tmker

I play in tournaments and find myself doing the same thing that you have described. After really getting pissed at myself for several weeks, I've adopted a new philosophy that seems to be helping. 1. I record my score, but never add anything up until after the round. 2. I play one hole at a time, not front 9, back 9, just each hole as it comes. 3. Every shot, wherever I'm hitting from, is the only shot that I care about at the time. This has helped me change the chain of hole blow-ups and confine them to one hole. I'm often able to par or bogey after suffering an 8 or 9. Earlier in the season, an 8 on a 5 turned into a 7 on the next 4 and a 5 on the next 3. That seems to have disappeared. Just do your best on the shot that you are about to hit! That's all you can do!

Playing in a Golf Channel Amateur event yesterday in Round Rock Texas, at Forest Creek Golf Club, aced the 17th hole (112 yds) with a 3-quarter nine iron!!! The ball landed 4 feet short and released, then hung on the lip for a long time before dropping! We were the last group of the day and the Tournament Director and course Pro were standing behind the green waiting to pull the "closest to the pin" marker. That was a first for me!!!

I agree with the comment that he needs some time on the Nationwide tour. He won tournaments on the minor tours, so he knows how to finish the deal. Heck, with the purses what they are on the Nationwide, he could actually make a good long term living without ever needing to make it back to the big leagues. When I was watching Q School last year, I remember hearing that the qualifyers were guaranteed endorsements worth over $160,000 - enough to pay expenses for the year. So for the people asking how the journeymen can make it on "The Tour", this is a big part of it. I've been going to the Texas Valero open for the past couple of years and even the guys you never heard of have full bag sponsors and shirts/hats full of logos. Each logo means money (I used to race autos and know the value of the "little squares"). After expenses, how many of you could live and thrive on base revenue of $160,000 per year? More than you would think!

I had a green installed last year by a great company, Texas Greens By Design. They have installed several in the Austin area for a variety of tour pros. My green is 15' wide, 45 to 51 feet long (the last six feet is a "chipping collar" on one side). The green is NOT like concrete. I can chip to it from across the yard and spin the ball to stop. They were able to adjust the speed to coincide pretty closely to the local public courses that I play in North Austin and Round Rock. I can't remember the exact rating, but I believe the installer told me that it rolled to about a 9 on the stimp meter. Any time I want slower, I simply spray it down with the hose! Five holes in three tiers and the landscaping they did is great (it sits along the back fenceline behind a pool and tropical garden. There's no maintenance, except to take a blower and knock leaves off, etc. The wife and I installed perimeter lighting (like sidewalk lighting) last winter and it was really neat being able to go out after dark and have fun or practice! Does it work? Up to last year, I used to three putt about half of the holes that I played. Now, I'm down to about 1 or 2 per round, a significant improvement. My chipping has stayed consistent (I've not had major problems in this area) and I am very confident that I can make those 6 to 9 footers for par at the course. It's amazing the difference when you can tell yourself "this is just like the putt I make every night at home". I wanted a green my entire adult life and now I have one. I think it's the best golf money I've ever spent!

Last winter, I had an artificial surface installed by "Texas Greens". It's 15' by 47', three tiers and five holes. The best money I've ever spent (talking golf here). They adjusted the speed of the green to match the public courses I play in the Austin area...it's wonderful! Also has "fringe" for chipping. When I want to slow things down, I just get out the hose and wet 'er down. Heck, even my wife putts! On the course, the results are beginning to show. I used to three putt about half of the holes I played. That's been reduced to between one and 2 per round (that's 6 strokes!!!!!). It was expensive to have installed, but in my mind...the best golf money ever spent. Parties, neighbors, even hours working alone on my short game. It's definitely gotten me off of the couch in the evenings! Wife and I even installed perimeter lighting for fall and winter evenings! Best golf money ever spent!!!!!!!

