shortgame85

From the History of Golf: "Perhaps the most likely forerunner was the Dutch game of "kolf," documented as early as the 13th century and portrayed in many Dutch landscape paintings by the 16th century. "Golfers" certainly played cross-country with sticks and ball, not into a hole but to certain landmarks, usually doors on specific buildings."

Fred seems like a fellow who has his head screwed on straight. He's a fine player, disciplined and he has a sense of humor about himself ( see grass skirt incident ). And, after all, how can you not like a short guy named Fred Funk: my god, what where his parents thinking? Well then, they could have named him Richard and then the world would know him as Dick Funk. Oh, I am so very sorry, but I just couldn't resist.

Considering your handicap, and because I am familiar with them and like them, I would recommend you try the Titleist 775s. I've got them, I like them and I intend to keep them. I especially like the short irons. Good luck.

You ought to be sorry! The caption under the photo of Greg Norman implying that his Open tournament was an epic failure is an epic misjudgement. Greg Norman did have a number of epic collapses in his prime. But now he is 53, well beyond the age of the average PGA Tour player. His failure to win the Open was NOT an epic failure. The fact that he led after three rounds, playing as well as he did under the most brutal conditions, is actually heroic! Hip hip hooray for Greg for making the cut! Cheers to Greg for leading after any round! Damned amazing to lead after three rounds!! The boy that posted this picture surely has not suffered the ravages of age. I shall forgive him his ignorance and chaulk up his transgression to the callowness of youth, of which I was horribly afflicted in my day!

I suggest you might try the Cobra Baffler DWS 20 degree with the Aldila VS Proto HL shaft. Easy to hit from the rough, fairway and off the tee. I know of few, if any people, who use a steel shaft in their hybrid clubs, including those of us who play with steel shafts in our irons. I have tried and I like the Callaway Heavenwood. The Cobra sells for $149 and the Heavenwood can be had for $129.

Go, golf moms, go!

I think this guy "gets it."

I am astounded at the quantity of responses this topic generated. I am equally amazed at the vitriolic quality of many of the responses. While I haven't read every post, I am put in mind, by the divide amongst the posters of another debate swirling around our country. Years ago, people immigrated to the United States in order to seek a better, safer life for their families and future generations of their families. They arrived on these shores prepared to do whatever they had to do in order to survive and thrive. Many of these people came from non-English speaking countries. They quickly learned the language of the realm in order to communicate effectively with the broader population. Nobody said they couldn't be bilingual; nobody said they had to learn English. Circumstances dictated that they needed to and most of these folks were smart enough to figure that out on their own. Today, many people confuse the need for a common language with the idea that if they have to conform to a common language they preforce give up their heritage, culture and background. This idea could not be further from the truth. A certain agreement among the governed to conform to general laws and statutes results in a relatively civil society. A certain conformity in commerce and the coin of the realm insures a common, if not perfect economy, one which most people can understand and, in which, participate. Conforming to a common language prevents no one from speaking or studying any other language or practicing any cultural ritual within one's cultural or religous community; rather, conforming to a common language gives one the freedom to communicate effectively, if one develops the skills, with the widest possible audience in one's country. Traditionally, younger members of societies tend to rebel against what they perceive to be the confines imposed upon them by an older more staid generation. Now this behavior is as regular as the seasons. It is probably well refected in this thread, although I'm sure there may be some exceptions. It would seem that at a minimum, conforming to a certain standard of dress, below which would be considered unacceptable, is not an unreasonable requirement to play on any course ( Country Club, public, etc. ). For example, I don't think its unfair on any course to require decent grooming, pants cinched at the waist, no underwear visible, no t shirts with straps, shorts for men and women that have at least a 4" inseam, bras for women, etc. I don't think requirements such as those impose an onerous financial or social imposition on anyone; rather those rules insure that a certain common courtesy to others is provided by fellow golfers, at least as far as dress is concerned. Within the restrictions listed above, a wide range of expression of one's individuality is possible. Now, for those of us that like to present a neat and clean appearance on the golf course and don't care if others think us dweeby because we wear a Tilley hat, there are tons of choices in clothes, shoes, hats, belts and socks that can meet any budget; likewise for those more fashion forward. But at the very least, we can all make the effort to conform to a neat and clean presentation. Just don't confuse the need for some conformity with supressing personal expression or individuality.

Well said. If it's a bump and run I've hit a 7 iron but, normally, I hit a smooth pitching wedge.

Played 18 holes on my home course, yesterday. On the second hole, I hit a so-so drive and was left 165 yards from the hole. I was just off the right side of the fairway, in some rough about three inches deep. In my attempt to power through the rough, I hit the ball well left, almost out of bounds. My ball was abot twenty yards to the pin. However, between me and the pin was a young tree and a bunker. The pin was tucked to within four or five yards to the bunker. I took a long slow swing with my 56 degree wedge, hit the ball over the tree, over the trap, onto the green, where it rolled a few inches to pin high, about three feet left of the hole. I made the putt for an unlikely ( for me ) par.

