I learned a lesson on Friday – until I ignore it again.

One thing I neglected to mention in my previous post was the difficulty I had in holding the club with my right hand on Friday as a result of hitting my club into the ground on the 2nd at The Vines on Thursday evening, jarring my right wrist. The pain on Friday was to the outside (pinky side) of my right hand…

That, and the fact that I am being checked Wednesday for possible bursitis in my right shoulder… The shoulder does not affect my golf at all.

On Friday you could have played Harp on my Hamstrings, on Saturday it was Bass Guitar, today it is approaching normality, and my right hand is fine… just in time for tomorrow.

If the weather forecast remains the same and the expected top remains 36, tomorrow’s comp will be nine holes… I will be sure to have my gopher fully charged, and be solid in the seat for that game. as well as Thursday twilight at the Vines, Friday comp at home… and the two days of The Vines Classic, next Monday and Tuesday.

37 Degrees forecasted, so a nine hole (non-handicapped) comp.

Warm and very windy (N tending NE).

First,
Drive with wind to middle fairway inside 150 mark,
2nd shot draws into green-side grass bunker.
3rd shot, pitch onto green, inside 2m from hole,
one putt Par – 3 pts.

Second,
Drive went left of green – rolled hands into wind,
2nd shot, pitch onto green,
par putt stopped a ball width short,
two putt Bogey – 1 pt

Third,
Drive with wind finished just off fairway left,
2nd shot ran through green and off 3 o’clock to pin,
3rd shot, putt from off the green to about a metre from hole,
one putt Par – 2 pts

Fourth
Drive hit right side of fairway,
2nd shot hit fairway at about 150m mark
3rd shot draws into left green-side bunker
4th shot, out of the sand onto green 3m from hole,
par putt lipped out
two putt Bogey – 2pts

Fifth,
Drive over-clubbed with wind, off back of green,
Pitch onto green,
par putt again lipped out
two putt Bogey – 1 pt

Sixth
Drive sprayed way right into wind
2nd shot recover onto fairway 30m short of green,
3rd shot pitch onto green a bit past the hole,
par putt stops on edge of hole
two putt Bogey – 2 pts

Seventh
With the 9th green and 7th tee in the middle of being remodelled, the 7th tee is about 25m forward.
Drive fades around dog-leg to middle fairway,
2nd shot to about the 100m mark on fairway
3rd shot pitches on fringe bounces up and stays on fringe,
(playing partner’s 3rd shot also pitches on fringe, but then hits edge of fringe and gets a kick-on close to hole – she birdies hole)
4th shot, under-done putt from off fringe onto green
par putt yet again lipped out.
(on five holes of the seven, par putts have either stopped on edge of hole or lipped out)
two putt Bogey – 2pts

Eighth
Drive aimed too far left, ball finishes low in rough,
2nd shot onto fairway inside 100m mark
3rd shot pitch onto green a bit shorter than hoped (finally a GIR)
first putt misses right
two putt Par – 2 pts

Ninth, now playing as a par 3
Drive underestimated distance to ‘green’
2nd shot pitched shot onto ‘green’
first putt short (putting on a Kikuyu fairway is a raffle)
two putt Bogey – 2 pts

17 pts
4 Pars
5 Bogeys
2 one-putts
3 FIR
1 GIR

... That, and the fact that I am being checked Wednesday for possible bursitis in my right shoulder… The shoulder does not affect my golf at all.

Bursitis confirmed – had a Cortisone injection… see how it goes…

Lucky break that you have the bursitis but it is not having any impact on your swing.

Yes, perhaps if the bursitis was a bit more forward on my shoulder, golf would be out of the question… and I would be back to climbing the walls as I was in September when I initially had shoulder pain, before my gopher broke down…. remember I did not play one game in September.

I will be having a bit of a swim later this morning. Breaststroke has been comfortable to do with the shoulder, but freestyle has generally kicked it off. With the Cortisone jab yesterday, it will be interesting to see what a few freestyle strokes do.

