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I had some time this morning to go out for a hit at the practice area.
I spent 30 minutes hitting at a target area 90-100 m using my 9 iron and 8 iron partial shots ( into the wind)
I wanted to see whether I was more accurate with full shots or partial shots clubbing up one club. Answer: Not sure!Later in the day I had time for a quick 9 holes. I was trying to hit a fairway finder off the tee, but gave up with the fade shot with Driver. I am better off going for a small Draw shape.
My approach shots were pretty good , especially my 8 iron 100 m shot on the last hole. I had a tap in birdie! Was it the morning practice?? 6 bogeys, 2 pars and one birdie. I hope I can play like that tomorrow at the club competition at Portland.Weather permitting, I am hoping to play Heywood on Friday with my son in law and his 2 year old son. It could be interesting!
I had a much better game today. Score 82 OTS/ 39 points.
On the front 9 I hit 7 pars and two bogeys( 38 strokes)
On the back nine my formed dropped off after a double bogey on the 13th . I had managed three pars on 10,11, 12.
I pull hooked my tee shot on the par 5 13th. into the trees and managed to almost get to the dogleg corner for three. I had to fade an 8i at the pin to get around the “tree”, but it didn’t fade. I chipped on with another 8i shot and then 2 putted for a 7.The rest of the holes I bogeyed, except for the 16th where my tee shot went short-ish left. I had to draw a shot around the ” tree” on the left side corner, so I hit my 6 hybrid ( draw guaranteed) then a nice 4W down the middle. The wind today made this a par 5.5 and so I was short by 40 m. I tried a reliable 1/4 swing PW, but it lobbed and stopped dead in the spongy grass. I chipped on and missed the first putt by a Bee’s appendage, for another 7 score.
Stats from Arccos.
10 pars, 6 bogeys, 2 doubles.
Fairways middled 7/14 ; Tee shots in play 14 ( 4 bump out shots needed)
7/18 GIR
Average approach distance 124 m
up and down 2/9
33 putts
With the new data analysis on the App it compares my game to an average (13 handicapper).
10 pars ( 6), 6 bogeys ( 8) 2 doubles ( 4)
Strokes gained this game +4.5 in comparison to a 13 handicapper
+ 3.2 on approach shots
+0.5 on short game
+2.1 putter
-1.3 DriverThings that helped me were;
100-150 m approach shots
shots from the rough
par three tee shotsThings that need work
Driver distance and accuracy.
25-45 m chip shots cost me a few strokes todayTwo steps
1) I kept the ball in play on 14/18 holes off the tee
2) I don’t think I have ever scored so many pars and had that many birdie putts ( I missed them all)One step back
1) well I was disappointed in my short chip shots. I usually have these dialed in , but I think I needed to club up for the conditions. It was a bit spongy on some holes.1 user liked this post.
GA dropped from 13.7 to 12.7 ( lowest ever!)
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It is pissing down rain in SW Victoria this morning. Mixed emotions that we can’t play/ child mind my 2 year old grandson on the cart this morning. I trimmed the tree next to my backyard net, so at least I can have a swing if it clears up. I have been using the PRGR launch monitor to work on club distances with a good smash factor. It seems to be fairly accurate in relation to what I get on the range, once you compensate for wind conditions.
After looking at the Arccos recording of my shots from yesterday, I can see that my 4W needs some work. It is going too far left/ short off the tee. It costs me about three shots yesterday, Possibly I have the club face too closed at set up, but it sure is at contact. There was a time that I could not hit a reliable draw with it. Now it is the opposite!
My approach iron shots worked really well yesterday. I got better distances with my one length hybrids by moving the ball back to the centre of my stance and de-lofting the club face with forward press ( hit it like an 7 iron shot). I think I had been presenting too much loft to the ball previously, producing higher/ shorter carry shots. In reality the 25 degree/5H was giving very similar number to the 29 degree/6H. What I am trying to achieve is shot distances 6H 130-140; 5H 140-150; 4H 1550-160; 3H 160-170m . The low number of the range is a poor smash factor strike, the upper number is the best smash factor shot I can do. My ” smart range” distance is mid way. Weather conditions, the lie and the ” how am I playing today” factor also be considered for club selection. My general rule is, if in doubt club up one, unless there is trouble long.
