Playing The Fairways GC at Bensalem CC

Practice Range
Bensalem Township Country Club
200 Brown Ave.
Bensalem, PA
215/639-5556

With my golf in dire help of help, I went to the practice range at Bensalem Township Country Club last night to work on my game. I experimented with a new method of practice as I hit a small buckets of balls of the range.

Typically, there are two practice methods when you go to the range: blocked and random. Blocked practice is when you take your bucket of balls and hit virtually the same shot, with the same club, at the same target, over and over and over. Although this method is extremely useful if you are changing a certain part of swing, it is, unfortunately, how most people practice at the range.

The practice range became the front nine at The Fairways

In random practice, you attempt to simulate what you doing on the golf course by not hitting the same club or same shot twice in a row. I used this method last night by playing the front nine at The Fairways Golf Club on the practice range at Bensalem. For example, the First Hole at The Fairways is 341-yard par 4. So I hit driver, which I duck hooked to the left. I estimated that would have left me about 160 yards to the green, so I hit 6-iron for my next shot. And I aimed at a flag that was to the right of my hitting bay. That shot would have come up short, so I chipped with my 53-degree wedge to one the nets in front of the hitting mats. I did this for each of The Fairways nine holes. I hit all the shots on each hole until I feel I would have been on the green.

Twilight descended on the range

I started my practice by some stretching and swinging my 8-iron with a weighted Swing Sock on it. I then hit six sand wedges and six 9-irons to warm up. I then went into random practice, playing the nine holes. After I finished palying the nine, I hit 13 drivers, alternating between my TaylorMade Aero Burner and an old Maxfli Blue Max Driver. I hit them both a bit better than I have been hitting my driver on the course. I finished up hitting seven shots off the tee and mat with my TaylorMade JetSpeed 3-hybrid.

Maxfli Blue Max Driver

Overall, I hit the ball a little better than I have been hitting it on the course. I hit a few good shots and a few bad shots. I was lacking distance and power in more than a few of my iron shots. I will take a positive feeling away from this practice session. I think using random practice will help me moving forward.

What was in the Bag: 2009

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I am a regular equipment junkie. Clubs, balls and gloves find their way in and out of my bag fairly often. Last year, as part of my year in review for 2008, I did my own version of the Darrell Survey by examining all the equipment I played with in 2008. For those of you who don't know what the Darrell Survey is, it is an independent company that for the past 70-plus years has been checking the equipment of each golfer at a Tour event, whether it be the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour LPGA, European Tour or other professional tournaments. The information is compiled into a weekly report for the various golf equipment companies. They also used to produce a yearly almanac of equipment usage by the pros.

I had so much fun doing it last year that I decided to do it again for 2009. So here is The Muni Golfer's version of the Darrell Survey for last year. During the nearly 25 regulation and practice rounds I played last season, I used 5 Drivers, 6 Fairway Woods, 11 Hybrids, 5 different models of Irons, 3 Wedges, 5 Putters, 7 different models of Golf Balls and 5 different versions of Golf Gloves. They represented 14 different equipment companies. I also worn PGA Tour Golf Shirts and adidas Golf Shoes.

In true Darrell Survey fashion, here is a breakdown of the equipment in The Muni Golfer's bag during 2009:

Drivers:
Wilson Staff Spine
TaylorMade 360XD
TaylorMade Burner
TaylorMade Tour Burner
Tommy Armour 845 Stripe
















Fairway Woods:
TaylorMade Burner 3-Wood
Golfsmith XPC Plus 3-Wood
Sonartec 4-Wood
Golfsmith Big Gun 5-Wood
TaylorMade 300 7-Wood
Wilson Staff FwC 7-Wood

















Hybrids:
Alpha Golf Rx 4
Wilson Staff Fybrid
Elevon Tour
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 3+
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 3
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 4
Nickent 3DX DC 3
Nickent 3DX DC 4
Nickent 3DX Ironwood 2+
Nickent 3DX Ironwood 4+
TaylorMade Raylor 4H











Irons:
Wilson Staff Di7s
TaylorMade 200s
TaylorMade LCGs
TaylorMade Tour Burners
TaylorMade r7 CGB 4-Iron

















Wedges:
Solus 4.1 53-degree
Solus 4.1 56-degree
Solus 4.1 59-degree

















Putters:
Odyssey White Hot XG-9
Odyssey White Hot Rossie
Never Compromise Z/I Omega
Carbite B-4
Snake Eyes MCS2

















Golf Balls:
Wilson Staff 50
Wilson Staff Zip
TaylorMade Burner
Maxfli Fire
Titleist NXT
Titelist HP
Titleist DT














Golf Gloves:
Wilson Advantage
Wilson Staff Pro Soft
TaylorMade React
Taylor Made Tour Ltd.
FootJoy SofJoy

My Year in Review - Part II

The Darrell Survey is an independent company that for the past 70-plus years has been checking the equipment of each golfer at a Tour event, whether it be the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour LPGA, European Tour or other professional tournaments. The information is compiled into a weekly report for the various golf equipment companies. They also used to produce a yearly almanac of equipment usage by the pros.

