Tell us about your game today...

First topic message reminder :

Congrats Super!

Beer wrote:Morning,

Thought i'd come back here. Having played a lot recently i'm starting to see improvements in my game. Played 2 weeks ago and hit 115 (Marlborough), which for me was pretty poor even by my standards. Been struggling with my driver, so i've been taking my 3 iron off the tee for the most part (obviously not on a short Par 3) and it's working for me, so much so i'm contemplating getting a driving iron whilst I work out the kinks with my Driver.

This weekend played West Berkshire; a lovely course actually, one of the best i've played recently, if anyone is based that way i thoroughly recommend it. Anyway, albeit i had some serious luck getting out of a few tree based lies, i shot 104. Had it not been for 2 stupid 8's (bunker issues) I would've shot sub 100 for the first time in years.

Marlborough? West Berks? That’s my part of the world Beer, where you based?

JAS wrote:

Beer wrote:Morning,

Thought i'd come back here. Having played a lot recently i'm starting to see improvements in my game. Played 2 weeks ago and hit 115 (Marlborough), which for me was pretty poor even by my standards. Been struggling with my driver, so i've been taking my 3 iron off the tee for the most part (obviously not on a short Par 3) and it's working for me, so much so i'm contemplating getting a driving iron whilst I work out the kinks with my Driver.

This weekend played West Berkshire; a lovely course actually, one of the best i've played recently, if anyone is based that way i thoroughly recommend it. Anyway, albeit i had some serious luck getting out of a few tree based lies, i shot 104. Had it not been for 2 stupid 8's (bunker issues) I would've shot sub 100 for the first time in years.

Marlborough? West Berks? That’s my part of the world Beer, where you based?

Based in Andover, JAS.

One thing I am getting wrong is how far back/forward in my stance i should have the ball when hitting Irons. Quite often when hitting 5-7 irons I end up catching them fat or catching them thin. If i do make decent contact they go about 20 yards right of where I am aiming. I'm much more consistent hitting woods and drivers than Irons and it drives me mad because I know by sorting that out i've got the game to get down to high single figures.

harryspiv wrote:One thing I am getting wrong is how far back/forward in my stance i should have the ball when hitting Irons. Quite often when hitting 5-7 irons I end up catching them fat or catching them thin. If i do make decent contact they go about 20 yards right of where I am aiming. I'm much more consistent hitting woods and drivers than Irons and it drives me mad because I know by sorting that out i've got the game to get down to high single figures.

I've been struggling with that. I've found being central to the ball and keeping my knees slightly bent helped me. Still can't hit my Woods for love nor money.

harryspiv wrote:One thing I am getting wrong is how far back/forward in my stance i should have the ball when hitting Irons. Quite often when hitting 5-7 irons I end up catching them fat or catching them thin. If i do make decent contact they go about 20 yards right of where I am aiming. I'm much more consistent hitting woods and drivers than Irons and it drives me mad because I know by sorting that out i've got the game to get down to high single figures.

That sounds like dipping. Dip too much too early in the downswing and you’ll fat. Realising and or lifting up before impact will cause the thin. Easy to check, get a simple swing recorder app, record yourself and watch for up & down movement, particularly the head. The head will be the indicator but the most probable cause will either be the legs or the spine angle. Good to practice on a sunny day and use your shadow as a check of how much up and down movement you have.

harryspiv wrote:One thing I am getting wrong is how far back/forward in my stance i should have the ball when hitting Irons. Quite often when hitting 5-7 irons I end up catching them fat or catching them thin. If i do make decent contact they go about 20 yards right of where I am aiming. I'm much more consistent hitting woods and drivers than Irons and it drives me mad because I know by sorting that out i've got the game to get down to high single figures.

Sure you're aiming at your chosen target?

Re. fat/thin impact, if you have a lot of lateral movement of your head/shoulders, you'll likely do that as you're dynamically changing the effective base of your swing plane. Do as JAS suggests and video your own swing, or get someone who knows what they're looking for to watch you hit some balls and/or invest in a lesson with a good pro.

Having just offered some advice, I played Poopie on Saturday . +14 (off 4) and with an 11 up our par-5 10th hole (don't ask).
Never felt like swing was remotely under control and driving (which has recently been a strength) was all over the place. Ah well, there's always the next round...

Played my local course yesterday, 2nd time in a month. Shot 103, which included a horror 10 on the first, even more annoying as my first tee shot went straight and on the fairway. Short game was more consistent, but I do struggle around the green chipping in.

