Prosup

Actually, it isn't that good of fight, more misinformed. The reason the ESC was set up was not to fight inflated handicaps, it can actually be traced to Augusta where the elite membership would only take a maximum double bogey on any hole, more to speed up play than anything. Dean Knuth took that concept applied false logic and created the ESC. I had the good fortune to tee it up this year on the Old Course with three members of the R&A; and all three well remember the strong arm and arrogant presentation made by the USGA to get the R&A; to support the ESC. It did not work. The question was asked ,"How could I possibly argue ESC? The USGA says it so it is. I think I have heard that same arguement in court. Just cus they say so doesn't make it right and it certainly is not fair. Then the question was asked,"What other rules of golf do you not follow?" Handicaps are not a rule of golf, in fact appendix III specifically states" The rules of golf do not legislate for the allocation and adjustment of handicaps." Individual unions throughout the world decide, so sorry the ESC is not universally accepted or used. So to answer the question, I follow every rule of golf. Lastly, the definition of potential is;that can, but has not yet come into being; possible, latent, unrealized or undeveloped. Nothing to do with succeed or not succeed, could be either way. Truly, post any score that makes you feel good. I haven't read anything here that disproves that the ESC is a disservice to golf.

Uhm no, potential goes in both directions. Ask any Pro as he ages, his potential goes to higher scores. I'm well aware of the history of ESC and the documentation and arguments. It was and is false logic, just as it's expressed here. ESC does a disservice to each golfer, by not recognizing the complexity of the game. It's no more than sanctioned cheating; if you tee off and hit a ball into the water, you take a penalty stroke and are now hitting three , it goes in the green side bunker, you take two to get out (remember Jack took five to get out of Hell's bunker)and three putt for eight. A low handicapper only has to post a seven, eliminating the penalty stroke for the water shot. That's cheating the rules of golf. Remeber the R&A; does not support ESC handicapping. It was the USGA falling to false logic and bloated ego's. Just because they say so does not make it right and in fact it is wrong.

A representation of your potential is it? Then lets follow that incorrect logic to the other side; If I were to get an eagle, which does not happen to 11 and above handicappers, I should only be able to post a birdie, that's my true potential. Even more ridiculously should a twenty or above get a hole in one, they should only be able to post or birdie or even a par,"a representation of their potential". I think the ESC was developed by low handicappers with inflated egos who couldn't bear the idea that they too get an occasional eight or nine or more. Just like us all. So called blow-up holes are just as much a part of the game as great holes.

Sorry, I can't think of a single valid reason for ESC scoring. It's phoney handicapping not true.

First off, congrats on making scratch. I know that has to be tough to do and maintain I always understood the purpose of the handicap system was to put people on en even playing field, your having to give strokes is really a further compliment of your talent. My biggest complaint of the handicap system is the ESC. Which for you means you can't post anything over a six, means I can't post anything over a seven. Which is baloney. I count every stroke and post it and yes maybe five or six times a year I have an eight or so. The USGA say you aren't suppose to post those. They are wrong, bad holes are just as much a part of golf as good holes.

I used my Ping eye 2 persimmon from 1993 until about a year ago. For a long time I saw no reason to go to a metal wood. I wasn't hitting it as far as some but it was always straight. Tried a generic metal wood last year ($29.99) Liked it, so I bought a G5 off the internet for $175. Two of my golf partners bought the R7, I keep with them and often a little farther because the G5 is pretty straight. Now there's the G10(what happen to 7,8and 9?) I'm hanging with the G5. As long as you are hitting it why change?

Mine was very easy to remeber, because it has only happened once (so far) and it was on a par four where I pitched in from 135 yards. What makes it even more special was it was one of the few times my wife was walking along with me (she doesn't golf but walks along occasionaly) I jumped and yelled, she said "there's not much to this is there?'

