30 - with a three-putt bogey on the first hole 30 - all pars and birdies but missed a four foot eagle on the third hole 31 - with a double bogey on the seventh hole 31 - with back to back three-putt bogeys on the first two holes
Posts: 691 | Location: Nature's Air Conditioned City | Registered: August 21, 2007
I've held as low as a three handicap, and I've never done it on a course of over 5300 yards (in other words, what I would say is about the bare minimum regulation length).
What kind of courses did you score your 30s on, Hokie? And, were you playing the ball down?
Even on a short muni and "improving" your lie, sub-30 is a feat.
I grew up playing Radrick Farms in Ann Arbor, MI. The best I could ever do from the tips was a 31 on the front, 32 on the back (several times, respectively). They have since softened the back nine-- number 14 used to be an absolute monster, with a narrow fairway that ran off on both sides; I made more threes on the par fives than on that hole.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
The 30 (-6), with a three-putt bogey was shot on a public course in Birmingham, AL during my best friend's wedding golf outing. It was the first time I ever set foot on the course. It played between 6700-6800 yards and that side was just under 3400 yards. I three putted the first hole and then went on a birdie run. Probably the best ball striking round I've ever had...I hit the pin twice and had a leaner on another hole. My longest putt for birdie was about 6 feet. The three-putt was from about 12 feet...knocked it about six feet past on the first putt and missed the comeback. The only par I made was a routine fairway, green to 15 feet (worst approach I hit on that side), two putt. When we finished my buddy went in the Pro Shop and asked what the course record was...it was 63. He jinxed me for the back nine.
The other three scores were shot on the front nine at the local Country Club where I worked as an assistant pro. It plays around 6700 yards from the tips with narrow fairways and small, severly sloped, well bunkered greens that, under normal conditions, are typically very quick. The course, a Dick Wilson design, has played host to a couple of West Virginia Opens and Junior Championships, several Virginia State Golf Association tournaments, a large local amatuer tournaments, and the Women's Western Golf Association's National Women's and Junior Girl's Amatuer Championships...so that kinda tells you that its no slouch.
The hole in the picture is the 18th...the picture does not do it justice as the green is severely sloped from left to right and back to front...if you're on the left side of the pin, you can only hope to keep it on the green.
A side note...the course record is 60 shot by a former Assistant Pro of the club, Tim Holbrook, which I witnessed and included a double bogey on the Par 3, 12th hole and was tied by PGA Tour Player, Brendon DeJonge, while he was a student at Virginia Tech during the Pocahontas Amatuer Championship.
As for playing the ball down, that was the first rule I was ever taught...play the ball as it lies. I always play it down unless I'm playing in a tournament/event that allows me to improve my lie.
Posts: 691 | Location: Nature's Air Conditioned City | Registered: August 21, 2007
When we were kids, we'd play "combat golf," where you could pick up the other guy's ball and drop it anywhere within one club length, including hazards, and you play it from there; talking and coughing during your playing partner's swing was strongly encouraged. Loads of fun, and it really taught us how to play from interesting lies!
Those sound like some good rounds you had, Hokie, but three-jacking to ruin a 29 would put me in a bad mood for the rest of my life!
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Originally posted by minalpharetta: When we were kids, we'd play "combat golf," where you could pick up the other guy's ball and drop it anywhere within one club length, including hazards, and you play it from there; talking and coughing during your playing partner's swing was strongly encouraged. Loads of fun, and it really taught us how to play from interesting lies!
Those sound like some good rounds you had, Hokie, but three-jacking to ruin a 29 would put me in a bad mood for the rest of my life!
"Talking and coughing during your playing partner's swing" sounds like my normal weekend foursome! Anymore, if we want to screw up somebody's swing, we all get real quiet!
Well, putting is my weak point. I average probably three or four three putts per round and I currently have a 4 handicap. Honestly, if I could putt like some of my friends, I'd be a scratch or plus handicap player...and they all know that! LOL On the rare rounds when I'm putting well, I usually go low...well, under par anyway. I still think I'll shot under 30 at some point, though.
I had a couple of opportunities again this past summer but was once again let down by the putter...no necessarily three-putting but missing some very makeable (6 feet or less) birdie chances.
That course you posted a link to looks like a nice layout. There seems to be some nice courses in Michigan from what I've seen on TV and read about in magazines, books, and on the the 'net.
