I was thinking, if that guy was so good at the course, why doesn't he just play in the Tour. Been then I thought: Well, he probably has a job that pays him well enough that he can be an Augusta member. He also wouldn't have to travel around across the country every week and could stay at home. And finally, he probably plays that course daily and knows it like the back of his hand. Put him on another Majors location and he probably looks like me at a Par-3 course.
I had the opportunity to play there once. Member tees are far different than Championship tees. The black tees aren't open except for the Masters or on rare occasions. The Blue tees are anywhere from 15 to maybe 50 yards up front.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I was thinking, if that guy was so good at the course, why doesn't he just play in the Tour. Been then I thought: Well, he probably has a job that pays him well enough that he can be an Augusta member. He also wouldn't have to travel around across the country every week and could stay at home. And finally, he probably plays that course daily and knows it like the back of his hand. Put him on another Majors location and he probably looks like me at a Par-3 course.
I had the opportunity to play there once. Member tees are far different than Championship tees. The black tees aren't open except for the Masters or on rare occasions. The Blue tees are anywhere from 15 to maybe 50 yards up front.
I was thinking, if that guy was so good at the course, why doesn't he just play in the Tour. Been then I thought: Well, he probably has a job that pays him well enough that he can be an Augusta member. He also wouldn't have to travel around across the country every week and could stay at home. And finally, he probably plays that course daily and knows it like the back of his hand. Put him on another Majors location and he probably looks like me at a Par-3 course.
I had the opportunity to play there once. Member tees are far different than Championship tees. The black tees aren't open except for the Masters or on rare occasions. The Blue tees are anywhere from 15 to maybe 50 yards up front.
I'm jealous.
Playing there is bucket list type stuff for me.
In the mid 90's and back then with a handicap of 9ish, give or take, I played Pebble Beach once. 6 cohorts from work went and the week long trip was paid for by Dole.
The course literally Ate Me Alive!!! Matter of fact it swallowed me whole.
But just like Augusta is, it was a dream come true.
In the mid 90's and back then with a handicap of 9ish, give or take, I played Pebble Beach once
Took my dad there for his 65th birthday as I knew he'd never pay to do it himself, lol. We played Pebble, Spyglass, and Spanish Bay. Was a great experience!
This picture of an unidentified person was taken at Augusta this morning. They don't know who it is but he was seen just in front of #18 tee, he is a white male in his early 20s and he was wearing Under Armor.
This picture of an unidentified person was taken at Augusta this morning. They don't know who it is but he was seen just in front of #18 tee, he is a white male in his early 20s and he was wearing Under Armor.
It was quite the experience. I was a solid 4, pushing 3 handicap at the time and shot 80.
It is all about the greens. Tee to green is easy enough, but if you aren't in the right position on the green, you better know how the putt is going to break and how hard to hit it..
Had 3 doubles that day.....that tells the story. Take my usual 1 double and I walk away really happy.....well, I did anyway.
Add in 5 more bogies, 3 birdies, and 7 pars, so it was what it was.
Last edited by Ballpeen; 04/10/1806:54 PM.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Just cuz I'm curious. How far up were the tees on 12 and 16 when you played? Maybe you can't remember, but what irons did you hit, and how far were you hitting them?
Just cuz I'm curious. How far up were the tees on 12 and 16 when you played? Maybe you can't remember, but what irons did you hit, and how far were you hitting them?
Cool.
Both of those par 3's are pretty land locked. I don't think they have been able to lengthen them much over the years.
This goes back to the early/mid 80's...12 played around 140 yards. I do remember hitting a easy 7 which back then was a 150 yard stock for me. I wasn't going to hit it short or right. I bogied that hole. 3 putt from maybe 25 feet. There wasn't a big difference in the tees....maybe 10 yards.
16 was maybe a little closer....maybe 15 yards. I again hit a easy 7 and ended up 12 feet. I didn't really play the slope of the green. I went more at it. The pin was in the classic position, maybe not as deep. 2 putted for a par.
The par 3's haven't changed all that much just due to their location. There really isn't much room to go back on any of those holes. Those holes are more about the greens and pin positions. Seems like those holes put nearly everybody between clubs. You either have to totally flush a club or take something off. In my experience, on par 3's, long is usually the better option.
The biggest difference in yardage were on par 4's and a couple of the par 5's. #11 as an example...the masters tees might be 75-100 yards back up the hill . They play it now around 500 yards. Then, maybe not as far. Where we played it was a 400 or so yard hole. A big difference, but from where they hit, it is a downhill hole. From where we played it was pretty level.
