Unconventional golf milestones

[golf-noob-bruce]

So I've been working seriously on my swing for a little under two years and had my first experience today at the range of being offered unsolicited advice (why why why!?). I consider it a milestone seeing as I've probably just sucked so badly until now that people probably thought I was beyond help. What other unconventional milestones can I look forward to?

[Lihu]

So I've been working seriously on my swing for a little under two years and had my first experience today at the range of being offered unsolicited advice (why why why!?).

I consider it a milestone seeing as I've probably just sucked so badly until now that people probably thought I was beyond help.

What other unconventional milestones can I look forward to?

. . .because your swing is good enough for them to want to help you?

Just enjoy it.

[billchao]

There's always unsolicited advice on the course. Hitting into the hazard you didn't think was in play. Any single hole score greater than 10. Trying to advance the ball from the woods only to hit a tree and end up 40 yards farther back. And my personal favorite, declaring a lost ball because you couldn't find yours in the thick rough, only to discover later on the green that one of your playing partners accidentally played his approach with your ball. Said partner marks his (your) ball on the green, realizes it's your ball from your rather unique marking, places it in his pocket and putts with a different ball. Golf is fun :-D

[Judah Ben-Hur]

That right there is funny. I've been offered plenty of advice. Most was needed but I do get a kick out of someone who is basically in the same boat as me telling me how to shape the shot on this hole. I'm just trying to keep it real then they proceed to duck hook one in the woods on the very next stroke.

[vangator]

I was offered advice by who had a worse swing than Charles Barkley. Much worse. I wish I would have recorded it.

[onkey]

I have to admit to offering unsolicited advice on the practice range in the past.  But I only do it if I think someone is going to hurt themselves or someone else without the intervention.

Being readily recognized by the staff at multiple golf courses might be considered an "unconventional golf milestone".  As I have moved around quite a bit over the past 24 years and I like to play a variety of courses,  I always find it shocking how quickly I become a "regular" at any one of them.

[DrvFrShow]

I had a 13 on a hole once.... once.

I dunked two balls in the same water hazard on the same hole.... and skipped the third ball across and into the jungle on the other side - but it was on land so I played it. I wish I had that on camera. It was the par 3 I got the 13 on.

I hit a ball into a fairway bunker as did a woman in my foursome. There was a young tree about 10 yds outside the bunker between it and the hole. She hit a hybrid under the tree and made it onto the fairway up quite a ways. I saw how she did it and said to myself "I can do that no sweat." So I took my 19 degree hybrid and hit a shot following nearly the same trajectory except mine went a little more eastward and hit a branch and ricocheted out of bounds by about 6". I could see the ball and the OB markers. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu. If it had not gone out of bounds I had a great shot at the green. I dropped into the bunker, and hit a sand wedge shot out onto the fairway.

Next time I found the bunker I thought I'd be smart. It wasn't that big so I tried to hit a 9 iron over it. I hit a good solid shot except it caught one of the branches and got knocked out of bounds again. Sand wedge onto the fairway again. Lesson learned. Go straight to the wedge and just get out of the damned thing. If you're a professional you can hit a cut around the tree. If you're not you're screwed.

Someone with a terrible swing gave me advice at the driving range.

My swing has become a "committee project" between the pro I'm taking lessons from, the pro who taught him, and a couple of other pros there. I'm a regular there every day so it's like I can't get away with anything. "So and so saw you doing this. So and so saw you doing that. So here's what we're going to work on." I guess that's a milestone.

[MrFlipper]

There's shanking a chip on the putting green right before your round that hits some poor guy right on the ankle bone. How embarrassing!

Then I walk over to the tee. Guess who I'm playing with?

[MacDutch]

I once hit a reverse shank. That's when the ball (for a right handed players) goes left in the same way a normal shank goes to the right. And what about braking your 9 iron in the woods on a tree during a one player round trying to save your double bogey with a 0.00000001 percentage shot :~(

[golf-noob-bruce]

That right there is funny. I've been offered plenty of advice. Most was needed but I do get a kick out of someone who is basically in the same boat as me telling me how to shape the shot on this hole. I'm just trying to keep it real then they proceed to duck hook one in the woods on the very next stroke.

