Monday, September 3, 2007
I Should Have Been a Surfer...
...and I would have found out that the Tiger/Phil match was playing out on channel 38. Grrr... Arrived at the clubhouse as the two of them were heading off of #18 - Junior had called Pam and told her that they were playing on 38. Oh well; I did get some weight lifting done, and some reading (The Road by McCarthy, three quarters of the way through, getting to the point where I don't want to put it down...). BTW, Phil prevailed.
Golf Wanting and Wishing
Well, I wish I was watching the Tiger and Phil show but guess I'm gonna have to do that via the computer what with the Jerry Lewis telethon taking place on Terre Haute's NBC and Louisville's NBC. Phil has opened with three birdies in the first six holes to take the lead in the tournament; Tiger has one birdie in the same stretch (update: make that one more birdie for each of them - thru seven now...). Darn it all. I guess that's an affiliate decision; wonder how any are doing golf? and not Jerry Lewis? Oh well, so it goes.
Busy morning at the golf course with everybody trying to take advantage of the 'last hours' of summer. Hey, guess what? Lots of great golfing left this year especially with the expanded daylight we have now. No need to put away your clubs. Nobody really does that, do they? (Dedicated golfer talking here; golf clubs never get put away...)
This year has been a tough year for me and my putter. That silly little short stick has decided to go on a sabbatical this year and left me with all sorts of questions about what to do in the meantime. Two things that have helped me: a re-dedication to 'seeing the line' and also making an attempt to make the forward part of the putter swing twice the distance of the backward part.
Seeing the line and then putting down that line, that would be the direction half of the equation, can be demonstrated right in your living room by taking a ten foot piece of string, tying one end of it around a pencil and then anchoring the pencil in a pencil holder; take the other end of the string and tie it to the little yellow plastic flag in one of those little green plastic golfing holes that we all have at least two of, it being a great gift for a golfing dad. The string should be raised high enough so that you can place your ball directly under the string away from the hole whatever distance you choose. Then take your stance and hit the ball down the string and into the hole. It's works. That very overt line to the cup makes putting so much easier; too bad we can't take a Sharpie out on the greens with us and draw our lines in actual play.
The 'one step back and two step forward' swing is something Eric read in David Pelz's book on putting (David Pelz's Putting Bible) and shared with me several years ago. At the time, I didn't think much of it, my putting being the strongest part of my game. But now, with all the troubles I have had this year, I pay more attention to the mechanics of putting and the memory of that suggestion came to mind. So, I make that part of my practice routine. Of course, doing something in practice doesn't always carry over to the golf course and the field of play.
Golfing update: Big Phil five under for the day, through ten; Tiger bogied 9 and is just one under, down by five with eight to go. My oh my, what a turn of events.
Gotta go do other stuff, like practice my putting, life weights, cuss NBC and JL...
Busy morning at the golf course with everybody trying to take advantage of the 'last hours' of summer. Hey, guess what? Lots of great golfing left this year especially with the expanded daylight we have now. No need to put away your clubs. Nobody really does that, do they? (Dedicated golfer talking here; golf clubs never get put away...)
This year has been a tough year for me and my putter. That silly little short stick has decided to go on a sabbatical this year and left me with all sorts of questions about what to do in the meantime. Two things that have helped me: a re-dedication to 'seeing the line' and also making an attempt to make the forward part of the putter swing twice the distance of the backward part.
Seeing the line and then putting down that line, that would be the direction half of the equation, can be demonstrated right in your living room by taking a ten foot piece of string, tying one end of it around a pencil and then anchoring the pencil in a pencil holder; take the other end of the string and tie it to the little yellow plastic flag in one of those little green plastic golfing holes that we all have at least two of, it being a great gift for a golfing dad. The string should be raised high enough so that you can place your ball directly under the string away from the hole whatever distance you choose. Then take your stance and hit the ball down the string and into the hole. It's works. That very overt line to the cup makes putting so much easier; too bad we can't take a Sharpie out on the greens with us and draw our lines in actual play.
The 'one step back and two step forward' swing is something Eric read in David Pelz's book on putting (David Pelz's Putting Bible) and shared with me several years ago. At the time, I didn't think much of it, my putting being the strongest part of my game. But now, with all the troubles I have had this year, I pay more attention to the mechanics of putting and the memory of that suggestion came to mind. So, I make that part of my practice routine. Of course, doing something in practice doesn't always carry over to the golf course and the field of play.
Golfing update: Big Phil five under for the day, through ten; Tiger bogied 9 and is just one under, down by five with eight to go. My oh my, what a turn of events.
Gotta go do other stuff, like practice my putting, life weights, cuss NBC and JL...
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Final League Reports for Community and USG
The final season standings and results reports for the Community and USG Leagues are posted. Lots of data. Congratulations to the guys and the gals at the top. More comments later.
More Sunday Funnies, This Time Politics
Items of Note
-from TPM and Steve Benen, this view at the sorry state of the republicans:
Of course, I am sure there are those on the republican side who see nothing but opportunities out there and are very hopeful that good things will happen, like war with Iran, some good news out of the mess that is Iraq, several scandals that involve Democrats, especially Hillary or Barack or even John (that would be Clinton, Obama, or Edwards). It really is a long time till November, 2008, when the people go to the polls. Anything really could happen. The only problem is that it is likely to be more revelations about the shenanigans and chicanery of the guys who trashed the country, the Constitution, the Halls of Congress. Time will tell; truth will out.
In the meantime, we have kids to raise and educate, roads to build, games to play. Life does go on. Guess I'll head on over to the golf course and take a walk in the sunshine, visit with good people having fun playing a good game of golf. Care to join me?
