Golfers thread 2009

[RedskinsDave]

Since no one started one this year, I thought I would.

I played my friend's country club today at Belmont in Ashburn. It's a beautiful course and is challenging. I played like butt but it was only my second time out. I have one more round next weekend before going to Florida to play SAWGRASS! I am no better than your average weekend golfer but after that I will have played two of the best courses in the country (Pebble being the other).

My game was rough today but I had a few that keep you coming out. I did nail a 70 foot putt and had a few others but overall I am quite rusty.

[tbfoster1]

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

Since no one started one this year, I thought I would.

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

I played my friend's country club today at Belmont in Ashburn. It's a beautiful course and is challenging. I played like butt but it was only my second time out. I have one more round next weekend before going to Florida to play SAWGRASS! I am no better than your average weekend golfer but after that I will have played two of the best courses in the country (Pebble being the other).

My game was rough today but I had a few that keep you coming out. I did nail a 70 foot putt and had a few others but overall I am quite rusty.

Thats sweet you get to play Sawgrass. Tell us how you do, particularly on number 17.

I started off the year well with rounds in the mid and upper 80s. Then in May I was playing the championship course at Deer Run and was tracking a round in the mid to low 80s but completely fell apart on the 13th hole and continued hacking until the end, pretty much doubling almost every hole that went with the 9 I got on the 13th . I ended up with a 92. I'm still trying to fix whatever happened. I played Friday and hit the ball ok but there is still a swing flaw. Short game was decent. We played a two man captains choice and shot a 6 over.

I haven't played an individual scored round since I fell apart and I fear I might be around 10 strokes worse than I was to start the year. I made one little change in my swing to start that round at deer run and was completely smashing the ball until the 13th and now I'm all f'd up.

I bought a new set of irons last Tuesday. Cleveland-cg7s They are alot different from my other clubs and will take some getting used to. The course we played Friday was long so I didn't feel like I got the chance to use my new irons as much as I normally would. It was mostly 3 wood, hybrid, lob wedge, putter. Hopefully the next time I play, I can get my swing straightened out and justify the purchase.

[Chief Seeway]

You'll love Sawgrass! Play from the tips, it's not THAT bad and they won't be all the way back anyway. My foursome played two balls on 17, par first ball, second in the drink. I was 2 under after 4 and ended up with 88 or 89.

This year I've only played in a few four ball scrambles. With my schedule I'd thought I'd be golfing a lot more. I may get some more rounds in late June, early July.

Ohh, Sawgrass... order a bag tag with your name on it... it will be done by the time you finish your round.

[hail2skins]

So, I defied everything that I read and what folks told me and decided to purchase a new driver with a lower loft. I've had 10.5 all along but was unhappy with the trajectory I was getting with them. No matter how low I teed the ball, it would balloon.

I went to Golf Galaxy after a round today because I got tired of hearing the guys I was playing with saying how high I hit my drives. I didn't even know these guys and they were like dude you really put it in the air.

At Golf Galaxy, I saw a 9.5 TaylorMade Burner Tour and decided to hit it. They put me on the launcher and said the club was working well for me because of my swing speed. He said I was also getting good trajectory with it which resulted in more distance. So, I decided to get it. It was $149 (on sale) originally $399. I decided not to trade in my 10.5 Burner because of the low trade-in value.

First stop after leaving Golf Galaxy was the range. I ran into a colleague who I'll be playing with tomorrow morning. I warmed up with some irons and then pulled out the new driver. First couple of shots went right but once I straighted it out, I was hitting the back fense about mid-way up and had a trajectory I was much happier with. My colleague was like damn man you're crushing that thing. So right now I'm pretty happy. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow on the course.

[tbfoster1]

Originally Posted by hail2skins

So, I defied everything that I read and what folks told me and decided to purchase a new driver with a lower loft. I've had 10.5 all along but was unhappy with the trajectory I was getting with them. No matter how low I teed the ball, it would balloon.

I went to Golf Galaxy after a round today because I got tired of hearing the guys I was playing with saying how high I hit my drives. I didn't even know these guys and they were like dude you really put it in the air.

