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

Footyheads review 2nd Semi Carlton V West Coast

2nd Semi Final over in the West and Carlton played the game out to the very end. So close to victory coming back and in with a chance several times throughout the game. Even so the loss sucked. Season 2011 is over now and 2012 is the next outing for the Blues and at the minute looking good for fans. GO YOU BLUES!!
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Four weeks of best effort to come...

23/9/11 Friday, having made it to the business end of the season, like a well used rubber band the elasticity is starting to show a bit of wear. There have been no major injury problems this season. Thanks to being fitter in the most part thanks to playing so much golf since 2009. Sure enough though after all of the effort put in I have stumbled a little in the final weeks injury wise. Carrying the right wrist strain has been possible and not too bad, it is now joined with the left arm and a case of golfers elbow. It is all being worked on and looking after myself as best as possible in the coming weeks is a must, ‘less is more than enough’, when practising from now on in.
Again the good fortune from the final qualifying round is helping. My next round is on the 8th of October in the Semi-Final playing off for a position in the 36 hole Championship matchplay. This gives me time to heal the niggling injuries and be back in good condition. Although my recent writing has not been what could be called positive or confident it is by no means defeatist. Now that I am definately in the running and do not come up against any single figure golfers unless I make the last game, the idea of playing in the club championship is not just a fanciful dream. If this happens I will be playing off against either a 5 or 6 handicapper from my 12-13 handicap position. Not being a person who believes life is a potential Disney Movie of happy dances and free jelly beans at the end of the race against bigger and better opponents, does not make me a pessimist.
Every single care and treatment possible to be put to work in my favour will be given a go. My mental game is getting a total upgrade to top gear and out of the happy hacker mode of enjoying the game and playing into contention for the championship as was done through the season. Since the Southern Ports Tournament in March to now my entire golf year has been playing to make this a possibility, that is a success which I am pleased to have achieved. The feeling is very good to be experiencing at the minute of having thrown everything in my ability into the effort and have followed through, in spite of various hurdles. Without any formulation or crafting of the subject, against every possible opponent I have a motivation to beat each of them in the match play.
Now it is all or nothing to win through and have a crack at the club championship.


Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Love it when a plan works...

21/9/2011 In the aftermath of the success in qualifying for the club championships it would be remiss of me to not backtrack to the Junior Coaching clinic on Friday just gone at the club. With a group of 18 year 6-7 students from the Primary School, the regional coach and three volunteers the couple of hours went along really well. The interest by the students and the fun they had with golf shows what can be achieved and the real future of golf that is there to be developed. Of course there are hurdles, getting volunteers on a regular basis is not that difficult. The government need for training, police checks etc and all that entails is a pain in the neck. Make no doubt I and the rest of the members are fully aware of why this must be done. The commitment to having a successful club far outweighs the imposition of time spend in doing administrative duties. The plans for regular junior clinic over the school holiday period are certain to be developed and acted upon after this recent example of junior interest.
Do not be misdirected that this is all too much, instead it is an example of why many golf clubs are struggling. Volunteers are in the main happy to do the work but having to become pseudo employees is an anathema to many. I have lasted one year as secretary not because I do not want to be involved in the club. It is because if I wanted to be an administration officer then my career would still be that and not my current profession. The amount of tasks which involve supplying information to public operations for statistical purposes is not balanced out with the same bodies returning the effort in assisting the smooth operation of golf clubs.
Now to the reason of why I am a golfer, playing the game. The satisfaction of qualifying has proven every effort to get out and practise in 2011 was worthwhile. Out in the rain and wind of storms on the practise range, without hesitation all because I wanted to give myself the best possible chance. Having to come in with a spot on score to set myself with the best possible matchplay pairings did come off. All season I have wrote about my game strategy working towards setting particular goals that if reached in a round enabled specific targets to be set over 18 holes of golf. One was to always aim at being set up after the 12th-13th holes to be able to be aggressive and not playing to minimise damage.

On Sunday even after a pair of 7’s on theses two par four holes, I could go hard on the closing five holes and it was by millimetres that I missed out on getting all 5 in regulation par scores. This left me in limbo as to what the matchplay pairings would be having tied with another golfer in qualifying. By good the good fortune of my scores I won out in the pairings and miss playing both the defending champion and one of the club’s (with 15 “A” grade championships) best golfers in the semi and qualifying finals. It is still going to be a hard road through the matchplay finals, it is realistic in dreaming of making the final. Luck has had and will have no bearing on the outcome, making it happen is up to me and not changing what has been in place all season. All the aches pains and crunchy bits that I feel now because of the seasons’ effort are not pleasant, but having succeeded and made it this far were well worth inflicting upon myself. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff

Back in the race....

