My Life (Sub 2.5)

Thanks lads.
Still am thinking this is daft and boards has had enough of - I want to xxxxx

I'm off 4.7 and rising - not use to being this low at all. So that will be part of the initial battle.

To answer the question what is the best part of my game - I'd say hitting Greens in Regulation , when I did my first thread here, there was a battle of minds. I was of the opinion that I could break 80 by long game and GIR . I wanted to deal with the game from out to in , big problems first and then move to short. It worked for me. But made the journey torturous.

But, I'm glad I did that work now, as I have a more solid core to move forward.
I know I still have major swing flaws , OTT, delofting, overly aggressive swing.

But, I can now fix all that nearly myself and am honest about my limitations.

So with the big game I got to 8 , when I started taking on distance control , wedge control and putting - I got to 6. With a couple of lucky rounds I got to 4.5.

But still have the putting and the short game of a lad off 12 to 18.

So the plan.

Going to work on core swing and strength over winter
Going to do serious serious honest work on short game
Have to find a short game coach , master , friend.

Another positive.

I don't give up on a goal.

But a friend said to me lately - "you fear failure". You do not set your goals to a level you can fail.

Found that hard, and interesting.

This same guy wants world domination as a father, chemist and rock star.
That isn't even a joke.

benny79 wrote: »

What happen to taking up the Guitar? :D:P

Nailed Wonderwall struggled on Stairway to Heaven.

Decided loads of lads can play guitar at a party - golf another story.

Ok, so what have I done.

It isn't going to be an everyday thing this time, it will be a slow build.
With posts with real setbacks or real progress. I've learnt form the last time out, that improvement in golf is rarely dramatic, the steps can be very small, to an extent, it can almost be unnoticeable - till one day, you have a round you could never have imagined.

The last time I had to get worse about 4 or 5 times to get better. I know my swing still has weakness, OTT, a bit of a lunge, de-lofted club and very steep. - but I feel the changes will be minor. I think I will be tweaking what I have this time.

So - Today , I went. I'll do a little test to start off, I'm going to go out and play as many holes in 2 hours and see exactly where every part of my game is.

I ended up playing 10 holes (was held up) 3 over - 1 Bird - 4 bogies - 6 pars.

GIR 6/10
Putts (18) - (Would be 32 over 18) – 1, 3 putt from 15 feet.
Fairways 5/8 (driving holes)

So a typical situation I am finding myself in about 5/6 over for a round.
It sounds so close doesn't it - but we all know the truth about our own game.

• Every drive except 1 was fading or pulling.
• Every iron except 1 was pulling.
• Every wedge from 100 yards out left me outside 12 feet and one went off green.

It all adds up to a guy that will struggle off 5.

Was thinking during the round, at no stage did I hit 2 good shots in a row.
Now an observer with me would go, good stuff – great ball because I’m hitting greens. But I’m too far away from the hole – I’m adding pressure to myself when it should be a birdie putt.

Then on the greens I’m pulling putts . These putts are typically too far away anyway as my short game is leaving me too far away.

There seems to be a randomness to my performance , say I pull them wedges a little less, suddenly I’ve good birdie putts - the 3 putt is less likely.
That is all too negative.

The positives , could reach all the holes with ease. My power and iron striking gives me GIRs.
Of the mid irons and wedges I hit to greens, 6 were dead on pin high.

So it seems so close , but it isn’t really – we all know ourselves the truth about our games. You can fool yourself with a few rounds that putts drop. But to become a real low player , there is way more involved. There is a process , errors are few , pulling 5/6 irons is not part of the equation.

Pulling 5/6 irons on another day could be 12 to 15 over. Now that would be the real old Fix.

But after that – even if there was a pack of 4 useless green trousered swedes drinking extra Stout from a can holding me up (Idiots) – But leave them off, on holidays.

I enjoyed every minute of it and would have stayed out all day for the 18. Maybe 18 could tell a fuller story , but the truth was already there. You may get an odd bird , get to 3 or 4 over think you are a great lad.

But the truth is in the feel and the flight.

The truth is in your head when no one else knows.

The truth is in your head when you need to sleep.

The truth is your handicap.

slave1 wrote: »

Fix, tell us about the hole in one...

Not much to say.

156 yards - side wind , hit 8 at middle of green and said it would drift onto pin.

Landed exactly pin high middle - and spun at right angles right.

Spin was remarkable - hit flag dead middle.

Was class few seconds. But had to hold myself together to keep going for a nice cut.

Anyway - bigger fish to kill now.

