Conference 7.286::golf

    	The new clubs are now broken in.  My 1st round consisted of
    13 holes at Tekoa C.C. in Westfield Mass..  A beautiful day and
    round to match.  My new clubs are Spaulding XL4's.  Metal woods
    and 2-pw perimeter weighted irons.  As expected, the perimeter 
    weighted irons were significantly more accurate than my old set.
    My iron play was very good.  The woods, well other than the driver,
    I hit them okay.
    	The 1st hole started off a dissaster.  I hit my 1st tee shot,
    right, and O.B..  I ended up with a quadruple bogey 8, on a very
    easy hole.  Oh well.  I decided to try the 3wood off the 2nd tee.
    I nailed a perfect drive, about 240 yards down the right side of
    the fairway.  I then hit a nice 6 iron into the wind from about
    160 yards and left it just short.  A chip and 2 putts later, a bogey.
    I won't boar you with a shot by shot description.  I ended up 11
    over for 13 holes, with four of it on the 1st hole.  I had 6 pars,
    5 bogeys, a double bogey and the 1st hole.  Not bad for the 1st
    time out this year.  The only clubs I had a lot of trouble with,
    were the Driver, and my 2 iron.  Both were slicing and going right.
    At least I know where I have the most work.
    	Overall, I was very pleased with my efforts and results.  The
    season is off to a good start. Hell, I'm just GLAD I FINALLY GOT
    TO PLAY GOLF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
                                                     Beak

	A Sterling First Round, For Sure

My first round was Saturday, March 28, at Sterling Farms Golf Club in
Stamford, CT, just a few minutes' drive from my mother-in-law's house
in New Canaan (one more reason to visit my mother-in-law!). The first
shock was the cost: for a non-resident, $21!! Well, what the hell, I
was there, the rain had let up, and the course was practically
empty, so why not? But first a bucket of balls had to be hit to see if
there was any point to shelling out the bucks to play the round.

Satisfied that at least some of the golfing muscles remembered what to do,
I started off conservatively, choosing a 4-iron for the first tee shot of
the year (might as well make sure I hit the damned thing): whoops, duck
hook over the fence into somebody's backyard! Invoking the hallowed name
of Mulligan, I essayed a second tee shot and managed to keep it in play.

The round went about as expected: a rash of double bogeys leavened by an
occasional single or triple bogey, (and a realy nice par on a 215-yard par
3) alternating between really good shots and really awful ones. Thankfully,
there were a lot more good than awful.

Being all by myself, I felt no pressure to perform, and took second and
third shots when I felt like it (else what's a practice round supposed
to be? Besides, at that price I felt entitled). The new woods (Pinnacle
1-3-5) proved an excellent investment (I am particularly enamored of the
5 wood, but also hit probably the best drive of my life on the 13th hole,
and crushed a 3-wood off the tee on the 14th); but the same clubs that
bedeviled me last year were troublesome again: pitching wedge and putter.
And the irons were rather rusty, too.

A twosome caught up with me on the 16th tee (actually, I caught up with
a twosome ahead of me, and then the other guys joined me on 16), and each
of these guys was playing with one club apiece! One had a 6 iron, the other
had a 7 iron; and both of them broke 100 for the round! Normally, they
said they shoot in the mid 80's. As for my score: I figure between 99 and
103, depending on how many of the Mullies were factored in. The biggest
mistake I made was in carrying the clubs, rather than pulling a cart: my
legs are killing me today!

      I played once in January, you can do that sometimes in Colorado,
    but it was hardly worth it, the shots to the greens were bouncing
    30 feet in the air and over, it was cold... Last year, I played
    6 times in Jan/Feb. Few people on the east coast believe me when
    I tell them I skied Saturday, and golfed Sunday. Anyway...
    