18/9/11 The Junior Golf Clinic on Friday was an unexpected success. The amount of interest in playing golf at the school was totally unknown to the club. The coaching was done by a member from another regional club who had found that his own club which was struggling for golfers, at the same time there were junior members who played at the club but not in the competitions. Since getting the junior coaching clinics at the local schools running now 40 plus Juniors are developing a golf interest and playing at the club.

Back in the hunt for the club championship after the 2nd Qualifying round, not a spectacular effort returning an 87 gross, 74 nett with 28 putts. Good enough for third place in the weekly competition, winning the putting and a nearest the pin also today. Recovered from the wrist injury which was damaging last week, combined with returning to the 400cc driver the game teetered on a handicap breaking result.

With a 42 on the front nine the next four holes was a par and three 7’s from two lost balls and a couple of bad putting efforts. Even with that I chose to attack hard and 3x Pars and 2 Bogies on the last 5 holes were testament to not giving in and having faith in my ability. Finishing with a 45 on the back nine which was a result of dropping some very good putts. It would have been very easy to pass last week off as an ‘injury’ affected round. Instead I did rehab on the injury and worked on my putting which was 34 (I think) the week before. In fact I had began to make a technical error in my set up that was totally giving a false reading for the direction the ball would go. Still one more concern on putting, for some reason misreading the green speed is becoming a fault that leaves 2-3 puts well short of the hole each round.

Returning to the 400c driver was marked with accuracy and no strain on the injured wrist. With a lighter shaft and more flex compared to the 420cc driver the fine weather circumvented the loss of 20-40m off the tee. This has been a part of my game that has been accepted as a fact of my limitations due to technical errors with the driver. Now that I have improved the swing plane the driver is now a game strength and reliable in my hands. Unfortunately my irons from 7 to PW are accurate yet my drives are generally in the 3-6iron distance from par 4 greens, whilst using the 400cc driver. Need the GIR to start and improving the long irons is happening slowly, it is much easier to have the driver getting the ball within 7-PW range to get the GIR’s.

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Jumior Golf Clinic tomorrow....

15/9/2011 The weeks rest has been a good thing enjoyed sharpening up with the putter and getting the method a little better. Wrist is still a little tender and changing back to the 400cc driver with the ultra lite shaft will be a smart move Sunday.

Tomorrow on the volunteer trail with 20 Juniors from the primary school coming to the course for a coaching clinic. A bit of serendipity this unplanned (from the local club) junior golf event. The region golf body is running it sending the coach and in the first week of October holiday there is another Junior clinic with PGA golfers at the club. Having discussed doing this a couple of months ago with the club captain, the lack of time to organise it has been covered by these two bodies.

This and membership drives were my stated aims when going on committee this season, which was circumvented by taking on the secretary role when the last one stood down. This coming season I am standing down from secretary, staying on committee puerley to fulfill the membership drive aim and junor golf development. Already in this my different approach is bearing fruit.

Yes selling and marketing is a strength of mine, together with promotion. The 20 students at the clinic tomorrow will be leaving with a “showbag” of info inviting them to the 4th of October clinic, 1/2 price Junior membership offer.Plus the details of a junior program throughout summer holidays. Local press coverage done and more to follow. Also some relevant reading on golf as Excerise, a Family activity and Employment career."Benefits of Golf Exercise and Fitness In 2009, Australian Bureau of Statistics released the figures that 600,000 (approx. 25 percent) of children and adolescents in Australia are overweight. The physical and emotional issues that can result from childhood obesity are as staggering as the number itself. Twenty years ago, golf and fitness were rarely uttered in the same sentence, but thanks to a new generation of golf professionals, strength, conditioning and nutrition are a significant part of golf instruction programs. Would you rather have your son or daughter immersed in the latest video game or walking nine holes of golf? As schools are reducing the time spent on physical fitness, it is crucial that kids avoid becoming couch potatoes when they are not in school. Golf is a great low-impact way to develop the cardio activity, core stability, balance and focus that is necessary to function effectively from day-to-day and reduce the risk of health concerns. Importantly injuries from playing golf are minimal and you do not need to be an athlete to be a champion golfer. Golfers can play at their best level world wide for years.
Family time When was the last time you played a game of football with your son or netball with your daughter? Golf is a game that families can learn and play together. And because of the handicap system that was created to determine a golfer’s playing ability and potential, mums and dads can actually compete with their children even if they play from different tee boxes or at significantly different skill levels. You have a game that everyone can enjoy together as a family for years and years.
Teachings of the Game We all want our kids to develop into responsible adults. The game of golf has at its core a standard of behaviour that lends itself to positive development. Personal skills such as honesty, integrity, courtesy and respect are all present in golf, regardless of the level of competition. Golf teaches kids to use good judgment and be responsible for their actions. It also encourages the highest level of sportsmanship. What other sport allows you to call a penalty on yourself with examples of this very thing being demonstrated on the biggest stages of the game? Golf is included in the Olympic games in 2016."


