Consistently stupid...

14/9/12 Friday. Ambled around the course yesterday morning and hit the ball well enough short game was a fail though. Interesting aside was joining up with another club golfer who has not played the past week due to a back injury as well. Both were making the same short game errors and that may be nothing more than coincidence yet still worth the attention. When my injury is in ascension generally playing the driver and long iron shots are not affected too much. The short game really does struggle for any consistency. There is no 'feel' to play the chip shot with the right strength the body starts to be out of control. Chip shots can vary from short pop ups that go 2 metres or less to a low rocket scorching across the green. It only happens perhaps two or three times a round. As happened in the matchplay of the club championships that was enough to cost me the play off win. In a competition round it is the same with two or three holes blown out around the green. The conclusion at the end of the season is that I have not got the balance of how much golf is too much, wrong again. The ability and skills of the game have improved which is a good thing for me, the failure to manage the playing quota was not. Getting this wrong is not the end of golfing or the most important aspect of my life. The pain caused and failing to win are in the right order of importance. Golf is fun and that includes all the practise, as well as playing the game, planning, thinking and socialising that is part of my golfing experience. That I am still stupid enough to overdo it again even entertains me. Thankyou for your time and attention. "Hit 'em straight all. Geoff

Blink and you miss it... Australian Golf

8/9/12 Saturday Apologies for the delayed post this week. One of the joys of rural living and moving house is the transfer of communication services. May be better off with carrier pigeons instead of telcomunications, less crap with pigeons. Australian professional tournaments get their annual media attention in the coming months. Once the main games are played that is the end of any committed media. The money is a factor, the tournaments are part of the day job for professional golfers. As is the sanctioned status of a tournament and the entry success gives to other events. The distance to be travelled would be taken into consideration with the reward structure and lastly but not least the status of a victory in an event. As is mentioned in regard to the Australian Open it was ‘once considered the fifth major’. That is dead and buried now and is trotted out these days in articles bemoaning the ‘loss’ of this. I will use another word, ‘failure’. Totally had enough of the annual trotting out of superlatives in commentary and media pieces about the’ once upon a time’ Australian Open. Fact is that it no longer has the standing of the past for what ever reasons that are regurgitated each year. Time that Golf Australia actually confronted the state of professional golf in the country and established something with some spine. Not the usual pale shadows that are nothing more than window dressing in the empty shop front of an abandoned business district. Have heard all of the words on ‘golf is different’ and what is affecting the professional game. Australian Golf has a lot of talk that is the epitome of a can’t do attitude. If the Oz golf environment cannot support a regular tour of some efficiency nationally there is definitely failure at the top. No prizes for predicting what is going to be talked about when the Australian professional feature tournaments are on in 2012, the same as every other year. The question will be asked of the leadership and nothing will be forthcoming except ‘stuff is being done’ and once the events are over that will be the last of golf in Australia in the mainstream media attention until the same time next year. Keeping to the sensible although mildly frustrating 'No Golfing" plan for the weekend. Not missing playing the game too much and enjoying the physical respite after the commitment of the past year. Next week I may start to hit a few balls in the driving net set up in the shed at the new home. With such a big back lawn the though has crossed my mind to create a putting surface in a corner patch. That is the definite proof of a golfing obsession. When not playing the game then I am thinking about it way to much. Thankyou for your time and attention, Geoff

First round elimination...

4/9/12 Tuesday. Back home this afternoon after travelling to Adelaide straight after the matchplay round on Sunday. Eliminated from the championship challenge on the 18th hole of the day. Was 4 down after nine holes and had three errors on three holes that cost me the game. Two poor chip shots and a poor putt on the first hole of the day was all it took to be defeated. Once again though it was the overall golf from game to physical condition that did not measure up at the end of the season. Although in better condition than last year going further was beyond my ability. As optimistic as I am about every game played reality is what comes through with the results. Not disheartened at all and already planning the next crack at the title in 2013 if it is possible to play in them again. If anything the shortfall this season had been getting down to a ten handicap which is the goal for 2012. Obviously the last months results have not been anywhere near this level. That is the truth of the matter past rounds have been battle to play at my best even if the weather has been a rough winter there was just not enough capability in my body to keep going. It had been apparent for some time that it was a struggle to play my best. It was possible in bursts and the round on Saturday at Kingston epitomised the standard of my golf game. With four wipes and scoring 33 points in a Stableford round the erratic shot play and not maintaining reliable golf qualities were obvious. Looking forward to not picking up a club much in coming weeks and letting the recovery start from there. With improved weather conditions on the way as spring leads into summer golfing will be more enjoyable outdoors as well. Playing in a couple more club Opens before the season ends in 2012 will be my game goals. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff

Final competition practise done, now to play...

1/9/12 Saturday. Played in the Kingston SE competition today for 33 stableford points with 4 wipes. Was great for my confidence after being crippled last weekend with the back injury. Tentative off the tee to start and in the back nine hit my peak with long straight drives. Even better was 50% GIR for the day apart from some second rate putting and the residual stiffness from the injury the only other faults were mental. Well prepared for the match play tomorrow in the first round of club championship eliminations. One error today got home and the card was still in my pocket. No matter the score was okay and the hitout was excellent. Played the day with no expectations and very fun filled approach. Had no idea what could occur in the round so I was very comfortable with the fun attitude. I was struggling a little in the last 4 holes walking and with a few aches and tightness in the legs. Answered the challenge of physical discomfort with a bogie, par, par finish. Hitting the ball very well and spot on target. Considering I played in a three with a cracking pace set on the front nine. It was no surprise that I began to falter amid the 16 year old 6 handicappers pace and the other golfer in a cart. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff