gmc1950s

I'm waiting for permission to give out other information. It is not a private course and the membership is open to anyone who wants to join. My membership dues are $800 per year which is up $100. from last year and no cart. I think a cart is an extra 4 or 5 hundred a year. That entitles you to unlimited golf, and the use of the facilities. Sorry coffee and range balls are extra. Daily fees are somewhere around $35. I think. I use the course almost daily, For instance the course is covered with snow today but I still took my dog and the owners dog for a six or eight hole walk. #5 is a tough one. I should have said payment and not dues. I believe it was set up so members wouldn't have to come up with all the money at once ...............but the human race being what it is, this is what happens. Some members won't make the winter payment. They are either cheap or don't realize it's a quarterly payment toward their annual dues. Other concerns they had about giving out too much information was the dog issue. They love their dogs like everyone else but they could foresee a 4some showing up with 6 dog! They know I pickup and look after my puppy and after 6 years she has Golf course manners. They are not so sure about others. The 2 dollars was only what it cost me to play everyday 365 into $800. is $2.00+ per day. I use the course most everyday I just broke the $800. down to a daily cost for dramatic effect. To clarify it is not quarterly dues, it's a quarterly payment. I am pretty much the only walker if you don't count the collage kids one day from last year. It is not an easy walk....remember 11 of the 14 driving holes are down hill. Also the not needing to check in is probably more of a convenience to them so they don't have to deal with me every day. The next time you're down this way and if you want to walk you and your dog (?) may be my guests. If you do make it down please enjoy the scenery as I would expect your 7.8 may take a little hit. Augusta type greens...remember, and first time playing the course. Leave me a personal message if you want.

1. I believe more that once my course has been rated in the top 5 public courses in the country. 2. I walk so cost is just over $2.00 a day. 3. My dog is welcome at no charge, although I pay a small fee annually. 4. I do not need to check in. if 1 or 10 is open I can just go. Common sense is needed. 5. I can pay dues quarterly. 6. 11 of the 14 driving holes are down hill. ( So with a stiff trailing wind even us geezers can pop a 300yarder every now and then ). 7. All our greens are Augusta like. ( At least 12" elevation change on all greens (nothing flat.)) 8. A very country and causal type atmosphere. 9. Beautiful rustic clubhouse, with a picturesque view. Also large enough for receptions and such. 10. Sadly (for the club) it is very rural and play is on the light side. (middle Tennessee) Please do not look at this as bragging, ( I am a member, not the owner) I am simply saying how great full I am to be able to spend my retirement years on a course like this. If you have a better course please let me know, I would to play it.

Again I address the new readers as this is a very old topic. This commenter has wandered off topic a little. He started out on the putting but ended up on the short game. So the second part of his post is what I would like to address. In Pelz's research he discovered that you don't drive for show and putt for dough. The pro's who could get the ball up and down from 100yds and in more often were the one's making more money. The miss ratio for pros was something like 4%-9% on average. Meaning the best ball strikers Ben & Moe (come to mind) would miss a 200yd shot on average by 8 yds. While the borderline pro would be closer to 9%-10%. When he averaged the short game shots he found the miss rate was closer to 15% to as high as 20 something %, mainly because they were guessing or playing by feel. Generally speaking if we have a 160 yds. shot then it's a x club or if we have a 180 yds. shot it's a y club. There was no such thought process for the 100yd and in shot, but Pelz figured out a repeatable system using no power and only a rhythmic gravity fed swing to a full finish. If you try this system yourself with a simple test, say a pitching wedge to 9 o'clock (the easiest and most popular position), and depending on the degree of your pw and your height your ball will travel about 75yds. I am not 6'7" like Pelz so my 9 0'clock is good for about 68 yds. However I do need clean contact from 9 o'clock with a rhythmic gravity fed swing to a full finish. Now 4 wedges and 3 different "times" 7:30, 9:00, & 10:30 you have 12 basic shots under a 100 yds. If you have a little imagination you can cover almost every yard inside 100 by gripping down or (up) or going just short of your number or just long. Like instead of nine o'clock you go to maybe 9:30. My own 12 basic yardages are actually 24 because I can cut my 12 basic shots off at waist high to add 12 more distances. For instance my 68 yd. 9;00 to a full finish produces only 62 yds. when stopped at 3:00. To remember, just tape the numbers to the back of your shaft. My 52 reads like this 52 38/43--59/64--80/86. Once you get "your" numbers you will turn your short game into a Dart Game. The numbers are all from memory, but close enough for you go get the idea. It's all in his book, all I managed to do is butcher it up a little. Bottom line is this book is much like Bill James's Moneyball as Big Lex pointed out.

