The Golf Thread

[clackamascoug]

I'm flying home after a great day of golf at the Del Mar Country Club. My host was, as usual, overly generous, paying for everything, and throwing in a dozen Titleists and a Suunto G6 as gifts. I have no idea if the G6 is a good thing. I parred the first two and last two holes, but everything in between was a horror story and I finished with a 99. Still, a fine day and I managed to avoid a couple of disturbing threads...

I had to look up a Suunto G6. Seems interesting, and must be useful if your benefactor presented it. Isn't Del Mar home to Phil? It's one of the nicest clubs in the Country. All too often you report day's that I can only dream of... and to think, it's only been three day's since you helped some needy people move. Karma is a good thing.

I like what RC said. "I like it when Clack sticks to golf."

[PaloAltoCougar]

I had to look up a Suunto G6. Seems interesting, and must be useful if your benefactor presented it. Isn't Del Mar home to Phil? It's one of the nicest clubs in the Country. All too often you report day's that I can only dream of... and to think, it's only been three day's since you helped some needy people move. Karma is a good thing.

I like what RC said. "I like it when Clack sticks to golf."

Yes, the clubhouse (which is a little nicer than the Taj Mahal) has a fair amount of Masters memorabilia from Phil. I suspect the G6 doesn't deliver what it promises, but it'll be interested to see if it really does measure swing speed, rhythm, etc. My friend gave it to me because Charles Schwab had given him two of them...

[clackamascoug]

Golf Report Wednesday Sept 26, 2012

44+39=83

3 Birdies, 6 pars, 5 bogies, 3 doubles, 1 triple.

Club Report: As an 11 handicap, I'm not good enough for the i20's. The i20's are a players club for shaping the ball flight. I'm only good enough to hit it at the pin and hope for the best. The G20's are so much better, that it's embarrassing that I didn't realize that when I went club shopping last spring.

The i20's spin the ball sideways. The G20's spin the ball vertically. The i20's have a lower flight. The G20's have about a 20% higher flight. The fatter bottom of the G20's does so much good for the flight of the ball it's crazy. Let me give two examples.

- On the 12th hole I'm 165 out on a par 5, hoping I can get the ball around the green so I can get it up and down for a bird. My first shot with the G20 6 iron flew so high I thought I did something wrong. When it was tracking for the pin, I thought it was a good miss hit. When the ball landed pin high and rolled through, leaving me 10 feet for an eagle, I felt like I did 10 years ago when those kind of shot were expected. (missed but tapped in bird)

- On the 14th hole, I popped up a 3 wood off the tee. I was left with a solid 178 to the pin. With the i20's I would have to fight a hook flight, and I would have aimed to the right of the green and hope for the best. Having just hit the 6 iron, I told myself to just hit it naturally, don't try to fight the hook, just swing through the ball, and see if the fat bottom does its job. I've never hit a 5 iron that high in my life. I aimed for the center of the green and the ball landed in the center of the green, and stopped 5 feet from the ball mark. In the later summer conditions, that was amazing. I don't think I've ever hit a 5 iron into a rock hard late summer green that only moved 5 feet in my whole life.

On a par 3 I hit a wedge from 125, over the flag and zipped the ball back 10 feet. I can't remember the last time I had that much action on a ball. Granted it was a little down hill, but the action set me up for a birdie.

Let's face it, none of us here are Pro's, and if you're considering getting new clubs in the next year, don't get "blades" or low handicapper clubs thinking they will help you play better. Get fat bottom "Game Improvement" clubs and aim at the pin, and don't worry about draws or fades. I learned a lesson today, as I shot a 39 on the back with a triple on the 10th hole.

[Art Vandelay]

Clack, have you always been a Ping guy or do you go with whatever feels best that particular year? I've loved my Cleveland CG7s, but will probably be in the market for a new set of irons this winter or next spring. Because I hit the ball so much differently on the range than I do on the course (I'm a driving range scratch golfer), I always struggle with what club to buy. From the way you are describing the g20, it sounds like a good club for a duffer like me, but I'm hesitant to leave Cleveland.

