2nd Place in final round at Robe

3/3/12 Saturday. The last round of the tournament had my game come together at last. With an 82 Gross for a 69 Nett and 28 Putts and tied for best Nett on the day, losing on a countback to the tournament winner of the A Grade Nett competition. Hopefully that is not a sign of the season to come, the winner was our current club champion who had my measure and then some in the playoff last season.

This afternoon I have been out and played another nine holes to stretch my legs and enjoy the return to form after the week of golf. It has been some time since it has been possible to play 18 holes several times in a week. Back in 2009 that was one of the features of my regular practise and I believe successful results. Alternating between 9 and 18 holes a day 4-5 days a week. That was realised as something which was lacking in my practise several months ago. It has not been possible to return to that with increased commitments off the golf course.

Being totally absorbed in the competition the past week released the influence of outside distractions on my vision of golfing. In the past two years I have been at my best form during the tournament and played very well in getting 2nd place. This time the task was beyond me with the move into A grade and the higher quality of opponents. The experience has been invaluable and hopefully I will be able to have another crack at the title in 2013. Todays round was testament that my form has returned and the past three months of coaching improvements have established themselves. The longer drives, also longer irons with accuracy now making Greens In Regulation an expected game facet. Short game and putting can always be improved in regard to my ability for a lot more time yet.

On Thursday while practising I had an epiphany whilst hitting balls on the range deep into the ‘mental golf zone’. Nothing new to many golfers I am sure, for me though it was the culmination of the past three months of coaching, playing and practising. “My body and the club are a single unit creating the power to strike the ball and send it to the chosen target.” Having practised for so long to establish the stance, and swing from the coaching it has now became automatic. My mind is no longer having to consciously oversee what was happening during a swing. Now it is free to see the ball, feeling the club head on its path of sending it to the target. while my body provides the power. That is the only thought in my mind while playing any shot with a driver, iron or putter.

After the first two rounds the professional coach brought up the topic of my mental state. Citing an example of his early days and playing in a state tournament at a course which he had been successful on many times. Yet in these games he failed, alluding to the fact that he was focussing on a ‘figure’ to be scored and this did not have a positive effect on his game. In analysing this, I first thought did I get ‘stage fright’? No I did not, and that was not what the coach was trying to impart on me. I was confident in having a crack and was aware that it was a big ask to be successful with my standard of golf.

After two competition rounds of erratic golf the third was a smooth as silk. I was 100% immersed in the moment while playing shots and still managed to be sociable. Definitely a detached person from the group at times, which I kept in check by walking by myself for fifty or so metres on each hole. Then being convivial and chatting as per usual on the tee, green or between shots. This state of mind was not in the slightest bit emotive, a pure golfing experience with plenty of laughs and fun hitting the ball with a group of other golfers. Which is why after the round in an ego-less analysis of the score I found 7 to 9 shots that were total cock ups in the round. These were the result of brain fades and that is why I am on a 13 handicap. Now that the club professional has brought up the mental side of the game to me I can now work on improving this side of my game and continue the journey to the single figure mark.

Next weekend is the two day Naracoorte Summer Open and I will be returning this year to the course that severely opened up my games short comings in 2011. The current Club Champion is returning as well as we both had a visit last year and failed. Interestingly both of us have began the year with improved games and definitely new outlooks on golf and what we want from playing the game. With a week of travelling coming up for me I will play the home club competition Sunday. Have a social round lined up for Tuesday and will be satisfied with a session at the Drummond Golf Range on Thursday. That should keep my form constant and in fine fettle for the Naracoorte event on the weekend.

Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all.

 Geoff

Southern Ports Golf Week Rd 2 at Beachport

1/3/12 Thursday. After the second round at Beachport my score had improved but once again poor putting combined with poor tee shots cut my round out of contention. With only one triple putt for a bogie a marked improvement on the Kingston SE round. It was the several lip out putts that cost me 4-5 strokes combined with a driver which went off the fairway too often. Having to play five shots to get back onto the fairway that effectively killed off the potential to score well. With a gross 91 for a nett 78 with 32 putts this put me in a mid 20’s placing still much better than many and not a disaster.

The final round on Friday at Robe is going to feature gusting winds on the coastal course. Again I am expecting to play better than the previous two rounds, this is not blind optimism. It has been a very beneficial experience, having pushed my physical boundaries in preparing to play in the 2012 tournament that was in itself well worth it to now have a better swing. As always when playing golf the social conversation often goes around to golf matters and chatting with single figure golfers again has delivered more vital knowledge. This time though I am competing in the same grade albeit at the tail end of the handicaps in A Grade on 13. The importance is that now I am in a position ability wise to begin making the move down the numbers and play at a much improved level.

Not forgetting that there are differences between ‘my game’ and any other golfers game, the process is not about aping another golfers game to improve. In fact there has been one epiphany during this week which I will describe after the tournament is over. The whole series has been great fun and not a single bit of bad attitude or complaining about the condition of fairways, greens etc. has come from me. Unlike others who have not performed well either and started that self destructive blame game on all of the various outside influences which have affected their game.

Today I am going out with the same attacking game plan for my home course with form that has improved over the week. The mental attitude has not faltered through the week, the fact is that I am not good enough yet, to be able to play successfully among this level of competition. With that simple reality not being ignored on my part already the planning has began for the rest of 2012 to improve the standard of golf I play to be competitive. dear readers I am a hungry b@st@rd when it comes to the desire to play good golf and win. The game play goal is to develop the ability and quality of golf played that can support my desire for success. Golf is great fun to play, win or lose there is always a new challenge to create that adds to the enjoyment. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all.”

, Geoff

Tournament Round One played at Kingston...

28/2/12 Tuesday. First round played at Kingston SE on Monday and whilst the weather was fine the scores apart from one golfer with a nett 72 were below expectations. Including my own score which I was happy with considering that once on the green the putting was poor. After having three putted thrice in the round there was nothing much else that was notable in the rounds errors. Then on the 18th hole inexplicably I had an 8, taking no penalties just could not get the ball on the green after two good shots on the par five. Replaying the strokes in my mind I have no explanation why, after having no problems and actually having a run of pars on the back nine.

A mental brain explosion took me from an acceptable 76-77 nett finish to a 79. That is not even bothering me, the score is a fact now and whilst a better one would be preferred I can deal with this starting number. Last season I was similarly placed after the opening round of Southern Ports, certainly it was not best start but it is not the end of the challenge. Played to the game plan for each hole throughout the round, putting was a failure could not get any rythym, front nine was short or wide with misreads. Frustrating day on the course considering that the play was all on target after the first 3 holes. It took me a little by surprise for those first hole hitting through the green unexpectedly. This was easily fixed simply by taking a club less on approach shots.

The table has one player on Nett 69, 73 and 73. Followed with five on 74, four on 75 and five on 78 then myself in the five on 79. Tomorrow is at Beachport and the weather prediction is a return to the windy coastal conditions that are familiar to the local players. his will have no bearing on my game as I have the game plan already for this course. Chose to rest up today and relax, starting work at 5.30am, finishing work around 12.30. The Bridgestone iron have slotted into use with ease, better than expected in truth. The Driver improvements held up well throughout the day, good enough for me to play a consistent round with at Beachpport and try and pick up some strokes on the current leaders. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”

 Geoff

Tournament starts tomorrow...

26/2/12 Sunday. Southern Ports Golf week is underway with the various Pinehurst foursome events on Saturday at Beachport and Robe and today at Kingston SE. These rounds are more relaxed and give visitors the opportunity to play the courses before the various grade competitions begin on Monday. The heat on Saturday took a toll on the various fields with 32 degrees and humid conditions not all that pleasant. Today the humidity remained, as the day progressed the temperature became cooler there was only a smattering of rain drops. It certainly did not reach the predicted 35 C.

Monday the Kingston SE weather is cooler still 16-23 degrees and 1-5mm of rain. 14 to 22 kmph wind speed is nothing difficult to play in either. Being aware of the weather conditions is not usually a consideration to my playing golf or not. With a three day tournament I have to pace myself, hence today I played a morning 9 holes and then spent the day doing practise sessions on the short game, putting and a selection of long and short irons. First off tomorrow will be restocking the bar and having it all ready for the volunteers to man for the C grade Women and Mens events at Robe. Then having a warm up session prior to driving the 42 km to play.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff