Golf Your latest Round?

[iDon]

Welcome to the all things golf.

USER​	HANDICAP​	MEMBER COURSE​	BEST ROUND​
Bicco​	6.2​	Royal Hobart​	76​
TennisPlayerAndy​	6.4​	Heidelberg​	73​
Tiimmbo​	8.3​	Royal Fremantle​	78​
tigland​	5.7​	13th Beach​	73/44pts​
buttsauce​	9.3​	Leongatha South​	76​
toxic​	10.8​	Howlong​	71​
Planet14​	11.4​	Bacchus Marsh Golf Club​	80​
Livonski​	11.5​	Kingston Heath​	79​
ScrappyCoCo​	12.5*​	-​	75​
ITCHY EYEBALLS​	12.8​	The Dunes​	80​
Pklz​	14​	Romesy GC​	77/48pts​
iDon​	11.6​	Social Golf Australia​	80/44 pts​
Lebbo73​	12.3​	City GC Toowomba​	77​
Sippa​	16.9​	-​	85/43 pts​
Shane Sheridan​	18.5​	Perth Golf Network​	87​
daicos4ever​	23.7​	Lang Lang GC​
juss​	26.8​	-​	91/40 pts​
members section​	33​	-​	-​
BobbyMorri​	33​	Claremont​	97​
Elixuh​	-​	Pacific, Brisbane​	​
peternorth​	15​	NGC, PKCGC​	80​
Nelso​	-​	-​	78​
sideswipe​	-​	Sorrento​	Cups WR​
royboy2​	25.3​	Cohuna GC​
QuietB​	Huntingdale-Cranbourne GC​
Daics1​	18​	Golden Beach GC​

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Its funny I see a lot of suggestions...hit a club you are comfortable with etc. But I am not so sure this advice stacks up for higher handicappers. Being a higher handicapper means you are not going to strike the ball well super consistently. Taking a Hybrid off a tee or a long iron is great if you get the result but when you miss badly you really are going to probably get a double or more.

Personally I think still go Driver...with the large head size, a real bad one will still get you 100/150 down and you still can get a decent score.

Recently played Lang Lang with my young adult kid...who is a long hitter but at the level where mistakes happen a fair bit. He planned to hit as many 5 woods off the tee as his good ones are very good. Played the back nine first and he buys a box of Prov1s and tees up 5 wood. First one off the toe...45 degrees to the right into heavy scrub....second brand new ball...same thing. Third one lovely shot down the middle but looking at 10 plus score and day done.

Others might disagree but I think you need to learn to use D to get better.

 

[atlas1]

Its funny I see a lot of suggestions...hit a club you are comfortable with etc. But I am not so sure this advice stacks up for higher handicappers. Being a higher handicapper means you are not going to strike the ball well super consistently. Taking a Hybrid off a tee or a long iron is great if you get the result but when you miss badly you really are going to probably get a double or more.

Personally I think still go Driver...with the large head size, a real bad one will still get you 100/150 down and you still can get a decent score.

Recently played Lang Lang with my young adult kid...who is a long hitter but at the level where mistakes happen a fair bit. He planned to hit as many 5 woods off the tee as his good ones are very good. Played the back nine first and he buys a box of Prov1s and tees up 5 wood. First one off the toe...45 degrees to the right into heavy scrub....second brand new ball...same thing. Third one lovely shot down the middle but looking at 10 plus score and day done.

Others might disagree but I think you need to learn to use it to get better.

It's a good point Scrappy. I think identifying the club you can hit reliably 150m+ off the tee is the best place to start. For me that's a 6 iron, but I agree that a driver mis-hit can net you the same result (as long as it stays in play).

I could easily take out my 3H, 4 and 5 irons out of the bag. My game isn't at the level to use them well enough yet (although the 3H is handy as a rescue and around the greens)

 

[hawkman]

I agree, the other big advantage of learning to the hit the Driver well, it makes it easier at other end if you are using say a 7 iron instead of a 4 into the green or 9 iron instead of a 6.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Even if you are wayward you can still score. I think if your are off about 15 or better it is good course strategy though if you are confident with long irons etc. I think you are setting up for 3 or 4 auto fail holes if you are 25 plus. Just my observations from over the years.

 

[PhatBoy]

The problem I had on Saturday is that some of the reliable aspects of my game kind of disappeared. I hit a fairly long drive - 275-290 on a good day, and generally get fairly reliable draw. I got none of that on the weekend so I started to fade the ball on drives I was already aiming right, then began to try and compensate and hit them bullet straight having aimed left etc etc. Since I'd taken up the sport again my driving had been fairly bankable on most holes. Didn't get any of that on the weekend so I was playing recovery shots on just about every hole, and as someone who IS actually capable of hitting the freak shot over the trees to the green etc etc I find myself going to them a lot rather than playing safe, and on Saturday I hit every twig, leaf and branch in the postcode.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

The problem I had on Saturday is that some of the reliable aspects of my game kind of disappeared. I hit a fairly long drive - 275-290 on a good day, and generally get fairly reliable draw. I got none of that on the weekend so I started to fade the ball on drives I was already aiming right, then began to try and compensate and hit them bullet straight having aimed left etc etc. Since I'd taken up the sport again my driving had been fairly bankable on most holes. Didn't get any of that on the weekend so I was playing recovery shots on just about every hole, and as someone who IS actually capable of hitting the freak shot over the trees to the green etc etc I find myself going to them a lot rather than playing safe, and on Saturday I hit every twig, leaf and branch in the postcode.

