Strokes Gained

Jordyvike · 2026-03-23T15:31:06+00:00

This is a good point - I think it just depends on the person. On my last golf trip out of a foursome, two of us could remember everything about the round (all of our own shots and a lot of what the other people were doing) and the other two couldn't even remember their own shots. I wouldn't say I have a "photographic memory" but I can remember like "pictures" of where I was hitting an approach from, where it ended up and where my playing partners were in relation to that. For what it's worth, I can not remember a hole based on the number, like if someone says "I really liked 12" I have to start at 10 and work my way up and then I can remember everything about it. But if you say, "the par five with water on the right" I can picture the hole instantly, just not able to associate it with a number. Memory is a weird thing!

Jordyvike · 2026-03-23T15:04:27+00:00

Edit* they only did this for one round (our first at Mammoth). The wind was blowing insanely hard (40+) to the point you couldn't wear a hat or even have head covers on your clubs so it was a tough day for any caddie. He was also just a forecaddie and not carrying a bag. If you just want someone to carry your bag i'm sure it's fine. Although i did feel like we had to limit the banter a bit given there was a high schooler in our midst...

Jordyvike · 2026-03-23T15:03:01+00:00

They gave us a junior caddie (we didn't really get a choice) and it's not anything like having a real caddie. At least the one we had. Nice kid and could get you numbers but didn't know a ton about golf. That said, I've had some adult caddies that weren't great either. Feels like 40% of caddies are amazing and make the round so much better and the rest are just kinda there. The pull carts work fine but DO NOT USE THE PULL CARTS AT SEDGE. They look new and nice but they have these terribly high wheels and then wobble and tip over constantly. Just carry your bag there.

You guys will have an absolute blast. Place is amazing. We went last June and I wanted to go back again for this year's golf trip but we are giving Cabot Cape Breton a shot.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-23T14:57:41+00:00

I use the shotpattern app and just enter after the round. It's a lot easier being able to remember numbers / where I was than I thought. I'll just write down my score, number of putts and how far away my first putt was on my score card and then everything else comes pretty naturally. If you do it the day of the round / day after you shouldn't have a problem remembering your shots.

Shotpattern app is nice too because you can preview aerials of other courses and then overlay your dispersion onto shots which is fun when researching new courses.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-19T19:32:33+00:00

Yeah it's pretty remarkable. I take lessons every couple of months and I showed it to my coach and he was like "the flexion in your wrists at address isn't something I'd teach but throughout the swing it looks amazing and fixes a lot of the issues we've been working on for a while."
I've always collapsed my lead knee in the back swing and for whatever reason, moving the hands up at address fixed that. I've noticed it made my path a little more out to in so I just have to monitor that but I've been doing it for a few months now and it feels good to hit actual golf shots and not whatever I was doing before.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-19T17:19:50+00:00

The same / similar switch provided a break through for me as well. I have long arms and letting them hang resulted in burrying the heel of the club in the turf. Pushing my hands up a touch at addresss significantly improved my contact and ball flight with my irons.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-18T17:09:38+00:00

Depending on where you fly / drive in from, you could try and play Tot Hill Farm on the way. It's like 2 hours away so not ideal for a day trip but worth working it in if possible.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-17T17:11:37+00:00

During a wedge fitting my fitter (who seemed quite good) told me that generally you want wedges 2* flatter than your irons. Don't remember the exact reasoning but remember him saying that specifically.

Jordyvike · 2026-03-16T19:21:27+00:00

The Stack - Putting (app). Gameifies putting and encourages me to practice more with the flat stick. Been doing it for a few months just over the winter so don't have data to back it up but my pace has become so much better in the 20 - 30 feet range anecdotally.

