ScottRempel

Well, it was a pretty good day today. Will probably be the last day I get to play 18 as well as winter is on its way. However, today we were blessed with temps well over the normal. Best shot and hole of the day was a short 289 yard par 4. There is a creek running across the fairway causing the majority of people to lay up as it is probably a 220 yard carry, and there is OB down the right side. As long as I'm hitting the driver relatively straight I usually go for it though. Usually a good drive get me somewhere 20-30 yards short, but today I drilled one right up the middle. It landed a bit before the green and released up towards the back pin placement, coming to rest about 3 feet from the pin! The putt had just a little break in it and I managed to make a good putt and drain it! The wife took a pic with her cell so I'll have to try uploading that later perhaps. Driver went away for most of the back nine unfortunately, but I managed to turn in a 35, 41 for a 76 (par 71). This was my lowest score of the year by one, the first time shooting under par on the front 9, and amazingly I think it might have been my first eagle this year (the fact that it came on a par 4 is crazy).

It's called plumb bobbing. You can google it to find out more, but it is basically something some people use to estimate the amount of break in a putt.

I've been playing since I was very young (26 now). Was always a low-to-mid-90s golfer through school, and while aspects of my game improved, the end score never really changed much. Bit of a hiatus while I was in university and then really got back into golfing the last few years. Things finally came together for me this year and I noticed a step change, going from the low-90s golfer to a high-70s/low-80s golfer. Now, if I shoot bogey golf, it feels like a disastrous round. I know a couple of the reasons it took me so long to improve are lack of lessons and short golf season. So yes, you can definitely improve, and I think that as long as you feel you are improving in areas of your game you are moving forward. The scores may not drop right away, but if you keep improving then one day they will.

I've never played in it, but there is a big scramble event at a course near here every year as well. It actually draws some top players from the the province, including guys that have played (or maybe tried to play) on the Canadian Tour, from what I remember. There are a couple of golfing families that always go to it...you know, one brother is trying to play on a tour, the other two are probably scratch, and the dad is probably still a 4 or something. Big entry fee and big prizes. As you've said, the teams that are going to be in contention, are not the type to cheat...this isn't your usual scramble. P.S. How's the driver? Thinking of trying one out next year maybe.

There is possibly a good example of a sport where the lower tier, if you will, may actually be more popular to a large number of people. I don't watch a lot of basketball games, but I bet I watch more college ball then NBA. March Madness is exciting and the players just seem to have more intensity. I'm not sure what coverage is like outside of the big tourney, but even up here in Canada there is a lot of buzz in March. I hardly ever hear people talking about the NBA up here.

Good for you...nothing wrong with that. I didn't say that people don't watch it, or that it is not good. But it is definitely not on the same level, and if someone is going to devote some of their TV time to watching baseball, they are probably more likely to watch a MLB game over a little league game......just the way that most people that are going to watch golf, are going to watch the PGA Tour. I'm not saying all people have that preference, but for whatever reasons have been stated in this thread, most do. Hence the lack of support for the "lesser" tours/leagues/whatever. We all can't sit at home and watch every golfing event from Thursday thru Sunday, so we are forced to choose. Most people are going to choose to watch the PGA Tour...that's THEIR preference. Arguing that we should all start watching and supporting the LPGA tour is a bit ridiculous. I watch golf, hockey, football, a little basketball, the odd baseball game, some racing events, etc. That's a lot of sports...I can't possibly watch multiple leagues playing each sport, so I watch what I personally find the most enjoying. If you find the LPGA more interesting because of how they play, or you just have the time to watch both the PGA and LPGA, then that is awesome...but each to their own. Maybe the question in the thread title is not great, as there is no "problem" with women's golf...just reasons that it is not supported as much as men's golf. People are providing reasons why they devote their time to watching the PGA tour over the LPGA tour and that's just the way it is...there is nothing to argue about. Some watch it because they are more entertained, some because they feel the golf is at a higher level, and some just because they are guys. All legitimate reasons becasue that's their opinion. It's a vicious circle out there. You're not as popular so you don't get the coverage, but you have a hard time getting more popular because you don't get the coverage. Who knows, maybe if a network like CBS picked up the LPGA for a couple of years the popularity would sore...but of course they are not going to take that risk, so the LPGA is kinda stuck.

