Random Golf Equipment

+8 i hope?

 

Having not played for the best part of a year, and with a gammy f'ing knee i would need to play off 21. Injury triples your handicap right?

Have you never heard the expression "beware of the injured golfer"?! No handicap increases for you!

Lol I find it amusing when amateur golfers say they hit it 350 when they hit it good and mostly over 300 yards. Tiger Woods averaged 298.4 yards this season. The stats are a bit inaccurate because he'll hit 3 wood or an iron sometimes, but still.

 

I'm not the longest hitter on the tours I play on, but one of the longest, and if I'm swinging the club well, I'll hit a good, solid drive on the flat, with no wind, about 305. Because of conditions, I've hit one 450 this season, but I've also hit one 235.

 

No offence, I'm not having a dig - I just find it funny! I worked in a golf shop with a launch monitor when I was a kid - guys would come in saying they hit it 300, then I'd put them on the launch monitor and their swing speed would be about 90 and they'd hit it 230.

God I don't hit it 300 yards every time. I wish I was that consistent! When I say I hit it 300 yards that's if I hit it right. I wouldn't be playing off 17/18 if I did it every time. I don't use my driver that much but when I do It's going to get near the 300 yard mark if all goes to plan! I've hit it over 350 once on a flat fairway but that was definately a one off (I know it was 350 as I drove through the green and off the back on a 348 yard hole, assuming the yardage on the card was accurate!)

I'm a lot more consistent with my 3 wood and that's always going to be around 250 yards, 270 on a good day.

I'm a big guy and I've always been a long hitter. For instance I will take an 8 iron on a 160/170 yard hole as opposed to most of my mates who will use a 6 or 7 and I'll happily hit my wedge 130/140 yards all day long. My big problem lies with keeping it straight - now that's a different matter!

God I don't hit it 300 yards every time. I wish I was that consistent! When I say I hit it 300 yards that's if I hit it right. I wouldn't be playing off 17/18 if I did it every time. I don't use my driver that much but when I do It's going to get near the 300 yard mark if all goes to plan! I've hit it over 350 once on a flat fairway but that was definately a one off (I know it was 350 as I drove through the green and off the back on a 348 yard hole, assuming the yardage on the card was accurate!)

 

I'm a lot more consistent with my 3 wood and that's always going to be around 250 yards, 270 on a good day.

 

I'm a big guy and I've always been a long hitter. For instance I will take an 8 iron on a 160/170 yard hole as opposed to most of my mates who will use a 6 or 7 and I'll happily hit my wedge 130/140 yards all day long. My big problem lies with keeping it straight - now that's a different matter!

Big tip....if you've got 160/170 yards, don't hit an 8 iron, even if you can hit it that far..hit a smoother 7 or 6 iron...you'll hit it straighter and more consistent.

Have you never heard the expression "beware of the injured golfer"?! No handicap increases for you!

Crippled golfer? Still on crutches golfer? Not played since November when i shot 75 round Hockley in the company of a former Saints legend..........

Big tip....if you've got 160/170 yards, don't hit an 8 iron, even if you can hit it that far..hit a smoother 7 or 6 iron...you'll hit it straighter and more consistent.

God, not you as well!

I've tried believe me but I just can't help myself. I have this unhealthy need to hit the ball as hard as I can, every time. It does me no favours but I can't seem to control it. If I took a 6 or 7 iron I'd end up in whatever hazard was lurking behind the green.

When I got down to 8 I was playing a lot smoother I have to admit but I'm back to old ways now and yes, I do overswing as well!

I think I'm just too damn stubborn to change anything now and as I'm fast approaching 40 (well, 37) I think my bad habits are here to stay. I just learn to live with 'em!

Oh and for the record I would be up for a forum golf day.

Crippled golfer? Still on crutches golfer? Not played since November when i shot 75 round Hockley in the company of a former Saints legend..........

Do tell!!

Isn't Hockley that place that is on the top of the hill near Winchester? It looks a horrible place to play when the weather is bad!

Do tell!!

 

Isn't Hockley that place that is on the top of the hill near Winchester? It looks a horrible place to play when the weather is bad!

I would have to kill!

Yeah that's the one, nice track actually, one of my top 10 in Hampshire. Played in the beating down rain and gales early last year, solid 85....

I would have to kill!

 

Yeah that's the one, nice track actually, one of my top 10 in Hampshire. Played in the beating down rain and gales early last year, solid 85....

So I might be moving down to Southampton (Hedge End)....where would be the best place to base myself? I heard Stoneham is the best place in Southampton - what do you think?

