The Golf Thread [contains spoilers]

[haigha]

Originally Posted by RealShakaZulu

That's a good idea! I am not sure regarding Harding Park. Willie Watson was the original designer.... checking their website.... "Improvements to Harding’s layout were performed by PGA Tour Design Services in consultation with former USGA President Sandy Tatum". Anyway, I played Palmer's Hiddenbrooke... GORGEOUS! Playing from the tips is a real challenge, but they have no yardage books, the cart GPS system is out of service and the only fairway markings are 100, 150 and 200. This seems to be a growing trend in the bay at the munis.

I think the Palmer rennovated course I'm recalling used to be the military-only one in the Presidio. I played that once or twice. Harding Park is the one nearer to the Golden Gate bridge, isn't it?

Do a lot of the courses in the bay area have the laser reflectors on the pins? Our course does and they're useful. I have a SkyGolf GPS for my old Visor but don't use that any more.

[Dr_Smith]

I am/was an avid golfer until 14 months ago. Played twice a week and had a 7 handicap. Then one morning in May of 2004 I woke with extreme pain down my right arm and I couldn't lift the arm. My right scapula was winging like you wouldn't believe. After many visits to specialists I was diagnosed with spontaneous brachail plexus neuritis, meaning an inflammation of the brachial plexus leading to damage to my long thoracic nerve leading to paralysis of my serratus anterior muscle and spinal accessory nerve which feeds the upper trapezius (now also paralyzed). I'm 14 months into this and there has been no recovery. They say if there is no recovery by 24 months then it's not going to recover, at which point I have a choice of living with the paralysis or having a muscle grafted from my leg into my back. Suffice to say, currently my golfing is limited to watching Tiger on TV. What caused the damage - no idea and never will - could have been the flu that I had 6 weeks prior, could have been yardword that I did 4 weeks prior, or sometimes it just "happens". Sometimes it's hard to keep your chin up so most of the time I try not to think about it...

[haigha]

Originally Posted by SANguru

Poppy Hills is just too far especially for a weekend round so I've ony played their twice on both on a weekdays with Clients. The course is really made for long hitters of which I'm not. I definitely prefer Poppy Hill which IMO is one of the best maintained and most challenging courses outside of Bridges and Dublin Ranch GC in my area and you can't beat the NCGA price!! The 3 different 9's your can play all throw different challenges at you...

I never played the Ridge course but I did join the NCGA when I was out there a lot consulting. It was a great deal for playing Poppy Hills. My golfing buddy there lives in Saratoga and loves Poppy Hills. A bit of a drive for me compared to two minutes to the club from my house here On RSZ's comment on the greens, I found them to be moderately paced but maybe they were really slow when he played.

[BMWood5]

Im in for golf talk!

I dont live in the US right now but do play here in EU Land. I have an official 16 handicap, but really think I play about a 13. But I believe this is due to inconsistant playing time and playing. I can never get all the clubs to fire at the same time. I boom my drives an average of 290 (its true i swear) but my irons have been eratic of late. I tend to swing out just a bit too far and shank the hosle which leads to some interesting chip shots (some are actually full shots but hey, give me a break). I would have to say that the best part of my game is chiping (oh and playing trick punch shots since I do it often hehehe). I have shot a 77 from pro tees at our home course but I could play it blind. Longest drive this year was a tornado assisted 340 meters (about 355 yds). Naturally I bogeyed the hole. I have always said the first 400 yds are no prob, it is the last 50 thatll get ya. The very best part of my game though is driving. Like driving the X5 to the course .

As for Tiger.........

Though I change my swing every month, especially after departing with Butch Garmon , I still think the jury is out on the Hankster. Sure 1-2-1 in Majors is a statement, but 2000 still rules in my book. The hankster has just got to work out the wayward rounds tiger can produce. I have followed Tiger's career since the Mike Douglas show and he is by far my man. I can only hope that these changes are designed to limit the descructive nature of his swingin on his body. If not, then there is no telling what is next. However, he is suppose to be hittin his stride these next 10 years and hope he makes good use of it. Only he knows what is best for him and the records.

