bigmick

I also have a Nike cart bag (with single strap). I was looking and found the Izzo Dual Strap (also ALOT of the pros/caddies use this strap/system on their bags). I wasn't able to find them in-stock anywhere, so I emailed Izzo. They advised they are back-ordered and should have more of them available in September (seems like a long time, but oh well). This appear to be the best, and have great reviews as far as I can tell. I don't know of any others (maybe someone else knows of some others), so I guess I am just gonna have to wait.

I am thinking of driving down to Charlotte for the Quail Hollow championship and wondering if anyone else is planning on going (I know there are a few on here in the area). Right now the weather isn't looking to good, but that can change any minute. For those that have been, or plan on going - any suggestions?? (parking, days, etc.). I am thinking of going Thurs. (but may be Fri depending on Boo's tee times and how soon I can get there from Raleigh). Its about a 2 hr drive for me - but for the field that is committed to play, I don't think I can take a chance that they will also be playing at the Wyndham in Greensboro late this year (which is closer).

I am in a similar situation and was wondering the exact same thing. Being pretty new to golf I have been worried about trying to go off as a single, or getting paired with someone or a group that may not "appreciate" getting stuck with a newbie - would be hard to enjoy yourself or the game if you constantly felt like you were a bother or imposing on these other people/groups (i would probably feel like not playing at all as well). Carolinahooker - what course you going to play? I am in the Raleigh area as well - Curious to know how the courses around here handle that . Depending on when you want to or like to play, you may have found you a playing partner (if you don't mind playing with a hacker ). PM me if interested.

I was also thinking of volunteering for the Rex Open (Nationwide Tour) in Raleigh and/or the SAS Championship (Champions Tour) in Cary. I am still new to golf, but figured this may be a good chance to get up close and see some professionals play (and see just how bad I suck ). Thanks for all the info guys!

I just got the Golf Pride New Decades put on 2 clubs to try (had them both in for loose ferrules - wanted to make sure the clubhead hadn't moved or anything). The pro (who i have been taking lessons from as well) said they were very popular and he had heard nothing but good things about them. I haven't hit them yet, but the feel is amazing from the address and practice swings I have taken. I will give them a good workout in the morning when I get off of work, and if all goes well - I will probably have all my clubs re-gripped by my tee time on Friday Also, the 56deg. SW i regripped had a Winn G8 grip on it previously. Initially I liked that grip (very soft), but the more I played, it just didn't feel as good. I think these are gonna be great!

First and foremost - PLAY MORE! Off the tee - work on being more accurate & not getting concerned about distance (as i get better I'm sure distance will increase, if only slightly) short game & putting - spending more time chipping, pitching and putting than I do on the range beating balls. Practice smarter not harder - go to the range with a purpose, and work on those areas that are giving me trouble (using drills, tips, instructor input, etc) Fitness - work out to get in better shape, loose some weight and in better golf shape Continue working with my instructor to improve overall & be more consistant All of the above should help me get to my big goal - BREAKING 100!

I loved the commercial - i thought it was hillarious (i have watched a few times on Cleveland's site and still laugh). Seemed to let Vijay & Boo's personalities come through a little and have some fun with it. And my favorite part.. "Boo, are you pestering Vijay again?" "No ma'am" and then the look when Vijay smashes one right into the fish decoration Classic.

I'm a big Boo fan. Just hope he can get his putting worked out and be in the mix for some wins this year -3 peat at Harbour Town would be nice

Congrats on picking up the game! I too got a late start (34) as I just got interested about 6-8 months ago. Since then I have hit the range (approx. twice a week at least when I can) and have taken 3-4 lessons so far. The lessons have been very helpful, and probably the most underrated thing a person new to golf can do to improve. As far as your progress, looks to me you are off to a good start. I am just starting to increase my distance (driver @ 190-200yds on a good one / 9-iron @ 100 yds. - far from long, but getting more consistent). As stated earlier (and as my instructor always tells me) progress will come in plateaus & incrementally. Since I began I have seen alot of improvement with better/more consistent contact. Each of the last 3 times I have gone out for a round with my buddy (who has been playing for over 15 years, and got me interested in the game) he tells me he can see alot of improvement, and I can see & feel it too. Just don't get caught up in distance and concentrate on good swing mechanics and consistent contact, and I'm sure the distance will come (at least that is what I keep telling myself ) Good luck and welcome to the forum!

