Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[Divot License]

Yesterdays round was cold (about 2 degree C) and the course was super wet and muddy. 

 

Despite that, and the fact it was a 4.5 hour round (with only a few groups on the course who all seemed to be infront of us) we still had a lot of fun. Interesting to see how issues such as fairway bunkers that a few years ago gave my wife the scares, she didn't even notice them this time around. 

[Sean2]

18 hours ago, Jedaigeki said:

 

thanks guys, play about 120-150 rounds a year. The majority are at our home course but we both make an effort to play other courses as much as possible both with each other and within our golfing circles.

I played 131 official rounds this year. If it wasn't for Covid, it would have been more. Overall I play around 185 rounds a year...including off season golf. 

 

Of the 131 rounds I played this year, I only played two other courses...one course five times. So I played the vast majority of golf at my home course. I need to get out more, lol. 

 

I played yesterday and the temperature hit 62º. Today the high will be 33º, with a possible snow storm mid-week. I don't think I will see the 60s again until next spring. My shovel with the True Temper shaft is ready to go, lol. 

Edited December 14, 2020 by Sean2

[Divot License]

On 12/13/2020 at 9:36 AM, tolmij said:

Wow, good variety of courses played, Hatchford brook near the Birmingham exhibition centre used to be the course I usually played, good until the planes landed then it was a little noisy.

 

On 12/13/2020 at 1:27 PM, scomac2002 said:

That's an impressive list of course that you have played @Jedaigeki!  You've covered quite a bit of territory in just 4 years.  How many games a year do you play?

I was looking over the map of courses my wife and I have played (In my Signature) over the past 4 years. What my wife reminded me of is this is only courses that we have both played or special courses one of us has played in that period. 

 

I've been golfing since I was 12 and played 4 years on the Euro Pro tour with one of those years having membership of the Alps tour also so I've personally played an awful lot more, including a couple in Japan when I was there on a student exchange program.  

 

She says I should make my own map of all the courses I have played personally since I've played all the Open courses (except the most local to me) along with many of the "top 100" in the UK.

[scomac2002]

I'm suitably impressed!  This is the first time that I've had a conversation with a touring pro beyond a couple of fellows that played the mini tours down in Florida.  @BIG STUis one of them and I believe Richard was another.

 

The issues and successes of the recreational players must seem trivial in comparison to what you have experienced.  I've often wondered how it would feel to average a score for 18 holes that I've never been able to get near to in my whole life.  Perhaps it feels no different than what I experience shooting my typical score...

[Divot License]

It's a strange one, I'm no where near the player I used to be. I turned pro off +1 when I was 18., Qualified for the Euro Pro on my first attempt a year later and kept the card for 4 years before losing it and slowly slid out of golf for 7 more years. 

 

Now I play off 1 but take golf a lot less serious, it's hard to get serious over a monthly medal when you've played to try and pay a mortgage. I am however a competitive person so still take pride in trying to play good golf but it's not at the expense of my enjoyment. 

One thing I have found in the last 4 years of playing amateur golf again is how I've built a group of great people to play with and they have become close friends that I didn't have when playing professionally. 

 

I don't however find the issues and successes of the recreational players must seem trivial, as we all play at different levels and those levels dictate our goals. 

 

Now my life is more about making sure my wife and I make the most of our time together. My daughter has also got into golf (shes the same age I was when I started) and I'm hoping we can have the same relationship (by using golf) as I did with my father. 

[BIG STU]

3 hours ago, Jedaigeki said:

It's a strange one, I'm no where near the player I used to be. I turned pro off +1 when I was 18., Qualified for the Euro Pro on my first attempt a year later and kept the card for 4 years before losing it and slowly slid out of golf for 7 more years. 

 

Now I play off 1 but take golf a lot less serious, it's hard to get serious over a monthly medal when you've played to try and pay a mortgage. I am however a competitive person so still take pride in trying to play good golf but it's not at the expense of my enjoyment. 

One thing I have found in the last 4 years of playing amateur golf again is how I've built a group of great people to play with and they have become close friends that I didn't have when playing professionally. 

 

I don't however find the issues and successes of the recreational players must seem trivial, as we all play at different levels and those levels dictate our goals. 

 

Now my life is more about making sure my wife and I make the most of our time together. My daughter has also got into golf (shes the same age I was when I started) and I'm hoping we can have the same relationship (by using golf) as I did with my father. 

You and I have a similar philosophy--- Does not seem like it but it has been 10 years since I retired from mini tours and big bucks matches. I have to remind myself Father Time has caught up. Especially since my accident in April. I have to remind myself I am lucky to be even walking much less attempting to play golf. But after I retired form comp I had a whole new perspective of the game. If I wanted to practice I did or did not. If I wanted to play my persimmon stuff I did. Actually having a lot more fun (pre accident) than I ever had before. Now trust me it did not dim the competetive fires one bit. I will play someone as hard as I can even for fun. One of the kids at the bag drop asked me one day why my leather vintage Burton Staff bag was lighter than most cart bags? I told him one of the reasons I only carried only 6 balls. I told him if I lost more than 6 balls in 18 holes I needed to do 2 things either go to the range or go home at this stage of life it is go home. My golf philosophy today

[tolmij]

A nice big pot of spaghetti sauce cooked on our new induction plate. Easy to use and much quicker to heat up than conventional gas or electric stoves.

[Sean2]

13 hours ago, BIG STU said:

You and I have a similar philosophy--- Does not seem like it but it has been 10 years since I retired from mini tours and big bucks matches. I have to remind myself Father Time has caught up. Especially since my accident in April. I have to remind myself I am lucky to be even walking much less attempting to play golf. But after I retired form comp I had a whole new perspective of the game. If I wanted to practice I did or did not. If I wanted to play my persimmon stuff I did. Actually having a lot more fun (pre accident) than I ever had before. Now trust me it did not dim the competetive fires one bit. I will play someone as hard as I can even for fun. One of the kids at the bag drop asked me one day why my leather vintage Burton Staff bag was lighter than most cart bags? I told him one of the reasons I only carried only 6 balls. I told him if I lost more than 6 balls in 18 holes I needed to do 2 things either go to the range or go home at this stage of life it is go home. My golf philosophy today

It does kind of put things in perspective Stu. I almost died a few years ago of a heart attack. I was never your or Jed's caliber of golfer, but I have always been a bit of a perfectionist and golf would frequently frustrate me. Now when I play, I am just grateful to be able to do so, and by playing the senior tees it makes the game much more enjoyable. 

[Divot License]

What's been interesting in the past few weeks in the UK is the sudden ability of people to play any tee they want. While it has always been possible, expectations where that you played certain tees depending on your demographic. Women always played the reds (Front), seniors and non single figure golfers were expected to play the yellows (Middle/non comp) and no even wish to take on the "big boys" course of the white tees (Back/comp).

 

This was a norm at all clubs, when vising other clubs the pro would ask since we're all low handicaps did we wish to play of the whites. If I was seen playing the yellow's I was borderline accused of cheating, even if it was just a knock around with my wife. You should have heard the uproar when one Saturday morning I joined her off the red tee's (I had nothing more than a 6 iron in the bag). We wanted a social game and to have 30 to 60 yards between us on every tee box on a busy Saturday morning did not make it social. 

 

Now the new WHS is in place, people are having to wrap their heads around the concept of playing what ever tee's you wish and it being fine. It's mid December, muddy, raining, 0 degrees Celcius and blowing 20mph wind. I don't want to battle a 6700 yard course off the whites but would rather have some fun and play the 5800 Red Tees and maybe (heaven forbid) actually work on my approach game rather than have to hit mid to long irons into every hole. 

[scomac2002]

52 minutes ago, tolmij said:

A nice big pot of spaghetti sauce cooked on our new induction plate. Easy to use and much quicker to heat up than conventional gas or electric stoves.

 

WE have a Le Creuset Dutch oven similar to yours only ours is green.  It was a wedding gift almost 36 years ago from my MIL.  After my MIL died, our youngest son claimed her Le Creuset which is the same colour as yours.

 

WE have an induction burner on our electric range in this house and we can boil water in our pasta pot in 4 minutes!  It's actually shocking how quick this range heats up after 35 years of cooking on gas ranges.

[BIG STU]

30 minutes ago, Jedaigeki said:

What's been interesting in the past few weeks in the UK is the sudden ability of people to play any tee they want. While it has always been possible, expectations where that you played certain tees depending on your demographic. Women always played the reds (Front), seniors and non single figure golfers were expected to play the yellows (Middle/non comp) and no even wish to take on the "big boys" course of the white tees (Back/comp).

