What'd You Shoot Today?

[Awsi Dooger]

I shot 87 yesterday in brutal South Florida winds, the type of day I'll wish upon the pros at Doral in a couple of weeks.

My chipping and putting were actually improved. I dumped a Vokey 58 for a 54, and decided to open the face on a Hogan 56 for lob shots. That paid dividends, more what I've always done. But I struggle bigtime with drives into the wind. Seemed like every hole was into our face, and across to the right. It was incredible how many guys in groups behind us were playing from one fairway to their right, and at the far edge of that fairway or even the rough. It was a slicer's nightmare.

I'm not good enough or long enough for winds like that anymore. As a teenager I would have roped it and never noticed.

My Haig Ultra irons are producing a nice high draw but it starts too far left. I went from Apex 4 in Hogan Grinds to R flex in these irons, plus I lenghtened them, so the flex is softer that I'm accustomed to.

[RMD]

I was 5 over through 14 holes (not bad for my Index). On 15 I was middle of fairway/165 to pin. Finished DB, DB, DB, DB...85.

[thedoxology]

shot 86 on a 7000 yard course in 25+mph winds. it was a great ball striking day but due to a 2 month layoff I had no feel with my irons. I misclubbed at least 4 greens and missed a lot of short putts. Not a great round, but for the first time ever playing the course, under those conditions, not too surprising. Can't wait to play a course with normal wind conditions and shoot 75.

At one point I hit 8 iron 125 into the wind, 3 holes later, 195 downwind... it's usually my 160 club so it was a 30 yard wind give or take. Makes you appreciate guys that can play the stinger so well!

Keep practicing your short game all....

[McGolf-Doggie]

Mostly 3-iron into a 25-30 mph wind at the driving range.
Pushed most of them right.

And a few swings with the 5 iron at the end, which felt easy in comparison.

It was so darn windy I wasn;t going to go at first, but I figured it was a good day for a low-lofted club and why not face my nemesis, the 3-iron.

[JetFan1983]

I made my 2009 debut yesterday with a 103 at a pretty easy 6,000 yard course here in Jersey that I've played 12-15 times. Not bad considering the layoff from winter. I feel like I'm really improving and I think the days of me shooting 120+ are finally well behind me (thank god). It feels like I created a solid foundation for myself with all the studying and practicing I put in last summer.

This year I'd love to be in the high 80s consistently, and I think if I keep reading and working on my game, I should be well on my way by the end of the summer! Wish me luck!!

[dmc]

Ive played quite a bit so far this year, anytime the temps are over 40. But it was in the low 60's on Wedsnday and I shot my low round of the year. 73 with 5 birdie's. Ive been shooting 77 to 82 but my putter was hot that day.

[Big Padrigo]

Just finished playing, seriously windy, like 30 mph at times. I shot 41-47 for an 88. Actually pretty respectable. I had a couple of holes on the back 9 where my putting was affected by the wind and I had a couple of 3 putts. n nAlso had a tripple on the front 9, the other holes were pretty good. All in all not too bad.

[neudi]

I recently played Doral: Blue Monster from the tips and shot 78. What a course that is. The course is not difficult until you get to the 240 yard par 3's that are dead into the wind and you have to hit a long 3 wood to a peninsula of a green. What a golf course though. Just incredible.

[Jeepthrills]

We have had a pretty heavy Winter and I have not played since October, but today my son's 5th grade basketball team "shot" their way into next weeks championship game.

[Want2PlayMore]

I have a couple of high school friends that belong to Hallbrook CC. The wind chill was 24* and I shot a 104(normal for me). If was fun. I was able to make a few shot but my putting was pretty bad. Oh well. Snowing today and off to another track on Thursday. I am convinced that I can break 90. Putting will be the key for me.

[JonnyGolf]

Posted a 79 in 60 degree, rainy weather at a tournament today. I had a 2 (net 1) on a 375yd par 4, so I should make some money!

[iWALK18]

+2 over 7 holes.

Could have been much better because I hit 6/7 greens and missed some very make-able putts (6', 8', 5', 8' and 5').

[Golfer71]

Today I shot 86, smashing my previous personal best of 90..

Very happy and attribute my score to course management, didn't pick up a single penalty (usually I take 3-4) and have happily shaved a full stroke from my handicap! (20.4 to 19.1)

[beachbreak]

I shot 82 (41/41) today in WINDY Florida.

I might have broken 80 except I knew I was close and felt the pressure, 3 putting the last 2 greens.

PS - It made me realize the pressure the pros must feel when their playing well actually means something.

[Awsi Dooger]

Today was good, 78. I played in the same group as a guy who knew me 25+ years ago, so I probably concentrated more and felt pressure to play close to the same level as when we played often.

I also brainstormed to play without a glove, like my first 45 years on this planet.

Some tips during the match play were worthwhile and I incorporated them. You always get quite a bit of amateur-directed stuff from Johnny Miller, and Faldo/Azinger went that route several times also:

* Right shoulder moving toward the target (Faldo)

* Stand tall while chipping (Azinger)

* Grip the top of the club while chipping instead of choking down (Miller)

* Keep your right shoulder high while chipping (Faldo)

* Left heel off the ground to avoid loss of distance, if you're 45-50 or older (Miller)

Miller is incredibly sharp. That's exactly when I had noticeable loss of power and distance, a few years ago at 45. In particular, I can't believe how much of a difference there is between draw and fade yardage as I've approached 50. Power fades are for the young.

[flopdarock]

played 9 in the freezing cold
8 over 36 for a 44... which is usual
hit 4 fairways much better than recently
2 girs
18 putts
damn snowman and a triple kicked my ass... both on par 4's
lots of scrambling... i need more girs... grrrr

[jorruss]

Sunday the wind was blowing hard, about 20 to 30mph. It was a cross wind on most holes. I was 3 under and bogey free through 12, but missed a couple 4 footers for par after a few loose chips and dropped back to 1 under. Coming in, I made birdie on 16 and hit a great 3 hybrid from 235 in a heavy right to left wind to 15 feet on 18 and sank the putt for eagle and a 4 under 68!

[Awsi Dooger]

Today was pretty good again, 79. I'm not complaining about anything below 80 in these South Florida winds, even if I botched several birdie opportunities on par 5s today.

It was another slicer's nightmare cross wind. You should have seen the fairway immediately to the right of the driving range. Loaded with range balls, literally dozens.

I'm starting to believe more in reshafting. I prefer smaller headed drivers but in general they had shafts that were either OEM, or too stiff for me at this stage. I made some changes last week and today I had my longest drives in years on four specific holes, thanks to an old 225cc Steelhead III 9 degree driver at 44 inches, newly reshafted with a Fujikura Vista Pro R flex. Not obscene distances, but 265-282, which is great for me. My typical "good" drives are 250-255 in recent years with 460cc garbage that I can't get through.