mvarley84

Playing in my work league, I was playing a par 5 dog leg left. I tried to draw the ball around the corner to try and reach in 2...My tee shot went straight as an arrow, and ended up in the right rough with a big willow tree in my line of sight to the green. I could have chipped out from behind the tree and gotten on the green in 4, but I decided to try my luck with a very aggressive fade (borderline intentional slice) around the tree to leave a short chip to the green. I had to hit the ball almost straight across the fairway between 2 trees (one in the centre of the fairway, the other in the left rough) and hope the side spin would bring her back around to the fairway. Well, it worked out exactly as planned, my ball sliced around the trees, came back onto the fairway, and left me a 50 yd shot to the green (which I did make up and down for birdie). Probably one of the best shots I have ever made.

Unless you are smashing the sweet spot into rocks, gouges and dings won't effect the playability of your irons.

If the advantage is as distinct as you imagine, I would think that way more players would have hopped on the opportunity. And BTW, long putters are not being banned. The act of anchoring the putter to any part of the torso is banned. I don't see the big problem with anchored putters, as I said earlier, if there was that big of a difference more guys would be doing it.

Dings and scratches should be worn proudly! My favourite club is my Taylormade Burner 2.0 gap wedge...has a nasty gouge in it from hitting a rock that was just under the grass surface. Still shoots like the day I got it. I don't play well enough, nor often enough, to justify buying brand new expensive clubs anyways. I am playing a set of Hogan Edge irons right now that I picked up used. My next set of clubs will again be hand me downs from some rich feller who golfs 5 times a year yet thinks he needs brand new clubs every two years. Honestly, its a great way to pick up clubs that have a ton of life left and not break the bank. To answer the original question, no, I do not carry a beater club. I use my clubs as necessary throughout the round.

IMO, watching the pros play links golf really shows you the extreme level of talent these guys possess. Some of those bunker shots were just plain incredible, not to mention how many par saves after a wayward drive into the fescue! Scorecards just form a bell curve for that particular event. The leader board is packed, and there is some amazing golf being played. I love how difficult the course is to play!

Ok, I started the year off hitting balls nice and straight for the most part. Now, I find that I push the ball to the right on pretty much every shot with an iron or wedge. I say "pretty much" any time, because when I aim left to compensate, of course the ball flies dead straight to the left exactly where I was aiming. I don't feel like I am doing anything mechanically different, just looking for some tips to help me get back on the point of aim. Thanks in advance, and tight lies!

My league plays match play, so "gimmies" are handed out at the discretion of the opponent. I've conceded 4' puts to guys when I can 2 putt for the win anyways...but more often the putts I concede are inside 2'.

Sounds like you may have tweaked your MCL a bit. There is definitely something wrong with your swing if you are able to put that much lateral stress on your left knee. A more common knee injury is an ACL strain or meniscus tear from over torqueing on the left knee during contact and follow through. If it is causing a limp, see your doctor and have it checked out.

I wouldn't call what I do a "3/4" swing. It's really just clubbing up, but not trying to kill the ball. Just a nice smooth full swing, and my accuracy has greatly improved. I lost 20 yards off my driver, but my FIR has gone way up.

I love the old links style courses!! I think its a great change from the standard driver/wedge, driver/hybrid (par 5), or just plain wedge on a par 3. You will never hear an announcer say "Oh, this one is headed left, but it should be OK". They will be saying "Oh dear, this one is headed into the fescue...good luck finding that one" or "Looks like he has drilled it down the middle of the fairway, but it has landed in a 6ft deep fairway bunker". Awesome.

Tiger Woods -6 Graham Delaet -4

I've stopped for lunch at the turn a few times...depends on how the course is moving. The course I usually play maybe has a foursome every other hole....on a busy day. So stopping for a bite to eat in the clubhouse doesn't slow things down at all. We just slide in an appropriate gap in play and carry on.

Oh good to know, thanks.

Tried wolves....I made the mistake of teaching him how to shoot when he was six....with 7 years of shooting experience under his belt, he took care of those wolves mighty quick.

No, but I do have a 13 year old son. I've been dealing with a testosterone filled hormonal rollercoaster for about a year an a half. I'm not trying to excuse the kid's actions at all, but he obviously has never had any "golf parenting". He got busted, now he is taking his licks and carrying on. Rather than just call him a brat, make some insightful recommendations that can help improve the kid's game.

I've been commenting since the start of this thread, full of constructive criticism for the kid...go back a few pages and have a read. No need to repeat it, the kid can't even read it anymore (PB).

A one liner on an internet forum has somehow given you an expert opinion on the kid's character? He was being emotional...I'm sure you have your moments.

And he is relying on a 12 year old to figure out how to fix it on his own?? It is not constructive what so ever. It is criticism, but not constructive criticism. It amazes me how many people on here obviously don't have kids, or are so ancient that they don't remember their children's childhood let alone their own. The kid is 12, he is a little emotional about possibly getting kicked out of his club...Does he have a bad attitude? Of course, no one is debating that or downgrading it. All I am saying is that there are far more constructive ways to 1) Keep the kids confidence in one piece, 2) TEACH him a thing or two about golf etiquette...Obviously the senior members at his club have let this kid fall through the cracks. 12 year old kids are very mouldable...they learn quick, and it becomes instinctual with little correction. The same cannot be said for the crusty farts on here who are ready to belittle the kid and chuck him to the wolves for his crimes against golf.

It may or may not be a fact. It is an opinion, yes, but fact is still up for debate. I could publicly form an opinion about you, but that would hardly prove anything nor would it be "constructive".

He didn't even put the kid in his place...He just called him names. Not constructive at all, nor does it contribute to the thread other than for Shorty to feel better that he called a 12 year old some names. Shorty's latest post sums things up much better and to the point.

Much better

It wasn't really constructive, and offered no insightful comments on how the OP can improve. I fail to see why it "needed to be said".

The wonderful part of a forum is that you get a shit ton of internet muscle dummies. They act just like real muscle dummies, only they reserve their remarks for when they are in the safety of their mom's basement. Don't take of this negativity seriously, some people just need to beat up on someone to feel like they accomplished something. You have already admitted you were wrong. Now, what you need to discover is why do you even play golf? Do you play it because you enjoy it? Or do you play because you found out you were decent and you just like winning? Next time you hit the links, don't take a scorecard. Just walk the course, play your shots, and enjoy the game for what it is. You will eventually come to realise that shanks, slices, and hooks all happen...even to the pros. They are just part of the game, and luck of the draw sometimes.

How about instead of calling a 12 year old names, you try and teach him a thing or two. Or have you already written the kid off as "not worthy"? And congrats on being able to spell better than a 12 year old...You must feel good about yourself. There's a time and place for negative criticism, just like there is a time and place for constructive criticism.