GolfWRX

[bobfoster]

Greetings! (Don't know where this post belongs, feel free to move it mods).

 

Sometime in the last couple of weeks I passed the 2.5K mark in postings. Joined this site in 2010. Participation has ebbed and flowed. Sometimes I'm on daily, other times months go by between logging in.

 

But I just wanted to take a moment and give a big shout out to the guys that started, and run this website. I almost can't measure how much fun I've had here, and how very much I've learned. I do have a somewhat narrow focus - usually read Equipment, Tour Talk, General Golf Talk, and Etiquette/Rules. But almost every thread I follow has the same general tenor. Highly knowledgeable golfers posting here, and (especially) superlative moderators. They generally have a very light touch, but are extremely firm on those rare occasions they have to be. They are the ultimate cat-herders.

 

So this is just to say thank you. I've been a golfer for over five decades - it is without a doubt my favorite sport. Finding a community full of other fanatics has just been very enriching. Also decided to express it more meaningfully - just signed up for the Annual Subscription. And would encourage anyone who's here a lot and hasn't subscribed to do so (yes, I get that this sounds like a pitch from some NPR pledge drive, but I am in no way affiliated with the site ... just want to support the time and work of the folks that keep it alive and thriving.)

[MtlJeff]

Well said Midas

 

(see , i've been here a while too!)

[Pepperturbo]

Agree with OP.  I, too, have been here awhile.  Seen it change, and people come and go.  Kinda like golf... it's there, then it's gone, then it's back.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

As another log time WRX’er I echo all your thoughts!  
 

Well Said. 

[golfortennis]

I recall a thread where the guys all had the same story:  the wives could not believe they were getting in a car to play golf with "a guy you met off the internet."  But it's that type of place.

 

   

[Carolina Golfer 2]

17 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

I recall a thread where the guys all had the same story:  the wives could not believe they were getting in a car to play golf with "a guy you met off the internet."  But it's that type of place.

 

   

Yep. I remember that.  And I had the same reaction from mine the first time I did many years ago.  Now one of those guys is one of my best friends and has been to our house many times and has yet to murder us 😬

[MtlJeff]

16 hours ago, golfortennis said:

I recall a thread where the guys all had the same story:  the wives could not believe they were getting in a car to play golf with "a guy you met off the internet."  But it's that type of place.

 

   

 

One time I had to tell my wife I was flying to San Diego to meet a bunch of people from the internet!!

[bobfoster]

On 10/23/2021 at 3:56 PM, MtlJeff said:

Well said Midas

 

(see , i've been here a while too!)

Flash from the past! Weird, I have a lot of old friends here - that I've never met in person.

[smashdn]

On 10/23/2021 at 6:12 PM, golfortennis said:

I recall a thread where the guys all had the same story:  the wives could not believe they were getting in a car to play golf with "a guy you met off the internet."  But it's that type of place.   

 

I did that with hunting forums when I was younger.  Mix in some guns with the strangers and wife thought I was off my rocker.

 

I remember I agreed to take a guy duck hunting using my boat and boat blind.  Met before dark so wasn't able to really see the guy.  Get everything set up and as it is starting to get light I look over and guy has went full Al Jolson facepaint.  All I could do not to break down laughing.

[br61]

On 10/24/2021 at 11:06 AM, MtlJeff said:

 

One time I had to tell my wife I was flying to San Diego to meet a bunch of people from the internet!!

Ha, same here when I was chosen for The Kingdom trip to Reynolds Plantation in 2011. It was just after my 50th birthday so she let me go. Lot of great guys that I met even though I wasn't feeling well. 

 

Anyway back on topic, I've been here since around the time WRX went public. Richard invited me to check it out back in 2005 and I'm glad to be a member.  

[sheppy335]

I am with the OP, i love this place. 

[Jim53]

I originally joined in 2012 and asked some stupid questions and got seriously flamed, it was completely innocent and I was trying to learn but it put me off and I went to another site and put in a lot of years and over 13K in post only to decide I just did not want to be part of it any longer for personal reasons. 

Came back here and post every now and then on things that interest me or if I think I can add something, the nature of this site imo is it brutally honest and you will get called out even if it is just someone being snarky.