[clackamascoug]

Clack, have you always been a Ping guy or do you go with whatever feels best that particular year? I've loved my Cleveland CG7s, but will probably be in the market for a new set of irons this winter or next spring. Because I hit the ball so much differently on the range than I do on the course (I'm a driving range scratch golfer), I always struggle with what club to buy. From the way you are describing the g20, it sounds like a good club for a duffer like me, but I'm hesitant to leave Cleveland.

The first thing I did when I got home from my mission in 1980 was buy a set of Ping Eye irons. Since then, I've had Eye 2's (the best imo) Zing, Zing 2, i3, S57, i20's, and now G20's. In between, I've had some Tommy Armour 845's, Taylor Made R7's, and a graphite set I made.

I imagine that any "game improvement" club would do the trick, but I've got to say that after just one round the G20's are going to make me much more consistent, (no more trap draw inducements), and my long iron game is going to be appreciated rather than dubious. Anecdotal Story: So I found my self in the position of needing to hit a draw to get out of a mild limb trouble, and thought it would be no problem. I aimed to the right side of the of the green expecting a draw like I've done all summer. I put a good swing on the ball, but it flew high and straight - right where I aimed it. Later on a par three, with a pin on the left that could use a draw, I hit it at the center of the green, and it went.... to the center of the green. Later on the birdie zip shot, I aimed at the pin expecting to hit it at it, and I over flew and it zipped back to the pin. To do a shot like that is as good of feeling as a trap draw on target. Only the first round... but I'm going to play tomorrow just because I'm too excited about these clubs, I've got to get back out there.

You're welcome to meet me and Husky for a 36 hole day while the weather is still good, and you can hit these bad boys all you want.

[clackamascoug]

Leaving Cleveland, and going to San Diego would be an apt analogy.

[Donuthole]

Let's face it, none of us here are Pro's, and if you're considering getting new clubs in the next year, don't get "blades" or low handicapper clubs thinking they will help you play better. Get fat bottom "Game Improvement" clubs and aim at the pin, and don't worry about draws or fades. I learned a lesson today, as I shot a 39 on the back with a triple on the 10th hole.

I mostly agree with you, which is one reason it has taken me so long to upgrade my irons. My handicap leans toward game improvement, but my ball flight says I need a tour iron. Everything I read and hear about game improvement irons says they are designed to help get the ball up in the air. That is just not something I have a problem with. I have a pretty steep angle of attack. I have no problem hitting a 5 iron way up high. This creates almost the opposite problem for me, and sometimes I feel like with my lofty shots I'm losing the distance (and distance control) I need to improve my scoring.

[clackamascoug]

I mostly agree with you, which is one reason it has taken me so long to upgrade my irons. My handicap leans toward game improvement, but my ball flight says I need a tour iron. Everything I read and hear about game improvement irons says they are designed to help get the ball up in the air. That is just not something I have a problem with. I have a pretty steep angle of attack. I have no problem hitting a 5 iron way up high. This creates almost the opposite problem for me, and sometimes I feel like with my lofty shots I'm losing the distance (and distance control) I need to improve my scoring.

Good Points. One thing I forgot about is the age disparity. When I was in my 30's I was a solid 6/7 handicap, and had no problems swinging the club. Now in my 50's with a back that comes and goes, I'm having to make concessions in my approach. I think the i20's purchase was a romantic gesture of a great club to a past glory. The truth is, a higher ball flight, and a more vertical ball spin will help me adjust to an older me. I gotta tell you though, spinning a ball back 10 feet for a easy birdie makes you feel young again. I'm going to really love these clubs.

Also: Today was the first day with my GolfLogix ap on my GSIII. I started with 92% battery, and ended 4 hours later with 72%. It's almost 11 and I'm still 52% on my battery even though the GPS has been on since I've left the course. That's good to know. Also the ap seems pretty good. The yardage seemed accurate, as I crossed check with playing partners laser. The yardage to front, center, and back really helped, and having the phone in my left pocket didn't hinder me at all, and was always handy.

[Drunk Tank]

I am a 20 handicap. When I bought my i20's I really struggled with the choice between those and the g20's. Everything I read said that the i20's were a players club. My problem was I couldn't get over the look of the of the thick sole and big offset of the g20's. My previous clubs were Adams a4 forged irons. They had a mid-sized head with very little offset. I loved the look. The i20's passed my eye test and that had a lot to do with why I chose them. I'm sure I would probably shave some strokes with the g20's, but I couldn't get over the look. Another thing I read that helped in my decision was that even though you may be a high handicap player, your iron play may not be the major contributor to your handicap. This is true with me. I hit my irons fairly well. Where I struggle is off the tee and around the greens. I now have about 9 rounds with the i20's and I will say that they do draw more than I am used to. My normal ball flight is a slight fade so I have had to get used to hitting a slight draw.

