This and that..

Its been a  busy 6 weeks for us in the Golf Shop and we have not had time to post to our blog as we would have liked.
Regardless, we hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful weather this summer.

Some thoughts on pace of play at our club...
At the previous Women's golf etiquette/rules seminars held in 2012 and 2013 it was suggested that when taking a Fore-caddy, the players should hold onto their own putters and NOT have the caddy carry them.  The reasons for this were discussed and it seemed like the members present accepted that it would be more efficient if they were responsible for their own putters.
Not surprising, this "new" notion that they are not "putter" caddies, never took hold.  Recently, we  found out that at least one local club is taking the putters from the caddies and enjoying a faster pace of play in doing so.
Think about it... How many times in the course of a round have you had to wait to get your putter and/or walked away from your ball to get it from the caddy?  This is a natural delay in play.
In addition, when the caddy  is carrying putters, he is less able to do other laborious tasks like picking up divots, raking bunkers and helping to repair ball marks. I cannot adequately quantify the times I have seen a caddy with one player struggling to be the last on the green, with the other players on the green unable to start their putting process. Interestingly, no one seems able to start reading their putts and preparing without the putter in their hands. I know I probably wouldn't.  There's something about the feel of it in your hands and the simple habit of having it when we bend over to look at our putts.
If the player furthest away on the putting green had their putter in their hands as they walked onto the green, they could start the putting process sooner, the group would be done sooner and the exiting of the green would not look like a twenty second Keystone Cops movie short.  It is truly amazing to watch the group handing off of wedges and putters to the caddy on the green.   Its better than paying for a comedy club act.
A "fore-caddy" is simply that,  a  FORE-CADDY.  They go ahead, as in "fore"...If you travel to higher end resorts, the caddies mostly do not carry putters. They'll hold clubs taken to the green by players, but they are true Fore-caddies.
Our caddies are not really being compensated for carrying one stick.. and that one stick, in their hands, is minimally contributing to a less efficient round of golf.

Keep it in the short grass.

Anonymous Member Quotes of the last two weeks

Week ending June 25...


1.  " I cannot hit this driver without the demo sticker on it!"

2.  "That bag you sold me is missing a pocket"

3.  " Does anyone know if this jacket is, like, left handed or something?"


Coming soon-  Our first Big Break Nite @ Willow Ridge ...
Keep it in the short grass

USGA launches Pace of Play initiative/ WRCC Golf staff tee recomendations

Welcome to our inaugural Golf staff blog!  We are excited to share our activities, thoughts and suggestions to help make your golfing experience the best it can be.

Today we would like to share the USGA's initiative on pace of play.  Aptly named after my late father's favorite phrase of frustration (try saying that three times).... "While we're young!".  This obviously means one of several things.  As a group in whole it's saying " I'd like to get the round done in a reasonable time so lets ALL get moving".    As looking at our fellow group members individually, including the pre-swing routine and total time taken to hit a shot, it's connotations are even more obvious- " OMG hit it already!",  "What's taking you so long to pick a club?!", and the ever popular "You've been a member here HOW long and you still need the caddy to read that putt??!"
While I make light hearted comments regarding pace of play, It should be recognized that this is a very serious issue within the golf industry,  having documented repercussions on rounds played and new people entering the game.  Time has become a rare and treasured commodity, and spending 6-8 hours in total for a day of golf from the time you leave your home till the time you leave the course is a real investment.  One which fewer and fewer people are making.
Around the club, you will find a few new things to remind you of pace of play and encourage you and your friends to speed up how you play the game. Most noticeable is stickers placed on approximately 40 golf carts.  There are a few ball markers placed within the regular WRCC white markers in the starter's box.  Lastly a simple poster which we have posted in both locker rooms.
In consideration of this new awareness of pace of play, we, your creative golf professionals, will be posting mini videos with helpful hints and outright demonstrations of proper etiquette and speed of play.  We hope you find them helpful, humorous, and entertaining.
Finally, and to "bust a myth",  we would like to offer  real and practical suggestions for which tee box you should be playing from.  The myth regarding length of golf course played seems to be determined mostly by your handicap or sense of ability.  We believe this to be at least partially untrue.  For the true sense of enjoying golf and having the ability to make pars with two putts as often as possible, the length of tee should be based on a combination of your total driver yardage and your overall ability (Handicap).  This being said, here are our recommendations:

White Tees:   Less than 200 total yards from the teeing ground and/or a handicap of 22 or higher.
Blue White Mix:  More than 200 yards but less than or equal to 225 yards of total driver distance, and/or a handicap lower than or equal to 18.
Blue:  Driver is CONSISTENTLY longer than 225 and/or a handicap of 14 or lower.

Ladies should be playing from the Forward Red Tees If they can hit their driver over 75 yards.  If it is a struggle to hit it more than 75, the FAMILY TEE MARKER, LEVEL 2 "GOLD" is perfect.  This is our suggestion for all female beginners as well as juniors who are able to hit driver 75 yards.    If you can score better than double bogey from the family marker on most holes, then it would be fine to back up to the RED..
For the youngest of players and those whose driver distance goes a maximum of 50-60 yards, the FAMILY TEE MARKER, LEVEL 1 "BLUE" recommended.
Have fun from the proper distance and make lots of Birdies!