Golf

[ae4tr]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif # #I was just wondering (actually I'm dumb about such things) why it is that when someone is playing a round of golf, and about to make a real important shot, that there is complete silence from those watching? #Even the announcer is whispering into the microphone. At other games like basketball, when someone is shooting an important basket the crowd is going wild. #Same thing with baseball and football and other games.
Is there a law that says Silence on the Course when someone is trying to knock that little ball into the hole??? # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KB1GYQ]

It the size of the balls.

Players with big balls aren't bothered by a little noise, but those with small balls cannot concentrate. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[N0KLT]

Quote[/b] (KB1GYQ @ Sep. 18 2004,15:46)]It the size of the balls.

Players with big balls aren't bothered by a little noise, but those with small balls cannot concentrate. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Now that explains a lot about golf and golfers http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[w4rot]

When you are on the dancefloor..
Dance!!!
Its simply a matter of general respect for the task at hand..
Some understand it some don't.

[k6pme]

By brother in law is an avid golfer. He says that the "game" in mostly mental. Most of the time I think that he is mental when it comes to golf.

[W8EFA]

The game of Golf is the hardest of all sports. #It is also the most mental of all sports. #I have played all sports and have taken some very good athletes in other sports onto the golf course where they looked like idiots.

To answer your question, yes, you have to be completely quiet and not move when the golfer is addressing the ball.

I think it was Ted Williams giving Ben Hogan a hard time by saying " how hard is it to hit a ball laying perfectly still" #to which Hogan replied "yes, but you don't have to play your foul balls"!

[N7AAO]

Since we have a lot of golf courses around here, I am considering taking up the game... how much would a decent starter set of clubs cost me, and what should I be looking for?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[ai4ep]

not sure if the average amateur radio operator has enough money for both hobbies. Golf clubs can be rather expensive, but you can find some at yard sales / pawn shops / ham radio conventions. You know, almost any where you find amateur radios !! :0

[N7AAO]

Some of the courses out here are so out of the way I might need my HT and a handy repeater to keep in touch! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KB1GYQ]

You might combine hobbies... load up them golf clubs as antennas

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (KB1GYQ @ Sep. 18 2004,19:53)]You might combine hobbies... load up them golf clubs as antennas
I imagine most clubs would work better as dummy loads than as antennas. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[KG4YUV]

Quote[/b] (W8EFA @ Sep. 18 2004,21:53)]The game of Golf is the hardest of all sports.
Golf ain't even a sport.

"Anything an eighty-eight year old man can whoop me at is a GAME." -- Tim Wilson, comedian

[W8EFA]

Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Sep. 18 2004,18:56)]Since we have a lot of golf courses around here, I am considering taking up the game... how much would a decent starter set of clubs cost me, and what should I be looking for?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif
David, If you love the outdoors you will love golf. It is also a game you can play for life unlike most other sports not to mention the fun at the "19th hole" after your round with your buddies!

Around here we have stores called 2nd swing golf. You can great deals on a set of used clubs. You can get a pretty good set (good enough to start with to see if you like it) for around $200.00. Look for cast clubs as opposed to forged with cavity backs as they are easier to hit.

I would really suggest going to a PGA proffessional for a lesson or two to get you started right. Most people don't do that and it is a big mistake (like me). You will learn the right grip stance etc. and not develop bad habits and you will enjoy the game alot more. They can also help you with the right club selection. Most clubs "off the rack" are for the average height male of around 5"9 to maybe 6'. If you are not around those heights you may need custom fit clubs to get the right lie and loft angles.

Try to stick with the good names of Cobra, Callaway, Tommy Armour, Ben Hogan, Ping etc. Stay away from Kmart department store copies if you can.

Send me an E-mail if you decide to try it and I can be more specific. I have been playing for 30 years and play in some tournaments and have done some teaching so I would love to help you.

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (W8EFA @ Sep. 18 2004,20:45)]Quote[/b] (N7AAO @ Sep. 18 2004,18:56)]Since we have a lot of golf courses around here, I am considering taking up the game... how much would a decent starter set of clubs cost me, and what should I be looking for?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif
David, If you love the outdoors you will love golf. It is also a game you can play for life unlike most other sports not to mention the fun at the "19th hole" after your round with your buddies!

Around here we have stores called 2nd swing golf. You can great deals on a set of used clubs. You can get a pretty good set (good enough to start with to see if you like it) for around $200.00. Look for cast clubs as opposed to forged with cavity backs as they are easier to hit.

