Round Report 2011

I am on holidays and playing well again as the body recovers from a hard year at work. With good conditions at the club my last four rounds have been 73, 74, 78, 73. Down to 3.2 which is point 1 lower than my previous best.
I have put a new driver into play which is giving me some good distance and I have found a good swing plane which is producing some solid accurate iron play. Putting is a little better too but is only just passable. I am making birdies which is a good sign.
If I can hold the form until Pottsy turns up in a month or so I might be able to make a good match of it.

Good stuff OP. It must feel like you are really hacking it up when you shoot a 78 these days! :D


I'm on holiday too but no golf so far. Too busy doing Xmas stuff with SWMBO and family. :rolleyes:

Heading back to beach today in the Coromandel to spend time with my family and will definitely get some golf in at our local track with my Dad.

Hope you keep up the good form for your match with Pottsy. That will be epic. You'll need to get Mick back behind the camera for that one! :)

Shot 73 again today. Make that 2.7 index. Too bloody low for when the form slips.

The weather in So. Cal has been amazing the last few days. Cold at night but then warming to mid 70-s during the day with little to no wind.

I went out yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. If I'm going to break 100 this year, I've got to do a better job of maintaining my spine angle through the swing and delofting my irons. Going out in a bit, maybe today's the day.

[QUOTE=oldplayer;259320]Shot 73 again today. Make that 2.7 index. Too bloody low for when the form slips.[/QUOTE]

OP, what's the slope rating and yardage of the course you play? You can give me meters as well.

[QUOTE=famousdavis;259537]OP, what's the slope rating and yardage of the course you play? You can give me meters as well.[/QUOTE]
There are two courses. The Beach and the Creek.
Beach is 6391 meters or about 7000 yards of the black tees (We play them on monthly medal days or matchplay and special tourney events) and 6139 meters or 6700 yards of the blue tees which is our normal day to day comps. Slope for the Beach course is 144. (probably the rating from the tips)
The Creek course is 6400 meters or slightly over 7000 yards off the back and 6060 meters off the blue tees so both courses are similar in length. The slope rating is a little lower on the Creek I think.
I actually find the Beach a little easier to score well on (although I have shot under on the front nine of the creek many times) unless the wind blows hard.

[QUOTE=oldplayer;259566]There are two courses. The Beach and the Creek.
Beach is 6391 meters or about 7000 yards of the black tees (We play them on monthly medal days or matchplay and special tourney events) and 6139 meters or 6700 yards of the blue tees which is our normal day to day comps. Slope for the Beach course is 144. (probably the rating from the tips)
The Creek course is 6400 meters or slightly over 7000 yards off the back and 6060 meters off the blue tees so both courses are similar in length. The slope rating is a little lower on the Creek I think.
I actually find the Beach a little easier to score well on (although I have shot under on the front nine of the creek many times) unless the wind blows hard.[/QUOTE]


Ummm, it sounds like you're pretty good. One thing I've found about golf course yardage is how important fairway roll is in determining the true length of a course. I assume that courses in Australia have fairways that are fairly hard and that you get a good deal of roll. Is that the case?

Dave, River, Lake and I played in Vegas and even though the course was close to 7,000 yards it played much shorter due to the roll we got.

I'm sure OP will answer you post FD but in the meantime I don't think you can generalize about Australia like that. It's such a huge country that you would get different conditions all over the place. Melbourne , where OP plays truly has 4 seasons and there is no way you get extra roll on the fairways like you do in in say Las Vegas. You might during a hot dry period in summer but that is true for most places. So to answer your implied question, no the Creek Course does not play shorter than the yardages given.

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;259570]I'm sure OP will answer you post FD but in the meantime I don't think you can generalize about Australia like that. It's such a huge country that you would get different conditions all over the place. Melbourne , where OP plays truly has 4 seasons and there is no way you get extra roll on the fairways like you do in in say Las Vegas. You might during a hot dry period in summer but that is true for most places. So to answer your implied question, no the Creek Course does not play shorter than the yardages given.[/QUOTE]

It also depends on the grass too. Lots of our courses have kikuyu fairways which have no roll unless cut real short. The better courses have cooch which usually gives plenty of roll but makes nasty rough if left to grow.

