19fairway

I've taken buddies trips to both and you can't go wrong with either trip. Golfing Bandon Getting to Bandon wasn't fun. There is a flight in and out of San Fran to North Bend, OR for an extra $200+ but if your on a budget you will likely fly into Portland and make a 7 hour drive south. You could always fly into Eugene depending upon your flight options. At Bandon on a budget you want to play 36+ holes a day to save $$$. Peak season you are paying like $300 (non-resort) for the first 18 holes, your 2nd 18 on their "replay rate" is like $150 peak season. The trick is you don't have to play the same course! If you're attempting to play the 4 courses (Pac Dunes, Ban Dunes, Ban Trails & Old McD) you can save $400 if you can play 36 over a 2 days. I always account for swag in my buddies trip planning. A towel $20, logo balls $3 each, bag tag $15, and a flag $40 these are my typical souvenirs. A shirt is like $75 and a hat is like $30 if that more your speed. Im not going to talk about travel costs as they are different for everyone. As for hotel you can opt into the resort between $250-$1000 during peak season. If you're looking for a budget, stay up in North Bend, a Best Western type hotel is like $125 a night. Estimating my buddies trip was like $500 airfare, free rental (one of our buddies had rewards points that covered it), 1 night in Portland ($150) due to a red eye flight, and meeting my 2 of my 3 buddies the next morning. 3 nights in North Bend $125 per night, split in half as we shared rooms. $800-1000 in golf at Bandon (we played in June), $200 for group caddie (includes tips) for the same guy both days all 4 rounds. $120 in swag. $200 in booze, $400 in food, gas, tips, ect. Oh if you've never heard of Bally Bandon Sheep ranch than Google it... it a weird little golf experience that I suggest to any and all going to Bandon. Its $100 but it help make the trip. Total Bandon trip $2700-3k for 1 person. Kohler /Erin Hills trip Travel was more simple than Bandon. I flew into Milwaukee stayed at a $50 Days inn. The next day we had a 1hr 20 min drive to get to the resort. We played our first round that day at the Irish course $210 (w/ cart) but a caddie was not required. We play 9 more on the Straights course twilight $35 walking again caddie was not required. We stayed at the Inn at Lakewood for $215 (prices based of time of the year). Day 2 was 18 at the Straights course $375, plus $100 caddie (includes tip). We then drove down to a town called Jackson, WI which is 20 minutes north of Erin Hills. In Jackson we stayed at a Comfort Suites for $100 (divided in half). Day 3 was Erin Hills. I was $245 (no caddie required). We did get a caddie whom acted more as a forecaddie but the$ 100 was paid in full by my buddy for losing a bet the day before. Note 2 of the 4 of use left following the round to traveled back home. The other 2 did a stay and play package which they got a reduced rate. I'm pretty sure to guarantee your golf reservation you have to stay at the resort. This worked in my advantage because they stayed we were able to play as a 4some but didn't have to pay to stay at the resort. Estimating the trip cost: Airfare $200, Rental $60 ($120 total split in 2, we had 2 cars) Hotels $400, Golf $1000, Swag $220, Booze: $120, $400 in food, gas, betting, etc. Total Trip $2500 for 1 person

Hey there, Sorry I don't live in Florida but I would offer a couple course suggestions. If you have the ability and time to get to Streamsong Red or Blue, they are some of the finest courses I've played in Florida. Its about 60min to 1:20 minutes from Tampa airport. Its a resort so the fiancee could enjoy a spa day while you play some amazing golf... but be prepared to walk as its heavily preferred that you walk not ride. BTW its a bit on the pricey side but you won't be disappointed. The drive to the course may leave you scratching your head as its in the middle of nowhere! For a value course thats also about 60 min from Tampa is Sarasota National Golf Course. The value for this golf is really good and the few times I've played it they have discounted my rates when I mention I'm an out-of-towner and member of a Troon Course in Colorado. Earlier this summer my junior and I played 18 w/ cart & 2 logo'd balls for $35. They didn't charge me for my kid. The best course in Tampa I've played is the TPC Tampa. Its what u expect for a TPC course. It will run you about $100 this time of year. North of Tampa is the World Woods Course. I've never played but I've had it recommended by many locals and visitors to the area. I think its around $50 this time of the year. Hope this helps and get to Streamsong if its in the budget and can fit your itinerary.

