Jump to content
Subscribe to the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Note: This thread is 5820 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Posted
A tale of brutally embarrassing inefficiency. Or, at least, it would be were I still in possession of any sense of shame whatsoever.

After a month or so hacking at balls on the range, I'd been wanting to finally get on a course. Scheduling conflicts made it difficult for a while, but I finally managed to get out on what is apparently one of the least-maintained courses in San Antonio. First time I've ever seen a fairway composed primarily of hard pan dirt and gravel. It's somewhat understandable, as we're in the middle of a pretty hideous drought, but... whoah. On one downhill shot I got about 200 yards of roll with a short iron. S'like playing on pavement, hah!

I shot a 66. No mulligans, no cheats, no rehits (Unless I skivved it off out of bounds and had to eat a stroke+distance), just straight up letting the suck all hang out to see what I'm starting with. 31 over par for 9 holes. *laugh*

Had a huge improvement once I gave up on my woods and hybrids. I can't hit them consistently. I was +16 for the first three holes, then started taking the 5 iron off the tee and went +15 for the next six holes.

I hate my putter. Obviously, that level of ineptitude can't be blamed on a club, but I quickly learned that I have zero feel for the thing. The balance feels wrong, the angle feels wrong for my putting stroke, and it's at least two inches too long. That's the first club that's going to be flung into the woods, I can feel it now.

Couple promising shots to fuel the addiction: Stuck my first GIR from about 120 yards with a 9 iron, 10 feet from the hole. Actually landed on the green, rather than my usual skittering roll-up thin shots. Elated and inspired, I proceeded to 4-putt.

Chipping was less horrible than I expected it would be. Spending hours on only chips paid off somewhat. Now it's time to get a putter that fits and stick myself on the practice green and putt 'til my fingers bleed.

Currently in my bag:  Under Revision


Posted
Nothing to be ashamed of with that round. The first round is always the hardest, and especially if you're playing on such a poorly maintained course.

But now that you've gone to the course, you should try to find the time to go on a regular basis. For a beginning golfer, there are so many things you can't learn at the range.

Kudos on going out there and playing a decent round. I know many people who did much, much worse their first time out.

In my bag:
'07 Burner (10.5*) Driver
Unknown model 3 & 5 Woods (next to get replaced)
Rescue (21*) Hybrid
Di7 4i-GW 56/08 Oil Can Wedge Rossa Blade Putter NXT Tour Balls


Posted
Don't feel so bad. Last time I was out my neighbor and I went to an exec course for the first time, I was 39 over par. I think I shot a 93 on a par 54... it was sucktastic. Our excuse, besides that we suck, is we were rushed. We walked up to the pro shop, they starter yelled asking our names, then told us to go pay as we were up and he was waiting. We weren't even late. We were all alone for the first 9, then as we made the turn, we had like 4 twosomes stack up behind us, and they were getting pretty antsy.

A Work in Progress:

Bag: Physics Stand Bag (ebay dirt cheap special)
Driver: Knight GTi Tour 285 10*
3 Wood: r7 ST 15*5 Wood: "The Perfect Club" 21* rescueHybrids: None... yetIrons: Burner Super Steel 3-9Wedges: Burner Super Steel PW, AW, SWPutter: BlackJack 206Ball: NXT or ProV-1 (used)


Posted
Oh, I don't feel bad about it... Was somewhere around what I expected, except for the craptastic putting. The twosome behind me was rather encouraging... inasmuch as they were damn near hitting me two fairways over. *laugh*

If my putting was halfway decent, I could've had a couple pars and many bogeys.

The lousy course maintenance probably HELPED my distance overall, but was horrible for control. Ball was nowhere near where I expected it to end up on iron shots.

Currently in my bag:  Under Revision


Posted
Well done, and better than my first regulation 9 (68) a few weeks ago. You'll make quick progress... I'm down to a 54 my last time out. Getting rid of the total blow-up holes (I once made a 15, without any penalties!) helps get your score down quite a bit.

It just gets harder and harder to shave off strokes as you go lower.

Posted
Was it the Alamo golf club? I played there once this summer and man was it in bad shape. It's also the shortest par 70 course I have ever seen. San Antonio has some good courses (that are in good shape even in this drought) for relatively cheap. I'd recommend trying someplace else out that has some grass for you to hit off of! Keep playing and you'll be hooked.

