Discussion
bodhi said:
A belated Happy New Year to my fellow nutters who play the stupidest (but greatest) game in the world. Thanks to getting slightly carried away after a couple of shandies in the 19th towards the end of last season, I seem to have got myself into a wager with one of my usual fourballs. £20 in each, lowest handicap at the end of the season takes all.
So it appears I've wagered against someone off 4.5, another off 4.8 and one off 5.4 that I would have a lower handicap than them by the end of 2023. Considering I'm off 8.4 I suspect the old ego has written an interesting cheque, but then I do like a challenge. In fairness I've also been hovering between 7 and 10 for about 20 years now, so seemed a good excuse to try to go lower.
Main thing that will get me there is consistency - at my best I've beaten all of them with no handicap allowance, but at my worst it ain't pretty, so that's my focus for the off season. Been working with a new coach who's focusing on my set up and takeaway - basically my swing is pretty good, but I spend most of it trying to recover from horrendous positions at the start.
So far so good at the range, as my dispersion has narrowed massively, and beat my current handicap during a very cold and windy round just before NYE - still got a bit to do though. Also being 42, I actually might have to do some exercise to keep my flexibility and ability to swing properly, so lots to do on boring conference calls!
HNY! Good luck with the bet!So it appears I've wagered against someone off 4.5, another off 4.8 and one off 5.4 that I would have a lower handicap than them by the end of 2023. Considering I'm off 8.4 I suspect the old ego has written an interesting cheque, but then I do like a challenge. In fairness I've also been hovering between 7 and 10 for about 20 years now, so seemed a good excuse to try to go lower.
Main thing that will get me there is consistency - at my best I've beaten all of them with no handicap allowance, but at my worst it ain't pretty, so that's my focus for the off season. Been working with a new coach who's focusing on my set up and takeaway - basically my swing is pretty good, but I spend most of it trying to recover from horrendous positions at the start.
So far so good at the range, as my dispersion has narrowed massively, and beat my current handicap during a very cold and windy round just before NYE - still got a bit to do though. Also being 42, I actually might have to do some exercise to keep my flexibility and ability to swing properly, so lots to do on boring conference calls!
We're very similar - I'm 40 and I've just managed to cut off 0.6 so back down to 9.0 but still up from 9 months ago at 7.3.
Like you I'm also starting to think golf stretching/exercise is becoming more important. Although had a few hours on a Trackman simulator last week and still getting the driver up to 108mph and irons around the 90mph mark.
I would love to get back to 7.0 by the end of the year, which I think is doable if I make sure I play and practice every week!
theguvernor15 said:
I've also just purchased the sexiest carry bag I've ever seen:
https://www.titleist.co.uk/en_GB/product/premium-s...
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the carry bag i had before, but i've loved that bag ever since i first laid eyes on it.
I also didn't pay anywhere close to retail on it.
Nice bag! Out of interest, do you carry your clubs a lot? https://www.titleist.co.uk/en_GB/product/premium-s...
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the carry bag i had before, but i've loved that bag ever since i first laid eyes on it.
I also didn't pay anywhere close to retail on it.
theguvernor15 said:
Rosscow said:
Nice bag! Out of interest, do you carry your clubs a lot?
It depends entirely on a couple of factors:If it's just a quick round/few holes on on my own - carry.
If it's demanded by the course due to wet conditions - carry.
If i'm trying to get fit/lose weight - carry.
If it's a comp or predicted to rain - electric trolley as i can take my waterproofs/brolly.
https://golfible.com/carrying-golf-clubs/
I play with guys that carry a full 14 clubs and it just makes me scratch my head, I really can't see any benefits other than having to carry due to abnormal ground conditions.
theguvernor15 said:
I guess it's horses for courses, i don't see any kind of noticeable benefit or hindrance to my game by carrying or using a trolley.
I tend to use my Powakaddy if it's a comp/society or i have a bit of time, or there may be rain so i can carry a brolly & stick it in the umbrella holder.
If it's a quick round of an evening or practice i just sling a carry bag in the car as it saves me loading/unloading the car & it's something else to clean.
I have a friend who plays off very low single figures (around 3) he never uses a trolley.
My home course is paticularly hilly & steep in places & i don't really find it difficult or tiring to carry.
That's kind of the point I'm getting at though - you might not notice it, but not carrying your clubs could maybe gain you 1 or 2 mph club head speed toward the end of the round when you're getting more tired (even if you don't feel it). I tend to use my Powakaddy if it's a comp/society or i have a bit of time, or there may be rain so i can carry a brolly & stick it in the umbrella holder.
If it's a quick round of an evening or practice i just sling a carry bag in the car as it saves me loading/unloading the car & it's something else to clean.
I have a friend who plays off very low single figures (around 3) he never uses a trolley.
My home course is paticularly hilly & steep in places & i don't really find it difficult or tiring to carry.
Hammersia said:
"It is estimated that this (picking up, strapping and putting down a bag) occurs approximately 50 TIMES during a 9-hole stretch" lol no way. Maybe 20 - 25 times.
If I play our front 9 to par, hitting every green in regulation, I would have picked up my bag 26 times. And that's a measly par of 34 with 3 par 3's.So 40+ is probably extremely normal for anyone that isn't a very low single figure golfer!
I'm sure the report has it's errors (the calorie difference for example), but you can't say carrying 15kg + on your back for 3 or more hours can be good for it or not make any difference IMO.
People go to a lot of lengths to gain that extra 1mph in club head speed these days - so putting unnecessary strain on your back seems counter-productive.
kiethton said:
Got a comp this weekend, the 4 club challenge one of which has to be a putter….