[clackamascoug]

DT, I know what you mean about the looks. I think the i20's are the best looking club out there. Sleek and Sexy. The G20's look like Grandma's Church Shoes, with a big fat heel. The good news is... I've got both sets! I could put the G20 4,5,6,7 in the bag with the i20 8,9,w,u, Volkey 56*, Mizuno 60* Like Miley, I could have the best of both worlds.


My strengths to weakness'

Driving - 6 handicap
Short game - 7 handicap
Irons - 10 handicap
Putting - 20 handicap

Somehow that all equals to 10/11. In my younger days, I used to hit shag bag, after shag bag of 8 irons. I figured if I was within 150 yards I should be able to get it with 12/20 feet. I used to l feel that if I relaxed and swung easy with an 8/9/W I should be putting birdie. Today, I felt that old confidence. 3 birdies on the day is a good start... now if I can just get rid of those nasty doubles and triples.

Teeing off at 11:45 am Thursday.

[clackamascoug]

Playing Report Thursday September 27, 2012

42+41=83

Zero Birdies, 7 pars, 9 bogies, 1 double.

I began my round with a single thought - No Doubles, or Triples. Everything I did was based upon one thought, "How can I get out of here with only a bogey." I made it to the 13th hole before the double, when i flubbed a greenside chip that was nestled so deep that I only moved the ball 5 feet. Other than that, I controlled the damage pretty well. I had about 5 birdie putts that I missed, and two of the bogies came on 3 putts.

G20 Report: Two rounds in, and it's clear, I've really missed the boat this whole golf season. The biggest difference is how much easier it is to hit long irons. I have as much confidence with the 6 iron as I do with a 8 iron. With the i20's a 6 iron was a 50/50 proposition. Today again the 6 proved to be a go to club, with a high flight, and an easy landing. The reason I didn't score better today is I didn't drive all that well. I popped up (<230 yards) about 4 drives today.


Shot of the day: I was 74 out on a par 4. Do I take the 56* with a full swing, or do I check down and hit the 52* U club. Well, I'm in the experimentation phase, so I took the 52* and pinched it off the turf with an aggressive quarter swing. The ball landed 2 feet right pin high, and sucked back 10 feet. I missed the birdie but the shot looked cool and was a topic of conversation.

The weather this week is golf perfect, and the course is in pristine shape. I don't think my wife would let me play tomorrow, as I've got things to do, but I would if I could.

Edit: I just noticed I shot the same score as yesterday. Today was a better round - by far - and goes to show how a few birdies really help the cause.

[byu71]

A test coming up tomorrow. Going to play Logan CC with an old fraternity brother. Greatest guy in the world, but is brutal to play with. Always drives to his ball, fiddles around and then drives you back to your ball and says, "hurry up, we don't want to hold anyone up". Tomorrow when I arrive I am going to tell him if he plans on doing that, we will take seperate carts.

I will be interested to see how my new swing holds up at a course I haven't played in a long time.

[RC Vikings]

The Tee it Forward campaign - An example of the pussyfacation of America unless you suck then please tee it forward.

[falafel]

A test coming up tomorrow. Going to play Logan CC with an old fraternity brother. Greatest guy in the world, but is brutal to play with. Always drives to his ball, fiddles around and then drives you back to your ball and says, "hurry up, we don't want to hold anyone up". Tomorrow when I arrive I am going to tell him if he plans on doing that, we will take seperate carts.

I will be interested to see how my new swing holds up at a course I haven't played in a long time.

Update?!

[byu71]

Update?!

Anticlimatic. Guess old age has affected him too. I told him as we were driving to his ball as usual on the first hole, this ain't happening this time and explained what I meant. That was it and he was fine the rest of the day.

46-40, but we were quite generous giving putts for double bogey.


I did throw down a legitimate 84 today at Oakie. I am getting another lesson though just to cement in what I am doing.