ctyankee

I wait for springtime.

There is much to what you said but as many golfers tend to putt more aggressively on an uphill putt then a downhill putt it will be hit with more pace thus holding its line better. So I question the importance of the 'all things being equal' factor as things aren't equal. Moving to a different issue, I did hear on the Golf Channel someone saying (Haney, I think) that 80 percent (or something like it) of long breaking putts are under-read by amateurs with the ball ending on the down side of the hole. I don't know about that percentage but I would agree that most big breaking putts are under-read for break. YMMV.

I find it interesting that in three pages of threads on "Playing Tips" there are only four threads on putting (something like 4 threads out of 54 posts ... not counting the locked threads). My point being that we all know that putting is the biggest single factor in the game yet many of us choose to work on other things rather than the most important thing. One tip is there is a difference between a four foot putt and a four foot putt under pressure of a match. A guy that never pulls a putt now pulls a putt and is amazed at that. A couple things that help. Don't concede putts you don't want to take. Let's face it, people concede short putts because they really don't want anything to do with short putts, missing them and the embarrassment that comes from others knowing what you know ... that you choked. So people concede putts hoping that others will concede theirs. Heck, by me it has become almost an epidemic that someone will backhand a putt to that hole ... as if everyone doesn't know that's code for 'you don't want to make that putt.' So, when you get into a real match, with real rules they choke all over their shoes and act surprised about why. So, the thing you really need to get match tough in your casual rounds. Make the putts. Find a pressure relaxing thing to do. Some tap straight down with the putter other strum with their fingers along the grip ... whatever helps. A drill that really helps is putting five balls around a practice hole and doing this until you hole ALL five of the putts. Start in and then move farther away from the hole. Believe me, if you don't cheat making that LAST putt will put significant pressure on your putting without another soul in sight. Making them will give you great confidence during a round of golf.

Why not? I'm so tired of playing tight fairways I would love to play that course. Besides, the heck with famous holes, any course can be fun to play ... so the question is ... is it?

Agreed, on all points.

I'm sure having a famous brother couldn't have hurt. I guess we can't beat the producers up over everything. We beat them up for getting talentless clownfish on the show so now do we want to beat them up for getting guys who have actually had a few accomplishments? I'm guessing that getting a talented group to commit to the show is tougher than we might imagine. I'm sure some say no to the show because they think the show is beneath them or don't want to risk embarrassing themselves out there. Others probably just have confidence in their games and don't think they need Big Break to get where they want to go. Then again, I could be wrong.

clearwaterms, That sounds interesting if you still have some invites. ctyankee@yahoo.com Thanks

The good news is that first baby deliveries are usually late, not early. I don't get this 'golfer of the year' award ... is this a 'net' prize? How does it work?

Agreed, as far as dumping on Andrew goes. Btw, I was channel surfing between this and ESPN Poker. Was it Perez that had a problem with Andrew congratulating him on moving on or someone else? Whomever it was, it came across as silly. They showed the first three through to the next round congratulating each other when Andrew was still in the hot seat but apparently it's no good for Andrew to do the same thing once he is through to the next show when there are others still in the hot seat. Got it. I would have loved Blake to have been gone and buried. I don't like histrionics. But Sean deserved to go by the way he played. Point taken. But I do think that in tournament golf there is a flow and a rhythm developed in a round. In this thing, it's usually going from one static event to another with a long wait in between.

I carry so it is pretty much all about it being light weight and comfortable. So, pointedly, 6 dividers work fine and weigh less than any 14 divider system. The old belt systems used to stink but the new one (at least from Sun Mountain) is terrific. It helps distribute the weight and takes the load off the shoulders. There may be some young studs out there laughing at that but when you're in your 50's I'm guessing you won't be. When your shoulders get tight so does your golf swing. What I use: http://www.sunmountain.com/default.p...3469_3474_3412

I like it but more to the point, if it helps it's useful.

