Long Drive Golf Clubs

Strong start: Somersworth golfer slogs his way to first-round lead

GREENLAND — On a course that typically favors the long hitter, Somersworth's Kevin Strong relied on his short game to take the early lead Friday in the Seacoast Amateur Golf Championship.

Because of the soggy conditions at Portsmouth Country Club, brought about by recent rain and Friday's heavy mist, the day was not conducive to scoring.

However, the Rochester Country Club member shot an impressive 2-over par 74 and holds a one-stroke lead over Portsmouth CC's Joe Cooper.

"The course was playing long," Strong said. "I played it on Wednesday and it was dry and fast. Today it was wet and slow. There was a lot of grinding around the greens. My putting was good and my chipping was very good too. My short game kept me in it."

Defending champion Will Delano is one of three golfers tied for third place at 77, with four tied at 78, including 2009 Seacoast Am winner Nick Kalil, and five more at 79 on a day when breaking 80 was considered an accomplishment.

"Anything better than 80 was going to be decent," Kalil said. "I'm OK. I didn't shoot myself out of the tournament."

Only 14 of 96 golfers broke 80.

"Everybody's playing the same golf course, " Kalil said. "You've just got to go out and hang in there the best you can."

Rochester CC's Chris Atwood and Troy Joncas are tied with Delano at 77. Michael Mahan of Pease, York's Matt Campbell and Portsmouth's Chris Kelloway are deadlocked with Kalil at 78.

"I was underclubbing a lot because I wasn't used to the conditions," Campbell said. "My short game saved me."

Dover's Peter Keilty, Rochester's Jamie Ferullo, York's Brent Mohr, Rochester CC's Steve Rowell Jr. and Cochecho's Tucker Starmer all came in at 79.

"I grinded it out to say the least," said Ferullo. "It wasn't easy out there. Once you get out on the point the wind's howling and you're hitting much different clubs than you normally would."

Keilty could have been closer to the lead, but he bogeyed the last three holes.

"The weather didn't bother me as much as giving away shots," he said.

Delano shot 77, despite bogeys on the final two holes.

"Coming home, 17 and 18 are almost unreachable, and they're par 4s," Kalil said. "There's just a lot golf course out there today."

The 31st annual tournament shifts to the York (Maine) Golf & Tennis Club for today's second round.

Taylor Made 300 Series Drivers – Golf Club Reviews

We have been testing and playing the 320 Ti with the standard ‘R-80’ Taylor Made Lite shaft and the 360 Ti in both ‘S-90’ and ‘R-80’ Bubble Ultralite shafts. We have had a brief exposure to the 8.5 degree 300 Ti with a Grafalloy ProLite Stiff. It is safe to say that the Taylor Made’s are the current kings when it comes to drivers. From pros to high-handicappers, just about all of us have loved them. (See 2/20/01 Update below)

Be forewarned: the various loft and shaft options of this series means that 36 different graphite models of the 300 Series are available – not including different flex options. As a general rule of thumb: If in doubt, stick with the standard shafts. They are good shafts made by Fujikura and Aldila. They will suit a large percentage of golfers. (See note at end of article) If you are a slammer who needs more control and a lower trajectory, try the EI-70. If you prefer a premium, sparkly feel with a medium trajectory, try the ProLite. From touring professional to high handicapper, the ProLite is, by all feedback we have read or received, the most universally liked graphite shaft on the market today.

To begin with, all of the 300′s are all very attractive clubs – serious and sophisticated looking. Golfers want to like these handsome clubs. They look good and feel good in the hands. At address, the traditional design qualities offset the large size of the heads. They look just plain nice and inspire ample confidence.

We began hitting with the 320 Ti and were immediately impressed with its ease of use and forgiveness. The 320 seems to swing itself. Its action is lively and fluid. The feel at impact is vibrant. It may lack the sparkle of a Ping TiSI and the smooth solidity of older Callaway’s, but it has a vibrant feel that appealed to all that have hit it. The sound is very “titanium”. It is a crackling sound that is a bit on the thin side, but again, has appealed to all.

Trajectories on the 320 were just as described by Taylor Made – moderately high. The distances were very good. Long distances with a driver require ample height (contrary to popular misconceptions), but most of us soon wished that we were hitting the 9.5 or 8.5 degree versions. There have been general complaints about the occasional excessively high drive with the 320 and we found that to be the case as well. A lower, more boring, drive is more aesthetically pleasing somehow even if not always longer. A switch to the 9.5 degree 360 Ti produced a drive trajectory that was more to our general liking. The 360 has a deeper face and a higher COG (center of gravity) than does the 320. This creates a lower flight path.

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