klineka

A new (to me) rangefinder, went with a used model of the Precision Pro NX-10 with slope. Got it for about 1/3 of the price of a new one so looking forward to actually having a golf specific one as my previous one was a "hunting" one that didn't have pin lock and was easily 10+ years old and struggled greatly past 175yds.

Don't we all! Keep in mind that from 175-200 the average PGA Tour player only hits the green 56% of the time and their average strokes to hole out from 180yds off the tee is 3.05. So IMO your primary goal should be to never make a 5, be content with a 4, and be very pleased when you get a GIR and/or make a 3.

Do you have the opportunity to arrive earlier and warm your body up? When there isn't a driving range I like to spend a few extra minutes on chip/pitch shots, basically I try and his as far of chip/pitch shots as space allows to get my body moving as much as I can. A few swings with a longer club like 3 wood or driver to help loosen up (or an orange whip type device) could help as well. But then yes to echo what Bill said, I would probably hit a 200yd shot slightly choked down/partial swing for the first one of the day.

Gotcha, was just curious. Looks like a fun layout, glad you played well.

I had a couple that stuck out from my round yesterday. First one was my 3rd shot into a par 5. Had about 30yds left from pretty thick rough but a fine lie. Pin was tucked back left and there was a severe knoll/knob in the green so the only way to get the shot within like 20-30 feet was to carry the knob completely. Opened the face of my 58 and took pretty close to a full swing and carried it the entire way, bounced about a foot short of the hole and rolled to a couple inches for a tap in birdie. Probably the highest short game shot I've ever hit in a round. Second one was the 18th hole, After a 295yd drive I had 115 to a tucked front flag, wind was hard off the right, around 20-25mph. No wind I'm likely hitting a full 54 degree, but with the wind I decided to hit my 50 degree. I have a feel for a 120 shot with my 50 degree but not a 115 shot so I just opened my stance a bit and played a "cut" 120 shot to hold it against the wind and figured that'd take a couple yards off. I executed it exactly as I intended, started right at the flag and could see it cutting but getting held by the wind and it dropped down right next to the hole leaving myself 3 feet for birdie. The clubhouse and porch overlook the 18th and that shot got multiple claps and whistles from people who were out on the patio watching. Made the putt too for a nice way to end the round.

Is that picture from your tee box or the front two tee boxes?

I'd agree that 4w seems like the right play here. I'm not a course designer or anything but that hole looks like it could be so much more fun if everyone played from those front 2 tee boxes that are right outside your shot cone and they cut down most of the trees down that left side of the fairway. That would give risk reward to long hitters who want to try and push it up to that left fairway, allow more players to reach that second fairway, and still allowing it to be perfectly playable for someone who only hits driver like 150yds off the tee. Yeah it looks like 4iron aimed at that inside edge of the right bunker is the play there, especially if you don't expect a 20mph tailwind again. If it is down wind again, 5iron would be just fine too, it'd still get you inside 150yds for your approach. Keep in mind tee marker locations too, you measured that one from the back so if those tee markers are moved all the way towards the front of that box then 5 iron is probably best just to be sure that right bunker is never in play.

I might be wrong but it makes sense in my head... Not sure anyone wants to agree with what goes on in there though

Since it sounds like your misses with driver are still generally in play, hitting irons off the tee frequently and laying up to a specific wedge are strategy mistakes and are almost certainly costing you strokes over the long run.

He's not a 16 though, he's a vanity 16. That most likely means he's at least a 20 if not higher. Having to putt out every 3-4 footer and actually taking stroke and distance rather than just a drop for a single penalty stroke on OB can turn a vanity 16 into a true 23 or 24 real quick. It's also possible that the vanity 16 is only a slight vanity and he's actually an 18 or something, but my bet is that the vanity 16 is actually a 20+.

Based on your post in a different thread you should be able to just about get from a 20 to a 15 by working on your putts inside 2 feet, right? Sounds like this should be your #1 focus in the short term while working on chipping and driving over the mid/long term.

Maybe it's the Indian not the arrow?

Glad you have the more important problem listed first 🤣

Gotcha. Still surprised those were that slow too, those are usually some of the quicker/nicer maintained greens of the public courses I play.

At Bent Tree, right? I'm surprised the greens were that slow. I played right around the corner at Northstar and their greens were normal speed. Slightly soft/receptive but not overly so and not slow or shaggy by any means.