Fore!!! The Golf Thread

[Boone]

Brother @Om and I are avid golfers.

Note I didn't say 'great golfers'...but avid - yes. @Om has a beautiful athletic swing. I, on the other hand, swing a golf club like the Terminator.

But I love it. Really love it.

Recently went on a golf weekend where we played roughly 140 holes. Some were things of beauty. Some were downright ugly. But...GOLF!

I can putt, I can pitch, I can even drive at times. Everything else is a struggle. But I love it anyway.

Any of you guys got the bug too?

I love it so much, I just hunted down and purchased a 2 iron. Because I love me a 3 iron, so a 2 iron's got to be even better - right?

 

[SilentThreat]

Holy crap 140??? Haha I went to the range and hit 135 and man it felt good. Actually was able to upgrade my driver with a couple taylor mades that friends were unloading.



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[Chris]

Golf: God's way of keeping white men humble.

 

[riggins44]

I haven't played in years. When my boys were small I put the clubs away to be with them. No regrets. Every now and then get the itch to pull the sticks out again, although probably couldn't hit them now. They are stiff shafts and I know my swing speed is way down now.

Boone, I used to carry a 1 iron and loved it.

 

[SilentThreat]

I haven't played in years. When my boys were small I put the clubs away to be with them. No regrets. Every now and then get the itch to pull the sticks out again, although probably couldn't hit them now. They are stiff shafts and I know my swing speed is way down now.

Boone, I used to carry a 1 iron and loved it.

never too late to get back into it. I grew up going to the driving range with my grandfather whenever we would go to PA and visit. Lost all interest when he passed away. It's been 15 years now and I've found myself really wanting to get into it. You can find yourself an inexpensive set of entry level clubs at most retailers if you want to get back into it.... I found a set of 'Top Flight' clubs on sale last fathers day for about $150. I've since upgraded my drivers but am more than comfortable with the irons and hybrids.

 

[Boone]

Great deal for any former or current military guys...

PXG is a golf company, started by Bob Parsons - of 'GoDaddy.com' fame. Parsons hired away a bunch of Ping R&D guys and told them to design the best golf clubs in the world - and that money/resources were no object. So that's what they did. PXG irons are forged, with hollow cavities filled with a special polymer. They recently released an oversized iron set called 0311 XF's (extreme forgiveness). The 0311s are starting to show up on the PGA tour - they're that good.

The clubs are exorbitantly priced. Just the basic versions typically cost $300-$350 PER club.

Parsons is a former Marine Infantry guy and Vietnam Vet. So he started a 'PXG for Heroes' program for current/former military vets and first responders.

https://www.pxg.com/en-us/programs/pxg-for-heroes

Once you confirm your service time on their site, you are eligible for nearly 60% off on a set of these clubs. I'd never spend the huge $$ it would ordinarily cost to get a set of these. But today, courtesy of the discount, pulled the trigger for the 0311 XFs. So excited to try these clubs.

Anyway...thought I'd share the info in case anyone here is interested.

 

[SilentThreat]

Went out sunday... first 3 holes went par, triple, bogey. 3 SHOULD have been par but missed a 4 footer. After that the wheels fell off lol. Had a good time, got rained on but it was a blast

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[Boone]

Just getting back out there - you win

I've pretty much replaced every club in my bag save my putter this year. Here's what I'm carrying:

Calloway Rogue Draw Driver
Calloway Rogue 2 Hybrid
Calloway Rogue 5 Hybrid
Taylormade 2 iron
PXG 0311XF 3 iron through PW
Calloway Mack Daddy SW
Ping Putter

Played Saturday and Sunday with mixed results. The new irons look and feel great, but swinging them for the first time there's just enough difference between them and my previous clubs to throw me off some. I hit the wedge better than I ever have - consistently put it on the green on approach. The lower irons I didn't strike well at all but I chalk that up to lack of familiarity and probably overthinking my swing. Going to spend some time on the driving range this week and get more comfortable with them. One thing I noticed is that when I teed up the irons on Par 3's, my distance with these clubs was back to where it was when I was in my 20's. Really loving my new 'Draw' driver as it has pretty much eliminated my slice. It's rare that I don't drive the fairway with it. And I equally love my Rogue Hybrids although I'm still learning how to hit them. But when I do connect well, man they really launch the ball.

I'm really excited to be out there playing consistently... I expect to make major improvements this year.

 

[Boone]

Bought a new toy last weekend. Played Saturday with 2 young guys and noticed one of them kept looking at his phone/watch. Turns out he was using the Arccos 360 system. Basically, it's a series of 14 bluetooth sensors you screw into the grip whole on each club, and pair to the Arccos app on your phone. When you play a round, you load the golf course GPS map in the app, and each time you strike the ball, the sensor sends data to your phone. You can use the app to figure out any distance to points on a given hole, and it tracks each shot's distance and location. The stats you get both on your phone and on the online dashboard are amazing and it even figures your overall handicap. Very, very cool. Only downside is that you do have to carry your phone in your front pocket while playing. But it's worth that minor inconvenience. Amazing product.

 

[Neophyte]

I played in college for a while. I got to where I had a decent long game and a decent putting game, they just never showed up on the same day. Not even kidding either. Never broke 90. I'd either play tee to green in regulation and 4 putt or I'd loose 3 balls before I got my putter out and then drain a 40 footer from off the green to 1 putt. I once played a round where I used my putter for exactly 20 strokes and ended up shooting 93.

I too carried a 2 iron, Boone. I was often better with it than with my woods so it got used from the tee box. A lot.

I sold my clubs off when my wife and I were packing up to move about 15 years ago.

