How are you starting your season?

[BForrester]

Cut my driver down (44.5 from 45.5) and got a mallet-style putter this year, so I'm optimistic about those two facets of my game. Now, if I can only improve my play from 80 yards in...

 

The weather is finally starting to improve here. I played my first round last Friday and had a pair of birdies. My score wasn't great due to heavy wind (25+ mph) and a few blow-up holes, but I've already noticed improvement in my putting and driving from last year.

 

I also made similar changes - bought a couple of new shafts to test in my driver and had them all cut to playing length of 44.5". Also bought a mid-mallet putter along with a PuttOut Pressure Putt Trainer/Pro Golf Putting Mat and have been working on my putting like crazy.

 

I was using a stock length Rogue Black (45.5") in my 2016 M1 and found myself missing on the heel a lot last year. I put a Tour Green, which was already at 44.5" with a TM tip installed, on my Amazon wishlist for Christmas with the thinking that if it didn't work out, I wouldn't be taking any financial hit. Gotta love the adjustable drivers...if the shorter shaft didn't work, I could just drop my original right back in. First round out and my miss was primarily high-toe...I can live with that...the heel misses kill your distance.

 

The putter is a Cleveland Elevado that I won in one of the WRX giveaway threads, so I'm similarly not out anything if it doesn't work out. Sank a few 8-10 footers, one left over from a bunker recovery for birdie, that I'd have normally missed, so things are looking promising on that front also.

[leopoldstotch]

I've played a handful of rounds and did worse than normal. like 5-10 shots worse than normal.

 

I did change everything in my bag, but i've put in a decent amount of range time over the winter.

 

it's very sad

[ddetts]

I lived in Fargo for around 7 years between school and work and I used to spend a lot of time in the sports bubble hitting balls in the winter. I thought the guy (Matt Johnson) that owned the sports bubble went to be the NDSU women's golf head coach? I could be mistaken and perhaps Matt just ran the driving range and simulator side of things there, but I thought he owned it all the years I was up there (up until 2009).

 

GreatLife is an awesome company, and a sweet deal for golf. We're pretty lucky to have it.

 

I really miss playing Edgewood, which was where I played the majority of my golf up there. Later on, I lived way far out on the west edge of West Fargo, and then was a member at Maple River for two years.

 

I think he did go to NDSU. I don't know if he owned the building or not. Jeff Olson took over once Matt left. I think Jeff was an assistant pro at Village Green in Moorhead years ago. Edgewood is great, although I haven't played there in a few years. I typically stick to the Moorhead courses. I think when we had all of those floods, Edgewood took a beating and had to do some flood mitigation over the next few years afterwards. I avoided it during that time and just kind of forgot all forcing myself to get out there. I try to get out to Maple River a few times a year yet.

 

Yeah, flooding was always a big downer at Edgewood. It seemed like every year (prior to them building up the dike and re-routing some holes) at least a couple of holes were closed and took damage. I can't recall if it was 2009 but I remember driving up there one time and you couldn't see much of the entire course, just trees sticking up through water. I always paid for the "all courses" city pass so played more rounds at Rose Creek early in the season when that happened.

 

I played Village and Meadows a number of times as well, always enjoyed both of those courses too!

[third-times-a-charm]

My wife informed me I needed to keep my left arm straight...which she failed to mention in the last 5 years we've been playing.

 

Dropped almost 15 strokes so far per game.

[radiman]

Hit the range fort the first time today. There first few shots were awkward to say the least. After working through some easy wedges, I moved to my irons. I got my first set of blades in the off season. I was hitting them pretty well. For a while, I felt like I was able to steer them at whatever target I wanted.

 

Things were going great. But, then I felt a burning sensation in my abs in the middle of one my swings. Pretty sure I pulled something. Right now as I type this, I can't even do a sit up. After this crappy spring, I fear my season really won't be starting for a while longer, and I haven't even played 1 hole yet.

[mshills]

It's gonna be a good year!!!!

 

What are you guys thinking?

 

Absolutely!

 

Just not for my golf game. :D

 

I am committed to playing a bit more this year (two rounds in the books in 2017...........) and I hit the ball beautifully at the range today, but too many other priorities for a lot of golf this year.

