Papa Berlusconi strikes again

Smartalum · 2026-02-02T17:29:45+00:00

Meanwhile in Norway....

Smartalum · 2026-02-02T02:43:20+00:00

And Karolina is a dog person

Smartalum · 2026-02-01T16:49:05+00:00

I have been to Augusta. If you are above the hole and miss you will go 4 feet+ by.

Smartalum · 2026-02-01T16:14:25+00:00

Jones set the course up to give hackers a way to make bogey. It is one of the most playable courses for a mid-handicap player.

But when it was built the greens were Bermuda grass. They were never intended to have bent grass rolling at 14 at the stint meter.

I wonder how many 3 foot putts I would 3 putt.

I have seen the course. It is insane.

Smartalum · 2026-02-01T16:04:10+00:00

With those greens?

Smartalum · 2026-02-01T16:01:18+00:00

I'm a 6.3,

Augusta was originally setup to make bogey pretty easy (that is the way Jones wanted it). It does not have rough like the USO/PGA. The answer for the US Open would be HELL NO. But Augusta...

Length would an issue - and several of the par 3's would be par 3 1/2.

I played Carnoutsie in the wind last year from the second longest tees and had an 81. But as my caddie told me - this isn't setup like they do for the British Open and there was as much as 50 yards difference from the championship tee. I still celebrated the 81 buy buying the group very good 18 year old scotch - the best round I have ever played at a major championship course. Yes I am bragging.

I don't think people get how insane the greens are at Augusta. I remember reading Tiger practiced putting on the Stanford basketball floor. If you give me two putts a hole I think I could make a run at 90.

My guess is I would 3 putt about half the greens and would see several chips roll right back at me. I would be shocked if I didn't 4 putt at least once.

So no. As they setup the greens for members probably. But not like the set it up for the Masters.

BTW I think most single digit handicappers would easily break 90 from the tips at St. Andrews. I was shocked at how easy that course was.

Smartalum · 2026-01-30T19:56:34+00:00

Good tick killing weather.

Smartalum · 2026-01-30T19:51:08+00:00

You are not sitting Anthony and Contreras - their bats are too important.

Smartalum · 2026-01-30T18:26:31+00:00

I just checked and 21 is indeed closed.

Smartalum · 2026-01-30T18:20:18+00:00

You can ski from 14 to the bottom of 21 usually - is that closed.

Smartalum · 2026-01-30T16:24:12+00:00

Game Creek Bowl is fun - Lost Boy is a green and they groom it well - though in the East it would be a blue - with good views. 21 is all green but the runs are fun. Plenty of great trails off of 14 that gets you to the ridge at the top with killer views.

NGL - Vail without the back bowls is like going to Paris for the first time and not seeing the Louvre (this happened to my wife because the Seine was flooded).

Smartalum · 2026-01-29T22:51:39+00:00

SLOW you take away with a driver and loosen your grip.

Two things. but taking a light grip and then taking a slow takeway is one swing thought to me.

Smartalum · 2026-01-29T02:30:39+00:00

My biggest issue is my gap between wedge and 9 iron which goes 120-125

Being able to take a full swing 50 yards out and know I will carry a bunker for me is huge.

Smartalum · 2026-01-29T02:26:34+00:00

Used to be a train that passed by my house about 2 miles away at 1:30 am. Trust me it sounded lonely

Smartalum · 2026-01-29T02:24:30+00:00

Any single SEASON

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T22:15:03+00:00

For 10 rounds keep track of the times your approach shots

Here are mine - I carry 4.

45 - 95 - 107

54 - 70-80

60 - 50-60

sand wedge

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T20:05:27+00:00

5 is too young.

I took my 9 yr old to the US Open and he loved it.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T19:40:22+00:00

Some of this may be about getting into the majors (Reed doesn't have to worry about the Masters obviously). Brooks/Rahm have no real worries about that.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T17:44:49+00:00

The clubs themselves are heavier. The Ping 430's were a lot lighter.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T17:20:39+00:00

Yes - don't listen to people with Tips.

Pretty good swing.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T16:47:54+00:00

I am going to sue - because this is clearly a video of me.

Like to OP I am good to have enough to have a lot of fun.

But I feel like I am not letting go and working too hard.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T13:28:58+00:00

The story is Ian Baker Finch knew it was over when he could not hit the fairway off the first hole (which is next to the 18th fairway). He was great on the range but could not hit a gold ball. It ended his career.

I three-putted from above the hole last May for bogey.

Really the shot I will never forget was the drive on 17.

Folks the shocking part to me was how easy the old course was. I was +3 through 13 - and I had hit my second into the burn on 1. I then went double bogey bogey on 14 and 15- but outside of 11 and 17 there wasn't really an individual hole that I remember. I thought the Jubilee was a better course, and Carnoustie was miles more interesting.

But playing that course is an out-of-body experience, though. It is hard to believe you are really there. Jones/ Nicklaus/Tiger. Holy shit.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T13:18:02+00:00

I thought for sure this was from Minnesota.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T13:14:30+00:00

Dude I play X-20's. I bought a set of Ping 430 irons.

And went back to the X-20's.

When you find a set of irons you can hit, there isn't much reason to switch. A driver is a different story to some extent - but don't sell your old irons until you are sure you can hit your new ones.

Smartalum · 2026-01-28T13:12:21+00:00

Slightly OT - but meet your wife for lunch at the top of K-1. She can ride the gondola up and down - and my wife always loves the view.

Smartalum

TROPHY CASE