alexager

Going to try and be constructive here: Do I agree with how all of the USGA/R&A; rules are implemented? No. Do I have to ability to play by a different set of rules if I wanted to? Yes. But I could not report that score for my HC. Here are my .02, I do believe that most people complain about the rules due to their inability to play golf at the level they think they should. Somewhere on the interwebs someone posted about how they could go far par or better on a PGA course with a caddy. They were a near scratch golfer and after playing Pinehurst No. 2 figured out real fast they were going to struggle to just break 80. We, as amatuers, already get a break on the courses we most play; the distances are usually less than that of a PGA course, the fairway and rough are nowhere near as difficult, and the greens are MUCH slower. I want to break par like everyone else, am I going to? Most likely not, but if I ever do, it will be because I followed the USGA rules and played every shot to the best of my ability. I never thought that not adhering to the rules would bother me, was I wrong. A few weeks ago, I participated in a golf outing that had money of the line for best net score. I am not sure if the people in my group did not understand USGA rules but the person who beat me did not adhere to the stroke and distance rule. We were a little slow (by about 20-30 min) and I know his shot went OB but they did not hit a provisional and when they got to the spot where their ball landed they just dropped and took a penalty. It may have not been a lot of money, but I should have won. Ultimately, I am all for the bifurcation of rules. I dont care that some people think some of the minor differences in rules in other sports (3 point line in basketball, in bounds rules in football, etc) aren't the same as differentiating between amateur and pro golfers. ITS THE SAME! Even if one rule is different, the game is changed. One foot in bounds in college is good, not in the NFL this completely changes the outcome of the games. The 3 point line is MUCH further back between high school and the pros. Please tell me how this would be different than bifurcating the rules in golf? sorry for the long rant. FORE!

Shot an 84 in a group "tournament" at a new to me course. Played off the tee well, when i missed a fairway it wasnt by much. approach shots are what killed me. If it wasnt for only hitting 4 greens I could have broke 80 easy.... Oh, and due to missing those greens I had 34 putts due to a terrible short game....

If i dont want to spend more than 40/round then I have to drive anywhere from 30-60 min. Being in Houston, it could be 10 miles but those 10 miles could take an hour with traffic. I personally like the drive to the course, I like to do some course planning on my way there. If you dont like your course, take the time to drive somewhere else.....

I was in the same boat as you when I wanted to play one ball permanently. I began with how the ball felt off the putter, without feel I have no idea where that ball is going... Next, after I figured what kind of feel i liked from there, I checked what balls did around the green. What kind of spin can I get with my swing. Finally, how does the ball feel off my most used irons. To me, I dont care what the ball feels like off the driver because a well hit shot feels great and a terrible one is not going to feel good no matter the ball. Hope that helps! Recommendations: CHEAP: Wilson Staff 50/50 or DUO- Great price for a decent ball Middle of the Road: Callaway SuperSoft or TMAG Project a- super soft but lots of spin around the green Not cheap: Titleist ProV series or NXT series/Nike RZN/TMAG TP series

I would have hit two shots (regardless of where they landed) and been like "That's Blackjack! Beat it sucka" and walked off. Even if the thought that I was playing with you, its a ton of pressure....

So, I played at a new course for me yesterday, La Torretta Resort in Montgomery, TX. It was in phenomenal shape considering the winter we had and compared to some of the more "upscale" courses in the area. Anyway, I am still struggling with confidence off the tee. I hit only 3 fairways the whole round, and this is a tough course to play from off the fairway. I had to punch out about 6 times, it was brutal. My takeaway from yesterday: Shot an 89 (pretty good for my recent play), NEED to work on tee shots, hybrid and long irons are my bread and butter, having a hard time controlling accuracy for my 8,9,PW and GW, short game is pretty good, putting is almost perfect (31 putts with one 3 putt from a terrible read). I am going to work on doing whatever it takes to hit the fairway off the tee even if I have to hit a 3i every damn time.

Honeslty, if you want to get a career in golf get a job at a golf course. From there, you can figure out if you want to be a pro, manage golf operations or manage clubhouse operations. IMO it is better to start there and not become "over educated" for a position you may not be sure of. Plus, spending all the money on a degree to which you may never need is kind of pointless. I have several friends that work in the golf industry and that is where they started.

Exactly!! Golfers like us could really use a 2K shopping spree to Dicks or a spot on a Pro-Am day at ANY PGA event. Hell, to make a twist at the end it could go something like this: Great job (winner) you have won the average joe golf show! Now, you are able to enjoy your 2,000 dollar shopping spree at Dicks, a full week all expenses paid golf vacation in the Carolina's and a (sponsor) staff bag with full club fitting! But, wait, you have a choice to make! You can keep the great prizes we just listed or....... you can have a spot to play in the pro-am at next years Master's!!! Ummm... I will pick the pro-am spot, thanks.

I agree with most of you, this is some atrocious golf for some people that are aspiring tour pro's. I think GC should do something that would get their viewership way more involved. Have a show like BB but instead of professionals, have hacks like us on their in a "golf bootcamp" and play off for an awesome golf grand prize. Hell, maybe it would get someone who is a perennial low single digit handicapper the help they need to try to move on. What do you guys think?

I forgot to put that when people would tell me about my "beautiful" swing, it would inflate my ego and I always would think I should be better at this when I was playing poorly. Also, I appreciate the complements. I have played in tournaments in the past, no cheating the rules there, and have done well, I guess I play better with pressure.

I grew up on the Oregon Coast. I have two favorites. Bandon Dunes and my home course Astoria Golf and Country Club

I have never owned a 5W and since I dont play very often anymore I fount it easier to hit than my 3I with about the same distance. Picked up a Callway Razr Fit Xtreme 18* for $99.

I have a confession, not only to myself but to everyone else. Here goes: I have been playing for 10 years now (started when I was 18) and have been told from the start from many people that I had a beautiful swing. I have never had a problem with distance, sometimes I don't take driver out of my bag at all. Pretty good with the long irons but have always struggled from 150yds and in. Short game comes and goes, I work on it here and there and it saves me a good amount of strokes sometimes. I average about 29-33 putts per round. I have been lying to myself for the last 5 years about how good I am. I would play by myself and hit a bad shot, think "I wouldn't have attempted that shot in a tournament" drop a new ball and play it. When doing this I would score in the high 70s and low 80s (of course wouldn't we all?). This would happen maybe 3-6 times a round. At the beginning of this year I had a resolution: respect the game and myself by being honest and playing the game how it is supposed to, with progress comes real scores and a better feeling after a round. I have played 4 times now and have not broken 90, it has been hard but when I got a 90 the other day at a new course with a lot of wind and 10 Penalties!!! I felt really good afterwards. My goal is to improve confidence off the tee, work on my 8I-PW and get myself to a true single digit HC. Thank you.

Played a 2 person scramble, my partner hadn't played at all this year (didn't show though some guys have all the talent...) Windrose Golf Club 70.9/122 We shot a 7 under 65 and putted terribly. 6 birdies and an eagle and a bogey. Somehow, after weeks of struggling with my driver I was BOMBING 300+ yard drives almost every time I pulled it out, longest at 365 with a little help from the wind.

on 3/3/13: Recently moved to the Houston area, tried a new course on Sunday. Wedgewood in Conroe. This course had the most elevation change (hilly) that I have seen since I moved to Texas in 2010. Their were a lot of blind tee shots and the "map" didnt do any justice to how the course actually laid out. That being said, I shot an 87 which isnt too bad for a first time playing a course that needs local knowledge to play certian tee shots.