Getting 'Wedged"

If you watch any PGA tour event these days, it seems like wedges are sprouting from the players bags faster than magic mushrooms in a field of cowpatties. It seems that everyone has a minimum of 4 wedges and some seem to carry 5 (Can you here me, Phil ???). What happened to the days of a PW and a SW and fuggadaboutit ????

Well, unless you have been under a rock, you have noticed that as distances have increased, the need to be ultra precise under 100 yards has become paramount. Couple that with the super fast greens and gigantic paychecks, and therein lies the answer....for the guys who get paid to play. But what about the rest of us ??? How many wedges do we need ? And which wedges do we need ? And how do we determine all of that ??? I need a nap, already....

While I don't consider myself anything other than an average hacker ( I play to a 9 HC), I do consider myself more of an authority on this particular topic. This relative "expertise" (laughing inside) is the result of my biggest flaw, which is missing greens and an overall less than ideal iron game - which means I hit a LOT of wedge shots.....thus, familiarity has bred something akin to proficiency. With all this being the case, here are my observations and recommendations:

(1) How many wedges do I need ? I would say the average player MUST have 3 wedges - the Pitching Wedge (45-48 degrees of loft, probably came with your set), the "Gap" wedge (50 - 53 degrees of loft), and the Sand Wedge (54 - 56 degrees of loft). As you become more comfortable with those (and it won't take long), add a 4th wedge - the Lob wedge (58 - 60 degrees).
(2) How do I learn to hit these wedges ? In a word, PRACTICE. However, not just mindless banging of balls at the range....getting proficient with your wedges requires practice with a purpose. There are number of proven approaches, but I am a fan of the Dave Pelz method. It's explained in great detail in his book "Short Game Bible", but the core of this is to learn to hit each of your wedges with 3 swings (1/4, 1/2. and 3/4 swing). By doing this, you will learn precisely how far you hit each of your wedges - and armed with that info, you can determine which wedge to hit from practically any distance within 100 yards. As elementary as this may sound, it works. One other (not so minor) thing this does is to remove the decision making and guesswork from these "touch" shots - no more deciding "how hard do I swing"...rather, just pick the distance, pick the wedge and swing that gets you there, align, and execute (remembering to finish each shot fully, accelerating through the ball).

(3) Getting Fitted: An oft overlooked part of selecting the right wedge(s) is the fitting process. Most of us just go into the local golf emporium or pro shop, look for something pleasing to the eye (or something we have seen in our buddies' bags), pick a couple of 'em, and whip out the ol'Amex - cha ching... However getting fitted for these is just as important as getting fitted for your irons - so find someone (think local pro or clubfitter) who will take the time to help you pick the right setup for your game.

(4) What is "bounce" and how much do I need ??? One final thing to consider is "bounce". I've seen dozens of posts across the blogosphere about bounce - what is it ? how much do I need ? how do I determine what is right for me ? First of all, bounce is measured in "degrees", just like the loft on your clubs, and is often referred to as "bounce angle". Conventional wisdom suggests that less bounce (think 4 - 8 degrees) is best if you play on courses that offer a lot of tight lies, hard ground, or closely cut fairways, while more bounce (10-14 degrees) is better for softer turf, and lusher fairways. Further CW suggests a sand wedge with a lot of bounce (56 degrees loft, 12 degrees bounce) and a LW with little bounce ( 60 degrees loft, 4 degrees bounce) is the right kit. In theory, this allows you to have a clubs that are applicable for both tight lies and fluffier ones - in essence, a little flexibility to cover all options.

My experience and advice veers from the CW however....I tried the above set up and found that I was "digging" the LW in quite frequently - regardless of the lie. After much experimentation, I have opted to have similar amounts of bounce on both my SW and LW (14 and 12 degrees,respectively). At the end of the day, my opinion is that selecting wedges is a "personal" thing - so take your time, hit a few different brands , lofts, and bounce angles until you find what is right for you. Here is what is (currently) right for me:

• Titleist AP2 PW - 46 degrees loft
• Titleist Vokey Gap Wedge - 50 Degrees loft, 8 degrees bounce
• Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Sand Wedge - 54 degrees loft, 14 degrees bounce
• Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Lob Wedge - 58 degrees loft, 12 degrees bounce

P.S. - Yes, I know Philly Mick hits a 64 degree wedge - but that's a little more advanced that what your average golfer should (IMHO) consider, so I left that one for PM and Dave to cover...

