Archive for July, 2013

Golf Struggles and Getting My Swing Back on Plane

Posted: July 27, 2013 in Blog/Life, Long Game Practice, Short Game Practice
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This week has been a real struggle for my golf game….I played on Monday and Wednesday, at Vineyard (Mon) and Riverwalk (Wed)….both rounds were disappointing.  Shot a 78 (+8) at Vineyard and an 82 (+10) at Riverwalk, birdied just once for the two rounds total and struggled off the tee.  My putting was horrible at Vineyard, but improved by the end of my Riverwalk round.  Once I started to move the ball more toward the middle of my stance, I was able to get solid contact with each putt and over my last 13 holes at Riverwalk; I putted the best I had in months.  Now that I’m able to get consistent solid contact on my putts, my lag putting was spot on, no possibility of 3putts.

Golf is such a frustrating game and I keep questioning myself as to why I can’t stay consistent.   I seem to find my swing and then lose it almost on a weekly basis.  I know through coaching from my instructor that my tendency is to get too steep on the downswing….this leads to real inconsistent strikes.  So I have spent the past 2 days analyzing my swing for hours in front of a mirror and on video.  I got a new phone this week, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and it has given me the ability to download apps that can help improve my game.  I am now able to record my swing and use the golf apps to draw lines to analyze my swing. Seeing my swing on video proved that I was indeed getting too steep again on my downswing….I used trial and error over the course of a few hours trying to see if I could get my swing back on plane, but nothing was working.   I spent the next hour or so before work just thinking about what I could do to keep my club on plane on the downswing…..and then it clicked.  I already in my mind tried to get the butt of the grip on the backswing pointing toward the ball, this is what helps me get the club started on plane, but I was forgetting to make sure it’s pointing at it on the downswing.  I had just assumed that in my downswing I was basically on plane or that my arms were subconsciously just continuing to follow the plane from my backswing.  Once I figured out how to get my club back on plane on the downswing, I did a few pump drills to make sure that I was getting the feeling.  After work, I was able to head to the range and test out my theory…..it worked!!  I hit the ball better than I have in months, more solid contact than I can remember having ever and the ball flight was consistent.  Had a few misses to the left and right, but I realized that my tempo was causing that.  Once I slowed down my tempo and made sure my club was on plane, I hit the ball exactly how I have dreamed I could.

I’m playing rounds again next week on Monday and Wednesday so I hope that I can get back to scoring well, after last night, I’m confident that I am going to improve.  Now that I have the ability to record my swing at home and analyze it, should help me stay consistent…now I just need to keep the ball in play off the tee and start rolling in those putts!  In a few weeks time, working on keeping my club on plane, I feel like I can get my scores back to the +1 and +2 I was shooting just a few weeks ago.

Also, I have signed up for a tournament coming up on August 16th-18th in Palm Springs.  I’ll post more about that in coming weeks, but it will be my 3rd year in a row attending this tournament.  Was in 2nd last year heading into the last day, until I blew up for an 83 on Sunday, so I’m hoping to improve from last year.

The 2013 British Open

Posted: July 19, 2013 in Blog/Life, Golf Rounds, Long Game Practice
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This years British Open has been really fun to watch, there is the possibility of a 3 or even 4 putt on any given hole which makes for some exciting golf to watch….no lead is safe.  I love watching the US and British Opens because they are always the toughest tests in golf, where par is an amazing score.  Tiger is just 1 shot back going into the weekend and I must say that I am pulling for Tiger to win his 15th major and 1st since doing it here in my home town of San Diego at the US Open in ’08 at Torrey Pines.  It seems that every major over the past couple of years, Tiger has found himself at this exact same spot, in the lead or 1 or 2 shots off the lead heading into Saturday.  Saturday is “moving day” as Tiger likes to say, but lately he’s played his worst rounds on Saturday and instead of moving up, he’s moved way down and has dropped out of the competition heading into Sunday.  I’m hoping he can reverse his trend tomorrow, he’s hitting a ton of FW’s right now, if he can continue that and keeps making those clutch 10ft putts for par, I think he will easily be in or close to the lead by days end.  Honestly with how tough this course is playing, you could potentially be 6 or 7 shots back heading into the final round and still win…..can’t wait to watch the conclusion of this awesome weekend of golf!

I did end up playing a golf round on Wednesday, but we were not able to get onto Riverwalk.  We ended up having to emergency drive up to Vineyard and luckily we were able to get a golf round in.  I did not play very well and ended up shooting a very disappointing 80.  I’m not going to do a golf recap of my round, I’ve been obsessed with watching every second of the British Open and it’s on very early in the morning in the US.  I will give a quick over view of my round however, just could not get up and down all day long.  Ended my round 2 for 7 on up and down chances, not that I was hitting bad chips, just couldn’t make a putt.  Still getting used to not lining up my ball on putts inside 10feet and I’m just struggling with confidence right now.  My lag putting is improving nicely though, I did have two 3 putts, but they were not because I left my first putt 6-8ft short like I have been….this round they were just missing the short 2nd putt.  Frustrating, but I feel like it is just a confidence thing, I finally found a set up and stroke that is making consistent contact in the center of the putter face and thanks to my lesson last week, I now have a better ability to self diagnose and understand the feelings I have when I have a miss hit.  With more putting practice, my kinks should start to iron themselves out and help me gain more confidence.  My driving took a slight step backwards during this past round, just couldn’t find the center of the club face and as a result I hit a few very poor drives.  One of them cost me big time and I made a triple bogey after hitting a tree just in front of the tee box on #8.  The tees were extremely far back and tucked to the left, forcing me to try to hit a big cut shot as I’m lefty.  I’m not comfortable with that shot at all yet, and I pushed it left into the trees.  Also had a double on #3 as I hit my tee shot in the water on the par 3 and was unable to get up and down from the drop zone.  Back 9, I started off par, par, but then went on a bogey streak that lasted the next 5 holes, until paring 17 and 18 to end.  It’s tough to go from 71, 72 on the exact same course to 80 just a few days later……but that is golf, the true definition of a love/hate relationship.  I’m going to take the weekend off from golf and just relax, clear my head again and watch the British Open.  Will be playing again on Monday and Wednesday next week, so fully back to the grind on Monday….will continue to hit up the range if I can after the work for the next few days.

Final Stats for round:  Fairways Hit (FW) 7/14 50% Green in Regulation (GIR) 9/18 50% Up/Downs 2/7 28%. Sand Saves 0/2 0% Penalties: 2 Putts: 33

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Round Recap: The Vineyard 72 (+2)

Posted: July 15, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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My buddy had to cancel on me today a few hours before our round.  I debated not going up to play now that I did not have a partner, but you guys are keeping me motivated and accountable to keep putting out content, so I decided to just go up and try to play by myself.  I was hoping that this blog would help push me forward, that I would gain some accountability from my followers and it would give me that motivation to keep practicing and playing.  Over these past 7 weeks, I have gained more support from you guys than I could have ever imagined.  Your positively supportive letters and notes from all over the world have given me great motivation to see this journey out to the end….I will accomplish my dreams and when I do, a big part of that success  is going to be because of you guys, thanks!

When I got up to the course, it worked out exactly how I imagined and I was able to head out immediately upon arriving and got to play by myself the entire round!  No warm up probably cost me the first hole, but it’s no big deal.  Because I was by myself with nobody in front or behind for most of the round, I played my first ball for score and hit a 2nd ball occasionally for practice.  Love being able to have the time for some true course practice, it is almost impossible to replicate it on a practice chipping green at a driving range.  Had a lot of fun out there and even though I did not feel like my ball striking was as great as last week, was still able to put together my 2nd +2 round of my life.  So I tied my 2nd lowest round ever, so happy I decided to come out and play today, enjoy!

