WilsonWedgeMan

I've also seen many , MANY Pros put too much backspin on the ball, and it ends up waaaay further from the cup than where it initially landed ...I say drop and stop is still the prefered shot to many golfers.

...a sand trap ???? ...no dear, it's a sandbox box for the Grandson... ...really it is.... ....why are the sides sloped ???? ...for uphill lies, of course..... ..Swansons' tonite......

interesting read..all 4 pages...great comments,and all said with passion. the way it should be. golf will never rise to the golden years of a decade or 2 ago..as the world changes, so does everything in it. some good, some not so good.. golf is expensive due to maintenance/upkeep/overhead...you wanna course with lush fairways, and near-perfecty greens..yer gonna shell out the cash. I understand that, and will play those as frequent as money allows. they make for a better experience. My buddy and I went to the local club where I hadn't heard of the rules change of "collered shirts only"..it was new,and I had no problem shelling out the $$ for one off their sales rack. I mustr honor their policies..many others would have went home, but I wanted to play....the course was ...nearly empty at 11;40 in the morning mid-week...not a sole withing sight on the course... we did get caught up on nearing the end, but it was a beautiful relaxing day..except for the score.. money is the main issue in everything...from the cost of equiptment, range costs,green fees, travel expenses,food/beverages....the time is the small part for me, but I remember when it was a big issue, and a very valid one. without time and $$ to invest, our goals are limited, but not our love for the game which drives everyone who addresses a small white ball on a tee...we'll find the time, and we'll find the money, even if it means hitting the cow - field courses.. if we start saying who should and who shouldn't be playing on the course in the group ahead of us, then we're building the same barriers that took many years, and many golfers to tear down..maybe they aren't aware of course etiquette, it took me a long time, and many embarrsing moments to mill-piece it together... golf clubs aren't sold with that information, and many beginners have to pick it up the hard way..why is that??? it shouldn't be...slow play sure does stink, but his money has the same dead president on it that mine/yours do...yes, I agree thats' no excuse for apathetical attitudes from those golfers, and that's exactly where kind words spoken about the rules concerning looking for lost balls,etc are necessary..and why the position of Marshall was created, I'm sure..... could it possibly be that we're all a bit less patient these days????? I know I find that in me more times than I wanna admit...

..after working like a mule this morning hand spreading 25 yds of mulch, I collected my co-worker and we hit the course...took off early to do so. thought one: don't work like a mule before hitting the course... yer wore out by hole 10 when it's hot and humid. meet a 3rd golfer there who was by far the best goilfer I've had the priveledge to play with. shot a -2 70 on a course he hasn't played "for years"..and the course had changed. to those of you who are at this level in your game, I applaud you. after seeing for the 1st time, 300+ yd drives... tight approach shots..and deadly putting... I was humbled. my co-worker is good friends with this guy, and is a 6 handicap. I was the..well... they had to gracioulsy wait for me, but did so with great attitudes... thought 2: regardless of ones' level,true sportsmanship and tolerance for partners is a true blessing.... your eyes are always a good teacher, if you know what you're looking at, and to see a pure-striker at work, tends to lead to many visual "tips". I noticed that his drivers' face was slightly 'lofted" at address..ever so slightly..and that "click" is the sound you're supposed to hear from an irons on a par 3s, as well as with hybrids and mid-irons.....click... a sound thats' unforgettable... thought 3: only tyhing that makes each shot sound like it's supposed to, is practice. period.... must hit range.... to all those that have this opportunity..the chance to play with MUCH..another world better, player, I say it can only make you a better player and a better golfer...over time. I know I'm gonna play with these guys as much as they'll have me.... hit 'em straight(er than me).....

excellent post..... also the only time that "attending a church" is spoken of is Heb 10:25( from what I've studied) ONE scripture used to mandate church attendance...none other that I can find in my Strongs'..... it coulda been worse....look at Jim Jones and Guyana..... as for keeping my mind sharp..I'm too stubborn to follow any man...ANY man behind a pulpit, as I have the same line of communication available to me that he does... Man makes precahers more than they should be.

risk? what risk? most have college degrees to fall back on...and I SERIOUSLY doubt that you'll find many 21K/yr golfers on Tour.... and obviously you haven't been to the coalfields,my friend..."make it"...well, that depends upon what you define that as....they make about $50/60k if thev've been there awhile, and thats' not NEARLY enough to get most folks 2 miles underground...I know some Lawyers may make big bucks, as well as CEOs, but I'm betting the average salary for ALL pro sports is well above the Nation average on income..welll above. look at last Sat race, where Carl Edwards won a cool Mill for 1 race...in fact, races were paying so well, that a few were settling for last places and parking their expensive cars after only a few laps...and it's still happening because of the $$$$$$$$....how many car salesman would do THAT !!!!

haa. I had to look up Youtube to find out what the heck S&T; was....now I know...I think

