I played today and..(Rolling) -originally created by JohnnyDee

[jim8flog]

Our group were all in the clubhouse and a discussion took place about whether to bother with rain due midday.
We all went out and as it would have it we did not get any rain.

Very cold though though, too cold for me to swing properly with 5 layers on my top. The winning score was 37 points with most around 30 points.

 

[sjw]

The last three weekends have been sorely disappointing golf from yours truly. It's been nice to get out but really, I've been fed up with it and not looking forward to going out again. It's been absolutely confidence-sapping - I've been feeling like, I've got no idea how I've ever got to a 12 cap and I'll be going rocketing back up soon.

The worst has been with my driver - I've not been able to get off the tee at all, taking blobs left right and centre. This then leads to no confidence with irons, wedges, anything, they all go in turn. Especially considering the winter ground conditions.

Well...

On my lunch break today I watched a video by Giles Gill on YouTube, a complete breakdown of driver, from setup, through backswing, all the way to release. I've known what my problems are, but my driving had gone from being able to hit a soft draw 240 in the air to these horrible spinny 180 yard slices, so I figured, hey, I've seen this guy's content, he speaks well, let's go right back to basics and start afresh; it can't get any worse.

While I've not been happy with my swing, I've also known that I'm doing a lot RIGHT, so I watched the video looking for that "missing piece". While watching, I typed notes up. There were a couple of bits that I made an extra note to try as a starting point.

I got to the range and I found that the act of taking notes had really stuck it in my brain, so much so I didn't need to actually refer to them. I got a couple of good swings away and in no time at all I was CRUSHING this thing, like, so much better than I ever have, with such subtle tweaks.

After that, I tried 3w with similar swing thoughts. Also better.

Then I picked up a 5 iron, and did the same again. Flushed. Checked carry on top tracer - 199 yards! Erm, what? My usual is about 170, must be a misread. Hit another. Bosh, 185, 190.

Started hitting through the bag, and no joke, every iron was flying about 15-20 yards further. With less effort! I could suddenly feel the club releasing and wasn't having to try and make it happen. I could feel so much speed where I hadn't before. Everything was flying higher and straighter than ever and it was such a simple movement change.

So in one evening I've gone from the brink of despair and thoughts of booking a lesson, to the happiest I've felt about my game in ages. Drove home the whole way with a massive smile on my face.

Now, before someone says it, I know this won't translate on to the course... just let me have this, for now, please...

Only downer was my dad phoned up and told me that he has had to have his dog put down The universe's way of balancing me out, I guess

Ok so the irons didn't really carry over to the course much, but the driver did bar a couple, much much better, great distance and in play. Putter turned up as well. Still only managed 28 points BUT I was surprised to hear that because I thought I was going to be around 32; it was one of those rounds that obviously felt better than it was.

Still, I'll take that into the pairs comp tomorrow and see where we get

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Well I haven’t yet - as I sit in clubhouse gazing out at a cold and wet day and golf course - with a match to play shortly. Giving nine shots to a big hitting but but wayward 16 capper. If I keep it tidy off the tee I trust in myself. Spect it to be tough though - and cold…

If it wasnt for a match having to be played I likely wouldn’t bother.

Well I made that difficult for myself. Played really well tee to green but missed about 5 putts from within 3ft. Ended up winning the 18th to win 1up. No matter about the putting - that's winter golf. It'll be better for the next round - the QF.

 

[AussieKB]

Played in a 4BBB and shot 3 over par personally, as a team we were level par, a couple of soft bogeys,
luckily I was not handicapped so still on 5

 

[rudebhoy]

Got off to a terrible start yesterday, 3 putting the first 5 holes, including a couple from about 10 feet. My putting is normally ok, but it was comically bad. Was on 5 points after 5 holes

The rest of my game wasn’t too bad, and the putting got a bit better, but it was all a bit of a slog, heavy going, and umbrellas up and down like nobody’s business. Was knackered by the end, 2 late blobs saw me finish on an underwhelming 28 points.

Looks like a wet week in store, marvellous

 

[harpo_72]

9 holes today, got a lunch slot course was busy but everyone let me through and I was pretty direct with 3 dropped shots due to 2 x 3putts and the 9th is a par 4 uphill playing 420yards .. but I was in the bunker at 230 yards. The resulting escape went 60 yards, the lips are high .. 4ft-5ft .. as I was setting up for my 3rd a ball flew to my right and stopped 10yards in front of me. I heard the strike but I was 280-290 yards down the hole.. so a spanking drive but it kind of makes my point that the course needs to rethink the trap strategy. Penalising guys who can shift it 230yards and will have a 190-200 yard 2nd is pointless most will miss the green or will be scrambling. Pop a bunker in at 240-260 yards right side and a pot bunker left side at 260-280 yards and fill in the ones at 210-230 and 320-340 yards .. then the hole will challenge all ..

 

[Orikoru]

Course was absolutely drenched and very muddy - at least it didn't rain today while we were playing, but a hard slog hitting off mud a lot of the time. My golf was up and down, some great, some very very bad. Hit some very good drives trying to get the new backswing technique (tucking in the 'flying elbow') but some bad ones as well. Couple slightly fat and a couple of big wipey fades. Duffed a few shots on the damp fairways, and at one point I even managed that great trick shot - topping a three wood so badly it went a yard backwards instead of forwards. Putting was abysmal again, God knows what happened to that - in January I was putting better than ever and now it's gone straight off a cliff, I three-putted about four times. My best putt of the day was putting out of a bunker.

88 gross and 29 points in the end. Oh well.. seven more days until the misery starts all over again.

 

[srixon 1]

Played in a day book competition today. First time out for three weeks so wasn’t expecting much. Shot level par for 35 points. Could have been better but for two 3 putts. A small cut coming.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

9 holes today, got a lunch slot course was busy but everyone let me through and I was pretty direct with 3 dropped shots due to 2 x 3putts and the 9th is a par 4 uphill playing 420yards .. but I was in the bunker at 230 yards. The resulting escape went 60 yards, the lips are high .. 4ft-5ft .. as I was setting up for my 3rd a ball flew to my right and stopped 10yards in front of me. I heard the strike but I was 280-290 yards down the hole.. so a spanking drive but it kind of makes my point that the course needs to rethink the trap strategy. Penalising guys who can shift it 230yards and will have a 190-200 yard 2nd is pointless most will miss the green or will be scrambling. Pop a bunker in at 240-260 yards right side and a pot bunker left side at 260-280 yards and fill in the ones at 210-230 and 320-340 yards .. then the hole will challenge all ..

We did similar to what you suggest on our par 5 11th. Dog leg R2L we had a bunker LHS about 220-230yds off tee to ‘protect’ the dog-leg. Trees in the dog-leg now grown up and less cutting of rough out of the dog-leg (making the fairway dogleg a bit more severe) do the risk job and so bunker irrelevant - it actually presented a somewhat unfairly severe penalty for a slightly wayward good tee shot of most golfers - nobody now deliberately hits down the left to cut the dog-leg corner with their 2nd shot.

At the same time long drives down the rhs that really open up the dog-leg needed a little bit more risk added…so we have built a fairway bunker 250-260yds down RHS. It’s right at the very edge of fairway and there is tons of room left of it. Just to give a moment of thought and care to the boomers.

 

[sjw]

Another day yesterday where driver was much better, although not perfect, really happy with that. Second shot on every hole killed me, though. Just tops and thins. I think it's the wet, boggy lies getting in my head, I just can't commit to hitting low enough.

The only time I hit a decent iron shot was from 170 out on our SI1 hole, where I stuck it to 20 feet and rolled in a long birdie putt. Such is this stupid game.

 

[LincolnShep]

First round of 2025. Birdied the first but that was the only one of the day. Had to wait until the 15th for my first par, then parred 16 and 18 as well. Haven't swung a club for two months so it was about as expected.

