Daddy Golfer

I still play with the Taylor Made Red, at the same time trying other 3-piece balls. Currently, I'm trying out the Tommy Armour 3-piece ball and find it does pretty good on drives and around the green. The cover is harder so it doesn't get beat up so easily, like the TM red. They cost around $15 a dozen, though I've seen it advertised on sale for $10.

Wednesday, Dec 10. Walked on 11:30am tee time at Kapalua Bay Course. Cost $215 with cart. Service Fair. The practice area was very small. They use those practice balls that go only one-third of the distance but was fine for just loosening up. Shot 37 front / 34 back Most of the greens where in very bad condition, which may be the reason I shot so well. The breaks weren't so pronounced and it didn't play very fast. All of the par 5's where short enough to get on in two, even from the blue tees. Other than that, it was a fun course. I grouped with 2 other local boys which made it a fun round. We were a little PO'd there where no marshals and the group of 5 in front of us would not let us play through. We did a lot of waiting but again I had fun. I wouldn't play this course again at least not for the price. Nor until they repair or replace the greens.

Tuesday, Dec 9. Walked on 7:30am tee time at Kapalua Plantation course. Cost $290 with cart. service good. I was giddy with delight when I got up this morning, so excited to play on this course which is in preperation for the first PGA event of the year, Mercedes-Benz Championship. shot 46 front / 42 back I heading to the practice grounds and was going to take a picture. My camera battery died so I heading back to the club house only to find they don't sell batteries so I don't have any pictures which sucked. I headed straight to the practice area which felt like a mile away. Once I got there, I was amazed at how ugly and dirty the area was. I hit maybe a dozen dirty balls off the dirty mat before I realized I was wasting my time. So I headed for the first tee. Because they were preparing for the PGA event it was Cart Path only, so I had to walk up and down a lot of steep slops. Also the GPS on the carts where useless cause my ball usually wasn't near the cart and like an idiot I didn't bring my Skycaddie because the carts would have GPS's on them. (Note to self, invest in a rangefinder). The pro's got it easy, at least they have the spotters and the gallery to help with spotting their ball when it goes in the rough. I lost my first ball on the first tee. It hit the fairway, rolled over a hill and into the rough... somewhere. I lost 3 balls to the rough this day and found 4 others. The course was beautiful and the play was brutal. They had cranes and tractors along some of the hole erecting the seating stands and tents. The course maintenance where everywhere trimming the long grass and preparing the fairway and greens. I don't think we had one hole where there wasn't some worker on it. It was very distracting and made the experience less great. In the end I did enjoy myself and have a new respect for the pros the make this game look easy. I would love to play this course again but without the PGA preparations.

Monday, Dec 8. Walked on 7:15am tee time at Wailea Emerald GC. Cost $150- cart included. Service excellent. Shot 38 front/39 back. Three days of golf got my swing in the groove. I felt relaxed and swinging with rythem. I loved this course. Views were amazing, seeing Molokini and Kahoolawe in the distance. Greens where in excellent shape, fairways nice and the rough... well if you played in Hawaii the rough is really rough. The balls sink to the bottom and the grass is like burmuda if it isn't and I recommend just staying out of it, which I mostly accomplished on this day. A must play if you visit Maui. Also note that you can play the Gold Course for $70 extra.

Sunday, Dec. 7. Booked 8am tee time at Pukalani GC through TeeTimeHawaii.com Cost $78- cart included. Service good. Shot 37 front/ 40 back This course wasn't as challenging or great, but the views were beautiful. Very similar to your local municiple. You can get a cheaper rate if you played in the afternoon after 2:30pm - no cart. for $28.

Saturday, Dec. 6. Booked 8am teet time at The Dunes at Maui Lani through TeeTimeHawaii.com Cost $99- cart included. Service excellent. I learned something about booking tee times through a service. I'm a local boy born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii. I don't live in Hawaii so I don't have a license or an Hawaii ID so I don't qualify for the local course rate. But sometimes, if I'm lucky I can get that rate just because of my local heritage. I missed out on the local rate here since I already paid for the round through Teetimeshawaii.com. I would have got the local rate of $45 to play, shucks. Shot 45 front/ 42 back. This course is absolutely a pain-in-the-butt to play if you haven't played here before. Blind fairway's and greens'. 4 to 6 foot fairway pot bunkers. Narrow Fairways. Only 1 dogleg left, all the others where straight or dogleg right. And my fade from the day before turned into a draw. I couldn't fade to save my life. The greens where absolutely simple. I had six 1 putts and 3 chip- in, it was getting on or near the green that was difficult. I'm not sure if I'd play this course again. But if I had the change I'd do it just to see if I can score better.

