Anyone else here a golfer?

[Scott Dolan]

My son and I started playing almost four years ago. I had always avoided the game like the plague because of my addictive personality, and fiercely competitive nature. Not to mention my classic Irish temper (though that has slipped away with the years).

What's most odd is that I'm not competitive at all when it comes to golf. I normally want to destroy my opponent and laugh mercilessly at the lamentations of his wife and children, but with golf I honestly don't care. A game most people find infuriating, and one they approach with a burning intensity, is one that I personally find incredibly relaxing. If I play well, I have the time of my life. If I play poorly, I have the time of my life.

I'm not even big on cutting edge technology to make my game better. Matter of fact, I'm in the process of changing my entire bag of clubs over to wood. Well, except for the 9-iron and pitching wedge for which there are no true wooden replacements. Just ordered a custom, hand-built Persimmon wood putter which I hope to receive in a few weeks.

So does anyone else share in my obsession?

[Jim R]

I used to play (1970's until a few years ago). In my younger days it came naturally and easily, and I always enjoyed it, even though I was never a particularly strong player. As I got older and my game got more ragged and inconsistent (ugly), I found that I wasn't enjoying it as much. In more recent years, I've had some joint problems (shoulder, knee, foot... okay, pretty much everything) that have made it even harder to play regularly, and I've pretty much given it up now. Don't really miss it, except for the fact that it used to be a good way to get out for some exercise and spend some time with a brother of mine who lives locally.

I was never into updating my equipment constantly either. My wife gave me a set of Ram clubs in the 70's (persimmon woods), and I never stopped using them. The only upgrade I ever did was to buy a new putter about ten years ago (before that, I was using an old Wilson blade putter that my dad had bought probably in the 1940's). The new putter was a good decision... wish I'd bought it much earlier.

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, my first set of clubs was a cheap (under $100) set I bought from a local sports store. The head flew off the driver at the range one evening, so I was driving with my 3 wood for over a year until a buddy gave me his old Firesteel driver (10.5).

Last year my dad asked me if I wanted his old set that he'd bought back in the late 80's after his full Persimmon set had been stolen. I gladly accepted and he sent me the set. Well, it still had his Persimmon driver (9 degree) in it, and I simply fell in love with using a wood club over the rinky dink oil can driver. So that's why I'm going to completely convert to it. It just feels and sounds wonderful.

If nothing else, I'll have the most unique set on the golf course.

BTW, here is the putter I ordered today.

https://www.louisvillegolf.com/ProductDetail/tabid/83/rvdsfpid/stimp-acc-putter-16/rvdsfcatid/closeouts-specials-52/Default.aspx

Sorry you don't get to play much anymore, Jim. My father is in the same boat which is why he gave me his clubs. Like you, he also doesn't miss it much.

Edited March 31, 2013 by Scott Dolan

[Larry Kart]

I was a hardcore golf addict beginning in the mid-1980s and lasting until about 2006, when I developed tendonitis in my right shoulder, plus some pain in my right knee and hip, from practicing too obsessively (if you want to call it practicing rather than just hitting way too many golf balls) from a driving range rubber mat. It was the repeated shock of hitting the club against the mat that did it. The orthopedic guy I went to, also a golfer, gave me a cortisone shot and more or less said, "Don't do that [i.e. play golf] anymore."

I do have pleasant memories of playing good courses all by myself in the early morning on a weekday, when a round could take a bit more than two hours. Playing in a foursome on crowded weekends was not much fun, unless you were with really nice people, and even then the time spent waiting behind the previous foursome was a drag.

I got hooked when I played a handsome Robert Trent Jones resort course on Kuai. The risk-reward logic of the layout and the game suddenly was indelible and intoxicating. Another potent lure, but also a big potential drawback to the game, is that for many types of people (and I was one of them) your only real opponent on the course is yourself, or rather your sense of how you can and should be playing versus the way you actually are. Such a mindset, plus the fact that often I was not playing that well, can readily lead to depression and anger. Perhaps that bout of tendinitis was blessing.

[J.A.W.]

When golf became popular with managers, the nouveaux riches (new rich) and yuppies I lost interest, though I must admit that I still enjoy watching the Masters and the (British) Open.

