Golf Thread for the Rest of Us.

[falafel]

Our numbers are exactly alike. My 56* is good from 65-82.5 can usually put in within 15'. My full 60* is not a usually not my best option at less than 60 yards, unless a trap or tree comes into play. I'm pretty good with a 9 or pw with a bump and run check stop. My 60* is pure magic around the greens though. I've got a fun little forward press check stop shot from off the fringe that always gets a supportive comment. At my level of play, I think a good wedge game is probably more important than putting.

(At my level of play.... meaning a guy who shoots in the low 80's and is trying to bust into the 70's more consistently. I don't consider myself a top tier contender.)

What loft is a standard gap wedge? 52*? 54*? Seems like its 52. Is that what you guys are talking about, or is this a different club altogether? Different bounce or something?

[chrisrenrut]

What loft is a standard gap wedge? 52*? 54*? Seems like its 52. Is that what you guys are talking about, or is this a different club altogether? Different bounce or something?

I'm not the expert, but here is my understanding:

Pitching wedge- ~48 degrees
Gap wedge- ~52 degrees
Sand wedge- ~56 degrees
Lob wedge- ~60 degrees

You can get wedges in many degrees in between and beyond. We found a 64 degree wedge by a green once, and had fun practicing shots with it that went 100 yards up and 20 yards forward.

I think you can get different bounces on almost all of them but the pitching wedge. The bounce you want depends on what type of shots you think you will be hitting, e.g. fairway or sand. I can't remember which bounce is for which. I have my sand wedge with a bounce meant for sand, and the rest for fairway shots.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I'm not the expert, but here is my understanding:

Pitching wedge- ~48 degrees
Gap wedge- ~52 degrees
Sand wedge- ~56 degrees
Lob wedge- ~60 degrees

You can get wedges in many degrees in between and beyond. We found a 64 degree wedge by a green once, and had fun practicing shots with it that went 100 yards up and 20 yards forward.

I think you can get different bounces on almost all of them but the pitching wedge. The bounce you want depends on what type of shots you think you will be hitting, e.g. fairway or sand. I can't remember which bounce is for which. I have my sand wedge with a bounce meant for sand, and the rest for fairway shots.

I almost bought a 60 degree the other day just because it looked fun, but I decided I didn't need to waste $100 on something that wouldn't change my game any right now. Perhaps in a couple of years.

[clackamascoug]

On Finding Golf Balls.

Ok.. So it's pretty well established that I'm "not normal," and I have a quirk that totally makes no sense at all, but I like to look for golf balls. Not during a round, but in the early evenings, I like to get a club in my hand and hit the bushes.

It all started when I was a kid. In 1969 we lived in Omaha NE, and lived by Sunset Valley Golf course. I used to jump barefoot into the muddy creek, and feel for balls with my toes. Then I would drag the OB fences and add to my stash. I would take them home, and clean them to perfection, and marvel at their beauty. I sometimes sawed them open and the old wound Titleist's would unwind themselves as you cut the bands with a pocket knife. In the one year we lived in Omaha, I found over 500 golf balls. My dad told a friend about them, and he offered to buy them for $20 sight unseen. Twenty was a lot of money for a 10 year old kid in 1969, so I took the money, and set out to find more. We soon moved to Orem, and I'd ride my bike to Cascade and walk the orchard next to the 8th and 9th fairways. I'd find 20-30 balls at a time, and it was at this time that the golf bug bit me. As a rookie golfer, I lost as many as I'd find, and I bet I recycled some balls 10 times or more. We moved to Oregon in 1973, and I still continued to look for golf balls. When I went to BYU in the fall of '77 I used to take girls out on dates looking for golf balls. Hobble Creek was perfect, a golf ball hunt, swings at Kelley Park, and a good NCMO.

Today I was driving my fine German automobile past a golf course where I know there to be some good honey holes. It was 4:30pm, I was not in any particular hurry, and so I pulled over and grabbed a wedge. As I initially waded in the tall weeds, I kept thinking to myself, this is crazy - I only play new balls - I don't need these - What am I doing? Well, those thoughts quickly dissapeared when I found the first ball. A sucky brand new Pro V1. I kept sweeping away the tall weeds and I found another, and another, and another, and another, and another, I was like a kid in a candy shop. I found 22 balls in about 15 minutes. Included in the lot were 4 Pro V1's.

The best part is when I got home sat in my chair, played the DVR of the tourney today and cleaned each ball. As I did, I analyzed my irrational use of the time value of money, and came to the conclusion that happiness and enjoyment are it's own reward. I may not do it so much anymore, but its still fun link to fond childhood memories.

(Golf buddy is picking me up at 7:45 am, I'm going to try and talk him into 36. We'll see how it goes.)

