While I wait to get back out on the links, it is always nice to watch some golf video lessons to keep my game sharp. Here’s a nice one on hitting low iron shots and how your grip affects the shot. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was preparing for winter golf in Pinehurst. To be a little more specific, I developed some shoulder problems in both rotator cuffs which caused tendinitis and calcium deposits. I never felt that the problem was interfering with my golf swing, however I always had pain if I tried to throw overhand such as throwing a baseball. After getting the diagnosis, and starting some physical therapy, I have experienced an amazing recovery. Although it was supplemented with some Cortizone shots to get started, the exercise program has been a tremendous success. I would highly recommend that anyone with any shoulder pain, check out the cause and hopefully it won’t be anything more serious than what some physical therapy could cure. Today, for the first time, I started swinging my golf club and realized that my swing has more flexibility and no pain whatsoever. I was just stubborn about having my shoulders looked at and realize now that I should’ve done it much sooner. With all that said, this average golfer is looking forward to getting back out on the links in Pinehurst and my first tee-time should be the week of Christmas. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
This average golfer has spent the last three weeks here in Pinehurst. The temperatures have been hot, which is normal here for this time of year, but the golfing has been great. The list of courses that we have played recently include Hyland, 7-Lakes, Deercroft, Little River, Whispering Woods, Southern Pines and we will wrap up this trip with Longleaf. I have found all the courses except Little River to be in excellent condition. The courses are well-maintained and as is normal for this area, fun to play as well as challenging. I have found all the courses except Little River to be in excellent condition. I have commented about several of these courses in previous blogs so the only two I am going to mention here will be Little River and Southern Pines. We played Little River back in March and it was in terrible condition as the course was experiencing financial issues. Having heard that the course was in much better shape, we traveled back to Little River last week. The course is not in good shape, and I would not recommend playing this course. I think this is the first time I’ve ever said anything negative like this about a course in the Pinehurst area. The rough is not mowed and we were told that their rough mower was broken, there are weeds in the fairways and the greens are stressed. We were also told that the greens were stressed because of the high temperatures recently, but we don’t see that at other courses in the area. One final note which we found quite unappealing was the pro shop personnel were absolutely horrible. When we asked about the condition of the course, they mentioned that we didn’t have to play there that day if we chose not to. This does not speak well for this particular golf course as there are many other great courses that they compete with and if they continue in their ways they probably won’t be in the mix for long. On a brighter note, yesterday we played the Southern Pines course which is a little bit on the expensive side as it compares to other courses in the area, but the course is well-maintained and a real beauty. One of the highlights of the course is that it is replete with flowering crêpe myrtle trees at this time of year and it really adds to the beauty of the course overall. This course is a Donald Ross designed course so you can expect the undulating greens. They actually have five sets of tees, blue, white, gold, red and baby blue. The slope rating for the blue is 129, white126, gold 121, red 125 and baby blue 105. They obviously have tees to accommodate every golfer. The yardage for the course is 6354 from the blue, 6126 from the white, 5724 from the gold, 5318 from the red and 4015 from the baby blue. You should find your score better on the front as they have three par threes there and only one on the back. Overall this is a course that I would absolutely recommend as well as all the others that I have mentioned in this blog post with the lone exception being Little River. As I travel back north at the end of the week, I will as always, look forward to my return trip in September to Pinehurst! I hope you too, get to play golf in the Pinehurst area where you will find some of the best golf in the country. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
Southern Pines
Southern Pines
17th Fairway, Southern Pines
We are blessed with many great golf courses here in the Pinehurst, N.C. Area. Today the challenge was at one of my favorite courses, Hyland Golf Club in Southern Pines. The course is in great shape and the greens are fast. The slope on this course is 141 from the blues, 133 white and 124 from the gold. So, as you can see, the course is a tough one, but really well maintained and the owners are great and appreciate the golfers who play here. Today my issues were totally with my putting. I had a difficult time getting the speed down, so I need to spend some time on the putting green. Here’s a nice video from the Golf Academy with some putting techniques used by Gary Player. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
Hyland Golf Club, Southern Pines, N.C.
