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

[chisag]

... I have no problem with Bryson leading as it is an Open Championship and he is hitting some killer approach shots from tough spots and has earned the lead. What I find really annoying is all of a sudden the media has declared him a "fan favorite". I don't know anyone that likes the guy and actually quite the opposite. Tomorrow will be excruciating if he continues to lead. What is really amusing is anyone can be a good guy with the fans when they are playing well, but their true colors come out when they are struggling. Just ask any official he has berated for not giving Little Lord Fauntleroy a ruling he insists he should get as well as the next official he called for a 2nd ruling. 

[aenemated]

10 hours ago, Bob Cat said:

Crazy to think that Corey Pavin won the 1995 US Open (Shinnecock) with THESE:

 

 

Watch what he did with THIS 4 wood:

 

 

 

I have one of the VAS 792 52* wedges in my "museum" bag.  Fun to take to Top Golf.

 

 

Heh My dad - who was as accomplished a club ho as there ever was - had a set of those. I never let him hear the end of how ugly they were 😂

[mshills]

A lot of what I didn’t like about Bryson was actually the stupid coverage of him. The whole “scientist” thing was low rent…and calling someone a scientist because he took a couple of undergrad physics classes and did not complete his degree was just silly. 
 

But, now that he’s picked up his pace of play, I like watching him play golf. No idea what kind of person he is — I reserve that opinion for anyone I’ve actually come in contact with. 

Edited June 16 by mshills

[NJBigFish22]

I have grown to really like Bryson.  I still think he is still kind of out there with the “science” stuff, but watching him on YouTube has made him someone I root for.  There have been others that seeing them on YouTube outside of tournament golf have changed my opinion in certain cases.

[chisag]

22 minutes ago, mshills said:

A lot of what I didn’t like about Bryson was actually the stupid coverage of him. The whole “scientist” thing was low rent…and calling someone a scientist because he took a couple of undergrad physics classes and did not complete his degree was just silly. 
 

But, now that he’s picked up his pace of play, I like watching him play golf. No idea what kind of person he is — I reserve that opinion for anyone I’ve actually come in contact with. 

 

 

... I hear ya and if we all liked the same things the world would be a crowded and weird place. I try and live by hating someone is like ingesting poison and hoping the other person dies. So I guess disliking someone is like ingesting a virus and hoping the other person gets sick. 🤪 So I struggle when someone really rubs me the wrong way. It would be much easier if the media didn't just adapt him as everyone's darling, but I will do my best to ignore them and endeavor to persevere.

 

 

[aenemated]

37 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I have grown to really like Bryson.  I still think he is still kind of out there with the “science” stuff, but watching him on YouTube has made him someone I root for.  There have been others that seeing them on YouTube outside of tournament golf have changed my opinion in certain cases.

 

I've been back and forth on the kid over the years. I was happy for him when he won at Winged Foot - mainly, I like the idea of a constant tinkerer who's willing to try some weirdness and isn't stuck totally to "tradition." I can respect that. I'm the same way. 

 

Then it started to get a little silly and overblown and THEN the whole ... that other-thing thing. 

 

Said it in the tourney thread; I enjoyed his input from the booth yesterday. Does seem like he's matured - and I mean, kid's only 30. I was absolutely, 100% an insufferable little ish-head when I was 30 ... moreso than now even! 😂

 

I want Rory to pull it off because dammit, I like Rory. 

Edited June 16 by aenemated

[chisag]

29 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

I've been back and forth on the kid over the years. I was happy for him when he won at Winged Foot - mainly, I like the idea of a constant tinkerer who's willing to try some weirdness and isn't stuck totally to "tradition." I can respect that. I'm the same way. 

 

Then it started to get a little silly and overblown and THEN the whole ... that other-thing thing. 

 

Said it in the tourney thread; I enjoyed his input from the booth yesterday. Does seem like he's matured - and I mean, kid's only 30. I was absolutely, 100% an insufferable little ish-head when I was 30 ... moreso than now even! 😂

 

I want Rory to pull it off because dammit, I like Rory. 

 

 

... Yup, he was very aggressive and right there with Phil suing the PGA Tour. It is all those moments he didn't know he was being recorded that showed his true colors. And of course the silly Kopek thing. But yea Tiger didn't mature til he was in his 40's and that was after the world turned on him. I have always been of the opinion to be the best, the very best in the world at anything takes a single minded focus and the desire to absolutely crush your opponents. Kinda like MJ in his prime. Doesn't take away from their excellence but it usually makes them unpleasant people with little to no social skills. I did a commercial with Jordan and we were told not only don't try and engage with him, but don''t even look at him. He never acknowledged anyone and normally that's OK by me, but at least be kind to the crew which he ignored Always be kind to the crew because without them, you have nothing. They work hard, put in long hours and are mostly under paid. The amount of celebrities I have been with that either ignore or treat the crew like crap is pretty mind boggling. Fwiw, Miley Cyrus was one of the most attentive to crew and extras I ever worked with. People can always surprise you! 

