29/12/11 Thursday. Golfing is in casual fun mode at the minute, very enjoyable and relaxing on my part to just amble around the course and hit the ball without tapping into the 'winning mindset'. Doing this has benefits which come from the errors made. To play a bad shot through not setting up as I would in a game and then drop another ball and play it seriously and see the desired result happen is a great confidence booster.
It is very satisfying to have a decent game foundation established. Because of this I'm looking forward to the series of coaching sessions after the New Year begins. The goal is to get the advice to be able to take my game to the level required to reach single figures and maintain it. It is possible for me to do this myself using the current, training and practise routines. The coach is not going to flick a switch and make it happen. Coaching enables the confidence and clear the vision of what are the main exercises which need to be concentrated on to improve the standard of my golf.
There has only been one consistent aspect of my coaching sessions. Each time there have been particular aspects of golf identified which I want to work on. This has came about from paying attention to my game and writing down a description of what happens in range practise and rounds played. Will be ambling around the course this afternoon for a hit which by then will be a good break from sitting in the studio working. At the minute part of my coming work is producing an interview with a touring professional. Looking forward to this project and exploring the reality of playing golf for a living while on the road. This will be completed by the end of January and will be shared through the posts here for those interested. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Luck has nothing to do with it...
24/12/11 Saturday. Doing nothing more than casual social nine hole rounds the past week has been enjoyable and refreshing. A modicum of a semi holiday from the golf course after being a greedy guts of late. Since the arm has improved and out making up for lost time was perhaps a little over done but still well worth the effort even if by the end I had nothing left in the tank. Having played myself out in two weeks it only took two days off the golf course to bounce back and be able to play 9 holes comfortably and efficiently again.
This is all part of developing the change in how I play a round of golf, no longer can a competition round be one of playing within myself for 2/3 rds of the holes then having a charge on the last 6 holes. Although my handicap of 12 still gives me strokes on 2/3rds of the holes it is now a matter of getting pars as the standard and setting up as many birdie chances as possible in a round. This is why the coming coaching sessions in January are important. It is vital that my game is now one of getting greens in regulation, which means drives on the fairway, not with recovery shots to get a clear shot at the green. Second shot accuracy for par 4 greens must be improved. Up and down if missing the green with the approach shot has to be perfected more. Last but not least, one putting has to become a regular feature, dropping birdie putts after GIR’s is a must.
Pushing myself to the limit is something that I avoid at all times with only one allowance, golfing. Excess is not a regular feature of my training or playing strategy. Since 2009 and the return to playing the game pushing my limit, has always been undertaken at varying intervals and for increasing durations. In the practise schedule that has worked for me in this time for improving the handicap and competing in championship or club open events, preparation has always included a burst of going marginally beyond comfortable physical limits.
Hindsight is 20/20 after the fact, relying upon hindsight has never been a consideration for my golfing. Certainly there has been moments of revelation from hindsight through the last 3 seasons. It would be disapointing to have not had those blessed unexpected insights which lift a persons motivation, knowledge and enjoyment of the game. In the main though my golf is calculated and works to a schedule, that importantly is flexible to deal with interruptions like injury. Be assured there is not a single successful golfer at the highest levels who can stand up and say that getting to their standard of play has been the result of an unexpected revelation. Look at the most effective advice given to golfers inquiring about what is needed to get better at the game or have a crack at professional qualifications. Practise, practice... is the mantra given by all as the mainstay of improvement.
This past week of casual 9 hole rounds has returned 41-43 round scores , easily getting the required 3-4 pars per round. Setting up 1-2 birdie putts in each nine was not difficult, going straight to the course with no warm up and still playing an adequate game was fun. The point was to be relaxed no competition pressure and the desire to enjoy golf had precedence over the result. There is no way I would go out in a competition round with this attitude. It works fine for fun but the winning edge is not honed with this mindset, in fact the edge is not even in play. How often have you had a great social round and then followed up with an attempt to use that relaxed mindset in a competition round? Only to not get the improved or even an equivelent round as before. Why? The ‘edge’ to go for a winning putt is not in balance with the casual carefree approach of play you are trying to emulate. There is for me definite aspects of the casual golf taken into competitive rounds. The two game styles are totally different, except that one is a good training routine for the other.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
This is all part of developing the change in how I play a round of golf, no longer can a competition round be one of playing within myself for 2/3 rds of the holes then having a charge on the last 6 holes. Although my handicap of 12 still gives me strokes on 2/3rds of the holes it is now a matter of getting pars as the standard and setting up as many birdie chances as possible in a round. This is why the coming coaching sessions in January are important. It is vital that my game is now one of getting greens in regulation, which means drives on the fairway, not with recovery shots to get a clear shot at the green. Second shot accuracy for par 4 greens must be improved. Up and down if missing the green with the approach shot has to be perfected more. Last but not least, one putting has to become a regular feature, dropping birdie putts after GIR’s is a must.
Pushing myself to the limit is something that I avoid at all times with only one allowance, golfing. Excess is not a regular feature of my training or playing strategy. Since 2009 and the return to playing the game pushing my limit, has always been undertaken at varying intervals and for increasing durations. In the practise schedule that has worked for me in this time for improving the handicap and competing in championship or club open events, preparation has always included a burst of going marginally beyond comfortable physical limits.
Hindsight is 20/20 after the fact, relying upon hindsight has never been a consideration for my golfing. Certainly there has been moments of revelation from hindsight through the last 3 seasons. It would be disapointing to have not had those blessed unexpected insights which lift a persons motivation, knowledge and enjoyment of the game. In the main though my golf is calculated and works to a schedule, that importantly is flexible to deal with interruptions like injury. Be assured there is not a single successful golfer at the highest levels who can stand up and say that getting to their standard of play has been the result of an unexpected revelation. Look at the most effective advice given to golfers inquiring about what is needed to get better at the game or have a crack at professional qualifications. Practise, practice... is the mantra given by all as the mainstay of improvement.
This past week of casual 9 hole rounds has returned 41-43 round scores , easily getting the required 3-4 pars per round. Setting up 1-2 birdie putts in each nine was not difficult, going straight to the course with no warm up and still playing an adequate game was fun. The point was to be relaxed no competition pressure and the desire to enjoy golf had precedence over the result. There is no way I would go out in a competition round with this attitude. It works fine for fun but the winning edge is not honed with this mindset, in fact the edge is not even in play. How often have you had a great social round and then followed up with an attempt to use that relaxed mindset in a competition round? Only to not get the improved or even an equivelent round as before. Why? The ‘edge’ to go for a winning putt is not in balance with the casual carefree approach of play you are trying to emulate. There is for me definite aspects of the casual golf taken into competitive rounds. The two game styles are totally different, except that one is a good training routine for the other.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Thursday, December 22, 2011
How hard can it be...
22/12/11 Thursday. Did not even get close to the course yesterday, was locked away filming and editing for 7 hours. The mind and body were craving having a walk and hit this morning and was on the course by 8.30am and got a casual 9 holes in. For 6 pars, 2 bogies and a double bogie it was an enjoyable 90 minutes. Stopped for a chat halfway through the hit with the touring pro who is working with Limestone Coast Golf over the summer at Robe Golf Club. Gary Simpson topped the Sth Oz Order of Merit in 2011 and has just got back from playing in the PGA at the end of the year.
Then back into the last four holes and home to mow lawns, it is a glamourous lifestyle I have. Better than counting crayfish and lugging 3-4 tonnes of them around in the heat a few years ago. The golf was obviously not too bad this morning either. Concentrated on the tee shots and keeping to the rules of my backswing; Low, Slow and Out… then hit the ball. Once again the consistency was lacking, not a problem in a practise round the result does not matter, the lesson does though. Why do I keep deviating from this simple rule for the driver. That I can deliberately do it wrong see the result then straight after tee up again and hit the ball exactly as I would want it to be in a competition game. Then play in a competition and have the brain fade, playing the shot incorrectly, aware of the change, suffer from the mishits, has me bemused. I would never stick my fingers in a mouse trap after doing it the first time so why do I repeat the problem shot off the tee so often?
To sabotage a round is not a conscious decision on my part or even a consideration,. This refusal to settle down and follow the correct Tee Shot procedure is baffling. To improve iron shots took me some time, improving grip, swing, set up, club head alignment, ball placement, stance… to become a reliable and effective part of my current game. The Driver gets used 14-15 times per round, it has now developed into the part of the round that is affecting the score more than any other club. I am putting pressure on my ability to perform with the change to a more aggressive approach. The improvement is well worth the frustration at the minute with the failures off the tee. The fact is that to drop down to ten and then move into single figures handicap wise I have to play out of the comfort zone of the past three seasons.
Pushing my limits has always been a part of the experience of playing golf, ow down in lower handicap level there is a lot less scope to improve. How often do you hear of or see handicapper on 12 to 8 come in with a score of 5-6 under? When up in the 20’s and teen handicaps I have done that myself, now it is a very different landscape. The safety buffer of handicap has lessened each season and in a round these days a third of the holes have no strokes in my game. This necessitated a major game strategy shift, now I try to par every hole and attempt to set up as many birdie opportunities possible. This puts a lot of strain upon my ability and has to be done to achieve the goals set. A tee shot that positions the ball to have a playable shot for the green is vital to be able to achieve the goal. If I miss the green with the second shot on a par 4 it is not by much, the improved chipping in 2011 does get me in up and down position for par often enough. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight”
Geoff
Then back into the last four holes and home to mow lawns, it is a glamourous lifestyle I have. Better than counting crayfish and lugging 3-4 tonnes of them around in the heat a few years ago. The golf was obviously not too bad this morning either. Concentrated on the tee shots and keeping to the rules of my backswing; Low, Slow and Out… then hit the ball. Once again the consistency was lacking, not a problem in a practise round the result does not matter, the lesson does though. Why do I keep deviating from this simple rule for the driver. That I can deliberately do it wrong see the result then straight after tee up again and hit the ball exactly as I would want it to be in a competition game. Then play in a competition and have the brain fade, playing the shot incorrectly, aware of the change, suffer from the mishits, has me bemused. I would never stick my fingers in a mouse trap after doing it the first time so why do I repeat the problem shot off the tee so often?
To sabotage a round is not a conscious decision on my part or even a consideration,. This refusal to settle down and follow the correct Tee Shot procedure is baffling. To improve iron shots took me some time, improving grip, swing, set up, club head alignment, ball placement, stance… to become a reliable and effective part of my current game. The Driver gets used 14-15 times per round, it has now developed into the part of the round that is affecting the score more than any other club. I am putting pressure on my ability to perform with the change to a more aggressive approach. The improvement is well worth the frustration at the minute with the failures off the tee. The fact is that to drop down to ten and then move into single figures handicap wise I have to play out of the comfort zone of the past three seasons.
Pushing my limits has always been a part of the experience of playing golf, ow down in lower handicap level there is a lot less scope to improve. How often do you hear of or see handicapper on 12 to 8 come in with a score of 5-6 under? When up in the 20’s and teen handicaps I have done that myself, now it is a very different landscape. The safety buffer of handicap has lessened each season and in a round these days a third of the holes have no strokes in my game. This necessitated a major game strategy shift, now I try to par every hole and attempt to set up as many birdie opportunities possible. This puts a lot of strain upon my ability and has to be done to achieve the goals set. A tee shot that positions the ball to have a playable shot for the green is vital to be able to achieve the goal. If I miss the green with the second shot on a par 4 it is not by much, the improved chipping in 2011 does get me in up and down position for par often enough. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight”
Geoff
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Exclusive Interview with Kim Jong Il, Golfing Superstar
One incredible day in 1994, when the Dear Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea picked up a golf club for the very first time, and — as witnessed by 17 security guards and reported by the state news agency — shot a smooth 38-under-par round of 34, including 11 holes-in-one.
Brief Bio... Kim Jong Il showed an interest in a wide range of subjects including agriculture, music, and mechanics. Better known For his dominating personality and complete concentration of power in North Korea. He is known to personally manage the country's affairs and sets operational guidelines for individual industries There are many stories of his eccentricities, his playboy lifestyle, the lifts in his shoes and pompadour hairstyle that make him appear taller, and his fear of flying. Some stories can be verified while others are most likely exaggerated, possibly circulated by foreign operatives from hostile countries.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Monday, December 19, 2011
My Golf...
19/12/11 We have started a series of FREE 1 hour Junior Golf Clinics on the Sundays of School Holidays in January. This is an evolution of 3 years of unrelated Junior Golf events at the club in that there was no set plan. The beginning was a “come and try golf day” each year on a long weekend also the running of a Junior Golf Tournament in a season. Each of these had varying success in getting kids playing. Come and Try Golf first was a winner every time with 12-20 kids having a hit.
The Tournaments were harder as they clash with other regional and state events and being country based that makes it difficult by location alone. That said in 2011 two juniors came from the SA Riverland to the Limestone coast to play. A long trip to play golf but country golfers are used to that.
This was done purely as a must do activity initiated by the club captain, what it did was give the club a base to develop more from. Next came the regional Golf SE school coaching clinics which another golfer has volunteered to do after getting involved at his home club and seeing the number of juniors who do want to play golf coming out on the course. Hence we have the Primary School students doing golf activities at the school and then have a class trip to the course to do the same activities on a golf course plus play a few modified holes.
Hence at our club which has 2-4 junior golfers who occaisionally have a hit with parents, and play a few rounds of club golf and no junior golf competition at the club we were aware that there was an interest in golf among the juniors in the town and region. The next step was for another club member to see this interest and see the “market” which was there and develop an action plan. Then put the information to another member (Club Captain) who then contacted the regional golf assoc. who supplied a junior golfing kit. Then two members who are parents volunteered to help out and a letter was sent to the local school to be sent to parents before the end of year and on Sunday we have 10 kids turn up for an hour on a Sunday morning to hit golf balls for fun. Following the easy golf exercises supplied with the kit, starting inside with putting and the rubber balls. Then outside with the 7 irons, the kids had fun several were very good at basic golf skills in fact.
The result is that by the end of January when school returns from 1 hour on Sundays I expect the club to have a core of 10 (at least) junior golfers who we can organise a comp for when before there was nothing. It was from a combination of Golf Assoc. support, club committee support and members doing things that they are good at, besides playing golf that is. IE Organisation, Networking, Coaching, Marketing, Promotion.
It did not happen overnight, it was three years in the making from a disparate group of individuals who all “Did Stuff” off their own back in club activity. The key word is “activity” it is a task that for volunteers relies upon good spirit and generosity as well as Association support. Volunteers are not employees, they do not have to do anything unless they want too. There is a “market” for want of a better word, out there for junior golf. All of the statistics, analysis, data correlation is good reading and valuable knowledge. Like all information it does nothing except feed minds and sit there being available. For clubs it has nothing to do with a money focus, that is for businesses. By encouraging the Junior Golf activity the flow on of new golfers, new members all can benefit the club professional and the general club environment. Importantly it has given the club a future. We want to develop and encourage golf, that is in our club constitution.
