Saturday 12/2/11 An unexpected trip to Adelaide on Thursday created an opportunity to refresh my golf at the minute. I have been altering the practise routine of late to specifically target areas of my game that were not up to a suitable standard. Playing off a 17 hcp the reality is that my results have been akin to those in 2009 when I began to drop the strokes from 32 hcp into the low twenties. Over the past 5 rounds playing to the following handicaps in competition 12, 15, 18, 19, 20 ( not in that order), very satisfying after the struggle it became in 2010 on the course where I went from 24-20 during Jan to Feb. and down to 18 by December. In hindsight 2010 was a very difficult season golf wise for me, just not able to come to the table with consistent performance. Even though I was expecting this possibility, by August through to October my attitude was one of feeling like a tired punching bag. Pounded into a sagging loose fitting state and not seeing the benefits the effort was preparing the way for.
It is difficult to have to let time take it’s course, golf is not a game for the impatient to take up when it comes to achieving success. At this minute looking back to when I began in 2009 up to now and how much improvement has been the result of the practise and patient approach is very satisfying. The routine of practise and the fact that as much as my passion for the game is bordering on obsession, it is not the number one priority of my life. Except when I am practising or playing in a competition, then it is all that matters. Of late my practise has reverted to mostly setting up and hitting buckets of balls with various clubs getting the swing right and the accuracy and distances settled into a consistent pattern.
No longer playing so many holes per week to build up ‘match fittness’ This week the unexpected break to the routine made it possible to travel and then head out for 9 holes without the usual controlled pre-round preparation. End result was a bogie round of 9 holes with some poor putting costing 3-4 pars.
After the round at Kingston on Tuesday and the debacle on the front 9 (20 Putts) followed by 14 putts on the back nine, this part of my game is going to get some dedicated practise time. No pressure in the preparation for the Tournament starting 28th of February. Having started getting ready in November my game has nothing but fine tuning and enjoyable playing sessions left to do and be ready for the “game face” period on the 3 days play in the week. This was vital to be sorted as I am also producing a film documentary during the week and that will be a creative distraction. If I did not have my golf game in readiness it would not have been possible to do either to an acceptable standard.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Kingston SE course tryout....
Wednesday 9/2/11 Got my work caught up with an early morning start yesterday to free up the afternoon to take a drive to Kingston SE for 18 holes. Have not played there since winning Division II in the Pre-Xmas Open, the second round of Southern Ports Tournament is played there and I needed to familiarise myself with the current course conditions.
The major difference with this course is the greens. Kingston (Wednesday 2nd March) is the fastest of the three. The first round is at Robe (Monday 28th Feb) (second fastest) and after yesterday the greens are markedly different and even faster than the last time I played there. The other noted difference in the course characteristics is the mounds arond the greens and the rolling fairways. The practise I have put into my Driving, fairway shots and short game have been a major influence in how I play this course for the better.
The putting is another matter and it is a note in my play book on this course to get there early to specifically practise on the putting green. Even thouigh the round yesterday was a tune up session the putting was disasterous on the front 9 with 20 and a back 9 of 14 putts. I hit the first three greens in regulation for 8 putts! (3/3/2.)
They were all long putts of 5-8m read the breaks well but was 3-4 m past the hole for the second putt. Obviously by the second 9, I had a grasp on the pace on the greens but the damage would have been catastrophic in a competition round.
Still struggling with the Driver off the tee, this is really something that I need some coaching assistance from the club professional. Unfortunately he is now based back in Naracoorte and I do not see a window coming up where I can drive there for a lesson. Hopefully I will get one prior to Southern Ports if he comes down in the meantime and I am available then. It is not a major problem I am using the #3 Wood off the tee getting 200-220m and good accurate results. The loss of 30-50 m off the tee is not a hinderance for now. When winter sets in though and the favourable conditions are gone then the Driver is a definite need for the distance off the tee.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
The major difference with this course is the greens. Kingston (Wednesday 2nd March) is the fastest of the three. The first round is at Robe (Monday 28th Feb) (second fastest) and after yesterday the greens are markedly different and even faster than the last time I played there. The other noted difference in the course characteristics is the mounds arond the greens and the rolling fairways. The practise I have put into my Driving, fairway shots and short game have been a major influence in how I play this course for the better.