At Golf Galaxy, I saw a 9.5 TaylorMade Burner Tour and decided to hit it. They put me on the launcher and said the club was working well for me because of my swing speed. He said I was also getting good trajectory with it which resulted in more distance. So, I decided to get it. It was $149 (on sale) originally $399. I decided not to trade in my 10.5 Burner because of the low trade-in value.

First stop after leaving Golf Galaxy was the range. I ran into a colleague who I'll be playing with tomorrow morning. I warmed up with some irons and then pulled out the new driver. First couple of shots went right but once I straighted it out, I was hitting the back fense about mid-way up and had a trajectory I was much happier with. My colleague was like damn man you're crushing that thing. So right now I'm pretty happy. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow on the course.

I had so many problems with my driver that I decided to take it out of my bag. I've been going off the tee with my 3 wood everytime I've played this year. Also this year I decided to get a gap wedge since I was down a club. I rarely use it but it does come in handy when I am in between my pitching wedge and sand wedge. I've been having a hard time with a half or 3 quarter swing with the PW that needs to get up in the air, so the full swing with the gap is helpful.

[Taylor21TheUndertaker]

I hope you all are playing with a hybrid in the bag. I swear by 'em. 220 out in the rough and it (Hogan 3 hybrid)cuts thru it like a hot knife thru butter with a 7 iron trajectory. Still sportin the green dot ping eye 2's, the vokey gap, sand, and, lob... odyssey putter and Callaway driver an taylor made 3 wood

Hacked it around Fazio's home course two weeks ago.. Champion Hills.. an 82

[Ibleedburgundy]

Not a lot of people know about Old Hickory in Woodbridge. Nice course, cool layout. It's the sister course of Rasberry Falls. Similar in quality. Went out there Friday. Had a tee time for 1:54 but they shotgunned 6 holes full of tournament player right in front of us so we had a 5 hour and 40 minute round. I was pretty ticked. I would have let the guy know but he was nowhere to be found.

Anyway, that type of thing is unusual there. Highly recommend the course.

Took two lessons for the first time ever. I've taken a few steps back but ultimately I think it will improve my game once I start trusting my new swing.

Also, Titleist is making HP2s again so I'm happy. $18 for a dozen at sports authority. The go far. Feel around the green is not great.

[Chief Seeway]

Originally Posted by hail2skins

So, I defied everything that I read and what folks told me and decided to purchase a new driver with a lower loft. I've had 10.5 all along but was unhappy with the trajectory I was getting with them. No matter how low I teed the ball, it would balloon.

I went to Golf Galaxy after a round today because I got tired of hearing the guys I was playing with saying how high I hit my drives. I didn't even know these guys and they were like dude you really put it in the air.

At Golf Galaxy, I saw a 9.5 TaylorMade Burner Tour and decided to hit it. They put me on the launcher and said the club was working well for me because of my swing speed. He said I was also getting good trajectory with it which resulted in more distance. So, I decided to get it. It was $149 (on sale) originally $399. I decided not to trade in my 10.5 Burner because of the low trade-in value.

First stop after leaving Golf Galaxy was the range. I ran into a colleague who I'll be playing with tomorrow morning. I warmed up with some irons and then pulled out the new driver. First couple of shots went right but once I straighted it out, I was hitting the back fense about mid-way up and had a trajectory I was much happier with. My colleague was like damn man you're crushing that thing. So right now I'm pretty happy. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow on the course.

I really like Golf Galaxy. I'm surprised they didn't fit a shaft for you as well. I still hit my G5 farther than all the new driver heads but have upgraded shafts twice. Todays shafts seem to have the most effect on trajectory angle (height).

This season I'm still hitting Ping G5 driver, Callaway Steelhead III 3 and 5 woods, Callaway X-12 irons, Cleveland 56 and 60 wedges, and Ping Anser putter. All old but still works... I'm contemplating the new X-20s and some new wedges before the square grooves go away.

[hail2skins]

Originally Posted by Chief Seeway

I really like Golf Galaxy. I'm surprised they didn't fit a shaft for you as well. I still hit my G5 farther than all the new driver heads but have upgraded shafts twice. Todays shafts seem to have the most effect on trajectory angle (height).