Later this afternoon will be twilight at The Vines, playing the back nine… on my gopher (I have learned from last week’s act of stupidity)... do I imagine 17 points for the third week in a row?
Then tomorrow is a Stableford round at home.

I play too much stableford.
I have nine (comp) rounds planned for the rest of 2012, seven of them are stableford, the other two being stroke.

Assuming these last nine rounds are not altered or cancelled, I will have played 83 comp games in 2012…
15 of them PAR (18%)
24 of them STROKE (29%)
44 of them STABLEFORD (53%)

Having played nine holes at The Vines for the last two Thursdays, it is interesting to directly compare playing from lush Kikuyu fairways (at home) and the short smooth Couch fairways at The Vines.

You see a major difference the moment the ball pitches on the first fairway. On the Kikuyu, the ball will bounce once or twice before it runs to a stop, no more than 20m from where it pitched… Meanwhile on Couch the ball will bounce a few times, then take off running quickly… the difference (I feel) is not less than 30m longer than Kikuyu from where the ball pitches.

When hitting from the ground the difference is often just as stark, though one benefit of hitting from a Kikuyu fairway as that if the ball is sitting up in the grass, it is akin to having the ball on a low tee and you just sweep the ball. On Couch, a properly executed descending blow is required on the closer smoother grass. Having said that, the run issue is again the defining aspect. If the balls are struck thin, the friction of the thicker Kikuyu grass will see a short shot, the Couch ball will run a long way, perhaps even (depending on the shot) as long as the player intended.

When approaching the green the Kikuyu golfer will, in most situations, need to carry their shot onto the green, as a Kikuyu fringe will inhibit the ball’s bounce and forward momentum. A ball that pitches 5m short on a Kikuyu fringe is not guaranteed of reaching the green. Meanwhile our Couch golfer can be more confident that an approach to the green that pitches 5m short on the fringe is very likely to reach the green, and perhaps beyond.

When I have played on the Couch fairways at The Vines, I find that I take at least one club less than I would at the Pat, allowing for the different running conditions.. and it seems to work out fine.

Well, didn’t that just suck!!!

With the temporary alterations to the 7th and 9th, the course ratings have changed. When we play the course long the rating is 73, stableford 37 (instead of 74 and 36), and when we play the course short – like today, the rating is 70, stableford 40 (instead of 71 and 39). Keep in mind this includes putting on the temporary green on the 9th – which is like trying to putt on corrugated iron… ad they have just top-dressed the greens… thank you very muchly… not.

After three putting the first three holes I realised that this round was not only shot, it was now just practice and experimentation time. the major point of experimentation was in the un-cocking of the left wrist in the (almost activating the) hitting zone… when it worked it created more club-head speed, greater accuracy with irons (especially from shorter distances), and even appeared to contribute to an on-plane follow-through… work to explore there.

I completely gave up caring when I three putted the 6th, my fourth three putt for the round.

For most of the day my first putts were far to heavy, I just5 could not dial them back… I still got away with a one putt birdie on 16… but the rest was disaster.

Wayward shots front nine:
1st, drive –sand, 3 putted
2nd, 3 putted
3rd, 3 putted
4th, 2nd shot sprayed right
6th, 3 putted
7th, 2nd shot – drew into trees.

Front nine – 45 off stick (14 pts)
2 Pars (5, 8)
5 Bogeys (2, 3, 4, 7, 9)
2 Double Bogeys (1, 6)
Fairways (4/6)
3 GIR (2, 3, 8)
4 Three putts (1, 2, 3, 6)
2 One putt (5, 9) it is hard to see where the ‘green’ ends on 9
Missed greens: 6
1st, short, after drive into fairway bunker (3-putt Double Bogey)
4th, short, after recovering from trouble (2-putt Bogey)
5th, short on fringe, experiment with swing (1-putt Par)
6th, short, approach hit cart sign (2-putt Double Bogey)
7th short, after recovering from trouble (2-putt Bogey)
9th, right, driver into breeze faded (1-putt Bogey)

If I was wearing a watch after the front nine I would have seen that it was half past caring.

