Thank you!

When we do Texas Scrambles at my workplace, there's a rule that you may play your shot from within one club length of the where the ball you've decided to play has come to rest (no closer to the hole, though). Liberal use of this rule can really help out with stance issues, bad lies, or even getting slightly better angles into the green. This doesn't apply to putts, obviously. (check to make sure this is a real rule before going crazy out there)

Good luck. More importantly have fun. Scrambles are great when you have one reliable player who can be counted on to put the ball in the fairway. Have that player go first, then everyone else can just rip at the ball like maniacs.

Over the weekend I played in an Oktoberfest tournament back home in Idaho with my dad. First day was a two-man scramble, second day Chapman. Two years ago with the way I'm playing (occasional blow up holes keeping my score high, but overall much more consistent ball striking and putting) we could have been contenders, but my dad had hip surgery in December and has been having issues. Pretty frustrating to watch, for his sake. He used to be a 3 handicap who hit the ball a long ways, hit irons on string, and putted pretty well. Now his swing is wildly inconsistent, and his frustration and lack of confidence have boiled into his putting.

Anyway, scramble we shot a pretty measly 70 with way too many missed opportunities. Chapman, which I'd never played before, we started the first hole with a double; not great for the confidence. However, from there out we only had two more bogeys, but only one birdie. Chapman can be VERY frustrating and mentally difficult, in my opinion. Knee knockers are worse because you don't want to disappoint your playing partner, and lag putts can get mentally screwed up because you want to make it, but also don't want to miss it by too much and leave your partner with a difficult putt back.

Bethpage Black

47-55 102

Extremely happy with my round. Had a 9 and an 8 on the back, but the conditions were brutal. 30-40 mph winds, but I managed 2 pars at this top 50 course. It's a beast that's for sure.

Ed,

What tees did you play from? Did you sleep in your car/ have to spend the night in the parking lot? What did you pay?

Nitbo, if you're reading this, have you 'played the Black'?

Sure, so let me give the back story. I live up in Boston, my coworkers and I (8 of us) were already scheduled to play Sunday morning 6:59 and 7:08 up here and then watch the Pats game somewhere. So on Friday, my buddy who is a NY resident, and has been trying to book a tee time over a year, texted me and said he had 2 spots open for Monday at 10:36am and if I was in, but I needed to find a 4th or he was going to cancel because I think he thought all 4 people needed to be present. Not sure if that is the case or not. Anyway of course my co-worker and I went to our manager and said we needed Monday off.

So, we play Sunday morning in the pouring rain, an absolute monsoon. We hang out in Boston til around 5, we were going to stay at my place in Fairfield, and then drive to Bethpage on Monday morning, but I was really anxious about the traffic Monday morning, and I know you have to check in an hour early or you lose your spot. So we made the executive decision to get a hotel down the street from the course in Long Island.

We got to the hotel, brought our clubs in, let our shoes, gloves, and clubs dry out. I blew dry my shoes for a good hour or so. As most of you know the website says that the Black course is closed on Mondays for maintenance, but that is only during peak season. When we got to the course there were plenty of tee times available, so that might be a strategy.

Being out of state we paid $130 each. Thought about springing for a caddy, and I thought it was funny the people in the parking lot asking if we needed caddies or not.

It was a great experience, I wish it wasn't as windy, because being novice player I am not used to hitting into 40mph head on winds, winds so fast that the ball on the green was moving. On 17 which is a 195 yard par 3 with a gusting left to right wind, I used a 3wood aimed it well left of the green, and I got it up into the wind and it threw it into the right bunker.

I will try to make a yearly trip there, but definitely recommend it. It was awesome!

I was playing at the links @ unionvale on monday as well and pretty sure you and I dealt with a Tornado watch, not just an ordinary storm lol. wind killed about 25-40 yards per shot

Shot 80 41-39 after carding an 8 on hole #1 sitting 150 out after 2nd shot on 597 yd par 5 but I shanked one into damn native area in 30 mph winds and never found it. Game is getting better but I definitely mi**** 2-3 balls per round while dealing with swing change. First tournament I've played in 10 yrs on Monday and I can't wait

20 Points
Aids on the front nine but improved my ball striking a lot on the back nine still couldn't score though didn't manage one par.

105. Had 8 pars today. Threw up on the rest of the course.

What's the worst you guys have ever recorded on a hole? I took a 13 on a par 5 today, and that included an illegal drop where I didn't hit a provisional and didn't want to go back and hit 8 from 190 yards out.

I've taken plenty of X's on the scorecard.

42/38 - 80 at Harding Park in SF. Last day of public play before the Champions Tour Charles Schwab cup final event is played there next week. Fun to play with all the grand stands and tents set up and the rough grown *way* out.

First time golfing (but practiced during that time) in a little over two months, 41-37 at Mile Square 6859/72.3/125. 1 double, 11GIR, 1 birdie.

Lag and putting in general has been pretty bad as I've averaged 10GIR since the summer and have hovered around that score. And that's with a 1-2 fringes a around.

Down in the Outer Banks, NC for a kiteboarding vacation but no wind today so decided to hit a course up in Nags Head. Didn't have my golf shoes and had to rent clubs so it was a bit of an adventure. Short links style course with very tight fairways, my first time playing on bermuda grass. Great views of the sound side, very fun!

50 - 40 = 90

Found my game on the back and had a great time.

this

I played twice over the weekend and once yesterday, shooting 82-82-86. Frustrating part was I over that three round span I can count the number of greens in regulation with two hands. My short game is on fire; huge confidence chipping it close and putts are finding the cup, I just can't swing an iron (even 7 & 8 irons) to save my life. Lesson time, I think.

39-41 80 (69.3/130 6,369 yards)

Hit 9/14 fairways and 13 greens. Great driving and ball striking day. Putting was a little off (38 putts) - 3 putt bogied 3 times

Could have been my best round ever with a better day with the flat stick. Oh well.

Scramble tomorrow and a match play match Sunday. Should be a great weekend.

No score. Serious season is over and course maintenance has pretty much ceased. Nice enough day out there - almost 50 degrees and not windy - for almost November. I mostly messed around with irons, trying to get better contact. Results definitely mixed.

48-46-94

Highlights:
3 pars
2 birdies
Drove the green on a 311 yard par 4.


Lessons are paying off as far as gaining distance, but still working on an overall swing change, but I feel I'm on the right track

FINALLY!!!

46-42 - 88

I finally broke 90. I knew I needed to go +3 over the last 4 holes to do it and I went par, par, bogey, bogey.

Congrats Eddy!

Was +2 thru 12 and playing pretty decent, then made a triple, quad and double to finish with 83

Way to go Ed!

Brag: Made my first hole in one today!

Beat: Not sure I can claim it as legit...

Variance: Was stuck behind a 3some who was stuck behind another 3some so I had no where to go. Decided to play 3 balls on the 8th because I knew I was going to have to wait a bit before I could tee off on 9... aced my 3rd ball. Claiming it as an ace, obv, but didn't go to the clubhouse or anything to get my pin/ name on the wall or whatever they do.

*shrug*