These Guys are Good

[Reel Deal]

For a time during the mid 1990s I was getting to play 2-3 times per week and got my handicap down to about 6-7.

My career round was on the Stadium Course at the TPC @ Sawgrass in '95 when I shot 76 from the blue tees... was actually 3 under after the first six holes, started par, par, birdie, par, birdie, birdie, obviously at that point I started thinking about my score, had a couple shaky holes but finished the front 9 at one under 35. Had an up and down back 9 with birdies on 13 and 16, I actually got to the 17th tee at +1 but then made bogey on 17 and double (gag!!) on 18 for a 76. I did shoot a 75 on another course but don't consider it as good as the 76 on the Stadium.

Life changed a lot shortly thereafter, kids, law school, increased responsibilities at work, and I now hardly have any time for golf (I think last year I played maybe 5 full 18 hole rounds). Kinda sad. It's definitely a game that you have to be playing on a regular basis. My handicap now is probably 14 or higher. My swing, especially with a driver, is very much based on timing so if I'm not getting to play a lot and have that timing down, it really makes a huge difference (I really struggle right now to hit fairways).

I did get to play once with a guy who was playing the mini-tours in Florida and in Asia and although I was about a 7-8 handicap when we played, he was playing a completely different game. Every tee shot was a booming high-arching draw into the center of the fairway and every time he missed a green he’d get up-and-down. I think he shot 69 that day and I remember thinking if this guy can’t make the PGA Tour, how good are those guys?!?! They really are unbelievably talented, and that makes what Tiger’s doing (did??) that much more impressive.

GTD, I’ve been at the practice rounds at Augusta a couple times and have watched them skip balls onto the green at 16. That’s a blast to watch, but I don’t think that particular shot is really as hard as it might appear? I don’t know, may have to try it sometime and see.

[GTDawg]

@kurn

Billy Wagner.

He is naturally right-handed. He broke his throwing arm twice as a kid/teenager. He taught himself to throw left-handed by throwing fastballs up against a barn wall.

And learned to throw 98mph+ in the major leagues...

@reel deal

Anybody can screw up and hit one thin that skips across the ground.

But to be able to take a random iron and, on command, swing in such a way to hit the ball thin and have it skip across a lake (sometimes bouncing 3/4 times)...I know I can't do it.

[Reel Deal]

Take out a 4 iron, hood it, grip down and I think it wouldn't be all that hard, but I haven't really tried it so I'm not sure. Next time I'm at the range I'm definitely going to try it though!

[Kurn]

I played varsity golf in High School, and in my early 20's got my handicap down in the 9-10 range. Best round was a 78, twice. Closest I ever came to an ace was summer of '74. 195 yds. 4 iron to, well, almost 0" from the cup. Couldn't see a blade of grass between the ball and the cup.

I haven't played in 5 years since I hurt my knee and then my back.