Posts Tagged ‘future’

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.

Round Recap: The Vineyard 80 (+10)

Posted: June 25, 2013 in Golf Rounds
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Played a round at the Vineyard again today, was one of the toughest days I’ve had at the vineyard, the pin locations were all crazy tough.  They were either located on a slope, or a few paces on or from the back of the greens…really difficult locations.  You will be punished if you miss them green on the wrong sides today.

The Vineyard Golf Course 6,531 Yards Par 70

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Front 9

Hole 1: 420 Par 4

2nd time in a row on this opening hole, I’ve hit my opening tee shot down the middle over 300 yards, maybe that’s a good sign going forward when playing in tournaments and dealing with those first tee nerves, I don’t know.  Hit in the fairway, but on an uphill slope only 95yards in, pulled a wedge pin high, but short sided off the green to the right.  Had to hit a real delicate chip to get it to stop on this pin location and it rolled a good 15ft by, 2 putted for a bad opening hole bogey from less than 100 yards in the fairway….I can’t continue to do that if I expect to score low. Bogey

Round (+1)  

Hole 2: 351 Par 4

Short dogleg left with water surrounding the left side and green.  Tees were way back today and into the wind so I decided to take a hybrid instead of my normal 5iron, I hit a solid shot that started down the left side, but didn’t want to turn over back to the fairway.  It hugged the edge of the water, bounced a few times and then leaking into the hazard.  Had to drop and hit my next shot just over the pin into the back rough.  Impossible chip shot again as I left myself in the absolute worst spot.  Severe downhill chip with no green to work with and I couldn’t stop it, 15ft by again.  Hit my first putt about 4ft short, had an uphill straight putt, but I pulled it and missed the 4ft putt and made triple bogey!  Yikes, not the way I wanted to start out this round, need to do a lot of work to get this round back.  Triple Bogey

Round (+4)

Hole 3: 125 Par3

Short par 3, tees and pin were up today and only played about 85 yards, crazy short.  Hit a punch lob wedge that skipped on and stopped.  Had about 15ft left up the hill for birdie, had the perfect line, but I left it about 3inches short, tap in par. Par

Round (+4)

Hole 4: 404 Par 4

Hit a 3 wood off tee and pushed it left, but only had about 135 in with a clear shot. Hit a gap wedge, onto the center of green, pin high, but about 25ft left of flag.  2 putted for a par. Par

Round (+4)

Hole 5: 401 Par 4

Hit a 3wood off the tee, didn’t want to go left like I seem to always do on this hole, so I ended up pulling it right into a fairway bunker.  A 3 tier green, with the flag on the back tier today, had about 130 in, decided to smash a gap wedge.  Hit a good shot that landed on, but spun back and settled just off the green.  Took out my PW and had about a 15ft chip up the hill, so I could be aggressive.  Really confident in my chipping right now and I hit a perfect chip that broke left to right and fell into the cup, chip in birdie!  Needed that badly.  Birdie

Round (+3)

Hole 6: 152 Par 3

Pin was in the far right of hole, hit a PW, but pushed it way left onto the far left fringe.  Had about a 90ft chip, I played the same shot as last hole, but this time with a 9iron and it rolled down to about 5ft….made the next putt to save 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.  Tee box today, seemed to be back farther than last round, so I decided to hit a 3wood.  I knew if I blocked it I would be ok, at least I thought, I blocked it and I thought it would be just 20yards left of the green.  When we got up there, we found it up against the fence line and I was forced to take an unplayable lie and drop it for a penalty.   So frustrating to have to take a drop on this hole, this is a very easy birdie hole; I guess I hit that 3wood over 270 in the air, looks like I can only hit 5wood on this hole from now on.  Had to hit a big flop for my 3rd that landed by the hole, but rolled 12 by.  Putt for par was perfect, but left it just short again and made a bogey.  Frustrated because I was starting to turn this round back around after the triple bogey on the 2nd, but it’s just not to be today. Bogey

Round (+4)

Hole 8: 419 Par 4

Hit a driver down the left side and it ended up on a side hill lie above a fairway bunker.  Just tried to punch a gap wedge up, but hit it fat because of the lie and it ended up in an ok spot, just short of green on fairway.  Pitched it up to another side hill pin location and it stopped about 6ft away.  6ft up the hill, left to right breaker for par, that I played a little too much out to the left and I missed on the high side, bogey.  Bogey

Round (+5)

