Today, I was paired with two course pros (handicap of 0 and 4) and the best player in our group of 16 players (handicap of 5). No pressure. Watching them hit their shots was amazing. Crazy long drives, shaped shots, putts made from FAR away, etc. Listening to them "call their shot" was fun. Skills I won't ever have. It is fun to watch players with those kinds of skills and their thought process before shots. Even if they were just having fun, it was fun, but intimidating.

 

A question for all. We all want to be better golfers.
What steps have you taken to get better?
How often do you go pound balls at the range?
Short game?
Do you ever work with a pro taking lessons?

 

When I worked at the golf course I’d hit balls almost everyday and play a round 3-4 times a week. 1 or 2 of those rounds I would play with one of the pros, they helped me a ton.

Not playing or hitting balls regularly I lost most of what I used to be able to do. I miss it but there’s no fun playing golf by yourself imo. I figure I’ll have time in the future to pick it back up.

 

JUst remember something important Sam,
The future you isn't the same vibrant healthy person.
My reluctance to drop the coin on joining a golf course is I don't know if I'll still be able to play in 10 years, 5 years or even 2 years.

It's disappointing to say the least.

On a brighter note, I replaced the cleats in my shoes.
What a PITA. and yes I have the little magic tool.
BUT it's done.

 

My story…

Growing up, typical kid, Swing really hard at the range and try to hit it far. Zero understanding of the mechanics, used the clubs from the big barrel of clubs.

After college, my uncle was a member at a local club. I probably played with him a few times and at a local muni. Signed up for 6 lessons, and tore my ACL playing basketball after the first.

Got a regular job, met some people who played, Often played 2-3 rounds a week. Joined a 9 hole work league.

I've taken a total of about 5 to 8 lessons in 30+ years. I guess I’ve got a natural swing that's suitable for me. I generally start the season with about 4 or 5 buckets at the range over 2 weeks, then hit the course.

For a round I warm up with a small bucket some days, none on others. Mostly to get stretched out and loose, not to fix an issue. I'd say I 8 hit 10 wedges, 5 balls each with the 9,7,5 irons, 3 with the driver, then whatever's left with 1/2 or 2/3 wedges for some feel. Then I chip about 9 balls, and putt for 5 minutes. Then off to the first tee.

as mentioned, I don’t hit the driver long, so I've learnt to hit my irons well and have developed good feel around the greens.

I often wonder what would happen if I put the time into it.

Side note, where I work had the NJ Sr Open receently. Our Pro shot a +5 for T14. We were talking and he said…. Second round, I didn’t have the right clubs. On our long par 3, my 3 wood was too much and my 7 wood wouldn’t reach. MAKE SURE when you play, you have the clubs for each par 3.

 

My former neighbor was a member at The International near me.
He retired at 42 and golfed. He was a low single digit handicap.
His local reference of a good golfer was the pro there who could routinely whoop him.
The pro played at TPC Boston back when it was a tour stop.
The pro carded in at 15 over for two days and missed the cut.
I think the leaders were 8 or 10 under after two days.

Some Par 3's are getting stupid long. I recall that the US Open had one at over 300 yards.
While I have hit drives that were 300 yards that was 8 years ago and I was hitting onto a fairway 80 yards wide.
Not an 80 ft wide green, not to mention that substantial roll may have been involved.

 

I have a regular warm up routine in the summer time that starts with chipping, moving to a small bucket that gets me about three balls for MOST of the clubs in my bag and finish with 10-20 minutes of putting before our tee time. During the school year, I play on any weekday off of work and will do my practice routine two to three Sundays a month. Next school year I am helping with the golf team again, so I will get some practice in, but full rounds will be rare until the next school break.

I only play on the weekends if someone asks me to play which is rare.

 

Out on long island yesterday and today. Went to bethpage this morning. Black sold out by 645. Playing blue at 1024.

They're setting up for the Ryder cup.

 

I think you need a camper van to play the Black.

 

It's weird there. They use the same software as my county does for tee time reservations. But, they either leave blocks open or only allow foursomes to book and have an entire walk up system in place as well to fill the spots. In addition, 1 of the 5 courses is ONLY walk ins.. Where I live, I can look right now and book a single for 930 if I wanted to (It's 850 now). They also have NY state, out of state and Bethpage registered users. Each has longer tee time reservation windows, but with restrictions. So I think the Bethpage one allows 2 weeks in advance, BUT, Black only once a month. Out of state was 5 days, so there was nothing but Blue/Red at 5 PM when I looked. The starter on Blue said no one "no shows", period. That's a probably for our coruses.

So, you can get there, sleep in the car in your spot, in order you arrive, and then at 4:30 AM when the lobby opens, go in and see what's available. I wasn't doing that - I got there at 645. In the lobby is a reservation window. On top are 5 screens, one for each course. Black course was already turned off. Red had a spot at 11:30, Blue at 10:24, Green and Yellow didn't interest me, so I took the blue one. "White tees" played 6400. I shot a 93- sort of struggled all day.

After your get your reservation, the pro shop does the carts/caddies and goodies. No carts on Black, you have to walk. Just about everyone I saw going out had a caddie. I would have done that too. The shop is an independent company, so my NYS gift card only worked for golf. I guess I'll have to go back and really do the sleep thing.

Overall, the Blue course was ehhh... Wasn't any more special than anything around me - not substantially anyway. I suspect that the Black course gets extra staff to maintain it and keep it's prestige up. They are setting up already, and will close the course in mid August until early October. The other courses will also close before the Ryder Cup and during the event. Black will be walk up only starting next week until mid-August and only available for morning tee times. I expect the parking lot will be filled each night.

So, I can say I played Bethpage. I have a reason to go back. My summer of golf continues with Due Process Stable and Legacy Club next week, which will give me 6 new courses already this year.