As for my yardages then, it was the days I used Persimmon woods. 280 was a pretty stout drive. Hit 300 and you totally hit it inside the screws. 275-280 was a good average. I carried a solid 4 handicap in those days. 7 iron was a 150 yard club, 5 iron, 175, 3 iron, 195 yards carry. You can back it up or down around 10 yards per club to figure out the rest...except the 9 iron. I don't know what it was with that club, over a few different sets, I hit like a wedge. I threw it out in favor of a 2 wood. I loved that club. I could hit it nearly as far as a driver and I could do it off the turf with the control of a 3 wood. I used it off the tee a lot without using a tee, just use the heel of my shoe to kick up the turf a bit.
260 in the middle was a good place to be with 140 to the hole.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
While talking golf, I have always thought it would be cool to compare generations of golfers.
I think it would be really cool if a tournament was held at a log standing course that has held many PGA events with the players of today using the equipment of yesteryear.
Have the club manufactures of the time forge out replica clubs with era shafts and grips. Have Titleist spin out balls the way it was done in 1968. Move the tees to era standards and see how it goes.
None of the players today have hit a actual wood unless Grandpa or Ma has one sitting in the garage.
I guess I show my age....I still say 3 wood or 5 wood.
Last edited by Ballpeen; 04/14/1804:28 PM.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
While talking golf, I have always thought it would be cool to compare generations of golfers.
I think it would be really cool if a tournament was held at a log standing course that has held many PGA events with the players of today using the equipment of yesteryear.
Have the club manufactures of the time forge out replica clubs with era shafts and grips. Have Titleist spin out balls the way it was done in 1968. Move the tees to era standards and see how it goes.
None of the players today have hit a actual wood unless Grandpa or Ma has one sitting in the garage.
I guess I show my age....I still say 3 wood or 5 wood.
Imo as far as callin em woods you're no doubt grandfathered in so.......
Just outta curiousity, what are woods called now? Metals?
Just wanna be "golfspeak" correct if/when I get back out there.
The 12th at Augusta looks downhill when I watch the masters on tv, the 16th looks slightly uphill.
Your 9-iron issue sound like me with the sand wedge - for some reason I hit it shorter than I should, when compared to even my PW... I'd say it's a 20-yard difference.
Your 9-iron issue sound like me with the sand wedge - for some reason I hit it shorter than I should, when compared to even my PW... I'd say it's a 20-yard difference.
Did you buy them as a set? I bought my irons as a set (including the PW) and my gap and sand wedges separately, the wedges had different shafts and grips, the shafts were different lengths... I had to get them adjusted. When I put them up beside each other, the SW shaft was 1/4" longer than the PW shaft and it was a slightly different flex... so I had the opposite problem you are having.. I hit my SW longer than I hit my PW until I got the shafts right.
Your 9-iron issue sound like me with the sand wedge - for some reason I hit it shorter than I should, when compared to even my PW... I'd say it's a 20-yard difference.
Did you buy them as a set? I bought my irons as a set (including the PW) and my gap and sand wedges separately, the wedges had different shafts and grips, the shafts were different lengths... I had to get them adjusted. When I put them up beside each other, the SW shaft was 1/4" longer than the PW shaft and it was a slightly different flex... so I had the opposite problem you are having.. I hit my SW longer than I hit my PW until I got the shafts right.
Hmmmm.... could be. my SW is not the same as my irons, I've had it for years and had the rest of my irons and PW replaced last summer, but even before that it was the same thing. But, it could be the loft of my SW, or my technique... I'm not a 'good' golfer... shoot in the 80s most days, but the SW is the only club I hit with that obvious discrepancy.
I'm not a 'good' golfer... shoot in the 80s most days,
If you can legit play 18 holes in the 80s most days, you are probably in the top 10% of amateur golfers...
Ain't no bout a doubt it.
Years ago(20? 30? 35? 40?) it was common to hear the saying that 90% of golfers don't break 100. Imo anyone breaking 90 is a good golfer. 90 is basically Bogey golf.
I'm not a 'good' golfer... shoot in the 80s most days,
If you can legit play 18 holes in the 80s most days, you are probably in the top 10% of amateur golfers...
No doubt...and if you can play there, cracking in to the 70's isn't that far off for the weekend golfer who also manages a round or so during the week..The key to lowering your handicap is playing. The hard part is going from a 4-5 handicap to something lower. It doesn't really matter how much you play at that point, you just have to be really good. I carried a 4 for 4-5 years. I wanted to get it to a 3, because I could then shoot for a two and so on, but 4 was it.
