Hey Joe

I like it. I have a little more free time due to my compressed work schedule than my main golf friend, so this would be great. Joe

I have family coming in this weekend and wanted to take my bro to nice place. After looking around we decided on Eagle Moutain. This time of year it is 185, but found 99 after 2 on the web. Will update thoughts after we play. Joe

Sorry for the confusion on the GIR. I was refering to fairways off the tee for a par 4/5 and hitting the green on par 3's. Hope that clears it up.

Thanks, it was a blast!!!

Well, 11 months into this great ride, I finally broke into the 80's!!!! However it is a little bitter sweet, due to a significant melt down on the last three holes. I had a 65 with three left!!!! Great drive off tee at 16, left my approach a little short into a deeeeep greenside bunker. I am usually pretty decent in the sand, but it took me 4 to get out. Two putt for an 8. 17, I hook left out of bounds, bounce all around this hole for another 8...aaarrrgh!!! Par 5 18 into the water off the tee, couple of crappy iron shots and two putt for a 7. Total score 88. Here are the highlights. 3 over 39 on the front 9 125 out PW hole out for Eagle on 9. Couldn't see it go in because of a two level green. buddies played it off like I went past into the water. after milling around a little, I found it...in the cup!!!! 14 Fairways or GIR 34 putts (last week 43) So, there you are...big choke down the stretch, but I am still super excited to finally reach this goal!!! Joe

Mid 60's...once!!! ;-)

I really try to self diagnose when things aren't going well. I think one of the biggest problems is, when I am hitting well...not completely sure what I am doing right. When I am hitting poorly...not sure what I am doing wrong. It is the subtleness of the game that I love and drive me crazy!!!

As I rapidly close in on my first year and goal to be in the 80's, I have hit a wall. I am taking lessons, practicing with purpose, but I am plagued by the most annoying situation. There are days, both on the range and in live play, where I hit well, sometimes very well. Then I seem to completely forget how to hit a golf ball. My pro has made some changes in my posture and address, but I can't seem to maintain a consistent approach. I never know who is showing up at the begining of a round or practice!!! Signed, Stuck in the low 90's

I start gettng depressed on the 10th hole..knowing it is closer to the end.

Pretty much how I feel. I walk a local muni par 3 course when I am by myself. More in practice mode. I don't mind the time between shots, I feel it gives me time to mellow out and not be to happy about the good or mad about the bad, a skill I have been trying to carrry over to my regular game in a cart. I carry my bag and enjoy the exercise.

@saevel25 it works for me. It simplified my chipping to one basic swing. I appreciate there are finer points here, but for a +20 handicap, it has merit. My last round I had 4 1 putts as a result of good chipping. One of the great and horrible things about golf and a new golfer is the spectrum of approaches to the same problem. It has become a journey to adopt or reject based on what produces the best results for me.

This approach has really helped me a lot. Joe

This is good stuff for me. I am guilty of just trying to let basic athletic ability run my swing vs the sequencing mentioned above. I think my pro was just trying to slow me down for starters. 1st lesson with him.

Thanks for the reply and advice. My goal is to learn to "swing with my body" instead of my arms. If I can learn this, I think I will naturally slow down and rely on lag and core rotation to generate the club head speed necessary. Interesting thought on the music.

Perhaps, but he seems pretty squared away and comes highly recommended. I would point the gun at me first, before I throw him under the bus. I know that as I get more frusterated with bad shots, I swing harder, thus hitting even more bad shots.

Hello, I have hit a bit of a brick wall in my swing. Playing for 9 mos now, shooting low 90's, but can't break through. I started lessons with a local pro and he was pretty much okay with my posture, swing plane, etc, but said my tempo was my biggest enemy. We spent some time on winding up my core and trying to just release the energy. Just swing easy. Well, I was doing okay, but it felt unnatural and I had to think instead of do. This carried over to practice yesterday and I did not hit the ball well. I can't seem to slow down and get that sweet elusive tempo. I try and tell myself during the set up, have a little phrase in my head, but I am having a hell of a time. Nice controlled back swing, down swing like the devil!!! Any stories on how you got over this hump would be greatly appreciated. Joe

I am a noob, so take it for what it is worth. I spend a few minutes stretching, not just swing a club around, but full on stretching. Then I will take a few irons and slowly swing back and forth. Sand wedge with no ball, just grove a swing back and forth and sweep the grass with a 3-9 swing. I then work through a few irons and hopefully find myself hitting well. Then I pull out the trouble maker (driver) and hit a few slices just to make sure the golf fairy didn't sprinkle some magic dust on it since the last time out. I then will save a few balls and go back to a wedge for a last swing grove session before heading over to putt for a few minutes. Last step: head to the 1st tee, close my eyes for a quick minute and enjoy the morning sun and give thanks that I am about to do what I love. Joe

I agree with everything you said, except the entertaining part.

Congrats on what you did right!!! I am almost exactly where you are and had a very similar game about 2 weeks ago. I have still yet to break 90, but am working hard in that direction. I shot a 93 about two weeks ago, which I would usually be pretty happy about. I went 7-8-7 on three consecutive holes with two 4 putts. I have rounds where I may only have a couple of 3 putts, but two 4 putts in three holes?!?! I had to calm down and remind myself that I was out doing what I loved to do...relax. I went on to shoot a couple of pars, a bogey, etc and end with the 93. After the round I looked at my card and did the whole "if's and buts" and figured not only would I have broke into the 80's, it would have been more like an 86 if I had just not had a 3 hole melt down. Oh well, I also did a lot right. I share your excitement as parts of my game and swing are starting to come together I know 80's are just around the corner for both of us!! Joe

I am new golfer, but take my game serious. I have been playing about 9 mos now and am shooting in the low 90's and feel my 80's game any day now. That said, I enjoy getting paired up with scratch/single handicap players of all sorts. I enjoy seeing their game up close, and try to study their thought process. I have learned a lot about etiquette. I have also learned to not ask about my game during the game. I end up trying to change my swing mid round and end up stuck in a ditch. If they are the right personality type, I will ask at the end of the round if they have any advice on what they saw from my game. I don't expect a free lesson just because they are better than me. I will also contine to say "nice shot" vs "shot". ;) Joe

Yup. I have also learned to take my hat off after I tee off on 18 and clear all the random tee's that I stick in my visor. Nothing like taking your hat off and ending up with a garage sale on the 18th green. Joe

I feel your pain. I have only been playing 6 mos, but I seem to have stalled a bit. I put in a lot of time and try to practice as hard, focused, and smart as I can. I play 1-2 times a week and try to hit the range at least once. I usually shoot in the mid to upper 90's. I shot a personal best 7 over 43 on the front nine, started thinking "finally going to break into the 80's", and proceded to shoot a 50 on the back. After looking back on my game, I think I was to concerned with my score and what I had to do on the next hole to keep on pace. It didn't work. I don't have a solution, I just didn't want you to feel like you are the only one out there who is putting in time and feels like they aren't going anywhere. Joe

I just started this Spring. My wife and I did the "Get Golf Ready" at a local course. PGA pro went through all aspects of the game and it is cheap and great way to get started. Joe