Bro..if I ever break a hunnert,I may get to be where yer at.... I, too, spent, and sought out, and searched, and practiced til my hands bled..literally. had 2 instructors who taught DIFFERENT styles, which made things actually WORSE for me, because it's hard to un-learn something. finally, a new co-worker is a good golfer( 6 handicap), and he took the time to show me several small 'things,for a lack of better word..and they've done more than anyone/anything else. I haven't played a scoring round in a month(played couple scrambles) but i'm believing that your scores may not be too far ahead for me. the BIGGEST "tip" he gave me, other than forward shaft tilt at impact, was something no other teacher ANYWHERE has yet to disclose...and that's WHERE your eyes are focused upon for the swing. I USED to look BEHIND the ball(actually at the back of the ball), now I look in FRONT of the ball and hit THAT spot, which means "ball first" always. no more chunks, no more FAT shots, altho I still top the ball w/ my 5 wood...now why couldn't/didn't those guys tell me that??? "look at the ball" was all they ever said....that, and the shaft tilt/lean at impact made balls go farther and straighter..I don't lose but 1 'r 2 balls per round now.... after years of frustration, un-needidly, now I'm excited about hitting the course tomorrow with that new "coach". but I will say the one thing I can control is attitude about my "talent"(or lack thereof) and I won't quit, nor allow a score of 105 to discourage me...unlike Tiger, all I can do is get BETTER( when yer at the bottom, the only direction is UP!!!!!! ) if I don't quit. it oughtta mean SOMETHING, that you score better than a LOT of golfers..be proud of that.

the sad truth is, these "prophets" do more damage than good. just as Graveyards are Sacred, so is the belief in the Bible to many,many folks. For these looney-tunes to have the audacity to say THEY know when His plan is to be enacted, they have much to woory about when they meet the Man.It's as gross as blatant mockery.....

we were speaking of value vs damage...and YES, guitars drop all the time from worn straps or sweaty hands... if you played guitar you'd know how easily they get knicked and dinged...very easily... and if your axe falls off the rack, yer done..specially if it's a set-neck(opposed to bolt-on)...I can't see how a dent anywhere besides the face of a club, will render it useless... besides, it's NOT the arrow, it's the Indian.

exactly...being anal bothers me more....and that's all it is: anality what's the most expensive set you can buy, including woods?? bet it's nowhere NEAR my Gibson guitars....and you can play 'em all ya want, whether you CAN play or not, as long as you don't intentional damage them. anal people are annoying and I won't be around any.

ya know, I can't remark on the pressures of Pro Golfing,nor can I say that i'm an Average athlete(more below than above),whereby I can make an qualified and dramatic point. However, as a woodworker who has tons of $$ invested in machines and material, I can relate to the sudden outburst when things don't turned out as expected. having to scrap high dollar wood due to an errant cut(mental mistake or procedural mistake) costs time and money. especially diappointing when taking into consideration how many TIMES you've made that same cut over the years....yet, it's toast... same applies to any venture where one puts heart and soul into it. I have an issue with blatant immaturity(throwing clubs,loud outbursts,etc..thats' un-called for)but I can't...I won't belittle or pass judgement on another human being for BEING HUMAN. most think they're cool and calm, but in truth, 99.9% of ALL golfers have a negative response to bad shots( most know how to temper that response, but that doesn't mean they don't HAVE a response). let 'em show emotions, to a point...it's who we are. OFF topic: As for the $$ part, well..I don't feel too awful sorry for $$ causing pressure, cuz basically, they ALL make more than the common working man,with not nearly as much effort. yes, practicing for 8 hours isn't my idea of a fun day, but it's better than being in a coal mine.... or a poultry processing plant... or Crab fisherman..or a ditch digger. For the time invested, they get MUCH better returns monetarily. Case in point: DJ Trahan has earned over 10 Mil in winnings on tour( Yahoo sports webpage) over the years ...thats' alot more $$ than most farmer/timberman/fisherman/Auto worker/Doctor/Lawyer/WasteManagement worker/nurse/railroader/younameit earn with YEARS of training/experience....only pro sports pays that well( generalism). and sooner or later, that too will decline, as peoples' disposable incomes continue to shrink. it's happening already... look at NFL /Nascar/MLB/MLS.. all have seen significant declines in attendances and sponsors, ... that will spread to other Pro sports as well, unless the economy does an about face. aren't there PGA events that are being threatened by lack of sponsorship?? did I hear that correctly from a TV announcer,last week I believe ??? wouldn't/shouldn't surprise anyone if it's true....

as we speak: a 1981 Gibson Les Paul Custom thru a early 22 watt Sodano Atomic head/ Engl slant 4x12 cab...... and a few other Gibbys for backup..... whats' an Ibanez ?

great post !!!!!! folks, if any here can remember, they use to put cigs in our c-rations...this was the Gov't supplying then what is now banned from use in many areas/locations. The Gov't says they are bad, after they gave out millions... the Gov't says that we can't kill, yet it's done everyday LEGALLY... go figure..... as for pot,quit wasting tax money on it, we can no longer afford it from a business sense. like one poster said: it's a plant thats' grown/picked/dried/smoked...that's as natural as you can get in the world today. same applies to wine, not beer or liquor, but wine is natural process..not man-manipulated like the deadly drugs out there today. there's a disgracful show out there called" the wonderful Whites of WV"... it shows the reality of chemical abuse..not natural chemical(pot) but MAN-MADE chems, and mainly Pharms from Corporations like Pfizer,etc....THOSE drugs need stiffer control, and death penalties for Drs' who push them. I will say that lungs are not meant to be filled with ANY smoke,so the health argument is moot...and for those who believe in a Higher power, He proclaimed that everything HE made, was GOOD.... who is man to dis-agree???