The Vineyard Golf Course 6,531 Yards Par 70

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Front 9

Hole 1: 420 Par 4

No warm up and I kind of rushed my first swing, hooked it pretty badly, really lucky that it stayed inbounds just outside the hazard.  Was able to advance it to just in front of the green, where I had a pretty simple chip, but I over cooked it and had about a 12 footer left for par.  Missed the putt to start my round with a bogey.  Bogey

Round (+1)  

Hole 2: 351 Par 4

Short dogleg left with water surrounding the left side and green.  Hit a 4iron today and drew it perfectly back into the middle of the fairway.  Only had 112 to the center and just 123 to the back, a very thin green where the pin was located on the far right side.  Took a SW that I hit solid, but blocked it out left and it finished middle of the green about 20+ feet away.  Made a real solid lag putt to a tap in par.  Par

Round (+1)

Hole 3: 125 Par3

Pin was middle back today, but tees were up and was playing a total of about 108 and downwind.  I took a lob wedge and hit a very solid shot just right of the flag about 10ft.  Had a slight right to left breaking putt, that I thought I had made, but it burned the edge. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 4: 404 Par 4

Took driver today, but blocked it left and it was heading right for a water hazard on the left side.  I thought it was probably in from the tee, but when I got up there it was still inbounds.  Had about 80 yards to a front pin location, blind shot, but hit it just past the hole about 8ft!  Unfortunately ball finished on top of a ridge just above the hole, so I had a VERY quick birdie putt.  Played it off the toe to kill the speed and left it just inches from the cup, tap in par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 5: 401 Par 4

Went with driver again today and bombed it down the middle to the end of the fairway.  Just a short pitch left with my 60 degree lob wedge, hit it over the flag about 15ft.  Should have been better from there, but I’ll take it. 2 putted for a quick par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 6: 152 Par 3

Was playing about 138 today, hit a PW to this back right pin location, thought it was perfect, but it took a hard bounce and it got caught up in the rough before it could spin back.  Was left with little green to work with and a slight downhill slope.  Landed my chip a little further than I had pictured and as a result it ran past and was left with an 8ft par saving putt….failed to make the save. Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 7: 295 Par 4

A sharp dog leg right hole, but gives you an angle to drive the green in 1.  Usually about 250-260 to carry the hazard and drive the green.  Last week I hit a 5 wood to just 15 or so feet for eagle, but today I even beat that!  Hit a great 5 wood, exactly how I pictured it and when I got to the green, saw the ball just 7ft for eagle!  Couldn’t see the flag on my tee shot, so got lucky that it was right at it, a perfect shot….but my putting is still a struggle to get comfortable and I pulled the pretty much straight putt.  A great opportunity for eagle missed, but I’ll keep taking birdies all day long. Birdie

Round (+1)

Hole 8: 419 Par 4

Tees were way back today and the hole was playing into the wind, good thing too because I hit a great drive that was hitting toward the fairway bunkers, but the wind stopped it just short.  I was in the fairway about 145 out, took a 9 iron and hit it just to the back of the green.  A 25 ft downhill, right to left breaking putt that I lagged perfectly and made a nice par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 9: 503 Par 5

Very reachable par 5, hit a weak 3 wood down the left side.  It stayed just short of a bunker, but I had an awkward stance where my right foot was just on the lip.  249 left to green, was feeling good so I tried to hit a 5 wood from the lie.  Probably not the smartest idea and I didn’t really get good contact because of my stance and it just squibbed forward.  Had 180 in now with the wind, took an 8 iron that landed on the left side of green.  A 20 ft putt for birdie, just burned the edge of the cup and made the 3 ft comebacker for par. Par

Round (+1)

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A solid opening 9 of 36 (+1) on this Par 35 Front 9…2 putted every green and unfortunately missed a 7 ft eagle putt, but I’m really pleased with my score, lots of greens in regulation and kept the ball in play.  Fairways Hit (FW): 4/7 44% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 7/9 77% Up/Downs: 0/2 0% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Putts: 18 Penalties: 0

Back 9

Hole 10: 389 Par 4

Hit a bad drive that sliced left and found the hazard out.  Was able to hit my next shot just to the back of the green about 30 ft from flag, almost drained the long par, but it just missed for a bogey caused by a penalty.  Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 11: 457 Par 4

A very tight driving hole, hit one of my best drives ever on this hole, fed the small fairway gap and finished just 124 out, 333 yard drive.  Was on a slight down slope on the fairway, clipped a SW a little thin and got barely any spin on it, it ran by about 25ft.  A slight right to left breaker…..drained it! Huge putt for me, stole a birdie on this very difficult hole.  After that bogie on 10, I needed this!  Birdie

Round (+1)

Hole 12: 154 Par 3

Another par 3 over water.  Hit a solid 9iron that drew and finished about 15 ft right of pin.  Quick 2 putt for par.  Par

Round (+1)

Hole 13: 477 Par 4

Downhill long par 4.  Blocked my driver to the left and I was left with a blind 2nd shot.  Was about 150 to the front, hole is downhill so I took a PW and tried to smash it, started it on my intended line so I was hoping it was close to green.  Ended up just short, but was on a perfect line to the pin.  Made a nice chip with my lob wedge to about a ft and tapped in for par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 14: 412 Par 4

Water on the left and out of bounds on the right; hit a 5 iron today that I hooked.  Luckily it caught the fairway bunker or it would have hit off the hill hard and most likely out of bounds.  Had a real awkward stance, ball severely below my feet and my whole body outside of the bunker as my ball was just on the right edge.  Actually made pretty good contact and was able to advance a 9 iron up just short of the green in the fairway.  Decided to putt the ball as I was probably about 40 ft away from hole….hit another great lag putt through the fringe to about 3 ft and made the par save. Par

(Round +1)

Hole 15: 551 Par 5

Hit a weak drive down the left side and it finished in the rough on a side hill, uphill lie.  Tried to advance a 6 iron up, but hooked it badly into the rough.  Still 145 out for my 3rd into the wind….went with my 9, right at it, but wind knocked it down and it finished in the front portion of green.  Pin was in the very back on a little ridge, so I had about a 45ft putt for birdie.  Hit another great lag putt to about 3 ft and made my par putt.  Par

(Round +1)

Hole 16: 453 Par 4

The most difficult hole on the course according to the handicap on the scorecard.  Decided on 3 wood today and found the fairway.  Flag was in the very front of the green, hit a PW right at the flag, begged for it to be the right club, but it came up just short.  Should have been a fairly easy chip, but was debating whether to chip it low or high.  Choose to play it back in my stance and go low….mistake…. I ran it a good 9 ft by.  High was the way to go on that shot, missed the par putt for a disappointing bogey from what should have been a quite easy up and down spot.  Bogey.

Round (+2)

Hole 17: 157 Par 3

Hit a 9 iron off the toe and it just missed the green on the left side on the fringe.  Took out my trusty PW and played a great bump and run that took the slope left to right and finished just inches from the hole, tap in par. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 18: 411 Par 4

Very scenic 18th hole heading back down the hill to the clubhouse.  Went with driver again today, crushed it over the sand traps and it finished perfectly in the fairway just 70 yards out.  Ball on a down slope in the fairway, pin was on the back of this back to front sloping green.  Hit a great punch lob wedge, that flew all the way to the flag and stopped about 8 ft right of the hole.  A pretty straight putt, couldn’t have asked for a better spot to putt from, but I pulled it and missed right. Par

(Round +2)

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Another solid 9 of 36 (+1) on the Par 35 Back 9….had a great birdie look on 18 for back to back career low rounds of +1, but slightly pulled it.  Fairways Hit (FW) 3/7 43% Green in Regulation (GIR) 4/9 44% Up/Downs 3/4 75% Sand Saves 0/0 0% Putts: 14 Penalties: 1

Final Score: 72 (+2) Fairways Hit (FW) 7/14 50% Green in Regulation (GIR) 11/18 61% Up/Downs 3/6 50%. Sand Saves 0/0 0% Penalties: 1 Putts: 32

I found a putting routine on the back 9 that really helped me to get consistent solid strikes in the center of the club face.  Still getting used to not lining up the lines on my ball with where I want to start my putts, it’s a little weird right now, but I putted fairly well all day.  Had zero 3 putts today so I’m really proud of that, something I’ve been working hard to correct.  I started to set up with my feet slightly open on the back 9 and it was allowing me to strike the putts in the center and start rolling more down my intended line.  I’m really excited that I was able to continue my low scoring and I’m hoping that if I continue to play confidently and believe in myself that these low 70 rounds are going to occur consistently.  Will be playing on Wednesday again, most likely at Riverwalk.