The Tips to the Reds - Which Tees Do You Play From ?

Ah, the age old dilemma - "Which tees are we playing from today,dude ?".... It's a decision that many (most) of us make each time we tee it up. And like lots of decisions in our lives, many people think with something other than their brain when making this decision (minds out of the gutters, ok fellas...) - that's right, I am talking about your EGO...

How many times have you waited behind the foursome in front of you, waiting to assume the position on the first tee, and watch them march proudly the "tips", chests all puffed out (aka the "extreme" golfers in the Slazenger ad..) ? Shortly thereafter, you watch them blast a tee shot which leaves them (a) re-teeing, (b) in the woods, or (c) with an approach shot that is longer than their tee shot carried ? Trust me, it's happened to yours truly more than occasionally - and I'll bet I speak for a lot of you out there. Let's call this group "The Posers" - they are SURE that they average 300+ off the tees, their ego won't allow them to play anything other than the tips,.....and the reality is that they rarely break 95 - by they , by God, play "FROM THE TIPS".
Cure = "extreme" dose of humility, taken daily until you can see the next set of tees in front of you.

Almost as bad as "The Posers" are a group I will call "The Stealth Bombers". The odd thing about them is that you never know they are there unless you play directly in front of them - so seeing a SB is somewhat akin to a UFO sighting . The characteristic of the "Stealth Bomber" is that they play from a set of tees which is WAY too short for them... these are the folks who are hitting Driver/Sand wedge on EVERY hole, and who are flying it within 50 yards (or less) of you while your are putting out. Different mindset, same culprit - Mr. Ego here...

Cure = one serving of consideration for those in front of you, and a (couple of ) big step(s) backward when teeing off (e.g.think "blue" rather than "white", big boy..)

The third group of note are the " Usta Be's", as in "I usta be able to hit from here"....these are the folks who for whatever reason cannot seem to get it out there quite as far as they formerly could, and cannot bring themselves to move up to the next tee box
Cure = A magnifying glass, so you can clearly see the distances on the scorecard.
(disclaimer - this is NOT an age related malady)

So how do you, the honorable habitue of the links, avoid being a member of the "posse of shame" as defined by these three groups ? No magic powder or animal sacrifice required - just a little common sense.

Play the tees which suit your game...here is a simple formula, using a Par 4 hole as a measuring stick:

	Min	Max
How far do you hit your Driver ?	225	245
Add: Ideal Approach Shot Distance	140	145
"Average" Par 4 Distance for You	365	390
Total Distance for Your game	6300	6700

Now I won't suggest this as a hard and fast rule, because I am sure there are exceptions and probably better ways to decide...and I will gladly admit this IS a personal decision....but the next time you are pulling out the ol' 3 wood for a 225 yard approach shot on the opening par 4, remember what you heard here....

Jean Van de Velde + Groundhog Day = Sergio...

Well folks, it happened again.....another big tournament (altho' not a major), another melt down by none other than Sergio Garcia. I know, I know...he MADE THE PUTT on the first playoff hole....but look back to regulation, where he gave away chances to put it away.

Excuse me for a moment, Sergio is calling my cell...."yes, Serg, I know that you hit the flagstick on 14...no, I don't think an invisible man kicked your ball away when it should have gone in..., ok, bye now.." Sorry for the interruption. I don't know what it is with this guy - he can look otherwordly 98% of the time, but when it comes down to it, he cannot CLOSE. And before the conspiracy theorists emerge from their hermetically sealed enclaves, let me remind you that on the second playoff hole, Garcia hooked his drive into the left rough, just feet from some huge trees. Da' Bull then hit his second shot behind a tree in the right rough. Somehow, the gnarly ground around Garcia's ball was ruled abnormal (whatever THAT means), he was able to take a drop that allowed him to get a clear shot to the green. Ah, the HUMANITY !!!!!

