Fireblade

I am a consultant in the conference / exhibition industry specialising in events for the high tech and start-up sectors in the Bay Area. I suppose we should not be surprised to learn that State Farm employees are on TST as their ad campaign clearly states "State Farm is there" At least now I know where "there" is...

Probably the shot that has made me smile inside the most of recent was last Thursday playing at Metropolitan GC in Oakland, East Bay. Hole #4 is a slight downhill with wind across your shoulders right to left, so a draw helps to carry on the 421 yards off of the white tees. My friend hit a huge drive which carried, bounced and rolled - it was HUGE! his normal slice was gone for this hole. I thought OK draw this and proceeded to block my drive 213 yards to the right hand first cut. We get to my ball and I was pleased to see a great lie and felt better about the 2nd shot. My friend delights in checking distances for me and announces its 208 to the pin, so I take out my club have a few practice swings and then turn back to look at the tee. "You can play and lay up" he says gleefully to which I smiled and said, no I will let them clear the green. One last practice swing and I sweet spot a 3 iron at the pin high and long - it bounces on the front apron of the green and rolls past the flag to the very back of the green which according to the scorecard is 48 yards deep.. My friend almost wets himself and screams "dude what did you just hit?" I calmly reply, my 3 iron. WOW I cannot hit a three iron he says... We drive sixty yards or more to his ball where he proceeds to miss the green short and right. My put is a 30+ yard downhiller which I two put for par. Who says you cant get into peoples heads. LOVED that hole...

Im an expat Brit & recent new US citizen residing in San Francisco. Living the dream of 365 days a year golfing weather - no more winter mats or snow to worry about. Take my golf seriously, some would say to seriously (the wife) but Its a hobby/addiction/compulsion and I love it. With so many courses in Northern California I do not belong to a club and prefer spending my time flitting from course to course. TPC Harding Park is just around the corner from me, and with a residents card the $62 is a steal. Look forward to meeting people in threads and so far I'm enjoying the conversations.

Sandbaggedrs are a disgusting element within golf, and sadly we can do little to eradicate the disease. In Northern California the NCGA has stripped champions of their titles and trophies when found to have cheated. The most recent I recall was a gentleman who held two indexes and when he was outed by a player after the event, an investigation found him out, he was given 14 days to explain himself, he didn't and they unceremoniously stripped him of his win. It is obvious when you meet a SB and it can get in to your head as none of us want to hear the pathetic story of how "I've never played this well" or "I have just come back from surgery" As we all know it's an honour game and sadly all men are not made honour equal.

Visor in white for me. Paypal for the transaction?

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1. It is not my place to tell people which courses they should play. However it is very much the course managements place to tell them where to play from, and my biggest frustration is high handicappers playing from the wrong tees. There is a 'play it forward' campaign which is designed to increase your enjoyment, but sadly there is too much damage to the machismo in playing from tees at a mere 6,300 yards. 2. I like to play different courses, many of my friends do not, so playing in the group is good but I also understand I will have to play as a single. Sometimes I even get a course to myself as I did at Presidio GC a few months ago - not a soul I front or behind me for 18 holes. 3. My experience of sites that bring players together is that they are less than effective. The NCGA eClub San Francisco I belong to has a web page which allows you to 'meet' players, but the 2000 members simply don't use it. I am a member at www.greenskeeper.org and we have regular tournaments which brings people together, but I think playing as a single will probably be more of a useful means to meet players to join up with for future rounds. 4. The following words sell: FREE / SEX / $10 DISCOUNT - but if your course isn't well maintained even $20 off isn't going to appeal. 5. Last year I replaced my clubs and was horrified at the 'trade in value' offered by both online and retail outlets. They now sit in my garage so I have a spare set if friends, colleagues or relatives are in town and want to golf.