forepoints

You've accomplished a 20 handicap after 4 years? Good for you. Congratulations. It sounds like you probably have a fast tempo and may be getting too fast on the downswing with your longer irons/ woods. Try to slow it down and see if you're hitting it better. Think wider arc rather than get choppy. You can have a fast tempo with the shorter irons and you'll be fine but if you're too fast with the longer irons, you'll lose distance.

Are there a lot of golfers on the 18-hole course or 9-hole course? Do these courses already have a driving range? If so, what would your range provide that they don't? I think the land is the cheap part. I would be concerned about the operating costs and cost for putting a net around the range.

Some of these high end courses have bag drops where someone loads up a cart with your bag. (eg. The Golf Club at La Quinta and Westin Mission Hills will come out to your car and pick up your bag) Also, when you finish a round, there's guys waiting to wipe your clubs. Do you tip any of these guys and how much is acceptable?

That was brutal when you had to stitch it manually. Today's cameras make it easy for you.

I've started taking panoramas at golf courses and was wondering if anyone else has done this too. Here's a shot of #18 hole at the Humana Challenge where Brian Gay won over a playoff with Charles Howell III.

I heard that the new rbz stage 2 drivers has a lower trajectory because they moved the weight closer to the front.

I was a big Callaway fan until I tried a Taylormade. I'm not going back because these drivers are so easy to hit.

Funny that you mentioned a Superfast burner driver because I bought one, played it once then got rid of it because it was too light for me. I picked up the Taylormade RocketBallz adjustable driver last week for $149 and love it. It's a little heavier than the Superfast so I think that's why I can hit with this one.

Try to buy a brand name set that matches your ability. For instance, stay away from forged irons or blades. If you're starting out, get a set that is easy to hit (eg. Adams Golf). If you have a small budget, go to Play It Again Sports and check out what they have. If you find you don't like the game, you can always sell it back to them. And if it's a brand name, it'll sell faster and you usually will get more for it than a no-name.

I've bought from them before but the club never came. They ended up cancelling my order because they ran out.

That's my thinking too. I tried on a pair of Ecco with permanent cleats and they are comfortable.

The reason I'm looking at a shoe with permanent cleats is because I can't remove the removable cleats. I paid over $150 for this pair of shoes and can't get half of the cleats off.

I watched him at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions playing in the rain. He's rock solid. I love how nothing seems to phase him. That's a good attitude to mimic.

I know a handful of courses in California that offers a free round of golf on your birthday. But I'm hoping to compile a comprehensive list across the US and Canada. Please reply with ones in your area. Thanks.

After my lessons, I had a nice draw and I was hitting my driver straight and long. Then I went downhill. Eventually I lost the draw and gained the yips in putting. This season, I reinvented my putting stroke and is now working on hitting my irons well again. On my last round, I was hitting my irons pretty well but no draw. I'm yet to hit my new driver but so far, I'm beginning to like my swing.

I went to Pete Carlson Golf & Tennis and bought a new, demo RBZ adjustable driver with 9.5 degree loft. I haven't tried it but I usually like Taylormade clubs.

On my last visit to Lumpy's in Palm Springs, I noticed that the whole shelf of shoes were the type with permanent cleats. There were maybe 2 or 3 shoes that had the removable spikes but no one seems interested in buying those anymore. I'm in the market for new shoes and was wondering what you all think? Do you think spikes are on the way out?

I love those Nike commercials. After watching the one that people were saying 'I'm sorry' on, made me think that more people are going to be hitting into me this year. I guess I have Nike to thank for that. Anyways, I'm curious to see how this driver hits. I would guess that the large cavity in the back would make this club sound hollow when you drive the ball. Let me know how it sounds.

We played Knollwood last year and after waiting for the group to clear the fairway, I was coaxed to tee off so I did. I saw my ball launch but I didn't see it land because of undulating fairways. In a minute or so, I saw the group ahead of us appear over the crest of the hill. I knew right then and there that I must have drove into them. When we got closer, the group ahead of us were waiting for us. A Korean fellow was standing in the middle of the fairway and he looked pissed. He kept waving at me to come up to see him. I was reluctant but I knew I owed them an apology. When I drove up in the cart, I could see a red faced fellow ready to give it to me. He explained that my ball landed pretty close behind them and when he turned around, the ball bounced and ran up his leg. I asked him if he was hurt and all he could say was that I was wrong in teeing off. I apologized over and over again but it didn't matter to him. He looked like someone that would sue for damages. After that experience, I try to get a visual of the group ahead before teeing off. Lesson learned.

Hi, I'm a newbie as well. I bought a sonocaddie about 2 years ago and still enjoy using it because a) downloading courses are free for life and b) it shows you distances to hazards that may not be visible to you. For example, I played Moorpark last year and 200 yards ahead of me, my gps said there was water. From where I was, I could not see anything. I trusted the gps and aimed left. Luckily I did because when I walked up to my ball, I could see a large lake on my right. A laser rangefinder won't tell you that. But that's my opinion.

I try to play 2-3 times a week. I envy people who can play everyday.