Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

After thinking my Wednesday 26pts was an aberration after playing three good rounds in a row, I continued the trend with a stinking pile of doggy-doo on Saturday...24 pts, 90 off the beater...highest score for decades :oops:
2 bad rounds and the index remains 5.6...funny North American system :? :?

Topic: Golf Talk / Best shot u have ever done?

No hole in ones ..yet...
Four shots come to mind:
1. Horse-shoed a 5 wood on the 3rd at Long Island from 187m. in a Monthly Medal ...no nearest the pin but a 10cm tap-in for a deuce... :evil: This was back in the mid-70's Have gone just as close 5 times...I'm very patient :roll: :roll:
2. Holed a 80 metre sand iron on the 8th at Long Island. The pin was over a hump and out of sight and the ball went in on 2nd bounce...otherwise over the back of the green
3. Holed a bunker shot off Pete Dyes railway ties on the 18th at Blackwolf Run after hacking a 3rd shot only 10 feet out of knee high weeds..Huge crowd on clubhouse balcony were wooping it up and then my opponent 3 putted for bogey to lose 1 down
4. Holed a 7 iron from 155 yds for an eagle 2 last year on the 7th at Islington...my first ever full shot after thirty yrs of golf There was a strong right to left cross-wind and I was only aiming at the middle of the green because the pin was in an impossible back left over a hump position...dragged it a bit left 8) 8) 8)

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Whistling Straits

Jeffrey,
Each time I played the wind was a 20-30 kmh northerly so the 3rd and 17th played downwind and the 7th and 12th payed into it.
The 3rd is the most straightforward of the par 3's it was playing downwind/downhill so it played like 150-160yds but if you missed it left it was a 10 foot drop-off towards the water and unkempt long grass, bumps and hollows so an up-and-down is usually out of the question. If you play conservative and miss it right the mounds and rough are fierce with the green running away from you...so not much better.
The 7th...this is a WOW of a hole...from the back tees the green seems suspended over the lake, especially if the pin is not on the the front left. 215 yds and into the wind so it played like 240-260yds with water on right and high hill/mounds fescue and cabbage on the left. Most balls finish in the crap on the left where you have a billy-goat lie and making it to the green was difficult even for single figure golfers...great card-wrecker of a hole :oops:
The 12th...another WOW similar to 7th in that green sightline is suspended against the lake..huge steep gully short and right where you need Sherpa Tensing to help you get to your ball , so an up-and-down is not likely. You can see that missing it pin-high left in the "bail-out down go in the water right" is a friggin' disaster as well. 160yd shot played like 180yds into the prevailing wind, so again not easy unless you play a very short lay-up and play for a bogey :roll:
17th..by now you are almost dulled to the number of dramatic cliff side holes and then they throw in the most evil looking one.
This hole looks unplayable but because it was downwind the 225 yds played like 200yds and it wasn't too bad. But everywhere you look off this tee is deep bunkers steep drop-off to the lake on left and countless bunkers fescue and high protective mounds on the right. Pete Dye at his dramatic best.
Because of the nature of the first 17 holes where you are drained with the crescendo of the 17th, the 18th hole seems out of character and a bit of a disappointment. It heads away from the lake and looks different to the other 17 holes so it doesn't flow. But it has Pete Dye trademarks...disaster and death penalty aplenty. The tee shot is slightly uphill and to bite some of the dogleg off on a 490yd hole you have have to carry it 260-270yds and it was crosswind from the right. The second shot across a gully to a "mickey-mouse thru the clowns nose hit the windmill" type green butting up against a creek with steep drop-offs will cop its fair share of criticism I'm sure. But a player protecting a lead will have a fun job because there is no safe way to make a par 4 with the nature of the green and where they will tuck a Sunday pin in a major. I hope it is a close finish because it will be fun seeing the players deal with the difficulties of the finishing hole.

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Whistling Straits

I played Whistling Straits on 3 occasions about 5 yrs ago when the course was still going through teething problems. They tried to fully authenticate the Irish feeling with varieties of grass that did not cope with the climate, black-faced sheep running around free and caddies direct from Ireland. The course is very dramatic in places and it is hard to believe that it was all a bulldozer and zero natural countours. As opposed to some courses, this one looks better in a picture than in reality. The par 3's are the most photographed and offer plenty of punishment for missing even for attempted bail-outs, which has been typical of the half dozen Dye courses that I've seen. I like the shaggy unkempt look and the course offers plenty of challenge. Can't wait to see the pro's take it on.

Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

jimandr,
Nice shooting!
Saturday was supposed to be the season opening scramble both a.m. and p.m. shotguns. It was about 5 degrees and either raining or hail...Brutal...The morning guys got he worst of it and then they cancelled the whole event for the arvo players. I managed to find 3 other suckers and we had an empty course and a 3hr 20 mins round...tees were well forward and shot 74 , 13 GIR and 32 putts but new XD580 still working a treat even in the cold and rain

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Is Tony Cashmore the Tom Fazio of Australia?

I meant the other popular "name" architects that have dominated the North American scene over the last two decades such as Dye, Trent Jones Jnr, Rees Jones, Nicklaus, Palmer/Seay and Maples.

Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

It's a TM XD580 8.5 degree with a funky lime green Aldila NV65 shaft and the ball just jumps off the clubface...even mishits high off the toe seem to go a long way. On the 4 par fives I smoked each drive and had a chance to go for all of them in two and ended up with 2 pars and 2 bogeys which was a disgrace :oops: But very happy with the driver 8)

Topic: The Lounge / AFL tipping comp

A lucky 7...and if it wasn't for my friggin' Roos it would have been a clean slate :evil: I'm 1/6 with my team...picked against for their 3 wins :cry:

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Is Tony Cashmore the Tom Fazio of Australia?

Having played over a dozen of his courses ranging from early in his career - Butler National (Chicago), Emerald Dunes (Florida) to some of his latter work Sandy Lane (Barbados), Pinehurst #8 I am an unabashed Fazio fan compared to some his contemporaries. I have not played any of his restorations though. His courses, especially from the championship tees are well framed and you generally can see what the architect was trying to achieve. Money has been no object in many cases, but that is the era and the American way. As well, I'm a critic of golf-carts and real estate development driven golf courses which is the predominant theme. Fazio definitely has name on a bunch of courses that fit this bill, but when I compare his courses to his contemporaries it is not a "photo-finish". He is panels of fencing ahead of the pack.

Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

First round with new driver...surprisingly it worked as well as the demo
79...11 GIR and 35 putts. After starting like Ben Hogan I finished like Ben Sausage and threw 4 shots away in the last 3 holes. Think that practice green better get a visit, my putting was useless :cry:

Topic: Golf Talk / Will Tiger Lose Another Crown This Year

How's this for a stat. With both high winds, AND with hard conditions (ie, no rain throughout the tournament week), Tiger has NEVER won one PGA Tour event, no matter how insignificant, in his entire career!

Wonder if Steve Williams will clip this out and use it burn Tiger's flame a little hotter :?:
I'll be further wrong after backing Tiger in the U.S. Open...he is about 11/2 at the moment. Through the pocket is the easiest way to cure my belief in his chances this year

Topic: Golf Talk / Will Tiger Lose Another Crown This Year

tt,
To me his short game is far more inventive than the other top players and "British Open" style windy hard bouncy courses put a greater reliance on this. I don't want to see him win, but if he is contending in the final round he is awfully hard to beat on these style courses. I have played Shinnecock (twice) and Whistling Straits (thrice). The wind is expected to blow in June at Shinnecock and it does play very firm, most unlike a typical U.S Open and more akin to a British Open. Fair cop on your criticism of Whisting Straits...it is a completely manafactured attempt at a links style course on what was flat cow paddocks on the edge of Lake Michigan. But if they firm it up and the wind blows it will not resemble your typical U.S. PGA Championship.
And yes, I agree if Tiger plays at the level of his purple patch of 2000 he will win, but only by 5 shots not 10 because the rest of the field has improved. But disagree with him not being able to excel in high wind or cope with "quirk".
The media microscope will have another month and a half to analyze our opposing views to death before the U.S. Open

Topic: Golf Talk / NEW to iseekgolf - Golf Health and Fitness Articles

If you design the room right you can have the beer fridge and the printer within reach and not even have to wheel the chair

Topic: Golf Talk / Will Tiger Lose Another Crown This Year

If Tiger can straighten out the driver he has 3 British Open style courses for the remaining 2004 majors, and nobody can touch his shot-making or shortgame in windy quirky conditions, so I still think he will fare better than Phil, Ernie, VJ and co. by the end of August...HSN effect or not ("Hot Swedish Nanny")

Topic: The Lounge / AFL tipping comp

In sympathy for my long suffering saints supporting mates I'm going to pick against the Lions. Need to drag myself back up the ladder :cry:

Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

Had a weeks holiday down in Barbados and managed to squeeze in 3 rounds between rum cocktails.
82, 79 and crowned it with a 74 I have played the course 9 times in the last 3 yrs and the last 2 are the first time breaking 80. The 74 on Friday was the first time that the wind blew less than 30-40 kmh and the course played a whole heap easier. I have some piccies that I will forward to Jaster for posting.
The course is a Tom Fazio design built on old sugar cane fields and is wide open off the tee with large fast greens. They make you take a cart and caddy but the caddy is a huge help on the greens because they are very grainy, and with strong winds affecting the putting, the difference in speeds b/w upgrain, downgrain, upwind, downwind is mind blowing 8O

Topic: Golf Talk / Good things and bad things about playing Ambrose

In Toronto there is ample opportunity to play Ambrose (Scramble they call it here) All charity events and financial industry events are Ambrose and I play about 5 of them per year. The key to these events is nearly always putting and having played on the winning team more than a dozen times, momemtum is a real key. Once you start holing some putts the team gets really geed up and can get you going on a streak. 10 or 11 under is usually a winning score but in one event 5 yrs ago our team shot 15 under and won by 5 shots which was a bit embarassing :oops:
Always having a ball in play lets the long hitters go all out which is very important to attack the par 5's.
Ambrose is not my idea of the best way to play golf, but as an excuse to have a day out of the office and have some fun with your buddies it can't be beat