      1st "real" round of '87:
    
      Patty Jewett Golf Course; the local municipal. Played 9 holes,
    the front. Average season opener, lots of tops, chili dips... but
    I managed to recover well from most. I finished with a 46, about
    average for me, but during the round I had the shot of my life.
      Hole #7: About 400yd par 4, narrow fairway, fairway trap on
    left, severe rough beyond that; to the right and below a hill
    is the 8th hole. My tee shot sliced and ended up 215 yds from
    the green, on the hill. With the ball below me, I aimed left
    to compensate for the downhill lie. Swung sweetly with a 3 iron
    out of tall grass. The sound indicated I had gotten all of it.
    The ball sailed towards the green, I thought for sure it would
    never get over the trap protecting the right side. But yes, the
    ball landed just above the trap on the fringe, and rolled on.
    Walking up the fairway, I could see the ball on the green, and
    it looked like it was right next to the hole. Well, they always
    look better from a distance, so I was happy just to be putting
    for birdie, period.
      When we reached the green, my partner told me to pick up, and
    looked ready to beat me about the head and face with his wedge.
    The ball was sitting 5 inches from the cup. I eschewed the gimme
    and three putted. No, just kidding... 1st round of the year,
    first birdie of the year. I think I'm gonna play alot this year!!
    
                                               rick
    

    

    The course finally opened!  I played saturday in a blazing heat!
    (It was in the mid 70's and that's hot for Vermont in April)
    Anyway the range work helped from tee to green.  I hit lots of fairways
    and several greens and had lots and lots of putts.  The score? 
    How do I whisper?  Oh hell it was 88!!!  I took this afternoon off
    and tried it again.  Todays results were much better 7 fairways,
    8 greens, 4 double bogeys (ouch) for 81.  I'm pleased with that
    looking forward to a LONG and FUN season.
    
    						KO

    Not my first of the year, but my buddy's first (of only his second
    season of golf), equipped with brand new clubs, and a much better
    looking swing (thanks to Tommy Armour's book): hit one of the best
    second shots I've seen that wasn't being televised. After pulling
    his drive into the right rough (he's a lefty) he pulled out a 9
    iron (which was the wrong club, but it's amazing what you can do
    when you don't know you can't do it) and "gorilla'd" the ball 140
    yards onto the green, traversing a deep gulley and carrying a huge
    tree on the way. He then proceeded to 3-putt from about 20 feet.
    
    Oh, well. He wound up with a 9-hole total of 55, which ain't too
    shabby for a virtual beginner for a first round!
    

    	Conradulate you friend for me, on his shot.  But what makes
    you think a 9 iron was the wrong club?  I normally hit an 8 iron
    from 150 yards.  And thats in the fairway, where you can put some
    spin on the ball.  But, if you don't know, out of the rough, the
    ball comes out with much less spin and tends to fly farther and
    roll farther when it hits, compared to fairway hits.  A 9 iron would
    be a normal 140 yard club for me.  In the rough, and since you
    mentioned he had to get it up quick, over a tree, I probably would
    have hit a Pitching Wedge from there.  He obviously made the right
    choice for him.  Remember, each person hits the ball differently
    than the next, farther, shorter, higher, lower and with a different
    spin on the ball, so club selection is a personnal decision and
    one that we all have to learn about our own game, if we are to play
    it at the best of our ability.
    
    	Here's to hoping both you and your friend hit many more shots,
    just like that one!!!
                                                      Beak

    My friend has already congratulated himself enough for all of us!
    And rightly so: it was a great shot. The reason I said it was the
    "wrong" club (obviously an ironic statement) was that he hasn't
    yet established any consistency - I don't believe he's hit any one
    of his clubs (and certainly none of his brand new ones) more than
    two or three times (including sessions at the driving range). He
    had no reason to believe he was capable of hitting it that far;
    furthermore (though he won't admit it), I think all he was trying
    to do was get the ball back to the fairway.
    
    I have been playing for over 20 years, so I know the effect on a
    ball hit from rough as contrasted with fairway. And I went so far
    as to explain the difference to him, so he can factor that in to
    his next club decision. "Right" and "wrong" club selection is based
    on factors such as wind, time of year, course condition, lie, and
    intangibles like how you're feeling at the time. But with no data
    to guide you, hitting the 9 from that distance was a hell of a lucky
    guess! Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
    
    Frank
    

	 I spent  the  past  weekend  in  the southern part of the country -
	 they're  about  3 weeks ahead of Stockholm spring-wise.  Played 108
	 holes on three various courses with varying results.