[QUOTE=famousdavis;259568]Ummm, it sounds like you're pretty good. One thing I've found about golf course yardage is how important fairway roll is in determining the true length of a course. I assume that courses in Australia have fairways that are fairly hard and that you get a good deal of roll. Is that the case?

Dave, River, Lake and I played in Vegas and even though the course was close to 7,000 yards it played much shorter due to the roll we got.[/QUOTE]

Yes, generally the courses play pretty firm, although we have pretty wet winters (and long ones) in a normal weather year so there is not always a lot of roll available. The Creek course has couch fairways and the beach has fescue. The other element about firm playing courses is the greens. Our greens are sand based and are firm and fast. This makes holding approach shots difficult at times. The only times our greens are soft and receptive is when they are piling on the water in mid-summer.

Went out and shot 75 on the Creek Course again today. Played to my 3 cap and by doing so lowered my cap to 2.3. Never been on 2 in my nearly 20 years playing the game.
I've shafted myself now. Won't win a bean until I can get some shots back. Good to better the mates though. Bragging rights have got to be worth something.

[QUOTE=oldplayer;259675]Went out and shot 75 on the Creek Course again today. Played to my 3 cap and by doing so lowered my cap to 2.3. Never been on 2 in my nearly 20 years playing the game.
I've shafted myself now. Won't win a bean until I can get some shots back. Good to better the mates though. Bragging rights have got to be worth something.[/QUOTE]

Great job OP. People don't realize how big a difference it is between a 5 handicap and a 2 handicap. It's pretty huge if you think about it. Your whole game must be really good for you to consistently shoot those scores. Is there anything in particular that has drastically improved recently? Happy New Year!

[QUOTE=famousdavis;259681]Great job OP. People don't realize how big a difference it is between a 5 handicap and a 2 handicap. It's pretty huge if you think about it. Your whole game must be really good for you to consistently shoot those scores. Is there anything in particular that has drastically improved recently? Happy New Year![/QUOTE]

Happy New Year to you also FD and I hope you shoot great rounds this year.
Yes there has been 3 changes that has prompted the recent good form. I had another driver built that has been a great success. I told you about it and changed my sig at your request. It has added some genuine distance when I middle one. My cap has been coming down from the first round I put it in the bag.
The second change is I have been concentrating on swingplane, weight transfer and staying over the ball at impact with my irons. This has led to more solid shots with all the irons, even hitting the 3 iron well again.
Thirdly I have gone back to total feel putting, like the way I used to when i was a good putter. Forget about technique, posture, head movement etc. Just set up to the ball so I feel comfortable hitting it on the line chosen, look at the hole, and just knock it in. Didn't miss a put inside six feet today. Also gone back to an Anser style.
Still hit poor shots, but not too many in recent rounds.
Sorry to go on a bit, but you did ask. :D

Congratulations OP. Your great form is an inspiration to us all. Getting down to a 2 cap is great work. Glad to hear that in true GR tradition equipment played it's part with the new driver. I see you also have the Z101s back in the bag too. I'm sure they must have helped with the improved iron play too! :)

The only thing I'm annoyed about is I was going to give the Yes Ashley another go based on your recommendation but now yougo and tell me you've switched back to an Anser style putter! :) Ah well never mind.

Well done mate.

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;259687]Congratulations OP. Your great form is an inspiration to us all. Getting down to a 2 cap is great work. Glad to hear that in true GR tradition equipment played it's part with the new driver. I see you also have the Z101s back in the bag too. I'm sure they must have helped with the improved iron play too! :)

[B]The only thing I'm annoyed about is I was going to give the Yes Ashley another go based on your recommendation but now yougo and tell me you've switched back to an Anser style putter![/B] :) Ah well never mind.

Well done mate.[/QUOTE]

Just to let you know Kiwi the Ashley is back in the bag. The reason being I was putting with the fisher F1 the other morning on the practice putting green before the round. There was a bit of dew on the grass and I noticed on longer lag putts the ball was skidding about 10 feet before it started rolling properly. Can't have that. So I put the Ashley back in and have played two rounds with it. I'm still holing putts so it is officially sanctioned again. :)

[QUOTE=oldplayer;259902]Just to let you know Kiwi the Ashley is back in the bag. The reason being I was putting with the fisher F1 the other morning on the practice putting green before the round. There was a bit of dew on the grass and I noticed on longer lag putts the ball was skidding about 10 feet before it started rolling properly. Can't have that. So I put the Ashley back in and have played two rounds with it. I'm still holing putts so it is officially sanctioned again. :)[/QUOTE]

LOL - nice one mate. I shot 80 tonight after work. If not for a couple of annoying three putts and a stupid double bogie on the 16th I might have shot in the 70's for the first time in months. That was with the Yes Tracy so on your recommendation I might put the Ashley in the bag for tomorrow night.

Good golfing OP. :)

Cheers
Kiwi

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;259903]LOL - nice one mate. I shot 80 tonight after work. If not for a couple of annoying three putts and a stupid double bogie on the 16th I might have shot in the 70's for the first time in months. That was with the Yes Tracy so on your recommendation I might put the Ashley in the bag for tomorrow night.

Good golfing OP. :)

Cheers
Kiwi[/QUOTE]

Thanks Kiwi. Good golfing to you also. I'm sure rounds in the 70's are in your destiny for this year. Just make sure that SWMBO understands that this is only achieved with practice and dedication.

[QUOTE=oldplayer;259907]Thanks Kiwi. Good golfing to you also. I'm sure rounds in the 70's are in your destiny for this year. Just make sure that SWMBO understands that this is only achieved with practice and dedication.[/QUOTE]

Well I suppose I should be posting this in the 2012 thread but since we're on topic I thought I'd post it here. Took the Yes Ashley out today and liked it. My putting was a mixed bag as was the rest of the round but it was the Indian not the arrow. Shot an 82 with 4 birdies. Making 1 birdie in a round is good for me so to have 4 and only shoot 82 is pretty disappointing. Trouble is I had two doubles and a triple that screwed the card as well as a string of bogies due to 3 putts or approach shots that didn't hold the green and I failed to get up and down. I need to work on my distance control as I had several nice approaches that skipped through the green.

It's a funny old game. Eliminate the blowup holes and 3 putts and I'm shooting 76 but take away the birdies and I'm shooting 86!!!

Ah well there's always tomorrow. But the Ashley felt good and is staying in the bag. :cool:

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;260215]Well I suppose I should be posting this in the 2012 thread but since we're on topic I thought I'd post it here. Took the Yes Ashley out today and liked it. My putting was a mixed bag as was the rest of the round but it was the Indian not the arrow. Shot an 82 with 4 birdies. Making 1 birdie in a round is good for me so to have 4 and only shoot 82 is pretty disappointing. Trouble is I had two doubles and a triple that screwed the card as well as a string of bogies due to 3 putts or approach shots that didn't hold the green and I failed to get up and down. I need to work on my distance control as I had several nice approaches that skipped through the green.

It's a funny old game. Eliminate the blowup holes and 3 putts and I'm shooting 76 but take away the birdies and I'm shooting 86!!!

Ah well there's always tomorrow. But the Ashley felt good and is staying in the bag. :cool:[/QUOTE]

Just read about that hot air balloon tragedy. What an awful way to go. I'll find a link.

[url]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57354094/hot-air-balloon-crash-in-new-zealand-kills-11/[/url]

[QUOTE=lorenzoinoc;260216]Just read about that hot air ballon tragedy. What an awful way to go.[/QUOTE]

Yeah shocking!!!

Tragic. Just can't believe it. That's the sort of thing I would shout my parents as a birthday or anniversary present. Last year I shouted them a scenic helicopter flight and a balloon flight has always intrigued me but not now. No way.

Just awful. :(

The attached has more pics from the crash scene. Horrific way to go. SWMBO works in Tourism and this type of tragedy hits her hard.

[url]http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10777246&gallery_id=123324#8466193[/url]

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;260217]Yeah shocking!!!