Any club can start to do it as well. All you have to do is stand up and say “I will do this…”
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
The Tournaments were harder as they clash with other regional and state events and being country based that makes it difficult by location alone. That said in 2011 two juniors came from the SA Riverland to the Limestone coast to play. A long trip to play golf but country golfers are used to that.
This was done purely as a must do activity initiated by the club captain, what it did was give the club a base to develop more from. Next came the regional Golf SE school coaching clinics which another golfer has volunteered to do after getting involved at his home club and seeing the number of juniors who do want to play golf coming out on the course. Hence we have the Primary School students doing golf activities at the school and then have a class trip to the course to do the same activities on a golf course plus play a few modified holes.
Hence at our club which has 2-4 junior golfers who occaisionally have a hit with parents, and play a few rounds of club golf and no junior golf competition at the club we were aware that there was an interest in golf among the juniors in the town and region. The next step was for another club member to see this interest and see the “market” which was there and develop an action plan. Then put the information to another member (Club Captain) who then contacted the regional golf assoc. who supplied a junior golfing kit. Then two members who are parents volunteered to help out and a letter was sent to the local school to be sent to parents before the end of year and on Sunday we have 10 kids turn up for an hour on a Sunday morning to hit golf balls for fun. Following the easy golf exercises supplied with the kit, starting inside with putting and the rubber balls. Then outside with the 7 irons, the kids had fun several were very good at basic golf skills in fact.
The result is that by the end of January when school returns from 1 hour on Sundays I expect the club to have a core of 10 (at least) junior golfers who we can organise a comp for when before there was nothing. It was from a combination of Golf Assoc. support, club committee support and members doing things that they are good at, besides playing golf that is. IE Organisation, Networking, Coaching, Marketing, Promotion.
It did not happen overnight, it was three years in the making from a disparate group of individuals who all “Did Stuff” off their own back in club activity. The key word is “activity” it is a task that for volunteers relies upon good spirit and generosity as well as Association support. Volunteers are not employees, they do not have to do anything unless they want too. There is a “market” for want of a better word, out there for junior golf. All of the statistics, analysis, data correlation is good reading and valuable knowledge. Like all information it does nothing except feed minds and sit there being available. For clubs it has nothing to do with a money focus, that is for businesses. By encouraging the Junior Golf activity the flow on of new golfers, new members all can benefit the club professional and the general club environment. Importantly it has given the club a future. We want to develop and encourage golf, that is in our club constitution.
Any club can start to do it as well. All you have to do is stand up and say “I will do this…”
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Kingston SE Open preparation...
14/12/11 Wednesday, Left 4 hours early at 10 am, to get to Adelaide today so I could drop into Kingston SE and play 18 holes on the way. Had the Wilson blades in the boot, to give me my weekly workout with these irons as it is going to be less golf than of late, be in Adelaide until Friday and not enough time for golf. Yeah I know that is hypocrisy from my position, sometimes the game does get put second for doing things. Does not stop me thinking about the game though.
The hit at Kingston was the first there for a few months and a must do in preparation for their Summer Open this Saturday. Used the Infinity 420 cc off the par 4 and 5 tees, only getting 200-220m with this club at the minute compared to the 220-250 with the Cobra. Yet once again smaller driver and back on the fairways with improved accuracy. Was just browsing GPJ’s thread and he had a comment about stiff shafts replacing regular flex in drivers and that has helped get that thought ticking away in my mind. The regular flex in the Infinity works well, I like the responsive feel of the club also. It is that ‘need to experiment’ facet of my mind which really wants to know if a change in shaft would be a good thing? Not an urgent consideration as I am still enjoying the return to playing and getting some form back.
The blades were a bit of a hinderance in the hands, the AP2’s are quite a bit longer and sweeter to hit. That said, I still popped a neat 86/nett 74 with 34 putts around the course. The whole point of using the blades is it sharpens my ball striking and concentration in setting up for shots to get the best result possible.
Putting was a sloppy display, greens at Kingston were hard and dry but I will be in good touch on Saturday on them. Had a couple of chats with the greens keeper on the way around. Always good to know how a course is travelling, all the new greens are up and running at Kingston and it is very pleasant to play. I have always found it a course which makes me play shots and rewards the player who does that. That said they have a few bird scarer’s banging away, same problem with Galah damage to the course we have at Robe. Fortunately we have the okay to shoot a few to scare them off.
As usual on the drive up did a bit of “golf planning”, going to need a decision made on taking a series of regular coaching sessions in January. Expensive proposition to have at least two per week for the month, yet I see that as the best preparation for 2012 season and the Southern Ports Tournament in March. It is not a problem to keep going along as I have for the last 3 seasons, that has been successful. Being a ‘hungry’ golfer though, logic says that needs to get an upgrade for the best results in 2012. Now in the A grade competition arena, professional coaching on a regular basis is the best way for progress, having established regular practise routines it has to be consolidated and improved.
15/12/11 Thursday. Had some free time this morning so took a trip into Adelaide to browse the Golf Porn Shops. Golf Clearance Warehouse has had a name change on South Road since my last visit. The beauty of golf club stores is that unlike a lap dance you can fondle the items of pleasure. As usual there was plenty of stuff to buy and the self control was in good form, purchasing was not an orgy of stocking up on clubs for another day. Walked out with 2 dozen Optima balls for $30, good value from a clearance sale of AFL Port Power monogrammed balls.
Then a drive to the Drummond Golf Range opposite the Airport to give the driver a workout and have a few hits with the 60 Degree wedge. I rarely use this iron with only two sand bunkers on my home track and prefering to use the pitching wedge in close. It is not a matter of preference more a case of being able to go along quite well without getting it out very often. At the range though I got to have a good 40 hits at pin/green targets. A lot of variation in the distances when aiming at 30 m away targets. Going anywhere from 5m long to 10m short of the aiming point. Then I had a good crack on the range with 20 balls, it seems that 55-70m is the max distance for me with this wedge. Still the same variation in distance so a lot of work on the practise track is penciled in for this wedge.
After that out came the Infinity 420cc 10.5 degree Driver and Cobra 3 metal for some practise. The Cobra was just along for the ride, some variation to mix up with hitting the driver. Did get maximum benefit though, improved accuracy with stance and opening the club face to keep repairing the ‘hooding’ fault.
The Driver was a great fun, getting 200-220 m on the full easily and with the summer run on fairways that is a good start. Far less tendency to slice with the smaller driver compared to the Cobra S9.1 and once again better accuracy and control of the club while swinging. Getting that front leg pinned to the earth and not bending the knee and the power was transfered to good straight long hits. Have to keep it a little in check as the accuracy quotient decreases with the longer balls. Nothing that some dedicated practise will not improve.
Did not bother to hit any other irons, the Wilson 1200 blades gave me a workout yesterday at Kingston. Looking forward to getting the AP2’s back in the bag on Friday. One of the staff had a look at the Infinity Driver and commented that the ‘deep’ face was better suited to a lower handicapper as it does not deliver much ball height once hit. I do not find this much of a hinderance in my game but it has been duly noted.
Geoff
The hit at Kingston was the first there for a few months and a must do in preparation for their Summer Open this Saturday. Used the Infinity 420 cc off the par 4 and 5 tees, only getting 200-220m with this club at the minute compared to the 220-250 with the Cobra. Yet once again smaller driver and back on the fairways with improved accuracy. Was just browsing GPJ’s thread and he had a comment about stiff shafts replacing regular flex in drivers and that has helped get that thought ticking away in my mind. The regular flex in the Infinity works well, I like the responsive feel of the club also. It is that ‘need to experiment’ facet of my mind which really wants to know if a change in shaft would be a good thing? Not an urgent consideration as I am still enjoying the return to playing and getting some form back.
The blades were a bit of a hinderance in the hands, the AP2’s are quite a bit longer and sweeter to hit. That said, I still popped a neat 86/nett 74 with 34 putts around the course. The whole point of using the blades is it sharpens my ball striking and concentration in setting up for shots to get the best result possible.
Putting was a sloppy display, greens at Kingston were hard and dry but I will be in good touch on Saturday on them. Had a couple of chats with the greens keeper on the way around. Always good to know how a course is travelling, all the new greens are up and running at Kingston and it is very pleasant to play. I have always found it a course which makes me play shots and rewards the player who does that. That said they have a few bird scarer’s banging away, same problem with Galah damage to the course we have at Robe. Fortunately we have the okay to shoot a few to scare them off.
As usual on the drive up did a bit of “golf planning”, going to need a decision made on taking a series of regular coaching sessions in January. Expensive proposition to have at least two per week for the month, yet I see that as the best preparation for 2012 season and the Southern Ports Tournament in March. It is not a problem to keep going along as I have for the last 3 seasons, that has been successful. Being a ‘hungry’ golfer though, logic says that needs to get an upgrade for the best results in 2012. Now in the A grade competition arena, professional coaching on a regular basis is the best way for progress, having established regular practise routines it has to be consolidated and improved.
15/12/11 Thursday. Had some free time this morning so took a trip into Adelaide to browse the Golf Porn Shops. Golf Clearance Warehouse has had a name change on South Road since my last visit. The beauty of golf club stores is that unlike a lap dance you can fondle the items of pleasure. As usual there was plenty of stuff to buy and the self control was in good form, purchasing was not an orgy of stocking up on clubs for another day. Walked out with 2 dozen Optima balls for $30, good value from a clearance sale of AFL Port Power monogrammed balls.
Then a drive to the Drummond Golf Range opposite the Airport to give the driver a workout and have a few hits with the 60 Degree wedge. I rarely use this iron with only two sand bunkers on my home track and prefering to use the pitching wedge in close. It is not a matter of preference more a case of being able to go along quite well without getting it out very often. At the range though I got to have a good 40 hits at pin/green targets. A lot of variation in the distances when aiming at 30 m away targets. Going anywhere from 5m long to 10m short of the aiming point. Then I had a good crack on the range with 20 balls, it seems that 55-70m is the max distance for me with this wedge. Still the same variation in distance so a lot of work on the practise track is penciled in for this wedge.
After that out came the Infinity 420cc 10.5 degree Driver and Cobra 3 metal for some practise. The Cobra was just along for the ride, some variation to mix up with hitting the driver. Did get maximum benefit though, improved accuracy with stance and opening the club face to keep repairing the ‘hooding’ fault.
The Driver was a great fun, getting 200-220 m on the full easily and with the summer run on fairways that is a good start. Far less tendency to slice with the smaller driver compared to the Cobra S9.1 and once again better accuracy and control of the club while swinging. Getting that front leg pinned to the earth and not bending the knee and the power was transfered to good straight long hits. Have to keep it a little in check as the accuracy quotient decreases with the longer balls. Nothing that some dedicated practise will not improve.
Did not bother to hit any other irons, the Wilson 1200 blades gave me a workout yesterday at Kingston. Looking forward to getting the AP2’s back in the bag on Friday. One of the staff had a look at the Infinity Driver and commented that the ‘deep’ face was better suited to a lower handicapper as it does not deliver much ball height once hit. I do not find this much of a hinderance in my game but it has been duly noted.
Geoff
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Correcting pull shots...
Had some free time today and made an effort to get the camera out and film my Driver and Iron strokes. It has been quite some time since this has been done and a lot has changed for the beter since 2009 when I did it the first time.
The driver practise was well due having not done much at all in the last month or so and concentrating the past two weeks on 9 hole exercise to get some fittness and match playing under the belt. The 420cc Driver used today was purchased just before the enforced lay off with the Golfers Elbow. Of late the realisation that I have to move back to a larger club head on the driver was covered with using the 460cc Cobra S9.1, stiff flex 9.5 degree.
Today I grabbed the regular flex Infinity 10.5 degree and after 7 holes of whacking the ball organised to go and do some serious set up and practise. This soon had the desired results and the ball was going straight and long. As with the other smaller drivers 380 and 400cc used of late, the 420cc one has a more sensitive feel and I can shape the ball and know what is going to happen.
Taking advantage of being set up with the camera I grabbed the 6 Iron and had a few hits. This was to get some footage of practising the corrections needed to remove the pulling of iron shots inparticular of late. The erratic shot play was making GIR a very difficult task.
I had combined two set up faults to cause the problem, hooding the clubface at address, also whilst lining my feet up to the target, the shoulders were being aimed to the left. These are minor corrections overall and the day after this was identified I played 18 at Robe and won with an 82 (nett 70) correcting the faults with ease. I also do not clear my left sde when hitting the ball but this can wait for a later date.
KIngston Open this Saturday and in a bit of form as well looking forward to the round. Will call in tomorrow on the way to Adelaide and have a 9 hole hit on the track at least. Thursday. if time is available, will get in a bucket of balls with the driver at Drummonds range in Adelaide as well. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all" Geoff
The driver practise was well due having not done much at all in the last month or so and concentrating the past two weeks on 9 hole exercise to get some fittness and match playing under the belt. The 420cc Driver used today was purchased just before the enforced lay off with the Golfers Elbow. Of late the realisation that I have to move back to a larger club head on the driver was covered with using the 460cc Cobra S9.1, stiff flex 9.5 degree.
Today I grabbed the regular flex Infinity 10.5 degree and after 7 holes of whacking the ball organised to go and do some serious set up and practise. This soon had the desired results and the ball was going straight and long. As with the other smaller drivers 380 and 400cc used of late, the 420cc one has a more sensitive feel and I can shape the ball and know what is going to happen.
Taking advantage of being set up with the camera I grabbed the 6 Iron and had a few hits. This was to get some footage of practising the corrections needed to remove the pulling of iron shots inparticular of late. The erratic shot play was making GIR a very difficult task.
I had combined two set up faults to cause the problem, hooding the clubface at address, also whilst lining my feet up to the target, the shoulders were being aimed to the left. These are minor corrections overall and the day after this was identified I played 18 at Robe and won with an 82 (nett 70) correcting the faults with ease. I also do not clear my left sde when hitting the ball but this can wait for a later date.
KIngston Open this Saturday and in a bit of form as well looking forward to the round. Will call in tomorrow on the way to Adelaide and have a 9 hole hit on the track at least. Thursday. if time is available, will get in a bucket of balls with the driver at Drummonds range in Adelaide as well. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all" Geoff
Monday, December 12, 2011
Back in good golf form - Naracoorte Golf Course
12/12/11 Monday. A weekend of golf has passed and 36 holes played at two courses, Naracoorte on Saturday and fronting up on Sunday at my home club, Robe for another round. Finally back into playing without the hindrance of an injury having a major effect, which with a -5 score in the Par Round at Naracoorte on Saturday could be seen as a misnomer. All square after the front nine the wheels fell away on the back nine. Too many bogies and double bogies caused by wandering off the fairways and into the tall timber to lose 5 holes and square 4. The Naracoorte track has always been a challenge for my game, with the natural layout of tall gums and dogleg fairways. It has been the best thing for my game making me have to work on getting accurate, and play technically better golf. Hence on the following day I get on the home track and win the competition with an 82 off the stick (nett 70) It was not arrogance or beer that had me say to my playing partners at Naracoorte that I would be in good form the next day at Robe.
