The Golf Thread

[Donuthole]

I managed to squeeze in 9 while up in Davis Co for a family event this weekend. It has been almost 7 months since I golfed in northern Utah probably the longest non-winter-caused break since I moved away from there. That altitude sure has a way of making you feel strong. I only hit driver 5 times, but three of them were about 265-270 and another was 310 (no wind, slight downhill), leaving me a 5 iron into a par 5. I didn't score particularly well (43), but it felt nice to hit the ball long.

On that note, it seems that a slightly closed stance at setup is helping me get my hips and wrists around and has improved my rhythm immensely; I'm getting good distance without having to "swing out of my bung hole" as one CUFfer puts it.

[byu71]

I have still been playing better, I know no one asked but I need some relief from political posts.

My UGA has dropped from an 18 to twelve. Mostly shooting in the mid to low 80's. An occasion 90 still slips in like 95 Wednesday. I am still looking for an occasional 70's. Haven't had one since the 79 a couple of weeks ago when my coach played with me.

The big Mesquite trip is coming up the end of the month. Big group this year, 48. I actually don't want my handicap to drop before we go down there. With 48, the money will be LPGA type money.

[clackamascoug]

Golf Report November 14, 2012

45+42=87

By 10 am the marine air was burning off to show blue sky. With my wife still up in Seattle, and a clear schedule, I headed off to the course. Turned out to be a beautiful day with clear sky, and temp around 52*. With a club of a bout 150 active members, there's only a handful that I don't like playing with, and today I got stuck with "mr. perfectionist," the guy nobody really likes to play with because of an anger management problem. Anyway, he didn't yell at me for anything, and I beat him on the back, so I guess it was ok.

Shot of the Day: Hole 6 560 yard par 5. I'm hitting three from 185 out, and have to thread it between the Lone Fir, and the oak tree on the left. My gap is about 30 feet. I hit my favorite 7 wood with driver shaft, and it was as pure as pure can be, and I ended up 8 feet for birdie. The birdie putt slipped right lip, and I went to tap in par, and as I was trying not to stand on the line of my playing partners, I reached too far with the putter and missed a 6 incher. Mr. Perfectionist goes into a practiced monologue about how he never does that.... blah blah...

Anyway, was a pretty good day, but I'm for sure done golfing for quite a while. Course is too wet, and I'm not a mudder.

[byu71]

Next week is the groups anual trip to Mesquite. 4 days of official group golf, Wednesday through Saturday. WE observe the Sabbath. I think I will play a practice round on Tuesday. This year we have 48 going down. This year we are moving from playing the Oasis and Palms to playing Conestoga.

I am taking a refresher lesson Saturday. Financially it would be worth it for me to pay for my young, cute, golf instructor to go with me. However, it wouldn't look good.

If anyone is interested in investing in the action, I might be willing to hedge my bets this year since I am taking two of my boys and covering their action besides mine.

[clackamascoug]

Next week is the groups anual trip to Mesquite. 4 days of official group golf, Wednesday through Saturday. WE observe the Sabbath. I think I will play a practice round on Tuesday. This year we have 48 going down. This year we are moving from playing the Oasis and Palms to playing Conestoga.

I am taking a refresher lesson Saturday. Financially it would be worth it for me to pay for my young, cute, golf instructor to go with me. However, it wouldn't look good.

If anyone is interested in investing in the action, I might be willing to hedge my bets this year since I am taking two of my boys and covering their action besides mine.

For me it's a net lose. I'd be willing to bet $20 on you, but I've already pumped $500 this month into the Utah economy, covering my sons "action" in Provo. Good luck in Mesquite, the 2nd night of my married life.

[byu71]

For me it's a net lose. I'd be willing to bet $20 on you, but I've already pumped $500 this month into the Utah economy, covering my sons "action" in Provo. Good luck in Mesquite, the 2nd night of my married life.

Your sons married, right.

[clackamascoug]

Your sons married, right.

The older one is married, less expensive, but has medical issues we help with. The younger is foot loose and fancy free. He's the expensive one. And my favorite. (he's almost worth it.)

[Surfah]

As I argued before, it's not an advancement in technology but a change in the way a club is swung. That is what I think will be addressed with a clarification. When they rule, I'd be surprised if anything is said about the length of the putter. Though if they ban anchoring the club against your body, long putters will be worthless.

I think I argued what Tiger did by saying the putter can't be longer than the next shortest club in the bag. I don't recall though or care to look it up.

