Turkovic

Stepped back to the tips for only the 2nd time at my home course (Radrick Farms, Ann Arbor MI -6956 yds, 73.5/135) Shot a 78, what I consider the best round of my life, 8 fairways, 7 GIR, 27 putts. Wedge game was on today leading to 3 birdies and a few par saves I had no business getting.

Get the handicap down to a 6, which means breaking 80 more often then the 3 times I've done it in 3 years, this boils down to me hitting my 2 goals every time I tee it up: - No 3 putts - Nothing higher than a 5 on the scorecard - means I'm taking advantage of the par 5s and avoiding disastrous mistakes on the other holes. Even my with my rounds in the 70s I have never been able to accomplish both of those feats in the same round, the second is a lot harder than the first.

Under-rated: "Return from the Dead - Pt 1" - Bouncing back from a big number by birdieing the next hole. Good: "The One Up" - Playing with a Buddy, and following a great shot of his by sticking one inside of it from nearly the same spot. Better: "Return from the Dead - Pt 2" - Hitting a wedge shot close and making the putt to save par after a ridiculously bad tee shot. Goes double when playing match play with a buddy, talk about demoralizing. Best: "Return from the Dead - Pt 3" - Chip-in to save par when buddy thought he had the hole won, even more demoralizing then Pts 1 or 2.

For the year: Improve my putting - I'd like to start making more in the 4-8 ft range and drastically improve my lag putting, this is far and away the weakest part of my game. Each round I play this year, I have 2 main goals I keep in mind: - No 3 putts (focus on lag putting) - Nothing higher than a 5 on the card (take advantage of par 5's)

I'd actually have to say that is a pretty accurate representation, the 5-10 range fits me perfectly. I feel I hit the ball pretty solidly, with a lot of just misses that leave a lot of easy chips. Extending my "likely to make it" range and reducing 3 putts would probably save me 4 shots a round.

Sun Mountain Lightning

Depends on the season- Spring & Summer, nothing beats Bell's Oberon, Winter & Fall - Avalanche Amber Ale from Breckenridge Brewery in Breckenridge, CO. Had Yuengling while I was on a business trip and have to say that it was REALLY good, might be at the top if I could drink it more often.

228 yd Par 3, little down hill, into a slight breeze, hit 2H 7 inches from the hole! Made the putt, took my birdie and walked away smiling!

Got out for a quick nine after work, haven't had the time to squeeze in a full 18 yet. Shot a 37....with 2 3-putts and 2 missed birdie putts inside 7 feet!!!! Look out practice green here I come, I've got more rust to shake off. I hate wasting good ball striking rounds like that

A lot of the good courses in Michigan are in Northern Michigan, a good 3 hrs + from the Detroit area. If you're interested, the 2 University of Michigan courses are good tracks, both had been in the top 25 for years until recent newer courses pushed them out. Radrick Farms (the alumni course) was Pete Dye's first 18 hole Chamionship design and has routinely hosted qualifying for USGA events. The UMGC is the student course located directly across the street from Michigan Stadium. It is an Alister Mackenzie design that is a really fun track. You need to be playing with an alum to get on the courses, so if you're interested let me know.

I always take 2, my routine isd: - Pick my target - Take 2 smooth practice swings that brush the turf, no air only, no divots, each time looking at my target, (this helps me start to get centered on my goal) if the second one misses the turf I do two more. This helps me do two things 1.) It establishes my swing length for both short shots and when I'm stuck between clubs, and 2.) it helps me get a feel for the ground is with respect to my feet and my stance, this helps a lot on uneven lies. - Walk ~5 feet behind the ball and pick an intermediate target on the ground just in front of the ball - Walk up to the ball square the face up. - Square my feet up - Waggle and take one last look at the real target - Pull the trigger and hope for the best

