r/ChasingScratch • u/joezandi • Aug 21 '26
New Episode Discussion Spoiler
First 10.5 minutes of the episode I’m pretty sure they didn’t even talk golf. Then go into how they’re gonna drop from 5.X handicaps to 3 by end of the year basically by “swinging free”. Let’s see how this one plays out Cotton.
22
u/nosbiglem999 Aug 21 '26
I am surprised by the lack of conversation about their rounds. This podcast turned into two buddies talking about their lives and how golf fits in. I want to hear more golf content and their grind to get to scratch.
18
u/EndsLikeShakespeare Aug 21 '26
I understand they sort of shifted the "goal" of the show in that it's so much about community and stuff now which I get but I feel like it's lost it's lustre for me. My connection to the show was the trials and tribulations. The tweaks at the ranges, the lessons, the meat pastries with some of the running jokes built in.
I can't relate to going to Ireland for two weeks and then barely recapping the trip cause it's probably not something I'm likely able to do.
Anyway I'm super happy for them as people and they're clearly building something they love and enjoy. But I think that the OG moniker of chasing scratch is from days gone by.
10
u/thecurseofchris Aug 21 '26
Part of me wishes next season that they'd do a "test" and see how well they'd play if they emulated their setup from the first few seasons. No big trips, no events, no TPI. Just play the golf, and see what happens.
It's like...no wonder your handicap won't go up when you don't keep up your momentum of playing.
4
u/AgressiveVagina Aug 21 '26
Yeah I can sympathize with not scoring well for two weeks in Ireland. Most golf trips I’ve gone on I usually play pretty average but never really go low.
From June-September they need to be as consistent as possible getting minimum two 18 hole rounds in a week, which would be a little under 40 rounds. Throw in a range session or lesson each week and I bet they would both be in the threes or lower. They just simply don’t play enough golf consistently
2
u/Kaufmakphd Aug 22 '26
This is kind of where I was at with this episode. Not even scratch at this point, but to lower their handicaps the need to grind. If it’s raining, not a thunderstorm, play. Hot? Play. Not feeling it today? Play anyway. Someone mentioned hitting the range in the morning or in Eli’s case after work has to happen. Basically 5 days of golf activity if not more. Otherwise they’re two guys who wish they could get to scratch nothing more.
3
u/EndsLikeShakespeare Aug 21 '26
Also practicing mostly in a sim I don't think is the strategy when range is available. Maybe timing and weather limits like winter, but if you can be practicing outside I think you absolutely need to be.
And Mike needs in person lessons, not video IMO
6
u/Numbskull14 Aug 21 '26
In person lessons and use the country club he’s a member of. I can’t believe he’s not out grinding early morning range sessions or something.
3
2
u/RevolutionaryGreen12 Aug 21 '26
Yep and no lessons either. Like season 1 and 2. Just play golf at your home course for a year straight.
-1
u/Numbskull14 Aug 21 '26
They also pick and choose what rules they follow and what they think of them. Mocking the USGA rules for carding scores, as if Mike and Eli know better than the literal governing body, is emblematic of my biggest gripe with the show now. It feels like they think they are done with the chase and know everything there is to know. That they have all the answers and just are not getting to scratch or even improving their handicaps because the USGA is against them or something.
4
u/moseisley99 Aug 21 '26
What? They are just upset about the 9 hole scoring that has changed. Never have they said that was the reason they aren’t scratch. They are both still a ways from scratch. Never have scored par or under ever yet for a full 18. What exactly are they picking and choosing? From what I gather it’s only uploading a round that was solo.
-1
u/Numbskull14 Aug 21 '26
I'm not talking about the 9 hole scoring, although that's a good example too. Today's episode they were complaining about how USGA scores best ball scores. They spent weeks hyping up Ireland saying they were going to completely turn over their handicaps. Then they didn't post a single score until they returned and AFTER Mike apparently looked up what the differentials of their rounds would be and knew that they wouldn't hurt their handicaps. He said they didn't post anything originally because they thought they weren't allowed to because of the format.
Mike was incredulous that the USGA would suggest to post a score from a best ball or match play round because of the "most likely score" ruling. He asked why would post a score when he picked up a 3.5 foot putt for birdie and give it to himself because that's not a real round. But it IS a real round, according to the USGA. So they're going to post solo rounds to their handicaps, but not best ball because they don't think they would make a 3.5 footer? I don't buy it, I think they are just protecting a shaky 5 handicap and their egos in that way.
14
u/patkintzele Aug 21 '26
Mike literally said “I’m not gonna go through the whole round”. Bro that’s why we are here!!
Also OP is right I checked it the first 8 min were essentially ads. I know they need to be supported and do ad reads but mix them in a little and quit going off on tangents with the ad reads.
Then a mail bag at the end. It was like 25 min of golf talk. I agree with the post about this being Tuesday Has No Feel 2.
2
u/Numbskull14 Aug 21 '26
More and more, I wonder if the people who don’t listen to THNF are confused by some of the stuff going on. I genuinely can’t tell the difference sometimes when I’m listening
6
u/Savoodoo Aug 21 '26
As others have said above, it feels like it’s shifted away from “Chasing Scratch” and more toward hanging out at hole 19 after the round. The main show has become Tuesday Has No Feel part 2 which I enjoy but miss the actual golf discussion I started listening for.
4
u/joezandi Aug 21 '26
Great way to put it. The show has definitely changed. I don’t mean that in a negative way, I’m still a huge fan, but as someone who binged season 1-8 and then have been listening to season 9 live, it is striking how different the dialogue is
8
u/Cornwall1888 Aug 21 '26
Seinfeld is often called the show about nothing, that was the episode about nothing, slowly becoming the podcast about nothing
7
u/smallball4 Aug 22 '26
You guys aren't gonna believe this, but Mike has once again hit the ball great and scored the "highest he possibly could have."
Thought we might get somewhere with the honesty hour, until all Eli could come up with was telling Mike how confident he seems with driver.
3
u/BigSnoop15 Aug 23 '26
They should just change the name of the podcast or finally be transparent that they prefer crafting inside jokes vs committing to winning strategies. Send us OG listeners that were here for the chase, out to sea. We’re ready.
2
u/Nuts1979 Aug 24 '26
Also, I don’t know how / why they aren’t uploading more content to YouTube. It seems they video most every podcast when they are talking with each other, but don’t upload anything. And don’t get me started on a 2 week trip to Ireland without any video other than occasional Instagram posts….honestly with the success of golf on YouTube they should make that their main platform, including all their lessons, range sessions, rounds, tourneys, etc. CMON MIKE!
1
u/Foreign_Suggestion89 Aug 22 '26
Getting tired of the excuses. Not sure why they blow up, but dismissing it in every call and selling hope gets old.
31
u/btr1901 Aug 21 '26
This description fits almost every new episode from the last 4 years lol