Categories
GOLF

Developing a swing – Beginner’s guide to Golf

My first set

First swings

(if you haven’t read the previous Starting from Scratch posts, I strongly suggest that you do)

When you first begin developing a swing.  It helps if you know someone who already has a set of clubs that you can borrow at the range.  Fortunately for me I did.  At this point the absolute worst thing that you could do is go out, and buy a random set of clubs.  Chances are that you will select a set that isn’t right for you at all.

While you are at the range, practice swinging with a 7 or 8 Iron.  Whichever feels more comfortable for you.  Why a 7 or 8 Iron instead of something that hits the ball much further you ask?  Because it’s far easier to make contact with shorter length clubs.  Plus the lofts look far more natural to the eye than Wedges.  In my experience the 7 or 8 irons are the best clubs to practice with when developing a swing.

Something I should mention right now.  Any recommendations I make are based on personal experience.  Additionally I further qualify my findings with friends who utilize the same methods.  There are 4 of us who have all taken up golfing within the last 3 years.  The hints, and instructions I pass along to you have worked for all of us.

Your first few times out to the range, you should only be using whichever Iron you selected as your practice Iron.  Keep working on your swing until you are able to make decent contact at least 75% of the time.  Once you feel confident swinging that club.  Make your way over to your local Golf equipment store that has a simulator.  Most of them do these days.  Ask to try a bunch of Irons in the size you selected.  Make sure to inform the Sales Associate that you are new to Golf, and would only like to test Game Improvement Irons.  Now this is key, don’t rush anything!  Take your time, and don’t feel pressured to purchase anything at this time.  I’ve been in simulators for over an hour testing clubs, and the Sales Associate didn’t even bother me.  Most of these places offer commissions on equipment Sales, so it’s in an Associate’s best interest to let you figure out what works for you.  Swing each club many times, and pay close attention to how it feels throughout the swing.  How does it look to you at address?  Does it produce a favourable ball flight?  Don’t worry too much about the distance at this time.  A repeatable flight path, with a consistent launch angle is far more important.  Make note of your top 3 performers, and call it a day.

You have now completed the first step to assembling your first set of clubs.  Actually your first partial set to be exact.  Where your set begins has a lot to do with your budget.  Keep in mind though that spending more in the beginning is usually a mistake.  Truth be told some of the more expensive golf sets won’t improve your game.  In fact they will do the opposite.  I recently watched a brand new Player testing Irons.  When I say brand new, I mean he routinely sliced his 7 Iron with an average carry of 60 yards brand new.  This guy was practically pulling his hair out in frustration trying to hit some shiney new Taylormade P750 tour Irons.  That’s like a first time Driver being given a Lamborghini to drive to work.  It just doesn’t make any sense at all.  Golf is one of the few things in this world where the more expensive product won’t automatically be better.  Choosing the right equipment, and in this case Beginner equipment will make the game far more enjoyable, and easier to learn.

Beginner’s guide to Golf

Categories
GAMING Uncategorized

The Gamer in me GL-3 Rec Room Toronto

First impressions of the Cineplex Toronto Rec Room

Cineplex Rec Room just opened up in Toronto.  They took over the space that used to be the Leon’s Roundhouse Location.  It’s on Bremner across from the Ripley’s aquarium and Skydome.  Yes I still call it the Skydome.  Shit most people I know still do.

When approaching the Rec Room, you can be forgiven for mistaking it as a night club, or strip joint.  The first thing you’ll see is two guys that look like bouncers.  They are fully decked out in the typical tuxedo style garb, waiting to greet you from behind the rope line.  My first thought at 3:20pm on a Friday was am I dressed too casual for this place?

Now I know a little bit about the Cineplex Rec Room.  From my understanding it is just another version of a Dave & Buster’s.  So really their shouldn’t be anything wrong with wearing shorts and a collared T-shirt.  Still for just a moment I thought I might be denied entry.  Thankfully I wasn’t.

