Brandonink2001

Richmond is home for me, and I used to own a home in New Kent on Brookwoods golf course. I live in Lynchburg now, but second that course, along with Belmont. The latter was host for a pretty big-deal PGA event many years ago and has a bit of pedigree, though you'd only know by looking at the photos in the clubhouse. Its a good course, and might offer a few photo opps. Knowing its history is the best part though. If you're going out to New Kent (15 minutes from downtown RIC), you might as well play Royal New Kent or Brickshire, in that order. I was in RIC today for a golf outing at the Stonehenge Golf & Country Club and it was superb. I wore a short sleeve windshirt for half the round and a no-wind jacket for the rest. Its supposed to warm up later in the week though. Welcome back to golfing.

Yes! I would also point your attention to knowing how to treat situations where you ball is in a lateral hazard vs. water hazard/playable vs. penalty/drop plus penalty vs. re-tee vs. penalty.

Racquetball

I am very curious; curious enough that I couldn't even simply NOT answer: why on earth are you asking about shoe size? I am sincerely curious. Sorry for not having a nicer way to ask, but I can't fathom why shoe size matters to anyone? Are you really asking where people with larger feet buy shoes?

The previous poster cited 775s not 755s, which you reference. You may have meant 775s, but as you wrote it, you haven't disputed the claim.

Poplar Grove in Amherst, VA. Every hole presented a different challenge. Conditioning was so superior to everything else in this area right now, it was almost like I had left the state and arrived at a resort course somewhere down south. Keswick in C'ville might be the only fair comparison from what I have heard, but as a disclaimer, I admit I have never played there. Split fairways on two holes, amazing greens that were lightning fast despite being watered, lots of elevation changes, GPS on the cart and no two holes replicated. This is one tough challenge, but it was SO fun I didn't even get mad as my score just blew through the roof. There's more water than I expected, but it works wonderfully. Downsides: extensive work on the 18th hole rendered it unplayable in my opinion, but the club says its playable. They let us replay the first and second holes in exchange, so great service attitude made up for construction; no hospitality cart at all the Friday we played; right now there are not many homes on the course, but with the views and caliber of this course, plus aggressive marketing of the homesites and community, that will change within a few years. Play this one before it gets overdeveloped. The clubhouse is also quite small and under-stocked in my opinion. Do any of the downsides matter in the balance of the equation: NO! I would bring my own snacks, forego fancy merchandise and posh club features for the golf. Its the GOLF, ladies and gentlemen, and on that count, this place rocks. Bring a couple extra balls, a snack, your patience, and bring your camera. And for $55 you can't beat that with a stick. If you live in, or are passing through the Charlottesville-Lynchburg, or even Richmond area, make time to play this course if you can. I know I can't wait to get back, and luckily its in my back yard.

I have been craving the white Titleist "Japan Only" stand bag on eBay ,but I can't see $280 (shipping included) just to have a sexy white bag with black accents. But its still tempting, even at that exorbitant price. I do wish these fcompanies really did become global and give everyone access to everything they offer. I would be willing to pay a slight premium to special order something from my local shop. Oh well.

You guys aren't comparing apples to apples. Nike is a company, Titleist is a brand. Acushnet, which owns Titleist, Cobra, FootJoy, etc. is by far the most dominant company in golf. Their brands compete against entire companies nicely, but when you aggregate it under the Acushnet company's umbrella, its a no-brainer, I think.

Fred Couples Ernie Els Adam Scott

If you're truly trying to lower your score, new clubs that are less forgiving that what you already have is the wrong direction. If what you really want is to justify new clubs (you didn't say that, I am pretending you think like me), just do it. I can tell you that the only thing that has helped my game (and it did it fast), were lessons followed by lots of practice. I have been playing 12 years and took my first lesson this year. The knowledge and understanding of what is happening during my swing and what I should feel when things are being done properly are invaluable. New clubs could never help me with that. They'd only cause different reactions to my old swing flaws.

I did my golf trip to MB in February 2007, 17-19 or something like that. It was forecast to be in the low 60s, but it if got above 60, the wind chill factor made it feel 10 degrees cooler. Also, it was blustery. As a hardcore shorts-wearer on the golf course (gotta be downright brutal for me to don long pants), I spent three days in long slacks or windpants. It was acceptable golf weather, but a LONG way from beach weather, I am afraid.

Just had to say hi. My brother in law was a member there when he worked for Sprint in Warsaw. We would drive over from Columbus frequently and play on that windy devil of a course. Good times. Small world.

God Bless the Onion! Besides, if this were legit journalism, they would have quoted Rory, right?

Within a couple years of starting to play golf, I was out with a favorite group of about eight rank hackers who talked professional-level trash, but couldn't par a hole if they played 8-man captain's choice. Well, one day I was teeing up on a 138 yard par three and the rest of the foursome stood 20 feet away and slightly ahead of me. They were pretty closely bunched. I take a might swing and my tee ball goes ZIPPING ferociously dead toward these guys. Now I weigh 280 and am a former college wrestler. I used to swing HARD. The ball literally weaved its way through the group, missing my best buddy by centimeters. He swears he tasted the golf ball as it careened by his nostril hairs and deep into the woods behind them. After a stunned silence of a couple seconds, everyone fell on the ground in hysterics. But no one stood near the tee box again that round.

+1 on Shindig's comment. I also enjoy the serenity of a course, and the fact that its about the only time I can enjoy the type of challenge, locker room talk and camaraderie like I did when I was a competitive athlete.