 

I do miss it -- but my kids are young and my job is tough. Golf will be there later. I hope.

[william47]

Played 9 holes once this year and shot 49,not that great, Goal this year is to lower handicapp from around 20 to 15.

[msg]

Excited for this season as this is the first season I will start with a golf sim at home. I'll finally get to see if it was worth the investment. On the other hand, I am recovering from an elbow injury and I am afraid it will affect my play. Courses opened today here and tomorrow I get the chance to play my 1st 18 holes for 2018.

[lawst4days]

Just a metric ton of range work, putter drills and short game practice.

 

Havent really played but 3-4 rounds the schedule just hasnt been that open. The rounds were only average. Hence the metric ton of practice.

[elwhippy]

Ball striking much better than last year but short game is mediocre at best. Course condition is way behind and lots of bare or muddy lies and greens are the worst in years. Partly down to snow and frost hindering the green staff and partly the course being open despite standing water, allowing the less considerate to chew the place up.

Comp this aft, thankfully a Stableford but rain and thunder forecast and it looks grim outside. Waterproofs and sunglasses as per usual...

[acemandrake]

2 goals for me:

 

1. Get off the range and play as much as possible (walking)

 

2. When not playing tighten up the short game

[BettorThanMost]

Moved to Arizona so now I never have an off-season...I highly recommend it!

[MidwestGolfBum]

Spent the off season working on my own physical wellbeing for a number of reasons and having lost of bunch of weight it's been a bit of a struggle to find what the new golf swing is going to feel like when I'm no longer swinging around a gut. Because of weather there's been very little time to practice on grass and as a result, when there is a chance to get out I have just played. It's gotten frustrating enough (see, terrible) that I'm just going to go and practice as much as I can without playing now that the weather has started to cooperate again. Already blocked off some time on my calendar to hit the range a couple times before Men's Day this week.

[doctordwaynewilliams]

So far so good. The swing feels very loose and easy. I’m hitting the ball slightly farther than normal, but I attribute that to having an easier/looser motion. I have been experimenting with some clubs. Been practicing with some blades. I want to game them, but I’m still not sure.

 

[chal0072]

First 4 rounds or so was really really bad. Like I forgot how to play golf. Then on one range session it just all came back.

[RH2]

Ups and downs so far but this season has a lot of promise. I’m taking more lessons and going to start to tracking weaknesses with stats. I also like my bag currently... well kinda... I’m only looking for a new driver and putter right now, lol.

[8thehardway]

Game of Groans, season 25, episode 1

 

Summer is Coming… as conflict erupts in the Castle, an ancient enemy rises once again…

Lord 8 of House Contrarian inspects his shabby store of weapons - relics retrieved from ancient battles where they were abandoned by the defeated - and wonders if they can be relied on in his quest to slay the 18 Faces of Par. It is said only sweet forgings from the Iron Island can defeat the onslaught of Bogies that Par will set against him but the Mother of Dragons has barred their import.

[mich_ping]

Game of Groans, season 25, episode 1

 

Summer is Coming… as conflict erupts in the Castle, an ancient enemy rises once again…

Lord 8 of House Contrarian inspects his shabby store of weapons - relics retrieved from ancient battles where they were abandoned by the defeated - and wonders if they can be relied on in his quest to slay the 18 Faces of Par. It is said only sweet forgings from the Iron Island can defeat the onslaught of Bogies that Par will set against him but the Mother of Dragons has barred their import.

 

 

Valar MorGOLFus.

[r0scoe]

With an average of 100 and 2 broken clubs!

[Sactogolfer1234]

My season is pretty much year round out here in California, but 2018 has been up and down so far. A few rounds in the mid 70s and I shot my second best round ever at 74. I decided to lose some weight this year and I’ve almost met my goal, but for the last two months since I started dropping weight I’ve been playing awful golf. My last few rounds have all been in the mid 80s and I’m usually 4+ over par by the time I’m mid way through the opening nine. I usually string a couple pars together and then stumble to the finish line. Last round I played I was +6 on my last 3 holes and +8 over my last 5.

 

my ball striking has been awful this season, and when I score well it’s almost entirely due to chipping and putting. Hopefully I can adjust to my new body soon because my scores are starting to piss me off.

