Golfers?

[bmorebird]

I just started golfing about a month ago and I was wondering if there were any avid golfers on the board?

If so, where do you like to play? What courses would you recommend for a beginner like myself?

Thanks for the suggestions to follow...

[NewMarketSean]

I hack. I wouldn't exactly call myself a golfer. Been playing for 10 years, averaging maybe 5 times a year. I haven't broken 100 yet although I have come close. I dont embarrass myself when playing with someone much better than me, but I am not by any means good.

If you're willing to drive a bit to save money, Oakmont Greens in Hampstead is pretty cheap and wide open. It'll be hard to lose your ball there.

There are also a ton of nice cheap courses in Pennsylvania around Gettysburg and Hanover.

I try to avoid playing around Baltimore and DC. All the courses are always crowded and expensive.

[Satyr3206]

I can show you some great courses if you get down in my neck of the woods. But bring a lot of balls. All the courses have water on them down here.

When I played in Maryland and Virginia I was shooting in the mid to high 80's. Down here it's very hard for me to break 100.

[Tank]

I've broken 100 once when I shot a 98 at Pine Ridge last year. Best I've done this is is a 102 at Greystone, which is a really nice course.

I play Longview the most since its pretty cheap. Doesn't hurt that its mostly straight and wide open.

[OrangeJerseys]

I've got a golf glove and I shake my butt a little before I swing, I guess that makes me a golfer. In no ways does my ability reflect this.

[VThokies]

I've broken 100 once when I shot a 98 at Pine Ridge last year. Best I've done this is is a 102 at Greystone, which is a really nice course.

I'm with you, breaking 100 that first and only time was fantastic. Hit a 98 at Rocky Point last summer, and managed to par the last 4 holes to get there. Still have no idea how that happened, though RO is a less difficult course than PR or Greystone.

Since they took away Gunpowder Falls which was a par 3 course, the easiest 18 hole course around is Longview in Timonium. Par 70 instead of 72, not as long as some others around.

Getting rid of Gunpowder Falls has ruined me. I haven't played even half as often as last year. Falls was far from an even decent course, but it served its purpose for me by being cheap and close. Sorry to see it go.

[Tank]

Getting rid of Gunpowder Falls has ruined me. I haven't played even half as often as last year. Falls was far from an even decent course, but it served its purpose for me by being cheap and close. Sorry to see it go.

Exactly. I would go there at least once a week last year and it was pretty much right up the street from me. Now I'm lucky if I go once every other week.

I think my next time out is going to be at Rocky Point, almost a month from now. My goal is to break 100.

[ScottieBaseball]

Have the marshalls settled down at Rocky Point? I almost yanked one off his cart a few years back.

We were playing (politely) up the backs of the foursome in front of us for the entire front nine. We took our time at the turn, teed up on 10, finished the hole, played the par 3 11th with no trouble. All four of us missed the fairway with our drives on 12, though. It took a few minutes but we were all ready to hit our second after finding our first shots. The second shots didn't go so well, but it was our collective worst hole of the day.

I looked back and saw that we weren't holding anyone up as we headed for our third shots as the group behind us was just pulling up. We got to the 13th tee box when a ranger pulls up. "Pick up the pace gentlemen. You're almost a hole behind."

I said, "Sorry 'bout that. Bad tee shots on 12! We'll get going. Sorry!"

He rolled his eyes, shook his head, and said, "Just pick up the pace. You're holding up the group behind you."

I said, "Scuse me? They'd JUST pulled up and we were nowhere near their landing. They could have rolled out of their carts, teed up, and teed off with out hesitating. We're not holding anyone up. Besides, the group in front of us JUST pulled away. We've been playing up their-"

He put his hand up, raised his voice, and said, "Sir, I really don't care, I wasn't here to see it. I'm telling YOU to pick up YOUR pace. Is that clear?"



