The Last Frontier for Senior Golfers

On By Menno ZachariasIn Playing the Game10 Comments

In order for goals to be meaningful they must offer a challenge and  at the same time be realistic and attainable.

As golfers we all have different goals depending on our skills and our personal makeup and our age

There are some goals (in the case of some of us wishes or hope) that we all have in common. When we first took up the game our goals were things like breaking a hundred then 90, 80 and in the case of the daring 70. Almost everyone has thought about and aspired to shoot even par on a regulation 18 hole course. Everyone wants to score a hole in one.

There is however one goal that many of us have that cannot be attained until later in life, shooting your age.

Only a small percentage of golfers ever shoot their age.

I took up golf in 1975 at the age of 24 and since that time have played an estimated 5000 rounds of golf. Since the sparking 156 I shot on my first round I’ve managed to achieve many of my goals. I’ve broken 100, 90, 80 and 70. I’ve had 3 hole in ones, the last one being on September 20th 2020. What I have yet to do is shoot my age.

I first flirted with shooting my age on June 28th 2014. It was a Saturday morning, my 64th birthday. I was playing at Wildewood a 9 hole, par 72, 6048 yard track with a slope rating of 123. Wildewood is not a long course but a tricky course mainly due to the narrow fairways, an abundance of trees and small poa annua greens.

I missed it by one shot that day and in the following years I did not come within one stroke of my age again until June 29th 2020 the day after my 69th birthday.  

On that day I was playing off the white tees at Bridges Golf Curse a 6425 yard par 72 course with a slope rating of 123.  I had an eagle putt on 18 to shoot 69.  As I was getting ready to hit the putt my playing partners reminded me of its significance and urged me not to leave it short.  I was an uphill 2o footer with perhaps 18 inches of break.  I gave it a good run and finished about 2 feet past the hole having missed it on the high side.  I tapped in for a birdie and a 70, again 1 stroke short of the goal.  

That brings us to 2021, one year older, a few more aches and pains but with the same goal as last year to shoot my age.  

If you have a good “shooting my age story” I’d like to hear it.  

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Kirkland Signature Wedges

On By Menno ZachariasIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

 

Costco, under the brand name Kirkland is edging its way deeper into the golf market.  First, in 2016 there was the Kirkland Signature golf ball, then the KS1 putter that featured a milled face and adjustable weights.

Both the Kirkland golf ball and putter quickly sold out quickly when the arrived at Costco warehouses.

With their success with golf balls and putters it was only a matter of time until Costco delved further into the golf market.

Just recently Kirkland Signature wedges were added to the USGA conforming clubs list, a sure indicator that Kirkland wedges are on the way.

The wedges will be cast, constructed from 8620 (soft) carbon steel. The set of wedges will feature tradition lofts 60 degree (L), 56 degree (S) and 52 degree (G).  They will be 35 inches in length and feature True Temper wedge shafts.  They will not be available in graphite and will only be available in right handed models.  The wedges will feature milled face technology.

It is not known at this time when the wedges will be avaialble but they should be ready for the 2021 golf season.

It is expected that the price will be in the range of $160.00 (USD) for the set.  At $53.00 (USD) each that represents a real discount when compared to wedges produced by major equipment manufactures.

Introducing the “Windcard”

On By Menno ZachariasIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Let me start out by asking a question:  do you ever hit the ball over the back of the green when you are hitting into a strong wind?  Me neither.  There is a reason for that.  Most golfers underestimate the loss of yardage a headwind causes and overestimate the assistance a tailwind provides.

Many studies have been conducted (some more scientific than others) into the effect of wind on the flight of the golf ball.  Some have concluded that for every mile per hour of wind you will gain (or lose) one yard.   Some suggest you should add one club to what you would normally hit for every 10 mph of wind.  Others argue that you should concentrate on changing your swing and hitting knock down shots into the wind to lessen the negative effect.  These suggestions all have some merit.

The problem is that when you are out on the course competing either against your buddies, yourself, or the course, the last thing you want to do is a bunch of calculations.  You’ve got enough on your mind.

After extensive research and hands on testing I have devised an aid for golfers who play in windy conditions.  I’m calling it the ‘Windcard”.   The Windcard provides an estimate of how far a well hit ball will travel both when hitting into a headwind or when assisted by a tailwind.

The first column on the card (in 10 yard increments) represents  the club you would normally hit a specific distance in calm conditions.  So the “100” represents the club you normally hit if you were 100 yards from the pin.   The second column estimates how far the ball will travel if you hit that club into a 10 mph/16 kph headwind; column three a 20 mph/32 kph wind; and column four estimates how far the ball will travel if you hit that club into a 30 mph/48 kph headwind.

The reverse side of the card does the same for shots hit with a tailwind.

Price includes shipping and handling.

For bulk purchases please contact me directly for pricing.

Cards will be delivered via the postal service, regular letter mail.

Update: Use of the Windcard does not violate the Rules of Golf and is legal for tournament play.