Category: Golf Round Review

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Golf Round Review

2023 Opening Round

By Scott Messner

Our winter wasn’t bitterly cold, and we didn’t get a massive amount of snow. The problem is it doesn’t want to leave.

So, this past Saturday, I did the logical thing and traveled one and a half hours south. I met my son, and we enjoyed playing 18 holes together at Pine Valley Golf Course in Marathon, Wisconsin. Below is a picture I snapped of the picturesque par 3 17th hole. I need to return in the summer or fall to get the full beauty of this course.

During spring in northern Wisconsin, if you hope to enjoy any activity outdoors, you need to be willing to survive the elements if needed. Saturday was one of those days. The temperature was 39 degrees Fahrenheit with on and off again light rain showers turning to steady light rain on the finishing four holes. The weather was not a surprise as it had been forecasted all week, we were prepared and enjoyed the round.

Even with all the rain, carts were still allowed on the course, but we decided to walk. Saturday, we walked for the sole reason of staying warmer. We’ve previously talked about the benefits of walking.

I didn’t record any stats. This season I’m switching over to tracking strokes gained instead of traditional stats. Not having an app or system to track strokes gained for me is going to make it a manual process for the time being. I also want to tie my strokes gained into better course management. The best place to do that is on my home course. I plan to play a lot of rounds at St Germain Golf Club this season, so I’m going to only tracks stats there.

I set almost no expectations for this round. Why do high handicap or beginner golfers put so much pressure on themselves? This was my first outside golf in over six months and the weather was closing in on the worst I would play in. I wanted to shoot close to ninety but would have been happy with anything under a hundred.

There was a lot of good things to take away from this round. I played the whole round with one ball and didn’t have any penalty strokes. The easiest way for high handicap golfers to lower their scores is to get the penalty strokes per round as near zero as possible. I only mishit a few shots. My swing felt good, and contact was good on most of my shots.

Birdie looks were few. My distance control wasn’t the best, but the rain and cold weather played a factor, forcing me to club up on many shots. Missing the fairway off the tee on many holes either forced me to do a recovery shot or gave me a poor angle into the green.

Putting has been the weak spot of my game for a while now. I worked this past winter on putting stance and it feels pretty good on the course. With their early season condition and the weather, the greens were slow on Saturday. I struggled a lot with distance control. Improving my distance control is my highest priority when I can get out on a practice green.

Every year at this time, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the new golf season.

In Genesis, God tells Noah he will not send another flood. Every new season, every new day, is a new beginning.

Genesis 8:22
22
 “While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” 

I was happy with my round on Saturday, even with shooting a 99. I was happy spending time with my son.

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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.

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Golf Round Review

Bye Bye Blow Up Holes

By Shooting 90

July 17th 2018 Golf Round Review

I titled one of my earlier golf round reviews “Blow Up Holes”. It’s hard to recover from a 9 on a hole. As your game progresses, your definition of what a blow up hole is changes. For my game at the moment, I feel I can recover from a few double bogies and still post a final score I’m happy with. I currently consider a triple bogey to be a blow up hole, a score which will be more difficult to recover from.

I had a few streaks going over the last few founds. My penalty stoke free streak came to an end this round at 21 holes. But even with penalty strokes on back to back holes this round, I was still able to salvage double bogey on each, post my season best front nine score of 44, and run my current streak of holes since my last triple bogey to 27.

Although I hit a few poor tee shots, incurred two penalty strokes (one related to a poor tee shot and one not), and three putted the last hole, I was still able to avoid any blow up holes and piece together a good round of 44.

Putting needs to continue to be my area of focus. Only one putted a green once and missed a three footer for birdie on the first hole. As Rickie Fowler said during the Scottish Open last week, slow greens reward good putting. Slow greens will also penalize poor putting in my opinion. My putting is still less than stellar and the greens at Pinewood are slow this year.

