Regional Golf Championship challenge a success...

Final golfing weekend before commencing the 54 hole Southern Ports Golf Week tournament on the 29th of February. Had a specific plan for the weekend and it worked. Beginning with the Friday Nine hole chicken Run at Robe. I cruised around the course finishing with 19 points and satisfied with the game played. Ticking all the boxes of Accuracy off the tee, consistent putting and reliable shots at the green and chipping.

Saturday was the true test, I had decided to throw caution to the wind and play the game which is not safe secure and reliable. It cost me a good score but I had to play a competition round outside of my proven method. Hitting the maximum distance off the tee had the expected result. missing fairways and playing sots from behind trees and in the rough. Finished with -6 in a Par round. Yes dear readers I was satisfied with that result in preparation for the round that counted the next day. Sunday was the regional Champions Event which was an event all the club champions for 2014/15. A superb golf day weather wise and all I had to do was turn up and play my 'A' game. Which I did. finished 12th in a field of 70 plus, scoring 81 gross for a Nett 72. Hitting the fairway and greens all day, did miss all of my birdie putts unfortunately. Yes there is room for improvement and to be 2 months into the year my game is at a peak and well prepared for the week long 54 hole championship starting on the 29th of February. GA Handicap at the lowest ever on 8.7 at the minute. Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Handicapping discrepancy..

My golfing has never really been influenced by the GA handicapping system too much I believed. Until this weekend. Our course is being redeveloped and a composite course has been set up and rated. Interestingly the same layout has been rated twice one at 113 slope and the other 111 slope. Playing exactly the same course the influence of the lower slope rating this weekend has a marked effect on my result. Playing off a 9 handicap I scored 37 stableford points with 77 off the stick (Nett 68) which is the course scratch rating DSR is 66, Par is 69 which results in a Played to Handicap of 11. Followed on to my Caddie Challenge score being rated at 34 Points! Which means instead of winning $30+ I lose $10 on top of the gob smacking score derived. Have been in touch with the captain and after further analysis of my past scores found another that is not flagged with a 79 off the stick with 38 points and a played to Handicap of 12.2. The lower slope rating makes it completely pointless in me playing the course when it is in place.As I have to play to 2-3 under my handicap just to match it. The real issue is why the same course is rated with two slop ratings of 111 and 113. In fact the reality of my handicap is basically pointless it is either GA of 9 as it stands or if the two scores highlighted are adjusted approx GA 8.8 or less. Thankyou for your time and attention. , Geoff

Three Sub par rounds in a row...

A lengthy discussion with the voices in my head today on whether to play or not. It was a close run yes in the end and for all the right reasons. This made it three 18 hole comp stroke rounds in four days and with the Southern Ports Golf week tournament coming up in first week of March, that was the deciding factor. Today was another success 77 off the stick (37 points) and a nett 68 to consolidate the single digit with at least 6 rounds to play and get a few more A Game scores. The work with the gym program is still first then on the range is still dedicated to chipping and putting. With the addition of more Tee shot driving workouts. Next weekend is the regional Champions Tournament all club champions play in a comp. and I am down for that on the Sunday. The game focus is on playing serious competition at the minute an pushing myself to the limit. Thankyou for your time and attention. Geoff

Single digit at last...

The past weekend was tiring on the track, busy with work and not in the best condition at the end of the weekends two rounds. Frustration in the first day 32 points and had the game by the scruff of the neck. Made the same mistake four times hitting 100 metre shots to the green fat and short. on Saturday. Sunday the same erratic shots to the greens killed the challenge to break the handicap and finished with 31 points. Made a decision to revert to the Cobra Fly Z irons simply because of the variety of wedges this set has and the results were immediate. Two days of playing six holes in the afternoon had my pars and birdie scores racking up. Thursday afternoon headed to Kingston and played 18 holes and finished with 79 off the stick, 39 points and a net 69. Woo Hoo played to 8 hcp and slope of 7.7, what ever that means. With four three putts the room for improvement is there still. This score got me to 9.1 GA handicap. With a 10.1 dropping off on the next round will be out to consolidate the handicap this weekend. Saturday was back at Kingston and an all or nothing round with a 10 hcp round dropping off. Was highlighted with playing partner scoring an ace on the 17th hole. Struggled my way around the front nine playing cautious and hesitant too often with glimpses of perfect form. With 44 and 15 points the back nine was all or nothing and it took nothing much more to do hat was needed. Finished with 39 and 21 points for gross 83 Nett 73 and 36 points. The crunch was this round had a flagged 10 hcp score dropping off and it has been replaced with one the same. With six rounds to play before another flagged round is up I am on 9.2 at least for a while. The practise of past weeks has been short game and putting and has paid off. These two game facets saved par several times and are backed up with improving greens in regulation and driving stats. Fitness is still the key pushing myself is out of the question, the crest of the initial effort has been crossed. I must admit that I have established a very aggressive game compared to the one I was playing 12 months ago. Whilst the mental decision was made then it has taken some time to be physically capable in playing the game I want. It is great fun and that is without doubt the best thing about playing golf at this ability level. Would like to get out again tomorrow and will make the final call mid morning. May be better off going to the gym, but would rather play golf. Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Season 2016 starting well...

Game day and in this Australian summer watching the rain fall at 7am then abate to an overcast breezy day was no distraction. I just wanted to get out and play some competition Golf. Managed to get some chipping practise in the back yard and no time for a warm up with any long clubs. A few putts on the practice green and it was game time. End result was 39 Stableford points and 75 off the stick. The score was good make no doubt about that. A few errors that would have destroyed the card on the nearby course at Kingston. Which is irrelevant to what actually happened, my pleasure of doing well is not being influenced with optimistic delusion. All I took out of the day was once again the fitness training and practising as little as is being done is setting up my golf to achieve the targets of season 2016. The distractions of the requirements to run a business and live in the real world and maintain the harmony to include a golfing commitment is a major consideration. I have always been aware of that not only from my own position but from socialising with and observations of other golfers. It is a major requirement to be a success as a golfer and for average players like me it takes a lot more effort.

Managed to play at Kingston SE on Saturday the 9th in the club par round. My first hit over 18 holes for season 2016 was a success. Finished in 2nd place with a +2 score. Faltered on the last two holes and missed out on a +5 score. No complaints for me this has been the first time in two years I have been able to play competitive golf before mid February. All thanks to the last seven seasons of getting fitter and doing the exercising along the way. Now the first three months of a six month gym program have been completed and the set up for season 2016 is well in advance of any previous time. Not doing much range work at all instead choosing to enjoy playing golf and the gym routines as a package. Playing 6-9 holes first thing in the morning two to three days a week and working on the golf technique and game without the bucket of balls approach. Getting in some chipping and putting is all that is being done with any hint of practising. Thank you for your time and attention. The preparations are all going well for my annual Southern Ports Golf Week tournament. Three rounds in the week at three clubs. Aiming for a better finish than fourth place in A Grade 2015. The challenge of playing three stroke rounds and maintaining the consistency, concentration and winning is great fun. Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff