Play the Trash

A fun way to always mix up a golf game with friends is to "play the trash".  What we do is play skins + trash.  What is the trash?  Well trash is anything you encounter in the hole, you add it to your teams winnings (details on trash items below).

So for example, we are playing $2 skins and pick up one piece of trash, our team wins $3.  Of course you can value trash how you want, but we make it a dollar extra.  If both players have trash, they both count.  Oh...and your trash only counts if your team wins the hole....sorry.

Trash:

Barky - Your ball hits any part of a tree at anytime during the hole (double and triple barky's count)
Carty - Your ball hits a cart path during the hole
Pole-y - You make a putt longer than the length of the flag stick (You can use strategy here when chipping, sometimes too close may cost you a pole-y if you know your partner already has the hole won)
Sandy - Your ball touches a bunker at any point in the hole (yes, rolling thru a bunker and out counts)
Hogan - Only eligible for Par 4's: You land on the fairway off the tee, hit the green in regulation and two putt (fringe on the green DOES NOT count)
Greeny - Only eligible for Par 3's: You land on the green off the tee and two putt for par (fringe does not count)
Birdie Pop - On any hole if your team has a birdie and wins the hole, the skin doubles

Now go out at there and collect on your barky-poley-Hogan-birdie pop.

Houstonian (Black Horse) Golf Club

I've played Houstonian a bunch of times, and is one of my favorite courses in town.  The course is actually going to be changing its name to "Black Horse" in the near future now that it is under new management.  It is affiliated with Redstone (Now Golf Club of Houston), Shadowhawk and Blackhawk.  So membership to one is membership to all.

The Houstonian can be quite challenging due to its water hazards and wind.  A fairly open course, if the wind gets blowing it can definitely change the course up.  And at least 11 holes have one type of hazard on it, so tee-shots can make or break a hole (take a look at the card below and the hole maps).

This past weekend it was extremely windy, but the greens were rolling pure.  The course in general is in great shape from tee to green.  The rough is cut down, so not much penalty for missing a fairway.

The hardest hole on the course in my opinion is the par 3 #17.  Its long, uphill, protected by water and sand.  It comes late in the round when you are either tired, or trying not to blow a good round.

I was 1 over on the back nine going into #16 and then finished double, double, bogey.  Was a rough last three holes, but with the par 5 #16 and par 3 #17, its not an easy finish at all.

Clubhouse/Locker room are well done....biggest con on the place is its way out of town, and can be difficult to find for the first timer heading out there.  I mean, this place is in the boonies.  However, i rarely turn down an invitation to play....

An American Caddie in Scotland

An American Caddie in Scotland is an entertaining book for any golf lover.  The true story is based on a high school graduate who has a year to kill before his admission to Harvard, so he decides to head to St. Andrews and caddie the old course.  Its entertaining to see how he is "welcomed" by the locals and also the inner working of how the caddie pyramid works.  It definitely has some funny moments and he gives some behind the scenes insight on what caddies really think about their golfers and how they behave and of course, tip.

Its an easy read and for every golfer who one days wants to play St. Andrews....its a great book to read before you head over so you arent just considered another Hawaii Five-O.

Club Review: Cleveland 588 Gliderail Hybrid

I recently played a round witht he Cleveland 588 Gliderail Hybrid.  I played a 20.5 Degree as im trying to find a club to fill the gap between my 3iron and 3wood.

I play with a stiff shaft, but for some reason even with a stiff on this club I continuously had them drawing hard.  I hear hybrids naturally work right to left (for right handers), but this one felt a bit overdone.  

In terms of look, it is quite simple and not too bulky when laid against the ball.  This is a look I prefer as I dont want to feel I am hitting a wood, but also want the confidence I have more behind this than a long iron.

It was priced in the $100-130 range, but I wasnt too impressed and will continue my search for a good hybrid.

Cypreswood Golf Course - The Tradition Course, Spring, TX

The Tradition Course part of the Cypreswood Golf Course facility is a a very good value.  For $79 you get 18 holes and a cart, and the quality of the Tradition course is always in good shape.  What I like about this course are the greens are always in good shape.  The layout of the course gives you enough challenges.  Par 5s which can be reachable in two with a great drive and the guts to go for it, and Par 3s that test you from 9irons to hybrids.

For some reason this is also the less played course at Cypresswood which means the wait time on tee-boxes are usually kept at a minimum, which is nice for a public course.  There isnt much to brag about in the clubhouse, but it does serve breakfast burritos in the morning and burger for a lunch.  The driving range is all grass which is also nice and the putting green is average.

Beers arent outrageous on the drink cart either.  This course is definitely kept in regular rotation within my golfing circle.  Its only drawback (for someone closer to downtown Houston) is the location is out by Bush Intercontinental, so a good 30min drive.  For those on the north side of town, I highly recommend it.