How To Approach Links Golf [BAYLANDS GOLF LINKS]

[@lindsaynewell6319]

As an 11 handicap I’ve never enjoyed struggling to break 90 more than I did playing with Adam and Jon. It was just a really enjoyable afternoon. Despite the eagle on 16, I think Adam’s putt on 15 was the shot of the day - a great read and perfectly executed. Adam’s excellence on the greens provided 6 of the 9 shot difference in our scores on the day.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Lindsay. Great company and a great day. Hope to play with you again soon!

[@johnathandeo8160]

Adam’s putting and short game are no joke (which I was expecting).I gotta say, what surprised me was his driver which was clicking all day. He had no costly misses off the tee and a couple shots that easily went 300 yards. As a struggling 15.9, it was a pleasure getting my “steps in” with y’all. I sure didn’t see much of you both from tee to green. Don’t believe the modesty everyone. Adam’s a baller, 79 in those conditions is basically scratch on a calm day. Great round with a couple kind souls who happen to also be great golfers. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon…

[@Striker_Golf]

Truly a pro!

[@owenklein5993]

Not a scratch golfer. Not a scratch actor. All love nonetheless Adam. Always a fan.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lollll. If I practice hard maybe I can be like the Shamwow guy.

[@Bikerz_rule]

congrats on the eagle! worth a like just for that

[@j.mallay]

Congrats on the eagle Adam. My first round in 6 months is today. Can't wait to get the season going.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Good luck out there!!

[@propjoe1060]

Congrats on the eagle, dude! Visit Ireland sometime and I'll show you some nice links courses :D

[@snomaim]

This round really illustrates your point about the importance of staying calm after a bad shot or shots. You had a difficult front nine, but stayed calm and had a fantastic back nine including perhaps the best shot of your life.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks so much, John.

[@fruityone4233]

That putt on 15 was the highlight for me. Proper worldie. Great looking course too

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks. Always fun to activate the brain on a links course!

[@Striker_Golf]

Nice round - enjoy watching the hits and following your whole round with the ball lines.

[@zomamba]

Most relatable golf tuber out there. If I can actually hit the ball then I can almost pull off a single handicap game, but some rounds I cant, so I play like Im a 30.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Lorenzo. I have days that I look like a 30hc, too.

[@zomamba]

@@NotAScratchGolfer Yeah, I have gotten a lot more inconsistent recently. Just got to see the right people and have the right approach. Still start of the season so we'll have plenty of time to dial in.

[@noradinc]

I love when you play courses I know... I play here all the time and the yardage is super deceiving. There's so much wind that it plays much harder, especially holes 8/10/11/17 and the greens are so tricky that you have to be in the right spots or you are in for a long day. It always surprises me how much a camera flattens out terrain, like that chip on #4 from short is SO hard with it downwind and everything running away from you but it's not super obvious on the screen. Even a full swing Phil-flop is going 10 feet past there. Another course like baylands here in the bay is Corica south in Alameda, you should have a go at that one too! Similar links feel, wind can get up, great and tricky greens.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Yeah, the camera absolutely has a way of flattening everything. I actually played a round at Corica South and published it on the channel a few months back :)

[@steveschwab922]

Driver swing is looking great Adam! You hit it well when the club points to the right of your target on top, and you hit toward the same right target on the bottom.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

*rewatches video to see this* Thanks, Steve!

[@austinsmith9113]

Just played Baylands for the first time a few weeks ago, I both love and hate the wind but it definitely makes for an extra strategic round of golf. Great round!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

I loved it! Fabulous layout and great conditions!

[@Alex-nd4ql]

Love your videos man, they have really helped me take the ego out of my game. You show us a different approach to this game. I just took my driver out of my bag after my round yesterday. I didn't take it out once and I scored a 96 on a par 72, I'm a 26 handicap. (just started golfing last spring). I only use 5 wood off the tee because its accurate and goes 180-200 yards consistently.

[@BsSetUp]

The ad was the highlight of the vid. Outstanding.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Haha thanks Shane.

[@RichardPatrick84]

Hey Adam, been following for a while and got a membership this season for the first time in 20 years. First two rounds were 81 and 81. Playing your way, using a consistent club off the tee, accurate with irons and tidy inside 100. I see some 70s in my future. Thanks for the inspiration, education and especially talking game management. Much love from Halifax, Canada 🇨🇦

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love this, and congrats on getting back into the game! Would love to play out your way one day.

[@benhlady1162]

Impressive for your first time around this track, especially with the wind up. Nice eagle

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Ben! My playing partners had both played there before so it was useful to have some course knowledge.