The rain stopped and my son-in-law called to see if I wanted a quick 9 holes at the local club while his son had a sleep. In the interests of family cohesion I agreed.
I hit my 4 W a lot in order to eliminate my short pull/hook shot. Eventually I worked out that if I aimed a little more right and swung out to my target it worked. I got around 170 m carry and one rolled out to 191m.
Using my Driver only once I scored 45 shots.
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Tony and I went to Warrnambool to play today. It has been a while since either of us had played that course. The weather was cool-ish, misty wain and a southerly wind; typical SW Victorian conditions. Fairways were lush and greens fast ( for us) and bunkers had soft sand in them. I found the course to be very scenic.
The course has many uphill and down sale fairways, some with side hill lies. Using a push cart we were felling the effect after a few hours. I hit 7 pars, 8 bogeys and 3 doubles. 85 strokes , plus three unplayable lies penalties.
Two steps forward
1) I hit most fairways ( missed two right side) and on the shipwreck holes I used my 19 Hybrid off the tee to find the fairways with reasonable distance.
2) I used the 4W a few times today with accuracy.One Step back
1) I took too long to come to terms with the fast greens ( to many 3 putts / 40 putts in total), plus I ran out of fairway length once, hooked a Hybrid into the weeds, and one where I hit a ball a bit wide into the deep rough. All unplayable. I should have been more conservative.Tony and I went to Warrnambool to play today. It has been a while since either of us had played that course. The weather was cool-ish, misty wain and a southerly wind; typical SW Victorian conditions. Fairways were lush and greens fast ( for us) and bunkers had soft sand in them. I found the course to be very scenic.
The course has many uphill and down sale fairways, some with side hill lies. Using a push cart we were felling the effect after a few hours. I hit 7 pars, 8 bogeys and 3 doubles. 85 strokes , plus three unplayable lies penalties.
Two steps forward
1) I hit most fairways ( missed two right side) and on the shipwreck holes I used my 19 Hybrid off the tee to find the fairways with reasonable distance.
2) I used the 4W a few times today with accuracy.One Step back
1) I took too long to come to terms with the fast greens ( to many 3 putts / 40 putts in total), plus I ran out of fairway length once, hooked a Hybrid into the weeds, and one where I hit a ball a bit wide into the deep rough. All unplayable. I should have been more conservative.Warrnambool is a Gr8 course, and one I have on my 2021 tournament list. The event is on in mid November.
really tests your game.Tony and I went to Warrnambool to play today. It has been a while since either of us had played that course. The weather was cool-ish, misty wain and a southerly wind; typical SW Victorian conditions. Fairways were lush and greens fast ( for us) and bunkers had soft sand in them. I found the course to be very scenic.
The course has many uphill and down sale fairways, some with side hill lies. Using a push cart we were felling the effect after a few hours. I hit 7 pars, 8 bogeys and 3 doubles. 85 strokes , plus three unplayable lies penalties.
Two steps forward
1) I hit most fairways ( missed two right side) and on the shipwreck holes I used my 19 Hybrid off the tee to find the fairways with reasonable distance.
2) I used the 4W a few times today with accuracy.One Step back
1) I took too long to come to terms with the fast greens ( to many 3 putts / 40 putts in total), plus I ran out of fairway length once, hooked a Hybrid into the weeds, and one where I hit a ball a bit wide into the deep rough. All unplayable. I should have been more conservative.Warrnambool is a Gr8 course, and one I have on my 2021 tournament list. The event is on in mid November.
really tests your game.If you have a battery assisted cart, bring it! Pushing you clubs up those hills takes it out if you by the last few holes. Oh, and practise your low flat tee shot for the wind.
I snuck out for a quick 9 holes ( back 9) at Portland with a few skill issues in mind that needed attention. It was sunny and a moderate breeze was blowing. The greens were wet with dew.
