1/8/11 The weather was a gem for the Kingston SE Open event on Sunday, sunshine and enough wind to make the game a little more interesting in club and shot selection. The course was in fine condition as well the Kingston members have been working long and hard the past three years in redeveloping the layout and there is only one new laid green left to be brought into action. The addition of mounds on the fairways has been a very effective playing condition adjustment for golfers. Players have to plan their shots and take into account the various hazards of mounds and grass bunkers. It takes some intelligent play and for golfers the challenge is enjoyable.
Some holes give the option of playing over doglegs to the hole or take a safer path it is all up to a players choice and ability. Myself, the confidence to attack to that level is not quite there, it was a definite consideration on a couple of holes yesterday. Playing with another 14 hcp, a 9 and 10 hcp it was a good social group and ability wise mix. The other 14 handicapper had a 38 on the front 9 where as I could not get my game into a steady rythym for the second week in a row. Finishing with a 47 on the front 9 started with a (+3) 7 on the first it was head down to get that back and a +2 on the 3rd did not help the come back. Even so I was firing on all cylinders and looking good until the 9th hole. Hit the green with my second, distance of 140 m and saw the ball bounce up from the surface and felt good even though at a guess it was likely to have rolled through. The green itself was not veiwable, being a sunken one. Very disapointed to get there and see the plug mark at the front and the ball 40 m further on in trees and rough, hard greens do make GIR difficult work and the hole was another 6 (+2) in the end. Did think that a par was goingto come from the 9th and set my charge on the back 9.
After lunch and seeing the 38 by the other 14 handicapper for the first time I recall deciding to chase another players score. Dropped all the conservative ideas and went for the gold. Was not the perfect round possible made a few mistakes, only one clanger, for a 42 and a gross 89 Nett 75. The putting was hard work all day, fast greens and did not have any three putts. Was pleased to finally end the round and let the brain have a rest. Quick greens that do not break until the ball has almost stopped can be very tricky, broke the group 9 handicapper’s game wide open with 4 three putts. On my part playing away from the home track in 2010 has educated me in playing on faster greens, the benefits are helping me this season.
In retrospect the round was a definitive example of getting over the hurdles that can obstruct success. It would have been simple to have just gone through the motions on the last nine holes and enjoyed the day. Instead I attacked at every opportunity, from that attitude came the birdie on the 11th hole. The end result was the facts, fantasy is the several near miss putts that out numbered the clanger putts 4 to 1. After the first hole and the third, my shots off the tee were all fairway bound and to position. A couple of chips did not carry or went too far, due to the change from the blade (Bridgestone J33’s) to the heavier cavity backs. Was not too far off the pace either (in handicap results) at the end of the competition in A grade either.By the time the AP2 turn up I will have played another few rounds with the old clubs before making the final change in equipment.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.”, Geoff
Monday, August 01, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Slow steady progress in the week..
30/7/11 Have maintained the 9 hole rounds through the week just gone getting in 4 sessions playing the course instead of range practise. The downside is only the amount of time it takes to play 9 holes as opposed to hitting balls on the practise fairway. Fortunately my longer irons and drivers have a good quality about them at the minute thanks to the practise so far this season. I put in a lot more time with the short game as this is going to take the most adjustment while using the old set until the AP2’s turn up. The Bridgestone J33’s have been given a final clean and are now on the market. Unfortunately the MB pitching wedge in the set is very different from the Karsten look a like and it took a lot of practise to get some touch back by Friday.
"Golf Ethos". We all have one that is created from our experience in the game. Some people have a parrot fashion recital of a PGA Champions words, others have a short statement on the game and many have an unspoken opus in the mind every time the clubs are touched or the game is thought about.
Mine is simple to me as I have lived it and written it, yet to speak it is not a brief dialogue. The short version is , "I am not the best golfer, I am the best I can be."
In addition to the short game practise a lot of time was put into the exercise routines given in the coaching session last week. Spent some time on Monday making a short (1m) club to do the swing plane and wrist rotation exercise. Did this routine daily, as well as the hip rotation and leg follow through exercise. Created a few stiff spots on the ribs, the body was not used to the pure extension of the various muscles so often.
