Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The club championship preparation...


22/8/12 Wednesday. Pacing myself this week in the build up to the weekend golfing, maintaining the practise and playing routine that has been established through the season so far. It is very satisfying to know that the past twelve months has been effective in improving on the previous season. While still not the best golfer in the field of championship competitors, my preparation has put me into a position to be able to challenge the best.

It was a big test and perhaps to some an overstepping of the reality of what was possible in attempting some of the goals I have tried for during 2012. That was never a consideration in my mind with the entry into Southern Ports Golf Week and the various regional Club Open tournaments. Not winning was not failure. The transition into A Grade at the high end of that handicap division was never going to be an easy one. I did not have the consistent golf game to be successful on the travelling golf competition circuit this past season. I did have several ‘one hit wonder’ winning shots for long drives and nearest the pins in various open competitions. So I was not ineffectual in playing among the better class of golfers.

The coming weeks of rising to the challenge are exciting to contemplate. In the field I will be a decade or more years older than the favourites and golf wise less powerful off the tee and fairway. So the past season of dedicated practise, obtaining equipment that has improved my accuracy and distance and much improved fitness and body condition is my compensation. In past months the weekly competition results have delivered the proof that there are three A grade golfers who are in consistent winning form, I am one of those. Playing seven competition rounds at my home club since the twenty seventh of May have resulted in three first place and two third place results and only twice have I been headed by another A grade golfer.

This week the Driver has been left out of the bag during practise. Choosing to play only with #3 hybrid to PW during nine hole rounds and on the range. This is to assist in improving the GIR rate with the longer clubs. Range practise is good for establishing consistent shot play. Doing it on the course is where it matters, hence the increased use of the longer clubs in practise rounds by taking the driver out of the bag. There is another purpose in this round play as well. Our club championship is decided by match play after qualifying rounds. Creating extra pressure on myself during practise with tee shots that are twenty metres or more shorter, is about getting accustomed to having to get the best result with all shots. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”

Geoff

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