Golf Thread

Out as usual today and actually played a reasonable round of golf, feels like it's been too long :p Nothing spectacular but 85 at Shrivenham (par 68 off the blue/winter tees though), feels like it's been a whilst since I broke 90 even!

I couldn't play on Friday cause of the rain but had a rain session and kinda randomly decided to try the ol' 2 Iron (Srixon ZU85 'driving iron' I've had for almost 2 years now) and was actually hitting it decently, put it in the bag for today and hit some really nice shots with it, only carrying ~170 but with the ball flight into wind it's nice to have in the bag.

Also out yesterday but that was nothing to write home about :p

Think I've decided on the Ping Hoofer Monsoon bag, it doesn't tick all my boxes but it seems nothing does :p Was gonna get a Titleist Players 4/5 StaDry but heard bad things about the legs after a bit of use and given I golf constantly that changed my mind... Gonna try and get it early in the week as I'm playing Cumberwell Park this week and it looks rainy... Today was meant to rain so ended up using my trolley as my interim pencil bag doesn't even have a rain hood.

So, 2026 goals:
  • Play 4 new Royal courses
  • Practice once a week (on average probably but ideally try to make once per week...)
  • Swing speed >100mph with the Driver, third year in a row, sure to happen this time :p
  • Following in Booyaka's footsteps gonna set myself a birdie target, was initially thinking 75 but maybe too high for where my game is at, 50 would be 1 in every 4 rounds ish average (assuming I do the same ~200 rounds a year) which seems doable?
  • Actually achieve my goals this year :cry:
 
Frustrating day for me yesterday.....hit a basket of balls at the range and felt fine. Back started to seize up as the day went on and I woke up this morning with all the signs of my slipped disc being aggravated - reduced range of movement and pain in the area of the disc

Got an appointment booked with my physio but hopefully meds will help settle things between now and my appointment, but looking like no golf for a couple weeks for me

Just pleased it is still bad weather and I am not missing course time as ours has been closed all weekend
 
www.pgatour.com

How it works: PGA TOUR Returning Member Program

In response to fan research that shows a clear desire to see the best golfers competing together more often – as well as timely inquiries from players not curre
www.pgatour.com www.pgatour.com

www.cbssports.com

Brooks Koepka reinstated by PGA Tour: 'Returning Member Program' sets new path

Koepka will pay a $5 million charitable contribution and miss out on $50 million to $85 million in potential earnings in his return to the PGA Tour after departing LIV Golf
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com

Good stuff from the new PGA commissioner... Going on the offence and opening the door to basically the only others who qualify - Rahm / Cam Smith / Bryson
 
It'll be interesting to see if anyone takes the opportunity... I could easily see Rahm doing it and maybe Bryson tbh not sure how long their contracts with LIV have left, especially Rahm, you'd expect for that much cash they've got him locked in :p
 
booyaka said:
Well that's coming up on nearly 4 weeks now - both courses on either winter greens or as per last 4 days - completely closed due to water logged.

Crazy stuff....

Back to indoor sim at some point this week.
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I always find January/February the hardest months, especially up in the north. The snow this week has just screwed everything. Luckily one of my friends has built himself a sim room and offers to have us round a couple of nights a week, it's a lot easier to keep the long game going this time of year.

I put a lot of hours into my short game last year though and kinda miss the practice grind getting up and down around the green, so hard to do int he winter.
 
JamesH85 said:
I always find January/February the hardest months, especially up in the north. The snow this week has just screwed everything. Luckily one of my friends has built himself a sim room and offers to have us round a couple of nights a week, it's a lot easier to keep the long game going this time of year.

I put a lot of hours into my short game last year though and kinda miss the practice grind getting up and down around the green, so hard to do int he winter.
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Is Consett your home course? Never played there despite working in Shotley Bridge and Consett area for a couple years

A girl I worked with and her husband were members there but don't ask their names as I can't remember lol
 
Not enough golf this weekend, could've played on Friday but decided to do a range session instead then Saturday the course was closed again, so yet another range session.

Did get out mid-week though at Cumberwell, first round with the new stand bag (Ping Hoofer Monsoon), didn't test the waterproof-ness but it was comfy, no real need to talk about the golf :p

Today played in Bristol, got to test the waterproof-ness of the new bag! The bag worked great, along with my new-ish StaDry wide-brimmed hat it was smooth sailing. Golf was decent too... Shot 84 in the end, should've been better, made a hash of the 5th (triple, one in the water and one OB) and 7th but the worst was the 18th, knew by then I was on for a decent round and of course tripled it. My drive was 65 yards from the flag as well, just a crap pitch ended in the bunker, 2 to get out, ok chip and an ugly lip-out to just put the icing on the cake. I think they call that choking :p

That back nine would've been a 1-over 36 as well, 2 bogeys and a birdie. Ah well, best round in a while, try not to complain :-p
 
Played with less clubs on Friday, was quite nice! Settled on Driver, Hybrid, 5i, 7i, 9i, 50, 54 & 58, putter.

Enjoyed the lack of decision paralysis - I wasn't stuck between clubs, because I simply didn't have it! I think I only overshot a green twice - only one of those was down to just hitting it too hard.

Been working on a little bit of shot shaping as well; just trying to bring a little draw into the game. Now it's down to knowing when to use it and when to just hit my normal shot. It's certainly helping to straighten out my long irons at least!

Off on a charity day on Friday - Prince's GC in Kent. It's the last day of Ginger Golf's world record attempt - I played with him last March, so thought it was only fitting I went along to the final day :cool:
 
Going to Portugal for a lads golf holiday, looking at club hire lists. They do have the AP2s that I already own but I'm wondering if it's a opportunity to try out some clubs for 3 days.

