Divot

Try calculating your putts per GIR. That will really tell you if it is your putting or short game that needs improvement.

I don't see the ball...I feel the ball or the contact.

I was playing 9 holes with my buddy and another couple of guys we were paired up with...I scored my first legit eagle and one of the guys that joined us wanted me to buy the group drinks. I was like "sorry pal".

From all of my experience in other sports...the best practice is game-like situations. Typically, you have to alternate shots with another fella on the course. So I like to pace myself by alternating my shots with other people at the range. It just helps pace my play and simulate on-course routine.

Having wasted years at the range hitting buckets...I have two routines: The first is similar to what others have mentioned...I pretend it is a hole. I drive, hit a second shot, and usually pitch/lob/etc. Sometimes it is a par 5, and I break out the 3-wood/hybrid, other times it is a short/long par 4 where I utilize my middle irons. Just depends. However, I always try to pace myself...hit a ball...step away...watch the guy next to me hit a ball, then I might hit my shot. Pace is important for my game. I like to think of it as simulation-time. The second is when I am trying to correct or add something to my game. Because I have been playing courses more recently, I have really concentrated on my shots inside 100 yards at the range. That means spending a lot of time hitting different shots with my pitch, sand, and lob wedge. I always find a target too. I don't care if it is brown section of grass or a tree in the distance.

I have played two Troon courses out here in AZ...Talking Stick and Estrella Golf Club. I like Troon courses, they seem challenging, and are nice for the green fee. I also like all the "small" stuff like complimentary range balls, water, snacks, and various do-dads. Shoot...we were on the course, it was 106*, and the cart girls brought us wet towels that smelled good. I was pleased.

Well..I excluded the car and our mortage as well. So we have zero-credit-card debt. In fact, we get paid to use our credit, about $600 a year. Basically, we researched various credit cards and we were able to find one that had great incentives to places we liek to shop. We put everything on our credit cards and barely use checks or ATM's. This tends to reduce bank fees. We pay off our card at the end of every month and carry and yearly average balance of $0. The great thing is that when our points get to a good level, we go shopping and it is fun because it rewards our spending habits. We have been able to buy some pricey items too. We have a small mortage (

I have a set of PING Eye2+ and I was thinking of having them refurbished since I live in Phoenix and will be moving soon. Anyone had this done? How did you like it?

Fair enough...thanks guys. I was most likely being too aggressive, try too hard to advance the ball toward the hole instead of just focusing on the getting back it into the fairway.

I live in AZ and most of the courses I play just do not have rough that is thick. I have learned to hit out of desert lies and tighter lies in general. This week, I flew back home and played a few rounds with my dad. Man, did I get worked from the rough! I was just not expecting it to hurt my scores the way it did...my approach shots and pitches were terrible. Anyt tips on playing from the rough?

If you are using Excel to track you game, I would suggest keeping your data column on drive length no matter the club, and ADD a column where the club type can be entered. That way, you can calculate averages for each club.

I shot an 89 yesterday. Course/Slope: 69.1/123 1 Birdie 6 Pars 6 Bogeys 4 Doubles 1 Quad (Blow up) Still shot under my average!

I have some cream that may make things more comfortable for you...

1. Wow...I guess Microsoft Excel has not made it's way into your pro shop yet. It would be a really simply process...Type of club/make/contact name/number...done. 2. Oh, do I loathe myself for the $20 I found and kept when I was 15 because I did not run it down to the police station. Please... You are not destitute if you keep a club as long as you have given the owner a reasonable chance of retrieving it. Frankly, I consider leaving my personal contact information very reasonable. 3. The appropriate person? You just told me your pro-shop will donate clubs if they are not claimed...how is that appropriate? If anything, I can assure the owner the club was stored and kept properly...not tossed in a bin of clubs. When I find something of value, I make a reasonable attempt to return it to it's owner, but I do not consider turning said item over to someone else reasonable in this case...I am simply "handing" off my responsibility. Frankly, I still believe some shops sell these clubs as used after awhile.

Your Handicap seems a bit out of sorts with scores that high...