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taking the plunge into video

Jul 14, 2012 9:26 AM

  Latest reply: matildadore, Mar 5, 2013 10:33 PM
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 3, 2012 2:56 PM   in reply to able123

    One of the reasons that I carry a 64 degree Lob Wedge, is to "clear the big green frog."

     

    Some years ago, playing in a member-guest, I came up short of an heavily elevated green. It was about 12' above where my ball had come to rest, and there was a wall of railroad ties, only about 4' from my ball. The other team began laughing, as it seemed that I had to declare an unplayable, and loose a stroke to them. I walked down to my ball with that Lob Wedge, opened the face, opened my stance, and smote the ball a mightly lick, stopping my followthrough, short of those railroad ties. The ball went almost straight into the air about 20' high. It came straight down, landed softly, and rolled toward the pin - easy tap-in par. My partner got to look our competition in the eyes and laugh the last time. There are times when the Mickelson Flop is worthwhile.

     

    Hunt

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 7:53 AM   in reply to able123
    Barbara has a driver that looks like the head is about 2 feet long and the shaft is some kinda secret radar stealthy material, that flexes like crazy ...almost like some kinda of rubber...so the head really gets tons of momentum even without any wrist action. I guess it's carbon something or other.

     

    What I want is a driver with three little LED's in the head. Just before I swing, it will light one up, indicating that it will be hitting, say a big hook (LED on the left flashes quickly), or a swooping slice toward the green frog (LED on right flashes quickly), or perhaps the "dreaded straight ball," (middle LED lights constantly). I can ONLY hit the straight ball, when I have set up to play either a draw, or a fade, and the straight path takes the ball just OB to either the right, or left. That would be helpful as heck.

     

    I'd also like to find a golf ball, that seeks out darkness, like INSIDE the cup. Of course, I could not play that one in Hawaii, as there are usually plenty of dark jungle, just at the edge of every fairway. I do not want a golf ball that seeks THAT out, especially as every time we play in Hawaii, it seems that the feral hogs have just given birth to a "litter" (?) of feral hoglets, and are not in a good mood. The starter ALWAYS warns us about NOT getting near the jungle. Yeah right! It's like he thinks that I am hitting my ball into the jungle on purpose, or something. I may be dumb and a duffer, but I would NEVER hit into the jungle on purpose.

     

    On O`ahu, we often play a really tough course, Ko`olau http://www.koolaugolfclub.com/, and I stop by Costco to get 24 cheap balls. They come in a plastic jar, and only cost about $18. I always tell the starter that I will dontate every ball, that I do not loose, to their Jr. Golf program. When I come in, he always asks, "well, how did the Jrs. do today?" Usually, they get between 1 and 3 new, cheap balls. No matter how well I am playing, that course eats me alive, and then, there are ALWAYS the feral hogs. Those suckas' must breed all year long at Ko`olau! Also, I think that every fairway slopes right to the jungle, if it is not split by a 500' deep ravine!

     

    Check out Hole # 10 on the "Course Tour," and read the "help" section. That basically goes for every hole on the course.

     

    Hunt

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 9:50 AM   in reply to able123

    That 3 Hcp. means that it is third toughest hole on the course.

     

    If one is playing head-to-head, whether in stroke play, or match play, and using the golfer's individual Hcp., then that might be a hole where the higher Hcp. golfer gets a stroke. It depends on the differential of the individual Hcps.

     

    Actually, it IS Jurasic Park. Some of Jurasic Park was filmed just down the way, at Kualoa Ranch on the Windward Side of O`ahu. Same exact geography. When you get into the course, you start looking over your shoulder for Velociraptors, or feral hogs!

     

    Now, I have had to play out of goose poop, deer poop, turkey poop, alligator poop, coyote poop, hog poop, but I do not think that I have had to play out of Velociraptor poop, but could be wrong.