Edited April 1, 2013 by J.A.W.

[Jim R]

Scott, that putter is a beauty. I hope it does the trick for you. Of all the clubs in the bag, I do believe the choice of the right putter may be the most important. Unfortunately, there are a million designs these days, so it could take years to find the right one!

Larry, I laughed at the Youngman-esque orthopedist comment. "Doc, it hurts when I do this"... "Okay, don't do that". I can relate to everthing you said, though (except that I've never played a round in Hawaii, and it would never occur to me to think about risk and reward... I just tried to keep the damn ball in play). I never got all that depressed or angry on the course, but for me there was a sort of process of gradually succumbing to the realization that my self esteem was being lowered by this game I was trying to enjoy. Anyway, what makes me angry is watching the pros on tv. Shots that I could only dream about are seen as failures. They hit a green from 300 yards, and everyone is disappointed because they didn't put it within five feet of the pin!

It's funny... I think my golfing life experience was kind of backward. When I began playing, I spent more time on longer and tougher 18-hole courses. Over the years, I gradually switched to playing more 9-hole courses where the long holes were 350-yard par 4's. Playing the championship-style courses became ultra-intimidating, and the whole atmosphere was just different. And Hans, the arrogant snobbish rich guys are part of that bad atmosphere for sure.

[Larry Kart]

Scott, that putter is a beauty. I hope it does the trick for you. Of all the clubs in the bag, I do believe the choice of the right putter may be the most important. Unfortunately, there are a million designs these days, so it could take years to find the right one!

Larry, I laughed at the Youngman-esque orthopedist comment. "Doc, it hurts when I do this"... "Okay, don't do that". I can relate to everthing you said, though (except that I've never played a round in Hawaii, and it would never occur to me to think about risk and reward... I just tried to keep the damn ball in play). I never got all that depressed or angry on the course, but for me there was a sort of process of gradually succumbing to the realization that my self esteem was being lowered by this game I was trying to enjoy. Anyway, what makes me angry is watching the pros on tv. Shots that I could only dream about are seen as failures. They hit a green from 300 yards, and everyone is disappointed because they didn't put it within five feet of the pin!

It's funny... I think my golfing life experience was kind of backward. When I began playing, I spent more time on longer and tougher 18-hole courses. Over the years, I gradually switched to playing more 9-hole courses where the long holes were 350-yard par 4's. Playing the championship-style courses became ultra-intimidating, and the whole atmosphere was just different. And Hans, the arrogant snobbish rich guys are part of that bad atmosphere for sure.

The "Don't do that" line was part of Smith and Dale's great "Dr. Kronkheit" routine:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Dale

By "risk and reward" I meant that on that R.T. Jones Jr. course I could see for the first time the living logic of a well-designed course, that if you hit it over here, where you knew you should, you would benefit from being in a better place to hit the next shot and if you hit it over there you would be at some disadvantage.

About getting depressed and angry, that wasn't so much when I actually played but when I was practicing ... or rather obsessively fiddling with different and often contradictory ways to hit the damn ball properly when I would have better off just leaving things alone. But then, as Tiger Woods' career shows, even the best golfers can't resist the usually pernicious need to fiddle. I would guess that among the greats Nicklaus was relatively free from fiddling because of his temperament and because the principles his early teacher Jack Grout gave him were so sound and simple and so in tune with his skills and body type. Lee Trevino likewise, perhaps -- his self-taught method was rock-like in its simplicity I believe.

[papsrus]

I used to flail my way around some of the public courses here up until about 10 years ago. Don't think I ever broke 100 and can recall only one par. Nasty slice off the tee. I'd actually aim way left in the tee box just to get the ball somewhere near the fairway. On the green in four or five, and a four putt was pretty typical. But it was fun. I just never got any good at the game.

I think I tried to get halfway serious about it for a couple of years but. ... A weekend hacker.

[Tim McG]

Golfer here.

My son [whom I taught the basics when he was 6 years-old] is a 10 handicapper when he plays on a regular basis. I paid for lessons so he would learn the game better than I could show him. He was a four year Varsity golfer in HS.

Me? I hit anything from an 85-95 and all points in between. Self-taught. I never took a lesson....and it shows. At 58 with a nagging back and bad knees I do my best to play bogey golf anymore.