Didn't touch the Driver again, wondering if there is value in going after a Driving Iron. Anyone had any experience with them? Or use one?

There's loads of stuff about. General wisdom is hybrid, as the lower lofted irons (even those specifically designed for it), are still generally harder to hit well than the hybrid.

That said I have a Titleist 716u tmb (???) 3 iron (20 deg) with a steel shaft, which I like (although I have a 20 deg adams hybrid in the bag at the minute for a bit more height). Mate just came back for a week from Dubai and had his Taylormade 2 iron (p770? the foam filled one) with graphite shaft and that felt great.

You cannot afford to give up on the driver. A throttled back driver going over 200 yards will at least give you something to work with but only getting 150 to 180 from a long iron will make most courses an utter slog.

At some point you are going to have to work out how to get a driver in play to reach even a mid teens handicap so that time might as well be now.

I would be considered a decent player and quite long for a club golfer and I think I would struggle to play to my handicap if I didn't use my driver.

I'm clearing 180-200 with my 3 Iron. Was 20 yards short of the Green on a Short par 4 yesterday off the tee. I appreciate the extra distance with the Driver, but I just don't get on with it.

Yesterday I used the 3 on every Par 4/5.

On the longest holes, I was getting 5' and 6's, so it's not a complete slog.

Beer wrote:I'm clearing 180-200 with my 3 Iron. Was 20 yards short of the Green on a Short par 4 yesterday off the tee. I appreciate the extra distance with the Driver, but I just don't get on with it.

Yesterday I used the 3 on every Par 4/5.

On the longest holes, I was getting 5' and 6's, so it's not a complete slog.

3, 4 or 5 wood worth a punt? Each will generate a lot less sidespin than a 9-10° driver will and each will be a lot easier to square the clubface through impact. There are some 'tour' 3 woods around too, at around 13° or some so-say 'mini drivers' at ~11-12°, but much smaller heads than the typical 460cc driver. Try some options from a pro shop?

McLaren wrote:You cannot afford to give up on the driver. A throttled back driver going over 200 yards will at least give you something to work with but only getting 150 to 180 from a long iron will make most courses an utter slog.

At some point you are going to have to work out how to get a driver in play to reach even a mid teens handicap so that time might as well be now.

Agreed, and modern drivers are so easy to hit. Unless a hole absolutely requires a lay-up I hit driver as a default; amazing how many club golfers put themselves at a massive disadvantage by not hitting driver as often as possible.

I've pretty much retired from the golf course now but a few years ago a Taylor Made mini driver made a huge difference for me. Maybe only 10-20 yards shorter than my misbehaving "proper" driver but so much straighter. Slightly smaller head and slightly shorter shaft but a massive difference

Davie wrote:I've pretty much retired from the golf course now but a few years ago a Taylor Made mini driver made a huge difference for me. Maybe only 10-20 yards shorter than my misbehaving "proper" driver but so much straighter. Slightly smaller head and slightly shorter shaft but a massive difference

Sorry to hear that Davie, fallen out of love with the game a bit?

Yep that's about it Blue - wasn't enjoying it as much as I used to and not playing enough to make my membership worthwhile. It wasn't a snap decision, I'd been starting to feel that way for a couple of years now. Still love the game - just not to play it!

Well that makes sense Davie if you were not playing enough. Plenty of decent courses are more than happy to take a green fee if you fancy the odd game now and again!

Cheers for the advice! I'll have a look around, maybe take myself round the academy course and try and get some confidence in it.

Another decent round yesterday in county Senior Championship, almost perfect conditions yet the cream of the county’s seniors managed to tick the CSS up by 2 to 74, not sure why.
I didn’t think I was having a great day, decent out in 38 before a couple of lapses in concentration on the back 9 saw me come back in 42 for an 80 net 73. 73 remained the best net (although well beaten in countback) and 80 gross was only beaten by a 77 in the 2nd last group and a 78 in the last group. The kind of result that makes you go back over and over where you threw your shots away!!
Still, it was yet another small cut (the 4th in 6 rounds) and can’t help thinking there’s a really low one somewhere just around the corner when everything aligns.

Frustrating day. After 12 holes I am 7 under my handicap. Then I go triple, double, par, bogey, double and lots to ruin the card.

Sounds familiar INW...

8 4's and a 5 out last week. Real mental block on 10 this year, pull hooks into field all year.

Slap carve into field right. Double.

Pull hook into tree. Quad.

F**king game.

Thank you all for all the tips, I took them on board and played with the society at Woldingham Golf Course Surrey yesterday.