 

Curbing Expectations and Putting Fun

Posted: July 14, 2013 in Long Game Practice, Short Game Practice
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Did not end up playing a golf round between Wednesday and tomorrow, but I did get in some practice.  Went to a little 18 holes putting course at a local driving range with my buddy Kyle on Friday.  The course was in horrible condition, the new ownership there has really let it get bad.  I remember playing the course a year and a half ago and it was in great condition, but we still had a really fun time and my buddy took some pictures of me to share on the blog.  Ended up being able to get to the range on Friday night as well after work, hit my driver very well, but was struggling a bit to feel comfortable with my irons.  I really don’t know what it was that I was doing differently that night compared to these past few weeks when I have played really well.  Did feel like my tempo was getting a little quick on the range, compared to how I have been swinging it, but I still hit the ball around my target line.  Nothing was too crazy, a little more of a draw than I have been playing and yeah that could have been the result of getting a little too quick.  I still feel very confident in the way I’m playing and look forward to my golf rounds this week, hoping to continue my solid play as of late.

 

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Playing at the Vineyard again on Monday where last week I shot my career low round of (+1) 71.  I’m trying to go in with no expectations, just the goal of focusing on every shot and playing them all with complete confidence, accepting of whatever happens.  My focus is to keep my emotions neutral and not to get down on myself if I hit a bad shot, just to accept any and all outcomes before I hit a shot and swing with true confidence.  I’m hoping for that under par round of golf tomorrow, I believe that I can do it, but realistically I will be truly satisfied with anything +5 or less.   After shooting a career low, especially one that is so close to par, it can be very easy for me to fall into the trap of expecting to shoot +1 or better every time from here on out.  I know my personality lends itself to this type of thinking, once I see how well I’m capable of playing, I start to expect to play like that all the time and I get frustrated if I drop back a little bit.  I think in a way it is healthy because it allows me to truly believe in my ability, I mean if I did not believe in my abilities and that I was capable of shooting an under par round of golf, no way I could have shot +1 only a week after shooting 81 (+11) on the same course.  I won’t let myself get trapped into that cycle of frustration, if I keep working hard and believing in myself, the low scores will continue to come and start to pile up and before I know it, those will be my reality.

Putting Lesson and Executive Course Practice

Posted: July 11, 2013 in Lessons, Short Game Practice
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Tuesday

Decided to schedule a putting lesson today with my instructor, we worked for an hour on different putting drills, designed for me to better feel what I’m doing and be able to self correct.  We worked on drills that helped with range of vision and really taking in your entire surroundings, not just the distance of  you to the hole.  This includes everything behind the hole, from the edge of the green to the houses or street in the distance.  When you start to just focus on the distance from you to the hole, you start to get tunnel vision, to play the best golf we must start to expand our vision.  Tunnel vision can also have the effect of making the distance between two spaces look considerably closer because you are focused on a fixed point.    One of the drills you can do to test this is to set up to a straight putt of say 15-30 ft distance (don’t pace it off before) and then stand up, turn your club so that the grip is pointing to the ground.  Now close your eyes and start walking toward the cup.  When you feel like you are close to where you believe the hole is, set the putter grip down.  This might tell you something interesting about the way you perceive the distance between putts.

My coach wants me to learn how to better feel and understand the strokes I’m making.  I would hit a putt and then based on if it started left, right or down my intended line, I would describe to him the feelings of that particular swing, in as great detail as possible.  This is a great way to learn how to self correct.  Eventually we did a variation of this drill where I would putt with my eyes closed and then tell him what I felt and whether I thought the putt started left, right or down my target line.  My coach doesn’t want to start messing with my grip and set up for right now, maybe later down the line we might tweak a few things, but he believes that putting is more about feeling than mechanics.

We also talked about the idea of not lining up the lines on my ball toward my intended line.  I’m sure you guys have seen some pros do this, most famously Tiger Woods has done it before, where he lines up a line on his ball where we wants his putt to start.  I always do this when I’m playing a round, but ironically as we were chatting about this, I realized that when I practice on a putting green, I don’t.  So I’m going to work on playing with no line up and focus on just seeing my putts rather than get locked in to a particular line and narrowing my focus.

Wednesday

Went over to Oaks North again, a local executive course with three different 9 hole courses.  Last time we played the North/East combination, but this time we played the South/East (Par 60).  Each 9 contains 6 par 3’s and 3 par 4s.  It is a great test for your irons and short game and I played very well, shooting an even par round of 60!  I’m not going to do a round recap, but I will give you a few high and low lights.   Chipped in twice, once for eagle and once for birdie!  I hit 10 of the 18 greens, but missed about 4 that were on the fringe, really close.  I managed to only 3 putt once utilizing my new putting method and that was on the 3rd hole where I only had about a 12 ft putt for birdie.  A bad 3 putt, but it was early in my round and I was trying to get used to not lining up my putts with the arrows on the ball and forgot to think about speed on the downhill putt.  So a mistake that was quickly canceled out when I made eagle on the next hole, but other than that I lag putted fairly well.  Still did not make as many putts as I would have liked from 12 ft and in, missed a few par and birdie chances from inside 10 ft, but I was more aware of why I missed them.  My chipping game is continuing to be a strength of mine and I’m just so eager to keep playing and see what I can do.

Ended up heading down to the driving range later on in the night, hit the ball well, worked a lot of my wedges trying to better understand the exact distances of each wedge.  Hit my driver and woods at the end, found myself getting a little bit too quick and as a result I was hitting them off the toe or shifting extremely forward.  Realized that it could be my tempo and once I fixed that, I was back to hitting my driver in the middle of the club face and sending it deep down range toward my intended target.  I need to remember to keep my tempo, I tend to get quick a lot and it causes me to be an inconsistent ball striker.  Hopefully going to be playing a round this weekend on either Saturday or Sunday if it does not rain.  But if not, I’ll still be playing on Monday again at Vineyard and Wednesday for sure somewhere.

Round Recap: The Vineyard 71 (+1) ~ My Lowest Score Ever

Posted: July 8, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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Shot my lowest round ever a (+1) 71 at the Par 70 Vineyard Course today!  A dramatic change and a full 10 shots better than my previous round here of 81, I guess keeping the ball in bounces actually helps.  I’m so happy right now; my hard work over these past 7 weeks is really starting to pay off, especially with my driver.  This round could have been the under par one I have been dreaming of…in fact I think you can say it SHOULD have been, you’ll have to read on to find out why it fell just short. Enjoy!

The Vineyard Golf Course 6,531 Yards Par 70

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Front 9

Hole 1: 420 Par 4

Hit a solid drive down the left side, the wind was hard into our face so it didn’t travel very far, but I was still left with only 140 into the green from the left side rough.  Got unlucky in that my ball was just in a dirt patch.  Tried to just trap it, but it came off as a big draw, bounced right and missed the green.  Was short sided and had to hit a high flop, hit a great shot actually to only 7ft, but my putting continues to let me down, missed the par putt. Bogey

Round (+1)  

Hole 2: 351 Par 4

Short dogleg left with water surrounding the left side and green.  Hit a 4iron today and stripped it perfectly down the middle.  Only had 114 to the flag, but into the wind….this is a very thin green and going long is dead and short is water, so I tried to muscle a SW and hope to keep it below the hole.  It landed on center of the green, but had a lot of spin and ended just on the front edge.  A 25 ft putt uphill that I left about 3ft short, but made the par putt. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 3: 125 Par3

The pin was in its usual Monday pin location on the very front left really tough.  The tees were back today and it only played a total of about 103, these past weeks it was only playing 65-75 with the same pin location.  This is a more comfortable distance with my lob wedge, hit a full one and stuck it to about 4 ft!  Rolled it in for a nice birdie on a hole that always seems to have my number, but not today! Birdie

Round (E)