[@jackgucci1]

Adams swing is extremely underrated. He dogs it himself. But watch any of his drives at .25 speed - he has an extremely shallow angle of attack. IMO, when you can come into impact from a shallow angle, even your mishits still have a decent chance of finding the fairway, which Adam does time after time. FIRs and GIRs, baby. Love the content bro hope to play a round with you one day.

[@ericnielsen6700]

man I love these videos so much. Currently a 6 handicap just trying to win some high school tournaments, but a few bad holes or a double completely derails a round. This is a really good reminder that even if I'm +7 thru 10 I can still fire an 80.

[@garyhovey9305]

I play Baylands 3x per month….30 mph winds kick your butt and leave you feeling exhausted!!! Your sound control today was superior, could not feel the effects of the wind….congratulations! I think your true skill is cinematography

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Haha thanks, Gary. I figured out how to adjust some settings on my wireless mic and I was really impressed with the resulting audio quality. Like you said, those winds kick your ass and trust me when I say it was a hurricane out there.

[@coledeviney]

Hey Adam, I just wanted to thank you for learning smart golf. I finally broke 90 at my home course, Settindown Creek, even with a 47 on the back. All of the tips throughout the videos have helped my golf game and I have spread them around as well.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love this. It's really cool to hear that I can play any part in helping people achieve PBs on the golf course. #GolfNotGolfSwing

[@bobby4putts991]

I just gotta say your channel alone has given me the courage to record some golf rounds this summer! I’m currently striving to break 85!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Love it! Where are you hoping to shave strokes?

[@bobby4putts991]

@@NotAScratchGolfer chipping and putting!!! I just found a local par 3 course so I’m hoping to hit that at least 1 time a week on top of my weekly lessons. My current handicap is 28? I’ve only broken 100 3 times and they are all this year! Just posted a personal best on Friday at Liberty Lake, WA. Shot a 96. (24 over par)

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

@@bobby4putts991 Awesome! I maintain that the vast majority of golfers can shave strokes around the greens more easily than anywhere else.

[@bobby4putts991]

@@NotAScratchGolfer you have also taught me the value of keeping the ball in play. I’ve always used driver on every par 4/5 no matter what. Now I’m actually being smart and taking the safe shot off the tee vs the hero! Really appreciate what you are doing man!

[@jameslovering9158]

Must be a joy to have a short game like you have!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

When it's working, anyway!

[@bradleymcdaniel7915]

Congratulations on the Eagle!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Danke!

[@johnnybgood7442]

The worst part of true links golf is having to play the wind whilst putting. Such a mind game

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Good point. Nothing's worse than the wind taking you out of your routine, and when it happens on the greens it can be disastrous. I'm motivated to keep myself in it when I've got a video to make :p

[@frankmartin1638]

Congrats on the eagle !!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Frank!

[@mitch437]

Congrats on all your new sponsors Adam, happy for you mate. Love from Australia 🇦🇺

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Mitch!

[@toddbookout3845]

Great eagle!!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@Real28]

I'm ok with some ego, so long as you can fully commit. Ego is a problem when it puts you into a spot where you lack commitment. Love the content!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Fair, and thanks for the kind words :)

[@Real28]

@@NotAScratchGolfer love you and Playa. I wish back in HS I had known to play intelligent golf, using the odds to my favor. Instead of a 3-4 handicap, I probably could have been a 0. But I played loose and fast. Now some 20 years removed from HS, I'm trying to get back to low single digits through less mistakes and smarter golf. I think I'm a year or two and studying people like you and Matt, I can get there.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

@@Real28 Love it, and stay in touch as your cap drops!!

[@thejam70]

3 ovens? Not a typical kitchen either! Lol

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Haha I think one of those is a microwave? Not my kitchen :p

[@boolin5162]

The camera doesn’t do the speed of the wind justice, by the afternoon it is almost always howling out there. That tee shot on 16 was amazing as well, nice round!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks so much. Indeed, the wind was relentless.

[@pavsoccer10]

Adam- you continue to putt well and new driver is paying dividends- would suggest you bag those hybrid clubs from the fairway as you hit your regular irons way better and consistently

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Matthew! My longest iron (6-iron) only carries ~150, so I really need some hybrids in the bag on most courses. In my old set, they were much more reliable than my irons. Still trying to put it together with these new ones. I'm sure it'll happen in time :)

[@dominikaltheimer9992]

Congrats on the eagle!! Loving your content, really helped my rethink my approach to scoring!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Dominik. Which takeaways have been most helpful for you?