..it's funny we're still debating the leaglize issue after nearly FIFTY years!!! yeah..it's been that long !! I'm of the opinion that had it been legalized back then, whatever monies that were spent since would have been better spent shoring up other areas of financial need. I also think theres' more dangerous drugs on the streets that we need to eradicate, by any means necessary....

lets' see.... Congress getting ready to vote for a Continuing Resolution to keep the Gov 't running...being a 28 yr Fed employee, that costs taxpayers everytime that happens... now, the Under=Secretary for the DoD said this Am on TV, that the Defense budget will get sliced by more than they can sustain, but has to be done( as well as ALL Gov't agencies)...not good news for those in a combat zone in need of materials that comes from that "cut" budget...or those jobs hinged on the new Bombers or Submarines that WERE to be ordered... as for personal gain, as long as my bills are paid, my family warm and fed, and they are, I'm ahead of the game. Look at Pritchard, Ala, and you'll see where this is heading...do the reseach, and you'll see WHY many other cities are watching to see what happens, as well as the State of Wisconsin and theline drawn in the sand there over $$$$$$$$$$$..... this may be a good year for some whoi are lucky, or smart( or both), but it'll be a worse year for many,many more.... including some of my immediate family who can't find work...

I watched that putt,and was a bit taken back by the act. As a Professional, one should act like it, regardless of rank and standing. These folks aren't robots, but learning to maintain control is taught to most every child before adolecence. Outburst should be penalized, like other sports do. Young minds emulate what their Pros do, it's a fact. the missed putt was his fault, pure and simple, and to 1-blame the spike mark, and 2-act like a brat was uncalled for. As a PGA player, the responsiblility to PROPERLY read your line and any impedements. I don't care if it was for 1/2 Mil or a beer between buddies, the reputation and respect for the sport expects better behavior. besides, he made more $$ over those 4 days, than about everyone in the entire state where the Greenbriar Classic was played do in 5 years.. I oughtta know.. I'm a born and bred WV'ian.....

get well soon, my friend... but all the reponses are the exact reason I avoid bikes at all costs. it's not the bike rider whos' to blame(most of the time), but that don't matter when yer heading to the 'Pital in the back of the meat wagon......

I've many SF friends.., 1 who got shot up in Panama.. have a cousin who is a Seal...another who is a Helo pilot...knew 1 or 2 Recon members...and 1 who was a member of the AF's special OPs.. they are all the best. the unit I was with supported Rangers on exercises. Hollywood tries to glamorize their duties, when all they wanna do is complete the mission and get everyone back alive. on a side note, I've worked at the VA hospital for 25 yrs,and have met many, many brave men from all wars... had a co-worker who was in the Marines, when they co-operated with the airborne units on Hamburger Hill...got shot up on that mountain. he also said his unit had to call on the SF group to get them outta trouble on one particular mission that went bad...his words" they were some fighting SOBs"... and he should know, they saved the units' hides that day!!! Thansk to all my Veteran brothers here, for your time. I could write a book from the stories told to me over the past 25 years... from D-Day to Afghanistan. this country should be proud of her Veterans.

Sweet......

my old unit...

http://www.golfweek.com/news/2009/de...rican-classic/ I started hitting balls by hitting persimmon woods back in early 70s... I miss the "tick" sound, and wish they'd make a comeback.

it's amazing to me how few people will use older clubs. true, they aren't the latest,greatest techno-wise, but they still work. most here never recover their investments, gear-wise, but I see 'em buying then selling gear that's years newer than what I have. the best golfer I personally know who is a scratch golfer, uses 20 yr old clubs. why are golfers convinced that spending 1000 bucks on a new set of clubs will lower your score that dramatically ??? Is it a marketing ploy that works ? Are they really the Golden Fleece??? I mean, does a $300 putter REALLY make you sink more 5 footers? People can do what they want, that's ok by me, being one who guards money very closely, please explain the bennies of laying out huge sums of cash for new gear every yr or 2. I also think that's it's time to draw down the distance being hit by drivers, it's easier to do that, than to expand the courses. what was a par 4, now can be driven by many long hitters... time to reel 'em in a bit, I say. YMMV

regardless of where you'll be, or what you'll be eatin'.... please take a minute and reflect reverently, exactly what this Holiday means. Think of those who've given their all for this country. whether we agreed to the war/conflict for which they died, it's irrelevent on this day. personally, I'll walk out onto the porch and face the East as the sun rises, and I'll salute those honorable men and women. whether they died on the ground, in the air, or on the seas... they were the some of the finest on this planet . Please remind those around you, as you party, why...... [IMG] [/IMG] [IMG] [/IMG]