Back from 1 week in Maui. Played a round or two everyday. The following is where I played, what I scored, and my review of the course. Friday, Dec. 5. Booked 8am teet ime at Kihei GC through TeeTimeHawaii.com Cost $125- cart included. Service excellent. Kihei GC was also known as Sandlewood GC. Now I haven't touched a golf club since the last week of September, so everything was stiff and rusty. I practiced a bit and found the I was fading everything so I played that shot all day. Shot 40 front 46 back. I took a 7 on a 166 yard par 3, kicked my butt. The course was beautiful, green excellent. Took a bit to get use to the mountain and ocean breaks. Even on uphill straight looking putts, the ball will still break towards the ocean. Very tough to read. Excellent course - I'd recommend it.

2-day Tourney Yesterday played Classic Golf Club in Puyallup, WA. Shot 80 net 67. Won first, 1 stoke from second place that shot 85 net 68. Today played The Home Course in Dupont, WA. Shot 78 net 65. Won second to the first placer that shot 81 net 63. Same sandbagger. The next round is our last for the year and we are tied in points. Wonder how long this guy can play in the low 80's with a 17 handicap. Might have to Restrict him next year.

Avalon in Berlington, WA. Tournament. Weather was nasty. Pouring rain. Standing water from Tee to green. Everyone shot junk, I just happen to shoot less junk than the rest. 1st place with gross 83/net 71 and 1 kp for bonus.

When I first started playing I use to take Mulligans on the first tee. Now I just take my lumps and do my best to make up for the screw up. It is a far more satisfying to make birdie, par or even boggie from a messed up tee shot, like a topper.

The Home Course. White Tees. 39 front/ 36 back Driver came around on the back. Bombed most par 4 so I had 80 yard pitches to the pin. Missed to many birdies, but not bad for a guy that hasn't practiced or played for 2 weeks.

Been there. But bad luck it wasn't for me. In fact, I place 1st in a tournament in my devision. I played one of my best rounds that day. Pulled my back out the day before but I heated and iced it the whole day. Felt better on tourney time and I made sure my take away was veeerrrryyyy slllloooowwww! I mean real slow motion like, then swung with my legs and body, similar to Annika's swing. I made it all the way through the day without hurting my back to much but it was always on my mind during the round. NowI pop 2 Aleve's before every round to deal with the constant ache.

This is kinda late but I played in a 3-day group tourney in Oregon with our NWHGA organization. I didn't pick these golf courses to play, nor played them before. $20 pot. More players on Sat and Sun made the pot very attractive. Friday Played Eastmoreland. Drove and and started playing. No warmup or practice. Shot 86 net 76. Won 1 kp to break even. $22. Saturday Played Meriwether National. Shot 81 net 69. Won 3rd and 1 kp. $88. Sunday played Red Tail. Shot 89 net 76. Won 3rd and no kp's. $52. The guys that placed 1st and 2nd. won each day. One had a 20 handicap that shot in the mid 80's, the other with a 17 handicap shot in the low 80's out scoring myself with 11 and our top players with 9 handicap. It's the same almost every year. Can't call em out because during the rest of the year they shoot like crap. Had lots of fun though. Don't think Eastmoreland or Meriwether were that great. I hated those courses they where so short. Red Tail was very challenging. Kicked my butt. Would like to play that one again someday to redeem myself.

Great Read. Wish had highlights on the Golf Channel. If it did, wish I knew about it.

Played on 7/19/08. Was my wifes 20th high school reunion and they held it at Hawks Prairie in Lacy Washington. Played 36 holes. Shot 81 then 79. 6-pack Mirror Pond helped a little to loosen up. Then got cleaned up and changed in the locker room to attend the reunion.

Tournament, Auburn GC, Washington. Shot 81 net 70. 30 putts. I won least putts for the day, got my money back. Shot okay but the higher handicappers brought their A game. A 22 handicapper (B Division) shot 85. Three 17 handicappers (A Division, my division) shot 83, 84, 85.

Don't know how fast the wind was howlin, but if you hit your shot into the wind the divot will fly back into your face.

