Winter golf tough conditions, good for your golf...

The grand total of 24 points had me in 4th place. Only 8 ofthe 18 in the field finished the day Lightning it was on the tough side of hard, well worth the effort. A crap score in tough conditions and all I got out of the round was bonuses. The swing settled into the improved groove from the past weeks practise. Putter was on target and the ball went in the hole as I wanted. The game problem was once again not used to playing confidently with the improve capability. It feels strange to be saying this, it has been the problem that has been apparent for several weeks. Usually I pick up a golfing game point and work on it. This is a mental matter though and takes a lot more attention. All it causes is me 'pulling' shots. Not hitting through the ball and finishing the swing correctly. Incredibly irritating on game days as I lack the concentration coherence to do this well at the minute. Time is not the issue and for many there is that self imposed need to get results fast. My approach is not down that path. All that is needed is getting the result right an that takes patience. Today there is more clarity and a better capability to not make the same amount of the same error in the competition this afternoon. Thankyou for your time and attention Geoff

Right time, get the right equipment...

Dear readers, a long week in golf is the best description for what has past so far. Sunday was a -2 finish in the par round and I charged for the win all day.To no effect with the same problem all day, 'inconsistency'. Nothing would stay steady. A couple of missed putts here, a wayward drive there, with a below average chip or shot for the green. It was not pressure at all it was a fun day on the course it was just not reliable golfing. To follow on as the week progressed I was browsing for a second driver. The Callaway Optiforce has been excellent since 2014. The shaft change to a stiffer flex from the Project X 5.5 had been effective also. Travelling through the week I had a few hours spare and hit the pro shop to trial few drivers, Callaway Big Bertha and Cobra Fly Z alongside my Optiforce. Gobsmacked is the only description. I know my capability I do not have a fantasy of a big drive in the tank, any more than one or two hits a round above my steady 200-220m distance. The Big Bertha threw that out the window. This is nothing more than the result of having a reliable swing. Even so what and amazing result, swinging easy and boom, 10-20m more off the tee. Next day at home using the Optiforce and Big Bertha I had the same result. Then I switched shafts, the Optiforce gained a couple of extra metres and the Big Bertha was on the same length. Fact is the Big Bertha Clubhead with a stiffer shaft has a 10-20m lead over the Optiforce. This is all from my practise with the Dreamswing and establishing a consistent swing. Technology from the manufacturer supplies the equipment and that is in line with my capability. Four or even three years ago this would have been a total waste of resources to use a Big Bertha. This may be the antithesis of what equipment manufacturers want said. Here it is, if you are an 20 plus golfer and improving don't upgrade equipment. Do the golfing practise. I have purchased many golf sets and woods etc in the past but b\never the lats\est best thing. I have got a feel for many different club types. I have a reliable swing developed and established. I have bought two the top of the line equipment in the past four months because I am good enough to use it well. Winning is the proof, Penola Open A Grade Nett is the most recent major win. Caddie Challenge last 20 round @ $10 per round $200 = $347 in Vouchers. Get the game right through practise and then get the equipment and win. Thankyou for your time and attention , Geoff

