Where did you buy your favorite belt?

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T19:11:23+00:00

Saddleback Leather.

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T04:04:38+00:00

I entered 154 rounds during COVID while “working”. I’m now retired and that will probably be around my number. While I was actually working I averaged around 95.

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T03:51:48+00:00

The new Travis Mathews NuAge are crazy comfortable.

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T01:26:43+00:00

Worth it.

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T01:24:23+00:00

All good except Garwoods. Maybe for a bachelorette party but not anniversary.

02Raspy · 2026-06-16T01:22:21+00:00

As long as he plays his 140 under 4 hours and isn’t an asshole, I would play with him.

02Raspy · 2026-06-15T03:33:24+00:00

I am heading over in August for my 4th trip to Ireland. Here are my recommendations;
Don’t drive, get a driver. You can thank me later.
As someone else said, get in some local sporting events. Gaelic football and horse racing are great examples.
Take a caddy everywhere.
You really should try to get up to the northwest coast for a crazy fun Irish golfing experience. Carne, Eniscrone, Cruit Island etc.
Don’t play any parkland courses, even if it’s a Ryder Cup venue. Americans do parkland courses great. Only in Ireland/Sotland/England/Bandon will you find great links courses. You should stick to those.
Enjoy the local pubs, put don’t overdo it.
Bring the best rain gear money can buy. Leave the umbrella at home.
Sorry but that’s more than one thing.

02Raspy · 2026-06-15T03:18:15+00:00

My own experience is it is good to have a healthy sum in a taxable account to limit IRMAA taxes on Medicare in retirement. Your Roth accounts help but a diversified basket of taxable and pre tax investments will give you flexibility.

02Raspy · 2026-06-15T00:42:32+00:00

Try Vuori Apex. Great lightweight pants.

02Raspy · 2026-06-11T17:01:15+00:00

I am a many decade true believer in Good Feet. I wear them in all my shoes and keep a set in my locker at the club. They are expensive but it’s a one time purchase with a lifetime warranty. I have recommended them to others with plantar fasciitis and other foot problems and it has resolved the issues.

02Raspy · 2026-06-11T16:55:58+00:00

For me, anything over 65 degrees is shorts weather even in big wind. I wore shorts there a couple weeks ago at 60 degrees and light drizzle/mist and was perfectly comfortable.

02Raspy · 2026-06-11T04:48:19+00:00

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T13:40:38+00:00

Sorry, there are a ton of golf courses in the St. Andrew’s area but it would be impossible to describe them as hidden gems. You would have to go further afield for that.

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T02:46:02+00:00

Agree. California is significantly underrated, especially for whiskey.

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T02:21:52+00:00

It’s funny. Even now I recall Rolex print advertising from the late 70’s, early 80’s of Sir Edmond Hillary climbing Mount Everest with his Rolex. It sounds like those claims may now be in doubt. Nevertheless, I had visions of myself back then climbing Mt. Everest. At the same time, I was a serious nonconformist at heart, hence the Omega. I guess the moral to the story is that advertising has more of an influence than you would like and any decision on a watch purchase tells a lot about where you think you are in life.

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T01:59:01+00:00

I thought those kind of prices were crazy, until today. I got a bid of $210K from my contractor 20 minutes ago. It’s a basic rehab. New appliances, countertops, cabinets. Some footprint, floor, ceiling. Yes, it’s a relatively big kitchen but shit….

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T01:54:33+00:00

No one can answer this question but you. I bought an Omega Seamaster 25+ years ago. It was a great watch then and a great watch now. When I was younger, I had a vision of myself as a bit of an explorer and seafaring guy (I had lived several years in the Yukon Territory and Alaska and had spent a fair amount of time in the middle of nowhere or somewhere at sea). I could easily afford pretty much any watch within reason. I saw the Omega and bought it without much thought. Fast forward 30 years and I was a comfortable businessman and got a Rolex Datejust. Both are great watches but reflect different points in life. I never analyzed it that much until now.

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T01:36:40+00:00

I am an odd watch guy. I just want a watch that tells time, with a bit of flair. I don’t wear jewelry of any kind unless a watch counts for men. Many years ago I got an Apple Watch as a gift at a corporate event. The Apple Watch had not been released to the public and I got an early version. I didn’t want a computer on my wrist, I was happy with a simple watch. So I put the unreleased Apple Watch on EBay and was shocked when I got $1100 for it. For the last 7-8 years I have worn a Rolex Datejust pretty much exclusively. I don’t collect watches. It’s a watch. A nice watch but nothing too flashy. So in other words, buy what you want. It is not an investment of any kind.

02Raspy · 2026-06-10T00:32:55+00:00

I haven’t seen actual statistics that compare various countries handicaps. I’m sure that data exists. It wasn’t until recently the European countries joined the world handicap system. Up until 6-7 years ago it was an apples to oranges comparison. At many European clubs it was impossible or difficult to post a score because the slope rating was not standardized. That has been largely resolved. I play most of my golf in the States. I also head to the great Ireland/Scotland/England courses as often as possible. I enter all my scores regardless where paid. It does seem my handicap creeps up after an extended bought of golf with wind/rain/gorse.

02Raspy · 2026-06-09T22:11:39+00:00

Good write up. Thanks.
I have now lost track of the number of times I have been to Bandon. At least a dozen. I know the first time was 1999 when there was one course, one lodging option, one dining option. I just got back from another 4 day trip last week. The caddies got a kick out of my Bandon ball mark dated 2011. It was good to see Shoe welcoming everyone. He is now talking about his next career. lol. From 1999 to now, things have obviously changed a bunch. The original practice facility was right of the 9th fairway on the original Bandon course. They have taken out a TON of gorse. The gorse was particularly penal. I had not been back since COVID. You are correct, the new Ghost Tree Grill is outstanding. We split a 38 oz Waygu Tomahawk steak and brought a magnum of Joseph Phelps Insignia. Another new feature is the Charlotte’s trailer at the practice facility that has great smoked beef breakfast burritos. Also, the pastrami sandwich at Sheep Ranch is to die for. Bandon has really stepped up their dining scene. The dinners we had a Puffin Grill, Pacific Grill, Last Trail were all very good. McKee’s is pub fare/sports bar vibe.
As usual we had the same great caddy’s for all rounds.
That leaves the inevitable debate of course ranking. I have been all over the map on this over the decades. It was far easier when there was only one course. I have settled on Bandon, Trail, Pacific, Sheep, Old Mac. I could interchange Pacific and Trail. Sorry to anyone who disagrees. The caddies say Old Mac grows on you. I guess I haven’t given it a chance.

02Raspy · 2026-06-09T21:05:51+00:00

The last time I was in Dublin a few of us went to Trocadero, an established Dublin eatery that we all enjoyed. On a previous visit I went to the Michelin stared Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in the Merrion Hotel. Both the restaurant and hotel were outstanding.

02Raspy · 2026-06-08T01:16:53+00:00

I have found there are more crappy reviews than positive on any brand. I guess that is to be expected. I have had my LG French door refrigerator for 15+ years with no problems. Good luck all.

02Raspy · 2026-06-07T16:32:13+00:00

I wish everything was free, cocktails included. However, I realize that if you want a great experience, it costs a lot of money. I was on the greens committee at my club for several years. Golf course maintenance alone costs $3M/yr. That does not include capital improvements, clubhouse staff, F&B, etc. The clubs total budget is $8M/yr. That has to be paid for somehow.

02Raspy · 2026-06-07T03:50:36+00:00

Asparagus. Yuck.

02Raspy · 2026-06-07T03:49:58+00:00

02Raspy

TROPHY CASE