(I am a Rory fan too 😉)

Edited June 16 by chisag

[touch]

How my two rounds played out this week.  

 

Monday - Cummings Cove CC 

Par 71

78* Partly cloudy skies 

Bill B., Clayton, and me

 

 

Tuesday - CC of A

Par 71 

79*  Mostly sunny 

Bill B. , Bill M. , Stan, and me

 

 

At Cummings on the first hole a dogleg par 5 I went driver, 5 wood, and PW to the back collar. I had a touchy downhill 12 footer for birdie. I poured it in center of the cup with barely creeping pace for birdie. That would be the only birdie I made in the round. Par, bogey, par, bogey, par, par. That had me 1 over standing on 8 tee box. Oh yeah #8 (photos 1-3) at Cummings Cove is the Par 3 that so many hate, but I like it and it's a hole I have some steady success on. I hit a 7 iron uphill from 137 to the right side of the green and it ended up pin high. That is my ball the only ball on the green in the 3rd photo. The green slopes from back to front. I almost had to pick a line for my first putt that came close to kissing the collar. I shut off the gas 2 feet from the hole and my putt stopped a foot under the cup. It was a useful Par. I love that deep green cliff side par  3 with not much room to miss the green by. One over with the downhill Par 5 dogleg left 9th (5th photo) remaining on the front nine. Solid drive, good 3 wood and then an 8 iron to the middle of the green. Two putts for par. I made the turn with a one over 36. Three steady pars to start the back 9 and then came a mess on #13 the long uphill Par 3 my nemesis hole at Cummings Cove. Somehow I reenacted exactly the disaster that occurred the last time I played the course in March. I sliced my 5 wood tee shot into the trees OB. I missed the green with my "hitting 3 shot" and made a double 5.  UGH. 3 over. I bounced back nicely and made par on the next hole which is the the long Par 4 14th and the number one handicap hole. Blew a chip on 15 and failed to save par. 4 over. Again I got steady and reeled off three pars on the last three holes including pars on the back to back Par 5 17th and 18th holes. I ended up with a 75.

I'll take anything in the mid 70's at Cummings Cove because that course is the tightest off the tee that I play. I was very pleased with my score.

 

 

Tuesday was the first round with the "2 Bills" in the group. We had a solid 1/2 hour warm up session before we started. The teams were Bill B. (from Naples,FL) and LP against Stan and Bill M. (originally from NCL's hometown of Plattsburgh, NY). I gave both Bills a stroke a hole. One bill is a 16 and the other a 19. Stan and I played even. Match play, front, back, total. 

 

I ended up on the back of the green on one with my approach shot from 121 with my 9 iron and made a fine two put downhill from 45 feet over a large drop off ledge halfway into the putt to start the round with a par. I made par on #2 the par 5 where I rarely make par. On the 3rd hole the downhill Par 3, from 146 I smoked my 7 iron in real tight..... to a foot!  Made the putt. Again that would be the only birdie on the card for the round. -1 after 3. It was a par on the number one handicap Par 4 4th next hole. Then I went bogey, par, double, par, par, and made the turn with a 2 over 38. I got rather wobbly to start the back 9 and my sloppy play continued well into the second 9. I got to 8 over for the round thru 16 holes. I own 17 at CCA. For some reason during the 6 years that I have frequently played the hole my stroke average is way better than it should be for such and intimidating over a valley Par 3 that can play anywhere from 165 to 200 yards. The number Tues. afternoon was 167. Are you kidding? I was licking my chops. That is the exact number for my new and quite beloved 11 wood. I purred it. I came within a foot of jarring it for an Ace. Being that the greens were firm at CCA on Tuesday afternoon my tee shot ended up on the back of the green. From 35 feet, and again it was a putt over a ledge, I made a solid two putt for par. I made another par on the final hole. I finished with an 8 over 79. I was the only player in the group who broke 80. Bill FLA shot an 88 for his first go at CCA. That's his number so bueno round sir!  Bill and I led as much as 2 UP in the match and then we let them back in and it was even mid way in the round. We pulled away in the end to win the front, the back, and the total. We collected our winnings and went out to dinner together after the round to celebrate both Bill's first time playing CCA as well as our team's victory. It was an excellent dinner at a restaurant that I had never been to before. I will make a separate post that will feature the great food that Bill and I had together after our round. 

 

I need to make more birdies and lessen my number of doubles taken. Doing that was the way I was playing just a few weeks ago. Why did it leave? 

 

This Tuesday is the 18th of June so I am expecting some fireworks of some sort during my round on that day just because of the number. 😁

 

 

My 37th and 38th rounds of the season were quite enjoyable. I played two fine golf courses with some great golf buddies both rounds. The pairing of the "2 Bills" was a success and I will make every effort to get those two cool senior golfers together in my foursome again soon. 