Thanks alot for all the responses and suggestions! The hybrids I have are part of the starter set of clubs I have (3h-18* 4h-21* / Slazenger Wrath set). I stopped by Dicks Sporting Goods the other day, and picked up a few other hybrids to see if they felt any different (TaylorMade rescues, Nike, Adams). The one thing I did notice was that they all felt heavier that the ones included with my set - does anyone think this may have an impact? I will keep praticing with these clubs, and hopefully hit on something that makes it all click - just frustrating to hear everyone rave about how hybrids are easier to hit, and how great they are - but not be able to use these are all (no benefit on the course) right now. Like I stated previously, I have started practicing more with just these clubs, and have experimented with all different set-ups, ball positions, hitting down/sweeping, and nothing has worked yet (and I use the word yet trying to remain positive ). Hopefully in my next lesson my instructor can really shed some light on the situation. Again, thanks for all the comments and suggestions - I will try these out at the range to see if it helps!!!

Thanks for the reply/suggestion. I always hit off the grass (unless the range mandates mats only). I have tried experimenting with both ball middle of stance & forward (as well as moving closer & farther away from the ball), and just can't seem to make good/consistant contact. I know I need to work on them more (i do remember when I wasn't able to make good/consistant contact with my irons not too long ago as well). I am hoping it will come along and things will get better (I play on getting another lesson in the next couple weeks and will surely bring this up as trouble spot for assistance). Do you try to hit down on them (like your regular irons) or more sweeping motion (as a fairway wood)? I have searched all over and have started trying all types of different set-up positions/ball positions, and i just can't seem to hit them well at all (i have tried both swing types as well - no noticeable difference in contact and/or ball-flight/distance when contact is made - low and short ). I even tried hitting my 4h and 5i back to back, just to try and get the same feel and swing into memory (good shots with 5i everytime), but the hybrids are just not working for me. Guess I will be putting in some long range hours working on these! Hope it pays off. Thanks again for the reply, and I welcome any other suggestions or tips anyone has.

I'm not sure this is the correct place to post, but thought I would ask for everyone's advice/opinions regarding hybrids. I am fairly new to the game, and have been working hard to improve my swing, and have seen much improvement in my swing, and contact/ballflight with my irons (5 iron is becoming my favorite club) - still need to work on adding some distance throughout the bag. My problem is my 3 & 4 hybrids - i can't hit them. I have gotten lucky a few times and caught a good shot - but that has only happened a couple times MAX (and I have started working more and more on them to try and gain a good setup, swing, and contact with them). I guess I have a couple questions: 1) would anyone suggest trying a regular 3/4 iron to see if those fit my swing better 2) what is the best way to hit a hybrid (MANY conflicting stories in magazines, TV & internet on the proper way to hit them) 3) are there any drills or set-up changes that may help to get better contact with these clubs I really want to try and learn to hit these (due to the many different uses and praise they get from the pros down to high-handicappers), but they are giving me a VERY hard time, and I have thought about trying to find a 3/4 iron and hitting it to see if it fits me better. Any help or suggestions you guys have is MUCH appreciated

As I have only become interested and trying to learn the game (5 months since I first picked up a club to begin this wonderful journey), I'm hoping 2009 will be a great golf year for me. 1) Play more! 2) Practice more often and more efficiently (not just pounding balls downrange) - more time on putting green 3) Continue with lessons, and work on the topics covered 4) Play the new Palmer course at N.C. State at least twice (opening Mar/Apr 2009). 5) Break 100! #5 may be a stretch, but I am gonna try - at least it will give me something to work towards.