Given the recurring nature of this outcome, he has to think he has been transported from the Mich Light commercial with the poolside babe into a twisted remake of "Groundhog Day" directed by Jean Van de Velde. I'm not a Sergio basher, or a Euro hater...just someone who has learned that whining and golf make a very sour nightcap. Bottoms up, el toto, er toro....

The Golf Channel Amateur Tour - My Experiences as a First Time Competitor

The Golf Channel has hosted it's annual Golf Channel Amateur Tour throughout the spring and summer at various sites across the US. I first heard of this last winter, and after breaking 80 for the first time, I decided that I was going to compete in a "real" golf tournament (not a scramble or best ball outing) for the first time. It has been a great experience for me, and I have had a lot of fun doing it. In the process, I have become quite addicted to the real competitive nature of tournaments, and my golf game has improved. I am playing in the "Hogan" flight in the tournaments ( 8-12 Handicap).

Below is a chronological summary of me experiences this year:

- Tournament #1 (March): Played at a course called Timberline on a nice spring day. I started off with a par on the first hold, but ultimately struggled mightily (triple bogey on #16 par 3), and posted a 93 - a bad score for me. Had fun, frustrated by the bad score, but was not discouraged:
- Tournament #2 (March): Played at Twin Lakes (?) - Windy day, just after a storm, kind of a ratty course. Started with a par (again), but ultimately did not putt well and finished with a 91. Some progress, but this "real golf" was harder that I thought.
- Tournament #3 (May): A beautiful day at Ballantrae. When I got to the course, something just felt different - I seemed relaxed, and was hitting everything well on the practice range. To make matters interesting, I was paired with two guys who had won the previous two events...one of whom I thought was a huge sandbagger I started off with 3 straight pars, and they day went well from there. Going into the final hole, a 430+ yard Par 4, I was 6 over par, and one stroke behind the leader of my flight (who was also in my foursome). He triple bogeyed the final hole, but I missed two putts to win, and we tied for 2nd place. NOW I was having some fun ! For the very first time, I played under some pressure, and returned a good score (an 80).
- Tournament #4 (May) - Played in Nashville (TGC lets you play in tournaments in various cities if you like) in a MONSOON - It was a complete joke, and I scored horribly.
- Tournament #7 (I am skipping a few): Played at a Robert Trent Jones Course in Gadsden,AL called Silver Lakes (June) - Beautiful day, had a great time, shot a respectable 85 on a very tough course, and finished 3rd in my flight. Leaving this event, my confidence was really high and I was excited about the final few events of the season.
- Tournament #8 (August) - Played at Horse Creek just outside of Birmingham on a beautiful day. I had never played the course, but had a good feeling again. I started with a bogey, but birdied #2 and felt like this would be my day. I played well all day, birdied another par 5, and had no 3 putts. At the end of the day, I posted an 83, which won my flight (YESSSS!!!!), and was behind only to two guys in the Championship flight (scratch golfers). It was the first time I had won an individual event since I was 9 years old (I played only team sports growing up), and was an INCREDIBLE feeling.


We have two tournaments left before the National Finals in Orlando, FL. Currently, I need to move up the list by two places to qualify for the Nationals (which is a four day tournament just like the "big boys"), and I am very optimistic about my chances of making it. I will post updates after each of the next two events, the first of which is week after next at Cambrian Ridge.

Based on my experiences thus far, here are some observations:
(1) Competing is REALLY fun and will help you improve
(2) People who do not keep a GHIN handicap will sandbag their a$$ off in a competitive event (as will some people who DO keep a GHIN handicap)
(3) Playing "rules of golf" (no gimmes, everything down,no mulligans,etc) is REALLY fun once you get over the "shock", and will really help you improve your game. It is, however, frustrating when you play with someone who does not observe these and is reporting a score which you know is wrong - and then wants to talk smack to you about beating you.
(4) I encourage anyone who has the time to join the Golf Channel Amateur Tour - they play in all major cities, so check out their website for more info.

Putters - Looking for Love or Happily Hitched

Admit it, Putters are a lot like the opposite sex.... hard to live with the same one for long, but can't live without one for very long. Ok,Ok - I hear the howls out there ...maybe that is a bit harsh....but ya' gotta admit it's close to the truth.