Got back from Ixtapa Mexico. Played both their courses: Palmer Real shot 41 front/56 back. Note: don't walk the course in upper 90 degree heat with 100 percent humidity. It will kill your game and you. Only played this course once. It was in horrible shape, not worth the green fees of $95. Place is a natural wildlife preserve so it looked and felt like playing in the jungle. Ixtapa Marina: Played here 5 times. The course was in great condition. In fact, I witnessed repairs and maintenance of fairways, bunkers, tee grounds, and surrounding areas. The layout reminded my of a links course. The fairways where lined by mounds so if your tee runs off the fairway you can be sure of hitting your next shot from an awkward lie. Day 1, white tees: 43 front/38 back - 81 Day 2, blue tees: 45 front/ 37 back - 82 Day 3, white tees: 40 front/ 38 back - 78 Day 4, blue tees: 40 front/ 43 back - 83 Day 5, white tees: 46 front/ 41 back - 87 (day before went deep sea fishing and everything was sore, lol. But I caught 7 tunas and 1 swordfish.) Had a great time there. Ah!

Kayak Point, Stanwood, WA: Tourney. Shot 85 net 72. My alarm clock didn't go off so I was late getting there, plus it's a 2 hour drive to the course. Got there and made it just in time for my tee off. It's cold, rainy, I didn't bring my long sleeve jacket and wearing shorts, typical Hawaiian attire. I'm stressed and shaking like a leaf. I'm so cold my first 2 holes I two-putted from less than two feet. Took about eight holes to warm up and feel anything. Still... the course was very muddy, had to play winter rules. Starting to use the left-hand low method for putting and was very pleased with the results so far. Will work on it and get more confident with it. Amazing I won first place in my division and got one kp to boot. Missed my long drive by 4 feet off the fairway but I got my only birdie on that hole.

White Horse GC Kingston, WA: 90 from blues. This has got to be the toughest course in Washington. There isn't a flat-lie anywhere on the course accept the tee box, greens hard as cement, fast during the afternoon then slows down toward the early evening, all the green where elevated so if your ball doesn't miraculously stay on the green it will roll off to be engulfed in 2 to 3 inch rough. Bunkers everywhere, narrow fairways and blind landing areas. If you didn't hit an accurate shot you will be punished severely. This course is brutal.

I'm very glad the baton-twirling gothic straddling a horse golf pro wanna-bee is gone. Oh man, she was driving me crazy, yea, I know, it's a reality show, what do you expect. But I'm a stay-home dad and this is one of a few of the entertainment I get without going crazy myself. lol My day is basically entertaining and holding conversations with a 2-year old.

Do that Father/Son Essay contest on the golfchannel.com/fathersday. It'll be cool if you won. I know I would if my son could write at age 2, lol. gl.

Pelz Short Game Bible: I just got it for my B-day. Very excited about it.

http://www.ajgolf.com/cgi-local/stor...i?F=l&C;=Videos I've started this crazy game 8 years ago, and my ex-PGA Pro instructor never told me anything about what AJ's video shows. I got this video a little over a year ago and I moved from a 17 handicap to hopefully a single digit by the end of the season. My understanding and game improvement increased dramatically after watching, and I continually to watch every-so-often. This isn't a sales pitch, I'm just talking from my experience. I've bought this video for 2 of my friends, who happen to be in the upper 20 handicap at the time, and they have improved to the point where I'll have to stop giving them strokes soon. This video doesn't teach swing, heaven knows I don't have one, nor have the body to have one, but I still hit fairways and greens similar to a 7 handicapper according to the Golf Digest Challenge. It's a good thing this is about woods and irons, in putting I'm a 17 handicapper, but working on it. If you have pretty good hand-eye coordination you can learn to strike balls solidly even if your swing isn't a 'golf swing.' I'm not sure but you might want to check your local library to see if this video is available if you can't buy it. I just checked Ebay and there is one DVD set for $20 plus shipping. It doesn't have the bonus sets though, but still better than full price of $90.

Dido. I've played at golf courses where the yardage was off as much as 15 yards. I have the version 1 of the Sky Caddies when there were hardly any golf courses to download and I was uploading courses for posting. I tested the GPS extensively and I've concluded it is more accurate than the yardages on the courses, I rarely play without it. I've tried the yardage binocular types and I can't keep my hand steady enough to get an accurate reading. Maybe when they come out with a stabilizer type for long distance reading, I'll look at em again.