Considering the long road back after auto accident

[Hateto3Putt]

Hey, anything sub 50 after what you've been through is amazing!!!

 

How was Lindenwood? I haven't played there in a while.

 

Last time headed there I got a ticket on 19 and I don't even speed!

[mshills]

😁

 

I enjoyed Lindenwood very much. I only live about 15 minutes north of there (I am just across from USC CC) so it’s convenient, inexpensive, and the people are friendly. Having 3 nines is a major plus, and at least one of them is walkable. Condition was good, really good considering the price. Greens slow but consistent. I can see playing there regularly. 
 

Just got back from the 1781 Club. First full 18 I’ve played since 2018! That course would be tough for me to walk. I might be able to work up to it — will have to make that a goal. I’m not going to buy the membership, but I liked the course. Looks like they are putting some work into it. All the turf is in fine shape. Greens are good, slightly faster than Lindenwood, and also in good shape. Bunkers could use some attention, the cart paths are rough, and the gas carts are really due for an upgrade. But I think there is a good experience to be had there!

 

54-52 for 106 😐 An 8 and a 9 on the front.  Two 9s on the back 😡. Get rid of those I might have something! Missed two, arguably three very makeable birdie putts. 

 

Was really fun, I cannot really believe I can still do this. My cost per shot is way lower than it used to be! 

[mshills]

1781 Club. Note It’s Miller Time on the scorecard. You ain’t lying. 

[mshills]

Here are my scores since I started back. Three rounds from the gold (senior) tees, three from the whites. 
 

101

106

98  👀 😁

95  😳 (carded 97….but ESC got me and posted 95)

99

99 (today)

 

That is a handicap index of 25.2 before it updates tonight, and legitimate breaking 100 before July 4….my first goal. Sweet!

 

Hitting driver great. Easiest shot for me since every lie is perfect! A good drive is 230-ish. I ripped one 242 today, and cannot hit it any better.

 

Pitches and short shots around the green are good, have radically simplified my approach from before I got hurt, and it’s working fine. All I do is visualize tossing the ball the necessary distance. Have only played out of a bunker 3x….that is not easy at all. Putting hasn’t changed much as that’s the only shot I play with both arms involved. 
 

Overall iron play isn’t good, have plenty of work to do there. Poor strikes, just hasn’t been good. Same with fairway wood play. My next goal is to break 90 before Labor Day and it’s totally possible. 
 

Have met some cool people and I’m having a great time. 

[grm24]

On 5/13/2022 at 3:27 PM, mshills said:

1781 Club. Note It’s Miller Time on the scorecard. You ain’t lying. 

 

Enjoy Scenic Valley, I mean the 1781 Club, while you can. It will soon be turned into more housing subdivisions for Peters Township. Have played it many times since it opened in 2001. Enjoy the course for the most part.

 

That property has been way more valuable for home development than it is for the golf course. Honestly surprised it hasn't been turned into housing previously. I live about 12-15 minutes from the course.

[mshills]

Agreed. I liked the course well enough, but absolutely no way would I buy a “membership” to a course where anyone can still get tee times without the membership. All that is is prepaid greens fees. 
 

Not sure how they will make that ‘club’ go. Buying a membership to get access to a private restaurant does absolutely nothing for me. However, the course was totally fine. Nothing memorable, but I enjoyed it. 

[Hateto3Putt]

Our group would play Scenic Valley once or twice a season.

 

Conditions were always pretty nice and the length made me feel like a tour pro! Hitting wedges into many of the par 4's from the tips baby!

 

I think everyone's gripe there is the pace of play. Hit/wait/hit...

 

Of course it's always sad when any golf course goes under. I can't drive past Churchill, Highland or even Rose Ridge or Crafton without a little 😥.

 

Progress...

 

Delighted to hear your getting back in the groove @mshills

[mshills]

I played at Rolling Green about a week ago.  Now that was a short, fun golf course but as slow as molasses.  There are what, three drivable par 4s down there and I think every par 5 is reachable....that is a recipe for massive backlogs.

 

On one of those drivable par 4s there was a group on the green and no fewer than three groups -- twelve players -- on the tee box.  Ugly.

 

Can't see going back there too often -- plus they are not in GHIN, so that's no good.  People running the course were friendly, but damn, I can't play golf with that much waiting.

[mshills]

Still working at it, handicap index has fluctuated from 24.0 to 26.2.  Played a couple days ago and experienced something new. #1 tee box, my driver shaft broke right in the center, but not at impact — as I took it back!

