Oh dear. 35 putts, really solid short game and a score of 114. Could not find the middle of any club till I got within 100 yards. Played solo today and got absolutely soaked. Missed the companionship of a playing partner or two that would have made the game more enjoyable and may have helped me relax a little.
I'm going to focus on the positives. The new putting stroke and grip is working well and I snaked one in from the fringe on the first hole. The tweaks in terms of ball position, now in the middle of my stance, has enhanced my chipping quite a lot. I need to spend some time working on my alignment on chips and pitches as a few times I was pin high but off on direction. The challenge is still getting myself into positions to score. I didn't get to the range yesterday and it cost me today. I'll definitely be making a trip this week.
This game is really quite brutal as it chews you up and spits you out. It's so frustrating to be playing well around the green when your play of the tee is so woeful. Medal next week and my final handicap card.
114 (71)
5(3), 7(5), 3(3), 9(4), 10(5), 5(3), 7(5), 5(4), 5(4), 7(4), 3(3), 7(5), 10(4), 9(4), 9(4), 4(4), 5(4), 4(3)
Saturday 31 July 2010
Thursday 29 July 2010
Tweaking it
Couldn't make it to the range after work last night so headed to the club for some twilight practice. Whilst there I learnt a very important lesson: always, always take your waterproofs. Ensue a heavy downpour and my approach shot and short game practice was brought to a sad, swift, sodden and abrupt conclusion. Unpeturbed I had about 25 minutes putting practice and gave my kit a good clean.
The clubs and golf shoes are now sparkling but more importantly I have made another tweak to my putting that I hope will make a big difference. I use a blade putter and at times lose a little control of the clubhead at impact. I made a slight alteration to my grip last night and it seemed to make a positive change to clubhead and pace control.
When the missus is feeling a little less anti golf I'll get her to snap my grip change as a picture paints a thousand words. I doubt you'd want to read a mini dissertation on the subject so I'll attempt to describe the change in 47 words as an interim measure.
Previously, my index finger on my right hand was in the same hook position I used for normal shots, curved around the back of the club and making a downward facing V with my thumb. I now stretch that finger out and 'point' along my target line as I follow through.
OK so that was 51 words but what's a mini clause between friends? Can't wait to get out on Saturday. Hoping to go to the range on Friday in preparation for what should be an interesting round this weekend.
The clubs and golf shoes are now sparkling but more importantly I have made another tweak to my putting that I hope will make a big difference. I use a blade putter and at times lose a little control of the clubhead at impact. I made a slight alteration to my grip last night and it seemed to make a positive change to clubhead and pace control.
When the missus is feeling a little less anti golf I'll get her to snap my grip change as a picture paints a thousand words. I doubt you'd want to read a mini dissertation on the subject so I'll attempt to describe the change in 47 words as an interim measure.
Previously, my index finger on my right hand was in the same hook position I used for normal shots, curved around the back of the club and making a downward facing V with my thumb. I now stretch that finger out and 'point' along my target line as I follow through.
OK so that was 51 words but what's a mini clause between friends? Can't wait to get out on Saturday. Hoping to go to the range on Friday in preparation for what should be an interesting round this weekend.
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Dialing down the power
Having played golf for nearly a year now it still marvels me that there is such an over riding obsession with distance. Drivers that hit longer, balls that fly further, training aids to boost muscle mass. Fueling machismo seems to be the cornerstone of the golf business. From the outset I've focussed on wanting to be more accurate and have devoted a lot of time to practicing the short game. Today I made another conscious decision, I will change my understanding of how far I hit the ball.
I do consider myself lucky that I can hit a golf ball a fairly long way. However, my accuracy has been somewhat lacking. As a result I am now planning to take a more relaxed swing with more club in the knowledge that if I do accelerate and catch it peachy I'm going to sail past the green. To be honest this is something that most decent golfers do as a matter of course, but when I'm on the course I inevitably find myself thinking 175-180 yards to go, that's a 6 iron, rather than I'll hit a smooth 5 iron.
I'm off to the range this evening to find out my new distances based on a 3/4 swing. I hope that by curtailing my back swing I will be more accurate at impact and lose the disaster shots that have caused my scores to hemorrhage. Hopefully, that + increasing 3 wood confidence + short game practice on Friday = better all round play on the weekend. We'll see...
I do consider myself lucky that I can hit a golf ball a fairly long way. However, my accuracy has been somewhat lacking. As a result I am now planning to take a more relaxed swing with more club in the knowledge that if I do accelerate and catch it peachy I'm going to sail past the green. To be honest this is something that most decent golfers do as a matter of course, but when I'm on the course I inevitably find myself thinking 175-180 yards to go, that's a 6 iron, rather than I'll hit a smooth 5 iron.
I'm off to the range this evening to find out my new distances based on a 3/4 swing. I hope that by curtailing my back swing I will be more accurate at impact and lose the disaster shots that have caused my scores to hemorrhage. Hopefully, that + increasing 3 wood confidence + short game practice on Friday = better all round play on the weekend. We'll see...
Tuesday 27 July 2010
Laws of physics
I didn't get physics at school, which is probably why my teacher Mr Dick (believe it or not that was his real name) didn't like me very much. He thought I was either a) bone idle or b) thick. I think it's a shame he overlooked option c) confused. Had he thought to give me extra support rather than extra lines I may well be an engineer by trade now. Anyway the point of this seemingly aimless preamble is to establish quite clearly at the outset that physics is not my forte.
I made a minor tweak to my putting stroke on the weekend and was subsequently overhitting my putts by as much as two feet more than normal. If I overhit a putt I'm pretty good at knocking it no more than two or three feet past the hole. On Sunday that was becoming more like four or five feet and I missed more return putts than normal. My stroke felt smoother and the ball was rolling better. So I got to wondering does skidding make a ball travel more or less distance. And then I thought of another possible explanation.
