quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
Last summer, Purple Haze, Gentleman Farmer, Klymkev and I played a round together. PH and GF had a bet on the last couple holes. Fun to watch.

For everyone except me.... It was fugly!!

PH

quote:

Do you guys in Atlanta have a suggestion for a course to play in the Alpharetta (sp?) area while I am visiting with my wife's family. In this case, slow play is not a bad thing and a good wine list would help.

mrbearbag,
In the immediate Alpharetta area, most of the courses are private. If you have a home club, your pro can probably get you onto one of these, all are very nice:

White Columns
Golf Club of Georgia
Atlanta National
Settindown Creek
Country Club of the South

All of these are better than any public or semi-pub course in Alpharetta. But you probably won't play any of these for under $125, if you get on. May have to use a caddy too as an unaccompanied guest.

For a public golf course, the best one in Alpharetta is River Pines. It's normally in good shape, decent greens, nice practice facility and separate all par 3 course as well. Costs about $50.

Crooked Creek may still be semi-public and that is also a decent course.

About a 20 minute drive straight up GA400 you could also play Hampton or Chestatee as I believe they are still semi-public.

As far as I know, none of them have a good wine list though.

edit: edited for golf course spelling, in case you google it

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Markiemark,

Generally speaking, I agree with the list that Markie Mark has given you, though I'm not fond of White Columns (most people like it) and CC of the South is mickey mose target golf. Settindown Creek is a wonderful experience but very very difficult. GC of Georgia is top notch (as Markie Mark can attest).

One additional suggestion not on Mark's list -- Birch River. Its about 45 minutes north of Alpharetta two miles off of GA400. It is a Nicklaus design, and they usually overseed in the winter making for nice golf this time of year. A really nice set up -- a good mix of holes. Probably around $60 green fees.

quote:

Originally posted by Markiemark:
G&PN: Thanks for the bottle! Very generous of you!

As I recall though, I lost the bet. Did we carry it over to the rematch?

That was the "thank you." Bet was entirely separate (you still owe me ). You can bring the bottle when we play at my course.

quote:

CC of the South is mickey mose target golf.

CC of the South is a Nicklaus course and, personally, I feel that way about all Nicklaus (and Pete Dye) courses.

I'll play almost any Tom Fazio course (that's probably why I've enjoyed White Columns better than G&PN).

If you come down in the Spring definitely try to play Golf Club of Georgia. Greens are as fast as Augusta then.

Handicap 10. Play with 10 year old Ping Zings. Ping Putter, Calaway Big Bertha driver, Callaway STeelhead fairway metals.

Balls, what is every on sale or whatever I find in the rough, just kidding.

NXT or PRO VI

quote:

Originally posted by Markiemark:

quote:

CC of the South is mickey mose target golf.

CC of the South is a Nicklaus course and, personally, I feel that way about all Nicklaus (and Pete Dye) courses.

I'll play almost any Tom Fazio course (that's probably why I've enjoyed White Columns better than G&PN).

If you come down in the Spring definitely try to play Golf Club of Georgia. Greens are as fast as Augusta then.

I will be coming down in the Spring and will have my club pro call GC of Ga and White Columns. Thanks for the suggestions.

I am not a fan of Jack's early work, but his more recent designs (and reworks) have been much more user friendly. Fazio is a local here so we enjoy his great work often. I avoid Pete Dye courses. Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate your help.

quote:

I will be coming down in the Spring and will have my club pro call GC of Ga and White Columns. Thanks for the suggestions.

GCG has two courses, Creekside and Lakeside. You want to play Lakeside this spring. They have the GA Cup there (USA Amateur Champ vs. British Amateur Champ match) the week before the Masters and the Collegiate World Series a week or two later so the course will be in perfect condition but may have some issues with access those weeks. Bob Usher is the contact pro for your pro to call.

White Columns went private a few years ago so I'm not sure who the right contacts are now.

Originally posted by Markiemark:
Where is the yacht club in Nebraska??


Its right next tocarhenge.
I went out on sat to a par 3 course for the first time this year. double B every hole.

I was at one time a 3 during my high school and college golf, and then went into the PGA of America apprentice program. I quickly got out of that and into the wine business once I realized that it's actually much worse for your game to teach it. I now play about three times a month and can shoot anywhere from 75-90. It's just fun to get out from time to time with my friends.

Equipment:
Driver- Titleist 983E 9.5
Irons- Titleist DCI (old school)
Wedges- Titleist Raw Vokey 54 degree and 58 degree
Putter- Varies week to week
Ball- Nike Platinum or Pro V1x.

Golf, how can you be thinking of golf? It was below zero this morning and I have two feet of snow in my yard. Pretty much normal for the first day of spring in Vermont. The courses around here don't open until early May, and are not dry until the end of the month. It's very hard to keep a steady handicap when you take seven months off. My daughter's high school golf team starts practice in the gym next week. They won't get to take full swings for a few weeks. You southeners have an advantage, but then again I've never seen a good skier from below the Mason-Dixon line.

quote:

Originally posted by VT2IT:
You southeners have an advantage, but then again I've never seen a good skier from below the Mason-Dixon line.

