My Life (Sub 2.5)

FixdePitchmark

I'm starting a thread - a blog, a whatever.

In the next 12 months, I'm going to get to, a handicap of 2.5 or under. :eek::rolleyes:

Yes - ridiculous,
Sad,
Pathetic.

I Know - I know , but at least I know this time.

But - the last time "the thread" worked. I got to my goal , met amazing people, played amazing courses and scored scores that made a very aged father proud. _ I'll be honest and say Boards was 100 % responsible.

I like making deadlines and numbers. Hard to explain , but put a target in front of me, and it forms a motivation that is hard to explain.

So - it is selfish in a way - I use Boards as a way to get to a goal. But feck it - it was fun and worked so far.


The Positives.

I have basically more time than any for practice - job and arrangements at home, help every aspect of golf - rare someone on here has the time - so feck it , I have time from 0800hrs to 1400 hrs that has no impact on home or real life. (rare)

I have found the coaches that work for me.

I'm a member of a club with great facilities and people.

I know what It takes from last time out.

I like writing - no other outlet, so let it flow.

I have a ridiculous ability to "stick at tedium", as per my final Year lecturer.

I think , I have people around me that are supportive - but unsure on that.

The Negatives

I'm getting older and swing speed reducing.

I need to get into better shape.

Body not up to stupid practice like banging a 1000 balls in one week.

It is not that important in the overall scale of things.

I'm a poor putter with a poor short game - not the type of ambition to be in to, if that is the case.

I lack confidence and positivity.

My ball flight is low and limited.

Goldenjohn

Well done on all achieved so far, Best of luck, dont forget to keep enjoying it. I'm still struggling to get to the single digits myself.

neckedit

[qdon't="FixdePitchmarconfidence49091"]I'm starting a thread - a blog, a whatever.

In the next 12 months, I'm going to get to, a handicap of 2.5 or under. :eek::rolleyes:

Yes - ridiculous,

Sad,
Pathetic.

I Know - I know , but at least I know this time.

But - the last time "the thread"I went worked. I got to my goal , met amazing people, played amazing courses and scored scores that made a very aged father proud. _ I'll be honest and say Boards was 100 % responsible.

I like making deadlines and numbers. Hard to explain , but put a target in front of me, and it forms a motivation that is hard to explain.

So - it is selfish in a way - I use Boards as a way to get to a goal. But feck it - it was fun and worked so far.


The Positives.

I have basically more time than any for practice - job and arrangements at home, help every aspect of golf - rare someone on here has the time - so feck it , I have time from 0800hrs to 1400 hrs that has no impact on home or real life. (rare)

I have found the coaches that work for me.

I'm a member of a club with great facilities and people.

I know what It takes from last time out.

I like writing - no other outlet, so let it flow.

I have a ridiculous ability to stick at tedium as per my College Final Year lecturer.

I think , I have people around me that are supportive - but unsure on that.

The Negatives

I'm getting older and swing speed reducing.

I need to get into better shape.

Body not up to stupid practice like banging a 1000 balls in one week.

It is not that important in the overall scale of things.

I'm a poor putter with a poor short game - not the type of ambition to be in to, if that is the case.

I lack confidence and positivity.

My ball flight is low and limited.[/quote]

I dont think you lack confidence or positivity, both these traits have got you this far/low. I find your posts, on the whole to be mostly very positive, somerimes annoyingly so, on this forum. My lowest was 1.6 before I took a few years away from the game, I found getting from 4/5 to 2 hard work I Went from 15-4 in 18 months and took ne 2 years for 4-2 .....For me it was 3 things in the end... Short game, Short Game and Short game. Im sure if anyone can Fixde can.

Best of luck.

neckedit

[qdon't="FixdePitchmarconfidence49091"]I'm starting a thread - a blog, a whatever.

In the next 12 months, I'm going to get to, a handicap of 2.5 or under. :eek::rolleyes:

Yes - ridiculous,

Sad,
Pathetic.

I Know - I know , but at least I know this time.

