Cake or Death?

Those unfamiliar with the comic genius of Eddie Izzard will think I've had a bit too much sun. Come to think of it those who are familiar with the reference will probably think the same thing! Stick with me there is a somewhat salient point in there somewhere.

In his stand up show 'Dress to Kill', Izzard ponders what it would have been like if the Church of England had held an inquisition along similar lines to the famous Catholic Spanish one. Accusing them of being much too nice to have a torturous inquisition it is more likely that those 'tormented' by the CoE would have to make the difficult choice of tea and cake with the vicar or death. "Errr, I'll have cake please".

Listening to Eddie got me thinking about my forthcoming round. Though the extremes aren't quite as severe, the choice is similar. Fairway or [choose from] Out of Bounds/ Water/ Gorse/ Rough/ Bunker..."errr fairway please". So why when I know I hit my 6 iron arrow straight 95% of the time do I reach for the 3/4/5? Mainly because I'm as infatuated with the next chap with distance. If I had a big dog I can almost here it pining to be let off the leash.

So a random bit of Eddie has reinforced my resolve to play it safe this weekend. If you're struggling off the tee like me give it a go and let me know how you get on. We might start a high handicapper golfing revolution: "We're gonna run out of cake at this rate!"

So it didn't happen in June...

Failed to break 100 this month but then again I didn't give myself many opportunities. My next medal is looming this weekend and it would be wonderful to do it then. I've been working really hard on my short game especially my chips and pitches. I'm seeing marked improvements on the Heath. Though it's like hitting onto concrete I am landing my quarter and half swing shots in and around the same target area.

3 wood and 3 iron are staying at home and the 4 iron's usage will depend on how I'm playing. I'm desperate to get 9 holes in on Thursday/Friday evening and play the back nine to boost confidence as it is these holes that cause me the most bother.

We'll see how it goes but to he honest I'll just be happy to play again as it's been a little while.

Waste of a good afternoon

Why oh why did I forsake my golf for that shambles!!! By far the poorest England performance I have ever seen!

Balance...

The weather is glorious, the summer solstice has been and gone (21st June it was) and as we celebrate the arrival of the longest days of the year, summer is in full bloom. The bulk of blog readers will have been enjoying these conditions on their resplendent golf course. I in my infinite wisdom planned in some good quality family time, with my mum and hyperactive nephew coming to visit. At the time it seemed a good plan but from my previous post you'll know that the football gods conspired against me.

Consequently, whilst you were lapping up a veritable feast of golf I went to Easton Farm Park and then Aldeburgh to be greeted by that quirkiest of English traditions, Morris Dancing. I'm not quite sure who Morris is, or why he chose to create such a bizarre visual spectacle but I have a vague recollection of something in a medieval History lesson about the bells, sticks and handkerchiefs being used to ward off evil spirits. Obviously, both my son and nephew were gripped by this rather surreal performance, my mum thought it was a quaint bit of fun and my missus thought it was hilarious.

Not to want to deprive you of this mesmerizing display of auld English dance, I recorded a clip for you lucky, lucky people. Unfortunately, I recorded it sideways so in the interim while I fix it and to prevent you from getting a crooked neck, I have found this clip on youtube for your enjoyment. So sit back, relax and enjoy a top notch display of hanky waving, bell jingling, foot stomping English fun!

No golf this weekend...gutted

As I write this my mum will be crawling up the A12 on her way to visit. I had it all planned meticulously. She would arrive tonight, we'd have a family day out tomorrow, I'd watch England trounce Ghana in the last 16 of the World Cup, mum would depart at lunchtime on Sunday and I'd hit the course in the afternoon.

What could possibly go wrong? When Joe Cole and James Milner were playing hole the ball up in the corner, like many frustrated England fans I was screaming at them to show more ambition. The USA could still score, get a second, win the group. Obviously it would be nice to face Ghana & Uruguay to get to the semi finals. A much better route to glory than Germany, Argentina, Spain, Brazil. But much more importantly a late USA goal will completely ruin my golfing plans.