Once inside my suspicions were correct.  What I had expected to see was all there.  There were a lot of interesting games.  Many of the titles were familiar to me, but they had quite a few new games as well.  They had a pretty even mix of Video games, and games of chance or skill that earn you “tickets”.  Similar to Dave & Buster’s you need to purchase credits in order to play any of the games.  The more you buy, the better the value.  So my buddy Weber and I just pooled our money and purchased a single reloadable game card.   They have taken full advantage of the newest technology.  Instead of receiving a magnetic strip swipe card.  You are instead provided with a small tap card.  Not only does it transfer credits to play games.  It also keeps track of the number of tickets you win.  I’m torn between loving the simplicity of it, and missing the satisfaction of watching machines slowly spit out ticket after ticket when you win big.  Another point of concern with the tap card is it’s ability to pay for a game without you even realizing it.  Depending on your height, if you keep the tap card in your pocket and lean against a machine.  You could accidentally pay for a game.  I witnessed the same guy do it twice while watching his friend play one game, as he leaned against another.  Of course I helped out the best way possible.  In order to keep those credits from going to waste.  I stepped up and played each game so that he wouldn’t be disturbed, and could continue watching his friend play.  You’re welcome.

The main area has a long bar which serves an indoor lounge, as well as an outdoor patio.  Having that outdoor space is a huge bonus in my book.

Rec Room bar

There are two restaurants, one fast food casual, and one for dining in.  The first thing that really caught my eye when I walked in was a 6ft Pac-Man machine that two players can actually play simultaneously!

Playing together to clear each level actually required a fair amount of teamwork.  Shouting orders to one another to keep ourselves alive, and splitting the level into his section and mine was absolutely key to winning.

Giant Pac-Man

There are quite a few competitive games at the Rec Room.  The most popular of which was Super Mario kart.  It was so popular in fact that we didn’t actually get an opportunity to play it.  This was the first issue I had with Rec Room.  In comparison to a Dave & Buster’s, the Games area is much smaller.  It won’t take too many people before it’s packed.  Now it was opening week so you would expect a slightly larger crowd.  Still 4:00pm on a Friday shouldn’t have you waiting to play every popular game.

We decided to try our luck at a few of the ticket games while waiting for some of the more popular games to clear.  Something I noticed right away is the large number of Progressive jackpot games.  The highest of which was over 3000 tickets!  The temptation to try and hit the jackpot was very high.  With all those tickets you can have a swag buying spree in the swag shop right after.  I couldn’t help myself so I gave it a few tries.  On my third attempt, wouldn’t you know it, I timed that game absolutely perfect.  Well almost perfect, and walked away with squat.  Whoever wins Zombie arm owes me 24 credits.

One of the attractions I was most interested in was their virtual reality experience The Void.  The opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a Ghostbuster zapping ghosts is just too good to pass up.  Well unfortunately I did.  First of all it isn’t easy to find when you first enter.  Weber and I got so caught up with downing beers, and playing the newest version of Cruisin U.S.A. that by the time we were done.  The line up at The Void was just too long for us to wait.

Now would I recommend that you visit the Rec Room and experience it for yourself?  Definitely.  I’ll be back soon and next time the first thing I’ll do is try out The Void.  If you plan on going I would suggest picking an off peak time, or planning on staying for quite a while.  Bring a few friends along, and if you find a game you like.  Stick with it until you’ve had your fill.  You might not get back on it again if you leave.

Categories
FANTASY

Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-2

Is it all about winning?

When you think about Fantasy Sports generally one of two things come to mind.  You are either looking forward to winning your league championship, or looking forward to winning some cold hard cash.

Gambling has always had it’s place in Fantasy Sports.   At it’s heart playing Fantasy Sports is gambling.  Each player you pick needs to not only play well, but also avoid injury, and be given ample opportunity to succeed.

I absolutely love Fantasy Football.  When drafting a team it isn’t about just picking the best statistical player.  What you are really attempting to do is draft Players who will exceed their previous couple of years performance.  In the case of rookies you are speculating on their immediate impact.  That’s what it takes to win your league.  Analyzing each Player’s peak potential, and then selecting the right combination of players that actually come close to reaching, or better yet exceeding it.  I’ve been doing exactly that quite successfully for years.

