i-Guy

LOL...too funny and true...heck #1 can be challenging from any tee if you don't hit it straight. I think more and more golf courses should have people play the proper tee according to their GHIN handicap...it sure would speed up play and I think golfers would enjoy themselves more...heck I have even seen a 30 handicapper play the tips because I am and I tell them they do not have to because I am but they insist...then after about 3-4 holes they change and start playing the proper tee...wonder what score they posted for their handicap that day???

Quote: Sry if my reponse came off as I was being an A$$ not trying to @ all. But yeah greens a couple weeks ago were rolling to a 12"2' now they are @ an 11 something. Oh no you weren't and I did not want to come off as A$$ by keep on saying Bloomingdale was okay if it was not...no problem!

That's cool...I played Bloomingdale about a month ago or so and like Isaid and they did not seem to bad to me then but if you play there that often you would know better then me...I will be quiet. Rebel_Goler then I would play RiverHills if these guys are offering as this is a "Great Track" (I use to be a member) and I still know a few members and they say the greens are rolling really fast right now...makes Riverhills a real challenege...have fun!

The only way you are going to get on Riverhills is with a member unless they have chnaged...Silverado is quite far from the airport (not sure of its condition as I have not played there in a while)...and not sure why "Mrd19abhs" keeps saying Bloomingdale's greens are in rough shape??? Has he played there lately...last year Bloomingdale closed the course for 3 months to install brand new greens and they are really nice...I played there about a month ago and they were very nice...your call Rebel_Golfer...however, I will throw one more into the mix and that is "The Claw". This is USF golf course and it is very reasonable and they also replaced their greens last year and the course is a very challenging lay out (especially from the tips)...just watch out for the gators (not kidding).

I know this thread was calling out to those in colder climates but as a Floridian I just felt the need to pipe in... You know I always thought it would be nice to have a winter...that way I could have the "forced discipline" to work out and get in better golf shape during the off-season...OH WAIT! Florida does not have an off-season...Dang! LMAO! Anyway Pros and Cons to everything as I set a goal every winter to work out and dang it if the nice weather here doesn't call me out to the golf course...I guess I will have to wait until next year...AGAIN!

Hey Rebel_Golfer...noticing your a 9 handicap I would want you to play some of Tampa's real test (within your budget)...now most of the courses mentioned are not what I would consider Tampa's real test of your game (sorry if I offended anyone) other than Riverhills and Silverado (but you have to play Silverado from the tips to really play a good golf course) anyway besides those two I would definitely say you should try to play Bloomingdale GC...it is a course that will test your game but you will like it...it has a bit of a reputation in these parts as there are a few PGA, LPGA etc players that hang around there and Lee Jantzen has the lowest round ever shot there (59)...I am a member at Apollo Beach Golf Club (only Robert Trent Jones Sr. design on the west coast of FL) but the course has had a set back lately and is not in the best condition but it is one of the best layouts in all of the Tampa Bay area and you can play it for $42 on the weekend in the morning...well I hope we given you some things to think about and hope you enjoy your stay!

I would say +5...on the average as any rounds depends on how I am playing but as my game gets more consistent I would be un-happy if I could not be within 5 of my handicap on any course (as long as I play the right tee box)...for instance I recently played Copperhead at Innisbrook and I always said if I played there I would play from the tips (where the Pro's play from in the Transistion Championship) but I chickened out and played one box in front of that (between 6,800 and 6,900 yds)...well at the time my index was 8.2 and I shot an 82 which from that tee gave me an index of 6.9. I was very pleased but really felt like I should have broken 80 as I left a few shots out there...

Exactly ...I think there are many ways to get an idea for what stiffness you "should" play...but the bottom line is what works for you and your swing For instance I did the Mizuno fitting club last year and was fitted for KBS Tour X-stiff (soft stepped)...check out my sig as I play KBS Tour stiff...the X-stiff (even soft stepped just felt to hard for my taste)...I have also played multiple Dynamic Gold shafts and "for me" the KBS Tour shaft just works best (feel, ball flight, etc...) P.S. I play the AP1 irons and they are AWE...wait for it...SOME irons. I had to special order mine to get the KBS Tour shafts and my Pro let me use a set with stock shafts (stiff) while I waited. I still like my KBS better as they are heavier and I like that feel but the stock shafts worked fine and I would think they would be a nice shaft for someone going from "regular" to "stiff"...but like other post have said...try them out as much as you can before you decide but if you really like the AP1 heads and this is a good deal go ahead and get them and then you can play around with different shafts...just my 2 cents.

