Corwyn:(Actually, I'd be curious to hear how many of you have focussed exclusively on starters during this tourney, and how many are going back-and-forth all the time: I've played nothing else for a month, and I suspect it's the only way to really get used to the meter speed).
I played only the Starters except for Sept. 28th-30th (if I recall correctly) when I tried to better my Cabo Del Sol Skill Challenge score, which I failed to do. Perhaps that is another reason why I scored so badly on Olympic, as I didn't have as much practice on it as I would have otherwise. I also did a Best of Putting, and I only used the Starter Putter (I've only used the Starter Putter on my BoP scores...and yes that is partly because of all the people I've read on the forums who frown upon wedging on the greens in BoP. Not that I have anything against those who "Wedge-It-Out." I don't. However, I tend to agree with those who are displeased with wedges, or drivers, on the green in BoP).
While I'm on putting, I'd like to ask advice about a good putter to buy. I think that using the Starter Putter will not be best at teaching me how to read greens. In fact, it probably has already done huge damage to my "green reading literacy" because even a dinged putt can deviate offline (a lot more than the premium putters) and cause me to think I misread the putt when I actually read it perfectly.
It's similar to teaching a toddler a language and changing accents or consistently stuttering/mispronouncing words from a book both of you are reading together - becoming literate will probably take longer than with a more precise reader. First the child should become literate/fluent with an unchanging single standard, then the child can properly converse with and recognize deviations/impreciseness such as mispronunciations or heavy brogues without being confused and then propagating the misuse. All that slang, sarcasm, and "textese" (my neologism for texting shorthand which comes from words such as "legalese" and "journalese") can cause lots of literacy problems for those who don't yet understand. Who knows how many times I've confused myself because of the imprecision of the Starter Putter. I now think I should have bought a more precise putter a while back.
My putting style? I'm an "off-ding putter" when I'm just playing lackadaisically for xp points and relaxation because I try to play very fast and don't want to spend time reading both views and pulling out the chipper too. But, when I want to read a putt thoroughly, I usually become a "ding-putter."
Corwyn: Would anyone be up for such a challenge!?
As for any event with Starters and UELs that is for fun and brain challenging such as T-I-O III or Starters from the black tees, I certainly like the concept. It's more enjoyable when endeavoring to accomplish an objective with other (non quitting!) good-natured people. Playing alone can be mind-numbing.
BigInigoMontoya: Hopefully either slayer and I can meet up on Monday, or we each can get a marker so we can turn in a score. Merion is a tough course, but I'm looking forward to taking my shot at it.
If you or anyone is in desperate need of a marker, I would be happy to mark. If my status is blue with "ready for stroke play", that means anyone can invite me - I'm ready to mark.
Thanks,
JMan