This season I'm still hitting Ping G5 driver, Callaway Steelhead III 3 and 5 woods, Callaway X-12 irons, Cleveland 56 and 60 wedges, and Ping Anser putter. All old but still works... I'm contemplating the new X-20s and some new wedges before the square grooves go away.

When I bought the older Burner, they did have me swing both the reg and stiff flexes and advised that stiff was working better for me. I agreed based on the feel of it. The older Burner shaft weighs 50 grams and this one is 60 and I feel I get a little more control with it. I hesitated when I bought the old Burner because the club felt so light and that I would be swinging way too hard. But I decided to get it when Golf Galaxy told me how much they would give me in trade-in value for my R-7 with all the scratches in it. That was a couple of years ago and the trade-in values have dropped considerably since then. That's why I kept the older Burner.

BTW, thanks to and Trev for introducing me to Golf Galaxy. We now have them him and like you, I love the store. The one-on-one lesson I got at the VA Beach store was awesome. I still have the video of it too.

Yesterday during my round, I par'd 5 consecutive holes and the guys were like man you must be bored making all of those pars. We had a good laugh with that.

I still have some issues I'm working on too. Hitting irons off the tees has been my problem lately. I can feel my hands are doing the wrong thing but can't stop the swing to reload.

I have reduced the number of rounds I play a week and go to the range instead. I wish we had one nearby that allows you to hit off the ground as opposed to the mats. Those mats give you a false sense of swinging. They are nice mats though. They are made up of fake blades of grass and will punish you if you don't hit it correctly. A lot of folks at the range don't like them and hit in the middle where it is basically the green carpet and harder. To me that is even worse because of it's forgiveness.

Anyway, heading out in about an hour for a round with my colleague. He swings all Nike's like someone else here we all know. He's a NCAA Basketball referee and handles a lot of the tourney games. Damn cool guy and we have fun on the course.

We've had to get a round together for hR folks one day and not just the one before the tailgate. RedskinsDave and wife, BnG and I had fun last year. Maybe we can get more to come out one day.

[rskinsfan10]

Originally Posted by hail2skins

He swings all Nike's like someone else here we all know.

Who are you talking about, Tiger?

[SkinsKY]

I'll chime in now. This is the first year I felt like I was getting the hang of the game. I'm under a 100 consistentantly at my normal course (minus a foot wedge or two). I picked up a couple of new Taylor Madewedges (a 52, and replaced my old 56) which helped a ton. I also figured out how to hit my 3wood off the turf which helped shorten par fives a ton (I birdied 4 of 5 in one round). I'm hoping to get under 90 for the first time by the end of the year, so I need to get a little more consistency and I'm looking to take a lesson (Christmas gift from the inlaws) to help with that.

Mike, I'm looking into getting a lower loft driver myself but may not make the switch to next season. I get a lot of lift on the ball too, but I like my distance right now. Let me know how it works out for you. I'm also worried about slicing more with it than I do already.

[tbfoster1]

Originally Posted by hail2skins

When I bought the older Burner, they did have me swing both the reg and stiff flexes and advised that stiff was working better for me. I agreed based on the feel of it. The older Burner shaft weighs 50 grams and this one is 60 and I feel I get a little more control with it. I hesitated when I bought the old Burner because the club felt so light and that I would be swinging way too hard. But I decided to get it when Golf Galaxy told me how much they would give me in trade-in value for my R-7 with all the scratches in it. That was a couple of years ago and the trade-in values have dropped considerably since then. That's why I kept the older Burner.

BTW, thanks to and Trev for introducing me to Golf Galaxy. We now have them him and like you, I love the store. The one-on-one lesson I got at the VA Beach store was awesome. I still have the video of it too.

Yesterday during my round, I par'd 5 consecutive holes and the guys were like man you must be bored making all of those pars. We had a good laugh with that.

I still have some issues I'm working on too. Hitting irons off the tees has been my problem lately. I can feel my hands are doing the wrong thing but can't stop the swing to reload.

