The Golf Thread

[Coach McGuirk]

I've come to the realization I'm an ok golfer on my home course and pretty sucky everywhere else. I use to think this was just comfort and course knowledge, but I'm pretty sure it because it is an easy course

Scores or my last 10 rounds...
Sun Willows-(home course) 82
Wine Valley-89
Sun Willows- 83, 81
Soldier's Hollow- 92. I felt like I played really well this day, but couldn't drop a put and had 2 balls blow OB (wind was at least 25mph) on the backside.
Oakridge CC 95. worst feeling round of the bunch, mainly because my playing partner felt sorry for me and kept saying nice platitudes.
Solider's Hollow - 83 I tripled bogeyed 9 after a bad bounce OB from the cart path and doubled 18 after hitting a blind shot perfectly towards my target...unfortunately, I had picked the wrong tree top as a target.
Sun Willows - 83, 81
Sahalee Country Club - 94 Yes, I got to play one of the nicest and most exclusive clubs on the west coast, thanks a former cuffer. The course was breathtakingly beautiful. There was a top-tier amateur tournament early in the morning (Blair from BYU, the Casper kid, and lots of collegiate players were there. A kid from UNLV - 4th ranked amateur in the world- won it), which meant we not only had the famously tight fairways but super fast greens with impossible pin placements. I wasn't wild with my driver or 3W, but not accurate enough to hit 30 yard wide fairways. This led to lots of shots behind or around trees. It was a great day nonetheless.

Soldier's Hollow. The photographer caught me after I hit one of my best drives of the day.


Sahalee with its signature tree on the right side. This was one of the few holes that had a wide first cut, most had about 10 yards of grass off the fairway before you were in the forest.


This picture concerns me. Do I really have a belly hanging over my shorts? If so, this is something I need to know, and more more importantly, need to fix ... I was able to stick this shot fairly close and missed one of my few legitimate birdie chances, on the day.

Pretty sweet pictures, art.

[clackamascoug]

I've come to the realization I'm an ok golfer on my home course and pretty sucky everywhere else. I use to think this was just comfort and course knowledge, but I'm pretty sure it because it is an easy course

This concerns me too. I've only played one "away" course this year, and I'm wondering if my game will travel. Regarding the picture... I think a little belly adds to lower body stability, and improves the swing path. Being too skinny can get your club position cattywampus (off target line) at the top.

[Katy Lied]

That kid that I occasionally talk about is currently in the junior world championship. He shot a 68 on the first day and is currently in 3rd place in the 13-14 bracket. They should be putting up his second day score in a few minutes.

http://jwgc.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/jw...eaderboard.htm

[clackamascoug]

Playing Report - Men's Club July 11, 2012

44+34=78

6 birdies, 6 pars, 3 bogies, 2 doubles, 1 +5bogie (9 on a par 4)

Was one under going into the 3rd. Drive OB, Second OB, Hitting 5 off the tee, and ended with a 9. Was so rattled that I doubled the next hole as well. 6 over after 4 holes. Not looking good. Birdied the 6th, Bogie'd 7, Doubled 9 for a 44.

Was playing with a former touring pro who's 85, (played with Hogan, Snead, and Palmer in his day), and he told me I'm playing good, so just make up for it on the back.

Birdied 10, Bogie 11, Par 12th, Birdie on 13, Birdie on 14, - and he says to me - you can do it, bring it home. Bogie'd 15, par 16, par 17, birdie on 18 for a 34. I was feeling it on the back. Even the bogies were good holes, where I should have had an easy par or better. I seriously left 10 shots out there today, that were almost gimmies. If I just get a stinking par on hole three, I shoot a 73.

Shot of the day... the W/9/8 irons were hot, everything was within 8 feet. Drives good. Putting excellent. Can you believe I even said putting excellent. The claw grip on the belly putter is HUGE for me. If this keeps up, I'll be known as a good putter.

(Technically, the club only allows for a triple bogie on the card, so for handicap purposes I shot a 76.)

[clackamascoug]

That kid that I occasionally talk about is currently in the junior world championship. He shot a 68 on the first day and is currently in 3rd place in the 13-14 bracket. They should be putting up his second day score in a few minutes.

http://jwgc.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/jw...eaderboard.htm

Wow... 3 clear of the next player. That kid is cooking. Keep us updated like this, I'm really interested in watching his progress.

[Art Vandelay]

Clack, I'm almost more impressed with your 44 on the front after a 9 and a double than your hot backside (that's what she said). A hole like that completely destroys my confidence for the round. In all honesty, I think I strike the ball well enough to be a single digit player (Tick, Doh'Nuts, and 71 likely disagree), but I'm just not mentally tough enough. I rarely swear, don't throw clubs, and don't have big outbursts, but I don't let a bad shot or hole go, like good players do.

Great round, congrats. When will you be over here for a round one me?

