AtlantaGolfer

They did not play the back tees at Carnoustie. Also remember that a lot of the challenges were not on the Championship Course but rather the Budon course - which is shorter. They played one up from the back tees (professional/championship tees used in the Open). White is as far back as it goes for the rest of us there.

I think the European team is stronger by far. It is way too hard to watch having to listen to some guy talk about what he was thinking or what he tried to do after slicing a ball 40 yards right on 18 and leaving their partner 200 hundred out. I think the guy that wins is going to be the British Am champ from 96 (Wayne?). He obviously has some game.

Here is the probability scale by the USGA Odds of Shooting exectional Tournament Scores I used this link in my post on how people don't understand the handicap system at all.

This is a whole different topic but remember that the highest handicap hole is not necessarily the hardest hole on the course. It is the course with the highest vairance in scores. Ex: When they did our hole handicaps we took everyones scorecards for a few months and looked at what the scores were on all holes. Our 8th (a par 5) had the highest difference in scores on average. It is not the most difficult by far though. Since it is on the front side it was given handicap 1, number 2 went to the biggest variance on the back, and 3 went to the next one on the front.

This has gone from how people understand the handicap system as it is today to complaining about member-guest tournaments and net events. Every course has someone that lies when they turn in scores to boost their handicap up - thus no one wants to play them with those strokes. We have a member who does that - he never plays anyone at our club but when the net events come around he always wins. What joy can someone get from cheating? Let him cheat he has to live with it. Handicaps are dependent on people being honest when turning in their scores and using Equity Stroke Control. My average score is 80 (current par is 73 - we are undergoing renovations of 9 holes out of our 27). My index is 3.5. Using some golfers thinking (using avg score) my "handicap" would be 7. That is flawed thinking and I would be getting 3.5 extra shots that I would not need. Our member guest groups 6, 2 man teams that play 5 nine hole matches at 80% of our handicaps. The groups are based on what the combined handicaps are at 80%. Just put them in order and cut them off every 6. We always talk about how the higher handicap is more likely to better his handicap but he is also more likely to shoot much much higher too. A lower handicap player will have a lower variance of scores. Example: a 3 handicap probably shoots anywhere from 77-85 with the odd score a little higher or lower whereas a 20 will have scores between 95-120 with some lower. Remember that the handicap is calculated based on the last 20 scores, taking the lowest 10 of those. So if the high handicap is playing better this month, next month his handicap will drop.

I wonder how many golfers actually understand the purpose of US golf handicaps. Many seem to think that the handicap is to show their average score. This is incorrect. A golfer's handicap is to show potential. It takes great odds to better one's handicap twice in their previous 20 scores. Not that it can't be done but the odds are against you. Obviously with a higher handicap it can happen more since there is more of a variance in scores and improvement is easier to do. I keep reading on here and hearing members at my club talk about their handicaps as their average scores. I want to help people understand that handicaps are potential - not averages. That is why when people play each other using handicaps and one of them doesn't understand handicaps fully there is going to be hostility. The USGA has all sorts of odds, based on index, as to how often you should beat your handicap index, etc. I encourage everyone to look it up and learn about them. "Don't worry if you never seem to play to it on a given day. All golfers are in the same boat because USGA Handicap Indexes are based on a player's potential ability rather than the average of his scores." USGA How Well Should You Play USGA Handicap Links

76 - 39/37 at Riverchase CC in Birmingham AL yesterday. Was there visiting a friend. 1 double, 4 bogeys, 2 birdies. The course is not rated too hard so I did not reach my potential handicap wise but it was an ok day. The putter sucked.

72 twice last year. First one - 34-38 E 72 73.7/140 7,018 The Frog Resort Villa Rica, GA Second - 35-37 E 72 72.8/130 6,970 Farmlinks Sylacauga, AL

I have played at Cruden Bay on the 18 hole course. Definitely want to play it a couple of times though. The fourth hole is very well known in the world of golf as a picturesque par 3. There is a whales back in the middle of the 17th fairway, plenty of blind tee shots on holes. It is a great "short" course.

I think Baker Finch won other tournaments (not majors though). So I would have to go with Lawrie, Micheel, and Curtis as the top three for now.

