CCC

bkuehn1952. This is the recurring dream that I'm talking about. Exactly the same as mine. I could not have described it any better. Sometimes the grass on the tee is 6 inches high. Or there is no room for my back swing, etc..... Makes the shot impossible. Frustration to no end. :)

Another term comes to mind. 'Gamesmanship'. But this is not match play.

Gary McCord or no Gary McCord. This is what I'm talking about. Just look at this. Now, you tell me that you would not ask your FC to mark his ball. And why would you even have to ask? I just don't get it. There he is standing there ( for what seemed like forever) with his hands on his hips. And neither he nor his caddy are in any hurry to pick up his ball and clean it? Protecting the Field? How about adding the term 'Playing Slow'. Like I said, this picture is why I posted my original comment. This picture aggravates me to no end. Are these guys just that clueless about what is so obvious to even the casual observer? So don't give Gary McCord a hard time about his comments about this situation. Or is there something else going on here? But, what do I know? And is anyone surprised that the chip up to the hole did not hit the ball sitting right next to the cup? Because the chip missed to the left of the hole. Hmmmmm....I wonder why? Thank you Missouri Swede. This picture is worth a thousand words.

This is not right. Sounds too much like collusion among the playing the partners to me. And, in this case, it was so obvious for everyone to see. Including Gary McCord. Busted. Big Time. The ball was too close to the hole - to not mark the ball and pick it up. Again, he just stood around and watched as the other player took his drop from the water (you know how long this can take). Got his read for his chip. And lined up his shot. The whole time the unmarked ball sits there 2-3 feet from the hole. He could have marked, and then picked his ball up and cleaned it, etc..... For the benefit of the doubt, I guess he did not think his playing partner was going to come anywhere close to the hole with his chip. Whatever his thought process was, he was in no hurry to pick up his ball.

Buckeyebowmen, It was not a 'stymie'. The ball was not in the direct line of the shot. But, if he had missed right, he might have made contact with the unmarked ball and used it as a 'back stop'. But he missed left of the hole. That is why the term 'Protecting the field' came up. And I agree. The player who did not mark his ball, had plenty of time - to mark his ball and pick it up. He just stood and watched the whole time. 10 minutes?

I could not believe what I was watching. The camera focused in on the player's face - who refused to mark his ball. And he had a grin on his face. What a 'Pro'. Can you tell another golfer to mark his ball?

Does anyone else have dreams about playing golf? I mean when you're sleeping. I'm always dreaming about playing golf. And they are usually very frustrating. Unless, I have one where I'm hitting my tee shots 350 yards. :)

Me too, Jim.

I'm watching the Wells Fargo tourney. At one point, on the short par 4, a player was taking a drop out of the water and pitching/chipping back onto the green. A short pitch for him to the hole. One of his playing partners left his ball about 2-3 feet from the hole. Even Gary McCord was asking why doesn't the guy mark his ball? Your are chipping up to the cup, but there is a ball about 2 feet away from the hole. I (like Gary McCord) was wondering why the player did not mark his ball. The term 'Protecting the field' came up. I really was wondering what was going on here. If I'm 2 to 3 feet from the cup and someone is chipping to the cup, I would definitely mark my ball before they guy makes his chip. Gary McCord and I were both completely amazed that the player did not mark his ball. I really was hoping that his shot would hit the ball next to the cup. I know this can happen on longer shots to the green, but this was just a little pitch/chip. Question: If I'm the player pitching/chipping up to the cup and there is a ball next to the cup (in the way), can I ask him to mark his ball before I make my swing? Sorry to be so vague about the players and the hole. If you were watching, you know what I'm referring to. I'll watch it again :) and fill in some of the blanks.

This would never work for me. Looking at the hole tells me how far I have to hit the ball and the direction. Looking at a blade of grass in front of the ball just gives me the direction I need to hit it. Your good read of the needed stroke is giving you speed and distance to the hole. I'm still working on my read. Maybe, looking at the hole during the stroke is just a shortcut to (not) having to rely on my read of the stroke and trying visualize it in my head during my swing.

I was on the practice putting green tonight and I just could not hit any 6 footers. So, I resorted to my old trick of looking at the hole instead of the ball. Sure enough, every putt started going in the hole. Even the misses were close. Short putts and even the 40 footers. Back in the days when I was playing a lot (10 years ago), my putting was so bad that I started putting looking at the hole instead of the ball. Unfortunately, this trick did not hold up under pressure. But tonight, it was working like a charm. I found it very interesting that Jordan Speith is using this technique in his putting. For him, it depends on the distance of the putt. It's been a long time since I've ever heard of anyone else using this putting technique. I guess I'm going to have to give it a try - again. And see how it goes. What I would like to know, is there anyone else out there that is doing this? Or has even tried it.

I ordered some, too. Next year I'll be a bit more creative with my personalization options.

I'm a high handicapper. But, I love playing with a ball that feels soft and solid. It's just a part of the game that I like. Titleist just finished their 'Loyalty' program for the Pro V1 and V1x. Buy 3 doz get an extra dozen free. Plus you get free personalization, whatever number you want (or mixed) and in what ever color you want for your initials and number. Works out to just over $3.00 a ball. I can't wait to get 'em. I don't really hit the ball far enough to lose many of 'em. Unless they get scuffed up, hitting a tree branch or cart path, 4 or 5 dozen will last a year. And then there is the water.... NXT Tour S for that hole. :) BTW I don't carry a ball retriever. And I don't bother picking up any lost balls that I find. I just leave 'em for someone else to find. It might just make their day. Too much ball for me? Why, yes they are. But, I love hitting them.

The Sand Trap is a great site for everything golf. So many places to go on this site and there is so much information. I'm loving it. I got out of playing golf in 2007, because of pain in my hands. I'm also a musician. It was down to either play golf or play music. I play keyboards. These days I don't play music as much as I used to, so now I'm more than ready to get back into playing the game I've missed so much. I've rejoined my old club, http://www.croasdailecountryclub.com/. I've pretty much lost my swing. So, I'm signed up for lessons with the club pro. I've upgraded my woods (after getting fitted), from old Taylormade Bubble Shafts to the new Titleist D2 and fairway woods. D2, 3W, 5W, 7(hybrid). I'm a Titleist guy. I've been playing the old 762 series irons with Rifle shafts (extra 1" length) since 2003. They are some great clubs. But, I'm definitely looking to upgrade the irons to the AP1 or AP2 series. I need all the help I can get. I'm still keeping my 2 Scotty Cameron putters. :) I'm hitting the driver and woods ok, but my irons need a lot of work to get rid of so much rust. My club has a great golf course (rated 75 in NC) and loaded with members that are great hitters of the ball, it can be pretty intimidating. But, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things and start playing again. TST helping me on my journey back into the game.

Thanks for the info on the True shoes. I just ordered a couple of pairs. I have a big toe box. They advertise a 'big toe box' so I'm hoping these fit. Does anyone remember Bite Golf? Those are the best shoes I have ever owned. Thankfully, I still have a couple of pairs. I'm really hoping the True shoes fit my big feet. I ordered sizes 13 and 14.