How's it Going

[ezra76]

Just wondering how things are going so far for everyone. I've got about a dozen rounds in so far this year. Old problems resurface, new ones sprout up but I am a lot more aware of what I'm doing wrong now. My ballstriking is slowly but surely coming back around. Trying to "break in" new equipment and playing a new course that has a slope of 129 compared to the 118 I used to always play has to be considered. I just try to have fun and learn something from every bad shot, even if it means dropping another and getting it right. How are the rest of you guys doing?

[Woosey]

having hit the course yet (plan to do this within the next 4 weeks)

On the range -

My iron swing is still there, fantastic no problems there.

Woods swing - It needs a lot of work, i need to sllloooow down!

Short Game - Eh? Whats that?

Putting - I couldn't even tell you what a putter looks like its so long since I've used it!

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

I'm in a stretch where I can't seem to put all parts of my game together. If my full swing is doing well, my short game sucks. If my short game sucks, I am hitting pretty good shots off the tee and from the fairway.

Sheesh, I don't wake up well, do I? Add in to say if my short game is doing good, my full swing is screwing up badly.

Also, far too many blowup holes.

[DouginGA]

Ezra, since you asked I am more than glad to tell you like you am trying to get it all together.

I think this is gonna be my year. Its only march and I am scoring in the 80's Last Sunday had a 84 with a 37 on the back nine and was itching for repeat, finally got out again yesterday.

On the first 18 shot a 82, 40 on the front and 42 on the back. Have to say obvious - that key to getting the score down is getting the ball up and down LOL. really had a good round of chipping, had a whole lot of 4 foot or less putts if I was 20 yards or less, and a fair share of them had me watching and hoping as they stood a fair chance of falling in. ooooh felt so good . Missed about three birds that were more than makable, but still happy with the 82.

The second 18 was more of practice round. Kept score, but was also in an experimental mode. I almost never hit a fairway wood, so pulled it out of the bag a few times that round. Know that a little time at the range should give me the needed confidence with the 3 and 5 wood. shot a 45 and 49 for 94.

The Third 18 ( hey, its 22 bucks for all day with a cart, gotta get my money's worth) we decided to get serious again. Was holding my own til # 9 (par 5) where my third shot was way left near the tenth tee. had to get over the bush, under the tree, and then over the sand. got the first 2 right , but was short and in the sand. Hit the sand shot clean, clean over the green that is, and into the first fairway. Muddled my way to a triple bogey and still had 45 for the nine. Was starting to get cold and a bit tired but a 24' putt for birdie on 10 (finally!! a bird again after 45 holes) was all the encouragement my playing p and I needed to finish out that 18. Had a little run of bad play with 3 double bogeys in row, but a great 45' putt for another bird gave me a 43 on the last nine, total of 88. Between more play and more range practice hope to get inot the 70's with some frequency.

I will say this - It is all state of mind. Believe. I KNEW both those putts were gonna drop before i hit em. I even told the partner that the first birdie 24' putt was a gimme, I had it cold. All i gotta do is keep the demons out of my head and believe. sorry for the long rant

[ualtim]

Finally got in below 90 again. I shot an 88 yesterday in the rain. Would have been better if I had any game on the first 9. Six strokes difference between the nines.

Had another typical hole for me yesterday. 385 yard Par 4 dog leg left. Monster drive that cuts the corner leaving me 89 yard into the green dead center in the fairway. I block the GW dead to the right and thankfully hit a tree which prevented the ball from going in the water. 8-iron pitch and run to 12 feet. 12 footer for par. Anytime it looks like I am going to have a good chance for birdie, I blow it.

[chollyred]

Still haven't hit the course yet . Been too busy with soccer and honey-dos. Was supposed to play this past Monday, but got rained out. Been working on keeping my left wrist flat throughout the swing to keep from flipping the club. Working okay with the irons. Still struggling with the woods.

[MisterJJ]

After struggling in the low 100's for most of last year, I'm starting to get a feel for the shorter shots. Finding the problem with my swing (two different problems at two different times) and I'm playing better. My last four rounds were in the 90's, with the last one being a new course with tight fairways and lots of water. If I could only get out to play more often.....

