Discussion

The Blue Monster

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Recent modifications to The Blue Monster are the main talk at this weekends World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.  Mr. Donald J. Trump employed architect Gil Hanse to redesign this historic course to provide new and definitely greater challenges to the professional field. Situated within the heart of Trump National Dorval Resort in Miami “this 7,608 yard course features a series of strategically placed deep bunkers, long flowing fairways, interesting undulating greens, deep Bermuda rough and a challenging assortment of water hazards – all of which combine for a course that requires both length and finesse to score well.”

The Blue Monster

After two rounds, the goal of making this course a challenge was achieved.  The Blue Monster is bearing its teeth and taking a bite out of every professional.  Only three players had sub-par rounds on the second day and four players under par at minus one for the tournament (and tied for first) remind all golfing pundits of the US Open.  If that is not proof that this course is tough, then maybe we need another toughness gauge!

The Blue Monster is designed to be a challenging course.  However, is the redesign of the course really causing the pros scratch their heads, talk to themselves, or look to the sky in disbelief?  Maybe, but many of the comments coming off the course point more to the conditions.  The course is dry, greens hard, and the wind – gale like!

Rickie FowlerVerified account‏@RickieFowlerPGA  – Ya the breeze was quite strong today💨 RT @jtedscott: Can you say windy? #3-197 hole, PW 205 yds. #4-211 hole, 3 iron 175.

Keegan BradleyVerified account‏@Keegan_Bradley – Had to lay up 3 times today and non of which were par 5s. #2par3‘s.

Sergio Garcia ‏@TheSergioGarcia  14h – So challenging out there today with the wind. Other than two holes I played pretty well. Let’s see if we can get back into it tomorrow!

The wind is expected to continue through the entire weekend.  Therefore, moving day will be very interesting.  How much risk are the pros willing to take move up the leader board?  How tight can they cut the corners with 25 mph winds moving their ball?  When a course is playing this tough, any player within 10 – 15 strokes who can score two sub-par rounds of 3-4 under are back in the hunt.  Moving day is going to be fun for the fans!

The Blue Monster, through the Trump National Dorval Resort, is a fantastic venue.  The fans appear to be appreciative of the new course, the new challenges and the picturesque landscape.  I am not so sure about the professionals who have navigate their way through this beast, but if the winner of the this marathon will definitely earn the PGAs motto “These guys are good!”

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

5 Wood or Extra Wedge

/ The Grateful Golfer / 16 Comments

How many times have you heard the question – should I replace my 5 wood with an extra wedge.  In 1980, Tom Kite first pro to put a 60 degree wedge.  He and Dave Pelz, a former NASA physicist, worked on creating the lob wedge to fill a gap determined by Pelz’s research.  It is a famous story and if you want more details the story is in the February 2013 edition of Golf Illustrated has all the details.  That unlikely team changed the face of golf.

Ultimately, there really is no right answer.  Previously I wrote on this same topic.  The response I received was 50/50 of using either club.  I originally felt that higher handicappers should use the 5-wood and lower handicappers the lob wedge.  I still stand by that assessment, however, my logic seems to have a bit of hole in it.

Many of the pros are carrying the 5 wood and an extra wedge!  They are removing their 3 iron.  The reason for this change is the dramatic increase in the use of hybrids.  The first hybrid golf club was the Rescue by TaylorMade in the late 1990s.  Designed to deliver the precision of an iron with the ease of hitting of a wood.  Personally, I recommend hybrids because they add a dimension to an amateurs game that allows for options when choosing between the two.

Choosing between a 5-wood and wedge is a tough decision.  I recommend that you experiment with carrying each separately and carrying both in a round.  I suggest that you play at least 3-5 rounds with each configuration to ensure an accurate sample group. Make sure that you keep track of how often you use the club and that is your answer.

I use a wedge vice 5-wood.  On a side note, I also use 3,4,5 hybrid.  This combination works best for me.

What is in your bag? 5-wood or extra wedge or both?

I am a grateful golfer.  See you on the links.

PGA Fantasy Golf League

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Recently, I signed up for the fantasy golf league at the PGA Tour.  It is very easy to use and the program is intuitive and anyone can choose four players each week for the upcoming tournament.  Always trying to learn new things, I thought it would be a great way to understand trends, stats, who is hot, and who is not.  So far, all is going well, but I am not learning too much yet.

The biggest challenge for the first three weeks (including the World Match Play event) was my lack of knowledge about many of the journeymen players.  Each week, some always steps up and throws a wrench into the standings.  Personally, it is fun for the tournament, but not so good for my scores.  As an example, I took Phil Mickelson last week at the Honda  Classic. We all know that was a bust because he did not make the cut.  My other players finished a high 54th and a low 35th.  Can’t win with picks like that.  That stellar performance had me 74th place at the Honda Classic.

This week is the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship.  The players will compete on a newly renovated “The Blue Monster“.  It is longer and has more holes with playable water.  But for the golfing élite, it is a challenge they all relish.

This week I picked –

  • Phil Mickelson – he is my favorite and will want to redeem himself;
  • Jimmy Walker – hottest start of the year;
  • Rory McIlroy – should have won the Honda Classic and will bounce back; and
  • Webb Simpson – I like his game for Dorval.

I still have a day to make changes, so if you have any suggestions….I am listening!

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!

How to Build a Golf……

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment
Playing with Golf with My Buddy

What keeps you coming back to golf?

This is a very philosophical question.  Immediately when asked, most experts will say the swing.  Pundits point to mechanics immediately.  Most of the top sources outline a no fail way to build a golf swing and lower your score.  They also suggest that if you have a good golf swing, you automatically will have fun playing golf.  This hypothesis is not very sound or practical.

Experiences (history) are great teachers.  Think back through your life.  What do you see? When you first started something, anything at all, did you immediately jump into the mechanics of that something?  What was the first thing that attracted you to that activity? Remember the statement when we were growing up, ‘you will play and like it!’  ‘You will sing and like it!’  You will and on and on and on! Continue reading →

World Match Play Tournament

/ The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

even_matchplay_overview_logoA World Golf Tournament is underway. Specifically, the Accenture Match Play Championship. Since 1999, players from around the globe have competed against one another in varied formats, representing their respective countries in memorable and exciting competition. Over the past decade, World Golf Championships have been contested on five continents and in 10 countries.  There are four exciting World Match Play events throughout the season that offer unique and exciting golfing events for all enthusiasts.

This year, the Accenture field is okay.  Without 3 of the top 5 players in the world, the normal hype is missing.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching McIlroy, Watson (Bubba), Garcia, Stenson, Rose and Els play, but for some reason the excitement just is not there. I wonder if that is a marketing challenge or an indication that match play is not really that exciting to watch.  Personally, I like a match play event, especially if I am competing.

On the positive side of things, I like that many underdogs are rising to the top.  At least in the first couple rounds anyway.  I like to see journeyman players go head to head with higher ranked players and win.  This reinforces why we compete because on any given day…..; in this respect golf is like all other sports.  Most of the time the great players will win, but every once in a while a surprise happens.

I guess I like the fighting spirit of the journeyman!  Much like the Olympics, never give and great things can a happen attitude is always there.  Just ask the Canadian Women’s Hockey team who won golf in a come from behind win for gold – way to go ladies! Ultimately, the field at the Accenture is not that strong this year, but watching how the winner rises to the top is the real story.

For anyone interested, I picked Rory McIlroy to win.  He is in a tough match right now, but time will tell how he does.

I am a grateful golfer!  See you on the links!