Starting a new adventure . . . Minimalist Golf

[st1800e]

On 2/21/2023 at 5:16 PM, guty17 said:

Hey, I was wondering how you guys approach in between yardages.

“See it. Feel it. Trust it.”

[kiwihacker]

1 hour ago, st1800e said:

“See it. Feel it. Trust it.”

See the ball, be the ball. 

[tatertot]

9 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

See the ball, be the ball. 

Even the blind squirrel finds the occasional nut.

[JAM01]

9 hours ago, kiwihacker said:

See the ball, be the ball. 

My thinking as an amateur who plays a decent amount - from 150, 125, 100 yards out, what’s the odds I hit the green? Not even tuck it close? So does pondering 7 vs 8 or 8 vs 9 matter much? Maybe it’s better to leave a nice chip than a long putt? 

[tatertot]

2 minutes ago, JAM01 said:

My thinking as an amateur who plays a decent amount - from 150, 125, 100 yards out, what’s the odds I hit the green? Not even tuck it close? So does pondering 7 vs 8 or 8 vs 9 matter much? Maybe it’s better to leave a nice chip than a long putt? 

No offense ... But that is score-killing thinking. 

 

Aim-big, miss-big ... Aim-small, miss-small ... No matter how good or bad you are, if you walk up to your shot with the attitude of "it doesn't matter what club I hit", you're going to get a shot deserving of that attitude. Especially if you play a decent amount. A couple of seconds of thought and concentration should be worth it.

[CozBMB]

Starting to put my short set together for a trip to Scotland in June.  Torn between these two setups.

 

Driver

19 hybrid

5/7/9/gw/56

Putter

 

or

 

BRNR Mini at 11.5

2 iron or 15 degree hybrid

4/6/8/pw/56

Putter

 

ive played quite a bit of minimalist golf over the last three years and 8 clubs is my sweet spot where my scores are literally in the same range vs a full set as a 4.4 hc.  I personally love hitting 80% iron shots vs full swings.  I know for scoring purposes it’s almost always best to bring all 14 and you can still hit the 80% swings, but on a trips where we play 9 rounds in 8 days carrying 8 clubs will be far better on the body and hopefully get the best caddies as the senior caddies usually get their pick of bags prior to the round!!  

[54CW]

@CozBMB I always go back and forth on Driver vs Mini. Personally I love hitting my mini and its far more accurate. Statistically driver is proven to give you better results as distance is key to better scores.

 

Why not go:

Driver

Mini

15 or 19H

6/8/PW/56

Putter

[st1800e]

1 hour ago, CozBMB said:

carrying 8 clubs will be far better on the body and hopefully get the best caddies

If you’re having a caddie, why worry about the weight?  

[CozBMB]

2 minutes ago, st1800e said:

If you’re having a caddie, why worry about the weight?  

We have caddies at three courses but will be carrying ourselves the other 6 rounds.

[CozBMB]

40 minutes ago, 54CW said:

@CozBMB I always go back and forth on Driver vs Mini. Personally I love hitting my mini and its far more accurate. Statistically driver is proven to give you better results as distance is key to better scores.

 

Why not go:

Driver

Mini

15 or 19H

6/8/PW/56

Putter

Good call.  I have time to think about it.  Will probably bring 14 clubs in the travel bag but then adjust which 8 clubs I carry depending on how the week goes.  I agree that d/mini/19 hy/6/8/pw/sw/P might be perfect and I could swap the mini and 15 hy depending on how I’m swinging.  The 15 degree hybrid is a low launching bullet machine but the mini lofted at 11.5 has similar launch and is more forgiving but harder to hit off the deck in general for me

[st1800e]

I’d say the burner mini over a driver.  On links courses you’ll get plenty of distance off the tee, and can use the mini on the fairway.  I hit some 300 yard drives in Ireland , at home I’m usually 210-230.  

[CozBMB]

Just now, st1800e said:

I’d say the burner mini over a driver.  On links courses you’ll get plenty of distance off the tee, and can use the mini on the fairway.  I hit some 300 yard drives in Ireland , at home I’m usually 210-230.  

Good to know!!!  I’m very tempted to get the 11.5 mini head lofted down to 9.5.  That might be great into the wind.  Mine is the 13.5 lofted down at 11.5

[54CW]

@st1800e Any recs for courses around Dublin? I'll be in Ireland next summer with time for only 1 round of golf.

[st1800e]

Just now, 54CW said:

@st1800e Any recs for courses around Dublin? I'll be in Ireland next summer with time for only 1 round of golf.

Number one choice would be County Louth, after that Portmarnock and The Island.  

[JAM01]

3 hours ago, tatertot said:

No offense ... But that is score-killing thinking. 

 

Aim-big, miss-big ... Aim-small, miss-small ... No matter how good or bad you are, if you walk up to your shot with the attitude of "it doesn't matter what club I hit", you're going to get a shot deserving of that attitude. Especially if you play a decent amount. A couple of seconds of thought and concentration should be worth it.

Ok - I didn’t intend to come off like that. My point is that amateurs might have a 100 yard club. How often do that hit it 100? More likely it’s a 90 to 110 club. So that range might free things up. 

[HillbillyHoma]

Recently took advantage of the 45% off BF sale that Jones was having and picked up a Player Series Bag. Haven't have been able to use it as much as I would like as the season is winding down here in Indiana. However, I have been able to walk and ride a few holes with it. Very comfortable and super high quality. Can't really beat it for $120 all in. 

 

[GMcF]

13 minutes ago, HillbillyHoma said:

Recently took advantage of the 45% off BF sale that Jones was having and picked up a Player Series Bag. Haven't have been able to use it as much as I would like as the season is winding down here in Indiana. However, I have been able to walk and ride a few holes with it. Very comfortable and super high quality. Can't really beat it for $120 all in. 

 

Sweet looking bag! 

[GMcF]

4 hours ago, CozBMB said:

Starting to put my short set together for a trip to Scotland in June.  Torn between these two setups.

 

Driver

19 hybrid

5/7/9/gw/56

Putter

 

or

 

BRNR Mini at 11.5

2 iron or 15 degree hybrid

4/6/8/pw/56

Putter

 

ive played quite a bit of minimalist golf over the last three years and 8 clubs is my sweet spot where my scores are literally in the same range vs a full set as a 4.4 hc.  I personally love hitting 80% iron shots vs full swings.  I know for scoring purposes it’s almost always best to bring all 14 and you can still hit the 80% swings, but on a trips where we play 9 rounds in 8 days carrying 8 clubs will be far better on the body and hopefully get the best caddies as the senior caddies usually get their pick of bags prior to the round!!  

Your first set up is exactly what I play, currently 3hcp.

 

Driver for me is just too much fun not to have it in the bag and can also be used off the deck for the odd long par 5.

 

Or you could compromise and use the mini burner in leiu of the driver with the first set up? 

Edited November 17, 2023 by GMcF

[gvogel]

19 hours ago, CozBMB said:

Good to know!!!  I’m very tempted to get the 11.5 mini head lofted down to 9.5.  That might be great into the wind.  Mine is the 13.5 lofted down at 11.5

I think that you are over-thinking this.  Take the club that you can hit consistently straight - that will work anywhere, and particularly on links courses.

[trying2scratch]

Agree on the above. If you hit your driver great and consistent bring it. If your more confident with the mini, bring it. 

 

Or bring them all and adjust depending on course, layout, weather. Plus, it will be lots of fun to strategize over a couple drinks in the evening. Having options to switch things up if the round didn't go well is a nice bonus if your traveling that far and paying a pretty penny. 

[MMB1500]

On 11/17/2023 at 1:58 PM, 54CW said:

@st1800e Any recs for courses around Dublin? I'll be in Ireland next summer with time for only 1 round of golf.

 

The Island Club. 

[js707]

Flew a bit too close to the sun yesterday. Played 9 with only the following:

 

Driver

7

PW

56

Putter

 

Definitely cost myself a few strokes but still had a fun round. Debating between an easy driver off the deck or trying to hood-smash a 7 iron was especially fun, lol.

 

I’ll probably add a hybrid and possibly one more short iron for next round.

Edited November 23, 2023 by js707

[rkillian]

On 11/17/2023 at 3:52 PM, HillbillyHoma said:

Recently took advantage of the 45% off BF sale that Jones was having and picked up a Player Series Bag. Haven't have been able to use it as much as I would like as the season is winding down here in Indiana. However, I have been able to walk and ride a few holes with it. Very comfortable and super high quality. Can't really beat it for $120 all in. 

 

I just grabbed the same bag. Will finally get to walk with it tomorrow. 

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

On 11/17/2023 at 3:52 PM, HillbillyHoma said:

Recently took advantage of the 45% off BF sale that Jones was having and picked up a Player Series Bag. Haven't have been able to use it as much as I would like as the season is winding down here in Indiana. However, I have been able to walk and ride a few holes with it. Very comfortable and super high quality. Can't really beat it for $120 all in. 

 

 

If that is the players series Olive color, the straps and trim look more white on their site. Is it just bad lighting in the picture? 

[HillbillyHoma]

7 minutes ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

 

If that is the players series Olive color, the straps and trim look more white on their site. Is it just bad lighting in the picture? 

Bad lighting. They are pure white in person. 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

Played in one of those glow golf scrambles the other week and wanted to post my setup - one of the goofiest I’ve ever played - but forgot until this morning.
 

It was billed as a co-ed, 4 club challenge, where the men could not take drivers or fairway woods. Luckily, I had an old Adams 15* hybrid lying around, and a secret weapon to get me around the course - The Adjustable iron. Rounded it out with a Hogan BeCu SW and a BeCu Anser 2. The set held up pretty well out there!

[DCCarpenter]

@HillbillyHoma how does that bag do standing up ? Do you lay it down most of the time ? Use trestle sticks ?

[HillbillyHoma]

17 hours ago, DCCarpenter said:

@HillbillyHoma how does that bag do standing up ? Do you lay it down most of the time ? Use trestle sticks ?

It does not stand on its own. I lay it down.

[BEarlS]

I recently started a new job in sales where I am playing golf about once a week in the summer. This was my first year golfing. I started with the callaway stratas beginner set which includes a D, 3w, 5h, 6-P, I added a sand wedge, putter. My average score was around a 125 for the summer. Not great but having fun. I noticed the times where I thought less I hit a good shot. I saw this thread a few weeks ago and was intrigued by it. I waited until after my work season ended and decided to take advantage of some off season sales. 
 

I recently purchased Cobra One length irons to simplify my swing. Instead of getting a full set I purchased a few clubs. Since the lofts are far from traditional that’s what I focused on so now I have my putter, 56 sand wedge, 47.5, 36, 26.5. I kept the 26 degree hybrid and 10.5 degree driver. I played last weekend had the most fun and shot a 103. 
 

I plan on replacing the 5H with a 3H and legit can’t wait to play next year. Going from 10 clubs down to 7 completely put my mind at ease. 

Long time reader and first time poster. Thanks for reading my rambling. 

[rkillian]

I'm not a regular minimalist golfer by any means but scores on my home front 9, where I play most of my golf had been trending in the wrong direction lately. I decided to take 8 clubs with me the other day and shot my best in my last 3 rounds there. I think I'll be committing to playing most of my winter golf with 7-8 clubs at least at my "home course." Maybe taking the full bag out just for some 18 hole riding rounds.