[Davebud]

But I decided to fall off my ladder this morning. I am mostly retarded and live on the not a step, steps of my ladder. You know on your ladder where it says not to go above this point, well if I did not want to go above that point I would have brought a smaller ladder. Anyhow I was on the top platform of my ladder and the wind was gusting up to 35mph today and I caught a gust broadside and went down onto the ladder and I landed my shoulder on the ladder and my left hand on the patio, broke one finger on my left hand and the rest of it is a solid bruise, and full on wrecked my left shoulder. Worst part of that was that the home owner was a great guy. He plays a R5 Driver, Cleveland Woods, Callaway X-18s, Ping Wedges and Putter.

[Big Brother Dunk]

Well so far for things are going OK, but it's been limited to hitting balls at the dome. I've been working on a few things, trying to groove a few changes to the swing, but I can't really tell how the ball is flying until I get outside. And that won't be for another 3-4 weeks.

Dave, sorry to hear about your mishap. Broken finger? Man, that's gotta hurt the swing. I dislocated a couple of fingers on my left hand two summers ago and it really messed up my swing.

By the way, like you I've used the NO STEP as a step. Not any more though!

[Davebud]

I am a walking trip to the emergency room, if I actually went to the Dr. as much as I hurt myself. 5 concussions, 1 Coma, 9 broken bones, of those 6 were fingers. I have no idea how many stitches, and worst of of I have broken my pride on way to many occasions.

[Bravo]

I am playing better than I was last Fall...having posted rounds of 80 and 81 recently. Since my small grip change, my ballstriking has improved quite a bit. My short game is a disaster however. If I am going to spend money on anything, it will be the short game...

[ezra76]

Fatigue got to me early today after staying up to watch the game last night. I began dropping my right shoulder quite a bit. On the bright side I really played the wedge setup well. I have never used my 54 much and started using it from tighter lies. I got one to spin back on the ninth. I'm going to look into getting a few lessons in April to work on getting a more solid swing that doesn't keep breaking down on me. I played with a guy my age who was a very good ballstriker. He kind of let me know what he saw when I started breaking down. Dropping the shoulder and a lot of lower body movement going on. I gave him a few chipping pointers as he uses his L wedge for almost all his chips.

[mont86]

I hope to get out in the next three weeks. It has been a long winter!

[nsherman2006]

inconsistent as hell. Since i started keeping score, i've gone everywhere between 36 and 46 on 9, and 74 and 84 on 18. Having a serious issue with setup and alignment, although im swinging well. My short game is hit or miss. I've got 2 days of golf up ahead, and i plan on taking full advantage of them

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

I shot a 95 yesterday, and it could have been so much better. Oy oy oy.

But we'll try to remember something positive from it.

I had started off with another couple of players. Around the 6th hole it began getting wet and somewhat to my surprise, those two decided to call it quits after the 8th hole. So I get to the tee at 9, look and see it's a threesome in front.

I hit my tee shot to the par-3 after that threesome clears, then trot down the hill, as I decide I want to see if I can catch that threesome by the 10th tee. I chip on and 2-putt for a bogey, and make the walk from the 9th green to the 10th. I get there just in time to catch them, and they offer to let me join up.

Ahh, the 10th hole, the #2 handicap hole, it doglegs right. If you hit a drive straight, and more than 230 yards, you're wet in a pond. If you cut the drive too hard, you're in trees.

I smoke a perfect cut, it starts down the center then fades around the cluster of pines on the inner corner of the leg. The ball ends up about 140 yards from the center of the green, which sits up atop a fairly decent hill to climb. After waiting for the other 3 guys to get their balls in play, I step up with a 7-iron and hit another nice little high fade. When I get up to the green, there's my ball pin-high about 15 feet right of the flag.

You know what happens next, right? Oh yeah, I drain that putt, dead-center, for a sweet birdie.

On the 11th, instant karma's gonna get me, but that's a whole 'nother story...