2 wedges: Cleveland 588 51 degree Cleveland 588RS 60 degree and a Black Cleveland hat

John Daly, Fuzzy & Boo Weekley! Ah the stories that would be told. Female: Natalie or Paula, or BOTH!

Long Term - improve my swing (good, repeatable swing) and ball contact as well as feel comfortable hitting every club and knowing the approximate distance of each. Also spending more time on my short game, and actually playing courses rather than nothing but range time. Short Term (6-8 months) - continue practicing (twice a week at the range, and lessons) in hopes of feeling comfortable enough with my swing/shots to play the new Arnold Palmer designed course at N.C. State when it opens (est. Spring 2009 )

Thanks alot for all your replies and input. This is defenitely a long term goal (to get better - can see taking regular lessons, at least until i feel comfortable and can make a consistent good swing & ball contact), so I am hoping that the pro will have a teaching style that will actually show me a correct swing, and help fix the flaws I have, and advise of any drills that can help instill the basics (grip, stance, alignment, backswing, downswing, follow-thru), rather than the "here is what you are doing wrong, here is what you do to fix it, now try it" - bucket of balls and over. I'm not sure if they use video or not, I may ask in the morning when I go out to the range. Again, thanks for all the responses!!!

Congrats on your first round! I too am very new to golf, and recently played 9-holes with some friends, shot a 64 (first round since taking up the game seriously, and only 3rd round in my life - the other 2 were over 10 years ago and who knows what those scores were ). One of the guys gave me one of the best advice regarding the scores that I have heard (and was also noted in Harry Longshanks post) - don't concentrate on that score so much, but try to improve that score on your next round, and then your next, and so on. And most important of all - HAVE FUN!!!

I searched the forums, and found some posts referencing the topic, but none that really answered the questions I have (and if I overlooked it, I apologize). I have signed up for my first golf lesson (very excited, and if it goes well I am considering a 3-lesson series), and was just curious of everyone else's experiences with lessons, and how much they have helped your game/swing? Also, does anyone take lessons on a regular basis, or just when you need a little refresher or help on something? I am very new to golf, but I have made my plans long term and set the bar fairly low to begin with (so as not to get too discouraged and loose interest -but i don't think that is gonna happen ). Also, thanks to everyone for their tips, opinions, etc, on this forum. I enjoy reading all the topics, and find many to be extremely helpful!!

I picked this book up at the recommendation of one of my best friends, who stated this booked helped him more than any other book, video,or training aid he had ever tried (and he has been golfing since age 13 - almost 20 years now). As a newbie, I am constantly reading anything and watching anything I can find to help me develop a good, consistant, and repeatable swing. I would have to say, even with the ago of the material presented - it all seems to be be solid fundamentals, and even instructors and materials presented today seem to be taken almost directly from the pages of this book. To me, that says alot. I re-read parts of this book at least 1-2 times a week to try and instill the fundamentals, and also practice these - around the house, on the practice range, and on the course (although that has only been once ). I would defenitely recomend this book to any golfer, especially someone new to the game as myself!

I'm 33, and have only taken a serious interest in golf in the past 2 months (haven't actually played a course yet). Hitting the range about twice a week to get my swing and fundamentals down before trying to go out and play a round. I have played a handful of times (about 10 years ago), but never really tried or took it seriously until now.

Yeah - Willow Spring is just outside of Fuquay-Varina. As far as Methodist is concerned, if I'm not mistaken I think that is in fayetteville, which is approx. 35-45 minutes from here.

Hello All - very new to golf, haven't even played a course yet, but have been going to the driving range to work on my swing. Hoping to improve some and start playing shortly. Thanks for all the tips and info on the site!! It has been a great resource.

Tiger - still has many more majors & victories to go.

Knights Play - Apex, NC www.knightsplay.com Its a nice 27-hole, Par 3. Haven't actually played it yet (very new to golf), but I am at the driving range approx. twice a week. Looking into taking lessons and will hopefully be actually playing some shortly.