The other benefit was the analysis of my swing by the single handicapper players in the group. After the game passed on the pointers to a problem that was earmarked for attention in the next coaching session. Of late it has been irritating with regular straight pulls of shots with irons and woods. It was nothing major as a fault and had been identified previously, when up in the low 20’s and teens of handicaps. I ‘hood’ the clubs’ at address. Also need to move the ball forward in my stance.
In my case it is the second of the two definitions, “Hooding the club” definitions; 1. In the more common usage, "hooding the club" means pressing the hands forward, which makes the clubface more upright, as a way to de-loft the club. A 5-iron that has been "hooded" will produce a lower trajectory than a normal 5-iron shot. This meaning is used when talking about lowering the ball flight, increasing roll or, on the green, producing top spin in a putt.
2. But some people think of hooding as something completely different. Many golfers and golf instructors refer to shutting the clubface as "hooding." By shutting the clubface, we mean closing it to, among other things, counteract a slice or produce a hook. In this usage, the hooded club's toe is pointing inward relative to the target line, rather than being square at address (a righthander would rotate the club counterclockwise to hood it, in this definition). A club hooded according to this definition can also be used to dig out buried lies in sand bunkers.
In my case it has not been done to counter a slice, simply something my eye has not identified as how the clubface is facing. This is further affected by the other fault identified which was my feet are lined up correctly but I have been letting my shoulders line up to the left of the target. If you set up with your shoulders aimed left of the target, you'll tend to straighten up at impact and hit pulls or weak shots to the right. Another factor identified is that I am not clearing my left hip in strokes either.
On Sunday, made the changes to correct the ‘hooded’ club face and once set up turning my shoulders 2-3 cm to the right. The hip matter can be put aside for the minute. What was noted by the observers was that I strike the ball well and even on mishits the ball travels in a straight line, not sliced or hooked. This has always been my goal, ‘Hit the Ball straight’. My game is attuned to that tenet, to get the ball to the target in generally the shortest distance from the tee. That I could make changes to long term established faults yet were in truth minor tweaks in 24 hours successfully was not good luck. I have never allowed for a slice or a hook in my game. All my efforts in practise from coaching advice was always around the tenet of hitting the ball straight. When my slice was terrible with Drivers I used a 3 iron off the tee in the first season. Winning the club handicap championship and a few monthly medals and other competitions along the way.There are many golfers who when I started are now 10 strokes behind me in handicap. Some definitely because I see them still playing to allow for sliced shots instead of fixing the problem and hitting the ball straight. I can not coach and do not give advice, even when asked except for my stock standard reply. You have a problem or want to improve your golf game, get professional coaching.
There has been another change to my game which was very effective on Sunday and Saturday for that matter. The putting practise in the last two weeks and the correction to a traditional putting grip returned 28 putts and winning the competition on the day. The handle runs under the butt of my left hand and the back of my right is parallel to my left. Position both thumbs directly down the top of the handle and left forefinger lies across the fingers of my right hand to provide unity. It felt good the first time in practise and obviously works for me. A lot of practise coming up to get better with the 460cc driver, accuracy is a must to get the benefit of the 20-40 m longer drives.
All up the coming challenge at the Kingston SE Summer Open, Saturday 17th December, will be a good test to follow up from the past weekend of golf. I carried the camera with me at Naracoorte and put together the round of my playing partners and a good vista of the course to share. There is also a section on an extremely rare orchid on the course. Found by chance recently, when a golfer looking for another’s ball recalled seeing a description of the flower of which approx 200 now known to exist in the world. 50 of those were found at the Naracoorte Golf Course. Importantly the players ball was not found, a one stroke penalty was applied and another ball had to be played. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
, Geoff
The other benefit was the analysis of my swing by the single handicapper players in the group. After the game passed on the pointers to a problem that was earmarked for attention in the next coaching session. Of late it has been irritating with regular straight pulls of shots with irons and woods. It was nothing major as a fault and had been identified previously, when up in the low 20’s and teens of handicaps. I ‘hood’ the clubs’ at address. Also need to move the ball forward in my stance.
In my case it is the second of the two definitions, “Hooding the club” definitions; 1. In the more common usage, "hooding the club" means pressing the hands forward, which makes the clubface more upright, as a way to de-loft the club. A 5-iron that has been "hooded" will produce a lower trajectory than a normal 5-iron shot. This meaning is used when talking about lowering the ball flight, increasing roll or, on the green, producing top spin in a putt.
2. But some people think of hooding as something completely different. Many golfers and golf instructors refer to shutting the clubface as "hooding." By shutting the clubface, we mean closing it to, among other things, counteract a slice or produce a hook. In this usage, the hooded club's toe is pointing inward relative to the target line, rather than being square at address (a righthander would rotate the club counterclockwise to hood it, in this definition). A club hooded according to this definition can also be used to dig out buried lies in sand bunkers.
In my case it has not been done to counter a slice, simply something my eye has not identified as how the clubface is facing. This is further affected by the other fault identified which was my feet are lined up correctly but I have been letting my shoulders line up to the left of the target. If you set up with your shoulders aimed left of the target, you'll tend to straighten up at impact and hit pulls or weak shots to the right. Another factor identified is that I am not clearing my left hip in strokes either.
On Sunday, made the changes to correct the ‘hooded’ club face and once set up turning my shoulders 2-3 cm to the right. The hip matter can be put aside for the minute. What was noted by the observers was that I strike the ball well and even on mishits the ball travels in a straight line, not sliced or hooked. This has always been my goal, ‘Hit the Ball straight’. My game is attuned to that tenet, to get the ball to the target in generally the shortest distance from the tee. That I could make changes to long term established faults yet were in truth minor tweaks in 24 hours successfully was not good luck. I have never allowed for a slice or a hook in my game. All my efforts in practise from coaching advice was always around the tenet of hitting the ball straight. When my slice was terrible with Drivers I used a 3 iron off the tee in the first season. Winning the club handicap championship and a few monthly medals and other competitions along the way.There are many golfers who when I started are now 10 strokes behind me in handicap. Some definitely because I see them still playing to allow for sliced shots instead of fixing the problem and hitting the ball straight. I can not coach and do not give advice, even when asked except for my stock standard reply. You have a problem or want to improve your golf game, get professional coaching.
There has been another change to my game which was very effective on Sunday and Saturday for that matter. The putting practise in the last two weeks and the correction to a traditional putting grip returned 28 putts and winning the competition on the day. The handle runs under the butt of my left hand and the back of my right is parallel to my left. Position both thumbs directly down the top of the handle and left forefinger lies across the fingers of my right hand to provide unity. It felt good the first time in practise and obviously works for me. A lot of practise coming up to get better with the 460cc driver, accuracy is a must to get the benefit of the 20-40 m longer drives.
All up the coming challenge at the Kingston SE Summer Open, Saturday 17th December, will be a good test to follow up from the past weekend of golf. I carried the camera with me at Naracoorte and put together the round of my playing partners and a good vista of the course to share. There is also a section on an extremely rare orchid on the course. Found by chance recently, when a golfer looking for another’s ball recalled seeing a description of the flower of which approx 200 now known to exist in the world. 50 of those were found at the Naracoorte Golf Course. Importantly the players ball was not found, a one stroke penalty was applied and another ball had to be played. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
, Geoff
Friday, December 09, 2011
Chipping practise is always good value..
I practise this part of my game as often as possible. I realise over the past 12 months how much my chipping ability has changed for the better from doing this. Being able to play with confidence in your ability is a good thing at any time. With a consistent chipping game I set myself up for birdies and pars as well as prevent blow outs happen in the course of a round. A good short game stops many double bogies from getting on the card. When you are in trouble on a hole and then chip in for a par or set up a bogie with the ball stopping close to the hole your golf benefits from the tee to the green with self belief.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Playing out of my comfort zone
7/12/11 Wednesday. It has been a gradual revealing of the following, that golf is a game of playing outside your comfort zone. As a person who does the best I can to be comfortable, to be able to make the effort and accept not staying comfortable as the better way to play golf surprised me a little. It was not a eureka moment reached with a coalescing of a lightbulb over my head. This had been mentioned to me by others in the past and taken on board to be reviewed at a later date.
A few things had to happen before playing golf outside of my comfort zone could be considered worthwhile. My own capability as a golfer had to reach a standard that would give confidence and consistency to allow playing a more attacking game. For the past three seasons, playing bogie golf was good enough for me to win and slowly improve most of the time. More times than before in 2011 I had blow out scores into the 90’s, coming in with scores 10 strokes or more over my handicap of 12. To come in 10 strokes over my handicap rarely would happen when in the 15 to 20+ handicap range. Getting the right club set up has taken a couple of years to establish also.
After watching the play off videos of the Robe Open and Village Classic it was glaringly obvious that my setup of small head drivers had to change. This worked in club golf and competition golf well enough this season. It is not going to have me in the hunt for success in Open A grade fields. That extra 20-40 metres less off the tee is a millstone, no matter how accurate and consistent my small head driver shots are. The change has not been a major problem, at the minute I am playing 9 holes each day and no range practise. The injury is still healing and I enjoy the walking and hitting 40-43 shots using all the clubs. Last week, an enjoyable 9 holes in the club “Chicken Run” put all of the changes into the round. Sticking to not having set club selection for any shots, doing the setup routine before each shot and playing off a 9 handicap in this comp. and not my actual 12hcp. Managed 15 Stableford points after the nine, did not drop any of the birdie puts and missed a couple of close ones as well.
Then relaxed over a few cold bevies in the club house, which included a first hand observations of the Presidents Cup from a former club champion. The consistent tempo of the various golfers was one topic of conversation and then something that I have already been out and used in practise this week. Putting has been a targeted game improvement that I must get proficient with in the near future. The particular drill that was discussed was from watching the USA Team on the green. They were all doing the same putting drill, hitting at a single tee as the target. This morning I set up on the practise green for 30 minutes with a single tee as the target with 6 balls and putted out with each one until the tee was hit. Best I got was 4 hits from six balls, from 3 metres. Either side of that distance varied from 2-3 hits. I will keep at this for the next three months and establish better results in my rounds from it.
“Drive for show and putt for dough” a golf adage we are all familiar with. For me in the past week it has been turned on it’s head. Tee shots have become as calculated and well thought as setting up for putting strokes. The setup routine is the same, the clubs can be anything from irons, hybrid, 3 metal and... back in the bag the 460cc Cobra Driver. The summer weather has helped to a certain extent. Even so I am hitting the 3 metal (Cobra also) easily 200 to 220m with the accuracy of the 380cc - 400 cc drivers. The 460cc Driver though gets 3-4 hits each nine, off the tee. That is delivering 230-270 m without any shaping, just straight and long. The best I can do and it is good enough. This has brought that much needed increase in GIR results on holes. Birdie putts occur regularly in the past week where as previously they were oddities. It is fantastic to stand on the tee and see the ball soar across a dogleg creating a 100m shot at the green. No more less enjoyable than hitting functional straight drives along the fairway and leaving the ball just as well placed.
Still a lot of practise to go that is nothing unexpected in golf. With the elbow injury still hampering my stroke play and general daily use of the arm, I can see the needed 2-3 strokes less on each nine as a reality. This mornings 9 hole hit finished with a 41, included one double bogie with an OB from a bad drive and a three putt for a bogie on a par three hole.
2011 has been a successful and enjoyable season on and off the golf course, with the following results. Southern Ports Competition in March. Following runner up placing in 2010 in “C” Grade. “B” Grade delivered second place this time after a playoff at the end of the 3 rounds during the Tournament. Played in the Masters Games at Naracoorte Golf Club, came away with a Silver and Bronze medal at the end of the weekend. Managed to win one monthly medal, Caledonian Inn Trophy that I tied for in 2010 my goal was defending the title. I pulled that off with my last round getting over the line in the best 2 out of 3 stableford scores. Club Championship Runner-Up, hung in there for 32 of the 36 hole match play final and thoroughly enjoyed the surprise appearance in this finals event.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
A few things had to happen before playing golf outside of my comfort zone could be considered worthwhile. My own capability as a golfer had to reach a standard that would give confidence and consistency to allow playing a more attacking game. For the past three seasons, playing bogie golf was good enough for me to win and slowly improve most of the time. More times than before in 2011 I had blow out scores into the 90’s, coming in with scores 10 strokes or more over my handicap of 12. To come in 10 strokes over my handicap rarely would happen when in the 15 to 20+ handicap range. Getting the right club set up has taken a couple of years to establish also.
After watching the play off videos of the Robe Open and Village Classic it was glaringly obvious that my setup of small head drivers had to change. This worked in club golf and competition golf well enough this season. It is not going to have me in the hunt for success in Open A grade fields. That extra 20-40 metres less off the tee is a millstone, no matter how accurate and consistent my small head driver shots are. The change has not been a major problem, at the minute I am playing 9 holes each day and no range practise. The injury is still healing and I enjoy the walking and hitting 40-43 shots using all the clubs. Last week, an enjoyable 9 holes in the club “Chicken Run” put all of the changes into the round. Sticking to not having set club selection for any shots, doing the setup routine before each shot and playing off a 9 handicap in this comp. and not my actual 12hcp. Managed 15 Stableford points after the nine, did not drop any of the birdie puts and missed a couple of close ones as well.
Then relaxed over a few cold bevies in the club house, which included a first hand observations of the Presidents Cup from a former club champion. The consistent tempo of the various golfers was one topic of conversation and then something that I have already been out and used in practise this week. Putting has been a targeted game improvement that I must get proficient with in the near future. The particular drill that was discussed was from watching the USA Team on the green. They were all doing the same putting drill, hitting at a single tee as the target. This morning I set up on the practise green for 30 minutes with a single tee as the target with 6 balls and putted out with each one until the tee was hit. Best I got was 4 hits from six balls, from 3 metres. Either side of that distance varied from 2-3 hits. I will keep at this for the next three months and establish better results in my rounds from it.
“Drive for show and putt for dough” a golf adage we are all familiar with. For me in the past week it has been turned on it’s head. Tee shots have become as calculated and well thought as setting up for putting strokes. The setup routine is the same, the clubs can be anything from irons, hybrid, 3 metal and... back in the bag the 460cc Cobra Driver. The summer weather has helped to a certain extent. Even so I am hitting the 3 metal (Cobra also) easily 200 to 220m with the accuracy of the 380cc - 400 cc drivers. The 460cc Driver though gets 3-4 hits each nine, off the tee. That is delivering 230-270 m without any shaping, just straight and long. The best I can do and it is good enough. This has brought that much needed increase in GIR results on holes. Birdie putts occur regularly in the past week where as previously they were oddities. It is fantastic to stand on the tee and see the ball soar across a dogleg creating a 100m shot at the green. No more less enjoyable than hitting functional straight drives along the fairway and leaving the ball just as well placed.