But - the last time "the thread"I went worked. I got to my goal , met amazing people, played amazing courses and scored scores that made a very aged father proud. _ I'll be honest and say Boards was 100 % responsible.

I like making deadlines and numbers. Hard to explain , but put a target in front of me, and it forms a motivation that is hard to explain.

So - it is selfish in a way - I use Boards as a way to get to a goal. But feck it - it was fun and worked so far.


The Positives.

I have basically more time than any for practice - job and arrangements at home, help every aspect of golf - rare someone on here has the time - so feck it , I have time from 0800hrs to 1400 hrs that has no impact on home or real life. (rare)

I have found the coaches that work for me.

I'm a member of a club with great facilities and people.

I know what It takes from last time out.

I like writing - no other outlet, so let it flow.

I have a ridiculous ability to stick at tedium as per my College Final Year lecturer.

I think , I have people around me that are supportive - but unsure on that.

The Negatives

I'm getting older and swing speed reducing.

I need to get into better shape.

Body not up to stupid practice like banging a 1000 balls in one week.

It is not that important in the overall scale of things.

I'm a poor putter with a poor short game - not the type of ambition to be in to, if that is the case.

I lack confidence and positivity.

My ball flight is low and limited.[/quote]

I dont think you lack confidence or positivity, both these traits have got you this far/low. I find your posts, on the whole to be mostly very positive, somerimes annoyingly so, on this forum. My lowest was 1.6 before I took a few years away from the game, I found getting from 4/5 to 2 hard work I Went from 15-4 in 18 months and took ne 2 years for 4-2 .....For me it was 3 things in the end... Short game, Short Game and Short game. Im sure if anyone can Fixde can.

Best of luck.

pinkdoubleeagle

What is your current handicap?

Kingswood Rover

Best of luck fixed, keeping it going, writing about it is a great motivational tool, it keeps you grounded, focused and offers real opportunity for reflection. I am on the wrong side of 50, just, but fit and have got myself within striking distance of single figs so i will using your blog for tips and motivation. As Gary Player famously said "the more i practice the luckier i get"

Russman

neckedit wrote: »

I found getting from 4/5 to 2 hard work I Went from 15-4 in 18 months and took ne 2 years for 4-2 .....For me it was 3 things in the end... Short game, Short Game and Short game.
Best of luck.

This ^^^^, a thousand times this !!
IMHO, once you get below 4/5 its mostly the few shots you save by getting up and down when previously you might not have, that make the real difference. That, and making your bad shots slightly better, ie missing in the light rough rather than the hay, or hitting the fringe leaving a handy chip rather than short siding in a bunker.

Good luck with it Fix.

HB2002

Congrats on getting so low and hopefully you will continue with the progress.

I'm striving to get to single figures.... currently 10.6 which is a personal best.
I just can't seem to stick 18 holes together.... I'll have 14 on the front and then 22 on the back.... after every round I keep saying to myself.... if I'd not scratched those 2 holes I'd have got cut.... but I invariably do scratch them holes!!!.

I know everyone says it's all about the short game and to a point I agree... but if you are going OB off the tee or from the middle of the fairway your short game isn't going to help.

What's the strongest part of your game?

I think the majority of golfers can get down to the 12 mark.... getting from 12 down to 8 or 9 is really difficult and I believe anyone getting down to 5 or lower means you're a top top golfer.

Few more weeks to try and get to 10 which was my initial goal for this year!

Seve OB

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

.............._ I'll be honest and say Boards was 100 % responsible.

I like making deadlines and numbers. Hard to explain , but put a target in front of me, and it forms a motivation that is hard to explain.

You target is to win your Jug match by the margin of 5&4. Better than that is acceptable, but failure is not an option

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I like writing - no other outlet, so let it flow.

A bit like my golf sometimes..... ugly but effective

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think , I have people around me that are supportive - but unsure on that.

5&4.... Failure is not an option

Rikand

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The Negatives

I'm getting older and swing speed reducing. - not that big a deal until you get at least towards 50 and you've got at least 10 years of that

I need to get into better shape. - Hasn;t affected Shane Lowry

Body not up to stupid practice like banging a 1000 balls in one week. - Not necessary, 2-300 balls a week would be plenty and spend most of it on your short game as your long game is already exemplary imo.

It is not that important in the overall scale of things. - It's pretty feckin important, lets be fair.

I'm a poor putter with a poor short game - not the type of ambition to be in to, if that is the case. -
This is all you need to practice. get a couple of lessons, get a style that works well and that you can use with multiple clubs.
xxxxxx
Profit.

I lack confidence and positivity. - No. No, you don't

My ball flight is low and limited. - Low is absolutely no problem. Also, can you hit the ball straight ? That's the only direction you really need to hit it.

Btw, I play golf regularly with a guy who is 55 years of age, plays off 2,He was on our Senior Cup team this year. I hit the ball the same distance as him and I'm not terribly long. We both hit the ball with the same level of accuracy, Practically 100% But when it comes to it, he's got two things over me. A better variety of shots to play around the green and he's a much more intelligent golfer.

The intelligence comes with experience, but the variety will come with practice.

Practice, Practice, Practice

My thoughts in colours above. take em or leave em

Rikand

pinkdoubleeagle wrote: »

What is your current handicap?

As hes probably out practicing for the next 4 hours, his current exact as per the handicap index is 4.5

FixdePitchmark

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.

FixdePitchmark

Ok enough of that.

Off to practice.


The wrong stuff.

OffalyMedic

Best of luck Fixde....going to use this thread as motivitation for myself try to get to 9 by end of year so 4weeks max and 5.4 by next year....going to do a lot of practise over winter!!

FixdePitchmark

shaunac93 wrote: »

Best of luck Fixde....going to use this thread as motivitation for myself try to get to 9 by end of year so 4weeks max and 5.4 by next year....going to do a lot of practise over winter!!

Joking .
But get your own thread.

Need a "womens" thread for a change.

Less egotism, and actual ability and content would be refreshing.

Seve OB

Hey Fix

Dream on

FixdePitchmark

Read that book first time around.

Was a bit of fun - his device was the book.

Mine has been boards.


Breaking par is one thing, it deserves respect.
But actually getting below 5 is another planet in my opinion.

You only see how hard and good these lads are when you get there. I know I'm miles from it now.

0.1 - per shot and a 1 shot buffer is a form of torture.


You go from a cut to a gain on 18.

Sort of, a form of cruelty.

Seve OB

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Breaking par is one thing, it deserves respect.
But actually getting below 5 is another planet in my opinion.

Couldn't agree more. And yes, getting there is on another planet... but as you say, staying there :eek:

Paul Dunne was +5.2 last time I looked, so he was not far off that when turning Pro. We can only dream:cool:

benny79

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

FixdePitchmark

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.

lowelife

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Nailed Wonderwall struggled on Stairway to Heaven.

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

This is true, I've never seen anyone play golf at a party.

Tell a lie....but it meant there was many a breakage

FixdePitchmark

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

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

FixdePitchmark

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

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.

FixdePitchmark

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.

The Big Easy

Best of luck Fix

Think your friend may be right on the setting goals at a level where you can't fail though. Should have at least went for scratch

Or do you think you can squeeze another thread out of that journey

I want to win the Senior Open Championship :pac: Have 17 years to attain the required standard :pac::p

Seriously though our greatest limitation is usually our pattern of thinking and it's certainly the most destructive. You have already highlighted your positivity or lack thereof (although I would tend to agree with other posters that you are not as negative as you like to make out) as a potential stumbling block.

We can work on our thinking the same as we can work on our short game. It is probably the hardest part of the game and life (an extended game) to master or to at least exert some semblance of control over. Like work on the swing, feedback is not immediate and improvement can seem fleeting and serendipitous but sustained effort always pays off in the long run. Just most of us don't make it that far. What did Keynes say: "In the long run; we're all dead"

You've shot under par in a comfortable enough fashion, so the ability is obviously there. You have to trust that and not put a ceiling on your ability or what you can physically or mentally achieve.

