Grip it and rip it...

Tiger de Souza, you stand here accused of the heinous crime of over complicating the beautiful game of golf. As a new comer to the sport you have been found on more than one occasion to be spending too much time fretting about lob wedges, loft, lie angles, shaft flex, wedge distances and swing mechanics. This has resulted in causing significant frustration to other golfer's reading your exploits and wondering what on earth you were playing at. Rather than just getting out there and playing you have been procrastinating, over complicating and hindering your progress. How do you plead.

"Guilty!"

I apologise profusely but am pleased to say that after today talk of a lob wedge has been confined to the annals of history. Instead it's all about playing, preferablyas much as possible.

It didn't start well today, again due to overcomplicating. After an awful tee shot I trusted the iPhone rather than my instinct and smashed an 8 iron over the green. Blobbed the second due to improper alignment causing me to smash two balls into the gorse. 5 on the relatively simple par 3 third followed by a triple bogey 7. Then I relaxed and proceeded to play my best ever golf.

I was really happy with most of my stats for the 16 holes today. I strung together four consecutive pars from the 7th to 10th finishing with a total of 6 pars, 3 bogeys and 3 double bogeys. Having got to the bottom of my iron striking issues I hit 64% FIR and 25% GIR. Hitting more GIR put pressure on my putting and I didn't putt as well as I can today with 36 putts. I struggled with pace judgement on the wet greens but was unlucky on two occasions when my birdie efforts refused to drop.

Highlight of the round came on the 10th. My tee shot drifted under a tree on the right hand side and I needed to hit a low shot to avoid the branches. To make it more challenging the pin was on the back on the upper tier of the green that is protected by bunkers on either side. It was 130 yards and I hit a low punch with a six iron, between the sandtraps, that rolled up onto the top tier 10 feet from the hole. Probably my best ever shot.

I'm scheduled to play on Sunday for the medal I hope I can replicate today's form. As for the great lob wedge debate, used my SW to great effect today so the debate is over for now. Having chipped in with the SW last time out, I almost repeated the feat for a first ever birdie on the 17th.

82 from 16 holes, I'm happy.

6(3), -(5), 5(3), 7(4), 6(5), 4(3), 5(5), 4(4), 4(4), 4(4), 5(3), -(5), 7(4), 6(4), 5(4), 4(4), 4(4), 6(3)

Yes, I am that stupid...

Went to the range on my lunch break to get to the bottom of the snap hooks. Simple question: when you are playing golf where does the ball go? Answer: wherever you were aiming (though excessive side spin may exaggerate its final position). Anyway it dawned on me today that idiot that I am I had my club face slightly closed. Straightened it out and hey presto lovely straight ball flight (ok at times there was a touch of fade in there)!

Anyway, whilst I was there working on my 4 and 6 iron my friend kindly recorded my swing so I can belatedly provide you with an updated view of my ongoing work in progress. So here it is and I am much happier with my position at the top though I do still swing slightly past parallel.



This is with a six iron and I chose the video of the best shot which ran off down hill toward the 200 yard markers with a nice flight.

I promise to post video's more regularly if you promise to leave me your thoughts. So feel free to flag things you think I should discuss with my pro, or if you think I should down tools, give up and go home or if you just like it. You can leave comments by either clicking on the post header or 'comments' below.

Lessons learned

I tend to be a rather questioning individual. If you have a point of view that differs from my current thoughts, I'll want you to justify your position. Maybe it's because I work in evaluation that I have naturally developed a questioning mindset. Whatever the reason today was an interesting day. It could have been depressing, instead it was enlightening. Perhaps I was naive, perhaps I didn't look around enough. All I know is that as with a lot of things in life a second opinion can be invaluable. So today I learnt that maybe my wedge set up isn't quite right, the shaft in my fairway is more suiting to a stronger player and my current teaching pro may think more about his commission than my development.

I am thankful that I met Morgan from PING, a tremendously helpful guy and I hope our paths cross again when I get fitted for my driver. Paul from Nevada Bobs is another great guy in a very different way, not so subtly suggesting that my pro may have seen me, and my forehead mug tattoo, coming a mile off.

However, what was most enlightening was how people on the GM forum continue to perceive me. I expect many don't read the blog, but either way they will take some serious convincing to believe that I really don't think a magic piece of kit or change to my set up will slash shots off my scores. It will all come down to continued practice and dedication.

