The Golf Thread

[clackamascoug]

I think the key to my game is driving the ball. At 52, I'm not as long as I use to be, or near as long as my sons are, but lower expectation has also taken off the edge to see how far I can hit it. Without the ego involved, I just step up, take three practice swings over the ball, and hit the ball the same as the practice swing. 90% of the time it's in the middle or has a draw that cooks it to the left, but I'm mostly out there 250/270 looking at 160 or less into the green. I hit it decent long for my age, but there are so many young guys that can hit it 300, that they swing out of their shoes, and find themselves in trouble more often than not.

My Son #1 hits it long and straight, and plays to a 5 handicap. Son #2 is bigger and stronger, and his goal is to hit it farther than his brother. This leads to all kinds of problems with his accuracy. When Son #2 plays by himself, he says he slows it way down and is a lot more accurate. When Son #2 plays with me, and his brother, he's a mess, because its not about golf, its about winning, and he's all over the place. The funny thing is, Son#2 could be the best of the 3 of us, if he could just control the mental side of his game. And that's what he's working on this summer down in Provo.

Side Bar Story: So my two sons were playing this past Saturday and Son #2 ended up sharing a cart with a cute little blonde from South Africa. Apparently she was a really good golfer, and the two of them really hit it off... Son #1 said it was fun watching Son #2 try to play golf decent and put the moves on at the same time. Apparently he got in a good round, and closed on the phone number.

[Surfah]

Played today with Phat and my dad. I couldn't hit a damn thing the front 9. My irons were a mess as well as my driver. That resulted in a 54. I found my swing on the back 9 and had just 2 bogies going into 16 where I blew up. Missed the fairway right. Still had a full PW left into the green but I bladed it right into the skinny trunk of this small tree which ricocheted back behind this giant white oak. In an attempt to chip back to the fairway I chunked it into thick rough. When it was over I suffered a quad. Then I just lost it mentally and finished double double for a 46. 100. Phat didn't play bad considering he was borrowing clubs and plays once every year. My dad was unconscious. He shot a 79. And he left some putts out there too. Fun day, especially the first 6 holes of the back 9 when me and my dad were matching hole for hole. Even Phat had a couple of pars and was playing well.

[clackamascoug]

My dad was unconscious. He shot a 79. And he left some putts out there too.

Young guys have a hard time believing it, but golf is a game of submission. The more you submit your will to the course, the more the course will bless you. Old guys play well because they don't try too hard, and when you don't try, your chi takes over and you get into the zone. Kind of

[byu71]

Side Bar Story: So my two sons were playing this past Saturday and Son #2 ended up sharing a cart with a cute little blonde from South Africa. Apparently she was a really good golfer, and the two of them really hit it off... Son #1 said it was fun watching Son #2 try to play golf decent and put the moves on at the same time. Apparently he got in a good round, and closed on the phone number.

SCORE!!!!

Speaking of son #2. If I have mentioned this before forgive me. My son #2 qualified for the Utah Amateur again. Last year he came close to making it to match play.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

If I have mentioned this before forgive me. My son #2 qualified for the Utah Amateur again. Last year he came close to making it to match play.

That's awesome 71! Make sure and keep us updated on how he does.

[clackamascoug]

2,000th post in this thread. Thought it was worth noting. I enjoy this thread so much... maybe I'll start my own...

The sun is shining, and the beach beckons. For all of you who have to pray for rain, endure fire, and hot summers, I'm going to 69* Cannon Beach today, and Ill say a little prayer for you as we eat at The Lumbermill.

[wuapinmon]

[YOUTUBE]uCEB9GgKoJ0[/YOUTUBE]

[clackamascoug]

Golf Report Thursday July 5, 2012

46+40=86

1 Birdie, 5 pars, 10 bogies, 1 db, 1 tb.

Long story short - Lost my ball on the first hole, played a replacement, found the original ball 15 feet from the pin too late. 6 on the first hole. Took a 8 on the par 5 second - 5 over after 2 holes. The wind was out of the sails, and I had to row the round home with oars. Never really hit a pure shot all day, (except for driving) and I was lipping putts left and right. Literally.

Also it was the first really hot day - golfing wise - and the tops of my ears are sunburned. Hope I can sleep tonight.

Sidebar: While on the 10th fairway today, a car was going past the course pretty fast, and all of a sudden we heard squealing tires trying to stop, and the unmistakable sound of a crash. It was pretty severe, but no one was hurt, and both cars had to be towed away. It felt awkward continuing to play, but there were dozens of people much closer to lend assistance. Weird.

[byu71]

So Wednesday I followed up my 79 with a 90. F'en shanks on chips came back. It is unbelievable how just before I make contact I visually see the ball shooting off to the right. This may take some serious hypnotism to fix.

We went from first place in the tourny to finishing 8th. I hate this type of tournament. It is best ball on the par 4's and 5's, but count both balls on the par 3's. What the heck, it is a par 3 contest.

Of course my dislike might be because on the first par 3 on Wednesday, I posted a 6 and my partner a 7.

[Donuthole]

I played Rio Secco on July 4th. It was a lovely 80 degrees all morning, which meant the round was a win no matter the score. I played that course a few months back with Doc Vandelay when he was in town for the WCC tourney, and put up a 90. I bested that by 1 this time. However, in actuality i golfed much better, as we played from the blues this time (Doc Vandelay golfs from the whites, folks. Just thought you should know.)

At any rate the slope rating from the whites is 136, but that jumps to 149(!) from the blues. Needless to say, the entire course was different. The Par 5 8th I remember reaching in two last time I played (and then three-putting. Grrrr.) This time it took me driver, 4 iron, 6 iron to get there in three. Thankfully, I two putted for par.

Putting was pretty much a disaster overall, however. I three-putted three times, and four-putted (:shame once.

[byu71]

I played Rio Secco

That course is absolutely one of my favorites. I don't like forking out $175 to play a course, but for me that course is worth it.

[Y84it]

I played Rio Secco on July 4th. It was a lovely 80 degrees all morning, which meant the round was a win no matter the score. I played that course a few months back with Doc Vandelay when he was in town for the WCC tourney, and put up a 90. I bested that by 1 this time. However, in actuality i golfed much better, as we played from the blues this time (Doc Vandelay golfs from the whites, folks. Just thought you should know.)

At any rate the slope rating from the whites is 136, but that jumps to 149(!) from the blues. Needless to say, the entire course was different. The Par 5 8th I remember reaching in two last time I played (and then three-putting. Grrrr.) This time it took me driver, 4 iron, 6 iron to get there in three. Thankfully, I two putted for par.

Putting was pretty much a disaster overall, however. I three-putted three times, and four-putted (:shame once.

How have I never heard of this course? Looks like a must play.

[jay santos]

I've still be golfing a lot, at least a couple times a week, but haven't posted my scores in a while. grrr been very inconsistent. Lost my way with my driver for a while. Probably shooting high 90's. Played Hobble by myself a few days ago in the evening. Gorgeous up there at night in the summer. Hit a lot of balls and was doing a lot better. More like where I was at in the high 80's. Playing Homestead today. Hoping for a good score, but not super optimistic as it's a completely new course for me. Played it about 10 years ago but don't remember.

[falafel]

That course is absolutely one of my favorites. I don't like forking out $175 to play a course, but for me that course is worth it.

Time to buy a home here to get resident rates.

[Donuthole]

That course is absolutely one of my favorites. I don't like forking out $175 to play a course, but for me that course is worth it.

It was only $35. Also, the cart girl is legitimately the most attractive cart girl I've seen in Vegas. A veritable Kate Hudson clone.