OT: Ongoing Golf Thread
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I’ve been fortunate enough to play Winged Foot 3 times with my former CEO who is a member. The place is a classic throwback. The locker room looks like it hasn’t been changed in 60 years. There were no tee times. After we were close to done warming up on the range, our CEO puts his golf ball in a que. You tee off when your ball is first. After your round, if you have lunch in the grill room, it’s like you are in a time warp, and you realize the history of the place. I’ve played Baltusrol about 30x, (another former colleague / buddy of mine is a member there and we always play a home & home), and although both are Tillinghast courses, there was just something special about Winged Foot... maybe because the lunch and round was free.
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Pretty much my experience. Place oozes history. As soon as you walk in the locker room and see the trophy case and the old school lockers you know you're in a special place. Agreed the grill room and drinks they pour there are legendary.I’ve been fortunate enough to play Winged Foot 3 times with our CEO who is a member. The place is a classic throwback. The locker room looks like it hasn’t been changed in 60 years. There were no tee times. After we were close to done warming up on the range, our CEO puts his golf ball in a que. You tee off when your ball is first. After your round, if you have lunch in the grill room, it’s like you are in a time warp, and you realize the history of the place. I’ve played Baltusrol about 30x, (another former colleague / buddy of mine is a member there and we always play a home & home), and although both are Tillinghast courses, there was just something special about Winged Foot... maybe because the lunch and round was free.
Have played Baltusrol about a dozen times. Half of those in the Saint Barnabas annual golf outing. The greens on the upper course have some ridiculous breaks to them. Still amazed the guys like John Daly can reach the green on 18 in two. The Winged Foot clubhouse is definitely a time warp as you guys have said.I’ve been fortunate enough to play Winged Foot 3 times with my former CEO who is a member. The place is a classic throwback. The locker room looks like it hasn’t been changed in 60 years. There were no tee times. After we were close to done warming up on the range, our CEO puts his golf ball in a que. You tee off when your ball is first. After your round, if you have lunch in the grill room, it’s like you are in a time warp, and you realize the history of the place. I’ve played Baltusrol about 30x, (another former colleague / buddy of mine is a member there and we always play a home & home), and although both are Tillinghast courses, there was just something special about Winged Foot... maybe because the lunch and round was free.
Got to play Merion about ten years ago with some financial consultants. Amazing history of golf in the Clubhouse, older locker room and an outdoor restaurant right next to the first tee. When a player was ready to tee off, all conversations stopped in the restaurant while each player hit. Great experience that day.
I’m jealous… LOL. Merion is on my bucket list for sure. Some great traditions with these historic courses. Played the Weyhill course at Saucon Valley Two weeks ago. That course was built in the heyday of Bethlehem Steel and based on your level in management it dictated which of the three courses you were a member (Old, Grace, or Weyhill). Lower BS management were relegated to Silver Creek (now Steel Club).
Thats another great track that I Loved... And also oozed so much history. Played in a Porsche outing 3 years ago. On my drive in, I said to myself, is this the right place? The clubhouse and entrance look like you are pulling into someone’s house. It’s not fancy at all. And yes, that first tee box is right next to the practice green and patio area. It’s probably the hardest course that I’ve ever played. Our caddy that day said the course sits on ~150 acres I think but some holes are so narrow and long! If you ever get the opportunity to play it, do it!!!!
No. In fact, I had dinner with Jack Nicklaus last month. He’s played many rounds with President Reunp over the years. He said he plays by the rules and doesn’t know how that lie has started.
Probably. Courses getting longer and harder. It’s for the young guys.
After Tiger’s “accident” I looked at the numbers of major opportunities he would have before reaching 45. Younger golfers have caught up with them and the multiple surgeries have diminished his game. At this point he will not catch Nicklaus (18), as he needs 3. He’ll be 45 in December and while he did an amazing job winning a last year at Augusta, that’s probably it. Maybe he gets one more.
On a plus side I got my first eagle today. Yea baby!!!
Nice. My game is going the other way. Playing worst than I did when I first started 20 years ago. Hit them good on the range and play well for a couple holes and then the wheels come off.
I’ve been fortunate enough to play Winged Foot 3 times with my former CEO who is a member. The place is a classic throwback. The locker room looks like it hasn’t been changed in 60 years. There were no tee times. After we were close to done warming up on the range, our CEO puts his golf ball in a que. You tee off when your ball is first. After your round, if you have lunch in the grill room, it’s like you are in a time warp, and you realize the history of the place. I’ve played Baltusrol about 30x, (another former colleague / buddy of mine is a member there and we always play a home & home), and although both are Tillinghast courses, there was just something special about Winged Foot... maybe because the lunch and round was free.
Old State Police saying; " If it's free, it's for me !"
Back in the day, it was accepted that the Pro at most courses would put you on the course any Monday and other days if the course was slow.
Story; Was doing an eye relay (from corpse to live person elsewhere in State) from North Jersey to South Jersey. Left the Bloomfield barracks and went down to Bass River barracks on GSP. Another Trooper was supposed to meet at Bass River. He wasn't there, so I go ahold of him on the car to car radio band. He met me in 1/2 hr at Bass River. He had an unmarked and has his yellow striped pants on with a golf shirt. Put the eye container in the trunk and I noticed his staff bag in the trunk. He had been out at the local course on the range, hitting balls.
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Quit the range, only so many decent swings left in the old bones....
Probably an article in "The Atlantic" or other "media" publication....
