Gsxrnz

I only discovered golf two years ago at the age of 51. Wish I'd started when I was a kid - anyway, no regrets.

My last two games I hit 88. For the last year I've only been capable of mid 90's occasionally, and typically 98 was an average day with the occasional disheartening triple figure.

I'm a big hitter which is a mixed bag in terms of benefits. Sure, it's great when the caddies and your mates go ooohhh aaaahhh when you nail a drive 280 straight down the middle, but get it wrong and I'm frequently in trouble. It also helps when you can be on in regulation (assuming you don't wander into the trees/water/OB, which has been my problem).

My putting is has improved as I've spent a lot of time practicing, rarely more than 2 putt and can get a brace of single putts on a good day. My general ball striking is fairly consistent with the usual handful of mishits in a round, albeit hitting long can (does) get me in trouble.

So it has bugged me for a long time as to why I could not improve on a best of 95, even though my ball striking in all categories has gradually improved and with it my confidence in "going for it".

And therein lay my problem, but it's taken me until this last fortnight to really understand the concept of course management. I thought I understood the concept, it appears to be quite simple. But even today after I analysed my game, I genuinely think I could have saved 3 fairway shots (water penalties) if I'd stuck to the program that I'd mapped out for myself. However, I recognized also that I probably saved at least 10 shots that on any other day I would have given away which would have resulted in my regular 98 instead of 88.

I believe my striking of the ball these last two games is no better or worse than previously. I got into trouble 3 times costing penalties, but also got many pars that I know would have been bogies and doubles a few weeks ago. I didn't play my shots any better, I didn't hit them any further, or more accurately. What I DID do is really analyse the way I was playing, my confidence with particular clubs on different holes, and my confidence on distances.

Over the last two weeks I've been googling and youtubing course management. There are hundreds of videos etc and I'm reluctant to recommend any particular one. But I discovered that it's not as simple a concept as just "keeping out of trouble". As an example, I was not previously aware that in my game, it's been the driver, 3-wood, and 60 -100 shots that cost me a score. Also analysed that whenever I'm 120-150 out, that's my "well this is easy on the green and no worries" shot.

So the last two games I've changed my club selection to get me 120-150 off the green for the approach shot where possible. Result? The pressure for a big hit off the tee is gone, the pressure for a blistering 3 wood in the fairway is gone - both of which routinely got me in trouble. Fewer "critical" shots were necessary to save a par or a bogey, and general confidence was boosted. In fact, my former favourite club was a 3 wood, which in two games I've chosen not to use.

Obviously my short game needs working on, so off to the driving range for chipping and pitching practice. My driver may be 20-30 yards shorter than before, but that's OK and I've been much straighter with it. Even relegated it for a 5 iron on two holes to hit 180 rather than try and get over the water at 230, which usually ended in tears either squirting right into trees or getting wet anyway.

Sorry for the long story. But my advice is to do as much research as you can on managing the course and managing yourself. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye and you really have to be critical of your game and the way you play it. Breaking 90 seemed easy. That may seem big headed, but I really didn't play the shots any better than before, I just played better shots and had better critical thinking.

I know where I went wrong today and I'm hell bent on getting to that magical 80 before too much longer. I've been spending too much time practicing and researching how to play particular shots/clubs, than figuring out what shots to play. I can't really explain it any more than that. I'm sure better players on TV will be able to explain it better than I can.

Anyway, that's my story.

Cheers

I'd like to know how all the candidates would solve the current political crisis in Thailand for the long term betterment of the Thai people and those that live here if they had the power to do everything they suggest.

I'd like to know the candidates favourite brand of beer, underwear, and engine oil before casting my vote. This is the only true way to judge a mans character.

Got it.

In Thailand, I drink San Mig Lite. It reminds me of Corona which actually I don't love so much but compared to Chang, I'm happy. If I was rich I'd drink Belgian beer everyday, but oh well ...

On underwear, I mix it up. Sometimes boxers, sometimes briefs, sometimes boxer briefs. I don't wear snobby underwear. I'm a REAL MAN. A man's man. Wink wink nod nod say no more, say no more.

Engine Oil. I don't know. You'd have to ask the baht bus drivers. Maybe next time ask about lube?

Are you getting this kind of transparency from the front runner here?

Real men drinking lite beer? Hmmm.....not sure about that. And San Mig/Corona to boot - isn't Corona actually a pale lager?

Real men don't need "lube" either, they'd use engine oil in all situations. Viscosity is obviously a consideration, as is natural or synthetic.

No Razor blades JT? I assume you go au natural?

The undies - well a real man would have said "anything without too many holes and unbroken elastic".

Never mind, we'll see what the other contenders come up with.