The Tricky Par 3 3rd Hole at Vineyard

hole 3 at Vineyard

Hole 4: 404 Par 4

This hole should show you how confidently I’m hitting my driver right now, I NEVER take a driver on this hole as it brings in the lake on the left side into play if I push it.  Been pushing my 3 wood over there the past couple weeks and it comes up just short of the water, but today I decided in my mind I’m hitting driver.  Just focused on the right side, believed in myself and hit a great drive that finished on the left side, but barely in the rough, a great tee shot.  Only left me with 80 yards to center of green, I hit a punch lob wedge that ended about 12 ft left of hole.  Hit a solid putt, but just missed. Par

Round (E)

Hole 5: 401 Par 4

Used the driver again today into the wind and hit another great one, only 98 left from the left side of fairway.  Pin was in the back of this 3 tiered green and I hit a really bad wedge, left it out left and it missed the green.  Hit a bump and run with my PW and left myself an 8ft uphill, slight right to left breaking putt for par….drained it! Par

Round (E)

Hole 6: 152 Par 3

Hit the 9 iron over last round, so I took out the PW today.  Pictured hitting a high draw that started at center and finished around this right side pin location, but I overcooked it too much….got lucky here as it hit the cart path, but stayed inbounds.  I had a horrible lie however, in a small swell just off the green and ball was laying in dirt.  I took my lob wedge, put the toe down and just tried to clip the ball with the toe of the club to get it up over the hill with some spin.  Came off exactly how I imagined and was left with a tap in par from a ft. Par

Round (E)

Hole 7: 295 Par 4

A sharp dog leg right hole, but gives you an angle to drive the green in 1.  Usually about 250-260 to carry the hazard and drive the green.  Hit a perfect draw with my 5wood today and when we got up to the green it was only about 16 ft away for eagle!  Missed the eagle, but I’ll take a tap in birdie every day. Birdie

Round (-1)

Hole 8: 419 Par 4

There is a bunker that protrudes out from the left side of the fairway, I hit what I thought was a perfect drive, but it ended up hitting the very top of this bunker and rolling down the lip….literally 3 inches farther and it’s in the middle of the fairway, bad break.  Hit a good shot out from the lip of bunker with my gap wedge, but it spun off the right side of green.  It was a few feet in the fringe so I decided just to putt it.  Left it a good 7 ft short and missed the par putt.  Technically since I was in the fringe it doesn’t count as a 3 putt, but it definitely was in my book, should have been an easy 2 putt par….bad, bad, bad. Bogey

Round (E)

Hole 9: 503 Par 5

Very reachable par 5,  hit my 3 wood today down the 8th fairway on the left.  It actually worked out perfect because I hit it far enough that I took out a set of trees that would have been in my line.  Had a straight shot at the green, only 190 out.  Wind was helping and pin was in front so I hit a 7 iron that came up just short of the green.  Pin was only about 5 paces on from the front today, so I had a delicate little chip….I tried to get too fancy and hit an amazing flop shot to stop it instead of just getting it on so I had a birdie putt (pretty flat around the hole).  Had to land it just in the front and I left it short, chipped the next one on and made par, but gave up a prime opportunity for a solid birdie try.  Par

Round (E)

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A great score of 35 (E) on this Par 35 Front 9.  Drove the ball well and had 2 birdies which made me really happy, but did have a couple short putts missed and a 3 putt.  Fairways Hit (FW): 3/7 43% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 4/9 44% Up/Downs: 3/5 60% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 14

Back 9

Hole 10: 389 Par 4

Chose to hit my driver again instead of my normal 3wood, hit a great tee shot that went down the left side of the fairway, but just finished just in the rough.  Hit a 3 quarter lob wedge up the hill from about 80 yards out, pin high about 12ft left.  Hit a great putt, but it was a big left to right breaker that looked in, but died just in front of the cup.  Par

Round (E)

Hole 11: 457 Par 4

A very tight driving hole, hit my worst drive of the day here today, way left in a group of trees.  It worked out alright as I actually had a decent lie and it went far enough through the trees that I was left with nothing in front of me.  I did have to hit a cut, which I executed fairly nicely and landed a 9iron on the front right portion of green….pin was in back left.  Tried not to leave my long 45ft putt short and hit it a good 6ft by and missed the comebacker for another 3 putt today, killing me! Bogey

Round (+1)

Hole 12: 154 Par 3

Another par 3 over water.  We got rushed here as the old person group in front of us, one of which was walking was nice enough to have us play up as they were on the green.  I rushed it and pushed my 9iron left and missed the green.  Quickly I hit my PW pitch a little too far past the hole and just putted quickly for a 2 putt bogey.  I should have calmed myself down and took my time, but we wanted to pass them quickly as there was nobody for miles ahead of them. Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 13: 477 Par 4

Downhill long par 4….absolutely crushed my driver here today down the middle.  This is a downhill hole and the ball ended in middle of fairway only 103 to center….374 yard drive!  Finally hit a great wedge just passed the hole about 8 ft.  A quick downhill putt, but it looked pretty straight, I played it in the center and rolled it in for birdie….feels nice to get a shot back here this green is very tough. Birdie

Round (+1)

Hole 14: 412 Par 4

Water on the left and out of bounds on the right; took a 5iron today because last week I hit a 4iron too well and it ran through into the water.  Worked out perfectly today as I hit it down the middle only 150 out.  Pin was tucked in the back right where you can’t see the putting surface.  Tried to muscle a PW up there as it was with the wind, but I blocked it out left and it finished on the front left side of green.  A long putt of about 50ft and I didn’t trust my original line.  Left it out left about 7ft left of hole where I missed again for another disastrous 3putt, got to fix this! Bogey

(Round +2)

Hole 15: 551 Par 5

Hit a great drive down the left side that finished just a few feet in the rough.  Was 250 out today into the wind, so I tried to crush a 5wood up to the front of green.  Drew it in nicely and was left with only about 30yards to green.  Hit a pitch that looked like it was in the hole for eagle, but it just missed for a tap in birdie. Birdie

(Round +1)

Hole 16: 453 Par 4

The #1 handicapped hole on the scorecard.  Tight driving hole, but I decided to take my driver out today.  I blocked it left…..looked like it was going out, but got a great bounce off the hill and came to rest almost in the fairway….a good break.  Took a PW and landed it about a foot from the flag, but it rolled to just 3ft!  Unfortunately the putt was in that Bermuda triangle zone, one where you don’t want to mark it, you’d rather just walk up and hit it in without thinking, but it’s just a little too far to that.  I marked it and even though it was a pretty straight putt, I freaking pulled it and missed, come on!! Killer, could have stolen a birdie from the hardest hole on the course and gotten back to even with only 2 holes to go.  My under par round of golf was a real possibility if could have made that!  Par.

Round (+1)

Hole 17: 157 Par 3

Hit a solid 7iron on the back left of the green.  Had about a 25ft putt that I lagged up well and tapped in for par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 18: 411 Par 4

Very scenic 18th hole heading back down the hill to the clubhouse.  Confidently stood up there and crushed a driver down the middle, finished just 75 yards to center, 336 yard drive.  Ball was on a downhill slope in the fairway and the pin was located just 6 paces on from the front, only about 66 yards away.  Clipped it perfectly and it landed just on the front, but for some reason didn’t have the spin I thought it would and it finished about 12ft above the hole.  A quick downhill right to left breaking putt for an even round of 70….knocked it up to about a foot and tapped in for my lowest round of my life, +1 71! Par

(Round +1)

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Two 3 putts and a 3 ft birdie missed on 16 killed me as this should have been an under par back 9.  2 solid birdies though and I end it was a solid 36 (+1) Par 35 Back 9.  Hit 8 out of 9 greens on this 9, just could not putt. Fairways Hit (FW) 3/7 43% Green in Regulation (GIR) 8/9 88% Up/Downs 1/2 50% Sand Saves 0/0 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 18

Final Score: 71 (+1) Fairways Hit (FW) 6/14 43% Green in Regulation (GIR) 12/18 66% Up/Downs 4/7 57%. Sand Saves 0/0 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 32

Wow, this round could have been that under par round that I have been chasing, but basically three 3 putts and a birdie missed from 3 ft cost me, but I’m not going to dwell on that, I’m going to enjoy my lowest round ever.  I hope that I can continue shooting in the low 70’s and that this round is just the first of many to come in upcoming months.  This round was my first negative CDF handicap rating as this course plays from the backs at a 74.1 rating.  As a result, this round lowered my CDF Handicap down to a 2.8, lowest of my life. If you are not familiar with what a CDF Handicap is, look over on the left side of my blog and that will give you the definition.  I will continue to work hard and keep improving, my under par round of golf is hopefully close, I can really taste it now…..keep working hard, I believe!