I would really suggest going to a PGA proffessional for a lesson or two to get you started right. Most people don't do that and it is a big mistake (like me). You will learn the right grip stance etc. and not develop bad habits and you will enjoy the game alot more. They can also help you with the right club selection. Most clubs "off the rack" are for the average height male of around 5"9 to maybe 6'. If you are not around those heights you may need custom fit clubs to get the right lie and loft angles.

Try to stick with the good names of Cobra, Callaway, Tommy Armour, Ben Hogan, Ping etc. Stay away from Kmart department store copies if you can.

Send me an E-mail if you decide to try it and I can be more specific. I have been playing for 30 years and play in some tournaments and have done some teaching so I would love to help you.
Well, that is a lot more money than I have sitting around in one place right now, so we will see what the future brings. And since I am only 5'6", I will probably have to have the clubs custom made or modified... which means more $$$.

Maybe I'll stick with my PSK31. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w3sy]

Golf's not for me. For one thing, I don't own enough hideous clothing. What's with the flamethrower-red pants? And the dumb looking hats?

And I don't like those tan lines golfers get (aka "farmer tan," aka "trucker tan"). Some golf courses practically make you wear a SUIT to go play golf -- long pants, shirt with a collar. Foogeddaboudit. In the 85 degree weather? I don't THINK so.

Baseball, softball, tennis.... Lot's more fun. Golf is for Joe Prep. No thanks.

Out.

[k5rna]

I have read where hitting a bass ball coming at you 80 to 100 mph is the hardest thing in sports to do.I don't really understand golf.What do peple watching do for exciment between shots,watch the grass grow?The poeple watching on tv can watch the ceaseless commercials.

[w3sy]

In baseball, it's not just that the ball is going 80-90 mph -- It's also MOVING. (That is, not headed toward you in a straight line.) Even a good fastball rises or cuts. A two-seamer sinks. And a curveball will make your knees buckle the first couple times you see one. Looks like it's gonna hit you, then it spins away and over the plate (perhaps). Takes excellent vision, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and fast wrists and hands. And it's something I can do. But most people I know couldn't even come close. Yet every rich schmuck and his brother plays golf. How hard could it be?

[ae4tr]

Quote[/b] (w4rot @ Sep. 18 2004,18:07)]Its simply a matter of general respect for the task at hand..
Some understand it some don't.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif [QUOTE]Are you saying that only
golf players get the respect? #I'm sure that players in other games would disagree with you. #Seems to me that baseball players with their very large salaries would demand more respect than any golf player. #Wish I could earn that much money, and forget about the respect. hahahahaha!!! # #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Golf is like any other sport..

It has its own specific built in challenges and angles to it.

Yes, you don't have the issue of a moving object coming at you that requires you to (fairly quickly) juggle a WIDE ARRAY of sensory inputs to arrive at a decision making point..

But golf has a GREAT deal of the mental component included. It has the same degree of complex mental figuring required. (judging the complex slope of the green to reach the target, consistency of the surface - wet, damp, dry, etc.) and the like.

Just like shooting a weapon.. ALL Kinds of factors come into play betwixt you and that small round hole in the ground.

Don't denigrate the sport simply because there is not as much overtly observed action by the player.

The biggest challenge to golf is the battle you have with yourself and THAT is the hardest competition of all.

Don't forget that there is also mixed in a decent amount of physical exercise.

As I roughly recall the average course is about (I may not be 100 percent correct here) is about 5000 yards or more AND you walk MORE than that since you have to count the trip from the car, walking the course,and back to the car - or the bar HI.

Since a mile is 1760 yards.. do the math..

And the pros walk that distance for 4 straight days for a tornament PLUS all the practice rounds they play.

Nope, golf is not a overtly physical as other sports but it's still quite strenous.

I'm NOT a golfer, but I have golfed and understand the game.

But lately, I've been under par in my desire.

(That was for K4JSR, who is a swinger in his own right but lately he's been puttering around in the ham shack. He knows what I'm driving at a wood not be against ironing things out!)

OK CAL.. that oughta get you started!

k3FT

(Give me 'what FORE!')

[KB1GYQ]

Quote[/b] ]The purpose of golf is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill designed for the purpose. Sir Winston Churchill

[KB1GYQ]

E Gads!!!

Martha Moxley murder (http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/moxley/up_3.html?sect=13)

The weapon was a golf club. They should be banned immediately!

[w4rot]

ae4tr,
Nah...the original post reckoned with the noise reduction concepts with golf matches, and I tend to suppose that most who follow it, play a bit, and would respect the silent moments of the game, therefore no laws need apply...
Of course, I tend to agree that it may not be as exciting as the thrill of painting oneself up and joining the pile up of chants and body motions in order to idenify with the team, but hey not all of us are thrill seeking rocket sled test pilots and tend to hang in the background.

