Your Golf Game - The Uplifting Topic

[treebound]

Someone flipped on the winter switch here in my part of Wisconsin and it is snowing outside. The good news is that I’ve been able to make some additions and adjustments to the clubs in my bag. Fun to play around with different options in the winter months, sort and swap out options, sell or trade off old or not needed clubs and replace them with something else. I’m looking forward to hitting the range again and figuring out my new distances with these clubs currently in the bag.

[Patch]

For the past several months (60 rounds) I have been playing pretty good golf. Pretty good for me anyways. 

Like others, who keep a registered handicap, I enter my scores, course, and slope ratings into my home course's data base, who in turn, keeps my handicap updated. This being the handicap I would use when playing in their sanctioned tournaments. 

I signed up the other day to play in an upcoming tournament. While at the course this morning I looked up the schedule for my starting time, and if I knew the guy I would be sharing the cart with. 9am, hole #7. I did not recognize my partener's name. 

What really stood out was that my handicap had dropped considerably. So much in fact, I thought there was a mistake. I went to the guy in chatge of such things, to find out what was up. 

We spent about 20 minutes going over the data I had been entering from the different courses I had been playing.  He said everything looked good, and that my handicap was correct.  I took his word for it. 

I don't profess to know how all the different data plays out. Playing tougher, or easier courses I know has a lot to do with changes.  I also know the formula, but I have always just let the folks in charge of the math figure it out.  

I am quite pleased with my current game. I have been playing well, which in part, is because I have stayed injury free, and other wise healthy. 

The fact that a single digit handicap is "sort of, kind of maybe"  in reach is more than just a surprise.

However, I not going to do much of anything different. Just going to continue to play and practice as usual while letting my swing do it's thing. 

[DaveP043]

42 minutes ago, Patch said:

For the past several months (60 rounds) I have been playing pretty good golf. Pretty good for me anyways. 

Like others, who keep a registered handicap, I enter my scores, course, and slope ratings into my home course's data base, who in turn, keeps my handicap updated. This being the handicap I would use when playing in their sanctioned tournaments. 

I signed up the other day to play in an upcoming tournament. While at the course this morning I looked up the schedule for my starting time, and if I knew the guy I would be sharing the cart with. 9am, hole #7. I did not recognize my partener's name. 

What really stood out was that my handicap had dropped considerably. So much in fact, I thought there was a mistake. I went to the guy in chatge of such things, to find out what was up. 

We spent about 20 minutes going over the data I had been entering from the different courses I had been playing.  He said everything looked good, and that my handicap was correct.  I took his word for it. 

I don't profess to know how all the different data plays out. Playing tougher, or easier courses I know has a lot to do with changes.  I also know the formula, but I have always just let the folks in charge of the math figure it out.  

I am quite pleased with my current game. I have been playing well, which in part, is because I have stayed injury free, and other wise healthy. 

The fact that a single digit handicap is "sort of, kind of maybe"  in reach is more than just a surprise.

However, I not going to do much of anything different. Just going to continue to play and practice as usual while letting my swing do it's thing. 

Congratulations on your decreasing handicap!  It sounds like "business as usual" is working for you.  Sometimes good things happen when we're not specifically trying to achieve them.

[Lihu]

19 hours ago, Patch said:

For the past several months (60 rounds) I have been playing pretty good golf. Pretty good for me anyways. 

Like others, who keep a registered handicap, I enter my scores, course, and slope ratings into my home course's data base, who in turn, keeps my handicap updated. This being the handicap I would use when playing in their sanctioned tournaments. 

I signed up the other day to play in an upcoming tournament. While at the course this morning I looked up the schedule for my starting time, and if I knew the guy I would be sharing the cart with. 9am, hole #7. I did not recognize my partener's name. 

What really stood out was that my handicap had dropped considerably. So much in fact, I thought there was a mistake. I went to the guy in chatge of such things, to find out what was up. 

We spent about 20 minutes going over the data I had been entering from the different courses I had been playing.  He said everything looked good, and that my handicap was correct.  I took his word for it. 

I don't profess to know how all the different data plays out. Playing tougher, or easier courses I know has a lot to do with changes.  I also know the formula, but I have always just let the folks in charge of the math figure it out.  

I am quite pleased with my current game. I have been playing well, which in part, is because I have stayed injury free, and other wise healthy. 

The fact that a single digit handicap is "sort of, kind of maybe"  in reach is more than just a surprise.

However, I not going to do much of anything different. Just going to continue to play and practice as usual while letting my swing do it's thing. 

Congratulations! Playing well within yourself seems to be working for me as well, but to a lesser degree than you...

 

18 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Congratulations on your decreasing handicap!  It sounds like "business as usual" is working for you.  Sometimes good things happen when we're not specifically trying to achieve them.

Sometimes you can even see when people are trying too hard even swing by swing.

[Patch]

The other day I was playing, and my wife was with me . she was not playing, just driving the cart. 

I was playing with a couple of strangers, and was holding my own, score wise. My wife was watching, and keeping my score.

During our time together during this round, we talked vey little about golf. We spent the time discussing family stuff. Like any family, our family is going through some stuff, both good, and bad. Three family members, representing three generations are dealing with some serious medical issues. 

Occasionally she would tell me athat I hit a good shot. On other occassions she would look at me, and hold her nose, and laugh a little. On two shots, she was more specific calling me a "lucky shit". 