So I might be moving down to Southampton (Hedge End)....where would be the best place to base myself? I heard Stoneham is the best place in Southampton - what do you think?

Well, i live in Hedge End mate!

Stoneham is probably one of the best local courses about. Very nice. Royal Winchester is meant to be nice as well but not played it before. Cant think of many practise facilities at Stoneham, think they have a bay or 2 with a putting and chipping green but not much more.

Botley Park has a decent (and fairly quiet) range and chipping and putting green. Maybe worth a look.

I know a few people up at the county golf club (one of my best mates asst Pro), next to the Rose Bowl. It is about to be redeveloped, currently not the best course but it has a practise range, chipping and putting etc, and 2mins from hedge end.

Well, i live in Hedge End mate!

 

Stoneham is probably one of the best local courses about. Very nice. Royal Winchester is meant to be nice as well but not played it before. Cant think of many practise facilities at Stoneham, think they have a bay or 2 with a putting and chipping green but not much more.

 

Botley Park has a decent (and fairly quiet) range and chipping and putting green. Maybe worth a look.

 

I know a few people up at the county golf club (one of my best mates asst Pro), next to the Rose Bowl. It is about to be redeveloped, currently not the best course but it has a practise range, chipping and putting etc, and 2mins from hedge end.

I think I've been to that place at the Rose Bowl, to see Martin Butcher, one of the pros there who does golf biomechanics. The range isn't good enough there really.

All I really need at a golf course (if I move down there) is somewhere with a good course and good chipping and putting greens. Cuz I can hit balls at hedge end driving range.

Botley is just round the corner from where my girlfriend lives (she lives in that new development hidden round the back there), so that'd be convenient...

Well, i live in Hedge End mate!

 

Stoneham is probably one of the best local courses about. Very nice. Royal Winchester is meant to be nice as well but not played it before. Cant think of many practise facilities at Stoneham, think they have a bay or 2 with a putting and chipping green but not much more.

 

Botley Park has a decent (and fairly quiet) range and chipping and putting green. Maybe worth a look.

 

I know a few people up at the county golf club (one of my best mates asst Pro), next to the Rose Bowl. It is about to be redeveloped, currently not the best course but it has a practise range, chipping and putting etc, and 2mins from hedge end.

The county club definately has some potential. Have you seen the redevelopment plans? Are they any good?

Royal Winchester is a lovely course. Only played there once but very nice. Hamptworth is a good Forest course, as are the 2 courses at Bramshaw. Stoneham is very nice too. I play at Chilworth which is not a bad public course. It's got some good challenging holes (including the 1st which is a tough start with a dog-leg par 5 over water!) You've also got one of the best municiple courses in the country with Southampton too.

Yeah Butcher is the pro up there, used to have lessons with him, he likes to get his big wooden stakes out and beat you with them til your set-up is right!

Sam Hutsby being a student of his as well, hampshire's next big thing on the tour apparently....not that Richard Bland ever was!

The development plans look very interesting, have seen them and am assured it is all still going ahead. 9holes into 18holes, including water hazards and some much longer holes than at present.

I am about to buy a flat in that development if its the one i think you mean. How odd....

Botley is a nice layout, busy at times though as the hotel spits guests onto the course, same with Meon Valley as well. Stoneham is a nicer course IMO

Chilworth is nice SOB, had some lessons up there a while back and played it once a few years back. Fairly open iirc?

I was last a member at Alresford, love that course. Not massively long but still challenging and being tree-lined if your not on song, then u dont score well. Greens are some of the best i have played as well. Before that was at the county for 5yrs, but as a junior i played a load of the junior opens at different courses, £25 for 36holes + lunch at places like Stoneham, Bramshaw, Liphook, Blackmoor (gorgeous) Alresford and Waterlooville to name a few was excellent VFM looking back.

Yeah Butcher is the pro up there, used to have lessons with him, he likes to get his big wooden stakes out and beat you with them til your set-up is right!

Sam Hutsby being a student of his as well, hampshire's next big thing on the tour apparently....not that Richard Bland ever was!

 

The development plans look very interesting, have seen them and am assured it is all still going ahead. 9holes into 18holes, including water hazards and some much longer holes than at present.

 

I am about to buy a flat in that development if its the one i think you mean. How odd....

 

Botley is a nice layout, busy at times though as the hotel spits guests onto the course, same with Meon Valley as well. Stoneham is a nicer course IMO

 

Chilworth is nice SOB, had some lessons up there a while back and played it once a few years back. Fairly open iirc?