I continued my great driving of late with one right down the middle on the first hole. I had 250 yards left, so instead of hitting a 3 wood 20 yards short of the green, a shot which has a lot of risk and little reward, I hit a 7 iron and laid up to 100 yards. I then hit my gap wedge to three feet from the hole. It would have been great to start off the night with a birdie, but my short putting woes continued and I missed the putt and had to settle for par.

My run of great drives came to an end as I pull hooked my driver left into the woods off the 2nd tee. In a stoke of remarkable luck, it bounced back out and actually advanced up the left rough a few yards. When you get a break in golf, you need to take advantage of it. I had a great lie but 200 yards left to the green. The 2nd hole is extremely uphill and we were into the wind, so I wasn’t sure even my 3 wood would get there but a gave it a shot. I hit a great shot that almost made it, stopping 5 yards short of the green. I chipped on and left my first putt 3-4 feet short. They are leaving the greens longer so they don’t burnout with the lack of rain, but it does make them slow. I made the second putt for a bogey.

I hit my gap wedge a little long and left off the 3rd tee. The tee shot on this little hole plays a lot harder than it looks. I was able to pitch on and two putt for a bogey.

I made a course management mistake on the 4th hole. I have hit 4 iron off the tee all year long, but for the second time this year I failed to clear the mud on the backside of the first pond. I had to take a drop. I hit a 5 iron that rolled off the back of the green. I chipped on and two putted for a double bogey. It’s hard to overcome penalty strokes. This was my first penalty stroke in 22 holes. I’m going to have to hit 7 wood from the 4th tee from now on.

I hooked another driver off the 5th tee but it stayed in play, ending up on a slope in the left rough. I was 121 yards out with the ball very much below my feet. As these shots will many times go right, I aimed left but unfortunately my shot stayed left, 5 yards too far left and into the woods. I had to take an unplayable and pitched on for my 4th shot. I two putted for another double bogey. Two holes in a row with a penalty stroke! The saving grace was that I recovered on each hole to avoid the blow up hole.

I hit my usually 4 iron for my tee shot on the 6th hole. It was right side of the fairway, which is not ideal but it was OK. I had 128 yards left up the hill. I clubbed up to a 7 iron and hit a great shot over the trees on the right side, just a bit too much club, and a half yard off the back of the green. I putted on and drained a 4 footer for par, a nice recovery after two double bogeys in a row.

I haven’t found the green on the 7th hole in my previous attempts this year, but this time I hit a great 4 iron to within 15 feet of the hole. It was straight downhill to the hole and I was worried about running it way past. So I of course left my birdie 3 feet short but was able to make the next for two pars in a row.

I hit the fairway with my driver off the 8th tee and had 125 yards left. I hit a nice 9 iron but didn’t quite get all of it and was a yard short of the green. I putted on and then two putted for a bogey.

I hit my driver slightly right again which left me 170 yards to the hole. I made decent contact with a 4 iron to right of the green. I didn’t hit a good pitch. It was on the green but 20 feet from the hole. I three putted, my only one of the night, for a double bogey. Last week I was able to break my curse on the 18th hole by getting a par, but I still haven’t been able to solve the riddle on the 9th hole, where I haven’t scored better than double bogey all year.

My scores have been trending down throughout the season. I’m still hitting a few errant shots, but we all with do that. Overall my ball striking is getting a lot more consistent, and when I do make a bad shot I am able to minimize the damage.

I still feel if I can improve my short game, especially my putting, even a small amount I can see my scores progress even lower.

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Golf Round Review

Driver Striping

By Shooting 90

July 10th 2018 Round Review

In my last golf round review, No Penalty Strokes, I mentioned the importance of keeping the ball in play off the tee. I’ve had 18 straight penalty stroke free holes in a row, and putting the ball in play off the tee is the biggest contributor to that. It’s obvious, but no penalty strokes makes it so much easier to put together lower rounds, and I was able to post a 45 this round.

Last round I hit several nice drives, some in the fairway, some just off, but most in good shape. I built a lot on that this round and had the best round I can remember with my driver, hitting 67% of fairways. Every shot with my driver except one was a high, booming, baby draw, with every one of those except one finding the middle of the fairway.

I continued to strike my irons well for the most part, but my short game continues to be of area of needed improvement for me. I still do not have the ability to get up and down from green side. I’m not getting my chips and putts close enough to one putt, and when I do I’m missing short putts.

It was great to start the round off with a great drive right down the middle on the 10th hole. I had 279 yards left. I hit a 4 iron to layup to around 100 yards, which I did almost down to the yard. I hit my gap yard pin high but pulled it left a few yards off the green. I chipped on and two putted for a bogey.

I hit another nice driver off the 11th tee, missed the fairway left but still very playable out of the left rough. I had 80 yards left and hit a nice partial gap wedge on the green. I am not doing a great job with the speed of the greens and left my first putt way short. I missed the second putt and you guessed it, three putted another green in regulation for a bogey.

I hit my usual 3 wood off the par 3 12th tee. I hit a thin bullet, but it was straight and managed to get some air, and was only 10 or so yards short of the green. I pitched on and two putted for another bogey. Felt like I should be scoring better with my ball striking but satisfied with bogey golf.

Absolutely crushed a driver off the 13th tee which ended up right in the middle of the fairway. I made good contact with an 8 iron but pulled another shot, pin high but left of the green. It left a difficult pitch down the hill onto the green. I two putted for another bogey. 4 bogies in a row. Nice to be consistent if nothing else.

I hit a nice 6 iron off the tee on the 4th hole which found the fairway, but I didn’t cut the angle close enough, and left a shot with which I had to skirt the tree line. I hit a nice 8 iron which would have been near perfect, but it just clipped a tree. Luckily I found it, but it was in some tall stuff, and I just got it out. I then had a mental lapse and duffed my pitch. It took me 5 strokes to get on. I was happy to sink the 6 footer to save double bogey.

The 15th hole is the hole where I hit my driver off the toe, sending it left. I got lucky and the ball missed going in the corner woods. I had 190 yards left uphill, which is a little much for my 4 iron. Still, 4 iron was the correct play out of the rough, and I hit a great one that ended up just two yards short of the green. I hit a nice 7 iron chip to two feet from the hole but missed the par putt and had to settle for bogey! With the rest of my game in pretty good shape it really is highlighting how poor my putting is and how it is costing me strokes.

I crushed another driver off the 16th tee leaving me 88 yards from the middle of the fairway. I hit a great gap wedge that toyed with going in ending up 6 feet past the hole. I was tentative with my birdie putt and left it short, settling for a par.

I hit another beautiful driver on 17 which left me a 155 yard approach shot from the fairway. I hit one of my few only poor irons of the night, fatting a 6 iron. It is so important to remain focused after a bad shot. I thinned my next shot, a gap wedge over the green. I did make a great recovery shot, pitching it to 6 inches from the hole to save bogey.

I broke my 18th hole curse and hit a great drive down the middle of the fairway, leaving 228 yards left to the hole. I proceeded to hit a great three wood to within 10 yards of the green. I decided to chip with a 9 iron instead of a wedge, which was a great idea, I got more roll out than a wedge, just not enough, leaving about 12 feet for birdie. I hit one of my better putts of the night as my birdie putt broke just in front of the hole and tapped in for par.

It was great to have a strong finish. Almost unbelievable to me, in my previous seven league rounds this year, I failed to score better than a double bogey on the finishing hole. I need to focus my practice on short game and putting. If I do that I feel my game is trending in a great direction.

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Golf Round Review

No Penalty Strokes

By Shooting 90

June 26th 2018 Golf Round Review

You can play not your best golf and as long as you avoid penalty strokes, still record an OK score.

Hard for me to believe, but this 47 is my best score on the front nine this season. Only one par and too many poor shots, but still a lot of positives to take out of this round. I hit 43% of fairways and didn’t miss any left, which has been an issue for me early this year. When I missed the fairway to the right on four holes, all were still very much in play. Right is the correct miss on those holes, as going left is in the woods.

I’m driving the ball well as of late. You might have heard the saying “drive for show, putt for dough”, which has a lot of truth in it, but if you can’t put the ball in play off of the tee, you will continually struggle to score well.

I made decent contact on my drive on the 1st hole and hit it up the right side in the rough. I wasn’t fully committed to my second shot. I wanted to lay up with a 4 iron that would leave me a wedge into the par 5. I was worried about clipping trees to my right and I thought if I went left enough to avoid them I’d have tree trouble on the left. Never feeling comfortable with the shot, I ended up topping it twenty to thirty yards up the fairway. I hit a much better 4 iron for my third shot about 30 yards in front of the green. I hit a decent pitch leaving my par putt below the hole from about 18-20 feet. It had rained a little before our round and I left my first putt woefully short, missed my second, and three putted for a double bogey.

I felt like I wasn’t committed to some shots today. Thinking through your shots is a good idea, but once you have determined the shot to play, fully commit to that shot.

I hit a great drive on two up the right side of the fairway leaving me 110 yards left uphill for my approach. I hit a 9 iron a little fat and was a few yards short of the green. I chipped on and two putted for a bogey.

Par should be the score on the 3rd hole most of the time. I’ve already fatted a wedge and took a double bogey on this hole this year already. Today I thinned my gap wedge well over the green. I then thinned another wedge back over the green. Chipped on and two putted for another double bogey. My short game is presently not good enough to save me from bad approach shots. I am rarely getting up and down from off the green.

I hit a 4 iron off the 4th tee to the right. I avoided the few trees over there and if you can do that bailing right isn’t all that bad. At least you are dry. I made good contact with my 8 iron for my approach shot but pulled it slightly left. We had a lot of rain about a week and a half ago and there was ground under repair that I got relief from. I fatted my pitch shot but was able to chip my fourth shot close to the cup and was able to make the putt for bogey.

Six over after four holes. Not exactly where I want to be put still time to get on a run and salvage the round.

I’ve been playing the 5th hole well this year and hit another good driver to find the fariway. I was between a pitching wedge and 9 iron but chose pitching wedge to leave it below the hole. I hit a nice one and did just that, leaving it about 15 feet below the hole. I two putted for a par. I need to par more holes.

I hit my usual 4 iron off the 6th tee and found the right side of the fairway. I hit my 8 iron approach a little short and left but was in a good spot in front of the green. I bladed my wedge over the green. Way too many of those this round. I chipped on and two putted for a double bogey. Instead of stringing a couple pars together, another double bogey had me 8 over par after six holes and just trying to avoid a huge score for the round at this point.

I thinned my 5 iron off the tee and barely made it over the pond. I pitched on and two putted for a bogey.

The 8th hole is another hole I’ve been playing well this year. I hit a decent drive that found the right rough. With 125 yards left but an uphill lie I hit an 8 iron within 20 feet of the hole. It was uphill to the hole with slow greens. I wanted to get it to the hole. I judged the pace very well and hit a nice lag putt to within two feet of the hole. This weekend I practiced starting my putts, especially short ones, online. None of that helped this putt and I pulled it left, three putting for a bogey. I’ve said it before but one of the worst feelings I have in golf is hitting a green in regulation and three putting for bogey.

I hit my driver right off the 9th tee. While missing right is the safest miss on this hole, it does make the hole play much longer. I had 185 yards out of the rough left for my approach. I had a decent lie here but made a mistake. I should have taken my medicine and laid up with a 4 iron. I instead tried to get a 5 wood on the ball but ended up topping it. I then topped a 7 iron and then pitched on. Two putts and a double bogey ended my round. So far this league season my scores on the 9th hole have been double bogey, triple bogey, and double bogey. I need to finish rounds much, much better than I am.

As this season has progressed, I have improved my accuracy off the tee. I still need some work on putting, but what I really need to improve now is my low point on my irons. I’m either fat or thin on what feels like over half of these shots.

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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.

Categories
Golf Round Review

Blow Up Holes

By Shooting 90

May 22nd 2018 Golf Round Review

Some rounds you just don’t have it. I think we’ve all been there and know the feeling. Nothing feels right, you’re not striking the ball consistently in the center of the club face, and your round quickly turns into a grind to post a respectable score.

I was looking forward to our league returning to the front nine this week. As I’ve mentioned before, the front nine, a par 35, is more open and plays the easier of the two nines. My plan was to improve on the two 49’s I had posted for the first two weeks. The result was me hitting the trifecta with a third consecutive 49.

If I’m looking for positives on the stats, I hit 33% of greens in regulation. That is three putts at birdie. Of course three penalty strokes is no good.

Find a warm up routine that works for you. That may be hitting a few balls at the range, stretching, taking several practice swings, or a combination of these. In our league, you can tee off whenever both teams are there. Sometimes there’s a line of teams waiting and sometimes there’s not. Sometimes you get there and you’re up. I didn’t properly warm up, and pulled my driver into the left woods. From there it’s do the smart thing and be 100% sure your next shot finds the fairway. I then hit a decent three wood but then bladed another wedge over the green. I made a nice recovery chip and saved the bogey.

Hit a nice driver on the 2nd hole, and then found the front of the green with a 7 iron. I did one of the more depressing things in golf by hitting a green in regulation and then three putting for a bogey.

Hit the short par 3 3rd hole with a three quarter gap wedge. Left my first putt way short and three putted another green in regulation for another bogey.

I didn’t feel comfortable on a lot of shots over the first three holes, really couldn’t putt, and felt OK grinding for three bogeys.

The wind caught my attention on the 4th tee but I stayed with 4 iron. I hit my best feeling shot of the night but it was a high shot, hitting a wall of wind and landing in the mud on the back side of the first pond, never to see a human again. I hit my 6 iron fat, had a horrible lie in the rough in front of the second pond, and could not clear the water. I hit a wedge to just over the green for my sixth shot, chipped on and two putted for nine.

A nine. A nine kills your round. At this point it is so important to play each hole as its own and keep your total score from getting out of control.

I hit a nice driver on the 5th tee, especially after the disaster on the 4th hole. My approach shot drifted a bit right and was just off the green. A chip on and two putt got me a bogey. Righted the ship a little bit.

I laid up with a nice 4 iron off the tee on the 6th hole. Missed another green however and needed to chip on. It still took me 2 putts to get in the hole for another bogey. Along with cutting way down on 3 putts, I need to be able to get up and down a lot better from just off the green.

Speaking of doing better getting up and down, I was able to do just that on the 7th hole. I hit a decent 5 iron off of the tee but it was off to the right a bit. My pitch was within 6 inches of the hole for an easy tap-in par.

The 8th hole is one of the easier driving holes. You’ll really only get in trouble if you are very long left. I hit a driver up the right side and avoided the only tree that could have gave me trouble. I hit an 8 iron to the front part of the green, leaving me with a 25-30 foot birdie putt. It felt good to hit my first green in regulation since the 3rd hole. I then preceded to hit the worst putt I have hit in a LONG time. I saw the putt breaking to the right but I pulled it so far left I still had an 8 foot par putt which I missed. I three putted another green in regulation for a bogey.

Pulling my driver left has become a bit of a problem for me. I pulled another one off the 9th tee. I was optimistic I cut the corner but could not find my ball and had to take a drop. Frustrated and on the last hole, I tried to reach the green with a 3 wood out of the rough. I should have hit an iron but I got away with the 3 wood. I then chunked my pitch for my 4th shot and had to take a 5th shot to get on. A two putt gave me a triple bogey to end the round.

Not the round I was hoping for but I did a decent job of grinding out a sub 50 score after posting a 9 on the 4th hole.