Well, given my office was being packed up for a move to a new location, I took advantage of a free day off and hit the links. Things started well with 2 pars but then the wheels came off. While I was trying not to incorporate too much of the things from my lesson into the round (I like to save that for the range until it's sunk in), I think it did. My tempo got off and I found myself thinking over my shots instead of just trusting my swing. Managed to find the wheels again on the back nine and par'd 3 of the last 5, and if it wasn't for bad putting today, that should have been 5 of the last 6. So finished with an 87, not terrible but not what I was hoping for. I started to leave after 9 holes but decided I would just keep working and get exercise (was walking) and I'm glad I did...pulling things back around made me feel better about my game...

Don, how are the greens at Fossil Trace? I need them fast...I can never adjust to slow greens....

Post deleted by DON

What are you trying to say? I'm fat? Will that help cure hitting my balls fat too?

Pay no attention Doc... she (he, they, it...) thought this was "How Round Are You?"
So HollYT.., thank you in advance for not posting here again (we hope.)

Hitting your shots fat? Try our patented trim-shot method. "Where your loss... is your gain!!!"
http://www.TrimYourShots.com

((p.s) B.S. fake link)

First off, Happy Mother's day to all those mom's out there. I hit the range yesterday and must say, after a not-so great round Friday, everything was clicking at the range. My tempo seemed to be nice and smooth and I was a littel more in tune with keeping my head down and watching the club come through the ball and letting the momentum of the swing pull my head up. I have this tendency to turn my head at impact, trying to watch the shot, instead of keeping my head pointed down until the shot is finished and the momentum pulls me around. So I worked on that some too. But honestly, things clicked well. Don't know if it'll carry to the course next time but I was happy. Tempo baby, its the key!

Just back; been busy outside of golf (imagine that...) but did manage 2 rounds last week; a new course, and one I've played before.

Mid-week we played Rustic Canyon Golf Course http://www.rusticcanyongolfcourse.com/photogallery.htm which is unique to S. California as an Australian links-style course. The course was in such great condition, and the fairways so plush. We played on a nice day, and actually went out for a twilight 2nd round (which we completed.) Before the 2nd round I purchased a nice yardage book, which really helped. It's a par 73 course from the black tee's (we played blue) and I shot ok the 1st round, improved on the 2nd. 1st round= 89 / 2nd round= 84. It's a challenging course, and we're going back this week when his father's in town. And the cart's have GPS!

Played Balboa later in the week, which is a flat open course, so we walked. Ended up playing twilight there also, and made another 9 holes. Shot 84 the 1st round, and was only +4 on the twilight 9, which included a birdie on the 18th hole (we skipped and played in on 16-18.) Went ahead and made a full day of it; which included an evening of darts, pool, and shuffle-board. Don't know if it was the drinks, but while playing shuffle board, we had a couple amazing rally's... but I would crack up laughing and fall to the ground... it was pretty funny, but I couldn't help it. Good thing I'm not a tennis player... if I collapse laughing during a great rally...

Saturday...got to the course early to find that they were having a Taylormade demo day! yay!
Hit 3 of the new drivers:
R7 draw, HT (13 deg), M (senior) flex graphite
Burner, HT, M flex
Superquad, 11.5 deg, M flex
Absolutely blasted the Burner (actually the R7 also, but I give a slight edge to the Burner). Nice club.
Unfortunately it messed up my driving for the round. Somehow I adjusted my swing for those clubs and wound up popping up most of my tee shots during the round.
The good news was that I got out of the sand successfully each time I found myself in the bunker, so I'm on my way to one of my golf goals for this year!...You gotta look at the bright side

Were you using your driver in the bunker since you were getting so much hangtime from it?

ahh, that's my other little secret...and why the bunkers have lost so much sand!

Aimee, good on the sand shots! When you start believing you can get out when you land them; they become less an issue. Why we see pro's hitting long, not worrying if they land in sand (often even preferable.) In fact, I would venture to say, the less we are afraid of sand traps... the less times we will end up in the sand. You know, that old law of attraction; hitting exactly where we don't want to go... funny how that works.

