Anyone else on a layoff?

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:38 pm

Right now, it's so hot out I don't think I want to play golf. Naw, I do. Alas, at softball where I police the 3B line, I dove for a ball and when planting with my right hand, my right index finger snapped. It is now about 2-3 times bigger than my left index finger. While the Mrs. may not mind this, it has shut me down as far as golf is concerned.

I haven’t played golf since July 1. The finger was broken almost 3 weeks ago and it still is swollen huge. I type all day at work so I pretty much know it is going to be sore at night. I actually went 8-8 in my softball double header on Monday though with 2 singles, 4 doubles, a triple and a homer.

So, that being said, I’m considering heading out to the golf course. Swinging a bat 8 times over 2 hours is much different though than swinging a club 60 times in a round. I don’t think the right index finger does a whole lot for you on the swing. I can’t bend it. Then again, maybe my chipping could get better?

I needed a layoff after my last round. I didn’t want one this long. For me, a layoff is a week. No golf for 18 days is really the suck. What’s the longest you guys forced yourself to layoff after a bad round? Winter doesn’t count.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:46 pm

I rarely take 18 days off in winter. Mud doesn't bother me. BODE U&L, of course.

When it's hot out is when it's easiest to get bitchin teetimes on the munis...and since it the season of the Twighlight Special at the munis, I think I might just have to call and reserve 5PM(earliest Twighlight time) for saturday and sunday evenings, when it's supposed to be 105 outside.

As long as it isn't muggy(rarely gets muggy here), the heat doesn't really bother me. Just makes the ball fly farther, the way I see it.

If it's between 35-105 and not hailing, it's ideal golf weather to me.

As far as injuries -- I played through a severe back injury...I'm probably not the guy to ask about common-sense injury recovery.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:03 pm

I'm starting to slow down from my 5-6 times a week pace of spring down to a more sensible 3-4 times a week. That's my idea of a "layoff".

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:48 pm

Can't remember my last significant layoff. Couldn't have been more than 1.5 weeks though. I'm good for a couple rounds/week.

[knock on wood as I'm scheduled for a round at Poppy Hills in two weeks]Haven't been laid up w/an injury that precluded me playing golf yet.[/knock on wood as I'm scheduled for a round at Poppy Hills in two weeks]

Right now, fighting a bit of a sore left wrist though. Not sure what happened.

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:03 am

I just had toe surgery. Asked the Doc when I could play, and he said he heard of a guy that had similar surgery and played barefoot 2 weeks later....might give it a go this week, even though surgery was Friday the 21st......

fix · Post by **fix** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:14 am

This whole past golf season..

All of 6 rounds this year really sucks.

I've probably got 2 left this year before packing the clubs away until next spring with the exception of taking them south with me in Februrary.

One of those rounds gets used up tommorrow..
Supposed to be one hell of a scenic course.. I'll be taking the camera with me.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:59 pm

It seems like that "life" thing is really getting in the way of my golf lately. When I have =been making it out every couple of weeks or so, it hasn't been quite as pretty as I'd like.

I hit good old Eastmoreland for a twighlight deal sunday evening. True to "haven't been playing much and sucking" form, the only freaking pars I mustered were on the par 3's and the par 5's. And I had to chip one in from off the green to par one of the 3's...although it was satisfying as far as something can be during a crappy round, since I very boldly called my shot beforehand, with my playing partner and a couple of groups backed up on the tee watching, so at least there was that.

Couldn't hit an iron straight to save my life. But I'm kind of the Anti-Frisco(thank goodness) -- no matter how badly I suck on the links, I always seem to be able to rock on the greenside chips. My more accomplished golf buds always comment on it with things like "dude, despite numerous deficiencies in your game, you have an incredible knack for the greenside stuff."

So I've got that going for me...

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:11 pm

I normally don't play much during the football season. The last time I played was in mid August and I actually did pretty well. Shot an 81 after altering a couple of things on my swing (still can't putt worth a shit), so I am pretty much kicking myself for not playing more.

I'll probably get back into playing again around Thanksgiving or so.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:47 pm

MuchoBulls wrote: I'll probably get back into playing again around Thanksgiving or so.

Isn't that when Golf Season really gets rolling in FLA?

I'll make a golf trip there, someday...it is kinda the World's Capital of Golf.

See, around here, it's about Thanksgiving when the fairweather players hang them up for the season.

The dudes on the saturday morning golf show on the radio refer to golf after October as playing "Oregon handball," which has drawn fits of laughter from all my golfing companions. I believe it's after October 1st that scores in Oregon don't count towards handicap, which is fair enough. Plenty of people here play year-round(depending on severity of winter), but you're picking, cleaning, and placing the ball every single shot, more or less. It's just about impossible to dig one out of s deep lie in soft mud, and if there's any problem with hitting a hair fat, the mud acts like a vacuum, and sucks the blade about two inches into the ground. Other side of the coin, when it's 45-50 degrees and foggy/moist, the ball doesn't fly very far, and gets no roll. 260 off the tee is a MONSTER shot in winter.