 

This was a norm at all clubs, when vising other clubs the pro would ask since we're all low handicaps did we wish to play of the whites. If I was seen playing the yellow's I was borderline accused of cheating, even if it was just a knock around with my wife. You should have heard the uproar when one Saturday morning I joined her off the red tee's (I had nothing more than a 6 iron in the bag). We wanted a social game and to have 30 to 60 yards between us on every tee box on a busy Saturday morning did not make it social. 

 

Now the new WHS is in place, people are having to wrap their heads around the concept of playing what ever tee's you wish and it being fine. It's mid December, muddy, raining, 0 degrees Celcius and blowing 20mph wind. I don't want to battle a 6700 yard course off the whites but would rather have some fun and play the 5800 Red Tees and maybe (heaven forbid) actually work on my approach game rather than have to hit mid to long irons into every hole. 

Agree 110% ---- Sometimes in the past it was fun for me to walk in rainy windy weather and hit my 1 iron from the ladies tees. I can not hit one like I used to but I still can and dammit it is fun. Have had guys ask why I hit a 1 iron sometimes my reply is because I still can. My buddy Bear who is a little older than I am and is one hell of a ball striker even now will hit mine every now and then. Like me he can not hit it about 190 or so but by God he can hit it. Yep sometimes my biggest decision of the day is what clubs to play that day.  I play what I decide to play and could care less what anyone else says or thinks. Now before I got hurt in the scrambles and the 9 and dine I played my combo set which is in my signature. When we had the 2 ball 9 and dines we won most of them playing off my ball mostly. Some of the people got to raising hell. Normally I would have said screw it but my wife enjoys it immensely. So one week I brought out the real lumber and my CF-4000s complete with Ironmaster putter. LOL still won so they changed the format to 4 person husband wife teams. I think we won 3 of them pre accident for me. We have played 2 post accident and finished 2nd and 3rd with different couples. I will lay off some when I get back healthy besides I have enough golf balls for a while

[scomac2002]

My wife and I used to play nine and dines regularly.  There was a nice pitch and putt about a half hour's drive from where we used to live and they had an arrangement that a local restaurant would cater their dining; a different one each week and the menus were fabulous!  That went on for a couple of seasons until the course changed hands.  We would go most every week.  It was thoroughly enjoyable.

 

After that we kind of faded from taking those in because none were as well done as that one was and we often found ourselves paired up with a couple of guys playing twilight that were just there for the beer.  Haven't gone to one in over five years now as the drunks turned us off!  Maybe we'll try that again next year if this COVID business gets under control.

[Divot License]

Agree completly  @BIG STU it's about what you enjoy playing not what people think you should be playing of doing. 

 

Last Friday I met a three other members of my clubs scratch team along with our head Pro at a local range for some TopTracer fun and a few beers. (Another member of our group is the assistant manager there) 

 

In stead of my usual AP2's I put my old 1998 Taylor Made Burner Irons I had rediscovered in my mothers garage in the bag. Our head pro (I've known him since I was 14) noticed them straight away and pulled them out. He instantly realised they are 1.5" shorter than standard and immediately started giving me stick over them. I had to remind him I played with them when I was a teenager so obviously they are going to be full size. I had great fun that night using them, still feel great and everyone admitted they still look fantastic behind the ball.

 

Once the weather is a little better here (Course has only been open 4 days in the past two weeks) I'll probably take them for a round. 

[Divot License]

On a separate note last night got me thinking of all the courses I've played and I started adding them to a cap out of curiosity. Luckily I still have many of the yardage books from these courses and the rest I started filling in with googles help. This is by no means a definitive list but this is probably the vast majority of courses within England I have played in my life. 

 

I'm going to continue updating this over the next few days to see how it develops. 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1z-N1XYH791m5z2aV2cahu4S0bHi5TRg_&ll=43.98826271759205%2C-39.25276450000001&z=4

[BIG STU]

3 hours ago, Jedaigeki said:

Agree completly  @BIG STU it's about what you enjoy playing not what people think you should be playing of doing. 

 

Last Friday I met a three other members of my clubs scratch team along with our head Pro at a local range for some TopTracer fun and a few beers. (Another member of our group is the assistant manager there) 

 

In stead of my usual AP2's I put my old 1998 Taylor Made Burner Irons I had rediscovered in my mothers garage in the bag. Our head pro (I've known him since I was 14) noticed them straight away and pulled them out. He instantly realised they are 1.5" shorter than standard and immediately started giving me stick over them. I had to remind him I played with them when I was a teenager so obviously they are going to be full size. I had great fun that night using them, still feel great and everyone admitted they still look fantastic behind the ball.