From my memory force in = force out. The reason a rubber ball will not bounce back to the same height as it was dropped from is because it loses heat and energy through friction. My question is that by moving the ball a few inches further forward in my stance but maintaining the same length backswing am I inadvertently applying more force. If the clubhead continues to accelerate from the top of the backswing to just after the point the ball is struck, then surely the answer should be yes, in the same way that a half swing shot won't travel the sane distance as a full swing even when the tempo remains consistent. Hopefully this will mean it will take a couple of weeks for my brain to recalibrate to the new ball position and my pace judgement to return to normal.
If nothing else it has served as a reminder that perhaps I should have paid more attention in GCSE physics, rather than drawing phallic cartoon's parodying my physics teacher's rather unfortunate name.
I made a minor tweak to my putting stroke on the weekend and was subsequently overhitting my putts by as much as two feet more than normal. If I overhit a putt I'm pretty good at knocking it no more than two or three feet past the hole. On Sunday that was becoming more like four or five feet and I missed more return putts than normal. My stroke felt smoother and the ball was rolling better. So I got to wondering does skidding make a ball travel more or less distance. And then I thought of another possible explanation.
From my memory force in = force out. The reason a rubber ball will not bounce back to the same height as it was dropped from is because it loses heat and energy through friction. My question is that by moving the ball a few inches further forward in my stance but maintaining the same length backswing am I inadvertently applying more force. If the clubhead continues to accelerate from the top of the backswing to just after the point the ball is struck, then surely the answer should be yes, in the same way that a half swing shot won't travel the sane distance as a full swing even when the tempo remains consistent. Hopefully this will mean it will take a couple of weeks for my brain to recalibrate to the new ball position and my pace judgement to return to normal.
If nothing else it has served as a reminder that perhaps I should have paid more attention in GCSE physics, rather than drawing phallic cartoon's parodying my physics teacher's rather unfortunate name.
Monday 26 July 2010
Consistent shot shape
This is liable to change in a month but currently I'm hitting a gentle to moderate fade. I'll be able to live quite happily with that if it stays that way, at least for a complete round. Started aiming drives down the left hand side of the fairway to allow for the shape and though I was rather depressed to hit a couple of lovely draws that got me in trouble, for the most part it worked.
I am due for a swing MOT soon and to date every lesson I've had has impacted on my shot shape, so expecting some changes. A gentle draw would be more advantageous at my track as the majority of trouble is found on the right side of the course.
I must admit to feeling very different about my golf after Sundays round. I know there were a lot of people who advised me to get a 3 wood sooner but I honestly think struggling with my long irons was a good thing. My course management has benefitted hugely but mire importantly I think I have much more confidence in pulling a 4 iron from the bag as I know I can strike it solidly. My playing partner still struggles with his irons and has increasingly sought solace in the larger confidence inspiring head of his driver.
I'm genuinely hopeful that I'm about to turn quite a significant corner on my golfing odyssey. With more forgiving fairways and softer greens around the corner I'm feeling optimistic about what the autumn will bring. It looks unlikely that I will be able to submit a card before the next medal. What I do wonder is what the handicap secretary will do if I suddenly have a blinder on my 3rd card. Oh well that's not for a fortnight and there's plenty of golf to be played between now and then!
I am due for a swing MOT soon and to date every lesson I've had has impacted on my shot shape, so expecting some changes. A gentle draw would be more advantageous at my track as the majority of trouble is found on the right side of the course.
I must admit to feeling very different about my golf after Sundays round. I know there were a lot of people who advised me to get a 3 wood sooner but I honestly think struggling with my long irons was a good thing. My course management has benefitted hugely but mire importantly I think I have much more confidence in pulling a 4 iron from the bag as I know I can strike it solidly. My playing partner still struggles with his irons and has increasingly sought solace in the larger confidence inspiring head of his driver.
I'm genuinely hopeful that I'm about to turn quite a significant corner on my golfing odyssey. With more forgiving fairways and softer greens around the corner I'm feeling optimistic about what the autumn will bring. It looks unlikely that I will be able to submit a card before the next medal. What I do wonder is what the handicap secretary will do if I suddenly have a blinder on my 3rd card. Oh well that's not for a fortnight and there's plenty of golf to be played between now and then!
Sunday 25 July 2010
Blowing away the cobwebs
I'm a little ring rusty this month. My practice time has been scaled back in part to accommodate my driving lessons and partly to allow me to take the pressure off. My putting and chipping was poor today but in all I had an enjoyable round of golf and there is definitely a glimmer at the end of the tunnel.
Today our club played host to two competition semi finals and so our tee time was squeezed in between them at 12.12. It got off to a solid start with a 5 iron on the first I then saw my chip run through the green and into a bunker. Two shots to get out and a two putt for a pretty mediocre triple bogey 6. I carried on in that vein as I struggled to get my groove back (I think Stella may still have it) and finished the first six holes +18.
Then something magical happened, I got to grips with my 3 Wood on the course. What a difference a bit of distance makes. I found trouble to the right on the 7th which cost me my par but then hit a beauty on 9th to 40 yards off the green. I chose to putt uphill the bank to the green but left it short when a birdie should have been on the cards but took a very pleasing 4. Short game went AWOL on the 10th having put myself in a great position and a putting disaster followed on the 11th.
A bad run of holes followed with four consecutive 7's again mainly due to poor putting and chipping, but the biggest disappointment was on the 16th when I almost drove the green chipped on leaving a 12 foot putt for birdie and somehow walked off with a 5. Anger coursing through my veins I nobbed my tee shot on the 17th but calmed myself, kept the 3 wood in hand and found a greenside bunker. I should have been bolder and used a pitching wedge as the sand iron left me too far to resuce par and I walked off with a bogey. That and the hole before cost me the game and I went down 2&1.
I did save the best till last though and hit a lovely tee shot onto the tough green on the 18th, took two putts and walked off with my second par of the round. So a total of 108 but plenty of promising signs, most notably my significantly increased length off the tee. I came back in 52 which could easily have been sub fifty with a little more finesse. The course was also laid out at its toughest for today's competition matches and some of the pin positions were a nightmare. Play it safe to hit the green and leave yourself a tricky long putt or attack it and risk worse trouble.
