The Golf Thread - 2016!

[Dan_1981]

Got back from a fantastic five days in Portugal with our society yesterday.

The weather was atrocious. Wetter & colder than the UK - we managed one dry round of golf and i'm now rusty rather than tanned.

However the courses were lovely, and my golf was pretty good.

Playing off 28 I shot, 28,29 & 36! (First time i've broken 30)

All on courses i'd never played before - was very happy.

Big difference seems to have been made by fitting thicker grips to all of my irons plus having the angle of the heads flattened by 2 degrees.

Hopefully I can keep up the good form in the UK.

Next society outing is to the Mid Yokrshire Golf Club in a couple of weeks.

[Abbott]

Dan_1981 said:

Got back from a fantastic five days in Portugal with our society yesterday.

The weather was atrocious. Wetter & colder than the UK - we managed one dry round of golf and i'm now rusty rather than tanned.

However the courses were lovely, and my golf was pretty good.

Playing off 28 I shot, 28,29 & 36! (First time i've broken 30)

All on courses i'd never played before - was very happy.

Big difference seems to have been made by fitting thicker grips to all of my irons plus having the angle of the heads flattened by 2 degrees.

Hopefully I can keep up the good form in the UK.

Next society outing is to the Mid Yokrshire Golf Club in a couple of weeks.

I was there the week before it was glorious. Which was your favourite course

[swisstoni]

Rosscow said:

Digger said:

When did the rules change so you can now have the flag tended when you're off the green? Just watching the PGA and have done for many years. For some reason I've never really noticed before!

Been like that for as long as I can remember if I'm honest. Wouldn't know if/when it has been changed?

You can have it removed, tended or held up from anywhere on the course.

I'm the last person to claim to be a rules expert but I think there should be a stewards on that one.

[Rosscow]

swisstoni said:

Rosscow said:

Digger said:

When did the rules change so you can now have the flag tended when you're off the green? Just watching the PGA and have done for many years. For some reason I've never really noticed before!

Been like that for as long as I can remember if I'm honest. Wouldn't know if/when it has been changed?

You can have it removed, tended or held up from anywhere on the course.

I'm the last person to claim to be a rules expert but I think there should be a stewards on that one.

http://www.randa.org/Rules-of-Golf/MainRules/17-Th...

[FrankAbagnale]

Three foot putts killed me at the weekend. I can't seem to get anywhere close! Always push or pull it wide of the hole.

10 GIR's and only missing 3 fairways off the tee was great progress for me but putting was atrocious. Plenty of 3 putts, some 2 putts and no 1 putting.

Shot +24 but that could've been reduced drastically with even average putting.

Also, is there any etiquette on where other players should stand when there is someone hitting off the tee? If I have anyone in my vision it puts me off!

Edited by FrankAbagnale on Tuesday 10th May 09:18

[swisstoni]

Rosscow said:

swisstoni said:

Rosscow said:

Digger said:

When did the rules change so you can now have the flag tended when you're off the green? Just watching the PGA and have done for many years. For some reason I've never really noticed before!

Been like that for as long as I can remember if I'm honest. Wouldn't know if/when it has been changed?

You can have it removed, tended or held up from anywhere on the course.

I'm the last person to claim to be a rules expert but I think there should be a stewards on that one.

http://www.randa.org/Rules-of-Golf/MainRules/17-Th...

Well that's clear enough

[Dan_1981]

Abbott said:

Dan_1981 said:

Got back from a fantastic five days in Portugal with our society yesterday.

The weather was atrocious. Wetter & colder than the UK - we managed one dry round of golf and i'm now rusty rather than tanned.

However the courses were lovely, and my golf was pretty good.

Playing off 28 I shot, 28,29 & 36! (First time i've broken 30)

All on courses i'd never played before - was very happy.

Big difference seems to have been made by fitting thicker grips to all of my irons plus having the angle of the heads flattened by 2 degrees.

