How I dropped 21 shots in 1 day

Saturday was hard work - I ended up shooting 120 at Turangi. Mine was the only handicap that went out by 6 in the annual company golf tournament and I was wondering whether this might be my last tournament.

Sunday couldn't get any worse... or could it?

I was 4 over on the first, 2 over on the second, 2 over on the third, 3 over on the fourth, 3 over on the fifth, 1 over, 3 over, then something remarkable happened...

I stopped and thought to myself, I have 2 choices:

1. Carry on doing what I was doing

2. Change what I was doing

I decided to change and simply slowed down my swing, took an extra club and didn't try & smack the snot out of every shot.

Guess what happened?

Bogey

Par

Bogey

Par

Birdie

3 over - That was the closest to the pin hole & I tried too hard!

Par

Bogey

3 over - Tried to smack it too hard again!

2 over - Thought I could make up the shots I dropped on the last hole

Birdie - Reminded myself to slow down

3 over - Tried to smash a long par 3!

Now I would love to become more consistent & after shooting 2 birdies in 1 round, know that I have the ability to play great golf!

The most incredible long drive!

I was standing on the tee block of the 2nd hole, reflecting on my woeful drive off the 1st tee block which managed to get past the women's tee but was truly awful. I guess I should've warmed up!

I slowed my back swing and connected beautifully with the ball as I unwound my torso and suddenly time seemed to slow in one of those moments that captured every leaf and blade of grass as my ball sailed straight over the bunker to within an 8 iron of the green - 320 metres!

I'm sure the gusty tail wind helped, but it was a magnificent moment for a golfer currently on a 25 handicap!

However, I can also thank my playing partner who helped tweak my swing which has cured my consistent slice. I also think playing Tiger Woods '10 on the Nintendo Wii with the new MotionPlus remote has helped improve my swing.

I had some other great drives that day, often between 240 & 260 metres - suddenly golf is a lot more fun!

How I hit my ball straight

I know it is strange that I'm not selling anything that tells you how to hit the ball straight!  But I'm happy to tell you what I've done & the difference it has made free!

Why?  Because I know what it feels like to continually slice the ball off the tee.  Many days I need the whole width of the fairway to plat my shot!

Today I hit more straight drives than I have hit ever - in any rounds of golf I have ever played anywhere.

I know you are wondering how...

I did 2 simple things:

1. Raised my tee higher - In case you're wondering I'm not highly co-ordinated but managed to connect most of the time.

2. Moved the tee forward - Level with the front of my lead foot.

Now I have no idea about the physics or why it worked.  I just know it worked for me.  I hope it works for you too!

One of the best Golf Poems ever

Golf Poem 

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, Rather Small.
Oh, How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By It's Size I Could Not Guess,
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same,
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End,
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

It Has Made Me Yell, Curse And Cry,
I Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises A Thing Called Par,
If I Can Hit It Straight And Far.

To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Even Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find The Hole.

It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows ... I'll Be Back Tomorrow. 


Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of  balls....  

A recent study found the average golfer  walks about 900 miles a  year.

Another study found golfers drink, on  average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. 

That means, on average, golfers get about  41 miles to the gallon.  

 Kind of makes you proud.    I Almost feel like a hybrid

The ball goes where you hit it

This came to me as an enormous revelation.  

Every time I hit my golf ball, it finishes wherever I have hit it to.  Even if it hits a tree or another object (provided someone doesn't interfere with it) it only lands where it does because of what I have (or haven't done).

Yes, I need to take into account the weather, the lie, the obstructions and everything else - but at the moment of impact, only I determine where it finishes.

It's time for me to stop blaming & start accepting responsibility for where my ball stops.

First round with balanced balls

I bought a Check-Go ball balancer after hearing some positive comments.

It was amazing how the spinning mechanism consistently found the balance point.  I am a believer having seen the Check-Go find the balance point, than after resetting the ball, it finds the same balance point - amazing!

My putts certainly felt better & I only putted once or twice on every green.  Usually I have at least 2 three putts.

Off the tee, my shots were a mixture, but I seemed to shoot far more straight balls than slicing it.

I'm looking forward to my next round to try my balanced balls out again!

I shot a net 66

I was full of anticipation and could hardly sleep, thinking about the round I was about to play.  I stood on the first tee after some putts & warm up, ready for an amazing round.

The first hole was a forgettable double bogey.  The second was better - scoring 3 on a par 3 with a long putt that dropped after I chipped on my second shot.  After 9 holes I felt optimistic with 45.  The back 9 wasn't as good after losing a ball off the tee on along par 4, scoring 47 on the back 9.

I believe the difference in my game was my pre shot routine.

Club - make sure the club is aligned properly

Feet - set up correct

Grip - strong right grip

.. then the practice swing

Half - keep the left arm straight, swinging back so its parallel with the ground

Hold - pause at the top of the swing

Through - smooth swing through the ball towards the target

Although it seems like a lot to think about - its only 1 thing at a time & it seems to be starting to work!