Reflecting on the season.

[Basher]

So, the season is more or less over.
I'll be carrying on over winter but the main comps at my track have finished until next year.

What are people's thoughts on this season?
Have goals been reached? Has it been a disaster?

For me, I aimed to practise and play more in order to get my handicap down. It hasn't happened!
Time was at a premium, practise was very limited. It's only the past few weeks that I have had the opportunity to get up on the course and practise. On a previous post I did say that I had seen some good improvement. Shame it's come at the end of the season. That's why I intend carrying on through the winter and maintain the momentum.

Next season with the tunnel light now visible, I think my original aspirations may be realised.

 

[Imurg]

My season hasn't really got off the ground. Had a good start to the year, dropping from 11.1 to 9.9 in the space of a few weeks by playing really well then, due to work (or lack of it) I was unable to renew my club membership in May. This meant no comps and only a little play until work picked up in July and HID (aka Finance Director!) gave me the nod. Joined a different club and began playing with forum member CVG on a regular basis. Got his 3 cards in to get his handicap - mine had been transferred over - but getting to play comps has been difficult.
I hope to get my first in next week.
I've enjoyed my season immensely even though I've played like a tart for large portions. Recently its started to return and my last 2 outings (36 and 37 points) have been respectable. The plan was single figures and I made 9.9 but went back up to 10 before I left the old club. So not quite there but I feel the potential for dropping a couple next year - I leave a few silly shots out there every time.
I expect to play most of the winter - probably with CVG - so I can hit the ground running next term.

 

[WGC2]

I'm not too sure how my year went. Due to exams which required
a fair bit of my time I didnt get to play many competitions. Being a juvenile there are only 3 months of the year where you can be cut so 3 weeks were already lost to the exams.

I set some targets at the start of the summer like getting my handicap to 22 and playing 3 new courses. I did manage to achieve the latter.

Was I setting the bar too low at 22?

 

[jammydodger]

Had 3 goals this year. Get h/c down to 6 , win a board comp and tighten up my short game back to how it was 5 years ago when I last played.

First 2 done and exceeded..h/c 5 and won 2 board comps

3rd goal is subjective and i'm nearing the place I want to be , not quite 100% confident on all the different types of shots around the green but i'd say about 85% there.

Been a very good year if truth be told

 

[roccokj]

I set a goal to get from 17 to 9, haven't done so yet but the season ain't over!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think I summed everything about my year up here.

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-news/opinion/forum/397904/the-golf-year-that-was.html

 

[Tommo21]

What a year I’ve had, as usual fighting the odd hook, but playing more consistent than the previous season. Checking through all the medals I’ve played and that’s about 25 or more, I’m less than 2 over par after taking off my HC. I’ve only had two medals where I’ve been over 80 and that’s not by much. The season started well with me winning one of the winter medals, scratch and HC. The course was brick hard and the ball ran forever on the greens, just what I liked. At one club I qualified for the club championships and got hammered in the knockout. While at the other club I qualified for the second Q round. I was playing in the third last group, only to blow it with that round of over 80 I mentioned.

I had a senior championship to defend and defend it I did, winning the 36 hole final 3 and 2. Some people said the final was the previous round when I played a 6 hc player beating him 4 and 2, but I give everyone total respect. That same weekend, the previous day, I (we) missed out winning the greensome foursomes by count-back after we posted a impressive 68 scratch round royal Musselburgh, including and eagle and two 2’s. I would have given my seniors win to lift that one with the young 14 year old lad I played with. In captains day my partner and I won the scratch prize after posting a birdie filled better ball round of 60 shots….well he is a former pro, but I did hit three birdies myself and loads of pars which made it easy for the pro.

I had great fun in the scramble last week, we shot an incredible 7 under par for the first 9, but we needed better than 4 birdies in the back 9 to win. Oh, another two 2’s and that day I hit two, into the wind, driller 4 irons to within a few feet at two of the long par threes….two shots I was really proud of.

In one medal I hit back to back two’s and in an open comp at Dunbar GC I played embarrassingly awful in the first nine to come back in one over par, including another two 2’s. It was more satisfying as I was playing with a guy who played in the British seniors open.

In another medal I was the only one of 210 players to eagle the par 5……..I still don’t know how I done it. Another medal, I was the only one of 190 players to birdie the hardest hole in the course, and another, I started with a four over par 8 and still got round in under 79. Oh, another medal, this is the best one, I shot four double bogie 6’s (that hook again) and got round in 77…that was crazy golf that day. Broke 70 four times.

Finally, I’ve got down to 5 for the first time in my life, went back up, got back down, went back up, got back down…….now at 5.5 ah well. I’ve had a great year….apart from that shocker at the Merchants with DCB and J-F. Did I mention Goswick, you all know about that.

So, I’ve got some silverware to pick up and a couple of medals to play before I settle down for the odd game come winter.

Next.

 

[Golfmmad]

Wow Tommo, that's some serious golf you've played this year,congrats - I'm in awe of such great play

Can you improve on that next year? No pressure then

Golfmmad.

 

[Tommo21]

Wow Tommo, that's some serious golf you've played this year,congrats - I'm in awe of such great play

Can you improve on that next year? No pressure then

Golfmmad.

