Asmanning95

Great idea. I really like the idea. But you can’t use it in competition. Also game golf is an expensive piece of kit. Do I really want to fork out Loren for something I’m never going to get the best use out of?

'Murica!!

I'm very generous when I'm winning well and it's not a putt to win the hole...

I can think of a certain boxer who controversially lost in 1996

People over here have become very disillusioned with the Olympics after the state sponsored Doping and now the dodgy decisions in boxing. Mick was absolutely robbed here.

I do the same, it's amazing the amount of putts I've seen missed due to poor alignment. Not that I'm a fantastic putter though.

I don't know if I would like that more. My dad is a 5 day member so can't play in Saturday comps, and therefore he can never play in a competition to reduce his handicap (He's a bad 28 so never would but that's not the point.) So i can absolutely see the benefit of the USGA system. I do like that it;'s limited to competition rounds here though. And Manuals....pfft... nahh don't read them.

Is that a CONGU thing? Or just an England Golf thing? I have to find out if i can do that in Ireland.

A lesson could be as valuable if not more so than a new club

See what you can figure out from that, I just got confused.

My club isn't too bad with bandits as in general most members have been around a while so handicaps seem to be a reasonable reflection. There will always be some people who struggle to play regularly enough for the handicap to be a good reflection. One guy i know just had a baby so he hasn't played on a Saturday for about a year, so even though he has definitely improved in that time his handicap is still 19.The Juvenile (under 18) section is a different story, anything under 42 points and you won't even place, but i suppose that is to be expected as the young lads should improve drastically with regular play. That or they are all serial cheaters From reading these forums for a month or so now, I can't tell if in America competitions are a regular thing, as they are here and with you. People seem to play a lot with friends and those rounds count for handicap which obviously we can't do.

They shall go on the list of possible new irons. Gorgeous

I do use it pretty regularly, getting out of trouble, 2nd shots on par 5's (sometimes 3rd or 4th shots) and of the tee on par 4's. Probably one of the most used irons in my bag actually. A bit of an all-purpose club.

I have a 4 iron because it came with the set

I spend very little time at the range. I try to play in the club competition every Saturday and then might get out on another day, if I have other time to practice I'd rather do it on the course with friends. Warming up before a round on the putting green and in the net is about all the "practice" I do.

Normally I don't care about those around or get affected by those waiting to play, just on Sunday all of those people were there specifically to watch the matches so it was just something I'm not used to. The last match a few weeks ago I played had about half the number watching and i ripped it down the middle, so as I said, not something I necessarily suffer from on a regular basis, was just a new experience. Thanks for all of the feedback though, really helpful!

Shorts if I can (i.e. not p***ing rain or stupidly cold) and a polo shirt. I like something a bit more out there, but i also really like wearing proper golf attire instead of a standard cotton top. There's a reasonably strict dress code in my club, but nothing out of the ordinary for Ireland. I've never played or heard of anywhere that allows people to play in non collared shirts or gym shorts. Every course would be tailored shorts or slacks.

Interesting what everyone is saying about embracing the feeling. I don't normally struggle off the first tee particularly, no more than anything else anyway, this was just a new experience for me having that many people around. Concentrating on just making a decent contact seems to be a recurring theme so I'll try to work on that from now on.

I was playing an inter club mixed foursomes match on Sunday and I duffed my 3 wood off the 1st tee about 30 yards (so did the other guy). There was a bit of a crowd up to watch as it was a semi-final but nothing crazy (30 people perhaps???). Anyway I was relatively calm once the round got going and myself and my partner won our match, however the team lost which was disappointing. It got me wondering though, what gets your heart racing and blood pumping, the first tee?, a short chip?, 3 foot putts?. What do you do to combat the nerves or do you just go with it. Have you ever been gripped by fear Jason Day style?

Really enjoyed following this thread for the last few weeks. Hopefully this experience does you the world of good and has set you a benchmark to improve upon over the coming year. Hard luck on the day but it was obviously a really tough course, and good luck for next year!

My Grandad played Royal Troon years ago and they played 2 rounds in the same way. After the first round they came in for lunch and had to shower and change into a button shirt and blazers, however ties were not permitted unless in the members bar. He's big on dress code in our club,but even he found that a bit much. He still can't get over the fact that women had to use the back door to get into the clubhouse as well. Jokes are regularly made about that one!

I have improved from a 12/13 this time last year to 10.5 at the moment. The overall goal is single figures whether that be this year or next. I have always naturally hit a fade/slice and have been working on a draw for a while, which I have finally figured out, and has seen my scoring improve massively over the last few weeks. Just need to chip better and hole more putts. So yes I have improved this year and I certainly hope i will next year.

I'd be pretty similar, I went long par 5 just because i hit it reasonably far and i love the idea of having to rip driver and 3 wood to reach the green, preferably over water to force a lay up if your drive isn't long enough, and with tall trees lining the fairway. i also enjoy a medium length par 3, around the 180-190 range. Any hole that looks superb though, they tend to be my favourite.

Complain bitterly to playing partners and then do nothing about it...ever