Your natural shot shape will come back with time and regular playing. As for going for the freak recovery...once you start playing for a handicap, over time you will be far better off playing safe....and learning to hit 100m/150m low worm burners under branches when it is on. Scores will be better on average.

 

[PhatBoy]

Your natural shot shape will come back with time and regular playing. As for going for the freak recovery...once you start playing for a handicap, over time you will be far better off playing safe....and learning to hit 100m/150m low worm burners under branches when it is on. Scores will be better on average.

yep I learned that the hard way on Saturday. Though annoyingly, a few times when I took a relatively safe option like scrubbing a 3-wood or a four iron low to get out of the bush, I'd actually hit them absolutely flush, a foot or two higher than ideal, and they'd hit more trouble.

 

[hawkman]

Having that 100-150m low shot is such a handy shot to have. It is actually something i think should be practiced more often especially for the mid to high handicapper

 

[PhatBoy]

Having that 100-150m low shot is such a handy shot. It is actually something i think should be practiced more often especially for the mid to high handicapper

I'm going to experiment a bit at the range next time I go and see what works best, in my mind I've always thought a 3-wood is the best way to do it but realistically I've only ever done it when I'm actually on the course. even using a putter to knock it out 40-50m on the weekend would have been better than some of my outcomes. And it was one of those days when I was missing every fairway but never by enough to open up the next fairway, if that makes sense

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

I'm going to experiment a bit at the range next time I go and see what works best, in my mind I've always thought a 3-wood is the best way to do it but realistically I've only ever done it when I'm actually on the course. even using a putter to knock it out 40-50m on the weekend would have been better than some of my outcomes. And it was one of those days when I was missing every fairway but never by enough to open up the next fairway, if that makes sense

I used to be a big slicer of the ball...so I would be in the shit on the right a lot. I actually learned to hit my driver from under the trees if I had a swing...would get a pretty big slice off the deck, so I was on the right side to do it. Could nearly get up 200m but very low. Saved my ass many a time and I can still remember the looks on others thinking wtf is this campaigner doing when practice swinging haha.

 

[AmericanCrow]

 

[hawkman]

I'm going to experiment a bit at the range next time I go and see what works best, in my mind I've always thought a 3-wood is the best way to do it but realistically I've only ever done it when I'm actually on the course. even using a putter to knock it out 40-50m on the weekend would have been better than some of my outcomes. And it was one of those days when I was missing every fairway but never by enough to open up the next fairway, if that makes sense

Sometimes the lie can make it hard for a wood to do that shot. Usually the 4 iron is my go to club for that shot, can get consistently in the 150 range with it

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Having that 100-150m low shot is such a handy shot to have. It is actually something i think should be practiced more often especially for the mid to high handicapper

Use a 6/5/4 for longer ones. Play ball back in stance a bit. Deloft the club a bit, hands forward at address and impact. Swing back to about horizontal and finish about horizontal. Don't try and hit too hard (Firmish grip for me)...timing... and let the club do the work. Hit ball first then ground.

 

[PhatBoy]

6 iron is the most reliable club in my bag at the moment and was a bit of a default option a few times

 

[peternorth]

6 iron is the most reliable club in my bag at the moment and was a bit of a default option a few times

DE FAULT!

On a par 4, hit that off the tee. THen another one. You're on the green or close to it.

 

[peternorth]

Its funny I see a lot of suggestions...hit a club you are comfortable with etc. But I am not so sure this advice stacks up for higher handicappers. Being a higher handicapper means you are not going to strike the ball well super consistently. Taking a Hybrid off a tee or a long iron is great if you get the result but when you miss badly you really are going to probably get a double or more.

Personally I think still go Driver...with the large head size, a real bad one will still get you 100/150 down and you still can get a decent score.

Recently played Lang Lang with my young adult kid...who is a long hitter but at the level where mistakes happen a fair bit. He planned to hit as many 5 woods off the tee as his good ones are very good. Played the back nine first and he buys a box of Prov1s and tees up 5 wood. First one off the toe...45 degrees to the right into heavy scrub....second brand new ball...same thing. Third one lovely shot down the middle but looking at 10 plus score and day done.

Others might disagree but I think you need to learn to use D to get better.

Well yes u could be right. On any given day NO club maybe comfy.

