First 18, Finally.

[Travtex]

Picked up the game around 35 years of age, have been playing whenever possible off and on for a couple years, minus time for a broken hand, a rib issue, two-foot snow winter, and a couple of moves through my new wife + new job + new state period of life...

So it ended up taking a while to find the opportunity to play a full 18.

Finally did, and ended up shooting 103 on a Par 71/Slope 123 course.

Hoo, that was a weird balance of ungodly ugly and not nearly as bad as expected.  Some observations...

* I recently changed my grip (As in, two days ago) to a double overlap to get my trailing hand out of the swing.  It gets too active and throws me over the top at times.  Pretty happy with the results so far, but needs further analysis.

* Pumped a 3 wood up a pretty steep incline, and it ended up 235.  I'm pretty happy with that.  Imagine I'll be happier on level/downhill holes.  Put the same 3 wood in the middle of the fairway a handful of times, one of which carried over 180-190 yards of lake.  I can work with that.  I also topped it into the turf 50 yards... I can't work with that.

* Short putts suck.

* I'd be sniffing at breaking ninety if I could get rid of tee box bonehead shots.  I was hitting 3 from the tee six or seven times.

* Two bunkers.  Two sand shots to within 10 feet.  Good start for me, there.

* At least a half dozen fat/thin chips/pitches.  Inexcusable, considering that chips/pitches is damn near the only thing I have the opportunity to practice.

* Way too many 150-160 yard approach opportunities.  I -want- to be hitting around 130 into the green.

So, frustratingly close to breaking 100, and confident that I can break 90 in the process -- Not sure if that's entirely realistic, but I'd be a piss poor golfer if I didn't think myself drastically better than evidence told me.  *heh*

[Dabbler]

Well done. I'm now playing off 11 and it took me ages to break 100! Be careful that your wanting to be around 130 for your approach shot doesn't suck you into trying too much with the tee shots. Some par 4's simply don't allow you that. Did you find yourself tired after a full 18?

[Travtex]

Originally Posted by Dabbler

Well done. I'm now playing off 11 and it took me ages to break 100!

Be careful that your wanting to be around 130 for your approach shot doesn't suck you into trying too much with the tee shots. Some par 4's simply don't allow you that.

Did you find yourself tired after a full 18?

Not particularly, though I was with a friend who is a fan of the cart (Never seem to do less walking with a cart, but you aren't carrying the bag either).  I've a pretty long history with athletic activity, and I walk quite a bit over 12-hour work shifts, so stamina isn't really an issue.

Yeah, I'm trying to be cautious about wanting to target my desired approach distance, but I think it's in reach if I can get my 3 wood consistent.  Next step down was the 3h, but that's looking at about 185 or so.  I need to pull my 5i and put a 5w in the bag... The 5i's loft is 22*, and my 3h/4h are 20* and 23* respectively, which makes the iron a bit of a wasted slot.