Fantasy Golf is still quite new to me.  I haven’t played a seasonal format yet but will in 2018.  Currently I just play individual PGA tour events.  I factor in each Player’s previous performance at the course, their recent form, the overall strength of the field, and key statistical areas depending on the course layout.  When choosing a roster of Golfers based on salary cap, such as on Draft Kings.  I usually avoid the highest value players. Instead I assemble a core group of second, and third tier players I expect will make the cut.  The only exception to this strategy is events with a particularly weak field.  In that case I’ll invest in one of the favourites.  I’ve had minimal success so far, but learning while playing has definitely been fun.  If you’ve had some success playing Fantasy Golf?  I’d like to hear about it, and what deciding factor led to your selections.

It’s still a couple of months before I begin drafting my Fantasy Football teams.  In the meantime I’ll be discussing Fantasy Golf each week.  It’s actually Sunday of the U.S. Open as I’m writing this.  My balanced roster is performing quite well.  I have Matt Kuchar, Tommy Fleetwood, Brendan Steele, Martin Laird, and Satoshi Kodaira still playing.  D.J., Rory, and Day all missing the cut was probably terrible for the networks, but it probably guaranteed me a win in my pool.  Quite a few of my friends asked me who I thought had the best chance of winning the Open.  I told them either D.J., or Sergio Garcia.  Day hasn’t truly been in top form this year, and I didn’t think Rory was fully recovered from injury.  I still expected all of them to make the cut though.  Well all of them except Day.  Just goes to show you how unpredictable Golf can be.

So how about we try to develop a system that actually does predict Golf?

Fantasy Sports is all about winning after all!

Categories
GAMING

The Gamer in me GL-2 Console Video games

Is it just me, or has the quality of video games gotten worse as the capability of consoles has gotten better?

I’ve owned a lot of systems over the years, and would qualify as an early adopter of my favourites.  I waited in line on release day for Playstation 2, Playstation 3,  XBOX 360, and Playstation 4.  The anticipation of what’s capable with a more powerful system along with the release title hype that goes with it gets me amped.  More often than not though I’m left sorely disappointed.  PS4 was one of my greatest letdowns.  For a year leading up to it’s release I absorbed as much information as I could like a sponge.  I was especially interested in the launch title The Division by Ubisoft.  I figured that game alone would make waiting in line to purchase it on opening day worthwhile.  The PS4 release date was November 15, 2013.  The Division got pushed back due to development issues, and was eventually released on March 7, 2016.  The harsh part was that the delay wasn’t advertised, and then to make matters worse it kept getting pushed back for years.  Was it even a good game when it finally did launch?  In my opinion it was.  It’s one of my favourite games on the PS4 to play cooperatively online.  Actually the two games I planned on purchasing on PS4 release day we’re both pushed back.  I settled for a couple others that are so forgettable they aren’t worthy of a mention.  Month after month I’d buy new games.  Just hoping that there would be something that begins to rival my favourite PS3, and XBOX 360 games.  There wasn’t.  At least not until September 30, 2014 when Warner Bros Interactive released Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.  Till this day it remains as one of my favourite games.

I’ve seen it on the PS3, and the difference is significant.  I’ve never actually completed the game.  If you hadn’t noticed by now, I have a lot of hobbies.  I’ve started and restarted Shadow of Mordor 3 times.  Only to be interrupted by something else before I complete it.  I will finish it though.  Especially now that the sequel has been announced.

My point of all this is, whether I will wait in line for the next generation of consoles when they ultimately release.  To be honest, I seriously doubt it.  No matter how much hype, incentives, or new technology goes into them.  The reality is that next generation consoles require on average a year of software development before you actually begin to realize their potential.  Even then you need to be careful about which titles you choose to invest in because even the larger developers release a fair amount of crap. Game developers will sometimes tease  5 or 6 new titles to be released in the following year.  Be very wary of that.  No matter how amazing their teaser trailer might look.  Chances are extremely slim that they will be able to release 5 Marquee titles.  Realistically they would be lucky to release 2 great games.