I'll be down the range this week for some more long game practice and a couple of outings on the heath will hopefully see my game and touch sharpened up for next week.
108 (71)
6(3), 7(5), 6(3), 9(4), 8(5), 5(3), 6(5), 5(4), 4(4), 6(4), 5(3), 7(5), 7(4), 7(4), 7(4), 5(4), 5(4), 3(3)
Today our club played host to two competition semi finals and so our tee time was squeezed in between them at 12.12. It got off to a solid start with a 5 iron on the first I then saw my chip run through the green and into a bunker. Two shots to get out and a two putt for a pretty mediocre triple bogey 6. I carried on in that vein as I struggled to get my groove back (I think Stella may still have it) and finished the first six holes +18.
Then something magical happened, I got to grips with my 3 Wood on the course. What a difference a bit of distance makes. I found trouble to the right on the 7th which cost me my par but then hit a beauty on 9th to 40 yards off the green. I chose to putt uphill the bank to the green but left it short when a birdie should have been on the cards but took a very pleasing 4. Short game went AWOL on the 10th having put myself in a great position and a putting disaster followed on the 11th.
A bad run of holes followed with four consecutive 7's again mainly due to poor putting and chipping, but the biggest disappointment was on the 16th when I almost drove the green chipped on leaving a 12 foot putt for birdie and somehow walked off with a 5. Anger coursing through my veins I nobbed my tee shot on the 17th but calmed myself, kept the 3 wood in hand and found a greenside bunker. I should have been bolder and used a pitching wedge as the sand iron left me too far to resuce par and I walked off with a bogey. That and the hole before cost me the game and I went down 2&1.
I did save the best till last though and hit a lovely tee shot onto the tough green on the 18th, took two putts and walked off with my second par of the round. So a total of 108 but plenty of promising signs, most notably my significantly increased length off the tee. I came back in 52 which could easily have been sub fifty with a little more finesse. The course was also laid out at its toughest for today's competition matches and some of the pin positions were a nightmare. Play it safe to hit the green and leave yourself a tricky long putt or attack it and risk worse trouble.
I'll be down the range this week for some more long game practice and a couple of outings on the heath will hopefully see my game and touch sharpened up for next week.
108 (71)
6(3), 7(5), 6(3), 9(4), 8(5), 5(3), 6(5), 5(4), 4(4), 6(4), 5(3), 7(5), 7(4), 7(4), 7(4), 5(4), 5(4), 3(3)
Friday 23 July 2010
A different kind of driving...
Here's a little fact that you don't know about me, I haven't passed my driving test, actually I hadn't until this afternoon. When I was 17 I was a passenger in a nasty car accident. Our car was hit on the side by car doing 50 that ignored a red light. We were thrown over the road into a lamp post and my mates legged it because they thought it was going to blow up. They got 50 metres away looked round and couldn't see me. They then came running back to the car to get me out. I was semi conscious and trapped, the firemen had to cut me from the wreckage and for for six hours I couldn't feel me legs. It was the longest six hours of my life. It won't surprise you that I didn't get in a car for a year after that and subsequently I gave up on my driving lessons.
At University I decided to give it another go, but circumstance, finance and time conspired against me and I had a nightmare on my test and failed with more majors than the British Army.
Two years ago I took my theory test. My other half was pregnant with our little one, I wanted to get my driving sorted. A month after my theory I lost sensation in my left leg, a week later my right had joined it and a couple of days after that I had my major relapse. I was diagnosed with MS and without proper sensation in my feet driving had to take a back seat.
I've been dependent on friends and my other half to get from A-B, including my frequent trips to Cambridge for my follow up appointments. Today I finally got that monkey off my back with the help of ace South African driving instructor John Round. My theory test certificate expires tomorrow, so its a good job I passed today. I'm so relieved and happy. I can now do my fair share of driving, take the little one out for father son day trips and take command of my golfing life. Hopefully, this will mean I spend more time at the range practicing that other form of driving.
At University I decided to give it another go, but circumstance, finance and time conspired against me and I had a nightmare on my test and failed with more majors than the British Army.
Two years ago I took my theory test. My other half was pregnant with our little one, I wanted to get my driving sorted. A month after my theory I lost sensation in my left leg, a week later my right had joined it and a couple of days after that I had my major relapse. I was diagnosed with MS and without proper sensation in my feet driving had to take a back seat.
Thursday 22 July 2010
Any given Sunday...
On an earlier blog post I placed a link to the Al Pacino "Inches" speech from the film Any Given Sunday. In the days when my weekends were taken up by the more physical pursuits of rugby and football, it became an intrinsic part of my pre match build up. When I first took up the glorious game of golf I applied the same mentality. Hunger, passion, desire, winning...it didn't serve me particularly well, and recently I have started to question whether winning actually has a place in my golfing life.
I've felt a huge pang of sympathy this summer for Wayne Rooney, Andy Murray and Lee Westwood. The weight of expectation on their collective shoulders is such that even the mythological Greek Atlas may struggle to bear it. Anything short of specific silverware is deemed failure. As Westwood completed yet another top finish in a Major he was once again lambasted for having not won a Major. I sincerely hope he can break his duck at Whistling Straits so people recognise his considerable achievements since bouncing back from a crushing loss of form. Unfortunately, he will probably be informed that the truly great players win multiple Majors.
For my part I must confess I started playing golf wanting to 'win' without any clear idea of what that actually meant. Was it beating my playing partner, getting a scratch handicap, pummeling the course into submission to the extent that the wind whistling through the trees seems to say "please stop we beg you"? I forgot why I had taken up the game in the first place, the fact I'd played pretty much every other sport from the age of five. On reflection I blame school. Whatever sport it was the ambition was to get in the school team and then to win. I have a picture at home of my first sports day just before my sixth birthday proudly holding my age group trophy and the Victorum Ludorum. I won the double again a year later, came first in every event and scored maximum points.