They persisted with the time wasting, Landon Donovan came to the Yanks rescue and my golf withdrawal symptoms went into overdrive. Bugger. The only way for my Sunday to be rescued is by a drubbing of the Germans. If I'm subjected to another Algeria-esque performance and we're knocked out I'll be doubly peeved. Fabio you've been warned.

Vicious circle

Same every week and now becoming increasingly frustrating. I play on the weekend, have a bit of a mare, am enlightened by an epiphany, resolve how I need to adapt/improve my game, do a bit of practice on my short game, get to Wednesday evening and think I just want to get out and play. Guaranteed by the time the weekend comes it won't go according to plan and I have to wait yet another week before I get a chance to put it right.

I'm luckier than a lot of people in the amount of golf I get to play but I'd love to be a bit selfish, take a week off work and play everyday. I feel it would make such a difference but the guilt (and sadness) of not spending quality time with Tiger junior would be too much to bear.

I just can't get golf out of my head. When I'm waiting for the bus/train I pretend practice my chipping/pitching stroke, when I'm in bed I'm playing my course in my head, when I'm sitting on the train I'm Reading a magazine or a book or a forum or I'm writing a post on here (like I am today).

I'm obsessed and maybe, just maybe I might need help and no I'm not referring to my long iron swing, though now I mention it...

Pulling it apart...

Went to the Heath on my lunch break and spent 30 mins working through my wedge shots. I have now disciplined the quarter swing and have the three swings (quarter, half & three quarters) working pretty well. I have no idea about distance yet. You can't pace it out on the Heath as it's like concrete and the balls zip off in all directions. I'll be pacing it out next time I practice at the club and I am hoping to get a DMD for my birthday so I can learn exactly how far each one goes and use that knowledge to good effect on the course.

My practice also brought home some of my frustrations and I must admit to feeling a little blue on my return. My short game is so much better than it was and I'm now hitting the green from further away meaning I'm having to putt longer distances, sometimes up/down a tier. That said I've maintained my number of putts average, so I just couldn't fathom why I wasn't scoring lower.

So I loaded up Scoresaver 2 and just pulled apart my stats to identify the problem areas. I now know that there are six holes I am yet to par and unsurprisingly they are a core component of my nightmare nine. On any given day there are 9 holes that I tend to perform well on and 9 that cause me varying degrees of difficulty. On three of those holes my average score is actually going down, suggesting that I am improving how I play them. On the others I've decided to rethink my course management.

The fourth of the nine is actually our par 3 18th, which has water to the back and the right of the green and a line of trees to the left of the green. There is a tight entrance to the hole and on more than a few occasions I've ended up in the drink and failed to get up and down. I'm considering laying up in the future, chipping on and aiming to secure par / bogey that way.

Which leaves five problem holes. The first of the bunch is the 4th hole and I have no idea why it causes me so many problems. I'm usually losing a couple of shots off the tee trying to hit it too hard, then I'll maybe hit my approach in the bunker, onto the wrong tier of the green or into the gorse. It's a 382 yard par 4 and I'm currently averaging +4. New plan 6/7 iron from the tee, same again from the fairway, chip on and putt for par.

Then come the run of 4 holes that wreck my card 12 - 15 (stroke index 10, 6, 4, 2). Par for this run is 17, I average 26.8. So even if I'm playing well up to that point I go and whack on another 10 strokes to my scorecard. Solution? Same conservative strategy as I'm adopting elsewhere, lay up and try and get up and down.

I have no idea whether this will work but I hope that by taking this approach to dramatically reduce my scores on my poorer holes I will be able to see a marked improvement in my results.

Hokey Vokey

You put your waterproofs on, take your waterproofs off, on, off, on, off then smash it out of bounds. You score a double bogey even though you got up and down, that's what it's all about woooooooohoooo the hokey vokey...

