It's getting better

[warbirdlover]

A couple weeks ago I shot my all time nine hole low, a 36 (par 35) with a couple birdies. Today I shot my absolute best nine of my life, a 38 (par 35) with no birdies. This was on a nine hole muni called Shoops Park RIGHT on the shores of Lake Michigan. One of the prettiest little setups you'll ever see. Walking only costs $12.25 for nine holes on the weekend. There ARE no riding carts there!

Why better? I gave myself SIX birdie chances out of nine holes and four were VERY makeable. I JUST missed them all by inches. I started out with two straight bogeys, then ran three straight pars, another bogey and finished with three straight pars. But the point is I was hitting the driver (Sumo2) long (for me) and straight and putting the second (or third on par 5) ON the green. I can't say enough about those S59 irons. I'm freakin deadly with them. I left at LEAST a 34 out there today.

Now, figure this out. A 36 two weeks ago, a 51 in league, a 48 and 47 last weekend and today a 38.

I think I found the answer. Leave the other drivers out of the bag and just hit the Sumo2 straight down the middle.

I'm now in the process of getting very drunk and celebrating!!

Shoop Park Golf Course Map and Hole Information

And there are some short holes but they are SERIOUSLY uphill! They just make it fair. And very small greens.... Okay, it's an easy course.

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[warbirdlover]

Here's some pics of Shoop Park right on Lake Michigan... AWESOME!!

[Wi-Golfer]

Never played there but have ridden by many times, always seemed busy. Congrats on the score, hopefully you can keep it up for at least the next 2 weeks, I want to see a par or better for our scramble.

[warbirdlover]

Beautiful layout. Played with a former Racine H.S. golfer who just left the Marines after 18 months in Iraq. He smoked the ball but not necessarily straight. And I smoked him!!

Can't wait for that outing. Hope I don't have my OFF week...

[mddubya]

WTG J, congrats on a terrific round. Keep it up.

[ezra76]

Congrats on the great rounds. Keep it up. Work on the chipping and putting and you'll be putting those up all the time.

[usa1950]

Hitting the ball like that on ANY course takes talent, mental strength, and execution over the entire course of the round. Well done. Make NO excuses due to the difficulty (or lack thereof) the course.... not with a ball striking round like that!

I had a 77 on Memorial Day weekend on a local public course which is far from the toughest in the area. Hit 14 greens, which is probably an all time high for me, or at least the most hit in the last several years. Only one birdie (which necessitated that I start the 2008 NEAR Ace thread), and I really only made on putt all day.

Don't be sad that the 34 did not happen... but rather smile and celebrate that the 38 DID happen.

And drink one for me.

[warbirdlover]

Thanks!! (And I've had about six Miller Lites so far)...

(Saving the "good stuff" for company so don't bug me about my beer choice!!)

Ez, my chipping and putting is the bread and butter of my game. And now the irons are starting to work!! My big "hex" has been getting into trouble with the driver and I've got that straightened out... (get it? Straightened out?)....

[goatster]

its always nice to have them low rounds.keep plugin away and hopefully they will happen more often.

my best 9 was a 34(-2) about 8 yrs ago.second best was a 37 during league play about 4-5 yrs ago.

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Ez, my chipping and putting is the bread and butter of my game. And now the irons are starting to work!! My big "hex" has been getting into trouble with the driver and I've got that straightened out... (get it? Straightened out?)....

Go out & play couple rds without any driver, use your 3w & I bet your scores stay low. I have posted before about the driver being over rated, sure on real long 550+ yd holes it might be needed but think of like this, only hit your 3w 210 yds off the tee, then hit it 200 yds from the fairway, that leaves an easy 140 yd 8iron shot for GIR. At least that's the way I have been approaching the game. Sure it's fun to hit driver & put one out there, but it's not required.

[usa1950]

Originally Posted by warbirdlover

Thanks!! (And I've had about six Miller Lites so far)...

(Saving the "good stuff" for company so don't bug me about my beer choice!!)

A born and bred St. Louisan make fun of a guy forcing himself to swallow 6 Miller Lites?

Hmmm... I'm going to get a Carlsberg, or perhaps a Warsteiner or a Sam Adams Pale Ale. Company be damned.

[warbirdlover]

Go out & play couple rds without any driver, use your 3w & I bet your scores stay low. I have posted before about the driver being over rated, sure on real long 550+ yd holes it might be needed but think of like this, only hit your 3w 210 yds off the tee, then hit it 200 yds from the fairway, that leaves an easy 140 yd 8iron shot for GIR. At least that's the way I have been approaching the game. Sure it's fun to hit driver & put one out there, but it's not required.

WG

I know alot of guys do that but I'm just too damn bullheaded. When something isn't working I won't GIVE in to it!! I'll fight that problem and beat it. Maybe... I want to know the cause and find out what I need to do to fix it. It works. After 40 years of this I'm getting much better!

A born and bred St. Louisan make fun of a guy forcing himself to swallow 6 Miller Lites?

Hmmm... I'm going to get a Carlsberg, or perhaps a Warsteiner or a Sam Adams Pale Ale. Company be damned.

usa1950

Okay, okay. I get the hint. I'll go get a Boddington's Pub Ale....

[David Hillman]

Originally Posted by Wi-Golfer

Go out & play couple rds without any driver, use your 3w & I bet your scores stay low. I have posted before about the driver being over rated, sure on real long 550+ yd holes it might be needed but think of like this, only hit your 3w 210 yds off the tee, then hit it 200 yds from the fairway, that leaves an easy 140 yd 8iron shot for GIR. At least that's the way I have been approaching the game. Sure it's fun to hit driver & put one out there, but it's not required.

Everyone who spends a lot of time and energy working on hitting their driver straighter should try taking it out of the bag for a while. I played without any woods at all for a whole season ( not as an experiment, I got frustrated hitting bananas ). My scores improved. Par 5s were all three-shotters, but I still made a birdie on a 558 yard hole by hitting 2 one irons and an eight to 4 feet.

Plus it really freaks people out when you walk up with a bag full of nothing but irons. Especially if you can pump a 230 yard iron down the middle, past some of their drives. Makes carrying your own bag easier too.

I bet the vast majority of golfers who don't hit their driver in the fairway very often would score better if they just sold it on eBay. I've just about talked myself into it

"Fairways and greens"

[dave.]

If you had duffed your drives, hacked your irons somewhere near the green, then chipped and putted like a demon for the 38, would you feel the same?

[warbirdlover]

If you had duffed your drives, hacked your irons somewhere near the green, then chipped and putted like a demon for the 38, would you feel the same?

dave

Wouldn't have felt as good. I've fought the driver and irons for years and always chip and putt decent. Until lately I've never had both the driver and irons work well at the same time and still chip and putt good. And lately the only thing not working was the driver. I've found the answer last week. A whole new feeling of confidence right now... (Which will shortly be smashed to pulp when I play in league and try too hard)...

Probably most of you don't believe these scores and I don't blame you. I've re-added the card up a few times looking for that stupid math error. And I really won't feel totally confident until I can shoot one of these rounds in league. I have two games. The relaxed one I play on weekends and the tight, tense one I play in league. I should be good under pressure. I've won three state archery championships and had a "shootoff" in front of 500 people standing six feet behind us, shooting next to one of the best pro archers in the world, knees shaking, and still won. Golf is a very difficult game.

I now believe I have all the mechanics and swing thoughts needed to consistently hit a good shot with any club in the bag. I just need a sports psychologist!!

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