doctork

Welcome, ATC. I know I speak for many of my North American brethren in expressing serious golf envy at your locale. Hope to visit someday. Cheers, DoctorK

Water, sports drinks... and occasionally a Bloody Mary for a morning round. Cheers, DoctorK

That's pretty much how I feel. Also agree it's really a player-specific question. A guy like Seve Ballesteros, for instance, was money at Augusta and the (British) Open, but had about as good a chance as winning a U.S. Open as I do. Only a very elite group have the game/mentality to win every one -- hence, only a handful ever won all four in a career. Cheers, DoctorK

Same here, but my fitting was a brief session, indoors, and only told me I was standard all the way around. Go figure! Like others, I've always "fit" myself, mostly through trial and error. But I've heard so many raves for the wonders of fitting -- not just in golf mags but from fellow golfers -- that I definitely plan to do it next time I'm in the market. Cheers, DoctorK

You da man! Sorry, had to do it. Glad you didn't have the same experience as a poster from a few days back, who walked off the course thinking he'd broken 80 for the first time, only to tally his scorecard and realize he'd shot 80 on the number. Cheers, DoctorK

Congrats to you both. Next stop, breaking 80! Enjoy the moment, and I'll pretend I'm sipping this stout in your honor. Cheers, DoctorK

Be still, my heart! Actually played (and still own) a set of T-Zoid Pro irons, which I played and loved for 9 years. Suspect the Pros are more forgiving than the TRUEs... I upgraded to the MP-57s a couple years ago - much easier to hit than the T-Zoids, which I thought were forgiving when I switched from Wilson Staff blades in 1999. I digress... Imagine you'll find them pretty tough to hit, but if/when you do pure one... Butter! Good luck, DoctorK

That is a classic D'OH moment there, Meddle. Look on the bright side. You'll get to experience breaking 80 for the first time, twice! Confident you'll actually get it done soon. Best of luck, DoctorK

Wow, that's a loaded question. Here's a paradox: the better the contact, the less you actually feel it. No vibration, no clunking sensation... Kinda like hitting a marshmallow. Cheers, DoctorK

Jeez, Grooves, way to jinx him. Guess you were the guy who whispered to the pitcher that he had a no-hitter going in the 7th. Cheers, DoctorK

Tiger from the fairway bunker on 18 at Hazeltine, PGA Championship. Tiger says it was his best shot, good enough for me. The Tiger shot I marvel at that gets overlooked was one he played on #14 at Muirfield Village. Pitch off a severe downhill lie to a super-slick green sloping away from him, toward the creek. TW throws it straight up into the air, lands just on and trickles in. Outrageous. Others, non-Tiger category: Mickelson from the straw at the Masters... Nicklaus 1-iron, 71st hole of the 1972 Masters... Jack driving it through the green on 18 at St. Andrews, 1970 Open... Shaun Micheel, PGA at Oak Hill, 72nd hole... YE Yang... All those dudes who holed out to beat Greg Norman... Cheers, DoctorK

I've seen these mid-50s scores too and always question them. Guess I've never happened to be on a team that "gets hot" on the greens and birdies most every hole, with an eagle or two thrown in. In fact, it's more typical that a team foursome walks off the course saying, Man, if we had just made those 5 putts we missed inside 15 feet. Just because you've got four looks at a putt does not guarantee someone will make it, even if it's fairly close. Cheers, DoctorK

If there's one area in which one is clearly superior to the other, it's the short game. Tiger's one of the best ever around the greens; Nicklaus was average, at best. And that's one part of golf where equipment has had little if any effect. Spare me the argument that Nicklaus never missed greens and thus didn't need a good short game. Tiger's GIR stats are always at or near the top. Cheers, DoctorK

My thoughts line up with the above posters re: Pebble, Merion, Olympic. It will never host an Open due its remote locale, but Pacific Dunes measures just 6,633 yards from the tips -- with four par-3s on the back nine! Haven't had the good fortune to play it but I know it's no pushover. And don't forget Cypress Point, around 6,500 yards if memory serves. Length is overrated. So is rough. Cheers, DoctorK

I'd say those yardages match up about as expected, Wacky. Driver and 7-iron yardage are in sync there. DoctorK

Someone has likely made this point already (I didn't read all 255 pages ), but this argument should take into account more than major championships. Fact is, Nicklaus won 73 total tour events, majors included, during his career. Tiger has already won 71 times, majors included, and will obliterate Jack's mark as well as Sam Snead's all-time (men's) record of 82. And it's not like Tiger is picking off wins against weak fields. Like Jack, he's been highly selective when scheduling and plays only those tourneys with the best fields, on the best courses. Here's my question: If Tiger finishes with 17 majors and, say, 100 total victories, who's the greatest? Cheers, DoctorK

Those are incredible prices for a course with the Black's pedigree. Granted, it takes some work to get on, but they could easily charge $200+ and still fill the tee sheet. Granted, the locals would be peeved, and it would be the wrong thing to do. But they could. DoctorK

That's impressive CHS with your tempo. I'm jealous, too. Looks like you could easily get CHS over 110, but I suspect you'd rather not sacrfice the contact/accuracy you get with that tempo. I top out at about 105 and drive it about the same, 260-ish. Wish I made it look that easy, though. Cheers, DoctorK

Have heard of that one, Ray. Old Robert Muir Graves design, if memory serves? Tough as everyone says, huh? DoctorK

Hey Kevin -- Never heard of that happening. Sounds like you're playing WAY too much golf! ECCO shoes are pricey, but the sole and shoe are actually one piece (not sure how they do it), so they never separate. Might be a good investment given your issues. Cheers, DoctorK

In no particular order... California, Arizona, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas. DoctorK

Only in my dreams... DoctorK

Congrats, Harp, and best of luck with the new career. DoctorK

Visors are for Steve Spurrier and guys stuck in the '70s. Cap or nothing. DoctorK

Hmmm, maybe he missed a 2-footer, threw the putter in anger, sulked back to the cart in a huff and never picked up the offending club. Would never happen to me, of course... Cheers, DoctorK