Well the weather was as changeable as a hypochondriac's health and the wind caused me a lot of problems, especially as the round progressed. My playing partner cried off with a bout of Ingerlanditis, a serious illness caused by a poor world cup performance that has symptoms not too disimilar to the world's worst hangover.

I struggled with the wind in my face and when it was blowing left or right it was tough keeping it on the fairway. Throw in some sloppy putting, a couple of duffed chips and a soupçon of bad luck and I had to scrap for every shot today. Best hole for me came on the 2nd. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and I drilled a 5 iron down the centre of the fairway, followed by a solid 6 iron. The group in front called me to play through and I hit my 8 iron to the edge of the green and putted from the fringe to 2 inches. Very close to a birdie on a par 5 that has been my nemesis for so long.

My best ever score is 105 and today I played below par and was one stroke off it with 30 stableford points. I am learning to tackle the elements by clubbing up, swinging easy and allowing for the wind. My chipping is improving though my club selection was wrong a couple of times, but that will come. I'm hoping to squeeze a round in one evening this week as I continue my preparation for my next medal. Let's hope I peak just in time for that game.

106 (71)
6(3), 5(5), 4(3), 9(4), 7(5), 5(3), 8(5), 5(4), 5(4), 6(4), 4(3), 7(5), 7(4), 7(4), 6(4), 5(4), 5(4), 5(3)

High Noon

My dad loved a western. I have fond memories of spending weekends in our living room at home with Clint Eastwood, John Wayne or Gary Cooper on the screen and the rasping sound of my dad snoring in his armchair. To be fair to him he worked hard all week but it always fascinated me how he would doze off when the film was reaching its climax. The best way to rouse him from his slumber was to change the channel, which was a surefire way to have him wake in start and tell you to turn his 'flim' back on as he was watching it.

I remember watching High Noon with my dad a couple of times in my youth and we then studied it as part of my English Language A level. The study focussed on how ground breaking the film was, depicting a tense story in real time as the clocked ticked slowly towards midday.

This weekend I'll be hoping that rather than the fine upstanding sheriff of the small town, my golf will resemble that of a rogue bandito. At 11.56 I'll be teeing up on Saturday and at noon I'll most likely be marking my scorecard after playing the par 3 opener.

After a lot of practice, lessons and time on course I feel it's time I stand and delivered. Ironically some of my best rounds at Waldringfield have been played after disasters on the first two holes. Here's hoping this time I can complete a card without any nightmares.

There will certainly be a crescendo of tension if I start well, which will slow intensify as I get nearer to the 18th. Plenty of six shooting on the longer holes married to some solid pars on the shorter ones will suit me just fine. Here's hoping I'm sitting down in the 'saloon' afterwards, sipping a whisky and toasting an important milestone.

Your 15th Club: Book review

Your 15th Club, Bob Rotella 

(Pocket Books, 2008)

The most recent book in the Bob Rotella series focusses on how golfers can make a long standing approach to the mental side of their game. Whereas previous efforts have related stories of how other players have overcome adversity and the importance of remaining in the present and trusting your skills, this volume takes a slightly different approach.

I am just revisiting this book for a second time before embarking on a re read of the other three Rotella books in my collection. In my opinion anyone wishing to develop the mental side of their game should read this book first. It includes a lot of lessons that will hopefully engrain positive habits that in turn will make the recommendations from Rotella's other works easier to adopt. I certainly am working hard on my belief in my ability to score. Increasingly I see bad shots as opportunities to demonstrate my prowess at scrambling and recovery. When I hit the sand I'm thinking about chalking up another sand save. Most importantly though when I fail to recover, or get up and down, I don't beat myself up, instead choosing to shrug my shoulders and move on to the next hole.

I have also been jotting down my better shots on my scorecards as I go round, but this weekend I'm planning on getting a proper leather bound journal to write anecdotes following my rounds that detail the good shots I play and I will periodically be in the habit of reading that journal to reinforce those positive memories. Some may say it's all mumbo jumbo, but I'm a great believer in positive thinking, you have to be to attempt this challenging project. I'm an unashamed Dr Bob fan and this book strikes gold once again for me.  

