Azprobe

When I leave a putt short, and someone says "you gotta hit it..." I did hit it, evidenced by the fact that the ball moved. I just didn't hit it hard enough. But next time I will be sure to swing it harder. That's an important life lesson, one I will apply when I swing my XG Teron into his cash and prizes.

What part of town are you in? Jeff Allen @ Longbow (Red Mountain 202/Power) and Henry Trevino @ Augusta Ranch (Us60/Ellsworth) are both excellent.

Break 100

My 2 cents... are there *any* houses selling "quickly" these days? I agree, sounds like you already made up your mind, but I would have to agree with everyone else... bad idea.

Has anyone received the labels yet for $2.50?

Phoenix is definitely playable in the summer. You get used to it, don't really think about it... there really is a difference between "dry" heat and heat from say Florida or out east somewhere.

Happy birthday!

Johnny Walker Blue... what can I say, I'm a blend guy.

No Phoenix love? Golf year round, moderately large city with professional sports teams (well, can the Diamondbacks be considered professional sports?) ... cheap housing these days...

If I ever hit one, I'm whipping out the credit card for a round for everyone in the club... I mean, don't you want to do it in style?!

I love my retriever... go looking for my Wilson and find a ProV1 ... it's like Christmas!

Why no-no for graphite irons?

I was just about to post about this very thing... I've taken lessons weekly for a couple of months, but I'm thinking about redirecting that money to be able to play more often. I mean, I'll go back to lessons in a few weeks, but 1) I think I need to develop consistency before taking more lessons, and 2) the whole part of learning golf is to *play* golf, and I love being out there... Still waiting for my first birdie... although I've shot more than a couple 9's. :(

Oh man, I'd kill to play Pebble... no, this was 'The Boulders', $285 onpeak, like $200 offpeak ... I'm not sure I would pay that much to play it again, but if I ever do, my score can only go up.

I know I know! It was a comp'd round for an account I manage at work, normally goes for 3 bills or so, how could I turn it down?!?!?! It was still an amazingly fun day...

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to check out cartpath.com now... what's a blitz? Is that just a scramble tournament? I think my local has one of those every Wednesday, but again, man, I'd hate to be the guy that's paired up with me. :)

I just gotta say, this thread is why it's difficult to find guys to play with at my course... I just started playing golf in February, and so far my best 18-round is a 135 (on a 132-slope course)... but I'd hate to hold anyone back, or worse, get mocked because I wiff a few or have trouble getting it into the air sometimes. I try to keep a good attitude out there, even after a 4-put or the 3rd attempt out of a bunker, but some guys take it *way* too seriously and show obvious frustration that my play is affecting their attempt to break 110. Not all of us are lucky enough to shoot a 72 our first time out...

Congrats!!!!!

The Boulders ... it's an amazing course, with incredible views. Whoever placed those bunkers, though, man, what an evil evil person...

Grats on getting your club back, OP! I found a Ping putter the last time I played... it was on the 17th hole. Of course I returned it, but not before trying it out on the 18th. :) Is that bad????

I was just about to post a message about this! I find myself pulling my head up as I'm approaching impact... was hoping for a drill, but I guess I just need to focus more. Aargh.

I'm looking for a regular partner, but my problem is that I'm still pretty terrible. I've looked into clubs, but they're all shooting 80's and 90's in the tournaments they compete in, and I've basically been too intimidated to mingle ... I'm still taking lessons, but it would be fun to go out and play with someone at my level. All of my friends are either really good golfers or don't play at all, so I haven't had much luck there either. Has anyone had any luck with Craigslist or what else have you used to find good golf partners?

Won't insurance cover it?

That's a good question - My primary motivation was career related - I am an account manager for a pretty big telecom firm, and golf is just a necessary part of the schmoozing - ProAm tournaments, long lunches with clients, etc. Once I started going out to hit at the driving range, well, I'm falling in love with it... that feeling that you get when you hit a long/straight drive is unbelievable, even if it's only one out of the 75 ball basket. If I can consistently shoot high 90's/low 100's, I'll be thrilled... I went out to play a 9-hole executive course today with a buddy from work, and shot a 55 (not great) but I hit some pretty significant milestones: 1) on one of the holes I hit my first "legitimate" par ... no wiffs on the opening drive, no gimmeys, just a good par. 2) I went all 9 holes without losing my ball... considering the first time I went out, I lost like 5 or 6, this is progress! 3) Not a great milestone, but I broke my 3-wood on a fairway shot ... clubface just smashed right off the shaft. The ball would have gone straight otherwise, I'm sure of it. :)

Wow, thanks for the great info so far! That's an interesting point, learning from the green, backwards... I've played twice on a local 9-hole course and I've been focusing so much on the long ball, I pretty much give up once I get close to the pin... I'm probably not going to win too many majors that way, eh? :) If anyone else has any generic info for a total newbie, I'm all ears...