authentic_golfer

Dude, you have got to get over that! Just think of all the great seaside/waterfront courses you are ruling out: Pebble Beach and the entire Monterey Peninsula Kiawah Island Whistling Straits Chambers Bay Every course in Hawaii Ballybunion and most of Ireland St. Andrews and the entire Open rotation I'd hate to see you pass up any of these, given a chance to play there. Man up, Colin! Just having a bit of sport with you, mate. But seriously... Sean

Vaguely remember that, Chilli, but it's a hilarious image. See a bit of everything on the 17th, don't we? Cheers, Sean

In the States: Kiawah Island, Ocean Course Circling Raven (see above post) TPC Sawgrass Sage Valley, So.Caro. (private) Linville GC, No.Caro.

I clicked on this thread fearing it involved a medical question of a personal nature. What a relief! Yellow makes sense, but white is so entrenched I can't see a major movement in another direction. Just ask Jerry Pate, whose orange Wilson ProStaff was all the rage when he won the first TPC played at TPC Sawgrass back in the day. Sean

How about a least-favorite moment -- when that jackass jumped in the water before Jeff Sluman was about to putt in a playoff, late-1980s. Anyone else here old enough to remember that? Believe Sandy Lyle ended up beating him, but too lazy to look it up. Favorite moment (warning, personal ego stroking ahead): When I stuffed an 8-iron to 8 feet, only time I played the course. Yes, I missed the putt. Sean

Jeez, guys, thought the question asked about your ideal day, and here you are shooting your realistic 81s and 86s in the rain. Heck with that. I'm firing a 59 in 70-degree, sunny, dry weather. Bombing it 300 on command. And generally making the ball my bi-otch with an array of fades, draws, punch shots, lofted long irons and bump-and-runs. Of course, every putt is tracking like an ICBM. Did I mention this was happening at Pebble Beach? With Kate Beckinsale toting the bag, providing yardages to the inch and whispering words of encouragement as I march toward U.S. Open history? Cheers, Sean

Glad we were able to talk you into hitting Bandon, Canuck. Took some real arm-twisting. Chalk up another rave review, the only kind BD ever gets. Obvious question is, which course was your favorite? Also, did you play Old Macdonald and, if so, what did you think? Feel free to share as much as you want about the place, right down to the beers available at the 19th hole. Some of us have to live the experience vicariously, for now. Thanks for the rundown. Look forward to hearing more. Sean

My golf reading has mostly included books on architecture, course profiles and such. A number I want to read though, including Golf In the Kingdom and The Greatest Game Ever Played -- on the strong recommendations stated on this thread. Sean

Always good to see top young talent rise to the top, especially in droves like we've seen this year. The guys mentioned above have some major game, too. Now if Sergio, Charles Howell, Adam Scott, Badds et al would just step it up.... Sean

Taking the putter back on line, instead of too far inside. Lifelong issue. Making progress, though. Sean

Sorry to hear that, Phil. Be careful or you'll get a reputation for being injury-prone. Could really hurt your draft status. Get well (again) soon. Sean

I'm gonna take a flyer on Rory. How'd he fare today, anyhow? Kid's a mega-talent. Good to see him break through in a big way. Sean

Funny how we all acknowledge the short game's importance, and recognize that out best rounds are usually those when we're sharp around the greens. And yet, it's almost more satisfying to play well from tee to green and score worse... Ironic how we realize the short game is the most crucial aspect to scoring, but feel almost like we've "cheated" when the putter saves us. Golfers are weird. Sean

Holy cow! I know it was par 70 and a short course, but 58 is ridiculous anytime, anywhere. Kid's got talent, no doubt. Can't believe he's only 18. Sean

No argument here. Golf IS a stupid game. Congrats on the great score, regardless of your lousy driving. It ain't how, it's how many. Sean

I'll let the swing gurus hash out the intricacies of Tiger's swing pre- and post-Hank... I do know that since switching to Haney in 2004, Tiger has won 6 majors and 32 tour events. So it's not like Haney wrecked the guy. That doesn't necessarily mean he's the right guy for TW, either. Who knows what Tiger would've done with another coach (Butch), or - gasp - no coach at all. Sean

Adding, by no means do I consider Trump to be a typical Yank. Sean

Put yourself in the shoes of a Scotsman (or woman) and I suspect you'd see it differently. The cultural divide is often small, but sometimes large. Can't speak for the Scots, but to me Trump is the very embodiment of the "ugly American." Sean

Thanks for the tip, Jared. I suspect they're trying to lure as many folks to Gulf Shores ASAP, before the oil changes everything. Is Gulf Shores expected to get inundated? Tragic to see what's already happening in Louisiana and Miss. Sean

Trial and error, my man. That's a trap pretty much everyone falls into, so don't feel like the Lone (Driving) Ranger. I say to hell with the 7i and start with the club that gets used far more than any other in the course of a round - the putter. Learn to putt, chip & pitch and work back from there. Nothing beats a great short game. Sean

Cavity-back forged irons (a la Mizuno's) are a perfect compromise, IMHO. Feel of forged, forgiveness of cavities (although not as much as with super-game-improvement irons). Sean

Thanks for the review, Bono. Have been thinking about going to the Transitions myself -- if they work for golf, I'm sold! Have worn glasses on course for years. Tried contacts once but they didn't work out, and I'm too chicken to let anyone near my eyes with a laser beam. Tiger had lasic surgery as well, FYI. Sean

Hey Adam, Bet we've all been there, in competition or not. I'd be curious to know how you approached each shot once you had made a couple of mistakes and brought the possibility of a big number into play. I can speak from experience, both playing and observing, that young players often quit on a hole, rush shots in anger, or otherwise give in to their worst instincts. Just asking, of course. You may be the most level-headed kid on the planet -- and goodness knows, I've seen guys much older than you pack it in after a bad shot or two. (Looking at you, John Daly...) Good luck, regardless. If you figure out the issue, PLEASE fill us old guys in on the secret. Sean

I am crying with jealousy, 65! Believe most us are familiar with Pebble, Spyglass, Poppy Hills, and SB. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Pasatiempo... Removing any bias resulting from your ace (congrats!), what did you think? I've seen photos before and after Tom Doak's remodeling, and it looks astounding. The resurrection of the Mackenzie bunker style may be the best course architecture development of the past 30 years. Best, Sean

Ask me again tomorrow! The current shag is quite slow, would guess only a 4-5. Not very good for practice. Sean