My rating 91%

To buy this book please click on the image below:

ISBN 978-1-84739-286-2

Looking like a nob!

Golf pro's must have a wicked sense of humour. In fact I'm willing to bet that at their annual conventions they huddle together and soil themselves in hysteria as they recount the crazy things they have got their charges to do, all in the spirit of becoming better golfers. The latest request from my pro is to work on a drill to help me drive forward through the downswing. This should position my weight better over my left foot on impact, resulting in straighter ball flight with my longer irons and woods.

In order to learn this feat I need to practice the movement and to help reinforce it...yes you've guessed it he has me looking like a nob. To ensure that my arms remain connected in the downswing contributing to the correct position at impact I have to stick a shaft through my belt loops. To make matters worse I need to do this in public.

I have raised a couple of confused glances from dog walkers on the heath and puzzled expressions from golfers on the range. But if it helps me learn how to hit piercing drives, I'll take the (hopefully brief) pain of looking like a complete dick head.

They do love a dogleg: Stapleford Abbotts GC

More beautifully manicured than a WAGs fingernails, this small but perfectly formed gem of a course is situated in the Essex countryside. Petite in scale the course relies on the 'magnetic' properties of H2O to provide the bulk of its challenge. Sure enough I would have required a PADI qualification to have retrieved far too many errant shots. The tranquility is slightly punctuated by the brief appearance of the M25 at the top of the course and the dual pylons on hole 12, but this brief interruption does not overly cloud a thoroughly enjoyable round. 

Some time spent practicing your draw will hold you in good stead as they do love a right to left dogleg, epitomised by the run of three consecutive bends on holes 3, 4 & 5. Confident, accurate ball strikers could score low here, while the less well equipped will find a sterner (possibly wetter) test waiting.

To find out more about Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club click here.

Train it, trust it

It would have been really naive to think that a day after one lesson I would stroll nonchalantly onto the course, pull the gleaming 3 Wood out of the bag and proceed to repeatedly split the fairway with a procession of drilled tee shots. That said it would have been [insert expletive] nice!

Anyway while I am still very much in the train it stage of my relationship with the Ping I do know that I am capable of hitting sweet shots with it. That in itself is reassuring and when I think back to when I started hitting my irons I had much the same problem with the 6, then the 5, the 4 and now the 3. Ironically, once I have reached the trust it stage with each iron and progressed to the next the shorter club almost immediately seems easier to hit. Perhaps because it has been dislodged from its position as the longest club in the bag I hit it a little more freely?

I am reassured by comments from other lower handicappers who I play with who say I am on the right track and I just need to be patient and wait for that epiphany when all the components start to gel together. The short game is really coming on and I honestly can't remember the last time I thinned a wedge. In fact my current problem on pitches is knowing which club to choose and how far to swing when I'm faced with distances between 100 - 40 yards, rather than having a consistent strike.

Recently my problems at Waldringfield have stemmed from the tee, after yesterday I feel a little more confident that I can get the ball in play and start to score with my irons whilst the 3 Wood is very much a work in progress.

Grand Prix Golf

Played in the Peter Hatcliffe memorial day today at Stapleford Abbotts golf course and learnt 4 important lessons.

1. When you play in a golf day with buggies you don't have time to collect your thoughts. I like the walk between shots to ponder, reflect, plan, think, contemplate, digest, chat, enjoy the surroundings etc. Today it was whizzing off after the tee shot and before I knew it I was standing over my next shot. More often than not it went wrong. In fact I played well off the tee today apart from 4 holes. Felt the pressure on the first with everyone gathered round and fluffed the holes on longest drive and nearest the pin. The other disaster was my first unleashing of the 3 wood, more on that later.

2. The 3 wood is still a work in progress but has improved my confidence and ability with the 3&4 irons. Call it pyschological or just feeling closer to the ball but I hit both clubs pretty well today. In fact performance off the tee, when I often had a chance to gather my thoughts, was my strongest asset. More time at the range with the G15 a pressing priority.

