How did you do?

[DennisMiller]

Sadly in my experience this has resulted in some players "manipulating" their handicaps (usually upwards) resulting in them having a higher handicap & an unfair advantage on the majority of players (within my circle of friends) who do submit a card every time they play?

Here in the colonies, that's what we call "sandbagging"... It's been many years since I bothered with a handicap or even played in tournaments, but with a cousin and a childhood friend who are avid tournament players at their respective clubs, I can assure you the practice still exists.

Like you mentioned about golf being a game of honor, I despair over how so many seem to perceive the game these days. Sure, I'm an old guy, but all that means is, I try to surround myself with partners who respect the game the way I do and I hope to teach that respect to my grandson, who took up golf a couple years ago. I would love for him to look at it the way I do and not grow to think it's an excuse to drink beer at 8 AM and litter the course with garbage, profanities and slow play.

OK, my rant is now over... ;-) But only for the moment...

 

[DennisMiller]

I played nine yesterday morning in extreme heat and humidity. I was playing horribly, not hitting anything well and certainly not putting well. Two groups ahead of us, there were some guys who were so slow, they had more than one open hole in front of them, but there were no rangers rolling around to correct stuff like that. On the 7th tee, the guys ahead of us asked if we would like to join them, just to slow down and make life less irritating.

All of a sudden, I finished with 3 regulation pars. I always was a show off... I had stopped keeping score long ago.

 

[DennisMiller]

Instead of starting a new thread that I know wouldn't attract much in the way of interest, I'll just stick this in here.

Related to a conversation with m cousin the other day, I've decided to get the USGA GHIN app and start keeping scores for the purpose of reestablishing a handicap.

I have no opportunities, much less intentions, of playing tournament golf again, but my cousin Eddie suggested something that really got me thinking.

Golf is such an individual game, where so much is competing against the golf course, or depending how you look at it, against yourself. He suggested if I watched my handicap moving in one direction or another, maybe my once professional ego would be inspired to practice more in hopes of regaining the game I once had. That really rang bells with me.

Fortunately, the new GHIN app includes Killian Greens and allows for 9 hole scores to be posted, so after i post 5 scores, it should state an index.

If i don't post about it in the next week or so, you'll know I'm too embarrassed.

 

[DennisMiller]

Well, you know that embarrassing week I mentioned above?

The USGA says, based on submitting eight 9 hole scores, all on the front nine at Killian Greens, all but one from the gold tees, my handicap index is 13.8. I hope that will go down simply by playing the easier back nine some. Now that weather is starting to cool off, I hope to return to playing 18 holes occasionally.

This is pretty embarrassing, egotistically, considering what I could once do with a golf club in my hands. But, when my lawn service comes on Friday, I'm going to speak to Francisco, the owner, about how to sink a piece of fiberglass plate into the ground in a way I can throw my mat down on it and hit balls into my net, but to be sure it doesn't catch and damage his mower blades.

I need to attack my physical condition and my practice routine like all get out.

I guess this isn't a post about how did you do, but more a matter of what are you going to do.

 

[DennisMiller]

Another boring 42 Monday. The first hole at Killian Greens is pretty difficult. Water on both sides of the fairway and in front of the green. Bunkers on both sides of a green that is narrow and angled diagonally away from you. If I could get past that hole with less than double bogey, it would make a big difference.

 

[DennisMiller]

Today was quite a treat. I have really been playing poorly recently, mostly missing fairways and pretty bad ball striking. All of a sudden, today was different.

Using my ST-X driver, I hit every fairway. Playing the easier back nine at Killian Greens, I tripled the first hole, bogied the second, then made bogey on the third. Thinking it was just another bad day, all of a sudden i rattled off 6 straight pars. I honestly can't remember the last time I did that.

It was still 41, but it felt a lot better than that.

And the MP-H5 irons i put senior shafts in felt wonderful... I've named them my "EGO SET" We all know they are a good game improvement set, but to see that big muscle on the back, people unfamiliar with them might look at my bag and think I'm a better player than I am. They do look like big blades, in a way. So maybe they are good for my ego.

 

[DennisMiller]

I think I played golf in Scotland this morning... Scotland with palm trees???

It was pretty cold, for Miami and the 40 mph winds blew mist off the lakes and canals. I tried to keep the ball down, but it was impossible to judge shots well. I think I developed an accent and a desire for hot tea...

 

[PaulBoy]

Hi Dennis ... I saw some of your unusual weather last week at The Players! - It's fun trying to play in those conditions (maybe!) - If you feel you're morphing into a Scot, it's more likely a hot whisky you'll need rather than tea!

 

[DennisMiller]

If you feel you're morphing into a Scot, it's more likely a hot whisky you'll need rather than tea!

Sounds good to me.

I can't remember whether I've mentioned this in this forum, but I was adopted and a few years ago, found my birth family. On my father's side, my ancestors came from Scotland, so, golf addict I am, that was something that meant so much to me.

As for playing in the wind, I really do enjoy it, up to a point. Enough breeze to confuse a ball hit high in the air is fine and I love to play close to the ground like I learned to do when I lived in Jamaica. But Monday, with such high wind and the mist soaking me through my rain suit was a bit much.

It doesn't help, regardless that I've played golf for over 70 years now, I have never been able to make myself cooperate with the wind. I always overexert myself, trying to swing too hard and the next day, I'm sore. It's Thursday now and I'm only just feeling OK again. In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does..."

I hope to play tomorrow morning and it's supposed to be more Miami-like.