I used to play absolutely everything that showed even the slightest promise.  At one point I operated my own store that held PS3, and XBOX 360 tournaments.  Those days are no longer.  The prices have gone up, while the average length of games have gone down.  Most Developers used to release only one or two games a year.  Now it’s unusual for a major Game Developer to release less than one per season.  Increased competition from Application based cellphone games has meant that maintaining a reasonably active online presence for some games is difficult.

Has this soured my love for video games?  Maybe just a little.  Not enough to keep me from being excited about finally beating Shadow of Mordor.  I remember when laserdisc games first appeared in Video Game Arcades.  Dragon’s Lair was so unlike anything before it.  I was one of those guys that people would stop whatever they were doing to watch me play it.  I was one of the first guys at my local Arcade that memorized the moves required to beat it.  So many of today’s games borrow from that original fairytale style of game.  Some day there will be another Game Developer that takes games another giant leap forward.  I’ll definitely be ready to play it.

I just won’t be first in line.

Categories
FISHING

The Right Angle RA-2 Guelph Lake fishing

Would I consider myself a professional Angler?

 HELL NO!

 I don’t enter tournaments, own a boat, or have ever purchased high end equipment.  I would consider myself an enthusiast.  My wife loves fishing almost as much as I do.  She never fished as a kid growing up so she’s still learning.  Every catch she makes is full of excitement for her.  We live in midtown Toronto so we are always looking for decent shore fishing spots in, and around the city.  We have found a few.  I’ll share them with you, along with what we caught in this blog.  Over the summer we take a few day trips out of the city to fish as well.  This year we are adding  Peterborough, Sandbanks provincial Park, the Bay of Quinte, and Minden to our list of places to fish.

Our first drive out of the city this year was up to Guelph Lake.  The Guelph Lake Park and Recreation area doesn’t open until 8:00am so we began our day at a great little spot I know of.  It’s only about 5 minutes from the Guelph Conservation area entrance.

The road 29 marker at the center of the picture is the spot.  The East side of the bridge is the better location but both sides will yield results.  Having a small dingy to get further away from the road is a real advantage for landing some really good sized Bass.  My wife and I just casted spinners and spoons for a couple hours from shore.  There are a lot of snags so precise casting is necessary from the East side.  If you can’t control your casts yet, then there are far more open areas on the West side of the bridge.   We spotted a few decent sized Bass breaking the surface about 30 feet further in from where we were fishing.  I hooked a Bass that immediately got under a downed tree and shook loose.  The time we spent there wasn’t for naught though because my wife landed a Smallmouth Bass.  Just a little guy,  but it was her first Smallmouth so she was thrilled.  We packed up, and headed over to the Guelph Lake Conservation area shortly after that.  It did not disappoint.  There’s a small dock a little ways in toward the island access in the Guelph Lake Conservation area.  We parked there, walked over to the dock and began casting spinners.  My third cast in I hooked a decent sized Largemouth Bass to start my day.  It’s the one pictured at the top of the Post.  My wife had a solid strike just a few minutes later but wasn’t able to set the hook quickly enough, and it got away.  It was about another hour before I landed another similarly sized Largemouth.  Already a good day by our standards.  The real celebration would happen another couple hours later.  Around 1:00pm I had worked my way a little further along the shoreline and found an access point where I could comfortably cast alongside​ the shoreline.  Maybe 25 casts later I got a heavy strike and set the hook well. Fish On!  I’m using an Ugly Stik spinning rod with 8lb test monofilament, and a size 3 Mepps spinner.  By the time I brought the fish within eyesight after working it out of some branches and reeds I realized that it wasn’t another Largemouth Bass. It was a Pike.  Not the largest Pike, or anything worth bragging about, but thrilling all the same.  My whole reason for coming out to Guelph Lake was to hopefully land a Pike.  I didn’t land a single Pike last year.  Not even a strike actually.  I’ve caught Pike in this area before, and there was a lot of talk of decent sized Pike being landed in Guelph Lake recently.  My day was a total success.  The wife was thrilled because she had never seen one caught before.  There’s something about the sleek lines of a Pike that just makes you think it’s a fast capable fighter.  Needless to say that my wife is now hell-bent on landing one herself.  We fished for another couple hours but the Pike was our final catch at Guelph Lake.

