The Golf Thread - 2015

[airweaz]

kentlad said:

Don't blame you. And if that's the case then that's fair enough. At least they've had the good sense to compensate you properly! Have they given you an ETA for the clubs? Bet you're itching to use them!

My ETA is this week but its one of many ETAs Ive been given so not got my hopes up. Ive just confirmed to play a swift 9 holes on sunday too so the old kit might be out or it might be the new kit.

Either way the new wedges will go in the bag for sunday.

[Boydie88]

Hit 99 on the local big scary 6500 yd par 73 on Saturday.

Pretty chuffed with that so got myself some Taylormade RBZ (4-AW) irons and an RAC wedge on ebay for £193 delivered to replace the 10 year old things that used to belong to my old man.

Interested to see if more expensive gear can make a difference. Inspired by the RBZ Driver and 3 Wood which are awesome.

[kentlad]

airweaz said:

My ETA is this week but its one of many ETAs Ive been given so not got my hopes up. Ive just confirmed to play a swift 9 holes on sunday too so the old kit might be out or it might be the new kit.

Either way the new wedges will go in the bag for sunday.

Fingers crossed then. At least you'll be playing either way!

Got to say I'm loving having the Scottish Open on while i work. Can't wait to watch the Open next week & hoping to attend next year!

[kentlad]

Boydie88 said:

Hit 99 on the local big scary 6500 yd par 73 on Saturday.

Pretty chuffed with that so got myself some Taylormade RBZ (4-AW) irons and an RAC wedge on ebay for £193 delivered to replace the 10 year old things that used to belong to my old man.

Interested to see if more expensive gear can make a difference. Inspired by the RBZ Driver and 3 Wood which are awesome.

Excellent stuff. And in answer to your question, can expensive gear make a difference? In my experience no. You'd always be better off with lessons to correct swing issues rather than buying clubs to compensate around it. Pet peeve of mine is adjustable drivers. I game an SLDR myself and hate the fact it's adjustable but i can't knock the low spin which has translated into huge distance gains for me. Standard lie & loft on it for me and it'll never change!

Having said that, shiny new gear? Yes please! Everyone loves shiny new clubs!!

[Rosscow]

Playing at Dartford tomorrow (work golf day).

Weather looks great!

[kentlad]

Rosscow said:

Playing at Dartford tomorrow (work golf day).

Weather looks great!

Great day for a round! That course is just down the road from me. Although I've never played it. Let me know what it's like, might have to check it out. A lot of the courses around the Dartford area suffer from over crowding / playing.

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

Playing at Dartford tomorrow (work golf day).

Weather looks great!

Great day for a round! That course is just down the road from me. Although I've never played it. Let me know what it's like, might have to check it out. A lot of the courses around the Dartford area suffer from over crowding / playing.

We play there every year - it's actually quite an enjoyable course and a lovely little clubhouse.

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the condition and the greens - hopefully they'll be as good this year.

Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 9th July 16:40

[kentlad]

Rosscow said:

We play there every year - it's actually quite an enjoyable course and a lovely little clubhouse.

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the condition and the greens - hopefully they'll be as good this year.

Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 9th July 16:40

I'll have to give it a try then! If you ever fancy playing somewhere else in Kent, Kings Hill is a cracking inland links just off the A2. Very friendly club and bloomin' tough in places!

[HaplessBoyLard]

Today's lesson... don't wear a bright green shirt when there's thousand of those little black bugs around that absolutely love bright colours. I was completely covered in them today and could barely play a shot for the first 4 holes. They eased off a bit after the 4th and I went bogey, par, bogey, par, birdie to close out the front 9, but the damage was done so I played 10-12 and skipped to the 17th

I'm hitting my irons nicely. It's really fizzing off the face, but after fixing a bit of a slice with the dog by starting the club back inside, I'm now closing the face and the ball starts left of aim with a hook, despite weakening my grip slightly to stop it closing. Frustrating!

[roboxm3]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Today's lesson... don't wear a bright green shirt when there's thousand of those little black bugs around that absolutely love bright colours. I was completely covered in them today and could barely play a shot for the first 4 holes. They eased off a bit after the 4th and I went bogey, par, bogey, par, birdie to close out the front 9, but the damage was done so I played 10-12 and skipped to the 17th

I'm hitting my irons nicely. It's really fizzing off the face, but after fixing a bit of a slice with the dog by starting the club back inside, I'm now closing the face and the ball starts left of aim with a hook, despite weakening my grip slightly to stop it closing. Frustrating!

Put the ball 1/2" back in your stance??

[HaplessBoyLard]

roboxm3 said:

Put the ball 1/2" back in your stance??

Yeah, I'll mess around with that next time I get out. I tend to play 2 balls a lot during practice rounds anyway

[kentlad]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Yeah, I'll mess around with that next time I get out. I tend to play 2 balls a lot during practice rounds anyway

When moving it back slightly, tee it up a little more and make sure you feel like you hit up on the ball. Should help you out.

