Would you go for the green or lay up on this par4?

13th Hole at Kingston SE. 

This hole is a par 4, 324m off the back marker, on the day this was shot, played of another tee block taking 20-30m off the distance. The hole info board does not show how sharp the fairway doglegs to the left. I hit 220m consistently and straight off the tee these days and this is one of the holes that has became a shot saver. By cutting the corner it is very possible to hit the green if you have a 250m drive in your regular shot selection.

Even with my 220m drive, on a day like today I actually went 5m too long off the fairway. My fault I was filming and it did not register that we were playing a shorter fairway.
Not my best film work I was trying to play well in a competition round, and a little distracted by the game. As you can see the 150m peg is on the far side of the fairway just before the dogleg. The 100m marker is around the dogleg. The drive shown was shorter than mine but was almost off the fairway going too long and still cut 20-30 m off leaving a second shot of 70m approx. This also barely cut the corner.

No sand bunkers a few deep grass potholes have been created. Again on the left side of the fairway, facing the green and closest to the tee block. 

No matter, the point is would you play the lay up shot to the turn or take the punt and hit over the native bush, cutting the corner and go for the green/fairway?

Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

Better concentration assists better scores

23/3/12. Friday. It has been a busy week off and on the golf course for me, fact of life for us golfers who do not play the game for a living. If I did play the game for a job my main sponsors would have to be assorted charities, so I had food to eat and a roof over my head, considering my level of ability. Would probably have the practical experience to write a book on “1000 recipes for two minute noodles” in quick time as a professional golfer.

This week has been one of physical recovery again, no complaints from me in this, another flare up of existing chronic injuries. Sure not having the pain and discomfort would be a great, reality dictates that this is something that can be managed not removed. This was not too bad and a half hour Bowen Therapy treatment soon had me up and moving freely again. Following the heavy training load began in January the physical reaction of discomfort is moderating. Like any good training program once it has been done the benefits are a standard feature of your game. This preseason was significantly more in preparation for working towards being competitive in A Grade competition. First goal for the season is to win my first A Grade Open handicap section. No real potential to do any better than that on my current handicap. The “off the stick” section is the domain of the single figure golfers.

Out practising all week though even before the treatment playing nine hole and eighteen hole rounds, continuing the commitment to getting more game time on top of range practice. The effect of the injuries is most noticeable after treatment, my swing returns to a consistent smooth rythym. My body is so uncomfortable when out of sync that the pyhsical pain undermines my focus and concentration too often. This does have a benefit, I can see it as being a very effective tool in the future. Although it still is a distraction the impact is gradually being over come as I strengthen my resolve. This has always been a driving force in my golfing, ever since beginning to use the game 20 plus years ago as rehabilitation therapy. My experience is nothing compared to other golfers who have far worse disabilities and play at professional and amateur levels.

The past weekend was one of playing two 18 hole competitions. On Saturday travelled to Kingston SE for 18 holes in their stroke round. Started with a 51 strokes and 18 putts on the front nine followed with 40 strokes and 13 putts for the back nine. 91 for a nett 78. Double bogies on the first five holes cracked the front nine apart. Came back well, putting got into the groove. Short game was the hole wrecker in those first 5 holes. The improved short game is very noticeable after having therapy on the injuries. Yesterday I hit 100 balls in chipping practice with no bladed or fat shots. In this round with the restricted body movement chips were short from being hit fat or bladed too often, including iron fairway shots. Frustrating to say the least but as the score shows I got on top of the distraction.

Bugga! Home club Monthly Medal on Sunday and was in the hunt all day. Just ran out of steam on the last 3 holes. Not disappointed more so a little surprised to tell the truth. This was a benefit from playing at Kingston the day before. Was cruising along well enough missed a few birdie putts but was covering all the bogies with pars and keeping the card on track for a playing to par finish. Then on the 16th. a par 3, bladed a 9 iron through the back of the green under trees and ended up with a 6 (with 3 putts). Still did not give up but could not pick up birdie or par finishes on the last two holes. Had nothing left in the tank, the mental effort of the day took everything I had to stop the physical restrictions from affecting the game as it did at Kingston. Yet the experience from the day before was a definite advantage, the only blemishes were two double bogies on the front nine and the triple bogie on the 16th hole.

My score at the finish, a pair of 44’s with 15 putts on the front nine and 16 on the back. Gross 88, nett 75 with 31 putts.Winning score for the day was a nett 72 and 4th place for myself. Following the recent weekends of playing Saturday and Sundays it has been beneficial to me golf form.

The tiredness in the legs and feet and general back stiffness caused the concentration wavering on the greens too often. Yet I do not see that as the problem as opposed to a result of the one. Not fit enough and not enough playing/practice time. It is improvement on recent results as I have stepped up playing since the Southern Ports Tournament. Obviously my game is still a work in progress. Next is a two day Open at Bordertown on the 31st of March and 1st of April, usually play in their October event but going to continue the two day golf weekends while possible. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”

Geoff

The achievments from tournament...

14/3/12 Wednesday. Got out on the course late yesterday to play a casual 9 holes and put to the test some observations that came from the rounds at Naracoorte. These two rounds were some of the most disciplined that I have played. This was part of the reason for why the result and finish mid field was not disappointing. The poor putting was not a surprise and is behind me as a problem. This aspect of my game is now at the forefront of future practice to deal with it as best I can.

