pmcarync

There's a real good article on this subject in last month's Golf Digest... called the "17 Yard Secret" that looks into the effect of ball flight, landing angles, and roll impact. Here's the URL to the article: http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...61217yard.html

The best advice is probably to schedule a session with a good club fitter who has a Launch Monitor type set up and go spend some time with him/her trying out different options and let the data make the recommendation for you. A decent club maker will have a variety of options incl'g the latest models of shafts. Oh, and don't foget to take a couple of balls that you regularly use... compression differences can make a difference, esp with some of the newer nano-carbon shafts.

Thanks for the link... looks well designed and easy to do from home without a lot of investment in equiptment.

I'd like to get to single digit hcap on my home course (currently 12) by summer time, mostly by improving my putting game...as I figure I probably leave 1-2 strokes per round on the greens. Once I get to that, I'm going to start playing occasionally from the back tees to get more course time with my longer irons...then enter a club championship for the first time.

No debate about fittings at a 'mega golf store' by salesmen... 90+% it's probably a waste of time. I've had very good success with an indoor launch monitor fitting, as IMHO, with most things in life if it's done by someone who knows what he/she is doing (in this case a knowledgeable fitter) then they know how the computer results will carry on to the range/course. The only time that I tend to prefer an outdoor LM fitting is with drivers/woods/hybrids so that I can really get a visual on ball flight relative to where I aim. For the person earlier in the thread who asked what prices are for quality fittings, below is the URL for a local fitter who is very, very good at what he does. His price list is under the link for "services". http://clubguygolf.com/home

Here's the link to the club we joined this past year: http://macgregordowns.org/?Menu=Golf&Page;=Golf

Not to be too defensive of my home state... but relative to the Northeast and Northwest, it doesn't get too horrible here :) We play 11+ months a year, and having had lived in So Fla for 5 years where it truly is miserable in the summer, central NC and SC are year-round golf places with some good D1 schools (Duke, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, USC, etc.) that have great golf programs. In the winter, the only thing we encounter is morning frost delays, and since we usually only see snow on the ground once a year, it's not too often that play is cancelled due to snow. And I couldn't help but noticing on the weather map that NC had a bunch of 8's for December...and yes, I did get out yesterday to try out the Christmas present wedge :)

As Paulk says, depends on where you're planning on staying. North island, either Kapalua course is a treat; south of the airport, go to Wailea. As a 12hc the Gold course will probably give a challenge while the Blue might be more 'comfortable'... I'd definitely skip the Kannapali courses, imho, they are overpriced and overplayed. I haven't played Mekena (sp?) but heard some favorable comments from locals while I was there in '02.

Eagle Point is amazing... not even sure if it's fair to be on a 'great places to play' list since it's so hard to get on. Was lucky myself this past spring...hopefully will get an invite back next year. Old North State is another great course that you need a member invite for as well. As far as public courses here in NC, gotta love Pine Needles...all the beauty and layout challenge of #2 but with 'sand dollar' humped greens instead of turtle back greens :)