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

First card of the year, first full round at home this year and............
79 blows (+8) tor 35 poi ts and a 0.1 or 0.2 cut.
I'll take that after the poor showing on Friday....
Doubled the 10th - our first - with 4 very poor shots then picked things up a bit.
Turned with 16 poi ts so level 2s for the 8 holes...and then the game kicked in.
A birdie and 4 pars to start our back 9 but 3 bogeys in the last 4 holes scuppered a really good score.
Birdie putt lipped out on the last too.....
And the heel is holding up.....
Bring on Spring
 
9 holes today as a warm up for Wednesday.. make sure I am in the groove. Solid 39 out but a few disappointing putts and one 3 putt. Mostly okay stuff, I was trying a Callaway Chrome Tour ball today. The idea was to reduce my driver spin levels but to be honest I think it will take more than a ball to get it down.
 
18 holes at Goswick today, first 18 as a member.😬
No mats as of yesterday, course dry as a bone, came off the course with clean shoes, no mud on the trousers and a big smile on my face.

New 7th Par 3 hole looks like it’s always been there, incredible job by the greenstaff. Opens for play 1st April.

Bit of a mild wind and sunny.
 
Played with my best mate at the club. He always wants some sort of competition and loves match play, so that's what we did, off scratch. (I'm off 15 he's off 8). I won the first. Second is a par three, I put my tee shot to 2 meters, he was up a steep banl to the right of the green, with no shot. He drop it to with in 15 cm. Gimme. 3rd. I smashed my drive and absolute mile up the hill. He's 30 meters back. He puts his chip to the back left of the green with almost no chance. I flick on. He.....yup chips to less than 15cm. gimme. And on and on and on. He won it on the 15th. BUT. I missed a nemesis putt on 15. He told me why and how to correct. So from there on in I was practising the putts. Came off feeling pretty good. We should be having a re-match on Wednesday, weather permitting. He really wants me to stay.......but as we walked round pointed out all thre reasons I'm leaving (without knowing it).
 
18 holes at Goswick today, first 18 as a member.😬
No mats as of yesterday, course dry as a bone, came off the course with clean shoes, no mud on the trousers and a big smile on my face.

New 7th Par 3 hole looks like it’s always been there, incredible job by the greenstaff. Opens for play 1st April.

Bit of a mild wind and sunny.
Was this created though the winter?
 
Probably one of the best days Ave had on a course for a fair while. One of the lads contacted me on Sunday and asked if he could drop into our fuddle as Worksop is closed due to work. We had a stonking 18 holes laughed and laughed. He said what a fantastic group of lads in he fuddle. Did it help coz the weather was fantastic. You bet. Oh ah, a pair of red Kites have returned. 😄👍
 
Days are getting longer so I managed to get out for nine holes. Played the back nine as I played it so poorly on the weekend - played it equally poorly tonight. Duffed and fatted my approaches and pitches. Chipping was good with the second ball I dropped each time after knifing or fatting the first one. Putting still mediocre. Managed 12 points for nine holes, and I probably generously miscounted for 1 or 2 of them even, since I was hitting multiple balls and trying to remember how many I'd done with the original one for the score. 😆

I played quite well in January but since the start of February I feel like my game has gone down the toilet. Playing to 8 shots in the Medal this Sunday is going to be a real struggle! Be lucky if I make it under net 80.
 
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Days are getting longer so I managed to get out for nine holes. Played the back nine as I played it so poorly on the weekend - played it equally poorly tonight. Duffed and fatted my approaches and pitches. Chipping was good with the second ball I dropped each time after knifing or fatting the first one. Putting still mediocre. Managed 12 points for nine holes, and I probably generously miscounted for 1 or 2 of them even, since I was hitting multiple balls and trying to remember how many I'd done with the original one for the score. 😆

I played quite well in January but since the start of February I feel like my game has gone down the toilet. Playing to 8 shots in the Medal this Sunday is going to be a real struggle! Be lucky if I make it under net 80.
If you're just going out for such a round of essentially practice, why worry about the score? Just worry about the quality of each shot.
 
Days are getting longer so I managed to get out for nine holes. Played the back nine as I played it so poorly on the weekend - played it equally poorly tonight. Duffed and fatted my approaches and pitches. Chipping was good with the second ball I dropped each time after knifing or fatting the first one. Putting still mediocre. Managed 12 points for nine holes, and I probably generously miscounted for 1 or 2 of them even, since I was hitting multiple balls and trying to remember how many I'd done with the original one for the score. 😆

I played quite well in January but since the start of February I feel like my game has gone down the toilet. Playing to 8 shots in the Medal this Sunday is going to be a real struggle! Be lucky if I make it under net 80.
Maybe you need to use this midweek rounds to completely forget about scoring, use it to focus on improving the weaker areas. If there’s no one around throw a couple of balls down in different spots practice those chips and don’t worry about the outcome just focus on the process. Unless you’re putting a card in the score is irrelevant.

Also don’t put pressure on yourself to shoot a number if your shoot under 80 great if you don’t figure out what could be better next time. Soon as you put a number on you’re already teeing off in a negative mindset and forcing yourself to do things which invariably will lead to more bad shots and duffed chips. You can only play one shot as time and the last one you hit is irrelevant.
If you're just going out for such a round of essentially practice, why worry about the score? Just worry about the quality of each shot.
Absolutely this! Whenever I go out midweek alone I’ll often play 2 balls and choose the worst shot of the 2 for my next shot. Just to keep it mixed up and focusing on improving.
 