I enjoy the regular posters (I do believe some of them frequent the other place I was a reg) and the mods do a great job of letting things run their course. The Club techs section is especially helpful with Stuart and Mr. Jones giving real valuable information without being judgemental, they have helped me become a compentent club builder which I enjoy as part of this great but incredibly difficult game we try to play.

 

Anyway, timely topic and good health and golf to all of you.

[smashdn]

I just looked to see when I joined. 2008.  I played golf well before that.  I even took some golf course management classes in college before that date.

 

If I recall correctly I actually got keyed up to GolfWRX through golfclubatlas.  I am not a poster over there but a lurker and someone must have mentioned a thread over here.

 

Architecture got me on a golf forum.  I remember I was reading something about a course and it mentioned a "redan template hole."  I didn't understand so I googled it and ended up on wikipedia.  Found out there were several template holes.  Light went on and I figured, "if I can recognize these hole design styles and then execute the 'preferred' way to play them, I can shave some strokes off my scores."  The strokes never melted off but it did get me interested in architecture and architecture styles of golf courses.  I have a library full of books now on the subject.

 

I've said it on here before, I am never going to get to the point where I play well enough, consistently enough, to get much enjoyment from how I play so I better find enjoyment in the game some other way.  I buried myself in design styles, how courses are built, famous courses, not famous courses but with architectural merit, the mental side of golf, statistical game planning for golf, etc.  Just about everything about golf with the exception of playing it well.

[golfortennis]

14 hours ago, Jim53 said:

I originally joined in 2012 and asked some stupid questions and got seriously flamed, it was completely innocent and I was trying to learn but it put me off and I went to another site and put in a lot of years and over 13K in post only to decide I just did not want to be part of it any longer for personal reasons. 

Came back here and post every now and then on things that interest me or if I think I can add something, the nature of this site imo is it brutally honest and you will get called out even if it is just someone being snarky.

I enjoy the regular posters (I do believe some of them frequent the other place I was a reg) and the mods do a great job of letting things run their course. The Club techs section is especially helpful with Stuart and Mr. Jones giving real valuable information without being judgemental, they have helped me become a compentent club builder which I enjoy as part of this great but incredibly difficult game we try to play.

 

Anyway, timely topic and good health and golf to all of you.

 

You must have gone in to the instruction or rules forums.  Those forums have guys who seem to either view themselves as forum cops, or are heavily invested in "their" view/theory being the "accepted wisdom."  Tour talk is mainly Woods fanbois defending his honor at all costs and regular people having conversations.  Mods can get a little heavy handed at times(I know one poster who deregistered due to overbearing marshalling), but it is a thankless job, so I tend not to get too upset.  They are much better in terms of applying rules evenly than some other sites.

 

Don't let some of the richards get you down.  They may appear to be large in numbers(by the volume of their posts), but they are really only a small percentage.

[jholz]

1 minute ago, golfortennis said:

 

You must have gone in to the instruction or rules forums.  Those forums have guys who seem to either view themselves as forum cops, or are heavily invested in "their" view/theory being the "accepted wisdom."  Tour talk is mainly Woods fanbois defending his honor at all costs and regular people having conversations.  Mods can get a little heavy handed at times(I know one poster who deregistered due to overbearing marshalling), but it is a thankless job, so I tend not to get too upset.  They are much better in terms of applying rules evenly than some other sites.

 

Don't let some of the richards get you down.  They may appear to be large in numbers(by the volume of their posts), but they are really only a small percentage.

 

Also, don't say anything negative (or even remotely negative) about TaylorMade in the equipment forum. Rookie mistake. 

[golfortennis]

2 minutes ago, jholz said:

 

Also, don't say anything negative (or even remotely negative) about TaylorMade in the equipment forum. Rookie mistake. 

 

Didn't think that was still a thing.  I thought those guys had moved on.  Not to mention TM doesn't do the giveaways/trips like they once did?  

[jholz]

Just now, golfortennis said:

 

Didn't think that was still a thing.  I thought those guys had moved on.  Not to mention TM doesn't do the giveaways/trips like they once did?  

 

I haven't tested the waters lately. It may be interesting to pull up (what I think) was my first thread where I discussed how I've just never gotten along with TM equipment. 

 

I thought it was pretty conciliatory...I mean I put the blame on myself and said that TM probably worked well for lots of people, or whatever...but it still got flamed. 