Driving Range and Putting Practice

Posted: July 7, 2013 in Long Game Practice, Short Game Practice
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Friday

I hit up the range after work and continued my solid play from this past week.  I know I’m swinging well when my swing thoughts are minimal, my body is relaxed and I’m just free flowing.  I remember last week, my range sessions were terrible, I was gripping the club in a death grip, thinking about where my arms should be in the back swing, the path of the club down, my hips, turning through….a dozen different swing thoughts clouding my mind.  As a result, I hit the ball like I was a 30 handicap, became more and more frustrated and less and less confident.  I know they say that playing well breeds confidence, but it is just as true that having confidence allows for playing well.  Hit my driver amazing on Friday night, focused mostly on my wedges, but I left about 15 balls for my driver at the end and hit 13 out of 15 down my target line.  Feeling confident in that club again, let’s hope I can keep that going this next week on the course.

Saturday

Went putting for about 2 hours before work trying to work on my lag putting which has been killing me lately.  Still seems like my tendency is to leave the longer putts short, I feel like I’m killing the ball, but it still comes up woefully short.  I’m going to go see my coach next week for a putting lesson, really need one badly.  I experimented with widen my feet near the end of my putting session and it seems to give me a more stable base and allowed for the club to swing more freely, we’ll see if it helps me putt better on the course Monday.

Sunday

Going to be playing another round on Monday, late afternoon after work at the Vineyard….will be my 5th round since starting the blog at the Par 70 Vineyard course and I’m looking to break my upward trend of scores.  Started off with a 74 here, but since have gone 76, 80, 81 consecutively since.  I’m finally feeling real confident in my driver, so I will really be disappointed with anything in the 80s on Monday.

Went to the range again tonight after work, hit the ball very well again.  Was hitting almost every club in the bag well, except the few 3 woods I hit.  My driver is coming around nicely, I am crushing the ball down my target line right now, I’m really starting to figure that out, excited to bring it to my round tomorrow.  On the last 4th of my range bucket tonight, I used the balls to visually play the first 6 or 7 holes of the course I’m playing tomorrow.  I went through my whole routine as if I was on the 1st hole and then based on my tee shot, I judged how far out I would be with my 2nd and played the type of shot needed (straight, draw, cut).  I did this for the remaining balls I had and made it through about the 7th hole.  I have a solid plan for how I’m going to play the first couple holes tomorrow and preparing like this can really help you gain a lot of confidence going into a round.  I’m expecting a mid to low 70s round tomorrow……now let’s make it happen!

Round Recap: Riverwalk Round 2 ~ Friars/Presidio 76 (+4)

Posted: July 5, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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First of all Happy 4th of July to all of my fellow American viewers! Yes….I realize that I’m posting this just after midnight here and it is technically the 5th, but I just couldn’t finish it in time!  Today is a day to celebrate and give thanks to all those who have sacrificed their lives to protect this nation for us over the past 237 years.  Us Americans are all so blessed to live in a nation where we have the right to pursue our own happiness and the freedom to go after the dreams in our heart.  I for one do not take that for granted, I know there are millions of people across the world that unfortunately do not have that luxury.

Played my 2nd round at Riverwalk today, completed back to back days of golf on the fantastic Riverwalk course, playing the exact 9 hole combination as yesterdays round of 78 (+6) Friars/Presidio.  A really fun round out there today, that included a crazy accident that we witnessed on the back 9.  Will probably never see that again in my life, check it out!

Riverwalk Friars/Presidio 6,627 Yards Par 72

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Front 9 Friars 3,230 Yards Par 36

Hole 1: 384 Par 4

Straight away par 4; today hit a great 1st tee drive down the right side of the fairway.  Hit my 2nd shot in almost the exact same spot as yesterday on the front right portion of the green.  Flag was on middle right today, so I did not have an extremely long putt.  About 20 ft up the hill, left my putt a good 6 ft short (continuing my trend from yesterday) and I missed the 6 ft par putt, for a bad opening hole 3 putt bogey. Bogey

Round (+1)

Hole 2: 509 Par 5

Dog leg left par 5, hit my drive down the left side and it took a nasty bounce left and found the hazard.  Got to drop at the spot and laced a 5 wood up just right of the green.  Even with the penalty I had a nice opportunity for an up and down par and I hit a good chip to about 8 ft.  Made the uphill slight right to left breaking par putt! Par

Round (+1)

Hole 3: 342 Par 4

Dog leg right hole, where a lake runs down the right side, from playing yesterday I knew that I could take a 3 wood or driver and cut off the hole yardage significantly by going over the lake.  Decided on a 3 wood and although I thinned it low, it had a perfect draw on it and ran out around the corner of the lake.  Only had 70 yards to green, but still struggling to put it close from this distance, 35 ft over the pin.  A quick tricky 2 putt, somehow left my lag putt short again a good 6 ft and lipped out my par putt for ANOTHER 3 putt…..ughhh! Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 4: 171 Par 3

I started reading this great book my sisters got me called “Zen Golf” by Dr. Joseph Parent….only a few chapters in, but the ideas he has presented about letting go of bad shots, focusing and thinking of the bigger picture have really hit home to me.  I’ll talk more about the book when I’m finished reading it, but wanted to mention it because I used his techniques after the two 3 putts in my first opening 3 holes and it had amazing results.  Focused on this next difficult shot and hit a great 6 iron to about 15 ft.  Had the putt right online, but it stopped a few inches short, solid par on this #1 handicap hole. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 5: 395 Par 4

Straight away par 4 where you can let the driver fly.  Hit almost the same drive as yesterday, crushed down the middle, only 75 yards in.  Hit a solid wedge this time that played off a slope on the green and ran towards the cup, finished about 12.  Birdie putt burned the edge, tap in par.  Par

Round (+2)

Hole 6: 175 Par 3

Hit an 8 iron to center of green, about 25 ft away, good lag putt and made my 3 ft par putt. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 7: 507 Par 5

Out of bounds to the left, hit a great drive down middle of fairway.  Only had 200 to reach this par 5 in 2, but I blocked a 5 iron out to the left.  Hit a solid chip to about 6 ft, but missed my right to left breaking birdie putt on the low side, par. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 8: 403 Par 4

Slight dog leg right hole, blocked my tee shot out to the left, but it stayed in.  Had a fluffy lie in the rough 140 out, hard to get any spin, took a PW, hit center of green, but just ran off to the back.  Nice little bump and run and made the putt for a par. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 9: 344 Par 4

Decided to hit my driver today and hit a solid drive down the right side of fairway.  Hit a lob wedge, that I clipped perfectly and it finished just 5ft from cup, but unfortunately was above the hole and a real quick putt.  Had to play it off the toe to kill the speed, looked in, but hit a spike mark at the cup and darted right and missed….dang, great opportunity missed.  Par

Round (+2)

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Started off shaky with two 3 putts in my first 3 holes and an out of bounds tee shot on #2, but gathered my focus back and finished the 9 with 6 consecutive pars for a 38 (+2) on this Par 36 Friars Front 9. Fairways Hit (FW): 4/7 57% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 7/9 77% Up/Downs: 2/2 100% Sand Saves: 0/ 0% Penalties: 1 Putts: 18

Back 9 Presidio: 3,397 Yards Par 36

Hole 10: 398 Par 4

Bad drive out to the left that caught a fairway bunker.  Had about 160 into the wind, hit a knock down 7 iron through the winds, drew in perfectly and finished just 1 ft away from the cup!  Almost a hole out eagle, but after that tee shot, a tap in birdie feels about the same as if I had holed it. Birdie

Round (+1)

