No I haven't become totally deluded and lost consciousness of what universe I belong in. However, Q-School has been on my radar for the last week or two for a few reasons. Firstly, since joining GCoG I have gotten to know some of the tour pros up there and even had the privilege of playing a few rounds with them. This week is first stage of Q-School and the guys I have met are getting started on what hopefully will be the long road to the PGA Tour or at least a Nationwide Tour card. Secondly, someone introduced me to a book written a while back by a scratch golfer who decides to pursue his ultimate dream and totally devote himself to a year doing whatever he could to to try earn a tour card. I just started it but it already looks like a fun read. Its called "The Fine Green Line" by John Newport.
It gives me some perspective as to how good these guys are that they can perform to such a level under extreme pressure. I find myself playing in a friendly game with buddies getting nervous over chips off a tight lie when I am playing for nothing. These guys are playing for their livelihoods and have to somehow manage the nerves.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Review
I'm told that I should every now and then reflect on my recent play so I figured I would look back at this weekends club championship and decide what I need to take away from it.
Over the three days, I had 31/36/36 putts. 31 is acceptable but 36 is not for an aspiring scratch golfer. (In truth it depends on how many greens you are hitting in regulation - more greens should be more putts). I missed 4 three footers!! That has to change.
I was surprisingly very happy with my driving. I feel I have finally overcome the driving woes that plagued me for the last 6 months. I averaged 8 of 14 fairways for the 3 days but I only had two big misses both of which cost me a bogey.
Greens in regulation were ok but I am not yet fully committed to my technique. I feel only time and practice can help me here. It all goes back to starting the downswing with an unhinge rather than a lunge!! I get it right about 70% of the time but I still have a tendency to go back to old habits under pressure.
My chipping/pitching technique is vastly improved, however again I tend to not trust it under pressure. Need to get some advice from TW on how to improve in this area.
Interestingly I saw this definition from the USGA:
Over the three days, I had 31/36/36 putts. 31 is acceptable but 36 is not for an aspiring scratch golfer. (In truth it depends on how many greens you are hitting in regulation - more greens should be more putts). I missed 4 three footers!! That has to change.
I was surprisingly very happy with my driving. I feel I have finally overcome the driving woes that plagued me for the last 6 months. I averaged 8 of 14 fairways for the 3 days but I only had two big misses both of which cost me a bogey.
Greens in regulation were ok but I am not yet fully committed to my technique. I feel only time and practice can help me here. It all goes back to starting the downswing with an unhinge rather than a lunge!! I get it right about 70% of the time but I still have a tendency to go back to old habits under pressure.
My chipping/pitching technique is vastly improved, however again I tend to not trust it under pressure. Need to get some advice from TW on how to improve in this area.
Interestingly I saw this definition from the USGA:
A "scratch golfer" is a player who can play to a Course Handicap of zero on any and all rated golf courses. A male scratch golfer, for rating purposes, can hit tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots at sea level. A female scratch golfer, for rating purposes, can hit tee shots an average of 210 yards and can reach a 400-yard hole in two shots at sea level.
Alas it takes much more than being able to hit a 470 yarder in two to be a scratch golfer. I have a long way to go!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Club Championship
We had our club championship this past 3 days.
It was a blast. I have never experienced such pacy greens. I believe the greens were running at 13!! Surprisingly, playing from the tips was not such an issue. Weather was superb.
This is going to sound funny but given what I shot today but I have never been happier with my ball striking. I have finally eliminated that horrible big high block to the right with the driver. It was being caused by a slide towards the target with the left hip on the downswing. THE DOWNSWING HAS TO BE INITIATED BY LETTING THE CLUB FALL/THE RIGHT ELBOW UNHINGE WHILE REMAINING COILED.
Anyhow, I shot 81/81/87. I was in 9th place as of this morning but probably finished in the high teens.
In general I'm very happy with my ball striking tee to green. I had maybe 3 bad swings all weekend. Alas two of them cost me a 9 on the 11th hole (that's a par 5).
Was disappointed with how I chipped and putted. In truth I was tentative and a little chicken on the fast greens. I missed about five 3-footers or less.
Season is winding down. Only one event of note left - final round of the Green Tour on Nov 6th. Will take a week off to freshen up and get a few good weeks practice in before that!!
It was a blast. I have never experienced such pacy greens. I believe the greens were running at 13!! Surprisingly, playing from the tips was not such an issue. Weather was superb.
This is going to sound funny but given what I shot today but I have never been happier with my ball striking. I have finally eliminated that horrible big high block to the right with the driver. It was being caused by a slide towards the target with the left hip on the downswing. THE DOWNSWING HAS TO BE INITIATED BY LETTING THE CLUB FALL/THE RIGHT ELBOW UNHINGE WHILE REMAINING COILED.
Anyhow, I shot 81/81/87. I was in 9th place as of this morning but probably finished in the high teens.
In general I'm very happy with my ball striking tee to green. I had maybe 3 bad swings all weekend. Alas two of them cost me a 9 on the 11th hole (that's a par 5).
Was disappointed with how I chipped and putted. In truth I was tentative and a little chicken on the fast greens. I missed about five 3-footers or less.
Season is winding down. Only one event of note left - final round of the Green Tour on Nov 6th. Will take a week off to freshen up and get a few good weeks practice in before that!!
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