Hole 9: 503 Par 5

Very reachable par 5, finally hit a good drive, bombed a 3wood down the middle, hit in the perfect spot and got some roll, only had 183 in, a 320 yard 3wood drive!  Pin was tucked only about 5 paces on from the left and in the front of the green.  So you couldn’t miss left…..which of course I did!  Hit a 6iron that I pushed and was pin high, but short sided left.  Had to hit a big flop and wasn’t able to stop it very close, 12ft for birdie.  Missed the putt and 2 putted for par.  I’ll take pars all day, but after that drive, I had a prime opportunity for a birdie or better and I need to start taking advantage of those. Par

Round (+5)

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After the triple bogey on 2, I was only 1 over the final 7 holes.  However, still extremely disappointed with having 2 penalties and shooting a 40 (+5) on this Par 35 Front 9.  Fairways Hit (FW): 2/7 28.5% Greens in Regulation (GIR): 3/9 33% Up/Downs: 2/5 40% Sand Saves: 0/0 0% Penalties: 2

Back 9

Hole 10: 389 Par 4

Pushed a 3-wood down the left side, but it again got caught up in the fence line, couldn’t play it from there, had to take another unplayable.  Hit a 9iron and short sided myself again.  Had to land the ball in the fringe and let it feed down a slope to the hole, got too cute with it and left my chip short.  Dead now, pin was at the bottom of a down slope, no way to get it close, had to just get it on and 2putted for another triple bogey.  Disgusted, can’t remember the last time I had a triple bogey, yet alone two in the same round….felt like this round was slipping away from me now. Triple Bogey

Round (+8)

Hole 11: 457 Par 4

A very tight driving hole, that I’ve found you can go right over some trees and play it from the opposite fairway.  It’s a bigger target that even runs down a hill so you gain distance and is a great angle to the green.  Hit a driver on purpose over there today and it worked out very well, had only 140 into the green.  Hit a PW that ended about 10ft for birdie, let the putt few inches short and made par on this difficult hole. Par

Round (+8)

Hole 12: 154 Par 3

Another par 3 over water.  Hit a gap wedge just onto the fringe short of green.  Chipped a PW up to about 5ft and made my par save. Par

Round (+8)

Hole 13: 477 Par 4

Downhill long par 4.  Hit one of my best drives in a long time, high, solid and straight ended in the fairway only had 125 out, a 352 yard drive!  Pin was in front, hit a 56 degree sand wedge to about 10ft, but missed the birdie, 2 putt par. Par

Round (+8)

Hole 14: 412 Par 4

Water on the left and out of bounds on the right; hit a 4 iron down the middle to 130 out.  Another tough pin location on the down slope in the back of the green, tried to hit a PW, but pushed it out left into a trap.  Really tough bunker shot to get close; I ran it a good 15ft by.  Left my first putt short about 5ft and missed another straight in par putt because I pulled it.  A bad double bogey, from the middle of the fairway with a wedge in my hand. Double Bogey

(Round +10)

Hole 15: 551 Par 5

Hit a drive that missed left again on an uphill slope.  Hit a 7iron to lay it up, and then hit a wedge on the green, but about 25ft short of hole.  Had a great line, but left it just short again and made a par.  Par

(Round +10)

Hole 16: 453 Par 4

The most difficult hole on the course according to the handicap on the scorecard.  Took my driver out today, rather than my normal 3 wood play and hit it down the left side.  Ended up in an ok spot where I hit a 9iron to the back left pin location.  Couldn’t get much spin out of the rough, it ended up landing perfectly in the center of green, but rolled to the back just in the 2nd cut.  I chipped it out to about 3ft and made a par. Par

Round (+10)

Hole 17: 157 Par 3

Hit a 9iron pin high, but 25ft left of the flag, a quick 2 putt for a par. Par

Round (+10)

Hole 18: 411 Par 4

Very scenic 18th hole heading back down the hill to the clubhouse.  Normally I play a 3wood off this tee, but today the way the round was going, already at +10, I wanted to just see how far I could bomb a driver down this hill, didn’t care at that point.  Bomb it I did, over the bunkers on the right and it ended about 68yards from the green in the fairway, 343 yard drive! Hit a punch lob wedge that ended about 8ft below the cup, putting uphill.  Unfortunately I couldn’t end my round with a nice birdie as I missed the putt, but made par. Par

(Round +10)

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Another (+5) 40 on the Par 35 Back 9.  1 triple and 1 double bogey accounted for the entire +5…was even par on the other 7 holes.  Fairways Hit (FW) 3/7 42% Green in Regulation (GIR) 5/9 55% Up/Downs 2/2 100% Sand Saves 0/1 0% Penalties: 1

Final Score: 80 (+10) Fairways Hit (FW) 5/14 36% Green in Regulation (GIR) 8/18 44% Up/Downs 4/7 57%. Sand Saves 0/1 0% Penalties: 3 Putts: 33