I think I can, I've been having a bit of coaching, I'm getting on top of the odd hook by rotating my hips more effectively on the down swing. You see, the older you get the less your body wants to move.

 

[bobmac]

I'm getting on top of the odd hook by rotating my hips more effectively on the down swing. .

Who told that rubbish?

 

[birdieman]

I'm sitting at the best handicap I've ever had so I must have had a decent season. Gone 5.2 to 3.7 in 2009 from 27 qualifying games with one game left.
Truth be told I've been a bit more consistent, less poor holes rather than more good ones I think. Possibly better decision making too in playing the percentages.

Would've liked to get to 3, could still happen but all in all a good season, pretty much injury free too.

 

[USER1999]

Wash out. Total wash out. If I can buffer the last two medals, I will finish where I started, if not, back up to 12. On the other hand, I could play a blinder in the next two, and get down a bit, but not as much as I wanted.

I feel I am playing better than for a while, but no end result.

Have played a lot of new courses this year, which is a good thing.

 

[piratepete]

I started the season at 17.7 went down to 14.9,I was looking to hopefully get to the lucky 13 but I lost my job late July,then injured my back early August,still out of action awaiting surgery,god this is so frustrating,all the good weather lately as well,and there you are writing comments about your slow rounds,at least youv'e had one.
I have some very clean and shiny Titleist 962's and G10 woods in the bag.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I've had a poor year to be honest.

My aims were:
get handicap to 7 or less.
play a competition round in better than 6 over par.

I failed in both.

I have however been making significant changes to my swing later in the year which was holding me back a bit & they seem to be getting better now. I also realise that I'm incredibly unfit and I think I messud up a few rounds late on due to this & have therefore decided to have a good run at hitting the gym to build up stamina & strength.
So hopefully a good winter league campaign & start to next year will see me improve.

So my aims for next year are:
Handicap to 6 or better.
Play to 4 over in a comp'.

 

[Tommo21]

I'm getting on top of the odd hook by rotating my hips more effectively on the down swing. .

Who told that rubbish?

Yes, you knew what my problem was Bob. TBH the young pro at Royal Musselburg can tell what way I'm striking the ball by looking at my hip turn, or lack of it, not by looking where the ball is going. I've now, for the first time in many years, got the feel for it.

 

[Smiffy]

Joined a club after being a "nomad" for 8 years, had hopes of getting my lapsed 12 handicap down to single figures but haven't played anywhere near enough qualifying competitions since I joined.
Have played loads of new courses, (always a weakness of mine), and have met some really nice people from both here and the Golf Magic site.
Spent a bloody fortune on new clubs..... I have seen an improvement in my driving but my iron play is still pants most times out.
So a bit of a "nothing" season for me really unless you count visiting two new courses out of the ones that I've played that will go into my all time top 10.

 

[DCB]

I've had a poor season as far as the results and handicap goes this year. However, I have enjoyed my golf an awful lot more this year than in the past few years. Bit of a contradiction there but... Seems hard to admit it, but I can't play as well as I used to and I just have to get on with what I've got now.

A change of job at the start of the summer has given me fresh perspective on a lot of things and I'm hoping that the more settled work pattern will help me going into next season.

I'm still trying to improve, got another lesson on saturday coming, so I still want to get back to a better standard of play. I'm up to 12 dead now. Highest I've been for around 10 years. Single figures is a long way off now. I can dream, but it will take a lot of better golf next year to get back to single figures.

middle age and mediocrity seem to go hand in hand

 

[viscount17]

I don't think I ever stated specific aims other than to get the handicap down, that I've managed though I think the potential is there to have done more (overconfident at times), and to play lots of new courses.

As a bonus I made the semis of the society's singles, but managed to take the game to the 17th; made the finals of the doubles, only to play poorly - trying too hard I think; and picked up two trophies in monthly Staplefords.

There are still medals to play, and one more society comp (this at Brampton - another first).

I did say that I wanted to reduce the spending - failed, and still failing. I have plans for a cf'd driver (and it turns out that the brother of the pro with whom I am booking lessons is the manager of SnakeEyes fitting in the area). I also have plans (or perhaps urgent need) for a V-easy.

 

[bobmac]

I've had a good year so far.
I stopped smoking in February and still off it
I dont play medals or have a handicap, so cant comment on that, but playing more golf than last year.
Met a few guys from here and played a few nice new courses.
The main thing for me is seeing people I've helped getting their h/caps cut and having fun on the course.
Teegirl is now off 14
Hope to play even more next year as money hopefully wont be as tight

So, more golf, better courses, better handicaps and better health. Cant complain really.
(Well, I can, but no-one will listen)

 

[Tommo21]

I'm sitting at the best handicap I've ever had so I must have had a decent season. Gone 5.2 to 3.7 in 2009 from 27 qualifying games with one game left.
Truth be told I've been a bit more consistent, less poor holes rather than more good ones I think. Possibly better decision making too in playing the percentages.

Would've liked to get to 3, could still happen but all in all a good season, pretty much injury free too.

5.2 to 3.7 that is a real good reduction and it keeps you well in the Cat 1 zone. Me, I keep bouncing along around the 5.2 to 5.5 mark. I need to get 4.9 or below to give me some leeway.