I have improved my sand play enough to feel more comfortable taking chances around the greens, than I certainly should have in the past. I expect now to "at least" get out; but still working on more precise landings; often my "brilliant" shots just kind of happen, though I know I'm applying the basics soundly enough to insure something decent, or better. I still TRY to land an area from the sand; but admit my primary focus is still always: "at least get out somewhere *around* my landing area, but GET OUT."

Same here Wade...after working and developing a basic swing plan for my bunker shots, I don't worry so much about them. A few times I must admit, I have known that it wouldn't be pretty (wet sand, down hill lie, etc) but I "expect" to get out in one shot. Confidence breeds good shots so I get in, setup, trust my swing and go. Doesn't always work but most of the time is does. Now my work in bunkers is more with the bad lies (fried egg lies and such), distance control, and using different wedges in different situations.

My friend's parents are visiting, and today we played the Rustic Canyon course; an Australian links-style, very nice, and perfect sun. A challenging place though. I shot 86, and felt kind of lucky. One lone birdie (par 5) but quite a few glances. Last week shot 89/84 (we played 36.) Everyone played fine today, and had fun. I like this course, except for some environmental-protection hazards (native shrubbery, etc.) If you're OB there... you're square. Didn't land any today (crossing my hybrid's behind my back,) but did hit a couple last week. We'll be hitting future 3pm twilight's here again soon.
http://www.rusticcanyongolfcourse.com/photogallery.htm

Tomorrow we have time at Malibu golf course; 73 rating/132 slope on Bermuda grass. It will be our first time there, and is a "little" pricey, so I better enjoy it, whether I enjoy it or not! Will let you know how it goes...
http://malibucountryclub.net/page/81-2054.htm

Rustic Canyon looks gorgeous to me. I'd like to play there someday.

Today we played Malibu Golf Course, 1p tee-time; finished in 4 1/2 hrs. It was our first time there, but won't be our last! It's beautiful, and includes some of the most drastic elevation changes I've ever experienced, on MOST of the holes... but loads of fun! You have to drive carts (there are a few hikes) but they include built in GPS on a large LCD display, which is displayed just as a yardage book w/ pic's. It was too cool. The greens are bent grass, and deceptively sloped. Course rating 72.6/slope 132.

I shot 88, which included losing 2 of my new 3-pack of ProV1's... One was a pulled drive OB, but the other was a surprise. Faced an uphill approach to the green, having missed left, and needing to hit under trees. So I swung the 4i, tried to punch/run it up from 165 yds. Pulled off the intended shot, but... was unaware there was a water-hazard across part of the fairway... Apparently it bounced once and then into the drink! I was blind to it, hitting over a slight hill. Anyway, now I know... (and have to admit it WAS there on the LCD display... I just wasn't paying enough attention.) But we're going to get to know this course, and anytime any of you visit; we should play there.

Tomorrow we're picking up a friend of mine to complete a foursome and play another new course; Brookside http://brookside.americangolf.com/ which is in Pasedena, near the Rose Bowl. We tee at 1:30p, to complete 3 days of playing new courses! It's been great, my scores have been decent for playing challenging and unfamiliar courses, and the weather's been nice, with very little wind. One thing I can improve on, in playing new courses, is to be a little more conservative, and/or be sure I know where the hazards are. But of course, after a bad hole or two, I start trying to make up lost ground... which can often backfire. But I managed to stay fairly loose, sucking up the bad shots and "trying..." trying once again... to put together a nice sequence of shots! That's "where it's at" AFAIC.

Sounds good Wade, sounds like some awesome courses. But one question...what happened to the rule of playing 2 rounds of golf per week, "no more, no less"? Just don't want you falling off the proverbial wagon here. I would not be fulfilling my obligation as a member of your team of GAA sponsors if I didn't ask that question.