Hole 11: 178 Par 3

Crazy thing happened on this hole as we approached, a guy from the group in front of us tried to make a u-turn to the side of the lake, but instead of stopping to reverse, he drove right into the lake!!  I have never seen anything like that in my life, pretty funny actually, the guy was alright and they eventually finished the hole after the staff brought out another cart for him.  What an idiot, but we all had a nice laugh and my buddy took a picture.  After we waited for the situation to clear up we played this difficult par 3 over the lake and that had a steady cross wind left to right.  Hit a 6 iron today that over drew slightly and ended just in the back right.  Hit a great little bump and run chip to about 4 ft…..but horrible missed the putt, pulled it. Bogey

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Round (+2)

Hole 12: 511 Par 5

Dog leg right Par 5, reachable in 2 if you hit a deep drive, but I hit mine left again.  Hit a nice 5 wood up just right of the green.  Had to hit about a 30 yard flop that I flew a little too far and had about a 18 ft putt slightly downhill…..2 putted for par. Par

 Round (+2)

Hole 13: 440 Par 4

Hit another really good drive down the left side of the fairway.  Hit a solid gap wedge on to about 10 ft, but left the birdie putt a rotation short, par. Par

Round (+2)

Hole 14: 393 Par 4

Straightway par 4, but the fairway is separated by a river in the middle, so you are forced to lay up to about 220 from the tee.  Hit a 4 iron that just missed the fairway on the right side.  Had about 190 to flag, hit a 6 iron hoping to land it about 180 and run the rest…came off perfectly and ended about 8 ft below the hole.  Rolled in the putt for a great birdie on this #1 handicapped hole on the Presidio 9. Birdie

Round (+1)

Hole 15: 538 Par 5

A nice par 5 to try and get a shot back….hit my drive over to the left and then tried to hit a 5 iron up, but caught it really thin and it just squirted forward.  Bad shot, but made it up with a nice 8 iron that ended just short of green.  Little bump and run with my PW and tapped in for a par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 16: 374 Par 4

Pushed my drive left into the fairway bunker.  Had about 145 into a cross wind, punched a 9 iron that drew just too much and spun right off the green.  Hit another great little chip to about 5 ft and made the par putt. Par

Round (+1) 

Hole 17: 148 Par 3

Heading into 17, I was sitting at only +1, my dream of shooting an under par round is a possibility if I can play the final 2 holes in -2.  Admittedly I was not even paying attention to my score, I knew I had a great round going, but did not know I was only +1.  Like I said earlier, I am reading the book Zen Golf and it talks about just clearing your mind and focusing on the next shot in front of you and not thinking about your score as a whole.  Double bogeyed this hole yesterday when I hit a PW short, so I took out my 9 iron today.  Would have been pin high if I did not leave it out way left where it took a horrible bounce off a cart path.  Had to hit an amazingly high flop over a few trees to a short sided pin location with a bunker in-between.  Impossible shot, but I did flop it over the trees, but too far and it landed in a bunker on the other side….where it plugged.  Bad break, but was able to knock it out to about 6 ft, but of course I missed the putt for back to back double bogeys on this hole, which I now will forever hate! Double Bogey.

Round (+3)

Hole 18: 417 Par 4

Straight away par 4 that has out of bounds on the right side.  Sliced my tee shot over to the left around some trees, but was able to advance it up just in front of the green.  Little too strong on my chip and was left with about 8 ft for par.  Looked good, but died left at the very end….finished this round double bogey, bogey….disappointing end to an otherwise great round.  Bogey

Round (+4)

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Was -1 on this 9 heading into the final 2 holes, but blew up to finish with a 38 (+2).  At least no 3 putts today on this 9, compared to the 3 I had yesterday and I saw a cart in the middle of a lake so that’s a plus.  Fairways Hit (FW): 1/7 14% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 4/9 44% Up/Downs: 2/5 40% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 14

Final Stats: Fairways Hit (FW): 5/14 36% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 11/18 61% Up/Downs: 4/7 57% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 1 Putts: 32

Round Recap: Riverwalk Round 1 ~ Friars/Presidio 78 (+6)

Posted: July 3, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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Played at the Riverwalk today and we played the hardest of the three 9 hole combinations.  I will actually be playing the exact same 9’s tomorrow as I was able to book a July 4th tee time with my buddy.  I’m excited about being able to play on back to back days and today I wanted to come out to the Riverwalk so that I could play the same course two days in a row.  We played the Friars/Presidio combination today that plays at a rating of 71.7/129, but is much tougher than that.  If you click on the scorecard picture you’ll find at the end of each 9 recap, you can actually see the hole layouts on the scorecard.  Gives you a good visual to go along with my descriptions….enjoy!

Riverwalk: Friars/Presidio 6,627 Yards Par 72

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Front 9 Friars 3,230 Yards Par 36

Hole 1: 384 Par 4

Straight away par 4, hooked my drive into the opposite fairway to the right.  2nd shot was about 160 into the wind, took an 8 because I didn’t want to go over and it finished on the very front portion of the green.  Had a long 70ft putt up the slope, hit a nice lag putt to about 4 ft and made the par. Par

Round (E)

Hole 2: 509 Par 5

Dog leg left par 5, hit my drive down the left side.  Had a small tree in front of me so I couldn’t go for the green, just hit a 7iron over the tree, but pulled it slightly.  My 3rd shot was about 125, but had to keep it under another tree.  Wanted to just hit a low punch cut shot, took a 9iron thinking it wouldn’t go that far.  Hit it perfect and that was WAY too much club and it ended in the rough over the green.  A huge downhill slope to the flag located at the very front, hit an amazing PW chip to about 5ft and left myself an uphill putt.  Drained it, for a great up and down, par. Par

Round (E)

Hole 3: 342 Par 4

Dog leg right hole, where a lake runs down the right side. Our GPS wasn’t working so I didn’t know how much it was to carry the lake to the fairway on the other side, so I just hit a hybrid down the left side.  Turns out it wasn’t that far over the lake and I could have cut the hole off a lot if I hit driver.  Will probably go for that tomorrow depending on the wind.  Had about 128 left and hit a gap wedge.  Hit a bad shot that I layed off and it leaked to the left rough.  Had to flop it over a bunker onto a downhill slope, ball landed just a ft too short and stayed up on the collar.  Very delicate, difficult chip now left for my par down the slope…..knocked it in, boom!! Par

Round (E)

Hole 4: 171 Par 3

Hardest hole on this side, lake on the left and right of this narrow green.  Hit a 6iron, but it just came up short in the bunker.  When I got up to the green, found the ball plugged badly in the bunker….with water on the other side of the green, I was really scared of this next shot.  Tried to put the negative chatter in my mind away and I hit a great shot up to about 10ft…phew!  Missed the par putt, but that hole could have been a lot worse with the plugged lie I had in the bunker. Bogey

Round (+1)

Hole 5: 395 Par 4

Straight away par 4 that you can let the driver eat.  Hit a perfect drive, solid and down the middle, it ended in the fairway only 78 yards from hole, a nice 317yard drive.  Wedge game is killing me right now, hit a lob wedge that came up short.  Should be putting those on the green within 12 ft 80-90%% of the time, got to fix that.  Continued my great touch around the greens though with this chip that looked in, but hit the stick and stayed out.  1inch par tap in.  Par

Round (+1)

Hole 6: 175 Par 3

Wind was helping today and hit a 7iron that finished about 8ft above the hole.  A quick downhill putt that I played off the toe of the putter to try and kill some speed….birdie putt just burned the right edge of the hole, 2 putt par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 7: 507 Par 5

Out of bounds to the left, so I made sure I went right.  Pulled my drive onto the fairway on the right, but only had 220 into the par 5.  Blind shot, so I hit a 5 iron that actually ended up just short of the green about 15 yards.  Made a good PW pitch to about 8ft below the hole…..rolled in the straight putt for my first birdie of the day, back to even! Birdie

Round (E)

Hole 8: 403 Par 4

Slight dog leg right hole, took aim over a set of bunkers on the right side and crushed it.  One of the best feeling and looking drives of my life, just perfectly in the center of the club face and ended only 73yards from the green in the fairway, 330yards!  Hit a lob wedge, to the elevated green and it ended about 15ft above hole.  2 putted for a par. Par

Round (E)