Issue #1 was distance and accuracy with my single length Hybrids. I teed off with the 19H with a draw shape shot to the left side of the fairway. Yep that was a good 160m . My next shot with the 19H I aimed right of the green expecting the draw and it went where I aimed with a minimal draw shape. I teed off at the next hole par 3 155m, aiming at the centre of the green, expecting a draw. I got the green distance 150 m or so right, but the ball hit the left side angled verge and bounced about 8 m further. Not a bad result.
Next I have been disappointed with my fade shots off the tee with the Driver of late. On hole 12 I put a fade to the centre of the fairway 190 m, then a 156 m fade with my 4 W to the edge of the green. I tried again on hole 13 and got a 180m fade to the fairway. On this hole the second shot to the corner is crucial. I was at my limit with the 4W, but the draw shot went 167m and I had a clear shot at the green ( no pesky tree on the corner issue) . I hit a easy 8i into the wind and the ball was 30 cm from the hole for a tap in birdie.
Hole 14 tee shot over the dam required a draw shape. I didn’t get this shot in the centre of the face ( toe) but a 188 m length gave me a 7 i shot to the in green that just missed right side. I tried the same shot again on 15 and it worked O.K. My 19H shot at the green that I aimed right for a draw ended up 30 m right of the green. I got the aim wrong! My Driver shot on 16 went in the right direction, but no distance ( 167M). I followed that with two good draw shaped 4W shots ( in the 160’s) to get a GIR on the par 5 for a par.
Then the wheels fell off. I hit a ripper draw tee shot ( hit the centre of the face) 212m that ran out of fairway. I had to try a fade with my 25H club, but it went army golf style left rough. I chipped on for three, and three putted on the slow green. I guess the second one went I aimed it, expecting the slope to work its magic. Nope. The on 18 I tried a fade with Driver into the wind. A good miss left side ( no fade back) is the best I could describe it as. My pitch shot out of the long grass was too short and 3 putts again.
I finished by 8:45. 4 pars, 1 birdie, 2 bogeys, 2 doubles. 41 OTS.
Two steps.
1) Better fades with Driver by aiming a little further left and holding the little finger tight on the left hand seemed to feel right.
2) Better Hybrid shots but aiming for the draw isn’t reliable. I need to aim as per my usual system and accept that some shot swill over draw.One Step Back
1) three putting on the holes my chips left a long first putt from the verge. I am better off chipping those close.Will this form last tomorrow in the comp? ( I hope the doubles disappear though)
It felt like we were playing in Queensland’s tropics this morning; no wind and high humidity with temperature at 28 degrees.
I started of well with 4 pars on the front 9, then without warning I push faded a 7 irons into the dam on hole 9. i don’t hit push fades with my irons anymore, or so I thought. Lack of concentration? I played bogey golf on the back nine. My tee shots started to go left on a few holes. I had to chip out several times, mostly with good results except on 17 when an attempted hero shot failed.
5 pars, 11 bogeys and 2 triples ( penalty 2 for lost ball and one penalty for touching my ball with a practice swing) OTS 89 & 32 points.
Oh, and I forgot my phone so I played without GPS.
It felt like we were playing in Queensland’s tropics this morning; no wind and high humidity with temperature at 28 degrees.
I started of well with 4 pars on the front 9, then without warning I push faded a 7 irons into the dam on hole 9. i don’t hit push fades with my irons anymore, or so I thought. Lack of concentration? I played bogey golf on the back nine. My tee shots started to go left on a few holes. I had to chip out several times, mostly with good results except on 17 when an attempted hero shot failed.
5 pars, 11 bogeys and 2 triples ( penalty 2 for lost ball and one penalty for touching my ball with a practice swing) OTS 89 & 32 points.
Oh, and I forgot my phone so I played without GPS.
I’m probably wrong again!!!,but wasn’t one of the new rules that if you accidentally moved your ball, you replaced it without penalty as you were not at address and not playing a shot. Different of course if you were removing an impediment and your ball moved. Or I could just have it wrong on both accounts. That would not surprise. 🙃
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It felt like we were playing in Queensland’s tropics this morning; no wind and high humidity with temperature at 28 degrees.
I started of well with 4 pars on the front 9, then without warning I push faded a 7 irons into the dam on hole 9. i don’t hit push fades with my irons anymore, or so I thought. Lack of concentration? I played bogey golf on the back nine. My tee shots started to go left on a few holes. I had to chip out several times, mostly with good results except on 17 when an attempted hero shot failed.
5 pars, 11 bogeys and 2 triples ( penalty 2 for lost ball and one penalty for touching my ball with a practice swing) OTS 89 & 32 points.
Oh, and I forgot my phone so I played without GPS.
I’m probably wrong again!!!,but wasn’t one of the new rules that if you accidentally moved your ball, you replaced it without penalty as you were not at address and not playing a shot. Different of course if you were removing an impediment and your ball moved. Or I could just have it wrong on both accounts. That would not surprise. 🙃
I had better check that. Too late now, of course, but for future reference. I put my brain farts down to humidity . We are not used to it on the south coast.
I played nine holes with my son-in-law and my 2 year old grandson in the cart yesterday. New age baby sitting! We took in turns to make sure the little fella didn’t run into a swinging club. He is fast! He took great delight in hammering a red castle tee into the ground then hitting the ball with a plastic club. We might have another leftie in the family!
My son -in-law made par for the 9. He was happy!
I was trying to keep the ball in play off the tee. I did O.K. except on an attempted fade that went left on hole 6 and clipped the trees. Same on hole 9. I have realized that my fade shot is essentially going straight, so I need to aim where I want it to go, not left of and expecting a fade at the end. I practised my hybrid shots and hit a few good ones. I played 10 & 11 alone until I caught up with a 4-some on 12, so I quit. I was hungry!
My score was 2 pars, 8 bogeys and one double. I hit several 200 m > drives. Only one three putt on a par 5 ( on for 4 after my 207 m drive rolled under a pine tree and my punch out shot clipped the tree).2 users liked this post.
I played nine holes with my son-in-law and my 2 year old grandson in the cart yesterday. New age baby sitting! We took in turns to make sure the little fella didn’t run into a swinging club. He is fast! He took great delight in hammering a red castle tee into the ground then hitting the ball with a plastic club. We might have another leftie in the family!
My son -in-law made par for the 9. He was happy!
I was trying to keep the ball in play off the tee. I did O.K. except on an attempted fade that went left on hole 6 and clipped the trees. Same on hole 9. I have realized that my fade shot is essentially going straight, so I need to aim where I want it to go, not left of and expecting a fade at the end. I practised my hybrid shots and hit a few good ones. I played 10 & 11 alone until I caught up with a 4-some on 12, so I quit. I was hungry!
My score was 2 pars, 8 bogeys and one double. I hit several 200 m > drives. Only one three putt on a par 5 ( on for 4 after my 207 m drive rolled under a pine tree and my punch out shot clipped the tree).enjoy grandchildren while you can, they grow up so quickly.
great effort of par from your son in law.It looks like we Victorians have to enjoy every game of golf we play as it seems we are destined to be back on the lockdown merry go round for all of this year.
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5 days cowering at home from non- existent virus didn’t help my golf game. My front porch area and decking look look better for it though.
I played at 8:15 this morning trying to beat the heat. The greens were wet and look as if they had been sanded again. I will blame that for my multiple 3 putts ( 6) . That and my inability to keep the ball on the fairway on the front 9 holes explain my score of 94.
Two Steps
1) Once I accepted that any attempt to draw the ball would possibly hook, I started to hit fairways ( 7/14) it cost me 5 shots chipping back onto the fairway
2) I hit a lot of straight tee shots with decent distance on the back 9.One Step back
Aim issues crept in today. I should have trusted my draw would work and hit down the right side of the fairway. Aim with my hybrids was almost the opposite. I over did the aim right thing and they went right ( one OOB) . 3 penalty strokes today in total. + 6 extra putts + 5 chip outs! Oh well. next game.
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