My planning was poor today (didn’t get a tee time) so ended up playing the par 3 course twice. First round was just practice, playing up to 4 balls off the tee.
Second round played proper. Shot -1 (scratch) with 3 x 2s 
:muscle:t2: Not bad for a 16 handicapper
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Played a crappy 91 this morning with 3 pars and a birdie but 2 doubles and 3 triples. Then I had a 15 minute break and teed off again. 11 pars and a birdie and only 1 double. 25 putts with 2 chip ins and 7 one putts. 76(6 over) my best ever round. Realised on the par 5 18th tee I was only 1 over for the back 9. Hit an just ok 3 iron just in front of the fairway bunker. Then bladed a low 3i that hit the top off the bunker and had enough on it to keep going. Then topped a 5i hit an 8i pitch that came up short. Then a great pitch pin high to 4ft and made the putt for a scrappy bogie. Note to thyself, don’t add up the scorecard till after the round.
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I had 2 rounds in a row of hitting balls ob with a high pull when already aiming left for a fade. Yesterday was my worst round of the month, 23 over. Then today I hit more irons off the tee and shot 9 over with 8 pars and a birdie and only one double. Even when you are playing terribly, a great round can be just around the corner.
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Shot my best round so far yesterday. A smooth even par 71 with 4 birdies. Oh happy day!!
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Just got back from a cheeky round when I should have been working (I’ve got a yrs worth of points to use in the next 3 months and in my defense I worked late yesterday and started early today…not that I need to justify it to you all lol)
Shot a very solid 82 with a 3 over front 9 that started Eagle (1st one so dead chuffed with a decent drive to the front edge of the green and a chip in), Birdie, Birdie. Normal service was resumed with on 4 with a pull with my driver that led to a triple.
Out in 39 and back in 43 and though I got a little sloppy towards the end when I started to pull the ball with my irons I am just really pleased to see the hard work over the winter starting to pay off. Roll on golf season!!
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Finally got to play last weekend. My expectations were low and rightly full so. I have been exercising, but haven’t touched a club since a golf trip to Tampa in January.
I made par on the first 2 holes fairly easily and then couldn’t seem to do much right (tripled both par 5’s) shooting 48 + 44 = 92. Felt like I struggled with all aspects of the game, but if my short game had been even so-so I could have easily shot mid 80’s. Would love to hit the range this week, but it’s like 25F out lol.
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Exactly why I’m not touching a thing on my full swing (other than the fundamentals work my coach has given me), but I’m still trying to get a lot of putting and ‘finesse wedge’ shot time in. The shag bag is really useful. So is the large wooded and grassy area near my building…
My full swing needs a lot of work although I realized too late it was likely my setup that was hurting me. I’m pretty sure I was slouching and had my body too open at address. If I had been less lazy I could have at least had my Rukknet up and been working on my swing a bit. I just have no desire to practice until I know I will be playing.
Interesting outing on Friday afternoon. I walked the back 9 of a local muni with a guy I work with…we carry about the same handicap, but had never played together. He was a cart rider, me a walker generally. Anyway, I had 1 bogey, 2 birdies, 4 pars, and 2 double bogeys for a nice (for me) 39.
My thoughts:
1 bogey - 3 putt on first hole
2 birdies - I rarely birdy, but birdied both par 5’s…call it “extra run” on hard fairways and low rough due to dormant grass in Utah still.
4 pars - zero complaints
2 doubles - just had to hit my driver on a very narrow par 4 (15th). I NEVER hit driver there…almost always my utility iron. He hit driver…so sure enough, like an idiot I pulled driver…hit it pretty well, but pulled it into the bushes and lost it. Tried a hero shot on the drop instead of just punching it through the trees back into play. Other double was a really poor hybrid I pulled into someone’s back yard…
Oh well, I putted and chipped well. Irons and tee game were good except twice. I hope I can keep it up and reign my brain in a bit at the same time…
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I was able to play 36 last Saturday. It was cold and windy the first 18 and I was horrible finishing triple, double for a 94. Quick bite and back out and I shoot 82 lol. I didn’t feel like I really played much better, but it was warmer, less windy, no waiting and putts went in. My buddy says it could have been the 2 shots of Jameson Orange as swing lube and the fact that we had some money on the 2nd round…maybe?
