GOLF - 2024

[kentlad]

48Valves said:

kentlad said:

rallye101 said:

Blackpuddin said:

Big week next week, two singles matches and one seniors league match. Am v worried about the state of my putting. I've got one of those LAB putters, which I like, but I haven't got used to it yet. I could do with a tip or two from the sages on here to improve the randomness of my aiming and execution, especially on short putts which I'm now expecting to miss. It's a confidence thing borne out of poor technique.
To start with I'm going to try to get shaft and forearm in a straight line (suspect there's an angle between them at present) to take wobbly arms out of it and grip the putter in my hand rather than my fingers.
Any other thoughts gratefully received. I'm not expecting miracles! TIA.

Do you hold your breath during the backswing?

Do you struggle with distance control? Simple thought I use to ‘reset’ my distance control, is swing to my feet to find the distance on the putting green & go from there. So putter goes back to my back foot & through. Do a dozen of those until they all go to within a few inches of each other. Then slowly build out the distances. Helps me get my distance judgement / feel back.

Like anything else. Alignment needs practice.

I would highly recommend a putting mirror. It will help getting your head and eyes set over the ball and the club face square.
If your eyes aren’t properly over the ball, when you look down your line before hitting a putt it will look like you aren’t aiming correctly.

It’s not for everyone, but I also use a line on the ball from 15ft and in. But if you do you have to learn to trust it.

Yep, a mirror is a good shout, been meaning to get one as well as a puttout matt and ball returner.

Have just booked onto Vale Do Lobo Ocean course for tomorrow at 7am. Should be first out. Can’t wait!

[kiethton]

kentlad said:

Yep, a mirror is a good shout, been meaning to get one as well as a puttout matt and ball returner.

Have just booked onto Vale Do Lobo Ocean course for tomorrow at 7am. Should be first out. Can’t wait!

Love that course (although the Royal is better IMO), maybe because I had one of the better rounds of the last few years around there too, a cheeky 74 with 4 birdies!

[Blackpuddin]

Thanks for all the thoughts, these are very much appreciated, I will take them all on board and try to stay patient.
I think the first thing I need to do is not expect the putter to save me from myself!

[48Valves]

Blackpuddin said:

I think the first thing I need to do is not expect the putter to save me from myself!

This x1000

My putting has improved since I stopped trying to hole putts following watching a Scott Fawcet video. It kind of frees you up to just concentrate on start line and pace and whatever happens, happens.

I’m considering doing an aim point course as it’s apparent my green reading isn’t that good.

[Blackpuddin]

48Valves said:

My putting has improved since I stopped trying to hole putts following watching a Scott Fawcet video. It kind of frees you up to just concentrate on start line and pace and whatever happens, happens.

I like the sound of that idea, thank you.

[kentlad]

kiethton said:

kentlad said:

Yep, a mirror is a good shout, been meaning to get one as well as a puttout matt and ball returner.

Have just booked onto Vale Do Lobo Ocean course for tomorrow at 7am. Should be first out. Can’t wait!

Love that course (although the Royal is better IMO), maybe because I had one of the better rounds of the last few years around there too, a cheeky 74 with 4 birdies!

Interesting, I’d heard the Ocean was meant to have better views / be a more interesting course but obviously the Royal has the 16th! A 74 with 4 birds is some golf! I’ll be happy to get anywhere near that!!

[RayDonovan]

Blackpuddin said:

48Valves said:

My putting has improved since I stopped trying to hole putts following watching a Scott Fawcet video. It kind of frees you up to just concentrate on start line and pace and whatever happens, happens.

I like the sound of that idea, thank you.

Would echo this. Concentrate on hitting a good putt on a chosen line as opposed to willing the ball into the hole.
Putts like any other shot required a good strike

[Blackpuddin]

RayDonovan said:

Blackpuddin said:

48Valves said:

My putting has improved since I stopped trying to hole putts following watching a Scott Fawcet video. It kind of frees you up to just concentrate on start line and pace and whatever happens, happens.

I like the sound of that idea, thank you.

Would echo this. Concentrate on hitting a good putt on a chosen line as opposed to willing the ball into the hole.
Putts like any other shot required a good strike

The LAB certainly gives you that, I'm a bit scared by how well it comes off the face tbh but hopefully I'll get used to that. I can't afford not to, I've already flogged my Odyssey! No turning back now.

[RayDonovan]

This is worth keeping in mind, especially the 10-15' putts..

[Miocene]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/cl557w94...

Incredibly sad news that Grayson Murray has died suddenly.

Pulled out after 16 holes on Friday due to illness and passed away this morning.

30 is no age at all.

[milesgiles]

Just back from a week around Scarborough

York golf club easily the pick. South Cliffs back 9 stunning, most of us liked Filey. Mixed bag after that. Driffield very disappointing. Obviously struggled with the weather but not at all convinced by the layout either..

[RayDonovan]

milesgiles said:

Just back from a week around Scarborough

York golf club easily the pick. South Cliffs back 9 stunning, most of us liked Filey. Mixed bag after that. Driffield very disappointing. Obviously struggled with the weather but not at all convinced by the layout either..

Try Malton & Norton if you're back in that area (between York and Scarborough). My home club and it's mint at the moment

[GloverMart]

Miocene said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/cl557w94...

Incredibly sad news that Grayson Murray has died suddenly.