Still a lot of practise to go that is nothing unexpected in golf. With the elbow injury still hampering my stroke play and general daily use of the arm, I can see the needed 2-3 strokes less on each nine as a reality. This mornings 9 hole hit finished with a 41, included one double bogie with an OB from a bad drive and a three putt for a bogie on a par three hole.
2011 has been a successful and enjoyable season on and off the golf course, with the following results. Southern Ports Competition in March. Following runner up placing in 2010 in “C” Grade. “B” Grade delivered second place this time after a playoff at the end of the 3 rounds during the Tournament. Played in the Masters Games at Naracoorte Golf Club, came away with a Silver and Bronze medal at the end of the weekend. Managed to win one monthly medal, Caledonian Inn Trophy that I tied for in 2010 my goal was defending the title. I pulled that off with my last round getting over the line in the best 2 out of 3 stableford scores. Club Championship Runner-Up, hung in there for 32 of the 36 hole match play final and thoroughly enjoyed the surprise appearance in this finals event.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Thursday, December 01, 2011
2011 Robe Village Classic Golf Invitational
1/12/11 Thursday. The return to form after the layoff over the past two weeks is working at the minute. Nothing spectacular more so back to my previous standard, with perhaps a little improvement which is an unexpected bonus. Starting on Monday this week I have played 9 holes every day and several additional improvements to my game have been established as the restriction of the golfers elbow abates. Once again getting positives out of the negative has rewarded me, admittedly the frustration and anger that boiled over last week still sucked.
So far this week the first major improvement has been the hitting of greens in regulation, giving birdie chances. This has never been a consistent aspect of my golf, which the analysis and introspection of the past month while limited on the course has highlighted. The following are some game improvements that have came from the experience, 1) Established a defined setup routine for tee and fairway shots, 2) Improved swing plane, 3) Pitching and Chipping accuracy and versatility improved, 4) Returned to using any of the clubs all of the time. With a little more physical improvement to follow there is a few other specific aspects of my game that have been identified for development.
The restrictions from MVA injuries are abating through regular playing of golf since 2009. To the extent that now I am going to target getting a complete follow through on my swing, as far as my body limits will allow. In this the progress has been very extensive already, flexibility and rotation of my hips has improved at least 20% in 3 seasons. To attain an improved forward swing will be a valuable addition to my ball striking. This one addition will go hand in hand with my practise of tee and fairway shots. Secondly, yet most importantly is improving the results on the green when putting. This part of my game has really suffered from the Golfers’ Elbow injury. Even now I am using the lighter and shorter putter to accommodate the strain the action puts on the tender spots.
Beside the obvious enjoyment at being able to play again, the use of blades has been a very successful exercise for my game improvement. The need to strike the ball well with blades to get a good result is a great incentive when practising and playing with them. I still alternate between using blades and the Titleist AP2’s, whilst my consistency with the blades is maintained when returning to the AP2 irons the improvement is markedly noticeable. With Ebay and the variety of used irons available there, picking up a set of blades for $30 and paying $100 for extensions and new grips was unbeatable value. I am not a coach and thoroughly recommend any golfer to not hesitate in taking lessons from qualified coaches. This has been the best thing I have done in my golfing, followed by regular practise routines. That is not discounting the vocal minority who will espouse that coaching was wasted on them, just take note this is a minority of golfers.
Which brings me to the free part of improving your golf, watching good golfers play the game. The last few weeks I have benefited from this during the club Open with playing partners and this past weekend in the Robe Village Classic Ambrose, followed by the 18 hole Classic Invitational event for 5hcp or less golfers. This year I followed the deciding group of 4 players tied on 71 gross and filmed the two hole play off. Doing this was well worth the walk, and the deciding factor in two changes that are now part of my game. Establishing and following a setup routine for each shot, putting is the one that is lagging in this. Coaching is needed for my putting, as well as a little more recovery time for the elbow injury. This also assisted in returneing to using any club for all shots instead of automatically grabbing what seems best. These two changes came from my observations and discussions with the low handicap golfers played with during these events. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
So far this week the first major improvement has been the hitting of greens in regulation, giving birdie chances. This has never been a consistent aspect of my golf, which the analysis and introspection of the past month while limited on the course has highlighted. The following are some game improvements that have came from the experience, 1) Established a defined setup routine for tee and fairway shots, 2) Improved swing plane, 3) Pitching and Chipping accuracy and versatility improved, 4) Returned to using any of the clubs all of the time. With a little more physical improvement to follow there is a few other specific aspects of my game that have been identified for development.
The restrictions from MVA injuries are abating through regular playing of golf since 2009. To the extent that now I am going to target getting a complete follow through on my swing, as far as my body limits will allow. In this the progress has been very extensive already, flexibility and rotation of my hips has improved at least 20% in 3 seasons. To attain an improved forward swing will be a valuable addition to my ball striking. This one addition will go hand in hand with my practise of tee and fairway shots. Secondly, yet most importantly is improving the results on the green when putting. This part of my game has really suffered from the Golfers’ Elbow injury. Even now I am using the lighter and shorter putter to accommodate the strain the action puts on the tender spots.
Beside the obvious enjoyment at being able to play again, the use of blades has been a very successful exercise for my game improvement. The need to strike the ball well with blades to get a good result is a great incentive when practising and playing with them. I still alternate between using blades and the Titleist AP2’s, whilst my consistency with the blades is maintained when returning to the AP2 irons the improvement is markedly noticeable. With Ebay and the variety of used irons available there, picking up a set of blades for $30 and paying $100 for extensions and new grips was unbeatable value. I am not a coach and thoroughly recommend any golfer to not hesitate in taking lessons from qualified coaches. This has been the best thing I have done in my golfing, followed by regular practise routines. That is not discounting the vocal minority who will espouse that coaching was wasted on them, just take note this is a minority of golfers.
Which brings me to the free part of improving your golf, watching good golfers play the game. The last few weeks I have benefited from this during the club Open with playing partners and this past weekend in the Robe Village Classic Ambrose, followed by the 18 hole Classic Invitational event for 5hcp or less golfers. This year I followed the deciding group of 4 players tied on 71 gross and filmed the two hole play off. Doing this was well worth the walk, and the deciding factor in two changes that are now part of my game. Establishing and following a setup routine for each shot, putting is the one that is lagging in this. Coaching is needed for my putting, as well as a little more recovery time for the elbow injury. This also assisted in returneing to using any club for all shots instead of automatically grabbing what seems best. These two changes came from my observations and discussions with the low handicap golfers played with during these events. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Back to playing the game at last...
29/11/11 Tuesday. The past weekend golfing was a pleasure to see and play in, starting on Friday afternoon with my first decent hit in 2-3 weeks. The 9 hole “chicken run” competition on Friday afternoons is fun and my approach to this is to especially enjoy the round and use it to tune up my game for competition. Having spent so long on the side lines of late it was good to be hitting the ball well and enjoying the company of my playing partners. Akin to a scene from Caddyshack the skies around us on the course were black with flashes of lighting sparking across the roiling sky followed by rolling thunder. With two holes to go the wind changed direction and the storm clouds turned towards us and soon big fat raindrops were splatting onto heads. Sitting on 16 points and playing well I stuck it out to the end. Totally drenched by the finish and a total of 20 points was well worth the soaking.
Saturday was the Robe Village Classic Ambrose and our four put in a very credible effort. With a final total of 7 under for the day, getting 5 birdies on the front nine our game lacked the putting skill on the back only adding another 2 birdies to the scorecard. We did not get any bogies or worse in the round either, but not able to drop the birdie putts on the back nine had us miss out on the prizes on a countback at the end of the days play. Best total was a 14 under, proving that the summer conditions are a boon to playing better golf. Each team included 1-2 players who were invited players for the next days Robe Village Classic Tournament for 5 hcp. or less golfers in the Mens and 18 or less in the ladies tournament. Personally I felt some responsibility for out teams shortcomings on the back nine, struggled after the 11th hole to putt well especially. In the team talent scale I was the 2nd best golfer, with a Scratch, me on 12, a 23 and a 27.
No matter it was great fun and it was well worthwhile to see the difference between my standard and a scratch golfer up close and unleashed off the tee. With the consistent set up of each hole with a shot on the fairway every time before the scratch golfer teed up, it was possible to see first hand the talent that is in the hands of low handicappers. On the day he used the driver several times off the tee in the Ambrose which if it was a solo stroke round would have used anything from a fairway metal to #2 iron. That comment was filed away in my brain box together with the observation of the same game approach from Mark Pretty (+1 hcp.) who played in my group during the Robe Open on the 6th of November.
Mark Pretty and Dylan Morgan were both tied at the end of the Open’s 18 holes and there was a playoff to decide the winner. Out club has a two hole playoff with best gross score deciding the winner and if tied it is sudden death play until there is a winner. The 2011 Robe Open video footage of the 5 playoff holes has been edited now and is included in the post here;
1st playoff hole
2nd Playoff hole
3rd Playoff hole
4th Playoff hole
5th Playoff hole
Winners Presentation Robe Open 2011
This was an interesting notation in my mind when referring back to my first year back golfing in 2009. I played successfully in that season using the #3 iron off the tee for 6 months before getting coaching from the club professional in January 2010 in using a Driver. Even today with the smaller driver (380cc) in the bag, I do not have to change to a #3 metal off the tee when that is a better choice than a 460cc Driver. Improvement with the #2 Hybrid in coming months is a must, this club is going to be a vital ingredient among others in my quest to reach a 5 handicap. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Saturday was the Robe Village Classic Ambrose and our four put in a very credible effort. With a final total of 7 under for the day, getting 5 birdies on the front nine our game lacked the putting skill on the back only adding another 2 birdies to the scorecard. We did not get any bogies or worse in the round either, but not able to drop the birdie putts on the back nine had us miss out on the prizes on a countback at the end of the days play. Best total was a 14 under, proving that the summer conditions are a boon to playing better golf. Each team included 1-2 players who were invited players for the next days Robe Village Classic Tournament for 5 hcp. or less golfers in the Mens and 18 or less in the ladies tournament. Personally I felt some responsibility for out teams shortcomings on the back nine, struggled after the 11th hole to putt well especially. In the team talent scale I was the 2nd best golfer, with a Scratch, me on 12, a 23 and a 27.
No matter it was great fun and it was well worthwhile to see the difference between my standard and a scratch golfer up close and unleashed off the tee. With the consistent set up of each hole with a shot on the fairway every time before the scratch golfer teed up, it was possible to see first hand the talent that is in the hands of low handicappers. On the day he used the driver several times off the tee in the Ambrose which if it was a solo stroke round would have used anything from a fairway metal to #2 iron. That comment was filed away in my brain box together with the observation of the same game approach from Mark Pretty (+1 hcp.) who played in my group during the Robe Open on the 6th of November.
Mark Pretty and Dylan Morgan were both tied at the end of the Open’s 18 holes and there was a playoff to decide the winner. Out club has a two hole playoff with best gross score deciding the winner and if tied it is sudden death play until there is a winner. The 2011 Robe Open video footage of the 5 playoff holes has been edited now and is included in the post here;
1st playoff hole
2nd Playoff hole
3rd Playoff hole
4th Playoff hole
5th Playoff hole
Winners Presentation Robe Open 2011
This was an interesting notation in my mind when referring back to my first year back golfing in 2009. I played successfully in that season using the #3 iron off the tee for 6 months before getting coaching from the club professional in January 2010 in using a Driver. Even today with the smaller driver (380cc) in the bag, I do not have to change to a #3 metal off the tee when that is a better choice than a 460cc Driver. Improvement with the #2 Hybrid in coming months is a must, this club is going to be a vital ingredient among others in my quest to reach a 5 handicap. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A little dummy spit... Feel a lot better now
24/11/11 Thursday. Getting close to spitting the dummy at the minute, had a gutfull of not playing golf today. After spending a few hours at the club sorting out the stock in the bar and with the electrician getting the power fixed went to the car and got the sticks out of the boot and played five holes.
Bit of anger in the first few holes so some ratty shots, still hitting greens in regulation was done a couple of times. Putted crap and did not care was just happy to throw off the shackles and have a swing. Still some damned pain in the right fore arm, that is not a good sign. Of course I would rather have the arm ,even if it is a bit second rate than be a Mr Stumpy. In fact as I write this the anger is really roiling away, a good thing. Have been through a lot of physical discomfort for a long time so my acceptance of it is very limited. Being fitter from playing golf and enjoying the handicap progress, stopping something so good is not easy.
Saturday is the Village Classic Ambrose, unfortunately only two of us from last seasons successful team can make it and I am not in prime form. That said it is an Ambrose and will suit my current game very well. Pretty pumped to play after so long away, hahahah two weeks of reduced golf. Then Sunday a day of watching a field of 24, 5 or less handicap golfers playing for the 2011 Village Classic honours.
The power problem had been noticed for 6 months or so and was a dimming of the lights in the main. Sparky gets the call and says it is not a good sign, as an electricity nimrod I had no idea what this potentially meant. A mini Hiroshima or a burst of cow flatulence. To make a long story short after answering no to the questions ie has any one been shocked with the juice or any electrical equipment been fried. He was surprised and then showed that instead of 240 Volts the club was getting up to 300V. ETSA sent a crew straight away and fixed the lines and so now we are back in the safety zone. By pure luck it seems because the club gets limited use through winter, not much wedding hire etc the possible disaster was avoided.
The Club AGM went well last night, bigger attendance than the last one, which in AGM terms can be a concrn as if members are happy they dont come out in large numbers. Yet the meeting went along smoothly the floor members voiced no concerns or problems with the plans and decisions mooted for the coming expansion. New people on the committee as well which is a good thing and I have stepped down from Secretary and taken on Vice President for the year. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”, Geoff
Bit of anger in the first few holes so some ratty shots, still hitting greens in regulation was done a couple of times. Putted crap and did not care was just happy to throw off the shackles and have a swing. Still some damned pain in the right fore arm, that is not a good sign. Of course I would rather have the arm ,even if it is a bit second rate than be a Mr Stumpy. In fact as I write this the anger is really roiling away, a good thing. Have been through a lot of physical discomfort for a long time so my acceptance of it is very limited. Being fitter from playing golf and enjoying the handicap progress, stopping something so good is not easy.
