Random Golf Thoughts

Barnaboy · 06-07-2021 4:59pm

Holidaying in Sligo this week. Was out in Rosses Point at the beach. Saw this sign and made me smile....

redzerdrog · 06-07-2021 5:49pm

Our club has removed the little pull up contraption that was on the pins only done the other day but no mention as to why

Barnaboy · 06-07-2021 7:54pm

redzerdrog wrote: »

Our club has removed the little pull up contraption that was on the pins only done the other day but no mention as to why

Please let us take the pins put again. please! Hate putting with them in.

willabur · 06-07-2021 8:06pm

redzerdrog wrote: »

Our club has removed the little pull up contraption that was on the pins only done the other day but no mention as to why

Probably because they add no value other than spring the odd putt out of the hole

Rikand · 21-07-2021 9:58pm

https://www.golfireland.ie/news-detail?newsarticleid=223&tags=tournaments;Munster

Athlone's Thomas O'Connor shoots 63 in Lahinch on opening day of the South of Ireland.

Could that be a course record ?

youcancallmeal · 27-07-2021 9:00am

Druids Golf is incredibly aggressive at marketing, I ordered once from them last year and despite deselecting all the marketing stuff I started getting emails nearly every day about their 'incredible' offers, not to mention the all my social media full of their ads(That's down to cookies though). Took a few tries but the unsubscribe eventually worked. Now in the past couple of weeks I've started getting text messages. There is no number to block and no way to stop the messages. I find it strange that companies do this kind of marketing, the clothes I got from them were only okay, clearly cheapo Chinese stuff that isn't going to last long(The gloves disintegrated after a few rounds) but not bad at the heavily "discounted" prices. I would've considered ordering again in future but this aggressive marketing has me turned right off them

slave1 · 27-07-2021 9:10am

For those so inclined, PuttOUT putting mat on sale at Amazon. €39

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0777137V2?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Rikand · 27-07-2021 11:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117666730#Comment_117666730

they are relentless. So annoying to keep getting the emails but I'd rather emails than text messages

dan_ep82 · 18-08-2021 1:23pm

5hrs 30 minute round

Must have been 30 golf balls lost between two of them. I was there a few years ago, we all have, but I was never that slow. Last to putt out, first on the tee and usually last to hit my second.

Ivefoundgod · 18-08-2021 2:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771309#Comment_117771309

Often an issue with those new to the game, was it in a comp or casual? I've been wondering about this in terms of slow play, most of our big comps are stroke play and I've wondered is there anything to be said for including a cut off score on some holes? Similar to the nett double bogey used for adjusted gross for handicap purposes. My thinking would be;

Par 3s - 8 or above=pick up

Par 4s - 9 or above=pick up

Par 5s - 10 or above=pick up

With a pick up or scratch equating to a score of 10 on those holes. Only issue I can think of is for those with really high handicaps, is a 10 the end of a round for them or is it possible to card a ten in a stroke play comp and still put in a score? For me if I have anything above a double bogey my round is usually destroyed unless I play lights out for the way in, I'd imagine must players up to maybe 25 handicap would be similar? I have obviously done no research into this so I could be way off but something that has popped into my mind when I see someone reloading a 3rd or 4th time on a hole. It would speed up competition play while also ensuring that people don't get totally fed up with their own round or their playing partners.

dan_ep82 · 18-08-2021 3:04pm

I don't think the two higher guys were new to golf but maybe new to competition. It was stableford.

There was nothing personally bad about any of them at all, nice enough guys. Just it was an hour over what I'd call a slow round for no real reason, 5 minutes a hole adds up I guess. Slow to tee off, slow to get to a ball etc. Add that in with looking for balls on most holes adds up

Not worth a thread, just wanted to vent :D

RoadRunner · 18-08-2021 3:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771636#Comment_117771636

If it's strokes, then it's strokes. With other formats you hit a ball in trouble off the tee with an iron, then go back and pull driver for a provo and whack it as far as you can to try salvage something. With strokes it's the opposite, if ball one is in trouble, then you need to reign backwards, tee up a second while dealing with your anger or stress and FIND that fairway to protect against a really big score. Any other versions of that format and it's simply not strokes.

RoadRunner · 18-08-2021 3:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117772100#Comment_117772100

^ Quick Followup: if you are left with a downhill putt for an 8 on a par three on traditional strokes versus a version where you pickup after 8 -you are going to play that shot differently under the two different formats. And it's also part of what makes that risky shot in over the water on the prior hole all the more pleasing when you make the carry and stitch it for an unlikely birdy :)

finglashoop · 18-08-2021 3:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771309#Comment_117771309

no thanks.

if it was that slow. id just go home. wouldnt enjoy it at all

blue note · 18-08-2021 3:39pm

That's a crazy long round! I've never been out that long on a course.