 

Overall, I would say the WRX community is pretty accepting. There's always a few dudes who want to fight with everyone, but they seem to come and go. 

 

The vast majority of long time members are great and I've learned a ton from them. WRX has been a decidedly "net gain" for me.  

[gioguy21]

been here for a long time -- long enough to make some good friends, thankfully only a few enemies and share lots of laughs and good times. 

 

this community is pretty special - long hitting, exotic shaft toting, tech-geeked-out stereotypes be damned...

[golfortennis]

42 minutes ago, gioguy21 said:

been here for a long time -- long enough to make some good friends, thankfully only a few enemies and share lots of laughs and good times. 

 

this community is pretty special - long hitting, exotic shaft toting, tech-geeked-out stereotypes be damned...

 

Stereotype?  Speak for yourself....  🤣

[Dpavs]

Joined in 2011 and this site has undoubtedly fed my passion, provide some (and some not so meaningful too 😆)  social interaction, given me hours upon hours of information and enjoyment and tapped my bank account every time someone post a deal too good to pass up for yet another club I don't need...lol

[Jim53]

8 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

You must have gone in to the instruction or rules forums.  Those forums have guys who seem to either view themselves as forum cops, or are heavily invested in "their" view/theory being the "accepted wisdom."  Tour talk is mainly Woods fanbois defending his honor at all costs and regular people having conversations.  Mods can get a little heavy handed at times(I know one poster who deregistered due to overbearing marshalling), but it is a thankless job, so I tend not to get too upset.  They are much better in terms of applying rules evenly than some other sites.

 

Don't let some of the richards get you down.  They may appear to be large in numbers(by the volume of their posts), but they are really only a small percentage.

Ha ha no not rules or instruction,  it was some questions about C Taper shafts that I knew nothing about except the profile seemed to be what I needed at the time but had never seen one in hand. But yeah it was pretty humbling to be told just about everything that was wrong with me and the fitter. It was an honest mistake on his part and he made it right but wow did I find out about the realities of being ignorant to something. 

 

Heck its the Internet and people can be pretty harsh when they are behind a keyboard, I played with a lot of the people from the other site and made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with. Maybe someday I can meet up with some folks from here if there are any in the Florida area that don't mind playing with a old guy.

 

It is fun to read all the BS about 300 yd drives and sub 80 games and then see the people in action, most of us mortals are not nearly as good under some pressure as we are while typing. I am guilty of it myself and can put up some stinker rounds when out of my comfort zone. Heck I even played blades for while and still would if I had some speed to get more than 120 yards out of a 9 iron.

 

Its all good, this is a great place for information and some laughs.

[golfortennis]

26 minutes ago, Jim53 said:

Ha ha no not rules or instruction,  it was some questions about C Taper shafts that I knew nothing about except the profile seemed to be what I needed at the time but had never seen one in hand. But yeah it was pretty humbling to be told just about everything that was wrong with me and the fitter. It was an honest mistake on his part and he made it right but wow did I find out about the realities of being ignorant to something. 

 

Heck its the Internet and people can be pretty harsh when they are behind a keyboard, I played with a lot of the people from the other site and made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with. Maybe someday I can meet up with some folks from here if there are any in the Florida area that don't mind playing with a old guy.

 

It is fun to read all the BS about 300 yd drives and sub 80 games and then see the people in action, most of us mortals are not nearly as good under some pressure as we are while typing. I am guilty of it myself and can put up some stinker rounds when out of my comfort zone. Heck I even played blades for while and still would if I had some speed to get more than 120 yards out of a 9 iron.

 

Its all good, this is a great place for information and some laughs.

 

I don't spend a ton of time in the equipment or tech section. Really just quickly look up a gripping technique or epoxy.  Heck I did get called a troll today in rules forum, so, there is that.

 

Where in Florida are you?

 

[Jim53]

41 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

I don't spend a ton of time in the equipment or tech section. Really just quickly look up a gripping technique or epoxy.  Heck I did get called a troll today in rules forum, so, there is that.

 

Where in Florida are you?

 

Tampa area

[golfortennis]

1 minute ago, Jim53 said:

Tampa area

 

Ah ok.  We're going to be in Treasure coast area next month.  If you were closer I would have taken you up on the offer.