But hey, at least the courses are open and we can play in winter, something that can't be said for the vast majority of the northern half of the country. Just have to like mud.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 6:39 pm

It's just too hot and humid to play through aug and sept. I still try to grind out a round per week all year, but I honestly haven't played in about 6 weeks or so. Late fall, winter, and spring are money down here. Nice to have only a 2 or 3 month "off-season". You can play year round if you can take the conditions, but damn it's hot now...I mean Africa hot.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:53 pm

Dins,

Yes, November is the time when the courses around here are more crowded. The courses are also beginning to get in better shape as well, so it's a quality time to play.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:29 pm

the mud acts like a vacuum, and sucks the blade about two inches into the ground. Other side of the coin, when it's 45-50 degrees and foggy/moist, the ball doesn't fly very far, and gets no roll. 260 off the tee is a MONSTER shot in winter.

Pretty much the way it is. The sand cap courses play much better in the winter.

The new 9 hole at Newberg, another 9 being built now. They are all sand cap. Fuck these developers for tying up all the greens grade sand and letting the Italian cocksuckers that supply the sand raise the price. I need fucking reasonably priced sand now...40,000 fucking yards going on that course, so its kind of short right now...

Ridgefield - sand cap....
Reserve - sand cap..
Tukwilia - sand cap
Langdon Farms - sand cap...
Creekside in Salem - sand cap....

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:18 pm

Dinsdale wrote: And I had to chip one in from off the green to par one of the 3's

HAD to? Fuck you.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 4:19 pm

IndyFrisco wrote:
Dinsdale wrote: And I had to chip one in from off the green to par one of the 3's
HAD to? Fuck you.

Still fighting the chipping yips?

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 6:21 pm

Derron wrote:The new 9 hole at Newberg, another 9 being built now.

Never played it(even though it's probably 20 minutes from home), but have heard nothing but the worst reviews from my friends. Matter of fact, one played it for the first time last weekend, and didn't just dislike it -- he was actually offended by what a shitty course it was, and hgow shitty the staff was. He said they even had the gall to bitch when he...no bullshit...drove the cart to his car to unload his clubs.

Huh?

Langdon Farms - sand cap...

Yet another place that's a short drive for me, and I've never played. I have been told that Langdon is THE wet-season course, due to all the drainage in those rolley-polley fairways. I've also been told that that place has become WAY more valuable as housing than it is as a course, and might be going the way of the Orenco(possibly the shittiest course I've ever played, bar none).

Although I've always thought Langdon would be a hoot, just because if you REALLY shanked one, you could possibly take out a winshield on I-5. Which remionds me of the time years ago when I was playing Mountain View(which now apparently believes their greens are made of gold, and charge accordingly...fucking goat track), when I launched a monsterous slice-for-the-ages off the first tee. Cleared the fairway, cleared the row of big trees, bounced once on the street(Kelso Road, IIRC), then hit a brand-freaking-spanking-new black SUV on one bounce. Me and the rest of my foursome all watched the fender dent...tremendous "crunch" sound...did I mention that I REALLY spanked it(badly)? Since they'd always throw in the cart back then, we were all driving that day(I'm a devout walker, actually), and you've never seen a golf cart accelerate so quickly. Myself, I stood there to possibly take my lumps, and own up to my actions, yet the yuppie driving it never even slowed down...ponderous. So, when the h9igh-speed cart made another circle back to pick me up, I was on the Second Tee Express at that point.

To this day, the booming sound of a brand-new, still sporting the dealer placards SUV having a fender completely demolished by a golf ball still rings in my head...and I laugh.

Oh, and speaking of Orenco -- last time I played that shithole, my bud hooked the crap out of a drive, and from what we could see as we hurried along, took out a window on the MAX train...funny stuff. It's not like the tracks run right alongside the fairway or anything, he just jerked'er something fierce. We scored that as a "throw one out in the fairway and pretend it never happened" hazard.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:20 pm

BSmack wrote:
IndyFrisco wrote:
Dinsdale wrote: And I had to chip one in from off the green to par one of the 3's
HAD to? Fuck you.
Still fighting the chipping yips?

Like Dins fights crabs, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:22 pm

Hey...I resent that. I'll have you know, I've only ever suffered one of those afflictions.

Don't be hating on me just because I can chip it up near the hole every once in a while.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:41 pm

Dinsdale wrote:Don't be hating on me just because I can chip it up near the hole every once in a while.

I can too....by accident. One of those coons that will run through the rough on the way to the green slowing up just enough to roll within a couple feet.

I'm the king of "Better to be lucky than good" remarks from those who golf with me for my chipping alone.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:37 pm

Dinsdale wrote:
Derron wrote: Langdon Farms - sand cap...

