2008 Season - Rate it

Mister Sifter

Now that winter is officially here, most of us will be back to the winter 12-14 hole comps. So, with the proper season over, how would you rate your play?

Was having a look back at my goals from last year's thread...

Main goals for 2008?
- Get my average putts down to nearer 30 per round
- Shoot a few under par rounds
- Have at least one eagle (never had one!)
- Play at least 10 new courses
- Play a round without a three putt

By this time next year i want to be playing off...
3 (currently 6)

Managed to accomplish all of the main ones... putting average was just above 32 which was a big improvement.

Didn't quite get to 3 though. Got down to 4 for a couple of weeks but slipped back up to 5 again. I put that down to the weather more than anything. Just as i started to play some really good stuff, all the competitions i was due to play seemed to be cancelled due to the weather. From mid-August onwards the condition of courses was appalling too. Through 2008, handicap went from 6.0 - 5.0.

Highlight of the year was equalling a course record. Also picked up a good few prizes and played 10 new courses... favourite of which was Royal Tara.

Thin my game has came on a lot over the year. Driving and putting have both improved hugely. Got a few things i need to iron out but in reasonably good shape i think.

ShriekingSheet

Here's what I wrote in the pre-season thread...

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Biggest weakness in game?
8iron-SW. Was never that good with irons. Relatively decent with long irons but don't hit too many mid irons close. This year my wedges have been really bad so I'm working on that.

Main goals for 2008?
Really reluctant to set any h'cap or scoring goals. Just want to improve my play and enjoy playing golf. If I do that, my scores and h'cap will follow.

By this time next year i want to be playing off...
9 suits me fine for now. Although I'm not playing well and shooting 34/35 points so it may come down a bit but sure we'll see how it goes. I've spent enough of my life worrying about h'cap and scores.

The outcome...

Weaknesses worked on
Huge improvement in wedges and short irons. Put a good bit of work into it and just got rid of the really bad ones and began to hit a few more close. More to do in '09 but happy with progress.

Handicap 9.0 to 5.3
Not setting a specific goal helped I think. Objectives can sometimes (not always) be just another way of putting pressure on yourself.

Equipment
Opted for a bigger, less bladey iron in June - Taylormade Tour Burners. Very, very happy with my choice. Also Driver, 3 wood and hybrid G10s are ideal for me.

Highlights of 2008
Obviously winning the Captain's Prize has gotta be the main one. It was 36 holes and one hole in particular will stick in my memory. The 15th par 5 (see Obni's bogey hole thread) in the last few holes of the last round. I was trailing to one of my playing partners by approx 4 or 5 strokes, and I knew it. Hit a driver over the first river and knocked a hybrid into 20 feet for eagle. I two-putted and he took 7.

A close second for me was the President's Prize. After a mediocre 14 holes in 6 over par (playing off 6) I birdied 15, 16 and the index one 17th, only to narrowly miss out from 8 feet for a fourth birdie in a row on 18. As insane as it sounds I lost the main prize on the back 9 but will never forget that run of holes.

Best round of the year was 72 gross at Woodenbridge Junior Scratch, being beaten into second by a lad with a hole in one on the 17th.


All in all I can't but be totally pleased with my first season back.

bigtimecharlie

My goal at the start of the year was to play more golf, have been out weekly since April. Got a bonus with a bet on Immelman to win the masters so ditched the old starter set and bought a good set of second hand club's. With the rest of the cash left, I joined a golf club and got an official handicap.

As a highlight, just a par on a hole is a good start. I just need to get my distances with each club more accurate and I'm sure I'll match the 18 handicap that I got for 3 very poor cards.

Trampas

Didn't play half what I intended to.

Joined a new club beside me which has a few people I work with are members and another person I use to work with ex captain so looking for a good season next year.

As I bought a house 10 min drive from the course.

Won my first ever open on the course a good few years back so always liked it

Tried to change my swing over the last few years but getting worse. Going back to my slight draw I use to have and already improving.

Main thing I need to improve is the old putting and driver off the tee.

If I can do that handicap will come down.

To many pushes with the driver which I don't get with the 3 wood.

chipping and pitching is mid single figures handicap standard (pitch and putt days as kept going) but putting has always let me down.

Buys are either hyprid or 5 wood (small headed) maybe even both if the money or bargains are there

PhilipMarlowe

I had a very un-competitive season of golf but I really enjoyed the year at the same time. My mind wasn't on the game for lots of reasons (real life) so when I got the chance to play I made sure to enjoy it.
I had a few decent scores early in the year but lots of rounds around the 32 point area...
My striking is much improved after a custom fit early in the year... my short game is better than ever but still room for improvement. My putting is less destructive than before but still not as sharp as you'd expect for a low handicap player.
Driving is good but still have too many destructive tee shots... I need to develop a more consistent shot here to put the ball in play almost every time.

My handicap is slipping towards 5 having barely dipped to 3 last year... I'll handle 5 over the winter and hope to work on some flexibility and shoulder muscle strength over the winter (rowing machine and swimming?).
Equipment-wise, all I need are tees and balls, the weapons I have are good enough

I have played a few new courses this year but hope to play a lot more away golf next year, including away competitions. My last two rounds were on links and I have to say it's such a pleasure to get such good conditions like fast greens and hard ground at this time of year... I'll get a few more rounds in 2008 and hopefully be ready to lower the handicap again in 2009

madds

ShriekingSheet - that's a very impressive year. <tips hat>

bigtimecharlie wrote: »

Got a bonus with a bet on Immelman to win the masters so ditched the old starter set and bought a good set of second hand club's. With the rest of the cash left, I joined a golf club and got an official handicap.

