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...

Well, not quite yet, but I like to look for investment property and today I saw land for sale, 100+ acres in a nice spot, and in an area that is lacking in 18 hole golf courses (we have about 75 crappy nine hole courses though, ugh). This is suddenly a dream of mine, but I know little of what to do. I am wondering if anyone has any idea/background on this. How much actual land do you need to have for a golf course, driving range (would be nice, but not a must), and a clubhouse? If there are some basics that people know of, or a website, I'd appreciate any input.

That one in my avatar, the only special one I've played - The Ocean Club -Bahamas, Paradise Island Michael Jordans course

3Putt - what do you suggest I do to help keep the clubface closed? thanks

I do the same exact thing, trying to figure it out

lamebum - thanks man, but I'm 995 sure I'm not hitting it off the hosel - i think it's the clubface flying open. how or why this happens, I don;t know

I believe it, I remember playing at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas (my avatar) and I was having issues with my chipping. The guy I was playing with told me to take my front foot out of my shot. I kept my body in the normal spot but had my foot way out to the side. It worked every time. I asked him how he knew this, he said his buddy figured it out, but had no idea why it worked. I've had new issues with my chipping (see my thread), so I can't use this method, but it worked. You just have to keep every other part of your body in the swing as if your front foot was still in there.

At times, when I chip I will slice the ball. I guess it's a slice - it just goes hard right. I don't know the proper term for the direction. I don't think I am coming out of my swing/pulling up early b/c I have focused on staying down/in my swing and it still happens. Someone recently mentioned it might be my clubface opening - this only happens with my 54, 58, 60 wedges - nothing else. If you have had this or know what it might be to remedy it, I'd appreciate it. I don't always do this, I'll have entire rounds (2 or 3 in a row, even) where it doesn't come up, but once I do this it seems to be more and more frequent. ****ing annoying, b/c it can ruin a round. I have a pretty nice touch around the green, or at least sometimes I do, but this kills it.

Yea, I've heard Arnold Palmer say something about this too. Something to the effect that it's ridiculous to not tee it up and help yourself out with the lie. I used to never tee it up, but after hearing him say that, I starting teeing it up VERY low, and it makes a huge difference - think you just have to get used to it if your not doing it yet. Once you get accustomed, you never go back, imo

Let's compare the frequency of getting jacked on a golf course to getting a flat tire...good lord not even comparable.

I thought this was a joke too...lmao You need a gun on a golf course??? You live in Arkansas I believe, I don't know these areas, but is it particularly rough out there on the links? I personally have never heard of anyone getting jacked on a golf course. I guess gun lovers want to carry it everywhere. Bring it to church too....your kids pre-school....you never know.