Dabzy

Right, my worst shot of the week has to be the par 3 14th on my course, I tee'd off with my 5 iron and the ball drifted over to the right hand side of the green where there are two bunkers, one in front of the other, deep buggers too... Anyway, in the first one I went, thought to myself... Bugger... Because we have had some funny weather in the UK, what with the rain a few weeks ago, and heatwave, the bunkers have got a bit baked. Anyway, in I popped, sunk my feet in the rock hard sand, picked a point in the sand behind the ball that I wanted to strike, needed to clear the bunker in front of me, talking at least 20 yards to the green... Swung... Whack.... Ball strikes the lip of the bunker, comes back with avengance, and hits me smack bang in the middle of the forehead, club dropped, me dropped... My playing partners howling with laughter. I couldnt believe it... Though, the ball stayed in the bunker, but managed to get it onto the green with my next shot... Which, was a result considering I almost knocked myself out! :) Dabz

Thank you fourputt, really appreciate you answering that for me, its been doing my noggin in for a few weeks now as I simply had no clue what the hell to do in the situation! ;) Your a good'un! ;) Dabz

I used a small 9 hole course just 15 mins drive away, so, when I started, me and a mate used to go there... 7 par 3's and 2 par 4's... It also has a decent driving range, so that, and a baby course sorta got us underway, after about 2 months, we decided to join a proper golf club, and, well, looking back, it did help loads... Though, it was expensive to play there, £10 for 9 holes (Not including driving range tokens), sometimes we were there 3 times a week, so, it actually made sense to join a proper club as a member as the cost came down dramatically (I play 4 times a week, 3 weekdays, and one on a weekend, £20 a round if your a none member... I pay £60 per month, so, the saving is huge) So, my opinion is, yes, get to the range, but really, you will have two golf swings, a range swing and a course swing... So, its imperative you actually get out on grass and give it a wallop, even if your not playing very well, as you'll benefit it in your swing, as well as your pocket. I've been to hell and heaven a number of times with my golf swing, you could be playing well, walk on the course and hit more shots then someone who has just played their first ever round, so, dont be shy in making a balls of it [Pardon the pun], always remember theres crap players on the course too (Might be me, lol), and, most of all... Just enjoy it, even if you hit a pearler and it hits the skinniest tree on the course square on and flies back over the top of your head into a stream. :D Dabz

Here's my dilemma, a few times I've drove a ball off the tee box (Or hit from the fairway/rough, but will use the tee shot as an example), and was unsure where it landed further up the hole, so, I've then played a provisional ball (Or, on the odd occasion have walked back to the teebox/fairway/rough to rehit another ball after the original one had been lost) Now, I've been told by some that if I look for my original ball, and cannot find it, then call "I'll play my provisional", then afterwards, someone stumbles upon it before I take the next shot, I have to abandon the original ball, take the penalty and carry on (So, the provisional is now the ball in play) because I've called it But then, I've been told from others that if I say "I'll play my provisional", and someone finds it before I take the next shot, well, my ball isnt lost any more, and thus, have to abandon my provisional and play my original ball as I find it (No penalty) Whats the actual procedure for such a setup? Thanks in advance :) Dabz *Damn... Spelling mistake in the title... D'oh!!! :D

Hi, my name is Michael... Decided to join in the online golfing fun as I've taken up the game (Well, been at it for 2 years nearly) and currently, starting to settle down with constant scoring when going around the course, basically, coming in at my handicap level (24, so... 96 stroke, 36 stapleford), playing in competitions now, as well as going to other courses and playing some of the members I know. I'm a member of Southmoor Golf Club in Stanley, County Durham, UK, it's one of the toughest and nicest courses around my area, was a member of another course last year, but, left due to it severely lacking the "club" feel, and the up keep of the course was a bit, short.... Anyway... Since I've settled, and can look into improving my swing instead of just trying to hit the bane of my life for the last two years, I also want to improve my knowledge of the rules in the game, sometimes, I hear people saying one thing, then, someone else says something different about the same situation I may find myself in while out there. So, here I am, as keen as my slice on a stroke index 18 hole! ;) hehehe Dabz