Dabzy

We had a lot of bad rain at my course, and, it crippled some of the bunkers... My ball went into one, and, I generally thought the sand was compacted with the rain, which it does, so, I sank my feet in as you do, realized it was pretty tough underfoot... Made my stroke, and took the biggest chunk of dirt I've ever seen, there was about 10mm of sand below my ball, and I'll be honest, I nearly snapped my wrists! The ball did actually pop out, but, not very far, so, with my playing partner, I asked if I could play a relief ball in the bunker and drop it where it looked like there was actually a bit of sand... He agreed, so, another stroke, and my ball popped up and out of the bunker as expected and managed to get onto the green. So, I played both balls, the original, and the relief, finished the hole and moved on, obviously, marking the scores for both, which was a 7 and a 6... When I got back to the club house, I queried that particular hole and my scores, and, because the trap wasnt deemed GUR, I had to take the 7, but, I highlighted that someone will get injured playing out of it, I nearly did... Another round later, I walked to the hole and there, sprayed in the bunker was the letters GUR! I went a bit loopy with them in the clubhouse, because it shouldnt take a golfer to nigh-on break his wrists for something to be deemed GUR and, that could cause injury, the groundsmen are there to look after the course, but, they are also there to make sure the course is safe to play... They cut the greens, so, why dont they inspect the bunkers, especially after torrential rainfall, and if needs be, rake them or spray 'em! I got an apology, and, they have since repaired the bunker... But, I also imagine the head greenkeeper got a canny bollocking too from the commitee, because that could, in reality, could have cost them money if I did actually injure myself playing out of it! Dabz

My first birdie happened when I really didnt take the game too seriously, over 10 years ago now. I was playing a course called Mount Oswald just on the fringes of Durham City, it was a breezy day, and on the 15th hole (252 yards) par 4, wind coming from behind me, I hit a scorcher from the tee box, watched it soar straight and true and roll up onto the green. From the tee box, it looked close to the pin, but, when I got up there, I was miles away, had a look, putted right up to the hole, tapped it in for a birdie! I was stoked! :D Had a few since, and they always feel nice, the best one I ever did was actually a few weeks ago on my course, on the par 5 12th, S.I. 1, basically, its a terror everyone that plays it comes off shattered. On the day, there was a massive cross wind, I put my driver away long before that hole, but, tee'd off with my 4I, then second shot up and over the hill with another 4I, ball drifted left into the heather, I was lucky not to end up in a line of whinnys, I played out of the heather by snapping my wrists early, angle of attack was steep, the ball popped out and landed about a metre from the hole... Putted it in for a birdie! Happiest putt ever that, and was worth the wind burn! :D Dabz

Aways good to see! :) My course has had a boast too just recently, there's an Olympic Legacy fund to promote grass root sports in the UK, my course has secured £50000 from them, the only course in County Durham to have been granted cash from the scheme I think! Dabz

Well, you cannot replace the ball in such a way to improve your lie, so, "teeing" it up on a pitch mark is indeed improving it, so, I would say you broke the rules, yes... You naughty man! :D Well, I eat my hat... And learn something new at the same time! :D This is why I joined here... For snippets like that! Dabz

1. What is your favorite word? Bever, its an old word that means "snack between meals"... Which, is cute! :D 2. What is your least favorite word? Secretions 3. What turns you on? Attractive women 4. What turns you off? The wife :D 5. What sound do you love? Grimethorpe Colliery Band playing MacArthur Park 6. What sound do you hate? The noise of a foil carton thats tipped upside down on a plate and rubbed against it. 7. What is your favorite curse word? Dog-eggs 8. What profession others than yours would like to try? Pilot 9. What profession would you not like to do? Mine 10. If Heaven exists what would you like God to say when you get to the pearly gates? "Sorry about that, but, it made me laugh" Dabz

[quote] This guy basically said color ball is for bad players who has no idea where he hit his ball to. [/quote] Lol, you got to love them though havent you, they think they are all high and mighty but, they are the the most easiest targets in the world to wind up, and bite like a good'un too when you do... I think I would of said something like "Here mate, if I wanted to listen to an arsehole, I'd fart... Now **** off" or said "There's no need for that, I heard you are a canny lad... When your asleep!" In fact, I probably wouldnt of been able to stop myself! :D Dabz

I'm nose picker while driving too, dont know I'm doing it half the time, usually though, its on the way home from work and I've collected quite a bit of dust up there. I also have a habit of going to the pub for a "couple", then, rolling out after last orders, I'm a bit of a social animal so, when the company is good, I cannot tear myself away! :D Scotch is another, I love scotch, Laphroaig is my tipple of choice, and, when there's a bottle of that in the house, well, its the alcoholic equivalent to having a biscuit with a cup of tea, once their opened, your never content until the packet is empty, and in this case... The bottle! You may see a bit of a recurring theme with me and my drinking, but, I never drink heavily the night before I'm driving, so, nowadays, its usually resigned to Friday and Saturday nights, other nights, I may have a bottle of Stella with my dinner, or when watching a toeball (Soccer) match on an evening. Dabz

Ah, right, got ya fella's, thanks very much. Basically, its one of them situations that have cropped up in a game I've had, and, I didnt know exactly, the lad that did the air shot explained that the ball wasnt in play, which, confused me because like I said, you can accidentally tap the ball off the tee and put it back, so, had to let it go at the time. He's one of them that makes up rules to suit, so, just in case that pops up again, which, I'll be playing him again in a few weeks time, I'll be ready! :D Dabz

Basically, as I'm to understand, the ball only comes into play when it leaves the teeing ground, so, if you address the ball, and knock the ball off the tee, you can reset the ball on the tee without penalty, or cost of a stroke. But, what would happen, if, say, you address the ball, take your swing and then do an air shot in the teeing area? Or clip the ball, and it doesnt roll out of the teeing ground. Do you still have to add them strokes, and in the case of clipping the ball and it doesnt leave the teeing ground, can you retrieve it and replace it back on the tee, or, reposition it if hitting it off the floor? Dabz

Hi! :) Dabz

I alway got told that the "keeping the head down" was part of keeping control throughout the swing, this is, as a novice, when your head moves, other things move in response, like wise, if other things move, then, your head moves. I can see why it may be less important as a mid->low handicapper, but for high ones like myself, my head shows control of my body, once my swing is more advanced, then, I could get away with moving it, until now, my head, and eyes are locked firmly to the ball, even after Ive hit it! Dabz

To tell someone they are they are bad, and I'm nowhere near the best at the game... But, I would just tell them, in the nicest of terms that they are... Well.... Poo! :D Dabz

I'm funny, because my most natural, workable swing with irons is trying to tear the ball a new a**e (Woods, erm... No, same approach would kill me) I used to play a pitching wedge from 150 yards, its a big shot... 4 iron would be my choice if a mate used a 3 wood! But, learnt, big hits arent the answer... I had to learn how to calm my swing, its really hard to go from a big pitching to a steady 8 from 150, totally wrecked my mojo... But, its paid off countless times, especially when windy. Controlled swings are the way to go, I'm learning all the time, I'm a 24 handicapper, and now seeing different things I should be doing, this will help me get that handicap down... I need control, take control of the ball on the course and just not give it a huge whack and see what happens. We'll get their bud... No doubt! ;) Dabz

Its a beauty isnt it, and totally sums up me really... I do that see... Make a complete tit of myself without realizing! :D Dabz