We took the 124 to Erin where our favourite little Pizza place is.  Whenever we are anywhere near Erin we will go a little out of our way to buy a Venezia Pizza.  Their signature pizzas are excellent.  There are a lot of great pizza places in Toronto.  What makes Venezia Pizza that much better is the crust.  Thin but not too thin.  Crisp without being brittle.  The taste actually adds that little extra zip whereas most pizza crust is just dull.  We took it to go, and made our way to Belfountain to try our luck at my absolute favourite fishing spot as a kid.

Favourite childhood fishing spot

At the corner of Shaws Creek and River roads there is an access that takes you down to the credit River.  I have never left this spot without landing a fish.  Usually a great spot for Brook Trout, we spotted a school making it’s way upstream.  We were casting Yellow spotted  Panther Martins upstream into the current, and slow retrieving them.  Basically we were allowing the current to carry the lures past the school, and just reeling them fast enough to keep them off the bottom.  Took about 30 minutes of casting but we both landed what I originally assumed was a couple good sized Brook Trout.  It wasn’t until after I posted a picture to the Fishbrain app that I was informed that they were actually Atlantic Salmon.  I was happy when I thought they were Trout.  Realizing that they were actually Atlantic Salmon made it that much better.  I’ve never fished for Salmon.  I was planning on fishing for Salmon later this year. There’s an area on the Don River that very few people fish that they’ve been spotted the last few years.

If you are serious about fishing, and are looking for places to fish.  I would strongly suggest that you download the Fishbrain app.  The community is very active, and like me aren’t afraid to share great fishing spots.

Categories
GOLF

Casual or Obsessive – Beginner’s guide to Golf

Is Golf even for you?

(if you haven’t read the previous Starting from Scratch posts, I strongly suggest that you do)

As much as how so many of us love it.  Golf just isn’t for everyone.  It requires time, money, patience, and practice.  Plenty and plenty of practice.  How much practice actually depends on which type of golfer you intend to be.

There are three types of Golfers.  The first is the Casual golfer.  Someone who occasionally goes out to the range with friends, and attempts to hit their Driver a little bit further than last time.  They play a round of golf with friends, or attend the company golf tournament just a few times a year.  They could really care less about their score, and as a result have no clue what their handicap is.  Every round begins in eager anticipation of the 19th hole.  If that adequately describes you then lucky you.  I wish that was me to be honest.  It would make things so much easier.  To maintain that level of readiness doesn’t require a lot of practice.  Of course a few trips to the range, and maybe a lesson or two until you’ve developed a basic swing is necessary in the beginning.  After that though just one or two range sessions per month is all that’s required.

The second type of golfer is the serious golfer.  The amount of dedication required to maintain this level of readiness is significantly increased.  Now your score actually matters, and obviously that iincludes your handicap.  You value consistency over distance.  While the casual golfer probably loves their Driver most.  The serious golfer is most likely enamoured with their Putter or Wedges.  It isn’t enough to be good.  You strive to become better.  To actually accomplish your goals you will need to practice 3 or 4 times a month, and play at least once each month.  You will probably need a group of like minded friends.  Together you’re able to judge each other’s progress.  When I started playing golf I thought that this was the type of player I would be.

 I was totally mistaken!

The third type of golfer is the competitive golfer.  Maybe obsessive golfer would be a more appropriate name.  Took me about nine months before I realized that I was one.  To be fair I’m obsessive about most things, but life has taught me to set realistic goals.  I got into golf with the goal of hitting the ball relatively straight so that eventually I would be able to play bogey golf.  In my estimation an 18 handicap would qualify me as a serious golfer.  Well, my current golf routine includes 1 range session per week, 1 round of golf per week, at least 100 putts per week on my practice mat, 1 hour of chipping and putting practice at a course facility, and I’ve added a stretching routine designed to increase my body rotation.  I’d probably do more except my time management, and physical limitations prevent me from doing so.  I’ve been maintaining this practice routine for 4 months now.  Before that the Canadian weather prevented me from getting out on a course.  I did get in as much practice as I could on simulators though.

