Post by Terry Grayson on Apr 11, 2016 13:38:54 GMT -5
Had the game for over a year now, and I have gotten almost decent at the game, but very inconsistent especially in my putting! I always said since purchasing this game that PGA 2000 was the best as far as actual gameplay
that I had ever played yet this one was very close!
Well I was perusing some threads and happened upon the thread about the putting marker... Seeing as though I struggle normally very mightily with the putter I read it and began a couple days ago to practice what it preached...
The first time I tried it was during my four tour rounds which I played pretty well considering how I had been playing in recent weeks... I started making putts I normally miss and even have made a few very very long putts in subsequent practice rounds and since using it I have not had a single three putt. Well I began to think about it, and think about how I approach the game when playing... I always up until recently fired right at the pins, I mean if I had a 162 yard shot I would loft up a 3 iron and maybe take off a yard or two.... Well this didn't always work for me, so I watched a couple twitch rounds of some of the PGA players... I began to realize that course management and "roll out" is what makes this crowd play so well, they manage each shot and don't always fire right at the pins so I thought let me give this angle a try.
I decided to see if I had really gotten better in a few short rounds on a course I struggled mightily with.... I had never even come close to Par on the Magnolia Fast and Firm course... I fired at the pins and always rolled across the greens and then before using the putting marker as intended I would miss a putt and watch it roll aimlessly off the green on the other side.... I began to club down, allow the roll out especially on very fast conditions and really try to study the course using management and not just firing at every pin.... My first round trying this on Magnolia, I shot even par, then once I put it all together I believe I shot -3 on the Sunday fast and firm and then had it to like -6 on about hole 11 before having to quit last night... What an absolute difference playing with course management in mind and shooting short at times allowing roll up... even looking at a green ahead of time, finding a mound, or a tier or something and actually shooting short of it allowing it to funnel the ball into different areas, really helped my game...I am now confident in my putts..... Couldn't tell you how many times I would get within 8-10 feet of a pin just to miss and miss bad most times, now using the marker it just seems easier to make putts (for lack of a better term)
PGA2000 set the standard for years for me, but even with a 2wood in that game I could loft it up and land it inches from a pin even on fast greens.... It became very easy, but now with TGC its not about firing at every pin, it forces you to actually play different shots, and not always at the pin for the best angle or approach, and that is testament to the game mechanics and the wonderful designers here....
It has take over 1st place as an all time game for me now... Its about honing my skills from this point with this new-found way for me to play (Why I didn't notice any of this until now is beyond me) but Im excited to see what is in store...
Just a couple thoughts, probably silly, but made the game even more enjoyable for me now... The game coupled with this great community run tour site is just top notch in my book...outstanding work to all involved...
Terry