A start to getting the kids whose numbers over the past two years have been growing at the club come and try golf days. The golf club is not a creche though and with the kids will come the parents. Very happy to be ‘doing’ something hands on with the club using my particular special skills, away from the bar work or competition starting.

Thankyou for your time and attention “Hit ‘em straight all”
Geoff

Elimination Final Footyheads review Carlton V Esendon

90,000 footy fans at the MCG for the Carlton V Essendon final and a 65 point win to the Blues a slow start was no indication of the coming result at the end of the game. First finals victory in 10 years and the season is still alive for the mighty Blues.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Icebergs ahead! Too late..

13/9/11 The first round of qualifying for the club championships is best likened to the maiden voyage of the Titanic, when it comes to my result. In the build up over the past weeks all has been running sweetly in competition and practise, the addition to my bag of a slightly larger driver (420cc) was an added bonus in the week. After gradually building up from 380cc to 400cc the pick up of the 420cc driver was one of opportunity, the right place at the right time. On the driving range and in a couple of practise rounds another 20-30m was added off the tee with a slight increase in missing fairways, which will soon be rectified.




This had a little to do with the poor round on Sunday, 102 gross Nett 89 and 34 putts. The damage was caused by something totally unexpected, a wrist injury on the first tee. There was no pulling out of the round and hindsight is always 20/20 in that if using the smaller 400 cc Driver the injury may have not been so severe and not as damaging to my round afterwards. I have been carrying a niggle in the right wrist that gives a sharp twinge at the height of my backswing off the tee. The new driver has a heavier shaft and club head weight and with the first hit the injury ripped through my wrist. The recent coaching has established changes to my driver swing plane and effectively began to final elimination of the slice/fade off the tee that has been a definite game killer for me in the past. Unfortunately there may be some residual weakness in the r/wrist from a broken arm in a past motor vehicle accident. Would not be surprised and that would explain why I favour the wrist in other activities.



Water under the bridge now, the problem is that as the matchplay draw stands I would be first up against last years club champion. Playing off against a 6 handicapper on my 13 in off the stick matchplay will have me making a quick exit. No chance of getting under his guard either, defeated him in the handicap matchplay championship two years ago. Make no bones about it squaring up on me for that defeat would make him very happy. Must get out on the coming Sunday and get myself into a better position, anything less than an 86 should get me out of danger. Went for a hit today and only lasted 4 holes so going to rest up this week, let the injury heal. Only light practise putting and a bit of chipping until Thursday when I will walk and have a light hit for 18 holes simply for a new member to get a card in and qualify for a handicap and be able to play in the championships. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff

Book publishing... new driver and putter

Early start in Adelaide this morning off shopping for domestic necessities and had to go past Golf Clearance store on South Rd. Dropped in for a look as you do and now have a 420cc Infinity CBG35 driver $25 and a new putter $30.

Can put both purchases down to bonuses for the good results from this week. Have almost finalised the publishing of golf books that I completed in 2009 and 2010. The self published sales were promising and I have been updating them since then. The next two months are going to be head down and plough through to get them finished and ready for re-release in November 2011. I am fortunate in arranging life to be on top of most projects on the go that if there is an unexpected deadline thrown in making it is not too difficult.
The 10.5 degree driver I understand buying at that price from the clearance bin with a reg flex shaft, a bargain to experiment with another size up. Now have 380, 400 and 420 cc Drivers since finding that my game is better without the 460cc off the tee. This one I liken to the similar smaller size Titleist Drivers. There was also a Dynacast 9.5 deg. 425cc Driver Ultra light shaft, it was not forged nor titanium and would not have lasted long in my hands.

Was on the way to the Drummond Driving range anyway so it got a good work out. Distance is better than the 400cc, feels a lot more direct and explosive when hitting the ball. Going to take a bit of work to use accuracy was very poor compared to the 400cc. May swap shafts though and see if I can pick up some distance with the smaller driver head that way.



The Tour Sonic putter on the other hand I have no reason for getting apart from it was cheap. Similar to the Wilson 100 I use at the minute except with an insert in the face it is slightly lighter. May add a little more finesse to my putting which has been effective for several months and for practise will not be as tiring to use for extended periods.




Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

On the road again...

Up in Adelaide for a couple of days, doing some research for work and enjoying some time with g/f. Arrived early today and had a couple of hours to spare so headed down to the Drummond Range on Tapleys Hill road and hit 65 balls. Had my travelling sticks in the car plus the Cobra S9.1 460cc driver. Hit the irons particularly well this is a result from the coaching received here 6 weeks ago, only used the #3,#4,#5 clubs. These are the 30yr old Ping Karsten copies with reg flex shafts which served me so well in 2011.