 

Once the weather is a little better here (Course has only been open 4 days in the past two weeks) I'll probably take them for a round. 

I am going to pick your brain for a moment if I may. What is your opinion on AP-2s ? I inherited a set for free and need to do some work on them. Remember I am a Macgregor blade man have played those type most of my life

[BIG STU]

4 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

My wife and I used to play nine and dines regularly.  There was a nice pitch and putt about a half hour's drive from where we used to live and they had an arrangement that a local restaurant would cater their dining; a different one each week and the menus were fabulous!  That went on for a couple of seasons until the course changed hands.  We would go most every week.  It was thoroughly enjoyable.

 

After that we kind of faded from taking those in because none were as well done as that one was and we often found ourselves paired up with a couple of guys playing twilight that were just there for the beer.  Haven't gone to one in over five years now as the drunks turned us off!  Maybe we'll try that again next year if this COVID business gets under control.

We have a great kitchen and one of the owners his Mom is the head cook and he ain't bad either. Now if they do cater it is first class places like Logan's Roadhouse. But anything they serve there is top notch whether they cook it or get it catered. We have folks that drink but no drunk problem. But I can agree on the drunk problem. There was a golf group we did belong to with 3 fantastic courses. They got to where they catered to the motel party drunk bunch. Needless to say Bear his brother Checkers and myself did not renew our memberships when the time came. It is a shame because those were 3 good courses we enjoyed playing. Nothing wrong with having a drink or 4 just do not act obnoxious and stupid

[Sean2]

Walked 18 today. The wind chills were in the low 20s, but the sun was shining so it was actually quite pleasant. I was the only one on the course and it took me an hour and 48 minutes to play 18. Expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow Wednesday evening into Thursday, so it might be a while before I can play again. 

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, Sean2 said:

Walked 18 today. The wind chills were in the low 20s, but the sun was shining so it was actually quite pleasant. I was the only one on the course and it took me an hour and 48 minutes to play 18. Expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow Wednesday evening into Thursday, so it might be a while before I can play again. 

Well it was in the 40s here with wind blowing. If I had been physically able to walk I would have done so. As it was I did work in the shop some with Bear and then we went to brunch. LOL both of us were hurting he went home about 1 or so and I went in and stayed there.

 

[scomac2002]

1 hour ago, Sean2 said:

Walked 18 today. The wind chills were in the low 20s, but the sun was shining so it was actually quite pleasant. I was the only one on the course and it took me an hour and 48 minutes to play 18. Expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow Wednesday evening into Thursday, so it might be a while before I can play again. 

 

How does one walk 18 in an hour 48?  You must run between shots!

[Sean2]

20 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

 

How does one walk 18 in an hour 48?  You must run between shots!

Lol...they put in temporary greens, so the holes were playing a bit shorter. I also kept the ball in play, so I didn't have to spend any time looking for my golf ball. 

[tolmij]

2 hours ago, Sean2 said:

Lol...they put in temporary greens, so the holes were playing a bit shorter. I also kept the ball in play, so I didn't have to spend any time looking for my golf ball. 

I have done 18 in 2 hrs, as you say don't lose a ball, don't stuff around, don't have slow players or any players in front,  be quick with set up and the holes fly by.

Before the lockdown son and I used to play 9 before he went to work, we would be on the first tee at 5am in summer, play 9 and he would still go home have breakfast and catch the 6.30am train to work.

Edited December 16, 2020 by tolmij

[Conrad1953]

Had a follow up visit with my surgeon today. He said I can get back out on the golf course

at the end of January; the internal healing takes 8 weeks or so.  I'm not allowed to lift

anything over 8 lbs until then either. 8 is the magic number it seems.

 

Actually, I don't mind the wait if it means I'll be playing pain free once I get back out there.

 

I'm glad to hear so many up north getting out there and playing in December. 😃👍

[Divot License]

13 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I am going to pick your brain for a moment if I may. What is your opinion on AP-2s ? I inherited a set for free and need to do some work on them. Remember I am a Macgregor blade man have played those type most of my life

Depends on what year AP2's you have. Mine are the 718 and I haven't tried any others so can't comment on them but compared to the older blades that you are used too the AP2s will feel a little dead and muted off the face. 

 

While the performance of them is excellent, they are not the most workable "players iron" on the market (I suppose that'a their job - to minimise excessive side spin).

 

The spin control on them is very good, I actually spin them more than the set of Srixon 765s I had previously, however the spin is not excessive and thus preventing any ballooning flight on the ball.  

 

They do feel very nice to hit but the feel is muted compared to an old fashioned blade, my point of reference are Titleist 690 MBs and Hogan Apex Forged.

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, Jedaigeki said:

Depends on what year AP2's you have. Mine are the 718 and I haven't tried any others so can't comment on them but compared to the older blades that you are used too the AP2s will feel a little dead and muted off the face. 

 

While the performance of them is excellent, they are not the most workable "players iron" on the market (I suppose that'a their job - to minimise excessive side spin).

 

The spin control on them is very good, I actually spin them more than the set of Srixon 765s I had previously, however the spin is not excessive and thus preventing any ballooning flight on the ball.  

 

They do feel very nice to hit but the feel is muted compared to an old fashioned blade, my point of reference are Titleist 690 MBs and Hogan Apex Forged.

Thanks and both of the examples you used I have the 690 MBs and a set of 99 Hogan Apex Plus--- I have to do work on both of those sets because the lofts have been extremely jacked. My bud Bear 9 love him like a brother is one of those folks that does not need a loft and lie machine. He does not understand what happens to a blade iron when you jack the crap out of them. LOL he will jack the crap out of a set and then apply a bunch of lead tape low because he can not get any height with them. Then with him being the club hoe he is he will buy something else and throw those aside. He will need room and will dump them on me. Good for me with a little work

[BIG STU]

11 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

 

How does one walk 18 in an hour 48?  You must run between shots!

Depends on the lay out of the course. Lots of the old school courses the tees and greens are close. And if you are playing 5 club golf usually club selection is a no brainer. I can see it being done if the stars align up. 

[Divot License]

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

Thanks and both of the examples you used I have the 690 MBs and a set of 99 Hogan Apex Plus--- I have to do work on both of those sets because the lofts have been extremely jacked. My bud Bear 9 love him like a brother is one of those folks that does not need a loft and lie machine. He does not understand what happens to a blade iron when you jack the crap out of them. LOL he will jack the crap out of a set and then apply a bunch of lead tape low because he can not get any height with them. Then with him being the club hoe he is he will buy something else and throw those aside. He will need room and will dump them on me. Good for me with a little work

Would love to have a steady supply of new (to me) clubs to tinker with.

 

As I've said before finding decent second clubs here is more difficult than the US, at least the Pro at my club uses me as a tester for new equipment, so when new stuff comes in I always get to give it a try and also anything he gets for himself he asks me to try out.

 

I also get asked to hit other peoples clubs a lot during rounds, as if my hitting it will prove the club does work and somehow impart some magic juju onto it. 

[Divot License]

 

14 hours ago, Sean2 said:

Walked 18 today. The wind chills were in the low 20s, but the sun was shining so it was actually quite pleasant. I was the only one on the course and it took me an hour and 48 minutes to play 18. Expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow Wednesday evening into Thursday, so it might be a while before I can play again. 

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

Depends on the lay out of the course. Lots of the old school courses the tees and greens are close. And if you are playing 5 club golf usually club selection is a no brainer. I can see it being done if the stars align up. 

 

Also depends on the score you shoot, Hitting 75 shots makes a big difference to hitting 105 shots. 

[tolmij]

11 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

Had a follow up visit with my surgeon today. He said I can get back out on the golf course

at the end of January; the internal healing takes 8 weeks or so.  I'm not allowed to lift

anything over 8 lbs until then either. 8 is the magic number it seems.

 

Actually, I don't mind the wait if it means I'll be playing pain free once I get back out there.

 

I'm glad to hear so many up north getting out there and playing in December. 😃👍

Good news Conrad🤨, we shall shortly be reading about your golf exploits.

[Sean2]

2 hours ago, Jedaigeki said:

 

 

Also depends on the score you shoot, Hitting 75 shots makes a big difference to hitting 105 shots. 

That was the other thing...I was much closer to the former than the latter. 

 

On another note, it is pretty much impossible for me to find second hand clubs, as my specs are +2-inches and 2º upright. 

[Divot License]

I never have this problem as my specs at standard or 1/2" shorter (I prefer the shorter but my pro keeps telling me to stay full length) and also I'm 1 degree flat. 

 

It's easy to cut them down and re swingweigt them and to get them bend flat.