[@dominikaltheimer9992]

@@NotAScratchGolfer I guess I always assumed that good scores would just happen as my swing improves. It seems more like this is a constant grind and has less to do with the swing and more with a mindset. I was always waiting for my swing to get better instead of focusing on getting the ball in the hole. Also, your videos helped me readjust my expectations. I used to get frustrated whenever I didn’t hit a perfect shot when in fact this is to be expected of me being an amateur. Today I refocused on getting the ball in the hole after a disastrous front nine and shot a 41 on the back which for me is really good.

[@josephgray4659]

Love to have you as a guest at Oakwood if you're ever in the Kansas City area. Been enjoying your channel.

[@showtime207]

Best golf channel on KZbin

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks so much

[@ZaxDrumsandGolf]

Awesome eagle and drive!! And great round Adam!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks as always!

[@MattHDGamer]

Played Royal Birkdale the other day, can confirm links is the hardest type of course 😂 it’s brilliantly punishing and you have to really think about every shot

[@swiper1131]

I liked the original title of the video. I told my wife "adam should have posted this yesterday...." I shot a 107 on a links course today LOL

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lol! Where did you lose strokes?

[@swiper1131]

@@NotAScratchGolfer 100% putting. I 3 putt 8 times 😐

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

@@swiper1131 The good news is that those are the easiest 8 strokes you'll ever shave off your game!

[@HillbillyJedi88]

Great round Adam! And congrats on the first EAGLE on the channel! Still looking for one of those myself. Hope you're well and best of luck around the course.

[@jamesmogford452]

Great content Adam. Enjoy watching your progress. Keep it up

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, James.

[@Carreidas]

The hello fresh commercial was funny. Thanks

[@tk8989]

New driver or is that reminders taped to the top of it? 😁

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lollllll. New driver. I'll have a new WITB soon!

[@Brandon_Balentine]

@7:07 Stop...... Go..... haha

[@JouvaMoufette]

"we'll see what happens" - Not A Scratch Golfer almost getting a hole in one, 2022

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

I hear the probability of recording an ace is 50/50: either it happens or it doesn't.

[@nathanielparsons1342]

Awesome Eagle! Terrible acting! Loved the episode Adam. Keep up the amazing content

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Haha thanks Nathaniel.

[@yurto831]

Can you do a video of you playing at Coyote Creek Golf Club? The tournament side was a Jack Nicklaus designed course and is super windy towards the evening.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks for this recommendation! I'm in the Bay Area now and will see if I can get to Coyote Creek while I'm here!

[@roejye06]

It's funny, I'm also working on kind of the same thing with my driver. I got a sim max d last year and had a bit of a 2 way miss. I didn't mind it because the misses were rarely unplayable but it's a minor nuisance. My first round this year was in heavy wind like this and it allowed me to try some grip adjustments to try different shot shapes. I've been working on those adjustments to try and hit a slight fade. It's nice because I know I can make some adjustments to hit a draw, but also to just have a stock shot off the tee to try and plan around.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

For sure! Having a "one way miss" is really helpful. I'm hoping that having a fade-biased miss (instead of a draw-biased one) will be helpful for me!

[@BmountainSon]

Best golf vlogger on KZbin hands down!

[@Golfingwithvince]

what an eagle!! congrats man

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks, Vince!

[@TheMark311069]

You need to come over to the uk and play some true links courses.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Would absolutely love to! If things go well this year I'd love to make a trip to the UK in the Summer of '23.

[@J_pearce01]

You’re a stud bro. I just started golfing like six months ago. It’s hard as shit lol

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lol and no matter how much you progress, the adage "golf is hard" holds.

[@hungryarch7319]

Greens are like putting on Venus

[@jdostergolfvlogs5281]

Just curious how long ago this was filmed and how the new clubs are treating you currently if it has been a little bit. Great vid as usual!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Filmed a couple of days ago. Have played 3 or 4 rounds with the new sticks. Getting there!

[@ddogg14]

Hey Adam, really well managed round and congrats on the eagle! One question for you: What's your philosophy on bump-and-run shots with 8i and 9i? For me, conditions like these would've called for a lot more 8i and a lot less SW and LW. Tight lies, lots of short grass to work with, really disruptive wind, etc. Short game is all about feel and personal preference so no judgment, just wondering what leads you to default to wedges on all chips and pitches?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Hey Davis! I don't know if I have a coherent philosophy, per se. For the last several months I was suffering from some yips with my wedges and hit more irons (and putters) in those spots than I typically would. On links layouts I also typically default to keeping the ball on the ground for as much time as possible, like you said. With that said, I've found some good feels with my new wedges (nipping them really cleanly and able to put lots of check on them when necessary) and have been hitting them a lot - trying to enjoy the feels while they last! During this round, a ton of situations called for spin due to pin positions, so I hit quite a few wedges.