Wanted to get some range hitting in after the bad weather yesterday.
 Managed to hit 20 balls in the wind and rain, hard work but had to get out there in preparation for the qualfying round Sunday.  If the weather is crap on Sunday I will get on the course and play to at least get myself into the playoffs.

The #3 Metal does for a driver as well in this travelling set, a Shark XLT with a larger head good for up to 200m off the tee and on the fairways. The Cobra was deliberately packed, been a long time since I have had a hit with a max. size driver. It went well, still has that extra 20-40m on the shots off the tee. Feels awkward through the air, compared to the 400cc driver currently in the bag. In the search for a little more distance an experiment is brewing with a stiff shaft replacing the current ultralight R flex in the 400cc.



The big driver was not too bad and if I can continue with the swing improvement will be a welcome addition to the bag again. That extra distance is going to be a must have if my handicap is going to travel down through the single digits. Not a certainty that the maximum size driver is getting the spot, 380 then 400 cc have all worked well. Have my eye on a few 420/430cc drivers at the minute. The shaft flex is the important matter to resolve first though.



Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”



 Geoff

Best score ever in a competition...

5/9/11 Without any planning or intent in the past 4 weeks I have played a lot more golf in a period of time than for a couple of years. In 2009 when returning to the game to get some exercise and golf form it was an alternating 9 holes, 18 holes, 9 holes, 18 holes at least each week. During 2010 that changed to accommodate the need to practise more ‘range’ work for want of a description. Putting in 30-60 minute sessions chipping, putting and swinging irons and drivers establishing a better technique. Also pacing myself to prevent my body from not being able to maintain the effort.




This year I have been even more organised training wise, using the 4 month routine developed to prepare for the Southern Ports Tournament. With the season syllabus outlining the various club trophy rounds, and regional opens it was possible to continue the higher practise commitment with a competition focus. It did take a little personal awareness to not overdo it and have managed to get through to September and the beginning of the club championship qualifying rounds next Sunday, with my best ever stroke round score in a competition yesterday.



All golfers have had those rounds of, “if only a couple of putts had dropped the score would have been a ripper.” Yesterday this happened to me not once but three times. First time a ‘Texas wedge’ 2 metres off the green, a total 6 metres to the hole and the ball gently rolled in to rattle down the pin to the bottom of the cup for a birdie. Second on the number one rated hole a 4m uphill putt. Ball ringed a full 360 degrees around the lip and popped out a couple of cm on the high side and stopped, as I walked up to take the second putt rolled into the hole. On the second last hole a 6m putt along a ridge was almost perfectly weighted and lagged to the left alongside the cup and stopped. We all were laughing at how close it finished and wisecracking, then the ball dropped again to rattle the bottom of the cup. Gobsmacked is the least I can say about my reaction, was great to have got over that hurdle of the past few weeks where my putting has faltered on the last 5-6 holes.



Sitting here right now it is incredible to know that what is to follow is this. I had three other shots that were just off target. Good grief to have had an 80 played to a 9hcp, four strokes better than my official one yet to have been millimetres away from dropping more putts almost seems greedy. This was not luck as a result it all came from 8 months of practise and planning to get myself into form for this time of the season. Even so to have achieved this in the fickle sport of golf and still realise that only 12 months ago I was a 20 handicapper. The feeling of satisfaction, confidence and yes, pride is all well earnt from my season efforts. Yet as most golfers exhibit, the humility is still there knowing that my golf game has a lot to improve upon.



My golfing week since Thursday went 18 holes social round 85 gross, Friday ‘Chicken Run’, 9 hole stableford 14 points (playing off 9hcp), Saturday ‘Bordertown Open’, 94 Gross (true hcp 13) and yesterday 80 Gross, nett 67 and 27 putts. Surprised to look back a year ago and I had the same score at Bordertown except I was playing off 20 then. Chuffed to see that seven strokes have been whittled off the handicap in that time. The Sunday round has retained the Caledonian Inn Trophy in my name from last season, and has me in good form for the coming championships.



Absolutely no illusions about my potential to win the section I am in, 14 or less is “A” grade at Robe and coming up against 5 previous winners on 4 to 10 handicaps is going to be a very tough ask to win. To make it through to the final pairing and play off is honestly the best I can expect. The Club’s championship format is two qualifying stroke rounds and matchplay from the top 8 in each grade to deliver the champion. Be assured that I will be playing 100% to win against any opponent, the past winners with 4-10 handicaps though have the lead on me experience and ability wise.

Thankyou for your time and attention “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff