killerduck

Try telling that to my younger brother, who is left handed, but not the other two parts of d.) LOL

It's not the greenskeepers fault the course is in such bad shape, a lot of that was inherited from bad climate, but the greens are completely in the greenskeepers control. As I said, they were cored/scarified/sanded poorly, which has led to them becoming terrible. The club doesn't have a lot of money, but it has enough to maintain what we have. They'd like to change some things, like adding bunkers, mounds and a new 9th hole. But that's we were looking at doing when I was on the match committee some 3 or 4 years ago.

courtesy? It's not courtesy - IT'S ETIQUETTE. Like, stepping on someone's line, or casting a shadow over someone's ball. There's not debate, it's just not on. When someone is over their ball, you stay still and keep your mouth shut. Simple

Gawler index 1. Playing from the front 365m Tight drive to the centre of fairway, Hybrid 18*, uphill from 160m, pure as. About 12' away, bad read on the putt, easy par.

For the last 7 years I've been a member of a pretty quiet, mostly unheard of 9 hole golf course in the Northern Metro area of my town (city, if you will - check under my pic...) About 4 years ago, South Australia (all of Australia, actually) was stricken by drought, which we are still in the grips of today. It was at this time the government began enforcing water restrictions across the state, turning off the flow to any 'non-recreational', public , terrain. Apparently, golf course fairways are not classified as 'recreational', such as a cricket/football oval, but the GREENS are... This was fine, because Mawson Lakes had greens most public courses would kill for. They were perfect! Yet, because of the water restrictions the fairways would die off in summer, come back in winter etc, whilst the management lethargically pushed to have recycled storm water put on the course (provided by the neighbouring university - that's another story) As it is today, we DO HAVE recycled water on the fairways, albeit one watering a week, but there is some thick, patchy green again. But the greens have been VIOLATED! The greenskeeper has been absolutely drenching them (unlimited water on greens). They were always soft underfoot. So, on March 1st when they were cored/scarified/sanded (with stone-laden sand) they were churned up, diseased and basically ruined for the most part. The course is now at the point where pretty much anyone who played it for the first time would not be coming back. And that is sad. But it's also at the point (past it, actually) where once loyal members are leaving for greener pastures (excuse the pun). Personally, I've grown tired of spinning around the 9-hole layout, with it's mickey-mouse OOB poles ('in-the-air') opening par 3, and general poor maintenance. I feel I should be graduating to a big boy golf course. BTW, I play other courses quite regularly, which probably makes it harder to play at home, because of the difference in quality. I can tell you where I actually enjoy my golf, instead of just playing it... Think I'll go check out Tea Tree Gully tomorrow.....

excellent! soak it up, always good the learn from those better. I do it all the time!

I'm changing my vote to include Freddy Couples. He's a gun with such an inspiring swing. Would love to see him going down the stretch within 1 or 2

Looks about spot on to me, saw Wie playing with Shin the other day, and this looks about right. Although I thought Wie was 6'1". Just remembered Tiger's 6'2" I think, and those two are fairly close....

I've been using pro V1's for the last couple of months, and maybe it's the greens on my home course, or my wedges, or just me, but I swear the NXT's I usually use check up AT LEAST as much as the pro V's. Ball flight is seemingly identical. Basically, I'll be going back to NXT tour's after I'm through these pro V1's

If Perth is anything like Adelaide, you don't need to spend more than $30 to play a really good course. Public, of course, but not all the best courses are snobby private jobs. If you get the chance to come over to Adelaide I can recommend quite a few. I can recommend a couple in Victoria as well, but as I've never been to Perth I can't really help with any specific courses. But just ask some of the locals, they'll know where to play!

I do a read dot and a red circle, each within a dimple near the number on each side. One of my mates makes a paw print, one big dot bordered by 3 smaller dots, each in it's own dimple...

Pretty sure the worldwide average handicap is 16, and has been for 50 years or something....

