The Golf Thread

[Art Vandelay]

Congrats on the fairway hole out. That's pretty rare.

Sound like we had similar rounds. I shot a 44/39=83 The front just killed me. On the second hole I was hitting a 5 wood into a par 5, and topped the ball and it flew straight up, and I could have caught it in a shirt pocket. It was one of those rounds where you're playing decent but can't score.

I'm still in limbo with no driver, and borrowed a square generic headed driver with a Grafalloy ProLaunch Red R shaft. The face was 2* closed, and I'm a 1* open guy. Trying to hit that thing straight (not left) was like driving a car w/out power steering. It was all I could do to adjust my swing, and keep the ball in play. I virtually made every putt inside 10', and was complemented on my putting by my playing partners. I've been working on a new split hand putting stroke with a forward press. It's amazing what a positive forward roll it puts on the ball.

I played in the Men's Club, and was paired with guy that was drunk at 9am, and peed 8 times on the day. He downed a six pack during 18 holes. He came back from a trip to a tree, and I noticed that he had peed all over his shoes. The best part was he never said a word all day unless spoken too, meaning that he was not a talkative drunk. One time after a bad shot I got into the cart and put my forefingers and thumbs together and said "Serenity Now." He said what's that? You a Buddhist? I said no, It's a coping mechanism, and he said, why don't you just cuss? He may have a point.

I figured I left about 8 shots out there. That's what I love about golf, you always can point out stupid mistakes, and figure that the next time you'll have the round of your life.

What is your home course?

[clackamascoug]

What is your home course?

My technical home course is Forest Hills Golf Club. That's where I play Saturday golf with the mens club. The course I play the most is called Stone Creek, in Oregon City. It's a Peter Jacobson course thats about ten years old. Its south of Oregon City and east of Canby by about 6 miles.

I grew up in Beaverton/Aloha, and cut my teeth at Forest Hills. I've been golfing there for 38 years, and am friendly with the owner, and the staff. Even though it takes me 45 minutes to drive there, once I'm on the grounds its like coming home. It's a semi-private club with a annual membership and very healthy mens club. After the men and women clubs tee it off, its open to the public. Today for example, they alloted 14 groups of 4, but enough guys wanted to play, so they sent off 15 groups.

Forest Hills was designed in 1929 by William Bell, the famed California architect who designed Bel-Aire Country Club and LaJolla Country Club, among others. Its a par 72 layout, with 3 par 3's and 3 par fives on the back. It's not long, or one of those links style courses, but it has mature Fir Trees everywhere. While I have birdied every hole several times, I have never birdied all 18 at once, and until that day comes, I will keep trying.

The club house/proshop/snack bar is very old school, and the kind of place where you feel very comfortable. In short.... I love the place, and seriously could play it every day the rest of my life, which some people do. Mr. Carder, 82 years old is the club president and retired school district superintendent has played 3 times a week since 1952. I asked him if he has ever gotten tired of Forest Hills, and his answer was no. He said golf is not golf unless I play here. Golf at other places is fun, but it doesn't carry the true essence of what golf is. Golf is the endless pursuit of perfection on a course that you know better than yourself, and has beaten you 100% of the time.

[Drunk Tank]

We had stake conference so I played in our local mens club tournament. The format was individual par point, meaning no teams, just play your ball.

Points were:

double eagle 8
eagle 5
birdie 3
par 1
bogey 0
double bogey -2


I played lights out (for me). I tied my recent personal best of 89. I had a 36 going into 9, and I let nerves get the best of me and I carded an 8. Made me sick to my stomach, but luckily I didn't let it get to me. If I could have gotten a par, it would have been my best 9 holes ever. I am still disappointed with that hole.

Overall, I am extremely happy. 7 pars and a birdie. My gross ended up 0 points, but my net (22 handicap) was 34 points. I was in the lead for net when we left, but I don't know the end results.

[Surfah]

We had stake conference so I played in our local mens club tournament. The format was individual par point, meaning no teams, just play your ball.

Points were:

double eagle 8
eagle 5
birdie 3
par 1
bogey 0
double bogey -2


I played lights out (for me). I tied my recent personal best of 89. I had a 36 going into 9, and I let nerves get the best of me and I carded an 8. Made me sick to my stomach, but luckily I didn't let it get to me. If I could have gotten a par, it would have been my best 9 holes ever. I am still disappointed with that hole.

Overall, I am extremely happy. 7 pars and a birdie. My gross ended up 0 points, but my net (22 handicap) was 34 points. I was in the lead for net when we left, but I don't know the end results.

You only played that well because of Satan.

[byu71]

No excuses for me yesterday. Weather in the 70's. Played with guys I really liked. Fired a 88. Can't get away from doubles 3 of them and triples 2 of them. Luckily my best ball partners covered me.

Congrats on the 89 Tank. I remember sitting at 36 after and 8 holes and sure I would break 40 for first time in my life. Great drive and then yanked two balls left OB.

[byu71]

The weather guy on channel 5 is talking about what a great day it is today. They are showing folks on the driving range with the Temple, Jordan I think, in the background. Just seems funny to me.

[Drunk Tank]

Just found out I got 2nd place...by 1 point. Boooooo

[Surfah]

Just found out I got 2nd place...by 1 point. Boooooo

And that was the Lord keeping you in check.

[clackamascoug]

I wasn't aware of the Stake Conference loop hole. Good to know.

That guy I was buying the clubs heads from in Hong Kong turns out to be a German dude playing the Asian tour, named Max Kellar. He has access to equipment from the tour trucks and sells authentic ware. You can buy a Callaway FTiz head for $149+$29 shipping. You can also buy a Voodoo shaft on ebay for $60, and so for $250+- you can have a club that would cost $399.

[landpoke]

Got out this evening for a quick four holes. I need to work on my short game.

[Drunk Tank]

I wasn't aware of the Stake Conference loop hole. Good to know.

That guy I was buying the clubs heads from in Hong Kong turns out to be a German dude playing the Asian tour, named Max Kellar. He has access to equipment from the tour trucks and sells authentic ware. You can buy a Callaway FTiz head for $149+$29 shipping. You can also buy a Voodoo shaft on ebay for $60, and so for $250+- you can have a club that would cost $399.

How is the Callaway? Have you hit it? I just switched back to my Ping G5 driver with the Aldila NV shaft and my average drive distance now is between 245-270, with the occasional 300 yd crush. I have a Adams 9032LS with the voodoo shaft. I hit it well, but it has a 10.5 deg loft and I hit it too high I think. I am straighter with the Ping as well.

I would really like to be fit for a driver to see what shaft/lie angle combo works best for me.

[falafel]

Got out this evening for a quick four holes. I need to work on my short game.

Where can you play only 4 holes?

[landpoke]

Where can you play only 4 holes?

I'm not familiar with the laws of every state, but up here there are no mandatory minimums. At least not in golf.

At the local course we have a little four hole loop you can walk in 40 minutes or so. Meaning the layout of the nine is such that you can play holes 3-6 and end up back where you started.

[falafel]

I'm not familiar with the laws of every state, but up here there are no mandatory minimums. At least not in golf.

At the local course we have a little four hole loop you can walk in 40 minutes or so. Meaning the layout of the nine is such that you can play holes 3-6 and end up back where you started.

Right, no minimums. So you're either paying for 9 and getting 4, which makes you a sucker, or you're paying for none and getting 4, which makes you dishonest. So as not to insult your intelligence, I'm going with the second one.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Where can you play only 4 holes?

I'll answer for the unusually shy landpoke, he belongs to a country club.

How do you do the stupid spoiler button?