MonkeyGolfer99

Interesting topic for me this. I have been putting with my right index finger down the grip for a few months now. I'd say I'm making more putts 6 feet and under but my distance control has suffered. I don't want to overthink it for fear of getting 'yippy' and all 'in my head' when putting but I'm getting the sense that the finger could be the cause of my distance control. Why is that? I've noticed that extending the finger tightens up the muscles in my forearm and wonder if this is affecting feel? Thanks.

I've not read the whole thread, just the last couple of pages but I have to say I can see why he would draw the term 'ass' from Americans 😁 Was chatting with a golf friend over the RC weekend and we both agreed he is certainly full of himself and likes the spotlight and, to be honest, I find all the chest thumping and hollering a bit over the top - not just from him, mind. It's golf not football! That said I'm not sure he deserves the 'ass' label as we can all be a bit of a 'dick' from time to time. I think the acid test is "Would he be good to have a few pints with?" I'd say one or two, aye, but I get the sense he'd be talking about Ian at length once he'd had a few 😉

I take at least one, maybe two practice swings (anymore is off-putting mentally) and line up but that takes seconds really. I'll also try to do it as others have just finished their shots or while I wait, so long as it won't distract others. I'm gauging my next shot as soon as the last one lands so unless my lie changes things I'm pretty much ready to go. What can be irrigating is when folk wait until everyone has played then think about their shot, club, have five practice swings, check the wind, check the yardage, then the wind again, then change club, have five more practice swings. . . and so on. I'd say a routine, including a few practice swings is fine so long as you're ready!

Good question: Our course has signs at every few holes reminding people to keep up with the group in front and let quicker groups through, avoid slow play etc and we are now encouraged to play ready golf in Comps (although judging on my last Medal that concept is harder for some to grasp than others . . .). We don't have a ranger or starter and I think that would help. I think a club has to make a concerted effort to create a culture that embraces quicker play. Too often seniors (usually) complain and the club relents - i.e. they made a four hour round rule for senior comps but quickly pulled it due to complaints! Like any business if it's from the top down and it's consistent the message gets through. You'd want to go lightly and approach it positively I guess but with the aim being a culture where time-wasters are gently chided and peer-pressure is made to help folk speed up i.e anyone with a 'Thou Shall not Pass' attitude is given the cold shoulder or reported (which is where the ranger comes in) Ultimately it will always come down to manners and awareness of others - and as we find with all humanity, some are just better at that than others . . .

To answer the OP - It all depends on the situation; so yes and no! I can sometimes play in the week and either play solo or often with a couple of old boys - one of which is super fast the other, well, super slow. If we all play together I accept the pace is slow and usually it's a 3.5 - 4 hour round. If just me and the fast guy play it can be 3 or under. Playing on my own with no waiting I've played the course, walking, in 2 1/4 hours but that is walk, hit, repeat for all 18. Come Medal day and I know I'm looking at up to 5 hours for the round. Given that situation affects speed one can't be too quick to judge speed of play - it's how it is . . . . but . . . . What does infuriate me is when slower groups don't let others through, especially one balls (or if they do it's after 5 awkward silence meets on the tee box where four fellas are pretending you're invisible until they finally crack and then oh so graciously concede their lofty position to you - dicks! ha ha). That and general fcuk-wittery like not bringing enough clubs from a buggy, marking cards or chatting on greens and leaving bags/carts at the farthest point from the next tee, taking 3000 practice swings, walking back down a fairway without any warning etc. You know, the general dumb stuff. I play better when I'm at a quick pace but so long as the pace is steady I'm OK. It's the needless waits and interruptions that do my head in. I'll have to add that it's usually the hackers (sorry!) that slow things up most. It's as if they are embarrassed to let people through like it somehow makes them worse or inferior or something?! We all start somewhere but just learn the etiquette and folk won't mind at all . . . they're like leaner drivers on the roads without L plates. Sorry, that turned into a massive rant ha! In summary then, 4 hours is about as long as it should reasonably take in my opinion, even in comps; and I think the biggest barriers to quicker play are folk wasting time and not being ready or not following accepted protocol - not age, sex or standard of play per se.

