 3 years that have brought me back to the sport. I started at 12 hitting balls in the backyard with my dad instructing me. My dad was a great golfer, consistently hitting low 80s with a few cracks into the 70s. A good instructor he was not, though he was doing his best to introduce me to the game. And, it worked. I fell in love with it pretty much right away, eventhough I was tremendously stressed when I would play with my dad. As good as he was, I was intimidated by his play and the way he would correct my play. But, when I got my license I was able to play with friends under more ideal conditions. I played for years but my play lapsed when I was in the navy, kind of hard to find a lot of opportunities play when you are underwater on a submarine. But when I got out I moved to Phoenix, AZ which is a Mecca for golfers. I played quite a bit when I first moved there and found I was improving, but then life caught up with me and I found myself focusing on my wife, later my first son, and a love of endurance training and racing in triathlon. I didn't play for several years, and had no real interest in playing. Until I was asked to play in a work outing, which was terrifying. I had been (still am, but improving) a habitual slicer, and was more than relieved when the event was canceled. But, the bug bit me again and I started to hit the range and found that I was falling in love with the sport all over again. I took my first lesson a few weeks ago and walked in with an HCI of ~23, typically shooting between 94 and 104 for 18. In one lesson I realized what I had been doing wrong, and how I had modified my swing to allow me to do those wrong things yet be somewhat productive on the course. In the time since my lesson I have tried to hit the range 2 - 3 times a week and play some local courses. When I connect with a proper swing I have added 20 - 30 yards to my clubs and I can't believe my eyes. When I miss, I seem to be at least be missing straight. All this adds up to the fact that like most golfers I struggle, get frustrated, want to do better, spend my time looking at golf info (clubs, articles, forums, equipment, etc.) in the hopes that I will get better. If you haven't yet, I would recommend a lesson or two, or three. I have personally realized that going to the range with the wrong swing will not make you better, only more committed to the wrong swing. I am scheduled for another lesson in 2 weeks, and looking forward to seeing if anything I learned in my last lesson has stuck.

I generally do not listen while either at the range or on the course, I find it can be difficult to concentrate with music going (I have had some cartners who throw on music between holes). The only exception I have had to date is a round that I walked by myself recently. It was hot, and I was alone on the course, the music kept me company between shots, but I killed the music when I was swinging.