Chatter Golf Sub-Forum

[cover2]

I know we have several golfers among the membership, so I thought I’d give this idea of a sub-forum a try. A place to share and ask for advice on parts of the game that might be troublesome. A 19th hole to share your exploits, brag a little, bellyache, and commiserate. I’ll start…

At 60 with both strength and flexibility on the decline, I’ve lost a lot of distance these last few years. Doesn’t bother me as much on approaches, but it hurts my soul off the tee. Currently I use a 9 degree Callaway with a firm flex. When it’s relatively dry, I can get some good roll, but when it’s damp I don’t get a lot of distance. Any ideas would be appreciated.

One of the best humorous golf experiences I ever had was playing in Quincy while in my 20’s. We got behind a group of hillbillies from Liberty County. They were dressed in wife-beaters, cut off jeans, and softball cleats (how they got on the course in that dress I’ll never know). They couldn’t play a lick, stayed in the woods, and were slow as smoke off of shti. To make matters worse, we couldn’t play through because the course was crowded. My foursome was steaming by the time we got to 18. But then something happened that broke tension. One of the Liberty Co. guys stepped up, waggled a bit, took a lash at it with his best softball swing, and for the first time all round, hit one down the middle. He immediately turned to his partners, threw his driver on the ground, and yelled “Don’t ever f**k with me!” To say we fell about the place is a severe understatement. Almost 40 years later we still laugh about it. Golf, when not taken too seriously, can provide a ton of humor.

Looking forward to hearing from you guys, pros and duffers alike.

 

[CaribGator]

You could wear a skirt, say you identify as Scottish, and tee off at the red markers..

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Can we just move all the nonrevenue sports to a subforum?

 

[Towels 'N Sporks]

Can we just move all the nonrevenue sports to a subforum?

Or a sub forum for complaining about UF administration prioritizing non-revenue sports? Let's call it the "Main Sports Forum."

 

[cover2]

You could wear a skirt, say you identify as Scottish, and tee off at the red markers..

I would, but I doubt they make kilts long enough :). At 60 I am at the age that I can play the Senior tees (gold) at the home course. No sizeable advantage except on two holes. If I play away from home I’ll play the whites, but I can see the day coming that the golds will be from now on.

 

[Zambo]

Well cover the first thing I would say is go to a place with a launch monitor and have them optimize the driver (and the rest of your clubs) for your swing speed. I'd say unless you're hitting it over 250-270 still that a 9 degree driver is way too low no matter what shaft you have. I'd think out there with the relatively soft ground that you'd want as much carry as possible. Out here in the hard dry conditions you can get away with hitting low runners.

At 53, hitting bombs is thankfully still part of my game so I play the blues. But as soon as I get to the point where I'm hitting fairway woods into greens that other guys are approaching with their irons, I'm moving up to the whites. Hitting wedges into greens and trying to get birdies is way more fun that hitting 5 irons and hoping to get a par.

 

[cover2]

Well cover the first thing I would say is go to a place with a launch monitor and have them optimize the driver (and the rest of your clubs) for your swing speed. I'd say unless you're hitting it over 250-270 still that a 9 degree driver is way too low no matter what shaft you have. I'd think out there with the relatively soft ground that you'd want as much carry as possible. Out here in the hard dry conditions you can get away with hitting low runners.

At 53, hitting bombs is thankfully still part of my game so I play the blues. But as soon as I get to the point where I'm hitting fairway woods into greens that other guys are approaching with their irons, I'm moving up to the whites. Hitting wedges into greens and trying to get birdies is way more fun that hitting 5 irons and hoping to get a par.

250 these days is a good poke for my old @ss. I’ve suspected that my 9 degree is a little too low, but I usually hit it on the screws. I’ve hit irons with the launch monitor and the Callaway firm shafts performed the best for me along with a regular flex fiberglass (a little firmer than a regular flex steel). I can’t find the Callaway firms in newer clubs, so I’m on the hunt for good used metals. I can find a ton of 8 and 9 degrees, but scarce few 10’s and no 11’s or higher. Pride has kept me away from the regular flex, but it might be nearing time. I will say this…when I play from the golds at home, I’m usually no further than a five iron on most holes, but I’ve only been close to getting on the par 5’s only once. Like most golfers I crave more.

 

[Zambo]

Also you probably know this but the ball you play needs to be matched to your swing speed. If you haven't tried a Calloway SuperSoft or equivalent ball you should check it out.

The other thing to pay attention to with the ball is how in performs around the green, and not just on approach shots but chips and putts as well. If you even practice the short game, try to practice with the same ball you play with so you can get used to how much it checks up on chips and how it comes off the putter face.

The time spent practicing the short game is worth ten times what you'll get out of hitting long irons on the range.

 

[gatorfan81]

My advice is play from the tee you are comfortable with, it's a game to go and have fun and you don't have much fun if you play from the whites and never Par any holes. If you drive the ball less than 200yds start from the red tees and work your way back as you get better.