So my pro has lost my confidence, my fairway wood is likely to be ill fitting when it finally arrives and the forumers think I'm a kit obsessed tweaker. Oh well it could be worse I could have 4.5 years to get down to scratch!

Goldilock's challenge: Hintlesham GC

I've seen the gorgeous images of picturesque links courses, with cavernous bunkers protecting deceptive undulating greens. Azure water lapping gently at the rugged coastline, the tide drawing your ball towards it: like a magnet on the putting surface and a siren from the tee. I look at those stunning courses and think 'I'm not ready!'

This review is for golfer's who want to play a beautiful parkland course without fear. The wide fairways are forgiving of errant drives but a plethora of hazards await any ill judged approach.

The 219 yard fourth (pictured left) provides the sternest test, requiring a perfect draw to negate the carry over water and mischievous collection of sandtraps. Set in 150 acres of magnificent Suffolk countryside, Hintlesham provides a wonderful 'Goldilock's challenge': it's not too hard, or too easy - it's just right!

To find out more about Hintlesham Golf Club click here.

In the gorse of course: Waldringfield GC

n.1 Gorse very dense and spiny evergeen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers. Common throughout heathland Suffolk golf courses, thriving on a diet of premium golf balls and severed limbs

You may be questioning why I chose Waldringfield as my home course. Quite simply because it was in the (perhaps misguided) hope that it will make me a better golfer. From the epic 585 yard 5th to the petite, pond guarded 109 yard 11th it has it all. Doglegs, tight drives, short par 4's and the sweet, honey smell of gorse. Admittedly it's not that sweet when your arm is being shredded as you attempt to retrieve an offline shot, but avoiding that scenario is a massive part of the challenge.

The green fees are extremely reasonable, the membership even more so and the regulars extremely friendly. If you are ever heading to Suffolk and fancy trying it yourself give me a shout. Just be warned you may need to pack a few more balls...

To find out more about Waldringfield Golf Club click here.

Be careful what you wish for...

Following the snow we have now had one of our driest Springs. The groundstaff are quite understandably concerned about balancing our reservoir levels and watering the fairways in case the summer is as fierce as the winter was harsh. Foolishly I thought it would be good for the course to get some belated April showers. The golfing gods, who are always mischievous, have duly obliged with a forecast of five solid days of rain over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Not quite what I was hoping for. While I will quite happily don the waterproofs and head out in a deluge, my missus will be somewhat upset that my rain dance has spoilt good quality family time. Obviously, I do not have other worldly metereological powers, if I did the snow would have disappeared as soon as it arrived. But the fact I have been openly saying "I think the course could do with a spot of rain", comments often greeted with a great deal of consternation, will still make me culpable for the arrival of this spell of 'bad' weather.

These days I don't handle the heat as well and if it had not been for the arrival of the Powakaddy I might have struggled to complete 18 on Sunday. That said I am praying that Michael Fish and co have got it wrong and there is a sunnier outlook this weekend. Knowing my luck it will be at the exact time I'm playing golf. Oh well at least we've got a comfy sofa.

Heaven help me...

I need some divine intervention, inspiration or something, and I need it now. With just two weeks to go till my first medal things are not going anywhere. I'm hoping to get acquainted with the 3 Wood and a much needed lesson on Friday but I feel like I'm on a merry-go-round. One week the long game's great and the short game is awful and the next it all spins on its head. A blob on the last hole meant I had an incomplete round but I scored 104 till that point.

This week it was the long irons that went AWOL, mainly snap hooks. Once again I returned 9 holes with a decent score, +6, with +30 for the other 8 holes. I just can't find any consistency, but I will remain positive. Chipped in for a great par on the 6th hole, hit a great recovery 7 iron to help save par after a woeful tee shot on the 17th and hit a a cracking approach on the short par 4 10th.

We left our bags just shy of 200 yards from the tee and I aimed my 5 iron tee shot at the bags thinking it would never carry that far. The picture left is the end result, probably my best shot of the day.

To be fair given how I was playing just two months ago, I have come a long way, but it's just frustrating that I'm not scoring better. Today it was the snap hooks giving me major issues off the tee and costing me a bucketload of shots.

In terms of testing, the jury is out on the lob wedge. Borrowed a demo Vokey 60.7 hit one great shot, two good shots and three poor ones with it today. However, the trolley made a massive difference in the sweltering heat and I for once performed better on the back nine. A total of five pars which I think is my best ever return, will check on SS2 later. So a lot to be pleased about but still loads to work on.