Spraying shots like Mortien… the second on 11, drive on 13 into a fairway bunker, and the third shot into a green-side bunker… THEN three putting.

My game then showed it has a sense of humour… I played the last five holes to scratch – par, par birdie, bogey par.

Wayward shots front nine:
11th, 2nd shot – sprayed right into trees
13th, drive – left into bunker, 3rd shot into green-side bunker, 3 putted
17th, 3rd shot, under-played into green-side bunker.

Back nine – 42 off stick (16 pts)
1 Birdie (16)
4 Pars (10, 14, 15, 18)
2 Bogeys (12, 17)
2 Double Bogeys (11, 13)
Fairways (4/7)
4 GIR (10, 14, 15, 16)
1 Three putts (13)
2 One putts (16, 18)
Missed greens: 5
11th, well short, in tree trouble (2-putt Double Bogey)
12th, pin-high left, by less than a metre (2-putt Bogey)
13th, short, in green-side bunker (3-putt Double Bogey)
17th, short, in green-side bunker (2-putt Bogey)
18th just short, recover from light rough (1-putt Par)

Friday, Stableford, short (altered) course,
result: 87 off stick (30 pts) Differential 17
1 Birdie
7 Pars
6 Bogeys
4 Double Bogeys
FIR – 57%
GIR – 39%
5 Three putts
4 One putts
Putts – 37 – 20 & 17

Handicap remains on 7.5

With the 7th and 9th temporarily altered, I am suspending hole by hole statistic collection until both holes are fully in play.

Hi mekat the cortisone will have a much better effect with around 2 weeks rest after the injection, idealy keep that arm from elevating above shoulder height, managed correctly u will only ever need the 1. All the best.

Thanks CARE

For some reason playing the Sunday Pro-shop comp doesn’t seem to be a good idea for me… today was no exception.

Firstly, I have officially lost all confidence in my on-course putting. From the third hole to the sixth, my putting went 4, 3, 3, 3. GIR on 3, green in handicap reg on 4 and 6 (out of sand on 6).

I am becoming so frustrated at myself and my inability to settle down and maintain focus on what I am doing, rather than let myself notice (and be distracted by) my partners’ inconsistent shot-making. This appears to require the self discipline of a Buddhist monk… but it is akin to trying to sit quietly in a monkey’s cage (i.e. very difficult to shut out).

Two of the last three Thursday evenings I have played twilight at The Vines have been with a single digit lady golfer. The flow of play with her was like a cool breeze on a hot day. I did not have to creep up on my ball as other partners played their next (and sometimes subsequent) shot. We could play our shots and go straight to our ball, and prepare for the next shot. It was a pace and rhythm of golf that I long to play, but very rarely get to play at home. I felt no frustration, even when playing poor (or unlucky) shots… Should I consider playing competition golf at a different club than where I am currently??

I will be playing at The Vines for the next two days, including with the lady I have recently played with.

But now to today’s debacle.

I really wish they would get the 9th right. It is reduced to a par 3, and the official ladies length is a bit over 140m, but the markers are back near the men’s mark of over 175m. Played into the wind, I can barely get there with driver, heaven help the other ladies trying to get near the temporary green.

Wayward shots front nine:
1st, drive –sand
3rd, 4 putted
4th, drive sprayed right, 3 putted
5th, drive sprayed right, 3 putted
6th, drive into sand, 3 putted
9th is just a joke

Front nine – 47 off stick (12 pts)
3 Pars (2, 7, 8)
1 Bogey (1)
5 Double Bogeys (3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
Fairways (3/6)
4 GIR (2, 3, 7, 8)
1 Four putts (3)
3 Three putts (4, 5, 6)
2 One putt (1, 9) it is hard to see where the ‘green’ ends on 9
Missed greens: 5
1st, short, after drive into fairway bunker (1-putt Bogey)
4th, short, after recovering from trouble (3-putt Double Bogey)
5th, short right, drive sprayed right (3-putt Double Bogey)
6th, short, in green-side bunker (3-putt Double Bogey)
9th, right, driver into breeze faded (1-putt Bogey)