Hopefully I can keep up the good form in the UK.

Next society outing is to the Mid Yokrshire Golf Club in a couple of weeks.

I was there the week before it was glorious. Which was your favourite course

Least favourite was the Morgado - fairly dull middle section

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/morgad...

However it was on the same site as the Alamos which was a cracking stunning looking course. Definitely my choice.

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/alamos...

The final one we played was the Salgados

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/salgad...

Which is felt a bit cramped / squeezed in - LOTS of water (we lost over a hundred balls between 18 of us) good fun and challenging though.

[Abbott]

Dan_1981 said:

Least favourite was the Morgado - fairly dull middle section

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/morgad...

However it was on the same site as the Alamos which was a cracking stunning looking course. Definitely my choice.

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/alamos...

The final one we played was the Salgados

http://www.nauhotels.com/index.php/en/golfe/salgad...

Which is felt a bit cramped / squeezed in - LOTS of water (we lost over a hundred balls between 18 of us) good fun and challenging though.

So you were nowhere near where we were right next to Faro playing Val do Lobo and Quint de Lago

[Pete-mojsh]

After a few trips to the range I'm making modest progress, may try to have a lesson or play 9 holes on Friday if I can get the time off, external and internal audits over the last 7 days so I could do with a little time to unwind. I have seen a one day beginners course on groupon but not sure if it will give me what I need to get the basics.

As I'm quite enjoying it I would like to get some better clubs to replace the basic donnay ones I got hold of years ago for a stag do. I've been looking on ebay as with a pregnant wife and an imminent house move shelling out a couple of hundred on clubs would be frowned upon. I'm not really sure what aort of brands or types would be the way to go, guessing a stiff club or blade wouldn't be particularly forgiving, graphite perhaps a bit too light?

May invest in some spikeless shoes as well, American Golf seem to have some decent deals every now and again.

[Abbott]

After some help from a mate about my putting I went for a fat grip on my putter. It helps to stabilise my flicky wrists but I need more practise.
Played on Sunday and on the par 5 432 metre hole, after a monster drive and superb 3 wood I found myself putting 5 ft for eagle. Bugger missed it but well happy.

[cheddar]

Played in a John Deere Championship thing on Tuesday where you could win an all expenses paid golf trip to Australia, 28 teams, 3 man ambrose, 1st place goes to Aus, we came 7th but then they drew another team out of a hat to go to Aus as well, we won


















Nothing

[Mr. H]

Pete-mojsh said:

I have seen a one day beginners course on groupon but not sure if it will give me what I need to get the basics.

Have a search for National Golf Month (its this month and they have a website) to see if there are any promotions nearby.

I played 15 holes tonight (twilight rate) and had 88 strokes and 25 points in the card. Very happy with that as I haven't been out in ages and the previous time I was rubbish. Hopefully I get get some consistency going by playing smarter shots.

[boxsey]

I've been watching a lot of PGA tour golf on Sky recently and worry about the number of top players that are messing about with these new putting grip ideas (called the 'Saw' or 'pencil' by most commentators). To name but a few; Mickelson, Rose, Garcia and I'm sure I've even seen Westy trying it. It just looks so hit and miss to me. In his day Tiger was the best putter. The best two now are Day and Spieth. The best just hold the putter as it was designed to. Someone tell the other guys that don't think they can putt good enough that it's all in their head and there's no magical grip that will fix it...just as Rosey proved at the weekend when he missed crucial putts with that silly new grip!

[Dan_1981]

They need to read some Doc Bob.

[DuncanM]

boxsey said:

I've been watching a lot of PGA tour golf on Sky recently and worry about the number of top players that are messing about with these new putting grip ideas (called the 'Saw' or 'pencil' by most commentators). To name but a few; Mickelson, Rose, Garcia and I'm sure I've even seen Westy trying it. It just looks so hit and miss to me. In his day Tiger was the best putter. The best two now are Day and Spieth. The best just hold the putter as it was designed to. Someone tell the other guys that don't think they can putt good enough that it's all in their head and there's no magical grip that will fix it...just as Rosey proved at the weekend when he missed crucial putts with that silly new grip!

