The Golf Thread

[byu71]

Day two begins...

Stake Conference!

So we get to the Club House to take a look at the leader board. I am in 8th all by myself, and DT is in 9th. Only 10 people in the C flight folks. (That is 17+ Handicap)

I am 6 shots off of the lead. We order some breakfast and talk about the round. DT is more optimistic than I am, and he talks about playing it one hole at a time. I am not confident. We skip hitting the range today. Let's go hit about 6 practice putts and get on with it.

Our playing partner is in 10th. He is 72 years old and awesome. I hope to be out there like him in 44 years. On with my report.

Hole 1 Par 4 - Nice easy swing. Great drive. I am about 85 yards out.

Hey great drive...sorry about your next shot. NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!

I hit a great SW. Land front of the green and miss the cup by 2" and leave myself with a 5'. Drop it. Birdie baby.

Hole 2 Par 4 - Nice easy swing. Fairway baby. Draw a 7 iron onto the left edge of the green. Hit a great putt, thought it was going in but just missed. 3' fast. Dropped it. Par.

Hole 3 Par 3 - Nice easy 7 iron. Short of the green. Chip past hole. 3 putt. Promised myself I wasn't having any of these. Double.

Hole 4 Par 5 - Another nice easy drive right down the middle. Decide to give my 3W a shot. Hook it...into a sand trap...and right out onto a hill. 6" more and it rolls into the water. Hit a good 7 iron left short of the green. Decent chip. 2 putt. Bogey.

Hole 5 Par 3 - Hit a 7 iron to 21". GIR baby. 2 putt. Par.

Hole 6 Par 4 - Swing too hard, and I am left of the fairway. Hit a great 3 Hybrid right of the green. Nice chip up. 2 putt.

Feeling really good.

Hole 7 Par 4 - Got lazy and hit a fade just short of the water. Hit a great 8 iron just short of the green. Nice chip to 5'. Great putt. Par.

Hole 8 Par 4 - Hook my drive left again. This hole has water down the entire right side. Just afraid of it I guess. I draw a nice 6 iron onto the green within 10 feet. Hit a good putt just short. Par.

Hole 9 Par 5 - I am feeling it and I let a thought get into my head...I can have my 2nd ever 30something round if I don't screw this hole up.

Hook my drive onto the edge of a trap. Punch an 8 into the fairway. Go easy on a 4 HY. Dumb. Top it and it rolls to a GW shot. Chunk that into a bunker. Nice out though onto the green. 2 putt. Double.

After 9 I am sitting at 41 and feeling good.

Head to the clubhouse for a refill. While in there the group behind me comes in and the 18 year old kid says "DT said you had a 41. I did also. Good luck on the next 9." He had that grin like I had not shot. He had a 3 stroke lead on my to start, and still does. (But I have a higher HCP than he does by 3 strokes so we are dead even. He just doesn't realize it yet.)

I get in the cart and DT says "Nick was excited to tell me about his 41. I told him you shot the same. He was shocked. You could see him deflate right away."

I am still not believing. There are 7 other golfers in my way.

Hole 10 Par 5 - Drive just left of the fairway. Great 3W. Nice 8 iron left of the green. Lazy chip. Next chip gets on and I two putt. Double

Hole 11 Par 4 - Hook my drive left again. Behind some trees, so I decide to play smart. I hit a 7 iron and leave myself 85 to the pin.

Shot of the day #2. I stick my SW to 2'. Hardest hole on the course and I par it.

Hole 12 Par 4 - Smoke my drive, just left of the fairway. Poor 9 iron. So so chip. 2 putt bogey.

Hole 13 Par 3 - Hit my 5 iron short of the green. Decent chip with a two putt. Bogey.

Hole 14 Par 4 - Hit a stinger just short of the green. Talk myself out of a PW and into a GW. STUPID. Trust yourself. I have to go hard with my GW and I hook it into the sand. Get out in one and I two putt. Bogey.

Hole 15 Par 3 - Hit what I think is a great 6 iron, only to find out that I am in the sand short of the green. Get out in one...barely. I am a terrible sand player. Almost drop the chip but it runs past. 2 putt double.

Hole 16 Par 4 - Hit my drive great. I am in the fairway and am 100 out. And this is where it gets funny.

There is a house on the hole having a party in their back yard. There are a bunch of kids and some Tejano music blaring. I settle in over my shot and as I am preparing to swing DT says under his breath "Hey...keep it down over there!" I start to chuckle in my back swing and I top it. DT feels much shame and apologizes. I am fine with it. I get up and hit a terrible SW into the sand. I get out in one and I two putt. Double.

Back to back. Sheesh.

Hole 17 Par 4 - Hit a great drive in the fairway. Hook my 8 iron left of the green. Worst iron shot of the day. Rewarded with a terrible bounce. I am pissed. So I hit a poor chip. I chip again and put it on. 2 putt. Double.

Back to back to back. Sheesh.

Hole 18 Par 5 - Snap hook my drive left. Hit a provisional...snap hook that one left. We go up and my provisional is gone. OB and can't find it. DT is able to find my first ball, but I have a bush 1' into my back swing. So I grab my 5 iron and samurai chop right down on top of it and it goes 20 feet.