Last season was my first full season playing golf.  I began the season practicing 2 or 3 times a month with the odd round thrown in.  I ended the season practicing every week.  Golf has a way of doing that.  It tends to increase your interest over time.  So be sure to consider that when you decide if golf is for you.

That’s some serious ball abuse!

Beginner’s guide to Golf

Categories
FANTASY

Sports Fanatics play Fantasy SF-1

It started in high school.

A friend of mine organized a Pick the weekly winners league for NFL football.  He’d print out a list of all the week’s games, and make a copy for each person playing.  It cost $10 to play each week.  You picked whoever you thought would win each game, and as a tie breaker you predicted what the Monday night game score would be.  There was enough of us playing that if you won just once during the season. Then you were covered for the whole season and then some.  I played for three years in his League and my worst Season I won twice.  High school ended and I really missed that league.  I was able to start a few leagues of my own at different places I worked but never had enough players to make it worthwhile.

Then organized Fantasy Sports came and I was hooked.  The NFL weekly structure is King when it comes to Fantasy.  Every other Sport is seriously hindered by their schedules.  As an addicted Golfer I play Fantasy Golf as well.  Although It doesn’t lend itself well to seasonal leagues. It is great for weekly one off tournaments though.  Thankfully Golf only has a one month off season so there will be plenty to discuss year round.  During football season though be ready to hear my opinion on absolutely everything.  I’ve been running a Keeper league on NFL.com for quite a few years now, and it’s as competitive as any league I’ve ever played in including Champions leagues.  I plan on running a second league specifically for Blog subscribers so if you think you know Fantasy football.  I challenge you to step up.  Sign up as a VIP subscriber on my Home page entering Fantasy in the subject line.  Then message me through my Contact us page with FF2017 in the subject line, and tell me why you should be selected to compete in the Fantasy football Cobelife league.  The League will be Free to enter, but there will be prizes.

If you have a passion for Fantasy football or Golf then you are going to love the articles, and open debates I’ll have on Cobe Life.  I’m also an avid Soccer fan but will limit my articles to World Cup, or Euro Cup events.

Categories
GAMING

The Gamer in me GL-1

First of all I’m competitive at anything I do.  Whether it’s sports, trivia, or Rock-Paper-Scissors, I play to win.  My interest in Gaming began with “friendly” card games with my family.  I quickly became dominant at Crazy Eights, Hearts, and Euchre.  I started entering Euchre tournaments when I was 16.  As soon as I was legal to gamble I studied Poker, and Blackjack.  Friday night Dealer’s choice Poker games became a pretty lucrative sideline for me.  I taught myself to count cards in Blackjack, and studied shuffle tracking.  I had a lot of fun at casinos as a player before switching sides, and getting my Dealer’s license.  I dealt Blackjack for a couple of Dealers placement companies.  Then spent my summers dealing at the CNE Casino in Toronto, Ontario.

It was another card game that had the greatest affect on my Competitive spirit though.  Magic the Gathering was the perfect mix of Cards, Skill, and Gamesmanship.  It combines card drawing probability, with complex mathematics similar to Chess (another game I enjoy), and the ability to bluff or deceive from Poker.  As an additional bonus the individual cards were Collectible so they had value.  I made enough money buying & selling, trading, and winning tournaments to open my first Gaming store with a friend of mine.  Other Collectible Card Games followed, but it wasn’t until the release of VS System by Upperdeck that the perfect design in my opinion had been reached.  Every other game including Magic the Gathering had a significant enough luck component that could ultimately decide whether you won or lost.  VS System was the first Collectible Card Game to reduce the luck component to such an insignificant level that winning or losing was entirely in your hands.  Needless to say I studied that game and ran with it.

Unfortunately Upperdeck ran into some licensing and legal issues with the game and it was abandoned.  I still miss my time playing that game competitively.  I still play Magic the Gathering, although not nearly as much as I used to.  It’s difficult to go back to something that you know doesn’t hold the same sway over you as it used to.  It’s like getting back together with an Ex, after the person you really wanted to be with dumped you and moved to a foreign country.  Every now and then I’ll come across a new card or two that allows me to break the game ever so slightly.  I’ll put together a deck, and enter a tournament.  I’ll finish in the top 8 and by the next day the secret is out.  In my opinion Internet duplication or “netdecking” if you prefer has ruined the game.  I’ll get into that with you another day.