Edit: Sorry JT, I see you quoted my post before I added the razor blade question, so I'll let that one go.

OK....driving back from shopping on a busy road outside the town....like reliving an experience elsewhere in another country previously...

Motor bike....naturally driving too fast and weaving in and out traffic....flew past me and soon after, we passed him standing on the side of the road with the front frame wheel and all, supported by his right arm and thigh....the rest lay in a trench (newly dug) along the side of the road....He apparent hit the trench, broke off the front wheel (frame), and was standing there stunned as we passed by.

Mate, you know I'm a Fan but ...

How is a witnessed Motorcycle Accident funny ...

I'm just happy that you can report that the rider wasn't seriously injured.

I thought it was funny. A dick head in the weeds is .

The only time it's not quite so funny is when it's you (as in the 1st person) that's the <deleted> in the weeds. Especially when you're driven back to the pits in the recue truck with weeds hanging out the back of your helmet, covered in mud, with 18 pieces of your bike clutched to your chest, and you know that EVERYBODY knows you were stupid to try and pass the girl on the pink GSXR on the outside of a 100klm bend at 120klm.

Don't ask me how I know.

Found this strong magnet bolt, but price about 1,300 Baht

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12mm-MAGNETIC-OIL-DRAIN-PLUG-BOLT-CRUSH-WASHER-for-OIL-PAN-HONDA-CBR500R-250-/200931519398

Yeah that looks like the Bees Knees, but check out some bike accessory shops in Thailand and you're bound to get one cheaper.

And before you install it, get it drilled so you can put some tie-wire through it and lock it in - always feel more comfortable knowing it ain't going to move.

I got in this habit years ago with racing. I'm still phobic and also tie my filter in as well.

No pain, no gain. I hope the PDRC have worked out how to implement a strategy for exit counseling for a couple of million people from the cult of Shinawat. As with any cult following, rebuilding the followers self esteem and life can be difficult and traumatic after coming to terms with having been used by the cult leader for his own personal benefit only. I have to admit some surprise that Thaksin has been so successful in building such a cult following, he can't levitate like Shoko Asahara, can't write pop songs like Charlie Manson and doesn't have the good looks of Jimmy Jones. Either way, I wish PDRC luck trying to deprogram and re-educate the Isaanites.

Thailands future rests in your hands Khun Suthep. Fight the good fight, uniting the country will earn you reverence in the Thai history books.

Does Suthep have any plans for helping the poor of Thailand?. Does he have any policies for proving health care and financial aid to the people of Issan?

The people of Issan dont need re-education. They just need support of a government that cares about them.

I'm not supporting my following conclusion, but perhaps the fact that agriculture contributes a little less than 8.5% of Thailand's GDP may be one of the reasons that the north is largely ignored by all political administrations.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Thailand

I occasionally draw out into an empty road and find myself on the wrong side. My wife seems to find this normal, she is Thai after all..

Biggest tip I ever got from a friend about driving on the "wrong" side of the road (in my case, seated on the left), was to remember to keep your shoulder to the centre line. That takes away the need to translate direction of travel and turning geometry.

Works for left and right hand countries, but as you point out, Thailand is a little different .

As an aside, I note that many Europeans and Americans have a habit of riding their scooters in the right hand lane (closest to the centre), which is decidedly not a good idea in most situations. I know the right hand lane in their country is the slow lane, but you have to reverse your thinking when riding in a drive on the left country.

You will probably get use to it,but why?....Maybe it's more money for the AT,but switching gears in the traffic is no fun...

That could be problem too because i'm living in Pattaya and traffic is notorious here.And i'm probably gonna drive 90% in here.

But i would have no trouble if gear shifter is located on right side(like in eu),so just wondering if left side gear shift is gonna feel natural like right side as the time goes by and i get more adjust to it to the point it will feels perfectly natural..

My recommendation, buy an auto transmission. I've been brought up with a left hand manual gear change. I've driven manual cars in Pattaya and it's the biggest pain in the arse you could ever imagine. Having to change gears is bad enough, the effort required on your left leg is a worry also - hope your knees are in good condition.

It's one more distraction I don't need, so for the OP who seems a little worried about it and is unfamiliar with left hand shifting, it will be an even bigger distraction.

Whoever designed the auto trans had Pattaya in mind when he drew up the blueprints. JMHO.

Kinda like wanking with the other hand, for a while it feels like someone else is doing it but after awhile it all becomes normal again.

It always feels like I'm doing it to someone else. Bit of a worry!

When the Berlin wall was ripped down, it was a real piece of history that changed the world as well as a divided country. Arguably, real benefits emerged for those formerly under communist rule and it took some considerable time for the reunification to gain any momentum.

Thailand is facing it's own version of the Berlin Wall. This is all leading to some really serious <deleted> that will be unprecedented in Thailand's short "democratic" history.

The irony is that even after the <deleted> has hit the fan, the fan has exploded, the aftermath may take years to recover from.........but the individual (or group of individuals) worthy of cleaning up the political mess and corruption HAVE NOT YET BEEN BORN.

Thailand and her people are therefore facing a tremendous amount of grief with 0% possibility of any worthwhile improvement.

Looking forward to 2015 when whatever administration in power at that time is knobbled by the next batch of halfwits.

Changing oil too frequently is harmful to your engine. Oil that has been in your engine for 6,000 klms is less harmful to your engine than new oil. Oil can not perform properly during the first 2-3,000 klms. Therefore frequent changes subject your engine to excessive wear. Modern oils are capable of performing 50% longer than manufacturers recommendations.

Don't assume "black" oil is old or bad.

Changing the filter more often than changing the oil is a better solution for maintaining the life and performance of your engine.

This is especially so in low revving, non performance type engines.

Reading the responses I guess very few of the uptight know it all posters actually read further than the header.

Try it, and then respond.

The "uptight know it alls" will respond identically even after reading the whole article. They're incapable of thinking outside their predetermined biased attitudes and totally incapable of lateral thinking in regard to cultural differences.

They also cannot read between the lines of badly written/translated media releases that frequently simplify the facts using inappropriate English usage and translations .

And anyway, they rarely let logic get in the way of a good rant.

I'm sure most of them are the type of people we'd cross the road to avoid if we knew them.

(I'll steal the first response before somebody posts it: "....and if you cross the road you'll get nailed by a Thai driver.")

Get them to gap the rings and match/mark as Garry said.

And as you're importing, consider getting a spare set of rings. It's hugely embarrassing if you break a ring during assembly or gapping. Or since this is Thailand, comes back from the machine shop sans one or more rings.

There's no way in hell that any sort of wheelchair can navigate the pavement on the eastern side of Beach Road, so why do they want a raised platform to allow a wheelchair to cross the road anyway?

And secondly, one would assume it would be simpler and more cost effective to remove the curb in multiple places along the western side of the road to allow wheelchairs etc to mount the pavement/promenade from the road.

Or am I thinking "too mutt"?

Is it possible they think you and your Chinese wife are possibly from a country slightly north of China?

Personally I have no problems with vendors, markets, stores, department stores. If you give them a friendly smile and a sa-wat-dee krup, they're (virtually) compelled to respond, and that sets you off on the right foot from the start.

Words fail me. If this happened in NZ it would be considered almost a national disaster and there would be a royal commission established to determine causes.

If there were any discrepancies in the drivers log book, hours spent driving versus the legal allowed hours, vehicle maintenance logs or any other causes that could be attributed to the company or its managers, then manslaughter charges would be made.

In Thailand, it's just same <deleted>, different day.

1. Driver's Log-Book ?

2. Hours spent driving <> Legal hours allowed ?

3. Vehicle Maintenance Logs ?

4. Vehicle Safety Records ?

5. Driver's Driver's License ?

Are you diluted, or don't you know how things work in Thailand ? ? ? ?

NONE of the above either exist, are practiced or are adhered-to in Thailand.

It's not that the LAWS aren't here; they are and they are EXCELLENT laws, the only problem is NOBODY ENFORCES THESE LAWS ! ! ! !

Love Thailand, but HATE some of the prevailing conditions here !

(PS: 21 years working/living in Thailand)

You can't read can you. What's more, you have no comprehension of sarcasm or irony. You must have been absent when they were handing it out that day.

Read the post again and then consider what the intention was. And don't come out with your guns blazing saying idiotic trash such as "Are you diluted, or don't you know how things work in Thailand ? ? ? ?".

Twenty one years huh? Hmmm.....priceless.

I wonder why we don't see a picture of his house. I'm sure it's quite a humble abode.

Yes you'll get a Thai style room for 4k or less. Bike rental is circa 2,500-3,000. Based on your post, I'd say you could probably live here on 20k a month or less.

However, I wouldn't call it "living" exactly.

"stole a bag containing 2,000 pounds sterling, their passports and other personal documents."

Having the passports I understand but why do people travel with foreign currency? You'll get a better exchange rate transferring it from the UK bank to your Thai bank than you will for exchanging cash. Am I missing something here?

Because some of us prefer not give our money to banking cartels to profit off.

Too late - the "banking cartel" (read Rothschild family) made their profit the minute they printed the notes you carry around and issued it as debt, and make more profit every day that you have the notes in your pocket as its value deflates.