I'd argue that most golfers fall into one of two camps:

(1) Looking for Love (e.g. Sergio, Vijay, Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes) : We switch putters like Daniel Chopra changes his hair color - which is several times each year. About every 4-6 weeks, our eyes start wandering, we find one that "looks" good, and we begin the flirtation process....you know, first its a little "lunch putting" at the local golf emporium, then it's the "extended lunch putt-a-thon" in the same venue, then on to scouring eBay for an "almost new" version, and finally....you take the plunge and dive headlong into what you are sure will be a long term commitment. All is fine until another "cutie" catches your eye, and the cycle starts anew.
(2) Happily Hitched : (e.g. Tiger, DL III, Paddy) We are still using the first (or maybe 2nd) putter we have ever had. If the house caught afire, we would grab the putter first, give it to the firemen, and run back in the house for ....all the other important stuff. Whenever we travel to play golf, the putter sits in the front seat ( or in first class), while the rest of the bag bumps along in the cargo hold. The only thing we look for on ebay is an EXACT duplicate of old faithful, just in case anything ever happens to "the putter that Moses learned with".

I will admit to being a poster boy for the "Looking for Love" set....if I bought every putter that has made my heart quicken, I would have more putters than Michelle Wie has excuses. My latest fave is a Ping Piper H (replete with flaming orange grip), which replaced a long and beautiful string of Scotty's. I'm rolling them good right now, so maybe she (her name is Angelina....) is the one.

So, after that confession, I gotta ask - which camp do you fall into ?

Going off with the Girls - How Do You Feel About It ?

It's happened to all of us....we show up at the Golf Course or Club of choice for the day, perhaps as a single or perhaps lacking a full foursome, and we get paired with a female golfer or golfers. My gut tells me that the majority of us roll our eyes, shrug, or otherwise express some form of frustration.

Why ? Bad experience ? Lack of patience for the group using multiple tees ? Loss of the ability to tell dirty jokes ? Threatened perhaps (we'd never admit it, tho...) ? Or are we just chauvinistic pigs ?

I won't go all Dr. Phil on you here - but I will share some of my thoughts....

I play at a local CC where we have lots of female members, and plenty of them who are...well, lets just say they started playing golf waaay before graphite shafts were the norm. Therefore, I get plenty of exposure to all levels of golfers of the feminine persuasion. I will admit that early on, I did have some very frustrating outings with some chicks who just could NOT hit the ball. However, my recent experiences have been very different - as a matter of fact, I find that I am often playing with someone who is at least my equal ( I play to a 9 currently, so no sniggering..). I've met some delightful people, and had some really good times as well. Maybe it's just me, but it sure seems like the level of golf played by ladies is a lot higher than it was 10 years ago.

However, it could be just me...so let me know what your experiences have been.

The Quickest Way to Lower Scores - $9.99 plus s&h

On (at least) a monthly basis, you can read the latest on how to lower your scores from Golf magazine, Golf Digest, and various other golf magazines. Similarly, you can walk into any bookseller (real or virtual) and find countless books on how to improve your scores. Some say "practice putting", since you take about 1/3 of your strokes with your putter....Others say "Get your drive in the fairway", espousing practice off the tee, while others evangelize on the merits of practicing your short game.

What is the ambitious golfer to do ? Buy all the books ? Invest in a DVD library ? Subscribe to every monthly rag ? Hire the best coach you can find ? Buy all new equipment ? Quit your job so you have enough time to practice ? It's enough to make anyone's head spin...

