sdandrea1 I could never hit a 5i. And I mean ANY 5, from any set, any shaft. Never! Could hit a 4 or 6 easily, but the 5 would always be a slice, for whatever reason. Got to the point I just left it out of the bag. Last 2-3 yrs. I've been unable to hit any iron above PW decently, so I just kind of gave it up with them and used that 25* hybrid, choked down. Got damn good at it, but just want to hit irons again. It's coming along OK, but do get scared when the score is low and afraid of a mishit. Had a few proud moments last weekend with the 9 that built a bit of confidence. Nothing like looking at a pitch out, saying 'screw it', then shooting over a 80'+ tree while standing 40' from it, while going for the green......and nailing it😉

      State of my game is so bad I took a month off hoping that will help it. I can't remember when I took a month off from golf. It has to be over 20 years or so. I went out and played with my wife a couple of weeks ago and we played a two person scramble. I think I helped her 2 or three shots and we ended up shooting 75 and the following time we shot 72 and I was once again little help. I am really happy that she is playing this well, but it shows me how bad my game right now. I am playing army golf with my driver, most of the time taking two extra clubs on fairway shots and coming up short. My hybrids which are my best feature are also less than stellar. So I feel this month it is a good time to just stop playing. Another reason is the first two weeks of August the temps here in Oregon where I live range from 101 to 114 every day over 100* F. At my age there is no way I can go out and play 18 holes while walking. I refuse to take a cart.

      I'm in my typical spot of having 2 parts of the game working and one not. Off the tee I'm crushing the ball, irons are a hot mess and short game is solid if not really good. My last round I played 7 holes with the family and the only holes I didn't par were two that I played the wrong club off the tee and found water.. didn't think I could reach the water, I was proved wrong. For me that's a solid outing. Knowing the holes I skipped, I usually play them at level par with a bogey on the dog leg right ( though sometimes I cut the damn corner right) and then a par/ birdy on the dog leg left par 4, driver usually puts me a chip and a putt a way. so had all thing left come to the norm, I should have shot 40 for the 9, had I been smarter, down in the 38 range.

      One thing I have learned, I need to quit thinking about it and buy the single length irons. I built the 5 iron, still yet to really pure it on course, but when I actually get down on it at the range ( I keep standing up a little through the irons), it's red great. The nice part is I haven't hit it well and all the results have been really acceptable, some even really good considering the contact. The Pinhawks are going to be in my bag soon, I just need to make the time to get them there.

      Bigborgel
      Unfortunately for me I still have some ego, but like you I seem not to have the ability to play good golf. I am hoping I can come back in September and start hitting the ball better and just enjoy the walk much more.

        Bigborgel I don't have any ego anymore, and I don't have any ability either...

        Well, shit..........

          Wife and I just finished 18 holes at Swan Point Yacht and CC. SWMBO brings out my best. I played the Gold tees at 5500 yds which allows me to hit more GIRs. The new wedges and putter were hot and my longest iron shot was with a 6i. Carded a 73 with 3 birdies and 4 bogies. Best round ever at that track and the card goes into the keepsake box! The state of my game was better today. 😀

            Well, believe it or not there seems to still be a little something left in the tank despite my infrequent play as of late.

            Five bogeys, one birdie, nice round of 76 today.

            Hit all of 15 balls at the warmup range, rushed to the putting green and rolled about 10 putts, then off to the first tee. It was an absolute sauna out there today, was completely drenched an hour into play. Shot +1 going out, then lost my energy midway through the back-nine and carded a few careless bogeys. But... found a little something and hit every green the last five holes, somewhat salvaging a pretty decent round for me.

            Lost about 4 pounds of water weight, then as soon as I got back into the clubhouse I replenished with a couple or three Moscow Mules. And if you don't know what a Mule from Moscow tastes like - shame on you! Best part of the day! 🙂

              sdandrea1

              Moscow mules rock. Absolutely love them. Three shots of Titos, about 4 ounces of Stoli's ginger beer, a splash of lime juice and garnished with a lime splice in a frozen copper mug with ice.... man - hard to beat that on a hot summer day. 🙂

                sdandrea1

                PS - we gotta hook up this fall. If you're willing to travel about 3.5 hours north, I'll treat you to a great round at Woodstone. I think you'd like it. Come up on a Friday or Saturday, spend the night in my guest bedroom, have a BBQ out on the deck that evening, play golf with a few of my buds on Sunday... it'd be nice.

                If you don't have my email address, let me know. Early Octoberish. I think you'd enjoy the scenery. (We aerate the first or second week in September). Greens should be great the second week of October. Would be great to finally meet you!

                    PA-PLAYA PS - we gotta hook up this fall. If you're willing to travel about 3.5 hours north, I'll treat you to a great round at Woodstone. I think you'd like it. Come up on a Friday or Saturday, spend the night in my guest bedroom, have a BBQ out on the deck that evening, play golf with a few of my buds on Sunday... it'd be nice.

                    If you don't have my email address, let me know. Early Octoberish. I think you'd enjoy the scenery. (We aerate the first or second week in September). Greens should be great the second week of October. Would be great to finally meet you!

                    You're on! We leave for FL for the season about the 3rd week of Oct. I'm retired, so you suggest some weekends and I'll block it out. My band has a gig on Oct 7th so that weekend is out. I need your email address. The weekends of the 14th or 21st would work.

                        sdandrea1

                        I'll find out the exact aeration schedule and plan accordingly. Hoping we can work it out. Probably looking at the 14th or 15th, or (if weekdays are clear) we can play just about anytime.

                            PA-PLAYA I'll find out the exact aeration schedule and plan accordingly. Hoping we can work it out. Probably looking at the 14th or 15th, or (if weekdays are clear) we can play just about anytime.

                            My weekdays are pretty much always clear!

                                sdandrea1

                                Weekdays are pretty easy to come by for me as well. And... the course is fairly quiet during the week. We're closed on Monday's, but can look at a Tuesday or Wednesday arrangement. The tee time will obviously depend on your intentions as far as whether you'd like to come up the evening prior or want to do a marathon 1-day drive the day of. Or, perhaps, you come up early on like a Tuesday, we get out Tuesday afternoon, then get an early-morning tee time for Wednesday so you can get back home at a reasonable hour and get two rounds in.

                                Let me know what you'd prefer and what your schedule might allow. The membership calendar says greens aerification is scheduled the first week of September. They should be fully recovered by the last week of September, so perhaps 9/27 - 9/28. I'm heading to Florida the first week of October, so getting out the week prior would work best for me.