Thursday, November 03, 2011
Comedy Gala fundraiser, Royal Flying Doctor
Was a little rusty on the night, been a while between standup sets. For a good cause happy to participate and well done by the organisers and all who got up and performed on the night
Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff
The statistics tell the tale of struggle...
3/11/11 Thursday Back home and caught up with the work tasks and time to sit down and review the golf since Sunday’s 18 hole effort. It was an effort also, a stableford which returned 29 points. My first full round in a couple of weeks was not too bad, the last 5 holes were a struggle. Whilst the Golfer/Tennis elbow is abating the restriction is still obvious in my game especially in lasting the distance. Admittedly I may be overdoing the 9 hole rounds during the week but I only have to get myself to the coming Sunday Club Open Competition in decent form, then I will stop for a few weeks. Have a club representative commitment to play on the 13th at Penola in a regional competition that I would prefer not to play.
Even with the injury hampering the golf it is not destroying my game. Making a few adjustments to allow for the flagging performance including putting the Cobra #3 metal bag in the bag has been a benefit. The short game and putting are acceptable, chipping is much better than several months ago. Practise has been the major facet together with returning to using blades to chip with in the old Wilson 1200 set. These clubs are enjoyable to use and even though they feel very different to the AP2 set, the distances are comparable from the 3 to PW.
Still struggling with hitting, Greens In Regulation. This is the most frustrating aspect of my game at the minute. It is a matter of more practise with the 3-6 irons and that is hampered by the injury. Together with a pernicious fault hitting 8 to 9 irons from 110m and in to 40m at the green and getting the distance right. The ball is going straight and the flight is good but 8-9 times out of 10 is short or long. These two facets of the game are not enjoyable and will benefit most from stopping for a week or two. In the daily 9 hole hits since beginning last week scores of 43-45 made up from 3-4 pars, 3-5 bogies and 1 Double bogie have been the norm. Playing well enough and the failure to hit 2 or 3 shots less is not causing any concern about how my game is developing.
Continuing the practise has delivered the improvement in chipping that has been very helpful in keeping the scores reasonable. Starting to get the ‘flop shot’ around the green, with opening the face on chips and the ball dropping and stopping. Getting a positive out of the negative again has added to the experience.
The GIR statistic in my game is very poor, as far as my expectations go. Not to forget that as a 12 handicapper hitting greens in regulation is not possible 50% of the time, in reality 30% is expected and even then I am still under the target going from 27% in August to 16% in September/October. Taking into account that I have been hitting the fairway with 59% of my tee shots. Followed with missed GIRs at 113 from fairway shots and a decreasing Up-and-Down total rate of 23.9%. The average was peaking at 38.5, 33.3 and 47.5 during August 2011, then the Golfer/Tennis elbow began to have a significant negative impact. Just love playing golf and the challenges the game throws up and taking them on in the quest to improve.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Even with the injury hampering the golf it is not destroying my game. Making a few adjustments to allow for the flagging performance including putting the Cobra #3 metal bag in the bag has been a benefit. The short game and putting are acceptable, chipping is much better than several months ago. Practise has been the major facet together with returning to using blades to chip with in the old Wilson 1200 set. These clubs are enjoyable to use and even though they feel very different to the AP2 set, the distances are comparable from the 3 to PW.
Still struggling with hitting, Greens In Regulation. This is the most frustrating aspect of my game at the minute. It is a matter of more practise with the 3-6 irons and that is hampered by the injury. Together with a pernicious fault hitting 8 to 9 irons from 110m and in to 40m at the green and getting the distance right. The ball is going straight and the flight is good but 8-9 times out of 10 is short or long. These two facets of the game are not enjoyable and will benefit most from stopping for a week or two. In the daily 9 hole hits since beginning last week scores of 43-45 made up from 3-4 pars, 3-5 bogies and 1 Double bogie have been the norm. Playing well enough and the failure to hit 2 or 3 shots less is not causing any concern about how my game is developing.
Continuing the practise has delivered the improvement in chipping that has been very helpful in keeping the scores reasonable. Starting to get the ‘flop shot’ around the green, with opening the face on chips and the ball dropping and stopping. Getting a positive out of the negative again has added to the experience.
The GIR statistic in my game is very poor, as far as my expectations go. Not to forget that as a 12 handicapper hitting greens in regulation is not possible 50% of the time, in reality 30% is expected and even then I am still under the target going from 27% in August to 16% in September/October. Taking into account that I have been hitting the fairway with 59% of my tee shots. Followed with missed GIRs at 113 from fairway shots and a decreasing Up-and-Down total rate of 23.9%. The average was peaking at 38.5, 33.3 and 47.5 during August 2011, then the Golfer/Tennis elbow began to have a significant negative impact. Just love playing golf and the challenges the game throws up and taking them on in the quest to improve.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Feels good when a plan delivers...
29/10/11 Saturday. Kept with the decision to play 9 holes a day this week, was not easy to do given the soreness of my elbows. Having endured much worse pain, for longer periods in the past, does not detract from the discomfort at the minute and it is certainly not enjoyable one iota. Being totally obtuse with the injury treatment now, attacking the problem with the appropriate healing processes whilst putting in a focussed effort to get my game at its best for the club open on the 6th of November. There is no other way to build confidence in my playing ability. If the effort is too much and the body cannot standup to the effort, not a problem s long as I have put in 100%. Playing in A grade at the high end of the handicap ranking, my form must be at its best to have any chance of a decent score in the Open.
