ryanf

Heading down to Fredericksburg with my wife's family on July 4th weekend and as hoping to play some golf. Best I can tell there only seems to be two courses in Fredericksburg - Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Golf Course and Boot Ranch. Boot Ranch seems to be fully private so that's probably out of the question (unless we've got TSP member here that would like to get me on!?). Anybody played Lady Bird Johnson Muny? Their website seems to be down right now but the town site gives the basic info. I need to call and make sure they are still operating. Any other ideas? I probably won't have a car all to myself and will be the only one golfing, so something within 15-20 minutes is probably required. TIA Ryan

Rickie is a great golfer with loads of potential but his hat is just plain stupid. I'm glad he likes it because I'm pretty sure he's the only one. He just looks like clown with that flat bill, over sized thing on his head.

Nothing this week (its an every-other weekend thing) but Iron Horse is on the schedule for 6/13.

Last summer I played La Playa twice (18 & 9) and it was very nice and VERY reasonably priced during the summer. It was a steal. http://www.laplayaresort.com/laplaya_golfclub.aspx I also played Heritage Bay ( http://www.golfheritagebay.com/sites...709&page;=39310 ). I liked La Playa better and its probably closer for you if you're in downtown Naples.

Has anybody heard whats going on with Sunday's round? We were supposed to play Bear Creek East.... ?? Thanks, Ryan

My 5w was magic. It did all sorts of stuff for me. Easily my favorite club in my bag...until I got a 3i hybrid and loved it so much I replaced my aging 5w with a 2h (17*). It's even better than the 5w. I'm not saying you should run out and change, just letting you know it can get better - even when its already great.

I imagine a good player could do it without too much trouble. I hit my 17* 2h about 215 and I'm not a long hitter. 250 may be on the long side but I wouldn't say it "not possible".

I just got a new set of irons (5-PW, Mizuno MX-300's) and really don't like the stock rubber grips. I've previously used and loved good tacky wrap grips. I'm going to change the irons over to a wrap grip but I'm not sure if I should change my 3 hybrids, 3w and D as well? On one hand, re-gripping is generally a good thing - I'd say most people play with worn out grips. The grips on my D though hybrids are all rubber as well, but they don't bother me like the stock Mizuno's do. I also don't want to upset the "feel" those clubs currently have. My driver probably needs a regrip, the hybrids probably too. The 3w is new but for constancy its probably best to do as well. Also, maybe its just me, but having the a wrap style grip on a driver just seems weird - even though I'm used to playing wraps on my irons for years! What do you do when you re-grip clubs - re-grip them all, or just the irons and have a mixed grip set?? Or both but use a traditional/stock rubber grip on the woods and possibly something else on the irons? Maybe I'm making a too big a deal out of this and should just regrip them all to the same - same feel *should* help consistency (well, at least it wouldn't hinder it).

I love my 2h. I hit it great off the tee or fairway, very straight. I don't carry a 5w anymore and just recently put a 3w back in my bag (was playing both a 4h and 4i and dropped the 4i, never used it) to fill the yardage gap from D to 2h.

Got my 6-iron today! Actually, I think it was on the front porch yesterday and I just didn't see it until this morning. Good looking club. I also *just* got the call from the PGA Tour Superstore...my new Mizuno MX-300's are in! It's Christmas!! I went last week and went through the whole fitting process. Mike (forgot his last name) was the guy who did the fitting and he was great, took tons of time and very helpful in the fitting process. It actually came down to the Burner vs. the MX-300's. Anybody in the north Dallas (Frisco) area that would like to try out the 6-iron let me know. It's got a stiff rated graphite shaft installed on it. I'm still going to try it out on the range (a real range) head-to-head again with the MX300's. Don't think it'll change anything but why not?

A Burger King wrapper must definitely considered as hazard along with the wrappers former contents. Whether its natural or part of THE hazard, I leave to your discretion. ;)

Just found this thread. I haven't played the course but it looks nice. Also appears they now have a driving range. Anybody played it recently and know how course conditions are?

Got the e-mail today saying the 6 iron is on the way, too! I'm excited to try it. I'm in the market for new irons - I was at the end of last season too. I hit the burners then and was expecting to love, as many people do (and I love my TM driver). But every time I hit them, or thought I hit them well, it felt so bad. The hits were ok (simulator at PGA Superstore) but it didn't have that feeling of a well struck shot. I hope the new one is better. I've not really hit a golf ball since November, but I need to get out and get some practice and do some serious shopping. It's time for me to replace my set. Maybe the Burner will help, certainly won't hurt.

So where does a ball from most of these places like Lostgolfballs.com fall? It's pre-owned, cleaned up but NOT stamped "refurbished". Are only "reconditioned" (those that are cleaned AND painted) stamped and categorized as "refurbished"? I would imagine used golf balls from places like lostgolfballs.com are not considered refurbished since the ball is only cleaned, which is permissible under the rules, and not "improved" (or refurbished) in any way by altering the actual composition of the ball (taking off the clear coat, painting, stamping, adding clear coat). I'm I reading the rules right?

I've purchased from them too. I generally find lostgolfballs.com to be a little cheaper and better selection though.