The putting is another matter and it is a note in my play book on this course to get there early to specifically practise on the putting green. Even thouigh the round yesterday was a tune up session the putting was disasterous on the front 9 with 20 and a back 9 of 14 putts. I hit the first three greens in regulation for 8 putts! (3/3/2.)
They were all long putts of 5-8m read the breaks well but was 3-4 m past the hole for the second putt. Obviously by the second 9, I had a grasp on the pace on the greens but the damage would have been catastrophic in a competition round.
Still struggling with the Driver off the tee, this is really something that I need some coaching assistance from the club professional. Unfortunately he is now based back in Naracoorte and I do not see a window coming up where I can drive there for a lesson. Hopefully I will get one prior to Southern Ports if he comes down in the meantime and I am available then. It is not a major problem I am using the #3 Wood off the tee getting 200-220m and good accurate results. The loss of 30-50 m off the tee is not a hinderance for now. When winter sets in though and the favourable conditions are gone then the Driver is a definite need for the distance off the tee.
Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em Straight all” Geoff
Monday, February 07, 2011
On target for Tournament week...
Monday 7/2/11 Stabelford round on Sunday with a final tally of 36 points two holes wipes score wise and 8 fairways hit. The memorable moment losing the nearest the pin to a hole in one. Good to finish tied for 4th place 3 points behind the winner. Used the 3 metal off the tee, the Driver for 3 holes only and 2 of those were woefully inaccurate resulting in a wipe and 1 point.
One of my throw away sayings for many years has been; “I am going fine until I start thinking” it is used in jest to lighten a moment, which comes in handy during some golf rounds.
Of late too much thinking has been causing a little disruption to my game. Reaching the improved level of my handicap in recent weeks has been a result of practise, practise and study. I am not what would be called a student of golf it is more apt to say that I am an informed golfer. There is an adage which goes “a little knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands”. At times this “little knowledge” has caused some problems in my game when I begin to surmise there are faults the need correcting.
Having carried the results of several injuries from a motor vehicle accident for two decades, it is always a consideration to make sure that as little strain and damage is put on my physical weaknesses. This protective attitude to my health can become a problem if I do not keep it within the realms of reality and not wander into the error of ‘self diagnosis’. Much the same as self diagnosis of Golf Technique instead of going to a professional it is so easy to fiddle with real and imagined problems. A pointless excercise can take up time and bring a self imposed fog on your own golf games progress. I keep myself in check and although at times do wander down this path it is good to recall another adage from the legal fraternity, “A man who represents himself, has a fool for a lawyer.” When it comes to golf I try and keep to the basics, when I meander into the act of self coaching it is soon realised to be a waste of time and potentially dangerous.
Of late during the recovery from the injury in January I became over protective on the physical front and this flowed over into a journey of equipment that is suitable or not to my game. Over a two week period my thoughts were that perhaps using stiff flex shafts was an error and using regular flex shafts would be better. This was enforced with the ease of using #3 Metals off the tee and fairways during the recovery period. Yes the injury happened while teeing off with the 9.5 degree driver. It was caused by the person playing the shot not the club itself. The success using the #3 metal came from my improved swing technique, not the club and it having a regular flex shaft.
Instead of deciding that was the cure after spending some time hitting regular flex Drivers I followed this path. Put in some extended practise sessions hitting all my clubs, played several rounds, then grabbed a selection of regular flex drivers and did it again with my stiff flex driver as well. The result was that the problem was not the shaft flex. Problem was a combination from the lack of dedicated driver practise over several weeks and the injury distracting me from the effect that lack of practise.