Oh, btw, Diane and I watched a charmer this morning, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. The movie was actually better than the book. I was very surprised and very pleased. Gets a rating of five from each of us.
-from TPM and Steve Benen, this view at the sorry state of the republicans:
When panic starts to set in
09.02.07 -- 10:20AMBy Steve BenenLet's see, Sen. John Warner of Virginia is retiring, giving Democrats another key pick-up opportunity next year. Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho is resigning, and the DSCC is talking about making a serious run at that seat, too.
Looking ahead, Dems also appear to be in a good position to pick up seats in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Minnesota, with Maine, Oregon, New Mexico, Nebraska, and even Kentucky very much in play. Dems go into the cycle with a cyclical edge -- the GOP has 22 seats to defend in 2008, the Dems have 12 -- and the rest of the political landscape, at least at this early date, seems tilted in their direction.
And how are Republican insiders responding to this landscape? With dread and panic.
"It's always darkest right before you get clobbered over the head with a pipe wrench. But then it actually does get darker," said a GOP pollster who insisted on anonymity in order to speak candidly. [...]
Republican campaign operatives are privately fretting about a political environment that could remain deadly for their party.
"About the only safe Republican Senate seats in '08 are the ones that aren't on the ballot," a GOP operative with extensive experience in Senate races said. "I don't see even the rosiest scenario where we don't end up losing more seats."
At least they've stopped looking at the political world through rose-colored glasses.
In the meantime, we have kids to raise and educate, roads to build, games to play. Life does go on. Guess I'll head on over to the golf course and take a walk in the sunshine, visit with good people having fun playing a good game of golf. Care to join me?
Oh, btw, Diane and I watched a charmer this morning, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. The movie was actually better than the book. I was very surprised and very pleased. Gets a rating of five from each of us.
Sunday Funnies Labor Day Weekend
A Few Items of Note from Saturday
College Football:
-Biggest upset ever? Wolverines knocked off by a pretty good Appalachian State team.
-Irish trounced by GT - GT obviously the far superior team though Irish looked fundamentally sound except for that one defensive player doing something that got him thrown out of the game - bonehead move. Guess the Irish QB position is still up for grabs?
-how did the Hoosiers do?
Golf:
-Tiger and Phil go low in Boston and move into contention.
-Busy day at the golf course; today probably as well with Fields-Wininger Scramble first up at 8am (nine hole).
The World
-I've been neglecting it. Is it still turning?
Be back later. Gotta go get things started at the golf course. Eric will be in the clubhouse this morning.
College Football:
-Biggest upset ever? Wolverines knocked off by a pretty good Appalachian State team.
-Irish trounced by GT - GT obviously the far superior team though Irish looked fundamentally sound except for that one defensive player doing something that got him thrown out of the game - bonehead move. Guess the Irish QB position is still up for grabs?
-how did the Hoosiers do?
Golf:
-Tiger and Phil go low in Boston and move into contention.
-Busy day at the golf course; today probably as well with Fields-Wininger Scramble first up at 8am (nine hole).
The World
-I've been neglecting it. Is it still turning?
Be back later. Gotta go get things started at the golf course. Eric will be in the clubhouse this morning.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Kidwell Team Wins Saturday Scramble
Lots of golfers came out for the scramble this morning with a Mike Kidwell led team winning it on the cards with six under. Emanuel Wagler made a six foot sliding downhill eagle putt on #4 to help. The results:
1. Mike Kidwell, Terry Padgett, Kyle Wininger, Emanuel Wagler (-6)
2. Doug Denson, Larry Hembree, Lee Wininger, Tarry Bratton (-6)
3. Dave Wininger, Darvin Knepp, Kevin Byron, Marvin Graber (-5)
4. Mike Bird, Don Carrico, Mark Sutton, Jose Coneco (-4)
4. Mark Sherer, Tom Holt, John Foddrill, Mike Arvin (-4)
4. Junior Byron, Wayne Souerdike, Joe Allen, Jeff Doyle (-4)
4. Kevin Johnson, Curt Johnson, Karry Stoll, Ralph O'Maley (-4)
Sharpshooters: Darvin Knepp, Ralph O'Maley, Lee Wininger
Skin Results
Players: Curt Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Don Carrico, Jose Coneco, Darvin Knepp, Emanual Wagler, Mike Bird, Larry Hembree, Doug Denson, Ward Smith.
Skins: Emanual Wagler (#1 net birdie); Doug Denson (#2 eagle); Kevin Johnson (#4 birdie).
1. Mike Kidwell, Terry Padgett, Kyle Wininger, Emanuel Wagler (-6)
2. Doug Denson, Larry Hembree, Lee Wininger, Tarry Bratton (-6)
3. Dave Wininger, Darvin Knepp, Kevin Byron, Marvin Graber (-5)
4. Mike Bird, Don Carrico, Mark Sutton, Jose Coneco (-4)
4. Mark Sherer, Tom Holt, John Foddrill, Mike Arvin (-4)
4. Junior Byron, Wayne Souerdike, Joe Allen, Jeff Doyle (-4)
4. Kevin Johnson, Curt Johnson, Karry Stoll, Ralph O'Maley (-4)
Sharpshooters: Darvin Knepp, Ralph O'Maley, Lee Wininger
Skin Results
Players: Curt Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Don Carrico, Jose Coneco, Darvin Knepp, Emanual Wagler, Mike Bird, Larry Hembree, Doug Denson, Ward Smith.
Skins: Emanual Wagler (#1 net birdie); Doug Denson (#2 eagle); Kevin Johnson (#4 birdie).
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