I know this topic is old, but for future readers, I offer this. If you will pardon me, and I believe in his own words Phil said something like this. I was 0-43 in majors before Pelz and have 4 since plus a players championship (at the writing of his book). Now is that all on Pelz? I would say doubtful but clearly the association didn't hurt.

The proper name of this book is "Dave Pelz's Putting Bible ". He did not call it "The Putting Bible" for a very specific reason, and he says so in the introduction of the book. For those who haven't seen it. MY PUTTING BIBLE I want to start this book off with a short explanation. Look at the title. Notice that I don't claim this to be "THE" putting bible. I call it Dave Pelz's Putting Bible because it truly is "my" bible. It is a compendium of my research, my studies, my test results, my teaching philosophy, and my beliefs about the art and science of putting. It is my bible-- or if you prefer my notebook or data log book--into which I have transcribed my thoughts, interpretations of test results, observations, and theoretical work that have been instrumental in forming my understanding of putting. It is also from this work that I draw my philosophy for teaching the putting game in the Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools. Everyone has the right to disagree, but some of the remarks seem hurtful. This is a man who loved golf so much that he gave up a very lucrative career as a rocket scientist to pass along his discoveries.

You can't argue with fairways hit, but don't you miss the Big Dog?? My guess is it's either a fun factor or a result factor. You will definitely get your hdcp down to 15 much faster your way, but this whole industry is built on distance, come on son get on board. At the very least carry one (declare it out of play, if you have to ) so you can get in the odd practice with it from time to time. If it's a matter of lost golf balls just walk along the right edge of the fairway from about 180-220yds out, and you'll find all the balls you can carry.

Mr. Desmond You sir are an old geezer .But............... coming from an older geezer I will see your 3,5 and 7 woods and raise you 3 9 woods!! One is a short woman's 9 wood good for about 150, one is a normal 9 wood good for about 160 and a longish one good for about 170. What these youngsters don't understand is we rarely swing these woods faster than say a pedestrian 8 iron. We may be off line a touch from time too time but we never miss hit them.Used to be I worried about miss hitting a 3,4 or 5 iron, but those distances ( mostly 160-200 ) are really of no concern, as the only concern for me at least is making a nice smooth turn. I even have a 13 wood (not in play YET) that I got from Thomas golf. I wanted to send it back because I only got about 140 yds. with it. They told me to keep it and that I would grow into it!! The bast................was right I fear.

I would think you would be fairly bored after several holes. My suggestion would be take all your clubs but look for unusual places where the driver may be useful. For instance lets say you have a flat level lie and a shot of about 200 yds. down hill but to a slightly elevated green. Your 3 wood (your longest fairway club) just doesn't make the incline and you are always short. A driver was the perfectly solution for me after many try's with a 3 wood. The trick is a very smooth and almost slow motion swing. You will be surprised at how easily you can hit a driver off the deck and make it fly150 yds. If I had to give you an image I would tell you to think of having a long chip shot with too much club.The trouble comes when you try to hit it 200+. This one probably happens a lot. You've cut (sliced) your driver into the first row of trees on a dogleg right. You have a full swing but low hanging branches, and all you can see is 40yds. left of the green that is 150 yds. away. The conventional play is a long iron played back in your stance with an open clubface. For me it was much simpler (?) to hit a normal driver off the deck but cut off the swing a bit after contact. If/when you try the first example allow for a good amount a fade/slice to start with. But I'm guessing with the slow swing speed you will soon see an improvement in your swing path.You'll find many more but here is one last one. Not off the deck but same thought process. Par 3 180yds. that I swear plays 225yds. I carry my driver about 200. A little half swing slow motion shot does the trick. OK enough of this crap lets talk about "Air Coryell". Don't know how old you are but back in the early 80's when football was 3 yards and a cloud of dust, the Chargers were a don't miss game. Fouts too Charlie Jointer, Kellen Winslow, John Jefferson or Wes Chandler was "THE SHOW". A lot of 300yd. passing games with those guys.