Oh ah, on our first par three, I put it 20 ft from the pin. Last group of three, 18 in total. I thought boom a nearest the pin. Only I thought there’s no way that green has not been hit. I asked a PP to check the hole to see if there was a marker in the hole. There was.
The guy paid for drinks for us 18 and a bottle on the bar. Me I had me normal cuppa tea.
 
I played 14 hoes today, lovely sunny day, really good signs that spring isn't far away and with spring comes the new season and who knows what that will bring.
 
Played Matfen Hall today for the first time.

Very impressive facilities, greens were great, the courses look terrific, but close up, the fairways were pretty muddy which was disappointing.

Barely saw a soul all day, same in the clubhouse afterwards. Slaley was the same when we played it recently. How do these places survive?
 
If you're just going out for such a round of essentially practice, why worry about the score? Just worry about the quality of each shot.
I can't play without scoring, I can't take it seriously as every shot feel meaningless.

Maybe you need to use this midweek rounds to completely forget about scoring, use it to focus on improving the weaker areas. If there’s no one around throw a couple of balls down in different spots practice those chips and don’t worry about the outcome just focus on the process. Unless you’re putting a card in the score is irrelevant.

Also don’t put pressure on yourself to shoot a number if your shoot under 80 great if you don’t figure out what could be better next time. Soon as you put a number on you’re already teeing off in a negative mindset and forcing yourself to do things which invariably will lead to more bad shots and duffed chips. You can only play one shot as time and the last one you hit is irrelevant.
I did hit two or three chips when around the greens in difficult areas, but I simply counted the first ball as the score. As above, playing without scoring feels pointless, like the whole essence of the game is how many it takes you to get it in the hole. Especially on the greens, I've tried playing without a score and I don't take time on any putts, I just sort of whack it somewhat near and take a 4 foot gimme.

Net 80 was a flippant comment, not a particular target of mine. I'd hope to do a lot better in fact, net 80 would be 12 over handicap at my place. 😆
 
I can't play without scoring, I can't take it seriously as every shot feel meaningless.


I did hit two or three chips when around the greens in difficult areas, but I simply counted the first ball as the score. As above, playing without scoring feels pointless, like the whole essence of the game is how many it takes you to get it in the hole. Especially on the greens, I've tried playing without a score and I don't take time on any putts, I just sort of whack it somewhat near and take a 4 foot gimme.

Net 80 was a flippant comment, not a particular target of mine. I'd hope to do a lot better in fact, net 80 would be 12 over handicap at my place. 😆
Here's a "practice game" for you to try -play two balls at every shot, first time out, pick the worst one of each shot and play from there. Next time out, play two balls at every shot, pick the better one of each and play from there. Compare the two scores. Hopefully the one with the worst ball will get closer and closer to the score with the better ball. We called it the "Hogan game". Doing this over nine holes is sufficient.
 
Here's a "practice game" for you to try -play two balls at every shot, first time out, pick the worst one of each shot and play from there. Next time out, play two balls at every shot, pick the better one of each and play from there. Compare the two scores. Hopefully the one with the worst ball will get closer and closer to the score with the better ball. We called it the "Hogan game". Doing this over nine holes is sufficient.
Literally what I said I do 🤣.

It’s a a good game to play and helps focus on the scoring from all areas aspect. Also really good for when you play competitive golf as you’ve already experienced bad lies and situations so you’re aware of how to play shots already and score even when you’re not hitting it great.
 
Literally what I said I do 🤣.

It’s a a good game to play and helps focus on the scoring from all areas aspect. Also really good for when you play competitive golf as you’ve already experienced bad lies and situations so you’re aware of how to play shots already and score even when you’re not hitting it great.
The alternative to this which I have done occasionally is play 2 balls match play against each other.
You do need a fairly quiet course or a 4 ball behind you but it gives you the competitive element without needing a scorecard
 
The alternative to this which I have done occasionally is play 2 balls match play against each other.
You do need a fairly quiet course or a 4 ball behind you but it gives you the competitive element without needing a scorecard
I haven't tried that one I like that idea, might have to give it a go.

One my dad played when he used to drag me round the course as a 7 year in the summer evenings whilst mum was a work. Was a game where he'd play a hole and set a scoring target for that hole, if he failed to get it in that number of shots out of the bag would come the 2 tone Ping balls that used to be about. He would then make himself play the next hole with that ball again setting a score target but if he failed then it would continue to roll over, he used to get it out the bag uttering the word "If you're going to play like a (insert 4 letter non PC Word) then you may as well look like a (insert 4 letter non PC word).. As a 7 year old I never had a clue what he meant I was to busy rummaging in the bushes looking for balls, but it used to focus him and he did go on to win some big comps that year.

Mind you the colour of balls available these days I don't think his strategy would work anymore as people use alsorts 😂
 
I can't play without scoring, I can't take it seriously as every shot feel meaningless.


I did hit two or three chips when around the greens in difficult areas, but I simply counted the first ball as the score. As above, playing without scoring feels pointless, like the whole essence of the game is how many it takes you to get it in the hole. Especially on the greens, I've tried playing without a score and I don't take time on any putts, I just sort of whack it somewhat near and take a 4 foot gimme.

Net 80 was a flippant comment, not a particular target of mine. I'd hope to do a lot better in fact, net 80 would be 12 over handicap at my place. 😆
You do know that golf, at our level is a hobby and meant to be fun and relaxing (to a point). Maybe you are too uptight with too many thoughts going on in your head and this is what is holding you back. Try and go out without scoring and try and relax a bit more, maybe scores and technique will improve without you trying to force things.
 
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