JayMc

The club champ at my good buddy's club does this very thing. He'll carry his even # irons for while then switch to odd #. He claims he does it to keep the weight down in his carry bag (extremely modest guy), but he's really doing it to work on his shot making. Guy has crazy good game. I only have 6 or so rounds with my new irons, but after I'm a bit more familiar with them I plan to try something similar. My idea really is to keep weight down

From the LPGA website...

For real....

+1 Graeme -2 Dustin Tiger Woods(8) Graeme McDowell(4) Dustin Johnson(4)

+1 Graeme -2 Luke Tiger Woods(5) Steve Stricker(6) Jim Furyk(9) Luke Donald(2) Graeme McDowell(11) Dustin Johnson(8)

Absolutely! I know exactly what you mean. I get jittery on #1 even in a casual round. Two of my happiest golf memories were in front of mini galleries though so there are pluses.

Timing being what it is, I recently updated my irons and putter within a 90 day span. I replaced rifle shafted DCI irons (circa 1994) with a sparkling set of Mizunos and a Cleveland putter with a SC putter. The bag drop guys at the course try to clean them up after every round and I discourage it. I'm self conscious because they're too shiny

+1 Graeme -2 Ernie Tiger Woods(7) Steve Stricker(12) Jim Furyk(15) Paul Casey(3) Luke Donald(6) Graeme McDowell(15) Dustin Johnson(7) Zach Johnson(9)

I use a course yardage book from my home course and make notes on it. Little reminders like, "plays 1/2 club long" or "fairway pushes tee balls right". After a while most of that becomes 2nd nature, but until you know a course the notes are helpful.

My home course plays pretty long (for me anyway). I'd carry my hybrid 2I, 7I and 56d wedge. I can back off the hybrid or really step on it so it would help off the tee; also good for long putts. The 7I is a good, versatile mid iron. The 56d would help on our elevated greens and I practice putting with it. That could actually be a very fun tournament.

+1 G Mac - 2 Ernie Tiger Woods(12) Phil Mickelson(3) Steve Stricker(13) Jim Furyk(13) Paul Casey(11) Luke Donald(7) Graeme McDowell(14) Ernie Els(4) Dustin Johnson(6) Zach Johnson(9)

That was a good finish! I've never been a Tiger fan. I respect his insane talent, but that's where it stops. That being said, it's always better to watch when he's in the hunt. 2011 should be a great year for the tour.

George Lucas, Arnie's old caddie, made them for most of the tour courses. Some courses have his books available for sale in the golf shop. I bought his book for Brown Deer Park (home of GMO) back in '01 when I played there. It had some funny comments on certain holes. I believe most of them start with a book like that then make their own notes.

+1 Phil -2 Dustin Tiger Woods(17) Phil Mickelson(10) Steve Stricker(14) Jim Furyk(12) Paul Casey(11) Luke Donald(9) Graeme McDowell(12) Ernie Els(9) Dustin Johnson(6) Zach Johnson(11)

That sucks man. Glad golf helps though.

That's a good way to look at it. I hit just under 10 greens per round (tracked over time) and have a lot of approach shots that end up on the fringe. That's why I'm looking for 1 stroke from chipping savings. On the greens I do hit I'm a good "almost" putter. I make very few putts in the 8-15' range, but I seem to miss the overwhelming majority of them by a hair. It drives me crazy to have so many lip outs. Maybe four strokes improvement from that is too much. Maybe 2 is more realistic. If I could pick up one more GIR, make two more putts, and chip one more into gimme range it could get very interesting

Great question! After being an extremely avid golfer for years I came very close to giving it up for about 8 years. It wasn't intentional, but it happened gradually. Since getting back into it and working my index back down I've noticed an improvement in my life in several areas. * Better quality time with family - time on the course with my kids is great. Time off the course is better spent if I've just played or am playing a round the next day. It's like I'm more focused on actively enjoying my family instead of just hanging out with no plan of how to spend our time together. * Desire to stay physically fit to play better golf * Better work/life balance (tend to not emotionally take work home with me) - I'm a workaholic. Golf gives me something else to think about. * Better guy time with friends - I play with some great guys who are good people to hang out with. * Overall better demeanor * Happier wife - of my hobbies (hunting, flyfishing, archery tournaments, etc) golf if the one my wife approves of most * Ministry opportunities - there are some churches in my area that are very active in using golf as a church ministry. That's a win/win for me.

+1 Phil -1 Padraig Harrington - he's done -1 Allenby Tiger Woods(13) Phil Mickelson(11) Steve Stricker(12) Jim Furyk(12) Paul Casey(11) Luke Donald(13) Graeme McDowell(11) Rory McIlroy(10) Ernie Els(14) Dustin Johnson(9) Hunter Mahan(8) Adam Scott(6) Zach Johnson(11) Robert Allenby(2)

Pro events are a lot of fun. Just don't be that guy who yells "you the man" or "get in the hole" on every shot.

Here in TN we don't have a full off season. January and February will be pretty cold, but a warm day here and there will allow for a round or two. I don't mind practicing when the temps dip as long as the sun is out. My intention is to work on a couple things from December through March that seem to be the biggest variances in my game from back when my index was low. I'm still hitting about the same number of greens and fairways as I was when at my best, but my putting and getting up and down are weaker. I think that I can shave four strokes off my game by focusing on these two areas. I can work on chipping and putting more easily when bundled up a bit than I can a full swing so my winter goal is to find three strokes putting (I barely miss a LOT of 8-15' putts) and one stroke chipping. If I can do that I'll be pleased. What are you working on this winter? Does my goal seem too aggressive?

+1 Phil -2 Rickie Fowler Tiger Woods(12) Martin Kaymer(7) Phil Mickelson(7) Steve Stricker(10) Jim Furyk(10) Paul Casey(11) Luke Donald(12) Graeme McDowell(11) Rory McIlroy(11) Matt Kuchar(4) Ernie Els(11) Dustin Johnson(16) Hunter Mahan(11) Retief Goosen(6) Adam Scott(11) Zach Johnson(11) Padraig Harrington(10) Robert Allenby(8) Rickie Fowler(1)

That is so true.

+1 Mickelson -2 Fowler Lee Westwood(6) Tiger Woods(12) Martin Kaymer(7) Phil Mickelson(6) Steve Stricker(10) Jim Furyk(11) Paul Casey(10) Luke Donald(12) Graeme McDowell(12) Rory McIlroy(12) Ian Poulter(8) Matt Kuchar(8) Ernie Els(10) Dustin Johnson(14) Hunter Mahan(11) Retief Goosen(8) Adam Scott(10) Zach Johnson(11) Padraig Harrington(9) Robert Allenby(8) Rickie Fowler(8)

I hit that shot and it drives my dad and father-in-law nuts (b/c they can't hit it). My old teaching pro told me once to never try to figure out how I do it or I'll lose it

Do you spin the ball hard? I used to play a 55* SW w/out a GW. I could hit the SW 110yds, but it really spun hard. A few years ago I went to a 52* GW and a 56* SW. I can hit the SW 100yds, but the spin is crazy when I hit it full. I've gotten to where I don't hit the SW over 90yds b/c of the excess spin and just lay back on the GW for 100yd shots.