Random Stuff You Find on the Golf Course – Anger Management Edition

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, July 25th, 2018
Categories: GolfHackersMiscellaneous

Found this situation on the 4th tee today, a PING golf club impaled into the tee box.  The 4th hole has out of bounds all the way down the right side, and trees on the left.

If I pull this shaft out, will the remaining invisible part of the shaft and the club head come out of the ground with it?  I doubt it.

So what happened here?  My guess is some guy snapped.  Maybe he had some problems at work before the round.  Maybe he had some problems with his girlfriend, which his wife found out about.  Maybe he was driving it poorly and went OB right.  Maybe he just 3-jacked the last green. Maybe golf finally won the battle for his sanity.

I’ve been there my friend.

I love trying to solve strange golf mysteries, or at least trying to imagine what led to entry in the “Random stuff you find on the golf course” series.


Review: Cobra Golf King F8 Adjustable Driver

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Categories: Golf ClubsGolf EquipmentGolf GearReviews
Tags:

I’ve been gaming the same driver for about three years. It’s not that I’ve had different drivers to use, it’s that nothing I’ve tried was good enough for my swing/game to dethrone that gamer. That is until this spring. The current driver spot in my starting lineup is the Cobra King F8 adjustable driver with Cobra Connect tracking technology and an extremely interesting milled face. Let’s take a look.

F8 Features

The Cobra Golf F8 driver comes in two flavors, the F8 and F8+. The F8 is the more “forgiving” version with a slightly different moveable weight setup and adjustable hosel. The F8+ is more of a “player’s” club, meaning it is a little less forgiving but more “workable.” By workable I mean the ability to curve and control the trajectory of shots.

Due to the state of my game for the last couple of years, I thought it wise to go with the “forgiving” model. I need all the help I can get at this point. So I went with the F8 and that’s what this review is based on.

First off one can’t help noticing the amazing looking face on the F8. It is milled with hundreds of tiny grooves, unlike any other driver face out there (image above). The CNC milling of the F8 series insures precise thickness in the face, reducing inconsistencies found in other drivers. The helps produce consistent ball speeds on off-center shots.  The milling also helps the player control the ball better with a better grip, and a place for the driver to move moisture away from direct contact with the ball.

The face has different curvatures at the top and bottom. This “Dual Roll” technology helps expand the sweet spot vertically above and below center, optimizing launch and spin on shots high or low on the face.

The top (crown) of the F8 features an ultra-light carbon fiber section (photo below).  This allows the top of the club to be very light, and help move the COG (center of gravity) lower, which is good.  Lower COG helps ball launch higher and with less side-spin.

The “MyFly” adjustable hosel on the Cobra F8 offers numerous settings in terms of loft and lie.  There are neutral settings and draw settings for most of the lofts, except the 12 degree only comes in neutral only.

There are two moveable weights on the F8, as with the F8+.  The F8’s weights come in 2 gram and 12 grams.  They can be placed near the hosel and near the back of the club.  This differs from the F8+, which has spots for the weights behind the center of the face, and in the back center.

The shaft I chose for my model is the Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei CK Blue 50.  It’s an ultra-light shaft which helps me launch it higher, since I’m a low ball hitter.  It’s a stiff shaft, even though the Cobra website says this shaft is only available in Regular and Lite flex.  Other shaft options available include: Aldila NV 2KKV Blue 60, Aldila NVv 2KKV Green 65, Project X HZRDUS Yellow 75.

Accessories

The F8 comes with a nice, durable and sharp looking head cover.  Putting it on and taking it off is easy and it protects the driver well.

Adjustment tool and head cover

The adjusting tool is solid, and clicks when the club is tightened enough to prevent stripping or damaging the head by applying too much pressure.

The end of the grip contains the “Cobra Connect” sensor.  This sensor, when used with the Cobra Connect app allows golfers to track driving statistics like distance and accuracy.  The app can even make recommendations on driver settings by analyzing the user data.

Cobra Connect

Colors

The F8 comes in two colors: Black and Nardo (gray theme).  The driver pictured here is Nardo.

On The Course

The first thing I do when I start testing an adjustable driver is take it to the range and hit a few shots in the default settings.  In this case the settings were 10.5 degrees and a draw bias, with the 12 gram weight in the back of the head and the 2gram weight by the hosel.  I hit it fairly well with that setting, but found I was not controlling the side spin as well as I wanted.  I was hitting some right shots and fades.

From there I went through every possible setting, such as nine degrees loft, neutral face angle, and the weights in both positions.  I found little difference in shot difficulty when changing lofts. The club was still easy to hit, even in the nine degree settings.  The 12 degree setting was easy too, and it seemed to launch the ball just a tiny bit higher.

The key for me was the weights.  On nearly every loft/lie setting I found the feel and direction of the shots were all better with the 12 gram weight by the hosel and the two gram at the back.  When the heavier weight was in the back I saw a little ballooning in the trajectory.  With the 12 by the hosel the ballooning went away and the fades straightened out to straight balls.

The setting I finally settled on, and still use after months, is 10.5 degree draw with the heavier weight by the hosel.  For my swing, combined with the Tensei shaft, I’m very accurate and long for me.  I’m not a bomber, but longer than average.

I’ve gamed the F8 in most imaginable conditions: damp, rain, hard, fast, windy, cold, hot.  Had a lot of fun with the F8 in 30-40mph winds at Bandon Dunes recently.  On one hole into the wind I crushed it 148 yards!  Later with the wind on I hit one 385 yards and nearly drove a 400 yard par-4 on Pacific Dunes. I like going driver-putter-putter-putter for par on par-4s.

My fairway percentage has been up around 80%. During a solid round earlier today I hit a blistering 13/14 fairways for 93%. That will work.

