Post your holiday goodies...

[PEZGolf]

I'll have to check that out, thanks. I am extremely interested in reading autobiographies. Especially those of the greats. I try to take [and relate to my game] as much from their words and experiences as I can.

I agree with you. To me, reading a good autobiography is better than a book on the mental side of golf. Seve was always one of my favorites, and I have a few books about him, and his instruction book, "Natural Golf". He amazed me when he lost his PGA card because he did not play enough tournaments to keep it. To prepare for the Masters, he came here and played in some mini-Tour events (on the Hogan Tour, I believe). He could be stubborn and hot-headed, and those characteristics made him appealing to me. He and Dean Beman did not get along at all. Even his walk, while very natural and athletic, had an intensity to it, like a panther preparing to pounce.

Here is one of my favorite stories about our all-time favorite, Payne Stewart, and Seve: In the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island (the "War By the Shore"), Payne and 'Zinger were playing Seve and Jose Maria. On one par 4, Payne popped his drive up, and he knew that he was the short hitter. As the group approached the first ball, Seve was marching past it to get to "his ball". Payne bent over the Titleist, and said out loud "Dunlop?", the name of Seve's brand. The Spanaird stopped dead in his tracks, and started back. At that point, Payne laughed and said, "Oops, so sorry. My eyes deceived me. It is a Titleist." That match was full of gamesmanship and tension, but not in a bad way. All four players were real competitors and doing whatever it took to win "for their country". As you may remember, the US won those matches.

[PEZGolf]

I'm starting this thread on my new HP G50-109NR Notebook. Hooray!

Here is another book that I recommend to you and others, since you did receive The Squire's "Thirty Years of Championship Golf": "Better Golf After Fifty" by Gene Sarazen, that came out in 1967 Most golf fans remember Mr. Sarazen for the following: 1. First player to complete a Professional Grand Slam by winning all four of the professional Majors. 2. Inventor of the sand wedge, which revoluntionized play from bunkers. 3. Only player that I know of who made a double eagle in the last 4 holes of a Major, that enabled him to go on and win. By the way, that was in 1935, at Augusta, and he hit his 4 wood second shot on #15 into the hole on the par 5. Bobby Jones did witness the shot. His 2 enabled him to tie Craig Wood, and the playoff was held on Monday, and Sarazen then won. By the way, Craig Wood, from Lake Placid, New York, was the first player to win the Masters and the US Open in the same year (1941), and was the first player (and may be the only one) to lose all 4 Majors in a playoff and finish in second place. 4. One of the hosts of the original "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf", with Jimmy Demaret. They were a great combination. Needless to say, Mr. Sarazen had a very complete game, and the book I listed above gives very helpful tips on all aspects of golf.

[Andro26]

I got $400 in Christmas cash and $100 Gift card to a golf shop in town. (A good portion came in early as my family lives all over and money filled cards are the order of the day) :)

Spent nearly 10 hours in every golf store and range in town trying to find out what I needed first and what I wanted second.

Everyone likes brand new clubs with the latest technology but you do not have to spend a ton of $ to get quality gear.

I traded my Nickent 3dx square for a used Ping G5 driver +$10

Traded my Adams redline 3,4, and 7woods in for Titleist 904F 15* and 19*
woods (with TTDG S300 steel shafts) +$20

Bought a used set of Titleist 690 CB forged irons (with TTDG S300 steel shafts) for $175

Traded my older used and abused Cleveland CG10 wedges for used but newer Titleist Vokey spin milled 52* and 56* (with TTDG S300 steel shafts)+$40

Bought a Ping Anser 3 putter 35" for $35

Traded a Odyssey white hot XG #2 putter and used my gift card +$50 to get a new Titleist 9" staff bag and get all my new to me clubs regipped (lamkin crossline and a Pingman for the putter)

In all I spent $330 and the $100 gift card and I got gear that was in perfect or near perfect playing conditon and a much better fit to my evolving game than my older stuff.

Had I refused to buy used I would have had trouble finding a set of new knock off clubs for that price. Times are tough save money for trips to the range and greens fees

[Ben]

Thanks again PEZgolf.

[PEZGolf]

Thanks again PEZgolf.

You are welcome. I always enjoy exchanging information with people like you who love golf, and want to read more than just golf magazines. It is an intriguing game, and the top Champions of the past and present are interesting people.