Topic: Golf Talk / GuruGolf Golf Simulator

The link to the simulator I posted about is

www.gurugolf.com.au

They will be putting up fresher site in the next week which will be a little more informative and better looking than the one there currently.

MM

Topic: Golf Talk / GuruGolf Golf Simulator

Last Thursday I was scheduled to go out and play a round of golf at a new course not too far out of town. Instead of venturing out into rain and single digit temperatures, I decided to take the golf game indoors. By now, many of you will have heard of golf simulators, and many will have played on one. From what I know, there are a number of different simulators out on the market. I’ve only been on two different kinds but I find it difficult to believe there’s one better than the indoor golf simulator at Guru Golf. Guru is housed within a factory out in Mount Waverley, tucked away in a semi-industrial area just off the Monash Freeway. It is a hidden oasis for golf nuts, featuring an indoor chipping and putting green, putting set-up equipment, and a number of different golf simulators, as well as basic practice nets.

The simulator with all the bells and whistles features its own launch monitor technology within a big netted area, featuring a large screen you hit at, and a synthetic turf mat with a variety of lies from which to hit. Behind the screen is the hidden a launch monitor-type apparatus which detects ball speed, spin rate and trajectory; it’s a military-grade high end radar. Behind the player is a large projector, which puts the graphics on the screen. You put your own golf ball down onto the hitting mat, and take aim at the golf hole on the screen. The screen is huge and really simulates all you’d experience hitting a typical golf shot. You’d swear you were on a course. You can choose to play on one of dozens of golf courses, including The Old Course at St Andrews, and Pebble Beach amongst others. Fantasy-type courses set on islands or deserts are also available. Their website has a bit on the technology behind it all. Once the ball you’ve hit comes into contact with the screen, an animated version of the ball appears on screen, continuing on the trajectory your pill would have taken. To say its extremely life-like is an understatement; it far exceeded any expectation I had. What’s more, your launch angle, ball velocity, total carry and total distance, are all calculated and can be displayed / recorded if you like. You simply place the ball down onto the mat for your next shot, with different kinds of synthetic grass available for a second shot from the fairway, bunker, intermediate rough or heavy rough. Once on the green, you can simulate putting by placing your ball a certain distance from the screen, and putt at the cup on the screen. Like on old-school animated computer games, there is a grid that sits on the green telling you break and speed. Or you can putt without this aid.

At first I thought this might be a bit of a gimmick but was keen to stay inside and warm, and also try a golf simulator which easily allowed me to use my own clubs and balls. I ended up learning a fair bit about my swing too, from the PGA pro who was on site. The difference I saw on the screen, with what he taught me, was an amazing experience.

The experience I had was amazingly life-like, and far better than I ever thought it would be. In short, if this was set up at a building in the city or at a driving range not too far from home, I would gladly pay your average green fee to go and play 18 holes on the simulator. What’s more, you walk a few feet to your bag then hit the next shot. If playing as a single, you could probably get through 18 holes in under an hour.

Guru Golf was an awesome experience and one that I would strongly recommend to anyone who wants a hit, particularly in winter months, but doesn’t want to venture out into the cold and rain. It would be a fantastic teaching tool to have in a retail setting or a club fitting environment as well. Especially with the driving range mode.

Have other people come into contact with golf simulators before?

Does anyone know if there are more Guru Golf simulators out there?

MM

Topic: Golf Talk / D2 Copyright?

I know one’s a ball (TopFlite) and one’s a driver (Titleist 907) but D2 is a model for each.

Peter, or other legal minds, is there any copyright issue there?

Just curious…

MM

Topic: Golf Talk / Johnny "huh bob?" Miller

Don’t jinx Miller – he’s been at his most humble in the lead up – he hasn’t bragged about slaughtering Oakmont all those years ago. I’m hoping he doesn’t start midway through.

I agree with the above. He’s said less that’s annoyed me this year. At his best however, he is so far ahead of any other golf commentator it’s just not funny. His swing analysis of Tiger on 18 was a fountain of information, and would teach anyone on the planet somthing about driving. Frighteningly good for a 20 second segment.

FYI – Miller’s final round 63 was shot on a day when 3 others broke par. Imagine the CCR, and how far he was under it? And it happened at this course. I think he’s entitled to mention it from time to time (which he hasn’t really), and he can’t control others rambling on about it.

And I did like Ian Poulter’s homage with the outfit on Thursday…

On other fronts – how did Matt Goggin lead in fairways hit (tied 1st @ 71%), tied 2nd in GIR (hit 72% of greens) and make the cut by 1? Wow.