Jeez, how much did you lay down, what were the odds and what did it pay??

Started '08 off 12, got down to 9.8 within a couple of weeks of the 18 hole comps starting back. Quickly realised however I required swing changes as my ball striking was too inconsistent. Problem was that I tried to implement these changes in April which was about 4 months too late. Game went to the doldrums from then until early June. Got it going again, playing 3 times a week, but then the bad weather hit and it was real stop start for the rest of the Summer.

I suppose the one highlight was winning the Club foursomes in mid-September. That's a double as I was lucky enough to win the equivalent Singles comp the year before.

Har44

Don't post too often but do follow threads...this is a good one and very interesting point that Graeme1982 and Shriekingsheet started with good objectives and were successful...well done guys.
My year started well, hoped to get to single figures but I lost momentum and with no objectives and being too lazy to practice it went all downhill very quickly and I went out in handicap (I think that often happens to a lot of average golfers?).
Played at a charity gig with an ex pro who told me something very simple with major impact. Got back to 10 and have not shot under 36 in last 6 weeks (unfortunately non counting mostly due to conditions). Still need to work on short game though but at least I enjoy the game again.

Moral of story ...objectives...practice...go to pro if necessary to get fixed...objectives...practice....

Mr. Larson

Goals for 2008?

• Play more competitions.
• Get Handicap down. Get from 18 - 14 was target.
• Improve chipping & puttng.
• Win a competition or perform well in one of the 'majors'.

How did I do?

• Played about 30 competitions this summer and practiced for about 15 hours in addition to those rounds.
• Finished 15.0. I fluctuated from 18.1 - 18.5 - 17.9 - 16.7 - 15.5 - 15.0 - 15.9 - 15.0. (Getting 15 x 0.1's back didn't help)
• Short game improved dramatically. Only suffer the odd 3 putt, not leaving putts short consistently, found a chipping game I'm happy with from practicing. Biggest change is I love chipping and putting now and look forward to all my chip and putt shots.
• Won Presidents Prize, good few top 10 finishes. I came top 10 in G.O.Y. Now off 15 and I know I can still win a bit more and get lower.
• Got my 1st ever competition Eagle on Index 2... Par 4. Split the center of the fairway and holed an 8 iron from 155 Yards, two bounces, check, in dead weight into hole.
• Broke 80 in a non competition round (with a mate). Shot 75 (Par 71) including 3 birdies and an Eagle!
• Upgraded Irons & Driver to G10, bought Odyssey 2 Ball Putter and G10 Hybrid. Loving them all.

Goals for 2009?

1. Play less. I got too many 0.1's back this year. I played a lot this year even when conditions were crap and I knew I was playing very badly and wouldn't score. Need to learn to rest it for a few weeks when I'm playing ****e, don't want to get as many 0.1's back next year. Also will be single if I play as much next year as I did this year! :eek:
2. Get down to 11.x from 15.0. Not setting this as a major goal nor will I be tracking it too closely but this is what I would be comfortable playing off.
3. Progress in the team and single matchplay comps. Got to the quarters in single match club comp and learned a lot and really enjoyed it. Never played matchplay golf before and loved it. Just joined the club about 2 years ago.
4. Win a Medal Competition. Really want to see if I have the bottle when it matters on a strokes comp.

Niall09

Niall09 wrote: »

Biggest weakness in game?
My big push or hook, though i think i have solved the problem - my left hand on my grip is too strong.

I still had that push for most of the year. Eventually turned into a big, high fade which went no where. Got a few lessons, and now am driving as good as ever.

Strongest Point?
Im starting to strike the ball beautifully now, so i'd say that is my strongest point.

Must say, my iron striking isn't as good as it should be. I have gone through spells of hitting it leet, and also spells of hitting it crap. I think all areas of my game are all pretty equal

Main goals for 2008?
Get to the all-ireland finals of the Irish Junior foursomes and Fred Daly championships with my club. I also want to get my handicap down to 4.

Right, this has been an excellent year, we got to the All-Ireland final in the Fred Daly and the Munster Semi final in the Junior Foursomes. A great experience.

Handicap wise, I've gotten it from 8.4 to 4.8 (currently 5.2) . This isn't really helped with all of 18 .1's in 41 competitions this year. Definately need to work on consistency a bit.

Changes needed?
Well, I really need to work on my short game, sometimes it's flawless and other times it's ****e.

Again, my chipping isn't great at the moment, but that's mainly due to lack of practice. My putting has improved alot and have recently bought a Scotty.

By this time next year [end 2008] i want to be playing off...
3-4, i know i can do it

5

Come Easter I will be at 4

arg

arg wrote: »

Main goals for 2008?
Join a club. Currently playing to 15 (unofficial). Hope to get an official 11 handicap.

Changes needed?
Improve putting - particularly long puts. - having a lot of trouble gauging the weight of my putts.

By this time next year i want to be playing off...
11

Joined a club, but my handicap is currently 15. Went through a good few weeks where I was playing very badly over the summer but came back strong over the last month. My highlight has to be shooting my best round a few weeks ago; five over gross.

Long range putting has improved but still not as consisent as I had hoped.

uberwolf

I haven't looked back at the orig thread, but I suspect I didn't set goals. This was my first year in a club and my aspiration was to get out playing regularly.

This didn't happen as much as I'd like.

My final round of the year (to date) I scored 32 points which was my first time through 30. 15, 16, 17 were triple, quadruple, triple to finish on 103 - once again failing to beat the ton - which was probably the real aspiration for the year.

2008 Season - bitten by bug!