Devo

I've long ago learned that my distance does not really mean much on the course. I used to get kicked around by my grandfather who was just magic around the greens. He shot his age quite a few times in his life and I know he couldn't hit a driver over 200. It's easy to get a ball to the green, the challenge comes when trying to get it in the hole. I had the misfortune to watch the scariest display of the yips on a putting green I've ever heard of. Mostly 3-putts, with two 4-putts, and double clutching at anything under 6 feet. Short game is scoring.

Congrats! I broke 80 yesterday, for my first 70s round of the year, boy does it feel good when things start to come together. Hope you keep up the good play.

Tricky thing with me at the moment is judging my distance and swing by my handicap. I've taken the past 4 years or so off of golf due to having to work myself through university. This summer already I've played more golf than I have the past 4 combined, 17 rounds, which are the only rounds counting towards a handicap. I used to have quite a decent game, with my lowest handicap being around a 7, and am slowly trying to find it again. At the moment I have no idea of my yardages, I'm errant far too often with everything except my tee ball, and my short game is lacking. I do hope you're right shanks and I can get down to a 5 because I know I'll break through to the single digits this summer but have only guessed and dreamed about how low that number may get. Guess it all depends on how much time a spend on that range. In a typical round for me I'll pop at least one drive out over 300 and the rest will be closer to the 260 - 290 range, but its been awhile since I haven't hit my driver over 240.

Lipped out the chip and was given the 1 footer for my second birdie of the day.

Mine came on the 15th hole yesterday. It's a par three that was playing 210 yrds, and I stuck a 5 iron to within 3 feet of the cup. Left myself a slippery slider of a putt that I managed to drain for my third birdie of the day.

Never posted in here before due to fear of all the chatter and doubt but yesterdays round had two drives I must talk about. First drive was a 270 carry into a small wind on a par 5. Second was almost flying it on the green of a 325 yrd par 4, which caused the group on the green to turn and wave. The drive flew into the hill leading up to the green, got no roll and was less than 20 yrds to the green. Before anyone goes and gets all technical on me, last summer I had my swing speed stay in the 120s while testing a few drivers at my course's demo day so according to all the talk being thrown around these numbers should make sense to people.

Shot a 79 (season best) yesterday...too bad my dad had to go 77 (his season best) to beat me in our match. 2 fairways 10 greens 33 putts (three 3-putts) 3 birdies 2 lost balls that lead to doubles

Do you watch the shot for as long as you can? I used to have this exact same problem, but it was usually because I wouldn't watch the shot finish. If you really pay attention to the entire shot and then try to find a point of reference to walk to I'm sure you will lose less balls. This is all based on that you can see the ball finish, if your course is really so hilly that you can't see ANY ball finish then get a gps ball you can track ;) It's also a good idea (if you don't already know) to have a good idea of your yardages and then compare that with how you felt you hit the shot to get a good idea of the distance you should be looking. ex. Driver goes ~250 on a perfect swing, but it was a little thin so look @~210 - 230

Until I start feeling fatigued after a round of golf I will continue to carry my bag. I can't speak from personal experience but I assume that pulling/pushing a cart could become more difficult where I play due to the hills. As long as your bag is properly adjusted to evenly distribute the weight and you are in good enough shape I don't see the need to pull/push/ride. I also much prefer walking to carts. Cart golf is way less social and it turns into a drive here, drop me off and you go look over there type round, which I do not enjoy.

If the caddy could beat the golfer then they wouldn't be the caddy. Now I'm sure there are some really good playing caddies out there but there is a reason the players are the ones making the big bucks. EDIT: Elsfan beat me too it I thought caddies were there to take some of the thought process out of the players mind. They will let the player know (as an example), "its 130 to carry the bunker, 146 to the middle and the pin is 160". Now the player has the option to hit any shot that they feel suits the situation, because as we all know the good players have many shots from ~150yrds. It just makes the shot that much easier for the player to hit when all the variables are laid out for them, it allows them to focus on the swing they must make.

Shot 84 yesterday. Hit the ball well but couldn't putt to save my life. Green had just been air aerated and sanded which made them a little bumpy but it was my bad pushes / pulls that got to my score. 6 Fairways, 8 Greens, 33 Putts with 4 three-putt bogeys and missed 4 other putts inside 6 ft that would have been up and down for pars.

Shot an 83 yesterday. Felt decent about it due to the incredible winds and cold temperature I was dealing with.

I've been carrying my PING Hoofer 2 for quite awhile now, and I always prefer to carry vs a cart. I do think I'm in need of a new bag though, my straps are becoming quiet worn and the padding is practically all broken down and gone.

Playing music in my head has always been a good way for me to keep the destructive thoughts away. I have even taken it one step further this year and started taking my iPod to the range for practice sessions. I find that the music just allows me to keep my head totally clear of golf related thoughts and allows for my natural swing to come through. I'm not about to start listening to music while on the course, but for range sessions I'm really enjoying the separation from external noises, especially those coming from the frustrated golfers around me.

The club I pull depends on what type of shot is required. With green to work with and nothing in my way I'm a big fan of 8 iron runners or even a putt if there is only a bit of fringe in front of me. If I'm going to try and throw it to a spot and have it check or if I need to go over anything then my 56* is the club I'll pull. I used to only use my 56* around the greens but now that I have developed a good 8 iron runner that is more consistent it has become my go to 10-20yrd chip.

- get handicap down to a single digit - break 80 more consistently - improve short game - sand play - more one putts and feeling safe to two putt from anywhere