How did Adam Scott putt so well and miss the cut by more than half a dozen? Where did his swing go?

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Eynesbury

Around 45 mins from the airport St. A. Take the western ring road and get off Deer Park.

Jeffrey – I take your poit on the Price:Quality ratio re WV. Gisbourne leaves most for dead in that regard. $1 per hole midweek.

MM

Topic: Golf Talk / Adam Scott...

I know Scotty must have had an off day, and a triple on a par 3 needs some explaining, BUT…

when did someone last shoot a final round 62 to win?

Fair effort by Woody.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Eynesbury

Course review ready to roll.

Admin – if you’re reading this, how do I get the text to you so you can post it as a stand alone course review?

In short,

Four Word Course Review – Fun despite the clay

narrowly favoured over

“ hope it ain’t windy” “long from the back” “soundly designed strategic course” and “another good Marsh effort”

$45 midweek green fee. Good value.

You’d pay that at Waterford Valley or 13th Beach (Creek), which IMHO aren’t as good as Eynesbury. I’d pay that to play it again.

Think Growling Frog. Similar in feel to The Glades but west of Melbourne, on flat clay ground.

Better than Sandhurst, Keysborough, Waterford Valley, Kingston Links, 13th Beach (Creek)

Comparable in quality to Gisborne and Growling Frog

Not as good as The Dunes, Ranfurlie or 13th Beach (Beach)

Hope the review is up soon.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / 13th Beach

Same here. The 1st is a classic template for designers to follow on flat ground. Dare to hit it close to the trap on the right, and the angle of approach is easier. Bail out left and every metre further left sees a proportionately less attractive angle of approach, with the left trap coming into play more and more. I grant you that the approach isn’t played with a long iron.

Play the hole and you can’t lose a ball, it gets people away well, and the hole is understated. A very good exampe of how average ground can yield a good hole when a little thought and restraint is employed.

MM

Topic: The Lounge / What are you doing this weekend!

I’ve never seen so many hot women in the one room in all my life. What a party. Can’t remember what time it was when I got home, but the sun was on the way up. The act those 6 chicks did with the ping pong balls was truly amazing. The consecutive vodka jelly shot record just kept going up all night. What was good was that the cops seemed to take it easy on a few of the boys who got carried away a little after 3am. The highlights? Well, apart from the fireworks, the live video link to Stuart Appleby to send his birthday wishes, and they Harley rides, the unexpected appearance of Hird, Lloyd, Leon Baker and Simon Madden topped the night off for me. The life size pinyata of Big Al was top fun. Daacha’s last minute efforts to stuff studying and drive down for the night didn’t go unnoticed either. Judge’s speech was a touching moment – not a dry eye in the house. Very happy to be there to take it all in. Thank god they didn’t roast him like they could have done….

Happy Birthday Judge!!!

Topic: Sports Talk / AFL 2007 Season

Again – when the blow-torch is put to the ‘Dons, they wilted. Lucas and Lloyd did very little int he 2nd half.

Lucas is big, stupid AND unfit. Lloyd’s fitness has to be queried too, but so far Malthouse and Pagan have unravelled the Bombers forward line and made them look very bad.

They have 1 game plan, which is ok when you’re winning, but with 10 minutes to play and they are chipping 15m passes around the boundary line out of defence, you’re never going to achieve anything.

Never achieve anything, let alone beat all 4 of last years semi-finalists in 3 three month period. :rolleyes:

MM

Topic: Sports Talk / The Pussy Train - straight to September !

It wasn’t when he was being considered for trade JJ.

When the pies had lost their CEO who served as Fosters’ CEO, their ability to meet the bar tab left too.

My tip is S Johnson (who is lovingly referred to by his own mum as rainman), has a liver in worse nick than his ankle.

MM

Topic: Golf Talk / The Memorial

Maybe an aussie trifecta, but with Pamps 2nd and Badds 3rd.

Scott’s shot a 62 today, best score of the day by 5. He’s hit 12 fairways and only had 25 putts. Wow. Hope he putts like that on the weekend.

MM

Topic: Sports Talk / The Pussy Train - straight to September !

The idiots in the press might not call them superstars, but I reckon a few recruiters would have salivated early this year if any of Ling, Bartel, Corey, Kelly, Johnson, Wojinski, Ablett were offered up for trade!

Correct me if I’m wrong, but S.Johnson was offerred up for trade, with the Pies totally amazed that he can jog let alone run with the magnitude of his past ankle injury. No wonder they declined. That, and the beer tab…

MM

Topic: Sports Talk / State of Origon!