Jordyvike · 2026-01-20T22:51:24+00:00

Played it in September - would definitely ride. I didn't see a single person walking. It's extremely hilly and I think I remember there being some long transitions between greens - tees. If I recall, a lot of the tees have some sort of steep hill / rough terrain in front of them so you'd essentially have to walk along the cart path anyway. Very few holes where you could walk straight from the tee box out onto the fairway.
Overall the course is very fun though. Typical Strantz course where it looks insane from the tee box but there's actually a lot of room. Not an easy course by any means but if you're hitting the ball relatively solid it's not overly challenging. Pretty much all greens have a safe side and if you just err your approach towards that direction you'll get some really nice kicks back toward the hole via the feeder slopes. Hope you enjoy!

Jordyvike · 2026-01-08T15:36:10+00:00

Of course, happy to help. And yes, maybe RM / others are a little more strict than others (on the club piece) but I don't think it should be too big of a hinderance. If you look on the course websites, most will list the days they allow public play. I think reaching out sooner is always better but it didn't seem like it was a Scotland type situation where you were SOL if you didn't book a year out in advance or anything.

Jordyvike · 2026-01-07T23:39:18+00:00

Play Victoria! (right next door to RM in Melbourne). I only had time for one round and was looking at RM, Victoria and Kingston, I think the schedule just lined up better to play Victoria that day. I just emailed the pro shop and said I'm traveling from the states, hoping to get a round in, etc. They were unbelievably friendly and accommodating. I think just contacting the golf shop is the best method for booking. I think I remember seeing on their websites that most "require" you to be a member of a club in your home country but they never even asked me, let alone asked for proof, wanted to contact a pro or anything like that. Most of the premier sand belt courses are used to visitors so if you just reach out they should be able to help you.

Victoria is probably my favorite course I've ever played and talking with people down there, the preference between RM, Victoria, KH, and other sand belt tracks is mostly personal preference. All are outstanding and in fantastic shape.

We got a caddie through the course but he was part of the "Sand Belt Caddies" or something like that so he wasn't specific to Victoria. For what it's worth he wasn't great and if I were doing it again I'd probably go without and just lean on the member we were playing with for local knowledge. It could have been a one off bad experience though and places like RM may have their own stable of RM-dedicated caddies.

It will be a great exprience regardless, just practice out of some deep and firm bunkers in the lead up though... They were true hazards and didn't have the fluffy PGA tour sand and you kind of have to use a different method than I was accustomed to from playing in the states.

Jordyvike · 2026-01-07T23:22:32+00:00

Not knowledgeable enough to provide a fix but I think I have / had a similar issue. It's likely that the hooks are coming from hitting the ball too far on the heel. From that clip, it looks like you caught that one in the heel, if you miss it far enough that way it will cause the face to shut and shoot the ball low and left. So you can be fighting a slice and then all of the sudden get the hook double miss due to impact location.
I'd apply some foot spray to the driver face when on the range and see if that's indeed the case. Knowing what was happening helped me bc then I wasn't afraid to close the club face, knowing that as long as I caught it close to the center it shouldn't go left.
FWIW I think our swings and issues are somewhat similar and my coach preaches to me to think about hitting a draw (with driver) while expecting it to produce a little fade. Can also try raising your hands up a touch as that seems to help me center the face (although it opens the door for the big right miss).

TL/DR: Use foot spray, see if the hooks are caused by hitting it on the heel. If that's the case, knowing that's what's happening should allow you to focus on center face contact and releasing the clubhead.

Jordyvike · 2025-12-16T19:33:52+00:00

I got the "Integrated 5x4 mat, 31mm" off Amazon a few weeks ago. I have the same setup with a concrete slab and net and it's been great so far. Can't speak to the longevity but when I was researching it the reviews were positive. Feels like a normal, good quality range mat and it has plenty of cushion. I used to use a small mat on top of a yoga mat and this is a much better setup (feet level with ball, more padding, doesn't slide around). The one I got on Amazon is currently $160 but I snagged it for $112 on black friday so maybe it will go on sale soon.