My game is scramble golf....I play a lot of "hit it and hope" but I love the game

Edited April 1, 2013 by GoodSpeak

[Scott Dolan]

Excellent responses, guys!

Larry, I hear you on the tendonitis thing. Something I experienced for the first time last year was "trigger finger". I don't know if any of you have experienced it before, but it is mondo painful. I got it from gripping the club too tightly. Which I came to find out was a common rookie mistake. Now I barely have a grip on it at all, and it has truly improved my game. I was far too tense from head to toe before, which is a perfect recipe for injury.

Jim, thanks brother! I think that putter is a thing of beauty as well. I'll post some pics of it when it comes in. As far as it doing the trick, eh, I really don't care if it improves my putting or not. I'll just thoroughly enjoy the beauty and sound of it. There is no sweeter sound than wood making contact with a golf ball, IMO. Hey, why spend triple digits on a metal clone of what everyone else and their brother are using when you can spend a hundred on a hand-crafted piece of art? If you can sink a 9ft putt with a $30 putter, that $300 putter ain't gonna help much...

BTW, you mentioned watching the pros. Let me ask you this: do you get a slight twitch in your eye watching fans lined up on both sides of the tee box leading into the fairway? Brother, if that were me on the tee somebody may wind up in the hospital standing that close!

Oh, and we have a 9 hole course here that is absolutely brutal. It's all elevated tee to elevated green par 3. Miss the green and your day just got really, really bad...

I used to flail my way around some of the public courses here up until about 10 years ago. Don't think I ever broke 100 and can recall only one par. Nasty slice off the tee. I'd actually aim way left in the tee box just to get the ball somewhere near the fairway. On the green in four or five, and a four putt was pretty typical. But it was fun. I just never got any good at the game.

I think I tried to get halfway serious about it for a couple of years but. ... A weekend hacker.

That pretty much summed up my game for a couple of years. I can occasionally par and birdie these days, but my game can still be ugly at times.

Golfer here.

My son [whom I taught the basics when he was 6 years-old] is a 10 handicapper when he plays on a regular basis. I paid for lessons so he would learn the game better than I could show him. He was a four year Varsity golfer in HS.

Me? I hit anything from an 85-95 and all points in between. Self-taught. I never took a lesson....and it shows. At 58 with a nagging back and bad knees I do my best to play bogey golf anymore.

My game is scramble golf....I play a lot of "hit it and hope" but I love the game

Bogey golf is still 90.

I'll take that any day of the week!

BTW, the ultimate quote that still sums up my game?

"It takes a lot of balls to play golf like I do."

Edited April 1, 2013 by Scott Dolan

[Jim R]

By "risk and reward" I meant that on that R.T. Jones Jr. course I could see for the first time the living logic of a well-designed course, that if you hit it over here, where you knew you should, you would benefit from being in a better place to hit the next shot and if you hit it over there you would be at some disadvantage.

Yes, I understand that about positioning, etc. My point was that it actually takes considerable skill (and more importantly, control) for those factors to truly come into play for someone who is serious about scoring well. Me, I just thought about keeping the ball out of the rough, out of the sand, out of the water, and inbounds.

Scott, your comments about the Louisville putter make a lot of sense to me. I love beautiful objects (I used to deal in antiques and 20th century decorative arts), and that thing is indeed a piece of art.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Jim R

[Tim McG]

Golfer here.

My son [whom I taught the basics when he was 6 years-old] is a 10 handicapper when he plays on a regular basis. I paid for lessons so he would learn the game better than I could show him. He was a four year Varsity golfer in HS.

Me? I hit anything from an 85-95 and all points in between. Self-taught. I never took a lesson....and it shows. At 58 with a nagging back and bad knees I do my best to play bogey golf anymore.

My game is scramble golf....I play a lot of "hit it and hope" but I love the game

Bogey golf is still 90.

I'll take that any day of the week!

BTW, the ultimate quote that still sums up my game?

"It takes a lot of balls to play golf like I do."

You're right a 90 isn't such a bad score. But the funny thing about golf is it makes you greedy. You get a bogey, you wnat that par. You hit a 90 you want that 85, etc. At one point, I even tried my hand at coaching golf when my son was on the HS team. I was real good at helping the guys with escape shots, sand shots, grip and pacing but when it comes to doing all that with a club in my hands, all bets are off.