 

[Boone]

First real round of golf in 2025. My 'home' course for the past 25 years has been a really wonderful course about 15 minutes from my home. Super great course, very friendly, with GPS in golf carts. Over the past year, the course came under new ownership, and they've basically turned what was one of the best community golf courses in NC into an uptight, highly-controlled 'country club' style course while also raising prices significantly. Despite the previous membership nearly revolting, their wishes and desires were completely ignored and as a result the course has lost nearly all of it's former members.

It sucks because it was the best golf secret in NC for all of those years. It's still a great course, but seeing how it's run now takes all the joy out of playing there.

My buddy Al and I found another 'hidden gem' course in Mayodan NC, just a little farther away that is amazing, super friendly, with affordable memberships. So about 6 months ago, we both joined. This is only the 2nd course I've played in NC where they also have GPS in the golf carts. It's a beautiful course, and the vibe there is extremely laid back and friendly. Best decision I've made in a long time joining the club.

I'm not a great golfer, but I am an avid one. I'm very good around and on the green which helps me immensely but I'm typically a mid-90's golfer with occasional forays into the 80's. I just don't play often enough to break through to better scores, but I am really committing myself to playing as often as possible this summer to see how I do.

I was pretty happy with how I played today, it being the first round in several months.

Any other golf-addicts out there?

 

[Busch1724]

I am! Got out a couple times already to get ready for a golf league that starts this Thursday. Generally get to Virginia each year for a golf trip too. I come from the Harrisburg, PA area and we get about 28 guys each year to head to Winchester or Fredericksburg.

 

[Skinsfan1311]

I love golf! I'm not really great, but I have my moments. I'm in a league at work, where we walk 9 holes on Thursday afternoons on a small course within spittin' distance of Camden Yards and Ravens stadium. It's not the greatest course, but it ain't bad and a great way to work your irons. It's 32 golfers in 4 groups based on handicaps. It's a pretty good deal too....$500.00 gets you 14 rounds of regular season play...a practice round and two tournaments at 18-hole courses with prize money and a small catered banquet after....

 

[Slotball]

Been playing since I was 12. Played my first tournament at 14. Grew up in Arlington, playing at Washington Golf on Glebe Rd. Moved to Charlotte, and lived there for almost 30 years, playing out of various places, lastly Carolina Golf Club…a fun, old Donald Ross design that got redone by a guy who redoes Ross courses. I’m now newly retired to Hilton Head Island. Plenty of golf here, and I work a couple days at a golf shop, which gives me access to seven courses the company owns. Also belong to a small club here that gives me access to three more. Golf heaven!

I wouldn’t say I’m a great golfer, never was a big gun, but can move it around pretty good on my day. Been wrestling with a right knee for a bit now, and it finally went out on me at the holidays. I’ve been working on it, got a cortisone shot, and I’m trying to stave off the inevitable replacement. Had to take about 4 months off, but just started hitting balls again. Got a full hinged brace that is keeping it a little more stable, so I should be back on the course soon.

Volunteering next week at the Heritage at Harbortown. Be on hole 13 if anyone is coming in.

Been playing golf almost all my life, and it’s been a wonderful love-hate relationship, but I plan to play as long as I can. If anyone comes down this way, and wants to tee it up, I should be around, at least until next summer, when we plan on getting an RV, and traveling the country between Memorial and Labor Days. Hope to play lots of iconic courses during our journeys.

 

[skinsmarydu]

I haven't played in decades, so I left my clubs behind in the move. Probably shoulda grabbed my putter, tho...an old Titleist Dead Center. It was magic.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Bogey golfer here. Retired and in a weekly foursome with my buds.

 

[Boone]

It's taken me a long time to realize that bogey golf is pretty good golf. I think the 'average' golf score is hugely inflated. If most truly kept score accurately and strictly, there wouldn't be a ton of sub-20 handicap golfers, lol... Per Google, the average US handicap for men is 14.2 for males, 28.7 for women. I suppose one has to keep in mind that there is probably a huge swath of hackers out there who don't maintain a handicap. Only about half of golfers routinely break 90 per current stats I found.

Bottom line, bogey golf in reality probably makes you above average if you consider everyone actually out there playing. I've found as I get older, I'm less concerned with my score and handicap than I am just playing 'solid golf' - which by my definition equates to hitting the ball straight, mostly in the fairway, and not flubbing shots completely. Good clean contact, hitting the ball straight, and chipping and putting competently. Those are the things I measure myself by mostly. When I do them I am very happy.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

I've taken private lessons but this guy, Tom Saguto, has helped me the most.

Tom simplifies the swing into one or two swing thoughts.

 

[Slotball]

I've taken private lessons but this guy, Tom Saguto, has helped me the most.

Tom simplifies the swing into one or two swing thoughts.

I broke my thumb a few years back, and was unable to play for a couple months. I found a guy online who resonated with me on the golf swing, and have put his teachings to practice. Gained about 10 yards per iron, and found my ball striking to be more consistent. Guy’s name is George Gankas, and he has a ton of videos on YouTube.

 

[Chris]

I used to play pretty avidly (3-4 times a week). Playing with a prosthesis on the left side made me pretty right-hand dominant, which is not a plus. I lived (and volunteered for a bit once a week as a ranger in trade for free greens fees) on a very nice semi-private course that was completely rebuilt and redesigned by renowned architect Arthur Hills.

I progressed to a 10 handicap (while spending far too much money on equipment along the way) and was selected as one of about 10 amateurs by Golf Illustrated magazine to attend an all-expenses paid week of playing and instruction in Arizona. I was so excited about my inclusion and the subsequent announcement in the next edition of the magazine. Little did I know that it was their last edition. The magazine went out of business and ‘my’ edition was the final one Oof.

I will always maintain that golf is God’s way of keeping man humble.