Originally Posted By vbdad55 <And I LOVE the story of holing out at over 200 yrds and such an impossible shot!!! < of all the rounds I have played in my life and all the holes...it was easy to pick out the highlight -- I was jazzed for weeks after that.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I am very nervious and self concious as many of these golfers have very low handicaps. *sigh* < that's the great thing about golf-- regardless of what they shoot - you only have to worry about your own game. From your scores, you have nothing to be concerned with...play within yourself. You may also find another phenomenon that usually happens, your game will likely elevate some playing with better players --
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<regardless of what they shoot - you only have to worry about your own game.>>> These words are prehaps the jewels of wisdom that all golfers should cling to. I was listening to the golf channel on XM yesterday (I get satellite radio free for another 90 days and will probably not continue it but) the emcee was interviewing a guy that writes for pga.com. This guy, whos name I forget, was saying that we all (golfers) need to find "the bliss of golf" and always remain there when we are playing. He went on to say how golf was invented as a passtime on land between farmland and the sea (links) on soil that was pretty much useless. And that the great game of golf was intended to be FUN to give folks a respite from an otherwise hard working life. He went on to say that "bliss of golf" is acheived when we get in that place of comfort, of being able to focus on something OTHER than our daily responsibilities and we escape into "the bliss." I thought the whole thing funny at first because this guy was sooooo serious about it. But as I thought about it, it began to make a lot of sense. And you are so right, I have to worry about ME, MY score, as it is me against NOT OTHER GOLFERS, but me against the COURSE.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<All the playing for money since...never had that kind of feeling again..>>> Do you mean friendly wagers or were you on a tour of some kind?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<< I am spoiled now withnot having tuition bills.>>> I guess either you never came right out and said that your daughter had gone on a full ride, or maybe I missed that at some point. WOW! Especially after all the talk about how hard it is to make it... I'll bet you really enjoyed those college years of your older daughter, her being among the best of the best. My chest would be bowed out so far with such pride that everyone would know who MY daughter was!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<<<All the playing for money since...never had that kind of feeling again..>>> Do you mean friendly wagers or were you on a tour of some kind?< oh I was never that good..trust me...there is a different level of golfer there... now I did bowl on the PBA tour as a member of what was known then as the 'rabbit squad' - a group of bowlers who because of amateur winnings were able to get fairly choice spots to compete in PBA event qualifying ( back in the early 70's)- I made it to 9th once...again the leap to pro from amateur is large - but I was closer in bowling than golf...I stayed local - Chicago to Milwaukee to Indy...as I did not have the money to travel except by car. I made a fair amount of money for about 6-7 years in amateur bowling tournaments -- ( especially for that time) - I held an ABC average of between 213 - 217 for that time..and own 4 300 games ( which I proudly show to my daughter on the computer at the Bowling Hall of Fame in downtown St. Louis - nearby where she goes to college ) - and 1 800 series ( 804 ) for 3 games. yet to get to the pro tour, they were averaging about 225 on tougher lane conditions ( think higher slope for golf comparison )- and you also needed a sponsor - who try as I might I could not find... I still bowl in a local scratch league one night a week in the winter -- last season average 205 - not bad for an old man..and once a week.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona >>There are some newer courses (or redesigned courses) down here in South Fla. that have added quite a bit of elevation change making it much more fun now.<< My wife and I went to the 2001 LPGA ADT Championship in West Palm Beach. The locals say near the 15 tee is the highest point in So Fla, about 100 feet. The Palm Beach County Jail is near the 3rd hole,with water=gators near the green. <a href="http://www.trumpgolf.com/trumpwestpalm/public/frameset.asp" target="_blank">http://www.trumpgolf.com/trump westpalm/public/frameset.asp</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 PGA starts here next week @ Medinah -- ticket prices range from $20 for a practice round to $125 for the final day -- yikes
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Well I got in the front 9 today, and we got lightning and rain just as we finished the front 9. I called it quits after waiting about an hour for the weather to break and ofcourse as I pulled into the garage at my house, the weather improved. I stayed in anyway, as the other 3 of our 4'some were probably well on their way to the green on 12 by the time I could have caught back up. I did well. My drives were very impressive...averaged 240'ish to 260'ish and kept ALL Driver drives in the middle. My score on the front 9 (which is more challenging than the back 9) ended up being an even 50. But hey I will take it as my putting was not great, lots of 3 putts, and I had an incredible recovery from a wooded area to an elevated green THROUGH hard wood trees. I had to drop and still ended up with a bogey on that par 5. I'll take