Month: June 2018

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Golf Round Review

Some Good Golf Followed by a Collapse

By Shooting 90

June 12th 2018 Golf Round Review

I stated my goals for golf league at the beginning of the season. I want to break 40 on both the front and back nines at Pinewood Country Club. Doing that will be tough on each nine, but will be toughest on the par 37 back nine. I haven’t been close yet this year until this round. Backed by my first birdie of the year, I was two over after six holes, only to have an epic collapse on the last three holes.

I still managed to post my best score or the year, a nine over 46, although this round was a major disappointment.  I take solace in the fact that I had a great round going and know I can repeat that.

The first two times I’ve played the 10th hole this year I have drove it left. Left is jail and no good. I’m happy to report I didn’t go left this round. I went right, too far right but somehow my ball ended up in the right hand side of the fairway. Members bounce. Had to have hit a tree and came out. I took advantage of the break and laid up with a nice 4 iron to about 135 yards out. I couldn’t have reached the green in two and had predetermined before teeing off that I would play three shots to the green. Course management is big. I hit a nice 8 iron for my third shot that wound up just off the left fringe of the green.I used my putter and lagged it nicely within 3 feet of the hole. I missed the less than 3 foot par putt and had to settle for bogey. I really need to work on my putts of 3 feet and less. I need to get to making 90% of these.

I hit a nice drive on 11 up the right hand side of the fairway which gave me a great line into the green on the dog leg left. I had about 85 yards left and bladed my 3rd quarter swing gap wedge over the green. I was fortunate that it checked up before the woods. I hit a nice pitch to within 4-5 feet of the cup and made my par putt.

The 218 yd par 3 12th has always been a challenge for me. Let’s be truthful. It’s a challenge for almost every golfer. I didn’t lose my focus on the tee and hit one of my best 3 woods of the year, slightly right of the green but catching the bank and bouncing left just a few inches off the fringe. I putted a bit too firm on and ran the ball about 6 feet past the hole. I missed the putt coming back and had to settle for a bogey. Still, I was 2 over after three and happy with my start.

I pulled my driver slightly into the left rough, which isn’t the worst place to be. I hit a 5 iron from 165 yards out, again playing the bank right of the green nicely, getting a great bounce left onto the green and settling 7 feet away from the hole. I drained the putt for my first birdie of the year in league play!

My play off the tee on the 14th hole all year has been 6 iron and that was what I played this round. I found the fairway and played a great 8 iron from 133 yards out that ended up pin high about 15 feet left of the pin at the back of the green. I was thinking two birdies in a row at this point. My putt was right on line, all I had to do was hit it, which I didn’t. I left it about 3 and a half feet short. My par putt lipped out and I went from possibly two birdies in a row to a three putt bogey.

I hit my driver down the left side and flirted with the two large pines on the left side of the fairway. Fortunately my ball made it through and I had about 160 yards into the green. The second shot is uphill so I clubbed up one club and hit a 5 iron to just off the back fringe. I had a good lie on short grass just off the green so I used my putter again (always putt when you can). It was downhill and I misjudged the speed, knocking it 7 feet past the hole. I was able to make the 7 footer for par. While my putting has been a weak spot for me this year (and previous years), I missed a few short putts already, I was very happy I made a few 5-10 foot putts this round. I was also very happy with my round thus far, 2 over after six holes!

I made solid contact with my driver but pushed it just slightly right, but right enough to catch the corner of the woods. The woods get to be pretty thick with ground cover by this time of year, so while I searched for my ball I was unable to find it. I had to drop and hit a gap wedge for my 3rd shot which ended up a few feet short of the green. I putted on but not close enough to get up and down, and I ended up taking a double bogey on the hole.

I didn’t let the double bogey get me down and I hit a decent driver up the right side in the rough. I only had about 160 left but I didn’t have the best lie so I clubbed up to a 4 iron. I hit a decent shot which found the fairway about 30 yards short of the green. I got a few breaks this round, but none bigger than my next shot. I bladed my gap wedge and hit the marker for the hole event on one hop. The ball went slightly right and died fairly quickly, leaving me only about 12 feet for par. If I didn’t hit the hole event marker I would have been way off the back of the green. I certainly didn’t take advantage of the huge break though. The green is deceivingly downhill from right to left, and I knocked my par putt 6 feet past and missed the return putt. Another three putt and another double bogey.