Years ago Pelz had a tool like a stimpmeter , called true roller(I think) which he used in his research . In his testing he discovered after figuring the line and speed of a given putt he found not all puts would fall. He realized it could be the inconsistency of the grass or ground also I'm fairly sure they were rolled and unused prior to testing which would eliminate the lumpy donut effect. Anyway he moved this experiment to a dead level pool table. Whereas all ball fell into the pocket but not all were dead center. He then did the salt water spin test to determine the heavy side of the ball. He discovered he could control the off-center drops by the orientation of the ball on the true roller. I think he also said most balls were pretty good, however that didn't stop him from boxing the "bad" one's up and gifting them to his golfing buddy's!!

Yeah lots of people agree with you.. I just never really cared for the looks of them. But if my life depended on it I'll leave the iron at home and borrow your hybrid...............if you don't mind!!!!!

danL You are correct and I have a closet full of them to prove it...........well not a closet full but I think I have three. They were easier than the regular clubs but the older I got the easier it was to hit 7 9 11 woods.

All good advice, but if you want the brutal truth you can find it yourself in 10 min. At the range and after warm-up, hit ten shots with your 3 or 4 iron and give yourself 10 points for every solid shot. Now hit ten shots with lets say a 7 or 9 wood, giving yourself the same 10 points for every solid shot. My guess is by the time you get to your fifth wood shot you'll have your answer. If I took the test myself (and I have) I would mishit almost all long iron shots to some degree or other but almost all the wood shots will be fairly solid.

You won't get consistent distance unless / until you consistently hit the sweet spot on the putter. If it were me i'd get some impact tape to check my contact point. Try to extablish a smooth pendulum stroke. After that i'd get on a flat green and with a measured (say just outside your right little toe (righties)) stroke and establish how far that stroke travels. Then you can make adjustments for uphill or downhill. Good luck

WTC Nice of you to share your HOT SPOTS. I prefer to discourage scroungers by putting up signs "Bewere of Copperhead snakes" David You are correct a wayward ball is indeed of questionable character. However they make wonderful presents, and can always be sold on flebay. Which ball do you prefer.........I have all brands?? Reasonable prices!!! I don't start looking until I start playing bad......somewere around the 4th or 5th hole!!!

I'm working real hard on my routine this year (yearly goal). Routine being preparation then ritual. I play the same course everyday so the preparation doesn't change to much, to me the most important part of preparation is commitment to the shot and the shot feel (practice swings). From there I try to flow into my ritual. Although it's to long to write here, in reality it only takes less than 1 minute. Once into my setup, that starts the chain action (to borrow a phrase from Hogan). I'm trying for no wasted movement or thought (just feel). I'm very interested in members routine especially the ritual part. What do you do and why do you do it?

Yep, I've got a Peltor head set I wear all the time. It has cloth ear liners for hot days. I listen mostly to AFR a christian station that talks politics during the day, and we can't get AM in this area. Other than that the choices are 23 CW stations and I oldies station.

Just noticed you're a lefty! Just look in a mirror when you answer!!! Or do your shots go right to left, straight to left, or left to left. Now I'm lost!

It would help if we knew your swing speed. "Generally speaking" swing speeds of 95mph and up would put you in the stiff category. Also we need to know your shot pattern. When you first started were you going left to right, straight to right, or right to right? Taking a guess here did you happen to slow your swing down on your last range session? I would think that would account for the better overall shop pattern. Gives you more time to get the club face squared up.