Only a couple of weeks to go before the Southern Ports Tournament and the next schedule of filming for the movie “Another Crack at The Title” My game is tuned up and I have some solid form, will try to get some coaching prior but that is not crucial. The vital facet is to continue practise and not get complacent with the improvements this has created. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
One of my throw away sayings for many years has been; “I am going fine until I start thinking” it is used in jest to lighten a moment, which comes in handy during some golf rounds.
Of late too much thinking has been causing a little disruption to my game. Reaching the improved level of my handicap in recent weeks has been a result of practise, practise and study. I am not what would be called a student of golf it is more apt to say that I am an informed golfer. There is an adage which goes “a little knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands”. At times this “little knowledge” has caused some problems in my game when I begin to surmise there are faults the need correcting.
Having carried the results of several injuries from a motor vehicle accident for two decades, it is always a consideration to make sure that as little strain and damage is put on my physical weaknesses. This protective attitude to my health can become a problem if I do not keep it within the realms of reality and not wander into the error of ‘self diagnosis’. Much the same as self diagnosis of Golf Technique instead of going to a professional it is so easy to fiddle with real and imagined problems. A pointless excercise can take up time and bring a self imposed fog on your own golf games progress. I keep myself in check and although at times do wander down this path it is good to recall another adage from the legal fraternity, “A man who represents himself, has a fool for a lawyer.” When it comes to golf I try and keep to the basics, when I meander into the act of self coaching it is soon realised to be a waste of time and potentially dangerous.
Of late during the recovery from the injury in January I became over protective on the physical front and this flowed over into a journey of equipment that is suitable or not to my game. Over a two week period my thoughts were that perhaps using stiff flex shafts was an error and using regular flex shafts would be better. This was enforced with the ease of using #3 Metals off the tee and fairways during the recovery period. Yes the injury happened while teeing off with the 9.5 degree driver. It was caused by the person playing the shot not the club itself. The success using the #3 metal came from my improved swing technique, not the club and it having a regular flex shaft.
Instead of deciding that was the cure after spending some time hitting regular flex Drivers I followed this path. Put in some extended practise sessions hitting all my clubs, played several rounds, then grabbed a selection of regular flex drivers and did it again with my stiff flex driver as well. The result was that the problem was not the shaft flex. Problem was a combination from the lack of dedicated driver practise over several weeks and the injury distracting me from the effect that lack of practise.
Only a couple of weeks to go before the Southern Ports Tournament and the next schedule of filming for the movie “Another Crack at The Title” My game is tuned up and I have some solid form, will try to get some coaching prior but that is not crucial. The vital facet is to continue practise and not get complacent with the improvements this has created. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all” Geoff
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The first sub 80 score...
Tuesday 1/2/11 Golfers have many facets in their game that deliver noted moments of satisfaction and enjoyment. Of them all, the first time is always a personal achievement, not that all will be remembered ie birdie, par, pitch in the hole. Where as the first eagle, hole in one, those that are particularly rare in golf are the first time events that stay with a golfer. When it happens the game becomes a little bit friendlier after all of the effort put in to master the skills needed.
Today I was going to post a brief description of the round on Sunday in the club competition. This was the first serious hit out since injuring myself several weeks ago. After last weekend and the effects of playing in the heat and not taking my water bottle, ignoring the need to have a drink. This weekend a filled frozen waterbottle was first thing in the bag. Even so it was a draining day on the course, made a few mistakes and made them up as the round progressed to finish with an acceptable total in the stroke round. Gross 89 for a Nett 72 with 29 putts.
Today I decided to get out for my first full practise session on the range since injury 3 weeks ago, a full 90 minute session hitting irons and the #3 and #5 Fairway Metals. Initially I was not committed to putting in a full session. Feeling no ill effects during the course of the practise, the stops were pulled out to let me work on a swing fault as well. Ever since taking up golf I have scooped the ball with my irons. In recent months the improving technique and stable consistent swing, set up making the change to hitting down on the ball with irons. This was successful today adding better distance from 9 to 3 irons and good accuracy as well. All in all a very satisfying practise session.