Final Thoughts

The Cobra F8 is a fantastic and easy to hit driver. The F8 offers a massive number of features and settings which will help golfers of all ability levels dial in the best launch conditions for their game.


Review: Bandon Preserve – 13-Hole Par-3 Course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

I will be posting reviews of all the courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort over the next weeks. I decided to start with Bandon Preserve. Bandon Preserve is a 13-hole par-3 course. The Preserve is so fun I could play it all the time. There are so many creative ways to play the holes, most of which are less than 130 yards.

Bandon Preserve

The Preserve was designed by famed golf course architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. This terrain is perfect for the Coore/Crenshaw style, which beautifully uses the existing terrain to produce a scenic, fun, and challenging layout.

All net profits from green fees at Bandon Preserve go directly to Wild Rivers Coast Alliance (WRCA). WRCA is an organization that supports conservation, community, and economy on the southern Oregon Coast. The Preserve also helps to protect the plant species Silvery Phacelia. Silvery Phacelia is an endangered species which is threatened by non-native plants. The open area reclaimed by the Preserve help Silvery Phacelia flourish.

The Experience

When I played the Preserve the longest tee-to-pin yardage was less than 150 yards. Most of the tee shots were under 130 yards. One could easily carry 3-4 clubs, a couple of balls, and leave the golf bag in the room, barring any windy conditions. My round was very windy, and required me to hit a lot of extra club on a few of the holes that play to the north. I hit 7-iron a few times, which at Bandon is probably about a 175 yard club. Mind you, the length of the holes I was playing was more like 125 yards, but with several clubs’ worth of wind.

The course is extremely fun and challenging. Golfers can be creative with their shots, choosing multiple lines of attack to landing areas that funnel the shot to the desired location. Flying shots to the pin is possible if the golfer can generate a lot of spin. Like most links style greens, Preserve’s greens are hard and only shots with a lot of spin will stick.

The vibe at the Preserve is quick, fun, casual golf. Emphasis on fun.

13th Hole – Putter off the Tee

The final 13th hole is about 100 yards and the tradition is to play the hole entirely with a putter. Our group did it, and 3 of the 4 hit the green in regulation!

Final Thoughts

I shot my lowest score of the year on the Preserve! It helped that the course was only 13 holes of par-3’s.

Par-3 courses are becoming more and more popular. They take less time to play, cost the golfer less money, and take up less valuable land. The Preserve’s dunes/links style makes it so distinct and original. The course is visually stunning. The Preserve is right up there at the top of my par-3 courses list, along with Michigan’s Three Tops. Do not miss playing Bandon Preserve when you are on your Bandon Dunes golf trip.

Gallery

Visit the Hooked on Golf Blog Bandon Preserve photo gallery.


Bandon Dunes Day Four

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, July 16th, 2018
Categories: GolfGolf Course ArchitectureGolf CoursesGolf For WomenTravel
Tags:

On day four our group made the decision to rest in the morning, rather than pushing ourselves for another day of 36 holes.  We have been pushing it hard, as guests at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort often do.  Rather than a morning 18, we opted for a casual breakfast and enjoying some of Bandon Dunes’s other offerings.

The courses at Bandon are hilly, and the ground can be pretty hard.  I needed to recuperate so I scheduled a massage at the on-site massage center.

The massage was fantastic and rejuvenated my very sore and stiff back, and shins which were sore from climbing all the hills.

Surprisingly I felt so refreshed after the massage that I decided to check out some of the hiking trails.  There are miles of trails that wind through the dunes, the forest, and the beach areas at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.  Below is a panorama of the main lodge area I captured from one of the trails.

Bandon Dunes Lodge

The hiking trails are quite different than my trails at home in Utah. The vegetation is much more dense and green due to the high amount of precipitation and humidity. Check out this trail below, with an amazing log covered with moss.

And nearby is the “Labyrinth” as seen below. The Labyrinth is a neat feature for guests to enjoy and find their zen happy place. I spent some time there contemplating my short game.

Bandon Dunes Labyrinth

Bandon Dunes Labyrinth

Following the morning massage and hiking, I was physically and mentally prepared to take on the afternoon 18 holes on the tremendous Pacific Dunes course, a Tom Doak design.

Pacific Dunes

Pacific Dunes

Day four at Bandon Dunes was a day I will not forget.


Bandon Dunes Day Three

Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, July 13th, 2018
Categories: GolfGolf CoursesGolf For WomenHOG World Tour
Tags:

Hurting now. It’s a good kind of pain. After playing 76 holes of golf in very windy conditions, on hard ground with tons of elevation changes… I’m hammered.

Today was another spectacular day, as it seems all days are at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.  The 7am tee time was our first round on Pacific Dunes.  Pacific Dunes is a Tom Doak design.  Doak is one of my favorites.

Pacific Dunes

Following the round at Pacific Dunes, we had a great lunch in the Pacific Dunes clubhouse.

The afternoon round was a repeat of Old MacDonald Golf Links. “Old Mac” played a little less crazy today, vs the non-stop 30-40mph winds we had a couple of days ago. An enjoyable and challenging walk with a ton of elevation changes.

Old MacDonald – 18th Hole

It was hard to keep concentration up and hit good golf shots as the day progressed. It is easy to push it hard here at Bandon Dunes.

This evening hit “The Punchbowl” for a friendly putting competition. The Punchbowl is a huge putting area with severe sloping, and 18 actual holes to play. Think the Himalayas at the Old Course in St Andrews.

The Punchbowl

Tomorrow our group decided to take some time to rest in the morning and not play a full 36 holes. We will play Pacific Dunes in the afternoon after recuperating in the morning. I’ve decided to do some “research” on the spa here, and get a massage to work out a lot of my stiff back and leg muscles.


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