One final note though. He sure has kicked ass on all three swing styles

[motordavid]

Here's my best golf'emUp story from this past weekend Geezer Club Champ Tourn.: I do a 41 front, (not bad), w/14 putts. I make the turn and it's a 165+ par 3, slightly uphill, pin tucked tight back 11 o'clock. I hit my "pussywood"/29 deg Bertha 13 wood fairway stick. It comes down like a parachute just behind the green. We can't find it; plugged about 4" deep, probably. I race back and re-T: this one hits the freaking flagstick and leaps into the deep woods, right. Both playing partners are searching for Tshot 1&2, while I re-T and put my "5 off the T" shot about 20 feet from hole. 3 somes are now backing up watching this fool, (me), race back to green.

I am sweating bullets, under the gun, etc., and Know I am blowing a good round in a tourn: I proceed to four putt up and down the v.steep ledge, the pin is cut on.
Take a hard 9. Finish back 9 with 5 other pars,(way better than norm for me!) for a 46 back/41 frt=87 and outta of it. It IS an insidious game!
Sunday I shoot an 89 and finish in middle of my flight.

A friend of mine wins Senior Club Champ for 5th time in last 6 years w/a 75/73. I wanna be half as good as he!
BR,md

[haigha]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Well, Haigha, good idea, though I am not in the same zip code, skill-wise, as you,Josh,Shaka et al, are; I'm in my 4th year of trying to learn to play. I jes'never played as a young or middle man, so taking up the game when we moved here from NY, at 54, is a tough deal. But, I am obessesed by this insidious game, and the entire ambiance is the deal: meeting great people, outside, the internal/mental struggles, etc., are the salient points for me...

I agree... the challenge of a game that's not easy to become adept at, plus you spend time with friends, get some exercise outside. I started at 29 and the lowest I've been is a 6 (but very much a home course 6). I'm a 9 right now and will probably get back down to an 8 at the next revision. My goal is to get to a 5 this year and enjoy the ride doing it.

I recently got a 10.5 degree Nike Ignite 460 with a NV-55 stiff shaft. It's an experiment that my swing coach encouraged. He's on Nike staff and says their next generation driver that will like come out around Christmas or January is going to rock. I like the current Nike better than my TM 580 XD 9 degree tour prototype with NV-65 S so far and I have been scoring better since I started using it.

It's cool that your new place in FL is on a golf course. The pictures made it look better than the C+ you gave it. Have you played it yet?

[haigha]

Originally Posted by Dr_Smith

I am/was an avid golfer until 14 months ago. Played twice a week and had a 7 handicap. Then one morning in May of 2004 I woke with extreme pain down my right arm and I couldn't lift the arm. My right scapula was winging like you wouldn't believe. After many visits to specialists I was diagnosed with spontaneous brachail plexus neuritis, meaning an inflammation of the brachial plexus leading to damage to my long thoracic nerve leading to paralysis of my serratus anterior muscle and spinal accessory nerve which feeds the upper trapezius (now also paralyzed). I'm 14 months into this and there has been no recovery. They say if there is no recovery by 24 months then it's not going to recover, at which point I have a choice of living with the paralysis or having a muscle grafted from my leg into my back. Suffice to say, currently my golfing is limited to watching Tiger on TV. What caused the damage - no idea and never will - could have been the flu that I had 6 weeks prior, could have been yardword that I did 4 weeks prior, or sometimes it just "happens". Sometimes it's hard to keep your chin up so most of the time I try not to think about it...

So sorry to hear about this Dr. I hope that you turn the corner on this soon

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by haigha

I agree...It's cool that your new place in FL is on a golf course. The pictures made it look better than the C+ you gave it. Have you played it yet?

H: Yes, played it twice, while in the "buying phase" way back in Feb '04, and twice again while down there this recent July, painting bedrooms, "moving in". Those rounds, in FLA July morning heat, were not my idea of fun. I wasn't dissing the track; it's fine for what we wanted and the price of both course and our new joint fit the bill.

We looked at houses back in '04 that were bigger/better etc., that we could have bought instead of this joint, but the tracks they were on required considerable dough to join/maintain. We didn't think we needed that kind of outlay for a 5 month "get off the mtn" period. Our track here in the mtns is fabulous and v.difficult,imo; the FLA track is flat, not as interesting, but a good place to chase it in winter. BR,md

[motordavid]

DocSmith: Jeesshhh! That is a story that gives me the willies...
and, this aging process just lets "stuff happen". I really hope your body pulls out of that tailspin and you get some recovery.
We/I am pulling for you.
BR,md

[motordavid]

Haigha,
PS: What the hell are "spoilers" in a post?