pxc

I think he was calling your post political, which it was.

The problem is, Tiger did say he wanted to be a role model. If I can find the quote I will post it. But when I saw it back when this all came out in November I was surprised.

Not quite the bend-over-backward service I originally expected when I heard this story, but still it seems like you're getting a great deal out of it, since those retail for $400+ right now. Congrats.

No, I'm not saying that, please don't put words in my mouth. It is not an either-or situation. There are things I find attractive about some other governments, like a 3+ party system. But saying I would like change does not mean I want to adopt an EU style of governing. I don't want the entirety of our metropolitan areas under video surveilance like in London. But I do not buy the idea that the only two possibilities for change are "too slow" and "too fast". Maybe that is idealistic but hell this is a political conversation on a golf message board. I appreciate the history lesson but that has little to do with what we're talking about. I'm not saying we need to get back to everything the founding fathers stood for. They had some great ideas but obviously the culture of the time couldn't and shouldn't be tolerated today. That doesn't mean we should sit back and be satisfied with the progress that's been made. I somewhat disagree with this maxim because I think we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past regardless of circumstances. That's human nature. I cannot agree that 99% of the government is good. Country, maybe (probably not even then), but the original topic was the gov't, not the country. I don't even know how you could begin to quantify percentage of "goodness" but there is plenty bad out there and it doesn't take more than a few clicks on the US section of Google News to find it.

Leinenkugel has been breaking out recently. I hear their radio commercials (which are horrible btw) and see them for sale at grocery stores. That has not always been the case. Some of my more widely-available favorites are Dundee Honey Brown, Newcastle, and Warsteiner. I am really not that picky though. DHB is cheap and good enough for me.

I'm pretty sure the OP asked for advice on dealing with his son, not if we approved of religious views he may or may not have. OP, how's it going? Any progress?

As if I wasn't bad enough, a soggy course really screws up my ballstriking. I'd rather play in the heat or cold, as long as it's dry.

You framed your statement as if the gov't does all of those things out of the goodness of its own heart. It does all those things using tax dollars. That is what it was created to do. It doesn't deserve a pat on the back for doing what it was created and is continually funded to do. The gov't is not a benevolent force deserving of gratitude, it's a created tool for helping people to live functionally. Yes living in the US is better than living in a war-torn African country but that doesn't mean it is perfect or that it shouldn't change, and quickly. Do you really think 100 years is an acceptable amount of time to take to stop (or at least largely contain) something like slavery/racism? If there is a problem and the gov't is too slow in addressing it, then the gov't itself should change. If you have a broken tool, do you stop to reflect on all the projects you've used it on and feel good about it, or do you fix/replace it and get back to work? But it won't because politicians don't care about most of their constituency.

That's too bad but this isn't something any of us should know. It's not my business.

I am not a beer geek at all but I agree Bud isn't very good. I'd rather drink Bud Light. Is Fosters representative of Australian beer? I had to force myself to finish the pack I bought, it was awful.

Testosterone was what made me buy $2000 Italian mastiffs when I didn't have the room or the long-term desire to keep them. I just gave them up last weekend. They're on a 15 acre farm now having a great time. I'm both relieved and a little sad.

It doesn't surprise me to hear Shannahan say that, he proved in Denver he doesn't know anything about building a defense. I am not condoning AH. He is the biggest (literally) prima donna in the NFL. It is one thing to be dissatisfied with the new defense. It is another to leave your teammates out there doing work while you don't do anything. I think he crossed a line and is being a selfish baby. But I understand being upset with the change. Have you ever been in a job where you were hired to do one thing but then after a time your responsibilities changed? I have, I didn't like it either. So I understand his point of view. He is just going about it the wrong way. What I don't agree with is the idea that a player should just shut up and do his job with the "yes sir whatever you say sir" mentality. That is not the way the NFL works. Players cannot show teams too much loyalty because teams do not show players loyalty. If a player wants a new deal and holds out everyone calls him a baby. If a team doesn't want to pay a player for the contract he signed and they force a renegotiation (or cut him outright) then it's just the NFL business. It's a double standard. In many cases I side with a player (since my opinion means so much to the NFL community!) because I understand that while they're getting paid a lot they are destroying their bodies. It's a choice they've made, and they have to live with it, so it makes sense that they'd want to get as much money as possible during this limited amount of time it is available.

