Rouleur

So aside from your emphasis, Scott acknowledges he changed his read because of what his caddy told him. Seems to me Scott may have got it wrong without the help, and the playoff would have continued. But y'know, what do I know. I'm done, sorry for the interlude, let the regular programming continue..

Wow, blame the director, there must have been more than 4 cameras on the putt, do you want the caddy to walk off the green and hang in a gallery? You guys can have your pinions, like I said I'm not sure he is a bang on stand up guy either, but it definately seems there is a lot of bad blood here. It's a shame, you guys had your moment of the weekend ruined. I don't get so het up about personalities, so I enjoyed it with Adam Scott, I was pumped for him and concentrating on him, seems it was opposite for a lot of you :( I just enjoy the entertainment on offer, rather than bring any baggage...

I agree with golfingdad, I think most every player is congratulated by their caddy first. Apparently he is a really good friend with AS, so to see a friend be happy for his mate? I don't see anything wrong with it. You re-watch it, and Adam walks up to him and hugs him again later, they seem pretty close to me. I think people are a bit oversensitive about what he does because of the screw ups he made in the past. I agree, man that was terrible. He would freely acknowledge that they were screw ups too. Now I think people are willing to pin too much on him now. And the fact he's not from the USA, I think the media and fans would have forgiven him a bit easier if he was. Whatever you think, he has to be one of the best caddies around. No, he didn't win the tournaments, he carried the bag. But as far as carrying the bag goes, he's got it. You watch him helping read the last putt, tells him what he thinks, leaves him to it, and AS made it...

Congrats Adam Scott! I think it would have been a pretty good story either way, so a great finale to the tournament. It seems a lot of fans felt for AS after what happened last year, so to see him to break through, and the obvious joy he had at the 18th, which appeared to be real happiness rather than anything derogatory to his opponents, and also the way he related to AC afterwards walking together like that, he is a very popular winner. Think what you want of his caddie, his gaffes are hopefully a thing of the past, but it does lend you to the opinion that Williams is one hell of a caddy, as far as guiding their man can go. IMO, the skill is still with the player, just as far as caddies play their part on the course, he seems top notch.

Rehmwa and phan52, well played! Those are the feel good stories I love hearing about!

Read about one guy who would collect them up in a bucket, then give them to kids in the family at christmas. I know if I got 100 golf balls when I was a kid I would have flipped out even if they were crappy, thought it was pretty cool thing to 'share the love'..

I actually had a thought, you may find that people of different ages or sight standards prefer them, such as advised above, someone with sight differences finds yellow beneficial, might lead to a measurable trend. I'm in my 30's without glasses, so I may buck that trend Oh, and fashion, as with everything in golf, cannot be understated. The pro tour players all play white, so you'll find the majority of us will always play white, because they have never even tried a yellow or other colour, since they prefer to use the same colour the pros use. This is totally fine of course, everyone should enjoy what they like about the game. It's just another observation.

Firstly, I don't believe there would be any perfromance difference in terms of distance or spin. Secondly, I think seeing the ball can be broken down into seeing the ball in the air, and finding it on the ground. I don't play as much as many on here, but I do find the yellow or pink ball easier to see in the air when the sky is flat overcast, as it seems to contrast more than a white ball, I can find it quicker when looking up after my swing. It may not be an issue for people living where their weather is generally clear, or just the odd cloud. Where I am, overcast is almost a part of every day! I know when looking for my ball on the deck, that to me, the pink and green and yellow contrasted quite well on an overcast day. But only a little bit more than a white ball, with white balls shining more than others on a sunny day, and again, that is just how I saw it. The other advantage over white, is that typically less people play a coloured ball, and as many players would say, that generally means they instantly know which ball they need to walk to when playing in a foursome. Just some thoughts, and of course, YMMV. Good luck with your project!

You might also find the yellowing comes from sunscreen. I know white t's and polos get yellower necks when I wear sunscreen, especially if applied freshly before putting on the t or polo. That may apply to some of your yellowing, and I also find it is very tough to get out without a whitener in the wash.