Probably the nicest public golf course i have ever played for £30 with fantastic greens.

Anyway playing off 20 I scored a modest 17 points on the front 9. Then I came back in with 21 points winning the day with 38 total. I've been cut to 18 so no more 2 shot holes for me.

I also won nearest the pin and to top it off I knocked the birdie putt in.

My new Callaway Rogue driver is a beast. on 2 of the 3 Par 5s I was just short of the green in 2 after a drive and 3 wood, managing to Par both holes despite a duffed chip and leaving one in the bunker.

I'm enjoying golf again.

Best ever round on TOC at weekend, fools you into thinking you're better than you are as it's a pretty easy course but in golf terms, probably never been in control of the ball more than that round.

super_realist wrote:Best ever round on TOC at weekend, fools you into thinking you're better than you are as it's a pretty easy course but in golf terms, probably never been in control of the ball more than that round.

Just out of interest Super, what’s SSS of the tees you would normally play off in medals? Also does it take much wind to vary the CSS.

What did you score super?

For the record my best TOC score is 74.

Went and played Hampshire again yesterday, shot 101. Went out in 49 which is my lowest yet, included a monster 40ft putt on the 4th.

Back 9 i hit some duff shots and ruined my card with a number of 7's, so frustrating as I was confident of breaking 100.

Didn't touch the Driver (again), but i'm going to hit the range this week and try and get some confidence in playing it. Ideally I want to break 100 and then start using the Driver.

Got my handicap of 25, which i'm happy with, plenty to work on.

9 hole comp yesterday and, well, you know those times you get off the course saying "If only I could put it all together..."

That time was yesterday.

31 (-4), 12 putts (2 lip outs in there as well), 3 birdies, an eagle, only 1 dropped shot and 1 bad shot (60 yard topped 3 wood from which I somehow rescued par). 24 points and a full shot cut to 5.1.

Yes, it's only 9 holes but It's been quite a long time since I've had anything that was good in all departments.

Now I can have a couple of weeks being the worst category 1 golfer ever again

McLaren wrote:What did you score super?

For the record my best TOC score is 74.

66 Mac. 5 birdies and an Eagle.

JAS wrote:

super_realist wrote:Best ever round on TOC at weekend, fools you into thinking you're better than you are as it's a pretty easy course but in golf terms, probably never been in control of the ball more than that round.

Just out of interest Super, what’s SSS of the tees you would normally play off in medals? Also does it take much wind to vary the CSS.

White tees Jas. CSS 73 I believe. Not sure why though. One of the things which makes TOC easy is that there are no holes really where you have to hit long irons in, maybe 13, 15 and 17 depending on wind, but if it's less than 10mph, it's not an issue

6 iron into 17th was the longest approach I had.

Nice scoring super. You must be well on the way down to scratch after that. What was your nett score?

It would have been net 65. Sadly not a medal though or I would be scratch. Got a medal on TOC on Saturday though, but could well do a JB Holmes and have a holo...... Nightmare.

One of those rare things you wait decades for. A round where driving, irons and putting were all good. Had shot - 6 on Eden before, but in winter when no rough around and some fluky shots.

Your best is 4 better than mine relative to par. I have had a 68 on a par 70. Although that was a comp round.

Bit of a mixed weekend, 81 net 74 Sat for my first 0.1 in over a month then on Sunday our playing group took on another big playing group at the Club in a Ryder cup style format I.e. 4bbb morning then singles afternoon. Nice 3&2 win in the morning and a more emphatic 4&3 win in the afternoon. I know it’s harder to assess a score in matchplay due to gimmes but realistically I was somewhere between 72 & 75 in the afternoon (4 birdies as opposed to none in the medal the previous day).

Tale of two halves for me yesterday...

Played West Berks again (cheap Green Fee), front 9 i didn't hit a bad drive but my irons from the fairway were appalling. Think i carded 5 7's. Went out in 56 which is my worst for some time. Gave myself a kick up the backside on the back 9 and decided to attack the flag a bit more, came in with a 48 for 104, which was a nice recovery, my best hole being a par on the 525 yard 16th going 3i, 4i, PW and 2 putt.

Super

Did you get to scratch in the medal you mentioned?

Super

Also how did/are your club champs going? As defending champ I hope you put on a strong showing.

I wasn't defending champ this year Mac, I was in the final last year, got beaten on the 37th hole, it was 2015 I won.
This year I got knocked out in the QF, annoyingly my form of a recent -6 and a hole in one come 6 weeks too late.