 

[GreiginFife]

Had a rare afternoon off today so got a game in, managed to rope one of my usual group in to it as well.

Strange day and evidence, if needed, that golf is a strange game. Don’t think I hit a decent shot all day, crap off the tee and irons were a bit, well odd is the only word I can use to describe it.

Started with two bogeys, both on par 3s and thought “here we go, one of those days”. But, then went on a run of 10 straight pars. Somehow scrambling with a combination of luck and gritty putting. Dropped one on 13, just rode my luck too much by that point. Pars 14, 15 & 16 then dropped a shot on 17 and then 18.

A 5 over 72 out of nowhere and bemusement with even my mate saying he doesn’t get how badly I hit it overall with that score.

Course isn’t long by any stretch but still needs a bit of accuracy that just wasn’t there for the most part.

Bloody odd game.

 

[Slab]

Public holiday today so getting a morning round in
7.45 am and temp is already at real feel of 42 degrees

Its gonna be hot...

 

[Slab]

Jeez that was one of the hottest rounds of the season so far

playing bogey golf for the most part, unfortunately.
Just not enough pars today. Highlight was holing out from off the green, with putter, from 40yards on SI 1 par 5 ... unfortunately it was for par

 

[Springveldt]

Public holiday today so getting a morning round in
7.45 am and temp is already at real feel of 42 degrees

Its gonna be hot...

Wind chill today here is 0C and has barely been above that for what seems like a month now.

 

[Slab]

Wind chill today here is 0C and has barely been above that for what seems like a month now.

Can you get it sorted please, I'm popping over for a visit in 4 months and will need a game while i'm there. I don't know my carry distance for 0c

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Wind chill today here is 0C and has barely been above that for what seems like a month now.

The thing is, you can layer up for 0⁰C. There is nothing you can really do to combat 40⁰C +. I'd just be sitting in the air conditioned clubhouse, I wouldn't be stepping outside. I'm not enjoying this current spell but I'd take it over extreme heat.

 

[Orikoru]

The thing is, you can layer up for 0⁰C. There is nothing you can really do to combat 40⁰C +. I'd just be sitting in the air conditioned clubhouse, I wouldn't be stepping outside. I'm not enjoying this current spell but I'd take it over extreme heat.

Agreed - I have played this year in 0° with a baselayer, polo, jumper, gilet and gloves and felt alright once I got moving. If it's 40° and you're already wearing the minimal clothes, there's nothing you can do besides stick an umbrella up for some shade. I can't recall the hottest I've played in but I doubt it was any higher than 31 or 32°.

That said my wife and I did try and play tennis on our honeymoon when it was about 37°. We lasted 15 minutes which was pretty strong.

 

[Slab]

The thing is, you can layer up for 0⁰C. There is nothing you can really do to combat 40⁰C +. I'd just be sitting in the air conditioned clubhouse, I wouldn't be stepping outside. I'm not enjoying this current spell but I'd take it over extreme heat.

Yeah I've seen ppl give up the round with heat exhaustion
Buggys help a huge amount and even more so when they have an ice bucket
Just warming up today the sweat was wringing out of my shirt and cap. On putting green before starting the beads of sweat were dripping off me, its a great way to check if your eyes are really over the ball

 

[Springveldt]

Agreed - I have played this year in 0° with a baselayer, polo, jumper, gilet and gloves and felt alright once I got moving. If it's 40° and you're already wearing the minimal clothes, there's nothing you can do besides stick an umbrella up for some shade. I can't recall the hottest I've played in but I doubt it was any higher than 31 or 32°.

That said my wife and I did try and play tennis on our honeymoon when it was about 37°. We lasted 15 minutes which was pretty strong.

I just had base layer, polo, gilet and woolly hat this week when the met office had it as feels like -1C. The other week when it was feels like -6C I had a jumper on as well, that did feel cold. Could barely feel my nose, cheeks and chin by the end.

Totally agree about heat, no way I could play in 40C. Anything over 30C and I'm looking for shade.