Drinks are all on me!! I have met another one of my goals of the year!!

[rckwd]

Today for the first time in my life I holed out out of a bunker!!

While this may not seem much to some, it was one of a few goals I set to meet at the beginning of the year:

1. Increase my practice time - DONE - I purchased a 12'x9' practice net and mat and I practice at least 5-6 days a week
2. Improve my driving - DONE - With the increase of practice and the purchase of new driver I am now hitting 75% of the fairways
3. Get rid of c ompulsory strong grip - DONE - Now I don't have to strengthen my grip to compensate for flawed swing that was producing the gawd-awful slice
4. Get rid of my slice - DONE - Again with the practice, new driver, new swing, trial and error and persistence my slice is gone.
5. Better bunker play - DONE - Slowly getting there thru a lot of research, instruction and again practice. I have been laying up some pretty awesome shots lately.
6. Improve long iron play - I am going to have to put more time into this.
7. Improve short iron play - Getting there thru with the installation of short course in my field.
8. Increase scrambling ability - Getting there.
9. Decrease putting strokes - Getting there thru installation of 10' putting surface on my back deck and practice
10. Get handicap in single digits - Getting there - I have lowered my score 4 points this year.

What are some of ya'lls goals you've met or been unable to meet that you would care to share?

[OnePutt]

Congratulations on the hole out, you don't roll it in by accident. Always feels good when practice pays off.

My goals were pretty simple this year (my first) - learn to play golf, then learn to play golf decently, and now it's lose less balls. The rest is coming together!

[rckwd]

Congratulations on the hole out, you don't roll it in by accident. Always feels good when practice pays off.

yea all I was shooting for this year was just some kind of substantial bunker play improvement and the practice has really paid off.

And the ball loss goal is a daily goal for me...lol. I thought I was going to make it today but lost my ball on the last hole. I told my daughter while going to the last hole, "I have played all day with this one ball." .....then I tried to get cute on a 305yd par4 over-water dog-leg and pulled it a little too much and there went my ball

[Williamevanl]

Congrats! I know most people don't like advice on the course but I had absolutely no idea how to play bunker shots until a stranger told me to open my stance and open the face ridiculously. A week later I sunk my first bunker shot.

It's one of those things you never forget.

[Chadbert]

Congrats. I achieved one of my goals yesterday. I finally broke 100. I almost did it again today on a harder course but failed to sink puts on the back nine.

I have to say that I don't like your avatar one bit, but I'll leave it at that :p

[wrx_junki]

Congrats! The municipal courses that I play at don't have that many greenside bunkers and most are avoidable. I would at most be in the bunkers 2 times a round but for the most part none at all. Seeing that the only times I get to "practice" my bunker shots are when I end up in them, I've become fairly horrible at them. Especially the deep bunkers with a high wall to clear.

Have only chipped in from the greenside fringe/rough, never from the bunkers or anything far out. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll hole something like an approach shot soon.

[rckwd]

Congrats! I know most people don't like advice on the course but I had absolutely no idea how to play bunker shots until a stranger told me to open my stance and open the face ridiculously. A week later I sunk my first bunker shot.

EXACTLY...that is what happened to me!! I had thought all along I was opening the club up enough but until I become new friends of this guy who shoots a 4. We went out early this year and he told me to open my stance up more and to open my club up more, then he said if you feel you have it open to much, open it just a little more. Then hit it about two inches behind the ball. Amazingly the ball just started exploding out of the trap.

Man I tell you it is fun to drive and make 40ft putts, but it is just as thrilling to be 20ft from the hole, swing a 3/4 swing, and as the sand exploxes up into the air watch the ball gingerly plop down on the green!!

[rckwd]

Congrats. I achieved one of my goals yesterday. I finally broke 100. I almost did it again today on a harder course but failed to sink puts on the back nine.

Go DAWGS..LOL

[shankapotamus]

Congrats! I know most people don't like advice on the course but I had absolutely no idea how to play bunker shots until a stranger told me to open my stance and open the face ridiculously. A week later I sunk my first bunker shot.

I would suggest a book by Stan Utley called "the art of the shortgame"

But congratulations! I'll have a coke

[alf174]

Today for the first time

Great job! Funny, I did this yesterday and also a week ago Wednesday eve both times with my lob wedge (my nemesis club) for birdies. Probably won't repeat it till next year.

[BigTazz53]

Congratulations dawg

[rckwd]

Congratulations dawg

Thanks bud....you said my favorite word .....DAWG...woof, woof...go DAWGS...LOL

[RocketSauce]

congrats on your hole out!
i had a VERY unique hole out from a sandtrap once a few years ago. i was in a greenside bunker and the wind was HOWLING that day (over 20mph). well, i bladed my bunker shot and it was going to sail the entire green. but, the flag was blowing straight out and stiff due to the wind, and my ball hit the flag and dropped straight down into the hole... lucky for me cuz if it didnt hit the flag, it would have gone 30 yards over the green

[rckwd]

congrats on your hole out!

WOW...that was one lucky drop

[ApocG10]

I know that opening the face way up in the sand works, but ill be damned if I can figure out why. In my head it just seems a square face would work better, even though I know it doesnt. Can anyone explain?

[rckwd]

I know that opening the face way up in the sand works, but ill be damned if I can figure out why. In my head it just seems a square face would work better, even though I know it doesnt. Can anyone explain?

I cant explain it either..it baffles my mind

[bogeyhitter25]

I've done that once. Only thing was, it was for a double bogey. It was one of my first couple times golfing, and I hit into a greenside bunker off of the tee. I proceeded to hit three terrible shots. I finally got the stinkin' ball out of the trap, and sure enough it rolled in. I was just happy to get the ball out!

Got off topic. Great job man!

[Ed_Bighead]

Congrats! I doubt I could do it, the course I play at only has one bunker (on the par 3 18th), and I have yet to hit into it.

On a side note:

...

Where did you get the net and how much did it cost you? I'd like to be able to hit real balls in my backyard, but it's not long enough =/