 

I was last a member at Alresford, love that course. Not massively long but still challenging and being tree-lined if your not on song, then u dont score well. Greens are some of the best i have played as well. Before that was at the county for 5yrs, but as a junior i played a load of the junior opens at different courses, £25 for 36holes + lunch at places like Stoneham, Bramshaw, Liphook, Blackmoor (gorgeous) Alresford and Waterlooville to name a few was excellent VFM looking back.

The development that, as you drive in, there's a big playground on the left, and the first house you see is a big white 3 storey house? (And an awful speed bump/crossing in front of it?)

The development that, as you drive in, there's a big playground on the left, and the first house you see is a big white 3 storey house? (And an awful speed bump/crossing in front of it?)

Possibly next road along then.....Oak Tree something? Past Burger King?

Possibly next road along then.....Oak Tree something? Past Burger King?

I don't know the area very well to be fair - only where my bird's house is. Ya go over the roundabout where the VW garage is, there's a set of traffic lights, you go through them towards Botley, and turn left at the next roundabout....

I don't know the area very well to be fair - only where my bird's house is. Ya go over the roundabout where the VW garage is, there's a set of traffic lights, you go through them towards Botley, and turn left at the next roundabout....

I know the general area...

Between you and me, I wasn't that impressed with Martin Butcher, although to be fair I'm a bit fussy with my coaches. The coach I've worked with since I was 13 lives in California now, so I've tried to find someone over here to look after me during the season, but nobody is anywhere near as good as my coach. I'm flying out to see him on Monday actually. He moved out there 8 years ago cuz he was working with Stephen Ames, and he wanted him with him on tour all the time.

Between you and me, I wasn't that impressed with Martin Butcher, although to be fair I'm a bit fussy with my coaches. The coach I've worked with since I was 13 lives in California now, so I've tried to find someone over here to look after me during the season, but nobody is anywhere near as good as my coach. I'm flying out to see him on Monday actually. He moved out there 8 years ago cuz he was working with Stephen Ames, and he wanted him with him on tour all the time.

Nor was i. I was a member there, had a few lessons with Butcher then decided to go to Stoneham and with a bloke called Andy Gordon, who now is head pro at the Sot'on muni as far as i am aware and teaches Hampshire Youth (was asst at Stoneham) as recommended by my uncle (member at S'ham) and went from 12 to 7 handicap in 8 months and changed my shape from cut to draw.

That sounds like an expensive lesson mate....playing any events out there as well?

Nor was i. I was a member there, had a few lessons with Butcher then decided to go to Stoneham and with a bloke called Andy Gordon, who now is head pro at the Sot'on muni as far as i am aware and teaches Hampshire Youth (was asst at Stoneham) as recommended by my uncle (member at S'ham) and went from 12 to 7 handicap in 8 months and changed my shape from cut to draw.

 

That sounds like an expensive lesson mate....playing any events out there as well?

Yeah he's expensive too - never mind the travel. Actually the flight and hotel and golf will cost less than the lessons! I'm getting the flight for free on airmiles, and I know the people that own the golf course/hotel/casino where I practice at, and they give me a special rate in the hotel and free golf. So it's all good - cheaper than going to Spain or somewhere.

Check this place out where I'm staying:

http://www.barona.com

Oh and no, no tournaments. I'm only there for a week, to do some practice and see my coach. I'm going to Italy in November to qualify for the Alps Tour (oh the irony), so I just want to make sure I've ironed out a couple of things that are bothering me (my wedge play isn't quite on it and I keep hitting my putts out of the heel).

Yeah he's expensive too - never mind the travel. Actually the flight and hotel and golf will cost less than the lessons! I'm getting the flight for free on airmiles, and I know the people that own the golf course/hotel/casino where I practice at, and they give me a special rate in the hotel and free golf. So it's all good - cheaper than going to Spain or somewhere.

 

Check this place out where I'm staying:

 

http://www.barona.com

 

Oh and no, no tournaments. I'm only there for a week, to do some practice and see my coach. I'm going to Italy in November to qualify for the Alps Tour (oh the irony), so I just want to make sure I've ironed out a couple of things that are bothering me (my wedge play isn't quite on it and I keep hitting my putts out of the heel).

Nice mate!

Well if and when u move to hedge end, drop me a PM and ill get my mate to hook us up a round at the county, open to SOB as well if he fancies it

Nice mate!

 

Well if and when u move to hedge end, drop me a PM and ill get my mate to hook us up a round at the county, open to SOB as well if he fancies it

Yeah will do!

Barona is awesome mate....they had the Nationwide Tour Championship there last year, and they've got it again next year. It's 7800 yards off the back tees, and the greens get up to 14. The hotel is beautiful and I get it for 50 dollars a night!