The Golf Thread - 2016!

[Rosscow]

Fellow golfers!

Another year has been and gone. Finished off 2015 with one of my better rounds of the year which was nice. 12 over the card at Chart Hills (only 4 over through the front nine!).

Goal for this year is to get down to 13, hopefully 12. I'm in a good run of form at the moment and we have a big match on Sunday so hopefully I can continue my run.

My short game is exceptional at the moment, scrambling and putting is superb so hopefully I'll improve my iron play.

Here's to some good golf for the following year!

[Rosscow]

That's a nice target to have!

One thing I've learnt this year, spending quite a bit of time playing with single figure golfers, is the main difference between them and me is short game and putting. It's something I'm currently really focusing on and I've seen my scores come down.

[Rosscow]

Echo the above, as far as I know it's always the playing handicap, not the exact handicap, that is used.

[Rosscow]

Looking forward to seeing how the new PXG players do this season..... they managed to get some big names on side!

[Rosscow]

roboxm3 said:

Rosscow said:

Looking forward to seeing how the new PXG players do this season..... they managed to get some big names on side!

I was surprised to see that they've gone for the full bag (bar putter) as well, don't see that very often with any manufacturer!?

What do you mean? Do you mean you're surprised the players have gone with a full bag from PXG? Or that you're surprised PXG are making all of the different clubs?

Either way, it's common to have players with one manufacture supply all their clubs, and most manufacturers produce all the clubs?

[Rosscow]

RIP indeed.

I tried hitting one from his 'spot' on the 18th. Fair to say it didn't end as well as his

[Rosscow]

roboxm3 said:

I know it does happen and Zach Johnson had a full Titleist bag before the switch but I was still surprised to see that PXG had produced a full set of clubs that top level tour players were happy to use, with them being so (relatively) new to the game.
I was expecting PXG irons with 'other' driver, fairway and wedges.

I would say most big 'staff' players have pretty much a full bag from their respective manufacturers, for example:

McIlroy - Nike
Woods - Nike
Westwood - Ping
Spieth - Titleist
Poulter - Titleist
Bubba - Ping
Fowler - King Cobra

As you say, normally if there is the odd club it tends to be the putter.

There are a few that don't, notably Luke Donald (Mizuno's number 1 man but only uses their irons - uses Taylormade woods and an Odyssesy putter!).

Interestingly, Zach Johnson actually uses a SeeMore putter (and still will with PXG as far as I know).

I think PXG poached 2 of the top Ping engineers/designers so no surprise they know how to make all of the clubs, and they've probably been in development for a lot longer than we realise.

[Rosscow]

roboxm3 said:

I get your point but aside from TW with Nike (and even then it was only the (copied) irons to begin with), the rest are properly long-established brands probably paying big money to exclude other names, as well as essentially making those players whatever it is they want to play, in terms of feel, weight etc.

I know that PXG have a lot of £££ behind them and I don't doubt that their clubs are decent (not that I'll ever get to know at their price point). I did read about the Ping designers / engineers being poached as well, which probably short-cuts a lot of R&D time.

I actually quite like the look of the irons with the perimeter weighted screws, haven't seen much of the other stuff though...might go and have a browse...

Mark Crossfield has reviewed the driver (if you can stand him!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4MFAaKMir8

[Rosscow]

The biggest week of the Year for our golf club, it's President's Putter time! I'll try and get down on Saturday to watch some of the matches.

Here's a good article to tell you what it's all about:

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/presidents_putter_...

[Rosscow]

And I've noticed on Youtube that someone has been getting busy with a drone camera! This gives you a nice view of some of our holes, although they have the hole numbers wrong!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7zXIrz3Xns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwGMPpFqlOI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XylITTNCdV0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5F0SLhTtxc

[Rosscow]

Images from yesterday:

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/events/5984494...

Interesting to see Peter Dawson (R&A) is playing.

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

Images from yesterday:

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/events/5984494...

Interesting to see Peter Dawson (R&A) is playing.

Cracking looking course. Don't think I could stomach the £125 a round fee mind.

You could come with me - it'd only cost you a tenner then

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

£10? That's ridiculous value! When are you free?

Unfortunately I can only take a maximum of 3 people, 6 times a year, as guests. My allocation is used up at the moment! Maybe later in the year!

[Rosscow]

I'm a pencil man when on the course. By all means use Golf Shot after the round (I do exactly that) but I think it takes too long and provides too much distraction to use a phone on the course.

And I'm speaking from experience! I used Golf Shot for 3 years before going for a Garmin watch. Great decision in my opinion.

The watch is instant, it's just there. Always. And if you get a decent one (mine is the S5) then you can bring up a view of the hole and touch it to get distances to hazards, end of fairways, etc.

With the phone I used to be worried about it getting wet in the rain, I'd pick it up, unlock it, wait for it to refresh, occasionally drop it (and not realise until 200 yards later!), and of course be distracted if text messages or missed calls were displayed.

I played with a friend the other day at Chart Hills. He purchased a course guide for £5 in the pro shop before we teed off.

He used this, along with a Bushnell range finder, his iPhone using Golf Shot, AND his iWatch. fking ridiculous!

[Rosscow]

kentlad said:

Rosscow said:

I played with a friend the other day at Chart Hills. He purchased a course guide for £5 in the pro shop before we teed off.

He used this, along with a Bushnell range finder, his iPhone using Golf Shot, AND his iWatch. fking ridiculous!

I bet he plays off 28 and rarely scores 36 points...

Annoyingly at Chart Hills he managed to score 40 points off 18 (23 on the back nine!).

[Rosscow]

ManFromDelmonte said:

Rosscow said:

I'm a pencil man when on the course. By all means use Golf Shot after the round (I do exactly that) but I think it takes too long and provides too much distraction to use a phone on the course.

I understand, but for me it feels completely natural, possibly as I've always done it.

I was in the same boat (as I said, used it for 3 years). It's a great app, but I don't think you realise how it slows you down and distracts you until you do without it!

[Rosscow]

Good target!

Shot 36 points in this mornings stableford. Played some nice stuff, went out in 41.

[Rosscow]

Grobag said:

Good work, 36pts is never a bad score at this time of year. Didn't get a game today, a dusting of snow overnight closed the course...... not what you wanna hear after setting the alarm for 7am!!

Well..... our competition draw was at 7.15am but we didn't tee off until 8.45 because we had to wait for the course to open!

Had a dusting of snow on the greens that had to melt. Course was in good shape, though!

[Rosscow]

n_const said:

Still haven't managed to play this year yet ! Spent plenty of evening's at the range but no course time. I work every Saturday and some Sundays with a day off in the week, everyone I know who plays golf usually play sat/sun. Is it weird to play midweek on your own ?

Nope - I'd be out there in a heartbeat today if I could! Glorious morning!

[Rosscow]

Had a good laugh yesterday, foursome competition. All pairings drawn out of the bag. Came 3rd out of 15 pairs with 33 points, had a couple of nice birdies.