2013 Southern Ports Golf Week final result...

Saturday 2/3/13 Spent the day resting up after finishing at 11pm running the bar for the Southern Ports Presentations. Dear readers Talart was totally stuffed yesterday. In fact one of the conversations I was in and also heard others having after the last day was a compliment to the Professionals who play 4 day tournaments. As well as the pro am before and for some there is also the qualifying round. Southern Ports Golf Week Now is the time to like the tournament and start planning for coming along in 2014. A week of golf is a big effort and the winners thoroughly deserve the reward. $200-$300 vouchers go a long way to covering the accommodation and travelling expenses. Not to neglect the daily prizes for each round that reward the golfers who play well. This is the first time in four years I have not been in the winners lists at all. Yet I was in the hunt every round and the benefits will be delivered for me in coming weeks. I am thoroughly prepared and in my best condition ever for the coming Golf Open days in the region through March and April just to begin with. Third and final round of Southern Ports tournament on Friday and while I managed a 9th place on the day once again a lost ball shot my challenge down in flames on the day. Golfers luck ,it was just not possible to find the object buried in a small patch of thick grass at the base of a tree. The Beachport course was a tough task for all bar one golfer on the day with a strong ocean wind making every shot hard work. The one golfer who had a good day scored one over par and leapt from 5 strokes behind the leaders to win the A Grade competition. That is one of the great things about playing this competition. You never feel out of the running until the final card is in the scorers hands. The camaraderie among the players is the most enjoyable part of the week. With the competitive nature obviously there for al,l the social aspect of playing with people you have never met and enjoying the common passion of golf is sensational. As disappointed as I am with my scores and results on the last day. It was a miss by very little to have made the winners list in the final round. Yet my congratulations for the winner and all others was sincere and genuine.. The sacrifice and effort to get away to play golf for a week is no small thing. Then you have to get up and play on a new course every second day for a week as well as enjoy the many social events that occur. 350 plus golfers do find a lot of time to socialise off course and that can be very tiring. That is the subtle way to describe the party atmosphere which does take a toll on some golfers stamina. For me it was all done with ease and only 51 weeks to go before I tee up again in 2014 for another crack at the title. Today is a joint competition day with Kingston and Beachport golfers coming to play at Robe. There is going to be a lot of recounting of the week experiences as golfers love to do when they have shared the experience and are all looking for a little more that may make next year a better one. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Final results - A Grade winner Men - Graham Rentsch [Hamilton] 226, R/up- Ben Slack [Echunga] 229 Nett winner - Greg Holcombe [Heywood] 216, R/up - Mark Davies [Naracoorte ] 218 Veteran Kevin Etherton [Casterton] 220 B Grade Men- Peter Wells [Blackwood] 265, R/Up - Graham Young [Flagstaff Hill] 272 Nett winner - Bill Quinlan-Watson [Robe 218, R/up - Ben Schaefer [Kingston] 220 Veteran - Bill Quinlan Watson C Grade Men - Jim Pegler [Beachport] 112 st.pts, 2nd - Allan Webster [Beachport] 102 c/b 3rd - Tim Mort [Robe] 102, 4th - Scott Fennell [Robe] 101 Veteran - Allan Webster [Beachport] c/b Tim Mort A Grade Ladies Winner - Elizabeth Saint [ Millicent - Play-off with Lyn Pascoe] 245, R/Up Juliet Hugo [RAGC} 248 Nett Winner - Lyn Pascoe [Thaxted Park] 215, R/up - Robyn Walters [Beachport] 225 Veteran - Kay Rasheed [Kingston] 227 B Grade Ladies winner - Mayette Briggs [Naracoorte] 282, R/up - Sandra Munn [Naracoorte] 291 Nett Winner - Robin DeClifford [Kew] 227, R/up -Pam Symonds [Kingston] 228 Veteran - Lyn Kiddey [Thaxted Park] 229 C Grade Ladies Div.1 Winner - Jan Green [Beachport] 108 pts , 2nd - Felicity Miles [Naracoorte] 103 Div.2 Winner - Jenni Brown {RAGC] 96 pts, 2nd - Susan Hunt [RAGC] 94 Veteran - Jan Green Geoff

Southern Ports Golf Tourney begins..

Sunday 24th February. The practise and training period has passed, Monday is the first round of the Southern Ports Golf Week 54 hole championship. The past weeks have been all directed to being in the best form possible for this my 4th crack at the title. With two 2nd placings in C Grade 2010, B Grade 2011, 2013 again has me in A grade and up against the gun golfers. The gross championship is well out of my reach my 12 handicap is far behind the scratch and single digit scoring potential. My goal is the Nett Championship and with 54 holes in three days, consistency is the goal. The first round on Monday is played at my home track this year so I will have a local knowledge advantage. Unfortunately unlike other years I have not managed to get to Wednesdays venue, Beachport, for a few rounds prior to the tournament. The plus side is that I have the course on video and these reviews in past seasons will be enough to give me some playing advantage. The final days play on the Friday is at Kingston where I have been playing weekly in my preparation. :Last Saturday I had a Gross 84/Nett 72 in the competition and am well versed in the nuances of this course. It all comes down to golfing ability of course and this event is great fun as well with golfers from intra and interstate all vieing for the various titles.This year my biggest change has been increased fitness that has been worked on since November 2012.The weather is sensational here at the minute as February and March usually is on the Limestone Coast. Significantly warmer than usual in fact which is great for swimming and this is also very draining on the golf course so my fitness training is already giving me an advantage. Yesterday was the LOOM WINES Mens Pinehurst Comp. played at Robe best described as Sun, Fun and Golf. A great day had by all as the pictures in the link to the Southern Ports Facebook page show. For some it is a fun way to get form on one of the courses. For others who cannot play in the weeks competition for various reasons as they have in the past it is a day to at least be part of the event. It is a very sociable week and I had a great time catching up with faces that I had not seen for a year. Of course a bit of good natured 'sledging' was part of the catching up. Make no mistake this is a competitive event at heart and every golfer is having a crack at winning something. Even in 2012 I managed to get a second place at one event and that was a big effort. Moving into A Grade is a major step up, The lower grades are as competitive but the ability is at a lower standard. Today is a swim in the morning and depending on the weather I may or may not play in the 18 hole competition at Robe. As I discovered last weekend two hot days in a row take a bit more out of me. This 54 hole tournament is about staying power not an 18 hole sprint. Thankyou for your time and attention “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff