RE: O/T: Master Craftsmen

Every endeavor has it's masters.

Today it was golf's turn to shine.

The PGA championship was played this week end.

The top players in the world competed and put on a clinic how the game should be played.

Some of the shots made were marvels to observe.

In the end, Rory McIlroy, a 25 year old Irishman, from Northern Ireland, won as darkness closed in on Valhalla, a course located near Louisville, KY.

Last week McIlroy won on the "Monster", the south coarse at Firestone, near Akron where Arnie, Jack, Gary. and the Merry Mex, Lee Trivono competed during the 1960s.

Two weeks ago, McIlroy won the British Open.

IOW, he has won three (3) weeks in a row.

Think we are looking at a phenomenon here.

Many players play their entire career and don't win three (3) tournaments.

Think this young man is something special.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett
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I tuned out about an hour before the tournament ended (went to eat out), th inking McIlroy (2 shots behind at -11 or -12, I think) and Mickelson (-11, I think) would not win. When I learned of the results (-16 won), I realize d I missed a great ending. I wonder if my brother taped it!

Sonny

Reply to
Sonny

Turned it on about the 15th hole and sat, mesmerized, until the end. Not a sports fan, but Golf seems to be about the only one left that actually highlights individual effort without being saturated with some form of corruption.

Reply to
Swingman

Team sports seem to attract corruption. Individuals going for a low score to win rules most types of corruption.

Reply to
Leon

fify ;)

Reply to
Swingman

"Mike Marlow" wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------------- Back in the 1970s, I played a LOT of golf.

I consistently hit 240-250 off the tees while the pros were hitting

250-260.

Matter of fact, was given the nickname of "Gringo Gorilla" by the caddies in the Dominican Republic while on a trip there.

But alas, driving was the limit of my game and as the old saying goes, you drive for show, but you putt for dough, and I didn't putt very well.

What really blows my mind is how today's pros hit the ball.

In 1972, a pro would hit a drive 250-260.

Forty years later, pros like Bubba and McIlroy drive 350 yards and hit a 9 iron 200 yards.

I'm certain some of this is due to physical conditioning, but that doesn't account for an almost 50% increase in stroke distance.

Haven't kept up with things since I quit playing, but upgrades in equipment appear to be significant.

All these changes in capability means that "The Monster", #16, at Firestone, a 627 yard par 5 has been reduced from a drive, a fairway wood, and a short iron for position to an attempt for a birdie putt, to a drive, a fairway wood and a chip or even a putt for eagle.

It certainly is a different game being played today.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

-------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm with you, playing with a powered cart sucks unless of course you are the beer cart.

OTOH, a pull cart worked for me or even just a Sunday bag works.

Always thought the basic reason you play golf is to get some exercise.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

I eventually graduated to a hand pulled cart.

Reply to
Leon

Physical conditioning has a lot to do with it but go to your local pro shop and take a look at the woods. The woods/driver heads are mostly a light weight alloy that more resembles the size of a large grape fruit than an apple. By comparison the ball appears to be about 1/3 the width of the face of the club.

If I were to start playing again I might be embarrassed to drag out my small Titlist Driver. ;~)

I quit playing the first time in the early 70's and took it back up in the mid to later 80's. I was amazed at the smorgasbord of brands of clubs and the multi colored balls. Ping was relatively new.

Oddly I played better golf a few months after starting again some 15 years later than when I was playing daily when on the school team.

Reply to
Leon

Not for today's pussified male, still playing virtual GI Joe at 35.

Like the Lance Armstrong wannabes, all decked out for the Tour de Sidewalk, in that little instant gratification mind all that is needed to stoke that fragile self esteem to imaginary magnificence is to look the part.

Can't do that while sweating on the tweeds.

Reply to
Swingman

Then why do me and my frieds (who all walk) always spend so much time waiting for cart golfers who can't seem to keep up?

Reply to
Grant Edwards

Because the carts will go out into the rough and way our of bounds to retrieve their balls. I have seen guys in carts spend 5 minutes driving around in the tall grass looking for a ball. The walker typically will walk straight to where his ball went. When you have 2 players in a cart the driver typically goes straight towards one or the other ball. They loose track of where the other ball went. Walkers split up and go straight towards his or her ball. In a cart you go to one ball and then the other. No time is really saved.

Reply to
Leon

You know Karl, the next thing is that you might convince me I don't look ve ry macho wearing a big hat, long sleeve shirt, nail bags, speed square stuc k in my back pocket sawing Hardie Plank. Even when using a nailer! The co mpressor roars, the gun bangs, the saws whine, and my clothes are wet all t he way through with sweat. It has been over 100 the last few days here, an d I am finishing up my siding job. Paint tomorrow and Friday, then off on Saturday.

You know, come to think of it, if I look half as tired as I feel, I probabl y don't look very macho. Probably more like a worn out, middle aged guy th at sweats a lot. Although... my lightweight nail bags are all black, so som eone might think I am some kind of ninja of some sorts. Especially if I ha ve my dust mask on when cutting the concrete trims. Unless they see me goin g up and down the ladder...

I have had some of those Rambonian tribe members work for me, and they are F'n worthless. Had them quit before lunch many a time. Some of them sure looked good, though. Nice muscles, good tribal ink, great haircuts and nea tly styled beards, and properly worn and distressed looking name brand clot hes.

Robert

Reply to
nailshooter41

Reply to
SteveB

In my life, I play golf religiously, once every ten years. I'm seven years out from my next bout, and am using the money I save to go fishing or buying good pool cues. So far, I am light years ahead in the amount of time I get to recreate, and own some nice sticks.

Fergive the test. I have been getting a banlist message, and didn't on that message, so figured it must be working again. So, if you see this, you understand what the "TEST" meant. If you don't see this, you will probably will figure it our.

Or not.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

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