SaltyDog

I have a playing partner that takes about 5 minutes on each putt. He looks at his line, marks his ball, looks at his line again, walks to the other side of the green and looks at the line from that side, then walks back to his mark, looks at his line again, puts his ball down juuust right, often remarks it to look at the line again, then stands over his ball before putting for about 30 seconds. This would all be fine if he was a good putter, but he is literally the worst I've ever seen. His misses are so severe it's amazing. He takes a long time on the tee box too, but it doesn't bother me as much as the putting. I don't know him well enough to say something - soon....

Interesting to hear everyone say short game is the key, and I agree - I'm exactly the opposite though. My short game is very consistent from 160 in, but I have been horrific off the tee - hitting ob too often. I think I found out that I my lower body has been too busy and last time out I seemed to straighten things out. We'll see, but one course I play is a bit shorter and the worst I've done on it is a 93 (played 6 times) and broke 90 twice (the only times I've ever done that), which for a 20 hndcap is pretty damn good.

I'll just throw this out there b/c it helped me even though its very simple. I was told to remember that where your front hand (the left one for righties) goes, so goes your putt. Ever since I started practicing this, I have saved at least 4 strokes per round. You probably already know this, just thought I'd share.

Some of best days are when I don't care or think too much...just hit the ball based on "feel" I think if you implement that approach every time, you'll get similar results, imo.

oh wow, my misses are fat shots too - lately i've been going to driving ranges, but they only allow to hit off mats, the grass won't be open until May due to weather or whatever... well, it's been awful for me, on the range i'm fine, but I get in the course and i excavate the hell out of the course - the mats have been the worst thing for my game, waiting for the grass to be open....

i'm gonna get crushed at these courses, i didn't play much at all last year and not much this year...one of the negatives of parenthood

wow, just checking here... the wedding party is setting up a golf outing and we are going to play at Connemara, and through looking around I found Lahinch and will be playing there super early on my birthday... good to see these were the two courses you recommended! thanks for the feedback! also, how hard will it be to get a t-time at Lahinch? again, i'll be playing around 6 or 7 am..thanks fellas

Wow, that is amazing...I've been thinking of doing this but I haven't done anything yet other than extend my clubs an inch (i'm 6'4") my other issue is my swing w/ my irons is so inconsistent that i'm not sure it would work for me, a couple rounds i'm doing one thing the next few i'm doing something else...i should def do this with my driver since i have a pretty good swing w/ that... do you have a consistent swing?

I am going in May to Galway for an wedding. I was hoping for a suggestion from someone that has played a nice course in or very close to Galway. We are bringing our two little ones so I can't venture too far... thanks

Thanks dent, i hope so silvy - that sounds very cool, did not know you could major in that

Well this won't work out. I finally spoke with the company selling the land - and it's 14 million for @145 acres, but the land itself is 20-25% marshy wetlands. That is a problem in this area.... I'll keep my eye out, but I wanted to say thanks to everybody for the links, advice, and encouragement. Much appreciated. To be continued, hopefully

Really? I actually could see the tears in Sams eyes - I will miss both of those girls chests, er, I mean chipping....

Main reason for my post, doh - I talked to a buddy of mine today and he thought it was a great idea, and wants to be a part of it. He actually has some contacts/investors w/ a background and experience in building courses. It would be great to have that, b/c I have no background in this and I'm realizing it would probably take every last cent of mine to do this, that's a bit of a stretch for a guy with two little ones, lol.

Thanks for the replies guys, I knew this was the place to post this. amen, pj - thanks for the links, searches, etc... mikez - i'd like it to be a nicer public course, but i don't think a "high end course" is needed. partly b/c money, available land does not make it feasible, and partly b/c this area of CT (South east) is so void of 18 hole public courses that people would take anything. i was thinking a links style course could be done - if i have to sacrifice a driving range, so be it - TCC - I'm in Guilford, CT - exit 57/58 on I-95 - its a ways from you Hey - if this happens (very far off), I'll do some sort of a deal/discount for sandtrap members!

Well crap, if it's 400 acres, I'm not even close. I always thought it was about 100-125 acres. Dent - I have money, yes, but I would def need the course to be somewhat profitable. Thanks for that link, that's helpful. Now, in that site that Dent sent, it says 140 - 180 acres are needed for a course. That's quite a difference...