The Links Lounge (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION/LIV ***)

[DLeightonReid]

On 7/8/2024 at 5:45 AM, touch said:

Finally it's my weekend!  😊  As an early riser I get right after things that need to be done pretty early in the day. This morning I am already doing laundry and it's also time for a wax job. I take meticulous care of my equipment and that includes a quarterly waxing of all my golf shafts and the tops of my woods. 

 

I have a 1 PM tee time at Cummings Cove (the tightest course I play) with Bill (FLA) and Stan.

Let's see if the old blonde guy can stay steady enough to break 80 today. 🏌️‍♀️

 

 

Mothers with carnauba oil is great paste wax.  

[Petethreeput]

We all have that friend.  The one we grew up with, played tag with, pop warner football, walked to school together, and then as we got older played golf together through high school and college sent us in different directions and as we aged we went even further in different directions.  We always kept in touch, but it was sporadic at best.  Jobs, marriages, kids, we all know the drill and next thing we know we have been friends for 50 years.

 

One of our random group texts asked if we were still playing golf because one of our friends had decided to take the game up again at 55.  We used to all play together starting at around 14 at the local 9 hole muni.  We didn't know what we were doing, but sure laughed a lot.  One day we got paired up with a single, and his amazement at our lack of etiquette was astounding to him.  On one par 3 we all teed off at the same time because, well, because we were all ready to hit.  We learned a little bit that day because until then it was just 4 teenagers just hitting a chasing it and we started on a lark with no instruction, no nothing.

 

Next week for the member/guest one of these folks is coming out to play with me.  As I was driving to work this morning it occurred to me it has been 17 years since I saw him last.  Three of the four ran to Vegas with our significant others for a long weekend.  And before that is was 7 years when one of us got married on the OBX.

 

I suspect when I see him no time will have passed.  The tournament?  Who cares, I am already winning.

[mshills]

@Petethreeput that is tremendous. 
 

I don’t keep up with anyone from before undergrad, but I have three friends from those years I talk with about once a week. I can’t believe how blessed I am to have people like them I can call friends and brothers. 
 

One is flying up here tomorrow for our member-guest invitational. Another I am going to play a “tournament” (scramble fundraiser memorial for another buddy who passed away 20 years ago) with in three weeks. We have been friends 30 years. Many men never have a friend like that in life, and I have three!

[chisag]

3 hours ago, DLeightonReid said:

Good morning!  Sorry, but I am about to make @chisag jealous, but we have light rain this morning with the predicted high in the 70's. 

 

 

... Jealous but happy for you. After my last two May's in Chicago that set records for rainfall and the few days courses were open they couldn't cut the rough or get machines on the greens I thought if I never saw rain again it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Careful what you wish for I guess. 

[Petethreeput]

5 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Jealous but happy for you. After my last two May's in Chicago that set records for rainfall and the few days courses were open they couldn't cut the rough or get machines on the greens I thought if I never saw rain again it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Careful what you wish for I guess. 

And to think it was 64 degrees at 8AM this morning and I was sweating on my drive to work, and I was a little disappointed with the heat.

[touch]

I am playing later this afternoon but my first order of business today is supporting my golfer friends (and some coworkers) who are competing in this year's SkyView Open being held at the Asheville Municipal G.C. 

It is a three day/three round deal.

I am walking around the course and finding shady spots to sit and watch the action as it's quite a hot one today (90*) in the mountains. Noah,Ian,and Ryan from BFCC are in the professional division as are 3 other area assistant pros that I know. Noah has won this tournament 3 times and  finished 2nd twelve times. There are 4 BFCC golf cart staff employees and 5 other golf buddies of mine in the amateur division. Why aren't you playing in it LP some of you might ask? Well I have played in a few tournaments in years past and I have always gagged. 😅 I never seem to be able to bring my decent game to these competitions. 

I didn't tell anyone that I was coming to spectate so I am very much enjoying the surprise when my Asheville golf friends see the old blonde guy in the Titleist visor in the gallery.

🙂

 

Golf is cool. 

⛳🏌️

 

 

 

 

Edited July 10 by touch

[touch]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Jealous but happy for you. After my last two May's in Chicago that set records for rainfall and the few days courses were open they couldn't cut the rough or get machines on the greens I thought if I never saw rain again it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Careful what you wish for I guess. 

 

 

It's hotter in Vegas.......120*  and where I last lived in the desert southwest the Palm Springs area hit 124*.   Just FREAKING nuts. 😲

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chisag and the drummer heading to the first tee

 

[touch]

I'll take the guaranteed something golf.