These were the two that jumped out at me but I never thought it an issue- as you point out. Common sense . . . I do sometimes talk to other people's balls though 😐 Although it's always positive and only with friends/folk I play in roll ups with. I can see how it could be annoying though so I'll look to stop that. AS I heard Andy Sullivan say on a vlog "Get yer lips of my ball" lol

Generally I wrap my arms around my head, turn away and duck. I got hit by a drive on the back of my calf two years back (no shout) and it hurt like hell and left a huge bruise so I 'aint taking chances. Had that been the back of my head or a bony part . . . Your story reminds me when I was playing on an unfamiliar course on my own a few years back. I'd been behind three ladies who weren't exactly speedy or keen to let me play through so I was getting frustrated. Anyway, on the fourth I'm blocked out down the left so I have to hit over a group of trees with a draw if I want to hit the green or chip out to the fairway. I see the ladies move off the green and head behind the trees down the left (the next tee is up an incline about 70 yds left from the green. So, I give them enough time to make the tee and then fire. I ended up pulling my shot into the trees but given that a) they should be on the tee by now and b) I expect my ball to be gobbled by the trees I don't shout. Big mistake. Next thing I hear three almighty shrieks, gasps and am given general impressions of Saw like horror. Feeling my stomach drop I sprint to the noise fearing the worst to find them stood ten yards off the green (chatting I presumed), no-one hurt and the ball just off to the right of them. I apologised profusely explaining my actions but they weren't having it. After the shock faded and my brain engaged I reflected that, yes, I should have shouted but what they were doing I have no idea (although I refrained from pointing out their less than prudent course of action). After two tense holes they seemed to defrost slightly and accepted my umpteenth apology and allowed me to play through. Moral here is, shout if there is any doubt and perhaps even if there isn't as you never know, especially on unfamiliar tracks. I always feel bad about that incident as I think they may have actually waited by the green to let me play through - so I imagine they were indignant when my ball came close to them with no shout. Still though, given I was clearly playing blind they were being pretty stupid waiting there, and I was amazed that my ball got through the mini-forest! But you just never know . . .

Was playing when a friend sent his ball up off the first tee and quick as a flash it came down smack in the middle of the fairway. Next thing a seagull lands just by it. It happened so fast you could barely believe your eyes. Seagull was stone cold dead.

Funny thread this but I like your post :) I've been monitoring my drives a lot recently as we had a very hot and dry summer and I was hitting freaky long drives due to excessive roll. Anyway, come the wetter weather and I was shocked how much distance I was losing. I cranked the loft a bit to help get more 'air time' and now reckon a solid hit may carry 260. Yes, I'll hit the odd 300+ drive (usually wind assisted but every now and then I middle one and it flys) but I'll hit many more loose fades out of the heel or horrid duck pull hooks that are lucky if they carry 200 yards. I would say, looking at other golfers I play with, I hit it farther than most and often win the long drive comps on away days etc. I'm not saying this to boast either as I know many hit it longer and straighter more consistently So like you (and I imagine many amateur golfers) my average would probably be low 200s but this is brought down significantly by hitting too many duff strikes. And strike is the big thing for me, not power. But, if you have both, then you're in Mcillroy/DJ territory . . .

I saw that this morning. Hope she regains sight but not looking good . . . an exploding eyeball! (pun not intended) I've never attended a pro event so I wonder if there are warnings that suggest getting hit with a ball is a potential outcome and that they (the organisers) have no liability should it happen? Don't they have those officials as well who hold up the signs showing where the ball is going? That might sound a bit harsh on the woman and even if the above was in place you'd still think they (organisers/player) would look to compensate with more than a glove . . . ?!

Don't know if this has been mentioned but I have to say how classy Furyk was in defeat. He's not exactly a tub-thumper but I liked the way he just got on with business and was the first to congratulate the Europeans. Fair play, Jim!

