Date: January 8th 2013
Format: Medal
Venue: [Home course]
Score: 72 (Winner by 2 shots)
Handicap mark: 3.0
Themes in reply: Well done
8th January 2013
Hi Colin,
Hope you had a good Christmas break and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.
I played in the monthly medal on Saturday and it went something like this:-
Went on the range before starting and just got the timing going. I also worked on making sure I completed my swing right up the other side – a bit like Mcllroy. I did this on every practise on the course also.
1st – Hit 3 wood a bit left and then a 6 iron to the back of the green (should have been a 7). The greens are very slow so putted up 5 foot short but holed a really good one for a 4.
2nd – We are now on the winter tee which is behind the 1st green so it makes hole drive a bit shorter. Hit a really good drive leaving only my 56 degree wedge into the green and put it to 9 inches and holed for a birdie 3.
3rd – Another good drive leaving me in between a 8/9 iron so hit 8 to the back of the green. The pins are nearly all at the front of the greens (to protect them) so putted up short again (maybe put off by the possibility of putting off the front of the green and down the slope) However, holed another good 4’ putt for a par
4th – Hit a good 3-iron and 2 putted for a 3
5th – Big drive down the middle and good 3 iron to the green leaving 15’ for an eagle. Annoyed at leaving the putt short but holed for a birdie 4
6th – Good drive down the RHS leaving 9-iron. Hit it to about 5’ and just missed the putt but a good par 4
7th – Wedge to green and 2 putts for a 3
8th – Good drive followed by my 19 degree fairway wood just short of the green. Good approach putt and holed from 2’ for another birdie.
9th – Bit of a wait on the tee and I was undecided between hitting the driver or a 3 wood. I was concerned about losing the drive to the right. But I was hitting it well so went with it but hit a terrible low hook into the s**t and lost the ball. Hit another one to the middle of the fairway and a wedge to the back of the green. Long difficult putt down the slope and got it to 4’ below the hole. Managed to hole it for a 6.
So, 1 under par for the first 9 and composed myself after that 6
10th – Drive slightly right but good 2nd to 5’ and just missed the putt so a par 4
11th – 6-iron to the front of the green, knocked the first putt a bit passed but holed again for a par. By now I was really hitting the ball well and straight as a die.
12th – Good drive, 3-iron and 8-iron to 5’ – missed the birdie but a good par
13th – Good drive and 6-iron to about 15’ and 2 putts for a par
14th – 9-iron to the front of the green and 2 putts for a par
15th – Excellent drive long and straight leaving a 5 or 6 iron into the green. Took a 5 but didn’t quite get it so just short in 2. Putted up about 4’ past but holed again for a par.
16th – Concerned that the fairway bunkers may be in range so aimed to hit the drive to the LHS. Overdid it and was in the rough. The ball was sitting right up and I didn’t want to hit a wood in case it went right underneath it so I hit a 3-iron out about 20 yds short of the green. Pitched up with a 9-iron to about 5’ but left the putt in the jaws so a bogey 5.
17th – Excellent long straight drive, tried to fade my fairway wood into the green but it stayed left. Chipped up a bit long but 2 putted for a par 5.
18th – good drive slightly right but excellent 7-iron to 6’ – just missed the birdie so a par 4 to finish.
So, level par round of 72 giving a net 68 and won the comp by 2 shots. I must say that the course was playing pretty easy with little wind and some tees forward but I hit the ball really well and holed putts when it mattered.
I didn’t let the 6 on the 9th put me off as I would have taken 1 under par after 9 before starting. Looking at the stats I drove well and hit about 14/15 greens in regulation which makes it an easy game! Completing the swing also made a big difference. I hardly hit any to the right with a fade which is my bad shot.
What’s happening with your blog/web and when is the bowls starting up again?
Regards,
John
15th January 2013
Dear John,
Wow!
Wow, wow, wow, wow!!
A 68 with a 6 at the 9th. Wow!
How many times have I started my reply discussing the first drive, or the first putt, or the first few holes. This time you have gone 4,3,4. Incredible.
However, none of the shots you describe are particularly surprising because they are the type of shots you hit all the time. Granted hitting a wedge to 9” is a bit of a fluke; but if you hit nice wedges often enough then some of them will end up close. Also, early in the round there are good drives and very good putts. To do that you must be taking your “timing” from shot to shot to shot. That is proper golf.
And then the rest of that front “eight”! Blimey! 3-irons on to greens, eagle putts, no fluffs. Brilliant.
Bringing me neatly to, for me, the most interesting shot of the round: the drive off the 10th. Interesting for a few reasons:
– As I have mentioned before, I have a theory that the elevated tee set above a wide, welcoming fairway, together with the fore-shortening effect of being elevated, induces poor drives from you because it is the type of tee that tempts golfers to “open their shoulders” and give it a whack. You often go right with your drive on this hole – which makes the approach more difficult – because you have succumbed to the temptation to thwack it, lost your “timing” a little and “tugged it from the top”.
– You have just taken a 6 at the 9th after a stunning opening 8 holes. We have been here before when a promising start has been spoiled by a few intermittent poor shots over the middle of the round.
– Most interestingly of all though, is the fact that you have written “and composed myself after that 6”.
Whatever you did between the 9th green and the 10th tee is the thing that you need to take from the round because it enabled you to find your “timing” on a shot which in the past you have often not “timed” that well, which in turn enabled you to keep your round going after a blip.
That is proper competitive golf and makes you a formidable proposition.
It is also worth pointing out that even after that calamitous drive on the 9th you still managed a 4 off the tee which included two very good putts.
The rest of the round is just a sequence of excellent shots. I bet you were walking on air for a few days.
A note of caution about the “McIlroy” thing: nothing wrong but be careful not to let it dominate. Your swing is made up of millions of bits: let your subconscious sort it all out for you, like a good PA.
Well done, and thanks for the report; brilliant stuff.
Happy New Year,
Colin