But wait, you're debating it as well There are articles in this very thread of people that have marked the line, and even though, as you correctly surmise, the ball isn't actually balanced by adding or removing weight, they got more accurate putts by putting along that line as the centre of mass rolled along that line on a side to side 'balance', although the centre of mass was going up and down. It is obviouly a use of time you're not happy to give up, and that is totally up to you I don't balance, but I find it interesting...

Wow, 520! I just can't seem to find 'em other than in the water. Got any tips about where you find them mostly? If I find any others, it's usually plugged in the soft ground around water, rather than in the water. I never find them in the trees or rough?

The reviews here are by ordinary golfers, so I'd trust them a little more in their honesty, though sometimes the reviewer knowledge may not be that of better players. However I am going to agree on the magazine reviews. I am saddened whenever I get into a sport, inevitably I purchase a few magazines to see what's what. And a trend that goes through most magazines with reviews, whether they be bikes, surfing, golf, whatever. These are all sports that have products coming out regularly, which seems to appeal to us in that we all like to see the latest stuff also! There is also a little bit of good stuff to get you to buy aside from the reviews, like players buy golf mags for the tuition or interviews. But is the lack of negative reviews or review points compared to positives. I mean, all the golf gear in the world can't be more than 75% in ratings can they? There has to be some crap doesn't there? I guess what I am saying is it seems that the magazines have the 'everyone gets a medal and no one fails' kind of methodology, and it took me a while to figure out why. Magazines and websites that operate as a business don't do it as a service. Sure, they may provide a service, but that is not their purpose. Their purpose is to make money, and aside from selling issues in the case of mags, or memberships for websites, they make dosh through selling advertising copy. If you are disparaging to your advertisers, they'll drop back or cut out their ad budget with you. Hence, if you want to keep money coming in, you always play nice with your advertisers new clubs Once I realised that, and that GD and Hot List all had winners from every brand as mentioned above, then I take them all with a grain of salt now. The reviews have to be subjective as others have said, seeing as we are all different in swings they have to be. But I think they are far from independent. Definitely have their place in the market though, young kids love reading mags! JMHO

Cool story MS256! That's what it's all about, helping out your fellow golfer. When I get enough to fulfil my 10 ball per round requirement, I'm going to donate to the kids in my family, then to the local first tee. To me, it's a shame people would rather rag on me for something that I do discretely so as not to hold them up, but that will benefit the next generation of golfers. Because of stories like yours Fourputt, I will never hawk on a round with a partner again.

Last round was 10, all because they wanted to swim with the fishies. 6 on one hole, 4 on another, and nothing OB. Round before was 18, no joke, mostly from the tee to thick OB where you never get them back. But now I learnt I can take a drop rather than tin cupping it when hit to water, thanks to the rules thread, so that should save a few!

Hey Nuclear Mike, They have started selling the Gamer V2 as just a "Gamer" in a new box. They're online, DSG and GG have them $20 a doz. They also now make them in Yellow. And they have a new version called a Gamer Tour, which is the same but with urethane cover, and more $$. Some people buying the tour have commented on scuffing easily, which is what happens with a urethane cover (many people shag bag a Pro V after one round), so just expecting too much for $30 a doz. Just be thankful that you live in the US and have access to Dicks, I'm in Oceania, and there are no official distributors down here for Maxfli or Top Flite now that Dicks own them, and shipping from the US to here is too expensive (Dicks don't ship overseas anyway), might as well buy Prov's locally. And to the OP, give them a try, alround good reviews from what I have seen.

Thank you! The rules website is very thorough, and I over read that...

Thanks guys for the awesome responses. I just want to clarify on certain aspect. If I hit into a water hazard, drop in the right place behind it, is there a penalty stroke? Hit into water hazard on 2nd shot, no penalty, drop and take 3rd shot from there? Reading your responses I'm not sure there is an additional penalty added when you take a drop, as you only mentioned a penalty when you retook the shot?? Thanks!

