GreensDruid

I heard something about piped in noise at the dome but there was no truth to it - it's just a loud place and the Pats did fine in that environment. Have to admit I'm getting tired of the press playing up the good vs evil BS, but I suppose all the hating just motivates them all the more, so bring it on. The latest tirade is from Don Shula himself, who now says that due to the camera violation and signal stealing, if the Patriots go 16 - 0 this season, the NFL should put an asterisk next to it. I don't understand this logic. If the team goes 16 - 0 this season, they will have done it under some of the tightest scrutiny ever put on any football team. I think Shula should be embarrassed - what a pathetic statement. All the more motivation to break that record - I hope they do it and Shula can pencil in his own asterisk.

Sox in 4 games! What a great time to be a sports fan in New England. Compensation for our cold winters I guess. Time for a new thread on Patriots vs. Colts. Someone else will have to start this one, but I'm pulling for the Pats, baby. Tough to beat Indy on the road but it'll be a great matchup.

I've noticed the same thing. I wonder whether it has something to do with the inside out swing of most tour pros. Perhaps as we follow the clubhead on it's inside out path we naturally assume that the ball is following the clubhead. Or maybe its just the camera angle that is throwing us off.

Great series! I think home field advantage was very important to the Sox and I'm glad we'll have it with Colorado, who were looking pretty impressive a week ago. Go Sox!!!!

Ski, snowboard, bushwacking, cycling, running, admiring naked women.

The local golf club where I've played for the last couple of years has two courses - an 18 hole "championship" course and then a 9 hole executive course. For all of this time, I've played the executive course because I thought a 20 - 25 handicap (I don't really know what it is) doesn't belong on the big boy course. Better to hone your game on the small course and play the big one when you're a little better. I should say the the executive course is an interesting little track. It was designed by Geoffrey Cornish maybe 15 - 20 years ago and consists of two par threes and then seven par fours, the longest hole being about 390 yards. Accuracy is a must - the fairways are relatively narrow and there's both water and woods where you can lose many balls. I've lost quite a few over the past couple of years. Last week I finally got up the nerve to go over and play the big boy course. This is an older track, probably laid out in the 1950's some time on some very fine river bottom land. The river snakes around thoughout the course but it's relatively flat and pretty wide open. Anyway, I went out with a group who plays there often, and they were chuckling at the fact that I was a little boy course player coming over for the big course. I've played championship courses in corporate events (mostly Vermont) and so I wasn't a true neophyte. But I was gratified to see that in fact my time on the executive course, with its tight fairways and links style hazards, served me very well on this wide open course. While my playing partners were spraying the ball into the next fairway, I was able to at least keep my ball in the proper fairway and never hit out of bounds. They were able to recover, since on most holes they could play even a very badly hit ball, but the openess of the course seems to have hurt their discipline in keeping the ball in the fairway. I had a great time, and I'm sure I'll play with the big boys again, but there is a place for the challenging executive course to hone your accuracy and maintain a disciplined course management.

Whenever I make it a point to turn my hands over on the drive, one of two things happen: either - a wicked slice - or - a nasty snap hook. I try to think of my hands as litttle as possible, and that's when things seem to work best. They'll work properly on their own so if your hitting well, don't try to analyze and/or monkey with it. Advice from a 20 -25 handicap - take it with a big grain of salt.

Last year was mild up until about mid January. Most courses close but one near my home opened right up into January depending on weather. Once the snow flies (and sticks) they all close. What do you do when that happens? Easy - ski (both xc and downhill), snowboard, snowshoe through the backcountry in moonlight, trim your apple trees for next spring, get some brush cut and cleared, burn brush piles, drink some beers around the fire, cozy up with your main squeeze and make mad, passionate love - whatever. We're only limited by our imaginations. Before you know it, spring comes and we're back out playing. Not so bad really - and we don't have to put up with Bermuda grass.

Cleveland is playing so well right now and the Sox seem so flat that unless something changes (like in 2004), tonight could be it. Much as it would pain me to see the Sox lose it, I will tip my cap to the Tribe and wish them well against the Rockies (let's hope they cool down between now and Wednesday, whatever happens tonight)!

I just read a column on Fox Sports Net that suggests the Patriots caught Mangini videotaping on their sidelines last year but didn't go running to the commish. The column also said that when the Pats turned in their tapes to the commish they also gave information on other teams videotaping practices. Anyway, they're looking pretty good after curb stomping the Boys. It's funny that Cowboys fans are now sniveling over the Patriots running up the score on them. Just tells you there are some serious Patriots/Bellichick haters out there and as long as the Pats are winning, the hating will continue.

I agree - it's just not the same without the Rem Dawg.

Well, not quite what I expected. I was thinking the Yankees in 5 over Cleveland. I'm not sure who the Sox would rather face but now it's Cleveland and we'll have our hands full. It's funny that all of the sports commentary this morning is on the future of the Yankees. The fact that Cleveland won was almost an afterthought. With so much up in the air for the Yankees, I suppose this will be an incredibly interesting off season. I especially feel bad for Joe Torre being publicly bitch slapped by Steinbrenner. If I were Tony LaRussa, I'd think twice before accepting a call from the Boss. The silver lining for the Yankees - they get to hit the golf course early again this year!

Well, we made it to the post season - phew! It started looking like just another Red Sox September. Just wouldn't be the same without some drama. Yankees fans - see you in October. Hope our pitching is rested and recovered and your bats cool down! Cheers!

Noticed that too. And as I'm watching the Patriots play SD I have the same complaint - this is not HD. C'mon NBC, get with it!