I hit my 5 iron again and I smoke it. I am 115 out. I know I should hit my PW, but I talk myself into a GW. Chunk it and I barely clear the water. I am in the sand. I hit a SW to 5'. I AM A GREAT SAND PLAYER! Drop a great putt for a bogey.

47.

So I go 41+48 for a 88. I am bothered because I just pissed away a chance to win some money.

For this tournament I am a 21 Handicap.

So I Net a 76 on day one, and a 67! on day two for a 143. Still upset.

Out of the 10 golfers our flight, we are the first in the clubhouse. I give the Men's Club President my card and he is shocked yet excited for me. Our playing partner buys DT and I a drink (Diet Dr. Pepper) for having such a great time with us today.

Our cards are posted and I am in the lead. Not a surprise, because we are the first group in.

We wait...the next group comes in hanging their heads. All we hear is "I played terrible...I played like shit...today sucked."

Scores are tallied and posted.

4 golfers are left...and I am still in the lead.

Last group makes there way in, and I am starting to get nervous. Scores are tallied....

AND THE WINNER IS...

Oh wait. MC President has to go out and play 18 again to break a tie in Flight A that he was in. So we sit and wait for 15 minutes not knowing.

He finally comes back, his challenger conceded the hole and the MC President wins Flight A.

Cards are examined and posted.

HOLY SHIZ.....I did it. I came from 6 shots back, to win by 6. It was a Tigeresque moment, minus the hookers and blow.

I won $200 script from the Pro Shop. I won admiration. I am the Flight C champ for 2012. I get to reign for a year!



It was a great day. DT started building me up mentally when he realized I was having a good round. He kept telling me "You are playing great, the other folks aren't going to be able to keep up. You can only play your shots and trust that they can't keep up." He was right and I owe him a big thanks for the help.

MC President asked me if I was available on Saturdays in January and February as our club is going to be playing a Men's Club Tournament versus another course, and he would like me to be a part of the team.

Today was a good day.

ATTA BOY!!!

[The_Tick]

Good Job Tick... You're a winner - and a good round narrator. I'm glad you kicked Nick's punk ass. We've got Nicks's at our club too. Is the $200 good for food, or just the pro shop. I plowed my summer winnings into the restaurant, and ate with pride.

If not... you ought to take the $200 and buy a belly putter. 5 putts... that's not only a crime, it's a cry for intervention.

Hah. I did my best. Good for pro shop, food and green fees.

But let's clear the record. Only one person in my group 5 putted...and it wasn't this guy.

[Drunk Tank]

Yes, I five-putted... I also made a 45 footer for birdie, and a 30 footer for a par......and I have a long putter that sits in my closet because while great on short putts, it has no feel for long putts. I'll sell it for a reasonable fee (Scotty Cameron Kombi). I think I am going to sell my i20's also. $5 below what Clack is asking for his! CFS stiff shaft, Yellow dot (1.75 deg upright)...

Seriously, the irons weren't the problem. I couldn't keep anything in the fairway or in bounds. By the back 9 on the last day, I was just going through the motions. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted it to be over. Even when I put away the driver and was teeing off with my 4 wood, things were just not going my way. I'd find the lone waste bunker in the middle of the fairway, or be up against the front face of a 4ft deep pot bunker and i'd have to hit into the face and pop the ball out behind me, or land on the edge of a 3ft deep pot bunker and I'd have to stand on one foot in the bunker and swing waist level. It just wasn't my weekend for good golf.

[clackamascoug]

Yes, I five-putted... I also made a 45 footer for birdie, and a 30 footer for a par......and I have a long putter that sits in my closet because while great on short putts, it has no feel for long putts. I'll sell it for a reasonable fee (Scotty Cameron Kombi). I think I am going to sell my i20's also. $5 below what Clack is asking for his! CFS stiff shaft, Yellow dot (1.75 deg upright)...

Seriously, the irons weren't the problem. I couldn't keep anything in the fairway or in bounds. By the back 9 on the last day, I was just going through the motions. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted it to be over. Even when I put away the driver and was teeing off with my 4 wood, things were just not going my way. I'd find the lone waste bunker in the middle of the fairway, or be up against the front face of a 4ft deep pot bunker and i'd have to hit into the face and pop the ball out behind me, or land on the edge of a 3ft deep pot bunker and I'd have to stand on one foot in the bunker and swing waist level. It just wasn't my weekend for good golf.

I'm sorry for the "rave review" on the i20's early this year. They really are a nice club in the right hands, but for my skill level, the G20's are 2x as good.

I'm looking for a pistol - If anyone has a pistol worth around $600, I'll trade some Ping i20 clubs worth around $600. Or $500, on a case by case basis.

[Drunk Tank]

I'm sorry for the "rave review" on the i20's early this year. They really are a nice club in the right hands, but for my skill level, the G20's are 2x as good.

I'm looking for a pistol - If anyone has a pistol worth around $600, I'll trade some Ping i20 clubs worth around $600. Or $500, on a case by case basis.