Luckily, I don't lose too many golf balls unless I'm on a really tough course with lots of water or plant/tree-filled rough. My "home" course is generally a user friendly muni unless I pull one OB. The good news is after 30+ years I still love the game.

Edited April 2, 2013 by GoodSpeak

[Scott Dolan]

I hear you, Goodz.

For me, I just love being out in the woods playing the game.

If I shoot 90, I'm as happy as could be.

If I shoot a 135, I'm as happy as could be.

I love just playing the game. If I suck, so what? If I dominate, so what?

I'm telling you, it's like yoga for me. Whether I do it right, or I do it wrong, I'm completely relaxed just by doing it.

[Tim McG]

Exactly.

OTOH, if I start feeling a little cocky I just go out for a round and the game will straighten me out in one quick hurry.

But, TBH, I want to score well so I grind at my game a little....OK, a lot. However, at my age I know my limitations and I just don't take it so seriously any more. Unless, of course, I hit 100+ then I get a little frustrated with my game.

Edited April 3, 2013 by GoodSpeak

[Teasing the Korean]

Only when there are giant ceramic dinosaurs or tikis on the golf course.

[Scott Dolan]

Scored a beauty of a set off Ebay last night.

[king ubu]

I normally want to destroy my opponent and laugh mercilessly at the lamentations of his wife and children

Lefties shall not play golf

[Scott Dolan]

I'd hate to be left-handed and try to take up golf. Many stores don't even carry left-handed clubs. They order them for you. And right-hand gloves aren't exactly plentiful either.

Edited April 3, 2013 by Scott Dolan

[king ubu]

Well, you're a new member to the church anyway

[Scott Dolan]

Huh? But, I'm right-handed...

[king ubu]

Oh, sorry, we're not supposed to even think political here

[Tim McG]

Scott,

Are you collecting persimmon woods or are you planning to play golf with them? Unless you hit them right on the screws they are very hard to control.

I have held onto Mrs. GoodSpeak's old set of persimmon woods hoping to sell them on e-bay sometime, but they aren't as good looking as the ones you posted.

Edited April 3, 2013 by GoodSpeak

[Scott Dolan]

Oh, sorry, we're not supposed to even think political here

OK, I gotcha...

[erwbol]

Scott,

Are you collecting persimmon woods or are you planning to play golf with them? Unless you hit them right on the screws they are very hard to control.

Huh? But, I'm right-handed...

Left- or right-handed, it seems you won't hit anything right again.

Edited April 3, 2013 by erwbol

[Scott Dolan]

Scott,

Are you collecting persimmon woods or are you planning to play golf with them? Unless you hit them right on the screws they are very hard to control.

I have held onto Mrs. GoodSpeak's old set of persimmon woods hoping to sell them on e-bay sometime, but they aren't as good looking as the ones you posted.

No, I play with them. I've been using a Persimmon driver, 3 and 4 wood for over a year now. I have really grown to dislike metal clubs of any kind. The new 460CC oil can drivers are far harder to control and can spray balls in almost any direction at any time. By the time I'm done, even my irons will be replaced with Persimmon. Well, except for 9-PW. Louisville doesn't make wood replacements for those clubs.

My experience has been exactly opposite of what you're saying. I've studied up on them and most experts also agree that smaller Persimmon heads give you greater control. One of the reasons is because of what is referred to as "gearing". It allows the ball to self-correct more in flight and move back towards the intended target. And I've noticed it quite clearly since I got my dad's old Persimmon driver last year. Even my buddy remarked how it tends to move back towards the target more. What is given up with Persimmon clubs is distance because they are heavier which diminishes club head speed. But, I'll give up 10-20 yds to keep it in the fairway more.

Besides, a nice *thwack!* beats a wimpy little *tink* any day of the week, IMO.

I've got some older clubs that Wynton and I are going to try our hand at restoring. Have you considered trying that with your wife's old clubs? Some of those fully restored Persimmon sets are fetching impressive dollar amounts on Ebay.

Edited April 3, 2013 by Scott Dolan