Just play wolf or some variation of that. Each hole a guy is the wolf and he can either pick a guy that just drove or go by himself if he thinks he can beat the other 3. I personally don't like gambling because you get into the giving someone shots deal. Play straight up and see who wins is my way to play golf.

374 at Paako Ridge hole #27 - at 4500 ft altitude, down hill 514 yard par 4 I had 140 left to the flag.

+13 foreign coins less than 6 balls forged clubs I only have natural colored tees

The only things you should look at are how many members are there, how hard is it to get tee times, and remember that you get what you pay for. I have always heard that course called dogpatch and I personally have never seen it in good condition. But if it fits the wallet then it can't be that bad!!

Which course is that?

How about Tiger and a bikini wearing Gulbis vs. Mickelson and a bikini wearing Creamer. That would help the ratings and I would watch.

Too much length in a golf course is bad, IMO. Look at the Robert Trent Jones trail in Alabama. On all of there courses they have their purple tees and the minimum length is about 7,400 yards. If you are going to have tees that play that long then give us the same rock hard, concrete fairways the pros use, and the same perfect greens. To me it is a stretch for any golfer over a 5 handicap to play anything over 7,000 yards. It takes all of the fun out golf. Many consider Harbour Town and Colonial CC to be the shortest on the tour, what were the winning scores there? I think Harbour Town was -7 and Colonial was -11 or so. Short narrow courses allow everyone the chance to win as opposed to the 7,400 yard bombers paradise that are most tour events. Again though the pros are not playing the same courses as us. They have rock hard fairways that adds easily 40 yards to their drives and perfect course conditions (excluding rain). BTW, I assume everyone is talking about 7,000 yards at sea level. Here in the south the air is heavy so our ball does not travel as far as it does in Vegas, Colorado, etc.

Pebble Beach - overpriced Whistling Straits - awesome Honers Course - hilly Los Angeles - perfect shape Kiawah - great Shoal Creek - good course except it is in Alabama Spyglass - very hard Black Wolf Run - almost as good as golf gets Peachtree GC - overrated Valley Club of Montecito - beautiful Long Cove - Best on the island - not the best in the area though East Lake - one of the best golf courses Hawks Ridge - one bad hole is 18 Congressional - always in great shape (unless there is snow!) Harbour Town - way way overrated, too expensive, the only time it is in good shape is when the pros are there. Pros play a completely different course than those paying $300 to play there. (no roll, greens are not a good, etc.) Both Pumpkin Ridge courses used to be on the list and they are both wonderful courses. Fair but tough. That is all I want in a course. I am not surprised but thankfully none of the Robert Trent Jones Alabama Trail courses are on there - the majority of them suck when it comes to condition and slow play.

Cruden Bay is a great course. Are you going to play the 18? or the junior course? The 4th hole out there is awesome as is the 5th. 17 has a huge hump in the middle of the fairway. Great course. Not very long but not easy.

Yes I know someone - my pro knows a lot of other pros from playing in the CPC. Reciprocal clubs are great. Leaving on Tuesday!

They are all around Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Farmington. Basically the northwest corner of New Mexico.

I think McCord is ok - just tune him out really. Feherty is great in my opinion. Oosterhuise is good. I can't stand Johnny Miller or Lanny Wadkins. Then again I couldn't stand Venturi either. Jim Nantz is great. Don't really care for Jimmy Roberts. I think ABC has a good team with Faldo and Azinger, with Faldo carrying them.

Has anyone played in New Mexico? I am going there in a couple of weeks for a week of golf. Playing Las Campanas, Paako Ridge, Black Mesa, Pinon Hills, University of NM Championship course, Coyote Del Malpais, and Twin Warriors. Any other recomendations?

This golf course in in good shape for a total of 3 weeks throughout the year. It sucks when the tournament isn't there and they still want close to $300 for a round there. IMO there are about 5 better courses in the HHI area - Colleton River (both courses), Oldfield, Long Cove Club, Belfair (both), and Berkely Hall (both).

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...s/howwell.html The USGA Handicap System is based upon the potential ability of a player rather than the average of all his scores. The USGA's Handicap Research Team tells us that the average player is expected to play to his Course Handicap or better only about 25 percent of the time, average three strokes higher than his Course Handicap, and have a best score in 20, which is only two strokes better than his Course Handicap.