I had a tee time with some members where I work at 3:30 but a line of thunderstorms is headed towards downtown in 90 minutes. Rather than play 5 or 6 holes and then get called off the course and not knowing when/or if play will resume I've decided to stay south of town and hit the driving range for practice. The storms will miss Broadmoor so I'll be able to get a couple of hours of beneficial practice in instead of playing. It's rather hot but I'm prepared with a cooler full of bottled water and a delicious frosty Culver's chocolate milkshake. 

 

[NCLancer]

Callaway made a fantastic short film regarding The Muni!  It's an enjoyable watch and I hope I someday get to tee it up at the course.

 

 

 

[miamistomp]

[Double Mocha Man]

7 minutes ago, miamistomp said:

 

Do you happen to have the area code on that number?

 

 

 

 

Edited July 9 by Double Mocha Man

[mshills]

31 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

Do you happen to have the area code on that number?

 

 

 

 

305 baby!

[aenemated]

18 hours ago, NCLancer said:

@aenemated Did you ever get a chance to play The Pit?  Mrs. NCL and I did a June stay at one of their condos in 2010 and we thought it was a truly fun and challenging course.  We probably played about 50 holes those 2 days and we found it very different than the other Sandhills courses as it had some cool topography with it being routed through an abandoned sand pit.  I guess they ran into financial difficulties, closed and then sold to the Resort.  Big bucks were put into the renovation (rebuild?), and I have read that #10 is just a notch below #2 and #4. 

 

Hope you have a great trip and a fantastic time this fall. 

 

Found a pic from our trip.  I can't recall which hole # this Par 3 was but the cool thing I do remember was the cable which led from a machine on my left which was attached to another machine about 50 yards to my right.  A net was attached to said cable and 2 guys were harvesting thousands of golf balls.  I may have helped their cause Day 2...     

 

 

 

 

 

Nope, never played The Pit. Aside from the couple times we played #2 and #7 we actually mostly played over at Hyland Hills in that whole area. Woodlake in Vass was another we'd hit up a lot. Carolina Lakes in Sanford was where I kinda developed my game after getting started at good ol' Pine Burr in Lillington which closed about 10 years ago. 

 

I remember mom calling me all "I have some really sad news" and I was all thinking I was about to learn a family member died or something ... "I'm real sorry to tell you Pine Burr closed." 😂

 

We're gonna stay with her for several days before heading up to Pinehurst. Tobacco Road is about 30mins away so think Imma play that one too. 

[NJBigFish22]

36 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Nope, never played The Pit. Aside from the couple times we played #2 and #7 we actually mostly played over at Hyland Hills in that whole area. Woodlake in Vass was another we'd hit up a lot. Carolina Lakes in Sanford was where I kinda developed my game after getting started at good ol' Pine Burr in Lillington which closed about 10 years ago. 

 

I remember mom calling me all "I have some really sad news" and I was all thinking I was about to learn a family member died or something ... "I'm real sorry to tell you Pine Burr closed." 😂

 

We're gonna stay with her for several days before heading up to Pinehurst. Tobacco Road is about 30mins away so think Imma play that one too. 

I’m hoping to play Tobacco Road in the fall.  Just looks like a great layout.  Once on property my game may feel differently.  

[aenemated]

14 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I’m hoping to play Tobacco Road in the fall.  Just looks like a great layout.  Once on property my game may feel differently.  

 

It looks pretty nuts! 

[Petethreeput]

59 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Nope, never played The Pit. Aside from the couple times we played #2 and #7 we actually mostly played over at Hyland Hills in that whole area. Woodlake in Vass was another we'd hit up a lot. Carolina Lakes in Sanford was where I kinda developed my game after getting started at good ol' Pine Burr in Lillington which closed about 10 years ago. 

 

I remember mom calling me all "I have some really sad news" and I was all thinking I was about to learn a family member died or something ... "I'm real sorry to tell you Pine Burr closed." 😂

 

We're gonna stay with her for several days before heading up to Pinehurst. Tobacco Road is about 30mins away so think Imma play that one too. 

Last November we played 2,4,7,8 and then ran over to Tobacco Road on the way to the airport the last day.  10 wasn't on line yet, but everyone was saying how great it is, but only you can be the judge.

 

I am not 100% sure, but I think 4 was my favorite from a playability perspective while still having the Ross feel.  #2 is sort of punishing and is a great course which I loved playing but I think if I did it every day I would have to quit due to my ineptitude.

 

Tobacco Road is sort of like carnival golf.  The first hole my buddy hit the green from 90 yards and it rolled from the left front to the right rear of the green (I think I have the direction correct, could have gone the other way) and you have no idea that sort of stuff is going to happen from the fairway.  I did watch a friend shoot a 68 sight unseen at TR with a hole in one and an eagle, so there is that, you can score on it if the planets align.