I don't change repair tools because ... (I know it doesn't make sense) I somehow believe my repair tools are lucky for me. And yes, by the plural tools, I carry two. One was a freebie that was handed to me by a starter and stupidly I put it in my pocket (after he wouldn't take no for an answer about giving it too me). So the cheapo freebie stays because somehow I have it in my head that the combination of the two repair tools have been lucky for me. Sad, I know. I do change magnetic ball markers which I have on a small clip on the brim of my golf hat. It's an inexpensive memento that many clubs sell but I wouldn't say that I collect them. More that I have them.

Lefty, Actually I'm a Red Sox fan. The ctyankee is actually a literary reference as well as being a Connecticut Yankee. But if you want to kid me about being a Red Sox fan, I deserve it.

But it did buy them CC Sabathia and A-Roid and it looks like it bought them another World Series. Also, Teixeira has had a fine year and is a GREAT glove. Money well spent for that guy.

Well said. Sometimes he goes to far but the message is still valid. For example, this bit about anyone can toss a ball to someone with confidence so they can also judge the distance on a putt ... please. Talk about apples and oranges. Or the bit about intending to hole every putt. Overall though, enjoying the process is a great idea and has really helped my approach to the game.

How the sound echoes around the place may be somewhat different but not having patrons in their seat is the bigger difference and not having the real Yankee fan in the seat really hurts. For example, they lost the bleacher creature. Those section used to be wild. The noise is coming in from right field and has nothing to do with the design of the park. Those fans aren't there any more. You could listen on the radio and hear the bleacher creatures chant each player's name before the player acknowledges them. That sort of noise and excitement is a thing of the past.

I admire his career, but waiting for Pettitte to throw the ball in is like watching paint dry. Either way, the new Yankee stadium doesn't have the crowd noise of the old because they are getting the corporate fan. The guy that's on his cell phone, at the food court or the concession stand buying yet another commemorative cap. If the Yankees are behind, these guys will be on their way out of the park by the 8th inning just like they were Game 1.

Agreed. No self-respecting golf pro by me would accept a tip just for doing his job. Tips are for support staff and (even then) many places only pool money from members at the end of a season for that staff. Now, this is a club but not a traditional one so things may be done differently. That said, if he's giving you a 30 minute lesson and goes an hour-plus, you can always just pay him a bonus saying 'we went over the time I paid for.' Then he is just getting money for his time and won't be offended and you won't get embarrassed. If it's simply your appreciation and feel compelled to line his pockets, simply bet him on something (e.g. a golf wager). He will be happy and have money in his pocket. You might even have some fun in the process.

If anyone gets up to Cape Cod Massachusetts, Highland Golf Club in Truro has a fun links course. Naturally, the wind is a factor but so is the rough. Miss the fairway by inches and you may have a tough time just finding the ball let alone hitting it. On wayward shots, odd plants and the like come into play some with serious thorns. The course will make you bleed in more ways then one. It's only nine holes but plays reasonably different from two sets of tees. This isn't St. Andrews but it's a fun round of golf.

Link style for me. I love water views and playing near water. Plus the wind off the sea makes for 'interesting' shotmaking.

I played Arrowhead ... amazing scenery. But for awe-inspiring scenery, Banff Springs takes the cake. Certainly one of my all-time top 10 loops. Heck, I wouldn't mind retiring to that area.

I try to cart away a golf ball washer when I can. Here's my favorite in the backyard.

I remember those Lynx clubs. Nice irons in their day.

Agreed. I think one could make a good argument that the courses that the European Tour play vary more than the P.G.A. tour allowing and requiring more varied shotmaking. This will be a great learning experience for Lee.

I wouldn't plan a golf trip there for December regardless of savings. Plenty of locals have heaters in their carts and do play year-round though. It's just not the cold, it's the wind. I have no idea why but that area is darn windy for being so far inland. Just my two-cents worth.