lamebums

That's another thing I don't get about people. If they're on a 550 yard par 5 and their drive only went 250, why are they waiting for the green ahead to clean? They didn't hit their driver 300, what in the world makes them think they're going to hit their 3 wood that far? It's doubly irritating to me because where they park their cart and wait for their second shot, especially because that's usually within my range and I get to sit there for 15 minutes. And then the top the ball halfway there or slice it into the woods, and have to hit another one.

More likely than not I'm getting a SkyCaddie for my birthday (~2 months). I'll have to see if I actually do shoot better (I probably would).

Possibly. But most of us use carts these days (and some courses require them). Usually the courses we play, we've probably played hundreds of times. In that sense it's an advantage for us over a pro who's play played the course once. SkyCaddie. After, Natalie's been pushing those for a few months now... heh, that's on my birthday wish list. But for the 99 out of 100 of us who don't have one, you can bet a good yard book is worth five strokes especially on an unfamiliar course. The amount of advantage may vary but it helps with a few strokes. I think I'd shoot five to seven strokes better with all of those at hand on an unfamiliar course. If I played at my home course though, it'd only be two or three strokes.

I'm leaning towards Phil, although it's a pretty close call. Nobody even comes close to Vijay in work ethic and practice regimen, and it shows on the course. However, I'm leaning toward Phil just for his playing style.

Nike. Every club I've tried, I hated the feel. And to add insult to injury the ball never flew very far, even on well-struck shots.

That reminds me of the scene from Pulp Fiction when the guy and girl rob the coffee shop, Travolta is in the crapper, and Samuel L. Jackson gives the guy a lecture.

Ditto the first part. I only take a Tylenol if I've got a serious headache - no such problems on the course however.

They should not let a single camera or cell phone on the golf course during a tournament. Period. I don't care if they have to stripsearch everyone at the gates.

37 for 9, 81 for 18. I've been as much as three under par before, but it never lasted.

I hate slow play. I deal with slow play by not taking it. I prefer to play at times when the course isn't nearly as crowded, and I'll usually end up joining a group ahead as a single, or if in my own group, we'll just play at our own pace. If a crowded and slow day is unavoidable I make damned sure I'm in a three or foursome. Otherwise the day is unbearable. Hit the ball, drive up, wait 10 minutes, hit ball, wait 10 minutes. At least in a foursome there's time taken watching the other guy's shot which is a lot more interesting than watch the duffer up ahead line up his six putts each as if he's on 18 at Augusta needing the putt to force a playoff... Or worse the guy whose drive went 250 and has 300 yards left to the green...and waits for the green ahead to clear. When it clears he tops his ball perhaps a third of the way there.

Short term - I see with an economic downturn a decline in the number of rounds played, at least at local muni's and public courses. The game itself is like any business cycle - it has it's ups and down's. We're flattening out and entering a down phase. In the 70's we had Jack - in the 80's we had who? Greg Norman finished in second place how many times? Then in the 90's we had John Daly, Vijay, Tiger, etc. all come out and the game exploded. Technology allowed pro's to hit the ball further than ever, but we're reaching a point where technology can only improve so much, there's limits to how well we can design a golf ball. And for the average Joe...well, he's getting left behind, but that's only at newer courses. Go to any older one and they play fine, if not better because of new equipment. And yes, the average schmuck does drive a ball about 180-200 on average. I've played with enough of them to see it. And 75%+ of them slice.

Normally a 4 iron, 5 on a good day. Depends big-time on course conditions and weather, though.

I'm tempted to say I lose two clubs, but it's more with the longer ones since winter usually means soggy fairways, and little to no roll.

Social Distortion - Ball and Chain

Heh...unusual way to solve the problem. Anyone remember GitrDone or whatever he was called?

Three courses - 54 holes in all. http://www.kentoncounty.org/county_d...ses/index.html

I'd like to see someone like Zach Johnson win again, but I think Jim Furyk's got an excellent chance.

Putting. Nothing's more like a knife in the heart than missing a damned three-footer to save par or bogey.

Burner: $300 906F2: $120 Irons: $350 Wedges: $300 Putter: $150 Bag: $10 Doesn't count new grips, labor, etc, put into them. If so, add about $200. Total - $1430. Golf balls? Forget about it. I must have lost five hundred balls last year. And of course, the clubs not in my bag anymore. Cobra F/speed: $240 Ben Hogan: $100 Ben Hogan 3 wood: $90 Ben Hogan 5 wood: $80 It's a big number. :(

Dream set? Assuming I am able to hit a ball about 340 yards like the rest of them. Driver : Burner TP 3 Wood : 906F4 Irons : MP-67 2-PW - Rifle X shafts Wedges : Vokey 54* and 60* Putter : Abbie Actually, I'd buy their whole line of putters and switch out when I felt like it. At this rate, I'm better off putting with my 3 wood though...

Anything under 90 is good. I'm not nearly as consistent as I'd like, and the courses slopes are 134 and 137 (with average being 113, IIRC).

If you hit a high ball, I'd suggest you keep doing whatever you're doing with the clubs, and simply adjust your swing to hit a lower shot. The best players in the world - Jack is an excellent example - could hit a 1 iron higher than most players hit their 5 irons. He could adjust his swing to hit a low ball if he wanted to, though. Bottom line - a high ball hitter can hit a low ball, but a low ball hitter can't necessarily hit a high ball. I'd still suggest a clubfitter to see what gives you the best results. Off hand, I suggest an intermediate (not a muscleback, but not a super-improvement club either). I'm tempted to say the Ping i10. I've seen the TaylorMade RAC OS-2's on sale lately, as well. Use steel for your irons - much more consistent (and durable). At 95-105 MPH, I'd suggest a stiff - it's sort of borderline, but I'm assuming you'll still grow or at least get stronger as you get older.

That's the best way to approach the situation I've heard in a long time. I should try that.

The only con-man of the decade is the really big golf club maker. Instead of lessons and practice, they gave us golfers what we really needed - a sweet spot the size of a compact car. So now instead of slicing the ball 200 yards into the woods, we now slice it 300 yards into the woods. Although we still can't hit the side of a barn, we can at least swing one.

If it's a serious round I'll play the ball as it lies. If the course is in bad shape, it's not serious, or the rules apply equally to everybody (if we all get to improve our lies), then I'll nudge it around. No point in playing by the rules down to the T if 1) it isn't a serious/official round and 2) you aren't having fun. Just as long as you're aware that if you are in a money game or tourney you can't do it, and will probably affect your score.