shortgame85

No, but I shall accept your question as a compliment. So, thank you. Actually, I enjoyed superb english teachers.

Thank you.

I almost threw something at the TV, too, but I really wanted to strangle the twits at ABC who cut away from the speech. I, too, am glad to know others appreciate Harrington's manners.

There is no excuse for bad manners either on the course or off the course. If the fellow you describe took issue with slow play, or any other on course activities, his recourse was to discuss his opinion with the marshall, the pro and, if he received no satisfactory response from those fellows, the club board of directors. The behavior that you witnessed is unacceptable and his destructive act on the green should have resulted in disciplinary action. You were not only correct in reporting what you saw, it was your responsibility to do so. Well done.

I wouldn't disagree with you, my man.

I certainly agree with your comment about Nicklaus, Player and Palmer. I don't think of Tiger as ungracious; rather,I think of his style as more modern and egocentric. Personally, I prefer the former rather than the latter. However, I think you are spot on that many public figures can take a lesson from Padraig. Well said. I had forgot about his acknowledgment of the marshals.

I have played only one links style course: River Bend Country Club, in Robinsonville, Ms. It is near the Mississippi River and was built to service the very large casino industry located in that region. Its design intent was to simulate a links type course found in the British Isles. Never having played golf across the pond, I cannot attest to the success of the designer. I can say that it is one of the most challenging, fun courses on which I've played and it has many of the characteristics of links courses I've seen on television or read about. It has given me a taste for that style of golf. While I don't think I would want to play on that type of course two or three times a week, I know I would like to have a links course in my regular rotation.

GEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZ! You guys !

Now pardner, you must realize that any sane discussion of the Mannings by a Mississipian is impossible; equally, any pejorative statement made about the Mannings to a Mississippian, especially one whose father was born in the same dusty town of Drew as was Archie, and to one who chaired the Archie Manning Golf Tournament on behalf of the Delta Area Council Boy Scout program, can only be taken as fightin' words! Meet me at dawn, sir, near the large oak at Tunica National Golf course, and have your putter drawn and ready! Of course, you may save yourself by doing sufficient pennance: something on the order of watching tapes of the Saints' magnificent talent in losing games during the 70s should suffice. Please let me know when you've completed this task and I'll consider forgiving you.

Last year, I worked on accuracy: off the tee, the fairway and on the green. I shot my lowest rounds ever last July: an 82 and an 81; one on my home course and one on a more difficult links course. In the five years I've played the game, I've never been able to maximize my distance. Generally, 200 to 210 yards off the tee, I tired of hitting woods or, more recently, long hybrids for my second or approach shot. I longed to hit mid or short irons on at least some of the 18 holes I'd play in a typical round, like almost all the fellows with whom I normally played. This past February I got fit for a new driver and I began to focus on posture, weight transfer and grip in order to maximize my distance off the tee. Because of this concentration, I have as recently as this past Sunday, hit several of the longest drives I've ever struck: up to 250 yards as measured by my Pinseeker! My average drives are now about 220 to 230 yards. Some may laugh, especially those of you long knockers out there, but when I stripe a 230 yard drive, I feel like strutting to my ball! Now here's what I've learned: while my focus on the distance of my drives has paid off in longer drives, the neglect of my mid and shortgame has caused my scores to suffer two or three strokes. I can play in the mid to high 80s with a good, scrambling shortgame, sometimes even manage a score in the low 80s; but I cannot maintain those scores if I lose any of my shortgame even when I add a bit of distance with my driver. Even if it takes me three shots to hit the green on a par four, if my wedge play is on, I can give myself a reasonable shot at par. If my game from 120 yards and in is off, my scores just go up. Well, I suppose this is a great big "DUH!" to a lot of you. And I have read over and over how critical the shortgame is to scoring well, but I have surely seen ample evidence of it this summer. So, I shall endeavor to put to good use what I've learned. I shall work harder on my shortgame and try not to lose the distance I've gained with my driver. Maybe I can get together these disparate, elusive elements and produce a round which resembles something called complete. What have you learned so far this summer?

Often times it is easy to become self satisfied. As golfers, we pride ourselves on playing a sport that, played correctly and by the rules, requires no small measure of discipline, character and integrity. We often hear that golf is a gentleman's sport. We are proud, regardless of our handicaps, to be included in the cadre known as golfers. And then we see truly obnoxious examples of behavior and wonder if the world really is coming to an end. Padraig Harrington's acceptance speech last Sunday at the Open Championship was artful, very old fashioned in its graciousness and a reminder to all of how a geniunely fine golfer should behave. He acknowledged his competitors, congratulating runnerup Ian Poulter. He insisted the crowd show its appreciation, once again, to Greg Norman. He congratulted the young, low amateur. He acknowledged the R & A for its efforts in conducting the Open. He was thoughtful, considerate, modest and a fine example of a true champion. I wonder if people were struck by the stark contrast of his words and demeanor to those uttered by those in other sports? With the exception of the Mannings of football fame, there are few public figures, of any kind, who exhibit at the critical moments the grace shown by Mr. Harrington. I wonder if anyone else thought it was as fine as I did? I realize ABC cut away from it at the end of its broadcast. Nonetheless, I think that, while Padraig did himself proud by winning the Open, he did the golfing world proud by the manner in which he accepted his deserved and great victory.

This past February, I purchased a pair of Footjoy Gel Fusion II, 2007 model, for $99, at TGW.com. The shoes were closeouts and in perfect condition.

Welcome to the forum.

Actually, he looks just like the Greg Norman I remember well from 1993! Go, Greg, Go! Justin Rose said he has the body of a 23 year old and the brain of a 53 year old; just the right combination to win. And what a story that would be if he did win! His feat, to lead after 54 holes, is story enough. But to tidy things up with a win will send all sportswriters to their thesauruses searching for superlatives to describe the efforts of the oldest man ever to win a major.

