PGA Tour From Congressional Country Club

I like the final pairing today on the PGA Tour at the Quicken Loans National,  Ernie Els and Billy Hurley the III. Also great to see V.J. playing like his old self. Too hot for anything outside here today so good TV golf and with some Rockies Baseball later. Guess I will take it easy.

At my age, I can't do much to hit it farther, but I can keep working on my chipping and putting

Enjoy the day and get out on the course soon.

Dustin Johnson and the Open

Not sure the PGA of America wants Dustin Johnson to win. Remember the PGA tournament a few years ago? Put that along Joe Buck constantly talking about the ball moving and the free drop because of the tower and this tournament is getting annoying to watch. 

Attention PGA, sometimes grass bent from being walked on straightens and could cause the ball to move, even if it was walked on by a group or two ahead. 

Amazing how particular they are one week, and the next week players may be picking up, cleaning, then placing their ball for each shot. 

The official made a ruling, then they wait for more than an hour and tell Mr. Johnson that he might be given a penalty, after the round. Nice way to take his attention away from the task at hand.

And here I thought it was pathetic that Baseball started using replay. 

Think I will head out to the garden and pull weeds. 

Winter Golf

Well, no golf today. Bit too much snow.

But that's not all bad, I am warm and watching the Players Championship on TV.

U.S. Open and Another Very Old Course

I love U.S. Open week. This year looks especially good with the new remake of Pinehurst. Sounds like the course will look and play a lot more like an old fashioned golf course, should be fun.

Maybe not this old - but I love this photo

 

I would like to see Phil win this one, but not sure he is going to. I don’t think an upstart newcomer will win, look for one of the old familiar faces to get this one.

What do you think? I am going with the young kid from Northern Ireland, you know, the recent called off wedding guy. He is now 100% concentrating on golf, I will go with him this week. Rory McIlroy !
But I still wish Phil would pull it off.

Hitting a few balls on course abandoned 60 years ago - very cool

 

Golf at Age 66

Weather is getting better, played three times this week and three last. I am hitting the ball pretty well for 66. I am still doing my stretches and quite a bit of walking.

Looks like my distances will be the same this year as last.

PW-105
9 Iron-115
8 Iron-125 and so on  -   Now hitting my five wood 190-195 and
 3 wood, 205-210.
 This leaves my driver in the 230 range. About right

These are pretty true distances for me, I occasionally hit a drive over 250 but the 225-235 range is about right.

I have some new Irons, haven't tried them yet, Adams V4, can't wait to hit them but waiting for the course to soften up. I also have a new Ping Putter, now I will putt like Bubba.

Golf from the 1930s

A lifelong historian and history teacher for 42 years I am always looking for new/old adventures. And if it involves golf – all the better. This past week I hit some balls on a course that has been out of business for more than 70 years.

Great fun, still could find several of the tee-boxes and old sand greens, although they didn’t look much like it any longer. And no I didn’t use my new Adams irons. I used some clubs from the fifties as I was afraid I would break my old hickories if I tried them.

No old golf balls though, I just teed up a modern Tommy Armour, not because I like this ball but because the Worthington, Tommy Armour, was the ball of choice when this course was up and running in the 1930s.

Great way to spend a warm early spring day in Wyoming.

I have managed to play several rounds this month, today the wind is blowing, and I will settle for a hike in the state park and some TV golf.

Miguel Angel Jimenez - a Very Flexible Man

Like many golf fans I have long been intrigued by Miguel Angel Jimenez. Doesn’t look like he is in the best of shape, and there are always photos of him drinking and smoking cigars. He is partying while the rest of the tour guys seem to be running, lifting, resting, meditating, visiting with their personal sports psychiatrists or any number of stroke loosing activities.

But players on tour refer to him as the Mechanic, and for a reason. He is good, and can adjust on the go, he can easily fix things with his swing when needed and even if he is 50 he can still play with the young guys. Last year he became the oldest winner ever on the European Tour breaking the record of a 49 year old winner –oh, never mind, that was him also.

It is well known that he doesn’t practice much, other than hitting some balls before he plays, so what is his secret?

Flexibility, he seems to be blessed with it. Watch the video below, forget what he is saying just take a look at the 50 year old and see how flexible he is, that is why golfers, above all else, must stretch and stay flexible.

 

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/video-jimenez-leads-group-stretching-class/

 

Miguel Angel Jimenez one of my favorite golfers!