Posts: 691 | Location: Nature's Air Conditioned City | Registered: August 21, 2007
I once shot 30 on my home course with a 38 on the back side, my best round ever. The course is flat, with postage size greens and a ton of water. It plays to 6775 yards. Then I shot a 30 on the backside of English Turn, a Jack Nicklaus layout where the tour is played. The front was not so good a 42, but still a good round on that course. Of course, both happened about 20 years ago. Today I'm lucky if I break 90, but I only play 5 times a year, if that much.
Posts: 857 | Location: Tiger Country USA | Registered: August 06, 2008
Have you tried a belly putter? Even though I just can't use one, it seems to me that using a third point of contact should be illegal-- it just seems wrong!
I've used a Wilson 8802 forever-- Crenshaw's tool, although I sure don't putt as well as him. I just feel more comfortable with it, especially for lags and putts in the 15-20 foot range.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Hokie, Radrick is the U of Michigan alumni course, and it's an early Pete Dye design-- you see the beginnings of some of his later design elements in the course. When I was a kid, my folks paid about $400/year, for unlimited play with no greens fees.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Originally posted by minalpharetta: Have you tried a belly putter? Even though I just can't use one, it seems to me that using a third point of contact should be illegal-- it just seems wrong!
I've used a Wilson 8802 forever-- Crenshaw's tool, although I sure don't putt as well as him. I just feel more comfortable with it, especially for lags and putts in the 15-20 foot range.
I've tried all sorts of putters and all sorts of putting styles...short putters, belly putters, long putters, light putters, heavy putters, heel shafted putters, center-shafted putters, mallets, blades, toe-weighted, face-balanced, standard grip, split grip, left-hand low, left-handed, left-handed with right hand low, straight back-straight through, open face on take away-shut face throught the ball...I've tried it all and nothing has really had what I would call "true success" for any length of time. Some things worked for a while but often returned to the normal three or four three-putts per round. Having worked in the golf business for 20 years, I have had plenty of instruction on my putting stroke over the years. And the sad part is I can read greens as good as anyone and have given many putting lessons that have dramatically improved the putting of my students. Its just become a given that I am a bad putter...period.
I've putted with an 8802...its probably one of well over 100 putters that I've owned at one time or another. For the past two years, I've stuck with three putters...a 34" Odyssey 2-Ball, a Henry-Griffitts custom fit 35" putter, and a Ping BC69 long putter (this was a proto-type putter that never made it to market...a Pro friend of mine got it from Karsten Solheim back in the late '80s...it came to me after winning a bet on the golf course). I seem to putt better with the long putter but I still have numerous three putts every round.
Posts: 691 | Location: Nature's Air Conditioned City | Registered: August 21, 2007
Originally posted by minalpharetta: Hokie, Radrick is the U of Michigan alumni course, and it's an early Pete Dye design-- you see the beginnings of some of his later design elements in the course. When I was a kid, my folks paid about $400/year, for unlimited play with no greens fees.
$400/year to play a Pete Dye course...SWEET!!!
I've played one of his more recent "re-designs" on several occassions...the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech. Its a MONSTER...7600 from the Black Tees. The Pro there worked at Fincastle as an assistant a few years before I started there...I've known him for 25 years. I also know the Virginia Tech golf coach very well as he and my former boss are really good friends. He has done a great job at building the VT golf program and its facilities into some of the best in the country.
Dick Wilson, Pete Dye, and Dan Maples are three of my favorite golf course architects...you can always tell when you are playing one of their courses.
Posts: 691 | Location: Nature's Air Conditioned City | Registered: August 21, 2007
Originally posted by Big Dawg: Shot a 26 once. Many under 30. But I was a PGA pro then.
Nice! Was that on a par 35 or 36? Where were you a pro?
Me three, in asking where/when you were a pro. A 26 is awesome; I'd like to see that card!
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Originally posted by kmd00: If you can shoot 30, clearly there were not enough beer & cigars involved.
There was plenty...afterwards...
I'll bet! I just don't go in for beer or cigars on the course... my game has enough weaknesses without being impaired!
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Originally posted by Big Dawg: Shot a 26 once. Many under 30. But I was a PGA pro then.
PGA tour pro uh? I play and i love the game. How did you come about to be a pro? Would love to hear the story
NOT on tour. Tried it and almost starved to death. It's one thing to shoot a low or good score on your home course, but those guys maintain + handicaps playing a different course in a different state and all the courses are built where the wind blows strong ALL the time. I was a club pro at a small club in New England. Rhode Island to be specific. Wanna be a pro? I used to hit a large garbage can full of balls every day, rain or shine. You have to learn a lot of self control. Most people cannot handle the pressure because they start playing their opponent instead of playing the course. Mental thing. Nothing to it but distance and direction.