     

    What that "course tour" does not show clearly, are the deep ravines. You have to hit over dozens, and many are blind on your shot. You hit a nice fairwood wood, then climb to the top of a hill, to only see that you needed another 100 yards to clear "the grand canyon." Remember the log over the ravine scene from the original King Kong? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9drLc9s0ZY] I swear that that ravine runs through about 5 of the holes. The vines and the fog are all still there, but the log has been long gone. I think that the original used a couple of foursomes, just playing a round at Ko`olau, for stunt doubles!

     

    Hunt

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 12:42 PM   in reply to able123

    Basically, stroke play is the accumulation of strokes to play all 18 holes.

     

    Match play is how many strokes to play EACH hole, and the number of holes won.

     

    It's very easy on the PGA, which is almost always stroke play - how many total strokes to finish the course 4 times. There are, however, some instances with match play, such as the Accenture Match Play tournament in Tucson.

     

    One sees a bunch of variations in the President's Cup, the Ryder Cup, etc.., and also in collegiate golf tournaments. Many amateur tournaments are also match play, but not all.

     

    When one is playing, and scoring based on Hcp., then there is more math involved. Let's say that I have a Hcp. of 18, and you have a 10. That means that you are better, than I am, and by 8 strokes. I then get 8 holes, where I get 1 stroke over you. They would be the holes marked Hcp 1 through Hcp 8, and they are probably scattered about the course. Let's say that we both par that 3 Hcp hole at Ko`olau, but I get a stoke on it. In match play, I win the hole. In stroke play, I card a 3, or birdie.

     

    If we both par the Hcp 10 hole, we tied ("halved the hole" in match play), and both card a 4.

     

    Since I do not really care about betting, and only worry about my Hcp Index, when I play in a tournament, that uses that, I do not pay much attention to a hole's Hcp, other than maybe to pat myself on the back, for say a bogey on the 1 Hcp hole.

     

    As for the analogy to various poker games, there are that many (and probably more) variations on betting on golf. I do not even pretend to understand most, and also many are the same "game," but called by a different name, depending on where you are. Also, there are "local rules," that can add new dimensions to each. If everyone wants to do such, I always just tell 'em, here's my $. When we're done, tell me if I get some back, or owe more. I'd rather smoke cigars, and think about my next shot, than try to figure out all the BS involved. I played in one league at my CC, and always won a few $'s, but have no idea how, or why. Every round was spent discussing all the variations of the rules - not of golf, but of the gambling. Then, everyone would retire to the Men's Grill (now the Mixed Grill), and spend about 4 hours arguing over who won what, and who cheated. Total waste of time. When I dropped out, I took my winnings (maybe $ 35) and donated it to the Holiday party, which I did not attend. I only care about a beautiful day, a lovely course, hitting some pure shots, and not hitting too many bad ones. A little light conversation (no economy, politics or similar allowed). If there are cigars on the course, and maybe a glass of Chard, or a brew, at the 19th Hole, all is good - whether I play well, or poorly. So long as there are some good shots, I will keep coming back.

     

    Hunt

     
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  • Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 4, 2012 12:43 PM   in reply to able123

    Uh-oh, must have used a "forbidden word" (golf?), as my reply went into moderation. Not sure if we will ever see it here, but such is life.

     

    Hunt

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 12:57 PM   in reply to Bill Hunt

    No, it wasn't "golf" - but one of the sports-related terms woke up the filter.

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 1:09 PM   in reply to Dave Merchant

    Ah, Dave,

     

    Thank you for that. I seem to always trigger the filter.

     

    I assumed that it was the old saw, "Why did they name the sport "golf?"

    Answer: "All the other four-letter words were taken... "

     

    Appreciated, and I will try to stay away from those "banned words."

     

    Hunt

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 2:03 PM   in reply to Bill Hunt

    Remember: golf spelled backwards is flog.

     

    So many words, with so much potential.

     
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    Aug 4, 2012 2:16 PM   in reply to Stan Jones

    And all too often, that applies to my game - self flagellation and flogging of that poor little ball.

     

    Hunt

     
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    Mar 5, 2013 10:33 PM   in reply to able123

    Excellent piece of work. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to reading more such intriguing stuff. Thanks for sharing!!!

     

     

     

    Get Quality Teak outdoor furniture from Wood-joy.com

     
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