104 (68)
3(3), 10(5), 3(3), 8(4), 8(5), 3(3), 8(5), 6(4), 7(4), 4(4), 4(3), 9(5), 6(4), 7(4), 9(4), 5(4), 4(4), - (3)

Perhaps it's for the best...

No phonecall today, which means no 3 wood this weekend. If I said I wasn't gutted I'd be a liar but maybe another week with the irons is a good thing. I can restablish my loving relationship with the 4 iron and have a direct look at the impact of the lob wedge without the 3 Wood impact clouding my assessment. I've also got the trolley this weekend and my free test balls from Titleist. Perhaps too many additions would have thrown me out of kilter?

Anyway there's no point in harbouring any disappointment. The forecast for Sunday is glorious, I can pack the bag full of stuff and not worry about the weight and I'll have great golfing company. Hopefully, I'll get half hour on the putting mat tonight and tomorrow and be raring to go Sunday morning.

The days are slow being checked off before my first medal and it's given me a bit of a boost that some of you following the blog have more faith in my game than I sometimes do. Will be hoping to take the first step in proving the 99 and under believers right this weekend, and if you haven't voted yet, get clicking!

Wedge fund

Had my usual lunchtime practice session today and was hitting my mates lob wedge better than my gap, especially on chips. Think I'm now completely convinced that a lob wedge should be my next purchase, I just need to decide on bounce options now. Currently have my Gap Wedge in .08 and Sand Wedge in .11 so thinking about getting .04 for the lob, although Titleist also do a .07. I feel another conversation with my pro coming on...

Also upset a walker today, can't for the life of me figure out why. I was hitting balls on the heath, he popped out of the woods on an afternoon walk with his wife. I immediately stopped hitting half shots with my PW and went back to chip shots with the lob wedge. Yet inexplicably he decides to take umbridge and start kicking my one of my balls. At first I thought he hit it by accident until he very clearly proceeded to 'dribble' it 50 yards out of my way. I could almost see his chest puffing up with pride as he nonchalantly flicked it to the side as he passed out of view. I just watched in utter disbelief.  Oh well, that numpty aside a very enjoyable 45 minutes. Now I just need Nevada Bobs to call and say my 3 Wood has arrived...

Trolley dolly

It's here and lovely. I'm now the proud owner of a Powakaddy Twinline 3, review coming this weekend. Hats off to Snainton Golf for a cracking price and superfast delivery (I only ordered it on Sunday). I alomst want it to rain now so I can try out the umbrella holder! Feeling really excited about this weekend's golf with a new trolley and hopefully a new 3 Wood. Playing with my uncle in law who also has a positive impact on my game so all in all can't wait to get out there.

Feel a little less self concious about it as well following the recent thread on the GM forum.

In terms of the blog I hope there will be a few finishing touches and reviews appearing later this week. Would be great to know what your thoughts are and any ways you'd like to see it develop more. Either drop me a comment below or contact me direct.

Shopping frenzy

Well the 3 Wood is due to arrive this week and will hopefully be ably supported on the weekend by another new acquisition. I have decided that I need to relieve some of the effort from each round. My swing is becoming noticeably tired and sloppy in the latter stages of every round and so I have invested in a Powakaddy Twinline 3 trolley to ease the burden. So that's two major purchases in a week and they say things happen in threes...

Borrowed my friends Cleveland CG10 60 degree lob wedge to have a little practice and play. Took it over to the heath today, and though I'll need a lot more practice off tight lies, I think buying one could have a positive impact on my game. Too often I hit chips with the gap that keep rolling past the hole (and off the other side of the green on bad days). Given the choice I'd hit the SW every time but it has way too much bounce for me to use effectively on the fairway at the moment. There's also less chance of me quitting on the shot with a lob wedge. That said I've spent way too much money this month but June...

Jealousy?

Played today and though the short game still needs a lot more work I was fairly pleased with my performance. What is interesting is now I am blowing up on the par 3's and scoring pretty well on the longer par 4's/ par 5's. Got par for the second time running on hole 7 par 5 and am hitting the 5 iron pretty consistently. I seem to have lost my way a little with the 4 iron but I think it's partly a confidence thing.

Tried Srixon AD333's today courtesy of the wonderful chaps at Golf Monthly and I have to say I may have fallen in love. Not as impressive around and on the greens as the ProV1x, but given how cheap they are in comparison, they are a very decent ball. Definitely better than the NXT Tour in my opinion and will probably be my ball of choice over the winter.