I broke 80 almost 15 years ago for the first time. It was a bit of a fluke, but I have fought mightily to get back to that level of play. After trying all sorts of things, I have made a lot of progress in the past year, and now regularly score around 80, and have broken that "magic barrier" 5 times this year. More importantly, I have gotten much more consistent and am a much better competitive golfer. Here are the things that have worked for me:

(1) Find a coach who fits your style (are you a "feel" player or a "technical" player ? (See related post on that) - and spend some time having them identify the critical flaws in your game. Don't worry - we all have 'em.
(2) Commit yourself to practicing (I suggest once per week) - and target 60-90 minutes for practice sessions.
(3) Divide your practice sessions into "thirds". Practice putting 1/3 of the time, Practice chipping and pitching (shots less than 100 yards) 1/3 of the time, and practice full swings 1/3 of the time.
I find that the following order works best for me:

• Practice 1/4 and 1/2 swings with your wedges (this is 1/2 of your short game practice)
• Practice Putting
• Practice 1/2 and 3/4 swings with your wedges (this is the 2nd half of your short game practice)
• Practice full swing shots

I'm not suggesting this is the "perfect solution", but I have found that it really works for me. What works best for you ?

Picking a Golf Ball - What is Important ?

Picking a golf ball today is pretty confusing. I've seen all of the Titleist commercials, and the PGA leaderboard that shows how many players use Titleist balls....but what is REALLY right for the Average Joe/Jane golfer ? Here are the factors that I think are important:

(1) Spin - Do you prefer a ball that spins a lot or one that spins less ? Do you even know how to tell ? One good way is from your tee shots - if you tend to favor the right side of the course (for righties) - I hate to say "slice", chances are that you hit shots that spin a lot - and thus would be best served by a low spin ball. However, the best way to determine this is to vists a golf shop and hit a few on the launch monitor and see what it tells you.
(2) SwingSpeed / BallSpeed - This is a topic that will require some professional intervention, but can really help in selecting the right ball for you. The same trip to the golf shop mentioned above can offer you insight into your swing speed and ball speed.
(3) Affordability - Let's face it - a lot of us just cannot stomach $45 smokes for a 12 kit of Pro V1s...what's a duffer to do ? Well, you have two options - select less expensive balls (there are lots to choose from) OR buy used high end balls from folks on eBay (this is a great option, BTW).
(4) Brand Loyalty / Perception: Let's face it, golf is a VERY mental game, and some of us just feel better playing a brand that we recognize or like.


At the end of the day, the best option is to make a visit to the golf shop of your choice (Edwin Watts, GolfSmith, etc) and let the pros there help you out. Explain to them that you need help selecting a ball, and want to get on the launch monitor to help identify the right one. Do not be afraid to tell them that you need to stay in a price range - remember that they are there to help you. BTW - you may have seen Bridgstone commercials lately where they are doing comparison with average Joe/Jane golfers hitting various balls to help them select the one that is best for them....clearly an indication that the industry is "getting it" as it comes to golfers selecting a ball that is right for them.

Here are some to consider:

High End Balls:

• Titleist Pro V1 (high spin, soft) and Pro V1x (less spin, a bit firmer)
• Taylor Made TP Black (high spin, soft) and TP Red (less spin, firmer)
• Bridgestone B330 and 330 s
• Nike One Black , Nike One Platinum (high spin, soft)

Middle Tier Balls

• Titleist NxT and NxT Tour
• Taylor Made Burner Red and Black
• Bridgestone e5
• Callaway Hot X
  

What do you play ?

ed note: Da Judge plays ProV1x, and chokes every time he has to pay full retail for them....

Ryder Cup - The Encyclopedia Brittannica Version

I was getting prepared to write a blog on the history of the Ryder Cup- researching like crazy, reading all I could find. Then I found this....., and I gotta give it up to the man - he has it ALL in here.

http://armchairgolfblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/2008-ryder-cup-report.html

Enjoy the rest of his blog - cool stuff

Court is Adjourned,
Da Judge

Welcome to Bushwood CC

BUSHWOOD CC
Welcome to Bushwood Country Club....golfing's newest blog. Hopefully the title gives you a sense of my sense of humor...we will discuss serious stuff here (how to improve, equipment, the tour, etc), but we won't get serious about ourselves (e.g. The Sand Trap). Hopefully, you will learn a little, laugh a lot, and contribute to everyone else's enjoyment with your comments, suggestions, etc.

Among the Topics we will cover soon:
- The Ryder Cup
- The FedEx Race
- Equipment
- Golfers
- The LPGA (That's right, I am a fan...)

Until next time....Fairways and Greens