Categories
Golf Tips

Playing Golf Alone vs Playing Golf in a Group

By Scott Messner

Back in 2016, the USGA changed the rule and prohibited rounds played alone from being posted for handicap purposes. This rule change was deemed necessary so rounds could be peer reviewed to protect the integrity of the game. It’s unfortunate some would post inflated scores to increase their handicap for tournament purposes, but nothing should really surprise us nowadays. Golf is most enjoyed with others anyway, so this rule change doesn’t affect much when all is said and done. 

Even though you cannot post scores for handicap when playing alone, there are still reasons to enjoy a round by yourself.

The solitude you get alone on the course can be the perfect counterpart to the social demands of our world. Sometimes it’s just nice to spend time alone in God’s beauty, both the scenic landscapes and the abundant wildlife found on most courses. First thing in the morning with the dew still on the ground or twilight are great times to soak it all in. The cheaper twilight fees that most courses have are also a less expensive way to check out new courses.

On the course is one of the best ways to practice your game. While there are times you’ll want to know your official score while playing alone, to judge the state of you game, most times you do not have to worry about your score since you can’t use it for handicap. Do not be afraid to try different shots or take swing changes you’ve been working on at the range to the course. Drop another ball and hit a shot over if you’d like. You even can play two balls if the pace of play allows. 

As I mentioned earlier, golf is best while playing with others, for several reasons.

We humans were not created to be alone, so while a round by yourself can be recharging, a round of golf with others is more enjoyable, mostly because of the laughs. We should always remember golf is a game and is meant to be fun. As a beginner or high handicap golfer, never take golf too seriously. 

You can meet new friends. Sometimes, or many times depending where you live, the course you want to play on is so busy that you could not play alone even if you wanted to. The course will put you with others to make a larger group to maximize their revenue. Though you may not know the other players, you’ll already have something in common. You all love golf!

As a beginner or high handicap golfer, many times the others in your group will be better golfers. You can learn a lot about course management, green reading, and much more from watching golfers better than you.

Some of the same things can be said of bible study.

Whether you do a daily GRIP like I do, or some other daily devotion, reading the Bible in solitude every day is important. God will reveal things to you through the living word of scripture. Early morning is the best time. Give God the first part of your day. The wisdom you receive from reading the Bible every day will make you a better person.

There is also power in group Bible study. A group of brothers or sisters holds each other accountable. Those farther along in their faith journey pour into those new to the faith. The group supports and builds up each other. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20 that he is with us when we are gathered in his name.

Matthew 18:20
20
 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.” 
Categories
PGA Tour

This week on the PGA Tour – 2023 Honda Classic

By Scott Messner

Chris Kirk won on the PGA Tour for the first time in almost eight years on Sunday at The Honda Classic, played on the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Chris made birdie on the first playoff hole, the par 5 18th that he just bogeyed to end regulation, for the win over Eric Cole.  Chris and Eric were tied at the end of regulation with a score of -14.

Chris’s win put an exclamation point on his comeback after taking a seven month leave of absence from the PGA Tour in 2019 for alcohol abuse and depression. After finding sobriety, he has fought on the course to first retain his PGA Tour status and now return to the winner’s circle.

https://twitter.com/Chris_Kirk_/status/1125764305113239552?cxt=HHwWgMC2sfiqwp8fAAAA

A lot can be learned from the way Chris handled his issues. His coming out publicly gives a great example to not hide our problems, but admit them and find the help we need. There is no reason to fight a battle alone.

This year’s tournament marked the end of an incredible 42-year run, the longest on the PGA Tour, for Honda as the title sponsor. Since Children’s Healthcare Charity became the host organization and the event moved to PGA National Resort and Spa in 2007, almost $46 million in charitable donations have been made to the South Florida area.

The primary beneficiary is the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, established by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus in 2004. Its goal is to provide families access to world-class pediatric healthcare and supports the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.