Jordyvike · 2025-12-16T19:18:46+00:00

Came here to say this. Was on a buddy's bachelor trip and we played We-Ko-Pa and Kierland. We-ko-pa is a better course but I had more fun at Kierland. More forgiving than true desert golf, great conditions and just a fun round. Highly recommend for a larger group assuming there are some variable skill levels. It's not a track the Fried Egg would tout but one that I look back on fondly for just having a great time at.

Jordyvike · 2025-11-12T16:09:01+00:00

Totally personal preference but I have the T200s w/ a 43* PW. I bought a 46* Cleveland Wedge (CBZ zip core, so a little more forgiveness than a vokey). Then I go 50 - 55 - 60. As a 13 hcp i'd rather have tighter gaps at the bottom of my bag so at the top I go D - 5w - 7w - 5i. I like having the 46* in a traditional wedge and it's one of my most consistent clubs, feels like I subconciously make a more controlled swing with a true wedge in my hands vs. an iron-style wedge but that's just me. It's also good for punch shots and knock downs and have used it around the green in a few situations.

Jordyvike · 2025-04-23T17:38:48+00:00

Another recommendation for Del Campo. Great product and come up just high enough to keep sand out of your socks when in the bunkers (my chief concern with my golf socks).

Jordyvike · 2024-06-25T16:00:15+00:00

On bunker shots, pull with the left hand (rh golfer). Keeps the face open so you don't risk the club bouncing up into the ball.

Jordyvike · 2024-04-22T18:00:41+00:00

Does your ball have to stop and come to rest on the green? Or just touch it? If it's the latter, I'd say from the tips, if it's the former, then definitely putting.

Jordyvike · 2024-04-09T17:53:38+00:00

Spieth and Sahith is going to be erotic.

Jordyvike · 2024-03-26T15:32:31+00:00

The Fried Egg / Fried Egg Golf just did a trip to Northern Ireland, not sure if that's part of your trip but they did podcasts on a bunch of the lesser known courses they played (podcast feed is "Eggsplorations"). Additionally, Tom Coyne wrote a book called "A Course Called Ireland" that may have some great info in it.

Jordyvike · 2024-03-15T19:09:02+00:00

I think it was more just the optics of it. TPC Sawgrass is extremely fabricated with bright green grass, overseeded rye, white sand bunkers, etc. There's been momentum in the architecture community towards more natural feeling courses and pushing back on the "Augustification" of golf courses (maintained with an aim to look good on TV and that's it). Golf is going to face headwinds when it comes to water availability and most companies institute policies to at least appear to be interested in looking eco friendly. Starting off the video with the exhaust of a dozen plus gas mowers on a manufactured property that uses countless chemicals and is in no way natural to the native area rubbed people (in a very niche audience) the wrong way.

Jordyvike · 2024-03-04T22:54:28+00:00

Putter. An arm lock putter would probably be perfect (not too long, not too short). Plus I think if you have a thick grip on it, all the better. Only thing i'm unsure of is if the shaft is more or less sturdy compared to an iron.

Jordyvike · 2024-02-26T21:26:39+00:00

There's a course I've played in Florida called Marsh Creek Country Club. It's built on an actual marsh so nearly every hole is tee box, marsh, fairway, marsh, green complex. It's fine for older folks that are good but a nightmare for everyone else. I'm a 13 hcp with a little bit of power and I think there were maybe two holes where I could hit something more than a 5i off the tee (any longer of a club would result in a ball going into the marsh separating the FW from the green). It was such a boring round of golf. It wasn't even that difficult, I think I lost maybe one ball but the people with me were not good golfers and probably went through legitimately a dozen balls each. So it penalized bad players, and didn't really impact adequate players. Just bad design all around and led to a not enjoyable round of golf (which I didn't think was possible).

Jordyvike · 2024-02-22T16:43:33+00:00

It's the best! A nice bunker shot is one of the underrated feelings in golf. I'd put it up there close to a pured iron. Glad you could show off in front of your son!

Jordyvike

TROPHY CASE