In casual golf if they're not holding anyone up I think they're right to keep playing. They'll learn faster that way. But at a minimum they were holding you up. If it's taking them that long to get around they need to figure out how to speed up.

youcancallmeal · 18-08-2021 8:09pm

Anyone ever get tennis elbow from golf? Apparently tennis elbow is more common for golfers than golf elbow is. The difference is tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow and golfers elbow is pain on the inside. I had played a load of golf in July including rounds or range sessions every day in the last week of July. So last touched a golf club 3 weeks ago and it hasn't gotten any better. Going to see physio on Friday as lifting anything over a kilo is painful

Ivefoundgod · 18-08-2021 8:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117772100#Comment_117772100

You make perfect sense, as does your follow up. I hadn't even considered that strategic element to it but it changes how I approach Stableford so of course it would for stroke play too. As you can tell I put little or no thought into it, just entered my head while waiting on a slow group last weekend.

I do hope there is more acceptance of 9 hole tournaments in future years. 18 holes can be a real slog if its slow, especially if you know you're out of it in a comp. I'd love Saturday/Sunday evening 9 hole comps at our club. As it stands the only 9 hole comp is a midweek four ball thing that I'm not mad about.

slave1 · 18-08-2021 9:14pm

5hr 30m just crazy stuff, I’ve often done sub 2 hours solo, 2.5 two ball etc with no rushing. 4 balls with multiple lost balls and provisionals a disaster alright but what can you do when someone knocks a drive into the deep stuff and decides to take out a 3wood and then it’s popcorn as they lose ball after ball, rinse/repeat for loooooooong round

Rikand · 18-08-2021 9:41pm

Got around in 4 hours on Sunday in fourball. Pretty quick and we never saw the groups in front of us, nor the ones behind. Everyone was rushing in to get in, in time, to watch the Roscommon Vs Offaly U20 match on TV. it was a lovely way to play :)

dan_ep82 · 21-08-2021 7:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117773632#Comment_117773632

I wouldn't be the quickest player but far from the slowest. I can do under the 2hrs as a one ball without any issues and under 4 for a 3 ball would be normal so it was a bit of a shock when I checked the time crossing the 9th

That was it basically, 1 OOB , next I the trees then trying to get up and down from 200yds needing a punch cut riser. Next shot is trying to get up and down from 205 as it ricochet backwards ha

I joined the line late as a single which probably gave me more patience than I would've had on another day

Rikand · 22-08-2021 11:54pm

Athlone senior and junior scratch cup on Sunday 29th of august if any around and fancy it. Course is in super condition

dan_ep82 · 25-08-2021 4:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771309#Comment_117771309

Actually won this with 35 points

So let's talk about why rounds should be longer..

blue note · 25-08-2021 5:16pm

Good man! On reflection did you enjoy the round?

dan_ep82 · 25-08-2021 5:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117802851#Comment_117802851

Good question, I'd say I'm happy I played it but didn't enjoy the second half of it after I checked the time walking off the 9th. I knew we were slow at that point but once I seen just how slow it took the enjoyment out of it and I was more focused on pushing the group a bit

bamayang · 31-08-2021 9:18am

What handicap do "non golfers" get in a classic-fundraiser scramble with WHS? We are running a scramble at the weekend, in past events I have played, non golfers typically got assigned 18, but i believe that has gone up now has it?

Also, some scrambles I have played the organizers have added 4 handicaps together and divided by 7 and others have divided by 10. Is there a set rule to determine the teams handicap? I read something online about using 5%/10%/15%/20% of the 4 players but that seems like an opportunity for mistakes on the day.

youcancallmeal · 31-08-2021 3:28pm

When were 460cc+ drivers outlawed? A friend who hasn't played in a long time rocked up for a round with us yesterday with a 580cc driver. We all had a go hitting and were getting much more distance with it. I guess that's why it was outlawed. It was even easier to hit it straight(Based on how I was doing with my own normal driver during the round). It sounded and looked awful though

callaway92 · 31-08-2021 3:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117828519#Comment_117828519

Mid-2000s it was outlawed by USGA and limited it to 460cc

callaway92 · 31-08-2021 4:00pm

I see The Island Golf Club will be upping their prices in 2022 by 17.5%

May-Oct (Mon to Thurs) was €165 now €200

May-Oct (Fri to Sun) was €185 now €225

blue note · 31-08-2021 4:19pm

Crazy money. I wonder how many lines they'll sell at those prices.

I'd love to know what the actual average green fee is. I imagine the tour operators booking in hundreds / thousands each year get a good discount. And I'd say there's a high proportion playing as member guests, or getting a deal some other way.