I had yet to keep a drive in play far enough to the fairway this year on the 18th hole. I pulled both my drives left in the woods during my previous two rounds. Sadly I did about the same thing this time. I did get the ball just about to the beginning of the fairway before it crossed the line into the woods. Golf is so mental this hole is in my head like you won’t believe. I need to be able to finish strong so I need to play this hole much better. I did recover very nicely with a 4 iron for my third shot which left me about 100 yards to go, a perfect gap wedge for me. I bladed the gap wedge over the green. What is that like the 3rd bladed wedge this round? I used a gap wedge to pitch it on and didn’t fly the ball fall enough and it was short. I’m going to start pitching with 8,9, and PW to use less loft and get more roll out. I left my first putt way short and took too more to get in. Another 3 putt and this time a triple bogey.

I choked really big time this round. I was 2 over after six only to finish double bogey double bogey triple bogey for a 9 over 46. Low point control on my short irons and wedges along with short putting is killing my rounds.

Categories
Golf Round Review

Staying Mentally Strong During Your Round

By Shooting 90

June 5th 2018 Golf Round Review

When your golf swing isn’t feeling right and your struggling to string good shots together, it’s still important to remain mentally strong, taking each shot as they come, and piece together the best round you can.

I got off to a poor start, double bogeying the first three holes, and never really felt like a had a good swing going. I also lost my composure a few times which also cost me a few strokes. Still, with all of this, I was able to grind out a 48 on the front nine, which was my lowest gross score so far this year.

I did improve my driving accuracy, raising my fairways in regulation from 11% the previous round to 43% this round. I also had my lowest number of putts, not three putting a hole until the last. I still wasn’t able to hit a green in regulation and have now not hit one in my last 19 league holes. Three penalty strokes is also too many for nine holes. I can live with one but not three.

I had my old partner from 8 years ago,when I was last in the league, watching me tee off on the first tee. I was happy when I striped my driver right down the middle. Had about 225 yards left to the hole. I preceded to top my three wood about 20 yards. My pulls then came pack as I pull hooked my 5 wood into the woods left of the green. Couldn’t find my ball, had to take a drop. Frustrated, I then fatted my pitch. Chipped it on and 1 putted for double bogey.

I pulled my driver left into the woods off the 2nd tee. The ball dropped straight down into the tall stuff. I then attempted to hit a low 4 iron stinger out of the tall stuff. I actually hit a great shot, but got a bit unlucky and hit a branch, with the ball dropping straight down again. I then punched a 4 iron out into the fairway. I hit a decent 7 iron just off the back of the green. I hit a great 7 iron chip to within 6 inches of the hole and tapped in for another double bogey.

Even after the double-double start, I thought that if I could par the relatively easy par 3 third hole, I’d be right back in my round at 4 over after three holes. This hole is about a three quarter gap wedge for me, and I have been fairly accurate with my distance. Not today. I totally chunked my tee shot and it never made it down by the hole. It bounced in the tall stuff and I presume it went into the base of a large bush. I never found it. I chipped on from the drop zone and two putted for my third double bogey in a row. A three double bogey start! Ugh!

After coming up short with my 4 iron two weeks ago and landing in the mud just behind the first pond, losing my ball, I was a little worried this week. But there was less wind and 4 iron is the right play here. I hit it way right but way right actually gives you a decent angle into the green. I hit what didn’t feel like a great 7 iron, but it flew right over the flag and ended up six feet past the hole, just off the green. I putted on and made my par putt.

The 4th hole has been a bit strange for me the last two times. Last time I hit a great feeling 4 iron but misjudged the wind and ended up in the penalty. This time I hit what felt like a really fat 7 iron only to have it be right on.

I hit a nice drive down the left hand side in the rough. I played a 9 iron nicely, landing on the bank left of the green, bouncing hard right on onto the green. Unfortunately it had too much roll and rolled off the right side of the green. I hit a poor chip that came up short. I two putted for bogey.

I’m feeling a bit better about my game, and being +7 after 5 holes, feeling I have a chance to get back to bogey golf for the round.

4 iron is also the correct play for me off the 6th tee. There just isn’t enough reward for the risk of going with driver. I pushed my 4 iron right again, like on the 4th hole. I saw the ball bounce well short of the woods, I can’t hit the woods with 4 iron, but I couldn’t find the ball. Had to take a drop. Was super frustrated, hit a 7 iron that hit a tree branch and the ball bounced back behind me on the fairway. I then hit another 7 iron to about 30 yards shy of the green. I hit a wedge on and 2 putted for a triple. It’s hard to recover from a triple, especially this late in a round that wasn’t going good to begin with.