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

We play there every year - it's actually quite an enjoyable course and a lovely little clubhouse.

I'm always pleasantly surprised by the condition and the greens - hopefully they'll be as good this year.

Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 9th July 16:40

I'll have to give it a try then! If you ever fancy playing somewhere else in Kent, Kings Hill is a cracking inland links just off the A2. Very friendly club and bloomin' tough in places!

Just shot 37 points (with a fking blob!), and also won the nearest the pin!

I actually really enjoy the course - it's in great condition. For £30 a round I'd definitely play it if I were you!

I drove the 18th green but managed to 3 putt for par!

[kentlad]

Rosscow said:

Just shot 37 points (with a fking blob!), and also won the nearest the pin!

I actually really enjoy the course - it's in great condition. For £30 a round I'd definitely play it if I were you!

I drove the 18th green but managed to 3 putt for par!

Well done on 37 points, especially if you don't play the course more than once a year! No-one likes a blob!! But saying that, great effort! I may well have to give it a crack. How long is the 18th?

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

Just shot 37 points (with a fking blob!), and also won the nearest the pin!

I actually really enjoy the course - it's in great condition. For £30 a round I'd definitely play it if I were you!

I drove the 18th green but managed to 3 putt for par!

Well done on 37 points, especially if you don't play the course more than once a year! No-one likes a blob!! But saying that, great effort! I may well have to give it a crack. How long is the 18th?

About 270 yards to the middle, but it plays very slightly uphill I'd say. I was actually through the green on the fringe so must have hit it about 280 all in.

[HaplessBoyLard]

kentlad said:

When moving it back slightly, tee it up a little more and make sure you feel like you hit up on the ball. Should help you out.

Played again today and everything was back to normal. Straight or a slight fade. God knows what was going on with that hook. I think I was just swinging too much from the inside as well as closing the face slightly.

Beat my best in that course by 1 too. 81 (+9). Three 3 putts on the front 9, 4 that lipped out and left a putt right in the jaws on 17 and 18. I think it's clear what's stopping me breaking into the 70s!

[iantr]

kentlad said:

...I game an SLDR myself...

That is a horrible US affectation. "I use..." or "I have..." surely?

[kiethton]

Captains day today and life meant I hadn't played in a good six weeks, life also meant a hangover...18 points (18 hole stableford) is a new low!

[Boydie88]

kentlad said:

Boydie88 said:

Hit 99 on the local big scary 6500 yd par 73 on Saturday.

Pretty chuffed with that so got myself some Taylormade RBZ (4-AW) irons and an RAC wedge on ebay for £193 delivered to replace the 10 year old things that used to belong to my old man.

Interested to see if more expensive gear can make a difference. Inspired by the RBZ Driver and 3 Wood which are awesome.

Excellent stuff. And in answer to your question, can expensive gear make a difference? In my experience no. You'd always be better off with lessons to correct swing issues rather than buying clubs to compensate around it. Pet peeve of mine is adjustable drivers. I game an SLDR myself and hate the fact it's adjustable but i can't knock the low spin which has translated into huge distance gains for me. Standard lie & loft on it for me and it'll never change!

Having said that, shiny new gear? Yes please! Everyone loves shiny new clubs!!

Well the new irons certainly go further, and it's nice to have a selection of wedges now. They are certainly heavier than the clubs they are replacing so going straight out onto the course with them resulted in a few comical shots to begin with - they're also replacing clubs on which the grip had virtually gone, so I found myself hooking a lot where I was gripping a bit too hard like I've had to get used to thanks to the old ones. Managed a bizarre round of 100. No pars which was annoying, but only one 7 and a crazy number of 6s. Scorecard read 566666566576664554. Putting needs to improve and I need to practice what to do within 50 yards with the new clubs, 20 across the 4 par 3s was poor.

Yeah I think a SLDR would ruin me, I'd just blame everything on the adjustable club! My problem is I'm pretty reluctant to use lessons, I've also got a quite old swing style that I learnt as a kid 20 odd years ago and never seem to have forgotten despite only picking the clubs up again 2 years ago, perhaps a little scared of changing it. Although it would be nice to hit a consistent drive, it's still a long way ahead of what appears the average golfer when I see the number of miss hits others manage on the average round. It's my approach that needs to improve, which I think just needs experience to improve, might be me being stubborn.

These are what the RBZs are replacing http://www.golfalot.com/equipment-reviews/john-let...

Edited by Boydie88 on Monday 13th July 09:21

[kentlad]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Played again today and everything was back to normal. Straight or a slight fade. God knows what was going on with that hook. I think I was just swinging too much from the inside as well as closing the face slightly.

Beat my best in that course by 1 too. 81 (+9). Three 3 putts on the front 9, 4 that lipped out and left a putt right in the jaws on 17 and 18. I think it's clear what's stopping me breaking into the 70s!

Shame about the putting then! Do you ever practice putting? The retirement age Pro at my local range says to me every time i go, every hour on the range should equal two on the putting green! He's probably right!