Reporting back with results from Freeway:

Score: +21

Birdie: 1
Pars: 4
Bogey: 6
Doubles: 6

Only one snowman today on a par 4!

I didn’t keep much stats on gir and fairways hit today but I would say fairways were in the 60% mark and I probably hit around 7 or 8 greens.

I am quite happy with my game today, conservative in my strategy by teeing off with my 18 deg hybrid and hitting a lot of fairways and first cut most of the time. Trouble off the tee was only 2 pull hooks from a misfiring of the swing. I am +21 and not too far away from breaking the +18 mark!

The GPS is really helping me find my distances. I used to think I could hit my 5 iron 165m but the numbers show that it’s actually closer to 155 to 160 on a smooth swing. The hybrid was acting funny as I hit shots that ranged from 180m to 212m off the tee. Driver distance is around 225 into a headwind and around 235m to 250m flat with no wind. It’s comforting to know that by focusing on swinging smooth I actually increased my driving distance by around 10m.

I understand my swing a lot more now and have limited my misses to mostly the left side of the fairway. I think I will just accept that my natural shot shape is a draw and not try to fight it anymore.

Lesson learnt today: don’t forget that coach tells me that I play with an open clubface. Had an embarrassing shank! I’ll leave that for thwarting range. Yarra Yarra this Sunday!

Practice agenda for next 2 weeks:

Pitching
Bunker game
Putting
Chipping

As I improve my short game more and more I find less pressure to hit greens as I know I can get it back on better and better. This takes pressure off my full swing and believe it or not I start hitting better full shots!

Yarra Yarra day out – Very nice place and thanks to my wonderful host I had a good time for my 18 and drinks at the clubhouse after.

A little embarrassing at my first hole (started on the 10th), pulled into next fairway followed by a great 7 iron over trees – only to shank my pitch into a bunker. Great, made a triple bogey on my first hole.

I didn’t keep score as it was a social round and I wanted to enjoy my time out more than anything. I made 4 pars and I only hit 5 fairways that day. Stiff stiff wind came into play and my shots were taken left and right. I really have to learn how to flight my ball lower on days like these.

I’m using my hybrid a lot on par 3s now:

Used it on the 1st, par 3 201m to a slight downhill green. I sailed the green and am left scratching my head as I was so sure I pulled the right club to be left short.

11th par 3 signature hole – I chose to use the hybrid and hit it into granny’s corner to avoid bunkers. With a headwind, I just made it to the fringe but made bogey.

Overall, I really enjoyed myself and playing in the windy conditions. Had some ripper tee and fairway bunker shots. Very nice track to play at and would play again soon if given the chance. And this time, I won’t be going for granny’s corner.

Today was an Xmas round for our workplace, played only 9 holes at Crazyburn GC.

My triple bogey on the 3rd was an impressive effort considering that it’s the index 18 hole! I hit my driver to within 45m of the pin. Pulled out the SW to pitch on and voila hit a hosel fade into a tree root. Extricate it and flew the green so I had to pitch it back on and 3 putt from there. Awesome. But I pulled myself together and strung together several pars and good bogeys. I had a putt that refused to hole out and sat on the lip for double bogey on the 9th, most annoying indeed having to add one stroke for a 1inch putt.

Other memorable shots include a snap hooked driver on the 5th, saved par with an 8 iron for GIR. I won the longest drive award and also the closest to the pin (6th hole, 188m Par 3 to 10 feet). Smoked their asses.

Getting ever so closer to my goal! I scored+7 with a triple and a double on the card, and its my first card that is below bogey average. Admittedly this course was not too difficult but progress is progress. I found a lot of fairways, I hit a lot of GIRs. I’m rapt and stoked.

Unfortunately, this is the last round for 2012 in Melbourne. I’ll be playing overseas in X’mas in Laos. That should be interesting.

Had a 10 minute golf lesson on Saturday by squeezing myself into my girlfriend’s hour long lesson. Told coach I hit a shank and a pull hook so we talked about fixing it.

My shoulder alignment was a little too open and was causing my pull, well actually it was dead straight according to my shoulder line. That was fixed to good effect. Worked on swinging around my left leg and shoulder with my eyes closed to work on tempo. Hit about 20 balls after that was pure money, I just need to guard against ‘over drawing’. My tempo is getting smoother and I’m more comfortable now with my game than ever.

As a self Xmas gift, bought myself a 23 degree Adams a12 pro hybrid to complement my 18 degree one. These clubs work so well and feel great, had to get the 23 degree as the 18 goes a little too far. Flies just like my irons, maybe just a tiny tad higher. Looks like 4 iron will be in storage until I get more comfortable with it.

good work dude
keep the scores dropping

good work dude
keep the scores dropping

OOM’s smallest heavyweight

Thanks Kiwi – Getting closer and closer.

For my last rounds of 2012 – Packed my golf bag for my trip to Malaysia/Laos. Taking a half set consisting of driver, hybrid, 5, 8, P, S and putter. Contemplating the LW but this should be a fun few rounds in tropical heat and humidity.

Let’s hope the end of the world doesn’t come to pass

Have fun OS and take some pics on the courses there. Cragieburn whilst mostly flat and straight have hot one or two quite interesting holes. Played a few dodgy 9’s there.

Have fun OS and take some pics on the courses there. Cragieburn whilst mostly flat and straight have hot one or two quite interesting holes. Played a few dodgy 9’s there.

Ghetto train – get on it.
Bandit express.

Winner C grade OOM #3 Patterson River.

Cheers GG. The humidity and heat will be affecting me definitely, played in Malaysia earlier this year and damn that was difficult. Makes me wonder how tiger did it.

Times like these make me glad I paid the upcharge for multi compound grips.

Times like these make me glad I paid the upcharge for multi compound grips.

shoes??

Times like these make me glad I paid the upcharge for multi compound grips.

shoes??

OOM’s smallest heavyweight

Yea I might need to start wearing those when I play

Times like these make me glad I paid the upcharge for multi compound grips.

shoes??

OOM’s smallest heavyweight

Yea I might need to start wearing those when I play

All the gear I want yet lacking the skill I need.
Loving the masochism, Loving golf.

Goals for 2012:
1) Driver carry 240m @ 60% fairways
2) 7 GIR per round
3) <34 putts per round

Ha

Not quite there yet…

But soon… by X’mas I’ll have sub 90 on my card…

http://www.willowgolf.com.a...

May help :)

Thanks AB.

Its very obvious to me that I need to putt better and use my hybrid off the tee more.