Sorry I just remembered you had done well last year and thought that was the one you won. Still QF isn't bad, that's where I got to this year.

Also I assume you didn't win the R&A club champs?

Not being a member of the R&A means I can't complete in their Championship. They do however have the R&A Gold Medal, played on a Sunday over TOC in May, played for by the lowest handicap players available from all St. Andrews clubs.
Didn't make the cut this year sadly, think it fell on 71 this year, again, came into form too late.

So you are an artisan super?

Also somehow missed that you had a hole in one. Was it on 8 or 11?

Well; another annoying Medal round yesterday and another 0.1 on the handicap. Some poor ball striking and some really bad brain farts that cost me far too many shots. Difficult game if you can't get either regular play or practice in!

McLaren wrote:Also somehow missed that you had a hole in one. Was it on 8 or 11?

Wasn't on TOC Mac, or St. Andrews at all, at another course I play at.

McLaren wrote:So you are an artisan super?

In the R&A "inclusive and equality" vernacular Mac.

When you get a Links Ticket, to play competitions you need to be a member of a local club. That can be R&A (if you're invited to join), St Andrews Club, Thistle Club, St Regulus, University Club or New Club.
If you don't join one of these clubs, your links ticket costs more and you can't play comps.

The Links Trust really needs to modernise. They need to strip the R&A of its preferential tee times on the New, they also need to give all clubs equal tee times on Old, currently R&A enjoys about 3x as many as the rest AND get exclusive use of the course for two weeks in September which even if a tee time is free, you can't have. So much for the equality they pretend to have.

They also need to start opening TOC on a Sunday. They are swimming in money and staff, it could EASILY be opened on a Sunday, even if it was for locals to begin with. There is literally no argument for keeping it shut. It's not in any better condition than any other course on the Open rota which is open 7 days a week, and has considerably more resources so the argument it "gets a rest" is nonsense.

It could also do with updating the booking process. Currently you phone up a day before at 7am at which point you are placed in a queue and end up with around number 25 on the list.

So you scots lot, hows the weather for the weekend? When it says light rain 4 days out, would you expect downpours? I'm pretty fairweather!

beninho wrote:So you scots lot, hows the weather for the weekend? When it says light rain 4 days out, would you expect downpours? I'm pretty fairweather!

Pretty much guaranteed a deluge!! ;-)

super_realist wrote:

McLaren wrote:So you are an artisan super?

In the R&A "inclusive and equality" vernacular Mac.

When you get a Links Ticket, to play competitions you need to be a member of a local club. That can be R&A (if you're invited to join), St Andrews Club, Thistle Club, St Regulus, University Club or New Club.
If you don't join one of these clubs, your links ticket costs more and you can't play comps.

The Links Trust really needs to modernise. They need to strip the R&A of its preferential tee times on the New, they also need to give all clubs equal tee times on Old, currently R&A enjoys about 3x as many as the rest AND get exclusive use of the course for two weeks in September which even if a tee time is free, you can't have.  So much for the equality they pretend to have.

They also need to start opening TOC on a Sunday. They are swimming in money and staff, it could EASILY be opened on a Sunday, even if it was for locals to begin with. There is literally no argument for keeping it shut. It's not in any better condition than any other course on the Open rota which is open 7 days a week, and has considerably more resources so the argument it "gets a rest" is nonsense.

It could also do with updating the booking process. Currently you phone up a day before at 7am at which point you are placed in a queue and end up with around number 25 on the list.

Dunno why but I had it in my head that all the clubs are pretty much competition focussed except for the R&A who think they own the place and just rock up to hobnob with their “mates” and take others tee times when they feel like it. I assumed the other clubs shared the courses on a kind of rotational basis.
What’s the feeling on the ground about the Eden Trophy Super? I’ve been thinking of taking a break from the Tassie one year and doing the Eden instead.

Meanwhile the steady progress continues, managed yet another 0.2 cut at the weekend and back to 6. overall I have to be happy but I am getting heartily sick of playing 16 holes of great golf and 2 calamity holes. 6 over with a quadruple on the card (reload then 3 off the tee into a ditch). Also had to reload on another hole but limited the damage to bogey. One of these days a sub par round is getting thrown in!!

JAS wrote:

beninho wrote:So you scots lot, hows the weather for the weekend? When it says light rain 4 days out, would you expect downpours? I'm pretty fairweather!

Pretty much guaranteed a deluge!! ;-)

Anything apart from some sort if typhoon will be a win. Troon killed me in perfect conditions in wind and rain im pretty worried.