I just did a visit to Scotland, let me tell you there are wonderful opportunities for fun and good golf. I was in St.Andrews,Dufftown and Glasgow and everywhere in between. If you are just starting golf, always remeber it's suppose to be fun and I met some extremely generous and wonderful folks while there. So enjoy the game and remeber its a game.

I have the Ping G-5 12 degree. Understand that up until 8 months ago I was still hitting a Ping persimmon eye two, which probably is what 100cc,and I loved it. Truth be told, people were hitting farther than me. I saw no reason to get a metal wood, what I'm suddenly going to the senoir tour? My golf partner convinced me I need to go metal, so I did. My clubs are Ping so I went Ping. Truth be told I hit about fifty yards farther, but of course this fouls up my whole course strategy.

I never understood the popularity of Bud in any form, it always left an after taste that made me want a piece of cheese to clean my palate. My son loves it, but he's cheap and has the taste of a sailor on shore leave after four months at sea. I drink Lowenbrau and have to order it special because South Florida is addicted to Bud and Corona. Another beer that makes no sense, if you have to add lime to it to make it drinkable maybe they need to do a little more at the brewery. Lowenbrau has been brewed since 1383, so they do have some history. If you can find the dark ,hoard it!

I recently played the Old and New courses at St.Andrews. Enough said they are why we play. I also had the opportunity to play a course in Dufftown Scotland. I was there to visit the Glenfiddich distillery and there is this course one mile out of town that boast of having the highest golf hole in Scotland. So I had to play. Be forwarned, no power carts, you walk, pull carts okay. It is a trek and the course was in marvelous shape. The view from the number nine tee box is spectacular and you will appreciate the strenenous climb and challenging holes on your way up. What you will appreciate even more is the number ten tee box. At least a three hundred foot drop in elevation.I could have stood there and hit a bucket of balls into space on this par four. There's only one pub in town and if you like Scotch, workers from the local distilleries(there are nine)can give you a lesson. My Bed and Breakfast was two blocks away so the walk was easy.

Interesting question, because I have the opportunity to play a variety of courses in different countries and areas. I normally play in Florida, which is not known for its changes in ekevation, so they make up for it with water and bunkers. But ob the majority of courses they have side by side fairways so you can hit an errant shot and still recover easily from one and sometimes two fairways over. I also had the opportunity to play some mountain courses in British Columbia where an errant shot right or left usually resulted in a lost ball penalty and the chance to be eaten by a bear. I also played in Scotland where the rough was up to my belly button and the sand traps were as difficult to climb into as they were to hit out of. My low in Florida is a 76, my high is 88. In Britsh Coulmbia 88 and 98. In Scotland I played three courses (Old, New,Dufftown)83,83,83. That's the wonderful thing about gold, every course is unique, whether it's a cow pasture in middle America or a resort course in Maui, if your game is on you can conquer them all, if not you come back tomorrow. That's also why the USGA's ESC is baloney, it's a disservice to golf.

I have a lot of respect for Lee Trevino and one of the things that he said that always remained with me was,"I tee it up at every opportunity, if I could tee it up in the fairway I would." While I don't tee it up in the fairway, on the tee box; pitching wedge or driver, I tee it up.

August 14, 2007 at 10:10 I was standing on the tee box at the Old Course in St.Andrews. I had arrived at 5:10 in the morning to the starters box as a single golfer and was called at 9:50 to make the foursome with three R&A; members. I hit my first tee shot solid to the left towards Swilcan bridge, then took a six iron, another solid hit, one bounce onto the green and a two putt par on the #1 hole at St. Andrews. I can still remember every shot of that round. I played as good as I can play, twice in the infamous bunkers and two sandies, solid drive on the road hole over the garden and par'd that hole to even the match. I shot an 83. Walking off the 18th green I sat down on those famous steps between #1 and #18 for at least a half hour and cherished the round; playing with members, perfect weather and good golf.

I don't know that Jack had tougher competion Phil and Ernie probably would have been as successful against him as Tom and Chi-Chi. Would Tom and Chi-Chi have been any more successful against Tiger? I doubt it.