sp0rtsfan86

Had 3 rounds since last update. I don't remember too much of Thursday's 48. Other than it wasn't particularly good after the first few holes. Saturday. I was aiming for keeping my score under 95, so was hoping to be in at 47. I was already +12 so that was not looking likely after 8. On 9, I hit a good tee shot to the middle of the fairway, pulled a 9 iron (full club heavy) and hit a low draw/hook that landed on the front edge of the fringe, rolled toward the pin, hit it solidly, backed up and went back in. Shot 46 and 48 from the blues, so mission accomplished but 2 strokes were saved no that fluke eagle. Sunday's round was more my style. 47 on the front and 42 on the back. My short game was firing on all cylinders with multiple 5 foot 1 putts. A slight takeaway tweak gave me the confidence to start hitting them close and the putter was warm enough to keep making them.

There was an outing in Arizona that got crazy. I remember walking a hole up to two ladies in barely there bikinis and that was "tamer" than a lot of things other guys went to see. As for the dress code, I'm conflicted. I once showed up at a course that was wide open on a Friday after the gym in gym shorts and a cut-off. I had zero intention of playing, it was so open I decided just to go for it and got a friendly reminder to try to wear sleeves. The course I'm at right now is a lot more strict except at the range. I don't mind it, but means I always have to plan to play golf. I think for me, I don't really care what others do as long as it's not extreme. I show up in my usual golf attire- shorts and a polo. As long as you're not showing up in no clothes, it shouldn't affect my game.

I forget which weight I put on my putter but I have one of those. I use an 8812 style putter so it makes a huge difference in overall weight balance.

Making a plan to attack my weaknesses from early this season: I'm going to hit about 15-30 half wedges and chips trying to get a feel and go to technique. Also have to try hitting 3 wood off the deck. I may need it only once or twice a round but it's a killer not to have a 200+ yard shot from the fairway.

I played back to back 18s on the same 18 of 27, in the same order. The first round Saturday was like the rounds of last year and early this year. I shot 100 and was horrendous. I'd hit three or four shots that are so horrific I barely advance the ball and put up a 6 or a 7. Then for a hole or two I'd be smashing drives, pureing and iron and getting it down. Today I took a step back(?) and moved up to the white tees. According to the slope, there's not much difference. I shot 89 a nearly 11 stroke difference including rattling off 3 straight pars to finish my round. By the end of the round I was striping the ball but still somehow 10-20 yards off my distances. (I blame wind and the wet ground.) Honestly I need to play whites the next few weeks until the course dries out. Between the wind and the ground, the distances of some of the holes are just not playable the way I was hitting the ball.

Got to love it. One moment you're asking if it will ever happen, the next it's a great round.

I finally admitted defeat. After losing my old rangefinder, I bought one a few years ago from shot scope. Honest truth is that I never could trust the distance. It often can't find a pin, struggles with trees and gives 3-4 distances. It finally hit the point of I can't anymore during my last round. On a par 3 I got a distance of 150ish to the front and 150/175/180 towards the pin. Ended up on the green but took 15 seconds of time. Next hole, same sort of problem. 150, 170 , 180. Turns out it was 140. 2 holes later, same deal. I have been struggling for awhile and decided to get a used bushnell XE off Facebook. Frankly, I just couldn't deal with having to guess the distance and having zero confidence in distances-- especially for irons. I doubt this will be my last purchase but we shall see.

Well I played 9 yesterday and the results were generally awful. My putter was a lot more consistent, but still two lags that weren't up to my standards. My irons were mostly fine although a few were downright terrible. Driving and wedges though: woof. I wish I hit more than one or two good ones. Instead it was varying stages of mediocre with the occasional shot that goes 15 yards and dives into brush. Ended up shooting a 49 but could have been a lot, lot worse.

See your from Yuma. I lived there from 14-17. Played a lot at Barrancas and then played a lot at La Mesa. I loved the course out in Wellton although rarely played out there.

All last week was trying to recover my form with the irons. My best struck shots were going out to the right, while any that went straight were weak. Took 3-4 range visits including one before my first round. Found a swing that worked. Today and this week's goal is to try to fix my wedge game which has also gone off the rails.

On the par 3 third hole I crushed a 7 iron about 155 yards and landed it on the fringe. The ball rolled out to about 12 foot which I promptly put away. Ended up being a birdie and the only real bright spot on a round that went off the rails.

Played my first 18 hole round Sunday. After an hour frost delay, I started out -1 after 4. I finished +28. It was my first round but woof. A few awful drives, mainly serviceable irons and a bad short game. On the plus side, I putted better down the stretch after 3 putting multiple holes in the middle. It's a round where normally I'd be angry and disheartened but I promised myself some grace because it's only the first round of the year.

Cut should be lower due to rain so going +1. Low amateur: Christo Lamprecht

Got out to the range and was more of the same: crushing the ball but hitting right at about a 15-20 degree angle. If I try to move the ball, it's either a chunk or a weak pull. I'm putting it down to the range being at a weird angle and I may be standing too closed. At least that's my current theory as of now. May take until I get to the course and play to find out what's really going on.

Got the range a few days ago after about a week off and it did not go well. Completely lost what I was doing, with toe shots that were normal distance but 20 yards right and low. To hit it straight, it would be a short draw that was rather weak or screaming knee-capper. I should note this was the first day hitting off grass-- they are currently fixing the teeing area and moved up the hitting area 100 yards so was just hitting small irons from the grass. Day 2 started the same and towards the end of the bucket, I broke down and googled. Last week my hands were floating too far from my body... this week too close. A quick fix and suddenly the last 3 or 4 were in the ball park of what I want. Both days I did some short game practice. Putting is on track to be my strong point after holding me back the last few years. The TIBA putt system is paying it's weight in gold now that I know I wasn't closed enough. My short game still is very weak although that's probably due to the club head path. It felt better on the second day but I'm interested to see how it looks.