Pinehurst No. 2
This average Golfer (left), Our Caddy Daniel and Golfing buddy Jerry
From the tee box of hole 8, my only par for the day!
On Father’s Day, this average golfer had the thrill of playing Pinehurst No. 2! I am very fortunate as my very best golf buddy in Pinehurst is the father of the head golf pro at Pinehurst, Rob Pilewski. Rob had us over to play No. 2 as neither of us had ever played that particular course. Words can’t describe what a thrill that day was! No. 2 is a cart path only course all the time and that’s how they keep it in great shape. There are exceptions, as my buddy, Jerry Pilewski, had injured his back so his son made arrangements for us to take a caddy who was allowed to drive a cart in the fairways. Sunday also happened to be the very day, June 21, that Payne Stewart won the Open there in 1999. Rob accompanied me in our cart and it was fun playing with the head golf pro from Pinehurst. I had some very big butterflies as we teed off on the first hole! For an average golfer I played quite well shooting a 101 from the green tees that are 5801 yards with a slop rating of 123. Blue tees on No. 2 are 6961 yards with a slope of 133, Whites play out at 6307 yards and 126 slope. The reason my 101 doesn’t look bad is because if you know anything about No. 2, it’s all about the greens. The typical Donald Ross greens are extremely difficult to land on and stay on! I played well getting to the green, but the undulations are treacherous! But, being an average golfer my score was great considering where I was playing. My best hole was the 419 yard, Par 5 eighth that I pared. I was on with a chip in three and two putted for the par. Needless to say, no matter what my score would be for the day, just to say that I have played the famous No. 2 was worth the 95° temperatures and it is a round of golf that I will never forget! Happy golfing from this average golfer!
I’m on my countdown to Pinehurst and expect to be back on the links there at the end of the week. In the meantime, I had to share the future golf cart developed by Bubba Watson. What do you think??? Happy golfing from this average golfer!
As this average golfer watches another day of rain in the northeast, all I can do is count down the days to arriving in Pinehurst and watch some golf videos to hopefully keep some of the golf rust away before arriving in Pinehurst. Pinehurst spoils those of us fortunate to play there. Keeping the ball straight down the fairway off the tee almost always leads to a good score. If you look back at most bad holes, it generally always starts off the tee. So, no matter how you tend to shape your tee shot, here’s how Graeme McDowell compensates for the shape. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
All golfers know that there are days when you get into a funk with you game. I’ve said to my golfing buddies on more than one occasion, it seems like I’m starting this game all over! Other days, I can play without the funk. I guess it’s called being inconsistent, but that’s part of golf. My goal is always to be more consistent in my game and to try and correct issues that arise on the course. Recently, for whatever reason, I started slicing the ball off the tee after being fairly consistent down the middle for several rounds. So, here’s a video from The Golf Academy that I used to help make the slice correction. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
http://golfchannelacademy.com/dana-rader-bottle-up-your-slice/?scl=shared
This average golfer is counting down the days until I return to Pinehurst as the weather has been terrible in the northeast for golf. Pinehurst will be a welcome golf retreat for several weeks. In the meantime, practice makes perfect. Hitting that draw or slice when you need it to get back on target often eludes me. Next time you are at the range, here’s a practice tip to help you make those shots when needed. Good luck and I’ll be writing from beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina in a few weeks! Happy golfing from this average golfer!
This average golfer has been struggling to get in some good golf here in the Northeast lately. Although I will be going out to rural Susquehanna County to play a course called Panorama today, I am anxiously awaiting my return in the next four weeks to Pinehurst! There is just no place like Pinehurst when it comes to golf and I love every moment that I am there. John Daly recently returned to Pinehurst also and here’s a nice video clip from his visit that I thought you would enjoy, as it is a conversation about his “shot” in the 1999 US open. Happy golfing from this average golfer!
http://www.pinehurst.com/news/john-daly-returns-pinehurst-talks-shot-1999-u-s-open/
golf and more golf 