3. The 3 wood lesson has affected my performance with my other clubs. Driving through the ball and finishing in balance meant that today I hit a lot of balls out of bounds or into trouble left. These were mid to short iron shots that I used to hit straight so something I used to do to compensate in my swing is having a negative impact. I'm not hooking it but in a straight line about 30 yards left of target. I hope it will be a simple alignment fix.

4. How much fun are golf days!!!! Didn't play as well as I would have liked today but had fantastic company, great banter, good weather, a beautiful course and a really enjoyable round of golf. I may not have got into any rhythym but by the back nine I didn't care it was pure unadulterated fun and it made a refreshing change. Some times the whole challenge to reduce handicap can take over a bit so it was nice to let my hair down (not that I've got much), experiment a little and have fun with my brother and his friend Jamie.

I'll be posting a full review of Stapleford Abbotts soon but in a nutshell - they love a right to left dogleg!!!! Oh and in case you were wondering yes I did beat my bro.

Turning point?

I had a lesson today and feel this may present a turning point in my quest. We looked at my issues with the 3 Wood and long irons going right. The longer the club the further right they flew. The technical problem is that my weight was too far back in my swing causing me to be too open coming into impact. In cricketing terms I was playing beautiful cover drives, which tends to cause a fade/slice in golf.

Tried a couple of exercises and while I won't claim to have eradicated the problem I smashed a sufficient number of balls arrow straight into the back fence to have resolved a number of concerns. My teaching pro may well be a salesman but to be fair like the rest of us he is trying to make a living in tough economic times. That aside he is an exceptionally gifted coach and a good laugh to boot and though I may have doubted some of his past advice it seems he came up trumps again with the shaft recommendation. The G15 is an absolute beauty and if I can rein myself in enough to let the club do the work I could be in business.

So I am sticking with my pro, I have a new found confidence in my 3 Wood and hope I may well be about to turn the corner.

Sibling Rivalry II: the terrifying sequel

As you may recall I played eldest bro about six weeks ago on my track. I had a mare, posted my worst ever score and narrowly lost. Thing is oldest bro has never been a stand out golfer but plays for enjoyment and we had a great day together, hopefully the first of many. This weekend I'm set to play my other brother who again has a few years on me and has been playing golf for ages. He's ultra competitive but having played pro football I guess that's understandable. Since I took up the game he upped the anti on his own getting lessons and remodelling his swing. To add a bit of extra spice we'll be playing together as part of a bit of a gala day at Staplefords Golf Club, Essex.

So competitive bro + new course + lots of other people playing = a good test of mental character. The way I'm looking at it, it's going to be a similar degree of pressure as I faced when I played my medal and that can only hold me in good stead for the future, and next month's medal.

I have a lesson on Saturday which will determine whether the 3 Wood makes the journey with me. Aiming to feel my way into the course and play my own game and of course to paraphrase in the immortal words of Kevin Keegan "I would love it, just love it if I beat him!"

To find out more about Staleford Abbotts click here.

For-lawn

Let it never be said that I'm not committed to the cause. While our neighbours boast beautifully manicured emerald carpets of grass, they would be forgiven for thinking that our patch has developed a case of floral alopecia. I don't get on too well with lightweight chipping mats and the more durable versions are just too pricey for my pocket. As a result my garden has taken a bit of a battering.

I destroyed our outdoor airer practicing my long iron swing with airflow balls. To be fair I thought there was plenty of room for my follow through but it turned a smidgeon in the breeze and that was enough for me to snag it and completely obliterate its clothes hanging properties. Then there was the proliferation of broken tees and divot marks as I worked on my downswing. The latest destructive activity is chipping into my brolley.

A year ago I loved that lawn, even put down some Evergreen to cheer up any passing frogs. Now it is a divot and weed strewn disaster area. That said we haven't lived here that long and we do have plans to put down some decking/paving and make it a little more homely, so in my defence we'd have needed to tear most of it up anyway.