I shot in the 60's now and then.....mostly then, but those were offset by a 80 here and there. It usually hung between 73 and 77....that was a good norm.
Now, 79 is a good day, 84 a bad day. I just don't putt as well as I once could, nor hit as far. I do still hit it where I want.
I just don't want to play like a old timer....years ago....his name was Petey. He would hit his dive 220. A 3 wood 180 just short, pitch up to 3 feet and make his putt. The guy would [censored] you off, he was beating his age when he was 71 and beat it by a lot the rest of his 90 some years.
The more I type, maybe I do want to be like him.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I'm not a 'good' golfer... shoot in the 80s most days,
If you can legit play 18 holes in the 80s most days, you are probably in the top 10% of amateur golfers...
Ain't no bout a doubt it.
Years ago(20? 30? 35? 40?) it was common to hear the saying that 90% of golfers don't break 100. Imo anyone breaking 90 is a good golfer. 90 is basically Bogey golf.
Then there is the fact that I added the word "legit 18 holes"... I've played with a lot of guys who tell me what they typically shoot... then when you make them play by the rules, suddenly they are 10 shots worse....
When you make them count the lateral hazards rather than just "drop another one", putt out from 2 feet, hit a provisional ball off the tee if the first one is in jeopardy, don't kick their ball out of bad lies, etc....
I mean, generally, I don't care what they do or how they play if its fun for them.... but don't tell me you typically shoot 82 if you aren't typically playing by the rules.
I'm not a 'good' golfer... shoot in the 80s most days,
If you can legit play 18 holes in the 80s most days, you are probably in the top 10% of amateur golfers...
The key to lowering your handicap is playing.
Coupled with your "the key to lowering your handicap is playing" is understanding who you're playing against.
Imo you're never "playing against" the other players in your foursome. You're not playing against the guy with a much better handicap than you, the guy with roughly the same handicap as you, or the guy with a higher handicap than you.
When you finally realize you're only playing against yourself and your own capabilities your game and your scores improve. And no doubt your "key to lowering your handicap is playing" is #1.
At least thats been my experience.
Can't even take a guess how many times I went to the driving range with only 1 club. Just go to the range with just my 8 iron. Yup. Just me and my 8 iron vs 2 buckets of balls.
Man I loved that game. Just gotta hit that golf dome 2.5 away. Take that first step. Just gotta.
I think playing is the key to lowering your handicap if you shoot 100 or even 90.. once you get down closer to 80, the key to lowering your handicap even further is practicing. Not just going to the range and pounding drivers as far as you can, actually practicing.. chips, putts, sand shots... the difference between a decent golfer and a really good golfer is from 100 yards in... it's not that extra 20 yards off the tee the $600 drivers are promising...
I agree with that. Way to often "winter rules" apply all year long. Play it true and you will gain more satisfaction when you play well.
It isn't hard. Don't touch it until you mark in on the green. Play it a no score until you actually putt it in the hole.
The only real waiver is on OB shots. If you hit it way out of bounds and you know it is OB...tee it up again, you are hitting 3. If you get to your ball and you realize it is ob by a few feet, I am not big on marching back to the tee box and ticking off all the players behind you. Just drop in bounds, now you are hitting 4.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I think the key to lowering your handicap is to use a quality eraser.
I agree with DC, playing more will lower your handicap but if you're new or a really high handicapper, quit playing for six months and just go to the range. Focus on your tee to green game. Learn to hit the golf ball in the direction you are wanting it to go. Master this skill first and you'll find yourself playing from the same fairway your playing partners are in and your enjoyment of the game will increase measurably.
Follow your gut with how you best learn. Watch youtube vids (there's bazillions), get lessons, record golf and watch the pro's swings in step by step freeze frame action. Then record your own swing, everyone has a phone now that does this, and monitor your progress.
Once your comfortable with your tee to green game, then focus on your short game, learn your equipment, learn why there are so many wedges and what characteristics they have and how to best implement them into your game, this is when your scores will start dropping.
Lastly, remember it's a game, have fun. Getting mad and throwing clubs is not fun and makes you look like a total moron. If this is your personality type, find another pastime, and please don't breed.
I think playing is the key to lowering your handicap if you shoot 100 or even 90.. once you get down closer to 80, the key to lowering your handicap even further is practicing. Not just going to the range and pounding drivers as far as you can, actually practicing.. chips, putts, sand shots... the difference between a decent golfer and a really good golfer is from 100 yards in... it's not that extra 20 yards off the tee the $600 drivers are promising...
