B-17 Pilot

. . .Jack Nicklaus was an awesome golfer and was a tremendous influence in the game of golf. . .no doubt! However, in Jack's era there were 6-10 top golfers then the rest. Now there are 50 that can win in any given week. . .! Except they don't because Tiger is THAT good! Equipment has gotten much better than when Jack played that certainly contributes to the distance of drives today and the accuracy due to wedges and better balls. The bottom line is that as good as Jack and Arnie and whoever else you want to name was. . .Tiger is unquestionably the best. You probably heard Hank Aaron say last week that Tiger has dominated his sport unlike anyone in the history of sport!! Hammerin Hank knows a thing or two about skill level and what it takes to be the best! Not only is Tiger #1 in skill level (did you see that putt today??!!) he has the best concentration bar none, and is the best putter the game has ever seen. Mike

. . .This has probably been discussed before but I am looking into a Sky Caddie SG5 and was wondering what other people might use. . .or, not use?! I have read that the Sky Caddies are best. Any feelings on this one? Mike

. . .I just purchased a 3 & 5 Taylor Made CGB's which I have only hit on one outing! They seem awesome. I also have a Taylor Made Hybrid #5 which is 25 degrees. These three clubs should elevate my game. . .hopefully!! Mike

. . .judging by your handicap me giving you advice is like a minor leaguer giving Cal Ripken some baseball lessons!! It sounds like your clubs are probably at least 5-8 years old, right? If so, I think you would be well served by purchasing new "fitted" clubs. The technology in not only woods, but irons, in just the last few years could definitlely aid you in getting to that coveted 4! Good luck!! Mike

. . .I've got over 400 transactions. . .although most of it revolves around my WWII military collectibles. I did just buy a set of clubs on Ebay. A wonderful place to do business. . .if you do your homework!! Mike

. . .In theory you are right. However, during the first round of any tournament there is usually very little coverage. Only the advent of the Golf Channel has made this a new issue. Just wait. . .the last three rounds will adhere to your concerns! Mike

. . .that's the way I understand it! As long as your swing path matches your body alignment! It will not work if you just open or close your stance but have your swing path conguent with your actual club face direction. I can't wait to get out on the range and put this to the test! We'll discuss it here again in a few days! Mike

. . .I read about JD's time in the Hooter's tent drinking beers and flipping off the photographers. I did not hear anything about a deuce dropped in the punchbowl!! He said that he used Gruden as a stand in Caddie because his normal guy had a sore shoulder. . .I agree on Arnie's tournament. . .Ernie should not have initially entered as he said he would "never" play in 6 events in a row again. . .!! As for the greens, what can you do?!

. . .I'm in the beginning stages of attempting to teach myself to draw and fade as well. Most responses here and most of what I read says that at address, you aim your clubhead where you ultimately want the ball to land, and you align your body at address where you want the ball to start. Most self help articles state that you should only alter your stance 10-15 degrees to start and thusly will only get a "slight" fade or draw. Increasing your angle of stance offset will derive a more severe fade or draw. This seems like it shouldn't be too difficult. . .then I read about changing your swing plane and then it becomes a whole different animal!! Heck, I can only hope my natural swing is duplicated from outing to outing! Patience will be my virtue. . .!! Mike

. . .Watching John Daly on the Golf Channel this morning made me realize that 1.) he most probably is an alcoholic that is in denial 2.) he blames things on himself, but says "that's just the way things are going in my life right now" 3.) that he is certainly remorseful in how his missing his T-time affected other golfers and 4.) because he IS in denial, thinks that it is OK to hang out in the Hooters tent and have a self proclaimed "few beers". He can't have a few beers! I lived in an alcoholic family growing up and all the signs point to a very nice guy who just has not grasped the severity of his situation. Most alcoholics have to drop to the bottom before they can lift themselves up again. I hate seeing this happen! Mike

. . .I too, just use the stock head covers from Taylor Made. I considered getting a Terp Turtle of a PSU Nittany Lion, but for some reason those animal headcovers just don't do it for me!! Mike

. . .I'm just getting "up" on golf GPS units but from what I've read Sky Caddie is by far and away the best unit to get. My thought is if you are going to spend a few hundred dollars on one of these get the good GS5! You can get it on Ebay for $350.00 where it normally retails for $429.00. Mike

Love your avatar. . .is that your wife??!! Mike

Hey Bruce, I play U of M alot which is a nice course. . .however they are going to close it for about 9 months in July for a re-do! A real short 9 hole course, but one that is real cheap ($14.00) is Paint Branch which is adjacent to the U of M course. I also play Falls Road alot with the guys I work with and Enterprise along Greenbelt Rd. as you head to Bowie is a great course. I just have not played that one in a while! I'm chomping on the bit to get out. . .played last Thursday at Falls Rd. and did surprisingly well with my new clubs. Perhaps we'll meet up one day this summer! Best, Mike

I'm working on getting my video together. . .!! Mike

. . .I'm a 58 year old guy that played a lot of sports all my life and the knees just won't let me do anything but ride the cart! I'd love to walk with a pull cart but I really pay for it the next day. I just try to get my exercise doing 12 oz. curls! Mike

. . .Thanks for the get back! It looks like no matter what courses we choose, we will not be disappointed. What could be better. . .golf during the day, a long 19th hole, and playing black jack at night!! Go Terps!! Gotta win tonight to have any chance at the Big Dance! Mike

. . .A punch shot is required when you want to keep the ball's flight real low. Whether it is a short shot around the green or a long fairway shot from under a tree for instance, you do not want to have a high follow through. You want to hit the ball from back in your stance and follow through with stiff arms. Regarding a uphill lie, you've got to realize that the ball will usually go to the left. . .so you should aim to the right of where you want the ball to go. Likewise, a downhill lie will usually fly off to the right so aim accordingly! That's just my take. . .there are a lot of people here that know a heck of a lot more than I do! Good luck! Mike

. . .I use a Superquad 9.5 driver but I just bought a Burner hybrid 25 degree and it really is a nice club! Gets the ball up quickly and is really forgiving on miss hits! Needless to say, I have retired my 3 iron which I never could hit anyway! Hit 'em straight. . .and long! Mike

. . .I think it would be my wedges! At least until I get better in reaching greens in regulation! Mike

. . .Four of us at work are planning a 4 day weekend at Atlantic City some time this summer. I've already looked at a brochure of available courses and they look great! Any recommendations out there? Thanks! Mike

. . .Selling your clubs on Ebay is the only way to go. You will be selling to the biggest marketplace in the world! The key is to take real good pictures of your items and verbally sell them in your marketing write up. It takes a little time to self educate yourself on Ebay's nuances, but when you get up to speed, it's easy. Good luck!! Mike

. . .I'm 58 years old and played competetive baseball until I was 49. I always batted both ways which helped me out. I've always golfed right handed but on numerous occasions have had to hit one out behind a tree left handed! Mike

. . .As my handle implies, I am a fanatical World War II aviation enthusiast! I've been interested in WWII ever since my Dad told me about his service in the Navy flying torpedo bombers (as a gunner) against the Japanese. It is a facinating period of history. Mike

. . .I just got the Taylor Made Tour red black and gold bag. It looks great and as long as I don't have to carry it. . .it's all good! Seriously, I wish I could still walk to play but my knees just won't let me do it. . .so I'll have to drink beer and ride. Man. . .it's a tough life!! Mike