Yet another place that's a short drive for me, and I've never played. I have been told that Langdon is THE wet-season course, due to all the drainage in those rolley-polley fairways. I've also been told that that place has become WAY more valuable as housing than it is as a course, and might be going the way of the Orenco(possibly the shittiest course I've ever played, bar none).

I've yet to play Langdon, but I can tell w/out reservation that if you grouped all of the employees together, you'd be tempted to take a few rolls of toilet paper to them 'cuz they are, collectively, a group of a-holes. I've stopped in there three times over the past two years and I've been treated like crap. They couldn't be less accomodating if they tried (and I strongly believe they already make quite the effort).

The last time, I had 'bout an hour or so to kill before an appt. I thought I'd hit a few range balls, so I pulled in. I mean, Langdon's GOTTA have grass tees right? Well, they do... and mats. So, I went in to inquire about getting some balls to hit. Mats only they say.

"I hate the mats. Can I not hit off the grass?"
"No, sorry. We have a large outing that will be arriving at 1:00 and we don't want them messing up the grass tees."

~mind you, it's now about 11:00 AM~

"It's only 11 o'clock. I'll be done in 45 mins. Can't you just let me hitt off the grass?"
"No, sorry."
"You serious? I'll be gone before they arrive!"
"I'm sorry sir, you'll have to hit off the mats."
See ya.

Hey, I understand... probably just the flunky in the pro shop abiding by the rules, I guess. But the lack of common sense is inexcuseable.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:52 pm

BTW, why do starters/pro shop employees tend to be such grade A assholes?

I could tell some stories, as I'm sure many of you could too. The most recent was just two days ago at a course north of Richmond. A-1 asshole.

After I told him what I thought of the way he handled something, he did apologize... I then walked out.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:04 am

Ken,

I think it is because most of them are bitter they aren't doing something more. As a board member of a country club, I know how much our pro makes. He's a damn good pro and was the pro at the local public course that has been named the best public course in Indiana. He left that course because he wanted to stay in our small little town and we matched his earnings at the public course.

Anyhow, most of the hacks that work in the pro shop are failed golfers trying to build up their resume to become a pro somewhere else. Assistant Pros as they like to be called. They know on any given day, they could probably go out and beat the shit out of any golfer at their club, but they are stuck "serving" them instead of playing them for cayshe because they can't afford to join the club.

Buncha pussies the lot of them.

Qbert · Post by **Qbert** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:24 am

uuuummm....they have taken a JOB that offers a LOT of WORK HOURS without much money...(but, HEY? you get FREE GOLF!!!!....when?)

Hell Yes they're bitter.

16 hour days @ shitty wage + sucking up will do that to you.

no excuse for "non~professionalism" as Ken described.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 1:27 pm

That makes sense, IF and Q. I've run into some of those guys also. Verdae Greens, Greenville, SC, are you listening? Of all the grade A assholes, he was the grade 1A of the bunch.

However, I'm talking more about the starters, who are more oft than not retired guys. I mean, you've got such a cush job for retirement, why so bitter? I guess it's a power thing too. They control when you tee off, who you play with, cart rules, blah, blah, blah... and they know it. The prob I just had earlier this week was someone of this ilk. But, as I surmised afterwards, he was coupling his assholitude with pandering/posturing to one of the members near by. Lastly, while I'm 35, I look 25, if that. Some young punk who he could weild (sp?)his 'power' over. I was pissed and he got the message.

Back to the retired starter job... I've always contended that when I retire, that's what I'm gonna do. I most definitely wouldn't be an asshole. I'd have great fun w/the golfers.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:54 am

I imagine the Newberg course was pushed to open too early before a decent grow in period. The fucking owners get all hinky and impatient and get he mother fucker open, get some money coming in. The fairways are not grown in right, the greens are probably a bit tall, irrigation is not set right, probably got a superintendent on late and he does not know the course that well, and it was supposed to be an attractant for the housing.

For some reason, anybody who works at a golf course seems to have some kind of an attitude....from the supers to the pros, to the cart boys. Fact is the pay usually sucks for all of them.

Langdon Farms is owned by Chris Maletis... Maletis Distributing... the entire beer monolopy for the Poretland Metro area. He fancies himself a golfer, hes actually pretty good, plays with a 3 handicap I beleive, but he wanted to won a course... I believe he's a big wheel member at Pumpkin as well. The course was built for fast play, the rolly polly roughs, keep them dry and even a Din's shank will roll back into the fairway and play fairly well.

I have not tagged an SUV, but I do have a couple of windows, one at the Resort and at Summerfield... just kept playing and never caught up with me.

Orenco Woods, yea for the worst course.. fairways full of english daisys, bunch of mollared drunk Elks laid the bitch out... grading and other stuff is way over rated. Busting a cap in that bitch was good.. it will not be missed.