DHarris75

I usually wouldn't advocate going against your parents. As a parent of 3, I look back at times when I challenged my parents and regret it. However, also as a parent, I would recognize the opportunity and the predicament you are in. I say try out for the team and when you make it rich, buy your parents a vacation :) Seriously, I would definately stay back from the vacation and try out for the team. But I would do my utmost to do so without challenging my parents. I would keep a cool head and do my best to rationalize my decision with my parents. Good luck! To both keeping things kosher at home and making the team.

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm hoping to get back out there today and play some more - but clouds moving in so we'll see.

Well, I'm pretty excited! I have been using my 3W off the tee because I just couldn't tame my driver. I have only been playing for about 2 months so I'm still learning. So I go out yesterday and not having a good day. My drives were getting better but my second shot was killing my day. I get to hole 7 and I hit 2 off the tee that were long and beautiful, until they start slicing and end up out of bounds (course was empty behind me - twilight). So I tee up another one and again, long and beautiful but then it hooks into the jungle. Finally get one in the fairway and I play the hole out. Then I get to 9. By this time, I'm frustrated. I just line up, take a couple of practice swings, and then belt one 250 yards right down the middle. I was so excited. I'm usually about 180-210. With my 3W I can get 190 straight. But using my driver, I just hope to find my ball. Anyway - just had to post. 250 yards for was incredible. But it was more than just a moment - it showed me I could do it. Now I have to figure out to repeat it. I have worked and worked and worked and it seems everytime I go out, I figure something else out. I kept hitting the ground - then I figured out 2 things that helped me. I was swaying my hips and it caused to come in too low. Then I noticed my weight was shifting to the outside of my right foot - not the inside. SO I paid attention to those two things all day and it helped. Well, my wife didn't care as much as I did - so I thought I'd post here.

I agree to a point. But as a newbie - I play with my 3W because I'm just more consistent with it. I can get it to go straight in the fairway. In the meantime I continue to work on my driver at the range - and until I can tame it, I'll use my 3W on the range. I try to use the same swing - and either hit the ground first with it - or I'll slice it. When I use my wood, I don't hit the ground or slice. It'll come with more time. And I can't hit for distance for anything yet. I can get my 3W straight to about 180-200 - but that's it. I can hit my 3H about 200...so I got some work to do.

United States Air Force for 14 years. E-6/TSgt - active duty. I work on deployed satellite communication systems - basically AT&T;/long distance for the AF in deployed environments - ie: Iraq. Currently stationed on Guam - and we have some wonderful views looking down into the ocean from cliffs on our base course.

I was on the 7th hole playing single when a married couple comes up. They were delayed because of some light rain that I played through. Well, they come back out and ask to play with me. I offer to let them play through (I'm new and liked the tranquility of being by myself - and being able to figure out my shortcomings alone). They digressed and said they can just play with me. Apparently, they play a little - not great by some standards - but were definately a level above me. This lady just won't shut up. So she learns that I am new to this game - so she starts trying to tell me what I'm doing wrong. Before they came up, I was having a pretty good day (for my second time on a course). While she's watching me, I slice the crap out of a ball and she corrects me. So I told them to go ahead and play the hole out while I try to figure out my recovery shot. So they do. After they move on, I hit a 3H back onto the green. I couldn't believe it...but then I 3-putt for a bogey. Next hole, they are waiting for a slow group in front so we play the hole together - a par 3. This one I don't hit the green, but I am just off. Still bogey'd it. Next hole was 9 and I slice bad and she just won't SHUT UP telling me what I'm doing wrong. Well, they jump in and want to "race" me to hole 10 - I turn left back to the club for a bite to eat at the turn - where I waited 30 minutes before jumping back in. I'm new to this - but I respect the game and try to learn proper protocol. You'd think people who have been playing for a while would learn the same. She probably thinks she was being nice and "helping me out". But I have read, read, watched, read, and had a couple of lessons - and a million balls on the range. I am still trying to build my swing. I know what I need to do - it's making my body do it. While her intent was kind hearted - it was annoying.

I'm VERY new (2 mos) - but I'm a decent putter, pretty good around the green with pitching and chipping...and I can get a decent, but short, shot off the tee with a 3W (my driver and me don't get along yet). I can only drive about 170-190 with my 3W so that leaves me a lot of long second shots and I am very inconsistent with that. When I hit it solid with a 3W or 3H, it comes out pretty good. But more times than not, I'll slice it and just ruin it. 3 days ago, I hit a 118 and was feeling pretty good - had my first par. Then I go out yesterday and play so bad I stop keeping score. I hit a nice drive off the tee to about 190yds with a good look off the fairway to the flag. I line up with my 3H and put it in the rough on the adjacent hole. So I pull out my 7I and chunk it for 20 yds...so I line up again and slice it up to about 100yds right of the hole. Then I pitch it on with ease over a bunker and a 1 put. So the drive, wedge, and putt were right on. But I just can't get my second shot to go where I want - and if it's in the rough - forget it. Still new - so I'm learning...and trying to get experience. But wow - this game is tough.

Speaking of the Golf channel - anyone else having problems with the volume during the diff commercial segmants - like the rules or other instructional quick tips? When the rules of golf segmant comes on, the volume goes just about dead. I'm in Guam and I'm pretty sure everything for me in on tape delay - but didn't know if it is my local cable distributor or the channel itself.

