FINALLY got a birdie.

[slodsm]

Seems like it took absolutely forever, I've par'd more holes that I can count, two chip in's from 10ft or so off the green to save par, but never really had a shot at birdie that didn't have just a brutal putt needed. Today I was playing 18 at Southern Hills and the 5th is a par 3 139 yard down hill shot with trouble on the back if you overshoot it. I took an 8i, gave her a nice smooth swing and came up on the fringe, bounced twice and stopped 8' from the flag. I have absolutely no idea how I just cleared my head, aimed a bit right on the putt, gave her a gentle stroked and watched the ball bang off the back of the cup and fall in (green slopes towards the trouble as well).

I just kinda stood there in silence grinning like an idiot, picked up my ball and went back to trying to play legitimate bogey golf for 13 more holes. Still wasn't a great round, just joined this club, only played there a few times and there is a LOT of water and OB but it makes you more careful and in the end I think it will make me a better golfer.

[Wisguy]

Are you trying to say that you average a 92 for 18 holes (and presumably not infrequently break 90) but you've never had a birdie before?  How long have you been playing?  How many rounds per year since you first picked up the game?

[slodsm]

Yep, exactly what I'm saying. On my home course I played at all summer I typically score 88-90, I venture out to other courses I'm unfamiliar with and it varies from there. The club I just joined plays a lot longer and is rated at 73.5 and my average score there is low 90's but I've never birdied a hole before today. I play 10+ times a month, started playing seriously/regularly in may. I've had several opportunities to birdie before but I've always choked. Today it just went well for me even though I shot a 92 on the round. Let water get in my head and took 4 penalty strokes.

[Wisguy]

Well, congratulations.

You're doing remarkably well for someone who has only played one season.  You're shooting better by 3-5 strokes per round than I do and I've been playing 19 years (albeit with 5 seasons of <3 rounds/year after becoming a father).  You've played nearly 5x as much golf this season as I have (I've been out maybe 12 rounds) but I've had 5 birdies this year (1 chip-in, 2 lucky longer putts, 2 approach shots within 4 feet).  That's a lot for me, as I typically averaged 1-3 birdies per season back when I played more, but I've spent a lot of time practicing my short game this season.  I could see taking 50 rounds before getting your first birdie -  I got mine after about 6 rounds when I had a lucky 5-iron from 155 yds to 8 inches, the closest I've come to an ace and didn't have another for over a year - except that someone with less than a 20 handicap should be hitting close enough to the pin every 50 or 70 holes to get a birdie, I would think.  If everything you've said is true, it sounds to me like you need to work a lot more on your short game, particularly your putting.  Some of those putts should be falling - it shouldn't take another 900 holes until you get your next birdie.

I'll give you one of the best tips on putting I've ever heard:  watch how you are doing on sloped greens and I bet you are hitting most of your missed putts well below the hole (i.e. you're underestimating the break).  Years ago I read in a golf magazine that nearly all amateur golfers chronically underestimate the break and the solution was to scout out both sides of the hole, estimate the break, then add another 50% more break to your initial estimate.

[Desert Driver]

Congratulations.

May your next birdie come quicker than the last one.

Save the Scorecard.

DD

[slodsm]

Thanks guys. Wiseguy it's not my short game as much as my approach shots that suck. Over all these holes I have averaged less than 2 putts per hole. I'll 3 putt with the best of them on occasion but typically I'll have 3-4 1 putts and the remainder will be 2fer's.

I just rarely green in reg a hole so it ruins my chances. I drive the ball well enough that it's usually in play and 220-240 off the tee (trying to maintain control and avoid penalty strokes). What comes next is what gets me, if I have to swing a 3/4h or a 4/5 iron for the next shot, I'll botch it. Something in my head, not everytime but occasionally. I'm practicing several times a week though and focusing on the shots that kill my score right now so it's coming along. Yesterday I stuck 3 greens from 115-120 out, not dead on where I wanted them but close enough to make one good long putt and have an easy second for par.

It'll come around, I recently sold my bass boat and will focus on golf solely for the next two years instead of dividing my attention. I'd really like to see a single digit handicap one day.

[AmazingWhacker]

We're alike in that we both miss a lot of approach shots and I also gave up fishing to concentrate more on golf, lol.  Congrats on the first birdie, may there be many more to follow.  I've been lucky to make a handful this season - all with lucky approach shots that landed to maybe 8 feet - my putting has been awful this year - doubt I dropped a single long putt this year.

[slodsm]

AW I think they may start to come with a bit more regularity after today. I bought a set of AP1 712's from the classifieds here and picked them up this morning. Went and played a quick nine at my local muni since my club was closed today because of a hellacious storm overnight. Well all I can say is WOW, I fear the long iron no more. I've had TM Burner 2.0's, Callaway X18's, Adams CB2's which were fitted etc and this box stock set of AP1's is longer by a mile and straighter than any other club I've ever hit. My normal swing with a 4-5 iron wouldn't get a ball off the ground and were typically all toe strikes. Today I hit a 4i 190 gps off the tee box to layup before a creek and followed it up with a 5i 177 to GIR a par 3. My typical 5i is 155 off the tee on a pure shot with any club I've ever had and I've never understood why. On the track man I have a mid 80mph swing with a 7i yet never got more than 130 in the real world typically. Today I GIR'd the 4th hole with a 9i from 132 and after each shot I'd clean the club so I could see where the next strike was. All of them were right around dead center. This is the first time I've actually hit "average" distances with my irons, I've always been 20 yards short per club from every one else I play with. I had to hit the 4i from the fairway twice on par 5s and was amazed at the distances I got and the height of the ball flight.

Shafts I've used on my other two sets are TM stock stiff on the 2.0's and KBS90 stiff on the CB2's. Don't know why the AP1 head and S300 shaft made such a difference but I am in love completely. End of round score was still my average for 9 on that place but that will change as soon as I get used to my club selection now for distances. Maybe there is hope to actually play legitimate bogey golf for me yet.