Volunteer at a PGA Tour event near you! Your seemingly simple gift of time can make a positive impact in your community!

Of course, the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation is not the only tie Jack Nicklaus has to the Honda Classic. The Golden Bear redesigned the Champion Course in 2014 and the three-hole stretch of 15, 16, and 17 have been named “The Bear Trap” in recognition of him.

What makes The Bear Trap so daunting? Much of it has to do with the water lurking on every hole, waiting to punish a bad shot.

Beginner, high-handicap, and many other golfers are terrified of water. A good reason for that is golf balls do not float! Something often heard is to pretend the water is not there, but I’m not sure that’s the best advice. No amount of pretending is going to make the water go away. You are still going to have to trust your shot. Trust you can hit the ball over or away from the water.

The apostles also had a fear of water during a storm. They woke Jesus in a panic. Jesus asks them why they are afraid and where their faith is.

Matthew 8:25-26
25
 The disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We are dying!” 
26
 He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.

We will all face trials in life. Put your faith in Christ Jesus.

Next week there are TWO PGA Tour events! The Arnold Palmer Invitational is being played at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The Puerto Rico Open is being played at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Categories
Golf Practice

Getting the Most Out of Golf Simulators

By Scott Messner

I love living in northern Wisconsin. I enjoy the four seasons, even the beautiful white, cold winters we experience. The winters can be long however, up to six months in length. It can be a struggle to work on your golf game. Golf vacations are costly, out of the reach of many golfers, and they only last a few weeks at best out of the long winter. 

My solution for many years was a DIY Indoor Golf Net in my basement paired with a SkyGolf SkyPro Bluetooth Golf Swing Analyzer.

This setup worked incredibly well but it had a few drawbacks. 

While I’m happy I have an eight-foot ceiling in my basement and not anything shorter, it restricted me to hitting irons. I could not hit drivers, woods, or hybrids. The swing analyzer tracked a large amount of data but lacked a few data points I really wanted. It didn’t record swing path or clubface angle at impact, which was surprising since it did record clubface angle at several other swing positions. 

When my son was in eighth grade and working hard on his game to play on the high school golf team when he got there, we would drive one and a half to two hours south to rent time on an indoor golf simulator. The time and money it takes for a four hour round trip by car limited us to three or four times at best during the winter.

Then everything changed. Our local bowling alley ten miles away installed a golf simulator. Only a year later, Lakeland Fitness and Golf, where we golf now in the winter, opened a room with four simulators!

Whether you are practicing on the range or playing the simulated real-life course you’ve always dreamed of, a golf simulator provides an incredible amount of data about your swing. This allows you to feel much more easily what your club is doing in the swing. You can then build more self-awareness of your swing, giving you greater control of it.

Still, golf simulators are not the real thing. The biggest difference is you are hitting off a mat, with it serving up a perfect, level lie for every shot. To make matters worse, while playing a course on the simulator, you’ll get this same, perfect, level lie whether you’re on a hill, in the rough, or in a bunker. There is a Terrain Penalty setting you can enable on the TruGolf E6 Connect simulator I play on. Like real life, it penalizes you for missing the fairway. The power and spin of your shot will be reduced to varying degrees for lies off the fairway. You must make a judgement if and how much you’ll have to club up. 

Here’s the funny thing. I have yet to see anyone besides myself have the terrain penalty setting enabled. 

Also, most people do not like to putt on simulators, so they either let the computer decide how many putts they take as a score on the hole, or they have it set for ten-foot or even larger gimmies. “Reading” the greens, if you can call it that, is not realistic on golf simulators. I do, however, find the distance accuracy to be good. I enjoy working on my putting stance, stroke, and distance control while playing on the simulator and find it beneficial to my game, so I set the putting to five-foot gimmies. 

One last observation I have noticed on the TruGolf E6 Connect simulators I play on is that my shots off the tee with my driver are twenty to thirty yards longer on many occasions. Given this, I play the back tees so that my approach shots are most like what they are on outside golf courses. I do not want to regularly be hitting wedges into greens on a simulator when I’m hitting 7 or 8 irons on the course.  Be aware of any anomalies like this on the simulators you play on.