 

I think you are going to have an awesome trip.  Is the Mrs coming?  Perhaps you can play bocce on the front lawn together then go to the Deuce for some canoodling.

[chisag]

... I didn't need glasses til age 69 and went back in for an exam for the first time in 3 years. I need another .25 in one eye and .50 in the other. But my main concern was a floater that developed in my right eye a couple weeks ago. PIA when putting but checking out the medical sights on the internet I got a little concerned about a detached retina. Thankfully my eye's look great according to my Doc and I shouldn't worry about my floater. Like many things in life the more attention you pay it, the worse it can seem so just ignoring it should almost make it disappear as my brain gets used to it. 

[aenemated]

55 minutes ago, Petethreeput said:

Last November we played 2,4,7,8 and then ran over to Tobacco Road on the way to the airport the last day.  10 wasn't on line yet, but everyone was saying how great it is, but only you can be the judge.

 

I am not 100% sure, but I think 4 was my favorite from a playability perspective while still having the Ross feel.  #2 is sort of punishing and is a great course which I loved playing but I think if I did it every day I would have to quit due to my ineptitude.

 

Tobacco Road is sort of like carnival golf.  The first hole my buddy hit the green from 90 yards and it rolled from the left front to the right rear of the green (I think I have the direction correct, could have gone the other way) and you have no idea that sort of stuff is going to happen from the fairway.  I did watch a friend shoot a 68 sight unseen at TR with a hole in one and an eagle, so there is that, you can score on it if the planets align.

 

I think you are going to have an awesome trip.  Is the Mrs coming?  Perhaps you can play bocce on the front lawn together then go to the Deuce for some canoodling.

 

Yeah, I figure Tobacco Road will have a similar feel to Wolf Creek - everything I've seen and read tells me it's totally nuts. 

 

Me and dad played #2 for the last time in ... '95 I think it was. Might have been '96. Did #7 too and I really wanted that one on this trip but they didn't have any availability. #10 will be cool. 

 

And yep, Leah's coming! We're already making many food plans! Lotta places I gotta take her. Also gotta take her to 2112 Percussion; the drum shop where it all started. 

[mshills]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

... I didn't need glasses til age 69 and went back in for an exam for the first time in 3 years. I need another .25 in one eye and .50 in the other. But my main concern was a floater that developed in my right eye a couple weeks ago. PIA when putting but checking out the medical sights on the internet I got a little concerned about a detached retina. Thankfully my eye's look great according to my Doc and I shouldn't worry about my floater. Like many things in life the more attention you pay it, the worse it can seem so just ignoring it should almost make it disappear as my brain gets used to it. 

I got glasses right before 40. Have massive anxiety about my diabetic eye exams. Not fun managing…..I am legitimately terrified of when the news comes that treatment is needed. Treatment in my case is quite…..unpleasant. 
 

My natural nerves about medical procedures have increased a thousandfold post-accident. Tough to deal with. 

[NJBigFish22]

@chisag and @aenemated or anyone else that does the following.

 

I think you both have mentioned that you use air to do grips.  I want to try this method to test a different size grip.  So my questions.  1) what size masking tape do you use? 2) do you use multiple wraps since I think grip tape is thicker than masking tape?  3) do you put any solvent on to help start the process or lube to make easier to push on?  4) what psi do you normally set the compressor at? 5) any other tips for someone doing for first time?

 

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

[chisag]

10 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I think you both have mentioned that you use air to do grips.

 

 

... I don't use air and have stuck with what I know. I have a grip remover that works just fine and I can re-use my grips if needed. I have always wanted to try air, but never got around to it. Good luck! 

[touch]

38 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

@chisag and @aenemated or anyone else that does the following.

 

I think you both have mentioned that you use air to do grips.  I want to try this method to test a different size grip.  So my questions.  1) what size masking tape do you use? 2) do you use multiple wraps since I think grip tape is thicker than masking tape?  3) do you put any solvent on to help start the process or lube to make easier to push on?  4) what psi do you normally set the compressor at? 5) any other tips for someone doing for first time?

 

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

 

Ryan uses a steel poker bar with a little solvent on it to wiggle the old grip free first. The rod/bar has a T shaped plastic handle. It looks like a Kabob grilling rod with a handle. He doesn't use compressed air. I always watch Ryan do my grips. I am fortunate that I have a golf buddy who does my regripping perfectly every time. 

 

 

 

Edited July 10 by touch

[chisag]

8 minutes ago, touch said:

I am fortunate that I have a golf buddy who does my regripping perfectly every time. 