The return is in the game though and playing in the Friday, “Chicken Run” off a 10 hcp as opposed to my official 14, went out a stroke after the Lucindale CavPower Open last weekend. Finished with 18 points with 40 gross strokes and wiped one hole. I will take that score any day and being a very enjoyable social comp is an added bonus. The day was won by our club President who is in his 70’s (years) and played off single figures for 50 of them. At the minute off 13 he came in with 21 points. Playing in the same group it was a fun round and was a little surprised at the end to be complimented on the quality of my short game.
This got me thinking. There is a fault that can ruin many a golfers game, “blurring the line between expectations and capability”. In retrospect the very different feel of the old PW and the J33 PW distracted me from seeing the actual quality of chip shots played. Five were 2 m or less from the hole, no birdies in the round but some very good up and downs for par made easy with short putts. In essence the shots were very good, yet in a strange way I was so focussed on how the club felt in my hands than the shot results were lost on me. I did make some mistakes early in the round though that had my attention so narrow in its focus to avoid making them again.
I am still coming to terms with the change to an attacking game strategy from playing the percentage game strategy. Made one mistake in this transition which very nearly caused another wiped hole. Playing a 2nd shot from tight under a tree, tried for distance instead of clear and onto the fairway. Nearly an airy and topped the ball just enough to have a clear swing for the 3rd which made the green and a long putt for par. The wiped hole was on the 2nd one played and again tried too hard for the pin instead of making the green while under trees. Hit the ball thin and shot across the green like a rocket. It is very hard making the transition as I have not yet found my comfort zone with being aware of the best shot to play. attacking golf is about being clever not trying to shoot the lights out of every hole.
Out and hitting some balls later today, tuning up for the Kingston Open tomorrow morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”, Geoff
"Golf Ethos". We all have one that is created from our experience in the game. Some people have a parrot fashion recital of a PGA Champions words, others have a short statement on the game and many have an unspoken opus in the mind every time the clubs are touched or the game is thought about.
Mine is simple to me as I have lived it and written it, yet to speak it is not a brief dialogue. The short version is , "I am not the best golfer, I am the best I can be."
In addition to the short game practise a lot of time was put into the exercise routines given in the coaching session last week. Spent some time on Monday making a short (1m) club to do the swing plane and wrist rotation exercise. Did this routine daily, as well as the hip rotation and leg follow through exercise. Created a few stiff spots on the ribs, the body was not used to the pure extension of the various muscles so often.
The return is in the game though and playing in the Friday, “Chicken Run” off a 10 hcp as opposed to my official 14, went out a stroke after the Lucindale CavPower Open last weekend. Finished with 18 points with 40 gross strokes and wiped one hole. I will take that score any day and being a very enjoyable social comp is an added bonus. The day was won by our club President who is in his 70’s (years) and played off single figures for 50 of them. At the minute off 13 he came in with 21 points. Playing in the same group it was a fun round and was a little surprised at the end to be complimented on the quality of my short game.
This got me thinking. There is a fault that can ruin many a golfers game, “blurring the line between expectations and capability”. In retrospect the very different feel of the old PW and the J33 PW distracted me from seeing the actual quality of chip shots played. Five were 2 m or less from the hole, no birdies in the round but some very good up and downs for par made easy with short putts. In essence the shots were very good, yet in a strange way I was so focussed on how the club felt in my hands than the shot results were lost on me. I did make some mistakes early in the round though that had my attention so narrow in its focus to avoid making them again.
I am still coming to terms with the change to an attacking game strategy from playing the percentage game strategy. Made one mistake in this transition which very nearly caused another wiped hole. Playing a 2nd shot from tight under a tree, tried for distance instead of clear and onto the fairway. Nearly an airy and topped the ball just enough to have a clear swing for the 3rd which made the green and a long putt for par. The wiped hole was on the 2nd one played and again tried too hard for the pin instead of making the green while under trees. Hit the ball thin and shot across the green like a rocket. It is very hard making the transition as I have not yet found my comfort zone with being aware of the best shot to play. attacking golf is about being clever not trying to shoot the lights out of every hole.
Out and hitting some balls later today, tuning up for the Kingston Open tomorrow morning. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”, Geoff
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Got the game mojo back...