Holy crap...I'd die A nice calm sunny day in the 20-22C range would suit me just fine, and I have no issue playing when it's 14C as long as the conditions are nice. We've played colder, windy, rainy days...but it's no fun when your hands are cold. -40C to +40C...gotta love Manitoba.

1) Controlled swing with all clubs (not rushing the downswing). Has increased my iron yardage 5-10 yards, and I wasn't short to start with. Who'd a thunk, lol! 2) Getting the club back and then up, and not too flat. Sometimes I wouldn't even be getting my hands above my shoulder. 3) Initiating the down swing with the lower body...not my arms. 4) Alignment...alignment...alignment!

haha yeah...being a golf-aholic in Canada can be tough at times, but there are so many other factors that keep us here. My ultimate goal is to win the lottery which will solve most of my problems...that way I could live here but come winter the wife and I could travel to golfing destinations all over...a man can dream, right? Also, I'm not a big heat fan, although I suppose you adapt...to a certain degree. 25C is warm enough for me...when we get days around 30C golfing can get a bit rough for me...especially 18 holes...and because I always walk. Hence my plan of golfing here for the summer and then come down there for the winter :).

Embrace the golf :) I'm not sure to be honest...being in Canada we only get to play golf about half the year, so I know I'm going to have time for other activities the other half. That being said, I've been thinking about trying to play baseball again (just recreationally) and I'm having a really hard time deciding as I'd obviously have to give up golfing days to do it. In the end I'll do what I want and be as happy as I can. Sure I'd love to do everything, but for now golf is my primary summer sport and I love it.

I'm not exactly sure why we post these kind of things...I guess it is because we want to tell someone but most people we know don't care and we think other golfers probably will Anyway, I'm happy because I'm playing the best golf I've ever played. The last couple of rounds I've really been hitting the ball solid tee to green. I wish I could keep on playing (and improving), but unfortunately I probably have another month to go, and some of those days are going to be pretty cold. I plan to take some notes and video on my swing now that I'm hitting the way I want to, and hope that after the 6ish month layoff I can come back closer to where I am now then when I started the season. A friend and I are also talking about trying to make a trip to the city once a month to hit balls at the golf dome, just to keep some form of a swing going through the winter. I've slowly been getting comfortable shaping my iron shots now that I'm hitting my irons solid, and just today I finally "finished the puzzle" by figuring out how to play a controlled draw with my driver. I've been driving it really nice lately, but it's always straight or a slight fade on a good swing. For the most part this is great, but there are some days when the wind is blowing hard from the wrong direction that this shot shape is very much not desired. However, I've avoided hitting the draw as it usually resulted in a big hook, or even snap hook. Today however, I was "crushing it" and feeling confident. We came up to a hole where the wind was slightly in to us and right to left. I knew my usual shot would lose a lot of distance so I thought I'd give the ol' draw another go. I altered my stance just slightly (pulled my right foot back no more then an inch), and took my nice easy swing....wouldn't you know it, a beautiful little draw that carried all the way to a bunker, that if anything I'm usually rolling into (without the wind)...the golf gods were even nice enough to let my ball magically bounce out of the bunker . And it wasn't a one off either, the next hole I tried the same shot and it worked well again (going mostly straight, but no danger or going right). Both shots carried about 265-270 yards...longer then usual for me. To be honest, every drive I hit today went right where I aimed it...and long. It was a great feeling. One I know won't happen all the time, but as long as those great times keep increasing, I'll be a happy guy! Well, thanks for reading . I know it's not like shooting a hole-in-one, or a super low round, but considering how long I've been playing and how much I've struggled with ball striking and consistency, these last few rounds have been a huge step in the right direction. I've been making a lot of small changes throughout the year, but what has finally solidified things the last few rounds, allowing me to confidently work the ball and hit my target (and putt better) has definitely been really focusing on alignment. It's so easy to be "close to aligned", but in this game being a bit off, with your stance for instance, can lead to big misses. Now that I'm really making sure my body is aligned to the target, I feel confident that I'm aiming correctly and truly believe my ball is going to go where I want it to. For anyone that is curious, I've shot a 1-over 37 the last couple of days (playing 9 holes after work). Definitely not the most difficult course in the world...but still a good score . Should have probably shot under today (for the first time this year) as I left a few out there. The End

