HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
My fellow forummers. I am pleased to announce that Homer is back and back with a bang. As I alluded to I had a lesson with my old coach on Thursday now he has moved to a range much nearer to me. A few changes to posture and ball position and I was striking well. Played 18 holes on my own on Friday to get a feel for the changes on course in a "live" environment (OK I did play 2 balls a lot of the time but I had the course to myself - what would you have done). The ball striking was better but not perfect.
I went to the range on Saturday. The pro wandered over between lessons and I told him of my woes playing. He watched me hit a few and gave me a 10 minute refresher (free of course) and got me to concentrate solely on ball position. Finished off, went home for lunch and went back. Hit another bucket which were great especially off the tee withthe big dog. Then went to the bunker and the grass area for short game practice.
Entered the monthly stableford yesterday expecting nothing more than another 0.1 increase and was really only using it to work on my swing in a playing situation. Started with 2 points on the first and then missed a 2 footer for par (got my net par) on the second. I thought it was going to be one of those days with the short stick.
I only hit one fairway on the front nine despite hitting so well at the range but played conservatively and made net pars to keep the board ticking. I parred our 6th which regualr readers will know has been a particular bogey hole (majestic high 3 hybrid to front edge and two putts from 30 foot). I birdied the short 8th and by the turn had racked up 21 points.
The pattern continued on the back nine of missing fairways but a 10 footer for par on the 183 yard 13th (SI 17!!!) was a bonus but I gave that straight back with a double (1 point) on the next from one hole I found the fairway on (there may be a lesson there). I scrambled a par five after semi-topping my drive 150 yards down the par 5 15th. I came to the 18th knowing a 6 net 5 would give me 39 points and never beleived that would be enough. 40 seems to be an absolute minimum these days and I hadn't parred the last since Britain had an economy.
I hit my best driveof the day after really concentrating on my new posture and making a good turn. I smoked a five wood to leave 150 into the wind with the pond by the green calling my name as it had done so often recently. I'd normally go with a 6 but into a breeze and to give myself some protection I took 5. I hit a really scabby, semi slice really low which looked destined for a watery grave. I saw it take a bounce and my partner told me it had missed the pond and was on the edge pin high. I played a decent pitch and run with my PW to about 3 foot. I had been having real mental issue with short putts all day and it dawned on me that making it would give me the magic 40. I made a really positive stroke and drained it.
I've just checked the club website and guess what folks. Homer only won division 1 by a point and has been cut 0.8 back down to 13.8. I have to say a lot of it is down to my coach Grant Sayer and if anyone is in the Berkshire area get down the Maidenhead Golf Centre for a lesson (tell him Martin Bedborough sent you). A top coach who did wonders for me getting me from 20 to 13 two summers back (it had crept up to 15 after this summer of discontent) and after just one lesson I'm back in the winners enclosure
I went to the range on Saturday. The pro wandered over between lessons and I told him of my woes playing. He watched me hit a few and gave me a 10 minute refresher (free of course) and got me to concentrate solely on ball position. Finished off, went home for lunch and went back. Hit another bucket which were great especially off the tee withthe big dog. Then went to the bunker and the grass area for short game practice.
Entered the monthly stableford yesterday expecting nothing more than another 0.1 increase and was really only using it to work on my swing in a playing situation. Started with 2 points on the first and then missed a 2 footer for par (got my net par) on the second. I thought it was going to be one of those days with the short stick.
I only hit one fairway on the front nine despite hitting so well at the range but played conservatively and made net pars to keep the board ticking. I parred our 6th which regualr readers will know has been a particular bogey hole (majestic high 3 hybrid to front edge and two putts from 30 foot). I birdied the short 8th and by the turn had racked up 21 points.
The pattern continued on the back nine of missing fairways but a 10 footer for par on the 183 yard 13th (SI 17!!!) was a bonus but I gave that straight back with a double (1 point) on the next from one hole I found the fairway on (there may be a lesson there). I scrambled a par five after semi-topping my drive 150 yards down the par 5 15th. I came to the 18th knowing a 6 net 5 would give me 39 points and never beleived that would be enough. 40 seems to be an absolute minimum these days and I hadn't parred the last since Britain had an economy.
I hit my best driveof the day after really concentrating on my new posture and making a good turn. I smoked a five wood to leave 150 into the wind with the pond by the green calling my name as it had done so often recently. I'd normally go with a 6 but into a breeze and to give myself some protection I took 5. I hit a really scabby, semi slice really low which looked destined for a watery grave. I saw it take a bounce and my partner told me it had missed the pond and was on the edge pin high. I played a decent pitch and run with my PW to about 3 foot. I had been having real mental issue with short putts all day and it dawned on me that making it would give me the magic 40. I made a really positive stroke and drained it.
I've just checked the club website and guess what folks. Homer only won division 1 by a point and has been cut 0.8 back down to 13.8. I have to say a lot of it is down to my coach Grant Sayer and if anyone is in the Berkshire area get down the Maidenhead Golf Centre for a lesson (tell him Martin Bedborough sent you). A top coach who did wonders for me getting me from 20 to 13 two summers back (it had crept up to 15 after this summer of discontent) and after just one lesson I'm back in the winners enclosure