Current thoughts are:
Driver
21* hybrid
50* gap
Putter
Bit of a gap between the hybrid and gap should hopefully work for my course…he says
Interesting..... I'd probably go 5 wood, 7 iron, 54 wedge.Current thoughts are:
Driver
21* hybrid
50* gap
Putter
Bit of a gap between the hybrid and gap should hopefully work for my course…he says
the par 3's will be interesting with either a 4 hybrid or a gap wedge!
Just entered a nice 36 hole competition at Little Aston in May. Looking forward to that.
Got a return trip to Hunstanton and Brancaster for the 1st October lined up as well (high tide at Brancaster this time which should be great!).
It would be good if I could tick off a couple of new courses too.... Keithton let me know if you're up for a reciprocal match!
Got a return trip to Hunstanton and Brancaster for the 1st October lined up as well (high tide at Brancaster this time which should be great!).
It would be good if I could tick off a couple of new courses too.... Keithton let me know if you're up for a reciprocal match!
Edited by Rosscow on Wednesday 25th January 08:37
48Valves said:
Driver, 6 iron and 9 iron for me. That covers our par 3s and most second shots.
I'm not sure driver is the play. You're carrying a club that you'll use a maximum of about 14 times (presuming 4 par 3's).I reckon 3 or 5 wood is more than long enough for most tee shots, and at least you can use those off the deck as well.
kiethton said:
Reasoning behind my thoughts are that the course is long and plays it (6 par4's over 420 yards which normally have me hitting hybrid second shots in winter), two require hybrids off the tee (dog legs), 2 of the par-5's are reachable with the hybrid if i get a driver away and 2 of the 6 par 3's are over 190 (would be hitting the hybrid anyway), two are 160-180 and have no danger short (can run up) and i can get the gap to the other two <120yds. Others are reachable with driver then gap easily.
Truth be told my driver is generally a bit straighter than my 4-wood hence the choice, hybrid a function of the par-3's and second shots (happy cutting down), everything's a compromise after all!
Sounds like you’ve got it covered! Good luck Truth be told my driver is generally a bit straighter than my 4-wood hence the choice, hybrid a function of the par-3's and second shots (happy cutting down), everything's a compromise after all!
Right, tonight's the night!
Finally starting my new year's resolution (late, I know!) of going to the range once a week as well as playing every weekend.
Hoping to get back to where I was last summer (7.2) from my current 9.0. Long term would like to get to the old Category 1 limit of 6 or better.
Played on Sunday morning in glorious sunshine, started off slowly but by the end was striping my driver which was nice to see, and had a great birdie 3 on the last.
Finally starting my new year's resolution (late, I know!) of going to the range once a week as well as playing every weekend.
Hoping to get back to where I was last summer (7.2) from my current 9.0. Long term would like to get to the old Category 1 limit of 6 or better.
Played on Sunday morning in glorious sunshine, started off slowly but by the end was striping my driver which was nice to see, and had a great birdie 3 on the last.
DuncanM said:
I'm loving the range at the moment, trackman makes it much more interesting to me. I only played one round last year, 2 in 2021, so the exciting thing for me this year is to get out and actually play.
Just hoping my ankles hold up.
The range that I'm going to use now has TopTracer, was upgraded/improved last summer. Haven't been since so looking forward to tonight.Just hoping my ankles hold up.
andy_ran said:
Its holding up well, they are very cautious and keep the course closed when it will do it harm - Which is a pain when its closed but very thankful of when they re-open as its still in top nick
Played it last weekend, there where a few places soft underfoot but on the whole it played really well, it only had its first cut last week - I think by this weekend it will be even better
Playing the East this weekend.
Yes I know Dave in the pro shop - Really nice guy
Dave's a member of my club, we played the other week.Played it last weekend, there where a few places soft underfoot but on the whole it played really well, it only had its first cut last week - I think by this weekend it will be even better
Playing the East this weekend.
Yes I know Dave in the pro shop - Really nice guy
Glad that the course is doing OK - if there is one thing ESN doesn't like it's excess water!!
Rosscow said:
The range that I'm going to use now has TopTracer, was upgraded/improved last summer. Haven't been since so looking forward to tonight.
Forgot to report back.Had a good range session (think I found a little something with driver - was working it both ways pretty reliably at the end of the session!).
The Top Tracer however, although it's a nice gimmick was seemingly miles out with regards yardage. Unless my 8 iron normally carries 185 yards!
Had a great session on Saturday morning with the Pro using his Foresight GC thing.
I'm actually striking the ball really well.
Club speed for my 8 iron was around 91mph average, attacking the ball 5 degrees down and my path was pretty much completely neutral.
My issue is club face control - keep it square and my 8 iron is going 160 yards. But I have a tendency to leave it ever so slightly open, and then I have an occasional closed face which results in a 20 yard pull. So I know what I need to work on.
Driver was around 106mph and going out to around 270 yards, Even managed to get one out to 288.
Played yesterday and hit some lovely shots, some great drives and really nice irons. Putted well and went round in 81 including an 8 on the Par 5.
Got a great 2 as well, 162 yard 8 iron to 3 feet. I feel like if I keep at the practice on Tuesday/Wednesday nights this year could see some real progress!
I'm actually striking the ball really well.
Club speed for my 8 iron was around 91mph average, attacking the ball 5 degrees down and my path was pretty much completely neutral.
My issue is club face control - keep it square and my 8 iron is going 160 yards. But I have a tendency to leave it ever so slightly open, and then I have an occasional closed face which results in a 20 yard pull. So I know what I need to work on.
Driver was around 106mph and going out to around 270 yards, Even managed to get one out to 288.
Played yesterday and hit some lovely shots, some great drives and really nice irons. Putted well and went round in 81 including an 8 on the Par 5.
Got a great 2 as well, 162 yard 8 iron to 3 feet. I feel like if I keep at the practice on Tuesday/Wednesday nights this year could see some real progress!
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