BamaWade

Tough one, because the thing I enjoy most about, and at the Open, is when the course is difficult and the weather in full force, with final scores over par. But I've often felt like Carnoustie--which is probably the toughest rota track IMO, can play a little unfair at times--so I voted Troon. I like Troon's layout (has the most variance, to me), so I find it the most interesting--and is plenty difficult, particularly when the weather is poor. Hard to vote against the birthplace, because the first track I'd probably look to play over there is St. Andrews--but honestly it just seems like (didn't go back and check, so take that fwiw) that the weather has been quite accommodating in recent memory, and the players eat it up.

Right (trail) foot for me. Your "6 months" comment scares me. I hope I'm out there sooner than that. Did you break the tibia as well? BTW--love the mug in your avatar....cracks me up every time I see it, as I can relate to it in golf, hockey, disc golf, and most every other hobby I have. 😅

I'll take the norm+10 w/the hole-in-one. Never had an ace, so I want one. I got my "best round" scenario--almost exactly as you describe it--last May when I broke 80 for the first time ever--firing a 76 with no special holes...just a single (tap-in) birdie on #18. So now, I want the elusive "1". If I hack around and fire a 92 in getting it, it'll just add a little color to the story. The 1 on the card would fit just fine between two 6s.

Oh, I've quit twice here in 2022. Well...got forced quit. Finally broke 80 myself (congrats to you, btw!) last May. It felt amazing. But, kinda like you mentioned, afterwards, I felt like I finally achieved my big goal, and still loved playing, but was kinda 'meh' about having that passion to work and improve. Then, around September 2021, started having some serious shoulder pain that was slowly killing my game. Then, along came 2022. Quit #1: Got the diagnosis of frozen shoulder in April, then the corrective surgery in May. That recovery took a few months. I was able to "play" early on, but getting back to a full swing with my full distance was a chore. I'd say I got to about 95-97% of my normal distance until September 6th. Quit #2: September 6th, I quit again. Broke my ankle in 2 places playing ice hockey (fibula only, thankfully)--non-contact in a pre-season practice game. Just pivoting like you do 100 times a game and my outside edge caught a bad spot--and my ankle rolled and snapped under me. Now I have a long plate and 8 screws. I get my cast off on 10/11 and get into a boot, then should be out of the boot on 10/25, and into an athletic brace. I have a charity/fun tournament on 11/10, and plan on making my way back to at least being able to go out there and hit a ball and have a good time in time for that tournament, as I haven't missed it in 12+ years. Quit #3?: I may quit again over the winter. Not because of weather--Alabama winters allow for some golf. My first hockey game back from the shoulder work, I took a slap shot to my right hand--right in the crease of my glove. I don't think it's broken as I can mostly bend it, but it has only gotten stiffer and more painful, so something's wrong. Guessing maybe damaged cartilage in the joint? It doesn't affect my golf game (yet), but probably worth getting fixed so I avoid arthritis and what-not in it down the road. Hoping I have a better 2023. And I hope you re-find that passion. It's a great game. Wade

Only had time for 9 yesterday after work (along with some range time), and fired a wonky 40 (+5 on our front 9). Once at the course, realized my putter was back at the house where I'd been practicing (or as my cats see it...playing "attack the ball!"). Decided to play anyway and just putt with a bellied wedge. Started with a triple on #1! Club championship was last weekend and the Bermuda rough was grown way up for that--and super penal--and I lived in it on a couple of holes. So, my 9 consisted of a triple, a double, and 2 wedge-putt birdies. Putting with my wedges was a definite challenge, but really my lost strokes were due to being inaccurate off several tees and having to gouge out. I changed "putters" from my 50deg to my 54deg and I'll be darned if I didn't drain a ~15 footer for birdie on #5, then an ~8 footer for birdie on #8. Heck, maybe I'll ditch the ol' Odyssey flat-stick and add the 4i back to my bag. 😜 Had shoulder surgery back in May, and really just happy to be back out there and finally getting some form (and length) back. Looking forward to playing a lot more and hopefully posting here more as well.

