Sirius76

Hi all, I'll be traveling to Naples next week to visit the in laws. My father in law, who lives there 6 months a year, is a golfer and we plan on playing 2 or 3 rounds. He has a few in mind but I'd like to come armed with some recommendations. I see the golf in Naples is quite pricey so I'd like to keep rounds below $100 bucks. We might splurge and play one round over a hundred bucks (if the course is worth it) but we would really like to keep it cheaper. So I ask you, 1. What courses would you recommend below $100? 2. If you you have played one of the more expensive courses, which course would you recommend above $100? Thanks all!

Hi all, I've been in the hunt for an instructor for sometime now. I'm actually looking for a "coach" so to speak. Someone who has as much interest in seeing me improve as I do. Sometimes I feel as if tho an instructor is just running you through the paces as he waits for the next student. I don't want that again. Doing my research, I just signed up for my first lesson with Marty Joyce at White Pines. I'm hoping he may be that guy. Marty is a past ILPGA teacher of the year as well as a Long Drive Champion. (remax I believe) I do know that he was the first and only to qualify for Remax both driving right AND left handed! 30+ years teaching, I would think he knows what he's doing. Ive heard some good things about Marty. Speaking with him, he seemed like a very nice guy. Does anyone have any experiences with Marty? Did he improve your game? IF this weren't to work out for me, does anyone have any recommendations of a Chicagoland Instructor? (preferably North/NW side & suburbs) I'd like to keep my options open as I search for that perfect fit of a coach. (if there is one) Thanks!

Hi everybody, Yesterday I spent a couple hours at my local Club Champion golf fitter hitting the new TM Rocketbladez. Hitting both versions, the Tours and the regulars, I came to a conclusion that, quite frankly, I don't know how to take. I'll admit, I've been intrigued by all the hype following these irons. I'm not the greatest golfer around (I play to a 16) so I thought that just maybe these irons would help give me that extra edge this season. Well, after hitting both versions along side my trusty old TM RAC OS's as a standard, I discovered that my current irons outperform the new TM's! I routinely got 5-7mph more ball speed and nearly 10yrds more with my RACs than I did with either Rocketbladez. My dispersion was tighter as well. Now just so you know, all balls were hit using 6irons and measured using a Trackman. I was fitted last year for all my clubs at the same facility. My iron shafts are the KBS Tours Regular flex 110g D4 swingweight. I hit the Rocketbladez with my exact shaft. So the only variable was the head. My fitter wasn't surprised. He's a huge fan of the old RAC OS's and was confident that by the end of the day, I wouldn't be walking out with new TM's. Just to help solidify to me what the Trackman was showing, he proceeded to hit all 3 clubs. He hits the ball farther than I do, but his numbers were consistent with mine. (RACS being longer and more consistent than the RBZ) Him having similar results confirmed it. So what say you? I was completely prepared to be "blown away" by the hype and yet I wasn't. I was surprised that my 12year old irons out performed both versions. I now have no desire to switch out equipment. I walked out of there completely confident that I'm still playing the best equipment I can for my current abilities. I left all my clubs behind for fresh grips and plan to spend the $900 I saved on more lessons! -Dragan Chicago, Il

Is that NW of Chicago? I have not yet played it. It is one I'd like to though

I tend to sway backwards a bit during my backswing. Or I don't make a deep/complete turn going back. I try hard to overcome them but they always find a way to creep back in!

Ogio Sultan II cart bag in black. It was a birthday present from the wife last July! I'll never go back to a stand bag again!

St Andrews Golf.......The Joe Jemsek Course this morning. Played from the blues. (tips) 6770 yds 72.0/122 I played the Hex Black tour for the first time and really liked it. Didn't play all that great on the front. (Tee'd off just before sunrise. Was still a bit cold) Putted like crap all day. Some greens still had enough dew on them to give the ball a rooster tail. Other greens were as dry as a bone. Never could figure out speeds. Did manage to salvage a decent round on the backside. Ended up with a 94 for the day. Lost to my buddy who shot 89.

Police officer by day and astronomer by night. As side gigs, my wife and I own an astronomy related online business which has actually proved to become quite a handful the last few years. I also co-own and operate a successful online astronomical forum. But its the police work that really pays the bills! (and green fees)

Just played St Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago this morning. Decided to pick up a sleeve of the Callaway Hex Black Tour in the pro shop and try them out. Two words. I like! Having never been a real long hitter (average ~230yd driver) these balls didn't disappoint. I was probably averaging right about 220 all day in some wind and cool conditions. Ground was extremely soft with very little roll out. Firmer and warmer conditions and I'm sure these balls would have been a bit longer. What I really liked about these balls was the amount of stopping on the greens they had. St Andrews has a few greens which are elevated and even on these greens with my lower trajectory I still managed to hold them. My normal ball, the HX Hot Bite would have skidded off the back. Guaranteed. I managed to play all 18 holes without losing a single ball. One ball did get a bit scuffed up from full iron shots but I'd still call it usable. Overall, I liked this ball. Alot. I've never been one to buy the ultra premium balls (hence the HX Hot Bite) but I may have to reevaluate that with these.

We should try to get together sometime then. If not before winter then definitely in the spring. In fact, we just played St Andrews this morning.

Thanks for the replies! I figured as much but nowhere was I able to find an answer to exactly "how" you're supposed to keep score.

Not necessarily a superstition but definitely a hard core routine/ritual... 1 extra ball, divot repair tool and 3 tees all go in the front right pocket. Summer months ball marker goes on bill of my cap. Winter/cooler months when I'm wearing a skull cap, ball marker goes in the pocket with the other goodies. I always buy a logo ball and ball marker at every course I play for the first time. My ball marker for the day will vary but its typically a ball marker from a past course I've played well at. Oh. And every ball gets marked with a "DN" in a red sharpie to the right of the number on the ball. Wow! And to think I never considered myself superstitious?!?!? (then what the heck am I! )

Here's a question that I haven't been able to find an answer to: My father in law likes to mark his scorecards during a round like this. 0, 0, +1, +1, 0, -1.....etc Where 0 is par for a particular hole and bogeys are +1 and birdies are -1. Doubles would be +2 and so forth. I don't mind when he does it and I do realize during a round with your buddies this wouldn't be a problem as long as the math is right. But what about a tournament? What if you had 18 pars and wrote 18 0's on the card for a final score of 72? Would this be permitted once the card is signed and turned in? I can't imagine it would be but I can't find a rule governing the actual way to mark a card. I know its a crazy question but I've been curious about this. He says it doesn't matter as long as the final tally is correct and true. I call BS as far as tournaments go. I seriously doubt anyone on the PGA is marking their cards like that. Thanks! Dragan

Hey guys, Thanks for the kudos! I live in Chicago on the NW side of town. My playing partner and I try to play everywhere/anywhere.We're really not opposed to driving for a good course. We both like collecting logo balls so we're always trying out new courses. We'll repeat alot of courses if we both like it.