Sunday Sunday Sunday

Is golf killing my bike riding?  Did walking 9 flat executive holes on Saturday leave my legs sore and crappy on the Sunday Coppi ride?  I don't know, but they were definitely crappy on today's ride.

To give mom some time, me and the boys loaded up the summer distractions (i.e., golf clubs) and ventured to Twin Lakes Golf Course.  Another Fairfax County track.  I played there one or twice a decade ago.  It's full length and very rolling, but the grass in the fairways is 1/2 inch or more long (i.e., kinda shaggy).  I put our name in for 9 holes, fully figuring it was a long shot to get 3 of us out, and if it took too long to wait I was just going to say "no thanks."  Well, no sooner had we walked to the range than they called us on the loudspeaker.  Ok, great.  They tell me to go pay which I do, but when I come back out they tell me to wait.  Apparently the no-shows that we were going to take over had shown at the last minute.  So now they're saying its going to be another 30+ minutes (i.e., like 3pm)  That was going to be later than I wanted, but we wandered to the range for a bit anyway.  I took some video of Jake's swing to show him later the massive sway he has developed.  There are still a lot of very good things in his swing, just some things that we can fix and he'll be money.  Download MVI_3546 (observe the sway).  From behind it's not bad; a little flat on the back swing is causing a little over the top action, but really not far off at all. Download MVI_3545  The sway makes it so that he has to really get his timing right to hit good shots.  When he does (like on the last 3-4 holes of the round) he can crush some long ones, but if the timing is off, and he's too quick, it's going to lead to ugly results.

Liam has a long fluid swing.  He has no sway which is good and clears his left hip well.  Once his hands and arms are stronger we'll work on some of the other things that will give him more control over the club and more distance. Download MVI_3553

We played the front 9 on the Lakes Course, which was rolling but open.  It was too long for Liam from the red tees, but he was able to get his tee shots to the fairway at least on every hole. 

I shot a very solid 40 that should have been 39 or 38.  On the longest par 5 I was 10 yards in front of the green in 2, but made a 6 after too strong a pitch then a fluff chip from only 12 feet away, then a missed 4 foot putt (granted, on bumpy, late weekend greens, but still).  Jake shot a 55, which was pretty good given it was pretty long even from the red tees.

On the par 3 sixth hole 3 guys (who had not been breathing down our necks) yell to play through as we're walking to the green.  now, I'm just off the right side and so is Jake and Liam is just down in front of the green, but we say ok.  Well, these 3 jack asses proceed to hit 3 horrendous shots.  I'm talking one is 25 yards short and right, the other 25 yards short and left and I don't remember where the 3d was, but the guy took forever to actually hit it.  At that point I put my hand up, said "you can wait" and told the boys to go hit their balls.  I'm sorry but if you're going to play through on a par 3, you'd better be able to play better than two kids.  There had better be 3 beautifully struck balls on the green.  They griped at us again from the next tee (as we were walking away, after all 3 of us hit solid drives in the fairway) and I yelled back that we weren't holding them up and they weren't hitting any better than my kids.  They tried to say we were 2 holes behind the group ahead of us, which was bullshit, as the group ahead of us was on the tee of the next hole as we were at the green and we had to wait for them before teeing off on 8 and 9.

On the par 3 8th, Liam cleared the water carry of about 100 yards (just barely), which was super.

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We were late getting home so got take out because we were too late to go to the grocery store for stuff to grill.  Now my legs are sore. 

Comments

[Grandpa Jack]

Of course, you could also ask is bike riding killing your golf?

[Grandpa Tommy]

You are correct with both boys.
Next time I will partner Liam. Mom will you be my caddie?

Tell those a@&*$? where to get off, you paid the same as they did to play.

[Grandpa Tommy]

Is Liam using a baseball grip?
Nothing wrong just wondering.

[Scott]

Yes, baseball grip. I didn't switch Jake until he was probably 9. Liam's hands aren't quite strong enough for overlapping grip yet, I think. And I've read places where they say that baseball grip is fine for kids his age.

I'm introducing technique to Liam slowly. Got him to use more proper putting grip, for example. Working on his chipping -- he wants to hit the "flop-o-dopolis"

What with Tiger using it, Jake uses the interlocking grip, which is fine also. I think it probably has a little benefit for smaller, less strong hands, but obviously works for the best players in the world as well, so who am I to say.

[Grandpa Tommy]

I agree whole heartly!