Terrier

I live in the golf capital of the world, Iacas and follow friends of the Gateway tour, the Tarheel tour, know Hooters tour players...whatever. You're a little out of touch with golf protocol in the real, real golf world. I made it to HS state playoffs when I was a teenager in PA and have played junior/hs/college golf around your neck of the woods, too, iacas. My best friend from HS works for Titleist and reads this site and gets a kick out of it, too. Please consult and read the daily sports/golf page of the Sun News for a rundown of the mini-tour pros that are busting their butt. Alan Blondin writes a nice column; and tells of a mini-tour leading money winner that still does bag drop once a week.

Ping does a good static fit. Basic.

Until you get fitted personally, you won't know.

Menial? Most of those bag drop guys are highly personable players and have been there since 4 AM. Most work part time. Most are better players than any of you scratch players from the north. My favorite stories about working bag drop are dealing with the "don't touch my bag" type. What "iacas" doesn't understand is that the head golf pro is watching...and will ask why you didn't personally load his/her bag. "He wouldn't let me". Gotta love it when "my clubs and my game are so beautiful I can't tip" type show up. Two of the leading mini-tour wage earners I know work bag drop and don't consider it "menial". One's on TV right now. Another was a few shots away from his card. Menial?

Dub... Our courses got rid of GPS due to slow play. Tourists thought it was neat, cool, all that jazz. We found the devices slowed down play. The average golfer that isn't used to it typically plays with the device, can't figure it out, loves it when finally figuring it out after 5 holes, but it slows down their usual playing speed.

Lefties Only set the standard back in the 80s as the first catalog company to cater directly to left-handers. They're pricey these days; especially due to the used-club market (re: eBay). But their service has always been stellar -- and they're always helpful and will find it for you. Personally? I'll pay the premium just because they care about us. No affiliation: leftiesonlygolf.com

[QUOTE Don't play courses that require cart path only.... I just won't play if that is the case. It's one of the dumbest policies there is. It's usually shorter to just walk the entire hole[/QUOTE] Ever heard of rain? Cart path only is a policy instituted by the super due to weather/rainfall. The super is there before dawn and determines the daily CPO/90 policies for that day.

I appreciate your input. I know; I work for one of the most popular and nicest courses in the golf capital of the world. We're a machine. We monitor and measure everything . A ranger nicely tells your group that your group is a little behind? And we have the best starters, bag drop people, et al that are friendly from the moment your group arrives. Typical response upon your group getting pressed to speed up play: "Screw you - We just payed over $100 a person to play here and we're on vacation; we're all 3-handicaps -- we just don't know the course."

I bought my XG #9 sorta-kinda because of Phil being a fellow lefty. But mostly because every time I went to Martin's and practiced with it I sank almost everything. And it continues to agree with me on the course. I've had mine fitted. For specifics on his exact putter: http://www.odysseygolf.com/putting/philsputter.htm

Agreed...except for "I prefer..." It's the psychological part of the game. Yesterday I went bogey, double, and shot a 38 on the front. On the back I went bogey, double, and shot a 39. Sometimes screwing up the first few holes sets my mind at ease. Who knows? Hence the reason I love this game.

Absolutely. Has to be same make, model, etc. Played against a guy today in a match that tried that ball-switching baloney. I didn't call him on it. The golf gods took care of it.

A good master clubfitter will fit you. They have the tools/equipment to do it; and having your putter fit is just as (if not more important than) getting the rest of your bag fitted. My regular playing partner just had the same putter (2-ball) bent. It's no big deal to get your specific flatstick fitted and will probably cost you $5.00. I'm 2-degrees upright on my irons and 1-degree flat on my putter. Something to consider before hacking shaft lengths, etc. HTH

It's referred to as "playing out of your comfort zone". About a year ago, I double-eagled the first hole, a 500-yard par 5 and shot a 40. I double-bogeyed the second hole (voted one of the toughest Par 4s on the Grand Strand)...bogeyed the second... All the members and regulars wanted to know what I ended up shooting for that nine and overall. That was their second question, after the first question -- "what club did you use for your second shot?" I ended up shooting my handicap for the round. Back down to reality. I was somewhat (very) embarrassed for shooting a 40 after being 3-under after the first hole. I gotta admit -- I was trying to stay cool and set a personal best after that first hole. But inside I was saying "Holy crapola -- I'm 3-under after one hole!" I was out of my comfort zone as a simple 5-handicap.

Uhhh... A successful career in a cubicle and office -- I saw "Office Space" one too many times. I might've -- "maybe" lost a girlfriend here or two due to golf. But a new girlfriend is always somewhat available (if they're blind, deaf, and mute). A tee-time is not.

They're an extension of the irons fitted for you. Don't quite understand why you'd think the wedges would be any different, my friend. When you go to a professional fitting, fitting thy wedges is understood. At the big box retailers, bending is free with new wedge purchases, BTW. So if you've had your irons fitted and know your specs, you can buy your wedges new and have them bent as part of the purchase cost. Doesn't include extending the shafts and grip replacement. Just an FYI.

Tonight? Upon those parameters you mentioned in your post... The Hammer.

Learn basic golf etiquette. The basics, mind you -- mostly where to stand on the putting green and tee-box; how to be aware of your shadow, how to mark your ball and not step in your playing partners line, etc. When to pick up your ball if you're playing a casual round with three pretty-good-golfers and they're all putting for bird and you're chipping on, lying 8? That kinda stuff goes a long way. A scratch golfer will be happy to play with you if you know that kinda humble stuff.

First off, Happy Birthday. 2nd? April's fine.

Nice review, Erik. Seems to be the 962B vs. 962 marketing ploy revisted. Hmmm. Duval shot a 59 with 962 irons.

Give these guys a call. I've been on their mailing list since the mid 1980s...bought my first set of new irons from them. Catering to a lefty lady is especially difficult, but those folks will certainly steer you in the right direction with her...uh..."playing from the wrong side disease." Good luck! http://leftiesonlygolf.com/LadyIrons&%20Putters.html

Good to see you enjoyed your stay @ the golf capital of the world. Good to see your report on River Hills. The Grand Strand Tour played there at about the same timetable...

1971 -- first photo of my father putting a club in my hand.

Perhaps. Remember to tip the bag drop guy, Mr. Player.

His immediate effect was evident at our course in Myrtle Beach on Monday -- way slow play. Slow player. Love his story, mind you. Everyone on the teebox Monday morning was mimicking his preshot routine in their own certain way. We were double-teed. We kinda expect that behavior, but... Now if Snedeker would've won...play might've been quicker. :)

I think it's funny when golfers are too young to remember when blades were the only equipment option and make fun of those who might still favor 'em. Those were the days before the Internet and titanium, i.e., the days when terms such as "game-improvement irons" never existed. We old folk grew up on blades. We didn't even know they were blades. Hell, we didn't even know what an emoticon was.