Tragic. Just can't believe it. That's the sort of thing I would shout my parents as a birthday or anniversary present. Last year I shouted them a scenic helicopter flight and a balloon flight has always intrigued me but not now. No way.

Just awful. :([/QUOTE]

This is why I have an irrational fear of heights. S.hit happens.

[QUOTE=lorenzoinoc;260224]This is why I have an irrational fear of heights. S.hit happens.[/QUOTE]

It's not an irrational fear. It is purely survival instinct to not put yourself in situations where death is possible.

Its hard to imagine what would bse going through Their minds at the end. Air crash victims would have the most panicked ending to a life there is. Poor buggers.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;260234]Its hard to imagine what would bse going through Their minds at the end. Air crash victims would have the most panicked ending to a life there is. Poor buggers.[/QUOTE]

I would be thinking that I'll never be able to try out another set of irons.

[QUOTE=famousdavis;260288]I would be thinking that I'll never be able to try out another set of irons.[/QUOTE]

Or the next driver [I]du jour.[/I]

[QUOTE=famousdavis;260288]I would be thinking that I'll never be able to try out another set of irons.[/QUOTE]

Would you want to be buried with a set of Ping Eye2s in the casket?

[QUOTE=Kiwi Player;260292]Would you want to be buried with a set of Ping Eye2s in the casket?[/QUOTE]

Buried with him? Hell, you could practically dig his grave hole with the damn shovels and cover him back up with them.

[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/9971/deepsleep.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=SoonerBS;260300]Buried with him? Hell, you could practically dig his grave hole with the damn shovels and cover him back up with them.

[img]http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/9971/deepsleep.gif[/img][/QUOTE]

And most people who use them dig as much dirt as an average grave in 18 holes of golf.

[QUOTE=Not a hacker;260323]And most people who use them dig as much dirt as an average grave in 18 holes of golf.[/QUOTE]

My tombstone shall read:

[I]Here lies FD[/I]

[I]An honorable husband and father[/I]

[I]who loved a few pints at night[/I]

[I]and would have been an average golfer[/I]

[I]if it were not for ZZ-Lite[/I]

Damn, did it again. Shot an 80. Even tho I've only been golfing for a week so far this year, still a little bummed aboout it. Hopefully, I can get over the hump and shoot a round in the seventies. Played 14 rounds in 9 days so thinking this could be a damn fine year.

[QUOTE=jt1135;266739]Damn, did it again. Shot an 80. Even tho I've only been golfing for a week so far this year, still a little bummed aboout it. Hopefully, I can get over the hump and shoot a round in the seventies. Played 14 rounds in 9 days so thinking this could be a damn fine year.[/QUOTE]

Nice one Jt. I'm sure you'll break 80 soon. Do you think you you will get a chance to play in 2012 next time?

Damn, didn't notice that this said 2011. Just pretend this post was under the 2012 listing.

[QUOTE=lorenzoinoc;259536]The weather in So. Cal has been amazing the last few days. Cold at night but then warming to mid 70-s during the day with little to no wind.

I went out yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. If I'm going to break 100 this year, I've got to do a better job of maintaining my spine angle through the swing and delofting my irons. Going out in a bit, maybe today's the day.[/QUOTE]

Not likely you will improve while playing. Nobody does. We swing too hard on the course and nothing ever changes while making full shots. We usually just make bogus adjustments and put bandaids on bandaids, becoming worse and worse.

Take a lesson. See your swing on video and then do the practice drills suggested by the pro. With persistence you might be able to effectively change bad habits.

Otherwise, good luck. You will need luck.

Larry

Guys,
Sorry but I forgot to tell you about a round I played in 2011. I know, it's halfway through 2012 but you all deserve to know.
I played golf on Oct. 3rd. I don't remember anything about the round. I feel much better getting that off my chest.

[QUOTE=Horseballs;275020]Guys,
Sorry but I forgot to tell you about a round I played in 2011. I know, it's halfway through 2012 but you all deserve to know.
I played golf on Oct. 3rd. I don't remember anything about the round. I feel much better getting that off my chest.[/QUOTE]


Nice going! If you can recall any additional information about the round I'd love to hear about it.