Saturday is the Village Classic Ambrose, unfortunately only two of us from last seasons successful team can make it and I am not in prime form. That said it is an Ambrose and will suit my current game very well. Pretty pumped to play after so long away, hahahah two weeks of reduced golf. Then Sunday a day of watching a field of 24, 5 or less handicap golfers playing for the 2011 Village Classic honours.
The power problem had been noticed for 6 months or so and was a dimming of the lights in the main. Sparky gets the call and says it is not a good sign, as an electricity nimrod I had no idea what this potentially meant. A mini Hiroshima or a burst of cow flatulence. To make a long story short after answering no to the questions ie has any one been shocked with the juice or any electrical equipment been fried. He was surprised and then showed that instead of 240 Volts the club was getting up to 300V. ETSA sent a crew straight away and fixed the lines and so now we are back in the safety zone. By pure luck it seems because the club gets limited use through winter, not much wedding hire etc the possible disaster was avoided.
The Club AGM went well last night, bigger attendance than the last one, which in AGM terms can be a concrn as if members are happy they dont come out in large numbers. Yet the meeting went along smoothly the floor members voiced no concerns or problems with the plans and decisions mooted for the coming expansion. New people on the committee as well which is a good thing and I have stepped down from Secretary and taken on Vice President for the year. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”, Geoff
Monday, November 21, 2011
How low can I go.....
21/11/11 Monday. Sticking with the no golfing effort to assist in recovery from the Tennis/Golfer elbow malaise. The last week was not easy did go out on Tuesday and hit 20 balls with my drivers just to work on the swing fault which affected the Penola round and had a 15 minute putting session on Wednesday. That is the total of golfing practise and the least number of hits in the past three years, so it was a difficult excercise. At the minute the recovery is still very slow, unfortunately on weekends I throw the papers for the local newsagent. Whilst the discomfort was less on Sunday than after Saturdays paper round it was not a good thing to do. At this stage I will have a hit on Friday in the Chicken run 9 hole stableford, before playing in the Robe Classic Ambrose Comp. on Saturday. Should be no problems with this amount of activity, although the Race To Cypress Lakes competition on the 2nd of December is looking like a non entry for me. Only 7 spots left in the field for the Vines and I cannot commit given the slow improvement.
Southern Ports Tournament in 2012 , end of February and first week of March is still the major start to next seasons competition targets, after finishing second in “B” Grade in 2011 and the same in “C” Grade in 2010 now I am up into the”A” Grade. Relishing the challenge at having a crack at this, reality is that being in the higher handicap section of the grade, target is the Nett competition not the Gross. Another two weeks are committed to recovering from the injury before I have to start the pre-Competition preparation.
The upside to not playing golf at the minute is the amount of “thinking time” that my game is getting to counter not being out playing. Was about time, in hindsight, that I sat back and put some thought into where I am going with golf. The dreamed of handicap goal back in 2009 when starting was 10, the must get target was 15. Reached that figure in February 2011, and now playing off 12. Nearing the first of the double figure handicap numbers, has me looking at the single digits below. Playing to 19hcp is still fresh enough in my experience to be able to notice the major improvement in 12 months to be 7 strokes better. Whilst all of the playing focus is on cracking the 10hcp level, mentally my mind is rambling among the single digits for a target.
Being aware of other golfing partners/opponents achievements over this time handicap wise is a benefit. Specifically two have got down to a 6hcp from 12-13 another from 4 to 2. In that time there has been several casual golfing partners, who during rounds have discussed their handicap journeys from where I am at to the single figures. After a week of thought, the revised handicap dream target is 5, I will accept 6 or 4 either side of the number as well, which pretty much reveals that until I get there the hunger to improve is a motivation at the minute. Being able to go back over three seasons of a golf diary and two of blogging which were written as the golfing happened is a significant benefit. I can see where I have had various influences, positive and negative on my game develop. The equipment and coaching experiences are especially valuable. In fact the latter is the most influential aspect which improved my game. A golfers attitude to receiving professional coaching is what makes or breaks their game in my opinion. For those who stand by the position of coaching does not benefit a golfers game, that is your choice. I will draw your attention to the fact that the professionals who play at the highest level today, still get coaching to keep their own game at it’s best.
Whilst I do have a documented training/practise schedule that has worked so far it is not static or set in stone. It has evolved since 2009 to produce my golf improvement and although it has maintained the core principles to enable playing my best golf. Not once have I gone off on a tangent chasing one of those imaginary “Secrets” that will take your golf to a brilliant level. Grip and Swing in tandem with practise are what has got me this far. Never have I gone to a coach without a set idea of what was needed. Hence I could listen to the advice. practise the routines and here I am playing my best golf for now. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Southern Ports Tournament in 2012 , end of February and first week of March is still the major start to next seasons competition targets, after finishing second in “B” Grade in 2011 and the same in “C” Grade in 2010 now I am up into the”A” Grade. Relishing the challenge at having a crack at this, reality is that being in the higher handicap section of the grade, target is the Nett competition not the Gross. Another two weeks are committed to recovering from the injury before I have to start the pre-Competition preparation.
The upside to not playing golf at the minute is the amount of “thinking time” that my game is getting to counter not being out playing. Was about time, in hindsight, that I sat back and put some thought into where I am going with golf. The dreamed of handicap goal back in 2009 when starting was 10, the must get target was 15. Reached that figure in February 2011, and now playing off 12. Nearing the first of the double figure handicap numbers, has me looking at the single digits below. Playing to 19hcp is still fresh enough in my experience to be able to notice the major improvement in 12 months to be 7 strokes better. Whilst all of the playing focus is on cracking the 10hcp level, mentally my mind is rambling among the single digits for a target.
Being aware of other golfing partners/opponents achievements over this time handicap wise is a benefit. Specifically two have got down to a 6hcp from 12-13 another from 4 to 2. In that time there has been several casual golfing partners, who during rounds have discussed their handicap journeys from where I am at to the single figures. After a week of thought, the revised handicap dream target is 5, I will accept 6 or 4 either side of the number as well, which pretty much reveals that until I get there the hunger to improve is a motivation at the minute. Being able to go back over three seasons of a golf diary and two of blogging which were written as the golfing happened is a significant benefit. I can see where I have had various influences, positive and negative on my game develop. The equipment and coaching experiences are especially valuable. In fact the latter is the most influential aspect which improved my game. A golfers attitude to receiving professional coaching is what makes or breaks their game in my opinion. For those who stand by the position of coaching does not benefit a golfers game, that is your choice. I will draw your attention to the fact that the professionals who play at the highest level today, still get coaching to keep their own game at it’s best.
Whilst I do have a documented training/practise schedule that has worked so far it is not static or set in stone. It has evolved since 2009 to produce my golf improvement and although it has maintained the core principles to enable playing my best golf. Not once have I gone off on a tangent chasing one of those imaginary “Secrets” that will take your golf to a brilliant level. Grip and Swing in tandem with practise are what has got me this far. Never have I gone to a coach without a set idea of what was needed. Hence I could listen to the advice. practise the routines and here I am playing my best golf for now. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Golf as described on ABC Gruen Planet 16/11/11
gruen planet 16/11/11
“Chalmers took home 1/4 of a million dollars after the Aust. Open, Tiger Woods income has dropped from $100 million to $60 million p/a.
Host Wil Anderson, “Russell how is it that golf a moderately popular game, is the best paid”
“because it is a game played by white in the main, middle class men in the richest countries in the world”
“Well that does explain it…” as simple as that.
Agencies look at sporting events as advertising properties and golf is one of the premium and most valuable. The main reason for that is, “Who watches it” mostly 35 year old plus males with money.
And the consumers of golf product are wealthy, so it is a rich persons sport. Not necessarily a rich persons sport but more so than your average persons sport. Played by upper middle class people who love spending money on themselves, because in the main they are selfish.
Then the one panelist (who plays golf came in)... What! all golfers?
There are two things; One you participate in golf, it is the rare sport where you can increase your participation the older you get and the more you enter you wealth phase. Second in golf you see anything a new driver, ball, pair of socks that will take half a shot of your round you gotta go buy it…”
Episode link Gruen Planet Episode 8 16/11/2011
This TV show is entertaining and delivers the cold hard truth of Advertising up with a serving of wit and in house Advertising opinion. As a golfer myself I had a laugh at the segment the above transcript is taken from. Admittedly this program does have a significant humour quotient as part of the patter, so this has to be taken into account with these words out of the program.
That said it showed to me the image problem Golf has in Oz. It is a cheaper sport for me to play than Football or cricket for that matter., being country based the membership is not too expensive and I get to play as often as I like. Yet golf carries the dated imagery of “exclusivity” still in the minds of many.
Golf has to overcome this sterotypical image to regain a larger share of the sporting public playing the game.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
“Chalmers took home 1/4 of a million dollars after the Aust. Open, Tiger Woods income has dropped from $100 million to $60 million p/a.
Host Wil Anderson, “Russell how is it that golf a moderately popular game, is the best paid”
“because it is a game played by white in the main, middle class men in the richest countries in the world”
“Well that does explain it…” as simple as that.
Agencies look at sporting events as advertising properties and golf is one of the premium and most valuable. The main reason for that is, “Who watches it” mostly 35 year old plus males with money.
And the consumers of golf product are wealthy, so it is a rich persons sport. Not necessarily a rich persons sport but more so than your average persons sport. Played by upper middle class people who love spending money on themselves, because in the main they are selfish.
Then the one panelist (who plays golf came in)... What! all golfers?
There are two things; One you participate in golf, it is the rare sport where you can increase your participation the older you get and the more you enter you wealth phase. Second in golf you see anything a new driver, ball, pair of socks that will take half a shot of your round you gotta go buy it…”
Episode link Gruen Planet Episode 8 16/11/2011
This TV show is entertaining and delivers the cold hard truth of Advertising up with a serving of wit and in house Advertising opinion. As a golfer myself I had a laugh at the segment the above transcript is taken from. Admittedly this program does have a significant humour quotient as part of the patter, so this has to be taken into account with these words out of the program.
That said it showed to me the image problem Golf has in Oz. It is a cheaper sport for me to play than Football or cricket for that matter., being country based the membership is not too expensive and I get to play as often as I like. Yet golf carries the dated imagery of “exclusivity” still in the minds of many.
Golf has to overcome this sterotypical image to regain a larger share of the sporting public playing the game.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Penola Golf Club Champion of Champions
15/11/11 Tuesday. Started the “No Golf” period after Sunday’s round at Penola. Hopefully the two week lay off will do the job and get the body back to a condition of playing without discomfort. The 18 holes last played summed up my current capability on the course, tried all day and there was nothing in the tank again. Was using the 3 iron off the tee after two holes and even this stick had an irritating fade all day. The Driver came back out on the 17th and even though the game was over and done I had at least figured out the problem, simply standing too far out from the ball earlier. Drives on 17 and 18 were crackers and dead straight. Most second shots for me were chips back out onto the fairway and the third shot at the greens in the main, fell short. Did not feel as though I was under clubbing, just could not get the distance right when hitting the ball well.
The greens were great fun had the speed right and read them well all day, the putting was an enjoyable part of the day. Short chips were okay as well but bogie golf on a 12 handicap is never a good scoring basis. I recall getting 1 par hole all day and three wipes in the round. Finished with a total of 24 stableford points. Was not upset in the slightest about the poor result, not a tantrum thrower when it comes to golf at any time. This round was no more that playing one too many and was a club representative obligation, the only reason I played was for that reason.
At the minute my goal has been to play at the Vines on 2/12/11 and that may not happen, depending on the progress of my fitness to play well again. Will play the Village Classic Ambrose at Robe on the 26th of November and at best have a few putts and a couple of hits on the practise range to gauge how the golfers elbow injury is healing. The Club AGM is on the 23rd and my final duty as club secretary that night, staying on the committee in the coming season if my nomination is accepted. Work is getting a foot in the door and have to reduce some golfing commitments. Thankyou for your time and attention. Hit ‘em Straight allGeoff
The greens were great fun had the speed right and read them well all day, the putting was an enjoyable part of the day. Short chips were okay as well but bogie golf on a 12 handicap is never a good scoring basis. I recall getting 1 par hole all day and three wipes in the round. Finished with a total of 24 stableford points. Was not upset in the slightest about the poor result, not a tantrum thrower when it comes to golf at any time. This round was no more that playing one too many and was a club representative obligation, the only reason I played was for that reason.
At the minute my goal has been to play at the Vines on 2/12/11 and that may not happen, depending on the progress of my fitness to play well again. Will play the Village Classic Ambrose at Robe on the 26th of November and at best have a few putts and a couple of hits on the practise range to gauge how the golfers elbow injury is healing. The Club AGM is on the 23rd and my final duty as club secretary that night, staying on the committee in the coming season if my nomination is accepted. Work is getting a foot in the door and have to reduce some golfing commitments. Thankyou for your time and attention. Hit ‘em Straight allGeoff
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
The final season round Robe Open
9/11/11 Wednesday The Robe Open on Sunday was my last committed hit on a course for a few weeks, time to rest up a bit giving my elbows a bit of recovery time. The improvement has been gradual and the frustration and irritation of the injury has been a boon of sorts. You may think that this is taking optimism a leap too far in maintaining a positive attitude. For me it is not, the pain and incapacitating aspect of the golfer/tennis elbow injury was never pleasant. I have endured and lived with far worse pain in the past 20 years, in comparison this was a doddle to get through. One of the difficult parts of my rehab was to not over do it, given that I have experienced higher pain levels in the past and kept pushing the limits. A disciplined approach had to be enforced and not negate the slow recovery progress.
The limitation in my swing from driver to chipping and on the green with the putter also required a few changes to accommodate the recovery while still improving my game. The restriction in the swing made getting the technical execution of the strokes as good as I possibly could. End result was that as the injury improved my game has still benefited from the experience. The last 3 weeks I have played with blades and that required greater concentration and a higher skill level to play shots. It would have been very easy to pull out the cavity back game improvement clubs and still played golf with out making any specific effort to improve until the injury was repaired. This week I have put the blades away and gone out with the AP2’s the last two days and reaped the benefit of an improved long and short iron game. Early days yet and the recovery is still not 100% so back to the blades tomorrow and continuing the process.
Ended the Open with an 86 Gross and a 74 Nett in A Grade, was a little surprised when on the first tee realising that I was grouped with single figure and past champion golfers. No nerves or hestiation just something that I observed and spent a few seconds acknowledging the reality in my mind, on the 7th of November in 2010, I was playing off a 19 handicap. The round was ticking along nicely until the 13th and 14th holes, 2 lost balls and the round was shot. Pars on the next 4 holes were a good enough recovery from those two holes. Again though it was errors in the same places of a round that has been affecting my golf for several months. This may be coincidental as far as the timing in rounds, it is still a matter of me not playing consistant good golf.