No actually a colleague of mine mentioned it two days ago and I though it was interesting and funny. Earlier in the week he was told the story by a Winged Foot member that is a client of his. Since it was second hand, I was wondering if anyone else had info. Simple as that.
Hope it wasn't a Bald Eagle. There's a hefty fine for that. Maybe even 30 - 60 days in the hoosegow.
Nope. Bomb drive to 235 out. 3 wood to within a foot. Damn thing almost went in.
Buddy of mine is a member at Trump Bedminster and has played a couple of times with him. He does not play by the rules. Maybe he did with Jack, but it is well documented that he is quite "liberal" with his scores and shots. On one hole, he was in a fairway bunker about 170 yards out. He ended up hitting a tremendous shot to the green... except that he parked his cart in such a manner that my buddy couldn't see what he doing.
Playing with the same caddie the next day, he mentioned the shot. The caddie chuckled a bit and Trump teed the ball up in the trap.
His handicap is also a bit "vanity". If he is playing poorly, he will cut the round short saying "Its taking too long" so he doesn't have to post. He is also known to be quite free with putts, taking 10 footers.
By all accounts, he CAN play is definitely not the 6 or 7 handicap that he claims to be. 12 is the number I have heard is probably more accurate.
Playing with the same caddie the next day, he mentioned the shot. The caddie chuckled a bit and Trump teed the ball up in the trap.
His handicap is also a bit "vanity". If he is playing poorly, he will cut the round short saying "Its taking too long" so he doesn't have to post. He is also known to be quite free with putts, taking 10 footers.
By all accounts, he CAN play is definitely not the 6 or 7 handicap that he claims to be. 12 is the number I have heard is probably more accurate.
Lots of courses he is not welcome to play at and Winged Foot is one of them. Massive cheater. Never plays it as it lies including in competitive events. That is why he is "unwelcome" at certain places. Have it from someone who plays a lot of golf with POTUS. A lot of golf. Dozens and dozens of rounds.
So what you have is hearsay. Got it.
Ive been told by a member at Trump Bedminster that Trump has played in the finals of the club championship there in the past. He ended up losing in that situation. I’m sure that he has cheated at times in unofficial matches, just like what happens at every team Scramble at every course.
Did Obama ever bend the rules in golf or was he better than that?
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The best player to ever play who has played many rounds with him says otherwise.
For all you struggling senior golfers out there, I recommend that you sign up for lessons with a local pro. My shot started to decline in the Spring and was very inconsistent throughout the summer. I thought I had the "proper fixes' to my swing but nothing worked long-term. Yesterday, I took an hour lesson with a local pro who diagnosed two major flaws in my swing and gave me a few drills to get back on track. I plan on taking a few more lessons with him in the upcoming weeks.
Stealing my line...LOL. I always tell my playing partners who are crushing it on the range to not waste those good shots and save it for the round. My biggest problem is between the ears. When I get frustrate, my tempo is a train wreck. You would think I’m at the HR derby.
I would delete seniors. Anyone golfing should take lessons. They help a ton.
These are easy to find on the internet. And neither of those quotes is my source for POTUS' penchant for cheating at golf.
"And in his 2019 book, ''Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump," author Rick Reilly said that at Winged Foot, ‘the caddies got so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway they came up with a nickname for him: ‘Pele.’’'
"As for the claim that he’s posted scores in the low-70s at Winged Foot, there’s no evidence saying he has or hasn’t. It’s the only club that Trump belongs to that he doesn’t also own. The veteran golf writer Alan Shipnuck says the president “became persona non grata after what could be politely described as a rules incident during a long-ago club championship.”
"And in his 2019 book, ''Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump," author Rick Reilly said that at Winged Foot, ‘the caddies got so used to seeing him kick his ball back onto the fairway they came up with a nickname for him: ‘Pele.’’'
"As for the claim that he’s posted scores in the low-70s at Winged Foot, there’s no evidence saying he has or hasn’t. It’s the only club that Trump belongs to that he doesn’t also own. The veteran golf writer Alan Shipnuck says the president “became persona non grata after what could be politely described as a rules incident during a long-ago club championship.”
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I am watching with the mute on (due to Zoom calls), however the greens don't look as fast as I thought they would be. The rough is "rough" though. I assume they would pick up this afternoon. Did I miss anything crazy? I saw 2 hole in 1's.
Right? I'm a little disappointed. I like to see these guys struggle at times with a winning score between -2 and +3. I like to see them slog through it a bit and when they get a birdie, it means A LOT.
It could still happen though.
That putt Zach Johnson made was crazy good. Straight out of mini golf. Gotta love Tillinghast. I have played some of his crazy greens.
I heard on golf channel yesterday that greens were expected to run 11-12.5 stimp this week. Not sure they are that fast today but can get much dryer and faster if no rain the next few days.
A 30 foot birdie putt on these greens is no easy 2 putt. Even on a birdie putt from 10 feet the ball can chase 3-5 feet past the hole, turning a possible birdie into a bogie.
And the 4-5” depth of the Rough just off the greens creates a challenging pitch shot to make par.
Love this course!
I believe Rick Reilly’s story about Trump cheating on the golf course.
I would never bet with anyone who has that reputation, although I would play a round with them if we were friends.
I haven’t told this story here in some time but I played golf in a foursome with RU president Francis Lawrence in a booster outing at the RU golf course at the same time he hired CVS as WBB coach. His method of scoring that day in a Scramble event would rival the Trump stories you mentioned.
I wanted to like President Lawrence when we teed off and was happy to be in his group. But that was impossible for me 4 hours later. Terrible hire as president of RU imo.
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If you want to learn about a person, play a round with him.