Obviously I’m very disappointed in this round.  2 triple bogeys and a double are just not acceptable at this stage in my game.  I guess it’s going to happen from time to time, but I have to drive the ball in bounds, I can’t afford to make triples or doubles because I hit the ball into a hazard or out of bounds off the tee.  Other than those 3 holes (which accounted for +8 of the +10), I was only +2 on the other 15 holes.  My score was not so much a reflection of the difficult pin locations as much as it was just my poor ball striking, leaving myself short sided. Did not putt as well as I’d like today either with the new grip, it felt good, but was leaving a lot of putts short.  I had 3 goals going into this round, but I failed in 2 out of the 3:

1) To have zero penalties (Failed, 3 penalties today)

2) Have a 50% or better up and down percentage (Completed, 57% today, 4/7)

3) Shoot a round in the 70’s (Failed, 80).

So I still have a lot of work to do, felt like I took a small step back in my ball striking today, but I’m not going to let this round get me down or discouraged, I know that I’m heading in the right direction and that with constant practice, patience and positivity, I will reach my goals!

“If you lose today, win tomorrow.  In this never-ending spirit of challenge is the heart of a victor.” –Daisaku Ikeda

My Journey to Scratch

Posted: May 27, 2013 in Blog/Life
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I am now 28 years old and I have discovered that this is about the age when real regret for the paths you wish you would have taken or the dreams you wish you would have pursued  and did not in your early 20’s are starting to set in.  We might feel and think like we are still 18, but we are not.  The days and weeks feel much quicker now, the calendar pages feel like they are being turned more rapidly each year and nostalgia for the good old days occur more and more frequently.  When these feelings start, one must realize that you are not alone and that 99% of people will have these same feelings at some point, even the ones you think seemingly have it all.  What is it? It’s that feeling in your gut that says “I want more.”  It’s that will to improve yourself, grow and know you were meant for better.  Scared are some of that feeling, they begin to settle and get lazy, they end up doing the easy thing and in the end they’ll never know if they could have accomplished their dreams because they were too afraid of the work, dedication and time it would take.  It’s that fear of the unknown, the fear of failure or even success that hold us back from getting what we really want and accomplishing the dreams in our heart.  Fear of where that mysterious path to accomplishing dreams would take you, somewhere unfamiliar and out of your comfort zone.  I for one will not continue to be that person.  I want to go on that journey that comes with the pursuit of a personal dream.  I want to know that a plan, dedication, focused intensity, faith and hard work really do pay off and even if I fail in my goal, at least those principles will be ingrained in my psyche  and ultimately make me a better person. “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” –Henry David Thoreau

For me, my dream is to be a scratch golfer, to be able to shoot under par on any given day at any given golf course and do it consistently.  This blog is going to be dedicated to that pursuit and if you are a fan of golf in any capacity, I encourage you to join me, stick around and follow my journey.  My journey is going to involve regular long hours of practice, patience and faith.  Anybody who has played golf before knows just how frustratingly difficult the game of golf can be.  It’s a game that takes constant practice and patience, but a game that is so rewarding when played well.  I have had this dream in the back of my mind for the past year and a half when I started to play golf again more frequently, but have not shown the true dedication and hours of practice that is needed to accomplish it.  I have improved however, started at about an unofficial 9-12 handicap a year and a half ago and am now down to an official 5.9, lowest of my life.  I believe that with consistent and correct practice, I can improve quickly.

To recap my goal for this blog is to plot my journey to becoming a scratch golfer, shooting my first under par round and getting my handicap down to a 0 or better.  When I first picked up a golf club at age 14, I dreamed of the day that I could sign a scorecard with a negative under par score, just like the professionals.  I believe that with the help of this blog keeping me motivated, lots of dedicated and focused practice that I can accomplish one of my goals of shooting an under par round of golf possibly by the end of 2013, if not than at least in 2014. **Update: First Under Par Round Accomplished 6/25/14, Read About it Here: A Dream Realized**   My journey to become a scratch golfer will hopefully take me out of my comfort zone and help me grow as a person.  It will take me from early morning rounds by myself to amateur golf tour events to who knows where if I actually accomplish it in the coming years.  The journey will be long, and no doubt frustrating at times, but fulfilling to know that in the end, many years from now, when I look back, I will have pursued a dream of mine and I will not have to regret another “what if” moment.  I will be posting scores and stats, practice sessions, round recaps, lesson videos and pictures.  So I ask you even if you’re not a golfer too, to please join me and follow along as I go on this journey toward my dream.   I also hope that it can inspire you to find that dream of your own you’d like to accomplish.  Create a plan and go for it and together we can help support and push each other to live the dreams in our heart!

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