What will I do then I hear you ask? I've got two words for you: putting green. Now does anyone know where I can get a cheap cylindrical mower?

Work in progress...

So here I am three months in and my scores are the same. Admittedly, I am now playing off the whites which does make a significant difference on about 4 holes, but I wanted to get to the bottom of things. Critically, one thing has remained the same. My performance from the tee where I am still hitting a 5 iron most of the time. Interestingly though I have noticed that my ball striking with the 5 iron noticeably declines one the holes where I would preferably hit a Driver/3 Wood. On the shorter par 4's and obviously the par 3's where I hit 4/5/6 I tend to strike the ball pretty well, mainly because it is part of my course management plan for that hole. I also tend to hit the 4/5 iron well on approach shots on par 5's where I am laying up for a PW/9I.

All in my head...
So what can I do. Subconsciously something is telling me you need to rip this one because you should really be hitting a bigger stick. Irrespective of what I do to placate the caveman alter ego he is just unimpressed with the puniness of the iron and yearns for a meaty wood. Obviously, I have now purchased one but I think it will take about 3/4 weeks before it is ready for use on the course.

Next problem?
I am actually hoping that my next major issue will be resolved by fixing the first. Let me explain. I get too tentative on 'pressure putts' especially those that might lead to me breaking my birdie duck. I then get frustrated at under hitting those and overhit the second effort. However, if I am in play more off the tee, that will alleviate some of this self generated tension as I'll hopefully be scoring well and not reliant on birdies and pars to rescue me following disaster holes

So get it in play, keep it in play and hopefully the short game will take care of the rest

And the wheels come off...

Had a mare today, but that said there are some promising signs. Played with former club captain Roy who was very supportive, encouraging and as seems to be the case with all low handicappers had an absolute stormer in my playing company. He scored a net 65 and could be in with a shout of winning the medal. As for me, two very obvious problem areas:

1. Shots off the tee 
2. Pressure putts

Started well today scoring a 4 and 7 on the opening two holes where I normally have a shocker. Then found the compacted sand on 3 and picked it clean leaving a nightmare second shot over trees. Punched it through instead and did well to make a double bogey 5. My game plan was to try the 3 Wood on the 4th as there is no Out of Bounds right, which is exactly where my tee shot went. The G15 was then confined to the bag for the rest of the round as I scored a disappointing 8. But the wheels came off on the par 3 6th, which is normally the start of my strong run of holes. Hit the GIR and then four putted for a 5. Shrugged it off, hit three great shots to make GIR on the par 5 7th then three putted for a six. Out of bounds on the 8th heralded a run of triple, double, bogey.

Then on 11 I hit a solid tee shot onto the green and guess what another three putt. The worst was still to come with a woeful 12 on the 12th before a run of predominantly double bogeys in. A glimmer of hope came on the 17th when I hit a long 6 iron to five feet to then leave the five foot putt an inch short of my first birdie. A bad bounce got my ball wet on the 18th but to be honest it was mainly due to too much fade off the tee.

Frustrating thing is the ridiculous number of shots I lost off the tee and those stupid triple and quadruple putts. But I am actually buoyed by my performance for a number of reasons.

• Today was my first time off the whites
• Today was my first medal
• From 170 yards to the pin I was pretty accurate
• My chipping was spot on

I hit 4 GIR, only 4 FIR and took 35 putts, which could (and should) have been a much better statistic. However, there will be no return to the yellows now and I am confident that with a couple of lessons, some practice with the 3 Wood and more play time I'll be able to post a much more respectable score in July.

Well done to all those that predicted a score between 106-110 and my apologies to those who felt I'd shoot lower, I hope to do you less of a disservice next time out!

109 (71)
4(3), 7(5), 5(3), 8(4), 7(5), 5(3), 6(5), 7(4), 6(4), 5(4), 4(3), 12(5), 6(4), 6(4), 6(4), 6(4), 4(4), 5(3)

The tension is mounting

I'm as excited as a schoolboy on Christmas Eve and at the same time as nervous as a fox in the hunting season. The main aim for tomorrow is to go out and enjoy it. If I shoot a good score it's a bonus. The game plan is to play sensible, conservative golf, not worry about the score and keep the ball in play. I'm packing a spoon and plenty of sugar, just in case I need to take my medicine.