Anyway onto the jealousy. I've often remarked on these pages that my putting is the strongest part of my game. However, today I had six, yes that's right six three putts. Took the Scotty out today and I think it's feeling a tad anxious following the arrival of the Nike Method putter. To be fair getting them both out and drooling over the Nike the day before a game probably upset the Scotty more than a little. Back out again next week so we'll see if the Cameron has got over its touch of the green eyed monster and behaves itself.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh

I think I'm getting there with the blog redesign. I have done the artwork just sorting out the code to make all the functions work. As an XML & HTML newbie this template design stuff is a little tricky. Here's hoping you like the finished project which I hope to unveil on Sunday evening.

I'm also hoping that Thursdays practice will have paid off. I'm sure many of you tutted when I said I'd cut my round short, but the purpose of Thursday was preparation for Saturday. Ball was spraying all over the place and rather than having a repeat on the weekend I wanted to bottom out the issue.

Anyway I hope my web code and golf angst will be shortlived and that on Sunday I'll be posting stories of wondrous (well for me) golfing feats on a gobsmackingly gorgeous site.

Bad day at the office

Half day today so hit the course on my own. Things didn't go well and after 7 holes I decided that my time would be better spent on the practice hole. Spent the best part of three hours hitting approaches, chips, bunker shots and putts trying to get up and down as often as possible. Definitely much more worthwhile than playing the remaining holes. Got a game Saturday so hope the short game work has a positive impact.

As for my long game I either have a slight fade or drill it dead straight about 40 yards too far left. Definitely something going awry in my set up. Hope to have a lesson soon to put things right. Will get the swing recorded tomorrow as it's been a while since I've posted an updated video.

Next dilemma is coming as I struggled to play my 56 wedge on tight lies because of the bounce. However from the rough I was dropping and stopping it within six feet. Wondering whether a 60 degree wedge might be a worthwhile addition or whether my next purchase should be a 5W / 2iron hybrid. Oh well we'll see how I get on when the 3 wood arrives.

Thank you Golf Monthly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The greatest compliment you can bestow on any writer is recognition of their work. Now it may not be the Nobel Prize for Literature or the Mann Booker Prize. It may not have been a lengthy tome or a cutting edge piece of journalism. It may not have been extraordinary, colourful verse likely to eke significant envy from the Poet Laureate herself. But to me that does not matter, we must all start somewhere and to say that I was stunned, delighted and overwhelmed to win the best Course Review competition with Golf Monthly would be an understatement.

I've won a couple of things in my time for letters and submissions but nothing with a three figure price tag. Might be small fry for many but I am overjoyed. So thank you Golf Monthly for making me an extremely happy man.

The unedited version of my review will be appearing in all its glory in the reviews section this weekend, when hopefully I can get my new XML template to work and have a revamped blog for you to enjoy on Monday morning.

Finally, a stiff wood with much needed length

It's coming! Okay moving on from double entendre I finally ordered my 3 Wood today. Getting a Ping G15 3 wood with a UST Mamiya Proforce Axivcore Tour Red 79 shaft. All this based on a fitting session with my pro and having read up I fully understand his rationale. I'm a fairly strong lad and have a swift swing speed. The principal consideration from my pro was torque. He felt that higher torque shafts were twisting on downswing causing the clubface to be open at impact. I had no idea what he was prattling on about at the time something about kick points as well if my memory serves me correctly. Anyway I dutifully toddled off clinging to his wisdom and did some research. Up until now I've never grasped quite how important fitting is. Having been through this process I get it now. Everyone should get fitted for every club they ever buy. Period. I'm just starting to get my head round it. You need someone who knows your game and your swing to offer impartial advice. I'll explain why.

My pro isn't based at my club. I travel to see him as he has a great and growing reputation. I went into the club shop at my club and asked if they had a demo version of the club I've just ordered so I could try it on the course. He didn't but instantly wanted to know how good I was and why I wanted that shaft. Effectively that bit of kit is 'too good for a beginner'. However, when I told him who my pro was he was fine about it. But he still had me doubting.

Then I went into Nevada Bobs to order it (I've got vouchers). Guy at the counter again wanted to know how long I've been playing and why I wanted that particular shaft. Told him pro recommended it and again it was fine. Again had me doubting my ability. Now when the club arrives there is going to be this nagging doubt in my head that I'm not good enough to use it.