 

My current golf life is pretty damn good!   ⚡🏌️‍♀️⛳

 

 

 

Edited June 16 by touch

[touch]

1 hour ago, aenemated said:

 

I've been back and forth on the kid over the years. I was happy for him when he won at Winged Foot - mainly, I like the idea of a constant tinkerer who's willing to try some weirdness and isn't stuck totally to "tradition." I can respect that. I'm the same way. 

 

Then it started to get a little silly and overblown and THEN the whole ... that other-thing thing. 

 

Said it in the tourney thread; I enjoyed his input from the booth yesterday. Does seem like he's matured - and I mean, kid's only 30. I was absolutely, 100% an insufferable little ish-head when I was 30 ... moreso than now even! 😂

 

I want Rory to pull it off because dammit, I like Rory. 

 

It's Bryson or Rors for me too Mr. Sin City drummer. 👊

[aenemated]

26 minutes ago, chisag said:

Fwiw, Miley Cyrus was one of the most attentive to crew and extras I ever worked with. People can always surprise you! 

 

I've been told this! One of my ex's is/was a choreographer back when Miley was in her "edgy" phase but always said she was a sweetheart. She also worked with Britney Spears ... "I've never seen a human take so many pills." 😂

 

The biggest surprise to me was David Spade. I always just assumed he'd be a massive jerk. But he used to hang out at a pub on the Sunset Strip that was right by an old office of mine where we'd do happy hours ... so ran into him a lot. He was just cool and constantly funny. Though my experience was MOST comedians are absolute garbage. Long story of how I got dragged into that stupid scene for a while and god almighty; talk about the most miserable, awful people. I can't even enjoy comedy shows since I had to deal with all that. 

[touch]

It doesn't apply to me as I never had children but for some of the rest of you.........

 

 

 

[DLeightonReid]

On 6/14/2024 at 5:09 PM, NCLancer said:

Did you happen to find this one in the 60's & 70's thread??😜

No, I actually found it on The Far Side thread on FB.  It was one of those cartoons I had to look at for a few seconds before the lightbulb went off.

[Petethreeput]

I wish I paid more attention to professional golf.  I agree with Chi, the only way to be the best in the world at anything is tunnel vision, which includes selfishness, cockiness, and oftentimes aloofness.  It’s the superstar who doesn’t carry those traits who are crossover stars (with Tiger an obvious exception).  People like Gretzky, Crosby, Greg Maddux, Rice, Barkley.

 

I have no reason to dislike Bryson as a golfer, but I certainly don’t root for him.  He was slow (maybe still is), feels a little stiff, and subsequently don’t really want him to win.  I also don’t want “them” to have any success in the majors.

 

If I had my druthers Finau would catch fire then probably have to back door into the win.  Maybe a -3 and the leaders back up?

[Triple Lindy]

1 hour ago, Petethreeput said:

If I had my druthers Finau would catch fire then probably have to back door into the win.

I’ve always been a Finau fan. Can’t say why really. I guess his demeanor just appeals to me. But I also wouldn’t mind seeing Bryson win. He seems to have matured quite a bit. Or he’s just playing us.

[chisag]

38 minutes ago, Triple Lindy said:

I’ve always been a Finau fan. Can’t say why really. I guess his demeanor just appeals to me. But I also wouldn’t mind seeing Bryson win. He seems to have matured quite a bit. Or he’s just playing us.

 

 

... I think it is a little of both. He is such a narcissist, I just don't see him completely changing his stripes. Yea he seems to have matured some but I think he is also most definitely playing us. Easy to smile and say the right things when winning but let's see him when he doesn't think the camera's are on him. A real life David Simms. I am sure most remember him admonishing camera crews for just doing their job and filming him on a bad hole and he laid into them. But loves the camera following him on a good shot. 

... But in the end it is what it is and he is leading because he is playing well. Otoh Finau was a really nice guy when he was a nobody on The Big Break and most everything I hear from other players and those covering Tony is he is a genuine and nice guy. 

[aenemated]

Little thing I typed up last night ... 

 

 

Happy Father's Day to the dads around here. 

Edited June 16 by aenemated

[NCLancer]

3 hours ago, DLeightonReid said:

No, I actually found it on The Far Side thread on FB.  It was one of those cartoons I had to look at for a few seconds before the lightbulb went off.

 

Edited June 16 by NCLancer

[Triple Lindy]

33 minutes ago, chisag said:

Finau was a really nice guy when he was a nobody on The Big Break

I had completely forgotten that he was on The Big Break. Same season as Andrew Giuliani, right?

[chisag]

4 minutes ago, Triple Lindy said:

I had completely forgotten that he was on The Big Break. Same season as Andrew Giuliani, right?

