Eric C

I went underrated, but this answer wins IMO.

Underrated. Dress for success. Aim small, miss small. If you dress like you don't care, you won't care.

I got that stupid potty game a few years ago. Turned around and sold it at the spring garage sale a few months later for $5. Called it a win. Wouldn't the greens keeper not at all appreciate someone taking it upon themselves to lay down fertilizer, regardless of how little? There's a lot of science to golf course maintenance.

I chew smokeless tobacco, and I definitely chew whilst playing golf, but if we played together my experience has been that you would never know. Not that I'm swallowing it, as some do, but rather because I'm considerate and have common sense. When you're outdoors, go ahead and piss, poop, spit, fart or screw .... it shouldn't matter so long as you don't impact others ability to enjoy their own experiences.

Tomb Raider. Out on HBO now, this 2018 reboot of the classic made famous by Angelina Jolie stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft. The movie brings us back in time to when her father disappears and she becomes the Tomb Raider. Interesting to get the perspective of her early years, and the movie is a lot of fun, but it lacks the humor, hotness and confidence of the Angelina versions. I'm looking forward to the second installment because I think it has potential. Birdie putt, but lip out par.

I enjoyed it, worth the money. I was a little annoyed by the announcers ... since everyone was miked up it got to be too much when the announcers, Phil and Tiger were all carrying on their separate conversations. I could have done without the announcers altogether. Agree that something like Reed V. Spieth would probably be more fun to watch.

True, but the World Championships are done in person with actual chess pieces. Don't they even have to reach over and smack a clock for certain types of chess events?! Talk about physical exertion! Besides which computer games like Fortnight and others have for years had online organized competitions which are considered a sport. Some of those players make bajillions of dollars. Chess is totally a sport.

To be briefly on topic, no - I won't be paying attention to the world championship because ... BORING! But I'm feeling divisive, and while I don't really care (blatant Google ripoffs follow): According to Wikipedia, "A mind sport is a game of skill where the mental exercise component is more significant than the physical." The Oxford English Dictionary defines a sport as: “An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment”. Moving a chess piece takes physical exertion, albeit not much. Since June 1999, FIDE (World Chess Federation) has been recognized by the International Sports Federation. Chess was featured as an exhibition sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Thus the topic does not belong in the Grill Room.

My favorite thing about golf is the singularity of it. When I'm on the course I don't think about work, family or any other stressors in my life. I'm focused either on the shot I'm trying to make or enjoying the moment. Up until recently I was an avid skydiver, and these were basically the same reasons why the sport resonated so much with me. That and the community of people whom I shared the sport with.

I've had my Bushnell for at least 5 years, and use it on about every shot over 40 yards or so. No reason for it to wear out if treated well. OTH, my golf buddy who first bought one the same time as I did has been through two lasers and a GPS in that amount of time ... he seems to enjoy donating them to a group somewhere behind us

I've had frozen shoulder twice, once in each shoulder. For whatever reason, I let it get to the point of barely being able to move my shoulder and severely impacting my sleep before going to the orthopedist. Each time a cortisone shot and a follow-up stretching routine have almost immediately (within 2 - 3 days) done the trick.

Ant Man and the Wasp - Birdie. Easily as good as the first one, and Michael Pena continues to be hilarious.

I voted playing career since he was a much better golfer than broadcaster, and as @boogielicious mentioned above, there would not have been one without the other. He's no Joe Buck, after all ...

If you want to call me a sheep it's cool, but this is a change long needed. Good golfer, not a great commentator, and I think Azinger is an excellent choice to replace him.

If paired randomly with this guy I don't think I could keep my mouth shut for 18 (or 1) holes. My need to say "WTF" would outweigh the virtues of golf etiquette in this example.

So that we're clear, I completely agree that the responsibility starts and ends with the lady that got hit with the ball. As unfortunate as it is, them's should be the breaks. That said, as a realist and having worked in the legal industry for 25 years, she'll get paid and paid well. Not the way it we'd like it to be, just the way it is.

The fact is that no amount of pointing and yelling is going to result in people always paying attention when they should be, regardless of their personal responsibility to do so. Especially when you're dealing with, as Erik pointed out, a good number of drunken idiots (my word, not his). This isn't anyone's fault, it's just a one-in-a-million unfortunate event that has an enormous impact on an individual but should be kept within context for what it is. An unfortunate accident. I feel horrible for the lady who lost her sight, and am in no way blaming her - she could have been the most attentive spectator in the world, but it only takes bad timing and losing focus for a moment for bad things to happen. I hope that the PGA, whoever, takes care of her financially. In this litigious society, she's going to get paid one way or the other. Next thing you know the PGA is going to follow the NHL and put nets up all along each fairway. That'll be fun.

I agree that there's value in recognizing and understanding where you missed opportunities during the course of a round, but the effort is perhaps better put towards tracking meaningful statistics versus an imaginary score that doesn't really fit the reality. Like an honest handicap, true learning comes from long-term statistical analysis based off of real data. Not fake data. If fake data was real data we'd all still be smoking Camel unfiltered cigs ... (I've never actually smoked a cigarette) Your data won't help you learn where you need to improve, and I really struggle to understand how it boosts your confidence. Done the right way, I bet you find that true statistical analysis and learning is more effective to keep you motivated and interested. There are some that say that regret is the worst of all emotions - worse than fear, frustration, anger and sadness. It's not productive. Being proactive and doing something about improving your game, rather than rationalizing it, is far more conducive to the actual goal - which is change.

Put your change in your left pocket, tie your left shoe in a double knot, turn the hat backwards, take a tee and stick it behind your left ear. Problem solved.

To me, another reason in favor of my format. You don't see Tom Brady taking a week off during the playoffs.

While I like the idea from a pure competitive play perspective, the lack of revenue from only a week-long playoff event at a single venue as opposed to spreading it across 4 events / 4 venues would wind up making the purse much smaller. I guess I don't know this for sure, but it seems logical. Also, given that every qualifying event with the exception of the WGC Match Play is stroke play, I don't think the playoffs would then be representative of the competition throughout the season. Correct me if I'm off base here, but someone who is great at stroke play isn't necessarily always great at match play. I vote four events, 16 rounds, lowest score each week wins the week and lowest score over 16 rounds wins the cup.

It rains every day, it's ridiculously hot and humid, it's hurricane season. There are no redeeming qualities to this time of the year in the Orlando area. That said, we're roughly 30 - 45 days away from 5 months of amazingly perfect weather. I miss this time of year in Colorado - fall weather and the changing of the season / fall colors. My favorite time of the year there.

First option, for sure! Think of all the chicks I could replace my friends with ....

I agree with @bkuehn1952 - start with lessons, and a group lesson is a great way to meet similarly skilled (e.g. unskilled) golfers who you will initially feel most comfortable around while learning the the game. Don't forget to also spend some time learning about golf etiquette and the basics of the Rules of Golf. I would not suggest you go to the range and try to "figure it out", and then attempt to transfer what little you might have learned to the actual course. No better way to learn bad habits that then take years to unlearn. Take some lessons, get a few range sessions under your belt, then give the course a try during non-peek times. Most of all, have fun and set your expectations for success at a reasonable level. This game is hard!

Thank you for asking - you are, of course, correct but you've really made me think about this. I sometimes play with a traveling men's league and we exchange scores as a matter of course, but more recently I've been playing a lot as a single because of the season. When I'm with a group of people I don't know I just find it somehow intrusive and odd ... I'm not sure why to be honest, but that's my reaction. I'm one of the friendliest guys you'll pick up on a course and we'll have a good time, but for whatever reason this crosses a line for me.