 

I don’t exactly have a blistering quick transition these days 😂 and I baby my clubs, so who knows. Must have been some kind of manufacturing defect I reckon. No big deal. 

 

My Ping retailer pro had a replacement shaft shipped the same day 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻, so I’ll be back in business as soon as FedEx gets it to me.  Finishing that round with 4W the longest club was a challenge. 

[NoTalentLefty]

On 6/13/2022 at 9:07 AM, mshills said:

I played at Rolling Green about a week ago.  Now that was a short, fun golf course but as slow as molasses.  There are what, three drivable par 4s down there and I think every par 5 is reachable....that is a recipe for massive backlogs.

 

On one of those drivable par 4s there was a group on the green and no fewer than three groups -- twelve players -- on the tee box.  Ugly.

 

Can't see going back there too often -- plus they are not in GHIN, so that's no good.  People running the course were friendly, but damn, I can't play golf with that much waiting.

After reading your original post I feel ashame of my complaints after three hip surgeries , twice on the left. Got no reason to feel anything but thanking God we live in a country where our surgeons can do so much for the joints. Hope  your recovery will continue to be successful. 

[mshills]

23 hours ago, NoTalentLefty said:

After reading your original post I feel ashame of my complaints after three hip surgeries , twice on the left. Got no reason to feel anything but thanking God we live in a country where our surgeons can do so much for the joints. Hope  your recovery will continue to be successful. 

Hey man no reason to feel ashamed of anything. We’ve all got something to deal with, and I don’t claim my situation to be easier or tougher than anyone’s….just different and unique. All I want to do is share my journey in hopes that it helps someone else with theirs, regardless of what theirs looks like. Here’s hoping your hip procedures were a success!

[mshills]

Update here…..when I started back this spring I had two goals. First, break 100 before July 4. Next, break 90 before Labor Day. 
 

Yesterday I went out in 43.  👍🏻   Warning signal was a missed 3-footer on #9. Still feeling positive. 
 

Three putted 10 and 11, missed a short par putt on 12, and tripled the par 3 #13. 🤬🤬🤬

 

Rallied to come back in 45 😁 for an 88 and a goal achieved. Yes, it was from 5,200 yards so I’m not getting ahead of myself 😂 but it was after absolutely torrential rain so I was not at all ashamed of playing up.

[Hateto3Putt]

Great Job!

 

Was that the downhill par 3 over the water at Lindenwood?

 

Because if it is, between the lake and the wall, your triple there is not the first!

 

Sounds like your ballstriking is on point but your putter is acting up!😉

 

[mshills]

Ha, no, Lindenwood was stacked up, so actually this round was at Indian Run. Not a hard course, but Saturday that huge deluge dumped a couple inches of rain on the course all at once. I get a decent amount of roll-out with driver, but nope not today, so it played longer than expected for me even at 5,200 yards. 
 

I enjoyed the course. Fantastic for $35 on a Saturday! Greens are very difficult….but Avella is too far away to play there often. 

 

To your point, I hate that #### $#@! *&^!-ing wall on that par 3.  🤣

Edited July 25, 2022 by mshills

[mshills]

Rained out today. I like playing in the rain but today is too much. I don’t know of any courses around here that drain well enough not to be under water, so went and hit a few balls. 
 

Am very happy with the quality of impact here and a nice soft cut. Am not happy that my swing is getting long again. I fought that loose, disconnected swing for ages with both arms and I don’t want to go there again!

 

Any thoughts welcome….here’s a link to this morning’s action. 
 

Two 7i cuts in the rain this morning at Cool Springs

[LeonMay]

Yeah... it's a real mess. I could never imagine the state of people who were able to endure it all and return to a normal life. Relatively normal with all the complications and fractures. I've only known one man who was able to recover from a crushed skull and several fractured vertebrae. He was very lucky that his most important organs and arteries were not affected. He's just lucky, even the guys at puschnguyen.com worked clearly and quickly, he was very lucky. When I read stories like this and am always angry that I am late for something, I always think that being late is not so bad, there are worse things

Edited December 12, 2022 by LeonMay

[mshills]

Since I last updated this thread:

 

Went to a LAB DF 2.1 putter and no thumbs grip, with great success. 
Added an inexpensive Maltby 9w, also a solid add. 
Bought some cold weather gear as I hope to play thru most of the winter…my kids sporting events and activities take priority and the schedule is stacked thru the winter. 
Broke 90 a couple more times, including from 6,100 yards on a soaking wet golf course, thanks in large part to the LAB putter. 
Got my index down to 19.5. 
My wife also has started playing — we’ve played together twice and have a great time. 
 