I read that here and saw it somewhere else (magazine?) I used it the last two days and it definately works for me. It helps me gauge speed and I can put it pretty close to the hole from 20-30' out. Even around 10' it was a very useful. Closer than that, I would misjudge the line by not watching the ball/putter. Anyway - I'll definately be using this. It'll take practice (as anything). Mainly on downhill swings - keeping my eye on the hole compels me to hit the ball a little too hard...but right on line.

Thanks for the replies. My wife mad was a little tongue-in-cheek. But, today I got off work a little early and come home to find wife and kids gone with some friends to see Wallie. So off I go to the course. I don't get back until about hour after she returned...she thought I was working late and she just shakes her head when I bring my clubs in. Hit another par today - but just on a Par 3 and I was just practicing. Took me about 5 tries to realize I couldn't drive the green with my 5I, so I went to my 3H and landed on the green about 8' away. So it was a par - almost a birdie, but only after a few practice drives (course was empty - rainy day for most of the day). But I hit a double on the first hole (the one I parred yesterday).

WOOOHOOOO!!!! I just got off work and went to the course to practice for 2-3 holes before dinner. Well the rain cut it to just one hole. But - I hit a PAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a par 4 and I actually was layed up just below the elevated green - but on the hole side. I pitched it up, landed on the turf, and rolled in for a PAR. Probably should have been a bogey or double if not for the pitch - but I won't tell my friends that - it was a PAR!!!!!!!!!!!! If I was addicted before - now I'm completely obsessed.

Hey everyone. I live in Guam where I am in the USAF - 32 with an angry wife and 3 kids. I have been around guys that play golf and always wanted to learn - but just never got "out there". So a friend here takes me one day to our range and I hit about 4 or 5 straight out of about 40 balls. But those 4 or 5 were things of beauty (all of 150 yards) and I was hooked. That was 6 weeks ago. That week I had my own set of clubs and I set out to read as much I could, learn as much as I could, and practice as much as I could. I hit the range like an addict and each time I went out, I learned something knew. Took a couple of lessons and played 9 holes. Was HORRIBLE, but hooked. So last week I played in my first unit tourney and scored a 133 using my driver. Couldn't hit that thing straight for nothing. Was feeling pretty frustrated by hole 18, then I hit two of the most beautiful balls I have seen with my 3W off the grass to get to the fringe. But I was already 3 strokes into the hole - but I didn't care. Then yesterday, I went out and played 18 by myself using my 3W off the tee. I hit about 13-14 fairways straight as an arrow right down the middle. But not very far - about 190yds-200yds average. But my score went down to 118. So I'm content with my 3W until I can tame my driver...which as much as I'm practicing hopefully won't be too long. Anyway - hitting those range balls that day was a great thing for me and it opened my eyes to this game that I now love. My wife - she's tired of the magazines, books, golf channel, and tired of me gone all the time. Our range is 24/7 - unmanned/vending machine for balls. So I'd go out at 11pm after her and the kids lay down - and drive and then hit our green for a while. Now I'm a paid member of our club as of yesterday and I can go to the course whenever I want...from sunup to sundown. YEAH!!! Okay - just got home from work and going up to practice on a couple of holes before dark. Sorry for the long intro - I have been reading and reading on here for 6 weeks and now, after my first 28 holes, I'm ready to ask a lot of questions!!! Thanks for the time....

Thanks for the tip - I'll look into the book. I reread my post and I don't want to come across as a robot. It's slow and deliberate, but fluid (if that makes sense?) I have a pretty good tempo with my 3W. My second time on the course yesterday, and I hit about 12-13 fairways right down the center. I can't do it with my driver yet, so I'm sacrificing yards, but my score went from a 133 (driver) to a 118 (3W off tee) in a span of 4 days.

Well, I'm new here - so hello! I just started hitting golf balls about 6 weeks ago. I've hit a ton of balls at the range and in the back yard. I've read and read and read some more - and watched the golf channel - and then read more. So I finally made it to a golf course last week in a work tourney and scored a 133 (72 course). I couldn't hit my driver straight to save my life. But I hit two beautiful shots with my 3W off the ground that saved the whole day for me (enjoyment wise). So TODAY, I ventured out on my own to our course here at Andersen AFB, Guam. It's family day so it's suppose to be slow - but my goodness...no families, just a bunch of slow adults. Anyway, I dropped my score to a 118 using my 3W off the tee instead of my driver. Came ohh sooo close to my first 2 pars. 1. Par 5 - my third shot from the fairway lands to the right of the green but about foot out of bounds in some thick jungle. I knew where my ball went in, but couldn't find it. Dropped it right at the edge of the jungle. Pitched and 1 putted. If the jungle would have moved a foot back and let me have my ball - would have parred. 2. Par 4 - on the green facing a long 20' putt for par. Went right to the hole and STOPPED hanging on the edge. If someone would have breathed on it, I would have had my first par. Anyway - so that's my second round of golf - with MANY more to follow. Got my club membership today!

This is just my second post, so I don't have an intro yet - but short and consise - I'm a newbie. Maybe 6 weeks and only 27 holes to my name. But I have been practicing enough to make my wife think I have a mistress. While I still am working on my long game, I have gotten pretty darn good at my PW. I have an electric pole running down the back of my neighborhood - I can hit it about 50 yards out. My backswing is in direct relation to the distance. It's slow and easy - and I trust the club to the work for me. If I need a little further, I just go back a little further - but still slow and deliberate. Works for me.