Well...it's getting better :)

maxxym · July 2, 2007

Went to play 3 days in a row...I think my little time off is doing me good because I can tell my game is improving..

I was shooting in 60s last month on the same courses that I played now.

Thursday, we went out for a 9 holes...amazingly, I shot 45! Given, it was with me using one mulligan.

My last best score on that course was 50.

Friday, went with my friend to play at the local course over here. It's really nice....last month I shot 65 over there....on thursday I shot 57

Saturday, went to play to one of the hardest courses around me...Last month I was shooting in high 60s on that course. On saturday, I shot my personal best of 54.

I am happy to finally be in 50s constantly. Those 65-68 scores were really not a good motivation for me lol..

Things that I changed/learned:

1) Stopped using carts...I am walking with a pull cart. I found out that it lets me relax better and get the visual on the course while walking.

2) Good pitching is A MUST. My pitching improved big time by reading articles from Golf Digest and applying their techniques.

3) I am not trying to kill the ball...rather..just hit it straight, not concentrate on the ball so much during my swing, but just smooth, nice motion.

4) Using POS balls and expensive balls makes no difference to me LOL

5) I am having problems with hitting my irons on the slope...

6) Short 120 yard par 3 holes scare me...because these are the ones that I end up with 6 or 7

7) I need a driver

8) I need a good quality, nice, 60* wedge

9) It's an awesome game!

Anyways, thought I would share with you guys. I am most happy with my saturday play, because of my score (54) and because that is one of the hardest courses here around me...so that's pretty good. If I didn't have 3 drops I could maybe have 50. Those drops really kill the score...and they really messed it up because it's not like the ball was in the woods or something... I just simply didn't have time to find it because there were people behind me, so I just dropped another ball and took a stroke. ;)

uscheese · July 2, 2007

Congratulations. And at this stage of the game I don't think you need a 60 degree wedge. They can do more trouble than good to new golfers IMO. My playing partner uses one any time he needs to come over a bunker or hit up over rough and I'd say 10% of the time it actually works. If he just used his pitching wedge and went long but still on the green he'd score better.

But awesome to hear that your scores are coming down...stay at it.

sync71 · July 2, 2007

Glad to hear your improving, I wouldn't worry about getting a 60* unless you really want one because there not overly forgiving and quite easy to skull. I'd stick with a 56*

hobbes · July 2, 2007

Great to hear the positive update!

45 for 9 is a very respectable score ;) It might take a little time to get there consistently but now you know it's on the table.

You've hit a lot of good points, why do the 120 yard holes kill you? If you mean that you can't be accurate from 120, then lay up. It is way better to lay up to your accurate pitching/chipping range and take 4/5 then to rocket a 9/PW into the water or bunker and eat the 6/7.

maxxym · July 2, 2007

Thanks guys...

Keep in mind that my 45 score was on easy course....but regardless, I just went out and played.. I didn't even think about my score until my friend counted everything up.

For my pitching game, which was horrible before (I would either top the ball and it would roll over the green to the other side, or I could just simply mess it up) all I changed was, instead of PW, I started to use my SW...then on my swing, I started to use my body movement instead of keeping my body still and using only my arms to hit the ball...That helped me to make more accurate shots.

120 holes scare me because they look easy. I guess it's mental thing which I need to work on.

I am thinking about picking up a driver. Some of you might know that I broke mine and I been playing with my irons, which gives me much better chance to hit accurate balls...granted, it's my two iron shots off the tee to my friends 1 with his driver, but at least my ball is in play. I would still like to have a driver to hit the ball on those long, wide open holes where getting in trouble would be hard thing to do.

uscheese · July 2, 2007

You carry a 2 iron?

maxxym · July 2, 2007

no no..

What I meant was that it takes me to hit twice with my iron to my friend's one driver hit for the same distance.

So he is on his 2nd shot, and I am on my 3rd shot...

scores · July 2, 2007

I agree with the above mulligans will only hurt you if you are keeping score if you are practicingon the course that's different.

but keep it up!!

maxxym · July 2, 2007

I don't use mulligans really... that was only one that I used because it was nice, short hole, but I eneded up in the water.. so I just hit another ball from the tee...that is the only one time I used it. It was 9th hole, I really didn't keep the score anyways, just wanted to have a nice shot..

kinneywhat · July 2, 2007

When I'm playing with friends or alone and I have a bad shot, I usually hit another ball from the same spot, but play the first ball I hit. I think it's good practice and also proves to myself that I could have hit the shot in the first place. I then just pick the second ball up on my way through.

Anyway, congratulations on the improvement. Keep it up.

maxxym · July 3, 2007

Thanks for all your replies guys. I am going to play today at the course I never played on before. We'll see how I do. I think this will be good gauge..

maxxym · July 4, 2007

Well, did 9 holes yesterday on a course I never played on before. Shot 50, so I think I can honestly say that I got away from shooting in 60s and I can see 40s on the horizon. (Hopefully today when I get out) It was a nice course...not easy and not too hard. I had few bad balls and one bad tee shot. I was using my 5 iron off the tee all the time (no driver), which worked out pretty well I guess. The greens were pretty difficult on that course...hard to read...and very inconsistent. One would be fast, and another would be slow.

Overall I am happy with my result today. I played with some good guys but I dont' think they were shooting as good as they could. (they had low 50s)..I know they are capable of getting high 30s and low 40s on that course.So needless to say, I was happy they didn't have their best game because this way, I didn't look like a moron lol

I think I will look to buy a driver and take some lessons with it. Those long 500+ yards holes kill me.