The coverage this morning was the worst I've ever seen. I had only a limited time, 45 minutes, to watch the coverage, from 6:30a.m. until 7:15a.m. I would be surprised if I saw more than 5 or 7 actual iron or tee shots during that time. I did see a fair number of commercials and a lot of useless program filler. The stations coverage on Thursday and Saturday, of which I saw only a little, seemed equally poor. I really don't know what TNT's goal was by producing this broadcast, other than irritating the hell out of the only people who would be watching coverage of the Open Championship at such an early hour ( or, really, at any hour ). I think the producers need to be sentenced to spend a weekend locked in John Daley's RV, as Mr. Daley regales them of Open's past as he smokes, drinks and scratches the weekend away. Perhaps that peculiar and particularly distasteful form of hell would communicate clearly the extreme displeasure their coverage engendered amongst devoted fans.

I own a retail business. The second a customer walks through the door to my store, I want that individual to feel as if he were a genius for making the decision to spend his time and, possibly, his money with my company. If I allow anything less, I am giving my competitor an edge. I don't care what a customer looks or sounds like, they should all be treated with common courtesy, like they are a guest in one's home. I have walked into the Edwin Watts store in Memphis on several occassions and experienced the same treatment you received in Golf, etc. I have given that store several chances and at this point I would prefer shopping almost anywhere else. Their sales people have been poorly trained or management hired the wrong people. Their sales people don't give a monkey's pucker whether or not I require any assistance. They have no clue what I'm looking for because they don't bother to ask. A really sharp sales person could always ask if one needs tees, a cleaning tool, gloves, balls or just let one know what's on sale. Instead these fellows stand around looking as if they rather be anywhere else and they also look as if they're wondering why they are not going to meet their sales quota for the month. And, for the record, when I'm there, I'm generally wearing a well fitting suit. This sort of behaviour drives me nuts. How can these people take potential customers and their money for granted? There's another store in the Memphis area with sales people similar to the Edwin Watts fellows. However, the new Golfsmith seems to have more informed and well trained people. They will be getting my hard earned dollars! I'm voting with my pocketbook. If these nimrods don't want my money, I resolve not to burden them with it.

I don't think that I have dislocated my left shoulder, but it often hurts like hell, especially if I've slept on my left side. It doesn't hurt when I play, but it will often be very sore after I've returned home and, sometimes, into the night. It hurts very bad when I raise my left arm straight up. I suffer no other joint issues except this one. I've run marathons with no injury whatsoever. This shoulder thing is bothersome. I fear it may be a rotater cuff problem. Sigh. Shoulder problems. I'll bet that if we came up with a Cialis-like pill for the problem we could make a fortune!

I was in Perdido Key this week with the family. I played golf, ate some seafood ( and some see food ) and did a bit of shopping with my wife. We went into a store in Orange Beach and there, in the center of the store, was a nice display of Tilley Hats. I tried on several and liked the Airflo model the best. There are a variety of models. Most advertise that they float, can tie on, repel rain, block UV rays , won't shrink, and come with some insurance against loss as well as a lifetime guarantee. It is washable. It even comes with an instruction manual ( for those goofy goobers from Bikini Bottom who just do not have sufficient reading material for the bathroom ). I chose the Airflo because the brim was not overly large, yet large enough to provide adequate coverage, and there is a mesh ring just under the top which provides the airflow . I bought it on Friday afternoon, and wore it today after we returned home. I played eighteen holes this afternoon in it and I must say that it more than met my expectations, which is to say that I forgot, for the most part, that I had it on. The brim did not interfere with my swing ( would that something might improve it, though ). I really did not notice the vent, perhaps because it was so hot and and humid. I removed the hat about three times during the round to mop my face and head. At this moment, it has replaced my baseball type, conventional golf hats.

He's a Rebel, now, big boy! ( not that I am, mind you )

So, three answers: 1. Yes. 2. Pro Shop seems to me to be more about equipment. Why not The Clubhouse? I know you said The Clubhouse is a sub-forum but, then, isn't the Pro Shop, too? And don't we already have related topics such as swing tips, etc., in the Clubhouse rather than the Pro Shop? 3. How about Twist and Shout? Seriously, how about : Playing Ideas in Print . Or: The Game in Print: Ideas and Discussion ? Great idea. I look forward to seeing it.

I think you will enjoy your experience with your hybrid. Try the other lofts. They're easy to hit and infuse one with quite a bit of confidence at address. Good luck.

For ball markers, I use quarters, nickels or the ball mark that is attached to the glove I buy from my on course pro shop.

I am SO out of my league, here. But I will hazzard an attempt at an opinion, of which I am never short: my dream car? One which gets 200 miles per gallon, no emissions, holds me, my wife, our three kids and the dog, has great, comfy seats and a great sound system. Also, if some drunk, sob, comes near my car, my dream car will squirt an oily substance near them causing them to spin dramatically to a stop safely off the road, after which they will need to change their underwear.

We have similar handicaps. For my money, I think the best value is the Taylormade Burner (non TP). I like the distance and the greenside spin is good, as well. I played one of my best rounds ever last night. I was about 50 yards from the hole, in the rough, with the pin placed on the upper tier. I hit my gap wedge to within three feet and the ball stuck! Made par. Good ball! I have two boxes of the Burner TP. I have played a round with one. To me, the TP feels harder. I just don't like the feel off the club face with the TP as much as I do with the softer regular Burner. Therefore, the $19.95 box is more preferable to me than the $24.95 box of balls.

Glad to help out. Try some hybrids and let us know what you choose and why.