No doubt in my mind that the people around influence your performance. Was saying the same to a friend after a Medal comp this weekend: I played with two strangers, one a 26 hcp and a nervous sort and the other an 11 hcp who spewed out the rule book at every opportunity, thought he was the best golfer on the course, moaned constantly, asked questions then answered them himself just as you were about to speak . . . we've all played with them, unfortunately. I had a good front 9 but honestly, I got so tired of trying to block him out it began affecting me on the back 9. Same goes for partners in match play. You'd like to think pros can rise above that but given the stakes/pressure It would be near impossible. I agree and it's a fair point but . . . If the mood in one camp is positive, supportive, energized etc then I think that will have an impact psychologically i.e confidence in hitting down that tight fairway, making putts etc. Contrast that to a fear of losing, a competitive element within your team etc and even though the will to win may be stronger I'd argue that makes it harder to perform optimally. Not that I'm implying the US team were the latter, and vice versa, more that when you look at all the elements that make 'passion' I think it would be naive to not acknowledge their effects.

The Garcia/Fowler hug was touching! Lot of time for Fowler after that now.

Well done Europe! Molinari and Fleetwood the stand out pair for me. I'll have to say that the Captain's picks for the Europe team were more than justified - I was skeptical and wanted more balance between exp. and form but I guess that's why I'm not picking RC teams :) Friday's foursomes seemed to rock the US and they never quite recovered. Europe were the better team over the three days. No question. We all know how golf is though . . . on other days the US edge in front, Europe buckle and Furyk is hailed as a genius for sticking with Phil and Tiger as they show their class while Bjorn's tactics and picks are questioned . . . That said, some of Furyk's picks seemed odd but it's easy to say so with hindsight. Tiger looked tired - which was a shame for the comp. It surprised me how little known the course was to the US team though. Surely a bit more prep was in order?

Good topic and one we often end up discussing. My course is par 71 and 6630 yards off the comp tees. It's quite tight though and unforgiving in places e.g. there are two 150 ish yard par 3's where not hitting the green can get you in a lot of trouble. (I've had a 7 in a medal on one!) So, I reckon your average PGA pro would shoot mid-low 60s but I wouldn't be too surprised if they shot high 50s (especially if they took on the short par 4s) or if they posted 1-2 over par.

My main goal was to get back to playing off 9 (or better). I became a father two years back and my golf time has taken a dent. My other was to have a few good Medal rounds as they still seem to bring the worst out in me. I got back to 9 (9.4) a couple of months back and recently got cut to 8.8 so job. no. 1 done. The cuts came through Stableford and a Supplementary card though so still working on the second one!

Probably done his confidence a world of good getting picked! Key word there for me is form. As said above, they are all top class golfers so form and team spirit is everything. When the Euro WC picks were announced I was skeptical; time will tell but he may have made the right call, although more balance between experience and form would have been my choice. I've not put a ££ bet on but were I too I'd back the USA to at least retain. Think they're due a win (in Europe) though and they undoubtedly have the more talented squad, what little difference there is.

1) How long did it take to break 70? If it took you 2 years, was that 2 years from the first time you picked up a golf club, or did you just play around for the first year and then take the second year seriously? I scored in the 70s after a year or so of playing 'seriously'. I had played a little golf in a sporadic way before then but breaking 100 was a 'good day'! Had a purple patch of scoring regularly in that zone and then one very bad round in a comp really knocked my, perhaps, over inflated confidence! I now score in the 76 - 84 range (average score is 79) 2) What methods did you follow? Did you pick and choose from different instructors, books, DVDs, or even just watching tips on the golf channel? Did you follow a single set method/book/DVD/instructor and follow it like it was your bible? Had some lessons, watched lots of 'You Tube' coaching (selecting what may be useful to me and then 'playing' with it) and most helpfully, played a lot! I have been lucky to be able to play at least twice a week these last two years - that has helped enormously. Lessons were useful, but to me, understanding your own swing and knowing why you hit certain shots is the key. You can then self-correct when things are going wrong or at least identify the pattern and change shot selection/club as needed. 3) What does it take to score in the 70s consistently (in your opinion of course)? A consistent swing? A good mental game? 70% mechanics 30% mental? Please share. I think having a repeatable swing/motion, and one you can repeat under pressure is key. Doesn't have to be a 'textbook' swing but I think repeatable is key! I play with a natural draw and some days it is more like a hook (very infrequently I will have a slight fade or push). Knowing this, and seeing how I am swinging on the range before hand, will affect how I play on the day. I don't try to change my swing to be 'perfect' but have learned to accept what I have on the day and go with it. The mental side is also massive - Keeping cool after a bad shot/decision is vital (they will pop up from time to time!). Doubles are what kill my rounds so keeping the ball in play is a must and having a steady short game is also helpful. (the better players I see are always very good in this area- especially putting) Can you par all the holes (or most) on your course? If yes then you only have to make 9 -10 and can bogey the other holes. Chuck a couple of birdies in there and there you go :) Easy, eh? ;) lol