I then read Bill Elliot's excellent piece in the latest edition of Golf Monthly. In This Golfing Life he recollects his experiences of the game as he is asked to reflect on the misleading simple question that: if you play golf for fun, what for you is fun? It suddenly dawned on me that although I have said I play sport for fun, that is actually a lie. I've always played to compete, well almost always. When I studied for my MSc at Loughborough I decided I wanted to have a bit if recreational sport. I joined the athletics club and rather than getting involved onthe sprints which I knew I'd take too seriously, I had a go at pole vaulting. A very technical sport that requires years of training, technique development and body conditioning. I had no expectations, a very good coach and a lot of fun that year. Mmmmm....
I've felt a huge pang of sympathy this summer for Wayne Rooney, Andy Murray and Lee Westwood. The weight of expectation on their collective shoulders is such that even the mythological Greek Atlas may struggle to bear it. Anything short of specific silverware is deemed failure. As Westwood completed yet another top finish in a Major he was once again lambasted for having not won a Major. I sincerely hope he can break his duck at Whistling Straits so people recognise his considerable achievements since bouncing back from a crushing loss of form. Unfortunately, he will probably be informed that the truly great players win multiple Majors.
For my part I must confess I started playing golf wanting to 'win' without any clear idea of what that actually meant. Was it beating my playing partner, getting a scratch handicap, pummeling the course into submission to the extent that the wind whistling through the trees seems to say "please stop we beg you"? I forgot why I had taken up the game in the first place, the fact I'd played pretty much every other sport from the age of five. On reflection I blame school. Whatever sport it was the ambition was to get in the school team and then to win. I have a picture at home of my first sports day just before my sixth birthday proudly holding my age group trophy and the Victorum Ludorum. I won the double again a year later, came first in every event and scored maximum points.
I then read Bill Elliot's excellent piece in the latest edition of Golf Monthly. In This Golfing Life he recollects his experiences of the game as he is asked to reflect on the misleading simple question that: if you play golf for fun, what for you is fun? It suddenly dawned on me that although I have said I play sport for fun, that is actually a lie. I've always played to compete, well almost always. When I studied for my MSc at Loughborough I decided I wanted to have a bit if recreational sport. I joined the athletics club and rather than getting involved onthe sprints which I knew I'd take too seriously, I had a go at pole vaulting. A very technical sport that requires years of training, technique development and body conditioning. I had no expectations, a very good coach and a lot of fun that year. Mmmmm....
Monday 19 July 2010
Monkey see, monkey do...
Watched a fair amount of the Open this weekend. I was disappointed at the way it turned out, with the weather on Friday giving Oosthuizen a massive advantage. However, he still had to take his chance and I think he played tremendously well to hold his nerve. My bets didn't perform as well as I'd hoped but I have learnt that hindsight is a wonderful tool when gambling ;0). I should seriously have put an each way flutter on Westwood ahead of Tiger but went with nostalgia rather than common sense...oh well.
What I did learn was a lot from players set up, especially with 3 Wood, irons and on the putting green. From now on I will allow my hands to relax more freely on iron and wood shots, a factor that may be helped by getting an extra 0.5 inch on my irons shaft length. I went over the heath for the first time in ages and was hitting my pitching wedge pretty well. I've got a Shotmiser on my birthday wish list so hopefully I'll soon know my wedge distances as well.
The biggest revelation was on their putting where they have the ball closer to their front foot than I do meaning they hit the ball on the upstroke. A fact reinforced by the chap in American golf who demonstrated putting with a sand wedge to further illustrate the point.
No game this weekend but I'm looking forward to playing on Sunday with a couple of friends who are thinking of joining my course. It would be great if they did as they are both much better than I am and excellent company. I've kept the how long till I break 100 poll up but to be honest I'm not really that fussed anymore, just hope I enjoy my game this weekend.
What I did learn was a lot from players set up, especially with 3 Wood, irons and on the putting green. From now on I will allow my hands to relax more freely on iron and wood shots, a factor that may be helped by getting an extra 0.5 inch on my irons shaft length. I went over the heath for the first time in ages and was hitting my pitching wedge pretty well. I've got a Shotmiser on my birthday wish list so hopefully I'll soon know my wedge distances as well.
The biggest revelation was on their putting where they have the ball closer to their front foot than I do meaning they hit the ball on the upstroke. A fact reinforced by the chap in American golf who demonstrated putting with a sand wedge to further illustrate the point.
No game this weekend but I'm looking forward to playing on Sunday with a couple of friends who are thinking of joining my course. It would be great if they did as they are both much better than I am and excellent company. I've kept the how long till I break 100 poll up but to be honest I'm not really that fussed anymore, just hope I enjoy my game this weekend.
Saturday 17 July 2010
Outlook's not too rosy
Hit some balls with the 3 wood which is beginning to take better shape. I've noticed that I'm getting better strike when I concentrate on keeping the clubhead inside the line to strike the 3-6 quadrant (if you imagine the ball as a clockface). Had a fair few that rolled out to about 250 yards but I'd be much happier with less distance and more control. Unfortunately, no chance of hitting the course this weekend so the visit to the range came off the back of helping my mate decide on his new irons and putter. He knew what he wanted but wanted the comfort of having someone else with him to help him make up his mind.
When he got measured I decided to get measured as well to discover that my current irons are 0.5 inches too short. Mire than a tad frustrating but with a little extra knee flex they'll be ok till I get my grips changed in September / October when I'll get plugs put in.
And of course my first 'horse' has fallen at Beechers brook as Justin Rose failed to make the cut. It was enthralling to see the old Lady fight back on day two, with young Rory McIlroy taking the biggest bitch slapping. At least he maintained his record of never shooting in the 70's at St Andrews but my heart did go out to him. So my hopes of a win hinge on how Tiger gets on this weekend and whether Oosthuizen can hang on.