27/7/11 The golfing form is back in the bag again this week, it needed an increase in practise time since the coaching last Thursday, well worth the effort for the results. Having the coaching session was a good way to end the break from the heavy practise routines and start again. With new exercises to establish and maintain the corrections made to the swing, it is a refreshing motivation to up the ante with practise again. Made the first step yesterday, going out and playing 9 holes instead of range work. Total of 43 off the stick and a relaxing walk on the course.
Playing holes instead of hitting balls to the target on the practise fairway was fun and did get the game brain working also. It was also a partial lack of hole play that made Sunday so difficult. Since taking the coaching advice on board and making the swing changes that comfortable ‘feel’ in stance and with the sticks in my hands had gone. Having a social hit with no scoring pressure was the way to get comfortable again. Given my standard as a golfer I feel that a 5 day turnaround is a good result. Two things have been very noticeable, 1) definite decrease in distance with irons 2) hitting the ball thin. Neither of these are negatives, give me the delight of the ball going straight and the removal of the slice any time. The first 6 drives were all straight to the target on the fairway yesterday, Greens in regulation on 3 holes the rest no more than 3 metres off the green. Taking a club more than before is no loss for that return and it will revert in time to the previous status quo.
Hitting the ball thin may be a partial result from hitting off the mat in recent practice. I have been using a door mat, putting the ball on it while at the practise fairway. Simply to save making divots on the practise tee block. The ball is raised at least 2-3 cm above ground level where my feet are and this may be affecting the ball striking. Hence yesterday I made sure to hit a good number of irons off the ground after the practise 9 holes. Need to put some extra effort into putting this week also, no major problems the opposite in fact. The touch around the greens has been good of late, even last week at Lucindale which was a real battle on the fast greens. Again a result from a coaching session a month ago, together with the chipping.
My game has always benefited from considered coaching lessons. I have always gone with specific attributes of my game in mind to be analysed. Presented the problem to the Pro and taken in the advice and practised what was given. Since 2009, I have had 5 or 6 sessions including group clinics and compared to others who were on the same handicaps as me at the time I am at least 10 strokes improved (out to 14 after last weeks round). There are no quick fixes in golf and never just one thing that will get your game right. Yet golfers continue to trumpet that they have found the way to success this way.
Time to get out and hit some balls later today, in the meantime thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Playing holes instead of hitting balls to the target on the practise fairway was fun and did get the game brain working also. It was also a partial lack of hole play that made Sunday so difficult. Since taking the coaching advice on board and making the swing changes that comfortable ‘feel’ in stance and with the sticks in my hands had gone. Having a social hit with no scoring pressure was the way to get comfortable again. Given my standard as a golfer I feel that a 5 day turnaround is a good result. Two things have been very noticeable, 1) definite decrease in distance with irons 2) hitting the ball thin. Neither of these are negatives, give me the delight of the ball going straight and the removal of the slice any time. The first 6 drives were all straight to the target on the fairway yesterday, Greens in regulation on 3 holes the rest no more than 3 metres off the green. Taking a club more than before is no loss for that return and it will revert in time to the previous status quo.
Hitting the ball thin may be a partial result from hitting off the mat in recent practice. I have been using a door mat, putting the ball on it while at the practise fairway. Simply to save making divots on the practise tee block. The ball is raised at least 2-3 cm above ground level where my feet are and this may be affecting the ball striking. Hence yesterday I made sure to hit a good number of irons off the ground after the practise 9 holes. Need to put some extra effort into putting this week also, no major problems the opposite in fact. The touch around the greens has been good of late, even last week at Lucindale which was a real battle on the fast greens. Again a result from a coaching session a month ago, together with the chipping.
My game has always benefited from considered coaching lessons. I have always gone with specific attributes of my game in mind to be analysed. Presented the problem to the Pro and taken in the advice and practised what was given. Since 2009, I have had 5 or 6 sessions including group clinics and compared to others who were on the same handicaps as me at the time I am at least 10 strokes improved (out to 14 after last weeks round). There are no quick fixes in golf and never just one thing that will get your game right. Yet golfers continue to trumpet that they have found the way to success this way.
Time to get out and hit some balls later today, in the meantime thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Footyheads Review Rd 18 Carlton V Essendon
On the home straight towards the finals series. The draw in round 4 was turned around with a 12 goal win by the Blues. A game of highlights, Eddie Betts 8 goals, Judd on fire around the ground, Andrew Walker flies for mark of the season.
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
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