Achilles
Challenge Tour Pro
After a very pleasing (and slightly unexpected) purple patch, I've managed to achieve my goal for the season.
As posted in Tiger's 'Play Your Best' inspired thread a few weeks back, I said I'd like to shoot low 80s in at least a couple of competitions with the handicap target of 16 for the end of the season.
Well, first mid-week medal of the year a few weeks back, I went round for a nett 70. Should've been better but didn't have the consistency to score. Not a bad start to the year though, with encouraging signs.
That was followed by the first main weekend medal on 24th March when I shot a pb gross 83 (nett 63) taking my handicap down to 17.9. A huge surprise as that was 3 shots better than my old pb.
I then played a bounce game and shot a gross 82 so things got better still.
Another midweek medal on Tuesday just gone really could've been the clincher. A gross 88 including a triple and quadruple bogey but managed a 0.3 cut to 17.6. Happy days.
Then came today. A stableford comp, with the weather very dreary and a bit of a stiff breeze to contend with. I had no expectations as I have been feeling pretty ill recently but thought some fresh air would do me good. Played the front 9 in + 4 gross (39) for 23 points. A pb for a comp. I then imploded on the 10th and 11th, with a triple bogey on each and no points. Arse. To say I was peeved was an understatement! What a waste of a good score. Managed to regain my focus though and play the last 7 holes +3 gross. Totted up the numbers and had 41 points with 2 blobs! That was 3rd overall when I left. Top was 44 points (gross 66!!!), and CSS was 70 (36 points) so assuming all goes to plan, that should see me down to a shiny new handicap of 16.1.
I really cannot believe how these last few weeks have panned out. My putting has really come on as has my iron play. Short game is also a lot better, and I seem to scrambling with more efficiency as a result. To have my handicap go from 20 to 16 in the space of a month will take a while to sink in, but I'm so happy right now!!
Not sure whether to set a new target or see how things pan out. I'm starting to really believe that if I can cut out those few bad holes, breaking 80 may well be on the cards.
Apologies for the long post, just needed to share! Roll on the Masters tonight!
As posted in Tiger's 'Play Your Best' inspired thread a few weeks back, I said I'd like to shoot low 80s in at least a couple of competitions with the handicap target of 16 for the end of the season.
Well, first mid-week medal of the year a few weeks back, I went round for a nett 70. Should've been better but didn't have the consistency to score. Not a bad start to the year though, with encouraging signs.
That was followed by the first main weekend medal on 24th March when I shot a pb gross 83 (nett 63) taking my handicap down to 17.9. A huge surprise as that was 3 shots better than my old pb.
I then played a bounce game and shot a gross 82 so things got better still.
Another midweek medal on Tuesday just gone really could've been the clincher. A gross 88 including a triple and quadruple bogey but managed a 0.3 cut to 17.6. Happy days.
Then came today. A stableford comp, with the weather very dreary and a bit of a stiff breeze to contend with. I had no expectations as I have been feeling pretty ill recently but thought some fresh air would do me good. Played the front 9 in + 4 gross (39) for 23 points. A pb for a comp. I then imploded on the 10th and 11th, with a triple bogey on each and no points. Arse. To say I was peeved was an understatement! What a waste of a good score. Managed to regain my focus though and play the last 7 holes +3 gross. Totted up the numbers and had 41 points with 2 blobs! That was 3rd overall when I left. Top was 44 points (gross 66!!!), and CSS was 70 (36 points) so assuming all goes to plan, that should see me down to a shiny new handicap of 16.1.
I really cannot believe how these last few weeks have panned out. My putting has really come on as has my iron play. Short game is also a lot better, and I seem to scrambling with more efficiency as a result. To have my handicap go from 20 to 16 in the space of a month will take a while to sink in, but I'm so happy right now!!
Not sure whether to set a new target or see how things pan out. I'm starting to really believe that if I can cut out those few bad holes, breaking 80 may well be on the cards.
Apologies for the long post, just needed to share! Roll on the Masters tonight!