Actually, having thought more about this, the path is also used by the groundstaff and their vehicles so I imagine if the posts were put to the right of the path they could obstruct their way. Could they just put a white line along their instead of posts? Hey ho!

Yes, I agree - I think this has been suggested but the committee, apparently, have ruled that in these instances players can drop to the right rather than move the OB posts . . . It would seem though that my old friend was right about dropping on the left side but not about the playing right handed bit. I will pass this on, many thanks.

Thanks - yes, in practice that is what would ultimately end up happening so I think members generally just drop to the right of the path to speed up play. As in my example even if I managed to drop to the left I would then have to play left handed but would likely be stood on the path to do so, so would then have to drop to the right. I think this has become something of an unofficial 'local-rule' but can cause a bit of friction and I am in a medal comp tomorrow so want to be clear :) I did ask our club manager and he basically said what you did - that the posts were put there so that dropping to the right is what should happen . . . It's good to know the full rulings though! Thanks again and I am fairly new to this site and searched for such a question, this came up - it's probably been done to death so apologies, but everyday's a school day for me :)

Excellent, thank you! :) I think the vii (b) rule above helps answer my initial question/situation - 'maximum available relief' So basically, if I have this right, if there was an area (however small) to drop into when you have found NPoR you would proceed to drop there and then reassess depending on how the ball lies once dropped. e.g. re-dropping if it rolls out of bounds or back onto path etc as per conditions outlined above.

Thanks, Wendy. This is where I am getting confused though. Let's say that I measure out the drop zone and half of it is in bounds, half out. Would I then have to drop and hope it falls in bounds? Could I drop on the OB half and then be OB so have to re-drop? Do you see what I mean?

Thanks for the above posts. This has been a hot topic at our club for some time with some members saying the committee decision isn't fully following the rules. I have even been, mostly in jest - I think, been accused of accepting cheating!!! A diagram would work better but here goes. OB markers about 2 - 4 feet on average from left edge of a cart path that runs down the left side of the fairway up to the green. Along with the OB markers is a thick line of trees/bushes. So, most RH golfers if landing on the middle to left side of path will look for NPoR on the left side of the path. However, although the trees themselves aren't an issue (in locating NPoR) more often than not once you find NPoR and then measure out the drop zone, this is usually partly or mostly OB. I have argued that all of the intended drop zone must be in bounds to allow relief to be taken. It would seem this is correct from e.g. above. Could someone clarify? Thanks - hope that e.g. makes sense. Another contentious point comes from if having found (unlikely but possible in a few places) NPoR on the left side of the path, a RH golfer could legitimately attempt a left-handed shot as he has no RH swing due to trees. If this is the case, and their playing partner agrees that the intended shot is legitimate, they would then be stood on the path again. So relief could be taken again but this time to the right of the path. The player could then play a right handed shot. I think this is also correct but one member in particular disagrees with both outcomes above. His argument being full relief would then mean going backwards if you can't go left? I would disagree as this wouldn't then be nearest point - it would be to the right instead! He also said a RH golfer couldn't legitimately play the LH shot as it is basically just to get relief! (he's a loveable but cantankerous old giffer :) If someone could clarify that would be great and I will post a link to the discussion on our clubs fb page :) Thanks!