Hole 9: 344 Par 4

Took a 3 wood and hit a solid drive down the middle.  Only had 106 yards, but it was severally into the wind.  I tried to trap a lob wedge and flight it under the wind, but caught it fat and it fell way short of the green.  Had to hit a giant flop to the green and almost holed it, but it finished about 6ft away.  A little right to left breaking putt, but I missed it on the low side to make a disappointing bogey to finish this solid 9 from only 100 yards out. Bogey

Round (+1)

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A great 37 (+1) on this Par 36 Friars Front 9.  Hit a few really great drives and kept the ball in bounds.  My wedge game really killed me this 9, but my chipping was on fire.  Fairways Hit (FW): 3/7 43% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 4/9 44% Up/Downs: 3/4 75% Sand Saves: 0/1 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 13

Back 9 Presidio:3,397 Yards Par 36

Hole 10: 398 Par 4

Hit my drive solid, but left into the opposite fairway. Had about 150 into the wind, hit a great 8iron right at the flag, but it finished just on the front of the green.  Had about a 20ft birdie putt that I misjudged the speed on and left it a good 8ft short, missed the next putt for a bad 3putt start to the back 9. Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 11: 178 Par 3

Over a lake and had a steady cross wind left to right.  Hit a 7iron and played the wind, landed on the green and rolled down the slope to about 15ft above the hole.  Another horrible lag putt as I left this putt also about 6-7ft short.  Back to back 3 putts as I missed my par putt……putting is going to be the death of me this back 9. Bogey

Round (+3)

Hole 12: 511 Par 5

Dog leg right Par 5, reachable in 2 if you hit a deep drive, but I hit mine left again into a parallel fairway.  Took a 5wood and crushed up about 60 yards from the green.  Hit an ok wedge shot this time, but it was still 15ft right of the hole.  Leaving my last two lag putts short, I was going to make sure I got it to the hole this time…..a little too much and I ran it 5 ft by.  What do you know…lipped out that putt for my 3rd consecutive 3 putt….you have got to be kidding me right now!?!?  Bogey on this par 5 from 60 yards out….unacceptable.  Bogey

 Round (+4)

Hole 13: 440 Par 4

Hit another really good drive that finished just in the rough, but was only 116 to middle of the green.  Missed another green with a wedge in my hand as I left this one out to the left again.  Continued my solid chipping as I chipped a PW to about 2ft, tap in par to stop the bogey train. Par

Round (+4)

Hole 14: 393 Par 4

Straightway par 4, but the fairway is separated by a river in the middle, so you are forced to lay up to about 220 from the tee.  Hit a 4iron today that stayed down the left side in the rough.  Had a terrible lie, basically dirty and in a depression.  Tried to advance a 6iron, but hit it fat and it came up about 90yards short of green.  Hit a good wedge to the center of the green, but missed my par putt.  Bogey

Round (+5)

Hole 15: 538 Par 5

A nice par 5 to try and get a shot back….hit my drive over to the left and then hit a nice 5wood up to about 30yards.  Had a really bad angle to the pin as it was tucked just over a bunker and I had to hit a long flop shot.  Came off perfectly and finished just 6ft from hole for birdie….pulled the putt and let a great birdie opportunity slip by. Par

Round (+5)

Hole 16: 374 Par 4

Pushed my drive left and had to hit another punch cut shot to keep it under a branch.  Only problem is this ball didn’t cut and came up short right.  Hit a real nice chip to 4ft and made a nice up and down par. Par

Round (+5) 

Hole 17: 148 Par 3

Someone in our group had a range finder and they said the pin was only 140.  I hit a solid PW thinking that it was perfect, but it came up short.  Thought it was in the hazard, but we found it almost imbedded on the edge in some long grass.  Decided to play it and I had to chock down my wedge all the way to the metal and took a hack…popped out, but only a few ft.  An unlucky break as that ball then rolled into a random pitch mark and I proceeded to leave that chip short as well.  Kind of throwing my real solid round away here on 17….ended up making a double bogey 5.  Double Bogey.

Round (+7)

Hole 18: 417 Par 4

Straight away par 4 that has out of bounds on the right side.  Hit a real solid drive down the left side, ended up getting some nice roll on the cart path and finished only 80 yards away, 337 yard drive.  Finally hit a solid wedge shot to about 8ft below the hole.  Made the left to right breaking putt and finished my round off nicely with a much needed birdie on 18 after the disaster on 17.  Birdie

Round (+6)

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Started off this 9 with 3 consecutive 3 putt bogeys and a disastrous 5 on the par 3 17th, but ended with a nice birdie on 18.  Although my stats will say I hit 0 FW’s on the back 9, I did hit a lot of solid drives that just finished outside the fairways….putting is what killed me on this 9, 41 (+5). Fairways Hit (FW): 0/7 0% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 5/9 55% Up/Downs: 2/4 50% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 18

Final Stats: Fairways Hit (FW): 3/14 22% (Drove the ball great today, many solid long drives and kept the ball in bounds all day, win for me)  Greens in Regulation (GIR): 9/18 50% Up/Downs: 5/8 63% Sand Saves: 0/1 0% Penalties: 0 Putts: 32

Overall I’m pleased with this round, I feel like I’m starting to hit the ball better after a horrible last few weeks.  My back 9 was extremely disappointing, but it was not my driving that killed me like previous weeks, it was my putting.  I’m playing the same 9’s tomorrow so I should improve my speed.  My chipping and up and down game is staying really solid…I have proven that I can get up and down over 50% of the time on a consistent basis now and that feels really really good.  Still need to work on my 120 and in wedge game, can’t continue to miss greens from that distance or put it on, but 20+ft away from hole.  That should be my scoring clubs and I need to be making birdies or pars from that distance automatically, not bogeys.  That will come with more playing and consistent practice, but I feel good heading into my round tomorrow.  Will be playing the same two 9’s so I hope that I can improve on my +6 score today.  Played well enough today to shoot about 2-4 over, but I won’t complain about a round in the 70’s after the disappointing past couple weeks.

Round Recap: The Vineyard 81 (+11)

Posted: July 2, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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4th round recap at the Vineyard, this is starting to look like my home course if I had any because it’s so cheap at twilight and in good condition.  This pin positions, just like last round, were in really tough spot today, many on slopes, making two putting not a guarantee by any stretch.  A disappointing round of 81 today, but when you read the recap, you’ll find out why.

The Vineyard Golf Course 6,531 Yards Par 70

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Front 9

Hole 1: 420 Par 4

Snap hooked my opening tee shot into the hazard on the right, not a good way to start my round.  Hit my drop onto the green and two putted for an opening hole bogey. Bogey

Round (+1)  

Hole 2: 351 Par 4

Short dogleg left with water surrounding the left side and green.  Took a 5iron and hit a solid shot down the middle of the fairway.  Had about 112 into the green, slightly into the wind. Hit a sand wedge that landed on green, but spun back off.  Hit a real nice bump and run with my PW to a tap in par. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 3: 125 Par3

Pin was way up again like it was 2 rounds ago, only playing around 75yards today.  Just tried to punch a half lob wedge up there, but hit it too good and it flew over into the back rough.  Hit another great chip to about 3ft and made another par save. Par

Round (+1)

Hole 4: 404 Par 4

Hit my usual 3wood off this tee, but for once I didn’t shove it way left and this one drew back toward the fairway…unfortunately it just got caught up in the lip of a bunker.  Only had 100 yards to the front of the green, really awkward lie for me being a lefty as I was basically standing on the down slope of the lip. Just punched a pw out and hit a great shot that ran up pin high about 15ft right of flag.  The pin location was positioned on the ridge in the middle of the green and being pin high, I was faced with an almost impossible putt to stop close as it was a big breaking right to left putt down the slope. I was just trying to get it to finish about 6-8ft below the hole so I would be putting uphill for par and I did just that.  Really struggling with my confidence from this distances right now however and I pulled the pretty much straight 6ft putt and 3 putted for a bogey.  Really hard pin location and even though I was center of the green in two, you needed to keep it below the hole today and that cost me. Bogey

Round (+2)

