Running 2021 Golf Thread

Shot 98 at a nice little muni just south of Portland ME today, first time I’ve broken 100 in at least seven years. That was fun. Finally seeing progress in fixing what had become a brutal swing. Needed only to avoid snowman on the par-5 18th and got up and down from about 80 yards out to make bogey. I’m a 30 handicap so I’ll take that every day.

 

At the range Saturday looked down and saw the plastic head of my 24-year old Callaway driver was cracked. Went to the PGA store and the simulator where my playing partner used a new Big Bertha to blast a 292 yard drive on a 158 mph ball speed. My own swing has improved from a senior shaft to Regular, my best was 220 yards at 117 mph. The store has a 90-day return policy, so we'll wait until spring to buy.

 

Because I had work to do I headed for the range instead. I'm playing a round Wednesday and wanted to try a 20-year old TaylorMade Firesole driver I had in the garage. It's got a smaller head than contemporary drivers, with a regular flex and 9.5 loft, two degrees or so less than I'm used to. Hit about 160 balls and was quite pleased as I consistently drove 200-220 and more on target, best for me this year. The tungsten (heavier than lead per unit) head was rock solid and probably helped my distance. It's also an elegant-looking club, which is a pleasing thing when you tee up.

 

https://golf.com/news/pga-tour-bermuda-field-disappearing/

Some fascinating names surface in this article. Uresti, Purdy, Stankowski and even TA3.

Vax and logistics leave full field Tour event without a full field.

 

Bermuda is a paradise, but we're in the middle of what used to be called shoulder season.

Oh, and fuck that asshole Beljan.

 

Maybe Charlie should spend the extra time at home doing what he really needs — practicing.

 

We'll find out soon enough what golf's established family — the USGA, PGA Tour, PGA of America, Augusta National and the R&A — think of LIV Golf Investments, which plans to have Greg Norman as commissioner and COO, play in 2022 and perhaps upset a few executives. The big five can squash this before it starts if they see fit; all they have to do is eliminate world rankings as part the list of conditions that fill their fields. I don't think this has a prayer of working.

 

Shot a 94 yesterday, 15 or more strokes better than the spring and my best in decades, even using a venerable TaylorMade FireSole driver, which today looks like a three wood. Three pars, including 9 and 18, and had a birdie attempt on the #1 handicap hole. Ten bogies. Only one BUH (blow up hole) for an 8. Many two-putts, hit the stick from about 65 feet with one. Trying Bryson's stiff arm putting to go with my single-plane swing, and it helped as I rolled in a few longish ones. I bought some cold weather gloves since the course is open until Nov. 29.

 

Right now it’s just an enhancement of the Asian Tour. Norman’s going to take the blood money and it will go nowhere.

 

Elliotte must have won major bank as this last post of his is four months old.

 

When he quit as a Mod, he also said he was going to get very busy and wouldn't be here much. Lots of breaking NHL news these days.