Feeling in good nick and with some time available I drove the 45 km to Beachport intending to play 9 holes and familiarise myself with the 3rd of the Southern Ports courses for the end of February. Played the first nine well scoring 40 off the stick in the cooler conditions with a gusting wind making some of the holes a little difficult. As a 17 handicapper getting a score like this and time to play another 9 available the ante was upped to play 18 and have a crack at breaking 80 for the first time.
This score would have no official status or relevance to any but myself if I made the target. It was a chance to have a first and realise a significant return for all the practise of late. Yes dear readers, cracked the fabled 80 mark today with a 38 on the back nine, grand total of 78 off the stick. That gives me a gross total of 167 in two days of golf at Sthn. Ports Courses this week. I would play the 3rd course as well on Thursday if my travelling would allow it this week but cannot. Having followed the same practise and preparation routine as last season for the week long tournament even with the injury setback all is 100% for my crack at the title in a months time.
My track record at all 3 of the tournament courses over the past 3 months has been garnered from practise and excercise to peak at the right time. Taking into account that this is summer and the courses are far more benign than the winter. The score today would not have happened if the solid 90 minute workout on the driving range had not been done earlier. The goal is to maintain the form and establish consistent standards from now until the tournament and hopefully break 80 in official competition in the meantime. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Geoff
Today I was going to post a brief description of the round on Sunday in the club competition. This was the first serious hit out since injuring myself several weeks ago. After last weekend and the effects of playing in the heat and not taking my water bottle, ignoring the need to have a drink. This weekend a filled frozen waterbottle was first thing in the bag. Even so it was a draining day on the course, made a few mistakes and made them up as the round progressed to finish with an acceptable total in the stroke round. Gross 89 for a Nett 72 with 29 putts.
Today I decided to get out for my first full practise session on the range since injury 3 weeks ago, a full 90 minute session hitting irons and the #3 and #5 Fairway Metals. Initially I was not committed to putting in a full session. Feeling no ill effects during the course of the practise, the stops were pulled out to let me work on a swing fault as well. Ever since taking up golf I have scooped the ball with my irons. In recent months the improving technique and stable consistent swing, set up making the change to hitting down on the ball with irons. This was successful today adding better distance from 9 to 3 irons and good accuracy as well. All in all a very satisfying practise session.
Feeling in good nick and with some time available I drove the 45 km to Beachport intending to play 9 holes and familiarise myself with the 3rd of the Southern Ports courses for the end of February. Played the first nine well scoring 40 off the stick in the cooler conditions with a gusting wind making some of the holes a little difficult. As a 17 handicapper getting a score like this and time to play another 9 available the ante was upped to play 18 and have a crack at breaking 80 for the first time.
This score would have no official status or relevance to any but myself if I made the target. It was a chance to have a first and realise a significant return for all the practise of late. Yes dear readers, cracked the fabled 80 mark today with a 38 on the back nine, grand total of 78 off the stick. That gives me a gross total of 167 in two days of golf at Sthn. Ports Courses this week. I would play the 3rd course as well on Thursday if my travelling would allow it this week but cannot. Having followed the same practise and preparation routine as last season for the week long tournament even with the injury setback all is 100% for my crack at the title in a months time.
My track record at all 3 of the tournament courses over the past 3 months has been garnered from practise and excercise to peak at the right time. Taking into account that this is summer and the courses are far more benign than the winter. The score today would not have happened if the solid 90 minute workout on the driving range had not been done earlier. The goal is to maintain the form and establish consistent standards from now until the tournament and hopefully break 80 in official competition in the meantime. Thankyou for your time and attention, “Hit ‘em straight all”Geoff
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