Hole 5: 401 Par 4

Decided to go with my driver today to keep working on the changes I found and hit a great drive down the middle and only had about 80 yards in.  Pin was located on the back of this 3 tier green on another slope!  I hit a poor wedge as I pushed it to the left, was pin high, but had another big sloping putt at about 25ft.  Left my first putt well short and missed my par again, for back to back 3 putts.  I need to stop making bogeys from 80yards in the fairway, no excuse, just need to practice more.  Should be making birdies and pars, bogeys from there are just unacceptable. Bogey

Round (+3)

Hole 6: 152 Par 3

Took one club too many on this shot and killed a 9iron over the green….should have factored in the heat as it makes the ball travel slightly farther.  Hit another excellent chip to a tap in and made par. Par

Round (+3)

Hole 7: 295 Par 4

A sharp dog leg right hole, but gives you an angle to drive the green in 1.  Usually about 250-260 to carry the hazard and drive the green.  Since I hit a 3wood out of bounds last week after I blocked it left, I went with my 5wood today thinking that if I hit the same shot I’d be ok this time.  Hmmm….guess not, hit the same shot as last week, but crushed my 5wood through the fairway and into the street….so pissed at myself, this is a birdie hole, keep it in bounds and it’s an easy par, keep killing myself off this tee.  Hit a big flop after my drop that ended about 15ft from hole, missed my par putt and made another bogey on this 18th handicapped hole. Bogey

Round (+4)

Hole 8: 419 Par 4

Hit my best drive ever on this hole today, crushed it down the middle, hit the back of a hill in the fairway and got extra roll and only had 76yards in, 343 drive!  Pin was located in another impossible spot, on an extreme down slope.  I punched a wedge that landed about 3ft away, bit and spun back down the slope and about 15ft below the hole….this pin locations are brutal.  Had an uphill right to left breaking putt that I left short, but made the par putt. Par

Round (+4)

Hole 9: 503 Par 5

Very reachable par 5, finally hit a good drive, was feeling confident in my driver at this point so I went with it today instead of my normal 3 wood.  Hit a solid shot that was close to the fairway, but in the rough.  Had only 184 yards to reach this par 5 in two.  Wind was helping and I took an 8iron, but shoved it completed left.  Horrible shot and ball ended on a down slope that I had to flop to get into the green.  Hit a good shot to about 15ft, but missed the birdie.  Let a good opportunity for birdie go after a nice drive because I left myself short sided again. Par

Round (+4)

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Had two penalties off the tee and two three putts to shoot a 39 (+4) on this Par 35 Front 9.  Was 3 for 3 on up and downs though, so chipping is staying solid.  Fairways Hit (FW): 3/7 43% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 4/9 44% Up/Downs: 3/3 100% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 2

Back 9

Hole 10: 389 Par 4

Chose to hit my driver again instead of my normal 3wood, hit a great tee shot that went down the left side of the fairway, but just finished in the rough.  It ended up in a little divot hole, but was able to get solid contact with a lob wedge.  Had about 70yards to the uphill flag and stuck it to about 8ft.  Rolled in my putt to get my first birdie of the day and a good start to this tough back 9.  Funny how keeping the ball in play off the tee can do, triple bogey last week to a birdie this week.  Birdie

Round (+3)

Hole 11: 457 Par 4

A very tight driving hole, hit a good drive that ended in the rough just to the left of the fairway.  Had a bad angle into a back left hole location and I had to hit a small cut to avoid a tree.  Clipped the top of the tree and it ended in the greenside bunker.  There was little sand in this bunker and I hit it a little thin and it went out left.  Was pin high, but needed to chip it again to get it onto the green.  I was frustrated and should have gone to the back to switch clubs, but decided just to use the sand wedge.  Hit a poor chip and was still left with about 9ft for bogey, missed it and made a bad double bogey. Double Bogey

Round (+5)

Hole 12: 154 Par 3

Another par 3 over water.  Hit a great punch PW that hit left for pin and spun back to about 8ft for birdie.  A slight downhill putt that lipped out and I made a par.  Needed that birdie to fall badly.  Par

Round (+5)

Hole 13: 477 Par 4

Downhill long par 4.  Been feeling confident in my driver today, but I sliced this one way left.  It was ok however in an adjacent fairway, but a long way to the green at 184 yards.  Hit a 6iron, but caught it slightly fat and it came up short in the green side bunker.  This time I hit a great blind bunker shot that finished about 6ft from cup….putting is letting me down today as I pulled this putt slightly too and it lipped out again. Bogey

Round (+6)

Hole 14: 412 Par 4

Water on the left and out of bounds on the right; hit a 4 iron down the left side that took a hard hard bounce and kept rolling through the fairway and into the water hazard. A really unlucky break, I crushed that ball and didn’t think I’d hit a 4iron that far.  Dropped and hit a bad wedge that I quit on and it finished in another bunker.  Hit a great downhill bunker shot to about 3 ft and made the putt for a bogey…could have been worse, but another penalty leads to another dropped shot. Bogey

(Round +7)

Hole 15: 551 Par 5

Hit a great drive just to the right of the fairway.  Had a bad lie as the ball ended in a depression, so I could only hit a 6iron instead of go for the green from 244out.  Left myself in the perfect spot, about 55 yards in the fairway, hit a wedge up to about 12ft.  A downhill putt, but looked almost straight.  I killed the putt, crushed it a good 6ft by and like I’ve been doing lately, missed the comeback putt.  An absolutely horrible 3 putt bogey, my 3rd of the day, and after being only 50yards from the green in two, my short game killing me now.  Bogey

(Round +8)

Hole 16: 453 Par 4

The most difficult hole on the course according to the handicap on the scorecard.  Took my driver out today and hit it into another hazard, 4th penalty of the day. Hit my drop short of the green and hit my PW chip a little too hard and left myself about 6ft for bogey.  Lipped out another putt and carded a double bogey 6.  Double Bogey.

Round (+10)

Hole 17: 157 Par 3

Blocked an 8iron left, hit a great chip to a tap in par. Par

Round (+10)

Hole 18: 411 Par 4

Very scenic 18th hole heading back down the hill to the clubhouse.  Hit a great drive to only 68yards and it settled just through the fairway.  Hit a bad 2nd shot, just trying a half lob wedge and it ended short of green.  Should have been an easy chip up, but left my chip short.  Missed my putt to end the round with a bogey. Bogey

(Round +11)

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Started this back 9 with a birdie, but finished 8over on my last 8holes to shoot a very disappointing 42 (+7) on the Par 35 Back 9.  0 fairways hit, but had about 4 that were just in the rough, pretty good drives, but technically weren’t fairways hit. Fairways Hit (FW) 0/7 0% Green in Regulation (GIR) 3/9 33% Up/Downs 1/2 50% Sand Saves 0/2 0% Penalties: 2

Final Score: 81 (+11) Fairways Hit (FW) 3/14 21% Green in Regulation (GIR) 7/18 38% Up/Downs 4/5 80%. Sand Saves 0/2 0% Penalties: 4 Putts: 33

Obviously a very disappointing round today at the Vineyard.  I felt like I drove the ball well with my driver, better than I have over the past month, but still just can’t avoid the mistakes.  I can’t keep having 2-4 penalties a round, absolutely killing me.  My wedge game needs to improve from 100yards and in along with my lag putting.  I’m starting to miss those 5-6 foot par putts as well over my last 3 rounds; my confidence from that distance has plummeted.  The short game is just going to take a lot more practice, I’ve been focusing on my long game a lot over the past few weeks and I’m not really putting in the hours on or around the greens that’s needed to improve in those areas.

I’m going to be playing again this week on Wednesday, Thursday for sure and then hopefully on Sunday too.  I was thinking about getting a lesson tomorrow, but I’m just going to put it off until next week.  I don’t want to cloud my mind with too many new swing thoughts for my next few rounds, I need to just go out and play and trust my swing.  My driver swing is improving, got all my distance back and I’m hitting it more solid.  I’m hitting it straighter as well, so I hope I can maintain that on Wednesday and Thursday.  This is going to be a long process getting to scratch and I’m starting to realize just how hard it is going to be, but these struggles will only make it more rewarding when I reach my goal.  My scores are rising since the first couple weeks, but I do feel like I’m improving at the same time, it’s weird, but I think you know what I mean by that.