In a similar vein to the 2022 watch wear review and plans for 2023 - how was 2022 for your golf and what do you want to do or have planned for 2023?

Any "grail" courses (realistic and very optimistic choices) you'd like to play next year?

2022 was a virtually a 50/50 split for me with a couple of injuries meaning I didn't really get over them to play regularly until mid-year. The few rounds I played between February and end May were high scoring so my HI started the year at 16.7 and it'll finish the year on 18.4 with only about 4 rounds in summer showing anything like decent performances.

Clubwise I finally replaced my go-to 3 wood and also purchased an iron-replacement club to fill a gap in distances that became apparent partly due to the stats taken from the ShotScope I bought off Paul (@stefs). Also (I forgot) the new putter and removing the LW from my bag.

For 2023, I won't be playing until late January at the earliest so I can spend plenty of time in the gym improving my fitness, balance and flexibility to prevent any repeat injuries and to prepare for a planned driver fitting in February/March.

Grail courses to play in 2023 - Hopefully realistically are Sunningdale as I missed out due to injury and very bad weather in early 2022 plus The Buckinghamshire and The Grove as I haven't played either for a few years, with Wentworth being the very optimistic outside chance as probably too many things need to fall together for this to happen. These aren't my normal standard of locations of course so other than those my normal golf will be at the "usual" courses in Beds, Bucks, Berks and Oxford with some others included on 2 x UK golf breaks.

Have a good New Year.

Good Morning

I played (Poorly) yesterday, our little course is holding up well considering, so unless the weather is horrendously bad, 2023's golfing will start the weekend after next.
We've got a trip to the Belfy booked for April, so really looking forward to that, its an overnighter so I'll be taking my dancing shoes.
No trips abroad planned for 2023, but I'm investigating a few days in Kent, playing some of the nice courses near Margate/Dymchurch.
But not St Georges too snobby for me !

I got a nice bit of money and vouchers for Christmas, so I bought a 56 degree wedge, winter gloves, alignment sticks, a proper golfing jacket and I'll be out today trying on golf trousers.

I'm currently working on my gapping, hence the purchase of the 56 Degree wedge.
I've got 5 wedges in the bag so that covers everything from 135 yds in, which is a common 2nd shot where I play. (Short par 4s)
I cant hit my 6 iron at the moment, so I'll work on that down the range, then look to have a few lessons.

Regards Steve

I have some adjustments to make in 2023.

I have now accepted that age and injuries have affected my game more than anticipated this past season. My plan over the next couple months is to research what changes I need to make to the clubs in my bag. I am likely to change out my 4 and 5 irons for hybrids to hopefully regain some yardage. I also need to take more practice time to work out the distances for all clubs now. I will be visiting the local stores to try out several clubs to see what might work best. 2022 was an inconsistent year. I am hoping that through practice I can get that consistency back. Hopefully on the good side.

Although not yet decided, I may only play in the senior league this year and drop out of the league I have been in for 20 years. There is also a second senior league I am considering. These leagues play different courses every week as well as private courses you can't otherwise play. I have found that as much as I enjoy the regular play on my home course, I have greatly enjoyed more variety in courses. It is a different mental challenge.

I just need to play more. Eight rounds in 2022 which at least was enough to give me my first handicap (currently 15.3). Finding time with a young family and only one car is tough but I want to play more this year and hopefully start understanding my game a bit better.

Off the tee, full swing and anything with a nice lie I'll back myself. Rough, slope, half swing or putt = completely alien to me.

magicman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:01 pm
I'm currently working on my gapping, hence the purchase of the 56 Degree wedge.
I've got 5 wedges in the bag so that covers everything from 135 yds in, which is a common 2nd shot where I play. (Short par 4s)
I cant hit my 6 iron at the moment, so I'll work on that down the range, then look to have a few lessons.

Regards Steve

Hi Steve,

5 wedges?
I'm missing out

Interesting because I removed a 58degree from my bag mid-season as I had used it only about 3 times in 4 months (maybe too lofty for my skill-set), changed what clubs and how I used them from 100-120yards in and I wanted to put in another club for a gap around a 5iron distance. So mine are now PW (45), GW (50) and 54 degree which I use as my SW.

I'm thinking you have
PW - about 45 degree
GW - about 50 degree
then 3 others
SW
LW
???
at what lofts and what's your distance gaps between them?

Mikkei4 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 3:47 pm

magicman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:01 pm
I'm currently working on my gapping, hence the purchase of the 56 Degree wedge.
I've got 5 wedges in the bag so that covers everything from 135 yds in, which is a common 2nd shot where I play. (Short par 4s)
I cant hit my 6 iron at the moment, so I'll work on that down the range, then look to have a few lessons.

Regards Steve

Hi Steve,

5 wedges?
I'm missing out

Interesting because I removed a 58degree from my bag mid-season as I had used it only about 3 times in 4 months (maybe too lofty for my skill-set), changed what clubs and how I used them from 100-120yards in and I wanted to put in another club for a gap around a 5iron distance. So mine are now PW (45), GW (50) and 54 degree which I use as my SW.