[Jim53]

11 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

Ah ok.  We're going to be in Treasure coast area next month.  If you were closer I would have taken you up on the offer.

I lived in Ft. Pierce for 25 years, drove though there a month ago and was shocked at how run down most of the area is now. The beach area is much nicer but the rest seems a lot poorer than I remember. PM when you be down, I might just drive over and play. Only a couple of hours away.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Jim53

[deadsolid...shank]

2 hours ago, golfortennis said:

 

I don't spend a ton of time in the equipment or tech section. Really just quickly look up a gripping technique or epoxy.  Heck I did get called a troll today in rules forum, so, there is that.

 

Where in Florida are you?

 

I’ve been here quite a while, since 09 I think. I got called a troll in the Rules forum a while back too. There’s a few people in there that don’t seem to know what tact is. I don’t post much there ( or at all) anymore. But do read in there occasionally. 

[bobfoster]

58 minutes ago, deadsolid...shank said:

I’ve been here quite a while, since 09 I think. I got called a troll in the Rules forum a while back too. There’s a few people in there that don’t seem to know what tact is. I don’t post much there ( or at all) anymore. But do read in there occasionally. 

Ha! Weird how the "Rules/Etiquette" often seems to be the section with the worst actual etiquette. Hilariously ironic. But as Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "metaphors be with us!" (hahahahaha). 

 

Getting called out is actually part of the fun here. I actually just said (in another thread) that I thought TM was half clubs and half marketing. Am sure a few people will (in discussion board terms) throw stuff at my head. Still, nice thing about this place is that there are very good golfers, that have very strong opinions, and don't shy from bluntly stating them. Is what keeps the place lively and interesting.

 

If you got called a troll for stating your opinion, take it as a badge of honor. Go all Mel Gibson Braveheart: "You can take my life, but you can never take my Freeeeedoooom!!!"

 

(Sorry, stressful day at work today, having fun tonight).

Edited October 28, 2021 by bobfoster

[Medson]

When I first joined, I literally thought everyone is driving 300+ yards and shoots a 75 on a bad day. I literally didn’t dare to say anything for months. 
 

10 years later. It feels like everyone is driving 325+ yards now. 

[bobfoster]

13 minutes ago, Medson said:

When I first joined, I literally thought everyone is driving 300+ yards and shoots a 75 on a bad day. I literally didn’t dare to say anything for months. 
 

10 years later. It feels like everyone is driving 325+ yards now. 

 

Some folks here, yes. But (IMO) this place has gotten a lot more realistic in the last decade. Some egomaniacs with wildly inflated distances and scores, but far fewer than there were before. A lot more people here doing numbers. And there's a lot more freely available numbers. The average drive on the PGA Tour (the best in the world) is still less than 300 yards. So when someone here says they average 325 and are a +6, 10 years ago it may have inspired awe, but today people just giggle and get all Jim Carry under their breath and say reeeeeeheeeheheleeeay!

 

I drive 225 - 250. Shoot 75 on a really (really) good day. I'm frankly in awe at where the pros have gone in the last decade. I've got a distance that I'll pull my 5 FW for, and the pros will yank their freaking 7 or 8 iron. 230 or 240 (my driver distance for goodness sake) and these guys are still hitting four or five irons. 

 

I'm getting older, nothing left to prove to anyone anymore. Thing is, a few years ago WRX (rightly) had the reputation for wildly inflated stats. It was the Lake Woebegone of golf discussion boards, where "everyone is above average". Everyone drove 350, and was scratch (at the very least). These days? Just my personal perception, but people are being a lot more honest and realistic. 

 

WRX is a place with a lot of fanatics. Not weekenders playing once a year, but serious amateur golfers. And (in my personal perception) this place has changed. People are gradually being more humble and honest about their games. 

 

This place is getting better and better.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

10 hours ago, deadsolid...shank said:

I’ve been here quite a while, since 09 I think. I got called a troll in the Rules forum a while back too. There’s a few people in there that don’t seem to know what tact is. I don’t post much there ( or at all) anymore. But do read in there occasionally. 

I've posted this before, but the Rules Forum can be one of the most entertaining places on WRX.  The Rules Nazi's are hilarious at times.  To criticize a rule is tantamount to blasphemy for some of them 🙂 

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by BlackDiamondPar5