tasker

My outlook on golf has changed as I age. I joined a private club two seasons ago and have gone from a 15.5 index down to a 10.5 index. My course has taught me how to play better golf. My main goal in golf is to enjoy myself and the camaraderie of my playing partners, which more frequently now includes my kids I have taken more instruction as well, now having access to a competent coach. This has improved my technique, but I am not really seeing statistical proof of that improvement showing up yet - just tends to give me confidence and (maybe) eliminates a few blow-ups that might have happened before. The real change for me is an improved short game, mostly putting. I hit about 6-8 Greens in reg and have gone from 36-38 down to 30-32 putts per round. That has been the biggest statistical difference in my game over the past two years. so 1) as long as I am having fun and as long as I think I am playing to my realistic best on a given day, that for me is good enough 2) as I gradually improve, I would like to get into high single digit index in next 2 years and if I can continue to devote sufficient practice time to the longer game, I would like to get to mid-single digit index. 3) this year I plan to spend more time at the course on the practice facilities (2-3 sessions per week aside from warm up and playing). But I do find I need a balance - when I practice too much, I can get frustrated with a lack of progress beyond short-term luck. So last year I divvied my number of course events - half for practicing, half for playing. I plan to continue that in the coming years. For me, once I am retired, being able to play on a more frequent basis (from a game ability and health point of view) is my longer goal.

I voted no - in my case it was a complete non-runner over 16 years of marriage. During the years we had kids, I basically gave up the game to devote time to our family and to our house. With the expectation that normal golf patterns would resume as the kids aged and as life got simpler. Needless to say this did not occur and became a substantial source of conflict and discontent. As golf was my primary social (and physical) activity, this was a very big problem for me. While golf was not the reason for our separation, it was a strongly symbolic aspect that made me realize how important it is to have expectations set and agreed. So if any of you lucky fellas (or girls) has a golf loving sister ......

Pretty sure they were chip and Pin in 2002 when I was there - Europe is miles ahead in this regard. In Canada we have been using since 2006/7/8. Not sure why the US would only go to Chip though - the PIN is what protects people. The Chip basically, as said, is harder to copy, therefore protecting only the card company. With Chip someone can still steal your card and use it by signing anything - with a PIN (unless it is written on the card - don't laugh - common occurrence in early days), no such luck.

As I recall, David Duval had his great stretch also after slimming down.

Did anyone else experience the pixelation issue after upgrading? It is kinda driving me crazy - I can't identify the trigger but parts of the screen just go kooky pixelated. Web search shows it to be a known issue, but sadly haven't found out how to fix it yet. It is a 2010 27" iMac.

I was there earlier this year doing some diagnostics - very cool experience. Did trackman, the jacket /vest thing and and an anaysis on the hydraulic putting table/surface. It was a great insight and gave my instructor some very good data to aid my development plan. It actually went out of business but was recently resurrected - thankfully. Highly recommended if you finds yourself in Toronto and have the chance.

Last winter, I decided to devote more time to putting. Bought a 7 foot golf hole/mat thingy from eBay. Hooked up my iPhone to the putter using the cradle. Worked on path and open/closed stats and just getting a nicely repeatable stroke going on. Made lots of putts (probably 50-100 per day, 3-4 days per week) - made games for myself - like not being able to stop until at least 20 6 footers had been made. Got to a really reliable stroke that helped me take 3-4 strokes off my putting game. Now I find the putter doesn't really matter - I have a good few and can make repeated putts with each and every one of them. So I learned, in my case, it really is the archer, not the bow which is responsible. And now when I miss it is more about misreading the putt, rather than the pure execution.

I used to take it (now on Crestor) but never had the died effects you mention - you should infirm your doctor. Muscle soreness is a known side effect though.

I routinely buy recycled balls, mint grade or better' and find them to be excellent value. I bought reconditioned balls once and found then much less satisfactory. The paint scheme was different than original and the refinished paint same off quite easily resulting in very shabby looking balls after a few shots, so that was not a good outcome for me.

If you live near a Ping center they will adjust for free (while I waited in my case) and it is a great experience as well. If you don't live nearby I think they still do the adjustments for free and you only pay for shipping. Just a thought.

