Dear angry man at the range

[golfro]

I started playing golf a couple of years ago and within 6 months was very fortunate to get a near new set of TM R7 TP's. Shortly afterwards I got a new TM R7 stand-bag. Now if you saw me at the range or on the course, what would you think I played off? I feel lucky to have these clubs that should last a golfing lifetime if I look after them, thats why I use headcovers when transporting them and a rain-hood when the need arises (fairly often here in soggy Wales). Assumption is a terrible trait, at least speak to the guy before jumping to conclusions.

I didn't need to talk to him. His behavior said it all. Enough for me to make any kind of conclusions.

[Bigtank]

I think you get those guys in every sport. I am also an avid Fly Fisherman, and the same debate goes on there of guys new to the sport that go out and buy $700 Sage (That is a name brand for the non fly fisherman) fly rod, and look like they stepped out of an Orvis catalog.

Or in lawn darts, you have....well not so much in Lawn Darts?

[alomar123]

How many majors did Mizuno, Titleist, and Callaway win since 2008 - combined. Is it more than Nike or Taylor Made? I didn't do a search, but you seem to know all the answers.

http://www.titleist.com/players/equipment_counts.asp ' Here is a link from titleist showing they are in first in every category except, driver, woods, and hybrids. But, tour wins means nothing on how good the equipment is. Tmade and Nike just throw millions at players just like everyone hoping their talent makes them look better.

[Stretch]

Or in lawn darts, you have....well not so much in Lawn Darts?

Pfft! All the best darters use forged projectiles. You can't beat the buttery soft sensation of the point sliding through your instep and nailing your foot to the turf.

[golfro]

I think you get those guys in every sport. I am also an avid Fly Fisherman, and the same debate goes on there of guys new to the sport that go out and buy $700 Sage (That is a name brand for the non fly fisherman) fly rod, and look like they stepped out of an Orvis catalog.

Nice, I'm a avid fly fisherman myself (spey fisherman actually) and I help out with a free clinic during the winter months on spey casting with Mike Kinney out on the Skykomish.

Every weekend we get those guys who walk down in Simms G3 waders and Sage ZAxis spey rods... they just dropped over $3,000 on gear and they get frustrated and angry that they can't cast it past 20 ft. :)

[sean_miller]

http://www.titleist.com/players/equipment_counts.asp

That's just a sound business plan. Sort of like the way the print and TV ads Titleist puts out brainwash high handicappers into buying Pro V1s.

Personally, if you offered me a set of brand new TM irons to replace my 20 year old blades, I'd turn down that offer. Now if they wrote me a nice cheque to go along with the irons, I'd be wearing the visor and shirt starting tomorrow.

[Shanks A Million]

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this thread. The point wasn't about using all equipment from some brand, or even wearing all their clothes. The idea was someone who has all clubs from a brand, all clothes from that brand, a matching hat, glove, balls, etc, and a staff bag, AND can't even hit a ball solidly !

If you're a +2 handicap, and you have the matching outfit, clubs and staff bag, who cares? If you're an absolute beginner, who can't even get the ball airborne, then it's just asinine. If you have the game, it doesn't matter what you wear, or what you play, but if you can't even hit a pitching wedge, yet you've spent a fortune on equipment, you're an idiot.

So here's the gist:

All matching clubs, matching clothes & staff bag + no skill whatsoever + attitude = poser

If any one of those things is missing, you're not a poser.

[Bigtank]

Golfro, Spey fishing is an art I have yet to even really attempt..........it is intimidating to say the least. I'm a smaller river guy, really small for you spey guys. 6 weight 9 footer is as big as I go, well without a Tarpon on the other end!!!

you tie your own flies??? Those are some big bugs

[2bGood]

I know this is off topic to the OP but since it was brought up...

I notice this allot, I have three "outfit types" full on suit and tie I wear to work, golf clothes, and flip flops and ratty clothes. I dress very well for work, and when I go anywhere I get great service, I show up on the weekend and not a look.

[Judah Ben-Hur]

People worry too much about "the other" guy and what he's wearing, what he drove in with, the young hottie by his side, or how he swings, hits or mishits. Too me, it sounds like a bunch of teenage girls and all the crap they do to one another.

For the record girls , I have the following but haven't been offered a contract..... yet. I'm thinking the delay is because of the off brands that I'm sportin'.
Maxfli C3 driver, woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, pudder /emoticons/blush.png" title="Blush"/>
Maxfli cart & bag, stand bag, that one bag even matches the clubs color. The legs that fold out even look like the shafts on the driver. Who would think of such a thing? I had to get the Maxfli balls to go with the off brands that I got earlier. Pretty cool for a Maxfli guy.

I hosed it up really bad by getting 2 Top Flite gloves because they were $.60 a piece. I seen some Maxfli gloves yesterday but the $12 price took me back some. If they only were $11.40 cheaper they would have been in the bag. I did pick up a bunch of Walter Hagen pants, Top Flite, and Nike shirts. I got some Foot Joys to prance around on. I have no idea who made the golf socks. Did I just say golf socks? I searched high and low for a Maxfli hat (probably sold them all the first day ) but couldn't find any. I picked out a black Callaway and a white Titlelist. What's up with that?

If this thread would have been around a couple of weeks ago, everything would have been the same right down to the skivvies.

[Bigtank]

Yea, I love my Titleist underwear...now my wife's car has the "I'd rather be driving a Titleist" bumper sticker....

[Shanks A Million]

People worry too much about "the other" guy and what he's wearing, what he drove in with, the young hottie by his side, or how he swings, hits or mishits. Too me, it sounds like a bunch of teenage girls and all the crap they do to one another.

