(07-27-2023, 05:06 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(07-26-2023, 09:06 AM)RicoTx Wrote: What’s a driving range?

On a somewhat related note, I had my first eagle putt yesterday in several years.  Missed it but had a tap in birdie.  The most amazing thing was being on the green in two on a 520 yard par 5.  I didn’t even think I was capable of doing that anymore.

Your first sentence reminds me of an interview I saw a long time ago with Ben Crenshaw.  He said that when he was a teenager, he rarely went to the driving range.  He and his friends just played golf all day.   I think that's probably the best way to become a better golfer.  

The thing for me is, though, the driving range is so enjoyable.  The one we go to is never crowded, it's almost always just me and my friends, and we can stand there and hit balls and chat about life for hours out there, because we're all retired.  I think it has lulled me into thinking I'm a better golfer than I really am, because I get so relaxed, and the ball just comes off the club so nicely probably because I'm so relaxed.  Then I get to the course where every shot counts, and it's a whole different thing.  Also the driving range doesn't have uphill/downhill lies, sidehill lies, or heavy rough.  

Hitting a 520 yard par 5 in two shots is something I have never been capable of doing.  

What course do you play?

I'm in Texas now.  I don't think you'd be familiar with the courses in the Fort Worth area.  The course that I work at is called Ironhorse.  That's where I play 80% of the time, since it's free.  My friend and I have started venturing out into the 'paying for our golf world' a couple of times a month now just for a change of pace.  The course where I hit the par five in two was Pecan Valley - Hills Course.  Pecan Valley is a muni...well actually two munis...they also have The River Course which is the nicer of the two.  Fort Worth has a really nice network of municipal courses and the prices, especially senior rates, are fantastic.  I paid $33 at the River Course and $29 at the Hills Course. The muni that I still want to play is Rockwood which is their 'gem'.  But the super mis-applied a herbicide in April and killed all of the greens.  They were supposed to be back in June (they've been using temp greens) but the heat is not helping the greens recover.  Coincidentally, he is now the ex-superintendent.

I've played more in the last 16 months than I have in the last 5+ years combined.

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