Ha ha. I managed to just smile and nod at the guy at the range while he was lecturing me about my "reverse pivot". Admittedly he did have a pretty good swing. But if something like you described happened to me at the course I don't think I would be able to keep my mouth shut.

[bkuehn1952]

What other unconventional milestones can I look forward to?

Interesting question, thanks.

1. First time you are playing with someone whom you consider to be quite a bit better at golf (and who also thinks the same) and you & he assume the first ball you reach is your drive - but it is his!

2. First time someone asks you for advice on golf

I could go on but others probably have better milestones to anticipate.

[Patch]

I remember a couple of 12s  in my golfing  journey. Both involved long carries over water.  There was hole at the Avi Resort (mojave golf course)  out side of Laughlin NV, where they cut the hole on a ridge that had <1'  down slope on two sides of the hole. I thought that was unconventional torture trying make a putt on that hole. Lots of golfers gave up, and walked away.

Self appointed range instructors are all over the place. I have offered advice from time to time, but only when asked.  Still, there is always the chance that some good advice can come from the strangest of individuals.

[golf-noob-bruce]

Interesting question, thanks. 1. First time you are playing with someone whom you consider to be quite a bit better at golf (and who also thinks the same) and you & he assume the first ball you reach is your drive - but it is his!

Oh man! That's gotta be a pretty awesome feeling.

[NJpatbee]

Even as an 18 HCP I will have the occasional day that I will play well and shoot in the mid-80's hitting most fairways and draining a couple of long putts.  I can remember the first time I had one of my "A+" game days and had been paired with a couple of guys in their upper teens that were fairly new to the game, could hit the ball a ton but usually into trouble, but were a couple of good kids.  After the first 4 holes of which I had parred 2 and bogeyed 2 one asked me "Are you the teaching pro at this course?".  For a moment I felt like Arnie, Jack, and Tiger rolled into one - no one had ever complimented my game that way.  I shot one of my best rounds ever (84) and told the kids to keep working on their game after the 18th.  Sitting by my fireplace smoking a good cigar and sipping a single malt afterwards all was right with the world.

The following week I shot a 98.

You will improve and on one day be the best player in your group, but golf has a way of hitting us over our heads with a dose of reality.  Do not get upset, because at some point you will have that banner day again.

[dfreuter415]

What other unconventional milestones can I look forward to?

I've seen this one a couple of times.

You get to the first tee and play with a couple of single digit handicappers. Somehow you are able to par the hole while they are making a bogie or worse.

At that point, they think you are a sandbagger!

[ghalfaire]

Unsolicited advice is usually worth what you pay for it.  But not always.  I did have a PGA pro approach me on the range once, and ask if I would like him to watch a few swings and comment for free.  I said OK and he did give me some good advice on my grip and a swing thought or two.  He, of course, also gave me his business card and said call if I would like to schedule any further lessons to call.  I think this is unusual however and advice from another double digit handicapper is probably not too useful.  But I always say thanks.

[vangator]

I played with a friend of mine who complained all round about pulling shots and pushing shots all the time. After a few beers (loosens the tongue), I tried to show him what was causing it and how to work on it. I beat him by at least 10-15 strokes. I could tell he wasn't interested. So I had another beer. :-)

[PJCdude]

A few weeks ago I actually had my first time being complimented on the range: I am super inconsistent with my driver, worst of all at the moment, I miss both ways (usually either a push or a duck hook) but once in awhile can hit a nice high draw. I moved the ball back in my stance the other day and was constantly hitting nice high draws landing well beyond the 200 yd marker (no markers further than that in this range. I was probably carrying 230-240ish which is good for me.) Some wise cracking old guy walks by and says "Hey kid, is that your SOFT shot? heh heh don't change ANYTHING in that swing!" First time I've ever gotten a compliment like that. Of course I tinker with my swing terribly and haven't had a day hitting the driver like that (on range or course) since.