I've played the course enough times now to know about a lot of the positions I could end up in and have a bank of positive memories of how I have escaped a number of them, especially recently. I have missed this buzz, I remember it fondly on Friday nights before a big football game, actually with me ANY football game. Meticulously preparing my kit  and getting ready for kick off.

What's better about golf is the ability to plan ahead, have an idea of what you will do on each hole, remember where you have perhaps made mistakes before and think about what you will do if it happens again on the day. I'll lie in bed tonight and play the 18 in my head how I want to play it tomorrow. Fingers crossed my dream will come true.

The votes are in...

Is there such a thing as a 'hung poll'? In true British style there is no clear favourite for my score in this weekend's medal. It has been interesting watching the poll fluctuate as my updates influence some people's decision making. There was a definite increased surge in popularity for the 100-105 option after my latest round.

For those who predicted 116 or more it's nice to know that you have faith in my ability to deal with the pressure in competition settings! Joking aside there seems to be an even spread of opinion and I only hope that I can prove the more optimistic readers right. Part of me thinks that every shot counting may improve my concentration, but whether that stops me making silly mistakes or introduces unwanted tension is still to be seen. My tee time is now confirmed for Sunday morning at 09.24 so if you are not already immersed in your own golfing exploits, please spare me a moment and send up a little prayer, I just might need it.

14% - 99 or less    

28% - 100 - 105 

17% - 106 - 110 

22% - 111 - 115 

17% - 116 or more 

May stats

This month saw the continuation of my flirtation with the wood family of clubs. The 3 Wood has now arrived in the bag and hopefully it will boost my performance from the tee and reduce my scores further. As a result I expect a little more time with the 3 Wood next month as hopefully we sow the seeds of a long, loving relationship!

What has been most pleasing however has been the significant improvement in my short game. Having spent large proportions of my practice time focussing on chips and pitches my performance when I miss the greens is starting to noticeably improve.

Practice
This month saw a return to prioritising my short game in my available practice time.

Distance	Time (minutes)	% of practice time
Driver	45	7%
Other Woods	30	5%
200 - 250 yards	15	2%
150 – 200 yards	25	4%
100 – 150 yards	55	9%
Short Approach	275	45%
Bunker Play	30	5%
Putting	142	23%
Total	617	100%

So just over 10 hours practice last month, approximately 2.5 hours a week alongside at least a round per week. Obviously I'd love to play and practice more frequently but I'm satisfied with the amount of golf I'm currently cramming in to my hectic life.

Rounds
Interestingly my scoring ability is starting to improve despite a drop in my FIR performance. This owes mainly to improve scrambling performance and a greater number of GIR. As you would expect my improved performance in GIR had a negative impact on my putts per round.

Statistic	Performance	SS2 Handicap level
Fairways in Regulation	31%	21
Greens in Regulation	10%	21
Putts per Round	37.07	23
Birdie Conversion	0%	28+
Par Scrambles	12%	23
Sand Saves	11%	15
Penalties per Round	3.49	28+

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

The key area for improvement next month is my performance from the tee. This is where I am picking up the majority of penalties and a reduction in the number of penalties and a higher percentage of FIR is a main objective. If I can then maintain my performance into and around the greens I'll hopefully see my scores start to tumble.

G Man

It has finally arrived. The G15 has entered the building and I have taken the first steps to becoming a G-Man. I'm currently locked in negotiations with the missus to negotiate an opportunity for a test drive and lesson ahead of my first medal on Sunday. Hopefully, discussions will prove as positive as the Clegg/Cameron coalition chat.

The club itself looks gorgeous though the lurid orange shaft takes a bit if getting used to. Itching to get out on the range and rip it. Fingers crossed for Friday.