	 Hard to think of golf though with the World Ice Hockey Championship
	 going on in Vienna at the same time - guess what:

		WE'RE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

	 (beat Canada 9-0 the last day)

	 -- Mr Litby

     
     re .8:
     
     It's perfectly ok to discuss hockey in a golf note.
     
     After all, there are some people on the golf course who certainly look
     as though they're playing hockey.
     
     --Mr Topaz
     
     p.s.: Congrats to the Swedes -- you guys were lucky that Salming
           was still involved in the league championships and couldn't
           play for the national team.

    First-round report coming up soon. Not mine, my wife's (who will
    be known in this notes file as Slammin' Susie henceforth). She's
    almost ready (psychologically) - just about got her to venture forth
    this last weekend, but she chickened out at the last minute. Her
    debut is set for Friday (my personal holiday, if the weatherman
    cooperates) at Petersham CC.
    
    Slammin' Susie (or SS for short) is completely and thoroughly
    hooked on the game, and has yet to set foot on a real course! She
    struggled womanfully at the driving range using a left-handed set
    (she writes lefty...) but was having no luck. In desperation, I
    gave her my 3-wood to try, and voila! So she now owns a brand new
    set of Jan Stephenson clubs, has read Tommy Armour's book three
    or four times, and is the terror of the driving range! Her swing
    looks good (well, it always looks good to me), the no-compression
    range balls travel a respectable distance; but best of all, she
    consistently hits the ball straight, with a little right-to-left
    draw on it! She keeps her head down so long, she doesn't even see
    the ball land most of the time (if only I could emulate her!)...
    
    I think she's gonna do real well, and will let you all know next
    week when the results are in.
    
    		Frank
                     

    re .10 As promised...
    
    My wife (Slammin' Susie) had an excellent first round (ever) last
    Friday at Petersham CC, despite one of the worst cases of "first
    tee jitters" I've ever seen (someone once referred to the first
    tee at the Masters as the "greatest natural laxative there is").
    She practically whiffed her first drive, but connected solidly on
    the Mulligan, and was off and running from there. Her score for
    the 9 (67) doesn't indicate how well she hit the ball (isn't that
    true for most of us?). Except for the first Mulligan, it was an
    honest score (how many of us can make THAT claim?), and once she
    gets the feel for chips and putts, she's going to be breaking 50
    consistently. The high point of the round was the 4th hole, a par
    5 for women: she made a good drive onto the left side of the fair-
    way, the pulled out a 3-wood and proceeded to slam it right on the
    screws to within a few yards of the green! On in 3, 2 putts and
    a par!! She won the hole, without any need for handicap strokes,
    and embarrassed the three of us (including her dad, who shot a 70
    a couple of years ago (for 18), matching his age at the time).
    
    I think I'd better start improving fast, or I'm in real trouble!
    
    	Frank
    

    re. 11 - And she played the entire 9 with the same ball, which we
    will probably have bronzed and mounted!
    

    
    Congrats to Slammin Susie, she's going to be really looking forward
    to that next time out.
    
    I too, had the pleasure of taking out someone for their first time
    ever this weekend.  Steve, my brother-in-law, and I went out Sunday
    morning, (Mothers Day) to a completely deserted course at about
    9am. I am now a true believer in beginners luck.
    
    #4--par 4  Steves tee shot heads straight for the woods..bounces
    off a tree..straight down the fairway..out drives me 30 yards.
    
    #6--par 5  Steve is hitting his 3rd shot..hits the bank of a
    bunker..bounces straight up in the air..lands 10 feet from the pin.
    
    #8--par 3  Elevated tee and green..creek running right through the
    middle..Steve tee shot--SPLASH..tee's up second ball..same shot,
    heading right for the water..hits the water, skips across, ON TOP
    OF THE WATER, hits the bank, bounces high in the air..hits the
    green..runs across the green, hits the flag..bounces off the stick
    about 5 feet from the pin..  I cant believe it didnt fall.
    