You're still missing the point by an appreciable margin. We're talking about guys who buy the

most expensive , and newest clubs, bag, and clothes. If a guy comes in with a full set of Maxfli and can't hit the ball, so what? The point that's funny is, this guy spent several thousand dollars on all top quality Taylormade gear to look good, and yet he can barely hit it. He had the clubs, clothes and bag to impress people, how much more clearly can we put that? Many of you guys may not play at golf courses populated enough to get these guys. They take up the game, and they go out and buy all the most new, expensive, flashy gear, dress like they're under contract by that brand, and proceed to hack away at the ball like a moron. Tour pros dress like they do because they get paid. That's like going wearing a McDonalds uniform and a drive thru headset because you admire the people who work at your local McDonalds. They dress like that because they're paid to. It's called posing, and it's something people look down on. Posing is merely the idea that someone believes they can go and buy thier way into something others have earned.

[Easy]

People worry too much about "the other" guy and what he's wearing, what he drove in with, the young hottie by his side, or how he swings, hits or mishits. Too me, it sounds like a bunch of teenage girls and all the crap they do to one another.

+1 on what shanks said.

But yeah you're wearing maxfli dude, they're not of the same calibre. A couple of my mates are decked out in maxfli gear simply because they got one of those package deals at the golf shop. My bag and clubs are all tour specials I got for $300. Those package deals are great to start out with imo.

[bwdial]

We should thank guys like this though... it's guys like him that stock the used racks so we can all find bargains.

[golfro]

Golfro, Spey fishing is an art I have yet to even really attempt..........it is intimidating to say the least. I'm a smaller river guy, really small for you spey guys. 6 weight 9 footer is as big as I go, well without a Tarpon on the other end!!!

hey BigTank, definitely not as intimidating as most people think. Sure the rod is HUGEEE, mine being 13'7"! but casting technique wise, I actually find them to be easier than fly casting. I do a lot of both but I usually stick with the spey for those winter months fishing for steelhead out here in the PNW.

I do tie my own flies and its an addiction I can't stop. I have boxes now full of giant MOAL flies and intruders that range from 1 inch to 5 inches. I usually trade between my addiction to that to golfing between winter and summer :)

[Judah Ben-Hur]

You're still missing the point by an appreciable margin. We're talking about guys who buy the

But your missing the point. Maybe the guy - strike that, The guy doesn't give a crap what other golfers are doing or saying while he's hitting. He's learning so he hasn't got time to wonder what the blokes are thinking or saying behind his back. We all don't start out as pros and we all don't end up like them either. I've been around many sports and seen and heard "the talk". It is more comical listening to the gallery then watching the person learning. I think it comes down to letting their own shortcomings off the hook at the expense of someone new. It gets even more interesting when the so-called pros take their whack at it. You don't need to say anything to them after you just heard them razzing on some guy for doing the same thing. The internet gives them cover so its not like the old days. The correct thing to do would be to strike up a conversation that could possibly lead to lending your expertise to help the newcomer out.

+1 on what shanks said.

I'll get a lower loft club out next time because the Maxfli comments I made obviously flew way too far over your head.

[Shanks A Million]

But your missing the point. Maybe the guy - strike that, The guy doesn't give a crap what other golfers are doing or saying while he's hitting. He's learning so he hasn't got time to wonder what the blokes are thinking or saying behind his back. We all don't start out as pros and we all don't end up like them either. I've been around many sports and seen and heard "the talk". It is more comical listening to the gallery then watching the person learning. I think it comes down to letting their own shortcomings off the hook at the expense of someone new. It gets even more interesting when the so-called pros take their whack at it. You don't need to say anything to them after you just heard them razzing on some guy for doing the same thing. The internet gives them cover so its not like the old days. The correct thing to do would be to strike up a conversation that could possibly lead to lending your expertise to help the newcomer out.

You're

still missing the point. The guy was obviously trying to impress people with his matched stuff. I can't count the number of times I've seen guys on the range, just like this guy, staff bag with their name on it, and they can't even hit a shot. Who would, before they even learned to hit the ball solidly, go out and get all matching equipment and a staff bag? I learned to play on hand me downs, my father's clubs, garage sale clubs, and used clubs. Currently, both of my wedges, my irons, and my fairway wood were all bought used, as was my bag. My wedges and irons are absolutely covered with scratches, the chrome on the soles and the center of the faces is worn down, and the grips have marks where my fingers sit, but the clubs work, and they hit the ball, so why worry? My bag is a plain black stand bag with no logos, and my headcovers are plain old tan fuzzy things. Golfers are so obsessed with appearence, they get drivers with too little loft, too stiff of a shaft, and irons that are far too hard to hit. Why? My driver shaft has an "R" marked on it. It's an R shaft that came out particularly stiff, and it's been custom cut down to X. I could go and put an "X" over the "R", but who cares? Why should I care if my shaft says "R", "S", or "X"? It only matters that it works for me. If it said "L" or "Ladies" on it, would I care? No. You're never going to be a great golfer unless you learn to curb your ego. Week after week, the best golfers on the course are playing things that are comfortable with them. If you look at the best amatuer golfers where I practice, their bags are mismatched, old, worn down, and beaten up. They know they aren't being paid to play something, so they choose what they like and stick with it until it breaks.

[Judah Ben-Hur]

The only person he needs to impress is himself. If he hit one out of ten today, fine. If he makes it two out of ten tommorrow, he's making progress. He won't even take one thought if he was wearing all the gear or might have had the BVD's on.

The key is in your last two sentences. Their the best because they play a lot and their stuff gets worn. It doesn't have anything to do with the clothes that they wear. Give the TaylorMade guy some time and before you know it, he'll be on here telling what a great round he had with his beat up clubs against some Callaway dude with the polished clubs and decked to the hilt. Boy, that guy stunk!