 

[cover2]

Also you probably know this but the ball you play needs to be matched to your swing speed. If you haven't tried a Calloway SuperSoft or equivalent ball you should check it out.

The other thing to pay attention to with the ball is how in performs around the green, and not just on approach shots but chips and putts as well. If you even practice the short game, try to practice with the same ball you play with so you can get used to how much it checks up on chips and how it comes off the putter face.

The time spent practicing the short game is worth ten times what you'll get out of hitting long irons on the range.

I actually have done a little searching and the Wilson Staff Soft Spin gave a good performance with pretty good run out from the tee and some check on the greens. I haven’t been able to find the Soft Spins lately so I think they have probably discontinued them. I will have to search again once my stock is depleted. One things for sure, I can’t play the Pro V1’s anymore.

 

[GatorBart]

Hey Cover! I think that was me in the wife beater, cutoffs, and softball cleats!
I used to be good back in HS and college when I played a lot. I go to the range a few times a year now, play in a couple of scrambles and maybe a round or two a year. Trying to get my 11 year old boy interested as we have a full course and par3 just a five minute drive from the house. He likes the range and we’ve been working on the putting green, trying to make it a fun competition. The golf bug just hasn’t clicked with him like it did for me back at his age.

 

[gator1946]

I ruined golf at a young age, 12 years old. I loved the game. I lived and breathed it, but I never left the course happy. I took it way too seriously. It was a challenge not fun. I wish I had taken the opposite attitude when I was younger when I could still remain upright during my follow through.

Anyone with any talent who worked as hard at is I did would have ended up on the tour. I didn't.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

I remember George Carlin's routine on golf.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

And Robin Williams's.

 

[oxrageous]

We already have a "hobby" subforum. That's where it should go.

 

[cover2]

I ruined golf at a young age, 12 years old. I loved the game. I lived and breathed it, but I never left the course happy. I took it way too seriously. It was a challenge not fun. I wish I had taken the opposite attitude when I was younger when I could still remain upright during my follow through.

Anyone with any talent who worked as hard at is I did would have ended up on the tour. I didn't.

I wouldn’t say that it’s an absolute, but in my case, I didn’t start playing golf seriously until after high school. I had been a decent football, basketball, and baseball player, but golf was a different beast. It seemed like the harder I tried the worse I got. All I ever knew athletically was to work harder when you were struggling. Golf, I learned, required you to work smarter. I quit beating balls to death, I figured I wasn’t doing anything but reinforcing bad techniques, got a little help from a club pro, and learned to relax and enjoy the game for the opportunity to compete and have some fun with friends.

My son is like me and wants to hit 300 yard drives and shoot 5 under every time out. Needless to say he stays frustrated quite a bit. Funny thing is he’s improving, but he’s not satisfied. My daughter played in high school her last two years and did pretty well. She only plays occasionally when she’s home and still hits a nice high controlled fade off the tee about 250 every time. She doesn’t get down on herself and is fun to play with. She has the right attitude. You never see her sweat. She had an opportunity to play CC golf, but was ready to move on. It’s a game that strikes people in a variety of ways.

Are you able to still play?

@oxrageous I always assumed golf was a sport . If somebody can move it, that would be great.

 

[Gatorbait25]

Still have my Bertha 3 wood in my bag after all
These years . I hit it maybe once a round when trying to hit a par 5 in two . I’ve found adding the 60
Degree to my bag has helped tremendously when in the sand . Golf is a fun game . I used to play over
15 rounds jn a summer . Now more like 3 or 4.


I’d break 80 without a sweat then. Now is a bit more of a challenge . Only played two rounds this year and fired a 78 each time . Golf
And football have some similarities. For
Example cover like any good coach will
Teach his kids to run through contact . Golf
Is the same thing except you’re finishing the swing instead of a receiver .

 

[FireFoley]

We already have a "hobby" subforum. That's where it should go.

Now there is a thought. The age old question has always been: Is Golf a Game or a Sport? I always contended it was a game and a very difficult one at that. My reasoning was this. Every year since it's beginnings,The British Open "Starter" I will call him announces each pairing on the 1st tee right before they are sent off. He always says: "This is Game #......... and announces the golfers (that's golfers, not gophers Sandy). Since the British supposedly invented Golf, I go with Game.

 

[CGgater]

Now there is a thought. The age old question has always been: Is Golf a Game or a Sport? I always contended it was a game and a very difficult one at that. My reasoning was this. Every year since it's beginnings,The British Open "Starter" I will call him announces each pairing on the 1st tee right before they are sent off. He always says: "This is Game #......... and announces the golfers (that's golfers, not gophers Sandy). Since the British supposedly invented Golf, I go with Game.

Ummm... pretty sure the Scots invented golf, not the brits.