So change the thread title to 'My life in the West of Ireland'

Either way I'm sure it'll be a good read

Seve OB

lowelife wrote: »

This is true, I've never seen anyone play golf at a party.

Tell a lie....but it meant there was many a breakage

Fix made up a great game of pub golf last Saturday night. There was even a ladies tee as for breakages....... We were lucky the ball didn't break

FixdePitchmark

The Big - thanks, there will be no room for serendipitous posting - as I haven't a notion what that means - and a very hard word to spell.

Spot the guy who was studying hard last year

Keynes - Gold Digger - class tune.

I hope and do believe, I am not picking a target that is too easy.
There is a wall at 4 that is very very hard to overcome - you will find out just before you go pro.

I've played with these lads in the 4 to 5 wall , they are fantastic golfers - all better than me, in particular putting and wedge play.

The round I had under was genuinely a freak and out of competition - I literally holed everything from everywhere.

I want to get to a stage where a low over par round is comfortable.

Having rounds around 75/74 , I genuinely feel like it is an outer body experience , I just don't have the experience, I'm surprising myself that I can play like that - It is just a terrible state of mind for a player at my handicap.

The time I've had great success on greens - I had confidence, I had played around the Rotella stuff and it definitely had a placebo period. I had also found something in technique that was wrong a few times.

At the end of all that - I know there is swing and path flaws in my short game. Putter and wedges. I've worked hard on this stuff and had limited results , it is 50 % better than it was , but needs to be 100 % , if we are giving numbers to it.

In the winter - I am going to find the right person to coach in this area.
I get a lot out of teaching , if it is the right person and the right chemistry.

I have the big swing and ways to fix that sorted. But just missing a key part of my plan - I think GUI academy will play a part.

I'm in a far better position now - as I have admitted to my short game issues - I've put my hands up and put the work in.

Knowing you have a problem is the first step.

When it comes to effort - I have a strength.

Off to play football with the young lad.

Russman

Fix, don't build it up into something that's an almost impossible dream.
Its not going to be easy, but it's certainly very, very doable.

You made an interesting comment going through your 10 holes above, about not hitting two good shots in a row. Funnily I was at a GUI coaching thing probably 15 or 20 years ago as a youth and Paul McGinley was there in some capacity and said "the secret to golf is hitting two good shots in a row", I'll never forget it.

I remember the same coach telling me an anecdote around 10 years later about a comment Tiger made when asked about Harrington, around the time Padraig became top class in the early 2000s, and he said the change in Harrington was that his "bad shots were now much better" - that stuck with me also.

Anyway, don't think you need perfection to play off 2 or 3, you certainly don't. I know when I made the jump from knocking around off 5/6 to 3, it wasn't anything spectacular, just consistency - a few less bad tee shots and a few more greens hit as a result.

FixdePitchmark

Great post Russman - points well made.

You are dead right, that last time out I made way too big a deal of it. Then that played way too big a part in the mental battle.

I agree far more subtlety and slow progress will be the approach - a calmness like a morning round, on an empty course.

Up to now, there has been a genuine novelty and enjoyment in the goals and reaching them.

Most low guys are from a golf club background, have been low a long time and the novelty is long lost.

There is an enjoyment in realising this is a first time. In most things in life.

Typically low guys are, quiet, thoughtful, stoic . Well that is my perception so far (could be miles off).

I'm a sentimental old fool. Not sure that goes with that calming of the brain, that seems to be part of, metronomic good golf.

Back to the 2 shots in a row - If I was with someone else, they would think , your man has hit a GIR and says he did not have two good shots in a row. But a pull is a pull, 130 yards out, ended in 3 putt.

The good news , most of the bad shots were pin high and on green, I suppose it is a positive now , I would consider a shot on the green a bad shot. It seems almost another planet from even 2 years ago.

So - I'm ironically already making a bigger deal of it.

But off my current handicap - I feel I am and have overreached / overachieved.

I feel like an overreacher reaching.

Out with mates to tell them tonight, only thing they care about is that I don't win our annual cup again - One of the lads is off 28 , he particularly keeps me grounded.