I'm not sure what that means... but it sounds good! A guy from our golf club has been handed a membership and position in the Glenelg GC pennant team thanks to being 'discovered' by his bosses at his work. Cheeky little smart arse is off of 4 with an incredible short game, so I'm sure he'll do ok. Hope all goes well for you this year!

Last week I took a "Bee Check". Got half-way up the first fairway before having to turn back because the fairways had been taken over by bees. It was so bad, you had to really watch where you stepped. The noise of the buzzing was really loud. I mean, there were THOUSANDS of them! My brother is allergic, and whilst I've never been stung myself, I wasn't going to take a chance for a game of golf... The guy in the pro shop was good enough to give me a refund. I went back today, and although there were still a few bees around the place, it was nowhere near as infested as it was last week. I almost didn't notice them.

I played Gawler today, one of the best courses in SA I believe. Shot 42 (+6) on the front with an 8 on the par 4 8th (you should've seen the lie I had in the bunker!) Shot 47 (+11) on the back after getting a bit wayward on the last few holes. I hit it really solid all day, parred the #1 indexed hole in regulation, and putted well despite having 35 putts (Greens are pretty tricky compared with what I'm used to) I came away pretty happy with 89 (+17) OTS. Can't wait to play again. LOVE THIS GAME

Any Australian will do for me, otherwise, Ernie Els or Ian Poulter. I never used to like Poulter until I saw some of his 'behind the scenes' type stuff, and he seems like a pretty good guy. Hope he does well.

I usually do get quite a bit edgy on the first hole, especially over the first putt, but now that I think of it I'm not as bad as I have been. I don't think there's anything you can do about it, but I don't know if you'd really want to. Watching the LPGA yesterday I hear Rankin talking about being so nervous she didn't think she could actually play. Good thing the pro's have a caddy to talk to... We just gotta suck it up and get off the first hole with nothing worse than bogey!!

How's this? Last month we played our final pennant game of the season. (It was our last game because we lost and didn't make the final) We play in groups of 4, 2 matches per group, and ALL FOUR in our group were lefties. My mate thought he'd come check out the action and carried my bag for me (nice guy), and he too, is Lefty.... Uncanny, huh?

There's a guy at my club, in his 40's, who plays off 15, and hits it 260+ metres EVERY time. He has at least 240 metres of carry. And he's not all that erratic either, but he does get into trouble every now and then. I could give many more examples of people I've played with who hit it huge on high handicaps.

85OTS (par 70) 1 over nett. Played the first 3 holes (9 hole course) in a total of +10 for the day. Some good stretches in the middle/end of each side. Two more 3 putts on GIR. Most not-optimal.

Steve Stricker, so we can all see if he truly is the world #2 or not.

I think it's just one the hard truths we have to face. We're lefty, we're outcasts, we stand on the 'wrong side of the ball', but look at us from behind - we're standing on the RIGHT side of the ball!!! I've often thought it'd be cool to open up a Ned Flanders style "Leftorium Golf Store", and get ALL the lefty business in the state. That'd show 'em! But look at it this way, when we do get some new, cool gear, no one else can try it out!!!!!

There's a course in the southern hills of Adelaide that ends with 2 par threes. It is a bit bogus. I played my course today, and both times I missed the first green (par 3) with too much hook. IT'S DOING MY HEAD IN!!! lol

yesterday, I was having a schizophrenic round that included a 3-putt from 4 feet... Put a 5 iron to 4 feet for birdie on Par 3 13th, but my shot of the day/week was on 17, where I punched my hybrid from about 10 metres off the green, hook shape (lefty) along the ground, up onto the elevated green, just high enough to catch the right slope across to the flag that was in probably the hardest position on the green. Made the 4 footer for par, doubled the last and walked off shaking my head at how far apart my best and worse was yesterday.... but we all have those days.

there is a fair chance that the pro who gives you the lesson will find something for you to focus on in your swing, depending on which shot you're practicing. But one thing I find is getting a good pitching technique (50-75yds) will improve your full swing, too.