For. Me it is a combination of practice and playing. I am a 14 hcp and need to play at least 40 rounds per year (I am in Canada in a shorter season), and need to do range work twice per week to show better scores - I got down to 11 hcp two years ago in this manner. If I play and practice half that I get worse or stagnate in terms of scoring. But I am not a natural athlete and I need to do work to progress. I have friends who don't play and practice and can break 80 on almost any day :-(

When you are in Dublin, there are also some options. Port Marnock is only ~ 25 minutes from the city centre, Royal Dublin is on Dublin Bay as is Royal St Annes. St Margaret's is near the airport (somewhat) and the Island is not far. As mentioned, Dooks is a good West Ireland option - with a great story. Each hole was designed by separate members and so it somewhat quirky but fun. Waterville is interesting. Killarney is fun. Mount Juliet, in Kilkenny is a Nicklaus course. Ballybunnion is an experience - get a caddy to make it more fun, if they still have the caddy service. So many options and it seems like the price spiral in the mid 2000's has subsided a bit with deals to be had - find some local friends :-)

Terms of affection :-)

You cannot go wrong with a clicgear. Great carts on all fronts. If you are at all DIY inclined, it is getting easier and easier to pickup older versions that you can refurb quite cheaply. You can buy almost every replacement part you may need. I have picked up a 1.0 for well under $100 and had to spend only $40 to get the functions of a 2.0.

I have played all three and greatly favour the E5. Off driver and Irons it behaves, even in the wind and feels like magic on the wedges and putter - for me. I found the DT Solo and E6 to be slightly longer but also found them to be quite unpredictable when the green was close by. YMMV.

Ping is a great experience. Here in Toronto i can book time at the local Ping facility for a free assessment and adjustment and you can do it as long as your clubs (Ping of course) are yours and they are "supported" by Ping. Generally this means as long as production replacements are still available. Highly recommended.

Irishjohn, If you played hurling inside out is easier. Most of my mates in Waterford golfed like the hurled, hit the golf ball a mile and never had it go right, for a righty. But left hand low is taking it to the extreme. So think of the lub as a hurley. In terms of drills, since i was a notorious outside in swinger, was to resist starting the downswing with the hands, arms or shoulders, and lt that motion begin with the torso uncoiling, which will help feel the inside out motion. The visual cues mentioned above will also help convince your brain that what you are doing is right. I would also suport the use of the alignment sticks (even a long dowel from Woodies) since many times the slicing ball flight can be based on a dodgy alignment. When everything is more or less square, it is easier to figure out what is going wrong. When everything has its own angle, finding out what is wrong is far more difficult.

I will generally lay it up asclose as possible. Being cautious has kept the large numbers aay from par 5s for the most part this year. I am a medium length hitter. On long par 4s i will also layup as close to green as posibble. Moral of the story for me hasben that any heo shot i may make to save one stroke will almost certainly be more than eaten up by an errant go for it shot, so the risk is not worth it for me.

Got mine with the Serrano stiff shaft and I like it very much - it was much better for me on the launch monitor. Sweet driver that just cannot get kicked out of my bag.

I was in you position after the season before last - horrific putting. Went to a coach for advice and I was basically all over the place. So we started by squaring everything up in terms of alignment and got me used to putting is a square setup - that took a lot of reps to get used to teh different visuals. After a few casual months of indoor practice over the winter (I am in Canada), then I started to go to indoor putting greens to start to get a better feel for distance of putts. With a bunch of work I went fom avergaing 38-40 putts per round down to 34.5, which is my current average. remeber that the average also includes greenside chips and one putts :-) But the lesson for me was that I had built so many compensations into my rputine it became unworkable. Back to basics is always a good strategy. Good luck.

Is it a golf specific rangefinder? I have a Leupold and all i have to do is click the button to get the crosshairs, then hold the button while placing the cross hairs on my target and yargage appears. Very consistent and only rarely fooled by competing background objects that i have learned to recognize. Good luck!

Great thread. I too am in the same flaw crowd. But this year i am working with my coach on some prctical check points i can use and remeber to relate to a good outcome. Before this i would do the drills etc, but would gravitate back to no mans land. At least now i feel like i have some markers i can latch on to.

Hi Woltaire, My friend from Mainz had a set of grooveless clubs which he played quite well. I did not. Believe the technology was valid, but he showed thisnto be untrue with nice ball flight and the ability to stop balls on the greens.

Hi Dialit Welcome! Where are you from in Ireland? My wife is from Waterford and we lived there from 1998 through 2006 before returning to my native Canada. I miss the golf very much but was back for a wedding last summer and reacquainted myself with the sea winds at Tramore.

I normally play a fade but every once and a while I have a range day as you describe. For me it is usually that my alignment has gone a bit wonky. When I fix that the fade returns to normal.