Steady improvement

Well, things have started to improve. I have now done several rounds. Firstly I was going round on a buggy with a friend who also has health problems. Last week buggies were banned from the course because of the bad weather, do I had to walk. Survived quite well, and played quite well but was quite tired by the end. Yesterday I played 9 holes with Ed and won. Conditions were difficult with a strong wind but pleased with my consistency of ball striking and some good shots.

On the way back

At the end of September I unfortunately fell victim to a minor stroke. After an operation and a period of recovery later I am back on the golf course. Last week a couple of short sessions on the range checked that everything swings. Today I went on the Par 3 and completed 9 holes in a creditable 38. I met some of my friends and they have challenged me to go out with them next week. So I have a week to get up to speed. Ed is coming home for a few days so he will have to be part of my therapy.

Why, oh why?

Was playing quite well. Went away for a week! Played twice since and been very disappointed. Played well enough to win on one occasion and was competitive second time but seemed to have gone backwards. Lesson - PRACTICE!! Went for a remedial practice session and by the end was hitting well again. Trouble is I'm going away again next week.

Champion

The inaugural Southwell Choral Society Golf Day was held on Tuesday, July 19th at Norwood Park golf course. 13 players teed off in wet conditions which cleared up after about three holes and the weather remained calm and occasionally sunny for the rest of the event. After a blank opening hole I then picked up 18 points in the next 8 holes to be level par at the turn. The next few holes were disappointing, including finding the middle of the pond on 12. A good final three holes left me on 32 points - enough to win by one point. The first event that I have ever won. The visits to the Tuesday morning roll-ups and the money spent on hundreds of range balls are beginning to bear fruit it seems.

Emrging from the Winter shut down

An interesting couple of weeks. Played The Brabazon at The Belfry with a couple of friends. We were playing because the course was frosty when we were supposed to play it in January. None of us played particularly well. I was disappointed because I didn't play very many good shots. The back nine was better than the front and I came back well to only lose by four points. The following day I went out on my home course with my son and scored 38 points - the ups and downs! Before going to The Belfry I attended an "Improve your handicap" roll-up at Norwood. It wasn't particularly helpful as it was aimed at those who had been regularly, but it was a useful practice session. I will go again.

Since then I have been out a few times on my own and seem to be playing somewhere near my handicap each time.

The Secret of Good Teaching

On Saturday mornings I take a minibus load of Wellow pupils to Rufford driving range. Pro John Vaughan works with them. Occasionally I pick a club up and John aims a well chosen tip in my direction. This morning one of the boys hurt his hand leaving a few balls to be used up at the end of  the session. As I was hitting them John passed a comment on my shoulder turn. It had an amazing effect on the last few balls.

Unfortunately it was raining in the afternoon which prevented me from further practice on the open air Norwood range, so I went to Oakmere at Oxton. A lot of balls for £2!! They all went really well. The result of one simple tip. Now I have to take it onto the course.

Frustration

Very frustrated that all my attempts to get out and hit little white balls have been thwarted. Desperate for the evenings to draw our sufficiently to get some afterschool holes in. Having to resort to playing World Golf Tour on the computer.

A bit more practice

Went out today for seven holes. For a number of reasons I haven't been able to play for nearly a fortnight. The light was good and the course was a bit wet on top but frozen solid underneath. The ponds have still not thawed after December's cold weather. After a brilliant first drive it went a bit downhill until I started to get my preparation right. Came of with 13 points even though I didn't play particularly well. A rare regulation par on the eighth. Hit most of the fairways.
Heard to day that a friend scored 6 points in a competition with a hole in one. She has only been playing eighteen months.
Got to book a date for a round on the Brabazon at The Belfry soon.

2011 starts well

A member of Norwood Park Golf Club, playing off 26. This year I would like to a) play regularly to 26 and then get one or two shots lower.

Last Tuesday I played my best round ever, on The Derby Course at The Belfry. Having played very badly the day before I halved a 16 point deficit with a 34 point round, spoilt by a drive into water on 16 and out of bounds on 17.

Since then I played 9 holes for 18 points on Thursday and today went out and played just 5 holes at two points a hole.