[radiman]

My season is pretty much year round out here in California, but 2018 has been up and down so far. A few rounds in the mid 70s and I shot my second best round ever at 74. I decided to lose some weight this year and I’ve almost met my goal, but for the last two months since I started dropping weight I’ve been playing awful golf. My last few rounds have all been in the mid 80s and I’m usually 4+ over par by the time I’m mid way through the opening nine. I usually string a couple pars together and then stumble to the finish line. Last round I played I was +6 on my last 3 holes and +8 over my last 5.

 

my ball striking has been awful this season, and when I score well it’s almost entirely due to chipping and putting. Hopefully I can adjust to my new body soon because my scores are starting to piss me off.

 

I lost 30 pounds last year. I too struggled for a bit. I thought it was my body. What I figured out, was that I wasn't eating enough. Having a caloric deficit is fine on a day that you aren't going anything. But, even though golf isn't necessarily strenuous, it still requires you to have energy and be alert.

 

Moral of the story, I was playing while our of energy. Did a better job of providing my body more fuel and things improved tremendously. Not saying you're in the same boat. I just know from my own experience, that is easy to eat too little once you've gotten onto dieting trying to hit that goal

[Sactogolfer1234]

My season is pretty much year round out here in California, but 2018 has been up and down so far. A few rounds in the mid 70s and I shot my second best round ever at 74. I decided to lose some weight this year and I’ve almost met my goal, but for the last two months since I started dropping weight I’ve been playing awful golf. My last few rounds have all been in the mid 80s and I’m usually 4+ over par by the time I’m mid way through the opening nine. I usually string a couple pars together and then stumble to the finish line. Last round I played I was +6 on my last 3 holes and +8 over my last 5.

 

my ball striking has been awful this season, and when I score well it’s almost entirely due to chipping and putting. Hopefully I can adjust to my new body soon because my scores are starting to piss me off.

 

I lost 30 pounds last year. I too struggled for a bit. I thought it was my body. What I figured out, was that I wasn't eating enough. Having a caloric deficit is fine on a day that you aren't going anything. But, even though golf isn't necessarily strenuous, it still requires you to have energy and be alert.

 

Moral of the story, I was playing while our of energy. Did a better job of providing my body more fuel and things improved tremendously. Not saying you're in the same boat. I just know from my own experience, that is easy to eat too little once you've gotten onto dieting trying to hit that goal

 

That’s something I haven’t considered. I’ll have to try and fuel up before and during my round on Saturday to see if that improves things.

[Under2hours]

Season finally started May 5th and hadn't swung a club since October 31. 5 rounds down and striping the ball. Short game slowly coming around. Course wintered better then most and starting/opening later even with an ice storm the second week of April may have been a blessing in disguise. Trees starting to bloom......

[mbarnocki]

I actually have worked out for a few months now to start the season. Which has helped me keep going through the round. I don't think I am any longer.

 

Hit the range a few times and demoed a lot of new clubs. Bought a G400 max, JPX 900 forged/tour split irons, and a Cleveland Huntington Beach putter.

 

Shot a 92 in Florida with borrowed clubs, 78 with an 8 on one hole back home with my new sticks. Looking forward to more of that this season.

[chippa13]

Late.

[KrazyTrain18]

Working on sharpening up fundamentals this season. Simple things like consistent ball position and proper alignment. Season has been pretty good thus far. Struggled a bit with my mid-short iron play though, not hitting enough GIR with shorter clubs needs to improve. My scores haven't been affected by it much but good putting has masked the issue. Long game and off the tee is still easily the strength of my game.

[Bob9604]

Not starting out too well. My handicap has went from 16-18. I have made some progress on my driver and did break 90 last weekend. Hope to start getting the cap down soon.

[handicap122003]

I started swinging great and scoring well. Then wanted to hit it farther and driver and iron swing got inconsistent.

[arbitrage]

Tough start to the season so far. Cap has gone from a 15 to 15.6, so far. That doesn't reflect that I am probably plus 8-12 strokes from where I finished last season. My tempo is the main culprit and I am working to slow down. I took a refresher lesson this past Sunday and I will play my first round with the tweaks tomorrow. My last 20 rounds last season (including 8 rounds after posting season), I was an 11.2. This start is killing me.

[platgof]

It's like a damn elevator!