billm408

Statistically, only 1% of the US golfing population will ever break 100. You're in the 99th percentile. Good on ya!

Two incidents stand out in my mind; 1. Back in the late 80's I was playing a lot of competetive golf and was out with my swing coach. I hit a couple of poor shots and did the "slam club/cuss" thing. He pulled me aside and told me "you're not good enough to be that mad". 2. I used to play with a buddy that cursed and berated himself throughout the round. At one point I told him that if his friends spoke to him that way that they wouldn't be his friends. He got the point. I play for the enjoyment of the game and the friendly competition. Swearing and slamming clubs can be distracting, but throwing clubs is dangerous. I've had words a couple of times with people about this. Fortunately my regular group are all good guys with none of those habits.

Back in the barnstormer days on the PGA tour, it was common for players to block the hole.

I don't think of locking my elbow so much as getting my hands as far away from the ball as possible at the top of my swing. Whether I actually lock it or not I really can't say. Personally I think anything that creates tension in your arms during the swing is a bad thing.

A few... used to play regularly with Esteban Toledo. He lived in a house above my home course. This was when he was rabbiting on the Nike tour. Also played a handful of times with Casey Martin during his "I'm suing the PGA tour" stage. One of the most couageous people I've ever met. Played with Fred Couples at the Plantation course in Kapalua in Dec '91. Just a lucky draw... we were both there on vacation and the head pro liked me. It was just the three of us playing. Played twice with Steve Elkington at Cypress Point. Great guy, fun stories, real short knocker. Played a practice round with Nick Price at the '92 Open (back then alternates were granted practice rounds). Best ball striker I've ever seen and a genuinely nice guy. Met Tom Watson at a golf clinic when I was a kid. He was a prick but still impressed me enough that I still play Ram blades to this day!

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...rch_type=&aq;=f You're an Asian woman? (j/k) I've never been able to pick up the guitar right after a round. The fingers don't cooperate after 18 holes. At least not for a couple of hours anyway. Made the mistake once of going from the course to a gig... that was painful for everyone!

^ Agree. Although you may have been entitled to relief from the mulch if it was piled for later removal.

Dropping that many strokes in 6 months sounds like a growth spurt- sounds like the kid may have a future. Years ago I taught a 10 year old that was routinely beating grown-ups by the time he was 12- shooting in the mid 70's. And he was a trash talker. Plenty of guys wanted to kick his ass, but you can't beat up a little kid! He was a cocky little shit. Real handsy swing and deadly from 100 yards and in. I think he kinda peaked as a junior golfer though. He'd be in his 20's now and I haven't heard anything from him since he was in HS.

Score always. For me, it's the only thing that counts. I get a lot satisfaction when my ball striking is not great, but I score well. It means that I scrambled well or that my short game saved me. Which is encouraging for those days when I'm hitting the ball well because it gives me an opportunity to put up a low number.

Learn songs that you want to play. Have fun!

I never understood the vanity hcp. Isn't posting touranment scores supposed to adjust this?

If you're not interested in joining the PGA, there's no reason or benefit to take it. Not sure how it's set up now, but when I took the PAT the cut line was 156. And, FWIW, you're playing from the white tees not the tips.

Gotta play for something when I go out- I just play better. With my regular group it's a $20 nassau, $5 birdies, $10 eagles and a $50 no doubles bet. Presses happen but they're not common and side bets are all over the place. Most I've ever lost in a single round was about $200. Most I've ever taken from those guys is around $400. My single biggest payday was 10 years ago. We had 16 guys in a $1,000 buy-in skins match at Pasatiempo. I won almost 5K that day. Played like crap but had some strategically placed birdies in the round that saved my ass. If memory serves, it was $500 a hole for 1-6, $950 a hole 7-12 and $1200 a hole for 13-18.