Definitely a "play on" guy--mostly for pacing reasons. If we're on a good pace with no one behind, a stop to pickup drinks is fine, but never been a food-at-the-turn guy at all. If the course is busy, I like to ask what drinks my partners want as we approach the 9th green, then finish out early and head up to grab the drinks so there's no delay. I have one playing buddy who is a slow player (too serious, always over-analyzing what's going wrong and why it just isn't translating from all his practice). Even if we're playing as 2, we're not putting distance on many groups. It stresses this ol' boy out (I'm a quick player, and a little neurotic ). There's probably a noticeable cringe in my voice when we're between 9 and 10 as I ask "you need anything?". Thankfully, he's on a long streak of "nah, let's keep playing" that brings a smile and exhale from me. But, hey, after the round, I'm all for drinks and laughs at the grill 'til the sun goes down.

With the daylight shrinking by the day, only get 9 in after work now, and with no warmup to boot. But still fired off a 37 (par 35 / +2) last night after not touching a club for a couple of weeks. My striking was really similar to back in May when I broke 80 with the 76...super consistent (for me, at least). Wish I could've got in 18 for a great chance at another sub-80, but oh well. Missed a ~5 footer for birdie on the par 5 3rd I'd really like to have back. Looked like an easy putt, but fooled me and it missed off the low edge. Got it back on hole 5, though, with a downhill ~20 footer with a foot or so of break I didn't expect to make, so it evened out. A really dumb 3-putt on 7 hurt my heart, after such a nice approach to a back-tier pin. Bounced back with a bird on 8, and par on 9, though (a very tough par 3!). At my skill level, I'll never complain about a sub-40 9.

We stay in the Santa Rosa Beach / Blue Mountain Beach area just about every year (save the occasional switch to Hilton Head Island...which we did again this year). Windswept in Freeport is one of my go-to visits. Spectacular is probably a little strong, but I do like the place. The value is especially good since you're inland, non-resort. I like the layout--less water-everywhere-target-golf, and more, well, 'windswept dunes'--and it's pretty open so you can be aggressive off the tee when you're playing well. The only negatives are the drive from the beach, relative to the other area courses--and, being inland, you lose the sea breeze...so feels much hotter and the flying insects can get a little bothersome. Take your sun screen and bug spray. Beyond Windswept, I've probably played the Sandestin resort courses the next-most...including the Links probably most often (I can be frugal ). It is a little tight and watery, but still a nice layout. In spite of that, I've put up some of my better scores there, including a hole-out from ~102y a couple of years ago on one of the prettier holes on the bay. That was a nice memory. You guys enjoy your trips & rounds. May the birdies be plentiful.

I actually haven't done it, yet. Used to be in the Traffic menu, there was a section to see online multiplayers or friends--but I haven't been in that menu in months. I think then you can just get together and decide on a place to spawn, and you'll see one another and can possibly chat on headset. Not sure if more is needed for the chat piece. I know I can see my one random friend's online status and his scores on the landing challenges. Maybe there's some option to "find" them in the sim? I'll look more into all the multiplayer stuff tonight. But friend me if you want, and we'll see if we can figure it out. I don't have it on my XBox...pretty limited space on that guy these days. But, yeah, I bet it'd drain controller batteries like crazy if it's constantly rumbling. Not sure how much flying, or sim-flying you've done, but if you're just starting out, maybe some of the AI-assist options around trim and power/mix control could help. The training items seem to be pretty informative, too. Tying it into golf, I've checked out a bunch of famous courses...everything in the Monterrey peninsula area, a lot of the UK, Bandon, etc. I usually start at some random city, then pick a course I want to 'play', takeoff, find the course and give it a flyover, then land at the nearest airport in a little 'pretend mission' like I'm going on a golf buddy trip in my private plane. . Then next time, takeoff from there and pick the next course. I just made the hop from northern Ireland over to the west coast of Scotland a few nights ago. In that part of the world, if you enable live weather, it can turn into a real challenge in smaller planes.

I'm a long time flight-simmer and have MSFS on my PC with yoke, throttles, pedals, etc. Pretty much built my current setup around flight simming (though my daughter does some gaming and takes advantage of the hardware!). Got the max version day of release last August and have really enjoyed it. There's a "friend" system built-in. I haven't really used it (one random person with "Bama" in their name friended me)--but would love to fly with any of you guys. Add me as a friend when you can. My MSFS profile name is "THEBAMABRUIN". I fly several times a week, mostly at night...or when it's rainy outside. So catch me online, or message me here to link up. Since my kiddo regularly uses my rig, I'll commandeer her sweet headset and we'll go for a fly somewhere cool.

99% of the time when I'm playing my home club, I'm walking and carrying, so don't drink alcohol (too bothersome to walk with it). But when I'm on vacation or on a golf trip/round with buds, we're almost always on carts, and I'll get a beer or two throughout the round at least half the time. I don't order cocktails on the course, though...like to keep it light. I've never noticed it affecting me negatively, but I'm convinced it helps me from time to time. When I'm not playing my best, it's usually my flaw of getting a little fast with my hands and out of tempo. A beer or two seems to help slow me down. In FL a few years ago, I was playing at a resort with my son and just kinda grinding through the round, but not scoring. At the turn I got a couple of fairly light local summer brews to take along, then birdied 10, 11, and 13 (nearly an ace!). Playing on HHI a couple of weeks ago I was in the same scenario--hitting it pretty decent but just grinding and not making birdies. Tried the beer method. Sadly, this time--no difference at all. One thing I NEVER do anymore is drink caffeine before a round (no coffee if my round is morning or early afternoon, or just my morning coffee and nothing else if my round is late afternoon). I can absolutely see its impact on my game--really struggling with rushing the hands and keeping a smooth tempo...full swing, putting, everything. Heck, on caffeine, I notice I talk faster than normal (saying a lot), and am a little jumpy. So if I'm gonna do drugs (the legal ones) before golf, it's gonna be the one that slows me down.

Thanks, @bwdial. And ROLL TIDE! Been a great year so far Bama athletics. Hoping the softball gals go all the way to OKC and have a chance to bring in another trophy to title town.

Thanks to everyone who let me share the moment with ya. @David in FL, @paperclip, @measureoffsetinnm, @Shindig, @ChetlovesMer, @Zippo, @TourSpoon, @overfade, @Double Mocha Man, @Nail, and @ncates00--thanks for the comments and encouragement! You'll definitely get there. Maybe when ya least expect it--then...boom! Haha. Thanks, Zippo. My wife took a 'normal smile' pic, and, well...let's just say I'm not photogenic. 'Whoo! face' won out. Wade

Broke 80 for the first time last night (a 76). Would love that sub-80 badge, please sir!

So, that's my "Whoo!" face, haha. It took me 30+ years, but I finally broke 80. Okay….SMASHED 80! That’s a 76! If you can see the scorecard, you can see it was a rough (or normal, for me) start. In fact, I pretty much topped my opening 3w off the tee. Then on the 4th tee I took a practice swing where I let the clubhead release properly and it hit me like a bolt of lightning. From there, was picking really specific targets off the tee and it seemed like I hit virtually every one. Yeah, only 1 birdie (my putting was 'meh'...and see more about hole 17 below...grr!), but no doubles. 12/14 fairways, 11/18 GIRs (with 4 more fringe/nGIRs), and 32 putts. I paid zero attention to the card. Seriously. Had no clue of my score until I thought about it on 16 and knew I had to be close, but didn't tally it. Then, after a chunky-ish 5i off 17, I hit my 4-hybrid to 8' from 187y! Hit what I thought was my best putt of the day, only to have it hang half over the lip. And it was a downhiller! I didn't wait 10 seconds, because it was getting dark (I don't think it would've dropped). But I almost holed out on 18 and tapped my closing birdie in to finish in style, and figured that got me there...or better. This feels so amazing. I play a lot of sports even at 45yo, but am a mediocre athlete. I've always known I was capable, as I hit it really well when I'm on, but just have never been able to maintain 'on'. Probably 12-15 years ago, I had a handful of 81s within a few years, then nothing close since. I sprinkle in a few 83s and 84s from time to time, but scramble for those. But this year has been rough. Shot a 93 with my dad a few weeks ago that honestly had the ball striking of a 100+ round...I just scrambled half-decent. It made me want to put the clubs away. I had a key thought going in to have the feel of covering the ball better. It's what I'd done towards the end of my last round, and started really hitting it well. But I started today with several tight-feeling block fades. Once I finally had that feeling of releasing the clubhead, it just clicked. Then, I could just whale on 'em every time up with no fear. Yeah, I know all about regression to the mean. But definitely gonna enjoy the night! This was a true bucket list item I had almost given up on attaining. For you guys that do it regularly, much respect. And for you guys still chasing it...don't give up! Mods--GIVE THIS BOY HIS "BROKE 80" BADGE!! 🤩