Tags: Hole in One, Gimme, Putt

I have to rant about it because it frustrates me when I go to the course and play with someone I meet there or play with a group and people pick up the ball when its within a foot of the hole. Just putt it! Whats worse is I have seen plenty of people be more then a foot away and pick the ball up.

The satisfaction of the little clickity clank is the sound of completion. The hole is the goal and then to just assume you would make a short putt and to not finish is silly. I know not everyone will agree with me but if your going to play golf, finish the hole and putt it in.

I am confident I'll make a HIO so lets just forget the shot and write a 1 on my card.

Rant Completed.

 

 

 

Tags: resort, course, golf, putt

So I'm looking down the fairway of hole number one at La Cantera's Resort Course. Man she's a monster, about 613 yards from the middle tees. Longest hole I've ever played by far. I thought to myself, "man this is going to be a long day." My drive wasn't the best I've hit. It went about 260 along the right side. The hole dog-legged to the right so the drive was perfect. After a second shot mi#@!$, I hit a beautiful six iron about 170 yards to land five feet from the hole. Now I'm thinking this ain't so bad afterall. Thought maybe I'd break 90 for the first time. And then....I two putted! I don't think I ever recovered, two, three, and sometimes four-putting. I hit only one other par that day, but in my defense it was really, really cold (about 45).

The course was beautiful even in the miserable weather (posted some pics if you're interested). Hole number seven was beautiful, from the elevated tee box to the green, carefully placed in front of the rattler at fiesta texas. There was plenty of sand guarding fairways and bunkers. There were ponds, streams and even waterfalls. About the only that stunk on the course was my scorecard, man what a disgrace. Well I guess that's why they say there's always next time. I'll keep you posted.

Tags: utour, golf, putt, distance

Well in responce to Thistle, it has been quite some time since I last updated. Thanks for the reminder.

So lets see where things have gone....

Golf lessons ended in Mid- Nov but I still continue to practice when I can. A few weeks back the weather was so nice when I walked outside, I grabbed my bag and headed over to the course. I joined up with a few older guys and did 9 holes. Overall I played pretty well and hit most of my shots how I had wanted. I did something that I was extremely proud of and that was to hit two great 3 wood shots in a row ( which I cant recall ever doing ). Im still having issues with distance but I hope I can work on that soon. The cold weather and the wind has not made me want to go out and golf much these last 2 weeks though.  Oh and putting still seems to get me but I have to work on controlling how hard I hit it.

On the plus side I recieved a free box of Titelist Pro V golf balls , they are like 45$ in stores, so I am saving them for a nice spring day when we hit the course.

I get cravings to just go hit some balls but with the weather it really keeps me inside. I started playing Utour golf online and won 15$ in a tournament!  That was pretty exciting. As for now, if the cold and wind keep me in ... Utour & Albatross 18 keep me busy with some golf on my computer. 

Tags: Bogey, Birdie, Round, Lob wedge, Golf, Putt, Tee, Green.
Yesterday (Sunday) I went down to the club for our weekly dose of self-abuse (was at a football match on Saturday). 
As we walked into the clubhouse to register for the Comp, we spied the notice board. It read "Winter Tees now in Play, Preferred lies on all fairways (mats = horrible immitation grass strips).  We were filled with shock & awe. 
Our Greenkeeping staff have managed the course in a fantastic way this year with one exception (I feel).  They didn't roll the tee boxes during last winter.  Hopefully they will take advantage this year.  They have prepared Teeing areas in front of or beside the normal boxes, but they are still very uneven for the most part. As a result we are either standing above or below the lie of the ball.  We can take great consolation in the fact that we still play the normal greens.
The comp was an "Enter on Arrival" played to "Bogey" format.  Easy enough for the brain cells, it's a + for birdie, 0 for par, and - for bogey.  It dosen't take a lot to keep track of the scores.  My playing partners play off 7 & 16, while I am still off 20 (age & medical condition dictates), they were not very amused with the format, at least in stableford they have a chance to score at every hole even when they aren't playing so well.
I played a steady round, but only managed to return a score of +1, but they were feeling totally dejected after carding - 6 & - 9 respectively. 
Back in the club house we performed our usual autopsy on the round, and much to my delight I found I hit 12 out of 15 fairways from the Tee & 10 greens in regulation.  My Putting was a bit haphazard in places, but my chipping around the green was very good.  I was only in one bunker from which I was up & down.
65nlovenit gave me some great advice for using my lob wedge on this site (big thanks & respect) which has helped me immensely.
All in all it was not a bad day, with the only real downside being having to play off the mats on the fairway.  I do make some poor iron shots from them.  I do play very good F/way woods from them though. 
At least I have gotten over my recent injury (thanks to all who showed concern) and can now fully enjoy the game again.  My days off work fall mid-week so I will be back!

Tags: Instruction, golf, Friend, course, swing, putt, chip, pitch, Glayva
As I post this latest addition to my blog, Vic & I are demolishing a bottle of Glayva (sorry for any future  spelling mistakes).  We are venturing out to the course tomorrow (Saturday) and he is picking elements of my game in need of redevelopment. (all of it he says) 
He has identified several key areas where I could "easily" shave strokes from my handicap.
1) When chipping/pitching, I have a tendancy to be 'handsy' (his words) instead of turning though with my body towards the target, I flick my wrists over causing inconsistancy in my distance/direction control.
2) We agreed I have not been positioning the ball directly below my eyeline at address when putting & am positioning the ball slightly behind centre of my stance. 
3) I am not completing the follow through and am finishing my swing short. This is due to me not turning fully towards the target with my belt buckle facing just to the left. As a result I am pushing the ball to the right.

I have now found that so long as he is keeping the Glayva flowing, I will listen to every word of his advice.
He has just told me it will be evident in my game tomorrow, remembering that the 1st Tee shot is over a burn.

Vic is currently playing off 7 and is a sincere playing partner who would only inpart sound advice if it were truly required to enable me to reduce my current handicap towards its former status. (he is sitting beside me at present)

I will update this blog upon my return.  If he is as wise a sage as his years predict, then I shall be in line for a drastic cut to bring me down to size.  If I remember what he told me!

Tags: Golf, Round, Score, Putt, Par, Birdie, Bogey, Swing, Hole
I am currently on a weeks holiday (vacation) from work.  I am getting in as much golf as possible (wife permitting).  Over the past 4 days I have played 1x9 holes & 3x18 holes.  I have played in one tournament (the Bogey) and the rest have been Bounce games off the Yellow Tees.  Yesterday (Monday) I played out of my skin and went round 10 below handicap. 

Hole  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18   Out   In    Tot

Par    4  4  4  4  3  5  3  4  4   5    3    4    4    4    4    4    3     4     35   35    70

Score 6  5  4  4  3  6  4  4  4  6    4    4    5    5    5    4    3     4     40    40    80


My swing was consistant, my putting near perfect, my mindset was clear of any negativity.  The weather was very mild for our time of year, with no wind & some sunshine.  I could almost see every shot I intended to make.  My playing partner didn't fare so well and my game seemed to have an effect on his.
Who knows when the Golf Gods will exact their revenge.  usually when you least need it.