Adjust the settings of the simulator you play to best mimic what you see on an actual golf course. The goal is to get the simulation as much like real life as possible. This means you will not score as low but you’ll be better prepared when golf season comes around and it counts. 

We have numerous opportunities every day out in the world to exercise our faith. Do not take the easy route. Go out of your way to serve others and tell them about Jesus. By taking advantage of every opportunity to show our faith and tell others of Jesus, we are building our faith.

Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13-15 to exercise the gifts that God has given him so all may see his progress. 

1 Timothy 4:13-15
13
 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to teaching. 
14
 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 
15
 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all.
Categories
PGA Tour

This Week on the PGA Tour – 2023 Genesis Invitational

By Scott Messner

Jon Rahm continued his recent success by winning The Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California on February 19th, 2023. Rahm’s final score of 17 under par was two shots better than Max Homa’s 15 under par. 

Like Scottie Scheffler at The WM Phoenix Open last week, not only did Jon win the tournament, but with the win ascended back to the number one Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). He’s won an astonishing five of his last nine professional starts. 

The beneficiary of all tournament proceeds is the TGR Foundation, the charity of tournament host Tiger Woods. The TGR Foundation supports students from underserved communities through educational resources and career training. As an added bonus for golf fans, we were able to see Tiger tee it up this week. Woods made the cut and finished at one under par in a tie for 45th place. Sign up to volunteer at a PGA Tour event if there is one near you!

The Riviera Country Club has almost one hundred years of history and is one of the most unique courses on the PGA Tour. It was designed by George C. Thomas Jr. and opened in 1927. 

It is one of few courses on the PGA Tour that has kikuyu grass. It’s a spongy grass that provides great lies in the fairway but big challenges from the rough. Kikuyu grass is actually an invasive species that was brought to California for a variety of reasons, including erosion control and possibly was brought to Riviera for the polo field. It eventually overtook the golf course.

The designer, George C. Thomas Jr. (1873-1932), was a nationally known rose breeder who bred over one thousand varieties of roses in his lifetime. He also raised English setter dogs and helped found the English Setter Club of America. While he didn’t design many golf courses; three on the east coast and twenty-something in California, many of his courses have stood the test of time and are revered today.

George C. Thomas Jr. did not charge a fee for his design of The Riviera Country Club or any other of his other designs. He was an amateur architect and designing courses was almost a hobby. In fact, the CBS crew over the weekend discussing Thomas called his golf design work a passion. I will not speculate as to why George Thomas did not charge for his design services, but I wonder how many of us always look for something in return, instead of freely giving the talents we have been given.

In James 1:17, James the Just, brother of Jesus, reminds us that all good and perfect gifts, including all our talents, are gifts from God Almighty, creator of the universe.

James 1:17
17
 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. 

Use your gifts and talents freely, serving others in the ways of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, all for the glory of God.

The PGA Tour leaves the west coast and heads to the PGA National Resort Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for The Honda Classic starting February 23rd, featuring The Bear Trap! 

Categories
PGA Tour

This Week on the PGA Tour – 2023 WM Phoenix Open

By Scott Messner

This past Sunday, February 12th, Scottie Scheffler won the 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open by two strokes over Nick Taylor at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Last year, the WM Phoenix Open and The Thunderbirds raised $10,500,000 for Arizona charities.  Since Waste Management became the title sponsor of the Phoenix Open in 2010, the tournament has raised a staggering amount of money for local charities, over $110 million. Do you live near a PGA Tour event and want to serve through volunteering? Since the money raised stays local, the easiest way to volunteer is to check the PGA Tour schedule and go to the website for the tournament you’d like to volunteer at.

Scottie Sheffler’s final round 65 was bested only by Beau Hossler’s 63. Not only did Scottie win $3.6 million in the first full field PGA Tour designated event, but he also recaptured the number one Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), overtaking Rory McIlroy. 