I really wasn't pulling for anyone until I noticed that big Don, double D, Don Donatello was caddying! Then I started pulling for Axley! I don't know how anyone else feels, but I enjoyed Don's passion for the game displayed in both "Big Break" series that he was in. I hope that he succeeds (big time) as a looper and I look forward to seeing him at the Valero Texas Open in October - if just to say "hi" at the putting green (where the caddies congregate) before the day's round. For those that have a chance to go to a tournament, hang around the putting green near the caddies and you'll hear everything that's going on "on the tour" - from their perspective, of course!

While I enjoy playing with a group of people that I know, on a day when I simply have time to hit the course, I prefer to play alone to playing with someone that I don't know. I usually turn the course "waits" into practice sessions, pitching balls from the fairway or rough toward the 100 posts, etc. Then when it's time to hit the green I go for it...then move on. Here in Texas, there are times in the summer when nobody is on the course in the afternoon. The "hot" doesn't bother me, so I love to play on those days. If not pushed, I'll often play two balls (yellow vs white) and essentially play two full rounds (no mulligans with either color). Those are the days I really like!!!

1. Leave your ego at home, let it rest for a few days. 2. Pack an open mind full of desire to learn. 3. Do whatever the instructors tell you to do (they'll tinker with grip, stance, ball position, backswing, followthrough, etc. Do what they say... it won't feel right, but do it anyway! On day two, it really wont feel right, remember you left your ego at home and do it anyway! 4. Resolve in your own mind that you're going home with a system to improve your game - write down the resolve that you have to continue doing what they told you to do until it begins to feel right, which will be awhile! Otherwise, all of the money you spent on the school will be wasted!

I obtained an MBA from Boston University - online. Highly recommended. I previously tried U of P but was really disappointed in quality of participation of group members in team projects, which are a big part of online courses. At BU, perhaps the tuition culled some of those types of students and I found the team aspect to be very challenging. Get ready to write - - alot! I would do it again. Hey, there's always the doctoral program!

Now that I no longer have to commute to work in LA, I'm shooting for 40 rounds this year. I haven't exceeded 10 for each of the last 5 years.

Have seen both up close. Natalie has that "I was up too late" look on her face. Problem with Paula is that she's heading for that "giant pear" shape that seems to inflict much of the LPGA. I guess a strong foundation makes for a better swing in the long term! Get Paula while she's young!

I just moved from LA. Some of the favorites north of town were: Lost Canyons (Simi Valley) Malibu CC. Valencia TPC (great hill course with most blind shots - use your Sky Caddy!) Robinson Ranch (Santa Clarita) If you've never played a TPC course, try Valencia - - it's an experience!

Thanks for the information! I plan on re-establishing my handicap over the next two months and join the Austin/San Antonio section in April.

Anyway, a tip I saw on Golf TV from (I think) Padraig Harrington that you might also find helpful. I tried this the next day and it was GREAT for making not only a proper release, but for making a full weight shift from my right to left side. I now do it at least 10 times with driver every time I go to the range. Tee up a ball 6 inches or so outside your front foot. In other words, 6 inches down the line. In order to hit it, you have to keep the club coming in low, and with the face square for longer than usual. The first few swings you may miss it completely (I sure did, MORE than a few times.) But after a bit you learn that in order to hit the stupid thing you have to make an exaggerated weight shift to the left and keep the club on line a lot longer than you normally might. You really get the feeling of "throwing" the clubhead out there like the magazines are always telling us to do. If you turn your wrists over and release too early, you haven't got a chance. If you can finally nail this drill, you'll know you released properly. When you return to your normal ball position it may look odd at first, but if you can recreate the feeling you had during the drill it should straighten out your hook and maybe even add some yards. I saw this drill on the Golf Digest website and tried it on the range this week, teeing the ball 12 inches forward of my front heel. After three or four shots, I could consistently hit the ball straight and just over 200 yards carry. Then when I went back to the proper tee position, my shots flew straight! I have been fighting a slice for a couple of months and can't wait to get back on the course, try the drill again, then use the driver on the first tee...