 

 

... Yup. I loved how Andrew said they edited it to make him out to be a villain. While editing can focus on the negative and not the positive and give us a slanted view, it was his words and his attitude on camera and a stark comparison to Tony who evidently didn't give them negative comments to slant. 

[NCLancer]

1 hour ago, Triple Lindy said:

He seems to have matured quite a bit. Or he’s just playing us.

I hope we're not being duped but I still think it's an act.  Soly from NLU remarked yesterday that Bryson should be known as "The Big Thespian"!

[NJBigFish22]

I would venture a guess that there are more golfers that are completely different when they know they are on camera versus off.  This isn’t just golf, most athletes/public figures are this way.  I have met my fair share, some good experiences and some not so good.  
 

If a person is upset while on the course because a camera crew or they don’t get a ruling they want, I’m not forming my opinion on those interactions, because I’m sure we all have had situations that made us break character or act differently especially if it was at your job.

[chisag]

8 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

I would venture a guess that there are more golfers that are completely different when they know they are on camera versus off.  This isn’t just golf, most athletes/public figures are this way.  I have met my fair share, some good experiences and some not so good.  
 

If a person is upset while on the course because a camera crew or they don’t get a ruling they want, I’m not forming my opinion on those interactions, because I’m sure we all have had situations that made us break character or act differently especially if it was at your job.

 

 

... We just see things differently. 👍 I have spent my whole life in front of the camera and been around many celebrities. I think character is revealed under stress and less than ideal circumstances, not when things are going well. How someone performs and more importantly how they act toward others when things aren't going their way is a window into who they truly are. Do you wanna play for Urban Meyer or Ted Lasso? 😉

[aenemated]

45 minutes ago, chisag said:

I loved how Andrew said they edited it to make him out to be a villain.

 

Sure can't imagine ... oh, nevermind. 😂

[NJBigFish22]

14 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

I think character is revealed under stress and less than ideal circumstances, not when things are going well. How someone performs and more importantly how they act toward others when things aren't going their way is a window into who they truly are.

I agree with you totally on this statement, but I’m not going to judge or form my opinion about a person during a bad moment for them.  Especially if I never had a face to face interaction. Now sometimes all you have is that 1 interaction, and that certainly leads to how you judge/see that person.  

[dashanks]

Not a big Bryson fan either (or a fan of the dark side).  Announcers seem to be talking him up as a fan favorite now.  Eamon Lynch made a good point this morning.   Let's see how he acts with the fans today. He really does seem to draw a pretty large group of supporters in the gallery.   Is he going to continue to inter-act and entertain?   I'd be willing to chalk up his past to youthful stupidity if he continued to act like a human being.  Golf could surely use it.  Players generally seem to treat the fans as lepers.  I'm not saying they should get into the hand slapping end of things but the occasional exchange of a word or two would be nice.   I'm skeptical.  Believe there's a better chance that the man behind the curtain is really more like Eddie Haskell or Phil.

 

 

 

 

[chisag]

 

21 minutes ago, dashanks said:

Believe there's a better chance that the man behind the curtain is really more like Eddie Haskell or Phil.

 

 

... Eddie Haskel, excellent reference! 🤣  Good comparison to Phil too. Narcissistic frat boy coming out of college that rubbed everyone the wrong way until Palmer took him aside and said smile, embrace the fans and you will be rewarded by the media. So he David Sims it for years and seemed to get away with it. Again, easy to do when things are going your way but once things went south for Phil his true colors came out again. 

[mshills]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

Do you wanna play for Urban Meyer or Ted Lasso? 

 

Meyer, Swinney, Saban, or Smart?  Yes, I just want to win.  😉

[chisag]

17 hours ago, touch said:

That had me 1 over standing on 8 tee box. Oh yeah #8 (photos 1-3) at Cummings Cove is the Par 3 that so many hate, but I like it and it's a hole I have some steady success on.

 

 

... I LOVE that hole. 😇

[chisag]

... I normally watch Majors and wonder how I would score and would always love to play the course. I have zero desire to play Pinehurst #2 with stimps at anything over a 10. And even then I can't imagine it would be much fun. Playing the current US Open set up with the speed of these greens, even from appropriate tees around 6400yds I am not sure I could break 100. But I am enjoying watching the Pro's struggle. 🤪

[aenemated]

4 minutes ago, chisag said:

... I normally watch Majors and wonder how I would score and would always love to play the course. I have zero desire to play Pinehurst #2 with stimps at anything over a 10. And even then I can't imagine it would be much fun. Playing the current US Open set up with the speed of these greens, even from appropriate tees around 6400yds I am not sure I could break 100. But I am enjoying watching the Pro's struggle. 🤪

 

I'm reminded of the lesson I got from my amazing caddie at Carnoustie. "Play into it, not over it, lad."