Senecio wrote: »

I wish you all the best Fixed. The level you're at now is level I've been at for the last 10 years. I've never managed to make that jump to get below 5. Like you it my short game that lets me down. I shot 77 last week with 4 x 3 putts!

Enjoyed your last thread as it reminded me of my journey. Looking forward to this one as hopefully I'll take some inspiration to take that next step.

Thanks Senecio.

I don't doubt the task I have set.

I've played with a good few guys who are say 6 or lower - and notice how hard it is to get a cut at all.

39 points - maybe 0.3.

It seems like a bit of a wall. To get down at all , you need to have a par round in you most times you go out. Not easy - not easy at all.

Was a strange time to start a challenge like this. Getting darker and colder and time and light are diminishing by the day.

But in reality, it is a year long challenge. I like that the challenge is difficult now, at this time - the course is changing - the temperature is changing - the clubs are changing (PW 115 yards today).

I made a big mistake last time out, of not controlling the pace of change - this time around - I'm more ready.

Have had much on in relation, to real work.
House work,
Golf Stuff,
Family Stuff,
Sport Stuff (Rugby and Football).

All a bit crazy and not sure how I am fitting it all in.

But - I'm enjoying it.

The weather we have had for the last few weeks has been amazing, Just getting out and playing say 6 in the hour I've had - has been a joy.

I can't believe I'm loving this game so much - still , when do you hit that wall - I'm not looking forward to that. The one positive of my golfing journey so far has been the enjoyment.

The people
The places
The opportunities
The courses
The days
The nights
The memories

I was also thinking about all that golfing goals we see here that seem to fade away.

I was also thinking about the flaws of my rotation and swing plane - the inconsistency of my ball striking , the weakness of my short stuff.

The 9 holes I have played - I'm just stuck - 2 to 3 over , lots of GIR , poor driving - not making much on greens (but pole forked).

But - I hit a 3 wood today 245 yards - that there is not a chance I could of dreamed of hitting 2 years ago.

If only we could replicate that feeling on demand. For some strange reason you have these moments , you see the shot , you have a plan , it hits the middle , the power is not forced.

This game is still a mystery - it is the dream that you will some day get that the secret to unravel that mystery - that drives us all on.

Next year is a leap year - I've one extra day.


But - for the moment , I'm enjoying the weather , the reality that it is just a game. But just so bloody enjoyable.

Well that is the most frustrating round I've had in a long long time.
79 (8 over).

FIR 72%
GIR 56 %
Putts 31 (1 3 putt)

1 month ago - I had my lowest handicap - my first hole in one and couldn't miss a putt and was winning stuff.

1 month later - I've lost my driver - my handicap is going up and I can't hole anything or win anything.

But that is the problem with me and my game - the ups are too up and the downs are too down.

Was listening to Rotella in the car the other day , he was talking about creating a more moderate reaction to performance. This is a serious weakness in me. But your personality has to play some part in it too ?

But it is horrendously frustrating when on a day like today I had - a birdie putt on 1,2,3, 4, 5, 6 ,8 ,11,13,14,15,17,18

I made zero - no Birde in 13 efforts.

Of these 6 were good chance - 2 gilt-edged.

Of these most were on edge, but not exactly hitting cup.

Now - greens are almost recovered from pole forking are a bit too slow, it is nearly winter conditions - but still , very very very annoying.

But the positives - Not sure I will hit the ball much better - two bad holes were just irons that I creamed and got in bad trouble.

I do know my wedges are miles better than last year , but hit the odd thin one and they can improve much much more again, that would make some of the above birdie putts closer.

My 3 wood and Hybrid is a total new dimension to my game and - it is nice to have clubs in the 230 to 260 range that I never had, I have managed to flatten these clubs at impact and I'm loving this new part of the game.

It has been a lovely end of season (except greens) - still to gentle conditions the course is playing easy for the time of year.

It is a long process I have committed to and winter work is on the way.

I just know somewhere there is a day like today , where I will score a hatful of brides.

But, more work needed on game and mind.

Boskowski wrote: »

Well thats golf for you. A friend of mine says no matter how well you play remember you only have a lend of it.

I'm beginning to think there is some weird truth in that.
I mean, I've gone around in 2 to 5 over playing way way worse .

So you got to just ride out storms like this.

I guess If I was banging ball all over course it would be far more worrying.

What a mental week of golf – I am fully committed to the fact the thread will be calmer this time and will be taking a break for a few weeks with kids off etc, no harm an odd break, even if I love the ups and downs of the challenge.

So have been squeezing in as much as possible over the last week, firstly coming up to the jug. But also you can see late afternoon golf is going, going, gone.

