JJ Sporting Goods

06/11/2025

The initial push into Iraq was a cauldron of tension, a feeling that permeated every moment. But even after securing a Forward Operating Base (FOB), the unease didn't dissipate. It was a constant reminder that our presence wasn't universally welcomed. The journey to the FOB was a grueling ordeal – days spent navigating Iraqi roads with minimal sleep. I vividly remember passing through Fallujah, still simmering from a recent uprising....

The initial push into Iraq was a cauldron of tension, a feeling that permeated every moment. But even after securing a Forward Operating Base (FOB), the unease didn’t dissipate. It was a cons…

05/26/2025

For years, I believed I was managing the past. The stress of Iraq, the loss of family and friends – I'd navigated those dark days, moved on, started living again. But beneath the surface, something was festering. Sleep evaded me, a nightly struggle I couldn't explain. The military, in its pragmatic way, suggested a sleep apnea evaluation. I just wanted a full night's rest, to wake up refreshed instead of dragging myself through the day, desperate for a nap....

For years, I believed I was managing the past. The stress of Iraq, the loss of family and friends – I’d navigated those dark days, moved on, started living again. But beneath the surface, som…

05/23/2025

The desert heat shimmered, blurring the already tense reality of our arrival in Iraq. The first entry was fraught, a tight knot of nerves in everyone's stomach. But the initial crossing quickly faded into a constant, grinding reminder: we were not welcome. Every mile felt like an intrusion. After days – three, maybe more – of minimal sleep and bone-jarring rides, the promise of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) was a siren song....

The desert heat shimmered, blurring the already tense reality of our arrival in Iraq. The first entry was fraught, a tight knot of nerves in everyone’s stomach. But the initial crossing quick…

05/21/2025

The first deployment to Iraq was a pressure cooker from the jump. Even before settling into our designated Forward Operating Base (FOB), the journey itself was a constant reminder: we were not welcome. Days blurred into a haze of minimal sleep as we rumbled across the Iraqi landscape. Our route took us through Fallujah, a city still simmering after recent unrest....

The first deployment to Iraq was a pressure cooker from the jump. Even before settling into our designated Forward Operating Base (FOB), the journey itself was a constant reminder: we were not welc…

05/15/2025

Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs. After leaving Korea, my wife, her two horses, and I settled in Hinesville, Georgia. I was accustomed to long stretches away from loved ones, but this was new territory for my wife, used to the constant support of her family. Her mom, a petite but formidable woman, had been a young mother and twice divorced – initially, she terrified me!...

Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs. After leaving Korea, my wife, her two horses, and I settled in Hinesville, Georgia. I was accustomed to long stretches away from loved ones, but this wa…

05/15/2025

Introduction: I carry Iraq with me. It's not physical weight, but an invisible burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and the persistent visions that replay in my mind. Before I enlisted, war felt like a distant concept, relegated to history books and old movies. Desert Storm was a faded memory, and the idea of a "real threat" seemed remote. My family, particularly my parents, were terrified of me going to war....

Introduction: I carry Iraq with me. It’s not physical weight, but an invisible burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and the persistent visions that replay in my mind. …

05/08/2025

Holidays, especially Christmas, hold a special kind of magic when you're a kid. Looking back, I cherish the memories of Christmases past, filled with family, laughter, and the unique brand of chaos only a large, loving family can create. Our celebrations were a whirlwind of activity. Thanksgiving marked the start of the Christmas season, where we'd draw names for a gift exchange – a precursor to what I believe is now called a White Elephant exchange....

Holidays, especially Christmas, hold a special kind of magic when you’re a kid. Looking back, I cherish the memories of Christmases past, filled with family, laughter, and the unique brand of…

05/08/2025

Hey y'all, welcome to my little corner of the internet. My name's Gene U, and I hail from Bethany, Illinois – a town so small, you could blink and miss it. Growing up, school wasn't exactly my forte, but I found my groove on the athletic field. Basketball, football, baseball – you name it, I played it. I was a pitcher from the tender age of 10, and in my senior year, I had the honor of being part of the only team in our high school's history to make it to the state playoffs....

Hey y’all, welcome to my little corner of the internet. My name’s Gene U, and I hail from Bethany, Illinois – a town so small, you could blink and miss it. Growing up, school wasn& #8217…

01/04/2024

I have not posted in a long while. I have trying my best to manage the course and not swing out of my shoes. This far it has been working that I can see. Swinging hard was putting the ball somewhere I did not aim. Not that I have adjusted to managing the course 18Birdies has my handicap at a 5. Just a few months ago I was an 8-9 handicap.

It is the little thing that help me lower my handicap. My thinking now is to get to the green in regulation and set myself up for at least a par. Lining up shots with my club face and controlling my swing path. By the end of the year I want to be close to no handicap.

06/28/2023

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

06/20/2023

I snapped the head off of my driver last week. While getting it replaced I had to use my 3 wood in lieu of driver.

Amazingly, I shot a 9 over par with the 3W. I guess that answers my question a few weeks ago about course management v ego talking me into shots.

Off the tees was consistently in the fairway with a nice controlled drive. Since I was hitting the second shot from the fairway consistently. This made approach shots much easier. However the wind does not help a long iron when it blows into your face.

06/12/2023

Does this count for closest to the pin?