Is anyone a member of one of the Golf Channel's amateur tours? I have a local tour in the Austin/San Antonio area and would like to get back competing in tournaments (flights based on handicap). I would like to know about the tournament formats, etc. Are they fun to play in? Do you compete with the same people from event to event? Do the courses treat you in a friendly manner or as a distraction? Any information that anyone might provide will be appreciated! Tom

Now that I live in the south, I really take advantage of the year-round season! This past sunday, I spent 2 hours at the range hitting drivers and long irons, then went home and practiced my short game on my backyard green. Sure beats the years in Chicago and Ohio chipping and putting in the basement! With that said, for anyone living in the tundra (ok, anything north of "the south"), use the winter to putt, chip and repeat. If you spend the time now, your short game will be much improved when you venture to the course in the spring! Now, it's Christmas and the backyard lights just came on, I think I'll go out and practice some putting...

I think he played spectacular golf both years, but in my opinion, he was better in 2000. Back then, it appeared that he was more aggressive when needing birdies - and getting them when needing them! His long iron play back then was fantastic! And at the end of the day, the Sportcenter highlights would often feature some 235 yard 5 iron to 18 inches over water. You rarely see that anymore and there are lots of other snipers on tour that routinely out play him with the irons (they just haven't fallin in love with their putters like he has). I watched most of his televised rounds in 2006 and think that his game has changed to one in which he aims at the center of every green regardless of the situation and then relies on his putting for scores. I think that's why he didn't make more of a move in the last round of the US and British Opens. The greens just looked impossible (just ask Sergio!). Well, that's the view from my recliner, I'll take a nap now!

Since most tour rookies are starved for earnings by the end of the summer, I look forward to Tommy Gainey playing in the fall series. I'm 2 hours from La Cantera in San Antonio and like to go to the Valero Open (beautiful course!). I'm looking forward to driving down and following Tommy around for awhile. He seems more like a regular guy than most of the clones coming from the Nationwide tour. Now, if he can only perfect some kind of occasional personal eruption (like John Daly), he'll have one of the biggest galleries in the fall series events!

Wayne, I visited the website and the balls look great. I'm purchasing a dozen from one of the US distributors to see how they shine in the central Texas sun!

My wife actually took some lessons last spring. She can drive the ball straight about 150 yards and she can hit a 7 iron well. She's excited by pars and peeved by double bogeys, so I think she has the right approach. She needs to learn touch around the greens, but heck, I've been playing for 35 years and am still learning touch around the greens! Great for a quick after work round in the summer when it stays light.

I was also pulling for Tommy Gainey. He seemed like a down to earth guy on the Big Break shows. He ballooned a bit today, but still earned his card! I hope he comes out to San Antonio next fall - I'll follow him around for a bit!

Back in the 80's, when Jerry Pate was using the orange ball, I purchased a box and fell in love with them! I have a hard time picking up the ball in certain sky conditions, and these balls looked like basketballs to me while flying about 200 yards out! Then at the end of that summer, I was golfing with some buddies and smacked my bright orange ball over a blind fairway (uphill then downhill). When I crested the hill, I couldn't believe what I found...thousands of bright orange maple leaves that had just dropped from the trees. I never did find that ball. I just know that it was the best drive of my life, 350 yards, at least! From time to time, now, I pick up the bright yellow, but they just don't look like those old orange beauties!

I wish my dad would have taken up the game when he retired. He is left handed and when he was younger, he couldn't find left-handed clubs (I don't honestly know how hard he looked!). Anyway, he was unwilling to learn right handed, so he didn't start. I have a green in my backyard and he really seems to enjoy putting for hours when he visits from Chicago! We could have had alot of fun! Oh well, my wife decided to take up the game this past spring and she's actually fun to play with! Don't laugh, it's better than a saturday night mixed bowling league - and she doesn't seem to object when I "test" new equipment (the next try is a Bobby Jones Hybrid - if I can convince her...).

I run a customer service call center for a large insurance company. Currently located in Austin, Texas, but have lived in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas and Los Angeles (I think that's in California).