I'm thinking you have
PW - about 45 degree
GW - about 50 degree
then 3 others
SW
LW
???
at what lofts and what's your distance gaps between them?

PW is 44 degree (Callaway Edge) 135 yds
GW is 49 Degree (Callaway Rogue) 125 yds
SW is 54 Degree (Callaway Edge) 110 Yds
56 Degree wedge (Cleveland CBX2) 90 Yds
60 Degree wedge (Cleveland CBX2) 70 Yds and Bunkers

I've also got a chipper !

Regards Steve

Blimey they are USA pga tour wedge distances.

stefs wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:36 pm Blimey they are USA pga tour wedge distances.

Yes, im quite a stong hitter, Unfortunately, the direction is a problem.

Regards Steve

magicman wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 7:38 pm
PW is 44 degree (Callaway Edge) 135 yds
GW is 49 Degree (Callaway Rogue) 125 yds
SW is 54 Degree (Callaway Edge) 110 Yds
56 Degree wedge (Cleveland CBX2) 90 Yds
60 Degree wedge (Cleveland CBX2) 70 Yds and Bunkers

I've also got a chipper !

Regards Steve

I will admit to being impressed with your distances. I am a 4 wedge guy with more pedestrian distances.

PW - 46 degree - 110 yds
GW - 50 degree - 90 yds
SW - 56 degree - 80 yds
LW - 60 degree - 60 yds

Just been to the driving range in preparation for my yearly single round of 9 holes in August. I inquired about new golf balls with the professional, following the ball comments on this thread. Apparently it's quite complicated nowadays, there are lots of different balls types, and you need to know swing speed and compression (?). He said he uses different balls in the summer to the winter, too. I said I'd hang back until I get on the course in the summer.

Any Costco members ?

They have some nice Callaway Polo's and Gillets at the moment. They also have Vice 3 piece balls.

Regards Steve

I will put these on sales corner when I get a chance but I have a garmin venu 2s and a garmin instinct 2s solar up for grabs if anyone wants a really good watch for golf. they both have the same golf software as the dedicated garmin golf watches but with all the health and smartwatch features. Incredibly accurate and with amazing battery life. The instinct 2 solar can go 21 days or upto 51 days with solar charging!!
Give me a shout if interested

atnits wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 5:50 pm Just been to the driving range in preparation for my yearly single round of 9 holes in August. I inquired about new golf balls with the professional, following the ball comments on this thread. Apparently it's quite complicated nowadays, there are lots of different balls types, and you need to know swing speed and compression (?). He said he uses different balls in the summer to the winter, too. I said I'd hang back until I get on the course in the summer.

Wow, you've starting practicing early for your solitary round in August.

Like pretty much everything in golf, technology CAN make it complicated. I understand that the Pro is trying to give you the full story because he is a Pro, wants you to benefit from his experience and he is correct in what he has said. But IMO he's making it too complicated for your circumstances. Basically, as a few of us amateur golfers on here have said, virtually any new golf ball will give better performance and/or better feel than the 1990s pick-up or found balls that you play with presently.

I'm sure any pro will know enough about swing speeds to hand you a club, ask you to make a few swings and he/she would be able to gauge the range of your swing speed. You don't need to know the exact swing speed because new golf balls work within a range of mph swing speeds that fit into slow, medium, fast swings. Ball compression is basically how firm they are, in general low compression will give more feel for your short game but won't travel as far, high compression will give the opposite to this.

I play Srixon Q Star Tour (mid-range price) because it benefits slower swing speeds like mine but still gives good distance off long clubs, magicman likes ProV1s (more expensive range) because he has the power and probably higher swing speed to send the ball a long way and it gives him more feel around the greens.

If you are only playing once to 10 times per year I would suggest that any of the lower price balls of any brand will be better than your current golf balls. For around £20-£24 you could get a box of 12 balls from any of the main brands e.g. Srixon (AD333 or Softfeel), Titleist (Trufeel or Velocity) etc. If you want to see if different types make any difference to you then buy a few sleeves (3 balls) of different brands.

I'm sure other golfers on here could/will suggest balls you might like to try from the lower price ranges. Yes we are only amateurs but we've probably tried many types of golf balls.

^^^ good advice; thank you.

atnits wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 5:50 pm Just been to the driving range in preparation for my yearly single round of 9 holes in August. I inquired about new golf balls with the professional, following the ball comments on this thread. Apparently it's quite complicated nowadays, there are lots of different balls types, and you need to know swing speed and compression (?). He said he uses different balls in the summer to the winter, too. I said I'd hang back until I get on the course in the summer.

Hi
I used just about every ball in current existence…
If you are at a level, losing more then 2-3 balls per round… here is my „pro“ tip:
Take used balls… as cheat as it gets… for playing on the course.
For practice use a decent ball. And use always the same.
Here is why… :
Golf is hard enough. Don’t make it even harder.
By using cheap balls, you might get less nervous if you have to cover a lake.
For practice it makes sense the have always the same ball. Especially for putting and chipping.

Unless you regularly play 18 holes without losing more then 1, ONE Ball… don’t wast your money!

Just my 2c