I wanted to end season having a true feel of where my golf is, so have been recording stats too for a change. I guess your golf is where your handicap is – isn’t it? Well it is, but I’m in a period of a new low handicap and that is always a big transition for many golfers.

3 hours came free today, looked out and said, is cold, but would love to get a round in to get yesterday out of my system.

The day started on another major positive, with Boss Hole in One watch arriving- daughter wants to keep it . Got to listen to Rottella again and got great support on here for what is ahead.

Got to the course – only 7 people in sight, very end of ladies day – had 2 hr 30 m to sunset and set off with the intention to record stats and play as many holes as fast as possible, without impacting on score. It has been covered here also the risk with stats , particularly putting – when a missed GIR can leave you a very easy 1 putt on the way – this is a particular feature of links courses were a pin can be next to an apron, that is as good as a putting surface.

The great thing about playing half decent golf, is how much faster it can be – Drive – green – putt (with me 2nd putt) – but got 6th hole finished in 45 mins. Mental, but very enjoyable and actually a bit of a work out. You are going at such speed, you don’t have time to overthink, the hole, your swing, the hazards – you go into a zone. It is metronomic.

The greens again had been heavily sanded, so not a day to be even thinking about putting – funny enough, the sand keeps the ball straighter, but very hard to judge pace. I got some great lines from the laddies’ day marks earlier in the day.

I would have loved to have had perfect greens today – because again, basically hitting the ball as well as I think I will ever hit it. Hitting GIR (or just off green) seemed just easy, was cold and a noticeable distance of a club loss on most shots – 2 clubs lost into the wind. There is still a mental battle to hit a 6 iron when you were hitting an 8 to a hole in one only a month ago. Did I mention hole in one again ( :D)

On 10 a par 3, I hit a 6 iron, my best shot of the day – it was just the perfect club, perfect flight, very powerful into the wind to 7 feet – missed putt :rolleyes: – but was thinking at the time , everything about that shot was at a level I could only have dreamt of 2 years ago. Missing the putt was painful. I know, I know, 7 feet, sanded greens, pro stats, move on………………………… But – it deserved more.

Again – on about 13 I was thinking of what a few people have said on here, unrealistic expectations of golfers. I started to realise that 4/5/6 over on poor greens in near winter conditions is very very good golf. But at the same time, if I want to get to my goal – I am going to need to have an expectation of easy par rounds. The truth is, there is a big difference in par rounds and mid low handicap rounds. A big difference, bigger than the pure numerics.

I can still see the problems in my game – 80 to 50 yards I’m poor – thin or short, lacking any confidence and unsure on bounce, ball position and swing, is sad, as I end up in this place a good bit - and on every par 5 I’m in that zone. If I do hit a good one, it is 10 feet if good and it makes that putt that bit harder.

But today – I putted better – I has hitting at cup, lip or in. And on 5 after 48 holes of golf, got a bloody bird – thank feck, was actually a remarkable period of golf, easily had 20 chances (10 good).

I loved today and was going so fast, I seen I was going to get a full round in, again it was going to be another round, around 5 over – but one that could easily be par.

But – you can also fool yourself – 4/5 over is a long way from par.
It is better wedges, a little better on the greens.

On 18 I played my worse hole, awful OTT drive into deep right rough, was a poor enough lie , decided to swing all out and try a runner onto the green with 7 iron, creamed it to 45 foot.

The 45 footer, never looked like it as going anywhere else.
The worst hole I played – a bird (Lol)

Holes like that make this game the mystery we love.

Happy with my lot – a Reserve Rioja tonight – a qualifying comp in am. I'm a very lucky man.

Score 75 (4 over)

FIR 43 %
GIR 39 % (NB 72% yesterday ) (many on edge)
Srambling 45 %

Putting
29 Putts
1.61 per hole
1.71 per GIR

Unusual stat of day – Round time 2hr15min – Hilarious.

Thanks again to all - back in a few weeks - unless a dramatic cut or something.

So have had much stuff on - House work, work, real life and a U2 gig in the mix too - what a concert.

Still, have used whatever time I had, to hit range and play between 10 to 14 holes when I've got the time.

Played in Boards outing at weekend and was swinging like a "gorilla" as one of the lads said :D. Still had 31 pts, but was most inconsistent striking I have had in a year or so. Went from Thin , to fat, to OTT , to hook to slice. :eek::D

Got it together for last few and played them well enough, except on drive that was so out of time and path , I almost missed ball. :eek:

I can only put this down to the work I have been doing at range, I'm working on my width and rotation - I was looking at the club position at top of backswing and is so steep it is unreal



I would basically be on the right hand side of these 4 pictures.
So at range I'm working on more rotation and less arms. It is a major change for me - and feels very unnatural .

