swampertwo

Sally thou forth !!! and be sure to include pics in your report--or it never happened

I think the OP was NOT being disrespectful--if you were an older golfer like me, arthritis could easily have a lot to do with the club moving in your hands. You might also try a 1/2 corded grip like the New Decade Multi-compound ones (or similar). I have installed and like the Black Widow Widow Maker grips with 3 wraps of tape under and really like the solidity when gripping.

Ask the starter or pro shop to try pairing you with some other relatively new or high handicap golfers. Also, if you have a par 3 course, that might be a good place to play a few rounds to work on swing and distance--that's how/where I started. Jeff

If you need the extra 1/2" in length, there are steel extensions that can be epoxied into the shafts and then cut to length. You can also go to most any golf store and look at the selection of grips and to see how the different sizes (standard, oversize and jumbo) fit your hand. Given you are just starting and reportedly are hitting the clubs you have pretty well, I'd regrip and play the clubs you have until you are comfortable, then get fit for a set you can play for a few years into the future. Good luck and enjoy yourself. Jeff

My thanks to all. Sorry I drug the team down to the cellar where I was--think I played to about a 30 handicap--knew it was going to be a bad day when I missed the 60-to-91 cutoff and was close to being late. My pleasure meeting you all and, hopefully, will get another chance this fall. Jeff

Unforced mental errors. I will start "pushing myself" to make shots and the opposite rears it's ugly head, then I'll look up to admire the shot I was going to hit just in time to see the ball bounce once on the green and roll over the far hill. I know what I'm doing, just have a hard time convincing myself to keep the head down and relax.

Just wait!!! I can have him playing at "my level" by about the 3rd or 4th hole Oh, wait--I'm on the same team

I believe the first tee time is 1000. I plan on leaving home around 0730 and should be on the practice range around 0900.

If I wanted to hear that kind of stuff, I'd just stay home--or send Golfingdad to my place where he'd have some REAL competition

Tristan, As of 5/1, I am a 16.2 GHIN index. Look forward to seeing you all Sunday. Jeff

I don't know what shindig means by "windy"---I left Mission Lakes CC with winds 38-40 and gusts to 60+, so everything there was a gentle breeze at best (for me). I will say that I must be 'spoiled', I felt the greens were pretty shoddy with numerous unrepaired ball marks on every green. Rough did get pretty deep in spots (mostly where Mike hit his ball ), but that"s just poor course management on his part . There are some challenging spots on the course--blind shots on a few holes, forced carries(but not extreme) and some tight shots as well as the up, down, side hill fairways. But it's not near as challenging as PGA West TPC Stadium that I played on Tuesday! Look forward to meeting the bunch of you on Sunday. Jeff

Gotta second this---My club started carrying them this year and I really like what they do and the ease of use. Also, no pointy objects near my pointy object

Was told I NEEDED to play the Stadium course once and it is pretty straightforward tough but pretty fair. I do prefer the Nicklaus Tournament course with it's "target/shot management" design. I get lucky to get a free round on either course as a "perk" for working as a volunteer at the Bob Hope/Humana in Jan/Feb. Played with 3 guys up from San Diego to play the Norman, Stadium and Nicklaus over a weekend. We played Nicklaus on Monday and they were cussing the Stadium (they played Sunday) the entire round--nowhere flat and no flat lies anywhere (not really quite that bad. Good luck on your sojourn to the desert, lots of water and Gatorade for your rounds. Jeff

I don't have any problems playing with kids--and we need them to help grow the game! I might have a +1 from outside TST, and wouldn't necessarily expect to play with him--we get a lot of playing time together here at Mission Lakes. T I'll let you know pretty shortly if he can make it. Jeff

Tristan, Thanks for all the work putting this together and including a "new guy"--I do appreciate it!! Jeff

The loft/lie of belly putters is mostly the same as a standard putter. The lie of a long putter is a lot more upright (70-71 versus 80/81*) Can be done with belly putters at home--can't be done with the long putter without bending the shaft or redrilling the head. Jeff

I'd be up for joining you on a "pre-run" of the course. Have played Hidden Valley, Champions Club and Tukwet Legends (out of the C.V.) along with a couple muni tracks on the west side of the pass. I'll keep an eye on the thread for arrangements being made. Jeff

SoCal hacker here! I;m a snowbird--winter in Palm Springs area, summer on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Currently in Mission Lakes Country Club in Desert Hot Springs, Ca.and play the course most days. Have primary residence at Lake Cushman on the 5th fairway (right where the long hitting slicers land). I've been a reader without joining for quite a while and decided to join and get involved. I'm a retiree from the U.S. Navy (about 3 lifetimes ago) and currerntly am completely retired and just living the life and "puttering" around. I used to help a friend with his business selling accessories at gun shows--the daughter and wife thought I needed a different hobby and bought me a set of clubs--AND HERE I AM !!! Currently play either Nakashima or Maruman irons, TM SLDR 12* driver and TM R11 fairway and hybrids. Not the long ball hitter, but manage to keep most shots in bounds and out of trouble. Do get in trouble when I rush my swing (frequently), hence the mid-high handicap. Have been on other forums for quite some time and like what I see here. Jeff

New to posting on TST, read some and spend time on a couple other forums (fora ?). I'm a snowbird and spend winters in Desert Hot Springs ( Mission Lakes CC-where the wind REALLY blows. I'd like to throw my hat in the mix for the 4th and meet some of the local SoCal group. Count me in for the May 4th at BlackGold. Jeff