VT2IT, How close are you to Mad River Glen? What a great place to ski!! I may have to make a trip up there this spring if I get a few open days since it's been too long since I've been there.

I'm in southern Vt, a couple of hours from Mad River. They have even more snow up there, 82 inches at the stake near the top of Mansfield as of this morning. It is supposed to start warming up starting tomorrow, so it will be corn soon. Nothing like some nice corn on Paradise.

I finally played my first round on Tuesday since last Sept or Oct (I believe). The greens were extremely fast for having been aerated recently. Nothing worse for putting than ultra-fast greens and the ball bouncing all over the place. Didn't keep score because of that, but I could definitely see some good signs out there. Give me another half-dozen rounds, and the bad habits will all come back to me.

It struck me, when I read CDR's initial post, that he was just throwing out a silly question to see who would bite. Afterall, who really cares about the handicap and club selection of a wine-drinking chat room person you have probably never met who lives across the country? Yet it seems just about everyone has weighed in, as though it matters to anyone else what clubs we are all using. If this was a golfers forum, I would recognize the appropriate nature of this same question, but on a wine board...?

So CDR, do you really care what all these guys golf with, or are you sitting there chuckling to yourself?

mrbearbag,

When are you coming down? I am a member at White Columns if you want to play there, let me know. I'll even host GPN and MarkieMark though I am sure GPN would rather play else where.

Though all of you will have to put up with my 20 handicap.

Shoot me mail if interested. pitt3994 at bellsouth dot net

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I was playing golf with my son in Florida in December. There's a 231 yard par 4 on this course. It deserves to be a par 4 because it's a 90 degree dogleg to the left. There is a row of high trees right next to the tee running all the way to the bend. God couldn't hit over the trees so you must go the long way. Well, I used to be a good golfer but don't play too much anymore, but I can still hook a ball very sharply if I try. (I can't always hit it straight.)

This day, I started the ball out the right a little and hooked it really sharply. You can't see the green so we had to wait til we walked out to the bend to see where the ball wound up. Well, it was on the green, 15 feet from the pin. Yeah, I triple-putted it and my son said to me when I sunk the third putt, "Nice par, Dad." Wiseguy

This reminds me of a game where me and a buddy got paired up with a couple of guys who golf once a year (nice ). We played at a course called Wooden Sticks at $200+ each. 12 of the 18 holes are signature holes inspired by different famous golf holes on the PGA tour.

Anyways, both guys were well over 120 when we got to the 17th hole, a par 3 island green, inpsired by the no. 17 at TPC Sawgrass. Buddy number 1 takes his Pro-V1 and puts it in the drink. Not wanting to take a drop on the other side, he tees up again. He does this 5 times in total. His logic? He wants to know what the Pros have to deal with at TPCs #17. After getting down to his last ball, he finally decides to take a drop. Now lying 11, he tops his ball, it rolls through the green and "splash" into the water. His buddy gives him another ball. He finally chips on...13 so far So when he does get on the green, I yell "NICE ON !!". He was thoroughly NOT amused. EF him.

Anyways...the reason I even read this thread, is that I'm interested in getting a new putter. Any suggestions?

Thats the most important club in your bag Mezzo, my suggestion, get fitted for it. The reason I say that is I have no idea what type of putting stroke you have so to suggest a particular brand could actually hurt you. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Joe:
It struck me, when I read CDR's initial post, that he was just throwing out a silly question to see who would bite. Afterall, who really cares about the handicap and club selection of a wine-drinking chat room person you have probably never met who lives across the country? Yet it seems just about everyone has weighed in, as though it matters to anyone else what clubs we are all using. If this was a golfers forum, I would recognize the appropriate nature of this same question, but on a wine board...?

So CDR, do you really care what all these guys golf with, or are you sitting there chuckling to yourself?

quote:

Originally posted by Mezzo Litro:
Anyways...the reason I even read this thread, is that I'm interested in getting a new putter. Any suggestions?

This one is pretty sweet! They've got it on eBay - only $540!

quote:

Originally posted by marcb7:
Thats the most important club in your bag Mezzo, my suggestion, get fitted for it. The reason I say that is I have no idea what type of putting stroke you have so to suggest a particular brand could actually hurt you. Good luck!

Thanx. I'm actually a pretty good putter. I use a TearDrop TD42 Roll-Face. It looks like a hockey stick. Trouble is, the face sometimes induces a bit of back spin, especially on the longer putts when you have to stroke it a little harder (hee hee ).

Today I tried the YES "Sophia". Very similar style and look, although the face has some funky grooves in it that promise to stop any back spin, and actually promotes full forward spinning motion on the ball. This is very important. I think I may just buy it. $175 CND, but I'm sure I can find it cheaper in the US. We get ripped off up here...on golf equipment and wine.

I played a lot two years ago and my best all time round was 77. Since I really only play 15-20 times a year, I'm lucky to break 85. I have a nice set of Snake Eyes Iron's and a knockoff Big Bertha driver. I can only consistantly hit the ball straight when I putt, and that usually doesn't stay straight.