Looks like I'm a little late but wanted to post my reply. To the person that keeps stating the fact that it is women against women and therefore the competition is tight, etc., etc. True. However, you could say the same about some little league baseball game. Sure the competition is good, but I think most people would probably rather watch a couple of MLB teams going at it. Again, it's not just about the competition, it's about the shots that these guys are hitting...as many people have stated. A lot of people watch TV to be entertained...most find the PGA more entertaining than the LPGA. And to go further, since the Nationwide players are more skilled on average then the LPGA players, you get a lot of people saying they'd rather watch the NW then the LPGA. Same as I'd rather watch the LPGA then some high school golf match. We want to watch the best, and we only have so much time to sit in front of the TV, so we pick and choose based on what we are going to enjoy the most. Again, the women on the LPGA Tour are awesome golfers...just not as good as the men. I only watch the PGA (usually)...don't have anymore time to devote to watching golf. If I was going to watch some different golfing, I might watch the LPGA over the NW, since the LPGA is the highest level of Women's golf while the NW is 2nd tier to the PGA (even though it is better golf then the LPGA). If I can only watch one event, I want to watch the one that is going to be the most entertaining to me. It doesn't really matter what the reason is, what the replies here have proven is that people have several different reason why they watch the PGA tour over the LPGA tour. Since they are the viewers those are your answers to why the LPGA is not supported as much...not because it's the way men were raised, blah, blah, blah as one person has been posting. I garuntee that if the LPGA tour exceeded the PGA tour in the areas people have mentioned here, people would be watching it instead. i.e. If the women were on average better golfers, pulling off amazing shots more often, hitting the ball further, more stand-out players, more Americans winning consistently, etc., etc., etc. Will that ever happen? Probably not. Women are at a disadvantage in most sports due to their genetics. If you can point out a sport where women are better, more dominatant, etc., then I bet you've got a sport where the women's game is the preferred game to watch. Some people may actually find the LPGA more entertaining then the PGA, and that's great, but until the majority of people feel that way the LPGA is going to reamin where it is. Sorry about all the rambling...could have probably put that all into a better post, but I had to read a lot to get here so :p

On your follow through do your hands finish really high? I have a friend that hits the ball a mile in the air, and when you watch him swing you can see that his hands go way up in the air. If that's the case, then your swing is likely partially to blame. However, my friend also hits the ball a long way...you seem to be losing a lot of distance. Either way, you can read a bit on the following article to see what I'm talking about...may or may not help: http://www.pga.com/2009/instruction/...der/index.html

{with the driver} If I swing nice and easy I hit it straight or a very slight fade usually. If I want to hit a bit more of a power fade....I just swing a bit harder lol. As for the draw, I need to just leave that shot in the bag....I usually end up doing too much and end up with a nice duck hook. Played a course this weekend that had a par 5 that really fit a draw (for a righty) so I figured I'd try it...sure enough, terrible hook...however, somehow it goes through a bunch of trees and a fair distance up the adjacent fairway...hit a nice 4 iron over a stand of trees leaving a wedge to the green...usually doesn't work out that well :p. However, when I'm hitting my irons (or even 4-wood) well, I can go either way and I do it simply by either opening or closing the club face slightly (by rotating the grip slightly in my hands. Then I just aim the appropriate amount right or left to allow for the movement of the ball and swing as per normal.

I use my 60* from 90 yards and in. I will use my 52* if I've got a tight lie in the fringe. I'll use my 52* or 57* if the lie is poor (i.e. hard ground or funny grass) as they both have a much sharper leading edge, helping to prevent the club from bouncing off the ground. That being said, I don't have much spin on my shots. I'll chip with my 60* from just off the green into an up slope and run it up the hill a bit. I think one of my favorite shots to pull off though is a short flop out of deep green side rough to a downward sloping green...sure is nice when pulled off successfully, but not for the timid.