Lumpy_22

Hey Guys & Gals; Anyone out there have any experience with this amateur tour that the golf channel is putting on... I noticed that they actually have events in my city, so I'm seriously considering playing in some events if they do not conflict with my provincial events... Does anyone else have any comments about the tour positive or negative? Do you feel it's worth the value? Just looking for input... Thanks!

Contenders......... No Masters list would be complete with Tiger and to a lesser extent Phil ... But I'm interested in seeing how Henrik Stenson does this week. He's bettered Tiger in match and field play this year, and he's playing well and not talked about much... Pretenders..... Kind of a rude category. I don't think anyone in the field should be ignored, and as a rule the definition would indicate that they do not deserve their status... So I'll change this to .... who won't win, but who you'd love to see play well... Gary Player . He opened the season on the Champions tour with two rounds better than his age... I'd love to see him post a couple solid rounds.. but with the length of the course, it would be a hhuge longshot... go Black Knight! Fred Funk . Too bad he's not 100%. He's consistent, hit fairways, and just generally well liked... Giver Funky! Craig Stadler (aka the WALRUS!). An emotional player, and emensely skilled, I enjoy the Walrus when he's on.. Finally... Suprise Picks........ Every Canadian in the world would love to say Mike Weir or Stephen Ames ..so I did, but for me I'm looking at two players that are sleepers... 1. Aaron Baddley . Great putters shine in majors, and no doubt he's good. He's won this season, and I think that he's a good longshot... 2. Brett Quigley . Here's a longshot who's never won a event! But keep in mind, he's competitive, and on leaderboards often, this could be the hurdle of a lifetime....personally I'm pulling for him!

Every player on the tour is capable of winning every week. Is Tiger exceptional.... I would say yes, Is he above the standard of the other players in the field, more than likely, but I know I've found, I'm at my best when I'm not 'competing' or 'worrying' about another player. Concentrate on what your doing out there, and if Phil does this, I believe that he will win more majors.. Phil still neds improvement on his decision making, and needs to stop putting himself in truly difficult positions.... But IMHO, Phil isn't even clearly the second best out there... Don't get me wrong, I love watching Phil when he's on, believe me, but there is definateley more separation between Tiger and anyone, than say Phil and the next best player... But best of all, we all love it when Phil and Tiger are on their games.. It's truly magically to watch them do their thing, just the same as I like watching Chris Dimarco, Ernie Els, and John Daly when their on.... Just wish John would get his crap together..... It takes a confident man to admit someones better, but It takes a better man to prove himself wrong..... Waiting for Thursday.....

As some have said, you may be too close... Check to see if your arms hang naturally from your shoulders... I try to get my hands close to a line under my chin.. but I'm more upright ( 2 plane) versus someone who may be bent over more ( 1 plane)... Also, it never hurts to have your clubs fitted by a professional, and most likely some you trust.. Have your clubs looked at when you feel your swing is in it's 'normal' state. They will check the lies, and sometimes an adjustment here could be beneficial. I play with 'stock' clubs, and noticed a trmendous difference in 'feel' when they were done to my specifications.. This also included getting your grip size checked, lofts and lies... and don't forget your flatstick!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!1

It's great to hear of an awesome customer service experience, and wish I could share the same from Nike, but unfortunateley I cannot.... I sent in two pair of shoes purchased from a retailer last season. They were sent in along with another pair from another consumer... It's been 6 weeks now, and no word... It's two weeks away from the start of the season here, and I have no shoes... I understand that they are busy, and all, but I submitted my receipts to prove purchase date, the right shoes from both pair were toast after 1 season (about 50 rounds per pair)... So I'm in a quandry.... do I buy new shoes and use the credit value somewhere else... The salesman at the retailer advised that Nike is usually pretty good with these things, and rarely turns down the return.. So I'll take your great customer service experience, and hope they get it done in time.. Thanks!

Thanks for the understanding and support... and although it will be an extremely difficult process, I can't see ever not playing, even if I get worse.. The chase for that round where you play close to your best, that rush keeps me going... I shot a 69 that could have been a 65 if I had made a couple more putts, but that's golf...I remember the birdie on 18 to do it... a wicked cut shot from behind trees to 18 feet, side door.... wow... amazing how 69 feels so much better than 70.... I'll keep everyone updated this year.. One of my biggest problems is not enough competitive rounds, so this year I have 6 provincial tournaments plus anything else I can get into... Would be nice to get some info on qualifying for the US amateur, but even on the net I haven't found much.. To get to the Canadian Amateur, you have to get out of your province (top 4) or apply separately, so that's a great starting point. If I can accomplish that, then I can think a little more into the pro aspect, allthough I have done a ton of research on expenses and such... Best of luck....

Thanks everyone for your imput either for or against. I hear the points on both sides and understand that the possibility of becomming a 'touring' pro are not great, but it can happen. I believe this because of my positive attitude about this, and I feel that at the very least, the improvements that are made through positive productive practice, positive mental approach, mental support from family, at the very least I will be a much better golfer than I am today.. Everyone has dreams, but dreams are mostly spoken or thought of, rarely strived for. I love playing, and couldn't imagine any job in the world, for any amount of money that I'd be happier doing. 20k on the Canadian tour or Wall Street lawyer making 250K.. easy choice.. for me anyways, what makes you happy, money or heart... for me, definately heart.. I'm not mortgaging my future here. I'm still working Full time, and I'm not putting any pressure on anyone else except for myself. I'll use as much time away from work as posible to get there. My fiancee supports this and truly understands the effort and time it will take. This is invaluable, as I only have to worry about the golf aspect, and apply my efforts there. I've done my research, and I understand that you need a + index to have any chance. Will I be a scratch player next year? and a positive after that ? Maybe not, but I'll be better, and it may take 3 or 4 years... who knows, but I'll be better than I am today. I truly believe that I will play a pro tour event, and that's why it will happen.... Best of luck to everyone, and hopefully everyone can reach their dreams!