I remember playing with a lad who played there the week before and I said that to him. He said no way, they don't give discounts there's. So I said wow, you paid the full rate so? No, he got it for around 60 because he knew someone there.

callaway92 · 03-09-2021 2:29pm

Have to say, I'm a little bit surprised and a bit disappointed at the lack of sellers that don't offer periodic payment for Clubs

I'd imagine there's a fair whack of people who baulk at the idea of paying €450 for a new Driver or €900 for Irons etc, however a 12-month payment period for them would likely encourage quite a few sales. Even just thinking Marketing-wise, '€38 per month for 12 months' sounds better to many than '€450'

I do see McGuirks use a 3rd party crowd (Humm) but it looks like nobody else in Ireland does it. I can't imagine setting it up would be too much of a nightmare. I suppose the turn-off might be non-payment of something that has €200 left to be paid off mightn't be worth chasing so there might end up being dead-money there but still

Probably is a Business opportunity really

Ivefoundgod · 03-09-2021 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117842343#Comment_117842343

I was reading an article on this subject recently. In Ireland there is only Humm (which used to be called Flexi-Fi) who provide this service, the main player in this space is Klarna which you'll see all over the UK sites offering the same option as payment. In a previous role I had some dealings with Flexi-fi and found them very poor to work with in terms of integrating their service to our eCommerce sites so I'm not that surprised the uptake is relatively low compared to other places. It is available in some B & M stores where I assume there is a portal the seller accesses to process and application. O' Dwyers in Kilkenny offer it in store only but advertise on their website.

Klarna is expanding into Ireland in 2022 so I'd expect that to become a much more readily available option for people soon. Only thing with Klarna and that sort of thing is if you are spending €1-1400k on a new set of irons you'll want to be fitted for them and I don't think they offer that service on custom clubs so to me not of much use. Maybe if you knew exactly the specs you want it would work out ok though. Its certainly cheaper than putting it on the credit card and paying it back though so if you know what you want its a great option. I'd probably only consider it for things like a putter or maybe an electric cart personally but not sure I like the idea of a 12 month loan for something relatively small like that.

Mantis Toboggan · 06-09-2021 12:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/116841343#Comment_116841343

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/golf/golf-pga-tour-documentary-netflix-24905308

Ask and they shall deliver!!

The Big Easy · 15-09-2021 9:58am

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/brooks-koepka-poolside-interview-ryder-cup-masters

Interesting interview with Brooks, thinks he can catch Nicklaus in majors and speaks about Phil's gamesmanship in the PGA.

No mention of Bryson though, which is strange as it's a pretty open wide-ranging interview. Wonder why he or the interviewer considered it off the table, maybe because of the Ryder Cup, which he isn't particularly a fan of with all the team meetings and whatnot.

redzerdrog · 15-09-2021 10:32pm

He comes across as an absolute twat

OEP · 16-09-2021 7:58am

He's more unlikeable than Bryson

slave1 · 17-09-2021 7:09am

It's good to have characters in the game, beats robotic boredom

17-09-2021 4:54pm

He is no someone I would call a character he is just a moan, and a bit of a bully. He also seems to have no love for the game which is fine but like I don't want to watch someone like that.

OEP · 19-09-2021 9:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117902274#Comment_117902274

He's not really a character though. He comes across as someone trying too hard to be the tough guy

slave1 · 19-09-2021 11:00am

Poor choice of verbs, different "personalities", think you know what I mean

OEP · 19-09-2021 4:16pm

He has a very unlikeable personality in that case!

tommyombomb · 23-09-2021 3:17pm

Anyone buy off golfdiscount.com

Prices seem great, especially the tp5 practice balls. I assume i pay 23% vat on purchase but that it. Also some of the clubs are a lot cheaper than they would be in ireland. Am i missing anything else?

SuprSi · 27-09-2021 9:19pm

I've always been told, and have heard it countless times on TV about how your putting grip should be soft, how you shouldn't grip it hard, etc. The problem I have when I do this is that the club feels loose in my hands, and swings in my hands during the backswing, leading to inconsistency at impact.

If I grip it a bit tighter, where it doesn't feel loose in my hands, I sometimes get this yippy thing where my wrists twist right at impact. It's bloody annoying!! It only happens when I have my right hand below left, which is my preferred way. How firmly do you grip the putter?

dan_ep82 · 27-09-2021 10:20pm

Try to relax your wrists on the down stroke only so it doesn't feel like a noodle on the way back.

I find I hit more on line putts this way compared to a strong grip throughout but putting is very player specific

Lefty2Guns · 28-09-2021 8:16am

While watching the Ryder Cup one of the golfers on the Sunday nearly had a double tap (hitting the ball twice on the same shot) so to speak and the commentator said, it would have been ok as the rules have now changed. I wasn't aware of the rule change. When did it come in to play?