Well... I could say I made that statement in "What are your 2007 Golf goals?" and that playing only 2 rounds a week is a GOAL and not a RULE. Yes, I could say that... But then, you all know my dirty little secret! But this week is an exception, in that my friends dad, brother-in-law, etc. are in town and he's taking them to nice new courses each day, so I decided to indulge along with them. I'll get back on the wagon next week. But remember, it's a goal/ not quite a rule *yet.*

CREATIVE AVOIDANCE

You are correct sir. I have always been the creative type; semantics-shmantics. After playing golf today with friends, one of them prefers Malibu, and the other Brookside (which we played today for the first time.) It was a very nice course, well-kept, with water hazards. It's again a little pricey, and for the modest difference, I prefer Malibu; where you get all the bells and whistles, plus the unusual course's elevation changes, which add an amusement-park quality to it.

Anyway, today we played Brookside, and I shot 84. Had numerous lip-out putts today, so either the golf-gods were hostile (or my speed was off...) But on the 18th hole I had landed greenside bunker from 165 yds... splashed out to 5ft, and faced a downhill breaking putt. I made a good stroke, and it rolled right down, breaking... to the edge... almost stopped... but just dropped in. Thrilling, to save par! So I had a good day, only 1 birdie, but played consistantly, and was mostly satisfied. We've had a good little stretch of 3 days, new courses, and will return to all of them. The Griffith Park courses are open again, and the Roosevelt course just re-opened. Oh yes, 2007 golf goals... (luckily they're not RULES yet.)

Wade, how about the pull shot? Did it go away?

Bill, it was better; I'll post in "Misses are Pulls."

Played the gold tees at Cabo Real http://www.caboreal.com/golfcaboreal.htm this AM.
Hit the ball like there was no tomorrow,
But all my putts caused only sorrow.....
38 - 38 = 76 with, are you ready, 4 three putts and two 2 foot misses. One after a chip shot and the other after a good trap shot.
I benched the Nickent hybrid with the graphite shaft and used a new Burner 19 degree hybrid with a steel shaft. It hits the ball exactly the same distance each time and is perfect for a 5 wood/2 iron and maybe 3 iron replacement. I think if you are using a hybrid to replace an iron, and your irons have steel shafts, you are probably better off with a steel shaft in the hybrid.
The Cobra Carbon CB's are a hot set up.

Played with a bit of a cold, not good to start the round feeling achey. Shot around 100, I know I played pretty well considering my physical state. How mentally ill are we, going outside to tromp around for 4+ hours while sick? Some improvement in putting vs. last week (better speed). Got out of the sand both times I went in. Hit a couple of bullets off the fairway with the 3-wood (which I find more satisfying than a good tee shot). Played the same ball the entire round.

So, Bill, it looks like you could be posting another score in the 60's any day now... Cool.

Aimee, you had a nice round, too. Interesting that you played so well when ill. I haven't been feeling my usual self lately, either, so I've been swinging easy. AT first it was pretty ugly, but after a few days, that swinging easy allowed me to find a new feel that works a lot better. Like what Don has been describing lately about getting his driver swing speed up by swinging easier. (You've mentioned this to me before also.) So my illness had a gift for me.

18 @ Wilson today, nice & cool out, no wind. 42/44=86. Had a ham & cheese sandwich at the turn (so no hotdog magic on the back 9...) Thought I'd learned by now. Next time. Driving was good, playing the fade and landing *most* fairways; wedges were good (chipped in 1 birdie;) and only one 3-putt today. Problems came with missing good approach opportunities (good distance/bad line.) Also, had several 135'ish-yd shots today (and having lost my 8i recently) which is THE club; so it's absence was most evident on one 135 yd approach; choked down on my 7i, and rolled well over the green... I was playing fairly respectable, but still pulled at least one goofy shot on many holes (wish sometimes we still played Mulligan's...) Finished the round in time, we "could have" played a twilight 9 and finished, but I resisted the tempations of my partner, and the starter (I was surrounded by little devils on my shoulder) but I said, "I really shouldn't."

But just to make up for it... we plan to play 36 holes at Malibu this Thursday!!!