Tags: Weather, Rain

So, Saturday morning comes around again, and the usual plans have been made the previous evening over a bottle of Glayva. 

I set off at 8:30am and pick the lads up with the usual wait for one of them.  As we arrive at the Club House it is blowing a Gale from the West along the Solway coast.  So we had a couple of coffees while deciding if we should go out & venture we did. 
We were promised "Squalls", but on the 3rd tee it turned into a Torrential Down-pour.  It was shortly after this that I discovered my "Water-proofs" were in actual fact only "Shower-proof".  The rain was driven horizontally making it impossible to use a brolly.
We eventually gave up after 9 holes, where upon we returned to the CH & very much needed hot refreshment.
Much to the amusement of my friends, I was soaked through to the skin with only my dry sweater to change into.  The customary “Roaring Fire” was such a miserable thing that it would have been warmer to sit in the car!  I have now decided to invest my hard earned cash in a more substantial set of Proofs.  As for the score, I cared not a jot, and after a few “Toddies”, I cared even less for the “Golf Gods”, profaning their name profusely .  This evening has been spent drying all my gear while drowning my  woes with the amiable assistance of a bottle of  Highland Park.  Then again there is always tomorrow, eh?

As you may have read in my posts, I have been having a great time on the course lately.  My game has really begun to have consistancy, I have improved my club selection no end.  Often in the past I have over estimated my abilities and woefully under-clubbed. The usual fault with the amature game.  After listening to much advice, watching video after video, and acknowledging that I do not posess the the power of Ernie, Monty & Tiger, I conceeded to the fact I must go one club more.  This has turned it all around.  My handicap has been reduced again, now 14.5.  My companions have noticed the change more through their pocket than they would like. It has been a while since I had to pay for the coffees & bacon rolls.
The major difference is the clubs I now feel really comfortable with.  Driver, 5wood, 60*w & putter.  I no longer dread going OB from the Tee, the Driver is purely straight with a hint of draw.  Using the 5W of the Fairway is like a knife through butter with the result that if I am not on the green then I am only a Lob away.  65nlovenit gave me some fantastic advice regarding the LW, from the suitable loft to its actual use (a big thanks there).  This guy is really worth listening to for all those new to the game (and others).  I am yearning to get up to Carnoustie in May, if my game is still feeling as good as it is now, I will be very happy.

Played in the Sunday comp & finished 2nd.  Messers Shaw & Scott (handicap committee) got out their knives again and cut me down to 15 (15.4).  I can only say I am having a great time on the course at the moment. 
The Comp was a Qualifier for the Heatherington Cup.  I think the top 3 or 4 from 4 Q rounds, qualify for the final. It is a Par format (bogey), + for birdie, 0 for par, - for bogey.  I finished with +4.  My two companions returned -2 & -3.  The weather was fine with an Easterly breeze off the sea.

On New Years Eve, we played at Silloth on Solway (just along the coast from Maryport), it is the venue used as a qualifier for the OPEN.  I was delighted to finish 3 shots better than my H/Cap & pick up a prize for having the best back 9.  I missed only 2 Fairways over the 18. The day was cold, not much breeze tho.

I can honestly say I try to improve my game and am not one of those players who protect their H/Cap.  My game has improved lately as I have become more consistant through out.  I am still on the look out for a set of Mizuno MP60's, they would bring me down to singles I'm sure.