In fact if I didn't have absolute faith in my pro I may well have changed my mind and bought a different shaft. This would have been ridiculously based on two people's opinions who have never seen me swing a club. Don't get me wrong they meant well and I appreciate that they wouldn't blindly sell me stuff. It's just that I now have doubt where previously I was extremely happy. Here's hoping that when it arrives we get off to a good start!!!

Lone Ranger

I played on my own for the first time yesterday and was a little nervous about my ball spotting ability (or lack of) contributing to hours spent searching for my ball during a fruitless and dull round. I couldn't have been more wrong. Once I got over my early nerves/anxieties I played some pretty good scrambling golf. By that I mean that if I hit a good tee shot, I'd follow up with a poor approach or vice versa. I hit no GIR and only 3 FIR. On both counts these were my among my worst statistics yet I posted my best ever score of 105 with 31 stableford points.

Highlight of the round for me was saving par on the 10th with an up and down from the sand, my first ever sand save. I almost chipped in to save par on the 17th and also recorded my first ever par on a par five hole. Doing some wedge practice later today (as more often than not my approach let me down) but I think I am starting to learn how to score. I was also pleased with how I didn't let bad shots affect and instead saw them as opportunities to rescue par or secure bogey at the very worst. Playing again on Thursday and Saturday, hopefully things will continue to improve.

105 (71)
6(3), 8(5), 4(3), 9(4), 7(5), 5(3), 5(5), 5(4), 5(4), 4(4), 5(3), 6(5), 6(4), 6(4), 7(4), 7(4), 5(4), 5(3)

A new home for the blog...

I hope you like the new home for the blog. Apologies that it is a little rough and ready at the moment, it took quite a while just porting over all the old posts and incorporating the comments. I hope by the end of the week it will be looking much tidier and over the course of the month there will be much richer content. If you have any observations or comments please let me know. Happy reading.

Tiger

Changing priorities

It's my birthday in August and my siblings are already geared up to the fact that a bit of cash towards my golfing exploits would be extremely appreciated. Originally I was looking for contributions to a DMD. However, things have changed.

The golf season ends in October and after yesterday I have realised I would get significantly more benefit from my driver. I'll then have those long winter months to hone my skills with it, ready for season 2. I'm getting my fairway this weekend so I'll have 3 months practice with my 3 wood before I get the driver. The swing is developing nicely and I'm even hitting my 3 iron with growing confidence. Bearing that in mind I should be ready for the big dog in autumn. Especially, considering I arguably hit it better than the 3 wood at my fitting!!!

I'll then have a look at the DMD again at Christmas time when hopefully there will be a new model out and ths year's releases will be heavily discounted.

Comments:

Homer
It makes sense. A DMD is a nice to have but until you have a decent set up that you can hit well with and are confident with then you won’t be able to move on.

Bad day at the office

I had one of those days today where I just didn't want to keep playing. Thing is my ball striking was pretty good, my chipping not too bad and my putting solid. But the fecking wind!!!! I either didn't allow enough, or too much or it died and the ball went dead straight or it was in your face. I hit one GIR today by aiming 40 yards left of my target and allowing the wind to bring it back on target. Countless good shots wasted because of the weather deciding to take my ball and send it miles right.

It was a learning curve and took a 4 on the 18th by hitting a bump and run with my three iron, chip and two putt. List countless balls where they just up and disappeared like a fart in the wind. But I'm sure it landed here!!!!

To add insult to injury I found the thick rough on the 15th and chunked my 6 iron on a concealed stone. I only hope it is just cosmetic.

All in all an unmitigated disaster. Saturdays lesson is to focus on bump n run and punch shots.

Comments:

Homer
I’m at the other end of the spectrum I played with HTL in a 4 ball better ball comp which subject to ratification we’ve won. He was awesome and my game got swept along on the back of his performance and so it has given me confidence back even if technically I’m still struggling.

It was hard in the wind and its only something you’ll learn how to play in with experience. Nicklaus always said let the wind be your friend and so if its left to right aim left and don’t try to manufacture anything and let the wind do the work. Into the wind you’ll need to learn how to hit lower flighted shots but as I say it comes with time.

Never give in. Once you walk off once it becomes too easy to do it again and again. Accept its a bad day at the office and look for that one shot per round you can look back on

Fit up...