Brit Boy; Appreciate the response... I would have to say that I'm quite suprised that there wasn't anyone else who pitched in with any responses... I like the fact that you have someone (professional) to guide you in where you want to go, and has given you some feedback in regards to ball stricking and distance, in that your not far off... My short game isn't bad, and I work in that area frequently. I leave more than my share of putts within that two foot zone, so I 2 putt often and get more than my share of pars, my problem is I need to convert more often, and work on my second shot to get it withing that 10 foot zone more often.. This year I plan on something similar.... Putting 30-60 minutes every other day..... (must make 25 straight three footers to end practice) Chipping 20 minutes opposite day of putting... working to spots and getting actual flight to roll, altering trajectories, and working on short sided chips.. Pitching 30 minutes, again opposite putting day... shots from 50 yards and in, different ball trajectories, to short and long pins, over imaginary hazards, working on landing areas.. This works the short game 6 days a week for 1 hour or so.... Also 20-40 minutes ball striking... working on fundamentals daily, set up, alignment, etc... Shadow game, as I call it, play imaginary holes, to help with vision skills, visualize a par 4, hit diver, visulize 2nd shot, hit iron or faiway wood, visualize 3rd, hit 50 yard and in.... always varying hole from dog leg right to left, par 5's, low trajectories (punch)... 1 day a week, work on escape shots... behind trees, bad lies, under trees, hardpan..etc... This makes for a long week, working full time also, but for a couple years we'll see where it goes.... just don't want to say "well what if I had done this? ...." Keep in touch wih your progress.... kind of interested if the effort you put in get you there... Fairwaus and greens....... Lumpy

Thanks for the responses... Just wanted to follow up, that I've done some searching and calcuated some actual budgets and just to play on some of the 'mini' tours would cost around $30,000 on a tight budget for a 12 - 16 tournamnet season... I've factored in hotels, food, travel (car), personal expenses, practice round fees, caddy fees, tour dues, tournament entry fees, clothing, etc, ... Think I was wondering where to go for help besides the obvious... speaking of obvious, It's a pipe dream, but I'm on a two year plan. I have the support from my fiancee (she plays fortunately..), and don't want that what 'if' hanging...At the very least I'll improve as an amateur, and that can't be too bad... Just looking for anyone else's thoughts on the subject, if anyone is actively working towards this.... Thanks....

Phoenix your dead on man.... For the longest time I was hitting a Taylor Made 580XD with a reg flex shaft... at 6'1 and 240, I found even with solid contact, I would fade them right to the point that I'd aim in the left rough... when I did pull one, I had to usually re-load... also I found I wouldn't go after one and my swing speed dropped to compensate to keep it in the fairway, and even then it was rough.. The solution was trying someone else's driver with a similar body type and swing speed. Was awesome hitting fairways, and I shot an even par back nine..It was nice to use 8 irons or less into greens...even better hitting from the faiways....the make was different but the shaft was a stiff.... Taking into consideration your swing, ensuring your not outside to in (cutting across the ball), the shaft in your club is more important than most people consider. So find a shaft that works for you, and your pretty much there, and Taylor Made isn't a bad option to try, especially the R5 dual, or the R7 quad.. Best of luck!

62 ..... wait a minute, that was TW 2005 .....darn... With the snow and cold, it's all I can get.... 9 more weeks....who-hoo

Goals for 2007.. Improve my Index... current 6.2 to 3.1 (Has been as low as 4.2) To improve the index the following: Improve the major stats: F.I.R., G.I.R, and putts per round.. Practice: As mentioned, quite enjoyable, but more structured with a purpose.. Produce better in competitive tournaments, get nervous, need to play like a normal round.. And Finally...... HAVE FUN OUT THERE!.....

Hey All; Just kind of wondered if anyone else out there has aspirations of truing to play pro golf.... Wanted to get ideas on sponsorship, and costs.... I've done some budgets based on the Canadian Tour, but wondered if anyone out there has or wants to.... Just looking for ideas... Thanks for your time...

Carry between 170-175, roll depends on conditions... now there's other ways to hit a club either change of trajectory or swing shape... so I guess anywhere from 150-190 depending on the shot....lol *** Also helps if your find a parking lot or cart path **** I hit a wedge 300 yards once..... 120 carry into a parking lot, 180 bounce and roll into the highway....lol funny as hell though .... fortunately it was match play and I only lost the hole....

Wow, reading some of the posts were kinda scary, but I shouldn't be suprised. Even where I'm at, some of the high end private clubs I've checked with, a yearly expense for golf would be near 5-7 thousand Canadian.. But, I've been a member at a club that was only 1000 Canadian, so I've been lucky. I realize it wasn't the most difficult or prestigeous course around, but it served my purpose and I was able to get my cost per round in around 10 per... This season I will be changing. The reason is I've gotten better, have bigger aspirations, and realize that the practice facilities have become extremely important. My last course didn't have that available, so hence the switch. The course will be a farther travel, about 15 minutes each way, and the cost very similar, but I'll get the practice time with it, so that for me is the factor for the switch. I love playing daily, or everyday that ends in 'y' as I like to say, but for me to reach my goals, I'll require the practice facility also... Still not in the neighbourhood of a private club, but that's not the reason I play golf. For me it's the game, the challenge, not the status... Fairways and greens!