it. I had a birdie try, a nerve racking putt of just 3.5 feet which I choked on, but I'll get it next time. I greened a second shot from about 210 with a 3 iron, and that felt GREAT! Most of all, I had fun, and no one seemed to care that I was easily the worst golfer in the foursome I was in. They DID however, realize quickly that I was playing strict rules and they had a lot of respect for that. No mulligans, no non-counters or do-overs, counted all penalties...and it felt great to do that. I can tell exactly where I stand and where I need to work by keeping a true score. I have found what I think is the best ball for the vaule. I am using a Callaway HX HOT...and loving it. I can really pound that ball and eventhough its a distance ball, I get good touch on it with the short irons...good enough for the price as it's less than half the cost of the Callaway TOUR ball. Last but not least, I am going to play with one of the guys in a member tourney in October. He is an excellent golfer that never hits a wood. LOL It's best ball, and he only wants me for my drive!!! lololol I was very complimented by that. So, 50 on 9 holes, but still something else clicked for me, and my game got just a slight everso small bit better for it. What clicked? My short chipping...using a putt stroke but follow through higher than you draw back. It worked like magic more than once today for me. Also I am finding that I hit less and less frequently - 2 bad shots in a row. That is encouraging.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<PGA starts here next week @ Medinah>>> They refer to Medina as one of the classic old school courses of golfdom on the Golf Channel...a real jewel! I can't wait to watch it.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<I did bowl on the PBA tour as a member of what was known then as the 'rabbit squad'>>> Wow you must be a real athlete yourself vbdad. Also, it's rare to see an excellent golfer and bowler of all things in the same person. That's pretty neat. I have bowled some, not a lot, but my personal best single game was around 230'ish. I have only broken 200 maybe 3 times in my life though. Impressive that you have had an 800 series. WOW! And in the record books to boot!!! You're amazing.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 either I had too much time on my hands - or I am Al Bundy ( LOL! ) - but I was a 5 letter athlete in high school, and was good enough to get a school to give me money to play hockey for them...( continued to bowl) -- However I will tell you I think my daughters are both better athletes than I was...I have very good eye-hand skills - they are more elite athletes ( although neither can bowl a lick which is funny ) -
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Last but not least, I am going to play with one of the guys in a member tourney in October. He is an excellent golfer that never hits a wood. LOL It's best ball, and he only wants me for my drive!!! lololol I was very complimented by that.< I am going to bet that this will be a lot of fun......also 240- 260 and in the middle -- I would want you also !
Originally Posted By DVC_dad ^ ^ ^ Do you think that some of that can be attributed to getting into the sports at an earlier age, and or getting better coaching at a younger age, and or better facilities with which to train, and or more time spent in training?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I am looking forward to the Tourney. Strange time of year for it though in my opinion. I think maybe the reason I can drive well is that mentally I can feel the muscle memory in that one stroke...something just works and I can repeat the swing the same, even if my feet are slightly off or my line maybe, or the ball is teed ever so slightly higher/lower I can still find the sweet spot somehow. I just wish beyond wishing that I could hit all my clubs half as well. I am going to get off the course and practice more. Still hitting that 3 iron very thin,,,maybe it is too far forward in the stance but the shaft is sooo long...I don't know how to even begin to tackle that one.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <^ ^ ^ Do you think that some of that can be attributed to getting into the sports at an earlier age, and or getting better coaching at a younger age, and or better facilities with which to train, and or more time spent in training?< some yes, as well as things as simple as a better diet than I had, due to actually having a few dollars... but a gifted athlete is a gifted athlete in my opinion..thelevel their achieve can be affected some by things like diet and training..but all the steaks and trainers in the world cannot take a non athlete and make them an elite athlete..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Hockey!!! ??? My god is there any sport you DIDN'T do well? WOW !< did not play football ( was to thin -THEN -LOL ) - and was barely able to swim until I was in my mid 20's -- this was a problem when going to a pool or beach... also maybe the worst foosball player on the planet....my friends used to enjoy kicking my backside at that.... the thing was I was a good to very good athlete at most sports ( but not an elite athlete at any IMHO - possible exception of bowling if one counts that as a sport ) -- Good enough to make a college hockey team - but an 'average' player on the team....good enough to be a top golfer in high school, but not college...good enough to be all city/conference at baseball and basketball in H.S. - but not good enough to play at the next level.... so when I compare myself against my oldest daughter -who had the same kind of accolades in high school in 3 sports - but had the skill to take on to an All-American level in college...I take a back seat....