Great point...I am 8 handicap (blaa, blaa, blaa...see about my game on an earlier post) but I play mostly courses that are between 6,500-6,700 yards (mens tee)...and mainly for the reason that I do not have a driver...I average 230 off the tee with a strong 3 wood as that is all I can consistently (well 43% of the time) keep in the fairway...my "off the tee" game SUCKS....my goal for 2011 is to get my swing consistent enough to start using a driver (have to buy one first) and then I can stretch my game out to 6,800 - 7,000 yards...but to "crayputter's" point you defintely need to play the correct tee box. For example: Recently I played a very hard golf course (slope 149 / rating 74.4)...has a lot of water and very small greens and it plays right at 6,900 yards...I borrowed a driver from a friend and had a horrible day off the tee as I incurred 7 penalty strokes...I shot a 93 and had only 28 putts.

Last fall I went to a PT certified by TPI and got an evaluation...it turned out I had some balance and stability issues and she set me up a workout program. Unfortuantely, I ended up having major shoulder surgery soon afterwards and am just now getting back to what she showed me...

No problem and I was not offended but you made your comments off a quote from my post so I thought I would repsond...the stats from Oobgolf (which I use also) are intersting and probabaly pretty much spot on from what it looked like but I have to think that different people get to single digit differently sometimes...like I said in my post if my ball striking is on at all I am shooting in the 70's...but the norm is I am struggling with full shots and trying to use my short game / course management to shoot a decent score...actually I think I have found somehting recently that works in my swing and I am looking very forward to 2011 and grooving this move and possibly lowering my handicap even more... No I get it and you are very correct...I have a friend that is scratch (I caddied for him this year while he tried to qualifiy for the US Senior Open)...and I bet he does not get up and down as well as I do...his strength is a great golf swing and so he is usually right down the middle and hitting GIR's all day long...if his swing leaves him at all he is struggling to shoot in the 80's due to a poor short game....AGAIN there are a few different ways to get it done! I feel like it depends on the day but I would say that it is my putting that saves most of my pars...of course if I am chipping really well then I have tap ins but most of the time my mindset is to get on the green and let the putter have a chance...

I have the XCG-3 strong 3 wood (used mainly off the tee) and I find it just as forgiving as any 3 wood I have ever owned. I can also hit it off the deck with no problem...great club and I highly recommend it for the OP... Attachment 2590

Maybe but I am telling you that I keep my stats pretty well and my stats as an 8.3 handicap are as follows (per my handicap index rounds...last 20 rounds): FIR - 43% (6 fairways per round) GIR - 33% (6 greens per round) Total putts per round - 30.5 Up/Down - 35% Penalty Strokes per round - 2.7 (mainly off the tee...weakness of my game) Once you have a decent short game then the difference in scoring ability can be ball striking as it is for me (based on my current skill level)...for instance when my ball strking is good and I hit a good % of Fairways and greens I shoot in the 70's. However, I do aspire for my putts per round and my scrammbling to improve as this is a game of managing your misses and when I am missing I still want to score well... FYI...of my last 20 scores I shot in the 90's once and I broke 80 five times...my average score is 83

I agree that 65% is a bit much to ask of any golfer much less a mid-hdnicapper but the advice is solid in that this will help you score better...I am an 8 handicap and it is rare for me to shoot in the 90's and I avg around 30 putts per round and I get up and down on the average 35-37% of the time...I consider this the strenght of my game as my ball stiking is my challenege.

YES! The 910Fd is definitely in my radar... Attachment 2584 I cannot wait to see one in person...if you go the wesbite it also says they will make them up to 2 inches long (45 inches) but I am thinking 44 inches...I really hope I like these as I am kind of a Titleist guy. However, after Acushnet's announcment today I am hoping there will be a Titleist...

Yes you can read a lot into the press release and I think it is interesting how Wally says "“Whether the Acushnet Company is sold to a new owner or becomes an independent publicly-traded company"...can anyone say Acushnet Stock for sale???