Topic: Golf Talk / Gavin Flint's amazing run

no sheep for you

Topic: The Lounge / Midnight Oil fans ........ :)

man they were an awesome band live ... probably one of Australia's best  

Agreed!
Beat Cold Chisel in a photo finish 8)
Must have seen 'em a dozen times at the old Pier Rock (with 3-5 thousand other screaming drunks )
I've gotta get that DVD for the memories 8)

Topic: Ask Bruce / Master's ReCap

Bruce,
It was sensational watching it unfold yesterday afternoon, but very enjoyable to read your re-cap today. Being a huge Ernie fan I was pulling for him, but Phil has been a class act and really took the tournament by the scruff in brilliant fashion.
Through a buddy I got to have lunch and an afternoon with Paul Casey in London last April. He impressed me as very confident and cocky in his own ability. And when he carried the corner of the short par 4 8th with a 3 wood at The Wisley and landed on the green I was blown away 295 yards towering carry with no breeze..he is as strong as an ox!!! He just party's a bit too hard still, but has some real fire and this taste of the big time will drive him to greater heights I think.

Topic: The Lounge / AFL tipping comp

First 8 ever ...just to get back to 11th place
But go those mighty Roos 8) 8) 8)

Topic: Your Favourite Golf Courses / Sydneys 2nd best course

I agree with the over-rated rap on Royal Sydney. My vote would go with The Lakes. On a windy afternoon with fast greens (both normal conditions ) it is an absolute treat and a tough challenge. If you are having a good round, trying to avoid disasters from the 11th hole to the 17th is nerve racking. The 18th as a par 3 finisher is not my idea of good course routing, but it is one tough par 3 in any direction of wind.
I never played The Australian but caddied in the 1978 Aussie Open when Packer brought out Nicklaus, Crenshaw, Kite, Bean, Lietzke and a host of others. Being a Nicklaus re-design he tried to impose American ideals onto a course that climatically did not suit IMO. When the wind blew over 50 kmh in the 3rd round there were some unplayable holes...2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th...only 2 players broke 80 that day...Nicklaus and Crenshaw...it was a train-wreck for everyone else 8O 8O 8O

Topic: Golf Talk / Will Lefty be the next DD???

TT,
It is amazing to think of the number of those who have faded away. I have never been a Phil fan but he has really endeared himself through the media this year. There is a bunch of great Ford ads with Phil in them that try to give him the "common touch" and combined with the story of the near family tragedy last yr has really had everybody pulling for him, especially all this week. It was a fantastic victory especially after the front nine "Oh no it's Phil the train wreck again" heart flutter.
After the number of yrs battling himself and Tiger in his prime Phil has had the chance to taste plenty of crow, so I don't think this victory will do anything but help him for the next time he is in the heat of the battle in the last round of a major. He didn't need the money prior to this win so the only consideration is his desire to keep winning major tournaments and the level of commitment that takes.
There is so many players that have, can still or are yet to win a major so Phil may never win another one, but I don't think it will be from lack of trying or total swing or equipment re-vamp ala IBF or Duval

Topic: Golf Talk / How did you all play this weekend?

Finally get to post here Islington opened up on Thursday so 1st round Good Fri...It was as cold a witch's left tit..5 degrees and 15kmh wind..but happy to get out...85 with the middle 8 holes being one over but lots of to crap to start and finish...7 GIR and 34 putts...but my partner were less brutal and we cleaned front back and the match 8) H'cap index blows from 6.0 to 6.7...now 8 hcap off the back tees after being 3 hcap on Sep 30 last season :oops: :oops: :oops:
Easter Sunday..got the turkey dinner done last night so the gig is a round followed by watching The Masters ..awesome
Start off with 3 pars and then bogey long par 3 4th...DON'T PANIC..3 putt 5th from 15 foot sidehill for bogey :evil: hit lovely 7 iron into the wind to 15 foot...bang it in to win the hole 1st birdie for the season smoke 3 iron 2nd shot to 25 foot but have a putt over a hump with nasty double break ..3 jab :evil: one more brain-fart bogey on 8 with only 50yds into the green :oops: Go out in 3 over..respectable. 10th is the hardest par 3 in existence..210 yds usually into the wind hill and bunkers left, sharp sloping left to right green and creek on the right. As a first yr member it took me 26 rounds to make a par 8O This yr ..parred it Friday...Today..left to right breeze blowing balls towards the hazard...gripped down 3 wood covers the pin all the way...looks like its stiff..get up there and whack a big breaking 18 footer into the heart...1st ever birdie on this hole 8)
The rest of the round was crapola...
83 ..7 GIR and 33 putts..Hcap index slides out again to 6.8 :roll: :roll: :roll:
My partner on the 12th hole nailed a 3 iron into the wind from 190yds..in for a deuce We were playing hollywood and there were 4 presses and we looked dead, but turned a debacle into a small win
Sorry for such a long diatribe but its been so friggin' long between the course closing at the end of November and I've been salivating over everyone else's 365 day golf calendars

Topic: Golf Equipment / Sonartec at the Bellsouth classic

oops...too many rum&cokes watching fab Phil