Its really weird because outside the shack, I really love the silence, but inside the shack I love the pops and cracks of statics and the near noise signals....
Ah...well, my whole being is one big conflict...think I'll go knock the crap out of a few golf balls...I'm getting depressed....
Later...
Attitude correction procedures invoked
w4rot

[w3sy]

If they ban golf clubs, only middle aged white men in comical clothing will have golf clubs....

[W8EFA]

Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 18 2004,23:49)]In baseball, it's not just that the ball is going 80-90 mph -- It's also MOVING. (That is, not headed toward you in a straight line.) Even a good fastball rises or cuts. A two-seamer sinks. And a curveball will make your knees buckle the first couple times you see one. Looks like it's gonna hit you, then it spins away and over the plate (perhaps). Takes excellent vision, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and fast wrists and hands. And it's something I can do. But most people I know couldn't even come close. Yet every rich schmuck and his brother plays golf. How hard could it be?
I played and coached baseball for years. Obviously you have bever seriously played golf or you wouldn't make such a statement. Look at people like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley to name a few great athletes that can't play golf worth a darn.

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (W8EFA @ Sep. 19 2004,09:04)]Quote[/b] (w3sy @ Sep. 18 2004,23:49)]In baseball, it's not just that the ball is going 80-90 mph -- It's also MOVING. (That is, not headed toward you in a straight line.) Even a good fastball rises or cuts. A two-seamer sinks. And a curveball will make your knees buckle the first couple times you see one. Looks like it's gonna hit you, then it spins away and over the plate (perhaps). Takes excellent vision, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and fast wrists and hands. And it's something I can do. But most people I know couldn't even come close. Yet every rich schmuck and his brother plays golf. How hard could it be?
I played and coached baseball for years. Obviously you have bever seriously played golf or you wouldn't make such a statement. Look at people like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley to name a few great athletes that can't play golf worth a darn.
How many homers has Tiger Woods hit?

Sounds like we've got a bad case of apples and oranges here.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[KG4YUV]

Did anyone see the part in "Jackass: The Movie" where they hid in trees at a golf course and right as people made their swing, they blew an airhorn?? HAW! That's about the funniest thing I've ever seen! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif All the uptight golf people in their short-shorts with the gigantic mustaches getting pissed off!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif Nothing beats that!

[KA9VQF]

In the distant past I got a summer job mowing grass at a small golf course in Northwestern Wisconsin. At the time it was called the “Al Capp Golf Course” because the famous cartoonist Al Capp had owned it. When I worked there one of my former teachers had bought it.

There were only nine holes so in order to play your 18 holes you had to play the same ones from different angles.

My job was to retrieve as many balls as I could before I started mowing. We had a machine that was supposed to pick them up but it wasn’t very efficient. I usually made a foot patrol before starting with the mower.

One day I found a single wooden golf club that someone had evidently gotten mad at and tossed into the trees. I have no idea what number the club was I just remember it was big and heavy with a bit of steel on the front of it.

Now we also had a driving range setup near the club house and on occasion I would take my club and some of the balls I had retrieved and knock them as far as I could on the range.

Believe it or not I got pretty good at putting them where I wanted them to go. One particular day the owner came out to see why I was still there after I had finished mowing for the day. He taught me a lot about how to hold the club and get better range and accuracy with the ball.

The next day when I got to work we went out and played the first nine. I did quite well. I only used the one club and a putter that I had taken from the club house.

Just a few years ago I decided to try golf again. It cost a lot more than I thought it would to rent the clubs and took a lot longer for the resident pro to help me pick out the clubs he thought I would need. I went out and began knocking balls all over the place. Fortunately there were few others around.
I made it about half way through and gave up.

I don’t understand exactly how but all I seemed to know about the game is gone.

I haven’t bothered to go again.

[N0KLT]

But watching golf is so BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING. It might be challanging as all he** for the players and as much fun as anyone can have legally to play the game but lord in the morning it boring to watch; esp if you don't play the game yourself.