Relaxing rounds to follow in November, with and Ambrose at Penola on the 13th during the Champion of Champions round and at the Robe Village Classic Ambrose on the 26th of November. With the continuing improvement of my golf being the only focus I have at the minute, it is also important to not go past the reason I play the game. Golf is fun, an enjoyable game whether practising or playing in a competition or socially. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
The limitation in my swing from driver to chipping and on the green with the putter also required a few changes to accommodate the recovery while still improving my game. The restriction in the swing made getting the technical execution of the strokes as good as I possibly could. End result was that as the injury improved my game has still benefited from the experience. The last 3 weeks I have played with blades and that required greater concentration and a higher skill level to play shots. It would have been very easy to pull out the cavity back game improvement clubs and still played golf with out making any specific effort to improve until the injury was repaired. This week I have put the blades away and gone out with the AP2’s the last two days and reaped the benefit of an improved long and short iron game. Early days yet and the recovery is still not 100% so back to the blades tomorrow and continuing the process.
Ended the Open with an 86 Gross and a 74 Nett in A Grade, was a little surprised when on the first tee realising that I was grouped with single figure and past champion golfers. No nerves or hestiation just something that I observed and spent a few seconds acknowledging the reality in my mind, on the 7th of November in 2010, I was playing off a 19 handicap. The round was ticking along nicely until the 13th and 14th holes, 2 lost balls and the round was shot. Pars on the next 4 holes were a good enough recovery from those two holes. Again though it was errors in the same places of a round that has been affecting my golf for several months. This may be coincidental as far as the timing in rounds, it is still a matter of me not playing consistant good golf.
Relaxing rounds to follow in November, with and Ambrose at Penola on the 13th during the Champion of Champions round and at the Robe Village Classic Ambrose on the 26th of November. With the continuing improvement of my golf being the only focus I have at the minute, it is also important to not go past the reason I play the game. Golf is fun, an enjoyable game whether practising or playing in a competition or socially. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Comedy Gala fundraiser, Royal Flying Doctor
Was a little rusty on the night, been a while between standup sets. For a good cause happy to participate and well done by the organisers and all who got up and performed on the night
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
The statistics tell the tale of struggle...
3/11/11 Thursday Back home and caught up with the work tasks and time to sit down and review the golf since Sunday’s 18 hole effort. It was an effort also, a stableford which returned 29 points. My first full round in a couple of weeks was not too bad, the last 5 holes were a struggle. Whilst the Golfer/Tennis elbow is abating the restriction is still obvious in my game especially in lasting the distance. Admittedly I may be overdoing the 9 hole rounds during the week but I only have to get myself to the coming Sunday Club Open Competition in decent form, then I will stop for a few weeks. Have a club representative commitment to play on the 13th at Penola in a regional competition that I would prefer not to play.
Even with the injury hampering the golf it is not destroying my game. Making a few adjustments to allow for the flagging performance including putting the Cobra #3 metal bag in the bag has been a benefit. The short game and putting are acceptable, chipping is much better than several months ago. Practise has been the major facet together with returning to using blades to chip with in the old Wilson 1200 set. These clubs are enjoyable to use and even though they feel very different to the AP2 set, the distances are comparable from the 3 to PW.
Still struggling with hitting, Greens In Regulation. This is the most frustrating aspect of my game at the minute. It is a matter of more practise with the 3-6 irons and that is hampered by the injury. Together with a pernicious fault hitting 8 to 9 irons from 110m and in to 40m at the green and getting the distance right. The ball is going straight and the flight is good but 8-9 times out of 10 is short or long. These two facets of the game are not enjoyable and will benefit most from stopping for a week or two. In the daily 9 hole hits since beginning last week scores of 43-45 made up from 3-4 pars, 3-5 bogies and 1 Double bogie have been the norm. Playing well enough and the failure to hit 2 or 3 shots less is not causing any concern about how my game is developing.
Continuing the practise has delivered the improvement in chipping that has been very helpful in keeping the scores reasonable. Starting to get the ‘flop shot’ around the green, with opening the face on chips and the ball dropping and stopping. Getting a positive out of the negative again has added to the experience.
The GIR statistic in my game is very poor, as far as my expectations go. Not to forget that as a 12 handicapper hitting greens in regulation is not possible 50% of the time, in reality 30% is expected and even then I am still under the target going from 27% in August to 16% in September/October. Taking into account that I have been hitting the fairway with 59% of my tee shots. Followed with missed GIRs at 113 from fairway shots and a decreasing Up-and-Down total rate of 23.9%. The average was peaking at 38.5, 33.3 and 47.5 during August 2011, then the Golfer/Tennis elbow began to have a significant negative impact. Just love playing golf and the challenges the game throws up and taking them on in the quest to improve.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Even with the injury hampering the golf it is not destroying my game. Making a few adjustments to allow for the flagging performance including putting the Cobra #3 metal bag in the bag has been a benefit. The short game and putting are acceptable, chipping is much better than several months ago. Practise has been the major facet together with returning to using blades to chip with in the old Wilson 1200 set. These clubs are enjoyable to use and even though they feel very different to the AP2 set, the distances are comparable from the 3 to PW.
Still struggling with hitting, Greens In Regulation. This is the most frustrating aspect of my game at the minute. It is a matter of more practise with the 3-6 irons and that is hampered by the injury. Together with a pernicious fault hitting 8 to 9 irons from 110m and in to 40m at the green and getting the distance right. The ball is going straight and the flight is good but 8-9 times out of 10 is short or long. These two facets of the game are not enjoyable and will benefit most from stopping for a week or two. In the daily 9 hole hits since beginning last week scores of 43-45 made up from 3-4 pars, 3-5 bogies and 1 Double bogie have been the norm. Playing well enough and the failure to hit 2 or 3 shots less is not causing any concern about how my game is developing.
Continuing the practise has delivered the improvement in chipping that has been very helpful in keeping the scores reasonable. Starting to get the ‘flop shot’ around the green, with opening the face on chips and the ball dropping and stopping. Getting a positive out of the negative again has added to the experience.
The GIR statistic in my game is very poor, as far as my expectations go. Not to forget that as a 12 handicapper hitting greens in regulation is not possible 50% of the time, in reality 30% is expected and even then I am still under the target going from 27% in August to 16% in September/October. Taking into account that I have been hitting the fairway with 59% of my tee shots. Followed with missed GIRs at 113 from fairway shots and a decreasing Up-and-Down total rate of 23.9%. The average was peaking at 38.5, 33.3 and 47.5 during August 2011, then the Golfer/Tennis elbow began to have a significant negative impact. Just love playing golf and the challenges the game throws up and taking them on in the quest to improve.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Feels good when a plan delivers...
29/10/11 Saturday. Kept with the decision to play 9 holes a day this week, was not easy to do given the soreness of my elbows. Having endured much worse pain, for longer periods in the past, does not detract from the discomfort at the minute and it is certainly not enjoyable one iota. Being totally obtuse with the injury treatment now, attacking the problem with the appropriate healing processes whilst putting in a focussed effort to get my game at its best for the club open on the 6th of November. There is no other way to build confidence in my playing ability. If the effort is too much and the body cannot standup to the effort, not a problem s long as I have put in 100%. Playing in A grade at the high end of the handicap ranking, my form must be at its best to have any chance of a decent score in the Open.
The Wilson blades have been assisting in getting me out on the course, it is so exciting to hit a blade and feel and sweetness of a shot. Being a 1973-73 model iron the new grips and 3cm extension have been a revelation of how my game is progressing. Yesterday played in the Friday afternoon “Chicken Run” competition, off a 9 handicap in this club event and not my official 12. Finishing with 17 points it was a very satisfactory effort. Off the tee with the 400cc driver was very good distance wise in showers and wind I cracked the 250m distance a couple of times. Well above my average 200m-220m this was all from the last coaching session. The excercise with the shortened club that has established an upright swing and hitting on with an inside/out plane has began top establish a draw off he tee as well. As with most golfers my game has been affected with a slice from the beginning. Adjusting to play with a draw in setting up and addressing the ball still feels very odd after so long. Fortunately this has been a gradual development from continued practise and to stand and set up aiming to the right and the ball drawing to the left after striking it was the reward for following the coaches advice and practise.
In 9 holes I hit one green in regulation. The other eight were misses from 1m to 5m of the green, that with the improved chipping with the PW kept me in the game all through the round. Just could not get the club selection right after tee shots, for some reason chose the nine iron (short 4 times) and the 7 (long once) instead of the 8 which would have been right distance wise. Put that down to a combination of still getting used to the clubs and the injury, may be also affected by the increased loft on the older irons. Hit the ball very well the shots were straight or slight draws just not long enough with the 9 and too long with the 7. Used the lighter Tour Sonic putter instead of my usual Wilson 100 to good effect, did not miss any ‘gimme’ putts. There are two golf events that I am working towards to complete 2011. The Robe Open on the 6th of November and the Race to Cypress Lakes round at The Vines on the 2nd of December.
Have got onto a satisfying path towards improvement and will maintain that through to the end of December, will keep on hitting 20-30 balls a day on the practise range as well as the 9 hole walks around the course. There is a factor of trying to smash through the last stages of this golfers elbow ailment. It is frustrating, like hayfever it is disabling, uncomfortable and sore. Just want it gone now and be able to go about day to day business without the irritation. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
The Wilson blades have been assisting in getting me out on the course, it is so exciting to hit a blade and feel and sweetness of a shot. Being a 1973-73 model iron the new grips and 3cm extension have been a revelation of how my game is progressing. Yesterday played in the Friday afternoon “Chicken Run” competition, off a 9 handicap in this club event and not my official 12. Finishing with 17 points it was a very satisfactory effort. Off the tee with the 400cc driver was very good distance wise in showers and wind I cracked the 250m distance a couple of times. Well above my average 200m-220m this was all from the last coaching session. The excercise with the shortened club that has established an upright swing and hitting on with an inside/out plane has began top establish a draw off he tee as well. As with most golfers my game has been affected with a slice from the beginning. Adjusting to play with a draw in setting up and addressing the ball still feels very odd after so long. Fortunately this has been a gradual development from continued practise and to stand and set up aiming to the right and the ball drawing to the left after striking it was the reward for following the coaches advice and practise.
In 9 holes I hit one green in regulation. The other eight were misses from 1m to 5m of the green, that with the improved chipping with the PW kept me in the game all through the round. Just could not get the club selection right after tee shots, for some reason chose the nine iron (short 4 times) and the 7 (long once) instead of the 8 which would have been right distance wise. Put that down to a combination of still getting used to the clubs and the injury, may be also affected by the increased loft on the older irons. Hit the ball very well the shots were straight or slight draws just not long enough with the 9 and too long with the 7. Used the lighter Tour Sonic putter instead of my usual Wilson 100 to good effect, did not miss any ‘gimme’ putts. There are two golf events that I am working towards to complete 2011. The Robe Open on the 6th of November and the Race to Cypress Lakes round at The Vines on the 2nd of December.
Have got onto a satisfying path towards improvement and will maintain that through to the end of December, will keep on hitting 20-30 balls a day on the practise range as well as the 9 hole walks around the course. There is a factor of trying to smash through the last stages of this golfers elbow ailment. It is frustrating, like hayfever it is disabling, uncomfortable and sore. Just want it gone now and be able to go about day to day business without the irritation. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A return of form feels great...
26/10/11 The improvement is still continuing slowly with the Golfer/Tennis elbow ailment. Not over doing the practise hitting 35 balls yesterday and today played 8 holes and finished 2 over with an Out of Bounds. In a day with with very strong winds using the smaller driver 400cc, shelved the 420cc after one tee shot, was very effective. The Wilson 1200 blades (under wave shape) 1973-75, are proving to be a treat now they have been regripped and extended 3cm with shaft plugs.
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
Monday, October 24, 2011
Back to the begining.....
24/10/11 Monday. The improvement in my elbows is noticeable from a week ago, it has been very slow progress recuperating from the golfers/tennis elbow ailment. Sticking to the Ice/Heat treatments with the arm strap support, being worn all day. Light hand grip excercise sessions which always strained a little to begin, then the muscles warmed up and could be completed without any discomfort. The mental irritation at not being able to go out and hit golf balls regularly because of such a minor ailment is perhaps the worst of the problem. The pain and discomfort is not all that minor when it hits, the frustration is added to with the day to day activities which are hampered with the injury. Ridiculous to be forced to gasp with pain when picking a carton of milk up or drop a TV Remote because the strain of picking it up brings searing pain in the elbow and forearm.
In the past week I did not pick up a golf stick until Friday afternoon after returning home. Only then because I wanted to have a hit with the Wilson 1200 blades after adding 3cm length and new grips while away. Had intended to play 4-5 holes only with regard to the not straining the existing injury. Entered the 9 hole comp. and hit the ball well enough the Wilsons are a club shorter it seemed, more loft on the irons adds compared with the AP2’s. Still the new grips and especially the 3cm added had comparable accuracy and the ball felt great coming off the face. Chipping with the PW was a marked improvement this bladed club delivers much better results for me around the green. Putting was a disappointment compared to my expectations at the minute, this facet of the game has been the most affected by the injury. Missed 4 putts by a hairbreadth going past the hole in the beginning. Then on the last 5 holes struggled to make the hole on the first putts, once the strain on my elbows began to affect putting rythym. The positive outcome of this period is the confirmation that having a good short game is vital to playing well.
My game has improved so much in the last 12 months, was on 19 hcp. in October 2010 and now on 12-13 hcp. Dropping this 6 strokes is comparable to other improvements during a golf season for me since 2009 when I was on 28 in October. It was in late November and December of 2009 I began to practise 3-4 days per week with a structured routine in preparation for the Southern Ports tournament. This has been the biggest influence on my golf, in 2010 I began to up the practise ante in early November which got me down to 15 by the beginning of February in tune for the Tournament. In both 2009, “C” grade and 2010, “B” grade I was the runner up after the three days of competition. In 2011, I will be in “A” Grade and well out of my depth ability wise. Making that drop from 12-13 hcp. to an 8-9 hcp. is not as easy as the step from 19 to a 15 hcp. No matter how optimistic I am and well structured my practise routine is, the fact is that improvement into single figures is a slow process. The 2010 golf season was a struggle for me to play to 19 after coming down from the high 20’s. This season I have continued to improve my golf and go 2 strokes lower due to better golf ability. Even if I can get to a single figure in time for the Southern Ports Tournament, my only goal will be to have a crack at the handicap title in “A” grade. The gross off the stick title is for the 5 hcp. or less golfers to fight out. Whilst being out of action some thought has gone into my practise for the 2012 tournament, it may need to be moderated a little to avoid a recurrence of the elbow ailment. Starting in December not November is in favour at the minute. Also another coaching session is needed to work on my technique with long iron shots. Perhaps one of the most valuable coaching sessions in 2011 was a short game clinic. This was a tune up in playing onto the green in close, from the group two of the men made the club championship final, another the semi-final.