For now though, just know that I will be discussing more than Card Games.  I’ve owned every generation of Playstation.  I’m very particular about which games I buy these days having been burned by some very lacklustre titles in the past.  Boardgames are another Hobby of mine, and I’ll discuss some of those as well.  Bottom line is, if you are a fan of gaming I’m sure there will be something for you.

Categories
FISHING

The Right Angle RA-1 Shore fishing

My passion for fishing began as a child.  I grew up in the Caledon hills.  An area Northwest of Toronto.  Surrounded by rivers, and ponds of all sizes a short walk away.  The thrill of reeling in a fish was addictive.  Like most kids I started out with a simple rod and reel, a worm, and a hook.  It wasn’t long before I graduated to spinners, a better rod and reel, and my ability to cast to specific points on a river or pond was something to brag about.

I began fishing from shore, and it’s still my favourite way.  I have fished from a boat in Freshwater Lakes, and Deep Seas.  Still nothing compares to searching for some remote River or Lake access, and working your way along the bank until you locate a potentially great spot.  Sure I’ve caught some of my largest fish from a boat.  I’d rather hook a 3 pound Bass from shore, than a 5 pound Bass from a boat.  Reeling in a decent game fish from shore has an added sense of satisfaction.  You can’t properly fish more than 100 feet of shoreline in one day in most cases when shore fishing.  You could easily fish 5 times that in the same time period by boat.  Knowing that going in makes you appreciate each catch that much more.

Quite a few years passed where life just got in the way of Fishing.  Luckily for me the woman I would eventually marry picked up a rod for the first time at my parents place.  I tied on an old Panther Martin and showed her how to properly cast. A few casts later in the pond behind my parents house, and she hooked a little Brook Trout.  That’s all it took for my fishing drought to end.  Not only do I get to enjoy one of my favourite pastimes, but my wife complains if we don’t get out and go fishing often.  I can feel the Collective wave of jealousy that just hit me.

In this Blog I will share some of our stories, great fishing spots, product reviews, and my advice to enjoying fishing on a budget.  I am a Blogger after all.  Expendable income is practically an oxymoron to me.

Categories
GOLF

My Golf story Starting from Scratch SS-1

So it begins

The ongoing quest to becoming a better Golfer.  Follow my journey from total hack to hopefully one day becoming a Scratch Golfer.  Learn from the mistakes I make, and pick up a few helpful hints along the way.  Read product reviews from a beginner’s perspective, and get a better understanding if those products can actually benefit you.  Explore courses that aren’t designed to give professionals a challenge, but are actually fun to play for Beginners like you and I.

First of all a little tidbit about me.  I am a true fan of anything I choose to pursue.  That is to say that I am fanatical about it.  My friends usually consider me the foremost authority on any subject I take interest in.  Whenever I get into something new I research the subject obsessively.  I scour the internet, books, magazines, videos, and speak with anyone I can that’s considered educated on the subject.  In most cases a few months of research is enough time for me to gain a sufficient amount of wisdom on the subject.

Not so with Golf.

 After reading a ridiculous number of reviews. Watching an endless number of videos.  Subscribing to the Golf channel.  Then visiting every store within a 50 mile radius that has even the slightest connection to Golf.  I finally realized something. Product reviews, swing instruction, and even general interest stories about Golf target everyone except true Beginners.  To make matters worse, I’m a lefty.  99% of the videos online like to pretend that lefties don’t exist.  Well we do damn it.  Actually two of the guys I play with most are Lefties as well.  Needless to say that we will be posting some videos of our own.

It’s the lack of Beginner perspective that ultimately motivated me to begin this Blog.  Any instruction I provide will be given in the most simple of terms.  Product reviews will be based on their  usefulness to a Beginner.  Plus I’ll share some of my more hilarious stories along the way.