Harmonious

I will agree with those that advise against a spinning chip shot. To get consistent roll-outs, you really want to eliminate spin on chips as much as possible. Not to say that certain circumstances may call for a bit more aggressive plays, but for a standard "get it rolling as soon as possible" chip shot, less spin is better.

Thus starts yet another "rag on Haney" thread.

I don't play much outside my home course, except for tournaments. I really liked Waldorf-Astoria, Falcon's Fire and Champion's Gate National. I think they are top-notch. Guys I know, whose opinion I respect, have mentioned Grande Pines and the Grand Cypress courses. Plus, the Disney courses are nearby although they may be pricier year-round. Here's a good listing of courses, with lots of reviews for the Orlando Attractions area, which is where you will be staying: http://www.golfnow.com/orlando/tee-times/golf-courses/fl---orlando-attractions/search

I think you will like it. It's centrally located to all the Disney/Seaworld/Universal stuff. Lots of golf courses nearby, and if you are there in the Summer months, the prices will be relatively reasonable.

I thought you were mainly here to tell us your pedigree as a marshal, and that you are currently at the "must-play" course in whatever state you're in. Isn't that the truth!

I was talking to a friend on the range the other day, who I have been helping out a little with his swing. He said that he gets frustrated with his game, but now he is shooting in the low 90's. He said he pulled out some scorecards from a year ago, and saw that he shot in the 110's and 120's. Lots of improvement in only a year. He hasn't had any "official" lessons but is pretty diligent on working on the things I've showed him (for what that's worth). And if he continues to work on hitting the ball before the ground, he should be in the 80's in short order. He was striping it on the range, so we'll see how that translates onto the course.

Never really played much golf (maybe 3-4 rounds a year), but moved to an apartment complex that was on a golf course. Started playing a couple times a week. No practice, except walking a few holes in the evening. Joined the mens club and played a few tournaments. Looking back, I had a lousy swing, no knowledge of course management, old clubs, etc. Took about a year and a half to get my first GHIN card with an index under 10. I thought I was hot stuff at the time. Little did I know.......

Thanks for your service to our country. And maybe this should be a little lesson to those who post before they think. Thanks again.

It seems that in the past week I have read something like the following from at least 3 different posters: "Me and my buddy did so-and-so..." or "I seen so-and-so". I just can't take any post seriously when the poster can't grasp even the basics of the English language.

5.5 should be just fine. That's what I have & my driver speed is around 105.

It's not about how fast he is or isn't. It's about whether he improves his lie. I have noticed it in the past, and saw it again yesterday. He definitely improves his lie in taller grass. I've also noticed that he presses his iron down onto the ground just outside, and parallel to, his target line. It seems like it could leave a slight indentation in the grass and potentially help in his alignment.

OP didn't say where this Golfsmith store is located, but I've never had that kind of experience at any Golfsmith I've been to. The guys I've talked with, and those I've seen interacting with others, seem to be quite knowledgeable. But given the intense discussions on here about cast vs forged wedges, I guess there are differences of opinions out there as well. And, to be sure, the sales staff are there to make a sale so they MIGHT be inclined to steer customers toward more expensive clubs.

Well, I guess you have your answer then. But I'm not sure you'll drop your score 10 strokes by swinging harder. But that's just me; I guess we see it differently.

I think you may be interpreting the graph incorrectly. Those with low handicaps generally have higher clubhead speeds because they have better swings. Just swinging hard will not lower your handicap. You should swing as hard as possible WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO HIT THE CENTER OF THE CLUBFACE. If you can't do that, you are probably swinging too hard. Depending on the trouble off the tee, hitting less than driver is common. If there are bunkers right and left at 240 and my regular drive goes 250, I'd be stupid not to hit 3-wood. Just look at any tournament on TV. You will routinely see guys hitting 3-woods, hybrids and irons off the tee to eliminate trouble. As far as short game, you should work on it so you can lower your score, plain and simple.

You're 20 so I assume you either have a job or go to college, right? When would you carve out the amount of time to practice and play enough to drop 12-15 strokes from your current game? Unless you are independently wealthy or currently on a college golf team, that is. Questions to answer: How much time do you currently devote to the game? What does the pro at your course think of your chances? Have you ever talked with him, or showed him your talent level? How well do you do in the tournaments you play in? Do you currently play with top-level amateur players and/or pros so you know what is expected? Can you be a pro golfer? Sure, all you have to do is say you're a pro. But can you be a touring pro golfer who plays week-in and week-out for millions of dollars on TV? Get back to us in a year, and you'll probably have your answer.

Are you saying that you stacked outside fee-players in front of your members every day? Then joked about it amongst yourselves? Nice.

That's really all there is to speeding up play. Get to your ball with the right club(s), hit it and move on. When on the green, everyone lines up their putts at once, with a quick final read before stroking their own putt. Don't stand around and watch others when you could be getting ready to hit your own shot. It can easily be done without interfering with anyone else's shot, but as you say, so many "golfers" are oblivious and/or apathetic. But at least they save time elsewhere by not filling in their numerous huge divots, and by NOT raking the sand after their floggings in a bunker.

Speaking as someone who plays in a WALKING foursome, we routinely watch the hackers in front of us take too long hitting their approaches, take too long lining up then missing their putts, and take too long every time the cart girl comes by. Usually costs us 30 minutes of waiting every round. Cart girls are not the major problem, for sure. But they do contribute to the frustration, especially if they serve a group in the fairway while the green is open ahead and people are waiting on the tee behind them. As one who abhors slow play I was responding to the OP's contention that delays due to cart girls are completely acceptable, while delays due to poor golfers is not. Seems that any type of delay should be unacceptable, especially for the best course in his state, as he describes it.

Suggest this thread be closed. It's getting way too personal for a public forum. But welcome to williamcollins.

So delays of certain types are acceptable, but other types are not? Why continue to ask about slow players if your policy is to encourage them to stop multiple times per round for drinks, no matter if groups behind them are waiting. It's clear that you really don't care about the speed of play.

The groups that routinely are slow will be slow no matter whether you have GPS, easy pins, clocks, whatever. They don't have a clue. The ONLY way to address the problem is for the marshal (after two warnings?. Really?) is to tell them to pick up and move to the next hole. If they get mad, ask yourself whether you want to piss off one group, or continue to piss off the five groups that have been waiting behind them all day. If you are truly a must-play facility, I would guess that prospective golfers will assume you have your stuff together, and know how to deal with slow play.

Isn't this interesting. A guy (Simpson, Streelman, others) credits someone or something outside of himself and is considered him a jerk. Another guy credits himself (Reed) and is considered a jerk. And if a guy said absolutely nothing to an interviewer, he would be considered a jerk. Seems there is no way to satisfy everybody. So maybe they should just continue on, and let the rabble discuss their behavior on the internet.

I guess it's what you want to do, and how much to pay. Shadow Creek = $500; same, I think for Cascata. For that price, you could play 4-5 rounds at a very nice course nearer the casinos. Cascata is quite a lengthy drive out toward Boulder City. Plus, don't you have to stay at Caesar's to play there? And don't you have to stay at a Wynn property to play Shadow Creek? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's the way it used to be.

Driving back home today from a one-day tournament in Brooksville, I stuck Leon Russell into the CD player (sorry, no MP3 player yet). No better road music than Leon.

You might have his "I only had my B game today" after he won a tournament. Basically saying "I can beat you guys even when I'm not playing my best". Some weeks, I guess he could, but that smacks of arrogance as well. But, if you can back it up......