The short story of the day is monumental crap, but with a birdie on 16

Wayward shots front nine:
10th, drive – sprayed left into trouble
11th, drive into sand
13th, 3rd shot into bunker
14th, 3rd, 4th, 5th shots.. fat, thin, wide, crap
17th, 3rd shot, under-played into green-side bunker.
18th drive into deep trouble

Back nine – 45 off stick (13 pts)
1 Birdie (16)
2 Pars (12, 15)
3 Bogeys (11, 13, 17)
3 Double Bogeys (10, 14, 18) pick-ups on 10, 18
Fairways (3/7)
3 GIR (12, 15, 16)
2 Three putts (10, 18) pick ups
2 One putts (11, 16)
Missed greens: 6
10th well short, pick up on fairway (3-putt Double Bogey)
11th, well short, out of bunker (1-putt Bogey)
13th, short, in green-side bunker (2-putt Bogey)
14th, right, sprayed approach (2-putt Double Bogey)
17th, short, in green-side bunker (2-putt Bogey)
18th well short, trouble in trees (3-putt Double Bogey)

Sunday, Stableford, short (altered) course,
result: 92 off stick (25 pts) Differential 22
1 Birdie
5 Pars
4 Bogeys
8 Double Bogeys
FIR – 43%
GIR – 44%
1 Four putt
5 Three putts
4 One putts
Putts – 39 – 21 & 18 (including pick-ups on 10 and 18)

Handicap remains on 7.5

First round of The Vines Classic.
Started like a house on fire, ended up a pile of ashes.

Front nine 42 off stick (16 pts)
5 Pars (2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
2 Bogeys (1, 4)
2 Double Bogeys (8, 9)
4 FIR
5 GIR (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
1 Three putt (4)
2 One putts (3, 8)

Back nine 47 off stick (11 pts)
2 Pars (13, 18)
4 Bogeys (12, 14, 15, 16)
3 Double Bogeys 10, 11, 17)
4 FIR
3 GIR (13, 16, 18)
2 three putts (11, 16) (inc pick up on 11)
0 one putts

Monday, Stableford, Vines of Reynella course,
result: 89 off stick (27 pts) Differential 15
7 Pars
6 Bogeys
5 Double Bogeys
FIR – 57%
GIR – 47%
3 Three putts
2 One putts
Putts – 37 – 17 & 20 (including pick-up on 11)

Handicap remains on 7.5

Second round of The Vines Classic.
Started with a camp-fire, this time the flames took hold.

Back nine played first
In the back nine, 4 or 5 first putts were from about 1 metre away and missed… In total about 6 first putts would be missed from about a metre away for the round.

Back nine 41 off stick (17 pts)
1 Birdie (18)
2 Pars (13, 15)
6 Bogeys (10, 11, 12, 14), 16, 17)
5 FIR
4 GIR (13, 15, 16, 18) – 12 and 14 missed by inches
1 three putt (16)
0 one putts

I could not buy a close putt, and GIRs were being missed by inches.. That first nine could have been anything… But it was much better than yesterday… just had to hold it together for the front nine…

Front nine 40 off stick (18 pts)
1 Birdie (1)
4 Pars (4, 5, 6, 7)
3 Bogeys (2, 3, 9)
1 Double Bogeys (8)
5 FIR
4 GIR (1, 3, 4, 5) – 2 & 7 missed by inches, 6 & 9 by a metre
1 Three putt (3) – 2nd putt from a metre
3 One putts (1, 6, 7)

Monday, Stableford, Vines of Reynella course,
result: 81 off stick (35 pts) Differential 7
2 Birdies
6 Pars
9 Bogeys
1 Double Bogey
FIR – 71%
GIR – 44%
2 Three putts
3 One putts
Putts – 35 – 19 & 16 – back then front nine

35 points won the ladies ‘day’ comp, I was runner-up on count-back… Think about it, 6 one metre putts missed, butchered the 8th, badly duffed the drive on 9, then duffed the second shot to be a metre off the green… but it doesn’t end there…

Handicap drops .5 to 7.0, just .1 above my lowest ever handicap…

If one of those missed putts had droped, the low is equalled – two, and it is a new low – five and I would be sitting here on a six handicap…

It is nice to dream

Mekat, don’t do that to yourself. You are regretting the might have beens instead of being happy with your good round. The way that you are travelling the good rounds will continue and you will get there eventually.

Good playing!

One of my many grievous faults is a negative default emotional setting. I will naturally and automatically see the negative aspects, and the failures of whatever I do first. I will even twist possible positive aspects into a negative. In short, my immediate and initial response to myself is always negative, and I cannot overcome it…

Having said that, in recent times I have been able to recognise the positive aspects of an event (like a round of golf) and can accept positive comments and feedback from others, but not until a day or two later (after the event).

Perhaps after relating the stats here, I should wait a day or so and then reflect on each round…

Mekat, don’t do that to yourself. You are regretting the might have beens instead of being happy with your good round. The way that you are travelling the good rounds will continue and you will get there eventually.

Good playing!

=============
http://www.golflink.com.au/...

+ 1 Mekat, good work on dropping that H/cap,

I know what you mean about playing with other golfers that let you have a good pace of play, I am lucky on the weekends but have been playing a ‘Work’ Social comp the last couple of Weds afternoons with non golfers…

OMG… constantly looking for Balls, I get 1 swing in 12 with my group… it makes me appreciate the Saturday Comp golfers, let me tell you.

Good luck for the rest of Summer :)

One of my many grievous faults is a negative default emotional setting. I will naturally and automatically see the negative aspects, and the failures of whatever I do first. I will even twist possible positive aspects into a negative. In short, my immediate and initial response to myself is always negative, and I cannot overcome it…

Having said that, in recent times I have been able to recognise the positive aspects of an event (like a round of golf) and can accept positive comments and feedback from others, but not until a day or two later (after the event).

Perhaps after relating the stats here, I should wait a day or so and then reflect on each round…

You don’t play golf to relax… You relax to play golf!
http://www.golflink.com.au/…

You need to play a round of golf with CB80.
It’s a shame he’s so far away.

Often after he hits a ball you’ll hear him say “gee that was a great golf shot”

Thats a good way to help yourself stay positive…

I must admit I am seriously contemplating (and exploring the idea of) moving to a different club (The Vines), ostensibly to look for more competition in my game.

The main points of attraction are that at my home club ‘A’ grade goes up to 23 and I am the only single digit handicapper, while at The Vines ‘A’ grade goes up to 18 and there are sever al single digit players, so the chance of stronger competition is at The Vines.
But I would not always be playing with A graders, or single digit players, but it could happen more regularly than at my current club.

Is that a good enough reason to leave a club I have been with for eight years?... my first round with the club was eight years ago tomorrow (30 November 2004 – 111 off the stick).

So how am I working it out?
Money – can I afford it?
Membership subs and 6 day playing rights.
My home club works if I set aside $45 per fortnight
The Vines works if I set aside $60 per fortnight
Can I handle that?
yes… but that is not the only financial cost.

Distance – driving.
It takes a bit over 10 minutes to drive to my home club,
it usually takes a bit over 20 minutes to drive to The Vines.
I spend some time most days at my home club for short game practice. Would I do the same at The Vines?... probably…

I cannot house my gopher at my current club, but I would be able to keep it housed and charged at The Vines for a cost of up to $300 a year. This would mean that there would be no need for me to tow my gopher to The Vines (with cost/petrol savings, and wear and tear on a 20 year old car)... but $300 worth?

A new club, a different culture, some people will know me, most won’t… I may find that the on course issues I have at my current club, may be present at a new club…. a risk?

To stay where I am would be cheaper, though possibly less competitive. My challenge would be to continue to search for strategies to improve mental discipline… but then again, that would probably be a challenge for me wherever I was…

The pros of staying put are: lower cost, familiarity with club, course and members.
The pros of going to The Vines are: a better/more diverse course with Santa-Anna Couch fairways), probability of higher level of competition, on site housing of gopher, better clubhouse facilities, a few free games a year at a few other courses in Adelaide….

I feel pangs of guilt or a feeling of disloyalty at thinking of going elsewhere… but as some people have said to me that the other ladies at the club would understand why I would be going and would not hold it against me… and that I need to decide what is best for me, and my golf – as it is very important to me.

But my gopher is what is sticking in my mind in relation to making a decision at this point.

On Tuesday the gopher seemed to be under-powering, and was very sluggish to get going.
If I moved to The Vines and my gopher broke down, there are the costs of repair, and even just getting it back to the clubhouse – downhill, without the electrostatic brakes…. imagine having to free-wheel it down hill without brakes…

Do I stay where I am, and save the money I would otherwise have used for subs at The Vines for future gopher servicing (lately going toward gym membership… rarely go..)... or save longer term to replace the (now 7 and a half year old) machine??

I need to finalise a decision by the end of March…
much to think about.

Mekat

Some rough budget figures to consider given I know money is relatively tight when the gopher broke down last time -

Rough maths re move to the Vines -

Running costs for a small – medium car according to the RAA is 15 – 20 cents per kilometre. Extra 10 minutes per day by 2 = 20 minutes by 7 days = 140 minutes by 52 weeks = 7280 minutes = 121 hours @ 50 kp/h average = 6050 km by 17 cents (running cost) = extra $1028 per year with the extra travelling time suggests you won’t go there every day like you do at the moment.

Your car is already 20 years old, going up the hills to the Vines and the extra 6050 km per year will almost guarantee you will spend a lot more maintenance on your car.

When it is sunny and breezy in winter at the Pat it is often wet/misty and foggy in the hills. The gopher won’t enjoy wet and hilly in winter at the Vines. More maintenance costs I would say.

Playing $15 * 52 extra = $780

Therefore you are up for an extra $1800 per year before you even look at maintenace for the gopher (ageing)

You may possibly save a small amount via garaging gopher.

I strongly recommend you stay at the Pat and the money you save you put aside for maintenace of the gopher or perhaps save for a new gopher and pay some green fees for open competitions at other courses. Without the gopher you can’t play!

The grass is not greener in this case and given golf is such an important aspect in your personal wellbeing I would be very hesitant to move just to enjoy a better standard of competition and possibly some better playing partners in some games!

If my gopher packs it in, there may be a possible alternative… but it may not be allowed… though it may need to be explored… and that is if I can get my 49cc scooter repaired and is permitted on the Vines course, as it is on the Pat… the trick there is to ride it up the hill…

Just something to explore over time…

Wow wee you over analyse stuff.
With all respect, and I mean that.

Though i dont know you well, ill work with what i have.
Do what u can to excel to a greater level playing at your current course, become sharper in areas where possible, spend a little extra time at the gym you mention, but dont just ‘go’ to the gym, push it a bit, improve fitness. At your level its things like health/wellbeing that are going to have a telling impact on your standard of play rather than hitting 400 balls a day. Try this and make the most of your current course for now.
Keep well mekat.

I have ended my gym membership as I was not going often enough to justify the cost… though I am going to the pool, which is cheaper… but I am still concerned about bursitis…
If it is not one thing, it’s another

Rest the shoulder as much as pos for the next week or so the cortisone will do wonders if your patient. 2 laps freestyle 2 laps kickboard with flippers, when fitness improves increase freestyle laps and or intensity, keeping with kickboard for recovery. Alt kickboard prone/supine.

I spoke to a swimming coach yesterday, and she suggested, if I swim, breaststroke, and paddle on my back with flippers and arms on my side… good thing I love breaststroke… it is even better that golf does not affect my shoulder.