[clackamascoug]

Friday's Report

41+37=78

I don't know what to say. I'm so disappointed in myself. Recapping my scores is beneficial in the fact that I can pinpoint the problem, and the problem is putting. I've got no issues with the big muscles. It's the small muscles that are killing me. Want proof? Exhibit A:

Hole 1 - 25' birdie - 3 putted missing a 1 footer for par, tap in bogie.
Hole 2 - 12' birdie - missed high, tap in.
Hole 3 - 25' birdie - missed low, 3 footer for par.
Hole 4 - 5' par - missed high.
Hole 5 - 30' birdie - 2' par.
Hole 6 - 8' birdie - missed high. 2" par. (this one really hurt - very makeable)
Hole 7 - 20' par, 3 putted for double.
Hole 8 - 7' birdie - missed high 2" tap in (this one really hurt - very makeable)
Hole 9 - 15' par - tap in bogie

Hole 10 - 4' birdie - missed high 6" tap in. (this one hurt real bad - was pretty upset)
Hole 11 - 20' birdie - good lag, missed 3' par, tap in bogie.
Hole 12 - 10' birdie - missed high - tapped in.
Hole 13 - 18' birdie - missed up hill, hit cup, tap in.
Hole 14 - 30' birdie - good lag, missed 3' par, tap in bogie.
Hole 15 - 2" birdie - par 5, in bunker in 2, out to 2" for a birdie.
Hole 16 - 12' birdie - down hill good lag, tap in.
Hole 17 - 13' birdie - missed high, tap in.
Hole 18 - 4' birdie - missed a lipper, tap in par. (I make this birdie 8/10 - another hurter)

If you actually took the time to review the above, you can see how distressed I am. I'm playing actually very good tee to green, but am going old man yipper on my putting. If any of you were putting for me, we could have shot a 69 easy. I'm feeling really good and really crappy at the same time. I guess I've got my work cut out for me on the putting green. Ugh.

My Edit will reflect if I made the putts 7 feet and shorter, I shoot 69. (I counted 9 of them. Stinking 7 feet is not very far.)

[clackamascoug]

The Monday Morning Edition of Global Golf Post.

[clackamascoug]

The PGA - U-Pick-'Em

Top Four Combined Winnings $

1. Pick 6 players - Top 4 players of the 6, we will combine the money winnings for a total Score.

2. Top $ Wins.

3. You can pick 4/6 of someone else, but try to mix it up a little.

4. If more than 2 of your picks get cut, hope that your remaining 3 do really well.

[clackamascoug]

The PGA - U-Pick-'Em

Top Four Combined Winnings $

1. Pick 6 players - Top 4 players of the 6, we will combine the money winnings for a total Score.

2. Top $ Wins.

3. You can pick 4/6 of someone else, but try to mix it up a little.

4. If more than 2 of your picks get cut, hope that your remaining 3 do really well.

1. My man Phil.
2. Rory McIlroy.
3. Hunter Mayhan
4. Ricky Fowler
5. Retief Goosen (I don't like him, but respect his game)
6. Ryan Moore

[Katy Lied]

What to do--what to do?

Tiger likes to be the underdog, and never has he been this under before.

Phil, well, after being burned by Phil a few times, I will never give him another chance, even when I think he's due for a splendid coupla rounds.

I see Clack's playing the "what have you done for me lately" card.

[Katy Lied]

Rory McIlroy
Paul Casey
Steve Stricker
Padraig Harrington
Sean O'Hair
Matt Kuchar

[Drunk Tank]

Jim Furyk
Steve Stricker
Tiger Woods
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnston
Rory McIlroy

[clackamascoug]

I like the Koucher pick.


(My first BB post - I'm in Grants Pass on biz)

[Katy Lied]

That Ryan Moore pick is looking good as well.

And I'm kicking myself for picking Casey over the Big Easy.

[clackamascoug]

1. My man Phil.
2. Rory McIlroy.
3. Hunter Mayhan
4. Ricky Fowler
5. Retief Goosen (I don't like him, but respect his game)
6. Ryan Moore

Phil = -1
Rory = -1
Hunter = +1
Ricky = +1
Ryan = -3
Goosen = +4

I swear, if I'd had remembered The Kooch I'd have put him on... At least I called him.

[Drunk Tank]

Jim Furyk
Steve Stricker
Tiger Woods
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnston
Rory McIlroy

Furyk (-2)
Stricker (-1) thru 13
Woods (-1)
D. Johnson (-1) thru 14
Z. Johnson (-1) thru 12
M. Kuchar (-4) thru 14


Hopefully they can finish tomorrow and still put together a good 2nd round.