The weather has been fantastic (suncreme weather) recently. I have played 5 rounds over the last week and have went to the driving range twice, im still dogshit but i'm having a great time and my game is starting to come back a bit, I has puts for par on the first two holes yesterday. Even aside from enjoying the golf, its been terrific exercise.
I actually ended up coming home from the range today with a 'new' set of irons from the giant store at the range.
My current (daft) Nike iron set only had a proper 8, 9, p and sw. The 3,4,5,6 and 7 irons were all replaced with hybrids. There is no point learning how to play golf again but not being used to hit an iron. These are a quality set of clubs that should help me get back into the game and they will still be good clubs as I begin to improve again. I could trade in or sell my old irons but my partner is talking about learning to play golf and I might just keep them and give them to her, I wont be able to find a set for her for the £80 or so I would get for selling them.
These clubs are a few years old, I think they came out in 2010 and the store reckons these would have been bought a year or two later, but they were a top line (and expensive) club in their day and still hold up really well. These are used but in very good condition and all of the grips are in good condition. I got them for a good price - well under £200.
They also had a set of TaylorMade 2.0 burner irons for exactly the same price, I took a 7 and 5 from both sets to the range and hit about 30 balls with each. I preferred the feel of the R9's and went for that, the store said I can take them out on the course for a couple of weeks and if I have any doubts I can swap them for the other set.
I have always loved Ping Irons, but the 2nd hand options were either quite outdated or literally last years model and still well over £500. I spent about £150 and came away with a set I am very pleased with.
I now have Irons and a putter that I really like. I have a very old TaylorMade 3-wood that I have had since I was about 14, but I love that club and can hit it long and straight, I don't want to replace it. I am not interested in spending money on a driver anytime soon.
I just bought this O-works putter and so far I love it. It's ****in' pricey at $200 but that's what I paid for my Bettinardi back in the day..........for years my putter was the most expensive club in my bag.............in fact I think it still is today lol. I bought my irons used for $200 total., 3-wood $100 and 3-hybrid $96............I just looked the Driver new was $220. **** I must have gotten a raise that's $800 on clubs in three years!!!!!!!!!!!! **** me that's absurd.
I very nearly went home with the Odyssey #7, it was really similar in style to the TaylorMade one I ended up taking. This year black version of the Odssey line are very expensive, but the previous 'white hot' model which is basically the same club in a different colour are very similar.
This is the Odyssey I have
View attachment 12357
Yea, this is the one I nearly took
I’ve been playing a couple times a week for the last 2 months. I “lost” my swing, so I took a couple lessons and he totally changed my swing, for the better.. I haven’t posted, because it’s been awful lately, but the pro did tell me, “it’s gonna get worse before it gets better”.. Well today it finally really kicked in and I felt comfortable with the new swing! Here’s hoping for a good year with some good stories and scores!!
Playing again tomoro, so I’m excited to see the progress with the new swing.
This is awesome danny, keep us posted! I have totally lost my swing, when I played before I think my handicap was in the teens, I would be lucky to play off 40 now. Im going to play for another month or so just to get a feel for the game and then look into a few lessons with a pro - though at about £30 for half an hour? Not cheap!
Playing 9 holes of golf and walking burns 720 calories (doesn't really matter if you use a pull cart or carry your bag the difference it marginal). It's a great way to burn off fat and I've been walking all year as well. I walked 18 two Sunday's ago.
I walked 18 yesterday, 18 Tuesday, 9 on Sunday and 9 last Thursday - lots of exercise! I wouldn't carry a bag if you paid me though
I have a 4 wheel trolley (not battery though) and I could never go back to carrying a bag!
A lot of courses around here charge £800-1000 per year, often with a significant (as in thousands) joining fee. There is a course I have heard great reviews for since I moved here, it is only 9 (high quality) holes but has 18 tee boxes so it plays differently on the back 9. My uncle and a few other people have been adamant that I should join this course, but I stayed away it for my first few rounds. Finally took the plunge today - they have a lower rate for under-30's and it will cost me £300 for a years membership (plus some extra fees for a locker, insurance and Golf Union of Ireland fees) which is actually more than my gym membership costs over 12 months....
The 'director of golf' (cool title!) gave me a tour of the whole course on a buggy today and I was really impressed. He has invited me to play a complimentary round tomorrow and if that goes well I fully intend to sign up as a member. Id probably rather play a couple more rounds, but I have heard top reviews of this course for months and the green fees that I have been paying recently have already cost me £50 - thats nearly 1/4 of a years membership!