LOL...thanks I need it...LOL I actually started another thread about building a 2 wood and have gotten some intertesting advice...anyone ever heard of BANG golf? They make 11 degree three woods, etc...not sure yet what I am going to do but getting lots of great ideas.

I have as during my testing to find a driver I tried 44.5 inch drivers and it did not seem to help...I actually think it is the large head that does not work for me??? I thought about this as I tested a 909 & 910, D3 & D2 10.5 and as I said above I think it is the large head that does not work for me??? Ha! Ha! too funny BUT with the new Titleist Surefit I was looking at the new 910Fd...it is 13.5 and you can decrease the loft .75 so in essence it would be a 12.75...and then order it at 44inch...getting closer to what I am thinking about...does anyone remeber the Callaway X Hot 3 wood...it was desgined to be hit off the tee and was 44 inches long...but it was 15 degree...that is kind of my thought here but with lower loft???

I just cannot seem to hit a driver to save my life and I am very consistent with my strong 3 wood (see sig) off the tee...I am avgeraging 250 off the tee with it but when I am swinging well I can put it out there 260 or more. What I was thinking about doing was "Building a 2 Wood" as follows: 1) Use a strong 3 wood head (12 - 13 degree) as I seem to like the head size of a 3 wood better then a driver 2) Put a 44 or 44.5 inch shaft into the strong 3 wood head What I need to know is that my current 3 wood is 13 deg and the shaft is 43 inch...if I go to a 12 degree head and use a 44 inch shaft how many more yards will I get? Is that worth 10 more yards on the average??? Please I do not need advice on hitting a driver ...I have tried many different drivers/shafts etc...and have worked with a coach...not sure if it a mental thing or that the big heads just don't work for me but I can play this game fairly well (8 handicap) with a 3 wood off the tee...I would just like a few more yards off the tee and wonder if building a "2 Wood" would do that for me...thanks...

Wow! Intersting thread and intersting to see how many people (all handicaps) hit 3 wood off the tee...also there are some pretty big hitters on this thread. I consider myself to have decent length as I play my 7 iron 160-165 but I only average 230 with a strong 3+ wood off the tee...yes I can hit it further and have even hit one 280 (down wind with a good roll) but that is not my average. Anyway I started reading this thread because I have recently changed my swing (Sept) to a pattern that is kind of like the S&T; but also kind of like what Sean Foley teaches...or I should say some version of both...anyway I am crisping my irons like never before and I can hit my strong 3 wood fairly consistent and with decent length...but I cannot hit a driver with any consistency to save my life...so I am thinking about building a 2 wood...by using a strong 3 wood head and install a 44 inch shaft so that maybe i can avg 250 off the tee and stop trying to even hit a driver...does this make any sense?

Welcome to the S&T; side of golf...even if you never do the S&T; perfectly, I can guarantee that your ball striking will improve just trying to execute the entire pattern correctly...now is the time to start getting out of your golf game what you always thought you should...enjoy!

I am sure there are quite a few very nice courses in Orlando that will meet all three of your requirements but I would not miss out playing ChampionsGate...there are two courses and they are both friggin awe...wait for it...some!!! You might even run into a few pros while there especially during this time of the year as I have seen quite a few including Annika, Immelman and a few others. There is a David Leadbetter teaching academy in case you want to have your swing looked at...and the whole place is incrediably nice but unless you find a deal it might be more then $100 but it is not far from Disney and I think they rent Callaway clubs...enjoy your trip.

I use the S&T; (well my verison of it) with every club in the bag...I have no problems even hitting my 3 iron and getting it into the air for very good carry distance. However, as much as I love this swing through-out my bag I really struggle with it when hitting a 460cc Driver...so I don't currently...I am hitting a strong 3 wood off the tee and with the S&T; I am long enough to play 6500-6700 and be more accurate off the tee then I have ever. I recently played Copperhead (PGA Tour Transistion Championship course) and played from one tee box in front of where the pro's play (6800-6900yds) and shot an 82 which equated to a 6.9 handicap index...SWEET!

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Exactly...this is how it has always been done in any tournament I have played in whether it was a city tournament or FSGA... And usually the portion along the bottom is perforated so you can tear it off when you go to check your score against what the other player recorded.