A major turning point was on the iconic 163-yard par 3 16th hole. All three players in the final group missed the green, with Scottie missing long and left. He pitched on leaving himself a 15-foot putt for par which at the time was to maintain a one stroke lead. With over 16,000 fans watching, he drained the putt to save par, and ultimately take a two-shot lead to the 17th hole after Nick Taylor missed his par putt.

Take away the huge crowd and crazy environment, and the 16th hole is just a shorter length par 3 with a couple bunkers. Although I struggle to make 15-foot putts anywhere, I have a much higher chance alone on a practice green than in front of thousands of vociferous spectators. Professional golfers like Scottie Scheffler rely on their experience in those situations – they’ve been there before. 

The 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course has been dubbed “The Coliseum”. The loud fans and frenzied environment remind many of the ancient venue in Rome, where many early Christians were martyred for refusing to acknowledge the gods of the Roman Empire. Their faith in Jesus delivered these early Christians through their trials, just as it does for so many who are persecuted in the world today.

The Bible tells us through the apostle John that we have overcome the world through faith in Jesus. 

1 John 5:4-5
4
 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. 
5
 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Be bold in your faith. Serve others, allowing the light of Jesus to shine through you. Exercise your faith, grow in your faith, allow God to use you in amazing ways for His glory.

Next week is The Genesis Invitational from The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California! We hear some guy named Tiger is playing. 😊

Categories
Increase Clubhead Speed

Increase Clubhead Speed – Determining a Baseline Speed

By Shooting 90

One of my winter off-season golf goals is to increase my driver clubhead speed to 100 MPH. No better place to work on it than the indoor golf simulator, so I started by determining what my baseline clubhead speed is.

When I last used my SkyGolf SkyPro Golf Swing Analyzer with my driver, my average clubhead speed was 93.7 MPH. That was way back in August of 2018. There are several reasons why that was so long ago. One, I mainly ever used my SkyGolf SkyPro at home in my basement, where due to my ceiling height the longest club I could swing was my 5 iron. I disassembled my DIY Indoor Golf Net last winter after we had joined Lakeland Fitness and Golf with a golf membership. So the only time I used my SkyGolf SkyPro with my driver was the few times I’d take it to the outdoor practice range.

To determine my average clubhead speed on the E6 Golf simulator, after fully warming up, I went into practice range mode and hit twenty shots with my driver. I topped drives 11 and 14 so I removed their numbers and averaged the remaining eighteen drives. I was a little surprised topping two of the twenty. My average clubhead speed on the E6 golf simulator was 98.5 MPH.

What accounts for the added 4.8 MPH of clubhead speed?

I’d like to say I have a better swing, and to some degree, I know I do. I have much better hip turn than three years ago. At impact, my hips are more open and I feel in a much better position.

I know there is also certainly a difference in readings between the E6 simulator and the SkyPro. My guess is the E6 reads too high of speed as I probably have only hit a few drives ever on the course that went 267 yards, let alone averaging 267 yards. There is no need for me guessing. I still have the SkyPro so I’m taking it along next practice session and will get readings from both. I’m expecting a difference but I’m confident the E6 has a certain level of consistency, so I do not care if it’s off a few miles per hour. I want my clubhead to simply increase, and I’ll definitely be able to measure that.

