High handicappers who hit the ball well and far...

[freddielong]

Parmo, when you say 65 scratch does that mean sss is 65?

I know our course is par 70 sss 71

The course Parmo plays is very short, mate. This is in no way meant to be a slur. I'm mearly explaining why it has a sss of 65. The 1st is reachable with a 5 iron if you're brave and two other par fours are reachable with hybrids or woods in the right conditions. It's still quite tricky though.

That's fine, I was only asking because i've never come accoss a SSS 5 shots less than par before.

That is a strange one I have never heard of that before and don't really understand how the course plays so easy, you would have to shoot -5 everytime just to play off scratch - sorry Parmo not haveing a go but what is the course record

 

[heronsghyll]

Getting back to the original post - I have played with many High Handicap players who can hit a long ball. The real skill of golf, and where they mostly fall down, is the short game and putting. I never worry about playing a true high handicap player because my short game always (well nearly always) tells in the end.

I would also suggest golf is a game played by people, and as such it is difficult to generalise. It is true to say, in my opinion, that a high handicap player who hits a long ball has great potential to be very good, if they can control their short game. A high handicap player who is short off the tee, is likely to remain high. Just a couple of thoughts for the forum, no insults intended.

 

[SimonC]

These topics always put a smile on my face. Most people do over estimate the distance they hit the ball.
I used to say I hit the ball 300 yards when I was a junior but I know this isn't the case. My clubhead speed is anywhere between 110mph and 115mph, the highest I've ever seen it is 119mph. Since I've been using my sky caddie (5 rounds) I've only hit 3 drives over the 300 yard mark (at my own course). I average between 270-275 yards but thats on a course that is nearly always wet.

Course & weather conditions play a huge part in how far the ball will travel. I played a course with firm fairways a couple of weeks back and was averaging closer to 290 yards due to the fact the ball had so much roll.

 

[birdieman]

If you took 95 shots (god help you ) say 95, not 68 or 69 or whatever the net score is.

Did you really need to put the 'god help you' bit in there? We cant all be as good as you playing off 5 and, for me anyway, the god help you bit is a tad on the offensive side to us higher handicappers.

Sorry Keef, I put that in cos I just knew it would get a rise out of someone - I didn't mean it I was just being evil!

Serious about the net score thing though....all I ask is if someone who isn't in your immediate group of friends asks your score say what you scored and then if you want tell them the net score. So often people are chatting post game as you do and you get folk saying I scored 68,67,71 etc -always from high handicap players too. Tell people your real score, we won't disrespect you for it as we've all been there at the hackers end of this great game........I'll get my coat!

I'm off 6 now

 

[Twire]

If you took 95 shots (god help you ) say 95, not 68 or 69 or whatever the net score is.

Did you really need to put the 'god help you' bit in there? We cant all be as good as you playing off 5 and, for me anyway, the god help you bit is a tad on the offensive side to us higher handicappers.

Sorry Keef, I put that in cos I just knew it would get a rise out of someone - I didn't mean it I was just being evil!

Serious about the net score thing though....all I ask is if someone who isn't in your immediate group of friends asks your score say what you scored and then if you want tell them the net score. So often people are chatting post game as you do and you get folf saying I scored 68,67,71 etc -always from high handicap players too. Tell people your real score, we won't disrespect you for it as we've all been there at the hackers end of this great game........I'll get my coat!

I'm off 6 now

The thing is, if they tell you the gross score and you don't know their handicap, you haven't got a clue how well they played to their own ability.

BTW if i'm asked I always say gross ** net ** then there's no confusion

 

[KeefG]

I use Google earth to tell me

Thats a cracking idea, i've just google earhthed some of the better drives i've done at Temple Newsam including probably my longest ever drive last night on the 13th (downhill par 5, left to right dogleg which is perfect for my shot shape.

I had, i'd say, about a 10-12mph tailwind, and according to google earth, which is very accurate, I drove the ball 328yds. I also measured my drive on the 17th which is also downhill and I drove 310yds last night.

This means I can hit the ball miles downhill!! lol

In all seriousness....I also measured where I normally end up on the fairway off the tee and i'd say my average distance was between 240-260yds, which to be fair is about what I thought it was.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I am a high handicapper, on paper at least if not ability! I however on a warm day in calm conditions can hit the ball 280 yards ( as measured with a skycaddie). Now I am a fairly long hitter (not many people I have played with outdrive me, when I hit a good one) however as someone said this doesn't give an indication on my average. I am very capable of hitting a huge slice which travels just over 210 yards or so and therefore my average is probably about 225 at a guess. My average distance with decent shots however is around the 250 mark (this is also measured with my skycaddie and is the average of all shots I don't obviously slice, shank, hook etc so although not my true average driving distance it is still an average)

The reason I think people believe lower handicappers to be longer hitters is because on average they invariably will be as they will shank / slice less so when working out a true average it will be higher. However never let it be said that a 24 handicapper, for example, is not capable of outdriving a 2 handicapper on any given shot. I think the confusion has come as a result of most higher handicappers on here discounting any poor shots when considering their distance. I personally would consider this to be my driving distance though (not necessarily my average) as when on the tee I expect to hit a decent shot which I know will go about 250.

 

[Herbie]

I did 365 yds today but on this thread I dont suppose anyone will believe me

 

[Macster]

Robobum : What 'brilliant ' ?

Par4 469yds. My ball sits exactly 155 away from the pin,
How far did my Drive go ? You do the Math.

 

[SimonC]

Robobum : What 'brilliant ' ?