    Naturally Im impressing the heck out of him by 3 putting 3 holes,
    4 putting 1 other.
    
    		He really wants to go again soon...
    			CAN YOU BLAME HIM!!!!
    
    					...mike

    re. 13 - yeah, SS (Slammin' Susie) is really eager to hit the links
    again. we'll probably get out this saturday (her new motto is, "Golf
    forever, housework whenever"). Your brother-in-law must have been
    born with a horseshoe in his mouth and a rabbit's foot in his hand!
    The par 5 SS made was absolutely legit, and is no doubt a harbinger
    of things to come (like she'll soon be giving me 3 a side and still
    beating me!) I wouldn't say she's competitive, but she's champing
    at the bit, waiting for a chance to wipe out my buddy and playing
    partner, who started last year and hasn't come close to breaking
    110 yet!
    
    	Frank
    

    
    I thought I don't see it so I'll try again. 
    
    First round of 1989.
    Place: Stonie Lea in Attleboro Mass.
    Score: 87
    
    Let me first give a brief discription of the fist hole.
    Off the tee: Vicious slice o.b.. Second in fairway but not pretty.
    
    Hitting Four: Hack into woods. take drop.
    
    Hitting six:  on and a two put for the eight.
    
    The front nine was ugly, well I was ugly the front nine was okay.
    Finished with a 48 and pared the last two holes so you can imagine
    how I played the first 7.
    
    Well with the cry of "new nine" I tee up on the tenth. The key to
    the back was slowing the swing down. Only made four bogies the rest
    were pars. The back was a par 35 , only one par 5.  
        
    High points of the day: golfing, putting, on the back drove the
    ball well.
    
    Low points: front nine did everything I promised myself I wouldn't
    ie) swinging to hard, looking up, moving my head all that suff.
    
    Good Time
    
    The Lasher

    
    Well this is my 4th month of playing the game.  I scored a 58 on
    Paint Branch 9 hole last week...   That darn slice...
    
    Im working on keeping everything behind the ball.
    
    Does anyone have any advice for the new guy.
    
    Bob.
    
    

     Went to "The Fox" for my first round since Nov. this past Sat. I was
    gonna hit balls, but 3 of the fishing reels in the back of the shop
    needed line so - first things first ! Anyway, I took a practice swing
    and stepped up to the Blue tees. End result, a par on #1 (With a
    "Sandie"), hit # 2 in regulation (Bogey), parred three then - yick!!
    Shot 89 with a million putts. Played 9 Mon. and hit 6 greens - I three
    putted all of 'em. It's a gift...
    
    --Jack

    
     Suppose I should tell my opening 9 at stowe this year.
    
     First time out at stowe 4/12/91 played the south course
     front 9 shot a 40! (8 handicap for 9 holes)
     
     Hope the rest of the seasons has more surprises like this
    
     - Dave
    

    I planned to play my first round at Green Meadow Friday April (early)
    but an outing was going on; went up to Amherst and they were full.  So
    I crossed the street to Ponomah Green and shot a 47.
    
    The wierd thing about it was that about the second green I realized I
    was wearing a pair of loafers - I had forgotten to change into spikes.
    
    Bill

    Hey, that shows to go ya, it's not the shoes, it's
    the golfer.
    
    My 2 cents worth
    
    Bad Betty
    

    Frank, does Slammin Susie work for DEC - maybe she and 
    I could have a game together.  I hit a 48 last week for 
    9 but it was at Berlin, which is a shorter course.  This
    is my sixth yr and I am thinking of joining Berlin next 
    year. 
    
    I amy see Susie some day out on the course.
    
    
    
    Bad Betty
    

    re: .19
    
    	According to Sam Snead...
    
    	"whenever I'd have trouble with my swing I'd go back to
    West Virginia on the farm and go out and swing my clubs with
    no shoes on. You learn balance real well this way cause if you
    over swing your on your butt in the cow s__t"
    
    	He said he never did it on a course because of the looks
    he may get but that it was the best thing an amature(sp?) could
    do...
    
    many time I've had some of my best round in sneakers, because of not
    overswinging....;^)