As I finished up on the 18th green, and was walking back to the cart, I noticed what appeared to be, my Special Lady wiping a  tear, or two from her eyes. 

I asked what the problem was. She told me it was nothing, that she was just remembering that just a few years ago, she and other experts believed that due to my poor physical health, that golf was not going to be a part my future.

The tears were there because she had finally seen, that I had truly beaten the odds. That my passion for the game had helped to make me healthier, beyond medical expectations. 

The fact that she had me down for a 78, and winning enough skins for a nice lunch together afterwards, was also a plus.

We all play this game for various reasons. We all have different styles of play. We all have different abilities. We all take away something different after a round of play. 

Me, I play to stay healthy, which is a "serious" enough reason for me. The fun part is just extra gravy. 

 

[Salem Golfer]

Me brag about something Ive done? Never!!!  Ok you talked me into it 

My best shot to date is Sep 8th at Santiam Golf Club...  13th hole, par 5 485yds.. I hit my driver 265 up hill (forgot it was set to 9.75 instead of the 7.75 I normally have it set to) It was 220 per the card to the green but the pin was set back another 5 yards. I hit my old 2007 Callaway Heavenwood 3 hybrid straight at the pin. I saw it hit the green bounce once and disappear. For a moment I thought it went off the back of the green but 225 is what I normally hit it. When I got to the green it was in the hole!! 

[billchao]

This is the first winter I've gone through while doing absolutely nothing golf-related. I think the break did me a lot of good, allowing me to recharge my batteries so to speak. I was getting kind of burnt out towards the end of last season and now I'm reinvigorated and ready for the new season.

Had my first practice session yesterday which was encouraging as I didn't lose anything that I was working on, which means I'll be able to move forward instead of having to fight to get back to where I was. Feeling pretty good about that.

[Patch]

I really like this topic/thread. I am surprised it doesn't get more use.

At any rate, yestetday Myself, and 7 other buddies played golf. We usually get together once a month, or at least we try too.

Although we kept scores, the scores were not important. All skins lost/won were spent on each other at the 19th. Just getting together, and swapping old stories, that we have swapped 100s of times before.  Some gamesmanship was brought up. Some thought so in so cheated with his foot wedge. Then they remember his feet are in better shape than his wedges.  Other's wondered how Jack made that 40' putt. That, and how did I miss that 3 footer. 

The point of this post is that I hope all the younger players on this forum will have the chance to grow old, with golf buddies of their own. This so they can enjoy all the accomplishments, or non accomplishments they lived through with those good friends. Having old, good friends is important as we all get older. Care home folks need visitors...lol

Some in our group go back as far as grade school. Other were picked up along the way. Different walks of life are well repped.  The fact that we all golf is a plus. Well some of us have game enough to be called golfing. Others, yeah, well they own their bag of clubs. $10 sets of Sam Snead signature clubs are well repped. 

When together, we all ride in carts. Some can't walk to far these days. We try to not hold up other golfers, while letting them play through as needed. Faster golfers do not know what real pressure is until they tee off with 8 old guys watching them.  When we catch others on the course we take short naps. This lets them get out of our shorter driver  ranges. 

After a round, we all finish our meet at the 19th hole. Food,  beverages and good times are had by all. The waitress is well compensated for putting up with us. Like the song says there are drinks for the living and the toasts to the dead. 

Yeah, grow old with golfing friendships. You will be glad you did. 

[CaddyCarl]

Me and my golf buddy played for the first time since late December. Got paired up with two strangers, walked off with two friends with plans to play together again next week. It's what it's all about...

[tehuti]

I got my first hole-in- one today. Par 3 first hole, Birch Hills GC.

 

[Salem Golfer]

 CONGRATS!!!!!! Im still waiting for mine 

[ChetlovesMer]

24 minutes ago, tehuti said:

I got my first hole-in- one today. Par 3 first hole, Birch Hills GC.

 

Congratulations!!!  

We want details, man! Distance, club choice, did it roll in, or one hop, how many witnesses (or how many beers did you end up buying)? Etc...

[tehuti]

It was the longest putt in history. 107 yards, 9 iron that I mishit but it rolled all the way to a back left pin placement. 4 witnesses, including my buddy who I was playing with!

[boogielicious]

5 hours ago, tehuti said:

It was the longest putt in history. 107 yards, 9 iron that I mishit but it rolled all the way to a back left pin placement. 4 witnesses, including my buddy who I was playing with!

[CaddyCarl]

Dude!!! 😎

[MarvChamp]

On 2/9/2019 at 12:44 PM, Patch said:

We all play this game for various reasons. We all have different styles of play. We all have different abilities. We all take away something different after a round of play. 

Me, I play to stay healthy, which is a "serious" enough reason for me. The fun part is just extra gravy. 

Thanks for this. Sometimes, I get into "something must be fixed!" mode and I get defeated. PLAY golf! Best, -Marv

[tehuti]

3 hours ago, boogielicious said:

That is exactly what I said too! 😂

[Let it Fly]

I've been taking pilates and yoga classes all Winter.  Since starting again at the range a few weeks ago, I haven't felt one bit of tightness/soreness...even swinging on back-to-back days.  Fingers crossed it continues that way, but I'm pumped to physically-feel the best I have in a few years!