Par4 469yds. My ball sits exactly 155 away from the pin,
How far did my Drive go ? You do the Math.

That depends on where the tees are, is the yardage correct and is it a dogleg. If it's definitely 469 yards from the tees you played from and dead straight then you've hit it 314 yards.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think that any reasonable golfer is capable of hittingthat 280-310 shot once in few rounds but it takes a good golfer to be hitting those distances regularly (the distance most pros are averaging).

HNJ - correct I don't beleive you but I wasn't there and so have to accept your word for it.

At the end of the day, does it really matter that you it xx yards on a hole (except perhaps in a LD competition) and that you actually took xx shots to get it round the course. Frankly I don't really give two hoots who hit how far and with what. Most of it is inflated self-promotion and those that are true I wasn't there to appreciate the shot so on here it means very little to me.

Sorry if that seems blunt but there you have it anyway.

 

[Herbie]

Unless its related to a particular interesting golf point regarding a draw/fade/head wind/downwind/tragectory differences I really couldnt care less whos hitting how far or who thinks they are hitting so far.

This type of thread always falls down into the 'no you didnt' 'Yes I did' playground.

The OP to my mind was asking the question about high h/c players hitting long as well as a point about the disbelieving critique that always seems to appear.

If you think you hit it miles good on ya......I dont care, Im only concerned with how I hit a ball and how effective that hit is.

 

[Parmo]

Parmo, when you say 65 scratch does that mean sss is 65?

I know our course is par 70 sss 71

The course Parmo plays is very short, mate. This is in no way meant to be a slur. I'm mearly explaining why it has a sss of 65. The 1st is reachable with a 5 iron if you're brave and two other par fours are reachable with hybrids or woods in the right conditions. It's still quite tricky though.

That's fine, I was only asking because i've never come accoss a SSS 5 shots less than par before.

That is a strange one I have never heard of that before and don't really understand how the course plays so easy, you would have to shoot -5 everytime just to play off scratch - sorry Parmo not haveing a go but what is the course record

Course record is about 57/58 net. The course is a 9 holer with 1 par 5 a par 4 of 450 a par 4 of 330 a par 3 of 180 yards and a par tricky 3 od about 120 yards the rest are par 4's between 240-270, hence the sss65 (a nightmare for Cat 1 golfers and the reason of not many scratch players). I mean who would want to play a course where you have to shoot -5 every round to keep scratch???

We do have a lot of old timers & Jr's there, but I tell you something I have learnt more from them on the short game than anything else!! I do agree though there is a massive shortage of players my age there or people between 20-35, but with the Leeds season wicket open to all municipals now for the same price we are getting more of a mix and fingers crossed some new blood.

 

[Macster]

http://www.brough-golfclub.co.uk/the-course-hole-16.asp

Well, the yellows were probably 3/4yds in front of the White's last night, so perhaps it was only 310yds.

Ah, it doesnt matter, but does prove that occasionally, a lot of us mere mortals can launch them as far as the Pro's, with a little wind assistance.

 

[Robobum]

Robobum : What 'brilliant ' ?

Par4 469yds. My ball sits exactly 155 away from the pin,
How far did my Drive go ? You do the Math.

That would be 314yds. Presuming that the hole is dead straight and is measured correctly and the blocks are exactly at the point used for measuring.

You posted that you hit your drive EXACTLY 315yds as it was 4/5 yds away from the 150yd marker.

One measurement was (to you) indisputable but your other yardstick was one or the other.

No bearing on the thread, it just made me laugh.

 

[krokodil]

I play golf with a guy who hits his driver around 40yds less than me, but never misses a fairway. I'd swap distance for accuracy every day of the week.

 

[jammydodger]

With lots of peeps using SC's now its becoming easier to get a true measurement of shots , for instance I nailed one today on a course i'd never played before and thought i'd measure it. I get to the ball and it says 380 yds (down wind and baked hard fairways and a nice cross lsope to help. Does anyone believe me ? I dont care , its what happened ... shrugs

 

[Herbie]

I think that any reasonable golfer is capable of hittingthat 280-310 shot once in few rounds but it takes a good golfer to be hitting those distances regularly (the distance most pros are averaging).

HNJ - correct I don't beleive you but I wasn't there and so have to accept your word for it.

At the end of the day, does it really matter that you it xx yards on a hole (except perhaps in a LD competition) and that you actually took xx shots to get it round the course. Frankly I don't really give two hoots who hit how far and with what. Most of it is inflated self-promotion and those that are true I wasn't there to appreciate the shot so on here it means very little to me.

Sorry if that seems blunt but there you have it anyway.

Not too fussed there homer, but telling someone you dont believe their post can be considered calling them a liar, some can and have been offended by it in other threads. I dont lie about golf, never have and never felt the need to, but it takes someone like you to post the disbelief idea, often I might add. It is often difficult for one persons self belief to be used as a measuring stick for another, if that measuring stick doesnt reach that far

If you read the thread 'ref to Tigers 7 iron', you might have understood why it went that far today.
Let me know how far you hit a ball Homer and I promise I will only put that distance as a max in future.

 

[GRAEMBO]

i know of many double figure handicappers who hit the ball a long way, they just dont make as good use of it as the lower handicapped player does.

Its by the same reasoning that pros are pros, we make similar numbers of birdies to them in a normal round, but far more bogeys and double bogeys!

 

[Macster]

I seeeeeeeee....ok howabout...... 'exactlyverynearlyIthinkjustaboutquitecloseto' 314yds.