ShotDistance (yds)Carry (yds)Ball Speed (mph)Back Spin (rpm)Side Spin (rpm)Launch DirectionLaunch Angle
1256.7237.89142.562841.89790.31 R2.42° R14.10°
2280.73269.82152.463614.53479.52 R3.51° R16.97°
3268.59249.71148.312834.53818.05 R0°13.34°
4273.3261.47148.733539.93446.97 R4.74° R16.51°
5257.11236.99142.692785.32521.68 R3.29° R13.28°
6272.37261.9148.913554.15452.16 R8.21° R18.60°
7277.64263.4151.243160.63860.37 R1.77° R15.51°
8285.67275.41155.143706.18478.62 R5.35° R17.33°
9269.5253.76147.743177.84849.33 R0.9° R14.67°
10252.36240.92147.032645.181010.26 R1.58° L12.54°
12269.58260.16148.633783.3477.45 R6.53° R19.18°
13279.26266.43151.13614.76508.56 R3.79° R15.66°
15237.68219.27133.612870.5649.52 R3.48° R15.16°
16268.56248.69148.792819897.9 R0°12.97°
17256.92232.52145.972505.24874.55 R0°11.51°
18275.18263.41150.293427.5885.62 R3.16° R17.10°
19264.68254.32145.713672.06610.7 R5.65° R18.36°
20272.5262.71150.133834.33722.25 R5.57° R18.29°

Categories
Golf Tips

Set Goals To Improve Your Golf This Off-Season

By Shooting 90

Over the last few weeks, the courses in my area have all closed for the winter. As recent as three years ago, that would have meant I would have had to find ways to work on my golf game at home during the off-season.

I did drive two hours to the nearest indoor golf simulator and indoor driving range on multiple occasions each year, but that becomes both expensive and time consuming.

Many people take golf vacations during their off-season, but those are also expensive for many other people.

I was always able to find ways to improve my golf game at home, including building a DIY Indoor Golf Net and putting.

Fortunately it has become much easier over the last few years for me to improve my golf game in the winter, mainly due to now having multiple indoor golf simulator options within fifteen minutes of my house.

You need to know the areas of your game that are costing you strokes before you can set goals to improve your golf game. There are several ways to track your stats – all the way from a system like Arccos, or an app on your phone like TheGrint, down to tracking golf stats on your scorecard.

Early on this past season, I identified a few areas for improvement in my golf game. The two most important ones were greenside chipping and putting. I worked on chipping throughout the season. Turns out my biggest issue was not having enough weight on my lead foot at setup. I’m happy to say chipping is no longer an immediate area for improvement, but putting still is and leads my list of three off-season golf improvement goals.

My Three Off-Season Golf Goals

Make 95% of My Putts Within Three Feet

Putting was a huge issue for me this past season, costing me a lot of strokes on the course. Surprisingly, I made a few putts over 25 feet. The putts three feet and under were the issue. I missed a lot of these short putts, seemingly at least two a round.

Honestly, I’d be ecstatic with 90%, 9 out of every 10 3-footers. I’m no where near that now, although I do not specifically track percentage of putts made under three feet. Next season this will be a stat I track.

Missing that many short putts obviously means I’m not getting the putt started on line. There could be multiple causes for this, including poor alignment and clubface control. Regardless, either can be addressed in your home during the off-season! A laser setup is a great way to work on your alignment and putting stroke.

Lakeland Fitness and Golf has TruGolf simulators with E6 Connect software. While putting is always lacking on simulators, Trugolf seems to do it better than most. I’m looking forward to seeing how well I can practice five foot putts on it.

I honestly feel if this is the only goal I significant move the needle towards, my handicap will still drop a few digits next season.

Eliminate my BIG MISS with the Driver

Hank Haney always suggests to eliminate your big miss. Your big miss would be the incorrect shot that costs you the most strokes. Mine is the big hook with my driver. My normal ball flight with my driver is a high draw. I love it but when I miss it’s a big hook pulled to the left.

Indoor golf simulators are ideal for working on your full swing, especially your driver. You’re always going to have the same great lie on the tee box that you have in the simulator.

Eliminate is such a strong word. I doubt I won’t hit a big hook off the tee next season. Fortunately it doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does I need to be able to correct it on the course, making it a one time occurrence during a round.

