What'd You Shoot Today?

[dantsteinman]

Well, it was sunny and 70 in Northern Cal yesterday so I played hooky and played golf. It was just too nice and hadn't played since Christmas Day. A little soggy from all the January rain so I played lift, clean, and place which always helps. I shot the second best round I've ever shot - 73 - on my home course (Palo Alto Muni). Unfortunately, my index went up because it bumped the best round I've ever shot - 71 - off my card. Oh well. I shouldn't have bogeyed two out of the last three holes.

[iacas]

Nice! I love how Palo Alto is considered "northern" California. The top 2/3 of the state are "northern" California!

[Mr_Slice]

I don't know what I shot today because I threw my scorecard into a lake, along with a handful of tees, a nickel I was using as a ball marker, a couple of balls and almost my 7-iron.

Needless to say I was not happy with my performance.

[iacas]

I don't know what I shot today because I threw my scorecard into a lake, along with a handful of tees, a nickel I was using as a ball marker, a couple of balls and almost my 7-iron.

You're just starting out, right Aaron? Have you considered one of those intro classes? Carey took one and it was pretty nice: $70 for 4 hours of lessons. There were three other students in her class.

Improvement at the beginning can come quite rapidly if you take a lesson or two. Plus, it sets you up to play better throughout your golfing career. You don't ingrain bad habits.

[Ben]

One over for nine, missed a 6 footer for par on 9. I hate putting in the near dark. 3-putted from uner 10 feet too, unfortunately I can't blame that one on the dark. Lipped out on a 15 footer for eagle on 7. I was pretty happy with that hole. 570 yard par 5. solid drive, ripped 3 wood.

[gas_can]

Played today at a short little 9 hole course called The Training Station . Shot a four under par 30 without any bogeys. I really had a nice gentle fade going today off the tee which let me really rip at the ball. It figures that when I'm driving the ball really well, it's on a day when I'm only playing 9! That's golf for you!

[braz]

...I was pretty happy to be playing at all.

It was last Sunday, and after a stressful month and a week of terribly cold weather, we finally got a break and my father-in-law and I hit our course for the back nine.

A couple of bogeys, a double and some other crap, and I think I had a par, too. Needless to say, the strained MCL changed my swing a bit, so I wasn't exactly keeping score.

[iacas]

Played today at a short little 9 hole course called

4-under? Sweet. You're on my team when we play our Golf Website Ryder Cup. Dunno what we'll call it...

[djhgolf]

Played today at a short little 9 hole course called

Nice Scoring!

You must have flushed those 690's, Nice looking course two for a lazy nine. Keep it going!!! Dan.

[The master]

I shot 36 for 9 today they closed the course after 9 due to pouring rain.

[gas_can]

Played the Highland course at Wildcat today. Early on I was really playing well. My driving, ball striking and putting were finally coming together. I even managed to drive the 5th green. I was rolling along and found myself at -3 through the front nine with no bogeys.

At the turn, I had to play behind a foursome for two holes before they finally waved me through but by then my rhythm was off and I fell apart.

I did hole two more birdies, but three more bogies, and a triple on the 15th killed my round. 73's still a respectable round, but considering I was on pace for the round of my life, I'm a little angry.

[iacas]

Played today with my new 680s and the 503.H. Played The Pit, a lovely Dan Maples here in North Carolina.

Shot 40/41=81. Had two 3" putts, one for birdie (including at the very fun #8). Hated #15 - a stupid par 5 with a green the size - I kid you not - of a trailer home kitchen. No run in the fairways, so me coming up 30 yards short on the last, a 520-yard par-5 with driver, 3W was nice. What wasn't nice was the hard kick right my pitch took. Two putts for par when I wanted birdie.

Hit some shitty shots. Hit some that I've never hit before (good ones). My knockdowns and 3/4 wedges were nowhere to be found and the early holes features a rather large cut. Such is golf for me when I don't get a chance to hit some practice balls and loosen up - were were rushed to the tee.

The back nine was hampered by my limping. The review you see on the site for Bite right now? Here's the early version: don't buy . The toe crease fell right across my pinkie toe, smashing them with every step. I think, trying to avoid smashing them more on the back I started walking funny and tonight find myself with two very large blisters.

