JPV

I am a right handed golfer and have swung the club more over the past month than I have in a long time. This is my first year playing/practicing a lot (I try to play once or twice a week, and hit the range two or three times per week). Over the past 10 years, I’ve only played once or twice a year. Lately I have experienced a sharp pain in my left wrist, close to the base of my thumb on the top side of my hand. I don’t really feel it when I’m playing, but rather a couple hours afterwards. I have not noticed any swelling or bruising. When I massage and stretch my lower thumb and wrist, I can definitely feel exactly where the pain is (a muscle or tendon?). Based on these vague symptoms, does anyone have any idea what may be causing this or anything I could try to avoid the pain? I’m thinking I might be gripping the club too tightly, or else I have a flawed grip. Or maybe I’m just not used to this much golf. I haven’t swung a club in 3 or 4 days and the pain is pretty much totally gone – I just don’t want a (hopefully) minor problem to develop into a major one.

Five albums I am listening to on the Pod today, while I work: - Cold War Kids, Robbers & Cowards - The White Stripes, Icky Thump - The Animals, Retrospective - Buena Vista Social Club, Self-Titled - The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street

I'll probably get '08 when it comes out - though I did just get '07 (for PS2). Does anyone like playing the "Team Tour" mode, or do you like sticking with the career mode?

Thanks for the recommendations - I will be sure to check these courses out this summer.

Since I'm fairly new to the game, I have been sticking to smaller courses - I've played Flagg Creek (Countryside), Willow Hill (Northbrook), and Robert A. Black (a Chicago city course on the far northside) a few times this year. I try to hit the driving range at Sportsman Park in Skokie as much as I can too. Where do you usually play?

Thanks for the recommendation, doublesuited. Based on your note, I played this course this weekend and really enjoyed it!

Hello everyone. After looking around the site and getting some great tips, I decided to sign up. I am a rookie golfer in Chicago. Just trying to play as much as I can this summer to get a feel for the game. I try to hit the range a couple times a week and have stuck to mostly 9 hole, 3-par courses so far. Looking forward to contributing to the site in the future.

Looks like Barry will be starting in the All Star Game. From espn.com: The Giants star overcame a 119,000-vote deficit in the final days of balloting and finished 123,000 ahead of the Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano on Sunday to claim the third and final starting outfield spot for the National League. I wonder how much this has to do with the game being held in his hometown. It seems like fans in every other city despise him.

I am a fairly novice golfer looking for course recommendations in the Chicagoland area (preferably Northern ‘burbs). Really looking for a no frills course where I can go work on my game (which needs a lot of work!). Any and all comments would be appreciated.

Playing a course for the first time a few years ago, I teed up last in my foursome. With 3 carts of people waiting and watching, I crush a drive that looked good for about 100 yards... unitl it suddenly hooked, cleared some trees lining the course, and bounced down a busy, four lane street. Everyone in my group - and those watching - were cracking up and watching the ball as it bounced down the street (somehow missing every car) unti it was out of site. I took a drop.

Business Development/Marketing for a General Contractor. Rookie golfer. Need to get better and more confident with my game - I pass up too many golf outings that could help me with networking.

I am a brand new golfer and want to work on my game alone so I don't embarrass myself too badly when I start playing with groups. I know that the answer to this question will varying greatly depending on where you are, but when is the best time during the summer to head out to my neighborhood muni (I’m planning on going to a 9 hole, par 3 course) and avoid running into a crowd? I typically work M-F, 8-5, but can take every other Friday off in the summer.