Posted
the first time I played 9 holes it was a struggle to break 100. at the same course I shot a 43 last week. Keep practicing, and take a few lessons and read Hogans book. I truely believe with practice, dedication, and any athletic ability, the average golfer can break 90 in a relatively short amount of time.

In my bag:

some golf clubs

a few golf balls

a bag of tee's some already broken the rest soon to be

a snickers wrapper (if you have seen me play, you would know you are not going anywhere for a while)

and an empty bottle of water


Posted
Haha, everybody's horrible when they start, thats just the way it is. It's funny the way those shots like your GIR can mess with you. One shot can make all the previous frustration go away, if only for a moment, and all of a sudden your hooked. Your on the right track to work on the putting, nobody scores without that club working (look at tiger for example). Keep playing as much as you can as well. You'll learn more playing real golf even on a garbage course than you will on the range. When you don't have time to play, work on your woods and hybrids on the range, they'll help you a lot once you learn how to hit em.

Playing regularly again after a few years off. Started playing in 1999.
Whats in the bag?
Driver: R7 425 9.5*, Reax 65 shaft
3 Wood: V Steel 13* tour-spoon, M.A.S.^2 shaft
Hybrid: Rescue TP 19*, Dynamic Gold shaft Irons: DCI 762 (4-PW), Dynamic Gold shaftsWedges: Watson VI, 52.08, 56.14,...


Posted

I have logged many rounds in the last three years, including a 63 on nine as recently as late Mayof this year. IMO, you are ahead, based on your score, but more based on how you are already analyzing your game and playing by the rules.

BTW, I really liked this line:
  Travtex said:
just straight up letting the suck all hang out to see what I'm starting with.

You will only get better by playing. Good luck and have fun.

Launcher 2009 10.5º, S
Rescue Dual 16º
Rescue Dual 19º
Maltby MTF 4-pw, Rifle 5.5
Maltby M-Series 52.6, 58.8 2008 AnserOut of the bag: Big Bertha Fusion 15º, YS6+ R (for sale or trade)


Posted
  senorbueno said:
Was it the Alamo golf club? I played there once this summer and man was it in bad shape. It's also the shortest par 70 course I have ever seen. San Antonio has some good courses (that are in good shape even in this drought) for relatively cheap. I'd recommend trying someplace else out that has some grass for you to hit off of! Keep playing and you'll be hooked.

Yeah, it was over at Alamo. Looked like it hadn't seen grass in many seasons, heh. Looks like I'm going to start playing Silverhorn. Felt like the rock and dirt fairway was going to destroy my clubs in short order.

Currently in my bag:  Under Revision


Note: This thread is 5820 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    TourStriker
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • Is anyone going to be there?  I won a couple tickets for Saturday.  Likely spend a half day walking and watching. 
    • Day 298 - 2025-07-25 Got some work in after a lesson at Whispering Woods. I hit one SPICY shot during the lesson, too, ha ha.
    • They need to mark it or declare it as such. Even just a thing on the back of the scorecard would do.
    • There are utilities buried along there. I did talk to the one of the course owners today and he said it was OB. When I mentioned "the committee" (USGA and R&A terminology) it didn't seem to register with him.
    • Have played 3 serts of 18 holes since Monday and last night added 6 holes but had to quit because it got dark on us.    My last time I shot a 56 on the front nine with 16 puts. I shot a 57 with 16 puts on the back 9.  I am ordering a 60* Pure Spin Wedge this Tuesday that I found on Ebay.  I am having trouble controlling my drives, but a lot of it is being nervous and still just starting to relax a little.  I am planning on playing Men's Senior this coming Tuesday.  It is definitely an adventure but so far it has been worth it.  My back pain (lower) is gone, and my leg cramps are almosrt gone.  My putting is improving.  Okay, Golfers: As of this morning, starting on January 1, 2025: Steps = 1,035,587 ; MIles = 472.14 ; Stairs = 1, 664 Not bad for a 78 year old golfer that is 5'10"and 150 pounds.  I will quit bragging for now and say a big "Thank You" for all your encouragement.  Will play a little more over the next few weeks and see if I can lower the score.  I even have a book: "Lowest Score Wins" by Erik J. Barzeski & David Wedzik; I think I have seen some strategies somewhere inside. 😄   Thanks,  Retired Old Man, Terry       
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...