That is really interesting Dave! Assuming the pedometer doesn't count extra when the cart is bumping around. Get a heart rate monitor that counts calories and tell us the difference there too. It sounds like you have the ability to play the same course and get comparable results for walking (whether with push cart or not) and riding. Good stuff.

Yep, I will. For the sake of hack science, I will try to play the same course with a pull cart. Your request pushed me over the edge of going back to it, just for the sake of stats. But, it can take me a long time to get a round in, so it could take up to a year to get to this course again. No joke. Most of my golf is at an out of town 9 holer. Be patient and hopefully I'll get there.

So I searched and saw this thread a while ago, and sorry for the thread dredge, but I thought I would put in some results. I'm early 30's, at my BMI (an unscientific indicator I know, but obviously not excessively overweight), cycle about 5 hours a week. I'm slower than most in terms of fitness, so I would say I'm about average. I have a recorded slow heart rate, so they are provided for indication only. I carried for 18 holes yesterday. 18 balls, 1.5L fluid (1.5kg), 10 steel shafted clubs, putter, graphite 3w and driver, towel and carry bag itself. Will post back with weight. 3 and half hours on undulating course, 1:43 for the back (played first), 1:54 for the front. 108avg HR, 154 max (had a bit of a run to get a ball). Total Kcal 1478kcal. That equates to 408kcal per hour. I put the watch on in the office today. 2 hours, 58avg, 123max (going upstairs with load), 188kcal. 94kcal per hour. I will post back sometime if I ever drive, but I think I will continue to carry until I am unable due to age, so that would have to be a special occassion. Too cheap for that. As many have said, your fitness and weight will determine your results, but I'm burning 4 times what I do when sedentary in an office chair. It is also a reasonable indicator about why people feel tired after 9 holes, and burned out at 18. I took proper electolyte/carbo replacement, and felt good coming up the last, compared to feeling burned out by 12 the last time I carried.

Oh, and thanks to RayG, my new rule is to only hawk when playing by myself, that guy would suck to play with.

31 in 9 holes at my secret stash, mostly water balls. I know they have only been in there a month or two. I always go super early morning and play, automated card system, and I always pay to play first, never hold anyone else up. The ones I find are not top model as it is a short exec course, but I need more balls to lose myself. One weekend I visited 3 times, and got over 50 total because a drought has caused the lakes to go low, and found them by scuffing around the edges. Some stories here are amazing, 1000 balls! This must be a popular pastime, paying and playing is better than the couples I see hawking at dusk without paying, though sometimes they throw down mid range balls for people to find. I feel they keep all the good ones. And most courses I play are clean in the rough, hardly find any. I feel people come and hawk consistently through the year in the rough, and don't bother with the water balls.

You don't have to put yourself out I don't think, but you can help them become keen on the game, give them pointers to those cheap and easier courses. Tell them about each other so maybe they can get a beginners group together etc. If you don't mind hanging out with them, you could also go to the range with them, no harm to you there? You are also in the prime position to help them understand the aforementioned unwritten rules about pace of play etc that beginners just don't know when they get out there. Just a though tho. In response to whether new players are needed at all, I guess people might not care what happens when they can't play anymore, but to keep the courses and game going, every sport needs to fill the attrition rate with new blood.

25 deg C yesterday at Akarana. Was a lovely afternoon to be out there, pretty fun course. The turf was so tight, I could see divots everywhere, but I couldn't take one! 102 + 20 for 10 lost balls = 122. 2 pars, 8 fairways, 10 x 2putts, 1 x 1putt, 1 GIR, 7 straight drives. 4 bunkers, with only one going back in. Happy with most of my tee shots, and my wedges to green were fun allowing 2putt, which is good for me. The greens were lightning. Almost got 2 in over 20ft. Had a lot of fun, and wore a heart rate monitor for some added interest as some people have asked about that on here. Will find a thread to post, but took 3h37m solo, 1478kcal, 408kcal per hour. Carried for the 2nd time ever with my cheap carry bag. Not too uncomfortable, a lot of rattling, but I'll get over it. Double bogey golf, and the throw away holes are deadly. But I am still love this game...