I lost it. "I just spent almost $50 to play here and you don't care?!?! You'd better care! I don't know who you think you're getting loud with, Jack, but you better watch your step. I know you've got a job to do, but don't treat me like I'm some inmate at a prison. I paid to be here, I'm respecting the rules, I told you we'll pick up the pace. Don't you stand there and reprimand me. Now, go get your supervisor and a cop and you can all throw me off the course if that's what you decide to do. Or you can get the (expletive) out of my face and let me finish my round. But don't take my money and then think you're gonna raise your voice and roll your eyes at me."

He drove away shaking his head but I didn't see him again that round. I haven't been back to Rocky Point since.

[Spoonless]

I've never golfed before. My dad took my brother and me to the driving range a couple times when I was little, but that's about the only time I've ever had a club in my hand. It's something I've really been wanting to pick up over these past couple years. Maybe next year I'll give it a shot or something.

[glenn__davis]

Heading out to Westminster National tomorrow with my Dad and brother. I love playing golf, but have to admit that it is the one sport that has totally kicked my butt. I don't play often at all, but I have been playing for about 10 years now, and I feel as if I'm no better than when I started.

Which I don't really mind, except for when there's a group behind you waiting, and you duff a shot that goes about 15 yards. We usually try to go when no one else is there for those reasons.

[Satyr3206]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that noticed this about the Rocky Point marshalls. My goodness they are something!

The rangers and starters are pretty cool down here. And most of the courses let kids under 16 play for free. Not to mention all of the discounts on greens fees.

[ScottieBaseball]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that noticed this about the Rocky Point marshalls. My goodness they are something!

I've had good experiences there, but more bad than good. I hate to be "age-ist", but in my experience the younger rangers are a lot nicer and easier to deal with than the older ones.

The best experience I've ever had was at the Wetlands near Ripken Stadium. My foursome was having a wretched back nine. We got to a tee box and the ranger pulled up. "Hey guys, sorry to interrupt your round, but can I help you fellas pick up the pace a bit? I don't want to rush you, but while you're getting teed up let me ride down the fairway and get parked and then you guys can hit."

I still didn't know what he was doing, but he ducked behind a tree, we all teed off, and he met us in/near the fairway. He pointed out all of our teeshots, gave us an approximate distance, warned us of a bunker we couldn't see, and got out of the way again.

We hit our approach shots, all but one was dancing, and the ranger said, "You guys didn't even need my help! Good hole gentlemen! Enjoy the rest of your round and thank you!" We didn't seem him again.

Him helping us find our tee shots and giving us the distance accomplished exactly what he wanted: It sped up our pace of play. Only he did it without reprimanding and/or threatening us. That's how that should be done. Rocky Point could learn a thing or two.

[NewMarketSean]

I've had good experiences there, but more bad than good. I hate to be "age-ist", but in my experience the younger rangers are a lot nicer and easier to deal with than the older ones.

The best experience I've ever had was at the Wetlands near Ripken Stadium. My foursome was having a wretched back nine. We got to a tee box and the ranger pulled up. "Hey guys, sorry to interrupt your round, but can I help you fellas pick up the pace a bit? I don't want to rush you, but while you're getting teed up let me ride down the fairway and get parked and then you guys can hit."

I still didn't know what he was doing, but he ducked behind a tree, we all teed off, and he met us in/near the fairway. He pointed out all of our teeshots, gave us an approximate distance, warned us of a bunker we couldn't see, and got out of the way again.

We hit our approach shots, all but one was dancing, and the ranger said, "You guys didn't even need my help! Good hole gentlemen! Enjoy the rest of your round and thank you!" We didn't seem him again.

Him helping us find our tee shots and giving us the distance accomplished exactly what he wanted: It sped up our pace of play. Only he did it without reprimanding and/or threatening us. That's how that should be done. Rocky Point could learn a thing or two.

Ball spotters are a godsend. All courses should have them.

[Frobby]

I live near DC but I have played the Forest Park public course in Baltimore 2-3 times and would recommend it. I stink at golf (110-120 is normal for me) and this course was the right level for me, so a beginner can handle it. It's also not very expensive at all.

[EddieO's21]

This is my game...played in college...still trying to qualify for the ametuer