But - there is no doubting, I will struggle to be consistent with my current golf swing , so at another point, where I have to decide to work with what I have , or go for a big push at this over next 3 months.

I'll be honest and admit - it has been remarkable the scores I got and handicap I got to , with such poor fundamentals. I'm basically using my hands and arms all disconnected.

So played my own place 2 days this week. Was a strong cross wind and an empty course - basically 2 hours of light both days and was very very enjoyable.

It seems funny that with a cross wind - I can commit to one side of the course, this seems to get me working more from the inside and the ball even leaves the path heading right, rather than an ugly low pull.

On the first day I was 1 over for 10 holes - basically couldn't play any better,
On the second day I was 5 over for 14 holes - with another awful OTT swing.

So - I can live with the swing I have , but it is the uncertainty it threatens me with, is the real fear - because when I get into a run of disconnected OTT swings, anything - I mean anything, can happen.

So some thinking ahead - loved every minute of the golf I played this week.
But - I know there are choices ahead.

A qualifying competition this Friday - will be interesting , as CSS will be low.

But, off to get another U2 ticket first.

“About a 5 when everything goes very well!”

There was almost a request for forgiveness in the weather today. There was a stillness and warmth felt, that has not been, in what feels like months. The sea was loud and angry from the weeks of unrest, a mist was floating over Dublin Bay – stunning.

Maybe because conditions were too good – I birdied the first, then I start thinking about how easy this game is, then I hooked a 3 wood into water on 2 and the little man in the head, started talking to me about …………………… “you’re not really up to this ? ” , “are you ?”,…………. “go away little man”, “go away”………”you’re right little man”…………..

So a very strange piece of psychology to actually not have to deal with wind – jumping a 3 club change at once, in one day, is a welcome challenge, and to actually aim at the pin, is a new feeling.

It has been bits and pieces, but somehow managed to win a competition a few weeks ago, with just pure ignorance in awful wind. Again, a different sport to real golf – but a sort of strength I have. I’m not sure the ability to play in that wind is of that much value in the overall picture. My goal is to get to 2.5, not be good mid-winter, against a field struggling play in high winds.

In that last month ,I think I have come around to realising, that I will have to live with the flaws in my swing that are there - I can sort of play off 6 to 9 comfortably, with what I have. I know I will have days it falls apart due to my swing path issues. So, will never be a very steady low handicap player.

As my clubs get shorter – the steepness becomes more and more pronounced, My short cubs can be just powered through the turf , or can end being fat / thin. This then places me in two minds – is this going to be too steep, then I try be a little shallower and I hit them thin.

It just doesn’t sound like a player who could ever dream of getting down to 3.
So – I don’t need a total revamp – I can get the ball to good positions from very far away, I just have rounds were I can have 4/5 bad shots from 140 to 60 yards. It is horrible in a way – As I can play a round of perfect long game and walk away with an 80, or worse.

So people always give me the lecture on the short game – of course they are right, but there can be other fundamental flaws in your swing , that have nothing to do with the short game – yes the short game can get you up and down , I’m always thinking of the wedge that put me 20 yards away from 100 yards.

Considering the weather, the light, and considerable work I have on. I’ve done well to keep everything going. My main swing thoughts is get wide, drop and approach inside to ball if I can. If get inside too quick at the start, I’m normally OTT or sometimes I can be too much inside and a good bit of hook. So to sum up, inconsistent – but in the course in play / left of green (typically).
So – accepting your flaws, is a big part of this game too – I know I can put work into short game and putting – and made massive progress last season. But behind this, I fear that the fundamental flaws in my swing are my real limitation – I fear this limitation could place me at my current limits (about a 5) with hard hard work.

That is why I always struggle with accepting the game I have, I know the limitations of it. Yes there is power / distance, but there is very little finesse. There is limitations in ball flight, inconsistent strike.

But, “Jaysus” – I’m only an improving hacker having a bit of fun, I love playing golf – there is no point worrying too much about all that.
So a thoughtful day, have a sort of plan in my head – and will have a short game coach in January.

Joined up with 2 gents (about 70) for last 4 holes and had 4 pars with the dark descending. One of them turned to me and asked me am I off 3 or 4 – sometimes a little compliment like that is important in the head of an insecure low handicap player. Anything that helps that little man in your head have answers – when he inevitably comes back.

“you’re not up to this are you?” – “ I am, you ****er” .