The irons were solid and I hit some awesome shots with the 503.H. I carved a 4I with a nice draw on one hole and hit some good shots in other places. Absolutely no roll and had some terrible lies today, both in the dormant and soggy stuff as well as in the fairway. Jay played winter rules, but I never really wanted to. The greens were, well, I just don't think some of them were entirely fair, and I'm a guy that likes a sloped green.

Drove the ball well, made a birdie, and demonstrated some early-season feel. Course rating/slope is 69.9/123. Played about 6800 yards today what with the zero roll.

[djhgolf]

Eric,

What are your early thoughts of your new 680's!!!

Dan.

[Rafcin]

[...]Absolutely no roll and had some terrible lies today, both in the dormant and soggy stuff as well as in the fairway. [...]

Erik ? you stink. This morning I had to shovel fresh 10" of snow off my driveway. It was the 5th time in last 2 months. My back is killing me. There will be no golf for at least a month around here - and you're crying about "terrible lies" ?!?!?!?!

If you looking for somebody to feel bad for you - look the other way But seriously - good for you. I'm just jeleaous. Go get the Nike SP6, trust me - you won't be disappointed

[gas_can]

But seriously - good for you. I'm just jeleaous. Go get the Nike SP6, trust me - you won't be disappointed

Not to thread jack, but I'll second the SP-6 reccomendation for sure!

[iacas]

Eric,

I don't know who Eric is, but I've got some 680s so I'll answer...

Very solid. Surprisingly forgiving for shots that miss the sweet spot just a little. Workable - I played an intentional cut on the first hole that came off well and I played a great draw that worked nicely. Today we're headed out to Tobacco Road and I'll be playing the Bridgestone B330. Any idea what caddies on the PGA Tour use to keep grooves dead clean? I have a brush and it kinda works... It's a big octagonal one that's on my towel. About 2-3" across. Kinda tough to really get in and scrub.

[mediaguru]

I have a brass or metal brush & wet towel. I always make sure my clubs are clean before I hit.

[iacas]

Shot 78 or 79 at Tobacco Road today, one of the most overrated courses I've ever played. 78 or 79 because it depends on whether I would have made a 3-footer on one hole where we were trying to pick up the pace a bit.

I also took another ball off the first tee (which I normally hate doing, but ugh, it was cold and I was tense) and another when a playing partner shouted something during my swing. For about the fifth time that day.

Tobacco Road, or "The Road," is flash and glamour that relies on severe trickery and six or seven blind approach shots from the fairway. I don't mind the many blind tee shots - the fairways are 80 yards wide most of the time - but blind approaches bug me. One or two a round, fine. As many as this course has, well, it's just circus trickery.

Play the course a time or two and you know where to put your tee shots. Play it a fifth and sixth time and you have an idea where you want to come in for your approach and land the ball. But Tobacco Road relies on the fact that it has no membership and players of the "travelling" nature play it once or twice a year. That's how it's "tough." It's pure target golf, except far too many times per round you really have no idea where the target is.

Tomorrow is Mid-Pines. My play's continued to improve after my winter layoff, and the 680s got a bit of a workout today, as did the B330s. Both are solid - I may have to play the B330s after I run out V1xs.

Hopefully it won't rain today.

BTW, I recommend playing Tobacco Road once. Once. I called it the Britney Spears of golf (all show, no substance) earlier today, but further consideration tells me that's not very accurate. I'll change that... You see, Britney has been done before (I don't mean it that way). Tobacco Road is, if nothing else, something you're likely never to have seen before, and likely something you may never see again. But that alone doesn't make it a good test of golf.

And perhaps that's where I and my playing partner are different. I look for a good test of golf - one that asks for a shot and rewards those who pull it off, while increasingly penalizing those who don't.

The Road has good risk/reward holes (good). The par 3s are all seemingly the same length (and only one over 150, IIRC - bad). The fairways are wide and the conditioning was great for the time of year (good). Pace of play was bad - a real big downside to all the blind shots. 5 hours in a cart with relatively close green-to-tee distances (only 3 took more than ten seconds in a cart).

I realize I'm going against the grain here with my opinion on the course. Everyone and their brother has jizzed their pants over teh course - including the playing partner - but I just didn't care for it. Play it once, then go play something else (Pinehurst #2?) to death.