I see many comments made about coaching and can only give my opinion that if you really want to get a better golf game, “this is a must do”. Turn up with an attitude of “here I am, now make me better” coaching is not how it works. You will make yourself the better golfer, the coaching is what gives the direction and advice to absorb in improving your game. Have a plan from the beginning that is shared with your coach, and don’t expect to have the answers all done and dusted in one session. My plan was, 1) get the ability to consistently hit a driver off the tee without slicing the ball, Lesson 2) Short Game and Putting. then 2 years of practising what was taught. I did not follow up with the next session planned in my progress, the long irons. This has not been a catastrophe, yet I do believe that this is the key to getting my game on track toward a single figure handicap. Once the elbows have came good I will be getting this postponed coaching session into the knowledge bank.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
In the past week I did not pick up a golf stick until Friday afternoon after returning home. Only then because I wanted to have a hit with the Wilson 1200 blades after adding 3cm length and new grips while away. Had intended to play 4-5 holes only with regard to the not straining the existing injury. Entered the 9 hole comp. and hit the ball well enough the Wilsons are a club shorter it seemed, more loft on the irons adds compared with the AP2’s. Still the new grips and especially the 3cm added had comparable accuracy and the ball felt great coming off the face. Chipping with the PW was a marked improvement this bladed club delivers much better results for me around the green. Putting was a disappointment compared to my expectations at the minute, this facet of the game has been the most affected by the injury. Missed 4 putts by a hairbreadth going past the hole in the beginning. Then on the last 5 holes struggled to make the hole on the first putts, once the strain on my elbows began to affect putting rythym. The positive outcome of this period is the confirmation that having a good short game is vital to playing well.
My game has improved so much in the last 12 months, was on 19 hcp. in October 2010 and now on 12-13 hcp. Dropping this 6 strokes is comparable to other improvements during a golf season for me since 2009 when I was on 28 in October. It was in late November and December of 2009 I began to practise 3-4 days per week with a structured routine in preparation for the Southern Ports tournament. This has been the biggest influence on my golf, in 2010 I began to up the practise ante in early November which got me down to 15 by the beginning of February in tune for the Tournament. In both 2009, “C” grade and 2010, “B” grade I was the runner up after the three days of competition. In 2011, I will be in “A” Grade and well out of my depth ability wise. Making that drop from 12-13 hcp. to an 8-9 hcp. is not as easy as the step from 19 to a 15 hcp. No matter how optimistic I am and well structured my practise routine is, the fact is that improvement into single figures is a slow process. The 2010 golf season was a struggle for me to play to 19 after coming down from the high 20’s. This season I have continued to improve my golf and go 2 strokes lower due to better golf ability. Even if I can get to a single figure in time for the Southern Ports Tournament, my only goal will be to have a crack at the handicap title in “A” grade. The gross off the stick title is for the 5 hcp. or less golfers to fight out. Whilst being out of action some thought has gone into my practise for the 2012 tournament, it may need to be moderated a little to avoid a recurrence of the elbow ailment. Starting in December not November is in favour at the minute. Also another coaching session is needed to work on my technique with long iron shots. Perhaps one of the most valuable coaching sessions in 2011 was a short game clinic. This was a tune up in playing onto the green in close, from the group two of the men made the club championship final, another the semi-final.
I see many comments made about coaching and can only give my opinion that if you really want to get a better golf game, “this is a must do”. Turn up with an attitude of “here I am, now make me better” coaching is not how it works. You will make yourself the better golfer, the coaching is what gives the direction and advice to absorb in improving your game. Have a plan from the beginning that is shared with your coach, and don’t expect to have the answers all done and dusted in one session. My plan was, 1) get the ability to consistently hit a driver off the tee without slicing the ball, Lesson 2) Short Game and Putting. then 2 years of practising what was taught. I did not follow up with the next session planned in my progress, the long irons. This has not been a catastrophe, yet I do believe that this is the key to getting my game on track toward a single figure handicap. Once the elbows have came good I will be getting this postponed coaching session into the knowledge bank.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Monday, October 17, 2011
Club Championship playoff...
17/10/11 Monday. I have stiff spots on the stiff spots, in the past three seasons there are some vague recollections of feeling stiff after early rounds and practise. Today after yesterdays 32 holes played out of the 36 in the Club Championship final my body is doing everything except creaking like a door that needs oil. Coming second, yes I was defeated and to have made the final itself was a highlight of the season for me. Threw everything I had into the game and even hit the lead in the first 18 for a couple of holes. Could not maintain the standard over the second 18 holes and slowly fell behind the winner.
Had chances to get back into the game when my opponent made mistakes and when I called upon my body to deliver the tank was empty. Not a modest person by nature nor a quitter and to lose was not a result that caused any angst for me, simply because I had nothing left to put into the game. As I sit here now working my way through a tube of Deep Heat today it is with total satisfaction in accepting a loss. I had not even considered the need to physically train and raise my fitness for this competition.What was acceptable in B and C grade for me, failed at the highest club level. The effort it took to hold a pen last night and scrawl in the diary, “Fitness training is a must.” better be acted on if I want to improve.
The game itself was played in very good spirit and a sporting manner. It was important to have an enjoyable game and the ledger is now balanced with the Handicap Championship win for me in 2009 and my opponent defeating me in the Club Championship in 2011. Learnt a lot about my game and what is needed to go the next step to single figures from this experience. It still resounds that the fitness level has been a failing of mine in recent months yet I had not paid any notice to it. All my focus had been on improving skills and consistency and none on the body that has to make the golf happen. Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to looking back, slapping the forehead in exclamation in realising the patently obvious.
Of course I was not fit enough. Writing off the fading in rounds during the last 3-4 holes as concentration lapses. A litany of reasons for not recognising this can be churned out that are lame and nothing to do with reality. Truth is when returning to the game in 2009 I played 3 x 9 hole rounds and 2 x 18 hole rounds most weeks. These days I spend more time on the practise fairways training to hit the ball better with the clubs. I can wander out and break 90 easily each week, going out and playing to my handicap is a different matter. The fluctuating scores of late have nothing to do with golf ability. After a season of big improvement and pushing myself hard in competition since January, after ten months the realisation has gone off with ringing bells on the course. Time to stop playing for a few weeks and give my body time to recover. My next competition is going to be the club Open on the 6th of November. That should give enough time for the “golfer’s elbow” (right and left) to recover and get in some quality push bike riding. Have been planning on playing in “The Race to Cypress Lakes” South Australian rounds at The Vines, Friday 2 December and Mt Osmond, Sunday 15 January 2012. The first at Flagstaff Hills clashes with the club open and will be missed. These will be a good trial for my build up to the 2012 Southern Ports Tournament. Going to be interesting, after 2nd place in 2010, “C” Grade and 2nd in 2011 “B” Grade while making the documentary “Another Crack at the Title” I am going to extend the filming schedule to 2012 as I have a crack at the “A” Grade Title over the three days. Handicap section of course, can’t see me getting down to the 1-5 handicap level that the off the stick winner coes from in this tournament. I am an optimist with reality not fantasy in my goal setting.
Well the Deep Heat is soothing the aches. Time to stand up and see if the early hobbling gait is now replaced with a fluid walk this morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Had chances to get back into the game when my opponent made mistakes and when I called upon my body to deliver the tank was empty. Not a modest person by nature nor a quitter and to lose was not a result that caused any angst for me, simply because I had nothing left to put into the game. As I sit here now working my way through a tube of Deep Heat today it is with total satisfaction in accepting a loss. I had not even considered the need to physically train and raise my fitness for this competition.What was acceptable in B and C grade for me, failed at the highest club level. The effort it took to hold a pen last night and scrawl in the diary, “Fitness training is a must.” better be acted on if I want to improve.
The game itself was played in very good spirit and a sporting manner. It was important to have an enjoyable game and the ledger is now balanced with the Handicap Championship win for me in 2009 and my opponent defeating me in the Club Championship in 2011. Learnt a lot about my game and what is needed to go the next step to single figures from this experience. It still resounds that the fitness level has been a failing of mine in recent months yet I had not paid any notice to it. All my focus had been on improving skills and consistency and none on the body that has to make the golf happen. Hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to looking back, slapping the forehead in exclamation in realising the patently obvious.
Of course I was not fit enough. Writing off the fading in rounds during the last 3-4 holes as concentration lapses. A litany of reasons for not recognising this can be churned out that are lame and nothing to do with reality. Truth is when returning to the game in 2009 I played 3 x 9 hole rounds and 2 x 18 hole rounds most weeks. These days I spend more time on the practise fairways training to hit the ball better with the clubs. I can wander out and break 90 easily each week, going out and playing to my handicap is a different matter. The fluctuating scores of late have nothing to do with golf ability. After a season of big improvement and pushing myself hard in competition since January, after ten months the realisation has gone off with ringing bells on the course. Time to stop playing for a few weeks and give my body time to recover. My next competition is going to be the club Open on the 6th of November. That should give enough time for the “golfer’s elbow” (right and left) to recover and get in some quality push bike riding. Have been planning on playing in “The Race to Cypress Lakes” South Australian rounds at The Vines, Friday 2 December and Mt Osmond, Sunday 15 January 2012. The first at Flagstaff Hills clashes with the club open and will be missed. These will be a good trial for my build up to the 2012 Southern Ports Tournament. Going to be interesting, after 2nd place in 2010, “C” Grade and 2nd in 2011 “B” Grade while making the documentary “Another Crack at the Title” I am going to extend the filming schedule to 2012 as I have a crack at the “A” Grade Title over the three days. Handicap section of course, can’t see me getting down to the 1-5 handicap level that the off the stick winner coes from in this tournament. I am an optimist with reality not fantasy in my goal setting.
Well the Deep Heat is soothing the aches. Time to stand up and see if the early hobbling gait is now replaced with a fluid walk this morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Won through to the championship final...
12/10/11 Wednesday. Played the Semi Final matchplay round to decide the final pairing for the club championship this afternoon and came out with a victory 3up with 2 to play. Can say that all the goals for the season were reached and given a dedicated and serious attempt on my part. A very satisfying season and with one more game to go feel humble in the achievements. It is not going to be a very humble series of practise sessions from now until Sunday’s 36 hole crack at the title.
It was not luck on my part or my opponent that got the victory it was the regular practise routines which were followed through the season. In fact my opponent commented on this towards the end of the match. It is and has been the key to the improvement and results since 2009 when beginning to play. Specifically was the observation that I do not go out and hit buckets of balls, instead practise has a set series of targets and quality of the practise strokes is more important than quantity.
The extra three days before playing the matchplay did give my elbow injury time to recover a little more. Off the tee and fairway play is acceptable. the short game is not quite fluid and comfortable. From now until Sunday tee off, putting especially will be a focus in practise. The opponent is last seasons club champion currently a 6 handicapper to my 12. After the victory in the 2009 Club Handicap Championship against the same opponent he has dropped 6 strokes to a single figure and I have dropped 13-15 strokes. This time the match will be off the stick, looking forward to the challenge and the competition on the day.
Took a little while to hit my straps today all square after the front nine (44 off the stick each), the back nine got the game attitude into top gear. Had 5 pars to shut out the game in the seven played, winning hole numbers 10, 11 and 12 to have the opponent chasing wins. It was an effort to get into the matchplay frame of mind. Even though I was confident all match and never headed, two missed puts in the first 3 holes had me 1 up when it could easily have been 3 up. First time I have played 18 holes for a while and the injury was only a small inconvenience.
Game on time until Sunday and excited to have made the final match relishingthe coming challenge. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight” Geoff
It was not luck on my part or my opponent that got the victory it was the regular practise routines which were followed through the season. In fact my opponent commented on this towards the end of the match. It is and has been the key to the improvement and results since 2009 when beginning to play. Specifically was the observation that I do not go out and hit buckets of balls, instead practise has a set series of targets and quality of the practise strokes is more important than quantity.
The extra three days before playing the matchplay did give my elbow injury time to recover a little more. Off the tee and fairway play is acceptable. the short game is not quite fluid and comfortable. From now until Sunday tee off, putting especially will be a focus in practise. The opponent is last seasons club champion currently a 6 handicapper to my 12. After the victory in the 2009 Club Handicap Championship against the same opponent he has dropped 6 strokes to a single figure and I have dropped 13-15 strokes. This time the match will be off the stick, looking forward to the challenge and the competition on the day.
Took a little while to hit my straps today all square after the front nine (44 off the stick each), the back nine got the game attitude into top gear. Had 5 pars to shut out the game in the seven played, winning hole numbers 10, 11 and 12 to have the opponent chasing wins. It was an effort to get into the matchplay frame of mind. Even though I was confident all match and never headed, two missed puts in the first 3 holes had me 1 up when it could easily have been 3 up. First time I have played 18 holes for a while and the injury was only a small inconvenience.
Game on time until Sunday and excited to have made the final match relishingthe coming challenge. Thankyou for your time and attention all. “Hit ‘em straight” Geoff
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Back in form....
8/10/11 Saturday, with a few days rest this week and maintaining the injury rehab with heat and cold with a bit of arm massage and wearing a brace seems to have the healing on track. Went out for 9 holes Friday and this morning and the results show the improvement. Friday was a struggle no short game to rely upon and very poor putting. The tee shots and second off the fairways though were travelling well and it was frustrating to be so inhibited when it came to getting on the green and putting.
Then with another nights rest and having a better feel for the injury healing progress, out I went for 9 holes returning 6 pars, 2 bogies and a double bogie. Very happy with the result, hitting 4 greens in regulation and putting on cored surfaces was a good effort. The Driver was particularly good using the 420cc regular flex for the second day and benefiting from distance and accurate strokes. The shots for the GIR (5 out of 9 holes) were a revelation deliberate choice of 1-2 clubs more than usual in deference to the injury paid off. Short game returned as well, still a struggle yet the PW for chipping helped. Putting not easy on the cored and sanded green but good enough result for me to be happy.
With an extra 2-3 days before playing the Semi Final now that the opponent is away Sunday is a bonus. Hopefully will get a good 18 holes under the belt tomorrow and then a couple of days tuning up the short game I will have a better opportunity in the match play.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Then with another nights rest and having a better feel for the injury healing progress, out I went for 9 holes returning 6 pars, 2 bogies and a double bogie. Very happy with the result, hitting 4 greens in regulation and putting on cored surfaces was a good effort. The Driver was particularly good using the 420cc regular flex for the second day and benefiting from distance and accurate strokes. The shots for the GIR (5 out of 9 holes) were a revelation deliberate choice of 1-2 clubs more than usual in deference to the injury paid off. Short game returned as well, still a struggle yet the PW for chipping helped. Putting not easy on the cored and sanded green but good enough result for me to be happy.
