roejye

Got out and played 9 at a new course for me. I didn't play particularly well but overall I'm happy with how I played this whole though. I've kinda been spraying driver so I pulled my second higher lofted driver and just tried to guide one. Ended up in the right rough, ball well above my feet and no line for a safe punch out. I had to go over the water. I checked my app and planned my shot. Pulled my 5 wood and put a cut swing on it, I watched the ball fly straight and hoped it would carry. Not only did it carry but it ended up in a good spot too. Then hitting a nice approach wedge and 2 putting for a par was just icing on the cake.

I've had a couple of good shots since the last time I posted, 1 a 90 yard approach that I manufactured with my gap wedge that I knocked to about 18 inches, 1 a ~140 yard 8 iron that I got to about 3 feet (pictured), but this week my best shot was a 60 yard pitch. It wasn't anything special but I did hit it out of a divot, so that's what I'm more proud of. Plus, i didn't really have any memorable shots this week.

So this was actually from last week, but I've been busy and I'm definitely not going to be making it out this week. I hit my drive on 18 into a fairway bunker, and those are tough for me. My home course only has greenside ones, so I just don't have much experience with them. Anyways I get to the ball, check the yardage, and pull my 7 iron, and think to myself, "you're trying to pick the ball off the top, not splash it out." I swing away and make good contact. First thought was just "yay, I did it," then I watch the ball's flight and I watch as it lands on the green and stops on the back right of the green about 15 feet from the hole. I then hit a really nice putt that stopped a couple inches from the hole on the high side.

Actually my best shot of the week was a putt. A putt that I didn't even make. I haven't been playing terribly lately but haven't made any great shots. This hole is one I don't usually play well, I pushed my drive to the right, but less right than usual, and hit a good approach shot and I'm on the green. Problem is the approach was a little longer than I would have liked and I'm just at the top of a hill with the flag on a lower tier. As I'm approaching the green I'm seeing the hill and planning my putt. It looks like one of those where you take a line that's almost 90° perpendicular to the hole and let the slope take it. I get to the green and it actually looks flatter than it did as I approached it. I think maybe I don't have to take the line I originally planned. I quickly banish that thought, and line up like I planned on the approach. I hit the putt on my intended line and watch the slope take it. The ball travels towards the hole and stops 6 inches from the hole. I sink the par putt. Wow, I basically have written a novel about this putt lol. I think it's because it was a very difficult putt, but I had made a plan and stuck to it, and the plan had good results. The fact that I parred a hole I usually struggle on helps too.

I voted yes unless they're willing to pay, but I would say it depends on time they booked it too. Early morning weekend tee time it's a completely selfish jerk move. Mid afternoon on a Wednesday, just pay the course.

Yes, par 3. I was so excited to talk about the shot.

Another 2 stick out to me. First one, I hit my drive into the trees, only play is to chip out. I approach the shot get my yardage, and it's actually a distance I'm pretty comfortable with. So I pull my 56° and hit a nice shot, lands right where I wanted and rolls out. The contours of the green take it right by the flag and it stops at about 4 feet, knock the par in and I've just one putted the toughest green on.the course. Second shot, which is really the best, was my tee shot on 8, a par 4 that's around 150 from the tees I'm playing. It's a bit of a sucker pin but it's not terrible. I address the ball, aiming for the center of the green, if it's straight good, fades awesome, hooks I have plenty of green to work with. As I'm standing over the ball I weaken my left hand grip just a touch, then swing. As I'm watching the ball fly it actually fades a touch and is right online with the flag. It lands a few feet short of the flag and hops forward and left. I'm pin high less than 3 feet, it was almost within the leather. Sank the birdie putt.

I would love to take lessons, but there are a few mitigating factors. The biggest are practice time and budget. Even if I did make practicing more of a priority, then budget becomes an even bigger issue. Yeah, I go out a couple times a week to get takeout, but that is basically the only social life a family member has unless he goes with me on an outing with a friend. The amount of money I spend on said takeout for a month would maybe cover one lesson. I will say lessons are great for ingraining fundamentals and would probably help beginners get around the course faster. I will say, I could probably make some different choices and save up some money for a tune up lesson too.