When he got measured I decided to get measured as well to discover that my current irons are 0.5 inches too short. Mire than a tad frustrating but with a little extra knee flex they'll be ok till I get my grips changed in September / October when I'll get plugs put in.
And of course my first 'horse' has fallen at Beechers brook as Justin Rose failed to make the cut. It was enthralling to see the old Lady fight back on day two, with young Rory McIlroy taking the biggest bitch slapping. At least he maintained his record of never shooting in the 70's at St Andrews but my heart did go out to him. So my hopes of a win hinge on how Tiger gets on this weekend and whether Oosthuizen can hang on.
Friday 16 July 2010
Eat. Look. Think.
I mentioned a couple of weeks back that my mum came up to stay. Now while it had a detrimental effect on my golf playing time, it had a positive effect on breakfast time. Sadly that pleasure came to an end this morning as I finished off the last of the Czar plum jam. That's one of the benefits of living in Suffolk: great quality, locally produced preserves. Mum treated me to a jar of this jam and some Apple Chutney which will be getting demolished this evening with some pork chops, mature cheddar and sauteed potatoes.
But enough culinary chat, where's the tenuous link back to golf? Well, having enjoyed fruit jam on toast, I then proceeded to continue with my morning ritual of looking like a prize plum practicing my chipping stroke with my umbrella. The other bloke at the bus stop thought I was decidedly odd but I continued unabated, and that got me thinking.
It's funny how when you least expect it you have a Eureka moment. Unlike Archimedes, it happened after my daily bathing ritual. I'm too asleep in the shower to have blinding moments of clarity, but as the end of my umbrella scuffed the tarmac I started thinking that I'd been playing like a plum. You know how I've been saying that my chips kept running past the hole? Well I realised today that my ball position is in line with the back of my right foot. I started thinking, as my brolly brushed the floor just after the middle of my stance, that I was delofting my clubs which would mean getting more roll than expected. Mmmmmm. Will see next time out if moving it forward into the middle of my stance has any positive effects.
But enough culinary chat, where's the tenuous link back to golf? Well, having enjoyed fruit jam on toast, I then proceeded to continue with my morning ritual of looking like a prize plum practicing my chipping stroke with my umbrella. The other bloke at the bus stop thought I was decidedly odd but I continued unabated, and that got me thinking.
It's funny how when you least expect it you have a Eureka moment. Unlike Archimedes, it happened after my daily bathing ritual. I'm too asleep in the shower to have blinding moments of clarity, but as the end of my umbrella scuffed the tarmac I started thinking that I'd been playing like a plum. You know how I've been saying that my chips kept running past the hole? Well I realised today that my ball position is in line with the back of my right foot. I started thinking, as my brolly brushed the floor just after the middle of my stance, that I was delofting my clubs which would mean getting more roll than expected. Mmmmmm. Will see next time out if moving it forward into the middle of my stance has any positive effects.
Thursday 15 July 2010
What's in Northern Irish water at the moment!
First off G-Mac blows us all away at the US Open with a quite brilliant nerve shredding performance at Pebble Beach. Now Rory Mc goes and tears up the auld lady. Wow and when you consider that he should have birdied 16 you have to think that he is going to take some stopping. I was impressed with Tiger who looked menacingly steady and with Westwood going well it good make for a fascinating weekend.
I'll definitely be having a flutter on the four majors from now on, and it's good to know that both my players are still in it. I'll probably spread my bets a little more next time but hey ho it's a learning curve.
As for golf that's had to take a back seat recently because work has been so busy. I fancy a spot of putting this evening but would prefer to be doing that and some pitching practice up at the course. Oh well hopefully out for 18 on Saturday here's hoping I'll be inspired by the stellar cast of The 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship! One thing I've noticed is how smooth their tempo is. I'll be looking to be a little more circumspect next time out.
I'll definitely be having a flutter on the four majors from now on, and it's good to know that both my players are still in it. I'll probably spread my bets a little more next time but hey ho it's a learning curve.
As for golf that's had to take a back seat recently because work has been so busy. I fancy a spot of putting this evening but would prefer to be doing that and some pitching practice up at the course. Oh well hopefully out for 18 on Saturday here's hoping I'll be inspired by the stellar cast of The 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship! One thing I've noticed is how smooth their tempo is. I'll be looking to be a little more circumspect next time out.
Golf just got better...
I'm not really a gambling man but loving The Open even more because I had a flutter. In the end I went for Tiger on the nose for a tenner at 6/1 and e/w on Justin Rose at 22/1. Both have made solid starts but I'm a little disappointed I didn't follow the suggestion on the BBC website made by a former player (can't remember who) who suggested a punt on John Daly to be the clubhouse leader on day 1. Boy is he tearing it up.
So I'm cracking on with my work have the golf on in the background and thoroughly looking forward to the weekend, with a hope that my two picks are still in the hunt.
So I'm cracking on with my work have the golf on in the background and thoroughly looking forward to the weekend, with a hope that my two picks are still in the hunt.
Wednesday 14 July 2010
As excited as...
A small schoolboy who has been extra diligent and good for the whole of the past year and has woken up on christmas morning to see a crisp white blanket of snow outside, a bulging stocking full of presents tied to his bed and been roused from his slumber by an excitable puppy licking his face, with the aforementioned hound being the gift that he had incessantly lobbied for over the past year.
Why? I feel like a rejuvenated born again golfer and most importantly the Open has arrived. Golf on terrestrial telly for us poor folk without nowt left over for Sky subscription once the taxman, mortgage provider and utility suppliers have had their finger in the monthly payday cookie jar. I wasn't really a fan of golf on telly before this year's Masters but I've got the bug and am looking forward to coverage driven by Auntie Beeb.