The State of Origin will NEVER get back to where it was.

Smaller lists, more money, and greater professionalism means senior AFL coaches will never let their players step out of team committments. There’s no Ted Whitten championing the cause either.

Inclusion of teams from WA, SA and Qld saw the beginning of the end of the comp. Tony Hall’s injury from friendly fire, as well as the birth of the Allies also killed State of Origin.

Don’t even think for a second that a pre-season State of Origin carnival would be legit. It would be a farce.

As an aside, is it just me, or would the SA State of Origin team of today would be slaughtered by NT, NSW, WA and especially Vic.

The Croweaters can try to prove me wrong, but their current best 22, even with Ray, Cooney, Tredders, Griffin, Rutten and a few others looks a little insipid.

MM

Topic: Sports Talk / The Pussy Train - straight to September !

Cats are looking very good. I’d love to see ‘em win a flag. As JJ says, they need to keep their eyes on the ball, get 100% out of themselves when it matters, and not peak too early.

Who has a better list from 15 – 30? They have huge depth. Dr. Chris Bradshaw is as adept as anyone at keeping them healthy and fit. They just need some luck to stay uninjured.

MM

Topic: ISG Feedback / New ISG Site

was this an upgrade or a downgrade??

I recognise the need for more banner ads down the side, but functionality is gone completely.

Terrible stuff, shithouse in fact.

Totally agree. This will need to change markedly to even score a pass mark IMHO. Search function is poor. Forum browsing is poor. The quoting is weak and so too is visibility of new posts. I was prepared to suffer unfamiliarity and problems adapting for a while with an altered appearance, if there was long-term benefit to be had. From this user’s perspective, there’s not much tangible benefit thus far.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Eynesbury

Bumping this thread, as the course is open for play. II’l be there this week for a game. Dictaphone will have new batteries…

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / 420 - 440m

C’mon people where’s the love? I think Wilksie’s developing a bloody good sense of humor!

Keep it up.

MM

Topic: Golf Equipment / 905s v 905t

S launches lower and is a lower spin rate driver than the T. The 905 range is fantastic.
If the 907 line is a genune improvement I'll be darn impressed. The 905S with Speeder shaft and a switch to the ProV1X has lowered my driver flight more than I'd ever expected it could.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / 420 - 440m

QUOTE: Fyirippu @ May 21 2007, 09:40 PM

I hope that your course is in better nick than RMW is at the moment.

It's comparable, now that you mention it

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Away From The MacKenzie Influence, What Does Australian Golf Course Architecture Have To Offer The Rest Of The World ?

Great question Andrew.

I've thought about this on the weekend and come up with bunkering too.

It's role in depth perception (aiding and concealing), as well as it's ability to tie natural flora to the course, through bunker aesthetics, placement, style and construction. The Morccoms have to be the first agents of this.

I'm sure there are countless designers who made something of nothing, i.e. great holes on less than inspiring land. BUT the sandbelt does this very well.

We know that the Sandbelt has great tracts of land but when you think of KH 3,5,10 & 11 among others, they sit on pretty flat land. So too does RMW 13, RME 9, Vic 15, Metro 16 and among others.

While not specifically Australian, this may be one of the influences / themes that astute visitors take from a tour of the sandbelt, which was not specifically MacKenzie, and not uniquely Australian, but Aussies do very well.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / 420 - 440m

I know a pretty good course that has 4 par 5's on it that are ALL between 420 and 440m.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Woodlands Vs. Southern Vs. Spring Valley

As much as I know some lovely people at Spring Valley, and their course is on the improve, and their clubhouse is great, I can't see how someone could choose there over Woodlands.

The argument that Woodlands is World Top 100 course isn't that hard to mount.

MM

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Centreline Bunkers

Nice thread Andrew.

Could the drive bunker on the 4th at RMW be construed as a centreline bunker?

It would have been a fairly tough carry in 1935, and there existed the possibility to play conservatively to the left of it, away from the green. A bold accurate short hitter could thread one past it on the right and thereby gained a considerably advantage...

I suspect that Jeffrey is right, in that the centre trap on KH 11 is a recent(ish) addition, but that 12 might have been there for many years. Mac or Boonie will know for sure.

MM

Topic: The Lounge / Best Looking Person

Agree Jack. Robson is a lob wedge.

Elle, Helena Christensen, Megan Gale and Jen Hawkins would have to fight it out for mine.
Along with Kite Girl.

MM