case31

Last summer I was in an ABCD scramble where we shot -17 straight up. We started on a par 5 where the B player hit a monster drive that rolled out to about 320 yards, I put a 7-iron to about 15ft, and our C player rolls in the putt for eagle. That got the day started. Our D player made 3 birdie putts for us, I rolled in a long putt for birdie on the "Longest Putt Made" hole. The whole day, our C player was crushing the ball off the tee, taking the pressure off. As the A player, I think I only took 3 or 4 putts because everyone else was on fire. Fun day!

My first eagle came in one of my first High School matches as a freshman. I was kicking the ball around the golf course, playing poorly. It was cold and somewhat rainy, and I best remember shivering with chattering teeth most of the round. I was on the #1 handicap hole, which was a dogleg right par 4 that had nothing but disaster and peril if you tried to cut the corner. The green sloped considerably from back to front and from right to left with numerous ridges in between. My drive was hit well but was heading straight for a tall tree that stood just off the fairway at the dogleg. Luckily it skipped passed the tree leaving me with a clear look at the green, about 160 yds away. I took a full swing with a 7-iron at the pin that was at the right-middle of the green. The ball landed at the small flat spot short of the pin, took one more hop forward and then in the hole. The group ahead of me was on the next tee watching, and ran over to see the ball in the hole and started yelling. I raised my fist in the air, thrilled more-so about not having to putt than the fact that I scored a 2 on the toughest hole. Despite that, I ended up shooting 45, so my 2 was literally a cherry on top of dog crap.

No, that's crazy. The next thing you're going to ask is if the #1 player in the world could make a few changes to his swing and become unable to hit a driver. Signed, T. Woods

No one mentioned the "gallery factor". All four players hunt down a ball, then three guys watch the fourth take practice swings, set up, hit, and watch the ball bounce, roll and stop. Then they all drive to the next ball, and the process is repeated.

I will admit, my opinion on the Brickyard is pretty jaded by the price, and the issue I had one time paying full rates when the greens had just been aerated. In total, I have played BC three times: once from the tips and twice from the blues. Each time it was pretty windy. So yes, that makes 7 and 8 very difficult. My beef with 7 is that there is literally nowhere to miss where you don't have an incredibly difficult chip shot. The pins are almost always tucked in corners (based on my experience as well as what I've heard from regulars) which means hitting to the middle of the green is no picnic with the goofy undulations. 8 just sets up strange from the tee. It goats you into aiming at the trees to keep the water out of play. But then, you have a decent-length approach (for me, about ~160 from blues, ~180 from golds) to that tight green. I don't play the Fort much, but it is close enough for me to chip and putt or hit a bucket during lunch...which I do often. That course just gets WAY too much play for it to be constantly kept in good shape.

Something that has helped me with the mental aspect is to not focus so much on the result of the shot, rather think about executing the shot you are hitting. Example: if I'm getting ready to hit a chip shot, I'm not thinking "oh man, I have to get this close so I can make par." Instead, I decide on the type of shot I want (pitch, lob, bump and run), determine how hard I need to hit it, aim, and hit. Simply focusing on execution has all but eliminated my skulls/chunks. I feel like so many players out there are doing thinks like looking over a putt and are only thinking "I really need to make this," and they let that thought distract them from focusing on doing what is necessary to make that putt (i.e. reading the break, gauging speed).

I live in Indy area as well, and have played a number of Dye courses with mixed opinions on them. I won't comment on all that I've played, but here is a short list: Brickyard - Not a fan. The holes inside the Motor Speedway are 4 of my least favorite holes to play anywhere. They are overly difficult compared to the rest of the course. #7 is a par 3 that can play upwards of 200 yards to a crowned green with a lot of undulation. If you miss the green, you basically have zero chance for par. #8 is a long par for with water left and a drop-off right to woods (jail). No bail-out either on your approach shot. And for $90, I just don't feel like I'm getting good value. Would much rather play two average courses at $45 than Brickyard at $90. Finally, be sure to find out when they are aerating the greens before booking a tee time, as they do not lower their rates even when their greens are unplayable. The Fort - Pretty fun course to play. You can score well when you are on, or it can eat your lunch. Greens are usually very fast. A number of holes have a lot of elevation change and tight driving areas, but there also quite a few holes with wide landing areas. I agree with other posts I've seen about how the course can get VERY busy, which leads to slow rounds and the course getting beat up. Kampen Course (Purdue) - Only played it once after a few days of heavy rains. Despite that, I thought it was a lot of fun to play. Very interesting layout with some really difficult holes, especially with wet conditions. Bridgewater - Private club. Not the most interesting layout, but still a good course. As it is private and expensive, the course has always been in great shape when I have played it. Greens don't seem to allow for spinning approach shots, but they roll true. The par 3s are rather difficult, while the par 5s are fairly easy. Bridgewater has a few picturesque holes, and a few that are just...there. Whistling Straits (Straits) - Played there this summer. LOVED it. It was incredibly hot and windy. Despite not hitting the ball well or putting particularly well, the course does reward good shots. The holes along the lake are just awesome to see in person. I can't wait to play it again, hopefully on a day where it's cooler than 110 (heat index). I've played other Dye courses (Dye's Walk, Eagle Creek, Sahm, Maple Creek, Plum Creek), but I didn't want this post to ramble too much.

He finished +4 and missed the cut. I feel bad for him. After seeing how emotional he was when he got that exemption, it showed how hard it is for players like him to make it and stay on the tour. As much as I love golf, I can't imagine what it is like to grind away week after week without the same resources that top tour players have.

I played Whistling Straits back in July in the first of what will be an annual trip up to that area of Wisconsin. My interest was peaked in Erin Hills when I saw it was hosting the '17 PGA, and am wondering if it would be worth it to trek over there to play next year. If someone has played both, I would love to hear comparisons/differences.

I could easily make a top 10 list: 1) Spending almost 6 weeks changing swing planes and paths to fight a draw only to realize the problem was setup. 2) Watching a hit golf ball bounce, roll, and stop only to not find it when you walk to that area. 3) Taking two great practice swings on a chip, completely blow the actual shot. 4) Leaving a dead-center putt short. 5) Make bogey or worse when you're less than 150 yds in the middle of the fairway. 6) Overswinging and hitting a poor drive on a downwind par 5. 7) Follow up a birdie with a double (I'm famous for it) 8) Take one wedge for a chip shot, realize it's not the right club for the shot, hit it anyway because I'm too lazy to go back for another one. 9) Execute a 3/4 swing with a club, pure the shot and watch the ball sail over the green. 10) Take an uber-aggressive line on a putt and hit it 6+ feet by the hole.

I have two: 1) If I'm riding in a cart with someone else, I don't drive. 2) I never take a gimme on 18...I always have to putt out.

I do this all the time as well. Quite often I will hit up the practice green during lunch just to get out of the office (not so much this summer due to the soul-crushing heat). No one has ever given me grief about it, not even at private clubs.

Totally agree! You don't have to be good to play at a good pace. Just play "ready golf" and play in general would speed up considerably.

It's hard to detect that without establishing that context in your first response. It is shocking to think of the number of golfers that really do believe that increasing driver distance will instantly drop them to a single digit handicap. The simple fact is that a large number of golfers have no idea how to practice in such a way that will improve scores.