What would people choose from this list if they were forced to?

Golf Club Hire in Algarve - Ace Golf Club Hire

Golf Club Hire in Algarve. Premium Golf Club Hire direct to your hotel, villa or private residence.
www.acegolfclubhire.com www.acegolfclubhire.com
 
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ChroniC said:
Going to Portugal for a lads golf holiday, looking at club hire lists. They do have the AP2s that I already own but I'm wondering if it's a opportunity to try out some clubs for 3 days.

What would people choose from this list if they were forced to?

Golf Club Hire in Algarve - Ace Golf Club Hire

Golf Club Hire in Algarve. Premium Golf Club Hire direct to your hotel, villa or private residence.
www.acegolfclubhire.com www.acegolfclubhire.com
Click to expand...
What's the cost of hire vs just taking your own clubs? Playing with rentals just isn't the same.
 
£50 for hire for mid range decent clubs. About £120 to take your own, as only BA offer them as baggage, Easyjet costs just to take your clothes these days let alone golf clubs.
 
ChroniC said:
Going to Portugal for a lads golf holiday, looking at club hire lists. They do have the AP2s that I already own but I'm wondering if it's a opportunity to try out some clubs for 3 days.

What would people choose from this list if they were forced to?

Golf Club Hire in Algarve - Ace Golf Club Hire

Golf Club Hire in Algarve. Premium Golf Club Hire direct to your hotel, villa or private residence.
www.acegolfclubhire.com www.acegolfclubhire.com
Click to expand...

Of those list, if forced, I'd probably go for the Wilson Prostaff, cause they're the cheapest :cry:

3 days is that awkward time, as you say it's way cheaper to hire but I personally wouldn't look forward to playing any of those sets so whatever costs the least... All my golf trips have been 5 nights so long enough that hiring vs taking your own is about the same so taken my own every time... I'd be tempted even at £70 extra tbh, I assume even for 3 days if you're golfing anyway nice I assume it's like ~£4-500+ already?
 
It is. But I don't have a fitted set of £2000 clubs so frankly an £70 rental on a set of Stealth would be an upgrade to try for 3 days.

Was just curious what people would rate in the list of they owned them for instance.
I've heard good things about Sim2max, stealth, the qi10s and others. I don't think I'm gona be choosing the Wilsons but I'm going with high handicappers would couldn't give a **** so they'll happily chunk anything.

Easyjet are £45 per flight on 20kg of clubs plus you'd have to buy a hard case £70+ plus you have to account for getting them in coaches and cars. 12 sets.

Seems easier to just have a newish set of clubs delivered to your hotel for £50/60 quid.
 
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ChroniC said:
£50 for hire for mid range decent clubs. About £120 to take your own, as only BA offer them as baggage, Easyjet costs just to take your clothes these days let alone golf clubs.
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I paid about £40 each way with Easyjet and SunExpress (Turkish airline) last year as I recall. Did you get an actual quote on your route with BA @ £60 each way? Online it's saying between about £35-60 so might be worth checking.

When out in Turkey I rented some clubs at Lykia Links. Outstanding course, but the rental clubs were poor. After a few holes I ended up using my own actual clubs, which I'd given to one of my sons.

Golf is hard enough as it is. Why go out to play somewhere nice abroad and not have the familiarity of your own clubs. For me I will continue to take my own. It's worth the extra baggage faff and cost to me personally as you can then take them to different courses and always keep the same clubs.


ChroniC said:
It is. But I don't have a fitted set of £2000 clubs so frankly an £70 rental on a set of Stealth would be an upgrade to try for 3 days.
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I felt exactly the same. The rentals at the place you linked look good though. Seem to take it a bit more seriously as has all info about them. I guess take your pic really on ones you'd like to try.

I also saw something that was probably quite rare at Carya Golf, but some group were having an argument with the proshop people over a rental club they returned which one of them had damaged. They were trying to charge him for basically the damages to replace it. I never really thought about that and I'm sure it is rare, but with unfamiliar clubs you can sometimes chunk it hard on a tree root and damage them.
 
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Had a swing with some new P790s last night. Christ they're lofted strong :eek: 7 iron is 30 degrees, I was getting ~185 yards of carry with it - ridiculous. Obviously adjust for range mats, so perfect lie etc, but even so. I'll stick with my P770s!
 
Is this a good time of year to buy second hand clubs would you say, when all the new model stuff comes out? Was thinking people would hopefully be selling up their older models. :)

I need to build myself up a set of second hand clubs, but kind of want to get fitted to see what would be best for me. I'm about 25 handicap. I've seen somewhere local to me that does whole bag fitting for about a ton, and there is no obligation to buy from them as such. I was thinking to just pay it and get a pro to look at me and suggest shaft and type of clubs. Would also like their opinion on lie angle and length as I've always played half inch longer but not sure if I actually need to or should have more length.
 
To be honest it might be worth getting a lesson and ask the pro there. There's only really a benefit to getting fitted when your swing is consistent; before that happens it may be better value to get recommendations on clubs based on your ability/ball striking.
 
Met up with my step-daughter-in-laws dad at the range this evening whilst he was up visiting to try hitting a few balls since my back went last week

Only got a basket of 50 balls and was not going full at any shot (carry was a good 10-15% down on normal) but don't feel too bad which is hopefully a good sign

Played a couple rounds of the par 3 course on Trackman (The Hay) which has nothing longer than about 115yds. Shot +1 first time after flying a green and finishing in the rough which is an auto 3 shot finish
Second time round shot -1 which was much better

Only hit a couple woods and driver shots but didn't feel comfortable so spent most of the basket with irons and wedges
 
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