Finally making progress! Yay me (walrus clap:)

[mailman]

I feel like Im FINALLY making progress after this weekends golfing effort! I started to play golf seriously in March this year and attacked the sport with the finess of a fat chick emptying a packet of smarties! However, after nearly 4 months of effort the handicap stedfastly refused to move down! That all changed in late July when I got my very first cut of .8 :) I entered my first medal competition in April, not knowing what a medal competition was until the starter told me, and scratched my way around in 116. When I look back at that round I actually feel quite sorry for the guys who were with me and am very grateful for their patience and help. The thing was I didnt actually know what I was doing, where to play, what to play and so on...which is fairly represented by my score I suppose? Then I steadily made progress over the months, getting my first competition placing in June (coming second in one of my clubs major competitions which was really exciting for me!). The scores were coming down very slowly from 116 to my then lowest score of 102 but what was killing me was the blow up holes, which always came in three or fours at a time which resulted in the handicap staying at 28! However over the last couple months something has started to click. Id start thinking more about managing the course, looking at the holes I can score on and the holes I can limit the damage of blowing up on and also getting a few lessons in to help with driving, the short game and putting. I also had some equipment changes and got a new driver (Titliest 910), new putter (hotblade) and 3 wood (Nike covert) and this new tech has resulted in never before seen straight drivers and 1 putts! All these changes have resulted in the last four rounds shooting 98, 100, 99 and 92! Although I suspect the biggest help has been a change of mindset (playing carefully instead of taking on the low percentage shots!). The last round in particular was probably the epic round of my life so far! 12 of 14 fairways in regulation (previously Id be happy with three or four FIRS), 6 of 18 greens in regulation which resulted in 4 pars (three missed birdies though) and only 2 double and 1 triple bogeys for the entire round! But the thing was I was giving myself opportunities. I missed 3 birdies, had four 3 putts and two of the double or worse bogeys resulted from two lost balls (one in to water and the other in to the trees) In the past these two lost balls would have resulted in 8-10 shot holes! What did kill me on the weekend though was the putting! 40 putts in total whereas the previous weekend was 33 putts! I just couldnt see a putt to save myself! All things being equal, the two lost balls and the extra putts probably cost me my very first epic sub 90 round...but hey ho...there is always this coming weekend! On the plus side I did also win my first competition [walrus clap] which is terribly exciting for me :) But yeah, finally I can see some real progress being made and hopefully in this years final competition on Sunday I can keep the progress going in the right direction :) Regards Mailman

[Ernest Jones]

Awesome. There is so much reward in this game for those that stick with it and practice with a purpose. Congrats on your achievements.

[Meltdwhiskey]

I always say this, but I think the best thing a 28 cap can do is quit hitting driver unless the hole is really open - and possibly go all the way to irons off the tee.  There are exceptions of course, but generally a 28 doesn't control driver very well and this is where a lot of those blow up holes come from.

Four 3-putts isn't that bad considering you got 6 GIR's.  You are normally going have more putts the more GIR's you get because your approach from 160 is usually not as close to the hole as your chip from 8 yds.

Congrats! Those scores should bring the cap down a little.

[PirateJim]

Congrats! You are headed in the right direction for sure. Playing smart and trying to stay out of trouble to begin with helps a lot. Playing smart and getting OUT of trouble safely when you do find yourself in it anyway is how you avoid the "blow up" holes. Best to take your medicine in the form of a bogie than try the hero shot and end with a triple when it fails. Putting improves with practice.

[Royster1984]

congrats on your progress, it's a great feeling when you make some progress in golf just makes you want to keep progressing.

[mailman]

Final competition round today (sadly a non-qualifier round so doesnt affect the handicap...or maybe thats a good thing?).

Anyway went around in 93 (1 birdie, 2 pars, 8 bogies and 7 double bogeys and nothing worse!) today after last weekends 92 and reinforced the progress Ive made in the last 5 rounds. 98, 100, 99, 92 and now 93.

I also picked up a couple new clubs during the week, a Nike Covert 5 wood and a Covert Tour hybrid. Have to say the hybrid is an absolute beast of a club! I have NEVER hit a hybrid so straight and so far in my life! :)

So yeah...really looking forward to next year when the sun comes back out so I can get the old handicap down in to the teens!

Regards

Mailman