The only time I've got excited about golf before was in 1998 when a fresh faced amateur Justin Rose almost won it at Southport. If memory serves me well he missed out by two shots, Mark O'Meara won it some other random bloke came second and Tiger 3rd. So given my enthusiasm for watching my first ever Open properly as an actual bona fide golfer (with clubs and everything) I'm going to have a little wager. As I know diddly squat about current form I'm going to go with the two golfers that featured when I was last swept up in the Open, with an each way on Tiger and a top ten for a slightly less youthful Rose. In my heart of hearts I want Westwood to win it, but time will tell if I've had a mare!!!
Why? I feel like a rejuvenated born again golfer and most importantly the Open has arrived. Golf on terrestrial telly for us poor folk without nowt left over for Sky subscription once the taxman, mortgage provider and utility suppliers have had their finger in the monthly payday cookie jar. I wasn't really a fan of golf on telly before this year's Masters but I've got the bug and am looking forward to coverage driven by Auntie Beeb.
The only time I've got excited about golf before was in 1998 when a fresh faced amateur Justin Rose almost won it at Southport. If memory serves me well he missed out by two shots, Mark O'Meara won it some other random bloke came second and Tiger 3rd. So given my enthusiasm for watching my first ever Open properly as an actual bona fide golfer (with clubs and everything) I'm going to have a little wager. As I know diddly squat about current form I'm going to go with the two golfers that featured when I was last swept up in the Open, with an each way on Tiger and a top ten for a slightly less youthful Rose. In my heart of hearts I want Westwood to win it, but time will tell if I've had a mare!!!
Tuesday 13 July 2010
Back to basics
Last weekend was all about bringing the enjoyment back into my golf. This week will be about remembering the key fundamentals grip, posture and alignment. I'll be spending my evenings gripping my shaft in the living room, ooh er, in a bid to reinforce a relaxed and well formed grip. I've already spent some time checking myself out in the mirror (not for narcissistic purposes I may swiftly add) principally to look at my shoulder position at address.
I'm going to take a more care in my stance and posture so that I can look myself squarely in the eye on Saturday and say that I enjoyed myself AND got the fundamentals of set up right. It sounds strange but I'm almost giving myself an intensive refresher course as I look to resolve some of the challenges I've been having on the course.
I'm going to take a more care in my stance and posture so that I can look myself squarely in the eye on Saturday and say that I enjoyed myself AND got the fundamentals of set up right. It sounds strange but I'm almost giving myself an intensive refresher course as I look to resolve some of the challenges I've been having on the course.
Monday 12 July 2010
The heavens open
I've been suffering on the course recently with hard fast greens and dry, dusty fairways. I hit so many chips and pitches that landed exactly where I wanted them to only to roll right off the other side of the green. Now I know I don't have the spinning skills just yet but I hit a couple of chips with a SW that you would normally expect to roll on the same distance they were in he air. They just kept going and going and going, you get the picture. The other issue I had was ball striking on hard pan lies another consequence of the recent drought.
So imagine my delight as I look out my window at what can only be described as a tropical downpour. So I'll pass on the heath today, put in a little putting practice and the hope that a few days of rain like this will help the course to recover just a smidgeon from the recent heat wave. You never know I might actually need to use my pitch mark repair tool. It's been a while!
Sunday 11 July 2010
Cracking day despite crappy play
No idea what I scored today and couldn't tell you any stats. Took it easy on the golf front this week, no practice and no expectation. Went out this morning to have fun and on that front today was a phenomenol success. Played silly mini games, closest the pin, straightest tee shot betting each other to try and hit the pin etc.
Neither of us brought our C game let alone our A game but we had a good laugh ribbing each other when it went tits up and applauding when we played a good shot. My best hole came on the 8th but despite hitting my approach to ten feet I blew the chance for my first birdie. That said it didn't really phase me.
The bad shots mainly went left and I'm hoping to get some practice time in this week to work on my set up and pre shot routine. I've definitely not given up wanting to improve and will hopefully get some practice this week. Got a lot on with work at the moment so will probably gear up my playing, practice and lesson time toward the end of the month. In the meantime it's just nice to be playing for fun again...
Neither of us brought our C game let alone our A game but we had a good laugh ribbing each other when it went tits up and applauding when we played a good shot. My best hole came on the 8th but despite hitting my approach to ten feet I blew the chance for my first birdie. That said it didn't really phase me.
The bad shots mainly went left and I'm hoping to get some practice time in this week to work on my set up and pre shot routine. I've definitely not given up wanting to improve and will hopefully get some practice this week. Got a lot on with work at the moment so will probably gear up my playing, practice and lesson time toward the end of the month. In the meantime it's just nice to be playing for fun again...
Thursday 8 July 2010
The little man...
When he could stand I bought the little man his first football. I'm obviously bias but he's got a cracking left peg already. So this week he got his first taste of golf. We bought him a little plastic golf set complete with a putter, iron and wood. Ok so far he lacks the co-ordination and sweeps it round the floor like a broom but he does put the ball on the little tees very nicely.
It's the first stepping stone and I'm looking forward to getting him his first proper clubs and taking him down to the club to play putting and chipping games. What does worry me is that in a few years he'll be rinsing me of all my loose change as he drains putt after putt and holes chip after chip. Oh well a small price to pay for some good quality father and son bonding.
It's the first stepping stone and I'm looking forward to getting him his first proper clubs and taking him down to the club to play putting and chipping games. What does worry me is that in a few years he'll be rinsing me of all my loose change as he drains putt after putt and holes chip after chip. Oh well a small price to pay for some good quality father and son bonding.
Wednesday 7 July 2010
In my head...?
I'm planning on having a good laugh on the course on Saturday. My regular playing partner will be keeping my score so all I'll be concerned with is cracking that little white sphere around. I'll be whacking all my sticks and will be pleased if I drain a few long putts, hit a couple of solid approaches and put at least one chip close. Probably the most excited I've been about playing for quite some time.
I'm also wondering if my slightly more carefree approach will see me quit on fewer shots. Had a bit of an issue with the hard ground last time out and was petrified of thinning it through the green, down the A12 and into the sea at Lowestoft. I wonder if I'll now just hit the bloody thing and whether that will ironically yield better results.