 

[PaulBoy]

Hi Dennis ... Playing in high wind really is an art - Although from "Rory Land" (Northern Ireland) my home course there & my current one in England, is inland & I rarely play in any more than a breeze - My brother lives in ROI (Republic of Ireland) and plays at a proper links course - What I refer to as a gale, he calls a breeze & "normal" conditions there would be a three club wind? - After a couple of rounds I can get my head round controlling my ball in the wind, and as you say, playing it close to the ground is the key - I love the experience of playing links golf on occasions, but I don't think I could cope if it was the only golf I played?

 

[HAIRY ESSEX BLOKE]

As it says in the title, how did all the Mizzy players get on this weekend? I've been reading a few have been struggling, anyone shoot a decent score?

I myself had a bit of a blow up! Fresh from my matchplay win with confidence high, I reached the 17th, which is a short reachable par 4. Green is hidden behind some oak trees and you need to hit a draw around them or go over.

I did a bit of both; went over with a draw but it should have been okay, just left of the green with a short up and down left. A playing partner goes even further left but should be fine. Anyway, we both walked up and find his ball first, mine nowhere to be seen, completey disappeared.

So back to the tee and I end with a double. Holed a nice par saved on 18 though but still gutted as it wasn't the result of a bad shot, I'd guess that someone picked my ball up but you can't see anything until you walk past the trees. Birdie / par finish would have won the medal and got me a 0.3 reduction in hcap

Share your good / bad luck stories!

I think my age is catching me 72 now my handicap has risen 6 strokes in a year

 

[Bonobobananas]

Played in a links comp this week at Gullane 1&2, Kilspindie and North Berwick. Had a shocker day one then had the yips on days 2 and 3 🫣 Ironically got things sorted in the toughest conditions of the week at Gullane 1 gusting up to 45mph and got 33 points. Let’s just forget the first few days 😁

 

[PaulBoy]

Played in a links comp this week at Gullane 1&2, Kilspindie and North Berwick. Had a shocker day one then had the yips on days 2 and 3 🫣 Ironically got things sorted in the toughest conditions of the week at Gullane 1 gusting up to 45mph and got 33 points. Let’s just forget the first few days 😁

Hi Jay ... What is it with you & atrocious weather? - I seem to remember a certain forum day when it was pretty horrendous & you beat everyone by about 10 points!

 

[Bonobobananas]

Hi Jay ... What is it with you & atrocious weather? - I seem to remember a certain forum day when it was pretty horrendous & you beat everyone by about 10 points!

Yeah I like the wind 😁 Hate the yips though 👀
Most enjoyable week, Links Cup stuff recommended as a cheaper way to play these nice courses.
Now if we can just get another Mizuno Forum event 😏 (I don’t count those pairs events, didn’t enjoy the one I played in, bandits everywhere, slow play and some quite unpleasant people, although I may have been unlucky).
Bring back the Bearwood event 🙌🏻🥳

 

[PaulBoy]

Totally agree on a Mizuno Forum event / Bearwood maybe?
You're right about open events though - Bandits (well cheats really?) & unpleasant company by the bucket load
Cheers
Paul

 

[DennisMiller]

I was actually hitting the ball well this morning, but couldn't putt worth a damn. It was a really frustrating 9 holes, but all of a sudden this happened...

I made 4 holes in one before I was 30 years old and haven't come within a foot until today.

The last laugh was mine though, because the restaurant at the golf course is closed and I couldn't buy any drinks.

As my buddy Juan said, "That's 39 the hard way."

 

[PaulBoy]

Congratulations Dennis! - I've been lucky enough to have 4, though it took 40yrs to get my first one & not had a sniff of one for donkey's years ...

 

[HAIRY ESSEX BLOKE]

Yeah I like the wind 😁 Hate the yips though 👀
Most enjoyable week, Links Cup stuff recommended as a cheaper way to play these nice courses.
Now if we can just get another Mizuno Forum event 😏 (I don’t count those pairs events, didn’t enjoy the one I played in, bandits everywhere, slow play and some quite unpleasant people, although I may have been unlucky).
Bring back the Bearwood event 🙌🏻🥳

Indeed bring back the Bearwood or come to Frinton on Sea

 

[Halebopp]

The season is back on. I got to play my first round of the season yesterday. The first round is always a big question mark, especially as I'm not a big fan of indoor practice and simulator golf over the winter. The primary target is a stroke-play score, breaking hundred would be a plus.

I ended up with an 86, two birdies and even putted for eagle once. Definitely the best season-opening round (excluding the season-opener on the Old Course a couple of years ago). It was great to see the consistency I developed last autumn is still there, a bit rusty but not gone. Even extended my birdie steak to 9 rounds with 12 birdies altogether. And most importantly it was great to be out there with friends again.

Unfortunately though, the winter was very bad for skiing (cross-country) and probably not unrelated, my golf clothes had shrunk over the winter.

 

[DennisMiller]

Glad to hear you got to play. Living in a place like Miami, I often don't realize winter is approaching up north or summer is finally coming to give my northern friends some relief from the cold. Also, my birth family is in the Pacific Northwest and keeping their locations in my weather app, I'm amazed how cold it still is where they live. One sister even got 4" of snow last week.

I am truly spoiled, but again, glad you got to play.

So, I guess the question is, what was the weather like that you were able to play in, because I suspect it required you to be a much more staunch person than me. I bet your golf weather is my "sleeping in and don't bother me until tomorrow weather"...