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Focus comes from different places for different people… Agree on the cold messing up ones play. And I like cold weather.
On the booze—it’s a PED when I throw Darts, but a beer or two just makes things sloppy when I play golf. But I care a lot less when it happens…
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I didn’t used to mind the cold when I was younger, but I have Raynaud’s now like my dad and with that your hands and feet get ice cold and start to hurt or go numb. Many times my hands are frozen even when it’s in the 50’s and only mittens with handwarmers seem to help. Once I get the youngest out of the house I will probably start looking to move someplace warmer.
I think I got all the weather last Saturday. Teed off and it was maybe 40 with 20 mph winds. Then the wind died down a bit and the sun came out ; it may have gotten near 60. The sky went dark, temp drops 20*, winds are probably gusting 30 mph and it’s pouring sideways. A few holes later it’s sunny again and I’m sweating a little. A bit more and we get the wind and rain again. It keeps getting colder and it starts hailing…it’s actually painful. Then a bit of snow. The sun is coming out again as we’re finishing. Not sure I have seen more extremes in the space of 3:30.
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Within the past week, my friend and I got in two nines in very Springlike conditions. The first time either of us have been on-course since mid-October. We didn’t keep score but probably played bogey golf. Mike was solid with his irons both times. My irons and driving started to form up on second nine. Putting was pretty good despite no overwinter practice. Perhaps Benign Neglect is the way to handle the off-season.
More importantly, Mike had no knee issues and I no shoulder issues. This could be a good Summer. Onwards.
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Snuck out yesterday and it was warm enough to wear shorts and a light pullover. Pretty windy, but it beat working. Drove the ball well, but could not hit an iron or wedge or putt to save my life. I was 17 over after 11 holes and ended up 18 over. I actually got pretty tired hiking up #11 and #12 was when I started getting the ball in the hole. Maybe I need to do a workout before I tee off?
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Bogey golf today pretty much….16 over on the round. Great to get out with my dad. Putting was really poor today…four 3 putts. Overall happy with the driver and ball-striking for the 2nd time out this year. Welcome back spring golf!!!
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Shot 41 in league last night with a triple. Pretty sure my score was still higher than the actual temperature factoring in wind chill. I think all the layers I had on helped keep me from overswinging and if so I may keep bundling up into summer.
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Shot 15 over this morning. 1 gir. with 9 one putts and no 3 putts. 7 pars, 2 doubles, and a triple. Had 2 chips lip out. Shanked a chip and bladed a greenside bunker shot.
I got a email tip from golf fanatics saying to address the ball with driver and drop back and flare the right foot and to drop the right shoulder. It has transformed my driving game helping me make a bigger turn and hit the ball higher and straighter.
Golf eh.
Now hitting 70% FIR with Driver/Hybrids. Hybrid off the deck flying straight. Short game and putting good (1 three putt in 2 rounds). Cannot stop shanking irons!!
Scoring Ok as getting a fair few drives close enough for a wedge in but a bit frustrating. Off to the range in bit…
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A possibility is that your swing is really good, as evidenced by the hybrid and driver success. But that the teensy bit closer to the ball that irons require, is turning good contact just enough heel-wards to result in the shank. And/or your weight is getting too close to your toes on your iron swings.
There are a myriad of drills to cure the issue. I wonder if the very expedient drill of just taking some swings with a golf ball under the toes of each shoe, would give you the feel for the maximum that your weight should be going onto your toes?
[Tip obtained from here.]
Sounds frustrating as Hell though. You’ve got my prayers and wishes that it stops.