trjohnson2

Both are nice courses but be sure to bring extra balls for Lost Key. Previous commenter was right on, a few yards off the fairway and good luck finding your ball. Play it from the tips and there are a lot of blind shots. Last I played the greens were running pretty slow so it wasn't too punishing. Cotton Creek is a whole different style and one I prefer over Lost Key. A more open run and closer to what you might expect from a Gulf Coast type course. Gulf Shores is a good visit, and Im sure you can get some good deals around town, they are still trying to get business back after the oil spill.

Orlando or Destin. Id stay away from Tampa/Sarasota; I never felt like I was getting good value on any course I played there

There isnt a whole lot in Fort Walton. I'd drive 25 min over to destin and play sandestin baytowne, sandestin raven or regatta bay. There are a lot of really nice courses to choose from over there, its just down the road and you can get some pretty good rates now because they are hurting for business after the oil spill really hit tourist season hard.

Another vote for the sq tour carry. Not too heavy, good straps, individual slots and cooler fits an icepack and two gatorades.

Putter. 24 putts last Sunday.

Top Flite Gamer

There is crappy place called Golf Garden. Waste of time and money. Take the extra time and go to a real course. You can get some good rates at Baytowne/Raven or Regatta Bay these days.

I found that once I started working shots by draw or cut or whatever into greens, I was able to really improve my scores due to the place I was putting from. Being able to bring a shot in right to left for a flag cut on the left allows me to play towards a safe shot and let it release to the hole. Then if I miss I'm middle of the green instead of chipping or in the sand, because I came in from the safe side. Plus the more you play these worked shots the easier they will be whenthey are really necessary.

You need a hybrid/rescue, around 20 degrees most likely. Much easier to hit than a 3i.

I play a x100 because my swing speed is pretty high. Plus I like to play a draw and the stiff shaft gives me a slight fade, and to compensate for it can result in a snap hooks. And swing speed isnt always about strength, player with lots of length in their swing generate more speed (see Bubba Watson).

and westchase is a pretty nice course. If they still do it like they used to they only seed 9 at a time so you can always play a normal condition course, even during rehab time. Instead of memberships, Westchase also offers some decent discounts online. Sign up for the email list or get the advantage card (right now its 25 bucks a year or something like that) and you get some pretty good discounts (25% off rounds with free gps).

graphite in the hybrid x100s in the irons (including the wedges)

Lost Key over in Perdido is a nice course.

Depends on the type of shot and lie. I tend to play greenside bunkers with a decent lie in the middle of my stance, maybe a few balls back, and with the weight slightly forward. Really my key is to keep my shoulders on a similar angle as my lie (if its uphill, make sure my soulders align with the slope with lead up and trail down). Some people prefer a wider than normal stance, but Ive always been more comfortable with a regualr stance and sure footing. DOnt be afraid to dig in. For fairway bunkers I play it just like a regular shot, plus one club for the distance.

Raven and Baytowne at the Sandestin Hilton are nice. They play a Senior Tour event at the Raven. I think they just reopened the Links course as well which is fun but not a true links course. Regatta Bay and Camp Creek are also nice courses. There really are not a lot of holes right on the coast, because the coast has all the condos. If I had to put them in order, I'd say Raven, Regatta Bay, Camp Creek, Baytowne, bit they are all worth the time. You may be able to get a replay rate if you wated to do 36 and play Raven and Baytowne in the same day.