Bastid

Why not go buy a sleeve of good, fresh Titleist balls for a tournament? You found a practice ball and you're going to use it for a tourney? Have fun shooting 93.

Year round golf in South Carolina.

I say Steve Stricker and I have a personal reason why. In 2006, Stricker was no where to be found. Well, sectional qualifying for the US Open at Winged Foot happened to be at the country club in my hometown. I looked up who was playing and saw that Stricker was playing with the U of I coach Mike Small. My friend and I decided we would go watch them play. The place was empty and we were basically able to walk in the fairways alongside the players. We proceeded to watch Stricker shoot 65-64 on a tough golf course. We cheered him along, after the round we spoke to him for a few minutes and told him how good it was to see him playing well again. He thanked us and then went on to lead the Open after 36 holes and ultimately finish T-6. Going forward, he has been a mainstay atop the leaderboards. So I take credit for that. I've never seen someone play two rounds of golf like that. It was literally the most perfect golf I've ever seen, although Mike Small did hit one of the most amazing shots I've ever seen that day. Craziness. Can't believe that was six years ago.

British or no British, I don't care what it's called I just want to hoist that goddamn Jug. As for the topic of the thread, I don't really have a problem with it either. People can yell what they like, but sometimes it's dumb. The go in the hole crap is the worst--on a par 3 it's fine, but those long holes it seems rather silly. But that's how we Americans are...just a little bit silly.

I'm more of the Carlos Franco type...I'm not a big range rat. I grew up on a course without a range so I learned how to play and practice by simply going and teeing it up. It is still weird for me to just sit on the range and beat balls, I don't feel like I'm getting great practice out of it. However, when I do warm up before a serious round, I tend to hit wedges until I feel my tempo is where I want it. Then I'll work on hitting a few cuts / draws with the 5 iron--just to get a feel for my alignment. After that I'll hit a few shots with the hybrid, I should be 100% warmed up by now so I'll let these fly. Then I usually hit the 3 wood off both the tee and the deck, just to get a feel for it. Then comes a few swings with the driver. After all that, I'll finish out with a few more wedges in the 75-90 yard range. All in all, maybe 25-30 balls that takes roughly 45 minutes. But I rarely hit the range before a round unless it's a tournament or something.

After many years fighting it, and watching my friend get an albatross with it, I finally took out the 2 iron and put in a hybrid. I still have the Deuce in the closet, I like taking it to the range every so often. My driver and 3 wood have slightly shorter shafts than normal, but I went with a slightly longer than normal shaft for my hybrid. I used a shaft cut to length for the 19 degree hybrid in my 22 degree hybrid. It's a slight difference, but it helps me hit it far when I went to step on it.

I don't understand, it's a 2 stroke penalty if I find a broken tee to use instead of a nice new one?

I really like pie. Blueberry is great, but peach or apple is just the bomb.

Graeme McDowell -- 7 under Luke Donald -- 4 under Tiger Woods -- Even

I tell you what...I'll have someone read the posts to me at the same time you're having someone explain to you what sarcasm and hyperbole are. Sounds good eh?

Paradox, not every piece of etiquette is written down. While you are correct that no rule actually prohibits the playing of a second ball, it's just one of those things that is slightly douchebag to do on a busy day at the course. Golf used to be a gentleman's game; it's crap like this that makes me miss those days when the courses weren't full of idiots. Both sides were wrong--the kid playing two balls and the guy swearing at him. It's a complete lack of class on both sides; they should both be banned for life from golf courses. Scratch golfer should know better, I'm ashamed.

The guy with the awesome avatar is correct, it's just simple golf etiquette to not be playing two balls. The irate man's response lacked an eloquent touch, but he was well within his rights to say something. Why not just play from the blues? If he's truly a scratch golfer, he could adjust to any tee for the tournament. Just saying...

The best were the old Footjoy commercials with the crazy guy. The best of those was the one where he and Tim Herron were eating sausages and watching Jesper Parnevik sweat like a pig on a bike. They don't have those anymore...so sad.