All the best ball strikers in golf have a history of ending up messing with/hating putting.

It comes from hitting close, many GIR; and not making the putts.

Putting is the great equaliser in golf.

I googled saw and pencil grips, they look faddish and awful.

[HaplessBoyLard]

Pete-mojsh said:

After a few trips to the range I'm making modest progress, may try to have a lesson or play 9 holes on Friday if I can get the time off, external and internal audits over the last 7 days so I could do with a little time to unwind. I have seen a one day beginners course on groupon but not sure if it will give me what I need to get the basics.

As I'm quite enjoying it I would like to get some better clubs to replace the basic donnay ones I got hold of years ago for a stag do. I've been looking on ebay as with a pregnant wife and an imminent house move shelling out a couple of hundred on clubs would be frowned upon. I'm not really sure what aort of brands or types would be the way to go, guessing a stiff club or blade wouldn't be particularly forgiving, graphite perhaps a bit too light?

May invest in some spikeless shoes as well, American Golf seem to have some decent deals every now and again.

Lessons...TBH I'd not bother with a groupon deal. Visit a few of the local pro shops that offer lessons. Talk to the pro and explain what you're hoping to achieve. Go with the one whose answers, attitude and personality you like best. If you don't get on with someone's teaching style you might hate it and get very little from the lessons.

Clubs...Are you a fairly average size? If you are you'll probably get away with standard clubs, so the best thing to do is buy an older version of a game improvement club. Ping's G series is popular. A set of G15 or G20 will still perform fine. You might pay a bit more, but you'll sell them on easily and get most of your money back when you upgrade. Believe me, you WILL upgrade. Golfers are Magpies. They love shiny new stuff.

[FrankAbagnale]

Anyone got a round planned anywhere interesting this weekend?

Unfortunately I'm heading to the GFs parents to do the first time intros. Her old man isn't a golfer... gutted.

[StescoG66]

FrankAbagnale said:

Anyone got a round planned anywhere interesting this weekend?

Unfortunately I'm heading to the GFs parents to do the first time intros. Her old man isn't a golfer... gutted.

Drumoig on Saturday morning, followed by Anstruther in late afternoon - hell bent on working out how to play the Rockies.
Home course on Sunday - Craighead on Crail booked.
Bring it on!!

[Pete-mojsh]

HaplessBoyLard said:

Lessons...TBH I'd not bother with a groupon deal. Visit a few of the local pro shops that offer lessons. Talk to the pro and explain what you're hoping to achieve. Go with the one whose answers, attitude and personality you like best. If you don't get on with someone's teaching style you might hate it and get very little from the lessons.

Clubs...Are you a fairly average size? If you are you'll probably get away with standard clubs, so the best thing to do is buy an older version of a game improvement club. Ping's G series is popular. A set of G15 or G20 will still perform fine. You might pay a bit more, but you'll sell them on easily and get most of your money back when you upgrade. Believe me, you WILL upgrade. Golfers are Magpies. They love shiny new stuff.

I've got a few things in the watch list at the moment, will see how they run and hopefully get something next week. Ping would be nice but we'll see what's around at the moment.

Decided to take a day off today, it's been a really long couple of weeks ar work. The plan for today is to drop the wife ar centre MK so she can get some baby shopping and maternity stuff, I will then nip off to Wavendon to their driving range and hopefully grab a quick round on their 9 hole. I'll probably ask about lessons their as well, due to the wife going on a hen do tomorrow I will have the day to myself so I could get one in and a round somewhere. I also should try to view some houses due to our purchase falling through but I think a weekend to decompress may be in order.

[Dan_1981]

Bog standard 4 ball on our local course.