Tempo is a little quick coming down, but the biggest thing I saw was that you're right hand dominant- it's restricting your wriest cock at the top and causes you to cast the club on the way down. You're releasing all of the shaft's energy somewhere between your shoulders and hips. Grip your club at the head and swing. Pay attention to where you hear the woosh on your downswing. That's the shaft releasing. My guess is you'll hear it somewhere back near your right hip. ideally you'd like to hear it somewhere near your left toe. Otherwise, set up looks solid.

Gotta disagree here. I think some people may tie their own self image to their golf game and may even judge the character of others by theirs, but it has not been my experience. The best players I know don't think what they do is very incredible or even special. But they think hitting a baseball 400 feet is, or playing the solo to Stairway to Heaven is. The old saying that "sports doesn't build character it reveals it" holds true IME. Painting all good golfers with the same brush is a gross generalization that doesn't apply to 90% of the people I know. YMMV. As to the OP, people who "golf" don't bother me a bit. I chose to play by the rules. As long as we're not gambling, I don't care what rules anyone else chooses to use.

Maybe it will help to think of the position of the shaft & clubhead on your takeaway. When your hands are at hip height and shaft parallel to the ground, the shaft will be pointing down your target line, the clubhead will be toe up and still in front of your upper body. If you're taking it too far inside, the shaft will be aiming well right of target and the clubhead will behind you, moving face up.

Good way to play the hole providing the green and fairway are clear. Looks like that shot will be taken away once those trees grow in. A course I used to play had a similar option that became so poular that the course installed in-course OB markers. Why not just blow your drive down towards the pond up the left side?

Had a disappointing day- tweaked my back on 8 and had to call it a day. Couldn't manage a swing on the 9th tee. Going to see the chiropractor today. Was playing well up to that point though and was 1 under even though I wasn't striking the ball particularly well, my short game was solid. Hate leaving that one on the table. Oh well...

Just some food for thought In 1923, Who Was: 1. President of the largest steel company? 2. President of the largest gas company? 3. President of the New York stock Exchange? 4. Greatest wheat speculator? 5. President of the Bank of International Settlement? 6. Great Bear of Wall Street? These men were considered some of the worlds most successful of their days. Now, 80 years later, the history book asks us if we know what ultimately became of them. The Answers: 1. The president of the largest steel company. Charles Schwab, died a pauper. 2. The president of the largest gas company, Edward Hopson, went insane. 3. The president of the NYSE, Richard Whitney, was released from prison to die at home. 4. The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cooger, died abroad, penniless. 5. The president of the Bank of International Settlement, shot himself. 6. The Great Bear of Wall Street, Cosabee Livermore, also committed suicide. However, in that same year, 1923, the PGA Champion and the winner of the most important golf tournament, the US Open, was Gene Sarazen. What became of him? He played golf until he was 92, died in 1999 at the age of 95. He was financially secure at the time of his death. The Moral: Screw work………Play golf!

All good stuff. I'm a firm believer that the human brain does not process the word "don't". So when you're standing over a shot and your thought is don't go left/don't go in the water/don't be short, etc... all your mind thinks is go left/go in the water/go short. You can think your way to better golf!

Great job! That's sweet!!

Not enough! Once a month if I'm lucky. It's July and I've played 5 rounds this year (2 of those were in one day). Spending more time at the range these days, but it's all just chipping & putting. I'm 51 and not trying to compete or prove anything anymore so my swing is my swing.

If anyone wants something to do this Friday, my band is playing at South First Billiards in downtown San Jose. It's a pool/drinking/music trifecta. We play old school hard rock- AC/DC, Judas Priest, UFO, etc... Come on down and rock your stripes & solids! 9:30-1:30

Satanic rituals. You'd be amazed how a pentagram, a few candles and some chicken's blood can get a group moving faster!

Most courses will typically set pins in the easiest locations on weekends (Fr/Sa/Su) to keep pace of play moving and the more difficult spots mid week. I played 36 on Thursday and every hole was cut at the top of a ridge. Some were pretty ridiculous. One guy in the group actually 7 putted a hole! It was painful to watch. I understand needing to move the pin to allow the green some rest/recovery areas, but sometimes you know the grounds crew gets an evil grin while they're cutting the cup.