2014 Masters Games at Naracoorte

2014 Masters Games at Naracoorte from the 3rd to the 7th of April. Will be registering for the event next week and looking forward to enjoying the golfing competition again. Hopefully will do a little batter than in 2011.

Sport Levy: $50pp Coordinator: Aaron Osman aaron.p.osman@gmail.com and Marlene Bull Email: bullfish1@bigpond.com 0428 622 181 Age Groups: Men's and Ladies: 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+ Dates: Friday, April 4 - Shotgun Start - 2 person Nominated Ambrose (no fixed gender category) Combined Age: 70-99, 100-129, 130+ Saturday, April 5 - 18 of 36 Hole Championship Stroke Round - Men's and Ladies: 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+ Sunday, April 6 - Second 18 of 36 Hole Championship Stroke Round - Men's and Ladies: 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and 75+ Social Activities: Dinner and Drinks Saturday Night at Naracoorte Golf Club Venue: Naracoorte Golf Club, Riddoch Hwy, Naracoorte Food & Refreshments available at venue http://www.naracoortemastersgames2014.com.au/sports.html Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Silver and Bronze medalist Masters Games 2011

Silver and Bronze Medalist 2011 Naracoorte Masters Games

The two days golfing in the Naracoorte Masters Games was an effort well worth the time. Playing at a course which over the past month has simply taken my game and thrown it out into the street with the rubbish, did not get any easier during the competition. The positive at the end of the two days, was to see in the scores of the other competitors that it was not only me who the course bettered. In 2010 when I travelled and played other courses the change in my game for the better began in earnest. It was not easy, the lack of experience putting on different greens and especially playing on courses which had trees over 5m made me add a lot more diversity in shot making.



To share the experience with the other competitors was very different to any other golf competition I had been in. Not just an A, B, C Grade Open but split into the age groups it was a change of status, knowing the challenge to beat a single digit handicap player for me was the same as the 20 and 30 handicappers in my age group to beat me. I threw everything I had at the course and was definitely bloodied for the effort. To finish with a Bronze in my age group on the first day after scoring a nett 83 was a surprise. To come home on the final day from a 54 front nine and 44 back nine (nett 84) and be rewarded with the Silver medal for my age group gave me a reality check on how much I truly enjoy playing golf.



The playing partners both complimented me on my good nature and how I was smiling and laughing through the disaster of the front nine, and this did not change as i took the course on and won on the back nine. For me it would have been easy to throw the game, instead I persisted and finally began to come out on top of the challenge. It was flaming exhausting mentally, the front nine was nothing more than poor tee shots and taking two - three shots at the start of a hole before being where one shot would take me usually. The damn trees to the left were not leaping in front of my tee shots I was simply unable to play confident forward shots down the narrow necks to the fairway.



On the back nine I began to drive with the confident charge that previously was in a galaxy far far away. Dwelling on the problems will not be a feature of this post. Nor will how I overcame them. The social side of the Masters games far outweighed the importance of the result, if you are 35 years or older have a crack at the Masters games if you get a chance. To be in a clubrooms as the awards were handed out and hearing the clink of medals round necks in the room was culmination of one of the most satisfying golf experiences I will ever have.

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

Primed and ready to play...

YOUTUBE Golf Movie Trailer "Another Crack at the Title"


Thursday 24/3/11

One of the draw backs of my work is the seemingly endless hours of 'inactivity' in between doing anything. Which may be the reason why golf is a popular and do-able activity for the group of people loosely lumped together as 'entertainers'. As March draws to a close my extended golfing holiday is also reaching its demise.



Which is to say that instead of playing a lot of golf I will be talking golf as the interviews will begin in April. First set done will be with the golfers who have played and won the "A" grade Title of the Southern Ports Tournament. This includes some very talented people who have more to their achievements than single figure handicaps.



Next will be the professional golfers some who have played and won the title as amateurs, before starting their careers. Others are touring Professionals and club professionals who have a connection with the region and the golf played there still.