Congrats on getting started. I think you did the right thing by just pulling the trigger and playing rather than spending too long trying to decide on clubs. As your swing changes your fit could also change. Once that is grooved (however long that takes) you might want to get re-fit and at that point get some new clubs.

I think watching current or former normal athletes is a lot more enjoyable. I remember an episode of Playing with the Pros that featured Alonzo Mourning in Miami. He was good-natured and took instruction well and it was very interesting. Plus since he is 6'10 he had a very unique swing and some clubs that were about as tall as the guy instructing him (I can't remember the instructor, maybe Jamie Something?). Watching Drew Brees play Pebble Beach yesterday with his baseball swing was also interesting. Golf is not an edgy game so I don't know why the show creators feel the need to bring in edgy people.

Sacks don't tell the whole story, his disruptive presence in the middle let Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo get 10+ sacks each. He obviously isn't worth the money he got, but that is Dan Snyder for you. I don't totally blame Haynesworth since he was signed by one regime but is now being forced into an unnatural position by another that he did not know would take over the team. Going from 4-3 defensive tackle to 3-4 nosetackle is a pretty big switch and will be harder on his body. Perhaps if he'd known the Skins would switch he wouldn't have signed. I am not a Haynesworth fan. He often dogs it on the field, he whines, and the head stomp was inexcusable. But it is not a black-and-white situation IMO.

Barkley was in over his head, and Romano seemed a bit intimidated by Haney. It'll be interesting to see one blowhard coaching up another :)

Regardless of your personal morals it seems like a terrible idea to ship illegal counterfits across the US/Canada border. Definitely check with someone at eBay/Paypal first.

Good luck and let us know how it goes with the TFs.

That is an amazing price. Congrats. If you (or your wife/girlfriend/mom) have a stitch ripper you can probably take the logo off. Best deal, hmm. My Nickent hybrids were about $40 each. My irons were $200, another $30 for the SW. And I bought a Mizuno putter for $10. I didn't like it though so I don't know if that was that great of a deal. I bought a 3-E set of Hogan Forged Edge GS irons for $40 at goodwill. Surprisingly decent condition, though there are a few chips where the bare metal shows and is rusting. They are my backup set right now. If you go to the right Goodwill/Salvation Army Surplus you can find some surprising golf equipment mixed in with about 5000 persimmon woods.

Never hit the TA7s but they look nice and Cleveland is a good brand. For $150 if they are in decent shape you will probably keep them longer than you would the Top Flites. At least if you're anything like me. After a summer of golf any new iron isn't going to look as new anyway. They're going for more than that on eBay right now. You'll want to make sure the shaft is the right flex for you. The downside is of course you won't get any hybrids, woods, or a putter with them, so you'll have to pick those up separately. It sounds like the pro you've talked to is a good guy and is working hard to help you out.

As long as you get some cavity backs from a reputable company in the last 10ish years you will probably be fine. At first your problems are going to be you, not your equipment. So don't spend a ton on equipment. I would also suggest not getting a driver yet. I wish I hadn't when I started.

I am no club fitter but wouldn't a longer shaft mean a flatter lie?

Do you guys do multiple camera angles? What are the best ones for seeing all of your swing?

When I first started all my irons went the about same length (when I didn't slice/shank/etc the shot). Over time my lower irons have kind of spaced themselves out in distance so that from wedges to 6 or 7 iron there is a fairly discernible difference between each one. My 4 and 5 irons still go about the same and only recently has my 3 hybrid started to go consistently farther than those two clubs. It's frustrating but that is just a part of learning. In another year or so I will hopefully have a reason to use all of my irons. As it is I just leave the 4 iron and sometimes the 6 and 8 irons at home. Less weight in the bag and fewer choices when trying to decide what to hit.

I would be thrilled with a 250 yard driving average that consistently landed in the fairway.