The feeling of my round getting back on track was quickly gone. One thing I need to do a way better job of is keeping my eye on the ball and knowing precisely where it stopped. There was no reason for me to not find that tee shot.

The 7th hole was 175 slightly into the wind so I hit a 4 iron to get it there. I hit my 4 iron right (again) to short right of the green. I pitched on and 2 putted for a bogey.

As I’ve said before, the 8th is an easy driving hole and I was able to stripe a driver right down the middle. I was just short with my gap wedge from 100 yards. I putted on and made my par putt for my second par of the night.

I haven’t been able to finish strong on the 9th hole yet this yet. I was hoping to change that. I hit a good drive that was able to find the fairway and leave me about 135 yards in. I had the wind at my back so I hit 8 iron. I fatted another shot and landed well short of the green. I pitched on. I hit one of my few bad putts of the night and it ran 5-6 feet past the hole. I missed the putt coming back and ended up with my first 3 putt of the night for a double bogey.

I left what I felt was a lot of shots on the course tonight. I did pull a few drives but made a major improvement in my driving accuracy. The adjustment I made was to take the club less inside on my takeaway. I was taking the club back way inside and ending up across the line at the top, with my club pointing right of target. From here, for me, I have a tendency to go over the top. By bringing the club more straight back at the beginning of my swing, I’m able to be more laid off at the top, with my club head not crossing the line and pointing more straight to target. From this position, it’s easier for me to externally rotate my right shoulder, shallow the shaft, and hit the ball from the inside, eliminating my pulls.

The glaring problem I still have is chunking my wedges and short irons, hitting behind the ball many times. I believe this to be a weight transfer issue, with me not getting my weight to my lead side through the swing and is something I need to work on.

Categories
Golf Round Review

You Reap What You Sow

By Shooting 90

May 29th 2018 Golf Round Review

“You reap what you sow.”

We’ve probably all heard this phrase. It simply means you get out of life what you put in. The principle applies to everything, including golf.

I haven’t worked on my game the last few weeks and it’s starting to bite me.

This scorecard is like the film you throw out and don’t watch after a football game. No pars, no greens, four penalty strokes, and only one fairway. I can still find a few positives. I didn’t make any putts but I also didn’t have any three putts. I also could have posted my fourth consecutive 49 with a par at the 18th, not that 49 is a good score, but it’s sub 50 and better than the final score of 52 that I posted. I felt like I golfed terrible, so having a legitimate chance at breaking 50 at the last hole feels like this is the worst I could shoot.

So I believe I mentioned this previously, but you can’t go left with the driver off the 10th tee, especially with a draw. My drive kicks hard left off the bank off the left side of the fairway and was gone forever. I dropped a ball, hit a 4 iron up the right side for my third, then a 7 iron to just left of the green. I chipped another 7 iron to about six inches of the cup. I tapped in for a bogey  6. Could have been much worse.

I hit my driver in the left rough on the 11th hole. I was blocked out from hitting the green so I hit my approach to in front of the green, chipped on, and two putted for a bogey.

I hit a 3 wood left off the 12th tee which went left and ended up in the base of a bush. I then chunked my next pitch and bladed my one after that. Cannot be doing that. Just not acceptable. Finally got on in five and two putted for a 7. My round was done, but you can’t give up. You have to grind and keep your score respectable.

On the 13th hole, I drove another driver left. Left is the correct miss on this hole so I got away with it. I then hit a 4 iron right about 20 yards from the green. I chipped on and two putted for a bogey. I stopped the hemorrhaging for now.

I hit my usual 6 iron off the tee on the 14th. I missed the line just by a bit and ended up in the right rough. Wasn’t a huge miss but enough of one to block me out from hitting the green in two. I laid up with an 8 iron to 20 yards in front of the green. I bladed another pitch. After finally getting on in four I two putted for a double bogey.

The 15th, 16th, and 17th holes all saw drivers go left and a bogey score. I wasn’t able to reach the greens on 15 and 17 because I had to hit 4 iron out of the rough. I’m starting to think I could use a hybrid. On 16 I chunked another wedge.

I’ve historically had a tough time finishing strong on the 18th hole. Last time playing the back I pulled a driver left into the woods. I did that one better this round. After pulling my driver left again, I dropped and hit a 4 iron right into the woods. I was able to still get on in six strokes but two putted for a triple bogey 8.

There are two areas of my game I need to fix fairly quickly. I pulled every driver left tonight and missed my low point on several wedges. I need to find more fairways. This will allow me to hit more greens and take pressure off of my wedge shots which I’m struggling with.