I'd recommend a good quality set of used but pretty modern clubs then go get the adjusted for lie/loft. The only thing you really need to know ahead of time what shaft length and stiffness you should be looking at, but any golf store with a simulator should be able to get you close enough. Then jump on eBay or the like and find a 3 year old used set in good shape for $150 or so from a REPUTABLE SELLER (example: 3balls.com, yo don't want new but cheap cause its fake stuff). After getting them go to your local store or shop and pay them $40-$50 or whatever to get the lie/loft adjusted for you. That will probably give you 95% of the benefits of new clubs at 1/2 or less of the cost. Then shave another 15 strokes and search again for clubs, then you might go with new clubs, but nice quality used can be a great value. Unless money is not a problem, buying new clubs at retail will cost you much more then the benefit you. A good used set that is fitted to you will do you so much good without the cost, save the difference for later when you really want to get a nice set.

I played a dozen Vapor's and really liked them. I've not used the TM Burner TP but I've used the TM TP Black's and thought they were about the same. The Vapor's probably lasted a little longer and didn't bite quite as much, but not a big difference. I think the Vapor is a really good mid-handicapper ball. Good distance, good durability, some spin but not too much to cut down on slices and hooks (reduced workability for the better player).

I've bought a lot from lostgolfballs.com and all but once have been impressed with the quality. The one time I did have a problem I ordered some TM TP Red and Black to compare. I had some TP Burners mixed in and then on top of that a handful did not look like quality was up to normal level. I called them and they made it right. I've been ordering from them for almost 2 years and the savings over new balls really adds up. Even if you do get a couple less then desired quality they are so much cheaper you still come out way ahead. I got through a lot fewer golf balls now then I did when I started ordering from them, so I buy nicer balls ow, but savings is still substantial and I have occasionally compared them to a new ball, couldn't tell a difference. You might be able to with scientific testing, but I think in the end the golf swing is so complicated that you'd be hard pressed to blame a problem on the ball being used vs. new.

I'm interested in these clubs too and would love to hear what people have to say. I hit them today @ PGA Superstore and they were quite nice.

I've known somebody that was/is a sex addict. Before that I would have easily written this off as an easy-out for Tiger. But I know it is real with the person I knew. The person is highly driven, very successful, very likable, everything going for them but they came this --->

I'd be interested as well. I'm recovering from a pretty serious illness, so I'm not going to be in playing shape for several months but would love to get going once I can swing a club again. I've not played most of the courses mentioned as I'm up north of Frisco but willing to venture out!! Great idea!

I've used other brushes before but finally last spring I bought the frogger and couldn't be happier. Great brush, groove cleaner, etc. The changeable head is awesome. On top of that the retractable cord and big handle make it so easy to use. Highly recommended!

Couple of questions. I've been considering getting new irons for a while now. I've hit some at the PGA Tour Superstore here and there over the past month or two but I'm not really in the best place to be testing out equipment (I've been sick for over a year, getting better now but I'm down almost 20% in weight (and I'm thin to begin with) and certainly have lost muscle and stamina along the way). I've hit a wide variety (AP1's, Ping G10's, Mizuno MP-57's & MX-300's, Nike VR splits, etc.) and haven't had an "oh wow" moment with any of them yet. It could have been because I'm out of practice and energy, could have just been the clubs. I'm currently using Titleist 822 OS irons and have had them for about 3 years. Great clubs! Went from a 25 handicap down to about a 13.5 last spring, running about a 14-15 now. I think I'm half stuck between being able to use more of a players iron and standard game improvement irons. I can't decide if I should concentrate on finding new irons that will help me take my game to the next level OR get professionally fit for my current irons (cost??) or get new equipment and fit at the same time. One of my 2010 goals is to get back to a healthy weight and increase my strength, as well as take my best shot at getting to an 11 or below handicap. In the late summer/fall I Was playing pretty well but just not getting things quite right for a break through. Improved my FIR, GIR, putting hovered about the same. GIR's might have increased but they weren't getting closer enough to the pin to be productive in dropping my score. My short game has improved tremendously and feel confident sticking short chips close, holing out once every couple of rounds and giving the hole a serious scare most of the time. One thing I really battled this last year were the "lefts" -- I would hit streaks of hitting the ball left. Not slices - I rarely slice. Straight shots just going 10-15 yards left of the target. I'm fairly aware of my swing and can self correct well. I worked it out pretty much (I think I was just developing a habit of getting lazy with my hands at the top of the swing) but I'm wondering if I've just covered an equipment problem with a swing change. That maybe getting fit and lie angle adjustments would work best. The "lefts" still creep back here and there for a shot or two, very frustrating. I'm also very interested in exploring graphite shafts as a way to reduce club weight (since I'm down on strength) and fatigue. But are graphite shafts really any lighter than steel shafts these days? I know there have been advancements in both. I truly don't care what I hit as long its going to work best for me. Just not sure which way to go - sink money in new clubs, club fitting, or both?? Just looking for direction. Ryan

That's news to me! Cool.

Has anybody ever tested the accuracy of the cell phone/iphone GPS apps? I think you'd find they are fine for driving around in your car but if you're looking to find out if your approach shot is 92 yards or 107 yards it's far less than ideal. The cell tower gps deal just isn't as precise. One round I was out with my OnPar a guy that played with us had his ipone app gps (not sure which) and we compared a couple of times. The distances were usually about 5 or so yards different. The one time I checked my OnPar was using 16 satellites at that moment. I can't imagine needing much more precision without a large bomb tied to the GPS. I don't have any real technical evidence, but I'd trust the satellite gps over the cell gps every time. It'd be interesting to test some different normal GPS units, cell phone apps, and laser range finders all at the same time.