I'm not sure how long the honeymoon period will last but I'll be enjoying it to the max this weekend.
I'm also wondering if my slightly more carefree approach will see me quit on fewer shots. Had a bit of an issue with the hard ground last time out and was petrified of thinning it through the green, down the A12 and into the sea at Lowestoft. I wonder if I'll now just hit the bloody thing and whether that will ironically yield better results.
I'm not sure how long the honeymoon period will last but I'll be enjoying it to the max this weekend.
Tuesday 6 July 2010
The nail in the coffin...
I had high hopes for Sunday's medal, despite the hard pan fairways. However the negative signs were ominous when I teed it up on the first and creamed my five iron straight at the pin. Cue a nasty bounce off the fairway and rather than rolling up just past the fringe, the ball was deposited in a bunker. I then managed to pick my bunker shot clean, cleared the green and took four more shots to get it in the hole. That opening 5 iron was the best shot I hit all day as I struggled in all aspects of the game. My tee shots were rapidly degenerated to the point when I hit my shot off the 5th and nearly killed the club captain as it took off at right angles, not to mention the swipe on the 13th while the ball remained somewhat bemused on the tee.
It didn't get much better on the fairways, with the better shots being a mixture of Sally Gunnells and mishits that wound up short of trouble. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was only able to identify one hole where I felt I played well and that was our stroke index 18, par 3 11th. A solid par was picked up there but the rest of the card made for dismal reading. I clocked up an unwanted record with three penalties at the 5th, which included one for the stroke that nearly decapitated the Club Captain.
A total of 11 penalties, a total so high that it confused Scoresaver 2 into thinking I had actually bettered the target of 2.8. 38 putts included a woeful four putt with two misses from 3 feet. Two fairways hit and a solitary GIR. I wanted to weep, I tried to think only about the next shot, clear my mind and go through my pre shot routine. It didn't work. My second worst round ever, it surely has to get better from here on...
It didn't get much better on the fairways, with the better shots being a mixture of Sally Gunnells and mishits that wound up short of trouble. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was only able to identify one hole where I felt I played well and that was our stroke index 18, par 3 11th. A solid par was picked up there but the rest of the card made for dismal reading. I clocked up an unwanted record with three penalties at the 5th, which included one for the stroke that nearly decapitated the Club Captain.
A total of 11 penalties, a total so high that it confused Scoresaver 2 into thinking I had actually bettered the target of 2.8. 38 putts included a woeful four putt with two misses from 3 feet. Two fairways hit and a solitary GIR. I wanted to weep, I tried to think only about the next shot, clear my mind and go through my pre shot routine. It didn't work. My second worst round ever, it surely has to get better from here on...
120 (71)
6(3), 9(5), 7(3), 5(4), 12(5), 6(3), 7(5), 6(4), 6(4), 5(4), 3(3), 7(5), 8(4), 9(4), 7(4), 5(4), 7(4), 5(3)
Monday 5 July 2010
The journey continues...
A few people said that I should carry on the blog, so I've changed the parameters to being simply how good can I get in five years. Ironically, it may be that without the pressure of striving for scratch I get a lot closer than I would have done under the old project. I'll continue to share my trials and tribulations with you, my frustrations and successes and I hope you share your golfing highs and lows with me on the way.
I'll post a detailed review of my last round tomorrow but as you will read it wasn't so much the straw that broke the camel's back, rather the concrete slab that crushed its vertebrae!
I'll post a detailed review of my last round tomorrow but as you will read it wasn't so much the straw that broke the camel's back, rather the concrete slab that crushed its vertebrae!
Sunday 4 July 2010
Project Scratched
I've been thinking long and hard about this for a while now. Back in December the Project Scratch idea was created by another golfer. He took the wise option of opting out early doors and I felt compelled to carry it on. I've previously said on the Golf Monthly forum that if it ever came to a point where I was no longer enjoying my golf I'd give up the project and that point was reached today. I had a long chat in the bar with the club captain who I played with in today's medal and he said quite plainly that there is a clearly a decent golfer in there but I'm applying so much pressure to myself it's having a massive negative impact on my performance and enjoyment of the game.
I still want to practice, I still want to take lessons, I still want to improve but above all that I just want to enjoy playing with my mates. I want to savour the good shots and laugh off the bad ones. I want to have fun on the course, and not have a bad round affect my mood off it. I can't do any of those things whilst I'm still attempting this ticking time bomb project.
Back when I started I didn't really care about my handicap I just wanted to hit some good shots, post a half decent score and have a laugh and that's exactly what I intend to do. I'm still weighing up what to do with the blog, whether to reinvent it revolving around my love of the beautiful game or scrap it completely.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to all who have supported me to this stage, for your comments, advice, hints, tips, suggestions I've really valued your contributions, and hopefully I'll meet some of you on a golf course in the future.
I still want to practice, I still want to take lessons, I still want to improve but above all that I just want to enjoy playing with my mates. I want to savour the good shots and laugh off the bad ones. I want to have fun on the course, and not have a bad round affect my mood off it. I can't do any of those things whilst I'm still attempting this ticking time bomb project.
Back when I started I didn't really care about my handicap I just wanted to hit some good shots, post a half decent score and have a laugh and that's exactly what I intend to do. I'm still weighing up what to do with the blog, whether to reinvent it revolving around my love of the beautiful game or scrap it completely.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to all who have supported me to this stage, for your comments, advice, hints, tips, suggestions I've really valued your contributions, and hopefully I'll meet some of you on a golf course in the future.
Saturday 3 July 2010
The Golfer's Mind: Book review
The Golfer's Mind, Bob Rotella
(Pocket Books, 2004)
"At the level of a given shot, confidence is no more than the ability to focus the mind and think only about the ball going to the target".
Having felt a bit blue yesterday I turned to Bob. In an ideal world I'd have been on the phone to him in the States and we'd have chatted for an hour or so on the phone and he'd have help me realise the need for greater belief and positivity. Unfortunately, I don't have a 'Batphone' connection, but I do have 'The Golfer's Mind'.