[byu71]

Clack, I'm almost more impressed with your 44 on the front after a 9 and a double than your hot backside (that's what she said). A hole like that completely destroys my confidence for the round. In all honesty, I think I strike the ball well enough to be a single digit player (Tick, Doh'Nuts, and 71 likely disagree), but I'm just not mentally tough enough. I rarely swear, don't throw clubs, and don't have big outbursts, but I don't let a bad shot or hole go, like good players do.

Great round, congrats. When will you be over here for a round one me?

Au contraire mon frere. I definitely think you have it in you to be in the single digits.

Let me add my congrats to Clacks. Great round.

Practice round for me today for the Super Senior Championship. I am not the favorite for sure, but the current champ really bugs me so I plan on sitting him down.

[clackamascoug]

Clack, I'm almost more impressed with your 44 on the front after a 9 and a double than your hot backside (that's what she said). A hole like that completely destroys my confidence for the round. In all honesty, I think I strike the ball well enough to be a single digit player (Tick, Doh'Nuts, and 71 likely disagree), but I'm just not mentally tough enough. I rarely swear, don't throw clubs, and don't have big outbursts, but I don't let a bad shot or hole go, like good players do.

Great round, congrats. When will you be over here for a round one me?

71 and I were talking on here about the mental part of the game the other day, and I wrote about "planning to fail" and what to do when you do fail. Personally, when I play bad, I go inward, repent, and make new goals. Doesn't always work, but it worked yesterday. My mind goal yesterday was to still play to my handicap, and I knew I had my work cut out for it, but it was better than giving up, and saying screw it. I learned a big lesson yesterday.

I haven't been in the lovely burb of Pasco for a couple of years, and don't have any current plans. I do want to play Wine Valley at some point though. The odds of you coming to Portland are probably much greater, and with HFNW in the neighborhood as well, we should concoct a plan to take a good chunk of Husky's lunch money.

[byu71]

OK, first round of the Super Senior. Two years ago I would be confident I could blitz the field. Not so much now.

Yesterday after 7 holes I was two over. Ended up shooting 97. I am not the pre-tourny favorite.

[Katy Lied]

The kid pulled it out. Champion of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. He finished up 9 under par and edged out the Chinese kid. The Chinese kid started out the day two strokes ahead and Rhett caught him on the tenth hole. He is so mentally tough and never falls apart on the third day. (I hope he can stay that way.) Nike and Ping reps were following him around begging to take their equipment. He won a whopping $305 in pro shop credit.

http://jwgc.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/jw...eaderboard.htm

Tomorrow he leaves for New Hampshire for the US Junior Amateur. There are no age brackets- just a general 18-and-under category.

[clackamascoug]

The kid pulled it out. Champion of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. He finished up 9 under par and edged out the Chinese kid. The Chinese kid started out the day two strokes ahead and Rhett caught him on the tenth hole. He is so mentally tough and never falls apart on the third day. (I hope he can stay that way.) Nike and Ping reps were following him around begging to take their equipment. He won a whopping $305 in pro shop credit.

http://jwgc.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/jw...eaderboard.htm

Tomorrow he leaves for New Hampshire for the US Junior Amateur. There are no age brackets- just a general 18-and-under category.

Yahoo! That's great news!

(There's nothing wrong with pro shop credit. I've got $75 on the books right now, and those "on the tab" drinks after a round, taste a little sweeter knowing my good play pays for them.)

[byu71]

91 in the Super Senior championship. 2 days left, but the leader is in at 75 and so I withdrew so I can play with our regular group. If I play that bad I deserve to lose money, not just walk off shaking my head.

Seriously lost 10 shots due to the fricken chip shanks. A 10 on a par 4.

My official reason for withdrawing? I told the pro I have an injury between my ears.

[clackamascoug]

91 in the Super Senior championship. 2 days left, but the leader is in at 75 and so I withdrew so I can play with our regular group. If I play that bad I deserve to lose money, not just walk off shaking my head.

Seriously lost 10 shots due to the fricken chip shanks. A 10 on a par 4.

My official reason for withdrawing? I told the pro I have an injury between my ears.

I know you're competitive... but this is taking it too far...

[FN Phat]

Am I considered a pro if I am getting paid to play Tiger Woods 12 for the iPad...while at work?

I am going to go with yes.

[clackamascoug]

Playing Report Saturday July 14, 2012

39+39=78
39+41=80

First 18 was in Men's Club. Had 3 birdies.
Second 18 was with Men's Club Die Hards who always play 36 on Sat/Sun. 2 birdies.

On Wednesday I got a blister on the inside of my right little toe. I put a couple of Band Aids on it today, and played in pain all day today. The second 18 was a close call because of the toe, but I got a cart and gutted it out. I had to limp in the last 9 holes.

On the 36th hole I needed to par the par 5 for a 79. Couldn't get it done, and missed a 6 footer. Over all, I'm playing about as good as I can. I might go lower, but it would be an aberration, and not a trend.

The reason for the 36? Tomorrow's my birthday, and I always get to play 36 for my birthday. Now... I'm gonna take a nice hot shower, and settle down into the final 3 episodes of Breaking Bad.