Shot a 34 yesterday...

[mdvaldosta]

...from the red tees (9 holes of course). Had 4 birdies and a double. Felt good, even if it was only 4750 yards thru 18. Something about driving par 4's with 3 woods and hitting 3 wood/9 iron into par 5's that reall get the juices flowing. That is all.

[Marinemike]

Hitting from the reds feels like stealing! What course were you on? The red at Kinderlou still play pretty long.

[bogeyhitter25]

Haha. That's still awesome. I should give that a try some time.

[shankapotamus]

This actually sounds like something fun to do when you start playing bad.

[Mathlete1123]

A couple years ago in a golf magazine I read they actually had a tip suggesting you move up to the reds. They said that it would give you more of a low scoring mentality that you would take with you back to the longer tees.

[Shindig]

  mdvaldosta said:

...from the red tees (9 holes of course). Had 4 birdies and a double. Felt good, even if it was only 4750 yards

Red tees at the course I'm going to play are 6200... but maybe I could play from them and get a lower scoring mentality, as was suggested elsewhere in this thread.

Still, well done.

[iWALK18]

the only full 18 I have played from reds I shot 78. It was so fun, i totally recommend it, especially if you are playing with a/some girl(s).

[iacas]

I've often recommended guys do this so that they can be comfortable shooting a good number. Maybe you'll have three birdie putts in a row or something - something you might not normally see - and then if you have those in a year from your regular tees you'll be better able to handle it.

In other words, guys sometimes have a fear of going low. Playing from the red tees can help.

Surprisingly, though, a lot of people won't play smart golf from the red tees, and will try to force things, and will end up shooting almost the same score as what they normally shoot.

[Kingfisher]

  iacas said:

Surprisingly, though, a lot of people won't play smart golf from the red tees, and will try to force things, and will end up shooting almost the same score as what they normally shoot.

Precisely! Even from the reds, the testosterone count will up and the big dog will be coming out on every par 4.

There'll be a bunch of threads started "I drove 6 par 4s today"

[NotAStick]

  Kingfisher said:

Precisely! Even from the reds, the testosterone count will up and the big dog will be coming out on every par 4.

It makes girls who drive it 300+ seem almost unfair.

Imagine hitting 300 yards AND getting to play the women's tees? I actually think I could compete on the LPGA tour. lol The average course on the LPGA tour is around 6300 yards. I average several under par on courses that short. In fact.. gah, I haven't played a course that short in several years. I average several under par on 6700 yard courses (ok, high altitude). That just makes it almost seem unfair for them to let Michelle Wie play out there.

[mdvaldosta]

  Marinemike said:

Hitting from the reds feels like stealing! What course were you on? The red at Kinderlou still play pretty long.

It was Stone Creek, I'm a member there. Kinderlou is a bit longer from all the tees. Been working real hard trying to get the 'cap down to a 5 by the end of the season. Had lots of fun playing the reds (actually golf got fun again, and less stressful) and am gonna do it from time to time just to post a low number and keep things fun (less like work).

[ChiChiIsMe]

  iacas said:

Surprisingly, though, a lot of people won't play smart golf from the red tees, and will try to force things, and will end up shooting almost the same score as what they normally shoot.

I finally played some smart golf on the back 9 yesterday. Watched my buddies all pull out driver on the 330yd 18. Almost pulled driver as well, but decided 2 hybrid would be the smarter play..... popped it right in the middle to a perfect wedge. Got my birdie because of smart play while all my buds were hitting outta trees!

[mdvaldosta]

Yea, I'm now only pulling driver on holes that are either very wide open - or when I need to in order to reach a par 4 with a mid iron, or a chance to hit a par 5 in two. I'd rather have an 8 iron in 4/5 times rather than a SW 3/5 and the other two in the trees.

[Kingfisher]

  ChiChiIsMe said:

I finally played some smart golf on the back 9 yesterday. Watched my buddies all pull out driver on the 330yd 18. Almost pulled driver as well, but decided 2 hybrid would be the smarter play..... popped it right in the middle to a perfect wedge. Got my birdie because of smart play while all my buds were hitting outta trees!

Good on you! This is smart golf and sadly, may of us (myself included) tend to forget about it from time to time.

Trying to nuke a driver down every hole is often not the best way to try and achieve the lowest possible score. For a 330y hole, the route you mention above is a safe bet, but hitting a couple of irons would be safer still - a couple of decent 7 irons and you're dancing. One day I may just try and leave the dogs at home and play a full round with irons. There'll be won't be many tee shots over 200yds, but I bet I hit a lot more greens and fairways in regulation.

[randall]

Some good comments in this thread. I don't really understand why people pull out driver on a 320 yard par 4. I see it every time I am out. OK great you hit it 270. Now you have a 50 yard shot into the green where if youd' have used a 3 wood you'd have a 100 yard shot into the green. I'd much rather have a full wedge shot than a chip any day!

[billysandy]

wow nice one, my friend plays off 7 and shot a 31 thru nine the other day - and in the middle of this UK heatwave!