I would not be opposed to putting a maximum length on the putter at all. This is the easy fix to the issue which is anchoring the club against the body. The alternate is to address the swing in the rule book. IMO, this is what the USGA will eventually rule on. Either way the long putter dies.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6kU-pOVm0Y7I44FW45Xwh1WrD4g?docId=84f4b139b5704c2488f4ad0f4d352cf6

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the U.S. Golf Association said the rule would not outlaw belly putter or broom-handle putters, only the way they are currently used. The proposed rule would make it illegal for golfers to anchor the club while making a stroke and not take effect until 2016.

Still not official. But I am calling my swish now.

[clackamascoug]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...f4ad0f4d352cf6

Still not official. But I am calling my swish now.

Talk about muddy water. There is so much room to wiggle there, that this argument will go on forever. What I mean is that I use a belly putter, and hold my left elbow into my gut, and hold my hand about 3" away from my torso, and under my chin. From what I just read, that would be legal. Can you imagine all the grief I'll get from the club members as they inspect my putting swing and make comments the rest of my life starting well... now, even though it's effective in 2016. This ruling is not going to change belly putters, but only put a stigma on them.

[Surfah]

Talk about muddy water. There is so much room to wiggle there, that this argument will go on forever. What I mean is that I use a belly putter, and hold my left elbow into my gut, and hold my hand about 3" away from my torso, and under my chin. From what I just read, that would be legal. Can you imagine all the grief I'll get from the club members as they inspect my putting swing and make comments the rest of my life starting well... now, even though it's effective in 2016. This ruling is not going to change belly putters, but only put a stigma on them.

There is already a stigma on them.

Also, as I understand the rule change suggestion I am not sure your putting stroke would be legal.

[old_gregg]

seems like the risk of penalty strokes from using one outweighs the gain

[clackamascoug]

There is already a stigma on them.

Also, as I understand the rule change suggestion I am not sure your putting stroke would be legal.

And so it begins....

For the next 20 years, I'm going to have to defend my putting stroke. And according to the link, putting like Petterson, Scott, and Kuchar is legal. Surfah, wait till you're over 50, and can't even get the ball out of the hole, let alone have the steady nerves to hold a putting line. There's no such thing as stigma, when your on the front lines and over 50. (btw... my putter is more like the Kuchar that the Scott.)

Putting styles such as the "claw" or "cross handed" are still allowed. Matt Kuchar uses a belly-length putter that he rests against his arm. That would be permitted. Belly putters are allowed, as long as they don't touch the stomach, such as the style Angel Cabrera used when he won the 2009 Masters. Broom putters, such as used by Clark, Pettersson and Adam Scott, can be used provided it is held away from the chest.

[Donuthole]

And so it begins....

For the next 20 years, I'm going to have to defend my putting stroke. And according to the link, putting like Petterson, Scott, and Kuchar is legal. Surfah, wait till you're over 50, and can't even get the ball out of the hole, let alone have the steady nerves to hold a putting line. There's no such thing as stigma, when your on the front lines and over 50.

Doesn't Scott hold his hand against his sternum? If the club isn't touching, does that count as being "held away from the chest?"

Long ways to go, still. This thing's not over yet.

[Surfah]

And so it begins....

For the next 20 years, I'm going to have to defend my putting stroke. And according to the link, putting like Petterson, Scott, and Kuchar is legal. Surfah, wait till you're over 50, and can't even get the ball out of the hole, let alone have the steady nerves to hold a putting line. There's no such thing as stigma, when your on the front lines and over 50.

Your stroke is still illegal.

If the rule is enacted, it would prohibit strokes made with the club or hand gripping the club held directly against the player's body or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point. The rule would take effect Jan. 1, 2016, when the Rules of Golf are updated, and would allow a three-year period of transition for players anchoring. The rule change would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke.

If there is a violation of the rule, the resulting penalty is loss of hole in match play competition. In stroke play, each occurrence is a two-stroke penalty.

This is how the proposed rule reads (see Note 2 concerning your stroke):

14-1b Anchoring the Club

In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either "directly" or by use of an "anchor point."

Note 1: The club is anchored "directly" when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2: An "anchor point" exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2012/11/28/usga-ra-anchoring-ban-belly-putter/1730801/

Maybe you could get one of these for Christmas for your putter:

[Surfah]

Doesn't Scott hold his hand against his sternum? If the club isn't touching, does that count as being "held away from the chest?"

Long ways to go, still. This thing's not over yet.

He's anchoring his arm against the body. So it's not a "free swing".