I try to stay out of these things but couldn't keep quiet. 1.) The biggest difference between Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie is the mindset, whether it be the acutal person or their inner circle and that is simple. "Team Tiger" as it was called, put Tiger Woods becoming the best golfer in the world as the number one priority, most likely coming from Tiger's drive to be the best, and the money followed but was always treated as secondary. I thought I remember reading somewhere that Tiger held off building his new home in Florida until he could pay for it from the money he WON, not his endorsement deals, that spoke volumes to me about his mindset. Team Wie put the money first and didn't focus on developing Michelle as a player. You cannot deny her talent and her ability, but I question her drive. 2.) I really question the whole injury thing becuase not only was she out at the range the next morning, but ESPN reported she was at Bulle Rock(??) the site of the McDonald's this week playing a pracitce round! 3.) She has shown little or no respect to the other players. There have been complaints from several tournaments that she goes off into her own little world and completely ignores her pro-am partners who pay big bucks to be there. In addtion, since she is not a member of the tour she infuriates players by playing practice rounds in the week before an event when they are not allowed to. Call me, old fashioned but I would think the respectful and noble thing to do would be to abide by the same rules everyone else does.

Until Tiger wins 18 majors, Jack is the greatest, but when that happens (and it will...) it will be Tiger. Jack was a better driver, they are about even on iron play, Tiger has the much better short game, and they are both incredible clutch putters. Jack does lose points for being a Buckeye though :)

Nike Slingshot Tour 18 degree, great club.

That's correct all the TP versions have open faces, which is why I love my current driver (R5 Dual TP), for the record I switched from a Titleist 983E. My normal ball flight is a high draw, and my mis-hit an over draw, and the closed faces of the new draw biased drivers only compounded the problem. Plus TaylorMades offer the more conventional look you seem to be after. One thing to be careful of is the weights in the TM's, the R5 I got had draw bias weights in it from the factory, I switched it to neutral with the 2 extra weights it came with and haven't looked back.

I've own both a Scotty Cameron Pro Platinum Newport and currently play a Odyssey 2-Ball White Steel. I putted with the Scotty for 6 years and switched to the Odyssey because my hands are a little twitchy and the heavier mallet helped to quell that problem. The second reason behind switching was because of changes in my life (moving, etc), I started playing courses with slower greens. As much as I love my 2-Ball for what it does to help my stroke, the Scotty is the best feeling putter I have ever hit, the crisp feeling when you hit it is incredible, and the finish really inspires confidence when you stand over a putt.

We're staying at the Whaler on Ka'anapali. My fiance doesn't play the game (yet...), but she's a big shutterbug and is eager to ride along and take pictures, she's done it before and is good at not interrupting the other players. Thanks for the suggestions! I might try to sneak on the Emerald Course at twilight if I can, if twilight starts at 1PM what are my chances of getting a full 18 in, assuming I tee off at 1:00-1:15?

JB, you'll have to let me know how it goes at the Plantation, I'm going to be out there on my honeymoon in October and that is the one course I know I am playing! I'm looking for recommendations for a second course if you can provide any.

Radrick Farms Golf Club in Ann Arbor, MI http://www.umich.edu/~radrick

Driver: About 285 on average, depending on conditions it can vary from 270-315 but 285 is what I can pretty much count on 3W: 260 from the tee 250 off the deck 2-H: 230 3I: 215 4I: 205 5I: 195 6I: 180 7I: 170 8I: 160 9I: 150 PW: 135 GW: 120 SW: 105

I got a set of Nike Pro Combo Tours about 2 years ago and love them. They feel real solid when hit well (especially the short irons) and I can work the ball with them. The best thing I like about them is if I miss hit it, I get the tactile feedback to let me know, and don't lose a whole lot of distance on the shot.

I just got a TaylorMade R5 TP 8.5 degree with the Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, reset from factory draw bias to neutral weighting. Compared it with an R7 425 and just felt better and flew better for me for some reason. Hit it about the same distance as my old Titleist but picked up some more carry and a lot more forgiveness.

They can be yes, depending on the sand. I play out of softer stuff usually and find the added bounce on my 56 helps me, I've played a few links courses with some firmer sand and much higher and steeper faces and found the 60 degree to really help there.

Shot an 84. Went 38-46 though, which made it painful. I hate throwing away a good front nine

I carry 3 wedges, 47 degree PW, 52 degree, 56 degree. I own a 60 degree but don't have the time to practice with it enough to take full advantage of it. I'm confident enough in chipping and pitching with my 56 around the green that I don't bother.