OK lets discuss the driver. All factors being equal. You hit it 150 towards the hole. You're assuming its straight. BUT a high handicapper is more than likely to be spraying it....the driver has the most dispersion/length. So instead of playing it from your fairway, you're on another or like at the National, gone. So I ask you, would you rather hybrid that goes badly and end up with a double? Or not even finish the hole cause you're hitting from another fairway, or reloading for your third off the tee using the driver?

You DO need to learn to hit the driver, yes. Agreed.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

DE FAULT!

On a par 4, hit that off the tee. THen another one. You're on the green or close to it.

My theory is probably shot to pieces on your courses...where missed Drivers could be lost balls or unplayable. So courses and even certain holes may be different.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Well yes u could be right. On any given day NO club maybe comfy.

OK lets discuss the driver. All factors being equal. You hit it 150 towards the hole. You're assuming its straight. BUT a high handicapper is more than likely to be spraying it....the driver has the most dispersion/length. So instead of playing it from your fairway, you're on another or like at the National, gone. So I ask you, would you rather hybrid that goes badly and end up with a double? Or not even finish the hole cause you're hitting from another fairway, or reloading for your third off the tee using the driver?

You DO need to learn to hit the driver, yes. Agreed.

Yes...I had just addressed that exact thing. Above post.

 

[peternorth]

My theory is probably shot to pieces on your courses...where missed Drivers could be lost balls or unplayable. So courses and even certain holes may be different.

Thats the beauty of golf.

But my theory on dispersion is correct, all things being equal, irrespective of the course. Slice a wedge, it goes say 60m long, 15m right. Slice a driver, 170m long, 170m wide.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Thats the beauty of golf.

But my theory on dispersion is correct, all things being equal, irrespective of the course. Slice a wedge, it goes say 60m long, 15m right. Slice a driver, 170m long, 170m wide.

And duff a wege and your shouting a slab for not getting past the ladies Was probably talking about courses more like Albert Park that are forgiving when you clutter it into the trees.

 

[hawkman]

Same here the courses i play i can generally hit driver off the tee and the only real trouble are trees, bunkers with the occasional water to be wary off

 

[ManOfClay]

You're better off starting off terribly then once you have your handicap and eligible to win competitions you can become a bandit and win a handful of times with your high handicap haha.

My strategy

 

[juss]

Problem with learning the driver on course is that at a lot of the cheapy, public more beginner focussed local courses, they aren't wide expansive carpet fairways and well kept roughs. You slice a few on these tighter, narrow fairways and you land in compete bush and the ball is lost forever. Anytime you get off the fairway you're playing off dirt, sticks, rocks, tree roots, tanbark, weeds, scrub, etc.

I sometimes find the better courses a lot easier to play because you often (not always) get wide carpet fairways, better rough, and general conditioning that makes your lies better.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Problem with learning the driver on course is that at a lot of the cheapy, public more beginner focussed local courses, they aren't wide expansive carpet fairways and well kept roughs. You slice a few on these tighter, narrow fairways and you land in compete bush and the ball is lost forever. Anytime you get off the fairway you're playing off dirt, sticks, rocks, tree roots, tanbark, weeds, scrub, etc.

I sometimes find the better courses a lot easier to play because you often (not always) get wide carpet fairways, better rough, and general conditioning that makes your lies better.

True that. I was furious first game back at Wav public...not a lot of mowing had been done due to the wet and rough was long...but there was so many broken branches in the rough. Nothing worse than playing a low recovery and it hits a stick (too many to go pick them all up). Staff needs to hook up a trailer and spend a few days cleaning that shit out. Went to Oakleigh (same council) and it was immaculate. Helps a lot.

Ball not always lost forever. There is actually a bit of an art in having a fairly good idea where it is..that is watching it very closely and picking something very close...tree trunk/branch as a reference point. Easier said than done as sometimes you are fuming after a poor shot and look elsewhere. Played games with some guys who had no idea and spent the whole day...over here mate...back 30 mate...near that tree mate. lol.

 

[juss]

True that. I was furious first game back at Wav public...not a lot of mowing had been done due to the wet and rough was long...but there was so many broken branches in the rough. Nothing worse than playing a low recovery and it hits a stick (too many to go pick them all up). Staff needs to hook up a trailer and spend a few days cleaning that sh*t out. Went to Oakleigh (same council) and it was immaculate. Helps a lot.

Ball not always lost forever. There is actually a bit of an art in having a fairly good idea where it is..that is watching it very closely and picking something very close...tree trunk/branch as a reference point. Easier said than done as sometimes you are fuming after a poor shot and look elsewhere. Played games with some guys who had no idea and spent the whole day...over here mate...back 30 mate...near that tree mate. lol.

I am notoriously bad at this, I pick a reference point, but by the time my playing partner has hit and we start the walk down the fairway, was it that tree? That branch? And when I get there and the grass is a foot long and there is shit all over the ground, it's a lost cause anyway lol. I've been playing Spring Park pre lockdown because it's within 10km of home, if you hit a ball into the scrub there it is gone. Lining most holes is pretty thick nature and branches, sticks and stones all over the joint.