With an extra 2-3 days before playing the Semi Final now that the opponent is away Sunday is a bonus. Hopefully will get a good 18 holes under the belt tomorrow and then a couple of days tuning up the short game I will have a better opportunity in the match play.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Have not gone all the way with the Golfers Elbow Exercises felt that the discomfort and pain which may result from a change to the rehab I had followed the previous two weeks of "rest, ice and heat". Added using hand grips doing a moderate number of spring gripping exercises. Today went out and played 5 holes, the putter and chipping has improved markedly since Sunday. I am not an athlete with a must fix injury or a body in best nick to be able to tackle the medical fiull bore recovery program.
That said the moderate approach seems to have worked, the last two days improvement was noticable. Also adding an old Wilson 1200 PW blade (Underwave design) to the bag has helped in getting the chipping on track. A bit of good fortune as well in that my opponent in the Semi Final has asked if we could play 2-3 days later. That was a big yes from me, extra time for healing and the greens have just been cored and they will be better to play on as well.
Looking forward to the Semi Final and it would be grand to get through to the final.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
That said the moderate approach seems to have worked, the last two days improvement was noticable. Also adding an old Wilson 1200 PW blade (Underwave design) to the bag has helped in getting the chipping on track. A bit of good fortune as well in that my opponent in the Semi Final has asked if we could play 2-3 days later. That was a big yes from me, extra time for healing and the greens have just been cored and they will be better to play on as well.
Looking forward to the Semi Final and it would be grand to get through to the final.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
Monday, October 03, 2011
A little improvement is better than none...
/10/11 Instead of cracking the sh!ts, complaining, ranting about how golf is a bitch, my reaction is one of good humour and acceptance of the limitations to playing at the minute. Wearing an arm brace yesterday on the front nine (47) and removing it for the last nine (50) had no major difference score wise. Not being able to chip well and drop the putts was frustrating. Especially after driving off the tee so well and hitting greens in regulation or just off target. Accepting the current circumstances as unusual and having to wear it for now is not fun, yet my mantra of “getting the positives out of the negatives” is working. Finishing with 97 Gross, 85 Nett with 35 putts was not a gut wrenching failure simply the best currently possible.
At the minute I have “no short game”. Having to dig deep this week into the patience reservoir, the “Golfers Elbow” injury is affecting my game at the core of scoring. The cliche’ of having a good short game is a key to getting low scores is true. After putting in the work to develop one, having it stymied with an injury has been a challenge to my character. Five of my past 7 rounds have been 90 or higher off the stick the other two rounds being an 80 and an 87. This time last year, albeit when on a 19-20 handicap my scores were in the same range, so it is still fresh in my memory of this being me playing at the best I could. Kinda cool though to be sitting here and realising how much improvement in my golf has came about from making the effort and practising properly with a plan.
This morning it is back to the cold and heat treatment of the injured part and wondering when I should get on the course for a chip and putt. Contrary to what the name suggests, you do not have to play golf to develop this condition. In fact, golfers elbow is more commonly seen in non-golf players than in golf players. Patients typically develop this condition due to activities involving repetitive wrist flexion against resistance or forceful or repetitive gripping of the hand.
Golfers Elbow Exercises
Along with keeping up with the stretching, the 3rd physio gave me a list of exercises to do twice a day. The regime was this:
■Heat the elbow with a wheat bag for 10 minutes
■With an empty dumbbell bar (weights 1.5kg) do 10 palm up wrist curls, with back of forearm resting on your leg and hand jutting out past your knee.
■Reverse the hand so palm is down, and do 10 reverse wrist curls i.e. back of hand is raised, again forearm rests on leg.
■Keep the arm resting on your lef, grasp the dumbbell bar at one end, and tilt the bar back and forth from the horizontal on the left, through 180 degrees, to the horizontal on the right, and return. Do that 10 times.
■Setting the dumbbell bar aside, form a circle with the tips of your fingers (make your hand like a claw) and wrap an elastic band around the outside of your finger tips. Now try to stretch the elastic band by spreading your fingers out wide, maintaining the circular shape. Do this 10 times.
■End by cooling the elbow with an ice cube.
There is a little pressure as it is my semi-final in the club championship matchplay on the coming Sunday. Yet having practised diligently for so long and kept a record of the routines and program, gives me total confidence in having the grounding to get myself in form. I can say that the performance off the tee especially yesterday was a continuation of last week, there as not a single penalty stroke in the round. The four three putts all cost me par scores on the holes, so many first putts were short of the hole. I really tried to correct it and had no ‘feel’ for the stroke all day. Never getting close to hitting the right distance or accurate enough either.
The chipping was the same, short all day. No bladed or fat shots, again without any ability to measure the strength needed to play the shot. In this instance perhaps as most fell short I could have changed back to using the pitching wedge for chipping as I have in the past. Instead I chose to keep using the 60 degree wedge, which previously was only used rarely, as a sand wedge. I know that the past two weeks of beginning to use this club for chipping is going to be a major benefit in the future. I know that many golfers have always used a lob or gap wedge for chipping, for me it was a club not carried. It is now a must to be able to chip and have the ball not run on so far, as happens with the pitching wedge in my game. No matter the week to come will have me back into better form.
Today the greens are being cored and I will have to give the working be a miss this year, making up for it tomorrow at the Junior Golf Clinic. A five hour stint helping out with the days running is not a problem in this case. With PGA Tour player Gary Simpson and Professional Michael Justin doing the golf coaching the juniors will get some very effective guidance. Gary Simpson has a preliminary win of the SA OOM finishing with a six point lead over previous SA OOM winner Brent McCullough. The SA OOM will be finalised officially at the end of the OOM season being 31st October 2011. The successful experience with the local primary school coaching clinic last month and a follow up so soon hopefully is going to give the club a good base to develop a regular junior golfing program at the club.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
At the minute I have “no short game”. Having to dig deep this week into the patience reservoir, the “Golfers Elbow” injury is affecting my game at the core of scoring. The cliche’ of having a good short game is a key to getting low scores is true. After putting in the work to develop one, having it stymied with an injury has been a challenge to my character. Five of my past 7 rounds have been 90 or higher off the stick the other two rounds being an 80 and an 87. This time last year, albeit when on a 19-20 handicap my scores were in the same range, so it is still fresh in my memory of this being me playing at the best I could. Kinda cool though to be sitting here and realising how much improvement in my golf has came about from making the effort and practising properly with a plan.
This morning it is back to the cold and heat treatment of the injured part and wondering when I should get on the course for a chip and putt. Contrary to what the name suggests, you do not have to play golf to develop this condition. In fact, golfers elbow is more commonly seen in non-golf players than in golf players. Patients typically develop this condition due to activities involving repetitive wrist flexion against resistance or forceful or repetitive gripping of the hand.
Golfers Elbow Exercises
Along with keeping up with the stretching, the 3rd physio gave me a list of exercises to do twice a day. The regime was this:
■Heat the elbow with a wheat bag for 10 minutes
■With an empty dumbbell bar (weights 1.5kg) do 10 palm up wrist curls, with back of forearm resting on your leg and hand jutting out past your knee.
■Reverse the hand so palm is down, and do 10 reverse wrist curls i.e. back of hand is raised, again forearm rests on leg.
■Keep the arm resting on your lef, grasp the dumbbell bar at one end, and tilt the bar back and forth from the horizontal on the left, through 180 degrees, to the horizontal on the right, and return. Do that 10 times.
■Setting the dumbbell bar aside, form a circle with the tips of your fingers (make your hand like a claw) and wrap an elastic band around the outside of your finger tips. Now try to stretch the elastic band by spreading your fingers out wide, maintaining the circular shape. Do this 10 times.
■End by cooling the elbow with an ice cube.
There is a little pressure as it is my semi-final in the club championship matchplay on the coming Sunday. Yet having practised diligently for so long and kept a record of the routines and program, gives me total confidence in having the grounding to get myself in form. I can say that the performance off the tee especially yesterday was a continuation of last week, there as not a single penalty stroke in the round. The four three putts all cost me par scores on the holes, so many first putts were short of the hole. I really tried to correct it and had no ‘feel’ for the stroke all day. Never getting close to hitting the right distance or accurate enough either.
The chipping was the same, short all day. No bladed or fat shots, again without any ability to measure the strength needed to play the shot. In this instance perhaps as most fell short I could have changed back to using the pitching wedge for chipping as I have in the past. Instead I chose to keep using the 60 degree wedge, which previously was only used rarely, as a sand wedge. I know that the past two weeks of beginning to use this club for chipping is going to be a major benefit in the future. I know that many golfers have always used a lob or gap wedge for chipping, for me it was a club not carried. It is now a must to be able to chip and have the ball not run on so far, as happens with the pitching wedge in my game. No matter the week to come will have me back into better form.
Today the greens are being cored and I will have to give the working be a miss this year, making up for it tomorrow at the Junior Golf Clinic. A five hour stint helping out with the days running is not a problem in this case. With PGA Tour player Gary Simpson and Professional Michael Justin doing the golf coaching the juniors will get some very effective guidance. Gary Simpson has a preliminary win of the SA OOM finishing with a six point lead over previous SA OOM winner Brent McCullough. The SA OOM will be finalised officially at the end of the OOM season being 31st October 2011. The successful experience with the local primary school coaching clinic last month and a follow up so soon hopefully is going to give the club a good base to develop a regular junior golfing program at the club.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Always look on the bright side of Golf, don't dwell on the negatives...
26/9/11 Sunday’s competition was a touch and go decision to enter. Carrying the “Golfer’s Elbow” the last week has been painful and disruptive in more than just hitting golf balls. It is tender all of the time and the disabling effects are in use that is mundane. Picking things up and reaching feel the strain with sharp stabbing pain then a hot buzz of discomfort while it abates. Swinging golf sticks is not fun after a very short time. Purchased an arm brace to assist with relieving the discomfort which definitely helped. Went out and played a poor scoring round 23 points in Stableford Comp. Was ready to pull the pin after the front nine but as feeling good about the fairway accuracy, finished with 11 fairway hits and won a ball on the day.
Had no short game whatsoever, could not chip or putt well and the injury was the fault. This was frustrating, being able to hit the long ball shots well without any discomfort. Short chipping and approach shots were the poorest quality in a long time. The chipping and putting was at the most damaging with the in close shots, could not swing smooth and easy or keep the strokes consistent, blading the ball or hitting little bunny hops. The longer shots from 25-100m were a problem with the distance being hit a shot in the dark, going long and short all day. No consistent error to try and correct just the numbness of the arm in the brace. Playing with out the brace would have been more damaging long term to the existing injury so I was happy to play out the round as it went.
Reflecting on the day and the score returned from playing to a 26 handicap was not a bad thing. It was only a couple of years ago that I was on that handicap. Playing like that again showed me how little difference there was in playing to a 25 to 20 handicap in the day. Although on Sunday it was the result of an injury, all that needed to happen was a 2-3 chips that bunny hopped forward to have been hit well and made the green saving a second chip shot. Then 4-5 putts not falling short or rocketing past the hole and the score would have been much improved. The 37 putt total on the day showed how much I struggled on the day considering the average putting total is 25 for me from 1/8/2011 to the end of September. Golf is a fickle game good and bad results happen, not letting the crap days disrupt your enjoyment of playing and also your playing partners is never acceptable.
On the second bad round day in recent weeks I copped a bit of sledging, and still had the good humour to fire back. It could have easily been a DNF card for the day. After nine holes the soreness was not going to abate, the round was not going to improve, I kept going because I thought that I was a chance for the Most Fairways hit on the day. A very small goal and a enough to lift me to do the best possible off the tee. It was a good choice and a valuable victory. Hitting fairways off the tee was the reason for changing drivers through the season now with a 400cc Big Stick that is delivering the results and getting that extra 20-30m more that the 380cc Driver. Unfortunately my next upgrade the 420cc Driver is going to have to sit out the coming weeks of competition golf while the injury recuperates. Which is a hurdle in my planning having already practised several times at the range with this stick and getting another 20-30m off the tee in distance easily. That was a calculation I had been estimating would be the result and with the accuracy give me a step up against the single figure players in the match play of club championships. It may not be all lost though as the warmer weather is already delivering longer ball flight and run putting me within 7-9 iron range of greens on par fours. These are irons that my accuracy is better than 50% unlike the 3-6 irons down to the 35% accuracy statistic for GIR.
Going to rest up this coming week working on being 100% for the Matchplay semifinal on the 9th of October. Thankyou for your time and attention all, “Hit ‘em straight”
Geoff
Had no short game whatsoever, could not chip or putt well and the injury was the fault. This was frustrating, being able to hit the long ball shots well without any discomfort. Short chipping and approach shots were the poorest quality in a long time. The chipping and putting was at the most damaging with the in close shots, could not swing smooth and easy or keep the strokes consistent, blading the ball or hitting little bunny hops. The longer shots from 25-100m were a problem with the distance being hit a shot in the dark, going long and short all day. No consistent error to try and correct just the numbness of the arm in the brace. Playing with out the brace would have been more damaging long term to the existing injury so I was happy to play out the round as it went.
Reflecting on the day and the score returned from playing to a 26 handicap was not a bad thing. It was only a couple of years ago that I was on that handicap. Playing like that again showed me how little difference there was in playing to a 25 to 20 handicap in the day. Although on Sunday it was the result of an injury, all that needed to happen was a 2-3 chips that bunny hopped forward to have been hit well and made the green saving a second chip shot. Then 4-5 putts not falling short or rocketing past the hole and the score would have been much improved. The 37 putt total on the day showed how much I struggled on the day considering the average putting total is 25 for me from 1/8/2011 to the end of September. Golf is a fickle game good and bad results happen, not letting the crap days disrupt your enjoyment of playing and also your playing partners is never acceptable.
On the second bad round day in recent weeks I copped a bit of sledging, and still had the good humour to fire back. It could have easily been a DNF card for the day. After nine holes the soreness was not going to abate, the round was not going to improve, I kept going because I thought that I was a chance for the Most Fairways hit on the day. A very small goal and a enough to lift me to do the best possible off the tee. It was a good choice and a valuable victory. Hitting fairways off the tee was the reason for changing drivers through the season now with a 400cc Big Stick that is delivering the results and getting that extra 20-30m more that the 380cc Driver. Unfortunately my next upgrade the 420cc Driver is going to have to sit out the coming weeks of competition golf while the injury recuperates. Which is a hurdle in my planning having already practised several times at the range with this stick and getting another 20-30m off the tee in distance easily. That was a calculation I had been estimating would be the result and with the accuracy give me a step up against the single figure players in the match play of club championships. It may not be all lost though as the warmer weather is already delivering longer ball flight and run putting me within 7-9 iron range of greens on par fours. These are irons that my accuracy is better than 50% unlike the 3-6 irons down to the 35% accuracy statistic for GIR.
Going to rest up this coming week working on being 100% for the Matchplay semifinal on the 9th of October. Thankyou for your time and attention all, “Hit ‘em straight”
Geoff
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