This will take the production through to May 2011, the schedule then has some more entertaining aspects for the film. In the prelude will be some technical preparations to begin the editing process of the footage already shot. A job that for several hours of film 'in the can' translates to multiple hours of sitting and looking at the vision in the editing suite.



Hence I have no guilt at all that playing golf has continued being a very dedicated pursuit for the rest of March to include the Masters Games. Initially the entry in the event was in case something unexpected affected my ability to play in the Southern Ports Tournament. I can say now that after the second round the next morning I soon discovered that my left hamstring and groin had 'gone', after taking the first steps out of bed.



It was a "bugga" moment as there was no way I could get a treatment that would be able to fix it until after the tournament was ended. Fortunately after many years as a crock and having to carry injury it was not a major drama. Sadly, it also was not an unexpected happening. Still managed to get through a partial practise round at Beachport on the lay day.



I was confident that my training would at the very least keep me in contention. Which it did and to lose in a playoff for first place and still come second in the "B" gross and nett (handicap) was very satisfying. Having finally got the required treatment on Monday just gone I am now much better in walking and flexibility and should be fine to get through the two consecutive days at Naracoorte.



In the mean time this week I am laying up again this week, pacing myself to be fresh. "Less is more" has worked before and is being used this week especially. Keeping the practise to hitting golf balls through the clubs in the bag. The Front 9 holes played at Naracoorte on Tuesday were terrific, the 42 off the stick has set me for the following week there. That is enough walking around except for picking up balls on the range, the rest is short game practise and no strain.



This weekend is the first qualifying round for the club handicap championships, which is my only chance to register in. The next round is during the Masters weekend and I am already omitted. Then into the dreaded four letter word - Work

Thankyou for your time and attention, "Hit 'em Straight all."Geoff

Best score in a competition so far...

Monday 21/3/11 The past few weeks since the end of Southern Ports my scorecards have not been that good. The two trips to Naracoorte in particular had returned the worst scores in some time. Even though this was competitive competition, playing at Naracoorte is effectively to familiarise myself with a new track for the Masters games. As stated in my last post the benefit that has came from playing other courses always has been a refreshing of my approach to the home track at Robe.

This weekend was no exception to this, as I played on Sunday in the home competition after the poor score the day before. This was to see how well I could front up on two consecutive days of competition golf. This second day of golf resulted in my best ever score off the stick in a competition game. Finishing the day with a Front 9 - 40, Back 9 - 41, a Gross 81 with 30 putts. This score was good enough for third place on the day, that was a bonus. To have played this well and still have a 2-3 shot improvement possible is so satisfying after feeling a little despondent and considering a two to three day golf break to freshen up on recent results. Using the Handicap Predictor on Golf Link my handicap is going to drop 1 stroke to a 14.

The break is still an option for the start of this week. In the meantime replaying the shots that yesterday brought home the score and how much these are a result from the experiences at Naracoorte. Without the doglegs and being able to play long off the tee with out endangering my ability to play a clear second shot, I was off to a flying start. First benefit from Naracoorte in the shot playing, was the improved accuracy with the driver, the best in recent memory that can compare to my best practise sessions. Second shots were hitting the green in regulation and four chip shots in particular landed literally on the target spot chosen for the green. Putting was a revelation and in part a concern possibly, 15 on each nine and the reading of the greens was so easy with the familiar home course.



Today the sticks can be cleaned and no swings will happen at all. In the afternoon I have a Bowen Therapy appointment to fix up some muscle strains and realign my back. Tomorrow I am considering a trip to Naracoorte just to play the front 9. The rounds there have been away to good starts on the first four holes and then breaking down. Ambling around by myself I can take my time and get a definite sighting of the last five fairways and derive a playing strategy for them. At the minute the reshafted blades are proof that the choice was correct, having scored 82,83 and an 84 with the previous iron set in recent weeks, this new set have gone straight on with the job so they are definitely not a hindrance. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Geoff