my 1st round of 2009

[DJYoshi]

had the golf itch for a while since my 2008 finished horribly...ben working on fixing my plane, grip and address.
So after 3 weeks of hitting the range twice a week (3 times last week), I finally got out on Friday! I played this short, tight course in Jersey that's a
68/123. started off on the back 9 since that's where my friends were by the time I got to the course
the ground was still soaking from rain the day before, so taking divots wasn't a question....seemed like 5 - 10 yards were taken off from each club.

YEA, low and LOW rating and slope. So went out and pushed my 1st drive into the trees.. no OB so played out to 100 yards. 3/4 SW from 100 yards, hit it well I thought, but came up short of the green. TERRIBLE chip for a 4th shot left a 20 foot bogey putt. 2 putt.. awesome!
short par 3 next. 129. full pw for me normally goes 135 or so. landed 15' shy of the pin. 2 putt par. next hole a par 4. pushed the tee shot again. 130 away uphill 2nd shot. came up short with a 9 iron.

here's where my round started to get away... my short game was TERRIBLE!
what were routine chips, flops, pitches... I couldn't pull them off.
ended up being 7 over thru 12 holes then it was way too dark.
when i had full shots...cool...but those mentioned shots above...i just had no sense of how hard/fast to swing...started questioning my placement of where i'm trying to land the ball...where to play it in my stance...my weight... etc.

anyone else that started playing again have short game issues???

[neudi]

In my opinion it is always the short game that comes along last because you just rip your driver and don't have to worry about touch and feel. Plus you were on the range hitting full shots I'm guessing for 3 weeks and not attacking your short game the same way. Give it time and it will come back.

[Carolinahooker]

I find it difficult to practice those little touch shots around the green on the driving range. I can't tell how they check-up or how far they will roll on a green.

I do practice them on the range to make sure I am hitting the clean but I can't get a feel for how far to take my back swing.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Agree with neudi. Short game is something you loose if you dont practice it, and it often takes a awhile to return if you have had a long lay-off. In some way or anyother, i practice short game every single day. Whether if it just hitting some putts at home or chipping foam plastic balls into a bucket.

[Slim 11]

Short game tends to be my issue early, as well. Last year I was scrambling great. Anything within 75 yards and I had a good chance of getting up and down. Only played a couple times this year, but noticed my chipping is way off. Leaving myself long puts all day!

[chriskzoo]

Same here - my first few holes were pretty terrible, then I settled in for a 41 on the back 9. Next full round I shot an 84 at a pretty difficult course - recounting I probably threw away 6 shots that round (3 putt from 15 feet, thinned drive into a marsh, etc.). My short game was not awful, but I also take the Raymond Floyd approach and "get it on the green and get it running" approach - versus my buddy who uses a sand wedge for EVERY shot inside 70 yards and struggled aroudn the green.

Yeah, bumping a 5 iron from fringe isn't sexy, but it works.

[DJYoshi]

Agree with neudi. Short game is something you loose if you dont practice it, and it often takes a awhile to return if you have had a long lay-off. In some way or anyother, i practice short game every single day. Whether if it just hitting some putts at home or chipping foam plastic balls into a bucket.

i'd like to start practicing chip shots into a bucket, net, etc...but right now, I really don't trust myself... I have property with a good amt of space in the back yard (roughly 40x60 yards... but i'm not confident yet..and maybe it's that attitude and 2nd guessing as to why it sucked the other day... with consistent play 3 - 4 days a week last year, my short game was at it's best by june.... but with the goal of getting to a 5 HC this year and lower my anti hc to 10.... i'd like for it to come back quickly!!

where in jersey are you? would love to get up with a bunch of folk from tst

[DavidFehertysBike]

i'd like to start practicing chip shots into a bucket, net, etc...but right now, I really don't trust myself... I have property with a good amt of space in the back yard (roughly 40x60 yards... but i'm not confident yet..and maybe it's that attitude and 2nd guessing as to why it sucked the other day... with consistent play 3 - 4 days a week last year, my short game was at it's best by june.... but with the goal of getting to a 5 HC this year and lower my anti hc to 10.... i'd like for it to come back quickly!!

Im in the process of moving to cherry hill from montclair right now. Its a pain. But Id be down to play someplace, just drop me a PM if you can get a group.

Bring money. lol.

[DJYoshi]

Im in the process of moving to cherry hill from montclair right now. Its a pain. But Id be down to play someplace, just drop me a PM if you can get a group.

hahaha. bring money... from montclair to cherry hill? damn.

I actually play at Diva Lounge on Bloomfield Ave by the Pathmark every now and again.... tons of courses down in the cherry hill area.... i know Herb would wanna play... for money? sure if you give me a 4 strokes per 9.... hahahaha... i'd definitely love to see you play w/ my sunday skins partner sometime. Dave's like the 2nd best person that I've ever played with. I've seen him shoot par over at Berkshire Valley, and when he played Essex County CC, shot something like 3 under.... it'd be interesting to see what low HC's can do when playing...i just like watching stuff like that.

[DavidFehertysBike]

hahaha. bring money... from montclair to cherry hill? damn.

Starting a new job in south jersey soon, it would be a pain to drive down everyday. Plus the golfing in south jersey is better (and cheaper) than north Jersey and new york. I havent broken par in close to a year and a half (last time was at colts neck golf course) but i could have a hot putter day and get close.