BigDog

What you need to realise is that in Australia we have a relatively small population for the physical size of our country and unfortunately golf is not at the top of the list for sponsors. The sponsors tend to throw their money at AFL and NRL (local football codes). The Aussie Masters is getting great TV coverage over here and the tournament is being played at an amazingly high level. With Badds, Appleby and Allenby all up there with the final round to come. If you can watch it, tune in and enjoy the scenery. Maybe if some of you guys over there were to come out and try our courses you'd realise the quality of courses and golfers this country produces. And we always welcome fellow golfers with open arms BigDog

Hopefully they are all trying to peak for the Open! BigDog

I have them all in my fantasy golf team named "go you anzacs", we are going along nicely thankyou very much. Hpefully one of the Aussies will get over the line and have a win. It does great things for the game when a local boy does good. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Oi, Oi, Oi!!! Big Dog An Aussie golfer and as proud as punch!!!

Being an Australian I am loving the Memorial at the moment, we are all over the leader board. All we need is for one of our boys to finish it off with a win. BigDog

If you are shooting around 80, you can't be chunking the ball too bad. I find I start to hit the ball a little fat if my hands aren't in the correct place during contact. BigDog

Not really playing that much....always from the guy whos out every day! BigDog

me too!!!! Midday tee off. Weather forcast is for rain - better head out and buy an umbrella in the morning. BigDog

Come one, come all. If you could have any driver on the market at the moment which one would it be? The Niike Sumo2 The new Taylor Made Burner or R7 Super Quad The Titleist 907 D1 or D2 The Callaway FTi Cleaveland HiBore XL Cobra Speed Ping Rapture I am sure there are many more pimped up drivers that I have left off the list. Be sure to add them and let me know what is on your shopping list (if money was not an issue) . If you own one of the above mentioned BigDogs let me know how it goes. Looking forward to some feedback and a bit of trash talking as well. BigDog...

Help me, I am hitting the ball well off the tee, putting the ball on the short grass and then walking up and hitting the ball fat. I did this 12 times on Saturday's comp. I did it with full shots, pitch shots, etc... What am I doing wrong. It was extremely frustrating and resulted in an appalling score. I am considering opening a trench digging business! The boys I was playing with joked that we were going to have to call back to the clubhouse for more sand! BigDog (Diggin' Dog)

Not sure if I am able to get the ecco golf shoes here in Oz, I'll have a look around and see what I think. Thanks for all the suggestions. BigDog

I think the title says it all, I am in the hunt for some new golf shoes and I was wondering what the thinking was amongst the select few that grace this forum. I am leaning towards either nike or adidas (only because I am a runner and know their gear better than the other brands). What shoes ya wearing and why? BigDog

As I have only just returned to golf, my aim is to get back to the levels I was at when i was 16 (played off 8), I am now 33 and have not hit a ball in between then and now. I have been back playing for about a month and the only thing that seems to be lacking in my game is consistancy and a little bit of confidence. Hopefully that should all come back with time. So the aim is single figures by the years end. Where I live we get 12 months of perfect weather for golf so there is no need to have a six month break like some of the lads in the Northern US states. Bring on the challenge. My other aim is to get my wife her first handicap and maybe play a few mixed comps with her. She only picked up her clubs for the first time a month ago and seems to be loving it and playing quite well. I can see great things for her as she has a very natural swing. Good luck with all those goals people, and if you want to play more golf at a lot cheaper price visit Australia!! We love visitors and if you play well we'll probably buy you a beer! Cheers guys, swing happy BigDog (Jase)

Yeah it should be in the swing section, sorry about that. Can someone move it there for me? BigDog

Ok guys and gals, here is the story, I have the TM R7425 and I love this club! The only problem at the moment is that on the last few rounds I've played I seem to be pushing the ball right, its not a fade, just a push out to the right. What an earth I am doing that could be causing this. I was thinking that I may be playing the ball a little bit too far forward and as a result the ball is heading straight out to the right, if I was to move the ball back in my stance would this eliminate the problem? So swing gurus, please help! BigDog (slightly wayward bigdog at the moment)

Boxing AMG, that is something I have never thought of. Thinking about it I can definitely see the benefits. I run and ride for my cardio, along with a little swimming. Can't let myself get the golfer's gut! BigDog

Does anyone out there in the Sandtrap Land do any yoga/pilates etc to help their strength and flexibility? I used to do a lot of yoga to help my cycling (when I was a cyclist) and was thinking that the same benefits could be gained for golf. Yoga helps to build core strength and increase your range of motion. These two things alone would help your golf. Antoher benefit of yoga is that it helps teach you how to reamin relaxed in any circumstance, this has to be a benefit on the golf course! Any thoughts? BigDog

So I started out using the Taylor Made Speed, at first the ball and I had a love-hate relationship. It loved the trees and I hated hitting it in there. It seems that the problem was not the ball but the monkey holding on the end of the club (ie. me). Since realigning my swing I have found that this ball is sweet! It goes long on the drive and stops on a dime! I am sure that many balls will do the same thing, but I am a strong believer that if you have confidence in a part of your game and it is working for you, don't change it! If it aint broke, don't fix it! BigDog

So dent what was it that put you off your game soo much - do share! BigDog!

This is a great question. I am currently teaching my wife how to play and the set-up routine is something that she struggles with. She seems to sset up at the ball in totally different positions each time. I try to teach her from what I am doing but I just seem to do it automatically and find it diffficult to explain exactly what it is that I do. I too would appreciate a few pointers in this area. Thanks BigDog

I was wondering if we every get any tour pros frequenting this site? I know other forums I have been on regularly get pros signing in and giving comment. Does it happen here? If so, anyone we know? Always nice to know that the informaton you are recieving is coming from someone with their finger on the pulse. BigDog (Jase)

I come from a Ironman triathlon background and nutrition is the most important part of every race. I seem to have taken this mentality on to the golf course. I have lots of water and I take a water bottle I pre-mixed with a special electrolyte mix in it. For food i often use powerbars or the like, or for that qick hit of energy a gel like 'gu'. Like I said these are all triathlon food that provide a slow release of energy ofver a prolonged period. BIGDog (Jase) I must admit I do love a beer at some stage during the round and nothing beats reliving the great shots over a couple of ales after the game.

I am looking to update my old and tired golf bag and are unsure what brand or type to go for. I am presently using a Titleist carry bag, but I am lookng for something that will organise the clubs a little better and stop the shafts on the woods from getting damaged. Do you guys/girls have any suggestions. Those Ogio bags look quite nice but I am unsure if we are able to get them down here in Oz? Thanks for all your help BigDog (jase)

jb 1982 - NICE SHOT! Mine would have to be a 40 foot bridie putt on a long par three (210mtrs). It was down a couple of tiers and a little bit Tigerish (Masters Chip). I was going to be happy if it stopped within four feet but it just trickld in! BigDog

I would have to agree with gunmetal! I thing I would say is that you can tell when you first swing a putter if you'll like it or not. I found that my putter felt great when just having a practice with it, this in turn led to me being confident when standing over a putt. You can definitely tell a well balanced and weighted putter when you hold one! Be prepared to try them all - even those strange looking ones! BigDog!

Go the Aussies - has to be Adam Scott, but I may be a little bit biased! I am also a huge fan of Stuart Appleby, he has been through quite a lot in his life and has managed to continue to be a very nice guy. It was a shame last weekend that he through away the Masters win, I thought he was home with the win. BigDog (Jase)