spacecoyote wrote: » absolutely Par, know it's going to take time to find my way round the place, but I felt I needed a tougher challenge to push my game on
pinkdoubleeagle wrote: » What is the course?
FixdePitchmark wrote: » It is all mental, isn't it. Still in the best form I've ever been in - head out, can play to handicap - not even going that well. A year since I've been able to do this - was a frustrating year. Was talking to a few of the lads I play with (golfing advocates) - I changed so much the last 2 months , it has made it hard to understand why this has happened. I love answers - but there seems to be too many variables here. Golf is a little grey sometimes. Changed a) Irons b) Shaft Type c) Putter d) Practice routine e) Short game and putting practice routine I'm obviously delighted - has been a, very long and difficult slog. But - if the truth be know - the last two months , I seen something come , it was small increments - but seen everything come right a little bit at a time - then, bang. Amazing. But the effort - was the biggest effort I've put into golf ever. Was very very intense - At one stage - I did something to do with golf every day, for, I'd say 3 weeks (mad stuff). Some days was just 1 hour on putting , other days 6 hours of all golf activity. The funny thing, I was enjoying what I was doing - I started to enjoy short game and putting practice - I never enjoyed that practice before ( I was poor at it) - but as you get better at stuff, you enjoy it more When I finally got a couple of level par 9s , then it was level par 12 - then bang, under par. It was like a step change in performance. Anyway - after it was all done , a little bit of a celebration. Too much at times (lol). But - could definitely feel a mental and physical exhale. So another bit of a transition - going on a holiday , will not even see a golf course or club for two weeks. Reflection on what to do next. What do I want to do next. People go on about handicap and all that , when I tried to improve at golf - it was me and the course and a score - I'm still inspired by, me versus the course . I know this is a little unusual. So much so when I go out to practice it is a practice round - ( I don't play 2 balls). What helped here, was playing only 6 holes - I then knew it was not a round - it forced me to play 2 balls, retake a chip a putt etc. I've never been into the handicap chasing - It is the next logical step. But not sure I'm that inspired by that. Anyway - will think about it looking at the sea - elsewhere.
yettie1701 wrote: » The total opposite has happened me in the last year Fix. Shot my first sub par round this time last year off 8 got down to 6 after winning a monthly medal and like someone turned off a tap it was gone. I've had The most frustrating 6 months of my life. I can't get the ball off the tee which was always the strongest part of my game. This has put the rest of my game under pressure and badly affected my confidence. Shot 90 in a medal last Sunday. I've had a couple of lessons and been to the range plenty but just can't find a swing. It's as if I've forgotten how to play the game and feels like I'm starting the game again as an 8 year old. If anybody can relate to the feeling of being totally lost on the course then that's me. Only for I'm so totally addicted to golf I'd throw the clubs in the river. If anybody spots a golf swing walking around anywhere looking lonely its mine I'd bet.
ronnie3585 wrote: » Are you activating your glutes?;)
benny79 wrote: » hey Fix in what way did you change your practice & short game routine? As in what were you doing & and what did to you change and start doing? would you just go out to your course and throw a few balls down at 100 yard marker and in or do drills etc?
FixdePitchmark wrote: » That was me Galway lad - so hard to start. But - when you start is easier the next time. You get a routine - have a drink with you - at one stage was thinking of bringing a little mp3 player. But no. One of the best players in my club the other day - said to me , your chipping is lethal - I had to laugh. I just happened to hit 8 or 9 good ones in a row when he was there. The idea of that was hilarious. The idea of someone like him saying that to me 3 months ago - would be just hilarious. It sounds like lots of work - but at times - I just went to course an hour earlier - or stayed after for 30 mins if I had a bad day on the course putting etc. Again - the return is very small - say I need to get to 100 % in this area - I've only made it 10 to 15 % there - I've only put about 4 hours a week, for last say, 8 weeks - putting and chipping. New putting mat too. If I went to range - 30 mins after putting too , the area was always empty. Says so much about the game. So many love lashing balls, trying clubs, shafts , settings. By the way - I'm the worst sinner out there.
benny79 wrote: » I'm the same as yourself fix were as I prefer to play then go to the short game but it doesn't help that my club has no short games facilities, but you would usually see a couple of lads out in the evenings practicing around a green. My problem is people keep telling me I have a great swing etc even Pro's I go to. And I've read its easy to go from 20's hc down to 10 hc etc Im yet to break 90 in golf and when I'm playing good its usually a 92-94. I find it hard to play to my hc cause I think I'm better than it. So maybe I should be hitting centre of green instead of pin chasing! but its usually of 2 or 3 holes that mess my score up a drive oob for example but can easily happen on different holes so it wouldn't be the same hole causing problems. But I know and have been told that my biggest weaknesses are mental and course maintenance. So like Padraig I need to stay out of my own way!
Barnaboy wrote: » Game continues to improve, so very happy at the moment. It was a lovely evening and had no offers of a game but decided to just go anyway. Arrived at Mahon golf club at 5.10pm to find the place locked up. Tried to find someone around to pay a green fee but the place was deserted. Even went into the pub across the road and the barman told me to just hop the fence! So that's exactly what I did. There was only a handful of people on the whole course. So off I went. Started with a sloppy bogey then put 4 consecutive pars together before making a total mess of the par 3 6th and making a double. Then hit a perfect drive on 7 but then chunked my second into the river Lee and walked off with an 8, so 5 shots dropped in two holes. But quickly settled down again parring the 8th and 9th. That 9th hole is a tough par 3 but I had a 12 foot putt for birdie tonight and only just missed it. Parred it earlier this week as well! Then another good drive on 10 was followed by a thinned lob wedge and the ball went miles over the back. Ended up with a double again and was +8 after 10. But once again settled quickly and started playing best golf of the evening. Pars followed on 11, 12, 13, birdie on 14, then bogied 15, par on 16 and then bogied 17 and 18, both of which were a bit sloppy. Finished +10 for the round, play off 13, so happy enough. (And that +10 was achieved with two doubles and 1 treble on the card!) What's most pleasing for me at the moment is that as soon as the game clicks into gear I seem to be much better at staying there. And most importantly the last 3 rounds have seen very strong finishes, played the last 8 in +1 and should have been better- two of the three bogies on the back nine came from three putts. In my defence the greens in Mahon have just been pole forked and are pretty ****ty at the moment. It was a lovely evening, managed to play the full 18 in just over 2 hours! That's what happens when you have a course to yourself. Just can't wait to get going with qualifying golf, nearly there now.
FixdePitchmark wrote: » 4) get very good at your 9 iron chip and run - know why it goes right or left , know exact position you hold club on grip , know exact shaft angle .