Currently I'm 6'0" 205lb and I can easily loose 20lb and be happy. I just started the Complete Nutrition Charger Pack and I'm starting P90X back up in just a few hours (day 1). I have hopes of firming up my measurable stats I've listed below. Really I could care less what the scales show (weight), and if I loose a few inches and firm up the way I hope too, if the scales still show 205lb I will be more than happy. I too had some concern about changing my body and the impact on my swing. I've been working hard dialing in my swing all year and I'm really happy with it right now. That said I have a mindset that as long as I continue to work more on my game while working on my body issues, I believe I will be fine. IMO unless you're loosing major weight 40+ lb's or unless you loose that weight in a crazy amount of time, like from illness, lap bands, or extreme dieting, then your body will react in a more reasonable manor. I due expect the increased strength and flexibility to have more effect then the BMI change. However all that said I did choose to wait until my men's league finished before I would commit to working on my body/fitness. That might sound funny to some but i won the A flight in my league and I put that goal above body changes. Age 33 years 9 months Height 6'0" 205lb 38 3/4" waist 25 1/4" thigh 43" chest BMI ?

Like LBlack14 I'm a gear junkie. I have 10 sets of which 6 rarely get used. My kid (age 12) has 2 sets of juniors he uses, a custom set and the Adams Teen set. I also have 3 kids sets he used to use but has outgrown. My mom of live 800 miles away keeps a set at my house taking my total to 16 sets of clubs. Only 1 set is older than 6 years old. I play my Mizunos today but Im switching to the I20's or Answers here soon (by the EOY), my Mizunos will then become my travel set. I keep a few sets around for buddies or family who visit and choose not to bring clubs. I also have a set I leave at the club which I pay for them to babysit, but a rarely play them anymore since I rarely am without my everyday Zunos. Even more scary is my putter situation. I have about 30-40 putters laying around not in sets. Some are new high $$$ and not being used, some are old, and some are collectable, but I still keep them around just to keep proving to myself that I really am crazy!

Like most people I know around Denver I'm a transplant. That said this is home for as long as I can imagine. My only major complaint is that greens fees are too high in the mile high.

I've been fortunate to play the four big courses there and I would tell you to play Pacific over Bandon. Old MacDonald would be a close third and trails a distant forth.

Troon North Monument is nice and will run you about $70. Personally I love to play courses with history or to play where the pro's play so you could always look at the stadium course at the TCP. It can be played for as cheap as $99 right now. Let us know where you decide to play.

The single best tip that I have received and share with golfers over-and-over is a putting tip. It's to change your thought process on the green. On putts longer than 15 feet for a 12 hcap or lower, or on putts longer than 9 feet for 12+ h'capers, stop focusing so much on your line (or the break) and focus more on distance. Our goal on putts from these lengths should be more about lagging the ball within a 12" radius from the cup. This tip helps us to keep from 3 putting which kills our scores. More info: I'm a real big believer in looking at numbers to back up tips. I constantly tell people to look at the putting stats for % of putts made from 15-20 feet on the PGA Tour. The average PGA Tour player only makes about 17% of the the putts between 15-20'. If the average PGA Tour player doesn't even make 2 of 10 putts from this length a high handicapper might want to look at their game and rethink how they should game plan on the green.

Best shot today of a strong drive off the tee in the middle of the fairway on the first tee. Anytime you start like that you have the makings of playing well.

So I'm pretty excited about my round today since it was the best round I've had in years. The course isn't an overly difficult course but the type of day I had would have resulted in a strong round a more difficult courses. That said here's the stats: Kennedy Golf Course 70.9/123 6884 yards (Blue Tees) Par 71 (36/35) FIR 11/14 GIR 14/18 Putts 32 Score 73, +2 So the real key part of the round was that I parred the first 16 holes but bogeyed 17 & 18. Almost an even par round.

Hi all, I figure that my first post should be here in the welcome thread so here it is. I look forward to reading and contributing to this great forum for golfers. I hope to talk to you all soon through posts here on the cyberweb and please keep in mind that if I say something you don't like... that the air is Denver is likely thinner then where you're at. Take care John