I played my home course, yesterday afternoon. We teed off at 4:00p.m., finished about 7:30. I shot a 42 on the front nine, 43 on the back. I had 5 pars, 10 bogies and 2 double bogies. I had 32 putts. My real weakness in the round was my inability to reach most greens in regulation. My second shots were either straight and short or, the length of the shot was fine but I pushed the ball and missed the green. The round was one of my better ones, lately, and I am happy for that fact.

There is a time and a place for most everything. And since golf is a game of rules and standards of conduct, it perfectly reasonable to expect those rules and standards to include dress. It is not asking too much of golfers, whether they are playing a municipal course or a country club course, to make an unobtrusive, pleasant appearance on the course. The cost to the golfer can be great or little, depending on what type of shopper he is or, what his taste is. Almost anyone, regardless of cost, with a little effort, can make a neat, clean and appropriate appearance. Just as the rules of conduct are reasonable, appropriate and neccessary, so are rules governing dress.

Hybrids are easy to hit and I affirm your thinking about adding a low lofted hybrid to your bag. I also think it is a good idea to consider a gap wedge, the loft of which will, of course, depend on the loft of your pitching wedge. In addition to a gap wedge, I agree with those who say you may wish to try a sand wedge. All my wedges have the same shaft and flex. Good luck.

I am 5'6". I use a putter that is 32" in length and 3 degrees upright. My last round I had 29 putts.

I have three daughters. Two play currently. Grogger's advice is very good. Helping him line up shots may really help. I do it for my kids, ages 11 and 9. Most importantly, as others have said, put little pressure on your son or on you . Do your best to insure you both enjoy the time you have to spend together. If you achieve that, he'll want to come back for more.

Considering my thread, What I've Learned This Summer, perhaps I need to become more intimate with my 56 degree club.

I think the lie, the position of the ball in relation to the green, whether or not there are obstacles ( like a bunker, deep rough, etc. ) between the ball and the green as well as whether or not the green is tiered and where on that green is located the pin dictate to some degree the type of club and swing one may wish to use in order to get the ball close to the hole. Some teachers advocate using the same wedge to hit all shots around the green, others, like David Pelz suggest that every club in the bag has a short game purpose. I watch people like Tiger Woods, who use different clubs for different types of short game shots, and I admire not only their results but also the creativity they use in choosing different clubs the for specific purposes and results they wish to achieve. For example, I may wish to use a higher lofted club to achieve a high shot over a bunker to a pin to which I've short sided myself. While I could get over the bunker with a pitching wedge, I may choose my 56 degree wedge in order to create spin enough to stop the ball when it lands near the hole, which I might have difficulty doing with a pitching wedge. On the other hand, if I'm a few yards off the green with a relatively straight shot at the pin located at the back of the green, no obstacle, but far enough off that I would not putt the ball, I might choose a 7 iron so that I can use a very short, easily contollable stroke, keep the ball low, land it on the green with enough top spin that it rolls to the hole. Or, if my ball is on hardpan by an elevated green, I may wish to use a wedge with a very low bounce in order not to skull the shot. Each of these examples illustrates the idea that diiferent clubs may have specific short game uses. I'm sure there are other ideas, but these make some sense to me in theory as well as practice.

I think this is correct. While not neccessary, because you can get creative with your pitching wedge or sand wedge, a gap wedge can be perfect for a full shot. I really love mine and use it several times on every round.

Because I live across the street from my home course, I drive my cart over there, after supper, to play 9 or 18 holes by myself from time to time. I enjoy playing the occassional round by myself. I find the peace and quiet of an early summer evening round played by myself relaxing ( most of the time: it is, after all, golf ). Occassionaly, I will play a round by myself on an early Sunday morning. Again, these rounds can be wonderful.

After a trying day, I started playing the back nine of my home course at 6:30p.m., last evening. Shot a 43. Hit my tee shots reasonably well. Started the front nine but darkness fell completely at 8:30 with four holes left to play. I returned this morning ( I live across the street from the fifth fairway ), at 6:30a.m., and finished the front nine with a scrambling 43. Total for the round was 86, which is somewhat better than I have done recently ( see the thread, What I've Learned This Summer in the Golf Talk section ).

I can hardly argue with those who advocate more practice time on the range with one's long irons or lessons. Certainly hitting a mid or long iron pure is a a sweet thing. And I remember doing it once or twice. Seriously, I found that the consistency I could enjoy with hybrids too seductive to resist. While I love the idea of carrying and hitting long irons, I have replaced most of my long clubs with hybrids, including my 5 iron. And for those who think hybrids can't be worked, I am here to say that they can; perhaps not as easily as a butterknife 2 iron, but I can hit a high shot, draw, low hook, etc., pretty much at will. I have seen a friend, much more skilled than I, hit many different shots with his hybrid. Indeed, there is a reason so many hybrids and hybrid sets are being offered by manufacturers.

Two in a row, spring before last on my home course. Ah, those were the days.

You are soooo right about this!

Just so you know: dead men don't wear plaid.

Thank you.