I have reduced the number of rounds I play a week and go to the range instead. I wish we had one nearby that allows you to hit off the ground as opposed to the mats. Those mats give you a false sense of swinging. They are nice mats though. They are made up of fake blades of grass and will punish you if you don't hit it correctly. A lot of folks at the range don't like them and hit in the middle where it is basically the green carpet and harder. To me that is even worse because of it's forgiveness.

Anyway, heading out in about an hour for a round with my colleague. He swings all Nike's like someone else here we all know. He's a NCAA Basketball referee and handles a lot of the tourney games. Damn cool guy and we have fun on the course.

We've had to get a round together for hR folks one day and not just the one before the tailgate. RedskinsDave and wife, BnG and I had fun last year. Maybe we can get more to come out one day.

Mike, Does the Burner feel like you actually have something at the end of the shaft? I'd like to find a Driver but want something with some weight. I hate how light those things are these days.

[hail2skins]

Originally Posted by rskinsfan10

Who are you talking about, Tiger?

Is Tiger a member here at hR.

[hail2skins]

Originally Posted by SkinsKY

I'll chime in now. This is the first year I felt like I was getting the hang of the game. I'm under a 100 consistentantly at my normal course (minus a foot wedge or two). I picked up a couple of new Taylor Madewedges (a 52, and replaced my old 56) which helped a ton. I also figured out how to hit my 3wood off the turf which helped shorten par fives a ton (I birdied 4 of 5 in one round). I'm hoping to get under 90 for the first time by the end of the year, so I need to get a little more consistency and I'm looking to take a lesson (Christmas gift from the inlaws) to help with that.

Mike, I'm looking into getting a lower loft driver myself but may not make the switch to next season. I get a lot of lift on the ball too, but I like my distance right now. Let me know how it works out for you. I'm also worried about slicing more with it than I do already.

Well, it took me a good while to get used to the club on the course. I came out strong on the 1st tee. I would normally have about 130-140 into the green. Today, I had about 115 and barely off the fairway. I hit a little punch shot from near a tree and got it on the green from there. When I hit it bad it was bad because of the distance. But, I am enjoying the trajectory on my shots though even though some were bad. Toward the end of round I got a couple of great drives in. One was a 349 yarder and I was about 50 yards out. My colleage called it in the air saying it looks darn near a 300 yarder. It had a little right to left action on but stayed on the fairway.

So, I'm very happy I made the move despite what you read about wanting more loft on drives.

As for another issue with courses around here. I'm sick and tired of wait on every single hole. I'm not talking 5 minutes. It's really bad around here on some of the courses. It totally takes you out of rythm and when you see 4 carts sitting on one tee box, that isn't good. I'm getting really sick and tired of it.

[hail2skins]

Originally Posted by tbfoster1

Mike, Does the Burner feel like you actually have something at the end of the shaft? I'd like to find a Driver but want something with some weight. I hate how light those things are these days.

This driver is slightly heavier because of the shaft. It's also a stiff flex shaft. As I mentioned earlier, when I first looked at them, it felt like there wasn't anything in my hand but I got used to it when I switched to a stiff shaft. The Tour Burner isn't as wide as the Burner. It looks more compact. So, with this one it feels like I have a club in my hand.

In general, I think they are all getting lighter based on the technology.

Like seeway said earlier, I plan on getting all of my clubs fitted soon.


Yo, SkinsKY. When you take that lesson, just know that you will get worse before you get better. Especially if they break you swing apart and have you start over. The lesson I took at Golf Galaxy was awesome but I had to put in the work afterwards. I still have issues because I'm not consistent. I can play great one day and then suck it up the next. I can't string together good rounds back-to-back. My putting was simply terrible today whereas yesterday I was putting well.

I can't play this game without warming up first. I need to hit some balls, chip some balls and then putt. I like getting to the course an hour earlier than my tee time so I can get my warmup in. I hate using the holes to warm up. The couse (Glenn Dale) I played today allows you to practice chipping onto the practice green. A lot of course around here won't allow it.

Anyway, I'm consistently under 100 and close to breaking 90. I just need to tune up those approach shots with wedges coming into the green.