I tried the game twice at the insistance of some friends. Basically the one guy loaned me his kid's clubs, gave me some balls and said have fun. I didn't have a clue what I was doing of course and shot in the thousands or so. The 2nd time I got conned into going out with the same bunch, we were short one guy for a foursome and some guy asked us to let him play with us. I puttered my way around the course again and maybe shot a few thousand less shots then the first time. When we got done the guys wanted to go to the driving range and hit some ball(why not do this before playing a round I have no clue) but when we got there, the extra guy asked me if he could give me some pointers about what I was doing wrong. Turns out the guy was some sort of golf teacher at a local public school. I said sure, I needed all the help I could get since I had NO CLUE what I was doing. He showed my how to grip the club, how to hold my arms, head, hands, feet etc and how to swing etc. I finally figured out that when you were in the most unnatural feeling position it was possible to get in without any real contortions being done, then you were in the correct hitting stance and form. Since I already had one frustrating hobby (bowling) at that time, I decided not to take up another one, esp one where I had to feel uncomfortable while doing it. I know a lot of people love golf and to play golf. I don't understand that unless it's one of those "it feels so good when I stop" situations. Have fun out on the links folks, this old boy aint about to be seen out there again.

73

Gary NØKLT

[W8EFA]

Pretty funny post actually. I agree with you on watching it - as much as I love the game it is a little boring on TV.

Imagine though if you had stayed with it and were now shooting a little over Par. Let me tell you - you would love the game. It is very challenging and you get quite a feeling of accomplishment when you get halfway decent at it. Plus you get a little exercise and you can play it your hole life! You find out a lot about people on the golf course.

In golf you call your own penalties. I have seen golfers countless times call a penalty on themselves that no one else even knew they committed that made them lose the tournament and hundreds of thousand of dollars.

Plus the one good thing I like about golfers and tennis players are if you play well you make money, if you don't you don't make any unlike these huge contracts in other sports no matter what their performance is.

And believe me it takes more than a few times to be any good. It takes years and years of practice - you gave up to soon! Try it again maybe?

[N0KLT]

Right after hell freezes over. And I take up bowling again. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[W8EFA]

Quote[/b] (N0KLT @ Sep. 19 2004,14:34)]Right after hell freezes over. And I take up bowling again. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Oh Well - I tried. It is a darn frustrating game at times http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[K8YS]

Golf, a four letter word, only named after all the other four letter names were taken... developed by a people that consider bagpipes to be musical...

[N0KLT]

Wasn't it Mark Twain who once defined the game of golf as a good walk spoiled??

And EFA, I appreciate your efforts but after having been married for 37+ years, what the hell makes you think I want any more frustrations in my life then I have already had http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

You go ahead and hit that silly little white ball all over a pasture some place, and welcome to it and all that goes with it. All I know is the vast majority of people around this area who have been struck by lightning are golfers who were on the course with a metal rod in their hands. I won't say that golfers don't have enuf sense to come in out of the rain, but we have had quite a few that didn't have sense enuf to come in out of the lightning.

73 and keep your head down and your left arm straight (or is it the other way around)

Gary NØKLT

[K7JBQ]

Quote[/b] (KG4YUV @ Sep. 18 2004,20:04)]Quote[/b] (W8EFA @ Sep. 18 2004,21:53)]The game of Golf is the hardest of all sports.
Golf ain't even a sport.

"Anything an eighty-eight year old man can whoop me at is a GAME." -- Tim Wilson, comedian
"There are only three sports: Auto racing, mountain-climbing and bullfighting. All the rest are games." - Ernest Hemingway.

Of course, Papa checked out before the invention of Beach Bimbo Volleyball.

73,
Bill

[ae4tr]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif # BOY O BOY #You ask a simple question and you get a multitude of answers. #Hehehehehe #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #Seems like no one knows the answer to my simple question. Why is there silence on the course when a player is trying to make a hole in one or two or http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif??. #No other game is like this. #Seems to me the more noise (talking etc.) there is the more a person would have to concentrate. #It would make better golfers. #And be more exciting to watch. Of course this is just "MY" opinion. # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[w4rot]

Interesting...sort of extreme golf, I guess you would call it. I have played night golf and one course had an event where you took one club and as many balls as you could carry and the idea was to finish 18 holes as fast as you could..score did not count, you were timed. It was pretty crazy because after about 4 holes balls were flying and people were running past each other..
Of course this was not on one of those high dollar courses..and was a bit nerve racking. Fun when I was younger, but I tend to go slower these days and concentrate on getting to the 19th hole.
Four!!!
w4rot

[K7JBQ]

The main problem with golf- the exact opposite, in fact, of the main problem here at T&O - is that golfer's think too much. Hence the need for quiet.

Also hence the ability to completely sabotage an opponent's game by saying something seemingly innocent, such as "Where'd you get that hitch in your swing?"

Once met a guy who had been the first golf instructor in the old USSR. He said he made it real simple. Only three basic instructions:

1) Hit the ball.

2) Find it.

3) Hit it again.

73,
Bill