Sickman

Played Sunday (8/24). Aeration was detectable, but barely. Not bad enough for me to make excuses.

Just get there as early as you possibly can (like 6:00) and you'll get out.

Your odds would be good. Check on the storm damage, though. http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny...,1676101.story

I've been having serious problems with my iron play recently. Routinely hitting 8+ fairways and less than 4 greens. Funny thing is, my short game is the best it has ever been. Someone told me it's because when you don't hit greens, the short game gets lots of practice. Makes sense, but I'd rather have some birdie putts.

Perry plays the R7tp http://www.taylormadegolf.com/article_detail.asp?id=667

My clubs spend most of the summer in the trunk. You never know when a golf game might break out and I wouldn't want to be caught unprepared.

Again, I don't really know how long you hit, but for me (and I'm not that long) from the whites, the only opportunity to not hit driver is on the second hole. The rest are drivers and, of course, the par 3s. Update: if you're long and depending on the wind, you can also go with less than driver on 6.

Practice long irons. You can expect several approaches from 190+. On 12, a good drive leaves me 200-220 in. Depending which way the wind blows, 10 or 11 will play just as long or longer. 15 and 16 are monsters. So is 5. Feel free to disregard this advice if you consistently drive 280+ with accuracy. Don't know your age, but the Black requires some level of stamina and focus. It is mentally and, carrying your bag, physically exhausting. Also, I gotta disagree with Nevets -- under normal (non-US Open) conditions, the forced carries aren't as much of a factor for players with even average driver distance. I played two weeks ago and the rough was not nearly as tough as it will be mid-season, but it could have grown in some since then.

Oh, crap. I was thinking of River Vale in NJ. Sorry. But, while we're on the subject, anyone know anything about River Vale?

Can you expand on Union Vale? I was up there for a lesson, and from the parking lot/driving range, the course doesn't look like much. But it's a reasonable drive from the city, so I'm thinking it may be worth a shot.

My gripe isn't stroke and distance as such. If you hit a ball heading anywhere near OB you should take a provisional. However, if you're on a course you don't know or you expect a ball to be in bounds and findable, but it's not, it is just not realistic to go back to the tee box. I don't know about you guys, but I don't play many rounds without a group behind. Most people would play it as a lateral hazard and drop and add a stroke. This helps pace of play, but, of course, isn't how the rule works. What are you supposed to do? You can't go back. Void your round? It's a no-win situation.

Are pros at private clubs generally willing to work with non-members? Don't mean to offend anyone, but I don't have much confidence in the nearby driving-range pros.

I'm around your handicap and took 3 swings of a 7 iron last Saturday at a Cleveland demo day (had to run to tee off). I cracked all 3 perfectly clean and they felt great. I had just finished demo-ing R7tp and AP2 and I probably would not have considered the CG Reds had I not stumbled across the demo tent. Now I will. They did seem to produce a high ball flight for me, although 3 swings is a small sample. It's been said before: they are beautiful at address but you have to make up your own mind about the red insert.

I know Livingston well -- mind sharing who your swing coach is? You can pm me if you don't want to publish it. Also curious where you're shooting 76s and 101s.

whoa. guess I won't be playing Pound Ridge very much.