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.

Nice. There's a serious shortage of good daily fee courses within an hour from NYC. I'm sure weekend fees will be in the neighborhood of $125 or higher.

Anyone experiencing AP1s or AP2s getting scratched/banged up easily? Like after just a few rounds? There are a couple threads on another forum about this. http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index....ic=161369&st;=0 Thanks.

Custom Golf of Connecticut was recommended to me, but I've never been. Anyone know of them or anyone else (maybe closer)?

What else did you look at and what did you think? I'm thinking about the AP1s, TaylorMade Tour Burner or R7 tour, maybe Calloway X-20.

Played it on April 4. The rough was impossible and, as noted above, the starter will stress that you should keep an eye on balls headed off the fairway. The greens are probably in better shape by now, but 3 weeks ago they were slow and bumpy. There was an "emergency" aeration some time in March. You'll love it.

Have you played the Red? It's a fantastic course. I think it's the only other full 18 there by Tillinghast. Being next to the Black it is overlooked and underappreciated. You might want to give it a shot.

Forget it! I played it from the blues (over 7,000 yds) on April 4 in a howling wind and shot an even 100 (I'm about a 12). And I have no shame whatsoever about that score. Add another 600 yards and make the greens US Open-fast (they weren't, yet) and I wouldn't stand a chance. The rough was almost where it will be for the Open -- maybe they'll add another 1/2 - 1 inch -- and it is just torture. You can easily lose a ball a few feet off the fairway. In fact, you're generally lucky if you find it. In the lifetime of a regular golfer, you just won't ever encounter rough like that. As bad as it is when you miss fairways, it is even tougher when you miss greens. Most people (certainly I) just don't have enough/any experience pitching and chipping from that kind of rough. You're as likely to be surprised by how much club you get on the ball and fly it over as you are to get snarled and leave it short. Did I mention the wind?

I played The Black last Saturday. It was not in mid-season form, particularly the greens, which were slow and bumpy. Also, the rough was cut WAY down. While there was some wind, the claws were retracted and I matched my lowest score ever there. Previous posters are generally right about the tee time system. I didn't have a reservation, was there at 8:00, waited about 50 minutes for a spot and was out at 10:08. btw, I don't recommend anyone else walk up without a tee time

Are the AP2s too much club for a mid-handicapper (like 12)? I don't want to torture myself with clubs I can't hit consistently and I could certainly use some game improvement. At the same time, I don't like the look or feel of silly, gimmecky, chunky beginner irons. I've been playing TaylorMade Burner Oversize irons for 14 years. I'm planning to demo the AP1/2, the R7s and the X20s. Thanks.