Ever get the feeling the golfing gods are mocking you, giving with one hand while taking away with the other? Well that's exactly how I felt after my fitting session with my pro for my woods. We were looking at shafts for both my driver (future purchase) and fairway woods. My main problems in my swing have been:

• overhinging at the top


• swinging way too fast on the downswing


• not turning my wrists

Which generally causes fat, erratic, slice. The work I've been putting in has helped to combat these three things and I was pleasantly surprised that my ball striking was pretty good during the fitting. That was the thing I was most worried about as how do you know what suits your game when you are spraying it here there and everywhere?

Fairway wood seems to be solved. There's a second hand G15 (barely used) up for sale with the shaft that is the closest match of the limited fairway options. Winner I thought, I get to try on the course before making my mind up as well. Thank you golf gods for this manna you have bestowed upon me, on which I shall feast heartily, and be mightily chuffed with the extra notes in my back pocket.

Then came the burn. The shaft I performed best with was the Fujikura Rombax 7Z08 or to you and me "a shaft that costs as much as a blinking driver!!!" Performance was so much better with this shaft, particularly on dispersion and distance. So I have to start saving the pennies for next year (I think I know what's on my Xmas list). The real shame is that it will cost me a fortune to get the same shaft in my fairways. Oh well, hopefully the G15 fairway will perform well and become my new best friend on the course, while I try and raise extra funds by selling some body parts to pay for my big dog! Anyone want to buy a kidney?

April stats

Well the golf season has begun in earnest and I am still to play my first medal. I was supposed to be teeing it up tomorrow but bottled it as I haven't got my 3 Wood yet and would be playing with people I don't know. Anyway, more about the fitting session tomorrow.

There was a definite shift in priorities this month with just over 11.5 hours racked up in practice, with a large proportion dedicated to embedding a few critical swing changes. I'm really pleased with the progress I am making (as is my pro) and my position at the top of my swing is much improved. I'll be posting a video after my next round. Unfortunately, The time allocated to bedding in those changes has meant that for the first time I have neglected my short game. I have to say I am not getting on well with the NXT Tour's around the greens but my lack of practice and developing technique hasn't helped. My bunker play has improved markedly over the month but my chipping and putting have been less than impressive. I hope that in May that a return to focussing the short game, couple to improved ball striking and more distance from the 3 Wood will finally culminate in posting lower scores. This month is about gearing me up for June's medal competition.

Practice
As mentioned above I've dedicated a lot of time to my woods and long irons this month.

Distance	Time (minutes)	% of practice time
Driver	45	6%
Other Woods	175	25%
200 - 250 yards	50	7%
150 – 200 yards	55	8%
100 – 150 yards	55	8%
Short Approach	205	29%
Bunker Play	30	4%
Putting	80	12%
Total	695	100%

I spoke to my pro today about ball choice and he said I should be playing the Pro V1x, but if it's too costly as I'm smashing it all over the place to invest in some Pearl/Grade A lake balls. Hopefully, I'll gain more control because of my practice but also the lower spin on the V1x should help as well.

Rounds
My scoring hasn't improved and I know that owes to the quality of my performance within 120 yards. I am planning on spending the next two months focussing on getting the ball in the hole. Period!

Statistic	Performance	SS2 Handicap level
Fairways in Regulation	45%	14
Greens in Regulation	7%	24
Putts per Round*	35.74	19
Birdie Conversion	0%	28+
Par Scrambles	6%	28+
Penalties per Round*	2.87	28+

The SS2 handicap level is a calculation made indicating your performance on different facets of your game.

This month's stats are fairly similar to those from March with the FIR (1%), GIR (1%) and Putts Per Round (1.24) all going down fractionally. Pleasingly, I was less wayward with fewer penalties per round, a downward trend I hope to continue. It didn't click for me in April, but I must remember to be patient and that I am still a novice. I am capable of more, I just need to relax and give it time.

Comments:

Spinn77
Learning from scratch is tough, but its like anything, you’ll learn, get better, level out a bit, notice or learn something else and then improve a bit more…and so on. Your doing everything really to keep this kind of cycle going. The only thing stopping you is hours spent practising and on the course itself.

You’ve set yourself a few years to do it, so relax, more than on target.

My personal view is that getting down to about 20 is pretty hard from where you’ve started from. The next 12 shots of that are easier by comparison (especially given your attitude to this). The final 8 i think will be the hardest as its so much more unforgiving.

Tiger
I hope that’s the case. Fingers crossed the arrival of the 3 Wood will alleviate the pressure a bit on the longer game. I totally understand what you mean about starting off. There are so many things to work on and learn that it will take a while to get competent at them. I think the swing is getting there so can hopefully concentrate on the scoring game for a couple of months.