No doubt. My wording was poor. Practice is no doubt the key.
We have had this discussion before. Nearly anybody can shoot low 80's golf with some work. It isn't all that hard. Getting from a 9-10 handicap down to scratch is very hard. Even unattainable.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I think playing is the key to lowering your handicap if you shoot 100 or even 90.. once you get down closer to 80, the key to lowering your handicap even further is practicing. Not just going to the range and pounding drivers as far as you can, actually practicing.. chips, putts, sand shots... the difference between a decent golfer and a really good golfer is from 100 yards in... it's not that extra 20 yards off the tee the $600 drivers are promising...
No doubt. My wording was poor. Practice is no doubt the key.
We have had this discussion before. Nearly anybody can shoot low 80's golf with some work. It isn't all that hard. Getting from a 9-10 handicap down to scratch is very hard. Even unattainable.
Well there's the human factor.
Shooting an 85 for 18 holes may be attainable with a lot of practice by probably every healthy adult.
But there's a wide range of "a lot of practice".
For some, maybe a year of golfing regularly (at least weekly).
In my early 30s, I was teaching and had a lot of time to golf. To devote getting better at golf.
I golfed a couple times a week, took lessons, hit buckets of balls all the time.
After maybe ~ 3 years, the best I could honestly do (strict scoring) was 45 for 9 holes. (single boggie golf)
I would par maybe 3-4 holes, maybe birdie a hole or two, but inevitably double or triple boggie a hole and boggie a couple more.
I was motivated to get better. Just didn't have the time.
Or the natural ability.
And obviously scratch golfing is unattainable for the vast majority. (I think you mean shooting par for 18 holes regularly)
That's why it's so much fun and exciting to watch on TV. (for some )
That is what scratch means....a golfer who doesn't qualify for any strokes if played that way.
As for how much practice one needs, it just depend on the person. For most, playing a few times a week, hit the practice facility a time or two for 45 minutes, do a few drills at home while watching TV can get most people down to 80 golf in a few years.
A good home drill is to putt on a smooth carpet, or even wood floor for that matter. Place a dime a foot in front of the ball. Put a big pillow maybe 5 feet past that to stop the ball. Stroke some putts like you are making a 5 foot putt and some like you are putting from 30 feet.
Get your stroke to where you can roll it over the dime every time. Putting is hard enough when you only have to factor line and speed. It's nearly impossible if you can't even get it rolling on your intended line.
It isn't as much about making birdie putts for us normal people. It's about making those 6 foot par and bogey putts that keep your score down.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Held annually in May, THE PLAYERS is one of the most anticipated tournaments on the PGA TOUR calendar, boasting not only the strongest field but also the biggest purse on the PGA TOUR.
Pretty much "bucket list/dream" for me. Not necessarily the whole course either. I'd be just fine playing the #17 island green over and over.
Just thru intimidation I gotta put the first 3 in the drink.
Please peen, please don't tell me you played this course also.
I'd love to play Sawgrass, 17 would he fun as heck. I'd hit a 7-iron - or a 6-iron into a really strong wind - and aim for the middle of the green, no matter where the pin is.
the Players isn't a major, but I look forward to it more than the PGA.
Pretty much "bucket list/dream" for me. Not necessarily the whole course either. I'd be just fine playing the #17 island green over and over.
Just thru intimidation I gotta put the first 3 in the drink.
Please peen, please don't tell me you played this course also.
I'd love to play Sawgrass, 17 would he fun as heck. I'd hit a 7-iron - or a 6-iron into a really strong wind - and aim for the middle of the green, no matter where the pin is.
the Players isn't a major, but I look forward to it more than the PGA.
Pretty much "bucket list/dream" for me. Not necessarily the whole course either. I'd be just fine playing the #17 island green over and over.
Just thru intimidation I gotta put the first 3 in the drink.
Please peen, please don't tell me you played this course also.
My former boss works for the PGA now, she posted yesterday that she had free tickets for any day. If it weren't so far away, I'd have considered it. It has been since 1997 since I've seen a golf tournament live (Memorial)
Pretty much "bucket list/dream" for me. Not necessarily the whole course either. I'd be just fine playing the #17 island green over and over.
Just thru intimidation I gotta put the first 3 in the drink.
Please peen, please don't tell me you played this course also.
My former boss works for the PGA now, she posted yesterday that she had free tickets for any day. If it weren't so far away, I'd have considered it. It has been since 1997 since I've seen a golf tournament live (Memorial)
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