 

 

... So true. I don't trust anyone with my clubs. I am a free spirited right brain actor and my work station is messy but when it comes to my clubs, I am very meticulous. Same when I do any work for friends. It has to be perfect. 

[aenemated]

33 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

@chisag and @aenemated or anyone else that does the following.

 

I think you both have mentioned that you use air to do grips.  I want to try this method to test a different size grip.  So my questions.  1) what size masking tape do you use? 2) do you use multiple wraps since I think grip tape is thicker than masking tape?  3) do you put any solvent on to help start the process or lube to make easier to push on?  4) what psi do you normally set the compressor at? 5) any other tips for someone doing for first time?

 

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

 

1 - I just use plain ol 3M masking tape. 

2 - Only grip I build up any is my putter after I switched back to the OG Ping grip 

3 - Yep, I'll put a little bit on the tip

4 - 65psi. The one I use isn't anything fancy; it's just a Husky bicycle tire pump. Gets the job done just fine.

5 - Not really! It's pretty straightforward honestly. I just pop the club in the golf works shaft puller that's in my vice; cut the tape to length and apply, dip the grip tip in some solvent and get it just on the shaft, put the air pump tip in the hole at the butt of the shaft and fire up the pump. Slides right on. 

 

I don't care for any grip alignment markings - I play GolfPride TV 360s on everything - so I don't even have to bother with lining anything up. But it'd be pretty easy since once the grip butt is flush with the shaft butt; it's kinda "floating" over the shaft so real easy to turn to align anything.

[touch]

9 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... So true. I don't trust anyone with my clubs. I am a free spirited right brain actor and my work station is messy but when it comes to my clubs, I am very meticulous. Same when I do any work for friends. It has to be perfect. 

 

I hear ya chisag. Grips must be installed "just right". Ain't nobody got time for some half as* shoddy job. 

[touch]

It's 80* and humid here at midnight. There is no normal overnight comfortable cool down tonight in the AVL. Ugh to the middle of July.  

[imkirby34]

1 hour ago, NJBigFish22 said:

@chisag and @aenemated or anyone else that does the following.

 

I think you both have mentioned that you use air to do grips.  I want to try this method to test a different size grip.  So my questions.  1) what size masking tape do you use? 2) do you use multiple wraps since I think grip tape is thicker than masking tape?  3) do you put any solvent on to help start the process or lube to make easier to push on?  4) what psi do you normally set the compressor at? 5) any other tips for someone doing for first time?

 

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

 

I have nothing to add to aenemated's reply.  The only difference for me is that I use the blue painter's tape.  

[touch]

 

No end in sight as record-breaking heat wave continues

The temperature hit 101 degrees in Portland on Monday and 104 degrees in Eugene and Salem, Oregon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). All three cities set new daily high-temperature records, the weather service said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: ABC News 

Edited July 10 by touch

[Hickory4ever]

We have had a hot and humid stretch which ended today. The remnants of the hurricane are dumping a lot of rain on us today and will be a rest day from golf after 9 straight days playing, all but one round walking. I have now teed it up 95 times this year. 
 

My recovery from last year’s health crisis is almost complete. I can now walk as many days as I want although the upper body is not quite there yet. I play with a doctor buddy at least three days a week and he keeps me on the straight and narrow. It appears that my new normal is to be a lean and mean 155 pound golfing machine.

 

On the subject of grips, I have several buddies that do mine. I am not as particular as I once was although I prefer a cord grip when getting new grips on classic or modern clubs. For hickory, I prefer the suede leather grips which are done nicely by a couple buddies. I don’t wear a golf glove and love the feel of those leather grips.

[NJBigFish22]

9 hours ago, aenemated said:

 

1 - I just use plain ol 3M masking tape. 

2 - Only grip I build up any is my putter after I switched back to the OG Ping grip 

3 - Yep, I'll put a little bit on the tip

4 - 65psi. The one I use isn't anything fancy; it's just a Husky bicycle tire pump. Gets the job done just fine.

5 - Not really! It's pretty straightforward honestly. I just pop the club in the golf works shaft puller that's in my vice; cut the tape to length and apply, dip the grip tip in some solvent and get it just on the shaft, put the air pump tip in the hole at the butt of the shaft and fire up the pump. Slides right on. 

 

I don't care for any grip alignment markings - I play GolfPride TV 360s on everything - so I don't even have to bother with lining anything up. But it'd be pretty easy since once the grip butt is flush with the shaft butt; it's kinda "floating" over the shaft so real easy to turn to align anything.

Thank you for the detailed info.  I am going to give it a go once my grips arrive.