Taking part in an ACS fundraiser to hit 310 golf balls in July. I've gotten out 4 times and I've shot 42, 40, 48, 46. The 48 was a round where everything was just a little off, short game in particular, and just snowballed. Shot 46 today where the driver was good, but my short game touch is just awful right now. The greens are a little baked out, and even decent chips aren't stopping. I need to practice and adjust.

I had a lot of good shots today but two in particular stand out. First one is hole 6 at my home course, a 200 yard par 3 but downhill generally plays 185. I pull my tee shot left, but it gets knocked down by some trees and luckily still on hole 6. I walk up to the chip, gage the distance and pull my pitching wedge. I knock the chip to about 3 feet and tap it in for par. The next shot is on hole 7 a par 5, I pushed my tee shot to the right and I'm on the 5th hole. Luckily/unfortunately it's a position I'm pretty familiar with. I'm roughly 180 out going after an elevated and small green with a false front. I see that I have a shot at the green but it's over some trees and shrubbery. I have enough room in front of me to clear it and I already decided before the round that this was one I wasn't going to keep score so I decided to go for it. I pull my 4 hybrid out, setup, and swing. I make good contact and watch the ball soar over the trees in the direction of the green. I try to look through a gap in the trees to see it land, but no dice. I walk towards the green and see that I'm pin high on the right fringe. I then proceeded to putt it and the read was good, it hits the flag and rolls out to a few feet. What followed was one of my worst shots of the round, leaving the birdie putt an inch short. When I decided to not keep score it was looking like a really good decision for my mental health, I absolutely butchered the first 2 holes. However I went on a hot streak after that. I had a "birdie" (played 2 balls), 4 straight pars, then a bogey, and finished with a par. I played so poorly on the first 2 holes that I can't remember what I would've scored.

My home course hasn't seemed to raise rates but there are some things they've done to offset inflation. One thing has been eliminating twilight rates. They did have a special last year of $9 before 9, $9 before 9am, may have come with cart. I know of another course that I really like that had a small rate increase, but they also are trying to update the clubhouse.

Been playing at least once a week for awhile now but haven't really been scoring. Mostly not great, one part of the game works but something else is off. I've usually been scoring around 46 on a par 34. Today however was a round of good and bad, and when it went bad, it was really, really bad. I shot a 47 with 4 triples. However the day before I played terribly, probably was in the 50's and I also got my first birdie of the year. It kind of feels like I'm back on the upswing a little bit after a down period. I'm making some good shots, but making some terrible ones too. I should probably get a lesson, get some kinks worked out.

Clic gear has the best reputation for sturdiness and has a lot of add-ons. One thing to think of is the storage space and how big your trunk is. I went from a 2 wheel pull cart that fit easily with my clubs in the trunk, to a 3 wheel one that took up too much space for my liking. I now have an Amazon brand of the big max blade ip. I like that it fits behind my seat in the car and I could probably put it in the trunk if I absolutely need to. I am sacrificing the ability for add-ons aside from an umbrella.

Got my second round of the year in, I'm hoping to get out again this week but a) who knows and b) this was a heck of a shot for me. First hole I hook a drive left, I have an opening between some trees but I still need to put a fade on it to hit the green. I weaken my grip slightly, slightly open my stance, and swing. I actually caught it a little thin, but the ball starts on my intended line, and starts to fade. I was hoping for more center of the green but it turns into a hole hunter and I'm left with a very makeable birdie putt of probably less than 10 feet. I miss the putt, but tap in for par. Considering my skill level and that I generally don't try to shape shots, I was very happy with what I pulled off.

I honestly have no clue how many balls I use/lose over a season. My home course has a couple holes that can eat up balls, but you can also spend a couple minutes and come out with a half dozen in good shape. I would say I lose 1 ball per round, but often come out ahead on the day.