Pulled out after 16 holes on Friday due to illness and passed away this morning.

30 is no age at all.

His family have confirmed in a statement just released that he took his own life.

[Teatowell]

Played The Addington this afternoon in great but windy conditions. Lovely course. Put a card in with a friend which was my third card so far, so hopefully should have a handicap soon.

Shot a best for me 94 which given the conditions and playing the course for the first time, I was quite pleased with. Driving and iron play improving but putting needs work still with lots of 3 puts, even though it is improving slightly.

Highlight was tee shot on the 17th getting to within 3 feet of the pin, unfortunately missed the putt for a 3 though.

[kentlad]

kiethton said:

Love that course (although the Royal is better IMO), maybe because I had one of the better rounds of the last few years around there too, a cheeky 74 with 4 birdies!

Well, the Ocean course was great, the first 2 or 3 holes were pretty forgettable, but as the course hit the back 9, there were some spectacular holes. Keen to play the Royal next time!

I doubt you’ll believe this, but I also had 4 birdies just nowhere near a 74 ! Bit of a rollercoaster round with the rentals. But once I’d figured out the feel of the shafts the left hook disappeared. Shame the score was an 89…15 over on the front, then went 3 over on the back with three birdies & a stupid 6 on a short par 3 due to a silly mistake. And to round of the day, 4 putted the last for a double. Managed 36 points somehow!

Thinking it’s time for a putting / shortgame lesson or two, 3rd round in 5 that I’ve had 40+ putts but at least the Handicaps down to 11.1 now, so single figures has to be the target for the season…I used to hover around the 32 putt mark, not sure what’s going wrong!

Edited by kentlad on Monday 27th May 08:01

[Wills2]

GloverMart said:

Miocene said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/cl557w94...

Incredibly sad news that Grayson Murray has died suddenly.

Pulled out after 16 holes on Friday due to illness and passed away this morning.

30 is no age at all.

His family have confirmed in a statement just released that he took his own life.

Just awful news.

[48Valves]

roboxm3 said:

48Valves said:

I’ve played Ely probably a dozen times. It’s actually the nearest course to where I live, but I prefer St Ives so joined there.

I’m playing Ely again on Sunday with the boy as he has a junior comp there on Tuesday, so hopefully its dried out a bit by then.

I thought it was in really good condition considering the recent weather. I was a bit worried about how the greens would be after seeing the practice green, but they were mostly pretty good and ran well. It was a lot better than the last time I played there in autumn when I thought the course was in pretty poor condition.

I've only played St Ives once but I really liked it; it's about 100yds from work so I use the range there quite a bit.

I actually can't remember autumn but it was bad over winter, either closed or down to 16 holes for a long time which just put me right off playing and I did get a bit sick of it really.

It should be looking good for you and your lad Sunday, though, so best of luck to him...I'm out early early Sunday...

Managed to avoid the rain yesterday. I thought the course was in even better condition than Tuesday, the warmth and sun has really helped. But it was much softer making some shots quite a challenge. The rough was hard work, thick and damp made it quite a challenge to get out of if there were trees to negotiate.

All 3 of us really struggled with the pace of the greens. They were really slow compared to ours and we never really got to grips with them. I shot 80 with four 3 putts

The boy had a hard time with the soft conditions as he had a hit it fat day, but enjoyed it and has an idea of what to expect on Tuesday.

[bodhi]

Wills2 said:

GloverMart said:

Miocene said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/cl557w94...

Incredibly sad news that Grayson Murray has died suddenly.

Pulled out after 16 holes on Friday due to illness and passed away this morning.

30 is no age at all.

His family have confirmed in a statement just released that he took his own life.

Just awful news.

Such sad news, hopefully he's at peace now.

Harry Higgs won this weeks Korn Ferry event, and made a really touching tribute in his winners speech - well worth a watch:

https://x.com/NUCLRGOLF/status/1794840649109565747...

[Polygoon]

bodhi said:

Wills2 said:

GloverMart said:

Miocene said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/cl557w94...

Incredibly sad news that Grayson Murray has died suddenly.

Pulled out after 16 holes on Friday due to illness and passed away this morning.

30 is no age at all.

His family have confirmed in a statement just released that he took his own life.

Just awful news.

Such sad news, hopefully he's at peace now.

Harry Higgs won this weeks Korn Ferry event, and made a really touching tribute in his winners speech - well worth a watch:

https://x.com/NUCLRGOLF/status/1794840649109565747...

Thanks for sharing this.
Awful sad news indeed.

[kiethton]

Teatowell said:

Played The Addington this afternoon in great but windy conditions. Lovely course. Put a card in with a friend which was my third card so far, so hopefully should have a handicap soon.

Shot a best for me 94 which given the conditions and playing the course for the first time, I was quite pleased with. Driving and iron play improving but putting needs work still with lots of 3 puts, even though it is improving slightly.

Highlight was tee shot on the 17th getting to within 3 feet of the pin, unfortunately missed the putt for a 3 though.

I played this morning (I'm a member), greens coming on nicely, loved the new holes (birdie on the new par-5) but beyond that my golf was shocking!

Stand out was my first tee shot, fresh from the car/trap 3 to the tee...driver in hand...smash the ball into the bin 20 yards ahead, bounce back into the tall grass 30 yards behind me. Lost a brand new chrome soft!