I had been looking at the i20's long before you had bought yours. I have always been a Ping fan. I hit my Pings as good if not better than I hit my Adams a4's and they seem to be more forgiving than the Adams. I never had given the G20's much thought because the sole was so wide they didnt appeal visually to me. I was used to playing a minimal offset club with a thin topline. So I went with the i20's. On a whim, I hit a G20 7-iron at the pro-shop a couple weeks ago. I was killing it! 170-175 yards straight down the middle or with a slight draw. By the end of the session I was kicking myself for not giving them a closer look before I bought the i's. If I can sell the i20's for a reasonable price, I'll pick up some G20's, but if not, I am still happy with the i20's.

[byu71]

I had been looking at the i20's long before you had bought yours. I have always been a Ping fan. I hit my Pings as good if not better than I hit my Adams a4's and they seem to be more forgiving than the Adams. I never had given the G20's much thought because the sole was so wide they didnt appeal visually to me. I was used to playing a minimal offset club with a thin topline. So I went with the i20's. On a whim, I hit a G20 7-iron at the pro-shop a couple weeks ago. I was killing it! 170-175 yards straight down the middle or with a slight draw. By the end of the session I was kicking myself for not giving them a closer look before I bought the i's. If I can sell the i20's for a reasonable price, I'll pick up some G20's, but if not, I am still happy with the i20's.

Why don't you and Clack tell me a bit about your I20's. Like R or S shaft. Steel or graphite shaft. What irons are in the set and what the lie is.

Although I have Mizuno's and love them, I like an extra set of irons sitting around to go along with my 3 drivers and 5 putters.

[Drunk Tank]

Why don't you and Clack tell me a bit about your I20's. Like R or S shaft. Steel or graphite shaft. What irons are in the set and what the lie is.

Although I have Mizuno's and love them, I like an extra set of irons sitting around to go along with my 3 drivers and 5 putters.

Ping i20 4-PW, UW Iron Set with Ping CFS Steel Shafts (stiff) - Yellow Dot (1.75° upright), standard length.

[byu71]

Ping i20 4-PW, UW Iron Set with Ping CFS Steel Shafts (stiff) - Yellow Dot (1.75° upright), standard length.

I am playing regular shaft and graphite, but I will ask my buddy. How much?

[Drunk Tank]

I am playing regular shaft and graphite, but I will ask my buddy. How much?

I paid $799. I'd Like to get $600. Played 12 rounds. 9/10 condition. No big scratches, just some light ball marks on the face. I can text photos of each club if you like. Just shoot me a PM with your #.

[byu71]

I paid $799. I'd Like to get $600. Played 12 rounds. 9/10 condition. No big scratches, just some light ball marks on the face. I can text photos of each club if you like. Just shoot me a PM with your #.

I will check with him first. I know he is on e-bay constantly looking for the last 3 months so he might be a cheap SOB. After all he is a friend.

[clackamascoug]

I'm not actively looking to sell my clubs. To the right person, I'd do a deal, but my wife gave me the green light to buy a gun, so I don't have to make side deals. I too like having an extra set around for visitors, and general garage fodder.

My i20's are Black Dot, CFS Steel Stiff, +3/4" long. 4-9,W,U. The U is a 52* gap wedge, and next to the 8, my favorite. I regripped 5 of the 8 clubs with Golf Pride corded grips, with 2 wraps of tape. I paid $804, but to sell them, I'd have to take $5 more than Tick. Personally, I think they are the best looking clubs on the market. (Also, I have a merchant account, and can take a credit card.)

[byu71]

I'm not actively looking to sell my clubs. To the right person, I'd do a deal, but my wife gave me the green light to buy a gun, so I don't have to make side deals. I too like having an extra set around for visitors, and general garage fodder.

My i20's are Black Dot, CFS Steel Stiff, +3/4" long. 4-9,W,U. The U is a 52* gap wedge, and next to the 8, my favorite. I regripped 5 of the 8 clubs with Golf Pride corded grips, with 2 wraps of tape. I paid $804, but to sell them, I'd have to take $5 more than Tick. Personally, I think they are the best looking clubs on the market. (Also, I have a merchant account, and can take a credit card.)

To you and Drunk. I just told my friend. I told you he is a cheap SOB. Said he could get them on e-bay for $400.

I said, "you cheap SOB, why haven't you in the last 4 months bought a set then"? I got a dirty look and he walked off.

[old_gregg]

To you and Drunk. I just told my friend. I told you he is a cheap SOB. Said he could get them on e-bay for $400.

I said, "you cheap SOB, why haven't you in the last 4 months bought a set then"? I got a dirty look and he walked off.

for $400 they're either going to be fakes or beaten to hell

[byu71]

for $400 they're either going to be fakes or beaten to hell

Yea, amongst his close friends such as myself, he is know as either, his name "divide it by two" or the bureau of misinformation.

[clackamascoug]

I thought you fellow golfers would find the following link interesting. Mickelson is playing a Taylormade 3 wood at the HSBC in China.