Increase my Driver Clubhead Speed to 100 MPH

My current driver clubhead speed of around 93 MPH is just about average for a man my age. Can I really add 7 MPH during the off-season? We’ll have to see but if I can it will add twenty yards to my drives. Twenty yards longer turns my 5 irons for approach shots into 7 irons and my 7 irons into 9 irons. My greens in regulation “should” increase. Pair that with my improved putting and my scores should go down.

Of course added distance at the cost of accuracy is no good and on my local courses would mean twenty yards farther in the woods. Swing speed increase needs to be gradual, working in small increments toward your speed goal. Fortunately, indoor golf simulators are great for increasing clubhead speed. Even if the clubhead speed is off a bit on your simulator, it still should be consistent. Start with taking a baseline clubhead speed and work up from there.

What are your off-season golf goals? We’d love to hear them! Follow Shooting 90 on Twitter and comment on the tweet below!

Categories
Golf Tips

Every Golfer Needs to Know the Basics

By Shooting 90

Golf can seem highly intimidating for those just picking up the game. It is true that to become a scratch (0 handicap) golfer you need to learn and master many aspects of the game. However, you can produce a plenty good enough swing to get around the course by learning a few principles.

Stance

Ball Position

Alignment

Grip

Backswing (Turn)

Transition at the Top

Downswing (Turn) and Follow Through

The links below will give you a general idea of each principle, but what is the best, fastest, and easiest way to learn them?

Of course the best way is through lessons with a golf teaching professional, but that literally comes with a cost ($$$). Private golf lessons from a teaching professional can be expensive. Even in my rural area, lessons from the PGA teaching professional at my local municipal course cost $60 an hour. That’s a lot of money for many beginner golfers, considering you’re going to need multiple lessons.

One of the goals of Shooting 90 is to show golfers how to make golf more affordable. One way is to get lessons at a vastly reduced rate by taking group lessons. Get a couple beginner friends and a one hour group lesson is only $20 each.

Better yet, every year, a local course conducts a 5 week summer program they call Golf 101. For $135, you get a one and a half hour long group lesson each week followed by 9 holes with a cart. You can do the math. It’s an incredible deal! There are programs like this at many courses.

There are even ways you can learn these basic golf principles by spending next to nothing.

Go out for the golf team if you are in high school! Depending on how competitive your school is in golf, you may not get to go to many or any golf meets, but for a small activity fee you will get a lot of instruction and practice time on the local range and course.

Another way to learn these principles is by practicing and golfing with a good golfer. Ask a friend who is a good golfer to show you a few things on the range. After you know the basics you’ll be able to join them on the course. Watch them and learn! The key to this way is to make sure your friend is actually a good golfer who knows what they’re talking about. The last thing you want to do as a beginner golfer is learn bad habits! That’s also why you should never take unsolicited advice on the range or course from strangers.

Finally, it is possible to self learn basic golf principles at no cost by watching YouTube videos. I’ll get roasted for even suggesting this, but it is entirely possible. Just be sure to do your research and find a reputable online instructor. Watch several different YouTube instructors to begin with until you find one whose teaching style and terminology best connects with you. I’ve been able to improve my game in several areas through social media. Here’s a hint. You’re about to see a few great YouTube instructors in the links below!

I hope I’ve shown you a few viable ways to learn the basics of the golf swing, enough for you to get out and enjoy golfing!

Stance

Ball Position

Alignment

Grip

Backswing (Turn)

Transition at the Top

Downswing (Turn) and Follow Through

Categories
Golf Round Review

My Golf Drought Continues

By Shooting 90

July 31st Golf Round Review

The 52 I scored on July 24th was only my second round in the 50’s, matching a 52 I had recorded way back on May 29th. Both of these 52’s were on the par 37 back nine, the tougher nine when compared to the par 35 front nine. So this round’s 51 on the front nine felt very much like my worst round of the year.

You will go through times of bad golf so I’m taking all this in stride and hoping this is the bottom.

It’s hard to put up a decent score with three three putts, three penalty strokes, and three triple bogeys. I’ve said this before, but I feel that this is my worst golf, that this is the highest I can score. I can only score lower.

I pull hooked my driver off the 1st tee into the woods. Not the start I wanted. I hit a great punch shot out with my 4 iron which ended up in the fairway 150 yards from the center of the green. Too be honest I got a bit lucky as I missed a tree that was ten feet in front of me by 3-4 inches. The 7 iron for my third shot ended up just short of the green. I chipped it to a foot and a half with my gap wedge and sank the putt for a par. It felt great to get a par after my errant drive!

On the 2nd hole, worried that I was going to pull hook another driver, which is no good, I blocked it to the right. My ball ended up in some tall grass guarding the 7th green. I never found it and had to drop. I chose a 4 iron that got through the trees and into the fairway. I hit a pitching wedge up the hill from about 100 yards and unto the green. My first putt was way short and I took two more putts to get in for a triple bogey. A penalty shot and three putt on the same hole will always lead to a big score.

The 99 yard downhill par 3 3rd hole is the toughest little hole in golf. Or at least it is in my opinion. LOL. I hit a gap wedge long left of the green, pitched on and two putted for a bogey.

I used 7 wood off the 4th tee hoping to clear the first pond, something I’ve failed at twice this year with my 4 iron. I chunked my 7 wood and the ball ended up just past the 1st pond. For some reason they clear cut all the weeds around the pond so I was able to find my plugged ball in the semi-dry mud. I actually hit a good 7 iron out of the plugged lie but it bounced into the 2nd pond. I took a drop and bladed a gap wedge over the green for my 4th shot. I then chipped back over the green with my gap wedge, putted on and then one putted for another triple bogey. My second triple bogey in 3 holes. Too many poor shots!

It was deja vu on the 5th hole. I pull hooked another driver ending up on side of the hill. My ball was on the hard dirt and I hit a poor shot, blading another one into the woods left of the green for the second time in a row on this hole. Yet another drop. I pitched my 4th shot on the green and two putted for a double bogey.

I hit my 4 iron light off the toe on the 6th hole, but it ended up in the fairway just over 150 yards out. Uphill, I clubbed up to a 5 iron and hit it on the back of the green. I hit my first putt way past the hole, missed the putt coming back, and three putted for a bogey. It felt like I wasted my only green in regulation.

I slightly pulled my 5 iron on the 7th tee left of the green, pitched on and two putted for a bogey.

I absolutely crushed my driver on the 8th hole and had 90 yards left to the center of the green. I chunked a gap wedge short of the green and pitched on for my third stroke, and I pulled my first putt way left and missed my second putt. Another three putt for a double bogey.

For some reason I tried to swing faster with my driver on the 9th hole. I pulled hooked my drive in the woods. I dropped and hit a 4 iron to about 70 yards from the green and then chunked my gap wedge. Pitched on for my 5th stroke and two putted for a triple bogey.

I started off with a nice par on the first hole and then preceded to do nothing. I’m hitting errand shots in every part of my game from driving to putting. Finishing the last two hole five over par is disheartening. But again, I truly feel this is the absolutely worst I can golf. I’m going through a valley with my golf but it will turn around.

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Golf Round Review

A Scorecard With No Fours

By Shooting 90

July 24th 2018 Golf Round Review

I didn’t play well this round. From a lost ball on the first shot of the night on the 10th to an out of my mind four putt on the 12th, I never really felt comfortable. Everything seemed like a real grind.

It is so important to realize you are going to have these bad rounds at times and to really focus on one shot at a time and not on the scorecard.

My final score of 52 ties for my worst of the year, with my first 52 also coming on the back nine. If this is the worst score I’m going to post, I feel my game will be alright. Besides losing my drive on the 10th, I did hit my driver OK, hitting some off the toe, with gear effect producing a hook, but was still able to keep them in play.

I hit what I thought was a good drive off the 10th tee down the left side of the fairway. You need to be careful of too far left as it will take a wicked bounce into the woods. I saw this drive bounce forward so I though I was fine. It ended up getting too much roll and went into the woods. I had to take a drop. Penalty stroke on the first swing of the night. I recovered with a nice 4 iron layup to about 115 yards. I pulled my 4th shot left of the green. I pitched on and two putted for a double bogey.

I hit a great drive on the 11th hole. I left a gap wedge short of the green from 90 yards. I hit an awesome chip to a foot away and missed the par putt and had to settle for a bogey. A penalty stroke on the 10th hole and now a missed one foot putt.

I chunked my 3 wood off the 12th tee, blocking it into the woods to the right. Another penalty stroke. After I took my drop, I had several trees between me and the green with about 60 yards left to the hole. I had two options. Pitch it left back into the fairway or try a punch shot through a gap to the right of the trees to the right side of the green and hope I get a kick left off the bank. If I had a better start, I might of pitched back into the fairway. I ended up going for it and hit one my best shots of the year. I hit a punch shot with my 4 iron right through the gap, it rolled up, took a curve off the bank, ran right by the hole and stopped 10 feet away. I had a chance to save bogey but hit my putt way short, leaving about two and a half feet short. I made a huge mistake and let my frustration over putting get the best of me. I didn’t line up the next putt, no pre-shot routine or anything, and just walked up and hit it. I missed it and then missed the putt coming back. My frustration cost me a 4 putt and quadruple bogey.

Still, I was proud of myself as I just blew it off and recollected myself. Sometimes you are not going to have your A game, your going to hit bad shots, and shoot high scores. I finally concluded this was going to be one of those rounds. I should have came to that conclusion before getting overly frustrated, but better late than never. I just need to take one shot at a time.

I hit another fairway with my driver on 13. I had about 160 yards left up the hill. I blocked my 5 iron a bit right and it ended up in the tall grass to the right of the green. I hit a good shot with my gap wedge and hacked it out to within a foot of the green. I putted it close from off the green and tapped in for a bogey.

I hit my usual 6 iron off the 14th tee, taking an aggressive line over the pond and to within 100 yards of the center of the green. I hit my gap wedge a little fat, still finding the green but a good 30 feet from the hole. I hit a poor lag putt, misreading the break, leaving it over 10 feet left of the hole. I didn’t get the par putt to the hole and 3 putted for a bogey.

I hit my driver a bit off the toe and hooked another drive left of the trees on 15. That’s a popular spot for me. I tried to hit a 4 iron from 175 yards but had a very weird stance. My left foot was in a hole, a good six inches below my right. Not a shot I can ever remember practicing, and I proceeded to top it 35 yards up the fairway. I then pulled an 8 iron hard left, getting a good break with my ball dropping down, not going in the woods. Even with the break, my ball was sitting up in some tall grass right behind a tree. My only option was to hit it left to the left side of the green. I hit a great shot to within 15 feet of the hole. The putt was downhill and I ended up hitting the putt over 10 feet past the hole. I needed two putts from there and scored another double bogey.

I hit another driver off the toe, but this this one starting right and finding the middle of the fairway. I had 100 yards left, a perfect gap wedge for me. I chunked it and had to pitch it on in 3. I two putted for bogey.

I hit my driver on 17 left in the rough. I blocked my 4 iron to the right. It caught the cart path and traveled past the green. I bladed my gap wedge over the green and chipped my 8 iron back over. I putted on and sank the next putt for a double bogey. I need to continue to improve my short game.

I’ve played the 18th hole well the last two times I have played it. I hit another driver off the toe but found the left side of the fairway, I then hit a 3 wood into the left rough leaving about 100 yards. I hit what felt like a perfect gap wadge about a yard short of the green. I hit a nice 7 iron chip to within a few feet and made it for par.

A scorecard without any fours is a bad round. What high handicap and beginner golfers should realize is that they will have bad shots. Have enough of them and you’ll have a bad round. It’s part of the game and the sooner you can get over bad rounds the less frequent they will become and the better your bad rounds will get.