Random Golf Thoughts

spacecoyote

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291699#Comment_124291699

Reality is that basically at all handicap levels the number of greens missed long is less than 5%, but missed short is probably in the 20-30%

If it's too crude for some people, you should probably be targeting at minimum flag +5 yards as your target.

And almost never take on a front pin. Even pros have sh1t stats on front pins.

Again, thats why you're outside the "scoring" clubs

bobster453

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291332#Comment_124291332

True, flag hunting is ok for low handicappers, the rest of us should be green hunting.

Dont need a pair of binoculars for that 😃

Appletart Upsetter

I borrowed herself's range finder for the last few months, never used one before.

It certainly speeds me up from looking for distance markers and pacing out my ball from there.

I can't for the life of me get it to focus on the pin/flag. So I just pick a spot on the front of the green and club up from there. I don't use it from 100 yards in.

spacecoyote

I use a GPS and laser.

I'll laser flag while standing waiting for someone else to hit. My GPS let's me move the flag on the green. So laser while waiting, move flag to that distance on GPS. Walk up to ball and have distance ready to go

blue note

I've heard what you're saying a lot and I probably by and large agree with it. I'd rather those people who consider their very best strikes their yardages revise them to their averages / medians of decent strikes, but I suppose that's basically the same thing.

However, I do wonder whether the problem is overestimated based on pure stats from the likes of arcoss. Looking at my Garmin app, I miss long 8% of the time and short 30%. But a few things aren't considered.

Firstly, mishits. Not the not great hits, but the big mishits. No amount of loft is going to help you if you hit 2 inches before the ball. They're included in the 30%, but that's nothing to do with targets.

Secondly, avoiding the danger. In front of greens there's almost always a playable area. Often a fairway, sometimes a bunker. But beyond greens you'll often have OB or just an area that's not really maintained. But usually leaving your approach short is likely to cost you a shot. The really costly miss is more often long.

And thirdly, I'm sure it includes those shots when I'm not actually expecting to reach the green. Par 5s I'm happier to come up short on than go for the green and risk a big miss, taking additional loft out of the rough due to poor lies.

I probably should try some day aiming for the back of the greens to see what happens. But I really suspect the problem is overstated because those looking at it aren't really looking at why people miss long / short.

Bahanaman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290656#Comment_124290656

I've found it very good at picking up the flag. The hands can be a bit shaky at times but you get used to it and get better at locking on to it after a while.

Russman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124281151#Comment_124281151

Thats interesting. I just looked at their website and every item is marked out of stock. Shame if they've gone out of business, genuinely great company to deal with. My glider is 18 years old and still going strong bar a couple of clips/nuts that needed replacing over the years.

golfguy1

they have ceased trading.

i hear they were bought by a larger golf products company and may be continued under another name

blue note

What do ye reckon folks? Will anyplace be qualifying for Patrick's day? Will anyplace in Dublin? Excluding links obviously.

spacecoyote

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124300111#Comment_124300111

Castlewarden is hoping to be placing on Fairway only I'd imagine.

First major of the year scheduled, so I'd say they're hoping for the best

benny79

Doesn't qualifying usual start around April? don't ever recall it been March (links obviously excluded)

paulos53

Nenagh are usually the first parkland in Munster to bring in qualifying competitions. I did play a qualifying round there last year on St Patricks Day but I doubt that will be case this year.

spacecoyote

Dont think theres a date for it Benny, its just whenever conditions allow for it.

Probably its been typically April in a lot of places on recent years just because of the weather

Kiith

Our Captains Drive-In is on the 28th March, so won't be qualifying till then.

billy3sheets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124300111#Comment_124300111

I recall that last year was very good and there were qualifying competitions in March. My first one of 2025 was March 30th. In 2024, Spring was very wet and qualifying didn't start until May.

Depends on weather of course but I think placing on fairways only is feasible now, allowing qualifying.

Dexters Bow Tie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124300425#Comment_124300425

Definitely not the case in my course for another couple of weeks. There's a few areas that have quite a bit of tree cover and are roped off because its still quite wet underfoot

awec

We have a medal the last weekend in March and I believe that's when we'll go counting again.

blue note

My memory says that clubs tend to aim for at Patrick's day to start qualifying comps, but this has kind of gone by the wayside in recent years. And this year, we've had a couple of weeks of good weather, but the ground is still wet. I sat on a chair on my lawn yesterday and just sank. Now, I'm aware that it may not solely be due to the rain, but I think it at least partly is.

Break80

30th of March was my first qualifying round last year in my home club.

I guess it's down to ground conditions.

It was earlier in March the year before.

IAmTitleist

I'm member of a parkland in Co Armagh and last year qualifying started early April. Considering the amount of rain this winter i'd expect it to be much more like early May this year.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124300804#Comment_124300804

Is it in bad nick?

I think even with all the rain places are going to dry out quite quickly now.

My own course you wouldn't really know at this stage that there was heavy rain for 6 solid weeks, there's only maybe 1 or 2 spots that are ever so slightly soft.

Sorbet

Has anyone ever changed clubs (without a proper fitting) and had their game go completely sideways for a while?

I recently switched irons(off adverts). I didn’t go for a proper fitting mainly for budget reasons, but I did try to do a bit of homework. I had some numbers from a TrackMan session and ran them through a few things (including AI) and the general suggestion was that I should probably be in something lighter and softer — moving from a 127g stiff shaft to around a 105g regular shaft.

On paper it all seemed to make sense and feels like it should suit me better long term. But straight away I’m suddenly hitting the shanks and some really poor strikes that I didn’t really have before. It’s a bit freaky because my ball striking had actually been improving with the old set. I’m guessing the weight and flex is throwing timing off

Just wondering if this is a normal adjustment phase when you change clubs, especially with a fairly big shaft change, or if it’s usually a sign something isn’t quite right (length/lie/shafts etc).

Interested to hear if anyone else went through this and whether it settled down after a bit of practice or if you ended up getting them adjusted/fitted.

I’m hoping I’m overreacting as I just hit them yesterday for the first time.

Russman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124303315#Comment_124303315

I wouldn't read too much into one round or one range session. Give it a few rounds. 127g to 105g is a fairly big change so its bound to feel very different initially.

That said, I'm far from a powerful player, and I got fitted for irons a couple of years ago, in the irons I settled on all logic pointed to the Nippon Modus 105 being perfect for me, yet the 120s (for me) performed much better, and felt totally different to each other even though there's only around 10g in the difference. There's still a bit of individual feel with a fitting end we're all slightly different.

benny79

@sorbet Id give it a few rounds shanks can be sometimes caused mentally too. If they still give you bother get them checked with a fitter/Pro should be only around €50 and can be bit of a lesson too. As in the normally give you one if any good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EubxU2vLM2s

That video always fixes me when the unmentionables happens!

Sorbet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124303480#Comment_124303480

That’s mad @benny79 - I’ve never had them before and so assumed it was caused by a wide open clubface and so when I was trying to correct was making it worse. That video really helps me understand- so much to learn in this game, thanks.

spacecoyote

Even when buying fitted clubs you have an adjustment period @Sorbet So i certainly wouldn't be panicking about it. Especially given you've changed weight and flex in the clubs.

Will definitely be some settling in time.

enfant terrible

Try adding some lead tape see if it helps.

benny79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124303528#Comment_124303528

I know right. Its my go to video have it saved in watts app lol..

stulittle

Scratch cups early enough this year. 🏌️

stulittle

Scratch Cups 2026.xlsx