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
