Putridgasbag

You want to understand putting? Read Pelz's Putting Bible. Everything you wanted and didn't want to know about putting. Made me a better putter and I don't get as upset about the missed ones, though I can't help but think about donuts every time I see the hole.

Ours has a couple of holes with tees that aren't listed on the card. Our short par 3 that topped out at 127 yards has a non listed tee that plays an insane 161. Luckily that one isn't used that often as the green is made for wedge shots not mid irons. The 18th has a tee that turns a reasonably tough 363 yard par 4 into a really tough 400 yarder. The course also has a lot of dog legs and elevation changes and can be quite tricky for distances, some holes play longer and others shorter than the yardage. GPS sure has made it easier.

I hate advertising on my covers or anything for that matter. Currently I have a bear and a skunk covering the driver and the 3 wood respectfully. I have had the nickname Bear (or versions of) since I was 12 or so and I always have at least one bear on the clubs. The skunk was from the kids. I think it is a statement of some sort :)

I don't disagree and believe that it is the fault of the system for allowing casual rounds to count. Lots of free programs to track casual rounds, the so called official one should be used for tournaments. Better chance that rounds would be scrutinized and attested and a player called out for fudging the score.

Except for the part where he states under the rules of golf and handicap. So really rushing isn't against the rules and is a subjective thing thus as long as you pick the ball out of the hole and record the number you meet both criteria. Again you can rush any shot and just because it is a 3 footer doesn't make it anything more than a bad choice on the golfers part.

Do not know if I am nuts but I do organize my bag and pockets the same for every round, though I do it mainly because I don't like searching for stuff during a round. Clubs go in the bag in the same place they came out, I like being able to glance at the bag and see that all clubs are accounted for. Left one behind many years years ago and didn't like it and would like to not have a repeat of that and the bonus is it makes pulling a club quick when the decision is made. Balls and current glove share a pocket with a bag with tees, ball markers and ball mark repair tools. I always have spare markers and repair tools. Wallet, keys and other daily life pocket crap has it's own pocket. Phone (ringer off) has it's own pocket as I use it for yardages. Rain gear, cold weather gear, all have a place when needed. Right pocket has one ball, tees, ball mark repair tool, two ball markers with one being a casino chip style and the other a small metal one that attaches to the repair tool. One ball only carrying two gives the ball in play the wrong message. Start the round with a handful of tees and keep broken ones for the par 3s and short 4's where driver is not required. Repair tool is currently is one I found a couple of years ago with a bear on it. Seemed to be made for me as my nickname since grade school is...well....Bear. The big marker gets used for long putts that aren't near anybody's line. I hate having trouble seeing my marker when I am taking a look at a long putt and conversely I hate when someone uses a small dark marker as I have a hell of a time seeing them. Small marker is one of the little magnetic type and has the Canucks logo on front and blank on the back, perfect when close to hole and near peoples line. Always mark the ball in the same way and if required to move the marker I flip it over so the logo doesn't show. Left pocket gets the glove when putting and chipping, do not like it in back pocket for some reason. Back right is scorecard and pencil. Most of what I do has evolved over the years and is usually to make the game go smoother and quicker for me.

Well two are cheating and two are not and if you have to ask which you shouldn't be asking the question.

While I agree with you on most parts I do have a quibble with the highlighted part. I believe that most people change the way they play in a casual round as opposed to a tournament round. I know I do and I don't see it as a problem except for the handicap. Tournament rounds will see me mark most if not all of my putts, usually make a more conservative choice on the tee and generally play a tighter game than in a casual round. Casual rounds will see me more talkative and social, way more willing to try a low percentage shot and more likely a lot less worried about what I shot. Casual rounds are for the most part played with a buddy or three and the stress factor for most shots is really low. Tournament rounds are a different kettle of fish to me. I enjoy both but I prepare and approach both in a totally different way, I would not think of playing a tournament round without a full warm up. Played a lot of casual rounds where the only warm up is on the first tee and the first putt is on the first green.

Had that happen a few times. People who get caught up so much with the pace of play when it is slow and they let it get to them. I prefer a steady, fairly brisk pace but you can't always get what you want. When I go to a course I know there is a possibility that it could take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours depending on a lot of factors. Played with guys who really, really let it get under their skin and their negative attitude and energy can be hard to counter. If you have a can't miss appointment scheduled maybe the choice to golf was the wrong one. I suppose though the guy(s) who bother me the most on the course are the exact opposite. I hate being in the group which can be pointed at as the slow one and not really being able to do anything about it. If you see we are falling behind the group in front and falling behind the pace of play guidelines you might want to think about picking up the pace. Playing ready golf, getting to your ball and not worrying too much about the honours, at least until we get back into position. Doesn't usually happen the getting back in position and you fall a little farther back with each passing hole while the slow golfers play... well.... slow.

Sandbagging- What is Permitted?.... and that there folks is why the handicap system is a joke. Jumping back on the dead horse and beating it some more, my belief is that handicaps kept by the governing body of game should be tournament rounds only. Playing only casual rounds? Lots of free places to keep track of your handicap, you really don't need an "official" number. It is to the point that our weekly Saturday mens morning tournament has its own handicap and I know this to be a very common at other clubs. Did this at my club a little while ago. Went to the trophy case and looked at the low net trophies and noted multiple winners. Found the guy who had his name the most on the trophies and looked up his rounds for the last few years. Amazing how many of his best rounds were in tournaments or club competitions. If you ask him he just really concentrates when their is something on the line. Handicap committee? Not much of one I am afraid and again this isn't that uncommon at a lot of clubs. We have a good handicap committee doing the Saturday and its associated competitions but everyday committee... nope.

Just got them this year. Driver 8.5* Titleist 910 D3, 3 wood Titleist 13.5 910F, Wedges Vokey TVDs 54*, 58* and irons 2-PW Titleist 681s. Just finished fitting the irons and wedges to me and I couldn't be happier. Two separate deals for a total of $500. Cheaper than when I used to put component clubs together :)

One of the things that has helped me try and eliminate the blow up hole is getting a number, for me it is 115, a smooth PW. When I get in trouble I first look at getting to the green or just short. If the odds are not good my next look is getting to this distance. I am better from 100 to 130 (W, PW, 9) than I am with the partial shots inside of 100. From the 115 range I save more pars and limit the damage to bogey way more often than I would trying to force something into the green.

It really depends on what your definition of an average weekend warrior is. I know guys who play very little and shoot low, and guys who play daily and couldn't break a 100 even if they quit after 15. Who is the mythical average weekender?

I use two sets. The set I have had for awhile and play when money is on the line are Titleist DCI 981 copies that I play better with than any other set of clubs I have owned. This spring I picked up a set of Titleist 681s which I had reshafted to match the other set. Being a skinny little blade I take them out and use them to really hone my ball striking. Miss hit with those puppies and you really know it! Play a couple of rounds with the 681s and then when I go back to the other set it almost feels like cheating... :)

Well considering at most courses you start near the clubhouse and have a halfway shack/ clubhouse after 9, you really are only talking about having to cover 2 hours between visits to a stationary cart. So if you need more than 1 visit to the cart each nine then you have problems and at most courses I have been to the chances are you will see the cart a couple of times a 9. I can only imagine the problems of running a cart randomly around a course or getting stuck behind a group in which they call for it 5 or 6 times in 9 holes.

Oh yes you are. It is when golf is more about the cart girl, where rules are made up on the fly because they don't know or don't care to know the rules... I suppose I didn't really explain it very well. I have a hard time with a handicap system that basically puts the same weight into scores that are shot with no pressure while out wandering on the course with the buddies. Games where shots that really wouldn't be played if the score mattered or had something riding on it. Heck I am as guilty of this as the next guy. Nothing on the game I am going for a lot of stupid shots, trying stuff, having fun. Then there is the group of guys who fluff it up, nudge and roll and all the other crap. Casual rounds that count towards your handicap are the home of the Sandbagger and the Vanity 'cap guy. It is to the point that at my club at the Saturday Morning Members event there is a separate handicap kept with only those scores. Why? Because there is money involved and obviously nobody trusts the handicap kept with the Grand Poohba's of the game. Know what I trust the Saturday 'cap number a heck of a lot more than I do the one on the computer. I could go on and on but I seemed to have strayed a little from the original topic.

You can count me in the group who thinks you are lucky that you got credit with the course. Let me see you went out on a Friday early afternoon and you knew it was busy because you were offered your choice of 2 tee times over an hour apart. Hell if I show up at a course around these parts at that time I would be lucky to get out and if I did I would be betting it would be slow out there with a full sheet out on the course. Pesky other people playing golf how dare they. I have never been to a course that warns you that it could be slow out there because there are golfers on the course. Really you are pissed that golfers were on the course and that you and your buddy couldn't buzz around the course in minutes flat?!?! Oh noes they are walkers!?!? Really. You took it upon yourself to jump around the holes because you felt entitled to? If I was in a group that teed off a couple of hours before you and saw you zip in front of me I would be pissed at you and your buddy. I still can't figure out what you expected at a course that is charging 20 bucks for a round. You want to play on an course unencumbered with golfers it is going to cost a lot more than 20 bucks. First there will be the initiation fee.....

Oh boy the drunks on the course can get the cart there more often. Really how often do you need to see the cart in an 18 hole round? If you need the cart more than a couple of times in a round then maybe you should be sitting at the bar watching golf on the big screen rather than trying to play it.

It would seem that too many player's enjoyment of the game is tied to the number they shoot. For some reason shooting a 98 sounds better than 100 and something even if it was scored by breaking rules. Best way to avoid the whole problem would be to do handicaps the way the rest of the world does it outside of North America where a handicap is only calculated on tournament rounds. If you are playing for shits and giggles a handicap is meaningless so why bother.

Chalk me up as another happy Swing By Swing user.

No the A-hole was you. If you hit a ball towards or even close to any other player yell "fore". It amazes me how many times balls land within the vicinity and you here the excuse "I knew it wouldn't hit you". BS you have no idea how the ball is going to react when it hits the ground, how it is going to bounce. Give the guy a chance to protect himself, you sure would like that courtesy so why wouldn't you extend it to him? It is like some people are scared to yell fore and by yell I mean loud enough that the possible victim of the errant shot can here it, yell it like you mean it. Errant shots happen, it is part of the game, so there should be no embarrassment in yelling fore, yet a lot of players seem to be tongue tied or meek in informing others that the ball is heading in their vicinity.

Around these parts winter rules come into effect well in the winter. We get rain, a lot of rain and no matter how much the course spends of drainage there will be some parts of the year where if the rules weren't modified you wouldn't be able to play. Don't get me wrong I would much prefer to play ball down for longer and Lift, Clean & Cheat less than we do but since money is on the line I will take advantage of whatever rules are posted. Call it winter golf or not real golf if you prefer but it is a necessity if you want a reason to walk around the course during the grey months. Casual water is only one small part of the problem of playing through the winter here. Mud is probably the number one problem. Ever tried to hit a ball that is literally covered in mud while it sits on a bed of mud? Trust me it would not be worth getting out of bed for. Add to that saturated grass that isn't growing much and can not support the weight of the ball. As for mowing....

Agreed. I never have understood the just move it off the rocks, roots and don't worry about it thought process. If you don't want to scratch your precious clubs then take an unplayable. There seems to be too much worry about the score as if the person's self worth was tied to how well they shot on the day. I equate it to taking mulligans, who are you really fooling. Take score and add 2 for every mulligan. Trust me your kids and dog will love ya just the same. It is just a game.

I agree. One of the things I hate when I ride is being with just the one person for most of the day and having to play logistics golf with them. I really enjoy walking and being able to interact with the the other three in the group at random. Having all your clubs available to you on all shots is also a good thing. Seems that when I ride there is always one or two shots that I end up hitting were I don't have the club I want and the cart is far enough away that I hit it with what I brought.

I walk and carry 99 times out of a hundred. The only times I take a cart is if it the course requires it or if it is impractical to walk the course. To me Golf is a sport when walking and a leisure activity when riding.