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Just a Few Questions

• GarryEdkins 49 Posts

  Sun, Jun 6 2010 8:35 AM

  1. When/how do you become a "Master" player?

  2. How do i get to play a full round on some of the courses, instead of just "closest to the hole" games?

  3. What does it mean when your in the rough/sand etc and it says 2-5%, 20-25%, 40-50% etc, is it how much harder you have to hit the ball?

  Cheers

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, Jun 6 2010 8:49 AM

  Hi, Garry. Happy to see you asking  questions. Looks like you're getting into it!

  1.  Around 65-66 average (big secret at WGT for obvious reasons.)

  2. There are currently only 4 stroke play courses available. Kia, BPB SA and Oakmont. (Oakmont won't be available as a practice round until after the open.) You can access these courses under the Single Play tab in your game browser.

  3. The percentage is the amount of the ball buried, 0% being fairway type lie. A good starting point for learning how much to adjust for these lies is 20-25%, add 1/2 club, 30-40%, add 1 club, 40-50% add 2 clubs.50-60% or worse means you're in trouble.Use a lofted club and get back in play. Shots out of roughs will run at the end so expect it.

  Out of sand, pitching and flopping work well. Pitch if there's no bunker wall in the way. Flop over it if there is. Don't monkey with partial swings here until you're comfortable with what to use. Partial swings, for the most part, will keep you in the trap or just barely get you out. 

  Keep in mind, these are my general starting points-they worked for me until I learned my clubs. They should get you familiar enough with the lie affects to adjust to your style. GL

   

• borntobesting 9,709 Posts

  Sun, Jun 6 2010 10:54 AM

  YankeeJim:

  Hi, Garry. Happy to see you asking  questions. Looks like you're getting into it!

  1.  Around 65-66 average (big secret at WGT for obvious reasons.)

  2. There are currently only 4 stroke play courses available. Kia, BPB SA and Oakmont. (Oakmont won't be available as a practice round until after the open.) You can access these courses under the Single Play tab in your game browser.

  3. The percentage is the amount of the ball buried, 0% being fairway type lie. A good starting point for learning how much to adjust for these lies is 20-25%, add 1/2 club, 30-40%, add 1 club, 40-50% add 2 clubs.50-60% or worse means you're in trouble.Use a lofted club and get back in play. Shots out of roughs will run at the end so expect it.

  Out of sand, pitching and flopping work well. Pitch if there's no bunker wall in the way. Flop over it if there is. Don't monkey with partial swings here until you're comfortable with what to use. Partial swings, for the most part, will keep you in the trap or just barely get you out. 

  Keep in mind, these are my general starting points-they worked for me until I learned my clubs. They should get you familiar enough with the lie affects to adjust to your style. GL

   

  Thanks Jim As long as I have been here I have never considered using the pitch out of the bunkers. Sounds like a great idea. 

   

• TheZiggy 550 Posts

  Sun, Jun 6 2010 10:59 AM

  Don't be in too big a hurry to make the "Master" level. It's a rude awakening if you make it before you've really worked how to play the ball really well out of bunkers and the rough.

  I made "Master" far too soon. Not entirely my own fault, because I was playing on the "Amateur" level before they introduced the higher levels. I was quite happily hitting a series of 32's and 33's on the Kiawah back 9, without really thinking about how my average was getting quite scary. When the new levels were brought in, I suddenly found myself at the highest level, and really struggling for ages. Admittedly there's a lot more equipment available now, so it's not quite as big a shock, but don't wish for it too soon. In fact it was so frustrating at the time, I actually stopped playing for a while, because my skills at recovering from the rough and bunkers just weren't up to scratch, and making par on most holes began to feel like a triumph.

  Hopefully by the time you do make it to "Master" you'll have had enough practice with all the shot types, that you aren't left wondering how you'll ever shoot another low score again.

• GarryEdkins 49 Posts

  Sun, Jun 6 2010 11:19 AM

  Cheers YK, appreciate that,

  I'm a tad miffed there are so few courses in which to play a full round, especially as there is only Kia in which i can hit a half decent score.

  BPB has a fair front 9, but i struggle with the back 9 and SA and Oakmont are an absolute mare.

  Its already a little boring and tedious, having so few courses i can play which is putting me off somewhat.

  Thanks forthe tips, i shall let you know how i get on.

   

• GarryEdkins 49 Posts

  Mon, Jun 7 2010 1:32 AM

  Another moan,

  Hit a 76 at SA which i was delighted with, on a high decided to play a round at Kia which has been my easiest course, hit a 75 which icluded 6 lip-outs 4 half in the hole but stays out putts and 2 or 3 putts around 4ft of a level putt that halfway on the power metre(15 yards) did'nt reach the hole.

  Its just so demoralising, i can take not being good enough, i have ages to improve, but what i'm seeing is just taking the p*ss.

• griffygriff 597 Posts

  Mon, Jun 7 2010 10:28 AM

  Garry, ditch the hybrid and both of the beginners wedges your using  and replace them with 3 pro wedges. I've got to go and play some real golf now (and its like an oven out there ) so you'll have to thank me later, or just send me some golf balls lol.