There has always been parts of my game that needed improving and in one case was non existent. Establishing consistent tee shots with the driver has been a work in progress for a long time. That had a lot to do with my pride in the discipline during the Naracoorte competition. The result off the tee was good and on a course that had the obstacles of towering gums alongside the fairways, hitting the fairways was a must. With 5 holes to go on the last day a little voice started to pipe up in my head, “C’mon give the ball a decent crack off the tee, stop holding back!” After so many good shots played over he weekend, I really felt that there was a bit more I could get out of the driver. Felt good physically, the tempo and rythym were on song and my game was struggling due to the bad putting. Belting longer drives was not going to do anything to improve the round, changing the driving technique would take out an established constant from the weekend. I did not change and whilst a little frustrated at not testing the drivers limit, the discipline was a more important win in itself.

Yesterday I gave the driver free reign off the tee, the changes were minimal. Adding a very moderately faster forward swing from a slightly longer backswing with more hip and body in the movement. The latter has not been possible until recently, my body did not have that amount of physical movement available. Improved fitness and training exercises combined with the coaching in January, which established the current golf swing that has given my game the base to improve from. The result was excellent, 230m plus drives, straight and effortless off the tee. To have tried this in the round Sunday would still have been a mistake. In practice though I can begin to plan adding this new aspect to my competition rounds in moderation.

Now to the thing which my game has never had previously. To have this regularly over two days of competition golf to me means this is not a freak occurrence. I have never put noticeable backspin onto the ball until this past weekend. The few times it has happened previously it was ignored as a game influence it was so rare. This weekend though the 9 iron and PW shots to the green after drives were hitting the green and the ball was definitely spinning and holding the green. Most did spin to the right after impact, the rest backwards still with a favouring towards the right after impact. These were not gentle spin but definite rips, then stop.

Again while playing around the course yesterday the consistent drives put me in place to play these irons often enough to see the spin was still there. Have got a modicum of understanding of why it is happening and can now concentrate on developing this into another game feature. Previously one influence on my club selection for green shots was the concern that the ball would go through the green. The appearance of regular back spin now makes it possible to be attacking with the removal of another distraction and addition of the backspin feature.

The enjoyment of the weekends golf has a lot to do with why I travel to play in various club Open Events. Among my playing partners were 3,4,5,13,21 and 26 handicappers, including the tournament winner. The single digit golfers were the ones I watched to see how they played the game, the others are the golfers who play at the same level I do or was until just recently. That I played my best round with the two lowest handicappers in the group, is an example many golfers can relate to. The putting was still a major fail in that round. This is the start of the season and there is another two day open event at Bordertown GolfClub at the end of the month that I would like to play in. In past seasons I have made the trip to play their winter open in October. It is another course that I want to take up the challenge again with it’s native bushland along the fairways. Will have to check the club program to see if it is possible. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all.”

 Geoff

Naracoorte Open 2nd round...

12/3/12 Monday. It is great to be this early in the golf season to come and be already able to review the results of the coaching and practice since January with optimism. This seasons coming experience, even with the knowledge picked up in the past three years, is going to test my ability to the limit. Now in the “A” Grade, at the back end of the handicaps there is no room to put faith into luck getting me to a competitive standard. My initial target of having a crack at the Nett Handicap sections of the various open events that will be played in during 2012 is going to take every bit of knowledge picked up in the past three seasons.

This weekends Naracoorte Open has been particularly beneficial, following on from the recent Southern Ports Tournament. This time two consecutive days of competition golf at a course which when played last year exposed all of the shortcomings of my golf at that stage. The inconsistent driving off the tee, fairway shots that were erratic and poorly thought out strategically, short game chipping that was woefully under prepared and putting that was in the same condition. These faults previously were not major concerns when playing through the handicaps on the way down to my current level. Once the handicap is 15 or less the consistency of a golfers game is vital to improving. Whilst I could play myself into a state of good form and get a score comparable to a 10-11 handicap, the following week that could blow out to a 20 handicap level.

It may seem odd to readers that for me it has been a matter of not knowing what was my golfing capability, whilst playing for 3 years. This was never possible until recently when during the last three months coaching sessions established a setup, swing and stance that is reliable and effective with all clubs. The result is that no longer creating different circumstances with irregular stance and setup positions, every shot now has the same swing and power/energy delivered to the ball. All that is different is the club used and that is what creates the desired effect to get the ball to the target.

Following the round on Saturday, it was a golfer with a purpose and confidence that returned the following day. With a front nine score of 43 with 16 putts it was the best round I have had at Naracoorte. The second nine was a failure, not getting a par until the 18th hole finishing with 47 strokes and 18 putts. That was the final confirmation that the flat stick is a major failing in my hands. This was realised early in the round and after that I just played on enjoying the good shots played off the tee, from fairways and chipping to the pin. That I could not get the putts into the hole with consistency did not affect the round. I just kept on playing as well as possible satisfied in the knowledge that after the round I knew what was needed to improve.

There was no despair and nothing but happiness through out the round on my part, the group all enjoyed the company and the banter. Golf is fun, I did not even consider trying to change anything during the round to improve putting results. That is what practise and coaching sessions are for. That the issue is in part to do with confidence and needing to improve my chipping as well as putting practise, playing the round still gave me my best return on the course. A year after the first destructive experience on the Naracoorte course, my game is much improved because of that. That I was up at 5am each morning and worked until 6.30am before leaving on the 120km drive to Naracoorte perhaps added a little to the result. Nothing of consequence in my opinion though, if anything this added mental motivation that countered the physical effect.

Hence I am really looking forward to the coming season and the practise on the putting green while tuning up my mind to be a confident putter. Thankyou for your time and attention. “Hit ‘em straight all”  

 Geoff