Well, I decided I would do my own Darrell Survey of the equipment that found its way into my golf bag during 2008. What I discovered was, that during the 23.5 regulation and practice rounds I played last year, I used 3 Drivers, 9 Fairway Woods, 6 Hybrids, 3 sets of Irons, 3 Sand or Lob Wedges, 3 Putters and 8 different Golf Balls. Some clubs were in the bag for only one round. Others managed be there for every round.

The Muni Golfer's 2008 Darrel Survey Almanac breaks down as follows:

Drivers:
TaylorMade Burner
TaylorMade R580XD
Wilson Satff Spine
Fairway Woods:
TaylorMade V Steel 3-Wood
TaylorMade r7 3-Wood
TaylorMade Burner 2008 3-Wood
Callaway X 3-Wood
Golfsmith XPC Plus 3-Wood
Orlimar TriMetal 3-Wood
Adams Redline RPM 4-Wood
TaylorMade 300 7-Wood
Dunlop Loco 7-Wood
Hybrids:
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 3+/FW
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 4/FW
Nickent 3DX DC Utility 5/FW
Nickent 3DX DC 4-Hybrid
Nickent 3DX 5-Hybrid
Alpha RX 4-Hybrid
Irons:
TaylorMade r7
TaylorMade 200
Wilson Staff Di7
TaylorMade CGB Max 4-Iron
Sand and Lob Wedges:
Solus 4.1 53-Degrees
Solus 4.1 56-Degrees
Solus 4.1 59-Degrees
Putters:
Odyssey White Hot XG #9
Never Compromise Z/I Omega
Carbite B4
Golf Balls:
Maxfli Revolution
Maxfli Fire
Maxfli Fire Tour
Maxfli Noodle
TaylorMade Burner
TaylorMade Burner TP
Bridgestone e6+
Wilson Staff 50

Bridgestone's New e6+ Rates an A+

I have just completed my testing and survey of Bridgetsone's new e6+ golf ball for the PGA Tour Partners Club. Named to Golf Digest's 2008 Hot List, the e6+ has a suggested MSRP of $38 and retails on The Golf Warehouse, Golf Galaxy and Dick's Sporting Goods for about $24.99 a dozen.

According to Bridgestone, the ball's features include:

• A multi-layer design with innovative anti-spin/extra velocity inner cover
• Is engineered for players seeking a straighter ball flight with longer carry distance and roll
• Has an enhanced low compression design
• Provides an extra soft feel on all shots and a smooth roll off the putter
• 330 Seamless dimple design

Although I normally play a Maxfli golf ball -- either the Fire, Black Max or Noodle, I played my first two rounds this season with the e6+. While it was comparable to current golf ball, I found that it lived up to its billing by providing exceptional distance and a nice soft feel around the greens and off the putter. It definitely felt like I was playing with a higher-priced, premium golf ball. I think both low- and high-handicappers would benefit from using this golf ball. The only negative thing I can say is that I noticed it seemed to scuff just a bit when I hit it off my sand or lob wedge. But overall, I give the Bridgestone e6+ a good rating. The e6+ is an A+.

Fire Sale at Dicks

I had received a $10 gift certificate from Dicks Sporting Goods as part of bonus rewards for using my Dicks Card, so I stopped into a Dicks while visiting my sister-in-law's this weekend. Dicks was having a great sale of Maxfli's Fire and Fire Tour golf balls. The Fire's, which usually retail at $19.99 a dozen were being offered at two boxes for $25, while the Fire Tour was on sale at two boxes for $40. I had gotten the Fire golf balls for Christmas last year and really liked how they played. To me, they play much like a premium golf ball, but at a better price. A three-piece ball, they have great distance off the tee, but feel soft around the greens and off the putter. They also have a small strip of flames imprinted on the side of the ball, which is great for lining up putts. So I used my gift certificate and picked up two boxes of the Fire.

Some Golfing Odds and Ends

I haven't been able to hit the links, but I have made a few recent golf-related purchases. First, I was in a local Walmart and decided to check out the golf equipment in the sporting goods section. A Dunlop Loco 7-Wood caught my eye. Perhaps it was the bright yellow Harrison Fairway XL shaft or just the way it looked and felt in my hands, but at less than $50, I figured I had to give it a try. I've put it in the bag and will give a try to see if it can win a permanent spot next season.

Secondly, while celebrating our wedding anniversary with a get-away weekend in Lewes-Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, I hit the new Under Armour outlet and picked up a ColdGear Longsleeve Mock. As the temperatures start to dip below the 50s, this will make a nice base foundation undergarment to wear on the course. Paired with a golf polo and a wind shirt, it should keep me warm as I walk the course during those playable November through March rounds. Just as long as the temperatures and wind chills stay above the freezing point!

I've also received my Dick's Sporting Goods bonus points gift certificate in the mail. Although it is only for $10, I'll put it towards a box of Maxfli Noodle golf balls, which will be good balls to play with in the cold weather. In cold weather, it is best to pick a compression ball like the Noodle, which won't feel like you're hitting a rock as other, more premium golf balls do in the cold temperatures.