Momentous day

Great chance to win trophies and get some big handicap cuts

How gutted am I? If that wasn't a rhetorical question the answer would be extremely. I have just returned from a practice session at the club, although I had originally intended to play nine holes. However, on arrival I realised that in my haste I had forgotten my iron head covers and I loathe bag chatter. Those that claim that the dreadful din caused by your clubs banging together is angel song need their ears syringed. So instead of damaging my ear drums I worked on my short game before finishing up with some approach shots on our practice hole. It was this last bit of practice that has caused my mixed emotions.

You see today is a momentous day as it is the day when I believe I have finally made huge leap forward in my ball striking. Today is the day that I felt in complete control and the real shame is that I will have to wait a while to test my skills on the course. That delay is due to my nieces christening this weekend, which sadly coincides with our club championship. With what now seems like an outrageously high 27 handicap I would have seriously fancied my chances of bagging the nett trophy. But such is life, you never know maybe my putter would have gone in to meltdown.

But back to tonight and my reason for such elation and euphoria. I hit 25 shots today at a pin 165 yards away. One missed the green short, three landed on the green but rolled off right, six I pulled left of the green and they were all within about 6 yards of each other. The other 15 finished on the green. That's a 60% success rate and vast improvement on the results I normally get. The key thing was how it felt: effortless. It was almost as if all of a sudden the muscle memory has taken on board all that it has been told and decided to respond consistently. That and my new pre-shot routine getting me set up correctly each time.

I may be missing out on the Club Championship but I have set my sights squarely on the next competition on June 18th the 1922 Cup. It's an Honours Board competition and I'm seeing it not only as a chance to get cut but an opportunity for my first bit of golf silverware. I've set up a new poll so that you can guess my stableford score. Will the anticipation and expectation get to me or will I finally fill my boots?