As one PGM to another, welcome sir. You could've picked a better school though

I don't know for certain, but I would imagine they shorten their three woods as well. Mine is cut down by 1/2" and I love it. Putting the ball in the fairway is the goal, the distance of your shot means nothing if you put it in the trees. I think this is just one of those preference questions; whatever works the best for your individual game is what you should go with. If something helps you shave one stroke or five strokes, it is worth it to your game. Test it out.

I had no idea that only 2% of people pass it in their first attempt, that's giving me a certain bit of pride (along with some extra ego). I moved from Chicago to Greenville, SC at the beginning of the summer to pursue the PGM program offered at Clemson. As for what I want to do, I'm going to see how I do in the program and who knows where golf will take me in the future. I'm going to start playing in a lot of the mini-tour tournaments in a few months. Being able to play year round was imperative to my ascending to the next level of professional golf. I hope I didn't come off as a jerk when I made those comments about that other player. What was most upsetting to me was that his inability to play affected the play of the other people in the group. It is very, very difficult to remain focused for 18 holes when someone in your group is hitting two balls off the tee, blading shots over the greens, duffing chips, and then five putting every single green. I understand that people have bad days on the golf course and if you're not used to tournament pressure, those bad days are going to be worse than normal. But a bad day for a player that is aspiring to be a pro should fall in the mid 80s, not in the 100s. A decent player that is fighting their swing for the day should still be able to get the ball in the hole and not be 36 over par for one round. Maybe the guy will try again in the future. But if I saw him I'd recommend that the try a few things differently. I'd tell him at least make it to the tee before your scheduled tee time. Poor guy was just having a hard time from the get go.

If you feel comfortable with the entire shot, then by all means go for it. But look at every possible scenario...where is the bailout area, where must you NOT go, etc. Playing aggressive does not correlate into playing stupid, if you feel good about a shot in your bag then you should definitely go for it. But if it's a 280 yard 3 wood over water to a tight pin, then be smart and lay up to a perfect wedge distance and knock it close. Playing smart is better than playing either aggressively or passively.

The title sums it up. Shot 72-74 at the Country Club of Lexington (SC) to pass it on my first attempt. I'm happy with myself, but I have to admit that I think some people need to reevaluate what they are doing with golf. Played with a guy that shot 108 in the morning round and didn't come back to play the afternoon. I understand people have bad rounds, but that was tough to watch. Anyways, it was fun and now I can't play amateur tournaments anymore :(

After a few months of hating a Rocketballz, I went and got the R11s. I was never happy with the light headweight of the RBZ and my tee game suffered because of it. So I took it in to my local Watts and got the R11s--I hope this works out a little better. I should have known better because I was originally going to get a RBZ three wood, but I liked the weight of the r11s three wood and went with it. Any of you peeps done this? Bought something and been excited and it turned out to just not be what you were expecting? Next up...a shaft with a lower kickpoint. This Fubuki is great but I just hit it too low. I want to hit some sky high bombs for pete's sake! It is too much to ask???

The Irish course at Whistling Straits. Granted I played in 45 degree weather and 30 mph wind, but it would be brutal no matter the conditions. No really that long (7200 yards) but no where to miss and lightning greens. 75.6 / 146 I actually played well and shot 83. The brightest moment for me came at the end when I finished the course on the same ball I started with. Not losing a ball out there was an achievement in itself.

My home course hosted a Nike Tour event in the 1990s. Does that count as a "pro" course?

Ok seriously, how do I get in on this? I've been dying to have a picture of Grimace on top of my Rocketballz. It's not a question of want, it's more a statement of must have.

14 is a fine number. Gives players multiple options to what they can fill their bag out before a tournament round. You want to play faster? Then take up speed walking or something...4 hours for an 18 hole round is what it takes. I enjoy being outside on a beautiful day for that long, I keep pace but am in no hurry whatsoever. Boring thread...but still had to add my few cents.

That's awesome, high school golf was one of the funnest times in golf I've had. Granted my team won the high school state championship (Illinois) in '98 so that always makes it better. Just remember to stay focused, play hard, and have fun. Keep your mind on the shot at hand and nothing else. And if you're lucky, one day you'll get to stay in the same hotel as a few of the girl's teams....then it gets really interesting!!