[@ddogg14]

@@NotAScratchGolfer I gotcha, cool! You definitely seem to be striking those new wedges well, got some great spin and accuracy out of them in this round

[@erickjudge6129]

The big bird has landed 🦅🦅🦅

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

The thumbnail was missing this image lol

[@mrkennam]

Hi. I always watch your golf videos. Honestly, one thing distracts me whenever viewing you play, that is the shallowness of your swing plane. It's so close to horizontal I can't see anything else. Forgive me if that offends. Great vid though.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

It bothers me too, lol. Thanks for the kind words :)

[@danpckim]

Great vid as always Adam. PXG switch? Did I miss a what’s in the bag video??

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks! Yes, I'm now playing 12 PXG sticks (still carry a Vokey GW and my trusty putter). WITB coming soon!

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

damn that was a fun round, thanks for sharing!

[@donkee9]

Cool ass Eagle. I gotta play baylands sometime.

[@ivantheterriblegolfer]

Great 🦅!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thanks!

[@ikigai47]

You mentioned the pro shop's advice on how to play a hole. Is that something you normally do on courses you haven't played? Hit the pro shop up for advice hole to hole?

[@kbchef9205]

Nice eagle Adam. Congrats❤️⛳️🏌🏻‍♂️

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you :)

[@SageVO]

I love going out to play as much as possible, but when it's really windy..........I'd almost rather not play. >

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

I hear you. For me, the combination of wind + cold is too much. Fortunately it was pretty warm at Baylands.

[@SageVO]

@@NotAScratchGolfer Sweet, good round!

[@chetranqui]

What an eagle!!

[@eazyeach1876]

Wadda Eagle.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Waddalife

[@vladguerrerojr.5776]

Love it again

[@GOATSALTS]

Do you have a video on the Rancho Pete Dye course in Palm Springs?

[@abeerasrani9317]

Hi Adam! I’m actually in Vancouver for a month visiting family and was really keen on playing some golf! Would you have any recommendations on where/how to go about it? I’m happy to drop you an email if you’d prefer.

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Hope you have a great time there, Abeer! Send me an email (contact info in my about tab) and we can try to get out together when I'm back in Van towards the end of the month! Tee times are really tough to come by, so I'd recommend you start getting times booked now. For my money, the best conditioned public course in town is Morgan Creek. Northlands is a cool spot if you want to experience CRAZY mountain golf close to the city. All of the munis in Vancouver are actually great. I particularly enjoy Fraserview and UBC, but McCleery and Lanaga are cool tracks, too.

[@hungryarch7319]

EAGLE!!!

[@ipotato95]

Just a question, have you considered not aiming your feet so far right relative to target? I don’t Know you much but it seems like the smother hook comes from necessity of alignment

[@keitho6018]

Adam > sham-wow guy...in golf and advertising!

[@josephdavis7189]

Close To Being A Scratch Golfer

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Some days, but not others :p

[@danielfiumetto1830]

Have to respect the man's game, not his swing. Love the content! edit: Sick eagle!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Lol thanks Daniel.

[@danielfiumetto1830]

@@NotAScratchGolfer Your journey is the most fun one to watch. My games definitely behind you but progressing nonetheless. Fun to u progress and than regress too.

[@aidanfranciacotter3267]

Let’s go

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

!!!

[@vladguerrerojr.5776]

Love it

[@davidbowser5534]

You seem to account for the wind on every shot except your putts.

[@kiyaandhillon1995]

Early

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

This is the first time I've published on a Saturday. You were quick to the draw.

[@sundoesgolf]

Lfg

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

;)

[@jfc9954]

What kind of shoes r those?

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

They're Nike Roshe G Tour (note: the "G Tour" is part of the model name, "Nike Roshe" is a totally different shoe). They're discontinued but still easy to find.

[@vitamind2387]

I prefer playing links courses

[@staceytekuru170]

Bx

[@KoreaBigDick]

Happy to see you got sponsors!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you! Still sort of surreal to me, too :)

[@catshitonthecarpet8520]

You should do more ads, thats some funny stuff :)

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

:p

[@galaxyshould2837]

Jhgolf on KZbin

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Go on

[@Dartguy365]

Congrats on the Eagle!

[@eedubss1501]

Congrats on the eagle!!

[@NotAScratchGolfer]

Thank you!

[@vitamind2387]

I prefer playing links courses