If 'Your 15th Club' was a tool to enable you to learn how to better improve your confidence day by day, 'The Golfer's Mind' is a quick refresher course. Taking all the best bits of his previous works, and distilling them into one simple refresher volume Rotella has created arguably the second must own book of his collection.
So feeling despondent I turned to the section on confidence, reflected on yesterday and realised that maybe, just maybe I was being more than a tad harsh on myself. A core part of my practice yesterday was hitting half swing PW approaches. I know the ball travels 100 yards with these, so I paced the distance out and started hitting 21 balls at the green. Hit the green with 8 shots both times that's 38%. I missed six shots to the right of the target, duffed a couple well short put one in a bunker and left the rest a bit short of green.
But I'd set myself a tough task as I was aiming at the front portion of the green, when I actually play I aim for the middle/back portion which would have meant that I would probably have had another 5 on the dancefloor (61.9%)
So why am I beating myself up? Probably reading about other players who are in great nick and whose handicaps/performances are steadily (or even rapidly) improving and applying additional pressure to myself. So this morning I'm giving myself a little refresher course with key chapters of 'The Golfer's Mind' and after I play on Sunday I'll update this review and post my book rating.
Well I've played now and had an absolute mare. It's not Bob's fault it's mine, I was just completely unable to adhere to the fundamental principles. That said it's still a good book.
Having felt a bit blue yesterday I turned to Bob. In an ideal world I'd have been on the phone to him in the States and we'd have chatted for an hour or so on the phone and he'd have help me realise the need for greater belief and positivity. Unfortunately, I don't have a 'Batphone' connection, but I do have 'The Golfer's Mind'.
If 'Your 15th Club' was a tool to enable you to learn how to better improve your confidence day by day, 'The Golfer's Mind' is a quick refresher course. Taking all the best bits of his previous works, and distilling them into one simple refresher volume Rotella has created arguably the second must own book of his collection.
So feeling despondent I turned to the section on confidence, reflected on yesterday and realised that maybe, just maybe I was being more than a tad harsh on myself. A core part of my practice yesterday was hitting half swing PW approaches. I know the ball travels 100 yards with these, so I paced the distance out and started hitting 21 balls at the green. Hit the green with 8 shots both times that's 38%. I missed six shots to the right of the target, duffed a couple well short put one in a bunker and left the rest a bit short of green.
But I'd set myself a tough task as I was aiming at the front portion of the green, when I actually play I aim for the middle/back portion which would have meant that I would probably have had another 5 on the dancefloor (61.9%)
So why am I beating myself up? Probably reading about other players who are in great nick and whose handicaps/performances are steadily (or even rapidly) improving and applying additional pressure to myself. So this morning I'm giving myself a little refresher course with key chapters of 'The Golfer's Mind' and after I play on Sunday I'll update this review and post my book rating.
Well I've played now and had an absolute mare. It's not Bob's fault it's mine, I was just completely unable to adhere to the fundamental principles. That said it's still a good book.
86%
ISBN 978-1-4165-0229-6
Friday 2 July 2010
Confidence drying up...
Spent 50 minutes on putting practice yesterday and went up to the club today to practice my approach shots on the practice area for an hour. It was the first time I have ventured up to the club in a fortnight and I was stunned by what I saw. The greens were like emeralds beset in a dusty crown. The green keepers have done a fantastic job during the latest heat wave and they are playing beautifully. However, like many clubs we are feeling the pinch and as a result the fairways are as arid as a camel's hoof. Dry and dusty like a desolate wasteland I struggled with my ball striking today and the spring in my step ahead of Sunday has now been severely dented.
I'm teeing off at 09.20 and there won't be a downpour to soften the course before then, so here's hoping my confidence comes flooding back...
I'm teeing off at 09.20 and there won't be a downpour to soften the course before then, so here's hoping my confidence comes flooding back...
Thursday 1 July 2010
June stats
So while I've tried to find time to bed in the 3 Wood the reality of family life made that extremely tough. Getting to the range is hard for me as I've spent more time than normal working in London and have a choice of going to the range or the course on a weekend and invariably choose the course. To compensate I've worked harder on my short game and putting and I hope that by taking a more conservative approach from the tee next month I'll see my scores tumble. If I don't then I'm really deeply mired in the brown stuff!!!I really need something to click soon so I can remain upbeat and positive, otherwise I fear I will start to get a little despondent by my apparent lack of progress.
Practice
Distance | Time (minutes) | % of practice time |
Driver | 0 | 0% |
Other Woods | 40 | 8% |
200 - 250 yards | 0 | 0% |
150 – 200 yards | 20 | 4% |
100 – 150 yards | 15 | 3% |
Short Approach | 350 | 66% |
Bunker Play | 0 | 0% |
Putting | 105 | 20% |
Total | 530 | 100% |
Less than nine hours this month on top of three rounds but as I didn't compile a scorecard for the disaster that was Stapleford Abbotts I just have two rounds to report on.
Rounds
So my FIR has been a lot better, which in turn is impacting on my GIR. Sand saves has also dropped but then again I only found the sand twice in June. My putting is slightly better this month, but my scrambling stat goes down. Then again it's hard to scramble par when you are three off the tee and my large number of penalties up by two, paints a very telling picture.
Statistic | Performance | SS2 Handicap level |
Fairways in Regulation | 31% | 21 |
Greens in Regulation | 11% | 20 |
Putts per Round | 35 | 17 |
Birdie Conversion | 0% | 28+ |
Par Scrambles | 3% | 28+ |
Sand Saves | 0% | 28% |
Penalties per Round | 5.5 | 28+ |
The SS2 handicap level is a calculation made indicating your performance on different facets of your game.
So once again the key area for improvement next month is my performance from the tee. Rather than 'mastering' the long irons and 3 Wood my focus will be on taking less club for increased accuracy. I pray it works.
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