I feel very badly for the team but I suppose rules are rules. If you read the commentary it seems very clear that everyone tries to steal signals but the Pats coaching staff was pretty brazen to videotape, especially after being warned. We'll see how things go this year. If I were a Patriots player I'd be playing the rest of the season with a chip on my shoulder and something to prove. Beating SD will do a world of good. Then the rest of the NFL can get off their collective high horses and get back to business.

When I drink beer, I'm partial to a good wheat beer with a squeeze of lemon. Very thirst quenching. My favorite is Harpoon UFO hefeweizen.

Finn, as I said before there are now 2 courses on the mountain road in Stowe. If you are up for a challenging and unique track, try the Mountain Club which just opened. Hoof's assessment of the older Stowe course which is right near the StoweFlake is right on - Okay with a couple of nice holes. The Mountain Club will be a better challenge for you.

Hoof, you are right. If Finn has an extra day or so and wants to stop in Stratton I agree it's worth visiting. Finn, I think hoof is right on the distance from Stowe to Killington. Just go straight down VT 100 south - a nice ride anyway. If you are looking that far afield, you may as well put these courses on your radar screen: Sugarbush - another ski area course south of Stowe but north of Killington. It saw some hard times but I'm told new ownership has revived the place. Green Mountain National - in the Killington area. I've never played it but a low handicap friend of mine really likes it. And . . . just to close the loop, if you want to drive an hour NORTH on VT 100 you'll come to the Jay Peak golf course, which is a new Graham Cooke design. They just opened the full 18 holes this year, I believe. This is the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, thought by many to be the least unspoiled part of the state but depending on your tastes, you may prefer the more rarefied environs of Stowe and southward. There is also another Graham Cooke designed course just across the border called Owl's Head GC. I think it's located in Mansonville, Quebec. It's in the middle of nowhere and is not very crowded but I like it very much. Either way, you'll have a great time. I'll be interested in what you play and your reactions. Please post after you return.

I'm a high handicapper and I love my Clevelands. The face forward wedges look interesting but I wonder whether they truly work better.

I've been playing for a couple of years now and feel comfortable enough so that I'm ready to play with other people on a regular basis. I mostly golf with family members or in the occasional golf outing but I've never developed a network of people to play golf with. I don't belong to a club - most of my golf is played at public courses unless I'm invited to play a private venue. My question probably sounds stupid, but here goes: How do you go about finding people to play golf with? Most of my friends don't golf. Those who do already are firmly in their own groups and since all of us are family men and have jealous wives, there's only so much golf you can play. What's the best way to go about this? Just show up and have the starter pair you up? What have other folks done to meet people who play golf?

2007 Toyota Prius (wife's car - she's a greenie) 2007 328xi (for me) 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero (Company car - 175,000 miles and counting!)

There are a few courses in the Stowe area. The Stratton course recommended above is nice but is probably a couple of hours away from Stowe. If you want to play golf in Stowe village, I have played the two courses that are located on the Mountain Road. The first is Stowe Country Club and I think if you are a guest at the Stoweflake you can play it. It's nice - scenery is beautiful but the course itself isn't particularly memorable. Last Friday I played an outing at The Mountain Club, which is the new course up on Spruce Peak near the base area. This is a Brian Cupp design, and it is literally cut into the side of Spruce Peak. You can play it if you are staying at the Mountain Club, but since it is so new, I'm guessing they'll let you on if you tell them you're interested in buying real estate. It's one of the most spectacular mountain courses I've played in Vermont - huge elevation changes and views of Mt. Mansfield on almost every hole. Having said that, it is extremely unforgiving - the fairways are narrow, the greens tiny and super fast, and there is trouble everywhere. This is target golf, and if you miss, the pro will tell you to not bother looking for your ball. Chances are, it's fallen off some precipice and it's downright dangerous to go looking for it. You can't walk the course - even if you like Mountain climbing the distance between the tees on some holes is considerable. Nearby, there are a couple of courses in Waterbury. Blueberry Hill is a small course with spectacular views of the Worcester range. And if you can get on, the Country Club of Vermont in Waterbury is probably my favorite in the area. It's private, so I'm not sure if you can get on but it's well worth making the call. CCVT is two different courses - the front 9 is a wide open links style layout that is deceptively difficult. The back 9 is classic New England forest golf, with spectacular views of the southern mountains and Camel's Hump. If you can get on, you can't go wrong. I'm sure there are other courses, but these are the ones I have played. Vermont is also well known for some of its hidden gems but these are in towns located outside the tourist hustle of Stowe. Country Club of Barre qualifies here, as well as St. Johnsbury CC and Orleans CC, all of which accept public play but are also 45 min. to an hour away. Have fun!

I would have tipped more than the 30 cents - especially if she isn't making minimum wage and relies on getting tips. Having said that, I just returned from an extended trip to Korea and Japan and never once did I need to fish around my pockets for a tip. Same experience in most of my travels in Europe. Service was given cheerfully and respectfully - it's part of the job and they are paid for it. So I think the whole tip business sucks, but you can't blame the people who rely on those tips - they didn't create the system. I just wish we'd change it so that people can make a decent wage without relying on the kindness of customers.

Oakley Half Jackets with the XLJ lens. Mine came with an amber, grey and brownish rose colored lenses. So far, the brownish rose lens really makes the greens stand out - excellent contrast. I used to play with a dark grey polarized lens but like the non-polarized better for golf.

It's funny, but at the range if I get the shanks they usually come all in a row. It's as if I'm grooving a shank once I hit the first one. I've now have a routine that seems to break the shank cycle. If I hit a shank, I will stop everything. I won't try to rehit the ball right away. Instead, I will walk away from the practice area and replace the club in my bag. Then, I'll pick up a different club, walk back to the practice area, and start hitting again. Usually, the shank doesn't return. I don't know why it works for me, but it usually stops the shank and later in practice I can return to the "shanking" club and generally I will hit it fine.