First off a 8 Iron is a good choice to start with. Any model of ping irons are very forgiving.Borrow one if you can. Even the muscle back (ping type) knock offs from k-mart-wal mart will suit you for now. You can upgrade as your skills improve. Most important is to have fun. Welcome to the club.

While wandering through Home Depot around Christmas time I came upon a box of gloves (Firm Grip model 3101) packaged 3 pairs for $9.97?. After trying them on I thought these would make great winter golf gloves. After bringing them home, I'd keep them close to where I practice swing in the living room. At first they felt a tad bulky,but only a tad. After a short time I gave them no thought. About three months ago I took them out to the course for a try out. Been wearing them most everyday (yep, walk most everyday) somewere around 100 rounds, some times 9 sometimes 18. The only thing I noticed was they didn't crumple up and get hard like regular golf gloves. Still paid little attention. About two weeks ago the weather turned summer time warm, high 80's to high 90's. A regular golf glove would be toast after 7 holes in that weather, but not the FG's they don't seem to get wet at all. Also they wear like iron no visable wear marks at this time. One draw back if you google them most places say out of stock, as did my local HD, but when I went to the store they had 2 cases out front. Ok now for all you leftys if you send me your leftys I'll send you my rightys, presto about $1.66 each. Ps I wear 3101L

tshapiro I like your advice. I was a hitter for many years, and it really was no fun. The ball went nowhere. The long smooth swing is the way to go, just like you mentioned. I don't own it yet, but the game is a lot more fun when you know you can reach most longish par fours with too good swings. Gonna pick up a swing speed meter like you use. phillyk You sir are a storyteller of the first rate. No way you are a 5 living in that country, it rains everyday up there!!!! I'm kidding of course. That course (can't remember the name) a few miles south of Bellingham of the frontage road was my favoriate place to play. Cheap , pretty and as a single they usually joined you up with someone inside a half an hour. Back to the long drive business. On 15 ? a par 5, 250 straight out and then 250 almost dead left into the green. You can't cut the corner tree are too big, draw is the shot on that hole. Anyway i'm playing with a Gentleman and his 12 yo son (5' nothing 100 and nothing) On 15 I hit the shot of my life 20 yards off the dogleg and right around the corner 210 left. The kids gets up there with tshapiro's long smooth swing and hits what looks like a duck hook. When we get to our balls he's maybe 5yds behind me!! It was very impressive. It's taken me a long time to understand, but long slow easy is the way to go. I'm almost 67 and still learning, aint this a great game??

Quinny Good advice from both. I would add, be sure you have a variety of bounces whichever wedges you decide to go with. You don't want to use a sand wedge with lots of bounce, off a hardpan lie. As Golfingdad says bend them if you need to (much cheaper) One more thing, pickup copy of "Dave Pelz's Short Game Bible" the information in there will blow you away, and teach you how to use your new found weapons. Good Luck

I'll side with RMD. Even if I could beat him I'd still dog it coming in (unless you don't care about your job). It's his house and his game and your paycheck. Just yuk it up and make sure he has a good time, and you'll be VP next week. Discretion son!!

Just use those three little words " My fault Dear" She'll doubt your sincerity but she can't argue. It's been working for 35 years.

Thursday's practice round shot 15 under with 2 eagles, a few pars and the rest birdies.Well yes now that you asked it was a four man scramble, and yes we did tee off in geezerville (senior tees). Anyway the captain kept saying we gotta do better. Honestly the only people you can't beat at 15 under are cheaters. So here comes Saturday's tournment and I'm thinkin gotta do better,gotta do better. Well we threw up all over ourselves and shot 10 under. My neighbors team finished at -11 and won nothing, we finished at -10 forth place and won $400. They got a screwy way of payouts around here. Never mind that I'm takin my hundred to the golf shop. First time I've ever been paid for being sick on the golf course!!!!