Missouri Swede

I've got other Bellroy stuff and like it. I've looked at their wallets, but I've been concerned that the owl logo would snag on my pocket. Has that ever been a problem for you?

8 1/2 months

My thoughts went to John Milton's Paradise Lost.

Not a fan of calling people out for stuff like that. I generally like to walk, but ... I have always used a cart the first time I played a course. If it's easily walkable, then maybe the next time I'll walk it. But first time out, too many variables that I don't know about where my shot might go (or roll or bounce) that a cart is nice. Also depends on the "traffic." If it's going to be 5.5 hours, that gets tiring just standing around that long--sometimes I don't need a cart for the walking distance, but rather for a place to sit around for the extra hours out on the course. (Yeah, I could put a seat on my Clicgear, but I haven't.) Final factor--temperature and humidity. I have on occasion found myself exceeding my physical heat tolerance limits at my home course and now will use a cart in temperatures that I would walk when I was 10 years younger.

And Titleist Trusoft are 11.99 (white) or 15.60 (yellow) per dozen. Amazon.com Edit: just saw these are sold as used. Sorry. Still…

You forgot that you need to document that you performed each of the steps within specifications. And then document that it has been documented. I need a vacation.

Okay, so add him to the list of guys who used to play golf. But he was already on the list, so ... nothing's changed.

Watching the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. I'm only half-listening while I work on other stuff, but had to smile a little when I heard an announcer mention "the pull of the ocean" on a putt.

Just to play devil's advocate: I once hit a tee shot on a short par 4, it hit the cart path ... and hit it again ... and again .... and again. It finished up near the cart of the two guys ahead of us. (They were on the green, left their cart near a bunker about 30 yards short.) Turns out they had been freely imbibing of fermented beverages, and so they drove all the way back and ... Not a pleasant interaction. I can't drive that green. Ever. (It's drivable for some guys, though.) But now I wait. Yeah, I know it looks like I think I'll drive the green, and that's stupid when you look at my driving distance. But I wait.

I've got an Audi A5 sportback, and really like it. I had an A3 as a loaner for a day (same size as S3/RS3), and while I was appreciative of having the loaner, I found that there were things in the A4/S4 and A5/S5 lines I like better. No volume knob other than on the steering wheel. The gear shifter is only a toggle switch. And felt a little too small for my taste, and not as "solid" as my A5. (Some say the A4/S4 sedans are more solid than the A5/S5 sportbacks.) Perhaps more importantly, check the trunk/hatch space for your clubs. In my (previous) Infiniti sedan, I could fit two sets of clubs and two hand carts in the trunk. In my A5 sportback, there's not enough width in the back to fit my clubs sideways--only fits at an angle, and only one set and one handcart fit. (If I get a second player, I can drop the rear seat all the way and then there's plenty of room for a second set, etc.). I knew this going in, and before purchasing I drove to the dealer with my clubs to see how they fit. (Helped that he was a golfer too.) So check on the trunk width/size for your clubs on the S3/RS3 to make sure even one set fits in with cart, etc. "Someday" maybe I'll move up to an S4 or S5. I didn't test-drive one, 'cause I knew I'd probably like it too much. And my A5 is just as fast as my Infiniti was, maybe a smidge faster.

Non-conforming balls (non-conforming to the current standard) are already available, if you want to play one. A friend of mine (in his 80s) was playing this one for a while: Golf Balls - MG Senior at mggolf.com Shop for Golf Balls - MG Senior at mggolf.com. Pro Golf Gloves, Golf Balls, Golf Hats, Laser Rangefinders and Golf Bags. So it wouldn't be completely unheard of to have non-conforming balls for sale. By the time this new change becomes effective, I might be of an age where I'll want to retain yardage for fun. I currently go through about 6 sleeves a year (maybe 4 this year). If I buy a dozen boxes in 2029, that might last me long enough.

I've lost more than 4% (presumably due to age) over the last 3 years, so any change I would see would get attributed (by me) primarily due to age, unless I were to do a side-by-side comparison on the course. So maybe it adds a year or two to my "golf age". I would be very interested to see a list of currently conforming balls that conform to the new criteria. (edit: criterion. It's only a single data point that's being changed, if I understand correctly.) Regarding quitting the game, I happened to notice fly fishing equipment while walking through Cabella's earlier this year, and the thought passed through my mind, "well whatever they end up doing, if it makes golf less fun, there are other hobbies I can take up and spend money on in retirement." I also note in the letter by Slumbers and Whan that they basically said that they're coming for our drivers next. Okay, that's an exaggeration; "expand our testing approach" and "explore possible additional options related to distance" is what they wrote. But yeah, they're coming for my driver next. In a way, yeah. But I've got a full set of TaylorMade irons in pretty good condition sitting unused in my garage, non-conforming to the groove rule. Maybe I'll keep a bunch of current balls and use those clubs to play out my years after 2030. Be a complete non-conformist. It's not like I keep a handicap. Looks like Orvis is having a sale on fly fishing gear.

Same here. I'd like to get back to where I was 5 years ago. On SiriusXM PGATour radio one of the shows discussed the possibility that the average golfer who doesn't keep a handicap might go ahead and load up on the current generation of golf balls and play those, in essence creating a bifurcation.

What a coincidence. That's when my USGA membership fee is due.

I'd ask them for a reference for that "expectation". A score when the course is not in its active season is not acceptable for handicap purposes, according to the R&A, Rules of Handicapping, rule 2.1. Not only should you not be "expected" to report it, it is incorrect to report it. So I would want to know what rule the handicap secretary is using to negate rule 2.1. Scores Acceptable for Handicap Purposes The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities for the benefit of the sport of golf from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Perhaps if we saw performance worth paying for.

Ya young punk.

You might be looking for something like thegrint.com I haven’t used it for many years, but it might be what you’re after.

My home course used to have internal OB on a couple holes for safety reasons, so it’s possible. For one of the holes, it was to prevent people from hitting their 18th tee shot over the 8th green and 9th tee, shortening the dogleg 18th hole. So it is a thing, even if you haven’t seen it done. Metal fencing would be hard to install up to however many feet (80? 100?) high and the hundred yards or so long to block such a shot. Plus it would be ugly.

In the title: 'insane' golf-ball rules conundrum

Once again, when a player forgets about a rule (or condition of competition) or chooses to ignore it, it's the rule's fault.

The LPGA provided that information.

Trying to not be completely out of the loop during a busy work week, I had the audio from The Open iPhone app playing today. One of the commentators mentioned that it’s a championship, not a tournament. I know it’s in the name of the event, but does one exclude the other or is one a subset of the other? Do I need to include this in the list of cultural/social verbal blunders to avoid?

When we lived in San Antonio, our house was very close to Sea World (a few blocks). Every evening we could watch fireworks from our sofa, watching through our front window. Fun with kids.