The Wilson blades have been assisting in getting me out on the course, it is so exciting to hit a blade and feel and sweetness of a shot. Being a 1973-73 model iron the new grips and 3cm extension have been a revelation of how my game is progressing. Yesterday played in the Friday afternoon “Chicken Run” competition, off a 9 handicap in this club event and not my official 12. Finishing with 17 points it was a very satisfactory effort. Off the tee with the 400cc driver was very good distance wise in showers and wind I cracked the 250m distance a couple of times. Well above my average 200m-220m this was all from the last coaching session. The excercise with the shortened club that has established an upright swing and hitting on with an inside/out plane has began top establish a draw off he tee as well. As with most golfers my game has been affected with a slice from the beginning. Adjusting to play with a draw in setting up and addressing the ball still feels very odd after so long. Fortunately this has been a gradual development from continued practise and to stand and set up aiming to the right and the ball drawing to the left after striking it was the reward for following the coaches advice and practise.
In 9 holes I hit one green in regulation. The other eight were misses from 1m to 5m of the green, that with the improved chipping with the PW kept me in the game all through the round. Just could not get the club selection right after tee shots, for some reason chose the nine iron (short 4 times) and the 7 (long once) instead of the 8 which would have been right distance wise. Put that down to a combination of still getting used to the clubs and the injury, may be also affected by the increased loft on the older irons. Hit the ball very well the shots were straight or slight draws just not long enough with the 9 and too long with the 7. Used the lighter Tour Sonic putter instead of my usual Wilson 100 to good effect, did not miss any ‘gimme’ putts. There are two golf events that I am working towards to complete 2011. The Robe Open on the 6th of November and the Race to Cypress Lakes round at The Vines on the 2nd of December.
Have got onto a satisfying path towards improvement and will maintain that through to the end of December, will keep on hitting 20-30 balls a day on the practise range as well as the 9 hole walks around the course. There is a factor of trying to smash through the last stages of this golfers elbow ailment. It is frustrating, like hayfever it is disabling, uncomfortable and sore. Just want it gone now and be able to go about day to day business without the irritation. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
The Wilson blades have been assisting in getting me out on the course, it is so exciting to hit a blade and feel and sweetness of a shot. Being a 1973-73 model iron the new grips and 3cm extension have been a revelation of how my game is progressing. Yesterday played in the Friday afternoon “Chicken Run” competition, off a 9 handicap in this club event and not my official 12. Finishing with 17 points it was a very satisfactory effort. Off the tee with the 400cc driver was very good distance wise in showers and wind I cracked the 250m distance a couple of times. Well above my average 200m-220m this was all from the last coaching session. The excercise with the shortened club that has established an upright swing and hitting on with an inside/out plane has began top establish a draw off he tee as well. As with most golfers my game has been affected with a slice from the beginning. Adjusting to play with a draw in setting up and addressing the ball still feels very odd after so long. Fortunately this has been a gradual development from continued practise and to stand and set up aiming to the right and the ball drawing to the left after striking it was the reward for following the coaches advice and practise.
In 9 holes I hit one green in regulation. The other eight were misses from 1m to 5m of the green, that with the improved chipping with the PW kept me in the game all through the round. Just could not get the club selection right after tee shots, for some reason chose the nine iron (short 4 times) and the 7 (long once) instead of the 8 which would have been right distance wise. Put that down to a combination of still getting used to the clubs and the injury, may be also affected by the increased loft on the older irons. Hit the ball very well the shots were straight or slight draws just not long enough with the 9 and too long with the 7. Used the lighter Tour Sonic putter instead of my usual Wilson 100 to good effect, did not miss any ‘gimme’ putts. There are two golf events that I am working towards to complete 2011. The Robe Open on the 6th of November and the Race to Cypress Lakes round at The Vines on the 2nd of December.
Have got onto a satisfying path towards improvement and will maintain that through to the end of December, will keep on hitting 20-30 balls a day on the practise range as well as the 9 hole walks around the course. There is a factor of trying to smash through the last stages of this golfers elbow ailment. It is frustrating, like hayfever it is disabling, uncomfortable and sore. Just want it gone now and be able to go about day to day business without the irritation. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all.” Geoff Geoff
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A return of form feels great...
26/10/11 The improvement is still continuing slowly with the Golfer/Tennis elbow ailment. Not over doing the practise hitting 35 balls yesterday and today played 8 holes and finished 2 over with an Out of Bounds. In a day with with very strong winds using the smaller driver 400cc, shelved the 420cc after one tee shot, was very effective. The Wilson 1200 blades (under wave shape) 1973-75, are proving to be a treat now they have been regripped and extended 3cm with shaft plugs.
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
The PW is great for chipping onto the greens being an older set the loft is greater than current sets, the feeling of comfort and ease in swinging the irons is also improving. Using the ACER 17 Degree Hybrid delivered a great birdie hitting 170m into the wind and the ball finishing 45 cm from the hole on a par 4. The swing is still a little tentative, with some residual stiffness in both arms caution is the chosen path for a little longer. Changed putters from the Wilson 100 to a Tour Sonic one I picked up a few weeks ago. It is a little shorter than my Wilson but importantly is lighter and it is on the greens when putting that the strain on my forearms causes discomfort.
Sitting here feeling a little smug with the 8 hole result and pleased to have benefited from the discomfort and limitations of an injury again. It is a creed of mine to "take the positive from the negatives". This has kept me inspired and motivated for a couple of decades, since a MVA. Fact is that I skipped a par 5 and a par four and played an extra par three to get the 8 holes in. Whilst the score was good, the endurance was not tested at all in the hitout. Now it is ice and Heat pack treatment for an hour or so to soothe the injured areas. Will have a good hit out in the 9 hole Chicken Run Stableford Friday and see how I fare then. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all"
Geoff
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