Here are a couple 7i swings from a few weeks ago, working on as high a cut as I can hit. 

 

[Hateto3Putt]

That one armed swing is looking good! Glad to see you back at it!

 

I just got my left knee replaced on 11/3, I figured get it replaced in November and I wouldn't miss many rounds. I was wrong! The mild weather hit and I've been down for 5 weeks hearing about the skins games I've mi$$ed!

 

I can finally swing a club in the yard and for the first time in years come to a full finish on my left side. My knee was so jacked I unknowingly modified my swing to protect it. Hopefully, some distance will return as well as the ability to crouch and read some lines....

 

Pittsburgh winter golf tip.... If you don't already have a heated vest, get one! Absolute game changer!

 

Happy Holidays and keep up the rehab, it's paying off!

[mshills]

Glad to hear you got the knee taken care of. My prediction is your hips and back will feel like a new man, as the compensations you’ve had to do are likely putting undue pressure there. 
 

Heated vest….hmmm never really though about that addition! Where I feel cold, or at least where I think I feel it, is in my extremities — bald dome & ears, hands, and feet, but I’m always receptive to recommendations for a new must have piece of golf gear! 🙂 Do you use the heated vest with a base layer?

[Hateto3Putt]

On 12/14/2022 at 5:45 PM, mshills said:

 🙂Do you use the heated vest with a base layer?

 

My typical winter setup is a shirt, heated vest, hoodie, then a half sleeve windbreaker. The only change would be a sleeved jacket if it's gonna stay in the 30's. (I'm not a fan of full sleeves while playing).

 

The vest has 3 heat levels and it's either set on Low, or Off.

 

Medium is uncomfortably warm, High is like an air fryer.

 

The vest is powered by a rechargeable charging block which by now everyone has at least 1.

 

The only time I wear a hat is during foul weather golf. I also have an electric hand-warmer, and if it's sleeved jacket weather, I will wear winter gloves.

 

I play skins with 6-18 other addicts EVERY Sunday if the course will allow.

 

I'm hoping the knee is ready for some mediocre golf by January.

[Hateto3Putt]

4 days shy of 10 weeks post new knee.

 

Made it out for a sloppy round on Monday. The boys were going, I was Jonesing. I set the bar low..make contact.

 

Frankly, I was a little gun shy at first, I was concerned with the wet, slippery conditions, all I heard was my surgeon saying "whatever you do, don't fall."

 

My first few swings were "armsy", I was afraid to go after it, by the third or fourth hole, once I realized I wasn't causing any harm, the swing loosened up. Hit some pretty good drives, woods and wedges, my long irons were pitiful at best.

 

Managed 5 pars with zero GIR's. Didn't lose a ball, but found 4, 3 of them were plugged in the fairway.

 

I did notice descending slopes was much less painful with the new knee compared to the old. That will only get better. Hopefully now I'll be able to finish on the left side without wincing.

 

My knee blew up like a tick that night, but the bounce back period is getting shorter.

 

Happy New Year!

[mshills]

Heck yeah man that is awesome!  Yes -- I can relate.  There are some days I feel great, and my goal is to break 90, period.  Other days are....um....different, and my goals are more modest, like "make the ball go forward."

 

Any chance of walking nine?  I'd check with doc and PT of course, but nine holes on foot could do good things for ROM and building strength.  It helps me out a lot, and depending on the course and the day, I can sometimes walk 18, pushing, not carrying.

 

I couldn't get out on Monday, whole household has been sick and I just didn't feel good.  Glad you got a peg in the ground, and I am sure it was plenty slippery and muddy out there.  Perfect for those of us who are now distance-challenged and have to play it on the ground some.  🤣

Edited January 4, 2023 by mshills
Typo

[ericg33]

@mshills - I may be late to the snappy gilmore party, but thought you would appreciate it

 

 

[mshills]

Ha!  Yeah, that action isn't happening for me.  My golf swing even before I got hurt had too many moving parts and too much going on. Now, the path I've followed to correct that issue is not one I'd recommend, but it has been pretty effective so far in simplifying things.  😄

[mshills]

Video from this weekend’s play. Hit this one pretty well, not perfect. I’m getting consistent carry of about 215, a little more if I really bust it (which I did not do here!) Not much roll this weekend, was wet and lush.

 

Shot 89, and got the index down to 16.5, not unhappy with that at all despite one absolute bonehead putt and one knucklehead iron shot that combined cost me at least three shots. 
 

Driver, June 17, 2023

 

Edited June 19, 2023 by mshills