Captain's Day

[IrishGolfer]

OK, so tomorrow is the golfing highlight of the year for Portstewart. It's Captain's Day, the biggest tournament on the calendar.

It's an 18 hole tourney based on Stableford points. I've got a 7.10am tee-time and I'm raring to go. Some background.

I'm playing off an index of 5, so a 77 will get me 36 points.
42+ points will win tomorrow, as the forecast is excellent. So that means I will have to knock it round in level or better to have a chance.
The rough is brutal at the moment. I'm still deciding to hit LBCs driver (975J with Fuji Speeder) or the 983K. The latter I bomb when I'm on form. The former tends to hit it a bit straighter but lower.
I'm playing OK right now. Capable of birdieing any hole but also capable of scoring a snowman.
I'll be wearing black, head to toe. I got me a nice shirt.
I'll be using the White Steel 2 ball (borrowed) - feels nice
Good, bad or indifferent - I'm going to have a blast.

Also I need a good positive swing thought to take with me tomorrow. Looking for suggestions. Any takers on my score?

[Kilted Arab]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

OK, so tomorrow is the golfing highlight of the year for Portstewart. It's Captain's Day, the biggest tournament on the calendar.

It's an 18 hole tourney based on Stableford points. I've got a 7.10am tee-time and I'm raring to go. Some background.

I'm playing off an index of 5, so a 77 will get me 36 points.
42+ points will win tomorrow, as the forecast is excellent. So that means I will have to knock it round in level or better to have a chance.
The rough is brutal at the moment. I'm still deciding the hit LBCs driver or the 983K. The latter I bomb when I'm on form. the former tends to hit it a bit straighter.
I'm playing OK right now. Capable of birdieing any hole but also capable of scoring a snowman.
I'll be wearing black, head to toe. I got me a nice shirt.
I'll be using the White Steel 2 ball (borrowed) - feels nice
Good, bad or indifferent - I'm going to have a blast.

Also I need a good positive swing thought to take with me tomorrow. Looking for suggestions. Any takers on my score?

Good luck, matey!

Course management - stay out the rough! keep it on the short stuff. Can you hit a few at the range before going out, to see if your swing is in place?

Keep your tackle in, that's one piece of advice.

Positive swing thoughts? No idea.

Your score...i reckon 78. But I wish you better. Then your h/cap will get cut and i'll get more shots next time!

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

Also I need a good positive swing thought to take with me tomorrow. Looking for suggestions. Any takers on my score?

I don't suppose there are any yanks playing. If so, victory is all but assured and I'll predict a smooth 70 and a continued undefeated record.

If you find that swing thought let me know, I could use it too.

Oh yeah, good luck and use the driver that goes straight.

[IrishGolfer]

[quote=Kilted Arab]

Positive swing thoughts? No idea.
[quote]
Hey, that's a non-thought. Might work. Don't think about anything...now why didn't I think of that!

[Bravo]

Go for it IG. Sounds like a great tourney.

I'll predict you'll come in with a 75...

[Rockford35]

I'd have to agree with KA here, your best bet at giving a good impression is to leave the big dog in your pants.

In a tournament, the worst mentality is "I didn't pay my entrance fee to lay up." You're dead in the water even before you've swung. Keep that bad boy in the fairway and stick the short irons. You'll score better 99% of the time.

Also, be sure to tell the wife where you're going. There would be nothing worse than her calling you on the 14th wondering why you aren't home from picking up some milk....

Good luck IG.

R35

[IrishGolfer]

Cheers Dudes. Thanks for the wishes...

I'm more worried about the putting than anything else. Last 2 medal rounds have seen 36 and 38 putts. It is really wrecking me, hence the 2 ball. I've decided to give Dave's tip a go on the putts of 4ft and less. Outside that I'll stick to my normal routine.

The father in law watched me putt the other night. He has me following though more on the release of the putter, seems to be working.

I predict a 74 or an 84. Nothing in between.

I think I'll give LBC's driver a run out. That and the SS-03 Sonartec will be my main long distance artillery. Good call on hitting the fairways.

[bdcrowe]

I disagree entirely. Do NOT leave the tackle in the box. Shake that baby at every opportunity, especially while the opposition is putting. It could really get them off their game, no matter what you have to shake (putting is equally hard whether scared or giggling).

So, let the big dog eat, and shake that gaelic moneymaker!

