Stuart

My goal by year's end is to be a single digit handicapper. If I can move from 13 to a 9 or 8 I will be happy. I would ideally like for my bad days to be no worse than an 85 and my good days to be down around 75.

10 months. My Father who doesn't play golf really, invited me out for a round last October. I went out and it was pretty cool. I got hooked pretty much immediately and have been addicted ever since. I try to play at least 4 times a week, though I usually only play 18 holes twice a week, the other times I usually play 9. It's been a hell of a learning experience. Looking back on it, I'd recommend to anybody starting out to get lessons immediately. Even if its just a few, to set you up with the right fundamentals. I only got my grip sorted out last week. I seem to learn things everytime I go out. So far this is just one of those games, where you don't stop learning. And that's the beauty of it. I've played racket sports (tennis and squash) at the collegiate and semi-pro level, but wanted something that I didn't have a history with already. But I do wish I had started earlier.

I would try the 755's before you get the 775's. You will be very surprised how easy it is to hit the 755's and the feel is awesome.

Titleist 755's Trispec S. Unbelievable irons. Absolutely love them. Would recommend them to anybody with a 15 or less handicapp.

Titleist 907D2 with UST Proforce 76 S. This club is pretty awesome. I love how it looks when you address the ball. That square look gives me a lot of confidence. I started out with the Ping Rapture. It is also a great club and has one of the nicest sounds of any driver I've heard, but I didn't like how it looked at address compared to the Titleist. In my limited experience, once you are comfortable with how it looks at address, it's ALL about the shaft.

I have the Scotty Newport Studio 2 and absolutely love it. I've been playing golf for about 10 months now, and started out using the Odyssey 3 ball. I used to hate putting, but after trying a friend's Scotty, I realized that I hated my old putter. I'm still not what I'd call a great putter, but last week I didn't three putt once, in three rounds. For me, that's great. :)

I use my 60 degree for bunker shots and whenever I need to flop a shot in a tight situation. My only problem is that sometimes when I use it from 60-70 yards out, I tend to balloon it and drift it a bit right, when my usual shot is a slight draw.

Yep. It's a very strange game. But people are even stranger. Why when we are playing so great, do we start then thinking about what we're doing. Who hasn't heard that you're supposed to play one shot at a time and not worry about your score? I guess we've all experienced doing what we're not supposed to do. I shot even par on my home course for the front 9 a few weeks back, and then inexplicably shoot 8 over for the back 9. And naturally the back 9 is easier than the front. To add insult to injury, a couple days later, I decide to play the back 9 first, and shoot a pretty good 6 over. Moving on to the front 9 I shoot even par through 7. Standing on the tee box of 8, I decide to add up my scores. Elated that I'm actually doing very well, I say to myself, don't mess this up. Naturally I shank the ball off onto the previous fair way for a bogey, followed by a double on 9. Gotta love it.