Running 2021 Golf Thread

There's a spring charitable tourney here in memory of a high school friend who died years ago in a drunk driving incident. A Penn State alum, he was prepping for a shot at the pros in the Florida satellite loop. I've never participated but that will change.

 

Nice area! Seaside is a whole different vibe than Monterey.

And right around the corner from Laguna Seca. As stupid 20-somethings, we got ourselves lost on Fort Ord property after leaving a race one Sunday afternoon when we thought we'd take a different route because traffic wasn't moving. Nothing like being flagged down on a dirt road to somewhere by armed MPs.

I haven't seen the courses in person, but I posted stories from when they hosted the PGA's National Professional Championship (for PGA club pros) at least twice and I believe the National Senior Professional as well.

 

Dubai Properties bought naming rights to the European PGA Tour, and it will be called the DP World Tour.

Which led to this tweet, which wins the Internet:

 

Hit a hundred balls at the range. Play 18 (broke 100). Hit another hundred balls on the way home.

This is your golf game on crack.

 

The practice tee at my nearest public 18-holer is laid out straight into the prevailing wind 9 days out of 10. It's like using the donut on your bat in the on-deck circle. So I usually just warm up hitting easy 7-irons to get some rhythm. Twenty balls can do it. At my age, trying for more clubhead speed is not advised.

 

I am trying Bryson's locked-arms putting stroke. I sank a 65-footer and 35-foot bender on the practice green, and two-putted nine holes yesterday. I use Dad's mallet putter, circa 1955.

 

Progress note, because no one asked: At my county course there's a 150-yard par 3 almost completely over water with a pot bunker in front and another bunker off to the left, to a tiered green. There's usually a breeze blowing right to left and I've consigned many balls there to the deep.

June: Hit driver because...well, just because. Flew the green by 30 yards.

August: Hit a 4 hybrid into the left trap.

October: Flew the green 10 yards with the 4 hybrid.

Yesterday: Take out my rangefinder, 134 yards to the pin. For the first time hit a tee shot 6 iron 135-1/2 yards to the green and parred the hole.

 

After a half-hour of stretching, I need a couple dozen swings on the range to figure out what I’m doing there. Unfortunately, the two guys I play with most go right from the parking lot to the first tee.

 

I can't golf without first hitting a bucket any more than I could play hockey without a warm-up.

 

I hate not being able to warm up, but if I’m pressed for time I find hitting half-wedges gives me the most “feeling” in the least amount of time. Maybe pipe a driver or two after 5-6 of those and take my chances.