(Oh, and good luck... )

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by bdcrowe

I disagree entirely. Do NOT leave the tackle in the box. Shake that baby at every opportunity, especially while the opposition is putting. It could really get them off their game, no matter what you have to shake (putting is equally hard whether scared or giggling).

So, let the big dog eat, and shake that gaelic moneymaker!

(Oh, and good luck... )

Is this the gay pride tourny?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[bdcrowe]

Originally Posted by DaveE

Is this the gay pride tourny?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Ah... Will IG be putting from the rough?

[caddyshackgolf]

Defiantly go with the driver that you hit striaght. I have no idea what you should think about. I just think "grip it and rip it".

About the putter you all probably do this but I wasn't holding my finish when I putted I would hit then start moving. And yesterday I tried not moving and im putting putts in or a lot closer.

Good luck tomorrow.

[VtDivot]

Contrary to Rock's advice, I'd say bomb the chief all day long. You can always wedge it onto the green

I have 2 swing thoughts smooth on the way back and high on the finish.

Follow that advice roll the ball decently and you'll come in around 74

[IrishGolfer]

Well dudes, the summarised version is a 76, for 37 points and joint 9th.

For the longer tale, it started at 5.45am on Saturday. Got up, showered, dressed and had me some breakfast. Feeling good, totally still outside, clubs cleaned, shoes polished etc. I am dressed in black, with a white belt and white shoes, looking like a golfing pimp, awesome.

I headed down to the range and hit some shots, and following KA's advice I decided on the bigger of the two dogs, the 983K (gut instinct decision). The swing was on, guys, you know sometimes you just feel it! I was loose and limber.

Well anyway I made my way up to the tee and was introduced to my playing partners, Ivan and John, 2 straight up dudes. Our 4th went AWL. We shared a glass of sparkling wine with the Captain and had our photo taken. Nice chilled way to get going.

I drew first and decided to hit the driver. After a few slow warm up swings, I stood over the ball and said to myself take a SMOOTH swing. I reckon I hit it 300 yards, with a slight fade bang to the centre of the fairway, effortless. That's the furthest drive I have ever hit at the 1st in a competition. What a nice start. I hit in a wedge to about 8 ft. and started thinking, “Hey this is nice”. Anyway I rattled off 3 straight pars with birdie putts all within 20 ft. Until I downed one at the 4th from 6ft. A solid par on 5 and I'm standing -1 on the 6th tee. The hard work all done, right? (First 5 holes on the course are the hardest). Game on. This could be my day.

So I'm standing on the 6th tee, 146 yards, slight wiff of wind helping, and I'm thinking a nice smooth 9 iron to the centre of the green. And then out of no-where, the most poetic shank I think I have ever hit. I just burst out laughing, as it was so awesome. Completely out of no-where.

I managed to put my next on the green and 2 putt for a double bogey, but I was slightly reeling. I did try to maintain a sense of humour about it, but man, that's tough to bounce back from, especially that outta nowhere business. Anyway I finished out that 9 in +2, having 3 putted the 9th.

My chances sort of went there. I came back in +2 to leave me with a 76 and 37 points. I was please about my 2nd shot to 17. I was +3 standing over a 210 shot to effectively a island green. The breeze was up and I couldn't make up my mind to hit the hybrid or the 3 wood. I finally decided on the 3 wood, down the shaft. I put myself under pressure to hit the green and a I nailed it to 20 ft, shot of the day!! I then floowed it up with a thinned wedge at the last into a green-side bunker. I failed to get u&d and finished with a frustrating bogey. Worst SotD! Ah, what a game this is!!

As predicted the winning score was 42 points, so I would have needed to have shot a 71 to have had a chance. And you can’t do that with 35 putts. Despite hitting 10 fairways and 14 GIRs the old flatstick plagued me yet again. I tried the 2 Ball, but at the end of the day, it’s not the putter, it’s the putter.

Oh, and by the way, I took out the 983K today. I only hit it 9 times and hit 6 fairways. I hit the Sonartec the other 5 times and hit 4 fairways.

Anyway, I sound disappointed. I’m not really. My day will come. And I had a great day, good company, fantastic weather etc. I probably would have taken a 76 at the start of the day, but man, my game was there today for a great score.

Thanks for the good luck messages.

PS My swing thoughts. Keep the head steady, keep the right knee flexed and solid all the way through and swing slow and SMMMMOOOOTTTTHHHHHH on the way back! I hit the ball great.